bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a time‐varying downscaling model considering non‐stationarity using a Bayesian approach
Authors: Pichuka Subbarao , Maity Rajib
Published: March 2018

Stationarity in the relationship between causal variables and target variables is the fundamental assumption of statistical downscaling models. However, we hypothesize that this assumption may not be valid in a changing climate. This study develops a downscaling technique in which the relationship between causal and target variables is considered to be time‐varying rather than static. The proposed time‐varying downscaling model (TVDM) is utilized to downscale monthly precipitation over India to 0.25 × 0.25° gridded scale using the large‐scale outputs from multiple general circulation models (GCMs), namely the Hadley Centre Coupled Model version 3 (HadCM3), coupled Hadley Centre Global Environmental Model version 2‐Earth System model (HadGEM2‐ES) and Canadian Earth System Model version 2 (CanESM2). Observed precipitation data are obtained from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune. For future projection, the temporal evolution of each of the TVDM parameters is investigated using its deterministic (trend and periodicity) and stochastic components. TVDM is found to outperform the most commonly used statistical downscaling model (SDSM) and regional climate model (RCM) output at all the locations. The Regional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4) precipitation data (RCM outputs) are obtained from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) data portal supplied by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune. The proposed model (TVDM) differs from the existing stationarity assumption‐based approaches in updating the relationship between causal and target variables over time. It is understood that parameter uncertainty is the major issue in consideration of non‐stationarity. Still, the TVDM is found to be very useful in the context of climate change due to its time‐varying component.
Hydrological impacts in La Plata basin under 1.5, 2 and 3 °C global warming above the pre‐industrial level
Authors: Montroull Natalia B. , Saurral Ramiro I. , Camilloni Inés A.
Published: March 2018

The assessment of regional climate and hydrological impacts at different levels of global‐mean temperature increase became vital to guide decision makers and water management planners after the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015. With current emission trends close to a pathway of 3 °C warming by the end of the present century, this study investigates the projected regional hydrology impacts over La Plata basin (LPB) for the warming thresholds of 1.5 and 2 °C established in Paris and for 3 °C above the pre‐industrial level. We also explore the consequences from following a medium or high‐emission representative concentration pathway (RCP) to achieve the different warming targets. In order to determine the possible changes in precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff and river discharges, we use the variable infiltration capacity (VIC)‐distributed hydrology model in combination of bias‐corrected GCM outputs from the Inter‐Sectorial Impact Model Intercomparison Project phase 2a (ISIMIP). Because the behaviour of the hydrometeorological variables is not homogeneous over LPB, we analysed impacts of the different changes in mean global temperature and RCPs over four sub‐basins: Paraguay, Paraná, Iguazú and Uruguay. Overall, most of the changes over the sub‐basins suggest moister conditions with increasing temperatures. The comparison of the RCPs indicates that increases in precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff would be larger under the medium‐emission scenario. When the different responses of the various components of the terrestrial water cycle were integrated, results show that variation of annual mean streamflow in all sub‐basins ranges between ±20%. However, in most cases, the sign of the changes highly depends on the RCP chosen to achieve a warming level.
Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalyzed Esterification of Acrylic Acid with Ethanol: Reaction Kinetics and Modeling
Authors: Jyoti Ghoshna , Keshav Amit , Anandkumar J. , Bhoi Stutee
Published: March 2018

Kinetics of esterification of acrylic acid with ethanol in the presence of homogeneous (H2SO4, HCl, p‐TSA, HI) catalysts as well as heterogeneous catalysts (Dowex 50WX, Amberlyst 15) was studied. The effects and performance of these catalysts on the conversion of acrylic acid were evaluated. In the kinetics of homogeneous catalyzed reaction, both concentration and activity‐based model were employed. Activity coefficients were predicted by the Universal Functional group Contribution (UNIFAC) method to consider nonideal behavior of the liquid phase. The heterogeneous catalyzed reaction mechanisms were developed using Eley–Rideal theory. The model results were compared with the experimental results and were in good agreement. The temperature dependency of the constants, reaction enthalpy, and entropy, and activation energy were determined. The conversion of acrylic acid was obtained as 63.2%, 61.02%, 53.3%, 21.4%, 34.96%, and 14.84% for H2SO4, p‐TSA, HCl, HI, Dowex 50WX, and Amberlyst 15, respectively, under process temperature of 70°C, reactant molar ratio of 1:1, and catalyst concentration of 2% (v/v) for homogeneous and 2.17 g for heterogeneous catalyst. These outcomes provide an approach to understand the significant effect of each catalyst on the esterification kinetics of acrylic acid and ethanol.
Revise the ICMJE Recommendations regarding authorship responsibility!
Authors: Helgesson Gert , Eriksson Stefan
Published: March 2018

Key points

A clear set of rules regarding authorship responsibilities in academic publications is much needed.

The leading research integrity guidelines on scientific authorship, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors Recommendations, are unclear about authorship responsibilities in case of misconduct.

The source of the problem is the fourth authorship criterion – it should be revised.
Dietary High‐Oleic Acid Soybean Oil Dose Dependently Attenuates Egg Yolk Content of n‐3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Laying Hens Fed Supplemental Flaxseed Oil
Authors: Elkin Robert G. , Kukorowski Alexandra N. , Ying Yun , Harvatine Kevin J.
Published: March 2018

Chickens can hepatically synthesize eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n‐3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n‐3) from α‐linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3 n‐3); however, the process is inefficient and competitively inhibited by dietary linoleic acid (LNA; 18:2 n‐6). In the present study, the influence of dietary high‐oleic acid (OLA; 18:1 n‐9) soybean oil (HOSO) on egg and tissue deposition of ALA and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) synthesized from dietary ALA was investigated in laying hens fed a reduced‐LNA base diet supplemented with high‐ALA flaxseed oil (FLAX). We hypothesized that reducing the dietary level of LNA would promote greater hepatic conversion of ALA to very long‐chain (VLC; >20C) n‐3 PUFA, while supplemental dietary HOSO would simultaneously further enrich eggs with OLA without influencing egg n‐3 PUFA contents. Nine 51‐week‐old hens each were fed 0, 10, 20, or 40 g HOSO/kg diet for 12 weeks. Within each group, supplemental dietary FLAX was increased every 3 weeks from 0 to 10 to 20 to 40 g/kg diet. Compared to controls, dietary FLAX maximally enriched the total n‐3 and VLC n‐3 PUFA contents in egg yolk by 9.4‐fold and 2.2‐fold, respectively, while feeding hens 40 g HOSO/kg diet maximally attenuated the yolk deposition of ALA, VLC n‐3 PUFA, and total n‐3 PUFA by 37, 15, and 32%, respectively. These results suggest that dietary OLA is not neutral with regard to the overall process by which dietary ALA is absorbed, metabolized, and deposited into egg yolk, either intact or in the form of longer‐chain/more unsaturated n‐3 PUFA derivatives.
Multiple solutions for a noncooperative Kirchhoff‐type system involving the fractional p‐Laplacian and critical exponents
Authors: Liang Sihua , Molica Bisci Giovanni , Zhang Binlin
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we use the Limit Index Theory due to Li and the fractional version of concentration compactness principle to study the multiplicity of solutions for a class of noncooperative fractional p‐Laplacian elliptic system with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions involving the critical exponents.
A remark on the number field analogue of Waring's constant
Authors: Pollack Paul
Published: March 2018

Let K be a number field, and let k be an integer with . Let be the collection of totally nonnegative integers in K (i.e., the totally positive integers together with zero). We let denote the smallest positive integer with the following property: Every element of that is a sum of kth powers of elements of is the sum of g such kth powers. Work of Siegel in the 1940s shows that is well‐defined for all k and K. In this note, we prove that cannot be bounded by a function of k alone: For each , .
Quality of Life in Huntington's Disease: Critique and Recommendations for Measures Assessing Patient Health‐Related Quality of Life and Caregiver Quality of Life
Authors: Mestre Tiago A. , Carlozzi Noelle E. , Ho Aileen K. , Burgunder Jean‐Marc , Walker Francis , Davis Aileen M. , Busse Monica , Quinn Lori , Rodrigues Filipe B. , Sampaio Cristina , Goetz Christopher G. , Cubo Esther , Martinez‐Martin Pablo , Stebbins Glenn T. ,   Members of the MDS Committee on Rating Scales Development
Published: March 2018

The compromise of quality of life in Huntington's disease is a major issue, both for individuals with the disease as well as for their caregivers. The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society commissioned a review of the use and clinimetric validation status of measures used in Huntington's disease to assess aspects related with quality of life and to make recommendations on their use following standardized criteria. We included both patient‐centered measures (patient health‐related quality‐of‐life measures) and caregiver‐centered measures (caregiver quality‐of‐life measures). After conducting a systematic literature search, we included 12 measures of patient health‐related quality of life and 2 measures of caregiver quality of life. Regarding patient‐centered measures, the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey is “recommended” as a generic assessment of health‐related quality of life in patients with Huntington's disease. The 12‐Item Short Form Health Survey, the Sickness Impact Profile, the 12‐item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, and the Huntington's Disease Health‐Related Quality of Life questionnaire are “suggested.” No caregiver‐centered quality‐of‐life measure obtained a “recommended” status. The Alzheimer's Carer's Quality of Life Inventory and the Huntington's Disease Quality of Life Battery for Carers are “suggested.” Recognizing that the assessment of patient health‐related quality of life can be challenging in Huntington's disease, as patients may lack insight and there is insufficient clinimetric testing of these scales, the committee concluded that further validation of currently available health‐related quality‐of‐life measures should be undertaken, namely, those Huntington's disease–specific health‐related quality‐of‐life measures that have recently been reported and used. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
International Parkinson and movement disorder society evidence‐based medicine review: Update on treatments for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Fox Susan H. , Katzenschlager Regina , Lim Shen‐Yang , Barton Brandon , de Bie Rob M. A. , Seppi Klaus , Coelho Miguel , Sampaio Cristina ,   on behalf of the Movement Disorder Society Evidence‐Based Medicine Committee
Published: March 2018

Objective: The objective of this review was to update evidence‐based medicine recommendations for treating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Background: The Movement Disorder Society Evidence‐Based Medicine Committee recommendations for treatments of PD were first published in 2002 and updated in 2011, and we continued the review to December 31, 2016.

Methods: Level I studies of interventions for motor symptoms were reviewed. Criteria for inclusion and quality scoring were as previously reported. Five clinical indications were considered, and conclusions regarding the implications for clinical practice are reported.

Results: A total of 143 new studies qualified. There are no clinically useful interventions to prevent/delay disease progression. For monotherapy of early PD, nonergot dopamine agonists, oral levodopa preparations, selegiline, and rasagiline are clinically useful. For adjunct therapy in early/stable PD, nonergot dopamine agonists, rasagiline, and zonisamide are clinically useful. For adjunct therapy in optimized PD for general or specific motor symptoms including gait, rivastigmine is possibly useful and physiotherapy is clinically useful; exercise‐based movement strategy training and formalized patterned exercises are possibly useful. There are no new studies and no changes in the conclusions for the prevention/delay of motor complications. For treating motor fluctuations, most nonergot dopamine agonists, pergolide, levodopa ER, levodopa intestinal infusion, entacapone, opicapone, rasagiline, zonisamide, safinamide, and bilateral STN and GPi DBS are clinically useful. For dyskinesia, amantadine, clozapine, and bilateral STN DBS and GPi DBS are clinically useful.

Conclusions: The options for treating PD symptoms continues to expand. These recommendations allow the treating physician to determine which intervention to recommend to an individual patient. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Impact of joint statistical dual‐energy CT reconstruction of proton stopping power images: Comparison to image‐ and sinogram‐domain material decomposition approaches
Authors: Zhang Shuangyue , Han Dong , Politte David G. , Williamson Jeffrey F. , O'Sullivan Joseph A.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of a novel dual‐energy CT (DECT) approach for proton stopping power ratio (SPR) mapping that integrates image reconstruction and material characterization using a joint statistical image reconstruction (JSIR) method based on a linear basis vector model (BVM). A systematic comparison between the JSIR‐BVM method and previously described DECT image‐ and sinogram‐domain decomposition approaches is also carried out on synthetic data.

Methods

The JSIR‐BVM method was implemented to estimate the electron densities and mean excitation energies (I‐values) required by the Bethe equation for SPR mapping. In addition, image‐ and sinogram‐domain DECT methods based on three available SPR models including BVM were implemented for comparison. The intrinsic SPR modeling accuracy of the three models was first validated. Synthetic DECT transmission sinograms of two 330 mm diameter phantoms each containing 17 soft and bony tissues (for a total of 34) of known composition were then generated with spectra of 90 and 140 kVp. The estimation accuracy of the reconstructed SPR images were evaluated for the seven investigated methods. The impact of phantom size and insert location on SPR estimation accuracy was also investigated.

Results

All three selected DECT‐SPR models predict the SPR of all tissue types with less than 0.2% RMS errors under idealized conditions with no reconstruction uncertainties. When applied to synthetic sinograms, the JSIR‐BVM method achieves the best performance with mean and RMS‐average errors of less than 0.05% and 0.3%, respectively, for all noise levels, while the image‐ and sinogram‐domain decomposition methods show increasing mean and RMS‐average errors with increasing noise level. The JSIR‐BVM method also reduces statistical SPR variation by sixfold compared to other methods. A 25% phantom diameter change causes up to 4% SPR differences for the image‐domain decomposition approach, while the JSIR‐BVM method and sinogram‐domain decomposition methods are insensitive to size change.

Conclusion

Among all the investigated methods, the JSIR‐BVM method achieves the best performance for SPR estimation in our simulation phantom study. This novel method is robust with respect to sinogram noise and residual beam‐hardening effects, yielding SPR estimation errors comparable to intrinsic BVM modeling error. In contrast, the achievable SPR estimation accuracy of the image‐ and sinogram‐domain decomposition methods is dominated by the CT image intensity uncertainties introduced by the reconstruction and decomposition processes.
Long‐term cancer control outcomes in patients with biochemical recurrence and the impact of time from radical prostatectomy to biochemical recurrence
Authors: Pompe Raisa S. , Gild Philipp , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Bock Lea‐Philine , Schlomm Thorsten , Steuber Thomas , Graefen Markus , Huland Hartwig , Tian Zhe , Tilki Derya
Published: March 2018

Background

Rates of metastatic progression (MP) and prostate cancer mortality (PCSM) are variable after biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP). To describe long‐term oncological outcomes of BCR patients and to analyze risk factors for further outcomes in these men with a special focus on RP‐BCR time.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 5509 RP patients treated between 1992 and 2006. Of those, we included 1321 patients who experienced BCR (PSA level ≥0.2 ng/mL) and did not receive any neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. Kaplan‐Meier and time dependent Cox regression models were used.

Results

Median follow‐up was 121 months. MP was recorded in 177 (13.4%), PCSM in 126 (9.5%), and overall mortality (OM) in 264 (20.0%) patients. Patients with MP had worse tumor characteristics such as higher Gleason Scores (GS), rapid PSA doubling‐time (DT), and shorter RP‐BCR time intervals. MP‐free, PCSM‐free, and overall survival rates were significantly worse in patients with RP‐BCR time of <12 months versus patients with 12‐35.9 or ≥36 months (P ≤ 0.001). Besides higher GS and rapid PSA‐DT, RP‐BCR time independently predicted MP, PCSM, and OM in multivariable regression analyses. Relative to the intermediate and longest RP‐BCR time interval, the shortest interval (<12) carried the highest risk for all three endpoints.

Conclusions

Only a small proportion of BCR patients proceed to MP or PCSM. Besides higher GS and rapid PSA‐DT a shorter RP‐BCR interval (<12 months) heralds the most aggressive phenotype for progression to all three examined endpoints: MP, PCSM, and OM.
Comprehensive mapping of cystic fibrosis mutations to CFTR protein identifies mutation clusters and molecular docking predicts corrector binding site
Authors: Molinski Steven V. , Shahani Vijay M. , Subramanian Adithya S. , MacKinnon Stephen S. , Woollard Geoffrey , Laforet Marcon , Laselva Onofrio , Morayniss Leonard D. , Bear Christine E. , Windemuth Andreas
Published: March 2018

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, of which over 2000 have been reported to date. Mutations have yet to be analyzed in aggregate to assess their distribution across the tertiary structure of the CFTR protein, an approach that could provide valuable insights into the structure‐function relationship of CFTR. In addition, the binding site of Class I correctors (VX‐809, VX‐661, and C18) is not well understood. In this study, exonic CFTR mutations and mutant allele frequencies described in 3 curated databases (ABCMdb, CFTR1, and CFTR2, comprising >130 000 data points) were mapped to 2 different structural models: a homology model of full‐length CFTR protein in the open‐channel state, and a cryo‐electron microscopy core‐structure of CFTR in the closed‐channel state. Accordingly, residue positions of 6 high‐frequency mutant CFTR alleles were found to spatially co‐localize in CFTR protein, and a significant cluster was identified at the NBD1:ICL4 interdomain interface. In addition, immunoblotting confirmed the approximate binding site of Class I correctors, demonstrating that these small molecules act via a similar mechanism in vitro, and in silico molecular docking generated binding poses for their complex with the cryo‐electron microscopy structure to suggest the putative corrector binding site is a multi‐domain pocket near residues F374‐L375. These results confirm the significance of interdomain interfaces as susceptible to disruptive mutation, and identify a putative corrector binding site. The structural pharmacogenomics approach of mapping mutation databases to protein models shows promise for facilitating drug discovery and personalized medicine for monogenetic diseases.
The dimerization of PSGL‐1 is driven by the transmembrane domain via a leucine zipper motif
Authors: Chai Mengya , Liu Bo , Sun Fude , Zhu Zhentai , Xu Lida , Luo Shi‐Zhong
Published: March 2018

P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand‐1 (PSGL‐1) is a homodimeric mucin ligand that is important to mediate the earliest adhesive event during an inflammatory response by rapidly forming and dissociating the selectin‐ligand adhesive bonds. Recent research indicates that the noncovalent associations between the PSGL‐1 transmembrane domains (TMDs) can substitute for the C320‐dependent covalent bond to mediate the dimerization of PSGL‐1. In this article, we combined TOXCAT assays and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to probe the mechanism of PSGL‐1 dimerization. The results of TOXCAT assays and Martini coarse‐grained molecular dynamics (CG MD) simulations demonstrated that PSGL‐1 TMDs strongly dimerized in a natural membrane and a leucine zipper motif was responsible for the noncovalent dimerization of PSGL‐1 TMD since mutations of the residues that occupied a or d positions in an (abcdefg)n leucine heptad repeat motif significantly reduced the dimer activity. Furthermore, we studied the effects of the disulfide bond on the PSGL‐1 dimer using MD simulations. The disulfide bond was critical to form the leucine zipper structure, by which the disulfide bond further improved the stability of the PSGL‐1 dimer. These findings provide insights to understand the transmembrane association of PSGL‐1 that is an important structural basis for PSGL‐1 preferentially binding to P‐selectin to achieve its biochemical and biophysical functions.
Structural effects of point mutations in proteins
Authors: Shanthirabalan Suvethigaa , Chomilier Jacques , Carpentier Mathilde
Published: March 2018

A structural database of 11 families of chains differing by a single amino acid substitution has been built. Another structural dataset of 5 families with identical sequences has been used for comparison. The RMSD computed after a global superimposition of the mutated protein on each native one is smaller than the RMSD calculated among proteins of identical sequences. The effect of the perturbation is very local, and not necessarily the highest at the position of the mutation. A RMSD between mutated and native proteins is computed over a 3‐residue or a 7‐residue window at each position. To separate the effects of structural fluctuations due to point mutations from other sources, pair RMSD have been translated into P values which themselves are included in a score called P‐RANK. This score allows highlighting small backbone distortions by comparing these RMSD between mutated and native positions to the RMSD at the same positions in the absence of a mutation. It results from the P‐RANK that 38% of all mutations produce a significant effect on the displacement. When compared with a random distribution of RMSD at un‐mutated positions, we show that, even if the RMSD is greater when the mutation is in loops than in regular secondary structure, the relative effect is more important for regular secondary structures and for buried positions. We confirm the absence of correlation between RMSD and the predicted variation of free energy of folding but we found a small correlation between high RMSD and the error in the prediction of ΔΔG.
Modeling of the Weight Status and Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Elderly Individuals: The Potential Impact of the Disulfide Bond‐Forming Oxidoreductase A‐Like Protein (DsbA‐L) Polymorphism on the Weight Status
Authors: Oniki Kentaro , Watanabe Takehisa , Kudo Miku , Izuka Tomoko , Ono Tatsumasa , Matsuda Kazuki , Sakamoto Yuki , Nagaoka Katsuya , Imafuku Tadashi , Ishima Yu , Watanabe Hiroshi , Maruyama Toru , Otake Koji , Ogata Yasuhiro , Saruwatari Junji
Published: March 2018

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with obesity. Disulfide bond‐forming oxidoreductase A‐like protein (DsbA‐L) is known to be a key molecule in protection against obesity and obesity‐induced inflammation. In the present study, we used a modeling and simulation approach in an attempt to develop body mass index (BMI) and BMI‐based NAFLD prediction models incorporating the DsbA‐L polymorphism to predict the BMI and NAFLD in 341 elderly subjects. A nonlinear mixed‐effect model best represented the sigmoidal relationship between the BMI and the logit function of the probability of NAFLD prevalence. The final models for BMI and NAFLD showed that DsbA‐L rs1917760 polymorphism, age, and gender were associated with the BMI, whereas gender, patatin‐like phospholipase 3 rs738409 polymorphism, HbA1c, and high‐density and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were associated with the risk of NAFLD. This information may aid in the genetic‐based prevention of obesity and NAFLD in the general elderly population.
Precipitation measurements from the Tropical Moored Array: A review and look ahead
Authors: Serra Yolande L.
Published: March 2018

Rainfall is an important component of the global climate system and is one of the essential climate variables (ECVs) highlighted in the implementation plan for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). Over 75% of the world's rainfall occurs over open ocean where in situ observations are most sparse. While current satellite algorithms for estimating rainfall have improved considerably over the past few decades, validation of these products using in situ observations remains critical for meeting the requirements of an ECV. This article reviews the current status of continuous, high‐frequency open‐ocean rainfall measurements collected across the tropical Pacific from the Tropical Moored Array (TMA) and outlines upcoming challenges as well as opportunities for these measurements under the Tropical Pacific Observing System (TPOS) 2020 Project now underway. The rainfall observations from the TMA now provide over a 15‐year record at some sites; however, these observations have been drastically reduced in recent years. As the TPOS is reassessed in light of new platforms for observing ocean and atmospheric state variables, this is an opportune time to review the TMA rainfall observations and their important place in the redesign of the TMA as a “full flux” platform, measuring all interfacial fluxes including radiation and rainfall, as well as momentum, latent and sensible heat fluxes.
The impact of the diamond reinforcing particle size on their interaction with the aluminum matrix of composites in the course of heating
Authors: Popov Vladimir
Published: March 2018

In aluminum matrix composites, the formation of aluminum carbide may occur during heating on contact between aluminum and the carbon reinforcing particles. Samples of composites with an aluminum matrix and various diamond reinforcing particles were prepared to determine the influence of the size of the diamond particles on this process. The composites were obtained via mechanical alloying. Annealing shows that the outcome is different for cases of contact with diamond nanoparticles and microparticles. Differential scanning calorimetry has shown that the reaction between the components to produce aluminum carbide starts at 400°C to 450°C in composite materials made of aluminum and nanodiamond reinforcing particles with a size of 4 to 6 nm. The reaction with diamond microparticles starts at higher temperatures. The studies have shown that the temperature range for the use of composites with an aluminum matrix and nanodiamond reinforcing particles does not exceed 450°C.
XPS study during a soft and progressive sputtering of a monolayer on indium phosphide by argon cluster bombardment
Authors: Aureau Damien , Frégnaux Mathieu , Njel Christian , Vigneron Jackie , Bouttemy Muriel , Gonçalves Anne‐Marie , Etcheberry Arnaud
Published: March 2018

Gas cluster ion beam is performed on an ultrathin “polyphosphazene‐like” film grown on indium phosphide substrates to obtain crucial properties of this model system. Unlike “standard” sputtering technique using monoatomic ions, a gentle progressive digging of this subnanometric thick layer has been realized thanks to the unique depth profiling features of gas cluster ion beam. Furthermore, our results highlight the properties of the electrochemically formed film made of phosphorus‐nitrogen electron‐rich chemical bond creating a strong attenuation of the photoelectron underneath. Such approach opens exciting insights in the chemical and physical analysis of sensitive surfaces as ultrathin covering layers.
A Comparative In Vivo Study of Albumin‐Coated Paclitaxel Nanocrystals and Abraxane
Authors: Park Joonyoung , Park Ji Eun , Hedrick Victoria E. , Wood Karl V. , Bonham Connie , Lee Wooin , Yeo Yoon
Published: March 2018

Nanoparticulate drug carriers exploit the enhanced permeability of tumor vasculature to achieve selective delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs. For this purpose, nanoparticles (NPs) need to circulate with a long half‐life, enter tumors via the permeable vasculature and stay in tumors via favorable interactions with tumor cells. To fulfill these requirements, albumin‐coated nanocrystal formulation of paclitaxel (PTX), Cim‐F‐alb, featuring high drug loading content, physical stability in serum, and surface‐bound albumin in its native conformation is prepared. The pharmacokinetic and biodistribution (PK/BD) profiles of Cim‐F‐alb in a mouse model of B16F10 melanoma show that Cim‐F‐alb exhibits a longer plasma half‐life and a greater PTX deposition in tumors than Abraxane by ≈1.5 and ≈4.6 fold, respectively. Biolayer interferometry analysis indicates that Cim‐F‐alb has less interaction with serum proteins than nanocrystals lacking albumin coating, indicating the protective effect of the surface‐bound albumin against opsonization in the initial deposition phase. With the advantageous PK/BD profiles, Cim‐F‐alb shows greater and longer‐lasting anticancer efficacy than Abraxane at the equivalent dose. This study demonstrates the significance of controlling circulation stability and surface property of NPs in efficient drug delivery to tumors and enhanced anticancer efficacy.
Defect Engineering in Few‐Layer Phosphorene
Authors: Sharma Ankur , Wen Bo , Liu Boqing , Myint Ye Win , Zhang Han , Lu Yuerui
Published: March 2018

Defect engineering in 2D phosphorene samples is becoming an important and powerful technique to alter their properties, enabling new optoelectronic applications, particularly at the infrared wavelength region. Defect engineering in a few‐layer phosphorene sample via introduction of substrate trapping centers is realized. In a three‐layer (3L) phosphorene sample, a strong photoluminescence (PL) emission peak from localized excitons at ≈1430 nm is observed, a much lower energy level than free excitonic emissions. An activation energy of ≈77 meV for the localized excitons is determined in temperature‐dependent PL measurements. The relatively high activation energy supports the strong stability of the localized excitons even at elevated temperature. The quantum efficiency of localized exciton emission in 3L phosphorene is measured to be approximately three times higher than that of free excitons. These results could enable exciting applications in infrared optoelectronics.
A Universal Route to Fabricate n‐i‐p Multi‐Junction Polymer Solar Cells via Solution Processing
Authors: Di Carlo Rasi Dario , Hendriks Koen H. , Heintges Gaël H. L. , Simone Giulio , Gelinck Gerwin H. , Gevaerts Veronique S. , Andriessen Ronn , Pirotte Geert , Maes Wouter , Li Weiwei , Wienk Martijn M. , Janssen René A. J.
Published: March 2018

The interconnection layer (ICL) that connects adjacent subcells electrically and optically in solution‐processed multi‐junction polymer solar cells must meet functional requirements in terms of work functions, conductivity, and transparency, but also be compatible with the multiple layer stack in terms of processing and deposition conditions. Using a combination of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate, diluted in near azeotropic water/n‐propanol dispersions as hole transport layer, and ZnO nanoparticles, dispersed in isoamyl alcohol as electron transport layer, a novel, versatile ICL has been developed for solution‐processed tandem and triple‐junction solar cells in an n‐i‐p architecture. The ICL has been incorporated in six different tandem cells and three different triple‐junction solar cells, employing a range of different polymer‐fullerene photoactive layers. The new ICL provided an essentially lossless contact in each case, without the need of adjusting the formulations or deposition conditions. The approach permitted realizing complex devices in good yields, providing a power conversion efficiency up to 10%.
In Vitro Fusion of Normal and Neoplastic Breast Epithelial Cells with Human Mesenchymal Stroma/Stem Cells Partially Involves Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Signaling
Authors: Melzer Catharina , von der Ohe Juliane , Hass Ralf
Published: March 2018

Formation of hybrid cells by “accidental cell fusion” of normal and neoplastic breast epithelial cells with local tissue-associated mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC) in an inflammatory microenvironment can generate new cancer cell populations whereby molecular signaling mechanisms of this process remain unclear. Fusions of lentiviral enhanced green fluorescent protein-labeled MSC with mcherry-labeled breast epithelial cells were quantified and effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and receptor downstream signaling were investigated. Cocultures of MSC with normal human mammary epithelial cells, with neoplastic MCF10A, or with MDA-MB-231 or MCF7 breast cancer cells demonstrated hybrid cell formation between 0.1% and about 2% of the populations within 72 hours, whereby the fusion process occurred in less than 5 minutes. Addition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α significantly enhanced MCF10A-MSC cell fusion. Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown experiments revealed an involvement of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-1 and -2 in this process. This was also substantiated by siRNA knockdown of tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1-associated death domain which abolished TNF-α-stimulated fusion. While TNF receptor signaling can be relayed via the Mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8), NF-κB or cell death pathways, examination of further downstream signaling exhibited little if any effects of MAPK8 or RelA (p65) on TNF-α-mediated cell fusion, respectively. These data suggested that cell fusion between MSC and MCF10A breast epithelial cells can be stimulated by TNF-α involving TNF receptor-activated cell death pathways or additional NF-κB signaling.
The Effect of Content Retelling on Vocabulary Uptake From a TED Talk
Authors: Nguyen Chi‐Duc , Boers Frank
Published: March 2018

This study investigates the potential benefits for incidental vocabulary acquisition of implementing a particular sequence of input–output–input activities. More specifically, learners of English as a foreign language (EFL; n = 32) were asked to watch a TED Talk video, orally sum up its content in English, and then watch the video once more. A comparison group (n = 32) also watched the TED Talk video twice but were not required to sum it up in between. Immediate and delayed posttests showed significantly better word‐meaning recall in the former condition. An analysis of the oral summaries showed that it was especially words that learners attempted to use that stood a good chance of being recalled later. These findings are interpreted with reference to Swain's (1995) output hypothesis, Laufer and Hulstijn's (2001) involvement load hypothesis, and Nation and Webb's (2011) technique feature analysis. What makes the text‐based output task in this experiment fundamentally different from many previous studies that have investigated the merits of text‐based output activities is that it was at no point stipulated for the participants that they should use particular words from the input text. The study also illustrates the potential of TED Talks as a source of authentic audiovisual input in EFL classrooms.
Novel diagnostic approach on the identification of Brucella melitensis Greek endemic strains‐discrimination from the vaccine strain Rev.1 by PCR‐RFLP assay
Authors: Christoforidou Sofia , Boukouvala Evridiki , Zdragas Antonios , Malissiova Eleni , Sandalakis Vassilios , Psaroulaki Anna , Petridou Evanthia , Tsakos Panagiotis , Ekateriniadou Loukia , Hadjichristodoulou Christos
Published: March 2018

Despite the intensive implementation of control programmes goat, sheep and human brucellosis remains endemic in Greece. As the discrimination between field endemic strains and vaccine strain Rev.1 is not feasible, it is essential to develop new diagnostic tools for brucellosis diagnosis. Moreover, effective disease control requires enhanced epidemiological surveillance in both humans and animals including robust laboratory support. Two new multiplex (duplex) polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were developed and the results were compared with those obtained by real‐time PCR and bacteriological biotyping. A total of 71 Brucella spp. Greek endemic strains were identified at species and biovar level, using both molecular and conventional techniques. Their discrimination from the vaccine strain Rev.1 was achieved, using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism assay (PCR‐RFLP). All 71 strains were identified as Brucella melitensis by multiplex PCR as well as by real‐time PCR and conventional biotyping. Sixty‐two (87.3%) out of 71 strains were identified as B. melitensis biovar 3, eight (11,3%) strains as biovar 1 and only one (1,4%) as biovar 2. Digestion with PstI restriction enzyme revealed that all strains were field endemic strains, as they gave different patterns from the vaccine strain Rev.1. Brucella melitensis biovar 3 appears to be the predominant type in Greece. The novel multiplex PCR produced results concordant to ones obtained by real‐time PCR and conventional biotyping. This technique could support and facilitate the surveillance of Brucellosis in Greece contributing in the control of the disease.
Condition monitoring of spar‐type floating wind turbine drivetrain using statistical fault diagnosis
Authors: Ghane Mahdi , Rasekhi Nejad Amir , Blanke Mogens , Gao Zhen , Moan Torgeir
Published: March 2018

Operation and maintenance costs are significant for large‐scale wind turbines and particularly so for offshore. A well‐organized operation and maintenance strategy is vital to ensure the reliability, availability, and cost‐effectiveness of a system. The ability to detect, isolate, estimate, and perform prognoses on component degradation could become essential to reduce unplanned maintenance and downtime. Failures in gearbox components are in focus since they account for a large share of wind turbine downtime. This study considers detection and estimation of wear in the downwind main‐shaft bearing of a 5‐MW spar‐type floating turbine. Using a high‐fidelity gearbox model, we show how the downwind main bearing and nacelle axial accelerations can be used to evaluate the condition of the bearing. The paper shows how relative acceleration can be evaluated using statistical change‐detection methods to perform a reliable estimation of wear of the bearing. It is shown in the paper that the amplitude distribution of the residual accelerations follows a t‐distribution and a change‐detection test is designed for the specific changes we observe when the main bearing becomes worn. The generalized likelihood ratio test is extended to fit the particular distribution encountered in this problem, and closed‐form expressions are derived for shape and scale parameter estimation, which are indicators for wear and extent of wear in the bearing. The results in this paper show how the proposed approach can detect and estimate wear in the bearing according to desired probabilities of detection and false alarm.
Mirror theories of 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SQCD
Authors: Giacomelli Simone , Mekareeya Noppadol
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Using a recently proposed duality for U(N ) supersymmetric QCD (SQCD) in three dimensions with monopole superpotential, in this paper we derive the mirror dual description of

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 2 SQCD with unitary gauge group, generalizing the known mirror dual description of abelian gauge theories. We match the chiral ring of the dual theories and their partition functions on the squashed sphere. We also conjecture a generalization for SQCD with orthogonal and symplectic gauge groups.
An update on the LHC monojet excess
Authors: Asadi Pouya , Buckley Matthew R. , DiFranzo Anthony , Monteux Angelo , Shih David
Published: March 2018

Abstract

In previous work, we identified an anomalous number of events in the LHC jets+MET searches characterized by low jet multiplicity and low-to-moderate transverse energy variables. Here, we update this analysis with results from a new ATLAS search in the monojet channel which also shows a consistent excess. As before, we find that this “monojet excess” is well-described by the resonant production of a heavy colored state decaying to a quark and a massive invisible particle. In the combined ATLAS and CMS data, we now find a local (global) preference of 3.3σ (2.5σ) for the new physics model over the Standard Model-only hypothesis. As the signal regions containing the excess are systematics-limited, we consider additional cuts to enhance the signal-to-background ratio. We show that binning finer in H

T
and requiring the jets to be more central can increase S/B by a factor of ∼1.5.
Characterizing boosted dijet resonances with energy correlation functions
Authors: Chivukula R. Sekhar , Mohan Kirtimaan A. , Sengupta Dipan , Simmons Elizabeth H.
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Jet Energy Correlation Variables are powerful tools to study jet physics at LHC. We show that a class of such variables, known as Energy Correlation Functions can be used effectively to discover and distinguish a wide variety of boosted light dijet resonances at the LHC through sensitivity to their transverse momentum and color structures.
Dual Frobenius manifolds of minimal gravity on disk
Authors: Bawane Aditya , Muraki Hisayoshi , Rim Chaiho
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Liouville field theory approach to 2-dimensional gravity possesses the duality (b ↔ b
−1). The matrix counterpart of minimal gravity ℳ(q, p) (q < p co-prime) is effectively described on A

q−1 Frobenius manifold, which may exhibit a similar duality p ↔ q, and allow a description on A

p−1 Frobenius manifold. We have positive results from the bulk one-point and the bulk-boundary two-point correlations on disk that the dual description of the Frobenius manifold works for the unitary series ℳ(q, q + 1). However, for the Lee-Yang series ℳ(2, 2q + 1) on disk the duality is checked only partially. The main difficulty lies in the absence of a canonical description of trace in the continuum limit.
The impact of physician‐hospital integration on hospital supply management
Authors: Abdulsalam Yousef , Gopalakrishnan Mohan , Maltz Arnold , Schneller Eugene
Published: March 2018

This study examines how organizational alignment between professionals—who act as surrogate buyers‐‐ and the organizations in which they work, influence the supply management efficiency of the organization. Based on a cross‐sectional sample of hospital data, we estimate random effects regression models to investigate the association between physician‐hospital integration mechanisms and hospital supply efficiency. The results suggest that either professional hierarchy or bureaucratic pressures can improve supply management efficiency. In a sector of the economy characterized by escalating costs and uncertainty, the findings provide potential guidance for professional relationship strategy design to improve sector performance.
Nutrition and taste and smell dysfunction
Authors: Kershaw Jonathan C. , Mattes Richard D.
Published: March 2018

Food selection plays a pivotal role in maintaining adequate nutrient intake, thus elucidating drivers of food choice is a meaningful strategy to maintain health and manage disease. Taste and smell are key determinants of food choice and warrant careful consideration. In this review, we first discuss how sensory stimulation influences food selection and metabolism. We then review the evidence regarding the relationship between taste and smell dysfunction and food preferences and selection, with attention given to contexts of certain chronic diseases. We conclude with brief recommendations for the management of chemosensory disorders. While sensory abilities influence food selection, the effect of taste and smell dysfunction on long‐term consumption patterns and health status must be considered in light of environment, exposure, and culture.
Tracking traumatic head injuries with the chemical senses
Authors: Frank Marion E. , Hettinger Thomas P.
Published: March 2018

Chemosensory disorders, primarily olfactory, have diagnostic significance for prevalent human illnesses, but the multitude of smells makes measuring function appear daunting. The olfactory system operates under dynamic natural sensing conditions in which many individual odor chemicals are waxing and waning. Yet, in experimentally controlled simulations, mixture‐component selective adaptation shows individual or shared prominent characteristic odors are detected but molecular stimulus features are not. As in other biological chemical signaling systems, including taste, odors activate dedicated receptors (OR). Given rapid OR adaptation with the passage of time, individual odor recognition is momentary. Receptive dendrites of the nearly 400 genetically variable human‐OR in the olfactory epithelium critically project axons to the olfactory bulb through perforations in the cribriform plate of the skull. Analytic chemical‐quality codes detect single odor‐mixture components. However, identities of no more than 3 or 4 most salient odors are perceived due to central mixture‐suppression, the mutual inhibition among diverse olfactory‐bulb or cortical neurons. The componental codes allow olfaction to readily discern odor quality and valence of a wide range of unrelated chemicals, a few at a time. Head trauma may result in a partial or complete loss of smell and facial trauma a loss of taste‐nerve function. Testing smell could plot the course of recovery from chronic traumatic encephalopathies that prevail in contact sports. Measuring brain function with olfaction would provide simpler and more direct monitoring of prognosis than biochemical sensors.
Stochastic marine ice sheet variability
Authors: Mulder T. E. , Baars S. , Wubs F. W. , Dijkstra H. A.
Published: March 2018

It is well known that deterministic two-dimensional marine ice sheets can only be stable if the grounding line is positioned at a sufficiently steep, downward sloping bedrock. When bedrock conditions favour instabilities, multiple stable ice sheet profiles may occur. Here, we employ continuation techniques to examine the sensitivity of a two-dimensional marine ice sheet to stochastic noise representing short time scale variability, either in the accumulation rate or in the sea level height. We find that in unique regimes, the position of the grounding line is most sensitive to noise in the accumulation rate and can explain excursions observed in field measurements. In the multiple equilibrium regime, there is a strong asymmetry in transition probabilities between the different ice sheet states, with a strong preference to switch to the branch with a steeper bedrock slope.