bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Synthesis of Energetic Compound on 4,4′‐((2,4,6‐trinitro‐1,3‐phenylene)bis(oxy)) bis(1,3‐dinitrobenzene)(ZXC‐5): Thermally Stable Explosive with Outstanding Properties
Authors: Zhang XingCheng , Xiong HuaLin , Yang HongWei , Cheng GuangBin
Published: July 2017

The novel, thermally stable explosive 4,4′‐((2,4,6‐trinitro‐1,3‐phenylene)bis(oxy))bis(1,3‐dinitrobenzene) (Be referred to as ZXC‐5 in our laboratory) has been reported. ZXC‐5 can be synthesized by a simple synthetic method (The total synthesis of ZXC‐5 requires only two steps and the total yield of ZXC‐5 is more than 89 %) and shows the superior detonation performances (detonation pressure, detonation velocity, sensitivity toward mechanical stimuli, and temperature of decomposition). The structure of ZXC‐5 was characterized by multinuclear (1H, 13C) NMR and mass spectrometry. The structure in the crystalline state was confirmed by low‐temperature single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. From the calculated standard molar enthalpy of formation and the measured densities, the detonation properties were predicted by using the EXPLO5 V6.01 thermochemical computer code. The sensitivity of ZXC‐5 towards impact, electrostatic discharge, and friction were also measured.
Combining “Bottom‐up” and “Top‐down” Approaches to Assess the Impact of Food and Gastric pH on Pictilisib (GDC‐0941) Pharmacokinetics
Authors: Lu Tong , Fraczkiewicz Grazyna , Salphati Laurent , Budha Nageshwar , Dalziel Gena , Smelick Gillian S. , Morrissey Kari M. , Davis John D. , Jin Jin Y. , Ware Joseph A.
Published: July 2017

Pictilisib, a weakly basic compound, is an orally administered, potent, and selective pan‐inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinases for oncology indications. To investigate the significance of high‐fat food and gastric pH on pictilisib pharmacokinetics (PK) and enable label recommendations, a dedicated clinical study was conducted in healthy volunteers, whereby both top‐down (population PK, PopPK) and bottom‐up (physiologically based PK, PBPK) approaches were applied to enhance confidence of recommendation and facilitate the clinical development through scenario simulations. The PopPK model identified food (for absorption rate constant (Ka)) and proton pump inhibitors (PPI, for relative bioavailability (Frel) and Ka) as significant covariates. Food and PPI also impacted the variability of Frel. The PBPK model accounted for the supersaturation tendency of pictilisib, and gastric emptying physiology successfully predicted the food and PPI effect on pictilisib absorption. Our research highlights the importance of applying both quantitative approaches to address critical drug development questions.
Effects of grain boundary and grain orientation on electrical behavior of polycrystalline ferroelectric field effect transistor
Authors: Wang Fang , Li Bo , Xu Baolei , Liu Longfei , Ou Yun , Tian Li , Wang Wei
Published: July 2017

The effects of grain boundary thickness and grain orientation on the electrical behavior of a ferroelectric field effect transistor with a polycrystalline gate are investigated using a phase field model in conjunction with the basic device equations of the field effect transistor. It is found that the grain boundary and grain orientation have a significant effect on the C–V relation curve and the output characteristic curve through the remnant polarization value and the coercive field of polycrystalline ferroelectric thin film. The grain orientation and grain boundary cause the memory window of the C–V relation curves to narrow. And the grain orientation and grain boundary have an influence on the on/off state source‐drain current, decrease their on‐off ratio of the output characteristics curves in the ferroelectric field effect transistor.
Task‐Oriented Learning With Multiple Documents: Effects of Topic Familiarity, Author Expertise, and Content Relevance on Document Selection, Processing, and Use
Authors: Bråten Ivar , McCrudden Matthew T. , Stang Lund Elisabeth , Brante Eva W. , Strømsø Helge I.
Published: July 2017

This study investigated the effects of author expertise and content relevance on Norwegian secondary school students’ (n = 190) selection, processing, and use of multiple documents. Participants were presented with documents that pertained to more or less familiar topics, and received brief instructions that highlighted the importance of source credibility or content relevance, whereas those in a control group just received a general task instruction (to write a letter to the editor about their assigned topic). Results showed that content relevance had strong and nearly identical effects on students’ selection, processing, and use of documents independently of whether the topic was more or less familiar, whereas they valued author expertise to a greater extent when the topic was less familiar. Moreover, content relevance had a strong effect on students’ selection, processing, and use of documents independently of instructional condition, whereas brief instructions to focus on source credibility increased the value placed on author expertise when students selected, processed, and used documents for the less familiar topic. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
Concise Review: The High Cost of High Tech Medicine: Planning Ahead for Market Access
Authors: Driscoll Dawn , Farnia Stephanie , Kefalas Panos , Maziarz Richard T.
Published: July 2017

Cellular therapies and other regenerative medicines are emerging as potentially transformative additions to modern medicine, but likely at a staggering financial cost. Public health care systems’ budgets are already strained by growing and aging populations, and many private insurer's budgets are equally stretched. The current systems that most payers employ to manage their cash flow are not structured to absorb a sudden onslaught of very expensive prescriptions for a large portion of their covered population. Despite this, developers of new regenerative medicines tend to focus on the demands of regulators, not payers, in order to be compliant throughout the clinical trials phases, and to develop a product that ultimately will be approvable. It is not advisable to assume that an approved product will automatically become a reimbursed product, as examples from current practice in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the U.S. demonstrate; similarly, in Europe numerous Advanced-therapy Medicinal Products achieved market authorization but failed to secure reimbursement (e.g., Glybera, Provenge, ChondroCelect, MACI). There are however strategies and approaches that developers can employ throughout clinical development, in order to generate clinical and health economic data which will be necessary to demonstrate the value proposition of the new product and help ensure market access for patients; furthermore, performance based managed entry agreements coupled with post-launch evidence generation can help overcome challenges around product uncertainty at launch and reduce market access delays.
A comparison of statistical methods for the study of etiologic heterogeneity
Authors: Zabor Emily C. , Begg Colin B.
Published: July 2017

Cancer epidemiologic research has traditionally been guided by the premise that certain diseases share an underlying etiology, or cause. However, with the rise of molecular and genomic profiling, attention has increasingly focused on identifying subtypes of disease. As subtypes are identified, it is natural to ask the question of whether they share a common etiology or in fact arise from distinct sets of risk factors. In this context, epidemiologic questions of interest include (1) whether a risk factor of interest has the same effect across all subtypes of disease and (2) whether risk factor effects differ across levels of each individual tumor marker of which the subtypes are comprised. A number of statistical models have been proposed to address these questions. In an effort to determine the similarities and differences among the proposed methods, and to identify any advantages or disadvantages, we use a simplified data example to elucidate the interpretation of model parameters and available hypothesis tests, and we perform a simulation study to assess bias in effect size, type I error, and power. The results show that when the number of tumor markers is small enough that the cross‐classification of markers can be evaluated in the traditional polytomous logistic regression framework, then the statistical properties are at least as good as the more complex modeling approaches that have been proposed. The potential advantage of more complex methods is in the ability to accommodate multiple tumor markers in a model of reduced parametric dimension.
Structural Characterization of (Diphenylhydrazido)vanadium(V) Compounds
Authors: Sakuramoto Takashi , Hirao Toshikazu , Moriuchi Toshiyuki
Published: July 2017

(Diphenylhydrazido)vanadium(V) triisopropoxide was synthesized by the reaction of VO(OiPr)3 with N,N‐diphenylhydrazine. The μ‐isopropoxido‐bridged dimeric structure was observed in the molecular structure of (diphenylhydrazido)vanadium(V) triisopropoxide. The near‐linear V(1)‐N(1)‐N(2) angle of 173.7(3)° with the V(1)‐N(1) distance of 1.667(4) Å indicates that the imido nitrogen has large participation of an sp‐hybridized character. The phenyl substituents of the hydrazido moiety were found to conjugate with the N−N bond. Furthermore, CH‐π intermolecular interaction between two benzene rings was observed to induce polymeric structure in a solid state. (Diphenylhydrazido)vanadium(V) nitrilotriethoxide was obtained by the treatment of (diphenylhydrazido)vanadium(V) triisopropoxide with 2,2′,2′′‐nitrilotriethanol. The slightly increased imido angle (V(1)‐N(1)‐N(2), 176.4(5)°) was observed as compared with (diphenylhydrazido)vanadium(V) triisopropoxide probably because of the apical coordination of the nitrogen.
Synergistic Effect of Bronsted and Lewis Acid Amounts on One‐Pot Synthesis of Aminoxazole by Propargylation and Cycloisomerization
Authors: Venkatesha Naragalu Javaregowda
Published: July 2017

One pot synthesis of aminoxazoles through propargylation and cycloisomerization reaction requires both Bronsted and Lewis acid amounts. The variation in any one of the acid amounts or pore volume upon loading of oxometalates or metal chlorides on gamma alumina causes alteration in the product distribution. The synergistic effect of Bronsted to Lewis (B/L) acid amounts ratio gives better yield. The combination of pore characteristics and acidity provides an idea about the approach of reaction intermediate to both acid sites within the pore giving good selectivity of final product. Among the three factors, either the increase or decrease in one of the acid amounts or pore volume alters the product distribution. The combined effect of B/L ratio and pore volume contributes better yield of final product aminoxazole. It is also evident that, the better correlation was obtained by volume accessibility factors.
Transport and Deposition of Non‐Metallic Inclusions in Steel Flows‐ A Comparison of Different Model Predictions to Pilot Plant Experiment Data
Authors: Ni Peiyuan , Jonsson Lage Tord Ingemar , Ersson Mikael , Jönsson Pär Göran
Published: July 2017

Inclusion behavior during a ladle teeming process is investigated. A Lagrangian method is used to track different‐size inclusions and to compare their behaviors in steel flows, solved by the realizable k‐ϵ model with SWF (Standard Wall Function), realizable k‐ϵ model with EWT (Enhanced Wall Treatment), and RSM (Reynolds Stress Model). The results show that inclusion tracking based on the realizable k‐ϵ model with SWF to predict the steel flow does not agree with the data from plant experiments. The predicted number of inclusions touching the wall shows almost no dependence on inclusion size. This is due to that the boundary layer is not resolved. The inclusion deposition predicted using the realizable k‐ϵ model with EWT and the RSM model to predict the steel flow generally agrees with the experimental observations. However, the large size inclusion deposition is over‐predicted when using the realizable k‐ϵ model with EWT. More specifically, the prediction for 20 μm inclusions is three times larger than that with the RSM. This is due to that this model cannot calculate the anisotropic turbulence fluctuations. In summary, the turbulence properties in the near‐wall boundary layer are found to be very important for a good prediction on inclusion deposition.
A Novel Lateral Approach to the Assessment of Vocal Cord Movement by Ultrasonography
Authors: Fukuhara Takahiro , Donishi Ryohei , Matsuda Eriko , Koyama Satoshi , Fujiwara Kazunori , Takeuchi Hiromi
Published: July 2017

Background

Ultrasonography is a non‐invasive technique that is commonly used by endocrinologists and endocrine surgeons to examine the thyroid region and could be useful for the assessment of vocal cord movement by these specialists. However, previous studies reported a low rate of successful visualization of vocal cord movement by ultrasonography. To address this issue, we devised a novel ultrasonographic procedure for assessing vocal cord movement indirectly by observing the arytenoid movement from a lateral view.

Methods

Subjects were 188 individuals, including 23 patients with vocal cord paralysis and 13 with vocal cord paresis. We performed ultrasonographic assessment of vocal cord movement using two different procedures: the conventional middle transverse procedure and the novel lateral vertical procedure.

Results

The rate of visualization of vocal cords with the middle transverse procedure was 70.2% and that of the arytenoid cartilage with the lateral vertical procedure was 98.4%. The lateral vertical procedure enabled visualization of all patients with vocal cord paresis/paralysis and detected all 23 patients with vocal paralysis; only one of 13 patients with vocal cord paresis was positively identified. The conventional procedure enabled visualization of 21 of 36 patients with vocal cord paresis/paralysis with high accuracy. There was no false‐positive case in either procedure.

Conclusion

The proposed lateral vertical procedure improved the rate of visualization of vocal cord movement by ultrasonography, suggesting that it is a useful technique to screen for vocal cord paralysis by ultrasonography.
Solubilization of Ni Imidazole Complex in Micellar Media of Anionic Surfactants, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Sodium Stearate
Authors: Younas Nafisa , Rashid Muhammad Abid , Usman Muhammad , Nazir Sadia , Noor Sadia , Basit Abdul , Jamil Muhammad
Published: July 2017

The solubilization and physicochemical behavior of a coordination complex of nickel, namely [Ni(im)6]F2·5H2O [hexakis(imidazole)nickel(II) fluoride pentahydrate], in aqueous micellar media of anionic surfactants, i.e., sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium stearate (SS), were investigated by using UV–Vis spectroscopy and electrical conductivity measurements. Spectroscopic techniques were used for the computation of binding constant (Kb), partition coefficient (Kx), change in free energy of binding (ΔGb), and change in free energy of partition (ΔGp), whereas electrical conductivity data was helpful to calculate thermodynamic parameters of micellization of surfactants in the presence of the Ni complex, i.e., standard entropy of micellization (ΔSm), free energy (ΔGm), and enthalpy of micellization (ΔHm). It is evident from the results that solubilization of the Ni complex takes place because of electrostatic as well as hydrophobic interactions. The presence of the Ni complex in micellar media increases the critical micelle concentration of both surfactants owing to the structure‐breaking effect.
Global a priori estimates for the inhomogeneous Landau equation with moderately soft potentials
Authors: Cameron Stephen , Silvestre Luis , Snelson Stanley
Published: July 2017

We establish
a priori
upper bounds for solutions to the spatially inhomogeneous Landau equation in the case of moderately soft potentials, with arbitrary initial data, under the assumption that mass, energy and entropy densities stay under control. Our pointwise estimates decay polynomially in the velocity variable. We also show that if the initial data satisfies a Gaussian upper bound, this bound is propagated for all positive times.

Nous établissons des estimations
a priori
pour les solutions de l'équation de Landau non homogène en espace, dans le cas de potentiels faiblement mous, pour toute donnée initiale, sous l'hypothèse que la masse, l'énergie et la densité d'entropie restent contrôlées. Nos estimations ponctuelles ont une décroissance polynomiale par rapport à la variable de vitesse. Nous démontrons également que si la donnée initiale est bornée par une gaussienne, alors cette borne est propagée pour tous les temps positifs.
Management of patients with pain and severe side effects while on intrathecal morphine therapy: A case study
Authors: Zhou Kehua , Sheng Sen , Wang Gary G.
Published: July 2017

Background and aims

The use of intrathecal morphine therapy has been increasing. Intrathecal morphine therapy is deemed the last resort for patients with intractable chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) who failed other treatments including surgery and pharmaceutical interventions. However, effective treatments for patients with CNCP who “failed” this last resort because of severe side effects and lack of optimal pain control remain unclear.

Methods and results

Here we report two successfully managed patients (Ms. S and Mr. T) who had intractable pain and significant complications years after the start of intrathecal morphine therapy. The two patients had intrathecal morphine pump implantation due to chronic consistent pain and multiple failed surgical operations in the spine. Years after morphine pump implantation, both patients had significant chronic pain and compromised function for activities of daily living. Additionally, Ms. S also had four episodes of small bowel obstruction while Mr. T was diagnosed with end stage severe “dementia”. The successful management of these two patients included the simultaneous multidisciplinary approach for pain management, opioids tapering and discontinuation.

Conclusion

The case study indicates that for patients who fail to respond to intrathecal morphine pump therapy due to side effects and lack of optimal pain control, the simultaneous multidisciplinary pain management approach and opioids tapering seem appropriate.
Consumer’s Guide to Regulatory Impact Analysis: Ten Tips for Being an Informed Policymaker
Authors: Dudley Susan , Belzer Richard , Blomquist Glenn , Brennan Timothy , Carrigan Christopher , Cordes Joseph , Cox Louis A. , Fraas Arthur , Graham John , Gray George , Hammitt James , Krutilla Kerry , Linquiti Peter , Lutter Randall , Mannix Brian , Shapiro Stuart , Smith Anne , Viscusi W. Kip , Zerbe Richard
Published: July 2017

Regulatory impact analyses (RIAs) weigh the benefits of regulations against the burdens they impose and are invaluable tools for informing decision makers. We offer 10 tips for nonspecialist policymakers and interested stakeholders who will be reading RIAs as consumers.

1.

Core problem: Determine whether the RIA identifies the core problem (compelling public need) the regulation is intended to address.

2.

Alternatives: Look for an objective, policy-neutral evaluation of the relative merits of reasonable alternatives.

3.

Baseline: Check whether the RIA presents a reasonable “counterfactual” against which benefits and costs are measured.

4.

Increments: Evaluate whether totals and averages obscure relevant distinctions and trade-offs.

5.

Uncertainty: Recognize that all estimates involve uncertainty, and ask what effect key assumptions, data, and models have on those estimates.

6.

Transparency: Look for transparency and objectivity of analytical inputs.

7.

Benefits: Examine how projected benefits relate to stated objectives.

8.

Costs: Understand what costs are included.

9.

Distribution: Consider how benefits and costs are distributed.

10.

Symmetrical treatment: Ensure that benefits and costs are presented symmetrically.
A QUOTIENT OF THE LUBIN–TATE TOWER
Authors: LUDWIG JUDITH
Published: July 2017

In this article we show that the quotient${\mathcal{M}}_{\infty }/B(\mathbb{Q}_{p})$of the Lubin–Tate space at infinite level${\mathcal{M}}_{\infty }$by the Borel subgroup of upper triangular matrices$B(\mathbb{Q}_{p})\subset \operatorname{GL}_{2}(\mathbb{Q}_{p})$exists as a perfectoid space. As an application we show that Scholze’s functor$H_{\acute{\text{e}}\text{t}}^{i}(\mathbb{P}_{\mathbb{C}_{p}}^{1},{\mathcal{F}}_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}})$is concentrated in degree one whenever$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}$is an irreducible principal series representation or a twist of the Steinberg representation of$\operatorname{GL}_{2}(\mathbb{Q}_{p})$.
Wavepackets and trapped acoustic modes in a turbulent jet: coherent structure eduction and global stability
Authors: Schmidt Oliver T. , Towne Aaron , Colonius Tim , Cavalieri André V. G. , Jordan Peter , Brès Guillaume A.
Published: July 2017

Coherent features of a turbulent Mach 0.9, Reynolds number$10^{6}$jet are educed from a high-fidelity large eddy simulation. Besides the well-known Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities of the shear layer, a new class of trapped acoustic waves is identified in the potential core. A global linear stability analysis based on the turbulent mean flow is conducted. The trapped acoustic waves form branches of discrete eigenvalues in the global spectrum, and the corresponding global modes accurately match the educed structures. Discrete trapped acoustic modes occur in a hierarchy determined by their radial and axial order. A local dispersion relation is constructed from the global modes and found to agree favourably with an empirical dispersion relation educed from the simulation data. The product between direct and adjoint modes is then used to isolate the trapped waves. Under certain conditions, resonance in the form of a beating occurs between trapped acoustic waves of positive and negative group velocities. This resonance explains why the trapped modes are prominently observed in the simulation and as tones in previous experimental studies. In the past, these tones were attributed to external factors. Here, we show that they are an intrinsic feature of high-subsonic jets that can be unambiguously identified by a global linear stability analysis.
Viscous film-flow coating the interior of a vertical tube. Part 2. Air-driven flow
Authors: Camassa Roberto , Ogrosky H. Reed , Olander Jeffrey
Published: July 2017

The flow of a viscous liquid film coating the interior of a vertical tube is studied for the case when the film is driven upwards against gravity by a constant volume flux of air through the centre of the tube. A nonlinear model exploiting the slowly varying liquid–air interface is first developed to estimate the interfacial stresses created by the airflow. A comparison of the model with both experiments and previously developed theoretical results is conducted for two geometrical settings: channel and pipe flow. In both geometries, the model compares reasonably well with previous experiments. A long-wave asymptotic theory is then developed for the air–liquid interface taking into account the estimated free-surface stresses created by the airflow. The stability of small interfacial disturbances is studied analytically, and it is shown that the modelled free-surface stresses contribute to both an increased upwards disturbance velocity and a more rapid instability growth than those of a previously developed ‘locally Poiseuille’ model. Numerical solutions to the long-wave model exhibit saturated waves, whose profiles and velocities show substantial improvement with respect to the previous model predictions. The theoretical results are compared with new experiments for a modified version of the set-up described in Part 1.
Marine Reservoir Correction for the Southern Marshall Islands for the Past 2500 Years
Authors: Weisler Marshall I , Hua Quan , Zhao Jian-xin , Nguyen Ai Duc , Nothdurft Luke , Yamano Hiroya , Mihaljević Morana
Published: July 2017

A robust marine radiocarbon (14C) reservoir correction (ΔR) is essential for calibrating14C dates of marine mollusks and fish bones routinely found in archaeological sites as discarded food remains and bones of terrestrial animals (including humans) with an appreciable marine diet. New ΔR values are reported for the atoll archipelago of the Marshall Islands, eastern Micronesia. Atolls consist of biogenetic material—mostly coral and foraminifera—that can be directly dated for establishing sequences of atoll emergence and islet development. After sectioning and examination using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to screen for sample diagenesis, 6 pristine branch coral samples were selected from the modern oceanside beach, 3 archaeological sites, and islet developmental facies from Ebon Atoll (4º34′N, 168º41′E). Each sample was analyzed by U-series and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)14C showing no substantial temporal ΔR variations and yielding a weighted mean ΔR of 41±42 yr1spanning ~500 yr before earliest human colonization (the period when islets first became habitable) through the entire 2000-yr occupation sequence. Reliable published ΔR values for Micronesia and Δ14C data for Palmyra Island, together with our results for Ebon Atoll, indicate that the Pacific North Equatorial Counter Current is almost stable for the past 2500 yr.
Satisfaits de la démocratie ? Une analyse du soutien démocratique à partir de la comparaison de deux méthodes de classification des citoyens
Authors: Bornand Thierry , Biard Benjamin , Baudewyns Pierre , Reuchamps Min
Published: July 2017

Il est un paradoxe démocratique régulièrement mis en avant : les peuples qui ne connaissent pas la démocratie l'appellent de leurs vœux, alors que, là où elle existe, la démocratie est fortement critiquée. Cela ne signifie pas que les citoyens qui vivent sous la démocratie veulent s'en débarrasser, mais que leur confiance dans le fonctionnement du système démocratique est fortement érodée. Cet article étudie le soutien démocratique en s'interrogeant sur sa mesure, à partir d'une enquête sur un échantillon représentatif de la population wallonne en Belgique. Pour ce faire, il compare deux méthodes de classification des citoyens : la méthode dite «a priori», classiquement utilisée dans la littérature, et une méthode dite «inductive», inspirée de la psychologie sociale. Trois profils, dont les contours varient partiellement selon la méthode, émergent –les « non-démocrates », les « démocrates satisfaits » et les « démocrates insatisfaits »– et sont analysés au travers de quatre approches théoriques : les ressources, la modernisation, l'idéologie et l'identification nationale.
Disease–weather relationships for wheat powdery mildew under climate change in China
Authors: ZHANG L. , YANG B. Y. , LI S. , GUO A. H.
Published: July 2017

Little is known about the quantitative relationships between wheat powdery mildew (Blumeria graminisf.sp.tritici) epidemics and climatic variables at the provincial scale in China, particularly under climate change. The present study assesses the actual disease process and corresponding impact on wheat yield and addresses climatic-driven variables that affect a powdery mildew epidemic. Powdery mildew increased in frequency from 1981 to 2010, and wheat yield decreased in most regions. It was clear that differences in disease and yield loss occurred temporally and spatially. Although particular weather variables were positively or negatively related to the disease, multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that mostly fewer than three variables affected prevalence and severity of powdery mildew in each province. In most cases, some combination of higher temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind led to higher disease severity. These weather factors had different effects on disease development. The influence of climatic variables on powdery mildew tended to decrease from 1981 to 2010, whereas the effect of non-climatic factors increased and was attributed mainly to the use of fungicides and resistant cultivars. Therefore, the results of the current study suggest that wheat powdery mildew in China will not increase consistently in the future. In addition, the quantitative assessment method used in the current study can generally provide a good way to identify disease epidemics under climate change.
Palaeoparasitology and palaeogenetics: review and perspectives for the study of ancient human parasites
Authors: CÔTÉ NATHALIE M.-L. , LE BAILLY MATTHIEU
Published: July 2017

While some species of parasites can be identified to species level from archaeological remains using microscopy (i.e.Enterobius vermicularis,Clonorchis sinensis), others can only be identified to family or genus level as different species produce eggs with similar morphology (i.e.Tæniasp. andEchinococcussp.). Molecular and immunological approaches offer the possibility to provide more precise determination at the species level. They can also identify taxa when classic parasite markers such as eggs or cysts have been destroyed over time. However, biomolecules can be poorly preserved and modern reference DNA is available only for a limited number of species of parasites, leading to the conclusion that classic microscopic observation should be combined with molecular analyses. Here we present a review of the molecular approaches used over the past two decades to identify human pathogenic helminths (Ascarissp.,Trichurissp.,E. vermicularis,Fasciolasp. etc.) or protists (Giardiasp.,Trypanosomasp.,Leishmaniasp. etc.). We also discuss the prospects for studying the evolution of parasites with genetics and genomics.
THE EXILIC BURIAL PLACE OF A GAELIC IRISH COMMUNITY AT SAN PIETRO IN MONTORIO, ROME
Authors: FitzPatrick Elizabeth
Published: July 2017

This paper presents the findings of a survey of the funerary monuments and burial vault of an exiled community of Gaelic Irish who were interred (1608–23) at San Pietro in Montorio, Rome. The site of their burial and commemoration had an eventful history that resulted in loss, fragmentation and alteration of the ledgers of élite members of the group, including those of the respective chiefs and earls of the Ulster lordships of Tyrone and Tyrconnell in Ireland. The original form and layout of the ledgers and their inscriptions is proposed and they are examined in the context of their setting in a Franciscan church patronized by Philip III of Spain. The ledger inscriptions commemorate both the suffering and Counter-Reformation confessional identity of the Gaelic Irish as Catholic exiles. They indicate tension between the complex political circumstances of the exiles’ lives in Rome and a concern to provide an appropriate burial site publicly reflecting their status and piety.
The making of a modern public health system in some smaller Chinese towns, 1929–1949
Authors: VIANA VENUS
Published: July 2017

This article is a study of Zhongshan in South China, which took on the responsibility for modernizing its public health system after it was promulgated as a model county by the Nationalist government in Nanjing in 1929. However, the county was not ready to become a model. Insufficient budget, lack of experience, medical skills and directions limited the scope of the enterprise and its chances to succeed in a number of projects. Zhongshan's urban residents, on the other hand, were going through a transition from traditional to new public health practices. There were widely divergent views on the subject. For instance, some did not only accept the authorities interfering in and controlling their personal and environmental hygiene, but regarded this role as their right. Yet, many others did not see the need for changes. Ultimately, Zhongshan was caught between pressure exerted by Nanjing and the social tensions created by reform programmes that the authorities failed to implement properly.
Management of Diabetic Surgical Patients in a Deployed Field Hospital: A Model for Acute Non-Communicable Disease Care in Disaster
Authors: McDermott Kathleen M. , Hardstaff Ruth M. , Alpen Sophie , Read David J. , Coatsworth Nicholas R.
Published: July 2017

Sudden onset disasters (SODs) have affected over 1.5 billion of the world’s population in the past decade. During the same time, developing nations have faced a sustained increase in the burden of non-communicable disease (NCD) with extra pressure placed on health systems. The combined increase in SODs and the NCD epidemic facing the world’s most disaster-prone nations will present new challenges to emergency medical teams (EMTs) during disaster response. This report details the experience as an EMT during the Typhoon Haiyan disaster of 2013, with particular reference to the challenges of diabetic management in a surgical field hospital. The incidence of diabetes in this surgical cohort exceeded that of the population by a factor of four. The steps to prepare for and treat diabetes in the field provide a useful model for the management of NCD in the deployed field hospital environment after a disaster.

McDermottKM, HardstaffRM, AlpenS, ReadDJ, CoatsworthNR. Management of diabetic surgical patients in a deployed field hospital: a model for acute non-communicable disease care in disaster. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(6):657–661.
miR-181d and c-myc-mediated inhibition of CRY2 and FBXL3 reprograms metabolism in colorectal cancer
Authors: Guo Xiaofeng , Zhu Yuekun , Hong Xinya , Zhang Mukun , Qiu Xingfeng , Wang Zhenfa , Qi Zhongquan , Hong Xuehui
Published: July 2017

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second major cause of tumor-related deaths. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have pivotal roles in CRC progression. Here, we describe the effect of miR-181d on CRC cell metabolism and underlying molecular mechanism. Our data firmly demonstrated that knockdown of miR-181d suppressed CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by impairing glycolysis. Mechanistically, miR-181d stabilized c-myc through directly targeting the 3′-UTRs of CRY2 and FBXL3, which subsequently increased the glucose consumption and the lactate production. Inhibition of c-myc via siRNA or small molecular inhibitor abolished the oncogenic effects of miR-181d on the growth and metastasis of CRC cells. Furthermore, c-myc/HDAC3 transcriptional suppressor complex was found to co-localize on the CRY2 and FBXL3 promoters, epigenetically inhibit their transcription, and finally induce their downregulation in CRC cells. In addition, miR-181d expression could be directly induced by an activation of c-myc signaling. Together, our data indicate an oncogenic role of miR-181d in CRC by promoting glycolysis, and miR-181d/CRY2/FBXL3/c-myc feedback loop might be a therapeutic target for patients with CRC.
Acid sphingomyelinase mediates human CD4+ T-cell signaling: potential roles in T-cell responses and diseases
Authors: Bai Aiping , Guo Yuan
Published: July 2017

Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) is a lipid hydrolase. By generating ceramide, ASM had been reported to have an important role in regulating immune cell functions inclusive of macrophages, NK cells, and CD8+ T cells, whereas the role of ASM bioactivity in regulation of human CD4+ T-cell functions remained uncertain. Recent studies have provided novel findings in this field. Upon stimulation of CD3 and/or CD28, ASM-dependent ceramide signaling mediates intracellular downstream signal cascades of CD3 and CD28, and regulates CD4+ T-cell activation and proliferation. Meanwhile, CD39 and CD161 have direct interactions with ASM, which mediates downstream signals inclusive of STAT3 and mTOR and thus defines human Th17 cells. Intriguingly, ASM mediates Th1 responses, but negatively regulates Treg functions. In this review, we summarized the pivotal roles of ASM in regulation of human CD4+ T-cell activation and responses. ASM/sphingolipid signaling may be a novel target for the therapy of human autoimmune diseases.
A promising high-energy-density material
Authors: Zhang Wenquan , Zhang Jiaheng , Deng Mucong , Qi Xiujuan , Nie Fude , Zhang Qinghua
Published: July 2017

High-energy density materials represent a significant class of advanced materials and have been the focus of energetic materials community. The main challenge in this field is to design and synthesize energetic compounds with a highest possible density and a maximum possible chemical stability. Here we show an energetic compound, [2,2′-bi(1,3,4-oxadiazole)]-5,5′-dinitramide, is synthesized through a two-step reaction from commercially available reagents. It exhibits a surprisingly high density (1.99 g cm−3 at 298 K), poor solubility in water and most organic solvents, decent thermal stability, a positive heat of formation and excellent detonation properties. The solid-state structural features of the synthesized compound are also investigated via X-ray diffraction and several theoretical techniques. The energetic and sensitivity properties of the explosive compound are similar to those of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12-(hexanitrohexaaza)cyclododecane (CL-20), and the developed compound shows a great promise for potential applications as a high-energy density material.
A Solar cycle correlation of coronal element abundances in Sun-as-a-star observations
Authors: Brooks David H. , Baker Deborah , van Driel-Gesztelyi Lidia , Warren Harry P.
Published: July 2017

The elemental composition in the coronae of low-activity solar-like stars appears to be related to fundamental stellar properties such as rotation, surface gravity, and spectral type. Here we use full-Sun observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, to show that when the Sun is observed as a star, the variation of coronal composition is highly correlated with a proxy for solar activity, the F10.7 cm radio flux, and therefore with the solar cycle phase. Similar cyclic variations should therefore be detectable spectroscopically in X-ray observations of solar analogs. The plasma composition in full-disk observations of the Sun is related to the evolution of coronal magnetic field activity. Our observations therefore introduce an uncertainty into the nature of any relationship between coronal composition and fixed stellar properties. The results highlight the importance of systematic full-cycle observations for understanding the elemental composition of solar-like stellar coronae.
Self-healing of damage inside metals triggered by electropulsing stimuli
Authors: Song Hui , Wang Zhong-jin , He Xiao-dong , Duan Jie
Published: July 2017

The microscopic defects that distributed randomly in metals are not only hard to detect, but also may inevitably cause catastrophic failure. Thus, autonomic probing and healing for damage inside metals continue to be a challenging. Here we show a novel approach for self-healing using electropulsing as a stimulus to trigger repairing of damaged metals. This is achieved via a process that through expelling absolutely currents, the microcrack causes them to be redistributed to form a concentrated and a diluted region around it, thereby inducing an extremely high temperature gradient and a large compressive stress, which drive material flow to close microcracks. Simultaneously, a large enough heat for bonding atoms was produced. That is, the microcrack as an empty cavity can be regarded as a special micro-device to shape a localized microscopic energy field, which in turn activates a healing process. The microstructure and mechanical property verified the extrinsic self-healing of a titanium alloy. The process is performed on a short timescale, is enable to detect automatically and act directly on the internal defects in metals, and to heal damage without any healing agent, long time heating as well as applied high pressure, offering unique advantages over conventional healing approaches.
Refractory period in network models of excitable nodes: self-sustaining stable dynamics, extended scaling region and oscillatory behavior
Authors: Moosavi S. Amin , Montakhab Afshin , Valizadeh Alireza
Published: July 2017

Networks of excitable nodes have recently attracted much attention particularly in regards to neuronal dynamics, where criticality has been argued to be a fundamental property. Refractory behavior, which limits the excitability of neurons is thought to be an important dynamical property. We therefore consider a simple model of excitable nodes which is known to exhibit a transition to instability at a critical point (λ = 1), and introduce refractory period into its dynamics. We use mean-field analytical calculations as well as numerical simulations to calculate the activity dependent branching ratio that is useful to characterize the behavior of critical systems. We also define avalanches and calculate probability distribution of their size and duration. We find that in the presence of refractory period the dynamics stabilizes while various parameter regimes become accessible. A sub-critical regime with λ < 1.0, a standard critical behavior with exponents close to critical branching process for λ = 1, a regime with 1 < λ < 2 that exhibits an interesting scaling behavior, and an oscillating regime with λ > 2.0. We have therefore shown that refractory behavior leads to a wide range of scaling as well as periodic behavior which are relevant to real neuronal dynamics.
Prediction of thermal boundary resistance by the machine learning method
Authors: Zhan Tianzhuo , Fang Lei , Xu Yibin
Published: July 2017

Thermal boundary resistance (TBR) is a key property for the thermal management of high power micro- and opto-electronic devices and for the development of high efficiency thermal barrier coatings and thermoelectric materials. Prediction of TBR is important for guiding the discovery of interfaces with very low or very high TBR. In this study, we report the prediction of TBR by the machine learning method. We trained machine learning models using the collected experimental TBR data as training data and materials properties that might affect TBR as descriptors. We found that the machine learning models have much better predictive accuracy than the commonly used acoustic mismatch model and diffuse mismatch model. Among the trained models, the Gaussian process regression and the support vector regression models have better predictive accuracy. Also, by comparing the prediction results using different descriptor sets, we found that the film thickness is an important descriptor in the prediction of TBR. These results indicate that machine learning is an accurate and cost-effective method for the prediction of TBR.
Metformin Inhibits Cyst Formation in a Zebrafish Model of Polycystin-2 Deficiency
Authors: Chang Ming-Yang , Ma Tsu-Lin , Hung Cheng-Chieh , Tian Ya-Chung , Chen Yung-Chang , Yang Chih-Wei , Cheng Yi-Chuan
Published: July 2017

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common kidney disease caused by mutations in PKD1 or PKD2. Metformin reduces cyst growth in mouse models of PKD1. However, metformin has not been studied in animal models of PKD2, and the cellular mechanism underlying its effectiveness is not entirely clear. This study investigated the effects of metformin on cyst formation in a zebrafish model of polycystin-2 deficiency resulting from morpholino knockdown of pkd2. We added metformin (2.5 to 20 mM) to the embryo media between 4 and 48 hours post fertilisation and observed pronephric cyst formation by using the wt1b promoter-driven GFP signal in Tg(wt1b:GFP) pkd2 morphants. Metformin inhibited pronephric cyst formation by 42–61% compared with the untreated controls. Metformin also reduced the number of proliferating cells in the pronephric ducts, the degree of dorsal body curvature, and the infiltration of leukocytes surrounding the pronephros. Moreover, metformin treatment increased the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and enhanced autophagy in the pronephros. Our data suggest that metformin reduces cyst formation through activation of the AMPK pathway and modulation of defective cellular events such as proliferation and autophagy. These results also imply that metformin could have therapeutic potential for ADPKD treatment.
An alternative microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of GADD45A by p53 in human non-small-cell lung cancer cells
Authors: Li Jie , Dong Jie , Li Shaohua , Xia Wei , Su Xueting , Qin Xingliang , Chen Ying , Ding Hongmei , Li Hui , Huang Aixue , Bai Chenjun , Hu Tongnan , Wang Chenglong , Chu Bingfeng , Shao Ningsheng
Published: July 2017

GADD45A (growth arrest and DNA damage inducible alpha), a stress response gene induced by genotoxic and nongenotoxic stresses, is implicated in various key processes, including the control of cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair. The expression of GADD45A is directly regulated by numerous transcription factors, with p53 being the most representative. Moreover, post-transcriptional regulation also plays a role in GADD45A expression. However, little is known about the regulatory effects of microRNAs (miRNAs) on GADD45A expression. As a potential tumour suppressor, miR-138 has pleiotropic biological functions in various cancers. We have previously reported p53-mediated activation of miR-138 in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. In this study, we found that miR-138 specifically targeted AGO2, which affects the stability and maturation of miR-130b. Decreased expression of miR-130b promoted the expression of GADD45A and resulted in the G2/M phase arrest and proliferation inhibition in human NSCLC cells. Our results suggested that p53 could alternatively upregulate GADD45A in human NSCLC cells through a post-transcriptional pathway in which miR-138 is involved.
Dynamics of levitated objects in acoustic vortex fields
Authors: Hong Z. Y. , Yin J. F. , Zhai W. , Yan N. , Wang W. L. , Zhang J. , Drinkwater Bruce W.
Published: July 2017

Acoustic levitation in gaseous media provides a tool to process solid and liquid materials without the presence of surfaces such as container walls and hence has been used widely in chemical analysis, high-temperature processing, drop dynamics and bioreactors. To date high-density objects can only be acoustically levitated in simple standing-wave fields. Here we demonstrate the ability of a small number of peripherally placed sources to generate acoustic vortex fields and stably levitate a wide range of liquid and solid objects. The forces exerted by these acoustic vortex fields on a levitated water droplet are observed to cause a controllable deformation of the droplet and/or oscillation along the vortex axis. Orbital angular momentum transfer is also shown to rotate a levitated object rapidly and the rate of rotation can be controlled by the source amplitude. We expect this research can increase the diversity of acoustic levitation and expand the application of acoustic vortices.
Persistent current in 2D topological superconductors
Authors: Karnaukhov Igor N.
Published: July 2017

A junction between two boundaries of a topological superconductor (TSC), mediated by localized edge modes of Majorana fermions, is investigated. The tunneling of fermions across the junction depends on the magnetic flux. It breaks the time-reversal symmetry at the boundary of the sample. The persistent current is determined by the emergence of Majorana edge modes. The structure of the edge modes depends on the magnitude of the tunneling amplitude across the junction. It is shown that there are two different regimes, which correspond to strong and weak tunneling of Majorana fermions, distinctive in the persistent current behavior. In a strong tunneling regime, the fermion parity of edge modes is not conserved and the persistent current is a 2π-periodic function of the magnetic flux. When the tunneling is weak the chiral Majorana states, which are propagating along the edges have the same fermion parity. They form a 4π-phase periodic persistent current along the boundaries. The regions in the space of parameters, which correspond to the emergence of 2π- and of 4π-harmonics, are numerically determined. The peculiarities in the persistent current behavior are studied.