bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combinational treatment of 5‐fluorouracil and casticin induces apoptosis in mouse leukemia WEHI‐3 cells in vitro
Authors: Cheng Zheng‐Yu , Chueh Fu‐Shin , Peng Shu‐Fen , Lin Chia‐Hsin , Kuo Chao‐Lin , Huang Wen‐Wen , Chen Po‐Yuan , Way Tzong‐Der , Chung Jing‐Gung
Published: April 2020

Leukemia is one of the major diseases causing cancer‐related deaths in the young population, and its cure rate is unsatisfying with side effects on patients. Fluorouracil (5‐FU) is currently used as an anticancer drug for leukemia patients. Casticin, a natural polymethoxyflavone, exerts anticancer activity against many human cancer cell lines in vitro, but no other reports show 5‐FU combined with casticin increased the mouse leukemia cell apoptosis in vitro. Herein, the antileukemia activity of 5‐FU combined with casticin in WEHI‐3 mouse leukemia cells was investigated in vitro. Treatment of two‐drug combination had a higher decrease in cell viability and a higher increase in apoptotic cell death, the level of DNA condensation, and the length of comet tail than that of 5‐FU or casticin treatment alone in WEHI‐3 cells. In addition, the two‐drug combination has a greater production rate of reactive oxygen species but a lower level of Ca2+ release and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) than that of 5‐FU alone. Combined drugs also induced higher caspase‐3 and caspase‐8 activities than that of casticin alone and higher caspase‐9 activity than that of 5‐FU or casticin alone at 48 hours treatment. Furthermore, 5‐FU combined with casticin has a higher expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD [Cu/Zn]) and lower catalase than that of 5‐FU or casticin treatment alone. The combined treatment has higher levels of Bax, Endo G, and cytochrome C of proapoptotic proteins than that of casticin alone and induced lower levels of B‐cell lymphoma 2 (BCL‐2) and BCL‐X of antiapoptotic proteins than that of 5‐FU or casticin only. Furthermore, the combined treatment had a higher expression of cleaved poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) than that of casticin only. Based on these findings, we may suggest that 5‐FU combined with casticin treatment increased apoptotic cell death in WEHI‐3 mouse leukemia cells that may undergo mitochondria and caspases signaling pathways in vitro.
Higher-Order Linearization and Regularity in Nonlinear Homogenization
Authors: Armstrong Scott , Ferguson Samuel J. , Kuusi Tuomo
Published: April 2020

We prove large-scale $$C^\infty $$C∞ regularity for solutions of nonlinear elliptic equations with random coefficients, thereby obtaining a version of the statement of Hilbert’s 19th problem in the context of homogenization. The analysis proceeds by iteratively improving three statements together: (i) the regularity of the homogenized Lagrangian $$\overline{L}$$L¯, (ii) the commutation of higher-order linearization and homogenization, and (iii) large-scale $$C^{0,1}$$C0,1-type regularity for higher-order linearization errors. We consequently obtain a quantitative estimate on the scaling of linearization errors, a Liouville-type theorem describing the polynomially-growing solutions of the system of higher-order linearized equations, and an explicit (heterogenous analogue of the) Taylor series for an arbitrary solution of the nonlinear equations—with the remainder term optimally controlled. These results give a complete generalization to the nonlinear setting of the large-scale regularity theory in homogenization for linear elliptic equations.
Validating the Global Surgery Geographical Accessibility Indicator: Differences in Modeled Versus Patient‐Reported Travel Times
Authors: Rudolfson Niclas , Gruendl Magdalena , Nkurunziza Theoneste , Kateera Frederick , Sonderman Kristin , Nihiwacu Edison , Ramadhan Bahati , Riviello Robert , Hedt‐Gauthier Bethany
Published: April 2020

Background

Since long travel times to reach health facilities are associated with worse outcomes, geographic accessibility is one of the six core global surgery indicators; this corresponds to the second of the “Three Delays Framework,” namely “delay in reaching a health facility.” Most attempts to estimate this indicator have been based on geographical information systems (GIS) algorithms. The aim of our study was to compare GIS derived estimates to self‐reported travel times for patients traveling to a district hospital in rural Rwanda for emergency obstetric care.

Methods

Our study includes 664 women who traveled to undergo a Cesarean delivery in Kirehe, Rwanda. We compared self‐reported travel time from home to the hospital (excluding waiting time) with GIS estimated travel times, which were computed using the World Health Organization tool AccessMod, using linear regression.

Results

The majority of patients used multiple modes of transportation (walking = 48.5%, public transport = 74.2%, private transport = 2.9%, and ambulance 70.6%). Self‐reported times were longer than GIS estimates by a factor of 1.49 (95% CI 1.40–1.57). Concordance was higher when the GIS model took into account that all patients in Rwanda are referred via their health center (β = 1.12; 95% CI 1.05–1.18).

Conclusions

To our knowledge, in this largest to date GIS validation study for geographical access to healthcare in low‐ and middle‐income countries, a standard GIS model was found to significantly underestimate real travel time, which likely is in part because it does not model the actual route patients are travelling. Therefore, previous studies of 2‐h access to surgery will need to be interpreted with caution, and future studies should take local travelling conditions into account.
Long-term management is needed for conserving plant diversity in a Wadden Sea salt marsh
Authors: Chen Qingqing , Bakker Jan P. , Alberti Juan , Smit Christian
Published: April 2020

Evaluation of long-term management regimes is important for guiding biodiversity conservation in salt marshes. However, such long-term experiments are sparse. Using a 46-year experiment in a salt marsh, we evaluated long-term effects of eight different management regimes (treatments; control, grazing, mowing, and their combinations) on the expansion of a late successional plant species (Elytrigia atherica), plant species richness and diversity, and community composition (species identities and dominance structure). Results show thatE. athericaexpanded strongly over time in the control treatment (without grazing or mowing) while plant species richness and diversity declined substantially. By contrast,E. athericawas greatly suppressed while plant species richness and diversity remained relatively unchanged in all other treatments except for the mowing, where species richness declined in the late season mowing treatment and plant diversity declined after 17 years in the both early and late season mowing treatment. Therefore, all management types except for the mowing were effective in conserving plant diversity. The trends for change in species identities reversed: change in species identities accumulated in the control treatment and exceeded that of other treatments 15 years after the start of the experiment. This suggests that results based on shorter-term (< 15 years) experiments may provide misleading conservation recommendations. Also, trends for change in dominance structure (taking abundance into account) were substantially different from those for species identities. Our results highlight the importance of long-term monitoring for guiding conservation management, and that monitoring should not only focus on the number of species but also community composition, to fully identify critical changes.
Doing and Allowing in the Context of Physician-Assisted Suicide
Authors: Birnbacher Dieter
Published: April 2020

Supporting the (active) rational suicide of a patient with a terminal disease is opposed by a majority of German doctors, whereas assistance in such patients’ hastening their death by voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) is predominantly judged to be acceptable. Are these two positions compatible? It is argued that the normative differentiation cannot be justified by the fact that the assistance in active suicide is itself active, whereas assistance in VSED is merely passive. Even in "letting die" a patient from hastening death by refusing nutrition and hydration there is an active element in the doctor's/the palliative care team's assurance that they will provide palliative support in case of need. Nor can the difference in evaluation be justified by relevant differences in the causal situation. Enabling a patient to perform VSED and assisting a patient's active suicide under the same circumstances are, as far as causal relevance is concerned, on a par. This holds, at least, on a condition view of causality in the tradition of John Stuart Mill. Finally, the paper discusses whether there are other morally relevant dimensions by which actively and passively supporting a patient suicide under the relevant circumstances differ, again with a negative result.
Microscopic activity sequence generation: a multiple correspondence analysis to explain travel behavior based on socio-demographic person attributes
Authors: Ahmed Usman , Moreno Ana Tsui , Moeckel Rolf
Published: April 2020

Activity sequencing is a crucial component of disaggregate modeling approaches. This paper presents a methodology to analyse and predict activity sequence patterns for persons based on their socio-demographic attributes. The model is developed using household travel survey data from Germany. The presented method proposes an efficient approach to replace complex activity-scheduling modules in activity-based models. First, the paper describes a multiple correspondence analysis technique to identify the correlation between activity sequence patterns and socio-demographic attributes. Secondly, a probabilistic model is developed, which could predict likely activity sequence patterns for an agent based on the results of the multiple correspondence analysis. The model is predicting activity sequence patterns fairly accurately. For example, the activity sequence pattern home–work–home is well predicted ($${\mathrm{R}}^{2}$$

R

2

= 0.99) for all the workers, and the activity sequence pattern home–education–home is rather well predicted ($${\mathrm{R}}^{2}$$

R

2

= 0.90) for students. The model predicts the 112 most common activity sequence patterns reasonably well, which covers 72% of all activity sequence patterns observed.
Wasteful or sensible? Donor imageries in İstanbul’s food banks
Authors: Türkkan Candan
Published: April 2020

This paper explores how the staff of İstanbul’s food banks perceive the donors and the donations. The paper begins by exploring the literature on food banks; what food banks recover and redistribute; and the role food banks play in managing food insecurity. Next, how these three issues are represented in different models of food banks are discussed: in the non-profit model, the donors are “socially aware citizens” who contribute to the common good by helping to feed the hungry; whereas, for the for-profit model they are “caring capitalists” doing their best to reduce their carbon footprint and eliminate food waste while effectively managing the costs of waste disposal. In the municipal social markets, in contrast, the donors are “prodigal consumers” who cannot make correct resource allocation decisions and waste food as a result. For all the models, the donors are predominantly individuals or households and waste generation is perceived as a consumer problem, whereas in practice the donors are mostly corporations giving away their surplus stock. The paper concludes by underlining that this misperception shifts the conversation on waste generation and management away from production and supply chain problems and disciplines individuals as consumers.
TGFβ suppresses CD8+ T cell expression of CXCR3 and tumor trafficking
Authors: Gunderson Andrew J. , Yamazaki Tomoko , McCarty Kayla , Fox Nathaniel , Phillips Michaela , Alice Alejandro , Blair Tiffany , Whiteford Mark , O’Brien David , Ahmad Rehan , Kiely Maria X. , Hayman Amanda , Crocenzi Todd , Gough Michael J. , Crittenden Marka R. , Young Kristina H.
Published: April 2020

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is a multipotent immunosuppressive cytokine. TGFβ excludes immune cells from tumors, and TGFβ inhibition improves the efficacy of cytotoxic and immune therapies. Using preclinical colorectal cancer models in cell type-conditional TGFβ receptor I (ALK5) knockout mice, we interrogate this mechanism. Tumor growth delay and radiation response are unchanged in animals with Treg or macrophage-specific ALK5 deletion. However, CD8αCre-ALK5flox/flox (ALK5ΔCD8) mice reject tumors in high proportions, dependent on CD8+ T cells. ALK5ΔCD8 mice have more tumor-infiltrating effector CD8+ T cells, with more cytotoxic capacity. ALK5-deficient CD8+ T cells exhibit increased CXCR3 expression and enhanced migration towards CXCL10. TGFβ reduces CXCR3 expression, and increases binding of Smad2 to the CXCR3 promoter. In vivo CXCR3 blockade partially abrogates the survival advantage of an ALK5ΔCD8 host. These data demonstrate a mechanism of TGFβ immunosuppression through inhibition of CXCR3 in CD8+ T cells, thereby limiting their trafficking into tumors.
Cancer neoantigen prioritization through sensitive and reliable proteogenomics analysis
Authors: Wen Bo , Li Kai , Zhang Yun , Zhang Bing
Published: April 2020

Genomics-based neoantigen discovery can be enhanced by proteomic evidence, but there remains a lack of consensus on the performance of different quality control methods for variant peptide identification in proteogenomics. We propose to use the difference between accurately predicted and observed retention times for each peptide as a metric to evaluate different quality control methods. To this end, we develop AutoRT, a deep learning algorithm with high accuracy in retention time prediction. Analysis of three cancer data sets with a total of 287 tumor samples using different quality control strategies results in substantially different numbers of identified variant peptides and putative neoantigens. Our systematic evaluation, using the proposed retention time metric, provides insights and practical guidance on the selection of quality control strategies. We implement the recommended strategy in a computational workflow named NeoFlow to support proteogenomics-based neoantigen prioritization, enabling more sensitive discovery of putative neoantigens.
An intracellular membrane protein GEP1 regulates xanthurenic acid induced gametogenesis of malaria parasites
Authors: Jiang Yuanyuan , Wei Jun , Cui Huiting , Liu Chuanyuan , Zhi Yuan , Jiang ZhengZheng , Li Zhenkui , Li Shaoneng , Yang Zhenke , Wang Xu , Qian Pengge , Zhang Cui , Zhong Chuanqi , Su Xin-zhuan , Yuan Jing
Published: April 2020

Gametocytes differentiation to gametes (gametogenesis) within mosquitos is essential for malaria parasite transmission. Both reduction in temperature and mosquito-derived XA or elevated pH are required for triggering cGMP/PKG dependent gametogenesis. However, the parasite molecule for sensing or transducing these environmental signals to initiate gametogenesis remains unknown. Here we perform a CRISPR/Cas9-based functional screening of 59 membrane proteins expressed in the gametocytes of Plasmodium yoelii and identify that GEP1 is required for XA-stimulated gametogenesis. GEP1 disruption abolishes XA-stimulated cGMP synthesis and the subsequent signaling and cellular events, such as Ca2+ mobilization, gamete formation, and gametes egress out of erythrocytes. GEP1 interacts with GCα, a cGMP synthesizing enzyme in gametocytes. Both GEP1 and GCα are expressed in cytoplasmic puncta of both male and female gametocytes. Depletion of GCα impairs XA-stimulated gametogenesis, mimicking the defect of GEP1 disruption. The identification of GEP1 being essential for gametogenesis provides a potential new target for intervention of parasite transmission.
Sub-Hertz resonance by weak measurement
Authors: Qu Weizhi , Jin Shenchao , Sun Jian , Jiang Liang , Wen Jianming , Xiao Yanhong
Published: April 2020

Weak measurement (WM) with state pre- and post-selection can amplify otherwise undetectable small signals and thus has potential in precision measurement applications. Although frequency measurements offer the hitherto highest precision due to the stable narrow atomic transitions, it remains a long-standing interest to develop new schemes to further escalate their performance. Here, we demonstrate a WM-enhanced correlation spectroscopy technique capable of narrowing the resonance linewidth down to 0.1 Hz in a room-temperature atomic vapour cell. The potential of this technique for precision measurement is demonstrated through weak magnetic-field sensing. By judiciously pre- and post-selecting frequency-modulated input and output optical states in a nearly orthogonal manner, a sensitivity of 7 fT Hz−1/2 at a low frequency near DC is achieved using only one laser beam with 15 µW of power. Additionally, our results extend the WM framework to a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian and shed new light on metrology and bio-magnetic field sensing.
Poor early cortical differentiation of speech predicts perceptual difficulties of severely hearing-impaired listeners in multi-talker environments
Authors: Paul Brandon T. , Uzelac Mila , Chan Emmanuel , Dimitrijevic Andrew
Published: April 2020

Hearing impairment disrupts processes of selective attention that help listeners attend to one sound source over competing sounds in the environment. Hearing prostheses (hearing aids and cochlear implants, CIs), do not fully remedy these issues. In normal hearing, mechanisms of selective attention arise through the facilitation and suppression of neural activity that represents sound sources. However, it is unclear how hearing impairment affects these neural processes, which is key to understanding why listening difficulty remains. Here, severely-impaired listeners treated with a CI, and age-matched normal-hearing controls, attended to one of two identical but spatially separated talkers while multichannel EEG was recorded. Whereas neural representations of attended and ignored speech were differentiated at early (~ 150 ms) cortical processing stages in controls, differentiation of talker representations only occurred later (~250 ms) in CI users. CI users, but not controls, also showed evidence for spatial suppression of the ignored talker through lateralized alpha (7–14 Hz) oscillations. However, CI users’ perceptual performance was only predicted by early-stage talker differentiation. We conclude that multi-talker listening difficulty remains for impaired listeners due to deficits in early-stage separation of cortical speech representations, despite neural evidence that they use spatial information to guide selective attention.
Spatial and temporal variations and significance identification of ecosystem services in the Sanjiangyuan National Park, China
Authors: Cao Wei , Wu Dan , Huang Lin , Liu Lulu
Published: April 2020

The establishment of the Sanjiangyuan National Park (SNP) favours implementation of strictest ecological protection on the Tibetan Plateau, thus firmly ensuring national ecological security. To understand ecological background in the SNP, spatial and temporal variations of ecosystem, and its services during the period 2000–2015 and significance identification were analysed by using the methods of remote sensing, GIS and model simulation. The results showed that: (1) Area with extremely important ecosystem services accounted for approximately 51.4% of the SNP’s total area, of which extreme importance water regulation, soil conservation and sand fixation regions contributed 15.3%, 13.7% and 22.4%, respectively. (2) The SNP had formed a spatial pattern of ecosystem services with water regulation as core in the eastern part, soil conservation as core in the central part and sand fixation as core in the western part. (3) For the period 2000–2015, water regulation service generally improved in the SNP. Soil conservation service also improved overall; and sand fixation service exhibited a decreasing trend due to reduction in wind speed and vegetation coverage. (4) Climate warming and humidification, combined with the implementation of ecological protection project in the SNP were the primary reasons for ecosystem services improvement. However, grassland degradation had not yet been fundamentally suppressed, and vegetation coverage was still declining in regional areas. For strict protection and sustainable use of the SNP and its natural resources, overall planning and scientific layout should be paid more attention, and classification and subarea protection should be implemented based on natural ecosystem laws.
Kaempferol modulates TCDD- and t-BHQ-induced drug-metabolizing enzymes and luteolin enhances this effect
Authors: Kitakaze Tomoya , Makiyama Atsushi , Nakai Rika , Kimura Yuki , Ashida Hitoshi
Published: April 2020

Co-treatment with kaempferol and luteolin inhibits AhR- and Nrf2-induced expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes.
Colorimetric speciation analysis of chromium using 2-thiobarbituric acid capped silver nanoparticles
Authors: Mousapour Kamal , Hajizadeh Salahaddin , Farhadi Khalil
Published: April 2020

Colorimetric determination of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) based on 2-thiobarbituric acid capped silver nanoparticles.
Simultaneous aptasensor assay of ochratoxin A and adenosine triphosphate in beer based on Fe3O4 and SiO2 nanoparticle as carriers
Authors: Yan Xiluan , Jiang Mengmeng , Jian Yuting , Luo Jing , Xue Xinxin , Chen Xin , Zheng Xiangjuan , Ai Fanrong
Published: April 2020

In this work, a chemiluminescence (CL) method based on dual aptasensors using Fe3O4 and SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers is developed for the simultaneous detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in beer.
Rapid detection of quality of Japanese fermented soy sauce using near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Shuo , Tamura Takehiro , Kyouno Nobuyuki , Liu Xiaofang , Zhang Han , Akiyama Yoshinobu , Chen Jie Yu
Published: April 2020

The application of NIR spectroscopy has great potential as an alternative quality control method, which provides a robust model for routinely estimating the final quality of soy sauce production rapidly and economically.
An in situ assembled WO3–TiO2 vertical heterojunction for enhanced Z-scheme photocatalytic activity
Authors: Liu Yue , Zeng Xiangkang , Easton Christopher D. , Li Qinye , Xia Yun , Yin Yichun , Hu Xiaoyi , Hu Jian , Xia Dehua , McCarthy David T. , Deletic Ana , Sun Chenghua , Yu Jiaguo , Zhang Xiwang
Published: April 2020

An in situ assembled vertical heterojunction has the capability of boosting charge separation and uncompromised redox ability due to an electric field formed across the interface.
Synthesis of star-shaped polyzwitterions with adjustable UCST and fast responsiveness by a facile RAFT polymerization
Authors: Li Zhi , Li Hao , Sun Zhonghe , Hao Botao , Lee Tung-Chun , Feng Anchao , Zhang Liqun , Thang San H.
Published: April 2020

We describe crosslinking of polyzwitterions for the formation of novel star-shaped polymers with low polydispersities and dual-responsiveness using RAFT polymerization.
Bonding properties of a superatom system with high-Z elements: insights from energy decomposition analysis
Authors: Wu Xiaochen , Gao Yang , Xie Weiyu , Wang Zhigang
Published: April 2020

Superatoms with high-Z elements have novel physicochemical properties, and a comprehensive and thorough view of their bonding properties plays a crucial role in the design of superatoms.
TLR4-mediated pyroptosis in human hepatoma-derived HuH-7 cells induced by a branched-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, geranylgeranoic acid
Authors: Yabuta Suemi , Shidoji Yoshihiro
Published: April 2020

A branched-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, geranylgeranoic acid (GGA; C20:4), which is an endogenous metabolite derived from the mevalonate pathway in mammals, has been reported to induce cell death in human hepatoma cells. We have previously shown that the lipid-induced unfolded protein response (UPR) is an upstream cellular process for an incomplete autophagic response that might be involved in GGA-induced cell death. Here, we found that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated pyroptosis in HuH-7 cells occurred by GGA treatment. The TLR4-specific inhibitor VIPER prevented both GGA-induced cell death and UPR. Knockdown of the TLR4 gene attenuated GGA-induced cell death significantly. Upon GGA-induced UPR, caspase (CASP) 4 (CASP4) was activated immediately and gasdermin D (GSDMD) was translocated concomitantly to the plasma membrane after production of the N-terminal fragment of GSDMD. Then, cellular CASP1 activation occurred following a second gradual up-regulation of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, suggesting that GGA activated the inflammasome. Indeed, the mRNA levels of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) and interleukin-1 β (IL1B) genes were up-regulated dramatically with translocation of cytoplasmic nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) to nuclei after GGA treatment, indicating that GGA induced priming of the NLRP3 inflammasome through NF-κB activation. GGA-induced up-regulation of CASP1 activity was blocked by either oleic acid, VIPER, MCC950 (a selective inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome), or CASP4-specific inhibitor peptide cotreatment. Pyroptotic cell death was also confirmed morphologically by bleb formation in time-series live cell imaging of GGA-treated cells. Taken together, the present results strongly indicate that GGA causes pyroptotic cell death in human hepatoma-derived HuH-7 via TLR4 signalling.
Knockdown of LINC01694 inhibits growth of gallbladder cancer cells via miR-340-5p/Sox4
Authors: Liu Lei , Yan Yuexiang , Zhang Guanyu , Chen Chengxue , Shen Weihong , Xing Peixiang
Published: April 2020

Purpose: The indispensable role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumorigenesis has been increasingly reported. In the present study, LINC01694 was found to regulate the proliferation, invasion, as well as apoptosis in gallbladder cancer (GBC) cells through sponging miR-340-5p.

Methods: LINC01694 level in GBC cells was quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell, and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of Sry-related high-mobility group box 4 (Sox4) was detected by Western blot (WB). The interaction between LINC01694 and miR-340-5p was measured by dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) test, and RNA pull-down. Tumor formation was examined by in vivo experiment.

Results: qRT-PCR illustrated that cancerous tissues had higher LINC01694 than normal tissues. Survival analysis demonstrated that the prognosis of patients with high LINC01694 was significantly poorer than those with low LINC01694. Down-regulation of LINC01694 slowed down the proliferation and invasion in GBC cells and accelerated the apoptosis. DLR assay indicated that LINC01694 elevated Sox4 expression by regulating miR-340-5p. LINC01694 functioned as miR-340-5p sponge to inhibit Sox4 expression.

Conclusion: LINC01694 level is elevated in GBC by regulating miR-340-5p/Sox4 axis, which indicates the poor prognosis of the patients.
10 MHz boost converter with subthreshold voltage startup and predictive dead‐time techniques for energy‐harvesting systems
Authors: Huang Wenbin , Liao Xufeng , Liu Lianxi
Published: April 2020

A 10 MHz synchronous boost converter with the subthreshold startup scheme and predictive dead‐time control for energy‐harvesting systems is presented in this study. The input feed‐forward technique is adopted to achieve a fast line response, and a three‐stage startup technique is proposed to realise subthreshold voltage startup without using any extra startup circuits or special devices. Moreover, the efficiency of the high‐frequency converter can be improved by the proposed predictive dead‐time control with a high resolution of ∼300 ps. The proposed converter is implemented in a standard 0.18 μm complimentary metal oxide semiconductor process and occupies a die area of 1.4 × 1.5 mm2. Experimental results show that the input voltage ranges from 0.3 to 1.5 V at 1.8 V output, and the minimum startup voltage is 0.3 V. Under VIN = 1.5 V, VOUT = 1.8 V and 150 mA load, the power efficiency can be improved by 2.6% because of the proposed predictive dead‐time control. The peak efficiency can reach 90.7% under VIN = 1.5 V. The line transient response can be improved with small overshoot voltage at the output.
Performance evaluation of high‐frequency CLL resonant DC–DC converter operated with phase‐shift and modified PWM gating scheme: analysis, design and implementation
Authors: Patil Uday , Harischandrappa Nagendrappa
Published: April 2020

Normal phase‐shift and modified pulse‐width modulation gating schemes are proposed for a full bridge high‐frequency capacitor–inductor–inductor (CLL) resonant DC–DC converter, and its performance is analysed in this study. Detailed modelling and the steady‐state analysis of the converter are performed by using the fundamental harmonic approximation approach. Various modes of the converter operation with both the gating schemes are described and examined in detail. Zero‐voltage switching of all the main switches is achieved by designing the resonant converter to operate in the above resonance mode. The optimum design of the converter is illustrated with the help of a flowchart and design curves. PSIM simulation is carried out and the experimental prototype is built to substantiate theoretical performance predictions. The simulation and experimental results are presented and compared.
High-resolution, 3D radiative transfer modelling
Authors: Verstocken Sam , Nersesian Angelos , Baes Maarten , Viaene Sébastien , Bianchi Simone , Casasola Viviana , Clark Christopher J. R. , Davies Jonathan I. , De Looze Ilse , De Vis Pieter , Dobbels Wouter , Galliano Frédéric , Jones Anthony P. , Madden Suzanne C. , Mosenkov Aleksandr V. , Trčka Ana , Xilouris Emmanuel M.
Published: April 2020

Context. Interstellar dust absorbs stellar light very efficiently, thus shaping the energy output of galaxies. Studying the impact of different stellar populations on the dust heating continues to be a challenge because it requires decoupling the relative geometry of stars and dust and also involves complex processes such as scattering and non-local dust heating.

Aims. We aim to constrain the relative distribution of dust and stellar populations in the spiral galaxy M 81 and create a realistic model of the radiation field that adequately describes the observations. By investigating the dust-starlight interaction on local scales, we want to quantify the contribution of young and old stellar populations to the dust heating. We aim to standardise the setup and model selection of such inverse radiative transfer simulations so these can be used for comparable modelling of other nearby galaxies.

Methods. We present a semi-automated radiative transfer modelling pipeline that implements necessary steps such as the geometric model construction and the normalisation of the components through an optimisation routine. We used the Monte Carlo radiative transfer code SKIRT to calculate a self-consistent, panchromatic model of the interstellar radiation field. By looking at different stellar populations independently, we were able to quantify to what extent different stellar age populations contribute to the heating of dust. Our method takes into account the effects of non-local heating.

Results. We obtained a realistic 3D radiative transfer model of the face-on galaxy M 81. We find that only 50.2% of the dust heating can be attributed to young stellar populations (≲100 Myr). We confirm that there is a tight correlation between the specific star formation rate and the heating fraction by young stellar populations, both in sky projections and in 3D, which is also found for radiative transfer models of M 31 and M 51.

Conclusions. We conclude that old stellar populations can be a major contributor to the heating of dust. In M 81, old stellar populations are the dominant heating agent in the central regions, contributing to half of the absorbed radiation. Regions of higher star formation do not correspond to the highest dust temperatures. On the contrary, it is the dominant bulge which is most efficient in heating the dust. The approach we present here can immediately be applied to other galaxies. It does contain a number of caveats, which we discuss in detail.
Erlaubt der Gesundheitszustand von Menschen mit Demenz eine körperliche Aktivierung?
Authors: Morgenstern Ulrike
Published: April 2020

Bei fortgeschrittener Demenz kann mit einer professionellen körperlichen Aktivierung die motorische Unruhe sinnvoll kanalisiert werden, zudem verbessern sich Mobilität, Alltagskompetenzen und kognitive Fähigkeiten. Aber um ein auf die Bedürfnisse älterer dementer Menschen zugeschnittenes Übungsprogramm zu entwickeln, ist es bedeutsam, den spezifischen Gesundheitszustand dieser Patientengruppe zu kennen.
Antipsychotika im klinischen Einsatz
Authors: Augustin Marc
Published: April 2020

Klinisch tätige Ärztinnen und Ärzte begegnen häufig Patienten, die bereits mit Antipsychotika behandelt werden oder die Erkrankungen wie beispielsweise ein Delir aufweisen, bei denen eine Behandlung mit Antipsychotika erwogen werden kann. Der Artikel gibt einen Überblick über Indikationen, unerwünschte Wirkungen und potenzielle Wechselwirkungen beim Einsatz von Antipsychotika. Besonderes Augenmerk wird auf internistisch relevante unerwünschte Wirkungen gelegt wie thromboembolische Ereignisse, Pneumonie, Agranulozytose und metabolisches Syndrom. Zudem werden bekannte Wechselwirkungen zwischen Antipsychotika und anderen Medikamenten erläutert, die für den klinischen Alltag besondere Relevanz aufweisen. In bestimmten Situationen erfordern diese pharmakokinetischen Wechselwirkungen eine Änderung der Dosis oder den Einsatz von Therapeutischem Drug Monitoring (TDM) zur Bestimmung des Medikamentenspiegels, um die individuell optimale Behandlung zu gewährleisten.
Interaktionen von Psychopharmaka
Authors: Petri Holger
Published: April 2020

Patienten mit seelischen Erkrankungen nehmen häufig Psychopharmaka ein, die Interaktionsrisiken bergen. Auch bei einer gewöhnlich kurzen stationären Verweildauer können in der Kombinationstherapie Wechselwirkungen zu seltenen, aber vital bedrohlichen Nebenwirkungen führen. Deshalb sollten dem klinisch tätigen Arzt die hierauf beruhenden Wirkmechanismen bekannt sein. Bei Verschreibung neuer Medikamente sind diese mit den bereits bestehenden Verordnungen von Psychopharmaka auf mögliche Arzneimittelinteraktionen zu überprüfen. Durch Wechselwirkungen verursachte unerwünschte Arzneimittelwirkungen sind in der Regel vorhersagbar und damit potenziell vermeidbar. Lässt sich eine risikobehaftete Kombinationstherapie nicht vermeiden, sollte auf entsprechende Frühsymptome geachtet werden und bekannte Risikofaktoren minimiert werden. Im Vordergrund steht aber das Erkennen und Vermeiden problematischer Medikationen. Computergestützte Programme können hierbei eine hilfreiche Unterstützung leisten, jedoch sollten dem Patienten keine zweckmäßigen Arzneimitteltherapien vorenthalten werden aufgrund einer Overalertness.
Verordnung von Antidepressiva
Authors: Regen Francesca
Published: April 2020

Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die wichtigsten Aspekte bei der Verordnung von Antidepressiva. Nach einer Einführung in die Wirkmechanismen und Klassifikationen von Antidepressiva sowie einer zusammenfassenden Darstellung der wichtigsten Nebenwirkungen wird ein Überblick über Vor- und Nachteile einzelner Antidepressiva gegeben, um im Einzelfall die Auswahl eines Antidepressivums selber zu treffen oder nachvollziehen zu können.
Effectiveness of Adjunctive Mother Tinctures to Individualized Homeopathic Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: An Open Randomized Pragmatic Pilot Trial
Authors: Banerjee Aniruddha , Nahar Laijun , Bhat Showket Ahmad , Kumar Ashutosha , Goenka Rachna , Sharma Pralay , Paul Swapan , Chattopadhyay Abhijit , Ali Sk Swaif , Basu Anamika , Michael James , Koley Munmun , Saha Subhranil
Published: April 2020

Background We evaluated whether adjunctive mother tinctures (MTs) to individualized homeopathy (IH) have significant effect beyond IH alone in treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).

Methods An open, randomized (1:1; IH + MT versus IH only), two parallel arms, pragmatic trial (n = 60) was conducted at National Institute of Homoeopathy, India. Primary outcomes were forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC, measured at baseline and 6 months; secondary outcomes were Bengali COPD assessment test (CAT-B) questionnaire and (clinical COPD questionnaire) CCQ-B, measured at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months; and exacerbation frequencies during 6 months.

Results Five patients dropped out (IH + MT: 3, IH: 2). Though intragroup changes were significant, intergroup differences of spirometric changes over 6 months were nonsignificant (Mann Whitney U test); FEV1 (P
0–6 = 0.761), FVC (P
0–6 = 0.512), and FEV1/FVC (P
0–6 = 0.741). Over 3 and 6 months, differences of changes in CAT-B (P
0–3 = 0.553 and P
0–6 = 0.900) and CCQ-B (P
0–3 = 0.428 and P
0–6 = 0.953) scores were also nonsignificant. Exacerbation frequencies were nonsignificant between groups over 6 months (p = 1.000).

Conclusion Although adjunctive MTs to IH could not produce any treatment benefits in COPD, the trial being underpowered, cautious interpretation is necessary.

Trial registration CTRI/2018/04/013394.
Vibration effects of standing surface acoustic wave for separating suspended particles in lubricating oil
Authors: Wang Ziping , Qian Lei , Jiang Zhengxuan , Xue Xian , Reddy Karthik
Published: April 2020

The microfluidic chip can be used to separate particles via the acoustic radiation force and can be applied to the separation of impurity particles from lubricating oil. A device that separates particles by controlling the acoustic radiation force via standing surface acoustic waves (SSAWs) was proposed. The concentration and separation of suspended particles were simulated by using the COMSOL Multiphysics modeling software. The force exerted on suspended particles and their subsequent motion in the microfluidic channel were analyzed, and then the concentration of particles exposed to SSAWs was verified. We also investigate how the frequency of the SSAW affects the particle concentration and discuss the advantage of using SSAWs to concentrate and separate particles. The separating feasibility was verified by suspended particles in lubricating oil experiments according to simulation results.
On coarsening of cementite during tempering of martensitic steels
Authors: Hou Ziyong , Babu R. Prasath , Hedström Peter , Odqvist Joakim
Published: April 2020

The coarsening of cementite in a martensitic Fe–1C–1Cr (wt-%) alloy upon tempering at 700°C is investigated. When considering that the main location of cementite is at grain boundaries, classical coarsening theory can accurately predict the mean size evolution, while the predicted size distribution evolution disagrees with the experimentally observed log-normal distribution maintained throughout the whole tempering (5000 h). We conclude that classical theory of coarsening, as given by Lifshitz–Slyozov–Wagner and included in the Langer–Schwartz Kampmann–Wagner numerical approach for modelling precipitation reactions, is not fully adequate to simulate coarsening of cementite for tempering in practice.
Grain refinement and superplasticity of pipes processed by high-pressure sliding
Authors: Tang Yongpeng , Matsuda Koki , Takizawa Yoichi , Yumoto Manabu , Otagiri Yoshiharu , Horita Zenji
Published: April 2020

The high-pressure sliding (HPS) process was applied for grain refinement of a pipe form of an Al-3wt%Mg-0.2wt%Sc alloy by developing two types of straining techniques (called in this study anvil sliding and mandrel sliding). To achieve a homogeneous microstructure throughout the cross-section of the pipe, the sample is rotated around the longitudinal axis every after sliding operation by introducing multi-pass technique, named multi-pass HPS (MP-HPS) as developed earlier for rods. The MP-HPS-processed sample shows ultrafine-grained structures with an average grain size of ∼260 and ∼300 nm after the HPS processing using anvil sliding and mandrel sliding. The samples also exhibit superplasticity with total elongations well more than 400%, respectively. A finite-element method is used to simulate the evolution of strain in the HPS processing and demonstrates that the simulation well represents the experimental results.
Critical Assessment 39: Effects of applied fields during annealing of metals – a review
Authors: Hutchinson Bevis
Published: April 2020

There have been many, sometimes conflicting, reports over the years as to how the annealing of cold-worked metals may be affected in the presence of applied fields. The annealing phenomena considered here are recovery, recrystallisation and grain growth. Practical significance relates to the kinetics of these processes and the microstructures and textures that result after these heat treatments. The externally applied ‘fields’ considered here are magnetic fields, electric fields, electric currents and mechanical (elastic) loading. The literature considered relates specifically to metals, both ferrous and non-ferrous. Attempts are made to identify consistent behaviours. In some cases, the variability of observations does not permit this. However, reasonably firm conclusions are possible in some circumstances.
Prolonged mitosis results in structurally aberrant and over-elongated centrioles
Authors: Kong Dong , Sahabandu Natalie , Sullenberger Catherine , Vásquez-Limeta Alejandra , Luvsanjav Delgermaa , Lukasik Kimberly , Loncarek Jadranka
Published: April 2020

Centrioles are precisely built microtubule-based structures that assemble centrosomes and cilia. Aberrations in centriole structure are common in tumors, yet how these aberrations arise is unknown. Analysis of centriole structure is difficult because it requires demanding electron microscopy. Here we employ expansion microscopy to study the origins of centriole structural aberrations in large populations of human cells. We discover that centrioles do not have an elongation monitoring mechanism, which renders them prone to over-elongation, especially during prolonged mitosis induced by various factors, importantly including supernumerary centrioles. We identify that mitotic centriole over-elongation is dependent on mitotic Polo-like kinase 1, which we uncover as a novel regulator of centriole elongation in human cycling cells. While insufficient Plk1 levels lead to the formation of shorter centrioles lacking a full set of microtubule triplets, its overactivity results in over-elongated and structurally aberrant centrioles. Our data help explain the origin of structurally aberrant centrioles and why centriole numerical and structural defects coexist in tumors.
Position Measurements and the Empirical Status of Particles in Bohmian Mechanics
Authors: Lazarovici Dustin
Published: April 2020

The article addresses the debate about the empirical status of particles versus wave functions in Bohmian quantum mechanics. It thereby clarifies questions and misconceptions about the role of the particles in the measurement process, the (un)reliability of position measurements (surrealistic trajectories), and the limited empirical access to particle positions (absolute uncertainty). Taking the ontological commitment of Bohmian mechanics seriously, all relevant empirical results follow from an analysis of the theory in terms of particle motions. Finally, we address the question of why particle motions rather than patterns in the wave function would be the supervenience base of conscious experience.
The Wave Changer—from longitudinal to
transverse
Authors: Williams Gary
Published: April 2020

A description of a physical device that explains how longitudinal waves can be
transformed into transverse waves is given. The device is easy to construct from
standard materials one would expect to find in any physics teaching laboratory,
but can be even simpler. Pedagogically, the device helps students to understand
how a sound wave can be displayed on an oscilloscope screen as a transverse
wave.
Stochastic thermodynamics of all-to-all interacting many-body systems
Authors: Herpich Tim , Cossetto Tommaso , Falasco Gianmaria , Esposito Massimiliano
Published: April 2020

We provide a stochastic thermodynamic description across scales for N identical units with all-to-all interactions that are driven away from equilibrium by different reservoirs and external forces. We start at the microscopic level with Poisson rates describing transitions between many-body states. We then identify an exact coarse graining leading to a mesoscopic description in terms of Poisson transitions between system occupations. We proceed studying macroscopic fluctuations using the Martin–Siggia–Rose formalism and large deviation theory. In the macroscopic limit (N → ∞), we derive the exact nonlinear (mean-field) rate equation describing the deterministic dynamics of the most likely occupations. We identify the scaling of the energetics and kinetics ensuring thermodynamic consistency (including the detailed fluctuation theorem) across microscopic, mesoscopic and macroscopic scales. The conceptually different nature of the ‘Shannon entropy’ (and of the ensuing stochastic thermodynamics) at different scales is also outlined. Macroscopic fluctuations are calculated semi-analytically in an out-of-equilibrium Ising model. Our work provides a powerful framework to study thermodynamics of nonequilibrium phase transitions.
Nuclear astrophysics at Gran Sasso : the study of BBN and post-main sequence fusion reactions at LUNA
Authors: Zavatarelli Sandra
Published: April 2020

The first nuclei were formed a few minutes after the Big Bang, through the process called Big Bang nucleosynthesis, that left our universe containing about 75% hydrogen, 24% helium by mass, with small traces of other elements such as lithium and the hydrogen isotope deuterium. Heavier nuclei are produced during the different characteristic phases of the star evolution. At astrophysical energies the cross section of nuclear processes is usually extremely small and the cosmogenic background prevents their measurement at stellar energies on Earth surface. Deep underground in the Gran Sasso laboratory, several crucial reactions involved in hydrogen burning has been measured directly at astrophysical energies by the LUNA (Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics) Collaboration with both the LUNA-50kV and the LUNA-400kV accelerators. This intense work will continue with the installation of a new LUNA-MV machine able to provide hydrogen, helium and carbon high current beams: the new facility will allow to explore the helium and carbon burning processes, by studying the key reactions shaping the evolution of massive stars towards their final fate. The present contribution is aimed to summarise the most recent results achieved by LUNA Collaboration and to highlight the rich experimental program connected to the new facility.
Weakly-Supervised Semantic Segmentation via Self-training
Authors: Cheng Hao , Gu Chaochen , Wu Kaijie
Published: April 2020

Weakly-supervised semantic segmentation with image tags is a challenging computer vision task. Unlike pixel-level masks, image tags give high level semantic information, without low level appearance information. In this paper, we propose an iteratively self-training framework to bridge this two information, which expand and refine the pseudo-labels with training process going. Initial masks are generated from classification network. In the top-down step, rendered images and its labels as well as spatially weight loss are added to jointly training the model for alleviate the effect of inaccurate object masks. Then in the bottom-up step, an adaptive threshold to the confidence model predictions to keep predicted masks reliable. The top-down and bottom-up steps are conducted iteratively to extract the fine object mask. Experiments on our self-build dataset and GTA5 to CityScapes demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed framework.