bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amyloid β perturbs elevated heme flux induced with neuronal development
Authors: Vidal Chantal , Daescu Kelly , Fitzgerald Keely E. , Starokadomska Anna , Bezprozvanny Ilya , Zhang Li
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Heme is a central molecule in mitochondrial respiration and ATP generation in neuronal cells. Thus, we assessed the importance of altered heme metabolism in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis.

Methods

To investigate the role of altered heme metabolism in AD, we identified heme‐related proteins whose expression is altered in AD patients and mouse models exhibiting amyloid pathology. We detected the levels of proteins involved in heme synthesis, uptake, degradation, and function during neuronal differentiation and characterized the effects of Aβ.

Results

We found that the expression levels of the rate‐limiting heme synthetic enzyme ALAS1 and heme degradation enzyme HO‐2 are selectively decreased in AD patients and mice. Aβ selectively reduces the levels of HO‐2 and heme degradation, which are elevated to support neuronal functions in fully differentiated neuronal cells.

Discussion

Our data show that lowered heme metabolism, particularly the decreased levels of heme degradation and HO‐2, is likely a very early event in AD pathogenesis.
Epistemic Pluralism: From Systems to Stances
Authors: GANERI JONARDON
Published: January 2019

Drawing on insights from the epistemological work of the Jaina philosophers of classical India, I argue in defense of epistemic pluralism, the view that there are different but equally valid ways of knowing the world. The version of epistemic pluralism I defend is stance pluralism, a pluralism about epistemic stances or perspectives, understood to be policies or stratagems of knowing. I reject the view that the correct way to characterize epistemic pluralism is as consisting in a pluralism about epistemic systems.
On–off intermittency and chaotic walks
Authors: HOMBURG ALE JAN , RABODONANDRIANANDRAINA VAHATRA
Published: January 2019

We consider a class of skew product maps of interval diffeomorphisms over the doubling map. The interval maps fix the end points of the interval. It is assumed that the system has zero fiber Lyapunov exponent at one endpoint and zero or positive fiber Lyapunov exponent at the other endpoint. We prove the appearance of on–off intermittency. This is done using the equivalent description of chaotic walks: random walks driven by the doubling map. The analysis further relies on approximating the chaotic walks by Markov random walks, that are constructed using Markov partitions for the doubling map.
Influence of feeding whole maize, differing in endosperm hardness, on the performance, nutrient utilisation and digestive tract development of broiler starters
Authors: Singh Y. , Ravindran V.
Published: January 2019

Use of whole wheat, along with compounded feeds, for poultry feeding is a common practice in many parts of the world. However, studies investigating the use of other grains are limited. In the present study, the influence of including whole maize, with differing hardness, in broiler diets on the performance, nutrient utilisation and digestive tract development was examined. The experimental design was a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, evaluating maize hardness (hard, semi-hard or soft) with diets based on ground maize or 115 g/kg whole maize replacing ground maize. The three maize cultivars were ground in a hammer mill to pass through a 4 mm sieve and six diets were developed based on one of the three cultivars. Following mixing, all diets were cold pelleted through a 3 mm die. Each of the six diets was fed to six replicate cages (eight birds per cage) from day 1 to 21 post-hatch. Maize hardness and whole maize inclusion had no effect (P>0.05) on weight gain. Maize hardness influenced (P<0.05) feed intake and feed per gain, while these two parameters were unaffected (P>0.05) by the inclusion of whole maize. The apparent metabolisable energy (AME) was unaffected (P>0.05) by maize hardness and whole maize inclusion. Maize hardness increased the ileal digestibility of nitrogen (P<0.05) and starch (P=0.06). The relative weight of the gizzard was greater (P<0.05) in birds fed hard and semi-hard maize compared to soft maize, and was greater (P<0.05) when whole maize was included. These results indicated that 115 g/kg of ground maize can be replaced by whole maize in broiler starter diets with no adverse effects on growth performance and thus can reduce the cost of feed manufacture.
Stylonurine eurypterids from the Strud locality (Upper Devonian, Belgium): new insights into the ecology of freshwater sea scorpions
Authors: Lamsdell James C , Lagebro Linda , Edgecombe Gregory D , Budd Graham E , Gueriau Pierre
Published: January 2019

The Upper Famennian (Upper Devonian) Strud locality has yielded very abundant and diversified flora as well as vertebrate and arthropod faunas. The arthropod fauna, mostly recovered from fine shales deposited in a calm, confined floodplain habitat including temporary pools, has delivered a putative insect and various crustaceans including eumalacostracans and notostracan, spinicaudatan and anostracan branchiopods. Here we present the Strud eurypterids, consisting of semi-articulated juvenile specimens assigned to Hardieopteridae recovered from the pool and floodplain deposits, as well as larger isolated fragments of potential adults recovered from stratigraphically lower, coarser dark sandy layers indicative of a higher-energy fluvial environment. The Strud fossils strongly suggest that, as proposed for some Carboniferous eurypterids, juvenile freshwater eurypterids inhabited sheltered nursery pools and migrated to higher-energy river systems as they matured.
Iron biofortification interventions to improve iron status and functional outcomes
Authors: Finkelstein Julia L. , Fothergill Amy , Hackl Laura S. , Haas Jere D. , Mehta Saurabh
Published: January 2019

This analysis was conducted to evaluate the evidence of the efficacy of iron biofortification interventions on iron status and functional outcomes. Iron deficiency is a major public health problem worldwide, with a disproportionate impact on women and young children, particularly those living in resource-limited settings. Biofortification, or the enhancing of micronutrient content in staple crops, is a promising and sustainable agriculture-based approach to improve nutritional status. Previous randomised efficacy trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated that iron-biofortification interventions improved iron biomarkers; however, no systematic reviews to date have examined the efficacy of biofortification interventions on health outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of the efficacy of iron-biofortified staple crops on iron status and functional outcomes: cognitive function (e.g. attention, memory) and physical performance. Five studies from three randomised efficacy trials (i.e. rice, pearl millet, beans) conducted in the Philippines, India and Rwanda were identified for inclusion in this review. Iron status (Hb, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, total body iron, α-1-acid glycoprotein) was measured at baseline and endline in each trial; two studies reported cognitive outcomes, and no studies reported other functional outcomes. Meta-analyses were conducted using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects methods. Iron-biofortified crop interventions significantly improved cognitive performance in attention and memory domains, compared with conventional crops. There were no significant effects on categorical outcomes such as iron deficiency or anaemia. Further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of iron-biofortified staple crops on human health, including additional functional outcomes and other high-risk populations.
Institutional equity investing in Britain from 1900 to 2000
Authors: Morecroft Nigel , Turnbull Craig
Published: January 2019

In Britain around 1900, established financial institutions for long-term savings such as life assurers, and pension funds which were just in their formative phase, did not make material allocations to publicly quoted equity markets or ordinary shares; long-established life assurers, for example, had less than 3 per cent allocated to the asset class (Baker and Collins 2003). Over the following 100 years, this picture radically changed, with equities emerging as the central asset class for many institutional investors and the term ‘the cult of (the) equity’ was coined (Scott 2002; Avrahampour 2015). As the century progressed, institutional investors superseded private individuals and became the dominant holders of British publicly quoted companies (Cheffins 2010). Despite the attractions of the asset class and their generally high returns, within a relatively short period by the end of the century, institutional equity exposure had peaked and was in decline both at life assurers and within pension funds. Here we highlight, and link together, the key actuarial (Turnbull 2017) and investing (Morecroft 2017) ideas that were influential in these developments. We also identify the main individuals who were instrumental in the application of equity investing to institutional portfolios. The article has an emphasis towards years from 1920 to 1960 when most of the changes to investment practice and actuarial theory occurred.
Natural disasters and economic growth in Northeast Brazil: evidence from municipal economies of the Ceará State
Authors: de Oliveira Victor Hugo
Published: January 2019

Based on an unexplored data set on disasters in Brazil, the current study shows that the direct damage of natural disasters reduces the GDP growth rate of municipal economies in Ceará state, Northeast Brazil. The agriculture and service sectors are the most affected economic sectors, while the industrial sector remains unaffected by environmental shocks. Economic growth is particularly responsive to the occurrence of large natural disasters that lead municipalities to declare a state of emergency or public calamity. Regarding public policies, water supply infrastructure increases the resilience of the output growth of services to droughts, whereas disaster microinsurance helps to mitigate the effects of droughts and floods on the economic growth of agriculture in a Brazilian state where family farming is predominant and highly vulnerable to natural disasters.
Coupling Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Atom Probe Tomography for Atomic Diffusion and Segregation Measurements
Authors: Portavoce Alain , Hoummada Khalid , Chow Lee
Published: January 2019

For a long time, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was the only technique allowing impurity concentrations below 1 at% to be precisely measured in a sample with a depth resolution of few nanometers. For example, SIMS is the classical technique used in microelectronics to study dopant distribution in semiconductors and became, after radiotracers were forsaken, the principal tool used for atomic transport characterization (diffusion coefficient measurements). Due to the lack of other equivalent techniques, sometimes SIMS could be used erroneously, especially when the analyzed solute atoms formed clusters, or for interfacial concentration measurements (segregation coefficient measurements) for example. Today, concentration profiles measured by atom probe tomography (APT) can be compared to SIMS profiles and allow the accuracy of SIMS measurements to be better evaluated. However, APT measurements can also carry artifacts and limitations that can be investigated by SIMS. After a summary of SIMS and APT measurement advantages and disadvantages, the complementarity of these two techniques is discussed, particularly in the case of experiments aiming to measure diffusion and segregation coefficients.
Significant improvement of reverse leakage current characteristics of Si-based homoepitaxial InGaN/GaN blue light emitting diodes
Authors: Lee Moonsang , Lee Hyun Uk , Song Keun Man , Kim Jaekyun
Published: January 2019

The nature of reverse leakage current characteristics in InGaN/GaN blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) on freestanding GaN crystals detached from a Si substrate is investigated for the first time, using temperature-dependent current-voltage (T-I-V) measurement. It is found that the Si-based homoepitaxial InGaN/GaN LEDs exhibit a significant suppression of the reverse leakage current without any additional processes. Their conduction mechanism can be divided into variable-range hopping and nearest neighbor hopping (NNH) around 360 K, which is enhanced by Poole-Frenkel emission. The analysis of T-I-V curves of the homoepitaxial LEDs yields an activation energy of carriers of 35 meV at −10 V, about 50% higher than that of the conventional ones (Ea = 21 meV at −10 V). This suggests that our homoepitaxial InGaN/GaN LEDs bears the high activation energy as well as low threading dislocation density (about 1 × 106/cm2), effectively suppressing the reverse leakage current. We expect that this study will shed a light on the high reliability and carrier tunneling characteristics of the homoepitaxial InGaN/GaN blue LEDs produced from a Si substrate and also envision a promising future for their successful adoption by LED community via cost-effective homoepitaxial fabrication of LEDs.
10Be age constraints on latest Pleistocene and Holocene cirque glaciation across the western United States
Authors: Marcott Shaun A. , Clark Peter U. , Shakun Jeremy D. , Brook Edward J. , Davis P. Thompson , Caffee Marc W.
Published: January 2019

Well-dated records of alpine glacier fluctuations provide important insights into the temporal and spatial structure of climate variability. Cirque moraine records from the western United States have historically been interpreted as a resurgence of alpine glaciation in the middle-to-late Holocene (i.e., Neoglaciation), but these moraines remain poorly dated because of limited numerical age constraints at most locations. Here we present 130 10Be ages on 19 moraines deposited by 14 cirque glaciers across this region that have been interpreted as recording these Neoglacial advances. Our 10Be chronology indicates instead that these moraines were deposited during the latest Pleistocene to earliest Holocene, with several as old as 14–15ka. Our results thus show that glaciers retreated from their Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) extent into cirques relatively early during the last deglaciation, experienced small fluctuations during the Bølling–Allerød–Younger Dryas interval, and remained within the maximum limit of the Little Ice Age (LIA) advance of the last several centuries throughout most of the Holocene. Climate modeling suggests that increasing local summer insolation and greenhouse gases were the primary controls on early glacier retreat from their LGM positions. We then infer that subsequent intrinsic climate variability and Younger Dryas cooling caused minor fluctuations during the latest Pleistocene, while the LIA advance represents the culmination of a cooling trend through the Holocene in response to decreasing boreal summer insolation.
Network-based approach to identify principal isoforms among four cancer types
Authors: Ma Jun , Wang Jenny , Ghoraie Laleh Soltan , Men Xin , Haibe-Kains Benjamin , Dai Penggao
Published: January 2019

HDIs of multi-isoform genes are more strongly associated with drug sensitivity value than nHDIs.
Biodegradable metallic bone implants
Authors: Shuai Cijun , Li Sheng , Peng Shuping , Feng Pei , Lai Yuxiao , Gao Chengde
Published: January 2019

This review summarizes the current research status on biodegradable metals as bone implants, including their biodegradability, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility.
Bisulfite-free and base-resolution analysis of 5-methylcytidine and 5-hydroxymethylcytidine in RNA with peroxotungstate
Authors: Yuan Fang , Bi Ying , Siejka-Zielinska Paulina , Zhou Ying-Lin , Zhang Xin-Xiang , Song Chun-Xiao
Published: January 2019

WO-Seq: a bisulfite-free and base-resolution sequencing method based on peroxotungstate oxidation is presented for the identification of hm5C sites in the transcriptome. Combining the peroxotungstate oxidation with TET enzyme oxidation, m5C can also be detected in a procedure termed TET-Assisted WO-Seq (TAWO-Seq).
Sensor selection for sparse source detection in planar arrays
Authors: Ajorloo A. , Amiri R. , Bastani M.H. , Amini A.
Published: January 2019

The sensor selection is a technique to reduce the cost, energy consumption, and complexity of a system by discarding redundant or less useful sensors. In this technique, one attempts to select a subset of sensors within a larger set so as to optimise a performance criterion. In this work, the authors consider the detection of sources in the 3D space when the source space could be sparsely represented. The application of compressive sensing (CS) methods in this setting has been extensively studied. Their aim in this work is to carry out the task of sensor selection in a planar array without sacrificing the detection performance. Their approach is to adopt the equivalent CS model and reduce the mutual coherence of the associated sensing matrix. This minimisation task is non‐convex, for which they propose a convex relaxation. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the gap between their relaxed solution and its optimal counterpart is negligible. The proposed sensor selection method is also shown to outperform the uniform approach in terms of source detection.
Effects of remanent magnetization on dynamic magnetomechanical and magnetic-sensing characteristics in bi-layer multiferroics
Authors: Zhang Jitao , Zhu Weiwei , Chen Dongyu , Li Kang , Zhang Qingfang , Wang Xiaolei , Zheng Xiaowan , Jiang Liying , Cao Lingzhi
Published: January 2019

Influences of remanent magnetization on dynamic magnetomechanical mechanisms in a bi-layer asymmetric magnetoelectric (ME) laminate consisting of lead zirconate titanate and samarium iron alloy has been studied systematically, and the underlying hysteresis physics involved in dynamic magnetomechanical process as well as its magnetic-sensing characteristics was intensively characterized. To appreciate the distinct magnetostriction and ferromagnetism simultaneously in samarium iron alloy, key magnetomechanical parameters of dynamic piezomagnetic coefficient, Young's modulus and mechanical quality factors exhibit hysteresis behaviors under magnetic field application. Consequently, high sensitivity in proposed bi-payer laminate for field detection can be reached without the facilitation of additional bias field. Experimental results show that the ME output has an approximately linear correlation with the applied AC magnetic field, and the low-frequency and the detection limits at 1 kHz and 120 kHz can reach 2.3 × 10−6 T and 2.2 × 10−8 T, respectively. These unique features provide such an asymmetric ME composite great potentials for weak magnetic field detection without DC bias field.
A study on the state of knowledge of managers of construction sites in the field of occupational safety
Authors: Drozd Wojciech , Kowalik Marcin
Published: January 2019

The construction site and its elements create circumstances that are conducive to the formation of risks to work safety during the execution of works. Analysis indicates the critical importance of these factors in the set of characteristics that describe the causes of accidents in the construction industry. They are indicated as important factors having an impact on risks, and increasingly are the subject of studies on work safety in construction. The research focused on as well as the awareness of health and safety of site managers - who perform independent functions in construction, legally involved in the construction process. Main substantive tasks included comparison of observed values with expected values in regard to characteristics related to health and safety awareness among site managers.
The use of evolutionary algorithms for designing an optimum structure of a geodesic measurement and control network
Authors: Mrówczyńska Maria , Sztubecki Jacek
Published: January 2019

The paper presents an attempt to determine an optimum structure of a geodesic measurement and control network used for geodesic monitoring to determine horizontal displacements of buildings. In geodesy, horizontal networks can be used to determine terrain deformations as well as displacements of engineering structures (dams, water reservoirs, open-cast mines). The network subjected to analysis is a directional network. In order to find a correct solution, its structure should include so-called supernumerary observations. An adequate number of observations should be carried out in the network to obtain a solution with reliable values of horizontal displacements. Moreover, the way in which the observations are carried out and their number should make it possible to show changes taking place in the object and meet the economic criteria of geodesic measurements. In order to optimize the structure of a geodesic measurement and control network, information entropy and evolutionary algorithms are used in the paper. Information entropy is a logarithmic measure of probability, and an optimum number of observations carried out in the network depends on the increment of the content of information in the observation system. Evolutionary algorithms were developed in the 1980s, and they are currently very popular and widely used. Their main principle is based on the evolution or behaviour of the best adapted individuals in subsequent computational cycles.
Dynamics of the small-span railway bridge under moving loads
Authors: Szafrański Marek
Published: January 2019

The paper presents the results of dynamic analysis of the small-span railway bridge, subjected to an action of moving trains. Numerical simulations were performed using three different load models: series of moving forces, series of moving single-mass and double-mass oscillators. The parameters of the vehicle were taken from the existing EN57 train. The parameters of the bridge were taken from the existing steel span of 10,24 m long. In both cases, the dynamic parameters were identified based on free-response measurements using modal identification techniques. Vibrations of the midpoint of the bridge as well as the mass of the oscillator have been analyzed. Numerical results obtained for individual load models were compared with the results of in-situ tests performed under operating conditions.
The Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Cationic Asphalt Emulsifier
Authors: Gong Xue-Di , Shi Lai-Shun , Wang Tian-Yao , Yu Xiao-Meng
Published: January 2019

A new cationic asphalt emulsifier of N,N-dimethyl-N-(3-(N',N'-dimethyl amido)-2-hydroxy propyl)- coconut oil amide propyl-1-ammonium chloride was synthesized by two steps reaction of coconut oil acyl propyl dimethyl tertiary amine (PKO), epoxy chloropropane and dimethylamine. The chemical structure of the key intermediate of N,N-dimethyl-N-(ethylene oxide-2-methylene)-coconut oil amide propyl-1-ammonium chloride was confirmed by FTIR, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. The optimum reaction condition of first step was obtained by single factor analysis: reaction time 5 h, reaction temperature 50 °C, feedstock mole ratio of epoxy chloropropane to PKO 1.05. The reaction yield is 82.15% and the epoxy value is 40.39% at the optimum conditions. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the asphalt emulsifier is 7.80×10-2 mol/L. The surface tension at CMC is 24.57 mN/m. The emulsifier showed excellent emulsification effect for the asphalt. The prepared bituminous emulsion had higher storage stability. The emulsifier belongs to medium-set asphalt emulsifier.
Advanced ground freezing method and its applications in underground construction
Authors: Shuplik Mikhail , Nikolaev Petr
Published: January 2019

During underground construction works in complex geological environment, special ground improvement techniques have to be used. One of them is artificial ground freezing (AGF). It can be applied in diverse projects in dense populated urban areas that place constraints on an application of other ground improvement methods. In Russia in the late 1980th was developed one new method of ground freezing. It uses solid carbon dioxide (SCD) that is loaded directly into freeze pipes, where it sublimates. As the result, the quite low temperature of freezing can be achieved easily. In this article are discussed several first application cases of this method. The results of these projects allow SCD freezing became widely used ground improvement method in Russia.
Geoecological approach to the design of recreational areas in large cities
Authors: Matveevskaya Anna , Pogodina Victoria , Ermolina Marina
Published: January 2019

Life in big cities exacerbates a person's desire to be more often in the bosom of nature, enjoy the peace and beauty of landscapes. The administration of megacities is concerned about the problems of preserving the natural environment and creating within the city limits a network of recreational areas where recreational activities can be organized. In each region, this type of recreation is organized in accordance with the laws adopted in the state. According to geoecologists, the share of recreational areas should be at least 15% of the total area of the city. So for example the total area of such territories in St. Petersburg is only 6 004.4 hectares (which is 4.17% of the total area of the city). Comparison of the urban map of landscapes and located areas for recreation within the city allows concluding about the unequal representation of each landscape. This should be taken into account when designing new protected areas within the city. In the research, an attempt to generalize the theoretical material in the field of environmental and recreational resource studies is done. Also, a detailed description of recreational opportunities for the rational use of individual components of the city's natural environment is presented. The authors conducted a geoecological analysis of the allocation of recreational areas in large cities. Features of nature that should be taken into account when designing recreational areas in large cities, on an example of St. Petersburg, are noted.
Estimating cost of using a rotation system when operating in rigorous climate regions
Authors: Minnullina Anna , Larkina Alla
Published: January 2019

Basic cost estimation techniques concerning the use of a rotation system in operation consider particular characteristics of rigorous climate regions. By means of the offered recommendations the following indicators are defined: an average number of workers for operation; an amount of salary supplements; standard working hours for personnel on rotating assignments; equipment relocation costs, rotation camp maintenance and rotation worker transportation costs. In the situation when a building contractor has to prove camp accomplishment costs in details most road builders face the difficulties in cost sheet formation. The offered technique of cost estimation is approved at the road section being influenced by Arctic Extremes and confirmed its operational flexibility.
Corporate Governance Mechanisms: Their Strengths, Weaknesses and Complementarity
Authors: Urban Jan
Published: January 2019

By corporate governance mechanisms we understand both market and non-market processes, including corporate rules and measures that tackle, internally and externally, two corporate governance problems, i.e. the vertical governance problem that arises between shareholders and managers, and the horizontal governance problem occurring between shareholders themselves. Efficient corporate governance mechanisms, aligning various stakeholder’s interests, help to put the right managers in the right place, providing them at the same time with the right set of incentives and constraints. While some corporate governance mechanisms serving these goals, both internal and external from the corporation perspective, are more efficient in dealing with vertical corporate governance, other solve better horizontal governance issues. The main emphasis of the article is laid on the relative role and limits of market and non-market corporate governance mechanisms solving vertical governance problems as well their complementarity and substitution possibilities. Its method is mainly based on secondary analysis of case studies in corporate governance.
Peri-Operative Eltrombopag or Immune Globulin for Patients with Immune Thrombocytopaenia (The Bridging ITP Trial): Methods and Rationale
Authors: Arnold Donald , Jamula Erin , Heddle Nancy , Cook Richard , Hsia Cyrus , Sholzberg Michelle , Lin Yulia , Kassis Jeannine , Blostein Mark , Larratt Loree , Amini Sufia , Schipperus Martin , Carruthers Julie , Lane Shannon , Li Na , Kelton John
Published: January 2019

Background The Bridging ITP Trial is an open-label randomized trial designed to compare the oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist eltrombopag and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) for patients with immune thrombocytopaenia (ITP) who require an increase in platelet count before elective surgery. Here, we report the study methods and rationale.

Methods We designed a multi-centre, non-inferiority randomized trial comparing daily oral eltrombopag starting 3 weeks pre-operatively, and IVIG administered 1 week pre-operatively for patients with ITP requiring a platelet count increase prior to surgery. Starting dose of eltrombopag is 50 mg daily with a weekly pre-operative dose titration schedule, and treatment is continued for 1 week after surgical haemostasis is achieved. IVIG is administered at a dose of 1 to 2 g/kg 1 week pre-operatively with the allowance for a second dose within 1 week after surgical haemostasis. The objective of the study is to demonstrate non-inferiority of eltrombopag for the primary endpoint of achieving the pre-operative platelet count threshold (50 × 109/L for minor surgery; or 100 × 109/L for major surgery) and sustaining platelet count levels above the threshold for 1 week after surgical haemostasis is achieved, without the use of rescue treatment. Secondary endpoints include thrombosis, bleeding and patient satisfaction.

Conclusion The Bridging ITP Trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag as an alternative to IVIG in the peri-operative setting for patients with ITP. The protocol was designed to provide a management strategy that can be applied in clinical practice.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01621204.
Impact of Adopting Population Pharmacokinetics for Tailoring Prophylaxis in Haemophilia A Patients: A Historically Controlled Observational Study
Authors: Stemberger Michaela , Kallenbach Felix , Schmit Elisabeth , McEneny-King Alanna , Germini Federico , Yeung Cindy , Edginton Andrea , von Mackensen Sylvia , Kurnik Karin , Iorio Alfonso
Published: January 2019

Background Performing individual pharmacokinetics (PK) studies in clinical practice can be simplified by adopting population PK-based profiling on limited post-infusion samples. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of population PK in tailoring prophylaxis in patients with haemophilia A.

Patients and Methods Individual weekly treatment plans were developed considering predicted plasma factor activity levels and patients' lifestyle. Patients were trained using a visual traffic-light scheme to help modulate their level of physical activity with respect to factor infusions timing. Annualized joint bleeding rate (ABJR), haemophilia-specific quality of life questionnaire for adults (Haemo-QoL-A) and factor utilization were measured for 12 months before and after tailoring, compared within patients and analysed separately for those previously on prophylaxis (P), situational prophylaxis (SP) or on-demand (OD).

Results Sixteen patients previously on P, 10 on SP and 10 on OD were enrolled in the study. The median (lower, upper quartile) ABJR changed from 2.0 (0, 4.0) to 0 (0, 1.6) for P (p = 0.003), from 2.0 (2.0, 13.6) to 3.0 (1.4, 7.2) for SP (p = 0.183) and from 16.0 (13.0, 25.0) to 2.3 (0, 5.0) for OD (p = 0.003). The Haemo-QoL-A total score improved for 58% of P, 50% of SP and 29% of OD patients. Factor utilization (IU/kg/patient/year) increased by 2,400 (121; 2,586) for P, 1,052 (308; 1,578) for SP and 2,086 (1,498; 2,576) for OD. One of 138 measurements demonstrated a factor activity level below the critical threshold of 0.03 IU/mL while the predicted level was above the threshold.

Conclusion Implementing tailored prophylaxis using a Bayesian forecasting approach in a routine clinical practice setting may improve haemophilia clinical outcomes.
Incidence of Cancer after a Second Unprovoked Venous Thromboembolic Event
Authors: Rézig Shéhérazade , Mao Raphael , Couturaud Francis , Lacut Karine , Delluc Aurélien
Published: January 2019

Patients with two unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) events could be at high risk for cancer diagnosis and may therefore benefit from extended cancer screening strategies. However, accurate data on the incidence of cancer in this population is lacking. In a prospective cohort study, we followed-up with all patients who experienced two unprovoked symptomatic VTE events that occurred in less than 2 years apart. We estimated the 1-year incidence rate of cancer following the second unprovoked VTE event using the Kaplan–Meier method. Potential predictors for cancer diagnosis were assessed using a Cox proportional hazard regression model. Between May 2000 and December 2013, we included 197 patients with two episodes of symptomatic unprovoked VTE that occurred in less than 2 years apart. Their mean age was 66.2 ± 16.3 years, and 122 (51.8%) were male. Seventeen patients were diagnosed with cancer during the year following the second episode of unprovoked VTE, corresponding to a cumulative incidence rate of 9.19% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.81–14.37). The 1-year cumulative incidence rate of cancer was 35.88% (95% CI: 19.75–59.25) in patients with VTE recurrence on anticoagulation, 5.51% (95% CI: 2.9–10.32) among patients with a second episode of unprovoked VTE occurring after stopping anticoagulation and 1.15% (95% CI: 0.16–7.88) when time elapsed between the first and recurrent VTE was > 1 year. Our study suggests that the incidence of cancer in patients with a second episode of unprovoked VTE that occurs off anticoagulation, or > 1 year after the first event, is similar to that of patients with a first unprovoked VTE event.
Using Cervical Dilation to Predict Labor Onset: A Tool for Elective Labor Induction Counseling
Authors: Panelli Danielle M. , Robinson Julian N. , Kaimal Anjali J. , Terry Kathryn L. , Yang Jiaxi , Clapp Mark A. , Little Sarah E.
Published: January 2019

Objective To evaluate whether cervical dilation predicts the timing and likelihood of spontaneous labor at term.

Study Design This was a retrospective cohort of nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies who delivered at term from 2013 to 2015. Outpatient cervical examinations performed after 37 weeks and prior to labor onset were collected. Survival analysis was used to analyze time to spontaneous labor with cervical dilation as the primary predictor, modeled as continuous and categorical variables (<1 cm, 1 cm, >1 cm).

Results Our cohort included 726 women; 407 (56%) spontaneously labored, 263 (36%) were induced, and 56 (8%) had an unlabored cesarean delivery. Women with >1-cm dilation were three times more likely to spontaneously labor (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4–4) than those with <1-cm dilation. At 39 weeks, 60% of women with >1-cm dilation went into spontaneous labor as compared with only 28% of those with <1-cm dilation (aHR: 2.9; 95% CI: 2–4.4).

Conclusion In our cohort of nulliparous women at term, those with cervical dilation > 1 cm were significantly more likely to go into labor in the following week. This information can aid in counseling about elective induction of labor.
The Persistent Generalized Muscle Contraction in Siblings with Molybdenum Cofactor Deficiency Type A
Authors: Kibe Tetsuya , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Ichida Kimiyoshi , Koshimizu Eriko , Miyatake Satoko , Matsumoto Naomichi , Yokochi Kenji , Yoshimura Ayumi
Published: January 2019

Molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCD) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disease with severe neurological symptoms. Most disease-causing mutations are found in the MOCS1 gene, corresponding to MoCD type A (MoCD-A). There have been few reports describing the long-term detailed neurological features with MoCD-A because most patients do not survive childhood. We describe the clinical, radiologic, biochemical, and genetic data of two patients (female siblings aged 26 and 22 years) with MoCD-A. Both patients presented with feeding difficulties, neurological deterioration, and persistent generalized muscle contraction which can be easily confused with status dystonicus. Biochemical tests revealed low serum uric acid, elevated urinary sulfocysteine, and xanthine. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed distinctive abnormalities in the bilateral caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and cerebral white matter adjacent to the cortex. The thalamus was relatively unaffected. Genetic testing identified a novel homozygous variant in the MOCS1 gene (c.949C > T p.Arg317Cys). Biochemical results supported the hypothesis that this genetic variant is a pathological mutation. When there are symptoms of persistent generalized muscle contraction and characteristic MRI findings, MoCD should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Promoted reversible wettability transition by plasmonic effects at Ag/TiO2 heterointerface
Authors: Zhang Dongdong , Yan Weishan , Luo Wenyao , Zhang Wangyang , Zhao Chaopeng , Liu Duo
Published: January 2019

We explore in this paper the photoinduced wetting/dewetting behaviors of silver/rutile heterointerfaces and demonstrate that silver nanoparticles can greatly increase the ultraviolet induced wetting and infrared induced dewetting transition rates. The results are interpreted based on the examination of the defect structures of the rutile surface before and after ultraviolet irradiation. The density functional theory calculation with the inclusion of the on-site Coulomb interaction reveals that the formation energy of an oxygen vacancy on the silver/rutile (110) interface is lower than that on the blank rutile (110) surface. We also discover that plasmonic nanostructures enable the partial wetting transition of the rutile (110) surface by irradiation with visible light at 473 nm and 532 nm. This work opens up a feasible route to the development of high-performance multifunctional materials via plasmonic nanostructures and defect engineering.
Molecular structure and vibrational spectra at water/poly(2-methoxyethylacrylate) and water/poly(methyl methacrylate) interfaces: A molecular dynamics simulation study
Authors: Kishinaka Sho , Morita Akihiro , Ishiyama Tatsuya
Published: January 2019

Classical molecular dynamics simulations at the interfaces of two (meth)acrylate polymers, poly(2-methoxyethylacrylate) (PMEA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), upon contact with water are performed to elucidate interfacial molecular structures from the interface-specific nonlinear spectroscopic point of view. PMEA has methoxy oxygen in the side chain, while PMMA does not have it, and its impacts on the interfacial structure are particularly focused on. The force fields of PMEA and PMMA used in the classical simulation are modeled so as to reproduce the radial distribution functions and the vibrational density of states calculated by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, where a stronger hydrogen-bonding interaction between water and methoxy oxygen of PMEA than the conventional molecular modeling predicts is found. The imaginary part of the second order nonlinear susceptibility is theoretically calculated for these two interfaces, showing a definite difference between them. The origin of the spectral difference is discussed on the basis of the decomposition analysis of the spectra and the interfacial molecular structures.
Theory of the spatial transfer of interface-nucleated changes of dynamical constraints and its consequences in glass-forming films
Authors: Phan Anh D. , Schweizer Kenneth S.
Published: January 2019

We formulate a new theory for how caging constraints in glass-forming liquids at a surface or interface are modified and then spatially transferred, in a layer-by-layer bootstrapped manner, into the film interior in the context of the dynamic free energy concept of the Nonlinear Langevin Equation (NLE) theory approach. The dynamic free energy at any mean location (cage center) involves contributions from two adjacent layers where confining forces are not the same. At the most fundamental level of the theory, the caging component of the dynamic free energy varies essentially exponentially with distance from the interface, saturating deep enough into the film with a correlation length of modest size and weak sensitivity to the thermodynamic state. This imparts a roughly exponential spatial variation of all the key features of the dynamic free energy required to compute gradients of dynamical quantities including the localization length, jump distance, cage barrier, collective elastic barrier, and alpha relaxation time. The spatial gradients are entirely of dynamical, not structural or thermodynamic, origin. The theory is implemented for the hard sphere fluid and diverse interfaces which can be a vapor, a rough pinned particle solid, a vibrating (softened) pinned particle solid, or a smooth hard wall. Their basic description at the level of the spatially heterogeneous dynamic free energy is identical, with the crucial difference arising from the first layer where dynamical constraints can be weakened, softened, or hardly changed depending on the specific interface. Numerical calculations establish the spatial dependence and fluid volume fraction sensitivity of the key dynamical property gradients for five different model interfaces. A comparison of the theoretical predictions for the dynamic localization length and glassy modulus with simulations and experiments for systems with a vapor interface reveals good agreement. The present advance sets the stage for using the Elastically Collective NLE theory to make quantitative predictions for the alpha relaxation time gradient, decoupling phenomena, Tg gradient, and many film-averaged properties of both model and experimental (colloids, molecules, and polymers) systems with diverse interfaces and chemical makeup.
Excitation-tailored dual-color emission of manganese(II)-doped perovskite nanocrystals
Authors: Chen Zhangzhang , Chen Hongfei , Zhang Chunfeng , Chen Lan , Qin Zhengyuan , Sang Hai , Wang Xiaoyong , Xiao Min
Published: January 2019

Manganese(II)-doped perovskite nanocrystals with superior dual-color light emission properties are promising for optoelectronic applications. Here, we report that the emission color of these nanocrystals can be tailored by continuous-wave excitation because of the saturation of dopant emission at a record low light density (∼10 mW/cm2). By detuning the repetition rates of excitation laser sources, we show that the bottleneck of exciton-manganese(II) energy transfer caused by the imbalanced excitation and deexcitation of 4T1 states is the primary mechanism underlying the emission saturation properties. Such a dual-color luminescence tunable by weak excitation is promising for uses in potential applications such as luminescent solar concentrators, light intensity sensors, anti-counterfeit printing, and photo-switchable image markers.
An efficient method to boost the short-circuit current of quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Dong Shaokang , Li Shengjun , Cai Junhao , Chen Zeng , Wei Chaochao , Li Xijin , Peng Yaru , Tan Furui , Zhang Weifeng
Published: January 2019

According to the Marcus theory, the driving force for the transfer of photogenerated electrons from quantum dots (QDs) to oxide nanocrystals depends on the energy difference of the system. In this study, an efficient driving force for the transfer of photoinduced charge—inner electric field effects—was suggested. The inner electric field was introduced from the p-NiO/n-ZnO heterojunction, which was formed by the in situ deposition of NiO on the ZnO nanosheet/nanorod film surface. Photoluminescence spectra revealed that the photogenerated charge carriers can be efficiently separated at the interface of p-NiO/n-ZnO. The QD-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) assembled with the p-NiO/n-ZnO photoanodes exhibited considerably higher JSC compared to those fabricated with ZnO photoanodes, indicating that the formation of a p–n junction at the photoanode surface is an efficient strategy to boost the short-circuit current of QDSCs.
Peak-effect in the magnetization of a superconducting compound (PbzSn1–z) 0.84In0.16Te
Authors: Mikhailin N. Y. , Shamshur D. V. , Volkov M. P. , Chernyaev A. V. , Parfenev R. V.
Published: January 2019

Magnetization as a function of the magnetic field m(H) is studied in the T=2-300 K temperature range at magnetic fields H ≤ 30 kOe in semiconducting alloys (PbzSn1–z)0.84In0.16Te with a lead content of z=0.3; 0.4, which corresponds to the highest critical parameters of the superconducting transition. For the sample (Pb0.4Sn0.6) 0.84In0.16Te the critical temperature Tc≈ 3.8 K and the critical magnetic field Hc2= 22 kOe (T=2 K). At T<Tc the hysteresis dependence m(H) at fields near Hc2 has a second maximum, which is the peak-effect, and its magnitude at T=2 K in a sample with z=0.4 reaches ∼15% of the first maximum, caused by the transition from the Meissner state to the mixed state. As the temperature rises, the position of the peak-effect maximum relative to Hc2 remains almost unchanged but its magnitude decreases, and at T>3 K the peak-effect is no longer observed. The obtained data is used as a basis for discussing the possible nature of the peak-effect observed in (PbzSn1–z)0.84In0.16Te, z=0.3 and 0.4. Models based on an analysis of the system of pinning centers in the material, and the vortex structure dynamics under changing external parameters, are considered.
Anisotropy of the critical current density in a layered electron-doped superconductor Nd2–xCexCuO4+δ
Authors: Klepikova A. S. , Popov M. R. , Ivanov A. A. , Medvedev M. V. , Charikova T. B.
Published: January 2019

The results of studying the conductivity and critical current density in monocrystalline Nd2–xCexCuO4+δ/SrTiO3 (x = 0.15; 0.17) films with c-axis perpendicular or parallel to the substrate plane are presented. It is found that in stoichiometrically annealed films with the optimum cerium content (x = 0.15) the resistance anisotropy is maximal and the anisotropy of the critical current density is jcab/jcc ≅ 3 · 103 at T = 4.2 K. The strong anisotropy of the critical current density is considered in the framework of natural superlattices, with alternating conductive CuO2 and non-conducting buffer Nd(Ce)O layers. It is shown that the high density of the critical current along the conductive CuO2 planes is caused by the pinning of vortices on the buffer layers, whereas the strong anisotropy of the critical current is caused by the anisotropic motion of the vortex lattice in the layered superconductor.
Researchers accurately simulate noise created by supersonic jets
Authors: Kish Stacy W.
Published: January 2019

Researchers simulate a Mach 3.1 hot jet to investigate the acoustic field generated during a rocket launch.