bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polyphenols from Ilex latifolia Thunb. (a Chinese bitter tea) exert anti-atherosclerotic activity through suppressing NF-κB activation and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in macrophages
Authors: Zhang Tian-Tian , Zheng Chao-Yang , Hu Ting , Jiang Jian-Guo , Zhao Jing-Wen , Zhu Wei
Published: December 2017

Polyphenols were extracted from I. latifolia and the effect on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced macrophage foam cell formation was investigated.
Hepatocellular targeted α-tocopherol based pH sensitive galactosylated lipids: design, synthesis and transfection studies
Authors: Muripiti Venkanna , Lohchania Brijesh , Marepally Srujan Kumar , Patri Srilakshmi V.
Published: December 2017

Receptor mediated gene delivery to the liver offers advantages in treating genetic disorders such as hemophilia and hereditary tyrosinemia type I (HTI).
NHC catalyzed enantioselective Coates-Claisen rearrangement: a rapid access to the dihydropyran core for oleuropein based secoiridoids
Authors: Vedachalam Seenuvasan , Murugesh Nithya , Chakraborty Priyanka , Karvembu Ramasamy , Liu Xue-Wei
Published: December 2017

A simple protocol for the synthesis of the dihydropyran core structure of secoiridoids using NHC catalyzed Coates-Claisen rearrangement is described.
Thermo-responsive PNIPAm nanopillars displaying amplified responsiveness through the incorporation of nanoparticles
Authors: Giussi Juan M. , von Bilderling Catalina , Alarcón Emiliano , Pietrasanta Lía I. , Hernandez Rebeca , P. del Real Rafael , Vázquez Manuel , Mijangos Carmen , Cortez M. Lorena , Azzaroni Omar
Published: December 2017

We prepared poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based nanopillars that increased much more in stiffness and hydrophobicity than expected above VPTT.
A stable rhodium single-site catalyst encapsulated within dendritic mesoporous nanochannels
Authors: Tian Jun , Yang Dali , Wen Jianguo , Filatov Alexander S. , Liu Yuzi , Lei Aiwen , Lin Xiao-Min
Published: December 2017

A stable single-site Rh catalyst was formed inside individual channels of three-dimensional dendritic mesoporous silica nanospheres through aminosilane binding. The catalyst demonstrated an excellent activity, stability and recyclability in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, high regioselectivity in the hydrosilylation of terminal alkyne.
Metal–polymer interface influences apparent electrical properties of nano-structured polyaniline films
Authors: Aggas John R. , Harrell William , Lutkenhaus Jodie , Guiseppi-Elie Anthony
Published: December 2017

The interface between the conductive polymer, polyaniline (PAn-Cl), and gold, platinum, or an interceding layer of electrodeposited platinum on gold or platinum, markedly influences the apparent electrical properties and the electronic to ionic transition in physiological buffers.
Multifunctional hybrid aerogels: hyperbranched polymer-trapped mesoporous silica nanoparticles for sustained and prolonged drug release
Authors: Follmann Heveline D. M. , Oliveira Osvaldo N. , Lazarin-Bidóia Danielle , Nakamura Celso V. , Huang Xiaoxi , Asefa Tewodros , Silva Rafael
Published: December 2017

Aerogels comprising hyperbranched polymers containing mesoporous silica nanoparticles are synthesized and demonstrated to serve as outstanding drug delivery systems.
A nickel catalyzed acceptorless dehydrogenative approach to quinolines
Authors: Parua Seuli , Sikari Rina , Sinha Suman , Das Siuli , Chakraborty Gargi , Paul Nanda D.
Published: December 2017

A general, efficient and environmentally benign, one-step synthesis of substituted quinoline derivatives was achieved by acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of o-aminobenzylalcohols with ketones and secondary alcohols catalyzed by a cheap, earth abundant and easy to prepare macrocyclic nickel catalyst [Ni(MeTAA)].
Synthesis of thiazolidine-thiones, imino-thiazolidines and oxazolidines via the base promoted cyclisation of epoxy-sulfonamides and heterocumulenes
Authors: Anitha Mandala , Swamy K. C. Kumara
Published: December 2017

Epoxy-sulfonamides react with heterocumulenes (CS2/RNCS/RNCO) in the presence of a base to afford ring expansion products in good to high yields with excellent regioselectivity.
Contiguous hydrophobic and charged surface patches in short helix-constrained peptides drive cell permeability
Authors: Perry Samuel R. , Hill Timothy A. , de Araujo Aline D. , Hoang Huy N. , Fairlie David P.
Published: December 2017

Different ways to get peptides into cells.
Metabolomic investigation into molecular mechanisms of a clinical herb prescription against metabolic syndrome by a systematic approach
Authors: Chen Meimei , Yang Fafu , Kang Jie , Gan Huijuan , Lai Xinmei , Gao Yuxing
Published: December 2017

This study provided an effective and comprehensive approach for understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of Mets and therapeutic mechanisms of WDD in treatment of Mets.
Efficient synthesis of butyl levulinate from furfuryl alcohol over ordered mesoporous Ti-KIT-6 catalysts for green chemistry applications
Authors: Appaturi Jimmy Nelson , Johan Mohd Rafie , Ramalingam R. Jothi , Al-Lohedan Hamad A. , Vijaya J. Judith
Published: December 2017

Here we describe the synthesis of butyl levulinate by alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol with n-butanol over a series of titanium incorporated mesoporous KIT-6 molecular sieve catalysts prepared by a simple sol–gel treatment.
Ultra-rapid and low-cost fabrication of centrifugal microfluidic platforms with active mechanical valves
Authors: Aeinehvand M. M. , Magaña P. , Aeinehvand M. S. , Aguilar O. , Madou M. J. , Martinez-Chapa S. O.
Published: December 2017

Fabrication of microfluidic discs with mechanical active valves by a cutter plotter.
Polarisation effects on the solvation properties of alcohols
Authors: Henkel Stefan , Misuraca Maria Cristina , Troselj Pavle , Davidson Jonathan , Hunter Christopher A.
Published: December 2017

Alcohol solvents are significantly more polar than expected based on the measured H-bonding properties of monomeric alcohols in dilute solution.
Passivation layers for nanostructured photoanodes: ultra-thin oxides on InGaN nanowires
Authors: Neuderth P. , Hille P. , Schörmann J. , Frank A. , Reitz C. , Martí-Sánchez S. , Mata M. de la , Coll M. , Arbiol J. , Marschall R. , Eickhoff M.
Published: December 2017

An experimental strategy to assess the influence of ultra-thin oxide coatings on the performance of InGaN nanowire photoanodes is demonstrated.
Laser co-ablation of bismuth antimony telluride and diamond-like carbon nanocomposites for enhanced thermoelectric performance
Authors: Chen Tsung-Han , Chen Po-Hung , Chen Chun-Hua
Published: December 2017

A series of innovative heterogeneous nanocomposites comprising diamond-like carbon (DLC) clusters and well-aligned Bi–Sb–Te based nanoassemblies were realized for thermoelectric enhancement.
Vertically oriented growth of MoO3nanosheets on graphene for superior lithium storage
Authors: Wang Shuai , Zhang Huijuan , Zhang Di , Ma Yang , Bi Xiaofang , Yang Shubin
Published: December 2017

MoO3nanosheets vertically aligned on the surface of graphene exhibited both high gravimetric and volumetric capacities for lithium storage.
Long-term G1 cell cycle arrest in cervical cancer cells induced by co-immobilized TNF-α plus IFN-γ polymeric drugs
Authors: Chen Wuya , Wang Wenwen , Chen Liyi , Chen Jiamei , Lu Xinhua , Li Zhibin , Wu Baoyan , Yin Liang , Guan Yan-Qing
Published: December 2017

For inducing long-term G1-phase cell cycle arrest, co-immobilized TNF-α plus IFN-γ polymeric drugs are very efficient tools that inhibit cervical cancer.
Management of excitons for highly efficient organic light-emitting diodes with reduced triplet exciton quenching: synergistic effects of exciplex and quantum well structure
Authors: Li Si-Hua , Wu Sheng-Fan , Wang Ya-Kun , Liang Jiao-Jiao , Sun Qi , Huang Chen-Chao , Wu Jing-Cun , Liao Liang-Sheng , Fung Man-Keung
Published: December 2017

Non-doped OLED based on interface-exciplex with multi-quantum-well structure is firstly demonstrated, which achieves high efficiency and suppressed roll-off.
A dimeric catalytic core relates the short and long forms of ATP-phosphoribosyltransferase
Authors: Mittelstädt Gerd , Jiao Wanting , Livingstone Emma K. , Moggré Gert-Jan , Nazmi Ali Reza , Parker Emily J.
Published: December 2017

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) phosphoribosyltransferase (ATP-PRT) catalyses the first committed step of histidine biosynthesis in plants and microorganisms. Two forms of ATP-PRT have been reported, which differ in their molecular architecture and mechanism of allosteric regulation. The short-form ATP-PRT is a hetero-octamer, with four HisG chains that comprise only the catalytic domains and four separate chains of HisZ required for allosteric regulation by histidine. The long-form ATP-PRT is homo-hexameric, with each chain comprising two catalytic domains and a covalently linked regulatory domain that binds histidine as an allosteric inhibitor. Here, we describe a truncated long-form ATP-PRT from Campylobacter jejuni devoid of its regulatory domain (CjeATP-PRTcore). Results showed that CjeATP-PRTcore is dimeric, exhibits attenuated catalytic activity, and is insensitive to histidine, indicating that the covalently linked regulatory domain plays a role in both catalysis and regulation. Crystal structures were obtained for CjeATP-PRTcore in complex with both substrates, and for the first time, the complete product of the reaction. These structures reveal the key features of the active site and provide insights into how substrates move into position during catalysis.
Characterization of the catalytic signature of Scabin toxin, a DNA-targeting ADP-ribosyltransferase
Authors: Lyons Bronwyn , Lugo Miguel R. , Carlin Stephanie , Lidster Taylor , Merrill A. Rod
Published: December 2017

Scabin was previously identified as a novel DNA-targeting mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase (mART) toxin from the plant pathogen 87.22 strain of Streptomyces scabies. Scabin is a member of the Pierisin-like subgroup of mART toxins, since it targets DNA. An in-depth characterization of both the glycohydrolase and transferase enzymatic activities of Scabin was conducted. Several protein variants were developed based on an initial Scabin·DNA molecular model. Consequently, three residues were deemed important for DNA-binding and transferase activity. Trp128 and Trp155 are important for binding the DNA substrate and participate in the reaction mechanism, whereas Tyr129 was shown to be important only for DNA binding, but was not involved in the reaction mechanism. Trp128 and Trp155 are both conserved within the Pierisin-like toxins, whereas Tyr129 is a unique substitution within the group. Scabin showed substrate specificity toward double-stranded DNA containing a single-base overhang, as a model for single-stranded nicked DNA. The crystal structure of Scabin bound to NADH — a competitive inhibitor of Scabin — was determined, providing important insights into the active-site structure and Michaelis–Menten complex of the enzyme. Based on these results, a novel DNA-binding motif is proposed for Scabin with substrate and the key residues that may participate in the Scabin·NAD(+) complex are highlighted.
Association between the TIMD4-HAVCR1 variants and serum lipid levels, coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke risk and atorvastatin lipid-lowering efficacy
Authors: Zhang Qing-Hui , Yin Rui-Xing , Chen Wu-Xian , Cao Xiao-Li , Chen Yu-Ming
Published: December 2017

Little is known about the association of the TIMD4 (T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 4 gene)-HAVCR1 (hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1) variants and lipid metabolism, the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic stroke (IS). The present study aimed to determine the TIMD4-HAVCR1 variants, their haplotypes and gene–environment interactions on serum lipid levels, the risk of CHD and IS, and the lipid-lowering efficacy of atorvastatin in a southern Chinese Han population. Genotypes of three variants in 622 controls, 579 CHD, and 546 IS patients were determined by the Snapshot technology. Atorvastatin calcium tablet (20 mg/day) was given in 724 hyperlipidemic patients for 8 weeks after genotyping. The rs12522248 genotypic and allelic frequencies were different between controls and patients, and were associated with the risk of CHD and IS. The rs1501908G-rs12522248T-rs2036402T haplotype was associated with an increased risk of CHD; the G-C-T haplotype was associated with lower risk of CHD; and the C-C-C haplotype was associated with an increased risk of IS. Variants and their haplotypes in controls were associated with triglyceride (rs1501908), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, rs1501908, G-T-T), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, rs12522248, C-C-C) and the ratio of total cholesterol (TC) to HDL-C (C-C-C). Interactions of rs1501908- and rs2036402-alcohol (HDL-C); rs1501908- and rs12522248-high body mass index (hBMI, ≥24 kg/m2; TC); and TIMD4-HAVCR1 variants-atorvastatin on several lipid parameters were detected. Interactions of rs12522248TC/CC-hBMI, G-T-T-, and C-C-C-smoking on the risk of CHD; and C-C-C-smoking, C-C-C-, and G-C-T-hBMI on the risk of IS were also observed. These findings suggest that the TIMD4-HAVCR1 variants may be the genetic risk factors for CHD and IS.
Communication‐embedded OFDM chirp waveform for delay‐Doppler radar
Authors: Li MengJiao , Wang Wen‐Qin , Zheng Zhi
Published: December 2017

A fundamental problem in the fusion of wireless communications and radar is to design suitable waveforms that can be simultaneously used for information transmission and radar sensing. In this study, the authors extend the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform by embedding communication codes to communication‐embedded OFDM chirp waveforms for delay‐Doppler radar applications. The waveforms are characterised by jointly utilising the advantages of classic phase modulation in communications and chirp frequency modulation in high‐resolution radar. The integrated radar‐communication system scheme is formulated, which can operate as wireless communications and delay‐Doppler radar simultaneously. In a generic monostatic radar setting, a closed‐form expression is derived to evaluate the ambiguity function of the designed waveforms, along with the average and variance analysis of the ambiguity function.
Adaptive protection scheme for distributed systems with DG
Authors: Song Xiaohui , Zhang Yu , Zhang Song , Song Shizhan , Ma Jing , Zhang Weibo
Published: December 2017

A new adaptive protection method for distribution network is proposed, which is suitable for distributed generation (DG) access. According to the operation mode of the system and the topology of the network, this method performs an equivalent transformation on the protection backside network and eliminates the influence of DG on each branch current according to the branch contribution factor matrix. On this basis, adaptive main protection and backup protection are constructed. Compared to the traditional current protection, this method increases the protection range of the main protection and the backup protection, and the calculation is simple and easy to be set. The simulation results show that this method is not affected by DG access, and can satisfy the adaptive functions of protection in the case of symmetric or asymmetric faults.
Faceting for direction-dependent spectral deconvolution
Authors: Tasse C. , Hugo B. , Mirmont M. , Smirnov O. , Atemkeng M. , Bester L. , Hardcastle M. J. , Lakhoo R. , Perkins S. , Shimwell T.
Published: December 2017

The new generation of radio interferometers is characterized by high sensitivity, wide fields of view and large fractional bandwidth. To synthesize the deepest images enabled by the high dynamic range of these instruments requires us to take into account the direction-dependent Jones matrices, while estimating the spectral properties of the sky in the imaging and deconvolution algorithms. In this paper we discuss and implement a wideband wide-field spectral deconvolution framework (ddfacet) based on image plane faceting, that takes into account generic direction-dependent effects. Specifically, we present a wide-field co-planar faceting scheme, and discuss the various effects that need to be taken into account to solve for the deconvolution problem (image plane normalization, position-dependent Point Spread Function, etc). We discuss two wideband spectral deconvolution algorithms based on hybrid matching pursuit and sub-space optimisation respectively. A few interesting technical features incorporated in our imager are discussed, including baseline dependent averaging, which has the effect of improving computing efficiency. The version of ddfacet presented here can account for any externally defined Jones matrices and/or beam patterns.
Spatial and temporal changes in fish yields and fish communities in the largest tropical floodplain lake in Asia
Authors: Chan Bunyeth , Ngor Peng Bun , So Nam , Lek Sovan
Published: December 2017

Although the Tonle Sap Lake is the largest natural inland lake in Southeast Asia, little is known about the spatio-temporal patterns of its composition and yields. The present paper aimed to investigate the temporal change of yields of the most dominant fish species and to evaluate the spatio-temporal changes in the fish community and the indicator species of assemblages. Fish catch data were collected from thirty-three fishing lots around the lake during the open season from October to May each year between 1994 and 2000. The fish yields were dominated by few commercial fishes: Channa micropeltes, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, Channa striata, Cyclocheilichthys enoplos, Henicorhynchus spp., Barbonymus gonionotus, Micronema spp. and Trichopodus microlepis. The standard linear regression coefficients of the fish yields versus year were negative for all these commercial species except T. microlepis. Moreover, the total fish yields of the lake were temporally declined (standard coefficient = −2.410, adjusted r2 = 0.272). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling of the fish assemblage data showed a clear opposition between northern assemblage and southern assemblage along the first axis, and the temporal pattern of the samples from 1994 to 1999 was explained by the second axis. The fish species assemblage from earlier years (1994 and 1995) was characterised by the abundance of all functional groups of black-white-grey fish species, but more recent years (1996–1999) were linked to white and grey functional groups, which was explained by a decrease in many black fishes.
Umgang mit Angehörigen auf der Intensivstation
Authors: Hartog Christiane , Bodechtel Ulf
Published: December 2017

Family-centered care in the ICU is a quality criterion of modern intensive care. Relatives are not just visitors, caregivers and involved stakeholders, but also partners for the medical team, especially when eliciting patient preferences and during shared decisionmaking. The move towards family-centered care signifies that traditional roles are changing; family-centered care is becoming a critical component of optimizing patient outcomes in the ICU.
Schussverletzungen – Diagnostik und Therapie in der Präklinik
Authors: von Lübken Falk , Holsträter Thorsten , Palm Hans-Georg , Andres Torsten , Riesner Hans-Joachim , Friemert Benedikt ,   aus der AG Einsatz- Katastrophen- und Taktische Chirurgie (EKTC) der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie (DGU)
Published: December 2017

In der Notfallmedizin tätige Ärzte in Deutschland haben, verglichen mit den USA, nur relativ geringe Erfahrungen mit Schussverletzungen. Dieser Beitrag vermittelt Basiswissen über die verschiedenen Schusswaffen und die damit hervorgerufenen unterschiedlichen Verletzungen, um bereits präklinisch eine gezielte Diagnostik und erste therapeutische Schritte einleiten zu können.
Konservative Therapie eines aseptischen Abszesssyndroms mit Milzabszessen bei Morbus Crohn
Authors: Göbel Thomas , Rauen-Vossloh Jutta , Hotz Hubert , Boldt Andree , Erhardt Andreas
Published: December 2017

Eine 24-jährige Patientin mit bekanntem Morbus Crohn entwickelte wenige Monate nach Absetzen ihrer immunsuppressiven Therapie mit Azathioprin blutige Diarrhoen und multiple intraabdominelle Abszesse mit täglichem Fieber, Leukozytose und erhöhtem CRP. Trotz mehrfacher Abszesspunktionen konnte kein Keim nachgewiesen werden und verschiedene antimikrobielle Therapien erreichten weder ein klinisches noch serologisches Therapieansprechen. Im Verlauf traten zusätzlich Milzabszesse auf. Nachdem die Patientin bereits über eine operative Abszessausräumung und Splenektomie aufgeklärt worden war, wurde in einer interdisziplinären Fallbesprechung die Verdachtsdiagnose eines seltenen aseptischen Abszesssyndroms im Sinne einer autoinflammatorischen, extraenterischen Manifestation des Morbus Crohn gestellt. Daraufhin wurde die geplante Operation abgesagt, alle antimikrobiellen Medikamente abgesetzt und eine intravenöse Prednisolontherapie (1 mg/kg KG) eingeleitet. Nach Ansprechen auf die Behandlung wurde zusätzlich der TNF-Inhibitor Infliximab verabreicht und die Milz- und intraabdominellen Abszesse bildeten sich im Verlauf komplett zurück.

Die Kenntnis des seltenen aseptischen Abszesssyndroms, das charakterisiert ist durch (a) sterile Abszesse mit Nachweis von neutrophilen Granulozyten im Aspirat, (b) negative Blutkulturen, (c) fehlendes Ansprechen auf antimikrobielle Therapien und (d) rasche klinische Verbesserung unter einer Prednisolontherapie mit bildmorphologischem Ansprechen kann wie im Fall unserer Patientin unnötige Operationen vermeiden. Die Pathophysiologie des aseptischen Abszesssyndroms ist bisher unbekannt, in Kenntnis der sterilen Punktate wird eine autoinflammatorische Genese diskutiert. Daten einer französischen Fallsammlung deuten jedoch darauf hin, dass dieses Syndrom bei chronisch-entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen womöglich häufiger zu finden ist. In der deutschen Fachliteratur ist dieses Krankheitsbild bisher nicht beschrieben worden.
Positionspapier der DGVS zur endoskopischen Dekompression bei akutem Ileus
Authors: Götz Martin , Braun Georg , Jakobs Ralf , Messmann Helmut , Stange Eduard , Lerch Markus ,   für die Mitglieder der DGVS-Kommission im Anhang
Published: December 2017

Bei Patienten mit paralytischem oder mechanischem Ileus und bildgebend dilatiertem Dünn- oder Dickdarm erscheint eine Dekompression mittels endoskopischer Verfahren erfolgversprechend, wird häufig aber unkritisch und ohne belastbare Evidenz eingesetzt. Vor der Entscheidung zu einem endoskopischen Vorgehen sollte mittels CT-Bildgebung die Klärung erfolgen, ob ein mechanisches Passagehindernis oder ein paralytischer Ileus/eine intestinale Pseudoobstruktion vorliegt. Ein lumenverlegender Tumor sollte dabei identifiziert und in Bezug auf seine Höhe im Kolon lokalisiert werden, weil davon die Wahl des Entlastungsverfahrens abhängt. Bei einer Dilatation des Zoekums auf über 12 cm besteht ein erhöhtes Perforationsrisiko, bei toxischem Megakolon wird ohne gute Evidenz 6 cm im Transversum angegeben.

Die endoskopische Entlastung ist komplikationsbehaftet. Sie sollte, wenn möglich, elektiv und nicht als Notfalleingriff erfolgen. Sie sollte unter CO2-Insufflation und mit der Möglichkeit der Durchleuchtung durchgeführt werden. Die vorherige Anlage einer nasalen oder oralen Entlastungssonde ist regelhaft und eine Schutzintubation häufig erforderlich. Bei über 90 % der Patienten mit Pseudoobstruktion (Ogilvie-Syndrom) ist ein endoskopisches Vorgehen entbehrlich, weil die konservative Therapie innerhalb von 24 bis 48 Stunden zum Erfolg führt. Das endoskopische Absaugen von Gas und flüssigem Darminhalt als alleinige Maßnahme ist so wenig nachhaltig, dass es im Regelfall mit der Einlage eines Entlastungskatheters kombiniert wird.

Die Einlage von selbstexpandierenden Metallstents zur Dekompression von Tumorstenosen ist meist nur im linksseitigen Kolon und Rektum zu erwägen, mit einem signifikanten Perforations- und Stentmigrationsrisiko verbunden und onkologisch umstritten wegen der möglichen Mobilisation von Tumorzellen und einer erhöhten postoperativen Tumorrezidivrate. Ein primär operatives Vorgehen ist in vielen Fällen zielführender.

Das vorliegende Positionspapier fasst die Vorzüge und Nachteile der verschiedenen Dekompressionsverfahren in unterschiedlichen klinischen Situationen zusammen.
Longer observation time increases adenoma detection in the proximal colon – a prospective study
Authors: Klare Peter , Phlipsen Henrik , Haller Bernhard , Einwächter Henrik , Weber Andreas , Abdelhafez Mohamed , Bajbouj Monther , Brown Hayley , Schmid Roland , von Delius Stefan
Published: December 2017

Background and study aims Longer observation times are associated with increased adenoma detection rates (ADR) in the entire colon. However, adenomas in the proximal colon are at risk of being missed during colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of observation time on detection of adenomatous polyps in the proximal colon.

Patients and methods This was a prospective study at a university hospital in Germany. Colonoscopies were conducted using magnetic endoscope imaging (MEI) in order to determine the exact position of the scope. Exact observation times spent for the detection of polyps in the proximal and distal colon segments were assessed. The primary outcome was adenoma detection in the proximal colon. ROC curves were generated in order to test the correlation between observation time and adenoma detection. Logistic regression analysis was used to check for interfering factors.

Results A total 480 procedures with 538 polyps were available for analysis. The overall adenoma detection rate was 38.5 %. ADR in the proximal colon was 28.0 %. There was a significant association between observation time in the proximal colon and the detection of proximal adenomas (P < 0.001). The impact of the time factor on ADR was stronger in the proximal compared to the distal colon (P = 0.030). A net period of 4 min 7 sec was found to be the minimum time span for sufficient adenoma detection in the proximal colon.

Conclusion Observation time is significant in terms of adenoma detection in the proximal colon. The impact of observation time on ADR is stronger in the proximal compared to the distal colon. In the proximal colon a minimum time span of 4 minutes should be spent in order to ensure adequate adenoma detection.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02819492
Organizational ethical integrity: good and bad illusions
Authors: Polowczyk Paweł Łukasz
Published: December 2017

Integrity has always been an ambiguous or vague concept. Integrity as a general concept seems to be too problematic in philosophical or scientific language. This paper will aim to improve and preserve the specific notion of integrity—the concept of moral integrity as a virtue and as a moral purpose, and its opposite—the concept of counterfeit moral integrity or false moral integrity. It stresses a strong relationship between the concepts of morality and the concept of moral integrity: if moralities are diverse, moral integrity has many forms too, and the forms are only as good as the morality behind them. The paper emphasizes their organizational dimensions because any organizational impact—due to its scale—can be especially beneficial or detrimental to society. The first objective is to introduce a preliminary conceptual order by means of definitions and typologies to support clearer (language analysis) and more critical (Critical Theory) thinking on organizational moral integrity: establishing definitions of moral and ethical integrity, new definitions of material and formal moral integrity, descriptions of irrational and rational moral integrit, and individual and organizational moral integrity. The definitions and typologies are designed to be prototypes of false integrity “detectors”. The second objective is to outline an ideal of a total and rational moral commitment for every organization: organizational material ethical integrity (OMEI). The ideal of OMEI points out that most self-proclaimed ethical organizations are probably not ethically committed. The third objective is to justify the theses that (1) moral integrity can be good or bad, not simply good, and that (2) false moral integrity can be good. Whether we think of “Kantian-Nazi” integrity of Adolf Eichmann or lethal and irrational integrity of Islamic State fighters, moral integrity based on bad morality is bad. False ethical integrity (or rational moral integrity) is always bad because it imitates good morality for a bad purpose, for example: rational discourse on integrity can be a “smokescreen” to hide exploitation of labor or environmental degradation. As in the case with Irena Sendler who pretended to be “a good slave” to save children’s lives, false moral integrity can be ethically good if it simulates bad morality for a good purpose. The paper offers ethical justifications for “ethical prestidigitators”, “warriors of illusions”, masters of “moral aikido”: persons and organizations that use counterfeit integrity to maximize ethical values.
Customised bifurcating networks for mapping polymer dynamics in shear flows
Authors: Fidalgo Joana , Zografos Konstantinos , Casanellas Laura , Lindner Anke , Oliveira Mónica S. N.
Published: December 2017

Understanding the effect of varying shear stresses on individual polymer dynamics is important for applications such as polymer flooding, polymer induced drag reduction, or the design of DNA separation devices. In all cases, the individual polymer response to varying shear flows needs to be understood. A biomimetic design rule was recently proposed for bifurcating networks of rectangular channels of constant depth. These customised microfluidic geometries represent an elegant option to investigate, in a single device, multiple well-controlled shear stresses. Here, we present the first experimental realisation of such customised microfluidic networks, consisting of a series of rectangular microchannels with varying cross-sections, and we demonstrate their potential for testing polymer dynamics. We used microfluidic geometries optimised for both Newtonian and power-law fluids of constant or increasing average wall shear stress. The experimental model systems were tested using particle tracking velocimetry to confirm the theoretically predicted flow fields for shear-thinning xanthan gum solutions and a Newtonian fluid. Then, λ-DNA molecules were used as an example of shear sensitive polymers to test the effect of distinct shear stress distributions on their extension. By observing the conformation of individual molecules in consecutive channels, we demonstrate the effect of the varying imposed stresses. The results obtained are in good agreement with previous studies of λ-DNA extension under shear flow, validating the bifurcating network design. The customised microfluidic networks can thus be used as platforms for the investigation of individual polymer dynamics, in a large range of well-controlled local and cumulative shear stresses, using a single experiment.
Bulk lifetime characterization of corona charged silicon wafers with high resistivity by means of microwave detected photoconductivity
Authors: Engst C. R. , Rommel M. , Bscheid C. , Eisele I. , Kutter C.
Published: December 2017

Minority carrier lifetime (lifetime) measurements are performed on corona-charged silicon wafers by means of Microwave Detected Photoconductivity (MDP). The corona charge is deposited on the front and back sides of oxidized wafers in order to adjust accumulation conditions. Once accumulation is established, interface recombination is suppressed and bulk lifetimes are obtained. Neither contacts nor non-CMOS compatible preparation techniques are required in order to achieve accumulation conditions, which makes the method ideally suited for inline characterization. The novel approach, termed ChargedMDP (CMDP), is used to investigate neutron transmutation doped (NTD) float zone silicon with resistivities ranging from 6.0 to 8.2 kΩ cm. The bulk properties of 150 mm NTD wafers are analyzed in detail by performing measurements of the carrier lifetime and the steady-state photoconductivity at various injection levels. The results are compared with MDP measurements of uncharged wafers as well as to the established charged microwave detected Photoconductance Decay (charge-PCD) method. Besides analyzing whole wafers, CMDP measurements are performed on oxide test-structures on a patterned wafer. Finally, the oxide properties are characterized by means of charge-PCD as well as capacitance-voltage measurements. With CMDP, average bulk lifetimes up to 33.1 ms are measured, whereby significant variations are observed among wafers, which are produced out of the same ingot but oxidized in different furnaces. The observed lifetime variations are assumed to be caused by contaminations, which are introduced during the oxidation process. The results obtained by CMDP were neither accessible by means of conventional MDP measurements of uncharged wafers nor with the established charge-PCD method.
Investigation of reliability of the cutoff probe by a comparison with Thomson scattering in high density processing plasmas
Authors: Seo Byonghoon , Kim Dae-Woong , Kim Jung-Hyung , You Shinjae
Published: December 2017

A “cutoff probe” uses microwaves to measure the electron density in a plasma. It is particularly attractive because it is easy to fabricate and use, its measurement is immune to surface contamination by dielectric materials, and it has a straightforward analysis to measure electron density in real time. In this work, we experimentally investigate the accuracy of the cutoff probe through a detailed comparison with Thomson scattering in a low temperature, high density processing plasma. The result shows that the electron density measured by the cutoff probe is lower than that by Thomson scattering and that the discrepancy of the two results becomes smaller as the gap between the two tips increases and/or the neutral gas pressure decreases. The underestimated electron density found by the cutoff probe can be explained by the influence of the probe holder, which becomes important as the pressure increases and the gap gets closer.
Realization of an atomically flat BaSnO3(001) substrate with SnO2 termination
Authors: Lee Woong-Jhae , Lee Hwangho , Ko Kyung-Tae , Kang Jeonghun , Kim Hyung Joon , Lee Takhee , Park Jae-Hoon , Kim Kee Hoon
Published: December 2017

Atomically flat terraces terminated by mostly single layer SnO2 are realized on the surface of a BaSnO3(001) substrate with a lateral dimension of about 3 × 3 mm2 by deionized water leaching and thermal annealing. Surface topography studies reveal that by controlling the annealing time and temperature, the topmost surface evolves from having chemically mixed termination to atomically flat terraces with a step height of one unit cell. The step bunching and kinked steps also depend sensitively on the out-of-plane and in-plane miscut angles. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy near the Ba3d5/2 and Sn3d5/2 states with variation in the electron emission angle confirmed that the topmost atomic layer of the BaSnO3−δ(001) surface mostly consisted of SnO2 rather than BaO. The present findings will facilitate the preparation of atomically flat BaSnO3(001) substrates, which will be useful in the studies of exploring possible two-dimensional electron gases at the interface between BaSnO3(001) and other oxides.
Bright-dark and dark-dark solitons in coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equation with PT-symmetric potentials
Authors: Nath Debraj , Gao Yali , Babu Mareeswaran R. , Kanna T. , Roy Barnana
Published: December 2017

We explore different nonlinear coherent structures, namely, bright-dark (BD) and dark-dark (DD) solitons in a coupled nonlinear Schrödinger/Gross–Pitaevskii equation with defocusing/repulsive nonlinearity coefficients featuring parity-time (PT)-symmetric potentials. Especially, for two choices of PT-symmetric potentials, we obtain the exact solutions for BD and DD solitons. We perform the linear stability analysis of the obtained coherent structures. The results of this linear stability analysis are well corroborated by direct numerical simulation incorporating small random noise. It has been found that there exists a parameter regime which can support stable BD and DD solitons.
Experiments match simulations in a multiple post reentrant cavity
Authors: de Paula L. A. N. , Goryachev M. , Tobar M. E.
Published: December 2017

Microwave reentrant cavities are used for many applications in science and engineering. The potential for both high mechanical tunability and high electric quality factors make them important tools in many areas. They are usually resonant cylindrical cavities with a central post, which makes a small gap spacing with the cavity wall. By adding an arbitrary number of extra posts, they are generalized to a type of multiple post reentrant cavity. This new approach has been theoretically studied but no experimental results have been presented. The main purpose of this work was to compare experimental modes with simulated ones from a reentrant cavity made of forty nine cylindrical posts. Each post could be moved using a screw in order to make tunable gap spacing between the post top and the cavity cover. Eight different gap setups were made making it possible to investigate thirty six different reentrant modes at room temperature. The lowest frequency percentage agreement between experiment and simulation was 91.31%, and the best one was 99.92%. Taking into account all the modes, 94.44% of them agreed above 96%. Thus, we have determined an experimental procedure suitable to investigate the reentrant modes from multiple post cavities. There is a wide range of potential applications for such cavities due to their unique features compared to conventional ones.
A molecular Debye-Hückel theory of solvation in polar fluids: An extension of the Born model
Authors: Xiao Tiejun , Song Xueyu
Published: December 2017

A dielectric response theory of solvation beyond the conventional Born model for polar fluids is presented. The dielectric response of a polar fluid is described by a Born response mode and a linear combination of Debye-Hückel-like response modes that capture the nonlocal response of polar fluids. The Born mode is characterized by a bulk dielectric constant, while a Debye-Hückel mode is characterized by its corresponding Debye screening length. Both the bulk dielectric constant and the Debye screening lengths are determined from the bulk dielectric function of the polar fluid. The linear combination coefficients of the response modes are evaluated in a self-consistent way and can be used to evaluate the electrostatic contribution to the thermodynamic properties of a polar fluid. Our theory is applied to a dipolar hard sphere fluid as well as interaction site models of polar fluids such as water, where the electrostatic contribution to their thermodynamic properties can be obtained accurately.
Observation of distorted Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of epithermal ions in LHD
Authors: Ida K. , Kobayashi T. , Yoshinuma M. , Akiyama T. , Tokuzawa T. , Tsuchiya H. , Itoh K. ,   LHD Experiment Group
Published: December 2017

A distorted Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of epithermal ions is observed associated with the collapse of energetic ions triggered by the tongue shaped deformation. The tongue shaped deformation is characterized by the plasma displacement localized in the toroidal, poloidal, and radial directions at the non-rational magnetic flux surface in toroidal plasma. Moment analysis of the ion velocity distribution measured with charge exchange spectroscopy is studied in order to investigate the impact of tongue event on ion distribution. A clear non-zero skewness (3rd moment) and kurtosis (4th moment –3) of ion velocity distribution in the epithermal region (within three times of thermal velocity) is observed after the tongue event. This observation indicates the clear evidence of the distortion of ion velocity distribution from Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. This distortion from Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is observed in one-third of plasma minor radius region near the plasma edge and disappears in the ion-ion collision time scale.
Optical side-band generation in THz Fabry-Perot laser cavities
Authors: Folland Thomas G. , Hua Li , Marshall Owen P. , Khairuzzaman Md. , Beere Harvey E. , Ritchie David A. , Chakraborty Subhasish
Published: December 2017

Optical nonlinearities in semiconductor laser cavities can be exploited to characterize the properties of laser radiation or perform high speed frequency conversion operations. For example, nonlinear up-conversion inside the cavity of quantum cascade lasers allows the use of near infrared optical components to measure high-speed terahertz or mid-infrared optical effects. This letter investigates two aspects of cavity up-conversion which control both the bandwidth and up-converted power: waveguide dispersion and cavity feedback. Specifically, we up-convert multi-mode Fabry Perot terahertz laser emission and detect each THz mode as a sideband signal on an optical carrier in the near infrared. Analysis of these results shows that a single frequency near infrared laser can up-convert terahertz modes spanning a bandwidth of approximately 220 GHz, limited by the group index mismatch between the near infrared and terahertz waves. Second, transfer matrix techniques are used to study strong cavity feedback on all three waves, which produces etalon-like resonances in the sideband power. This can significantly enhance the efficiency of the conversion process, in agreement with experiments. It is thus possible to achieve high up-conversion efficiency in quantum cascade lasers for both characterizing broadband laser sources and performing frequency conversion in the near infrared.
Internal stress-assisted epitaxial lift-off process for flexible thin film (In)GaAs solar cells on metal foil
Authors: Kim Youngjo , Kim Kangho , Jung Sang Hyun , Kim Chang Zoo , Shin Hyun-Beom , Choi JeHyuk , Kang Ho Kwan
Published: December 2017

Flexible thin film (In)GaAs solar cells are grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on GaAs substrates and transferred to 30 μm thick Au foil by internal stress-assisted epitaxial lift-off processes. The internal stress is induced by replacing the solar cell epi-layers from GaAs to In0.015Ga0.985As, which has a slightly larger lattice constant. The compressive strained layer thickness was varied from 0 to 4.5 μm to investigate the influence of the internal stress on the epitaxial lift-off time. The etching time in the epitaxial lift-off process was reduced from 36 to 4 h by employing a GaAs/In0.015Ga0.985As heterojunction structure that has a compressive film stress of −59.0 MPa. We found that the partially strained epi-structure contributed to the much faster lateral etching rate with spontaneous bending. Although an efficiency degradation problem occurred in the strained solar cell, it was solved by optimizing the epitaxial growth conditions.
Silver-induced layer exchange for polycrystalline germanium on a flexible plastic substrate
Authors: Yoshimine R. , Toko K. , Saitoh N. , Yoshizawa N. , Suemasu T.
Published: December 2017

Crystalline Ge was directly achieved on a flexible plastic by layer exchange between Ag and amorphous Ge layers. The key factor for the layer exchange was limiting the diffusion of Ag to Ge by lowering the growth temperature (250 °C) and controlling the condition of an interlayer (1-nm-thick SiO2) between Ag and Ge. The layer exchange using Ag provided much faster nucleation and lateral growth rates of Ge compared with the conventional solid-phase crystallization and Al-induced layer exchange. A principle to determine the materials for layer exchange is proposed from the perspective of the diffusion and solubility of metals and semiconductors.
Optical polarization switching in semipolar (202¯1) InGaN multiple quantum wells induced by strain engineering
Authors: Chung Roy B. , Garrett Gregory A. , Enck Ryan W. , Sampath Anand V. , Wraback Michael , Reed Meredith L.
Published: December 2017

Semipolar (202¯1) InGaN/AlGaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) with a low In content (<0.05) were coherently grown on a partially relaxed AlxGa1−xN (0 < XAl < 0.4) layer. As XAl increased from 0.15 to 0.38, the degree of optical polarization measured by photoluminescence at 13 K changed from 0.49 to −0.24, where (−) indicates the change in the dominant polarization direction from [112¯0] to [1014¯]. Regardless of XAl and thickness, no polarization switching was observed if AlxGa1−xN was fully strained to the GaN substrate. Band structure modeling based on the k⋅p method implies that the polarization switching is associated with strong valence band mixing induced by the one-dimensional strain relaxation in AlGaN, which leads to a significantly stronger compressive strain in MQWs along [1014¯] relative to [112¯0]. These results demonstrate that the optical polarization switching in semipolar MQWs can be controlled by engineering the strain state of the underlying layer.
Preparation of highly pure α-MnBi phase via melt-spinning
Authors: Gabay A. M. , Hadjipanayis G. C. , Cui J.
Published: December 2017

High concentration of the magnetically hard α phase in the Mn-Bi alloys is important for the development of these alloys as rare-earth-free permanent magnets. Among several explored manufacturing methods, melt-spinning followed by annealing is known to be suitable of producing the most pure α structure. In this work, a series of melt-spun Mn100-xBix alloys was prepared with x = 43 – 51 at a wheel speed of 67 m/s by ejecting the alloys through orifices 0.17 mm and 0.27 mm in diameter. The smaller orifice diameter favored formation of an amorphous phase in the as-spun alloys as well as a higher saturation magnetization Ms in the alloys subsequently annealed at 300 °C. Although the most pure, 98 vol.%, α phase was obtained for the off-stoichiometric Mn55Bi45 composition, the Ms of this material was lowered, possibly because the excess Mn atoms induced antiferromagnetic coupling in the α phase. The highest Ms of 78 emu/g was obtained for a composition closer to the Mn50Bi50 stoichiometry, despite the slightly lower purity of α phase. Evolution of the room-temperature coercivity with the formation of the α phase in the melt-spun alloys was studied for the Mn55Bi45 ribbons compacted at 275 °C; the coercivity values of around 1 kOe obtained through this simple procedure are not sufficient for permanent magnet applications.
A planar surface acoustic wave micropump for closed-loop microfluidics
Authors: Rimsa R. , Smith A. J. , Wälti C. , Wood C. D.
Published: December 2017

We have designed and characterized a simple Rayleigh-surface acoustic wave-based micropump, integrated directly with a fully enclosed 3D microfluidic system, which improves significantly the pumping efficiency within a coupled fluid whilst maintaining planar integration of the micropump and microfluidics. We achieve this by exploiting the Rayleigh-scattering angle of surface acoustic waves into pressure waves on contact with overlaid fluids, by designing a microfluidic channel aligned almost co-linearly with the launched pressure waves and by minimizing energy losses by reflections from, or absorption within, the channel walls. This allows the microfluidic system to remain fully enclosed—a pre-requisite for point-of-care applications—removing sources of possible contamination, whilst achieving pump efficiencies up to several orders of magnitude higher than previously reported, at low operating powers of 0.5 W.
Pulsed optically pumped atomic clock with zero-dead-time
Authors: Lin Haixiao , Lin Jinda , Deng Jianliao , Zhang Song , Wang Yuzhu
Published: December 2017

By alternatively operating two pulsed optically pumped (POP) atomic clocks, the dead time in a single clock can be eliminated, and the local oscillator can be discriminated continuously. A POP atomic clock with a zero-dead-time (ZDT) method is then insensitive to the microwave phase noise. From τ = 0.01 to 1 s, the Allan deviation of the ZDT-POP clock is reduced as nearly τ−1, which is significantly faster than τ−1/2 of a conventional clock. During 1–40 s, the Allan deviation returns to τ−1/2. Moreover, the frequency stability of the ZDT-POP clock is improved by one order of magnitude compared with that of the conventional POP clock. We also analyze the main factors that limit the short-term frequency stability of the POP atomic clock.