bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal influenza activity based on laboratory surveillance in Malaysia, 2011‐2016
Authors: Sam I‐Ching , Noraini Wan , Sandhu Sukhvinder Singh , Norizah Ismail , Selvanesan Sengol , Thayan Ravindran , Yusof Mohd Apandi , Hassan Ardalinah , Jafar Faizatul Lela , Chan Yoke Fun
Published: September 2018

Influenza seasonality in equatorial countries is little understood. Seasonal and alert influenza thresholds were determined for Malaysia, using laboratory‐based data obtained from the Malaysia Influenza Surveillance System and a major teaching hospital, from 2011 to 2016. Influenza was present year‐round, with no clear annual seasons. Variable periods of higher transmission occurred inconsistently, in November to December, January to March, July to September, or a combination of these. These coincide with seasons in the nearby southeast Asian countries or winter seasons of the northern and southern hemispheres. Changes in the predominant circulating influenza type were only sometimes associated with increased transmission. The data can provide public health interventions such as vaccines.
Insights into guidewire related complication during HotBalloon ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation: What should we know?
Authors: Nakamura Yoshinori , Sohara Hiroshi , Ihara Minoru
Published: September 2018

A 78‐year‐old woman with drug‐resistant persistent atrial fibrillation was referred for catheter ablation by HotBalloon. All pulmonary veins were successfully ablated by the HotBalloon. During the additional roof ablation by the HotBalloon, sudden hemoptysis developed. It was observed that a guidewire advanced far distal to the left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV) branch. The pulmonary vein angiography demonstrated LSPV branch injury. After activated clotting time control, the hemoptysis disappeared spontaneously. The patient was discharged 6 days after the procedure without any sequela.
Does Scope of Attention Affect Creativity? Testing the Attentional Priming Hypothesis
Authors: Liu Sisi , Peng Ming
Published: September 2018

Creativity is linked to broad scope of attention, a state or trait that allocates attentional resources over a wide range of perceptual stimuli. According to the attentional priming hypothesis, a mechanism underlying the creativity–attention link is that broad perceptual attention scope primes broad conceptual attention scope—the activation of a wide range of memory contents—which therefore facilitates creative ideation. This study aimed to test the hypothesis in three experiments using three manipulations and two creativity tasks. Experiment 1 used the Navon letter task to prime attention to global patterns or local details of composite stimuli and measured creativity via the task to generate alternative uses of daily objects. Experiment 2 modified a cue‐size procedure in which participants repeatedly attended to large or small visual cues before a target stimulus appeared. Experiment 3 devised a manipulation that required participants to view and visualize images associated with broad or narrow attention and adopted the alternative uses task and the task to invent alien creatures. Across the experiments, although the results were in the predicted direction, they were non‐significant. This study found no evidence that broadness of perceptual attention affects creativity.
Gamma irradiation of clove: level of trapped radicals and effects on bioactive composition
Authors: Gaspar Elvira M , Santana José C , Santos Pedro MP , Telo João P , Vieira Abel JSC
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

Food irradiation is a widely used technique for improving the safety and shelf life of foods, including most spices. However, growing concerns by consumers about this technique require further investigation on the effects of radiation, both on the safety of the food and on its organoleptic properties. In this work, cloves of diverse origins were submitted to different irradiation doses in a 60Co source. The presence of trapped radicals and their time‐dependent decay after irradiation were assessed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The volatile bioactive composition and the clove oil were evaluated before and after irradiation by gas chromatography time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Results show an increase of the amount of volatiles collected after irradiation, especially of caryophyllene oxide and acetic acid, although these are still minor constituents. No new compound was detected after irradiation. Radicals decay fast, and 60 days after irradiation they were undetectable by ESR.

CONCLUSION

Gamma irradiation showed to be a clean technique for clove decontamination, since no significant change in the aroma or oil compositions was found, and low levels of trapped paramagnetic species, after the initial decay period, were detected upon irradiation. Furthermore, irradiation doses higher than those legally allowed are equally safe. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Land management alters traditional nutritional benefits of migration for elk
Authors: Barker Kristin J. , Mitchell Michael S. , Proffitt Kelly M. , DeVoe Jesse D.
Published: September 2018

Ungulates typically migrate to maximize nutritional intake when forage varies seasonally. In western North America, however, increasing numbers of ungulates reside on low‐elevation winter range year‐round rather than migrating. These residents often occupy irrigated agricultural areas, but it is not known whether the nutrition provided by agricultural land exceeds that gained by migration. We evaluated the nutrition available to a partially migratory population of elk (Cervus canadensis) in west‐central Montana where some individuals summered on low‐elevation agricultural lands, whereas others summered on traditional higher‐elevation ranges. We sampled elk forage plants from ground plots and adult female elk movements from global positioning system (GPS) collar locations during late summer for 2 years. We tested for differences in the nutrition provided by 11 vegetative communities commonly available to elk in the Rocky Mountains and the nutrition available in areas used by individuals whose behaviors ranged from residency to migration. We found the nutrition available to elk decreased along the continuum from resident to migratory behavior, contrary to our hypothesis that all behaviors would provide access to equivalent forage quality. The relatively small summer home ranges of migrants suggest other factors (e.g., decreased competition) may compensate for their lower nutritional value, because the size of a home range is often inversely related to its fitness benefits. We found irrigated agriculture provided the highest forage quality in low elevations, but recently burned (1–6 yr prior) dry forests at higher elevations provided forage quality approximately equivalent to that of irrigated agriculture. Excluding elk from irrigated agricultural areas should therefore reduce nutritional incentives for elk to reside at low elevations year‐round. Additionally, fire in higher‐elevation dry forests may temporarily increase forage quality for elk and improve nutritional benefits of migratory behavior. Our results indicate land management practices can affect nutritionally mediated fitness benefits of differing behaviors in partially migratory populations of ungulates. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Population‐level effects of wind farms on a desert lizard
Authors: Keehn Jade E. , Shoemaker Kevin T. , Feldman Chris R.
Published: September 2018

Renewable forms of energy production can have major societal benefits including reduced carbon pollution and decreased dependence on fossil fuels but are not without associated costs. For example, habitat degradation at renewable energy production sites may affect the persistence of wildlife populations. We assessed the effects of wind farms in the San Gorgonio Wind Resource Area near Palm Springs, California, 2013–2015, on local populations of the side‐blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana). The side‐blotched lizard is a common and ubiquitous desert reptile that is a major consumer of invertebrates and, in turn, represents a key prey base for many avian, reptilian, and mammalian predators. We used spatially explicit capture‐recapture methods to compare a comprehensive set of population‐level vital signs (i.e., abundance, population growth rate, survival, recruitment, body condition, age structure, activity area size, movement rates) among populations at 4 wind farms and at 5 reference areas. Although our models indicate that wind facilities have a weak negative effect on side‐blotched lizard survival, our overall results suggest that wind farms do not substantially influence the demography or behavior of these small lizards. Population response to general anthropogenic disturbance (quantified as an index of road type and density) was more pronounced, with lower population growth rates, adult‐skewed age structure, and reduced body condition at highly disturbed wind farm and reference sites. We therefore conclude that wind‐power facilities can support healthy populations of side‐blotched lizards, indicating that wind energy development is compatible with a native Mojave Desert species. However, our results show that anthropogenic disturbance, as measured by the type and density of roadways, has a negative effect on lizard populations, and should be carefully planned whether associated with energy development or not. Our study demonstrates a methodological approach that can be applied to other species, including those with lower tolerances to disturbance, to measure their response to renewable energy development. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
LEADING WITH INTEGRITY
Authors: O'Rourke Bill
Published: September 2018

O'Rourke, a retired, longtime Alcoa senior executive, believes integrity is the most crucial differentiator for a great leader. He discusses examples of ethical dilemmas he navigated in his years with the company, including especially thorny situations when he was president of Alcoa‐Russia. He explains nuances of the concept of conflicts of interest, and writes about Paul O'Neill, Alcoa's chief executive officer (CEO) when O'Rourke worked there. O'Neill articulated a vision to be the best corporation in the world, particularly around the importance of worker safety. During O'Neill's 13‐year tenure as CEO, “Alcoa became known as the safest manufacturing corporation in the world because O'Neill made safety a true value in the company,” O'Rourke writes.
Combining Catalyst‐Free Click Chemistry with Coaxial Electrospinning to Obtain Long‐Term, Water‐Stable, Bioactive Elastin‐Like Fibers for Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Fernández‐Colino Alicia , Wolf Frederic , Rütten Stephan , Rodríguez‐Cabello José Carlos , Jockenhoevel Stefan , Mela Petra
Published: September 2018

Elastic fibers are a fundamental requirement for tissue‐engineered equivalents of physiologically elastic native tissues. Here, a simple one‐step electrospinning approach is developed, combining i) catalyst‐free click chemistry, ii) coaxial electrospinning, and iii) recombinant elastin‐like polymers as a relevant class of biomaterials. Water‐stable elastin‐like fibers are obtained without the use of cross‐linking agents, catalysts, or harmful organic solvents. The fibers can be directly exposed to an aqueous environment at physiological temperature and their morphology maintained for at least 3 months. The bioactivity of the fibers is demonstrated with human vascular cells and the potential of the process for vascular tissue engineering is shown by fabricating small‐diameter tubular fibrous scaffolds. Moreover, highly porous fluffy 3D constructs are obtained without the use of specially designed collectors or sacrificial materials, further supporting their applicability in the biomedical field. Ultimately, the strategy that is developed here may be applied to other click systems, contributing to expanding their potential in medical technology.
Comparative proteomic analysis of Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus reveals methane formation from H2 and CO2 under different temperature conditions
Authors: Liu Cong , Mao Lihui , Zheng Xiongmin , Yuan Jiangan , Hu Beijuan , Cai Yaohui , Xie Hongwei , Peng Xiaojue , Ding Xia
Published: September 2018

The growth of all methanogens is limited to a specific temperature range. However, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus can be found in a variety of natural and artificial environments, the temperatures of which sometimes even exceed the temperature growth ranges of thermophiles. As a result, the extent to which methane production and survival are affected by temperature remains unclear. To investigate the mechanisms of methanogenesis that Archaea have evolved to cope with drastic temperature shifts, the responses of Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus to temperature were investigated under a high temperature growth (71°C) and cold shock (4°C) using Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). The results showed that methane formation is decreased and that protein folding and degradation are increased in both high‐ and low‐temperature treatments. In addition, proteins predicted to be involved in processing environmental information processing and in cell membrane/wall/envelope biogenesis may play key roles in affecting methane formation and enhancing the response of M. thermautotrophicus to temperature stress. Analysis of the genomic locations of the genes corresponding to these temperature‐dependent proteins predicted that 77 of the genes likely to form 32 gene clusters. Here, we assess the response of M. thermautotrophicus to different temperatures and provide a new level of understanding of methane formation and cellular putative adaptive responses.
Model‐of‐care effort reduces need for restraint, seclusion at BH facility
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: September 2018

Creating a model of care based on a trauma‐informed approach to provide an alternative to restraint and seclusion for at‐risk and high‐risk children and adults proved to be the best approach for one behavioral health facility's ability to reduce restraint and completely eliminate seclusion, according to program officials. The results of the approach are published in Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
As new school year begins, leaders continue to define role of MH services
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: September 2018

As a new school year kicks into full gear, leaders continue to grapple with the issue of how best to optimize school safety and create environments most conducive to learning. The answers they come up with could offer numerous opportunities for community mental health organizations, provided that they are prepared to meet the challenge.
Treatment planning based on water density image generated using dual‐energy computed tomography for pancreatic cancer with contrast‐enhancing agent: Phantom and clinical study
Authors: Ohira Shingo , Yagi Masashi , Iramina Hiraku , Karino Tsukasa , Washio Hayate , Ueda Yoshihiro , Miyazaki Masayoshi , Koizumi Masahiko , Teshima Teruki
Published: September 2018

Purpose

A contrast‐enhancing agent is imperative for the accurate target delineation of pancreatic tumors. This study demonstrates the potential use of treatment planning for patients with pancreatic tumors based on the water density image (WDI) generated by dual‐energy computed tomography (DECT).

Methods

Tissue characterization and multi‐energy phantom scanning were performed through DECT and the physical characteristics of the WDI and a virtual monochromatic image (VMI) were assessed. The measured and the corresponding theoretical electron density relative to water (RED) and mass density (MD) were compared. Treatment plans based on the WDI (TPWDI) and VMI (TPVMI) were compared for 22 pancreatic cancer patients who underwent contrast‐enhanced DECT scan.

Results

The total absolute difference in the HU value between the conventional 120 kVp images and the VMI was the smallest at the energy level of 77 keV (3.3 HU), and the VMI at 77 keV was used for subsequent analysis. The difference between the measured and theoretical values of RED and MD for iodine using the VMI (>15%) was larger than that using WDI (<4%). In clinical cases, the maximum difference in the dosimetric parameters between TPWDI and TPWDI for the planning target volume was 3.0% when the doses were calculated using AXB, and for the duodenum, it was 1.7%.

Conclusions

The WDI estimated the RED and MD accurately and could form the basis for a new treatment planning approach for pancreatic cancer using contrast‐enhancing agent.
Determination of the dose rate constant through Monte Carlo simulations with voxel phantoms
Authors: Soares Abner D. , Paixão Lucas , Facure Alessandro
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The main goal of this study was to determine the dose rate constant of radionuclides used in Nuclear Medicine when they are biodistributed in humans. The secondary goal was to calculate the effective half‐life for the same radionuclides in order to determine the realistic dose due to the incorporation of these nuclides for a variety of reasons.

Methods

Anthropomorphic voxel phantoms, with characteristics based on ICRP‐110 were considered and the biodistributions of radionuclides were simulated using the Monte Carlo code MCNPX. In addition, the effective half‐lives for all simulated radionuclides were calculated.

Results

The results for the dose rate constant, taking into account the patient body attenuation, showed no correlation between the biodistribution of the radionuclide and the energy of the radiation emitted. Body attenuation ranged between 6.7% and 94.1%. Also, the priority angle of radiation emission was determined. The values found for the body attenuation agree with the literature, corroborating the calculation of the body dose rate constant.

Conclusions

The results for the body dose rate constant calculated in this work, for 30 radionuclides and 57 radiopharmaceuticals, and their effective half‐lives, may be used to estimate the dose emitted by a person who has incorporated a radionuclide in the Nuclear Medicine activity range. This dose will be optimized when the body dose rate constant and the effective half‐life determined in this study are used together with dose reduction factors.
Computer‐assisted Curie scoring for metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scans in patients with neuroblastoma
Authors: Sokol Elizabeth A. , Engelmann Roger , Kang Wenjun , Pinto Navin , Starkey Adam , Lai Hollie , Nadel Helen , Shulkin Barry L. , Pu Yonglin , Appelbaum Daniel , Yanik Gregory A. , Cohn Susan L. , Armato Samuel G. , Volchenboum Samuel
Published: September 2018

Background

Radiolabeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is sensitive and specific for detecting neuroblastoma. The extent of MIBG‐avid disease is assessed using Curie scores. Although Curie scoring is prognostic in patients with high‐risk neuroblastoma, there is no standardized method to assess the response of specific sites of disease over time. The goal of this study was to develop approaches for Curie scoring to facilitate the calculation of scores and comparison of specific sites on serial scans.

Procedure

We designed three semiautomated methods for determining Curie scores, each with increasing degrees of computer assistance. Method A was based on visual assessment and tallying of MIBG‐avid lesions. For method B, scores were tabulated from a schematic that associated anatomic regions to MIBG‐positive lesions. For method C, an anatomic mesh was used to mark MIBG‐positive lesions with automatic assignment and tallying of scores. Five imaging physicians experienced in MIBG interpretation scored 38 scans using each method, and the feasibility and utility of the methods were assessed using surveys.

Results

There was good reliability between methods and observers. The user‐interface methods required 57 to 110 seconds longer than the visual method. Imaging physicians indicated that it was useful that methods B and C enabled tracking of lesions. Imaging physicians preferred method B to method C because of its efficiency.

Conclusions

We demonstrate the feasibility of semiautomated approaches for Curie score calculation. Although more time was needed for strategies B and C, the ability to track and document individual MIBG‐positive lesions over time is a strength of these methods.
L‐proline and betaine inhibit extracellular enzymes mediated abeta 1‐42 aggregation, oxidative stress, and toxicity
Authors: Ismail Tania , Vancha Sushma Reddy , Kanapathipillai Mathumai
Published: September 2018

Extracellular amyloid plaques are characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The amyloid plaques mainly consist of amyloid‐β (abeta) fragments. Extracellular biomolecules play a key role in abeta aggregation and subsequent plaque formation during AD. Among them, extracellular enzymes are known to induce abeta aggregation by catalyzing the crosslinking of abeta proteins. Although several therapeutic strategies have been studied to combat AD, studies to treat extracellular enzymes mediated abeta aggregation and toxicity is not explored in detail yet. Here we study the potential of osmolyte molecules l‐proline and betaine to inhibit the abeta aggregation and toxicity promoted by extracellular enzymes transglutaminase and lysyl oxidase in vitro. Results reveal that l‐proline and betaine have the potential to inhibit extracellular matrix enzymes mediated abeta aggregation/fibril formation and toxicity and oxidative stress in brain endothelial cells. Hence osmolytes could have the potential to modulate the effects of extracellular molecules during AD.
Taxonomic Landscape of the Dark Proteomes: Whole‐Proteome Scale Interplay Between Structural Darkness, Intrinsic Disorder, and Crystallization Propensity
Authors: Hu Gang , Wang Kui , Song Jiangning , Uversky Vladimir N. , Kurgan Lukasz
Published: September 2018

Growth rate of the protein sequence universe dramatically exceeds the speed of expansion for the protein structure universe, generating an immense dark proteome that includes proteins with unknown structure. A whole‐proteome scale analysis of 5.4 million proteins from 987 proteomes in the three domains of life and viruses to systematically dissect an interplay between structural coverage, degree of putative intrinsic disorder, and predicted propensity for structure determination is performed. It has been found that Archaean and Bacterial proteomes have relatively high structural coverage and low amounts of disorder, whereas Eukaryotic and Viral proteomes are characterized by a broad spread of structural coverage and higher disorder levels. The analysis reveals that dark proteomes (i.e., proteomes containing high fractions of proteins with unknown structure) have significantly elevated amounts of intrinsic disorder and are predicted to be difficult to solve structurally. Although the majority of dark proteomes are of viral origin, many dark viral proteomes have at least modest crystallization propensity and only a handful of them are enriched in the intrinsic disorder. The disorder, structural coverage, and propensity are mapped for structural determination onto a novel proteome‐level sequence similarity network to analyze the interplay of these characteristics in the taxonomic landscape.
Centrifugal Field Guided Dual Templating Synthesis of Functional Macro‐Microporous Carbon
Authors: Ge Qiong , Chen Mengdi , Lou Xiaobing , Zhang Wei , Shen Ming , Yang Qi , Hu Bingwen
Published: September 2018

Due to the important role of porous carbon in the development of sustainable materials, the synthesis of porous carbon materials with various pore structures and pore sizes is intensively developed. But it is still not an easy task to obtain uniform porous structures at different nanoscales, let alone the hierarchical structures which combine different uniform porosity. The objective of this paper is to investigate if centrifugal field is applicable in the synthesis of ordered macro‐microporous carbon structures and the performance of the obtained porous carbon used as the cathode of a lithium–oxygen cell. It is found that a centrifugal force can trap the nucleation and growth of ZIF‐8 nanocrystals in between the interstices of close‐packed polymeric spheres, and therefore result in ordered macro‐microporous carbon nanoparticles with smaller pores distributed in the wall of larger pores. The dual porosity structures significantly help the macro‐microporous carbon to deliver a much higher capacity when used as the cathodes of a lithium–oxygen battery.
Facile Synthesis of ZnS/ZnO Nanosheets With Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Zhu Bangyao , Zhang Qi , Li Xiuyan , Lan Huixia
Published: September 2018

ZnS/ZnO heterostructural nanosheets (NSs) are fabricated facilely via a simple solvothermal treatment from ZnS(en)0.5 (en = ethylenediamine) NSs. The synthesized ZnS/ZnO NSs, with a diameter in the range of 150–350 nm and a thickness of 20 nm, grow on the surface of zinc substrate. Structural characterization revealed that both ZnO and ZnS in ZnS/ZnO NSs heterostructure are hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure. The photocatalytic behavior of ZnS/ZnO NSs is scrutinized using rhodamine B (RhB) as probe molecule under UV light irradiation. The result shows that the photocatalytic activity of ZnS/ZnO NSs is markedly enhanced compared to pure ZnS NSs. Moreover, the reusability test indicated that ZnS/ZnO NSs kept high photocatalytic efficiency after five cycles.
Spatial Distribution of Defect Luminescence in ZnO Nanorods: An Investigation by Spectral Cathodoluminescence Imaging
Authors: Zhu Liangchen , Lockrey Mark , Phillips Matthew R. , Ton‐That Cuong
Published: September 2018

The spatial distribution of ubiquitous green luminescence (GL) in ZnO nanorods is investigated using cathodoluminescence (CL) spectral imaging. The vertically aligned, single‐crystal nanorods exhibit a strong GL emission at 2.42 eV at 80 K, attributable to oxygen vacancies. The spectral imaging reveals the GL emission is predominantly located in the surface layer of nanorods; the thickness and intensity of this layer decreases rapidly at elevated temperatures. On the other hand, the near‐band‐edge emission is weakest near the nanorod edges. The temperature‐dependent CL maps are consistent with the properties of a model in which singly ionized oxygen vacancies are stabilized by the surface band bending, which leads to the GL enhancement at the expense of near‐band‐edge emission. These results demonstrate the utility of spectral CL imaging to map the spatial distribution of defect luminescence in nanostructured materials.
Room Temperature Strong Emission and Excitonic Enhancement in Multiple‐Stacked Nano‐Porous ZnO Thin Film
Authors: Darma Yudi , Chichvarina Olga , Purbayanto Muhammad A. K. , Nurfani Eka , Setiawan Freddy G. , Ding Jun , Rusydi Andrivo
Published: September 2018

Electronic and structural properties of ZnO films before and after H2 annealing treatment are studied. The initial system is smooth amorphous ZnO films that are intentionally grown at room temperature. A dramatic change is found in the crystallinity and the surface transforms to a multiple‐stacked nanoporous structure upon annealing as observed by scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Photoluminescence spectroscopy shows the presence of a new mid‐gap state below the first optical transition, and the annealing treatment transforms the ZnO system to more transparent film. Interestingly, it is found that the structural evolution changes the dielectric function measured by high‐resolution, angle‐dependent spectroscopic ellipsometry and this generates strong emission at ≈2.5 eV. These results show the importance of structural modification via H2 annealing to control the optical properties and electronic structure of ZnO films.
Radiation Effects on Aluminosilicate Optical Fibers: Spectral Investigations From the Ultraviolet to Near‐Infrared Domains
Authors: Alessi Antonino , Guttilla Angela , Girard Sylvain , Agnello Simonpietro , Cannas Marco , Robin Thierry , Boukenter Aziz , Ouerdane Youcef
Published: September 2018

Online X‐ray radiation induced attenuation (RIA) has been performed in aluminosilicate optical fibers having different Al concentrations. The studied UV‐visible spectral range revealed the presence of absorption bands related to Al defects. Their generation is shown to be not noticeably dependent on the dose rate. Furthermore, the Al content (2–4 wt%), the core sizes, and the manufacturing processes (SPCVD or MCVD) of the preforms have no significant influence on the RIA levels and kinetics, as well as the drawing parameters within the range used for specialty fiber production. The Aluminum–Oxygen Hole Center (Al–OHC) presence was proved by their 2.3 eV absorption band and by their electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signature. The growth kinetic of their concentration versus dose is linear up to 2–3 kGy (SiO2). While, at higher doses, EPR data highlight a saturation, suggesting that the Al–OHC generation results from a process involving precursors. To explain the E'Si growth kinetic with the dose, two processes are necessary, the first is from precursors and the second by breaking SiOSi links. The study of the RIA induced in the NIR demonstrates that the tail of the 2.3 eV Al–OHC band cannot explain the fiber degradation and that additional defects contribute to the induced losses.
Materials Informatics for Dark Matter Detection
Authors: Geilhufe R. Matthias , Olsthoorn Bart , Ferella Alfredo D. , Koski Timo , Kahlhoefer Felix , Conrad Jan , Balatsky Alexander V.
Published: September 2018

Dark Matter particles are commonly assumed to be weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with a mass in the GeV to TeV range. However, recent interest has shifted toward lighter WIMPs, which are more difficult to probe experimentally. A detection of sub‐GeV WIMPs will require the use of small gap materials in sensors. Using recent estimates of the WIMP mass, we identify the relevant target space toward small gap materials (100 to 10 meV). Dirac Materials, a class of small‐ or zero‐gap materials, emerge as natural candidates for sensors for Dark Matter detection. We propose the use of informatics tools to rapidly assay materials band structures to search for small gap semiconductors and semimetals, rather than focusing on a few preselected compounds. As a specific example of the proposed strategy, we use the organic materials database (https://omdb.diracmaterials.org) to identify organic candidates for sensors: the narrow band gap semiconductors BNQ‐TTF and DEBTTT with gaps of 40 and 38 meV, and the Dirac‐line semimetal (BEDT‐TTF)·Br which exhibits a tiny gap of ≈50 meV when spin‐orbit coupling is included. We outline a novel and powerful approach to search for dark matter detection sensor materials by means of a rapid assay of materials using informatics tools.
An alternative method to analyse the biomarker‐strategy design
Authors: Kunz Cornelia Ursula , Jaki Thomas , Stallard Nigel
Published: September 2018

Recent developments in genomics and proteomics enable the discovery of biomarkers that allow identification of subgroups of patients responding well to a treatment. One currently used clinical trial design incorporating a predictive biomarker is the so‐called biomarker strategy design (or marker‐based strategy design). Conventionally, the results from this design are analysed by comparing the mean of the biomarker‐led arm with the mean of the randomised arm. Several problems regarding the analysis of the data obtained from this design have been identified in the literature. In this paper, we show how these problems can be resolved if the sample sizes in the subgroups fulfil the specified orthogonality condition. We also propose a different analysis strategy that allows definition of test statistics for the biomarker‐by‐treatment interaction effect as well as for the classical treatment effect and the biomarker effect. We derive equations for the sample size calculation for the case of perfect and imperfect biomarker assays. We also show that the often used 1:1 randomisation does not necessarily lead to the smallest sample size. In addition, we provide point estimators and confidence intervals for the treatment effects in the subgroups. Application of our method is illustrated using a real data example.
Thioflavin T‐Amyloid Hybrid Nanostructure for Biocatalytic Photosynthesis
Authors: Son Giyeong , Lee Sahng Ha , Wang Ding , Park Chan Beum
Published: September 2018

Amyloidogenic peptides can self‐assemble into highly ordered nanostructures consisting of cross β‐sheet‐rich networks that exhibit unique physicochemical properties and high stability. Light‐harvesting amyloid nanofibrils are constructed by employing insulin as a building block and thioflavin T (ThT) as a amyloid‐specific photosensitizer. The ability of the self‐assembled amyloid scaffold to accommodate and align ThT in high density on its surface allows for efficient energy transfer from the chromophores to the catalytic units in a similar way to natural photosystems. Insulin nanofibrils significantly enhance the photoactivity of ThT by inhibiting nonradiative conformational relaxation around the central CC bonds and narrowing the distance between ThT molecules that are bound to the β‐sheet‐rich amyloid structure. It is demonstrated that the ThT‐amyloid hybrid nanostructure is suitable for biocatalytic solar‐to‐chemical conversion by integrating the light‐harvesting amyloid module (for nicotinamide cofactor regeneration) with a redox biocatalytic module (for enzymatic reduction).
Thermally Switchable Liquid Crystals Based on Cellulose Nanocrystals with Patchy Polymer Grafts
Authors: Risteen Bailey , Delepierre Gwendoline , Srinivasarao Mohan , Weder Christoph , Russo Paul , Reichmanis Elsa , Zoppe Justin
Published: September 2018

A thermally “switchable” liquid‐crystalline (LC) phase is observed in aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) featuring patchy grafts of the thermoresponsive polymer poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). “Patchy” polymer decoration of the CNCs is achieved by preferential attachment of an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator to the ends of the rods and subsequent surface‐initiated ATRP. The patchy PNIPAM‐grafted CNCs display a higher colloidal stability above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM than CNCs decorated with PNIPAM in a brush‐like manner. A 10 wt% suspension of the “patchy” PNIPAM‐modified CNCs displays birefringence at room temperature, indicating the presence of an LC phase. When heated above the LCST of PNIPAM, the birefringence disappears, indicating the transition to an isotropic phase. This switching is reversible and appears to be driven by the collapse of the PNIPAM chains above the LCST, causing a reduction of the rods' packing density and an increase in translational and rotational freedom. Suspensions of the “brush” PNIPAM‐modified CNCs display a different behavior. Heating above the LCST causes phase separation, likely because the chain collapse renders the particles more hydrophobic. The thermal switching observed for the “patchy” PNIPAM‐modified CNCs is unprecedented and possibly useful for sensing and smart packaging applications.
On the Structure of Amorphous Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles by Aberration‐Corrected STEM
Authors: Calderon V Sebastian , Ribeiro Tânia , Farinha José Paulo S. , Baleizão Carlos , Ferreira Paulo J.
Published: September 2018

Mesoporous silica materials have demonstrated a vast spectrum of applications, stimulating an intensive field of study due to their potential use as nanocarriers. Nonetheless, when produced at the nanoscale, their structural characterization is hindered due to the re‐arrangement of the pores. To address this issue, this work combines molecular dynamics simulations with electron microscopy computer simulations and experimental results to provide an insight into the structure of amorphous mesoporous silica nanoparticles. The amorphous silica model is prepared using a simple melt‐quench molecular dynamics method, while the reconstruction of the mesoporous nanoparticles is carried out using a methodology to avoid false symmetry in the final model. Simulated scanning transmission electron microscopy images are compared with experimental images, revealing the existence of structural domains, created by the misalignment of the pores to compensate the surface tension of these spherical nanoparticles.
Lighting Up MicroRNA in Living Cells by the Disassembly of Lock‐Like DNA‐Programmed UCNPs‐AuNPs through the Target Cycling Amplification Strategy
Authors: Zhang Keying , Song Shuting , Huang Shan , Yang Lin , Min Qianhao , Wu Xingcai , Lu Feng , Zhu Jun‐Jie
Published: September 2018

Intracellular microRNAs imaging based on upconversion nanoprobes has great potential in cancer diagnostics and treatments. However, the relatively low detection sensitivity limits their application. Herein, a lock‐like DNA (LLD) generated by a hairpin DNA (H1) hybridizing with a bolt DNA (bDNA) sequence is designed, which is used to program upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs, NaYF4@NaYF4:Yb, Er@NaYF4) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The upconversion emission is quenched through luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET). The multiple LLD can be repeatedly opened by one copy of target microRNA under the aid of fuel hairpin DNA strands (H2) to trigger disassembly of AuNPs from the UCNP, resulting in the lighting up of UCNPs with a high detection signal gain. This strategy is verified using microRNA‐21 as model. The expression level of microRNA‐21 in various cells lines can be sensitively measured in vitro, meanwhile cancer cells and normal cells can be easily and accurately distinguished by intracellular microRNA‐21 imaging via the nanoprobes. The detection limit is about 1000 times lower than that of the previously reported upconversion nanoprobes without signal amplification. This is the first time a nonenzymatic signal amplification method has been combined with UCNPs for imaging intracellular microRNAs, which has great potential for cancer diagnosis.
HTTP and contact‐based features for Botnet detection
Authors: Resende Paulo Angelo Alves , Drummond André Costa
Published: September 2018

Over the past decade, Botnets have been prevailing as a relevant threat on the Internet. A Botnet is compound by many infected computers connected to the global network and subdued to a controller, which uses the computational resources for malicious purposes. Many techniques are used to make difficult the identification of Botnet communications on networks. However, these communications are automated and usually have typical behavioral patterns, which have been used by detection approaches. In this context, we noted that HTTP connections established as command and control (C&C) channels of Botnets commonly have specific implementations, which deviate from the patterns used by legitimate HTTP accesses. Also, C&C channels over other protocols, such as IRC or TCP, typically are compound by similar chunks of data transmission interleaved with times with negligible traffic. We used both particularities to propose new features to distinguish C&C channels from benign traffic. The proposed detection method uses a random forest classifier implemented over Apache Spark, a Big Data processing framework. In the presented experiments, the approach achieved more than 99% of accuracy with virtually zero false positives, which are good results when compared with other available similar approaches. Also, the proposed features can be extracted before the communication end, which enables a premature response.
Outbreak investigations of foot and mouth disease virus in Nepal between 2010 and 2015 in the context of historical serotype occurrence
Authors: Adhikari Ganesh , Acharya Krishna P. , Upadhyay Mukul , Raut Rabin , Kaphle Krishna , Khanal Tanka , Bertram Miranda R. , Stenfeldt Carolina , Arzt Jonathan
Published: September 2018

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is endemic in Nepal and causes substantial economic losses in the livestock industry. The goal of this study was to perform an epidemiological analysis of FMD outbreaks reported to the Veterinary Epidemiology Center, Tripureshwor, Nepal during 2010–2015, in order to strengthen the National FMD Control Program. These current data were considered in the context of historical data on FMD virus (FMDV) serotypes detected in the country between 1965 and 2015. During 2010–2015, a total of 1333 livestock holdings reported FMD outbreaks in Nepal. On average, 71.2 animals were affected in each outbreak, with a case fatality rate of 3.6%. FMD was reported throughout the country, and the proportion of affected holdings was not significantly among eco‐zones, regions, or species. The Hill eco‐zone had the highest number of holdings affected (782), followed by Mountain (304), and Terai (247). When analysed by the developmental region, the Western (381) and Central (368) Developmental Regions had the highest numbers of holdings affected. Cattle were the most frequently affected species (39%), followed by buffalo (33%), and goats (19%). FMD occurred throughout the year, with peaks in winter (December/January) and in the pre‐monsoon period (April/May). Between 1965 and 2015 FMDV serotype O had the highest prevalence (81%), followed by Asia‐1 (11%), A (6%), and C (2%). Serotype C was not detected after 1996, and only serotype O was reported after 2011. These descriptive analyses provide critical landmarks to establish baselines, and document early progress of the ongoing Progressive Control Pathway of FMD (PCP‐FMD) which could be useful in Nepal and other South Asian nations.
Developing senior leadership for clinical and translational science
Authors: Libby Anne M , Ingbar David H , Nearing Kathryn A , Moss Marc , Albino Judith
Published: September 2018

The fifth in a 5-part series on the clinical and translational sciences educational pipeline, this paper focuses on strategies for developing leadership capacity among senior faculty and administrators responsible for clinical and translational science (CTS) research. Although progression in academic rank recognizes scientific excellence in research or scholarship, neither disciplinary training nor experience alone prepare senior faculty for the leadership challenges they inevitably face. Yet these faculty are increasingly responsible for multidisciplinary teams working within complex organizations with unclear or conflicting incentives that demand innovation. In academic health centers with Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs), investing in leadership often includes career development support in the CTSA education and training pillar programs. Only a few CTSAs have taken an intentional approach to developing senior leadership capacity, however, and still fewer have focused specifically on building such capacity for current CTS leaders within the context of a growing emphasis on team science. This manuscript explains the need for senior leadership training and describes an established example of such a program, the year-long Leadership for Innovative Team Science program for senior CTS researchers at the University of Colorado. The development of the program over time, topical elements, and participant perspectives are provided.
Scale interactions and spectral energy transfer in turbulent channel flow
Authors: Cho Minjeong , Hwang Yongyun , Choi Haecheon
Published: September 2018

Spectral energy transfer in a turbulent channel flow is investigated at Reynolds number $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}\simeq 1700$, based on the wall shear velocity and channel half-height, with a particular emphasis on full visualization of triadic wave interactions involved in turbulent transport. As in previous studies, turbulent production is found to be almost uniform, especially over the logarithmic region, and the related spanwise integral length scale is approximately proportional to the distance from the wall. In the logarithmic and outer regions, the energy balance at the integral length scales is mainly formed between production and nonlinear turbulent transport, the latter of which plays the central role in the energy cascade down to the Kolmogorov microscale. While confirming the classical role of the turbulent transport, the triadic wave interaction analysis unveils two new types of scale interaction processes, highly active in the near-wall and the lower logarithmic regions. First, for relatively small energy-containing motions, part of the energy transfer mechanisms from the integral to the adjacent small length scale in the energy cascade is found to be provided by the interactions between larger energy-containing motions. It is subsequently shown that this is related to involvement of large energy-containing motions in skin-friction generation. Second, there exists a non-negligible amount of energy transfer from small to large integral scales in the process of downward energy transfer to the near-wall region. This type of scale interaction is predominant only for the streamwise and spanwise velocity components, and it plays a central role in the formation of the wall-reaching inactive part of large energy-containing motions. A further analysis reveals that this type of scale interaction leads the wall-reaching inactive part to scale in the inner units, consistent with the recent observation. Finally, it is proposed that turbulence production and pressure–strain spectra support the existence of the self-sustaining process as the main turnover dynamics of all the energy-containing motions.
The energy flux spectrum of internal waves generated by turbulent convection
Authors: Couston Louis-Alexandre , Lecoanet Daniel , Favier Benjamin , Le Bars Michael
Published: September 2018

We present three-dimensional direct numerical simulations of internal waves excited by turbulent convection in a self-consistent, Boussinesq and Cartesian model of mixed convective and stably stratified fluids. We demonstrate that in the limit of large Rayleigh number ($Ra\in [4\times 10^{7},10^{9}]$) and large stratification (Brunt–Väisälä frequencies$f_{N}\gg f_{c}$, where$f_{c}$is the convective frequency), simulations are in good agreement with a theory that assumes waves are generated by Reynolds stresses due to eddies in the turbulent region as described in Lecoanet & Quataert (Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., vol. 430 (3), 2013, pp. 2363–2376). Specifically, we demonstrate that the wave energy flux spectrum scales like$k_{\bot }^{4}\,f^{-13/2}$for weakly damped waves (with$k_{\bot }$and$f$the waves’ horizontal wavenumbers and frequencies, respectively), and that the total wave energy flux decays with$z$, the distance from the convective region, like$z^{-13/8}$.
Norms and the Flexibility of Moral Action
Authors: FeldmanHall Oriel , Son Jae-Young , Heffner Joseph
Published: September 2018

A complex web of social and moral norms governs many everyday human behaviors, acting as the glue for social harmony. The existence of moral norms helps elucidate the psychological motivations underlying a wide variety of seemingly puzzling behavior, including why humans help or trust total strangers. In this review, we examine four widespread moral norms: Fairness, altruism, trust, and cooperation, and consider how a single social instrument—reciprocity—underpins compliance to these norms. Using a game theoretic framework, we examine how both context and emotions moderate moral standards, and by extension, moral behavior. We additionally discuss how a mechanism of reciprocity facilitates the adherence to, and enforcement of, these moral norms through a core network of brain regions involved in processing reward. In contrast, violating this set of moral norms elicits neural activation in regions involved in resolving decision conflict and exerting cognitive control. Finally, we review how a reinforcement mechanism likely governs learning about morally normative behavior. Together, this review aims to explain how moral norms are deployed in ways that facilitate flexible moral choices.