bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of clinical application of pulse oximetry probes in llamas and alpacas
Authors: Grubb Tamara L. , Anderson David E.
Published: July 2017

The placement and accuracy of pulse oximeter probes can vary markedly among species. For our study, we aimed to assess the accuracy of pulse oximetry and to determine the most clinically useful sites for probe placement in llamas and alpacas. The objectives included an analysis of pulse oximetry probes for accurate assessment of llamas and alpacas and to determine the best placement of the probes to achieve accurate readings. For study 1, saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen was measured in 184 arterial blood gas samples (SaO2) using a co‐oximeter and compared to saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen simultaneously measured using a pulse oximeter (SpO2). The bias and precision for the SpO2‐SaO2difference was calculated and plotted on a Bland‐Altman plot. For study 2, SpO2data was collected 624 times from a variety of sites [tongue (T), nasal septum (NS), lip (L), vulva (V), prepuce (P), ear (E), and scrotum (S)] and recorded based upon a percentage of successful readings. Results for study 1 revealed that SpO2was consistently 0 to −6% points different than SaO2. The bias and precision of the SpO2–SaO2difference was −2.6 ± 1.7%. Results for study 2 uncovered that 540 recordings were successful readings and were obtained from the tongue and nasal septum with 97% accuracy, the lip 80%, vulva 62%, prepuce 59%, ear and scrotum < 50%. We concluded that pulse oximetry probes provide reliable estimates of arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation in llamas and alpacas and is most accurately read when placed on the nasal septum or tongue.
Genome-wide association analysis for lodging tolerance and plant height in a diverse European hexaploid oat collection
Authors: Tumino Giorgio , Voorrips Roeland E. , Morcia Caterina , Ghizzoni Roberta , Germeier Christoph U. , Paulo Maria-João , Terzi Valeria , Smulders Marinus J. M.
Published: July 2017

Sensitivity to lodging of oat varieties has been reduced in the last decades through the introduction of dwarfing genes. However, lodging may still cause significant yield loss, underscoring the need for new oat varieties with higher levels of lodging tolerance. In the present study, we analysed lodging and plant height in a collection of European oat accessions including landraces, old and modern varieties, in order to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for identifying markers associated to lodging tolerance. This collection has been recently genotyped by the Infinium 6K SNP array for oat and SNP data were analysed as continuous intensity ratios, rather than as discrete genotypes (Tumino et al. 2016, Theor Appl Genet 129, pp. 1711–1724). Phenotypes for lodging severity, plant height and growth habit were collected under natural conditions in eight European countries. Plant height correlated to lodging severity as previously observed in many studies, explaining about 30% of lodging variation. GWAS analyses detected six significant associations for lodging and two for plant height. These results indicate that GWAS can successfully be used for identifying markers associated to lodging in oat, even though lodging is a quantitative trait influenced by several plant characteristics.
Variation among Consent Forms for Clinical Whole Exome Sequencing
Authors: Fowler Sara A. , Saunders Carol J. , Hoffman Mark A.
Published: July 2017

The goal of this study was to explore variation among informed consent documents for clinical whole exome sequencing (WES) in order to identify the level of consistency with the recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues (Bioethics Commission) regarding informed consent for clinical WES. Recommendations were organized into a framework of key points for analysis. Content analysis was conducted on a sample of informed consent documents for clinical WES downloaded from 18 laboratory websites. We observed considerable variability in the content of informed consent documents among the sample of 18 laboratories. The mean Flesch‐Kincaid Grade Level, a measure of readability, of the consent forms was 10.8, above the recommended 8th grade level. For each of the individual ACMG and Bioethics Commission recommendations, the frequency of inclusion ranged from 11% to 100%. For the overall list of 18 consent items, inclusion ranged from 11 to 17 items (Mean = 13.44, Mode = 14). This analysis will be useful to laboratories that wish to create informed consent documents that comply with these recommendations. The consistent use of standardized informed consent process could improve communication between clinicians and patients and increase understanding of genetic testing.
Uptake of Predictive Genetic Testing and Cardiac Evaluation for Children at Risk for an Inherited Arrhythmia or Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Christian Susan , Atallah Joseph , Clegg Robin , Giuffre Michael , Huculak Cathleen , Dzwiniel Tara , Parboosingh Jillian , Taylor Sherryl , Somerville Martin
Published: July 2017

Predictive genetic testing in minors should be considered when clinical intervention is available. Children who carry a pathogenic variant for an inherited arrhythmia or cardiomyopathy require regular cardiac screening and may be prescribed medication and/or be told to modify their physical activity. Medical genetics and pediatric cardiology charts were reviewed to identify factors associated with uptake of genetic testing and cardiac evaluation for children at risk for long QT syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. The data collected included genetic diagnosis, clinical symptoms in the carrier parent, number of children under 18 years of age, age of children, family history of sudden cardiac arrest/death, uptake of cardiac evaluation and if evaluated, phenotype for each child. We identified 97 at risk children from 58 families found to carry a pathogenic variant for one of these conditions. Sixty six percent of the families pursued genetic testing and 73% underwent cardiac screening when it was recommended. Declining predictive genetic testing was significantly associated with genetic specialist recommendation (p < 0.001) and having an asymptomatic carrier father (p = 0.006). Cardiac evaluation was significantly associated with uptake of genetic testing (p = 0.007). This study provides a greater understanding of factors associated with uptake of genetic testing and cardiac evaluation in children at risk of an inherited arrhythmia or cardiomyopathy. It also identifies a need to educate families about the importance of cardiac evaluation even in the absence of genetic testing.
Novel strategies halt cardiovascular, diabetes, and cancer strips
Authors: Hu Chun‐Song , Wu Qing‐Hua , Hu Da‐Yi , Tkebuchava Tengiz
Published: July 2017

In this article, we introduce briefly several strategies for preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and promoting healthcare for non‐communicable diseases (NCDs). These novel strategies include four core elements of health – sleep, emotion, exercise, and diet – and consist of SEED intervention (SEEDi) and E(e)SEEDi due to supplementation of the environment as a core element, and Hu's healthy lifestyles intervention (HHLi) which originates from E(e)SEED‐BasED healthy lifestyles. They are suitable for the early evaluation of risk factors, and play a key role in the prevention and management of human NCDs when combined with the RT‐ABCDEF strategy and the Grade 210 prevention, which include obesity‐OSA‐hypertension syndrome and C‐type hypertension, especially in halting cardiovascular, diabetes and cancer (CDC) strips we first discovered. After successful clinical practice, we may expect our novel strategies for controlling these chronic diseases according to the conception of mass prevention and treatment.
Judicial Trends in Child Custody Cases in Bangladesh: Traditional Islamic Law Rules versus Welfare Considerations
Authors: YASMIN Taslima
Published: July 2017

In Bangladesh, disputes over custody and guardianship involving Muslim parties are principally governed by Muslim personal law. There remains a constant dilemma in judicial decisions over custody and guardianship matters as to what should be the paramount consideration in awarding child custody to a party – should traditional Muslim personal law rules or the welfare of the child prevail? The findings of this study indicate that there is a steady but inconsistent trend towards child welfare considerations. However, it cannot conclusively be said that a child’s welfare is now themostdominant, or theonlyconsideration for the courts. Focusing on this shift towards a welfare approach, this article critically examines some of the leading reported judgments of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on the issue.
Building a New Imperial State: The Strategic Foundations of Separation of Powers in America
Authors: GAILMARD SEAN
Published: July 2017

Separation of powers existed in the British Empire of North America long before the U.S. Constitution of 1789, yet little is known about the strategic foundations of this institutional choice. In this article, I argue that separation of powers helps an imperial crown mitigate an agency problem with its colonial governor. Governors may extract more rents from colonial settlers than the imperial crown prefers. This lowers the Crown’s rents and inhibits economic development by settlers. Separation of powers within colonies allows settlers to restrain the governor’s rent extraction. If returns to settler investment are moderately high, this restraint is necessary for colonial economic development and ultimately benefits the Crown. Historical evidence from the American colonies and the first British Empire is consistent with the model. This article highlights the role of agency problems as a distinct factor in New World institutional development, and in a sovereign’s incentives to create liberal institutions.
Maimonides on Perfecting Perfection
Authors: Weiss Roslyn
Published: July 2017

This article addresses two critical questions concerning Maimonides's views on human perfection at the end of his Guide of the Perplexed. The first is: For those who have reached the highest category of perfection—intellectual perfection, apprehension of the divine, the divine science—what prescription does Maimonides offer for perfecting that perfection, for solidifying the bond between them and God? I will argue: 1) that there is more than one method—that Maimonides indeed specifies two distinct methods—for stabilizing and intensifying the highest kind of perfection; 2) that the two methods yield two distinct ranks of perfect individuals; and 3) that Maimonides, in his attempt to perfect his own perfection, adopts the second method but achieves only the rank of those who employ the first.
Longitudinal study of parasite-induced mortality of a long-lived host: the importance of exposure to non-parasitic stressors
Authors: CHIN HILARY M.-H. , LUONG LIEN T. , SHOSTAK ALLEN W.
Published: July 2017

Hosts face mortality from parasitic and environmental stressors, but interactions of parasitism with other stressors are not well understood, particularly for long-lived hosts. We monitored survival of flour beetles (Tribolium confusum) in a longitudinal design incorporating cestode (Hymenolepis diminuta) infection, starvation and exposure to the pesticide diatomaceous earth (DE). We found that cestode cysticercoids exhibit increasing morphological damage and decreasing ability to excyst over time, but were never eliminated from the host. In the presence of even mild environmental stressors, host lifespan was reduced sufficiently that extensive degradation of cysticercoids was never realized. Median host lifespan was 200 days in the absence of stressors, and 3–197 days with parasitism, starvation and/or DE. Early survival of parasitized hosts was higher relative to controls in the presence of intermediate concentrations of DE, but reduced under all other conditions tested. Parasitism increased host mortality in the presence of other stressors at times when parasitism alone did not cause mortality, consistent with an interpretation of synergy. Environmental stressors modified the parasite numbers needed to reveal intensity-dependent host mortality, but only rarely masked intensity dependence. The longitudinal approach produced observations that would have been overlooked or misinterpreted if survival had only been monitored at a single time point.
Formation of periodic magnetic field structures in overdense plasmas
Authors: Kuri Deep Kumar , Das Nilakshi , Patel Kartik
Published: July 2017

The role played by the angle of incidence of a short pulse laser in the generation of magnetic field via Weibel instability from overdense plasmas is investigated with the help of three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The simulations have been done for different cases by varying the angle of incidence. When the laser pulse is incident normally (θ = 0°), it gets self-focused at a very short distance and the axial intensity rises up to several times the fundamental laser intensity. Strong current filamentation is observed, which causes the generation of high magnetic fields across the current filament. When the laser is incident obliquely at θ = 30° and 60°, periodic density ripple-like structures are formed on the plasma surface which is due to emission of energetic electron jets caused by vacuum heating. The periodic structures carry forward and return currents, which results in the formation of periodic magnetic field structures having strong magnetic fields. At θ = 60°, the inter spacing distance coincides with the incident laser wavelength. The magnetic energy is found to be highest in case of normal incidence, which is due to strong current filamentation. The filamentation becomes weaker as the angle of incidence is increased.
Longitudinal Assessment of Self- and Informant-Subjective Cognitive Complaints in a Sample of Healthy Late-Middle Aged Adults Enriched with a Family History of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Nicholas Christopher R. , Dowling N. Maritza , Racine Annie M. , Clark Lindsay R. , Berman Sara E. , Koscik Rebecca L. , Asthana Sanjay , Hermann Bruce , Sager Mark A. , Johnson Sterling C.
Published: July 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal trajectory of self- and informant-subjective cognitive complaints (SCC), and to determine if SCC predict longitudinal changes in objective measures (OM) of cognitive function. Methods: The study included healthy and cognitively normal late middle-aged adults enriched with a family history of AD who were evaluated at up to three visits over a 4-year period. At each visit (Visit 1–3), self- and informant-SCC and OM were evaluated. Linear mixed models were used to determine if the longitudinal rate of change of self- and informant-SCC were associated with demographic variables, depressive symptoms, family history (FH), and apolipoprotein epsilon 4 (APOE4) status. The same modeling approach was used to examine the effect of Visit 1 SCC on longitudinal cognitive change after controlling for the same variables. Results: At Visit 1, more self-SCC were associated with fewer years of education and more depressive symptoms. SCC were also associated with poorer performance on cognitive measures, such that more self-SCC at Visit 1 were associated with poorer performance on memory and executive functioning measures at Visit 1, while more informant-SCC were associated with faster rate of longitudinal decline on a measure of episodic learning and memory. FH and APOE4 status were not associated with SCC. Discussion: Self- and informant-SCC showed an association with OM, albeit over different time frames in our late middle-aged sample. Additional longitudinal follow-up will likely assist in further clarifying these relationships as our sample ages and more pronounced cognitive changes eventually emerge. (JINS, 2017, 23, 617–626)
Palliative care education in Latin America: A systematic review of training programs for healthcare professionals
Authors: Vindrola-Padros Cecilia , Mertnoff Rosa , Lasmarias Cristina , Gómez-Batiste Xavier
Published: July 2017

Objective:

The integration of palliative care (PC) education into medical and nursing curricula has been identified as an international priority. PC education has undergone significant development in Latin America, but gaps in the integration of PC courses into undergraduate and postgraduate curricula remain. The aim of our review was to systematically examine the delivery of PC education in Latin America in order to explore the content and method of delivery of current PC programs, identify gaps in the availability of education opportunities, and document common barriers encountered in the course of their implementation.

Method:

We carried out a systematic review of peer-reviewed academic articles and grey literature. Peer-reviewed articles were obtained from the following databases: CINAHL Plus, Embase, the Web of Science, and Medline. Grey literature was obtained from the following directories: the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care's Global Directory of Education in Palliative Care, the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance's lists of palliative care resources, the Latin American Association for Palliative Care's training resources, and the Latin American Atlas of Palliative Care. The inclusion criteria were that the work: (1) focused on describing PC courses; (2) was aimed at healthcare professionals; and (3) was implemented in Latin America. The PRISMA checklist was employed to guide the reporting of methods and findings.

Results:

We found 36 programs that were delivered in 8 countries. Most of the programs were composed of interdisciplinary teams, taught at a postgraduate level, focused on pain and symptom management, and utilized classroom-based methods. The tools for evaluating the courses were rarely reported. The main barriers during implementation included: a lack of recognition of the importance of PC education, a lack of funding, and the unavailability of trained teaching staff.

Significance of results:

Considerable work needs to be done to improve the delivery of PC education programs in Latin American countries. Practice-based methods and exposure to clinical settings should be integrated into ongoing courses to facilitate learning. A regional platform needs to be created to share experiences of successful training programs and foster the development of PC education throughout Latin America.
Linked colour imaging benefits the endoscopic diagnosis of distal gastric diseases
Authors: Sun Xiaotian , Bi Yiliang , Dong Tenghui , Min Min , Shen Wei , Xu Yang , Liu Yan
Published: July 2017

Gastric diseases are common in China, and gastroduodenoscopy could provide accurate diagnoses. Our previous study verified that linked colour imaging (LCI) can improve endoscopic diagnostic accuracy. This study aimed for the first time to establish an LCI-based endoscopic model called colour-microstructure-vessel (CMV) criteria and validated its clinical feasibility for detecting distal gastric diseases manifested as red mucosal lesions under endoscopy in a cohort of 62 patients. Colour features were extracted from the endoscopic images and categorized into 3 types. Colour type 1 was a typical red; Colour type 2 was red ringed with purple and Colour type 3 was red with yellow in the centre and purple around the periphery, allowing for predicting chronic nonatrophic gastritis, chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. The sensitivity, specificity and Youden index of Colour type 3 with abnormal M or V for gastric cancer were 100.0%, 98.2% and 98.2%. The kappa values for intra-observer and inter-observer agreement for predicting the pathology were 0.834 and 0.791 for experienced endoscopists and 0.788 and 0.732 for endoscopy learners, and these values were comparable regardless of the experience of the endoscopists (P > 0.05). These findings support that the CMV criteria are a promising model for accurate endoscopic diagnosis.
Cumulative Dynamics of Independent Information Spreading Behaviour: A Physical Perspective
Authors: Zhou Cangqi , Zhao Qianchuan , Lu Wenbo
Published: July 2017

The popularization of information spreading in online social networks facilitates daily communication among people. Although much work has been done to study the effect of interactions among people on spreading, there is less work that considers the pattern of spreading behaviour when people independently make their decisions. By comparing microblogging, an important medium for information spreading, with the disordered spin glass system, we find that there exist interesting corresponding relationships between them. And the effect of aging can be observed in both systems. Based on the analogy with the Trap Model of spin glasses, we derive a model with a unified power-function form for the growth of independent spreading activities. Our model takes several key factors into consideration, including memory effect, the dynamics of human interest, and the fact that older messages are more difficult to discover. We validate our model by a real-world microblogging data set. Our work indicates that, other than various features, some invariable rules should be considered during spreading prediction. This work also contributes a useful methodology for studying human dynamics.
Physical mechanism of δ-δ′-ε phase stability in plutonium
Authors: Li Chun-Mei , Johansson Börje , Vitos Levente
Published: July 2017

Based on first-principle calculations, we have systematically explored the nature of the elastic stability and the δ-δ′-ε phase transitions in pure Pu at high temperature. It is found that, both the electron-phonon coupling and the spin fluctuation effects tend to decrease the tetragonal elastic constant (C′) of δ-Pu, accounting for its anomalous softening at high temperature. The lattice thermal expansion together with the electron-phonon coupling can stiffen C′ of ε-Pu, promoting its mechanical stability at high temperature. The δ-ε transition is calculated to take place around 750–800 K, and is dominated by the phonon vibration. The δ′ intermediate phase is realized around 750 K mainly because of the thermal spin fluctuation.
Erratum: A new, long-term daily satellite-based rainfall dataset for operational monitoring in Africa
Authors: Maidment Ross I. , Grimes David , Black Emily , Tarnavsky Elena , Young Matthew , Greatrex Helen , Allan Richard P. , Stein Thorwald , Nkonde Edson , Senkunda Samuel , Alcántara Edgar Misael Uribe
Published: July 2017

Scientific Data 4:170063 doi: 10.1038/sdata.2017.63 (2017); Published 23 May 2017; Updated 11 July 2017 In Fig. 6 of this Data Descriptor the colour gradient of the scale bar was inadvertently modified during the production process. The correct version of Fig. 6 appears below as Fig. 1.
Acyclic cucurbit[n]uril conjugated dextran for drug encapsulation and bioimaging
Authors: Chen Jiafu , Liu Yamin , Mao Dake , Ma Da
Published: July 2017

Acyclic CB[n] conjugated dextran for drug encapsulation and bioimaging.
Reversible switching of a supramolecular morphology driven by an amphiphilic bistable [2]rotaxane
Authors: Cao Zhan-Qi , Wang Yi-Chuan , Zou Ai-Hua , London Gábor , Zhang Qi , Gao Chuan , Qu Da-Hui
Published: July 2017

A supra-amphiphilic [2]rotaxane-based switch could self-assemble into spherical vesicles in aqueous solution and transform into worm-like micelles in a basic environment.
Spring-like motion caused large anisotropic thermal expansion in nonporous M(eim)2(M = Zn, Cd)
Authors: Liu Zhanning , Liu Chenxi , Li Qiang , Chen Jun , Xing Xianran
Published: July 2017

Spring-like thermal motion caused large anisotropic thermal expansion in nonporous coordination polymers.
Platinum nanoparticles in nanobiomedicine
Authors: Pedone Deborah , Moglianetti Mauro , De Luca Elisa , Bardi Giuseppe , Pompa Pier Paolo
Published: July 2017

This review reports a critical overview of the potential applications of platinum nanoparticles in nanomedicine with special focus on their nanozyme properties.
Holographic microscope slide in a spatio-temporal imaging modality for reliable 3D cell counting
Authors: Mandracchia Biagio , Bianco Vittorio , Wang Zhe , Mugnano Martina , Bramanti Alessia , Paturzo Melania , Ferraro Pietro
Published: July 2017

A Lab-on-a-Chip device for space-time digital holography is presented. Here, computational methods, holography, and microfluidics are intertwined to provide a reliable system for high-throughput counting of RBCs.
Efficient perovskite photovoltaic devices using chemically doped PCDTBT as a hole-transport material
Authors: Wong-Stringer Michael , Bishop James E. , Smith Joel A. , Mohamad David K. , Parnell Andrew J. , Kumar Vikas , Rodenburg Cornelia , Lidzey David G.
Published: July 2017

PCDTBT conductivity is 105 times higher when doped with LITFSI & TBP, perovskite devices employing doped PCDTBT achieve 15.9% PCE.
Reduced threshold for store overload-induced Ca2+ release is a common defect of RyR1 mutations associated with malignant hyperthermia and central core disease
Authors: Chen Wenqian , Koop Andrea , Liu Yingjie , Guo Wenting , Wei Jinhong , Wang Ruiwu , MacLennan David H. , Dirksen Robert T. , Chen Sui Rong Wayne
Published: July 2017

Mutations in the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RyR1) cause malignant hyperthermia (MH) and central core disease (CCD), whereas mutations in the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) lead to catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). Most disease-associated RyR1 and RyR2 mutations are located in the N-terminal, central, and C-terminal regions of the corresponding ryanodine receptor (RyR) isoform. An increasing body of evidence demonstrates that CPVT-associated RyR2 mutations enhance the propensity for spontaneous Ca2+ release during store Ca2+ overload, a process known as store overload-induced Ca2+ release (SOICR). Considering the similar locations of disease-associated RyR1 and RyR2 mutations in the RyR structure, we hypothesize that like CPVT-associated RyR2 mutations, MH/CCD-associated RyR1 mutations also enhance SOICR. To test this hypothesis, we determined the impact on SOICR of 12 MH/CCD-associated RyR1 mutations E2347-del, R2163H, G2434R, R2435L, R2435H, and R2454H located in the central region, and Y4796C, T4826I, L4838V, A4940T, G4943V, and P4973L located in the C-terminal region of the channel. We found that all these RyR1 mutations reduced the threshold for SOICR. Dantrolene, an acute treatment for MH, suppressed SOICR in HEK293 cells expressing the RyR1 mutants R164C, Y523S, R2136H, R2435H, and Y4796C. Interestingly, carvedilol, a commonly used β-blocker that suppresses RyR2-mediated SOICR, also inhibits SOICR in these RyR1 mutant HEK293 cells. Therefore, these results indicate that a reduced SOICR threshold is a common defect of MH/CCD-associated RyR1 mutations, and that carvedilol, like dantrolene, can suppress RyR1-mediated SOICR. Clinical studies of the effectiveness of carvedilol as a long-term treatment for MH/CCD or other RyR1-associated disorders may be warranted.
Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy review: shedding new light on old problems
Authors: Shashkova Sviatlana , Leake Mark C.
Published: July 2017

Fluorescence microscopy is an invaluable tool in the biosciences, a genuine workhorse technique offering exceptional contrast in conjunction with high specificity of labelling with relatively minimal perturbation to biological samples compared with many competing biophysical techniques. Improvements in detector and dye technologies coupled to advances in image analysis methods have fuelled recent development towards single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, which can utilize light microscopy tools to enable the faithful detection and analysis of single fluorescent molecules used as reporter tags in biological samples. For example, the discovery of GFP, initiating the so-called ‘green revolution’, has pushed experimental tools in the biosciences to a completely new level of functional imaging of living samples, culminating in single fluorescent protein molecule detection. Today, fluorescence microscopy is an indispensable tool in single-molecule investigations, providing a high signal-to-noise ratio for visualization while still retaining the key features in the physiological context of native biological systems. In this review, we discuss some of the recent discoveries in the life sciences which have been enabled using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, paying particular attention to the so-called ‘super-resolution’ fluorescence microscopy techniques in live cells, which are at the cutting-edge of these methods. In particular, how these tools can reveal new insights into long-standing puzzles in biology: old problems, which have been impossible to tackle using other more traditional tools until the emergence of new single-molecule fluorescence microscopy techniques.
TLR9 is up-regulated in human and murine NASH: pivotal role in inflammatory recruitment and cell survival
Authors: Mridha Auvro R. , Haczeyni Fahrettin , Yeh Matthew M. , Haigh W. Geoffrey , Ioannou George N. , Barn Vanessa , Ajamieh Hussam , Adams Leon , Hamdorf Jeffrey M. , Teoh Narci C. , Farrell Geoffrey C.
Published: July 2017

Background and aims: TLR9 deletion protects against steatohepatitis due to choline–amino acid depletion and high-fat diet. We measured TLR9 in human non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) livers, and tested whether TLR9 mediates inflammatory recruitment in three murine models of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: We assayed TLR mRNA in liver biopsies from bariatric surgery patients. Wild-type (Wt), appetite-dysregulated Alms1 mutant (foz/foz), Tlr9−/−, and Tlr9−/−.foz/foz C57BL6/J mice and bone marrow (BM) chimeras were fed 0.2% cholesterol, high-fat, high sucrose (atherogenic[Ath]) diet or chow, and NAFLD activity score (NAS)/NASH pathology, macrophage/neutrophil infiltration, cytokines/chemokines, and cell death markers measured in livers. Results: Hepatic TLR9 and TLR4 mRNA were increased in human NASH but not simple steatosis, and in Ath-fed foz/foz mice with metabolic syndrome-related NASH. Ath-fed Tlr9−/− mice showed simple steatosis and less Th1 cytokines than Wt. Tlr9−/−.foz/foz mice were obese and diabetic, but necroinflammatory changes were less severe than Tlr9+/+.foz/foz mice. TLR9-expressing myeloid cells were critical for Th1 cytokine production in BM chimeras. BM macrophages from Tlr9−/− mice showed M2 polarization, were resistant to M1 activation by necrotic hepatocytes/other pro-inflammatory triggers, and provoked less neutrophil chemotaxis than Wt. Livers from Ath-fed Tlr9−/− mice appeared to exhibit more markers of necroptosis [receptor interacting protein kinase (RIP)-1, RIP-3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL)] than Wt, and ∼25% showed portal foci of mononuclear cells unrelated to NASH pathology. Conclusion: Our novel clinical data and studies in overnutrition models, including those with diabetes and metabolic syndrome, clarify TLR9 as a pro-inflammatory trigger in NASH. This response is mediated via M1-macrophages and neutrophil chemotaxis.
Systems modelling ageing: from single senescent cells to simple multi-cellular models
Authors: Martinez Guimera Alvaro , Welsh Ciaran , Dalle Pezze Piero , Fullard Nicola , Nelson Glyn , Roger Mathilde F. , Przyborski Stefan A. , Shanley Daryl P.
Published: July 2017

Systems modelling has been successfully used to investigate several key molecular mechanisms of ageing. Modelling frameworks to allow integration of models and methods to enhance confidence in models are now well established. In this article, we discuss these issues and work through the process of building an integrated model for cellular senescence as a single cell and in a simple tissue context.
New travelling‐wave‐based protection algorithm for parallel transmission lines during inter‐circuit faults
Authors: Hasheminejad Saeid , Seifossadat Seyed Ghodratollah , Joorabian Mahmood
Published: July 2017

An ultra‐high‐speed, accurate and reliable algorithm is proposed in this study for the identification and faulted phases selection of inter‐circuit faults. For this purpose, modal components of current samples just before they arrive to the relay location are extracted. Teager energy operator is used here for the extraction of current travelling waves (TWs). The amplitude of the TWs in different modal components and their ratios in similar modal components are used for the inter‐circuit fault identification and finding the faulted phases. Test signals are simulated in PSCAD/EMTDC software and the algorithm is implemented in MATLAB. Results show that the proposed algorithm is a really ultra‐high‐speed algorithm which can be reliably used for the identification and classification of the inter‐circuit faults.
Interturn short diagnosis in small transformers through impulse injection: on‐line on‐load self‐impedance transfer function approach
Authors: Rajamani Rajesh , Rajappa Muthaiah , Arunachalam Kamalaselvan , Madanmohan Balasubramanian
Published: July 2017

Electrical shorts in transformers on load can be diagnosed by frequency response analysis (FRA) using impulse or sinusoidal sweep signal. At HV laboratory of SASTRA, a low‐voltage impulse based on‐line on‐load FRA (OLOL FRA) was carried out on a single phase 50 Hz, 1 kVA, 240 V/240 V small laboratory transformer while delivering power to lamp load, and the effectiveness in electrical short diagnosis was analysed. For this purpose, some artificial faults were created within one of the windings of the transformer investigated, and the responses of the winding to different frequency components of the impulse voltages were observed before and after introducing these faults. Comparison of the frequency response (impedance) of the winding under normal condition with frequency response under fault condition was made, which clearly indicated that faults had altered the winding impedance for some frequency components of the impulse. This reveals that fault within the winding can be identified and located, by the OLOL FRA technique, through careful comparisons of frequency response. Statistical analysis of transfer function magnitudes with correlation coefficient, standard deviation and absolute sum of logarithmic error has also validated the same.
50 Years of Zweifel Olefination: A Transition-Metal-Free Coupling
Authors: Armstrong Roly , Aggarwal Varinder
Published: July 2017

The Zweifel olefination is a powerful method for the stereoselective synthesis of alkenes. The reaction proceeds in the absence of a transition-metal catalyst, instead taking place by iodination of vinyl boronate complexes. Pioneering studies into this reaction were reported in 1967 and this short review summarizes developments in the field over the past 50 years. An account of how the Zweifel olefination was modified to enable the coupling of robust and air-stable boronic esters is presented followed by a summary of current state of the art developments in the field, including stereodivergent olefination and alkynylation. Finally, selected applications of the Zweifel olefination in target-oriented synthesis are reviewed.

1 Introduction

2.1 Zweifel Olefination of Vinyl Boranes

2.2 Zweifel Olefination of Vinyl Borinic Esters

2.3 Extension to Boronic Esters

3.1 Introduction of an Unsubstituted Vinyl Group

3.2 Coupling of α-Substituted Vinyl Partners

3.3 Syn Elimination

4 Zweifel Olefination in Natural Product Synthesis

5 Conclusions and Outlook
Die Symptomengesamtheit und anatomische Ursachen von Krankheit – Müssen wir umdenken?
Authors: Patel Ramanlal
Published: July 2017

Zur Heilung chronischer Krankheiten heute ist neben der homöopathischen, miasmatologischen Anamnese auch eine gründliche klinische Untersuchung, kombiniert mit technischen Verfahren, erforderlich, um den Sitz der Erkrankung einem oder mehreren Organen zuordnen zu können und in die Mittelwahl miteinzubeziehen. Ein Fallbeispiel zeigt, wie zusätzlich zur Homöopathie nach entsprechender Diagnostik ein Herzschrittmacher gebraucht wurde.
Childhood Vaccination Against Seasonal Influenza to Reduce the Overall Burden of Disease: Ethical Perspectives
Authors: Martakis Kyriakos , Thangavelu Kruthika , Schröder-Bäck Peter
Published: July 2017

Introduction Childhood immunisation against seasonal influenza promises to reduce the burden of disease through herd immunity. The option of intranasal vaccination seemed to offer a more acceptable vaccination for children, as they are perceived to be less invasive. Yet, intranasal vaccines have been recently proven not to be as effective as presumed. In Germany, contradictory recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) first, to use and then, in October 2016, not use these vaccines have been issued for the 2016–2017 season, whereas recommendations not to use them were already issued in the USA (CDC, ACIP). This controversy spurs the discussion of immunisation programmes for children again. Despite studies discussing the effectiveness of a comprehensive immunisation programme targeting children also in the German and wider European context, an accompanying ethical discussion is missing.

Methodology We discuss several policy options from different key ethical perspectives that are widely used in public health: if seasonal influenza vaccination should be intensively offered to or even made mandatory for children to decrease the societal burden of the disease.

Results Various ethical perspectives reflect the question how to balance individual autonomy, personal benefit and population benefit differently.

Discussion A convincing justification for suggestions on immunisation policies has to balance norms anchored in different ethical theories. There are good reasons to offer immunisation programmes against seasonal influenza to children, using a voluntary, possibly incentive-based approach.
Ion association at discretely-charged dielectric interfaces: Giant charge inversion
Authors: Wang Zhi-Yong , Wu Jianzhong
Published: July 2017

Giant charge reversal has been identified for the first time by Monte Carlo simulation for a discretely charged surface in contact with a trivalent electrolyte solution. It takes place regardless of the surface charge density under study and the monovalent salt. In stark contrast to earlier predictions based on the 2-dimensional Wigner crystal model to describe strong correlation of counterions at the macroion surface, we find that giant charge reversal reflects an intricate interplay of ionic volume effects, electrostatic correlations, surface charge heterogeneity, and the dielectric response of the confined fluids. While the novel phenomenon is yet to be confirmed with experiment, the simulation results appear in excellent agreement with a wide range of existing observations in the subregime of charge inversion. Our findings may have far-reaching implications to understanding complex electrochemical phenomena entailing ionic fluids under dielectric confinements.
Opto-electronic properties of Zn(1-x)VxO: Green emission enhancement due to V4+ state
Authors: Srivastava Tulika , Bajpai Gaurav , Tiwari Nidhi , Bhattacharya Dibyendu , Jha S. N. , Kumar Sunil , Biring Sajal , Sen Somaditya
Published: July 2017

Vanadium incorporation in ZnO modifies the lattice structure. The valence state of V plays an important role, controlling the oxygen content and thereby dimensions of the lattice. Both V4+ and V5+ are more electropositive than Zn2+ and reduce oxygen vacancies, resulting in lattice expansion. However, the sizes of both V4+ and V5+ are smaller than Zn2+, thereby resulting in the lattice contraction. The internal competition of increasing oxygen content and reducing effective crystal radius decides the lattice expansion and contraction. This affects the lattice strain and changes electronic levels, which modify absorption and emission processes in between the valence and conduction bands. A strong green emission band not due to oxygen vacancy but due to defects contributed by vanadium is also dependent on the oxidation state of vanadium. Bandgap also increases with the increase in the V4+ content.
Phase transformation of [Co/Ti]x10 multilayer under swift heavy ion irradiation
Authors: Rajput Parasmani , Kumar Manvendra , Biswas Arup , Choudhary R. J. , Sagdeo Archna , Gome Anil , Mondal P. , Reddy V. R. , Srivastava A. K. , Jha S. N. , Bhattacharyya D. , Sahoo N. K.
Published: July 2017

Swift heavy ions induced structural and magnetic modifications of Co/Ti multilayers have been studied with 120 MeV Ag9+ ions at different ion fluences. The decrease in 1st Bragg peak intensity of X-ray reflectivity spectra confirms an increase in Co-Ti mixing at the interfaces, whereas X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements reveal amorphization of the crystalline Co layer. XRD also indicates a shift in peak position towards a lower angle, confirming the development of tensile stress upon irradiation whereas an increase in the peak width suggests the reduction in the grain size. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurements show a reduction in Mr/Ms due to Co-Ti interface mixing and formed bcc-Co3Ti metastable phase. The X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) technique has been utilized to obtain variation in Co-Co and Co-Ti bond distances as a function of ion fluences. Quantitative estimation of Co3Ti phase generated due to ion irradiation has also been obtained using Co K-edge XAFS fitting.
Octave-spanning supercontinuum generation at telecommunications wavelengths in a precisely dispersion- and length-controlled silicon-wire waveguide with a double taper structure
Authors: Ishizawa Atsushi , Goto Takahiro , Kou Rai , Tsuchizawa Tai , Matsuda Nobuyuki , Hitachi Kenichi , Nishikawa Tadashi , Yamada Koji , Sogawa Tetsuomi , Gotoh Hideki
Published: July 2017

We demonstrate on-chip octave-spanning supercontinuum (SC) generation with a Si-wire waveguide (SWG). We precisely controlled the SWG width so that the group velocity becomes flat over a wide wavelength range. By adjusting the SWG length, we could reduce the optical losses due to two-photon absorption and pulse propagation. In addition, for efficient coupling between the laser pulse and waveguide, we fabricated a two-step inverse taper at both ends of the SWG. Using a 600-nm-wide SWG, we were able to generate a broadband SC spectrum at wavelengths from 1060 to 2200 nm at a −40 dB level with only 50-pJ laser energy from an Er-doped fiber laser oscillator. We found that we can generate an on-chip broadband SC spectrum with an SWG with a length even as small as 1.7 mm.
Magnetization reversal of vortex states driven by out-of-plane field in the nanocomposite Co/Pd/Ru/Py disks
Authors: Dai Z. M. , Dai Y. Y. , Liu W. , Wang T. T. , Zhao X. T. , Zhao X. G. , Zhang Z. D.
Published: July 2017

Magnetic vortices in patterned nanocomposite structures have been studied. A double-vortex structure consisting of two vortex cores with opposite chiralities and two edge half-vortices is realized in a micron-size circular disk, which consists of [Co/Pd]7/Ru/Py. A systemic study of the magnetization reversal of a double-vortex state and a single vortex state in an out-of-plane applied field has been performed by means of magnetic force microscopy. It is found that the interlayer exchange and dipolar interactions are critical for nucleation and annihilation of the double-vortex and the single vortex states. Micromagnetic simulations prove that the double-vortex state can stably exist in a patterned nanocomposite structure. Magnetic configurations ranging from the double-vortex and single vortex states to other multidomain states and the in-plane single-domain state are observed. The dependence of the magnetic configuration on the thickness of the soft-magnetic layer and spacer layer is presented in an experimental phase diagram. The results can significantly widen the practical applications of vortices on the three-dimensional spintronic memory and logic devices.
Four logic states of tunneling magnetoelectroresistance in ferromagnetic shape memory alloy based multiferroic tunnel junctions
Authors: Singh Kirandeep , Kaur Davinder
Published: July 2017

This study illustrates the approach to obtain four logic states of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy based multiferroic tunnel junction (MFTJ). In order to achieve giant tunneling electroresistance (TER) and tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), Ni-Mn-In and Ni-Mn-Sb layers were chosen as electrodes, as well as the concept of the composite barrier was adopted using the STO/PZT [SrTiO3, Strontium Titanate/PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 (Lead Zirconate Titanate)] (dielectric/ferroelectric) barrier layer. Equated to MFTJ with a single PZT barrier, the introduction of a STO paraelectric (dielectric) barrier is shown to be effective in improving both the TER and TMR of the MFTJs. Particularly, the TER ratio is greatly enhanced by 168% relative TER change: ΔTERTER=TER2−TER1TER1×100. This is described in terms of the increased asymmetry in the electrostatic modulation on the barrier potential profile with respect to the Ferroelectric (FE) polarization direction. We show that due to the coupling between FE polarization and magnetization at the junction between the barrier and the electrode of a MFTJ, the spin polarization of the tunneling electrons can be reversibly and remanently flipped by switching the FE polarization of the barrier. In addition to the analysis of memory function, the exchange bias phenomena are also studied. A negative exchange bias field of “HEB” ∼−98 Oe occurred at 300 K in these bilayers.
Electrical and optical properties of a kind of ferroelectric oxide films comprising of PbZr0.4Ti0.6O3 stacks
Authors: Li Shimin , Ma Guohong , Wang Chao , Zhao Wenchao , Chen Xiaoshuang , Chu Junhao , Dai Ning , Shi Wangzhou , Hu Gujin
Published: July 2017

A type of ferroelectric oxide films, consisting of three PbZr0.4Ti0.6O3 stacks with different periodic thicknesses, has been designed and fabricated on F-doped transparent conductive tin oxide substrates by using one single precursor solution and spinning-coating process. These films exhibit superior ferroelectric, dielectric, and optical performance. Each PbZr0.4Ti0.6O3 multilayer has a high reflectivity band with ∼110 nm photonic band width and average reflectivity of >80%, a dielectric constant of 530 and dielectric tunability of ∼28% at 1 MHz, a remnant polarization of 36 μC/cm2, and a polarization loss of <5% after 109 polarization switching cycles, rendering their perspective application in photonic band-gap engineering, microwave tunable devices, and integrated optoelectronics.
On the dynamics of StemBells: Microbubble-conjugated stem cells for ultrasound-controlled delivery
Authors: Kokhuis Tom J. A. , Naaijkens Benno A. , Juffermans Lynda J. M. , Kamp Otto , van der Steen Antonius F. W. , Versluis Michel , de Jong Nico
Published: July 2017

The use of stem cells for regenerative tissue repair is promising but hampered by the low number of cells delivered to the site of injury. To increase the delivery, we propose a technique in which stem cells are linked to functionalized microbubbles, creating echogenic complex dubbed StemBells. StemBells are highly susceptible to acoustic radiation force which can be employed after injection to push the StemBells locally to the treatment site. To optimally benefit from the delivery technique, a thorough characterization of the dynamics of StemBells during ultrasound exposure is needed. Using high-speed optical imaging, we study the dynamics of StemBells as a function of the applied frequency from which resonance curves were constructed. A theoretical model, based on a modified Rayleigh-Plesset type equation, captured the experimental resonance characteristics and radial dynamics in detail.