bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Remote doping of graphene on SiO2 with 5 keV x-rays in air
Authors: Salzmann Björn , Bernard Carlo , Hemmi Adrian , Greber Thomas
Published: February 2018

The transport properties of graphene change strongly in the presence of electric fields due to graphene's band structure. This makes graphene sensitive to charges in an insulator substrate. Graphene on SiO2/Si is studied under x-ray irradiation in ambient conditions. Using the metal oxide semiconductor structure of their samples, the authors observe remote doping due to the creation of positive charges in the oxide by the irradiation and relate them to resistance and Hall effect measurements performed on the graphene gate. The observed changes in conductivity, Hall charge carrier density, and the corresponding charge carrier mobility are consistent with expectations as well as recent experiments using graphene field effect transistors under ultrahigh vacuum conditions [P. Procházka et al. Sci. Rep. 7, 563 (2017)]. Furthermore, the stability of the effect under ambient conditions and its recovery using thermal annealing is demonstrated.
Low temperature growth of amorphous VO2 films on flexible polyimide substrates with a TiO2 buffer layer
Authors: Jung Dae Ho , So Hyeon Seob , Ahn Jae Seong , Lee Hosun , Nguyen Trang Thi Thu , Yoon Seokhyun , Kim So Yeun , Jung Haeng-Yoon
Published: February 2018

Amorphous VO2 thin films were grown on anatase TiO2-buffered polyimide (PI) films using radio-frequency magnetron sputtering deposition with a VO2 target as low as at 175 °C. For comparison, the authors grew VO2 films on TiO2-buffered SiO2/Si substrates. The structural and morphological properties of the VO2 films were evaluated by x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. VO2 films grown on TiO2/SiO2/Si were crystalline at 200 and 250 °C and were amorphous at 175 °C. VO2 films grown on TiO2/PI were amorphous. No peak corresponding to the monoclinic phase of VO2 appeared in the Raman spectra of VO2/TiO2/PI films grown at 175 or 200 °C. The chemical compositions of VO2 and the binding energy spectra of V and O atoms were probed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The authors discussed the multivalence states of V atoms and oxygen vacancies based on the x-ray photoemission spectroscopy of crystalline and amorphous VO2 films. The authors obtained the hysteresis curves of the resistivity as a function of temperature for both VO2/TiO2/SiO2/Si and VO2/TiO2/PI films. In addition, the authors measured the reflectivity of VO2/TiO2/PI films below and above the metal-insulator transition temperature using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The reflectivity changed substantially and was comparable to the literature values of well-crystallized VO2 films, even though the ratio of the switching resistivity values was as low as sixty. This work demonstrates that VO2 films grown on plastic films grown at temperatures as low as 175 °C can be applicable as flexible thermochromic films for use in energy-saving windows.
Toward achieving precision health
Authors: Gambhir Sanjiv Sam , Ge T. Jessie , Vermesh Ophir , Spitler Ryan
Published: February 2018

Precision health can help to prevent disease occurrence, detect disease earlier, and advance human health through the use of integrated diagnostics.
Whole-Genome Characterization of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus Infecting Sweet Cherry in China
Authors: Wang Jiawei , Zhai Ying , Zhu Dongzi , Liu Weizhen , Pappu Hanu R. , Liu Qingzhong
Published: February 2018

Prunus necrotic ringspot virus
(PNRSV) causes yield loss in most cultivated stone fruits, including sweet cherry. Using a small RNA deep-sequencing approach combined with end-genome sequence cloning, we identified the complete genomes of all three PNRSV strands from PNRSV-infected sweet cherry trees and compared them with those of two previously reported isolates.
Complete Genome Sequence of Temperate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Bacteriophage DLP5
Authors: Peters Danielle L. , Dennis Jonathan J.
Published: February 2018

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
bacteriophage DLP5 is a temperate phage with
Siphoviridae
family morphotype. DLP5 (vB_SmaS_DLP_5) is the first
S. maltophilia
phage shown to exist as a phagemid. The DLP5 genome is 96,542 bp, encoding 149 open reading frames (ORFs), including four tRNAs. Genomic characterization reveals moron genes potentially involved in host cell membrane modification.
Closed Genome Sequence of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor Inaba Strain A1552
Authors: Allué-Guardia Anna , Echazarreta Mylea , Koenig Sara S. K. , Klose Karl E. , Eppinger Mark
Published: February 2018

Vibrio cholerae
is a Gram-negative waterborne human pathogen and the causative agent of cholera. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of the seventh pandemic O1 biovar El Tor Inaba strain A1552 isolated in 1992. This clinical strain has served as an important model strain for studying cholera pathogenicity traits.
Complete Genome Sequence of Ehrlichia canis Strain YZ-1, Isolated from a Beagle with Fever and Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Zhang Jilei , Wang Jiawei , Wang Chengming
Published: February 2018

We report the complete genome sequence of
Ehrlichia canis
strain YZ-1, which was isolated from a beagle with fever, anorexia, depression, lethargy, weight loss, and thrombocytopenia.
E. canis
is the tick-borne agent of canine and human monocytic ehrlichiosis.
Metagenome Sequencing of Prokaryotic Microbiota from Two Hypersaline Soils of the Odiel Salt Marshes in Huelva, Southwestern Spain
Authors: Vera-Gargallo Blanca , Navarro-Sampedro Laura , Carballo Modesto , Ventosa Antonio
Published: February 2018

Two 454 shotgun metagenomes were sequenced from hypersaline soil samples collected in the Odiel salt marsh area in Huelva, southwestern Spain. Analysis of contigs and 16S rRNA-related sequences showed that
Halobacteria
,
Balneolaeota
, and
Bacteroidetes
were the dominant groups.
Rhodothermaeota
and
Nanohaloarchaeota
were also abundant.
Socioeconomic inequality in health domains in Tehran: a population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Baigi Vali , Nedjat Saharnaz , Hosseinpoor Ahmad Reza , Sartipi Majid , Salimi Yahya , Fotouhi Akbar
Published: February 2018

Objective

Reduction of socioeconomic inequality in health requires appropriate evidence on health and its distribution based on socioeconomic indicators. The objective of this study was to assess socioeconomic inequality in various health domains and self-rated health (SRH).

Methods

This study was conducted using data collected in a survey in 2014 on a random sample of individuals aged 18 and above in the city of Tehran. The standardised World Health Survey Individual Questionnaire was used to assess different health domains. The age-adjusted prevalence of poor health was calculated for each health domain and SRH based on levels of education and wealth quintiles. Furthermore, the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) were applied to assess socioeconomic inequality in each of the health domains and SRH.

Results

The age-adjusted prevalence of poor health was observed in a descending order from the lowest to the highest wealth quintiles, and from the lowest level of education to the highest. RII also showed varying values of inequality among different domains, favouring rich subgroups. The highest wealth-related RII was observed in the ‘Mobility’ domain with a value of 4.16 (95% CI 2.01 to 8.62), and the highest education-related RII was observed in the ‘Interpersonal Activities’ domain with a value of 6.40 (95% CI 1.91 to 21.36).

Conclusions

Substantial socioeconomic inequalities were observed in different health domains in favour of groups of better socioeconomic status. Based on these results, policymaking aimed at tackling inequalities should pay attention to different health domains as well as to overall health.
Associations between socioeconomic factors and proinflammatory cytokines in children, adolescents and young adults: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Fredman Nick John , Duque Gustavo , Duckham Rachel Louise , Green Darci , Brennan-Olsen Sharon Lee
Published: February 2018

Introduction

There is now substantial evidence of a social gradient in bone health. Social stressors, related to socioeconomic status, are suggested to produce an inflammatory response marked by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Here we focus on the particular role in the years before the achievement of peak bone mass, encompassing childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. An examination of such associations will help explain how social factors such as occupation, level of education and income may affect later-life bone disorders. This paper presents the protocol for a systematic review of existing literature regarding associations between socioeconomic factors and proinflammatory cytokines in those aged 6–30 years.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a systematic search of PubMed, OVID and CINAHL databases to identify articles that examine associations between socioeconomic factors and levels of proinflammatory cytokines, known to influence bone health, during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood. The findings of this review have implications for the equitable development of peak bone mass regardless of socioeconomic factors. Two independent reviewers will determine the eligibility of studies according to predetermined criteria, and studies will be assessed for methodological quality using a published scoring system. Should statistical heterogeneity be non-significant, we will conduct a meta-analysis; however, if heterogeneity prevent numerical syntheses, we will undertake a best-evidence analysis to determine whether socioeconomic differences exist in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines from childhood through to young adulthood.

Ethics and dissemination

This study will be a systematic review of published data, and thus ethics approval is not required. In addition to peer-reviewed publication, these findings will be presented at professional conferences in national and international arenas.
Mediating effects of metabolic factors on the association between fruit or vegetable intake and cardiovascular disease: the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Lee Hye Ah , Lim Dohee , Oh Kyungwon , Kim Eun Jung , Park Hyesook
Published: February 2018

Objective

We assessed the mediating effects of metabolic components on the relationship between fruit or vegetable intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

This study was conducted using data from the 2013–2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is a national representative cross-sectional survey to assess health and nutritional status in the Korean population.

Method and analysis

A total of 9040 subjects (3555 males and 5485 females) aged ≥25 years were included in the study. Physician-diagnosed CVD via self-report was used as the outcome. Fruit or vegetable intake was measured via a dish-based semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and grouped into categories (<1 time/day, 1 time/day, 2 times/day and ≥3 times/day). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), cholesterol and fasting glucose were considered metabolic mediators, and the bootstrap method was used to assess mediating effect.

Results

About 1.8% of adults aged 25–64 years had CVD. According to the result of ‘process’ macro, the confounder-adjusted risk for CVD decreased by 14% (OR=0.86, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.98) as fruit, but not vegetable, intake was increased by one unit per day. After additional adjustment for three metabolic factors simultaneously, the OR was attenuated to 0.89 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.03). This result indicates that the indirect effect of three metabolic factors accounted for 21.4% of the relationship between fruit intake and CVD. SBP was a more important metabolic mediator than the other factors. The indirect effect by metabolic factors accounted for 30.0% when body mass index was additionally controlled as a mediator, and SBP still had an independent effect compared with the other mediators.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that controlling SBP may lessen the CVD risk, and a diet rich in fruits can regulate SBP which, in turn, reduces CVD risk.
Spatial distribution of clinical computer systems in primary care in England in 2016 and implications for primary care electronic medical record databases: a cross-sectional population study
Authors: Kontopantelis Evangelos , Stevens Richard John , Helms Peter J , Edwards Duncan , Doran Tim , Ashcroft Darren M
Published: February 2018

Objectives

UK primary care databases (PCDs) are used by researchers worldwide to inform clinical practice. These databases have been primarily tied to single clinical computer systems, but little is known about the adoption of these systems by primary care practices or their geographical representativeness. We explore the spatial distribution of clinical computing systems and discuss the implications for the longevity and regional representativeness of these resources.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

English primary care clinical computer systems.

Participants

7526 general practices in August 2016.

Methods

Spatial mapping of family practices in England in 2016 by clinical computer system at two geographical levels, the lower Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG, 209 units) and the higher National Health Service regions (14 units). Data for practices included numbers of doctors, nurses and patients, and area deprivation.

Results

Of 7526 practices, Egton Medical Information Systems (EMIS) was used in 4199 (56%), SystmOne in 2552 (34%) and Vision in 636 (9%). Great regional variability was observed for all systems, with EMIS having a stronger presence in the West of England, London and the South; SystmOne in the East and some regions in the South; and Vision in London, the South, Greater Manchester and Birmingham.

Conclusions

PCDs based on single clinical computer systems are geographically clustered in England. For example, Clinical Practice Research Datalink and The Health Improvement Network, the most popular primary care databases in terms of research outputs, are based on the Vision clinical computer system, used by <10% of practices and heavily concentrated in three major conurbations and the South. Researchers need to be aware of the analytical challenges posed by clustering, and barriers to accessing alternative PCDs need to be removed.
Identifying primary care patient safety research priorities in the UK: a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership
Authors: Morris Rebecca Lauren , Stocks Susan Jill , Alam Rahul , Taylor Sian , Rolfe Carly , Glover Steven William , Whitcombe Joanne , Campbell Stephen M
Published: February 2018

Objectives

To identify the top 10 unanswered research questions for primary care patient safety research.

Design

A modified nominal group technique.

Setting

UK.

Participants

Anyone with experience of primary care including: patients, carers and healthcare professionals. 341 patients and 86 healthcare professionals submitted questions.

Main outcomes

A top 10, and top 30, future research questions for primary care patient safety.

Results

443 research questions were submitted by 341 patients and 86 healthcare professionals, through a national survey. After checking for relevance and rephrasing, a total of 173 questions were collated into themes. The themes were largely focused on communication, team and system working, interfaces across primary and secondary care, medication, self-management support and technology. The questions were then prioritised through a national survey, the top 30 questions were taken forward to the final prioritisation workshop. The top 10 research questions focused on the most vulnerable in society, holistic whole-person care, safer communication and coordination between care providers, work intensity, continuity of care, suicide risk, complex care at home and confidentiality.

Conclusions

This study was the first national prioritisation exercise to identify patient and healthcare professional priorities for primary care patient safety research. The research priorities identified a range of important gaps in the existing evidence to inform everyday practice to address primary care patient safety.
Comparison of a pressure-sensing sheath and radial arterial line for intraoperative blood pressure monitoring in neurointerventional procedures
Authors: Froehler Michael T , Chitale Rohan , Magarik Jordan A , Fusco Matthew R
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The efficiency of neuroendovascular procedures may partly depend on the time devoted to placement of a radial arterial line (RAL) for intraoperative blood pressure monitoring. An alternative approach is to use a pressure-sensing sheath (PSS) that serves to provide invasive blood pressure monitoring without requiring a separate procedure for placement. We compared the use of a RAL versus PSS and assessed procedure time, anesthetist and patient satisfaction, and cost.

Methods

We performed a single-center, prospective, blockwise, comparative trial of procedure start time using traditional RAL placement versus the EndoPhys PSS for invasive blood pressure monitoring. Endpoints included time from room arrival to groin puncture, patient and anesthetist satisfaction ratings, and costs associated with RAL placement.

Results

Twenty patients were enrolled in the PSS+RAL arm and 20 in the PSS-alone arm. Mean time from arrival in the room until groin puncture was 61.9±14.0 min in the RAL group and 51.2±10.8 min in the PSS-alone group (P=0.01; difference=10.7 min). Patients in the PSS-alone group reported less pain than those in the RAL group. Furthermore, anesthetists reported accurate blood pressure in the PSS group. The average cost estimate of RAL placement was US$774.70, with a range of US$743 to US$1171.

Conclusions

Placement of a RAL at the start of the neuroendovascular procedures resulted in increased delays to procedure start time and more patient-reported pain compared with the PSS, which may offer a more efficient means of blood pressure monitoring for neurointerventional procedures.

Clinical trial registration

NCT03239847.
Comparison of hadron production models for π±, k±, protons and antiprotons production in proton–carbon interactions at 60 GeV/c
Authors: Ajaz M. , Ullah S. , Ali Y. , Younis H.
Published: February 2018

In this research paper, the comprehensive results on the double differential yield of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons, protons and antiprotons as a function of laboratory momentum are reported. These hadrons are produced in proton–carbon interaction at 60 GeV/c. EPOS 1.99, EPOS-LHC and QGSJETII-04 models are used to perform simulations. Comparing the predictions of these models show that QGSJETII-04 model predicts higher yields of all the hadrons in most of the cases at the peak of the distribution. In this interval, the EPOS 1.99 and EPOS-LHC produce similar results. In most of the cases at higher momentum of the hadrons, all the three models are in good agreement. For protons, all models are in good agreement. EPOS-LHC gives high yield of antiprotons at high momentum values as compared to the other two models. EPOS-LHC gives higher prediction at the peak value for [Formula: see text] mesons and protons at higher polar angle intervals of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, and EPOS 1.99 gives higher prediction at the peak value for [Formula: see text] mesons for [Formula: see text]. The model predictions, except for antiprotons, are compared with the data obtained by the NA61/SHINE experiment at 31 GeV/c proton–carbon collision, which clearly shows that the behavior of the distributions in models are similar to the ones from the data but the yield in data is low because of lower beam energy.
Link prediction based on nonequilibrium cooperation effect
Authors: Li LanXi , Zhu XuZhen , Tian Hui
Published: February 2018

Link prediction in complex networks has become a common focus of many researchers. But most existing methods concentrate on neighbors, and rarely consider degree heterogeneity of two endpoints. Node degree represents the importance or status of endpoints. We describe the large-degree heterogeneity as the nonequilibrium between nodes. This nonequilibrium facilitates a stable cooperation between endpoints, so that two endpoints with large-degree heterogeneity tend to connect stably. We name such a phenomenon as the nonequilibrium cooperation effect. Therefore, this paper proposes a link prediction method based on the nonequilibrium cooperation effect to improve accuracy. Theoretical analysis will be processed in advance, and at the end, experiments will be performed in 12 real-world networks to compare the mainstream methods with our indices in the network through numerical analysis.
Quantum control of quasi-collision states: A protocol for hybrid fusion
Authors: Vilela Mendes R.
Published: February 2018

When confined to small regions quantum systems exhibit electronic and structural properties different from their free space behavior. These properties are of interest, for example, for molecular insertion, hydrogen storage and the exploration of new pathways for chemical and nuclear reactions. Here, a confined three-body problem is studied, with emphasis on the study of the “quantum scars” associated to dynamical collisions. For the particular case of nuclear reactions, it is proposed that a molecular cage might simply be used as a confining device with the collision states accessed by quantum control techniques.
STOCHASTIC MODELING OF PHYTOPLANKTON–ZOOPLANKTON INTERACTIONS WITH TOXIN PRODUCING PHYTOPLANKTON
Authors: DE SILVA T. MIHIRI M. , JANG SOPHIA R.-J.
Published: February 2018

We construct models of continuous-time Markov chain (CTMC) and Itô stochastic differential equations of population interactions based on a deterministic system of two phytoplankton and one zooplankton populations. The mechanisms of mutual interference among the predator zooplankton and the avoidance of toxin-producing phytoplankton (TPP) by zooplankton are incorporated. Sudden population extinctions occur in the stochastic models that cannot be captured in the deterministic systems. In addition, the effect of periodic toxin production by TPP is lessened when the birth and death of the populations are modeled randomly.
Why Economic Sanctions on North Korea Fail to Work?
Authors: Chen Jiawen
Published: February 2018

Imposed since 2006, the comprehensive multilateral economic sanctions against North Korea appear to have had little effect on the regime’s pursuance of nuclear programs. Under the increasingly strict measures, Pyongyang has been demonstrating ever greater resolves to stick to its way of nuclear buildup. This study explores the reasons behind the failed economic sanctions from the international community. It argues that economic sanctions usually follow a two-step working mechanism, which is informed by multiple causal pathways. Accordingly, the effectiveness of sanctions is largely subject to the dynamic contexts of the target, senders and international community. Considering the causal logic from different aspects, this article identifies several obstacles. The most important one is that owing to North Korea’s political structure and history, there is almost no constituency that may respond to the sanction pressure; on the contrary, economic sanctions seem to only increase domestic resistance against exogenous hostilities. In other words, it is not a regime that is likely to yield to coercive policies. Therefore, tougher sanctions may only generate pressure, but they can hardly change North Korea’s nuclear policy.
Computational Design of Clusters for Catalysis
Authors: Jimenez-Izal Elisa , Alexandrova Anastassia N.
Published: February 2018

When small clusters are studied in chemical physics or physical chemistry, one perhaps thinks of the fundamental aspects of cluster electronic structure, or precision spectroscopy in ultracold molecular beams. However, small clusters are also of interest in catalysis, where the cold ground state or an isolated cluster may not even be the right starting point. Instead, the big question is: What happens to cluster-based catalysts under real conditions of catalysis, such as high temperature and coverage with reagents? Myriads of metastable cluster states become accessible, the entire system is dynamic, and catalysis may be driven by rare sites present only under those conditions. Activity, selectivity, and stability are highly dependent on size, composition, shape, support, and environment. To probe and master cluster catalysis, sophisticated tools are being developed for precision synthesis, operando measurements, and multiscale modeling. This review intends to tell the messy story of clusters in catalysis.
Membrane-Mediated Cooperativity of Proteins
Authors: Weikl Thomas R.
Published: February 2018

Besides direct protein–protein interactions, indirect interactions mediated by membranes play an important role for the assembly and cooperative function of proteins in membrane shaping and adhesion. The intricate shapes of biological membranes are generated by proteins that locally induce membrane curvature. Indirect curvature-mediated interactions between these proteins arise because the proteins jointly affect the bending energy of the membranes. These curvature-mediated interactions are attractive for crescent-shaped proteins and are a driving force in the assembly of the proteins during membrane tubulation. Membrane adhesion results from the binding of receptor and ligand proteins that are anchored in the apposing membranes. The binding of these proteins strongly depends on nanoscale shape fluctuations of the membranes, leading to a fluctuation-mediated binding cooperativity. A length mismatch between receptor–ligand complexes in membrane adhesion zones causes repulsive curvature-mediated interactions that are a driving force for the length-based segregation of proteins during membrane adhesion.
Dynamics at Conical Intersections
Authors: Schuurman Michael S. , Stolow Albert
Published: February 2018

The nonadiabatic coupling of electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom is the defining feature of electronically excited states of polyatomic molecules. Once considered a theoretical curiosity, conical intersections (CIs) are now generally accepted as being the dominant source of coupled charge and vibrational energy flow in molecular excited states. Passage through CIs leads to the conversion of electronic to vibrational energy, which drives the ensuing photochemistry, isomerization being a canonical example. It has often been remarked that the CI may be thought of as a transition state in the excited state. As such, we expect that both the direction and the velocity of approach to the CI will matter. We explore this suggestion by looking for dynamical aspects of passage through CIs and for analogies with well-known concepts from ground-state reaction dynamics. Great progress has been made in the development of both experimental techniques and ab initio dynamics simulations, to a degree that direct comparisons may now be made. Here we compare time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy results with on-the-fly ab initio multiple spawning calculations of the experimental observables, thereby validating each. We adopt a phenomenological approach and specifically concentrate on the excited-state dynamics of the C=C bond in unsaturated hydrocarbons. In particular, we make use of selective chemical substitution (such as replacing an H atom by a methyl group) so as to alter the inertia of certain vibrations relative to others, thus systematically varying (mass-weighted) directions and velocities of approach to a CI. Chemical substituents, however, may affect both the nuclear and electronic components of the total wave function. The former, which we call an inertial effect, influences the direction and velocity of approach. The latter, which we call a potential effect, modifies the electronic structure and therefore the energetic location and topography of the potential energy surfaces involved. Using a series of examples, we discuss both types of effects. We argue that there is a need for dynamical pictures and simple models of nonadiabatic dynamics at CIs and hope that the phenomenology presented here will help inspire such developments.
Does Foreign Aid Build Peace?
Authors: Findley Michael G.
Published: February 2018

Does foreign aid build peace? The answer is of paramount importance for policy makers and practitioners, given that the world's poor are growing increasingly concentrated in conflict-affected countries. Scholars have also demonstrated keen interest, primarily examining the relationship between foreign aid and civil wars. This review takes stock of the existing literature through a survey of key theoretical arguments connecting aid to the onset, dynamics, and recurrence of civil wars. It then articulates a key challenge posed by undertheorization of aid allocation, which is largely nonrandom, making the causal effects difficult to infer. I identify five areas in need of greater attention: microfoundational theoretical assumptions about aid flows; aid in the context of other foreign policy options; explicit articulation of other factors that may mediate or moderate aid's effects; levels of observation and aggregation; and measurement.
Dissociable signatures of visual salience and behavioral relevance across attentional priority maps in human cortex
Authors: Sprague Thomas C. , Itthipuripat Sirawaj , Vo Vy A. , Serences John T.
Published: February 2018

Computational models posit that visual attention is guided by activity within spatial maps that index the image-computable salience and the behavioral relevance of objects in the scene. These spatial maps are theorized to be instantiated as activation patterns across a series of retinotopic visual regions in occipital, parietal, and frontal cortex. Whereas previous research has identified sensitivity to either the behavioral relevance or the image-computable salience of different scene elements, the simultaneous influence of these factors on neural “attentional priority maps” in human cortex is not well understood. We tested the hypothesis that visual salience and behavioral relevance independently impact the activation profile across retinotopically organized cortical regions by quantifying attentional priority maps measured in human brains using functional MRI while participants attended one of two differentially salient stimuli. We found that the topography of activation in priority maps, as reflected in the modulation of region-level patterns of population activity, independently indexed the physical salience and behavioral relevance of each scene element. Moreover, salience strongly impacted activation patterns in early visual areas, whereas later visual areas were dominated by relevance. This suggests that prioritizing spatial locations relies on distributed neural codes containing graded representations of salience and relevance across the visual hierarchy.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We tested a theory which supposes that neural systems represent scene elements according to both their salience and their relevance in a series of “priority maps” by measuring functional MRI activation patterns across human brains and reconstructing spatial maps of the visual scene. We found that different regions indexed either the salience or the relevance of scene items, but not their interaction, suggesting an evolving representation of salience and relevance across different visual areas.
Change of cortical foot activation following 70 days of head-down bed rest
Authors: Yuan Peng , Koppelmans Vincent , Reuter-Lorenz Patricia , De Dios Yiri , Gadd Nichole , Riascos Roy , Kofman Igor , Bloomberg Jacob , Mulavara Ajitkumar , Seidler Rachael D.
Published: February 2018

Head-down tilt bed rest (HDBR) has been used as a spaceflight analog to study some of the effects of microgravity on human physiology, cognition, and sensorimotor functions. Previous studies have reported declines in balance control and functional mobility after spaceflight and HDBR. In this study we investigated how the brain activation for foot movement changed with HDBR. Eighteen healthy men participated in the current HDBR study. They were in a 6° head-down tilt position continuously for 70 days. Functional MRI scans were acquired to estimate brain activation for foot movement before, during, and after HDBR. Another 11 healthy men who did not undergo HDBR participated as control subjects and were scanned at four time points. In the HDBR subjects, the cerebellum, fusiform gyrus, hippocampus, and middle occipital gyrus exhibited HDBR-related increases in activation for foot tapping, whereas no HDBR-associated activation decreases were found. For the control subjects, activation for foot tapping decreased across sessions in a couple of cerebellar regions, whereas no activation increase with session was found. Furthermore, we observed that less HDBR-related decline in functional mobility and balance control was associated with greater pre-to-post HDBR increases in brain activation for foot movement in several cerebral and cerebellar regions. Our results suggest that more neural control is needed for foot movement as a result of HDBR.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Long-duration head-down bed rest serves as a spaceflight analog research environment. We show that brain activity in the cerebellum and visual areas during foot movement increases from pre- to post-bed rest and then shows subsequent recovery. Greater increases were seen for individuals who exhibited less decline in functional mobility and balance control, suggestive of adaptive changes in neural control with long-duration bed rest.
Selective modulation of visual sensitivity during fixation
Authors: Scholes Chris , McGraw Paul V. , Roach Neil W.
Published: February 2018

During periods of steady fixation, we make small-amplitude ocular movements, termed microsaccades, at a rate of 1–2 every second. Early studies provided evidence that visual sensitivity is reduced during microsaccades—akin to the well-established suppression associated with larger saccades. However, the results of more recent work suggest that microsaccades may alter retinal input in a manner that enhances visual sensitivity to some stimuli. Here we parametrically varied the spatial frequency of a stimulus during a detection task and tracked contrast sensitivity as a function of time relative to microsaccades. Our data reveal two distinct modulations of sensitivity: suppression during the eye movement itself and facilitation after the eye has stopped moving. The magnitude of suppression and facilitation of visual sensitivity is related to the spatial content of the stimulus: suppression is greatest for low spatial frequencies, while sensitivity is enhanced most for stimuli of 1–2 cycles/°, spatial frequencies at which we are already most sensitive in the absence of eye movements. We present a model in which the tuning of suppression and facilitation is explained by delayed lateral inhibition between spatial frequency channels. Our data show that eye movements actively modulate visual sensitivity even during fixation: the detectability of images at different spatial scales can be increased or decreased depending on when the image occurs relative to a microsaccade.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Given the frequency with which we make microsaccades during periods of fixation, it is vital that we understand how they affect visual processing. We demonstrate two selective modulations of contrast sensitivity that are time-locked to the occurrence of a microsaccade: suppression of low spatial frequencies during each eye movement and enhancement of higher spatial frequencies after the eye has stopped moving. These complementary changes may arise naturally because of sluggish gain control between spatial channels.
Coupled Geomechanical‐Flow Assessment of CO2 Leakage through Heterogeneous Caprock during CCS
Authors: Kim Guan Woo , Kim Tae Hong , Lee Jiho , Lee Kun Sang
Published: February 2018

The viability of carbon capture sequestration (CCS) is dependent on the secure storage of CO2 in subsurface geologic formations. Geomechanical failure of caprock is one of the main reasons of CO2 leakage from the storage formations. Through comprehensive assessment on the petrophysical and geomechanical heterogeneities of caprock, it is possible to predict the risk of unexpected caprock failure. To describe the fracture reactivation, the modified Barton–Bandis model is applied. In order to generate hydro‐geomechanically heterogeneous fields, the negative correlation between porosity and Young’s modulus/Poisson’s ratio is applied. In comparison with the homogeneous model, effects of heterogeneity are examined in terms of vertical deformation and the amount of leaked CO2. To compare the effects of heterogeneity, heterogeneous models for both geomechanical and petrophysical properties in coupled simulation are designed. After 10‐year injection with petrophysically heterogeneous and geomechanically homogeneous caprock, CO2 leakage is larger than that of the homogeneous model. In contrast, heterogeneity of geomechanical properties is shown to mitigate additional escape of CO2. Vertical displacement of every heterogeneous model is larger than homogeneous model. The model with compressive tectonic stress shows much more stable trapping with heterogeneous caprock, but there is possibility of rapid leakage after homogeneous caprock failure.
Quercetin Potentiates the NGF‐Induced Effects in Cultured PC 12 Cells: Identification by HerboChips Showing a Binding with NGF
Authors: Chan Gallant K. L. , Hu Winnie W. H. , Zheng Zoey X. , Huang M. , Lin Yan X. Y. , Wang Caroline Y. , Gong Amy G. W. , Yang X. Y. , Tsim Karl W. K. , Dong Tina T. X.
Published: February 2018

Dementia is a persistent disorder of the mental processes and is strongly related to depression. However, the performance of current antidepression medicine is far from satisfactory. Herbal extract provides an excellent source to identify compounds for possible drug development against depression. Here, HerboChips were employed to search herbal compounds that could bind nerve growth factor (NGF). By screening over 500 types of herbal extracts, the water extract of Ginkgo Folium, the leaf of Ginkgo biloba, showed a strong binding to NGF. The herbal fractions showing NGF binding were further isolated and enriched. By using LC‐MS/MS analysis, one of the NGF binding fractions was enriched, which was further identified as quercetin, a major flavonoid in Ginkgo Folium. Quercetin, similar to Ginkgo Folium extract, could enhance the effect of NGF in cultured PC 12 cells, including potentiation of neurite outgrowth and phosphorylation of Erk‐1/2. This is the first report of discovering an NGF binding compound by using HerboChips from herbal extracts, which could be further developed for antidepression application.
Analytical Model for Predesigning Probe-Fed Hybrid Microstrip Antennas
Authors: Rabelo Nilson R. , Lacava J. C. da S. , Tinoco Salazar Alexis F. , Ribeiro Filho P. C. , Nascimento D. C. , León Vásquez Rubén D. , Sant’Anna Sidnei J. S.
Published: February 2018

Based on the equivalent resonant cavity model, an effective analysis methodology of probe-fed hybrid microstrip antennas is carried out in this paper, resulting in a better understanding of the parameter interrelations affecting their behavior. With that, a new design criterion focused on establishing uniform radiation patterns with balanced 3 dB angles is proposed and implemented. Results obtained with the proposed model closely matched HFSS simulations. Measurements made on a prototype antenna, manufactured with substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology, also showed excellent agreement, thus validating the use of the cavity model for predesigning hybrid microstrip antennas in a simple, visible, and time- and cost-effective way.
A Novel Immune-Inspired Shellcode Detection Algorithm Based on Hyperellipsoid Detectors
Authors: Lu Tianliang , Zhang Lu , Fu Yixian
Published: February 2018

Shellcodes are machine language codes injected into target programs in the form of network packets or malformed files. Shellcodes can trigger buffer overflow vulnerability and execute malicious instructions. Signature matching technology used by antivirus software or intrusion detection system has low detection rate for unknown or polymorphic shellcodes; to solve such problem, an immune-inspired shellcode detection algorithm was proposed, named ISDA. Static analysis and dynamic analysis were both applied. The shellcodes were disassembled to assembly instructions during static analysis and, for dynamic analysis, the API function sequences of shellcodes were obtained by simulation execution to get the behavioral features of polymorphic shellcodes. The extracted features of shellcodes were encoded to antigens based on n-gram model. Immature detectors become mature after immune tolerance based on negative selection algorithm. To improve nonself space coverage rate, the immune detectors were encoded to hyperellipsoids. To generate better antibody offspring, the detectors were optimized through clonal selection algorithm with genetic mutation. Finally, shellcode samples were collected and tested, and result shows that the proposed method has higher detection accuracy for both nonencoded and polymorphic shellcodes.
A Patient Presenting with Cardiac Tamponade and the Challenges of Finding Its Cause: A Cardiac Angiosarcoma
Authors: Habibi Roshanak , Faramarzi Negar , Altamirano Alvaro J. , Dadkhah Shahriar
Published: February 2018

Primary malignancies of the heart are so rare that most of the available data come from case reports or large single-center-based studies, with the overall incidence of 0.02% in the United States. Diagnosis in case of an isolated pericardial effusion as presentation is challenging, and determining that an angiosarcoma is even more challenging. Here, we presented a rare case of pericardial angiosarcoma which presented to us with tamponade. The patient eventually was diagnosed through pericardiectomy. A multimodality approach was attempted to treat the cancer. The clinical details of such a unique disease entity inspired us to present it as a case report.
White Matter Damage in 4,725 Term-Born Infants Is Determined by Head Circumference at Birth: The Missing Link
Authors: Jensen Arne , Holmer Bert
Published: February 2018

Background. White matter damage (WMD) is a prime risk factor for cerebral palsy, in part occurring unexplained. Though primarily a problem of preterm infants, there is growing evidence that in large newborns cephalopelvic disproportion and prolonged labor are involved. Objective. To explore both incidence of and morphometric risk factors for WMD in term-born infants. Study Design. We related growth variables and risk factors of term-born infants to WMD (61/4,725) using odds ratios of z-score bands. Results. The key result is the novel observation that head circumference is a prime and unique index for WMD in term-born neonates over the whole range of centiles (U-shaped; WMD (%) = 3.1168–0.12797∗HC (centile) + 0.0014741∗HC2; p<0.0001). This suggests different mechanisms for WMD in the lowest and highest z-score band. In the latter, cephalic pressure gradients and prolonged labor with preserved neonatal vitality prevail, whereas in the previous one, acute and chronic oxygen deprivation with reduced vitality predominate. Conclusions. The fact that seemingly healthy term-born neonates are not screened by head imaging, in spite of both large head circumference and prolonged labor, is considered to be the missing link between the insult that escapes diagnosis and the development of unexplained developmental delay and cerebral palsy in childhood.

Dedicated to Lawrence D. Longo (1926–2016)
Microscale Research on Effective Geosequestration of CO2 in Coal Reservoir: A Natural Analogue Study in Haishiwan Coalfield, China
Authors: Zhang Kaizhong , Li Wei , Cheng Yuanping , Dong Jun , Tu Qingyi , Zhang Rong
Published: February 2018

A natural analogue study in CO2-rich coalfield (Haishiwan, China) provides a strong support for safe, reliable, and long-term storage by analyzing the mechanism of CO2 migration, entrapment, and storage in coal reservoir. Thus, effects of geological tectonism on reservoir properties were investigated. Simultaneously, coal and oil shale samples before and after supercritical CO2 (SCCO2) treatment via geochemical reactor were collected to analyze changes in pore structure, functional group distributions, and SCCO2 extraction. Observations from in situ properties of coal seam indicate that there is a positive relationship with CH4 contents and F19 fault whereas CO2 and carbonate contents decrease as the distance from F19 increases. Analysis of pore properties reveals that SCCO2 enlarges the development of coal pore and facilitates the diffusion and seepage channel of coal reservoir, while no changes in larger pores are found in oil shale, which may restrain fluids from passing through. Then, oxygen-containing functional groups are mobilized by SCCO2 from oil shale, associated with a decrease in sorption sites. The sealing capacity of cap rock (oil shale) and geological tectonism (F19 fault), as the major contributors to CO2 enrichment and accumulation, provides insights into the suitable selection of CCGS site for long geological time.
Solution of the Nonlinear High-Fidelity Generalized Method of Cells Micromechanics Relations via Order-Reduction Techniques
Authors: Ricks Trenton M. , Lacy Thomas E. , Bednarcyk Brett A. , Robens-Radermacher Annika , Pineda Evan J. , Arnold Steven M.
Published: February 2018

The High-Fidelity Generalized Method of Cells (HFGMC) is one technique, distinct from traditional finite-element approaches, for accurately simulating nonlinear composite material behavior. In this work, the HFGMC global system of equations for doubly periodic repeating unit cells with nonlinear constituents has been reduced in size through the novel application of a Petrov-Galerkin Proper Orthogonal Decomposition order-reduction scheme in order to improve its computational efficiency. Order-reduced models of an E-glass/Nylon 12 composite led to a 4.8–6.3x speedup in the equation assembly/solution runtime while maintaining model accuracy. This corresponded to a 21–38% reduction in total runtime. The significant difference in assembly/solution and total runtimes was attributed to the evaluation of integration point inelastic field quantities; this step was identical between the unreduced and order-reduced models. Nonetheless, order-reduced techniques offer the potential to significantly improve the computational efficiency of multiscale calculations.
Identification and Quantification of Fatty Acids inT. viridissima,C. biguttulus, andC. brunneusby GC-MS
Authors: Wathne Alexander M. , Devle Hanne , Naess-Andresen Carl Fredrik , Ekeberg Dag
Published: February 2018

Fatty acid (FA) profiles of the speciesTettigonia viridissima,Chorthippus biguttulus, andChorthippus brunneuswere determined and quantitated. Extracted lipids were derivatized into FA methyl esters (FAMEs) prior to analysis by GC-MS. A total of 37 different FAs were identified inT. viridissima, yielding a total FA content of 10.4 g/100 g of dry matter. The contents of saturated FAs, monounsaturated FAs, and polyunsaturated FAs were 31.1, 35.9, and 33.0%, respectively. Lipids fromT. viridissimawere also fractioned into neutral lipids, free fatty acids, and polar lipids by offline solid phase extraction. ForC. brunneusandC. biguttulus, 33 FAs were identified, yielding a total FA content of 6.14 g/100 g of dry matter. SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs, respectively, constituted 32.7, 25.1, and 42.1% of the total FA content. The contents of MUFAs, PUFAs,n-3 FAs, andn-6 FAs of each species, and then-6/n-3 ratio, were subsequently discussed.