bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Joint effects of nutrient addition and enemy exclusion on exotic plant success
Authors: Heckman Robert W. , Wright Justin P. , Mitchell Charles E.
Published: September 2016

Worldwide, ecosystems are increasingly dominated by exotic plant species, a shift hypothesized to result from numerous ecological factors. Two of these, increased resource availability and enemy release, may act in concert to increase exotic success in plant communities (Resource‐Enemy Release Hypothesis, R‐ERH). To test this, we manipulated the availability of soil nutrients and access of vertebrate herbivores, insect herbivores, and fungal pathogens to intact grassland communities containing both native and exotic species. Our results supported both conditions necessary for R‐ERH. First, exotics were less damaged than natives, experiencing less foliar damage (insect herbivory and fungal disease) than native species, particularly in communities where soil nutrients were added. Second, fertilization increased foliar damage on native species, but not exotic species. As well as fulfilling both conditions for R‐ERH, these results demonstrate the importance of considering the effects of resource availability when testing for enemy release. When both conditions are fulfilled, R‐ERHpredicts that increasing resource availability will increase exotic abundance only in the presence of enemies. Our results fully supported this prediction for vertebrate herbivores: fertilization increased exotic cover only in communities exposed to vertebrate herbivores. Additionally, the prediction was partially supported for insect herbivores and fungal pathogens, excluding these enemies reduced exotic cover as predicted, but inconsistent with R‐ERH, this effect occurred only in unfertilized communities. These results highlight the need to consider the influence of multiple enemy guilds on community processes like exotic plant invasions. Moreover, this study experimentally demonstrates that resource availability and natural enemies can jointly influence exotic success in plant communities.
Fecundity and the demographic strategies of coral morphologies
Authors: Álvarez‐Noriega Mariana , Baird Andrew H. , Dornelas Maria , Madin Joshua S. , Cumbo Vivian R. , Connolly Sean R.
Published: September 2016

Understanding species differences in demographic strategies is a fundamental goal of ecology. In scleractinian corals, colony morphology is tightly linked with many demographic traits, such as size‐specific growth and morality. Here we test how well morphology predicts the colony size‐fecundity relationship in eight species of broadcast‐spawning corals. Variation in colony fecundity is greater among morphologies than between species with a similar morphology, demonstrating that colony morphology can be used as a quantitative proxy for demographic strategies. Additionally, we examine the relationship between size‐specific colony fecundity and mechanical vulnerability (i.e., vulnerability to colony dislodgment). Interestingly, the relationship between size‐specific fecundity and mechanical vulnerability varied among morphologies. For tabular species, the most fecund colonies are the most mechanically vulnerable, while the opposite is true for massive species. For corymbose and digitate colonies, mechanical vulnerability remains relatively constant as fecundity increases. These results reveal strong differences in the demographic tradeoffs among species of different morphologies. Using colony morphology as a quantitative proxy for demographic strategies can help predict coral community dynamics and responses to anthropogenic change.
Heart failure outcomes in clinical trials of glucose‐lowering agents in patients with diabetes
Authors: Fitchett David H. , Udell Jacob A. , Inzucchi Silvio E.
Published: September 2016

Diabetes is a major risk factor for heart failure (HF). Patients with diabetes have a high incidence of both clinical HF and subclinical LV dysfunction. Although intensive glucose lowering does not appear to impact on HF outcomes, the choice of glucose‐lowering agents plays an important role in the development of HF and related cardiovascular outcomes. Whilst metformin and insulin appear to have little impact on HF progression, the role of sulphonylurea agents in this patient population remains uncertain. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are associated with a significant risk of HF progression and are best avoided in patients at risk. The incretin‐based therapies (GLP agonists and DPP‐4 inhibitors) are generally not associated with any HF interaction. However, a small increase in HF admissions was observed with the DPP‐4 inhibitor saxagliptin. The GLP‐1 agonist liraglutide was recently shown to reduce cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality, yet hospitalization for HF was not significantly reduced. The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin was shown to reduce HF admissions and cardiovascular mortality in patients with prior cardiovascular disease including HF. These recent data showing improved outcomes with a glucose‐lowering category provide a novel strategy to improve survival and reduce morbidity in diabetic patients at high cardiovascular disease risk.
Water‐filling technique‐based proportionally fair scheduling algorithm for SC‐FDMA
Authors: Gu Jaheon , Lee Tae‐Jin , Chung Min Young
Published: September 2016

Single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC‐FDMA) regulates that subchannels allocated to a user should be contiguous in frequency domain (i.e., contiguity constraint). Due to the constraint, the proportionally fair (PF) scheduling in SC‐FDMA is known to be non‐deterministic polynomial‐time (NP) hard. In this paper, a novel PF scheduling algorithm is proposed based on the water‐filling (WF) technique to effectively solve PF scheduling in SC‐FDMA. The proposed algorithm is composed of 2 phases: subchannel allocation and data rate adjustment phases. In the subchannel allocation phase, user's power is allocated to frequency‐contiguous subchannels for maximizing users' data rates based on the WF technique. In the data rate adjustment phase, the modulation and coding scheme of user is decided by solving the PF scheduling problem with the WF technique. Through simulations, it is shown that the proposed scheme achieves total data rates and logarithmic sum of average user data rates close to those of the optimal PF scheduling. In addition, the proposed scheme performs better than coherence subband based resource allocation scheme.
Epigenetic silencing of miR‐200c in breast cancer is associated with aggressiveness and is modulated by ZEB1
Authors: Damiano Valentina , Brisotto Giulia , Borgna Silvia , di Gennaro Alessandra , Armellin Michela , Perin Tiziana , Guardascione Michela , Maestro Roberta , Santarosa Manuela
Published: September 2016

Loss of expression of miR‐200 family members has been implicated in cellular plasticity, a phenomenon that accounts for epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stem‐like features of many carcinomas and is considered a major cause of tumor aggressiveness and drug resistance. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of miR‐200 downregulation in breast cancer are still largely unknown. Here we show that miR‐200c expression inversely correlates with miR‐200c/miR‐141 locus methylation in triple‐negative breast tumors (TNBC). Importantly, low levels of miR‐200c expression and high levels of miR‐200c/miR‐141 locus methylation associated with lymph node metastasis. Moreover, miR‐200c/miR‐141 locus methylation was significantly related to high expression of ZEB1 in two independent TNBC series. Silencing of ZEB1 in vitro reduced miR‐200c/miR‐141 DNA methylation and, concurrently, decreased histone H3K9 trimethylation. This chromatin modifications were paralleled by an increase in the expression of both miR‐200c and E‐cadherin. Similar effects were achieved by treatment with a demethylating agent. Our data suggest that gene methylation is an important element in the regulation of the miR‐200c/ZEB1 axis and that chromatin remodeling of the miR‐200c/miR‐141 locus is affected by ZEB1 and, thus, contributes to ZEB1‐induced cellular plasticity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Relationship between structural and functional connectivity change across the adult lifespan: A longitudinal investigation
Authors: Fjell Anders M. , Sneve Markus H. , Grydeland Håkon , Storsve Andreas B. , Amlien Inge K. , Yendiki Anastasia , Walhovd Kristine B.
Published: September 2016

Extensive efforts are devoted to understand the functional (FC) and structural connections (SC) of the brain. FC is usually measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and conceptualized as degree of synchronicity in brain activity between different regions. SC is typically indexed by measures of white matter (WM) properties, for example, by diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). FC and SC are intrinsically related, in that coordination of activity across regions ultimately depends on fast and efficient transfer of information made possible by structural connections. Convergence between FC and SC has been shown for specific networks, especially the default mode network (DMN). However, it is not known to what degree FC is constrained by major WM tracts and whether FC and SC change together over time. Here, 120 participants (20–85 years) were tested at two time points, separated by 3.3 years. Resting‐state fMRI was used to measure FC, and DWI to measure WM microstructure as an index of SC. TRACULA, part of FreeSurfer, was used for automated tractography of 18 major WM tracts. Cortical regions with tight structural couplings defined by tractography were only weakly related at the functional level. Certain regions of the DMN showed a modest relationship between change in FC and SC, but for the most part, the two measures changed independently. The main conclusions are that anatomical alignment of SC and FC seems restricted to specific networks and tracts, and that changes in SC and FC are not necessarily strongly correlated. Hum Brain Mapp 38:561–573, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transverse patterning, aging, and neuropsychological correlates in humans
Authors: Gracian Enrique I. , Osmon David C. , Mosack Katie E.
Published: September 2016

Transverse patterning is a learning and memory adaptation of the ‘rock/paper/scissors’ problem that has been though to depend on the hippocampus, is sensitive to aging, and requires pattern separation to solve. Previous investigators dichotomized cognitively normal older adults who passed a cognitive screening into impaired and unimpaired subsets, and found that impaired older adults were disproportionately deficient in pattern separation abilities. However, this variability in pattern separation ability has not been examined using a transverse patterning task. Our aims, then, were two‐fold: First, to determine if impaired older adults were inferior on transverse patterning compared to unimpaired older adults and young adults; second, to identify the neuropsychological correlates of transverse patterning. Our findings revealed that impaired older adults required more trials to criterion on the transverse patterning task than both young adults and unimpaired older adults. Unimpaired older adults also required more trials to criterion than young adults. A detailed analysis of the transverse patterning task confirmed that the aforementioned group differences were only observed in high interference conditions when pattern separation demands were at their peak. Finally, regression analyses showed that both memory and executive functioning neuropsychological composite scores were related to different indices of transverse patterning performance. Consistent with the pattern separation literature, and despite passing a cognitive screening, we found disproportionate transverse patterning deficits in impaired older adults. Forthcoming work should determine if transverse patterning performance is similar between impaired older adults and patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Normalizing GDNF expression in the spinal cord alleviates cutaneous hyperalgesia but not ongoing pain in a rat model of bone cancer pain
Authors: Ding Zhuofeng , Xu Wei , Zhang Jie , Zou Wangyuan , Guo Qulian , Huang Changsheng , Liu Chang , Zhong Tao , Zhang Jun‐Ming , Song Zongbin
Published: September 2016

Bone cancer pain (BCP) is the most common complication in patients with bone cancer. Glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is believed to be involved in chronic pain conditions. In this article, the expression and roles of GDNF were studied in a rat model of BCP induced by tibia injection of Walker 256 rat mammary gland carcinoma cells. Significant mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia and ongoing pain were observed beginning as early as day 5 post injection. The expression level of GDNF protein examined on day 16 after tibia injection was decreased in the L3 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and lumbar spinal cord, but not in other spinal levels or the anterior cingulate cortex. Phosphorylation of Ret, the receptor for GDNF family ligands, was also decreased. Furthermore, normalizing GDNF expression with lentiviral vector constructs in the spinal cord significantly reduced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, spinal glial activation, and pERK induction induced by tibia injection, but did not affect ongoing pain. Together these findings provide new evidence for the use of GDNF as a therapeutic treatment for bone cancer pain states.
Optimization and therapeutic effects of PDT mediated by ALA and MAL in the treatment of cutaneous malignant lesions: A comparative study
Authors: Lima Cassio Aparecido , Goulart Viviane Pereira , Bechara Etelvino Jose Henriques , Correa Luciana , Zezell Denise Maria
Published: September 2016

5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and its methylated ester (MAL) are the most common topical agents used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) as precursors of the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). The induction of newly PpIX depends on incubation time of each photosensitizer in the tissue and the presence of high intralesional porphyrin levels is an important parameter for the PDT effectiveness. This study used laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy to evaluate the optimum time to light exposure of PDT mediated by ALA (20% w/w) and MAL (10% w/w) to treat malignant lesions precursors of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma induced in mice. The therapeutic effects obtained by optimized ALA‐ and MAL‐PDT were assessed 10 and 20 days after treatments. Higher PpIX levels were evidenced in the lesions photosensitized by ALA than MAL and according to LIF measurements the PDT irradiation was performed, respectively, at 300 and 330 minutes after ALA and MAL incubation. Histopathological analysis evidenced necrosis and epithelial atrophy after 10 days of PDT using both prodrugs, as well as reepitelization and collagen deposition at 20 days. Thus, despite the distinct concentration of ALA and MAL used in the formulation of each photosensitizing cream, PDT mediated by both photosensitizing agents obtained similar therapeutic outcomes.

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3D perfusion bioreactor‐activated porous granules on implant fixation and early bone formation in sheep
Authors: Ding Ming , Henriksen Susan S. , Martinetti Roberta , Overgaard Søren
Published: September 2016

Early fixation of total joint arthroplasties is crucial for ensuring implant survival. An alternative bone graft material in revision surgery is needed to replace the current gold standard, allograft, seeing that the latter is associated with several disadvantages. The incubation of such a construct in a perfusion bioreactor has been shown to produce viable bone graft materials. This study aimed at producing larger amounts of viable bone graft material (hydroxyapatite 70% and β‐tricalcium‐phosphate 30%) in a novel perfusion bioreactor. The abilities of the bioreactor‐activated graft material to induce early implant fixation were tested in a bilateral implant defect model in sheep, with allograft as the control group. Defects were bilaterally created in the distal femurs of the animals, and titanium implants were inserted. The concentric gaps around the implants were randomly filled with either allograft, granules, granules with bone marrow aspirate or bioreactor‐activated graft material. Following an observation time of 6 weeks, early implant fixation and bone formation were assessed by micro‐CT scanning, mechanical testing, and histomorphometry. Bone formations were seen in all groups, while no significant differences between groups were found regarding early implant fixation. The microarchitecture of the bone formed by the synthetic graft materials resembled that of allograft. Histomorphometry revealed that allograft induced significantly more bone and less fibrous tissue (p < 0.05). In conclusion, bone formation was observed in all groups, while the bioreactor‐activated graft material did not reveal additional effects on early implant fixation comparable to allograft in this model. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 2465–2476, 2017.
Understanding the Association Between Negative Life Events and Suicidal Risk in College Students: Examining Self‐Compassion as a Potential Mediator
Authors: Chang Edward C. , Yu Tina , Najarian Alexandria S.‐M. , Wright Kaitlin M. , Chen Wenting , Chang Olivia D. , Du Yifeng , Hirsch Jameson K.
Published: September 2016

Objective

We tested a hypothesized model consistent with the notion that self‐compassion mediates the association between negative life events and suicidal risk (viz., depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors) in college students

Method

The sample was comprised of 331 college students. Self‐compassion facets (viz., self‐kindness, self‐judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and overidentification) were used in testing for multiple mediation, controlling for sex.

Results

Common humanity, mindfulness, and overidentification were found to mediate the association between negative life events (NLE) and depressive symptoms. However, common humanity was found to be the only mediator of the association between NLE and suicidal behaviors.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that there are specific facets of self‐compassion that account for the association between NLE and suicidal risk in college students and that (loss of) common humanity plays a central role in this process.
Budd‐chiari syndrome causing acute liver failure: A multicenter case series
Authors: Parekh Justin , Matei Vlad M. , Canas‐Coto Alejandro , Friedman Daniel , Lee William M. ,   the Acute Liver Failure Study Group
Published: September 2016

Budd‐Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare disease resulting from obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow tract that typically presents with abdominal pain, jaundice, and ascites without frank liver failure. However, BCS may also evolve more rapidly to acute liver failure (ALF). In this study, we describe the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of ALF due to BCS and compare our results with those in the published literature. Twenty of the 2344 patients enrolled in the Acute Liver Failure Study Group (ALFSG) registry since 1998 presented with a clinical diagnosis of BCS. An additional 19 patients of ALF‐BCS in the English language literature were reviewed and compared with the ALFSG cases. Most ALF‐BCS patients were white (84%) and female (84%) in their fourth decade. A hypercoagulable state was noted in 63% of patients. BCS was diagnosed by Doppler ultrasonography or abdominal computed tomography in all patients. Liver biopsies (n = 6) all had evidence of severe pericentral necrosis. Treatments used included most commonly anticoagulation (71%), but also transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS; 37%) and orthotopic liver transplantation (37%). In‐hospital mortality was approximately 60%. In conclusion, BCS is a rare cause of ALF and mandates prompt diagnosis and management for successful outcomes. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, prompt anticoagulation is recommended in conjunction with evaluation for malignancy or thrombophilic disorder. Mortality may have improved in recent years with use of TIPS and/or orthotopic liver transplantation compared with prior published reports. Liver Transplantation 23 135–142 2017 AASLD
Postpolymerization Modifications of Alkene‐Functional Polycarbonates for the Development of Advanced Materials Biomaterials
Authors: Thomas Anthony W. , Dove Andrew P.
Published: September 2016

Functional aliphatic polycarbonates have attracted significant attention as materials for use as biomedical polymers in recent years. The incorporation of pendent functionality offers a facile method of modifying materials postpolymerization, thus enabling functionalities not compatible with ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) to be introduced into the polymer. In particular, polycarbonates bearing alkene‐terminated functional groups have generated considerable interest as a result of their ease of synthesis, and the wide range of materials that can be obtained by performing simple postpolymerization modifications on this functionality, for example, through radical thiol‐ene addition, Michael addition, and epoxidation reactions. This review presents an in‐depth appraisal of the methods used to modify alkene‐functional polycarbonates postpolymerization, and the diversity of practical applications for which these materials and their derivatives have been used.

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From Macromolecular to Small‐Molecular Triggers: Facile Method toward Photoinduced LCST Phase Behavior of Thermoresponsive Polymers in Mixed Ionic Liquids Containing an Azobenzene Moiety
Authors: Wang Caihong , Ma Xiaofeng , Kitazawa Yuzo , Kobayashi Yumi , Zhang Shiguo , Kokubo Hisashi , Watanabe Masayoshi
Published: September 2016

Instead of the reported photoinduced lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition behavior in ionic liquids (ILs) achieved by photofunctional polymers, this study reports the facile photoinduced LCST phase behavior of nonfunctionalized polymers (poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PBnMA) and poly(2‐phenylethyl methacrylate) (PPhEtMA)) in mixed ILs (1,3‐dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide; [C1mim][NTf2] and a newly designed functionalized IL containing an azobenzene moiety (1‐butyl‐3‐(4‐phenylazobenzyl)imidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide; [Azo][NTf2])) as a small‐molecular photo trigger. Interestingly, the length of the alkyl spacer between the ester and aryl groups, which is the only structural difference between the two polymers, leads to two different photoresponsive LCST phase transition behaviors. On the basis of spectroscopic studies, the different phase transition behaviors of PBnMA and PPhEtMA may attribute to the different cooperative interactions between the polymers and [C1mim][NTf2].

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Novel common mode suppression network for the transformation of single‐ended to balanced filters
Authors: Peláez Johanny Escobar , Olvera‐Cervantes Jose Luis , Corona‐Chavez Alonso
Published: September 2016

A novel method to obtain balanced structures is introduced. The balanced behavior of a single‐ ended structure is achieved by combining two stages of the single‐ended device, by means of a new common mode suppression network (CMSN). As an example, a conventional single‐ended balanced bandpass filter (BPF) was designed, and then transformed into a balanced bandpass filter (BBPF). Around the design frequency, the differential mode (DM) of the balanced structure inherits the performance of the single‐ended filter, whist suppressing the common mode (CM) signals more than 20 dB. Additionally, the out‐of‐band response of the single‐ended filter is improved in the balanced prototype by attenuating the first spurious frequency from 0 dB to 20 dB. Good agreement between simulated and experimental results is obtained. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2831–2833, 2016
Optical fiber infrastructure in‐service monitoring by reflectometry mixing
Authors: Pereira João A. , Madureira Miguel , André Paulo S.
Published: September 2016

The monitoring of the optical fiber infrastructure, especially within the intra‐office range, is an essential practice for the maintenance of high quality of service. The majority of the commonly available monitoring techniques carries high complexity and/or costs or is not suited to permanent fiber fault examination. In this article, it is proposed a novel low‐cost monitoring technique based on the back reflection of the Raman pump signal. We demonstrate, experimentally and recurring to Monte‐Carlo numerical simulation, that the histogram profile of the photodiode current produced by the reflected signal depends on the number of reflective events occurring in the intra‐office fiber section. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2828–2830, 2016
Mobile antenna design based on controlling current distributions
Authors: Kim Min‐Gi , Qu Longyue , Moon Sungjin , Kim Hyeongdong
Published: September 2016

In this letter, an antenna design method based on control of current distribution is presented. By adjusting the current distributions using reactive elements, the antenna can couple differently with the ground plane, achieving different performances. When the antenna is located in the ground plane where the electric field is strong, monopole‐type current distributions are preferred to loop‐type current distributions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2937–2940, 2016
A study on performance improvement of RF transmitter IC using genetic algorithm
Authors: Isami Shodai , Kamata Takatsugu , Bae Jungnam , Tani Sadahiro , Wang Jun , Ohara Kenji , Matsuoka Toshimasa
Published: September 2016

In RF transmitter (TX) IC having an offset‐QPSK modulation scheme, a sine wave of the transmission signal represented by a 12‐bit digital code generated through the genetic algorithm reduces the I/Q imbalance and the intermodulation distortion in the analog circuit of the TX. It was experimentally confirmed by using test ICs fabricated in a 130‐nm CMOS process. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2905–2912, 2016
High gain long‐read range AMC‐backed tag antenna for european UHF RFID applications
Authors: Hamzaoui Dahbia , Djahli Farid , Vuong Tan‐Phu , Quynh Van Hoang Thi , Kiani Ghaffer
Published: September 2016

A high gain long‐read range metamaterial tag antenna for European UHF RFID applications is proposed and analyzed. It consists of a meander dipole tag antenna backed by a spiral shaped artificial magnetic conductor to increase the tag gain and hence its reading distance. A realized gain of 6.39 dB is achieved, with a total efficiency of 90% at 868 MHz. The overall structure size is (0.59λ0 mm × 0.289 λ0 mm × 0.065 λ0 mm). Three measurement scenarios are considered: in an anechoic chamber, laboratory corridor, and outdoor. A maximum reading range of 35 m is achieved outdoor and up to 46 m in corridor with no degradation when mounted onto a metal sheet. Moreover, the minimum activation power of the tag when attached to the metal surface is half the one when mounted alone. Furthermore, the via‐less structure is low cost and easy to fabricate. It is suitable for applications where the tag profile is not a critical parameter such as moving vehicles, road tolls, railroad cars, parking garages, aircraft, and cargo containers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2944–2948, 2016
15 GHz grid array antenna for 5G mobile communications system
Authors: Sani Yahya Muhammad , Rahim S.K.A.
Published: September 2016

A compact grid array antenna implemented using FR4 substrate for 5G Mobile Communications at 15 GHz is presented. The antenna with dimensions of 49 mm × 58 mm × 1.6 mm has 23 radiating elements to provide high gain. It is excited using coaxial feeding technique. Measurement of the fabricated prototype for the simulated antenna was carried out. Both measured and simulated results agree with each other. The measured result shows that the antenna has achieved an impedance bandwidth of 14% from 13.8 GHz to 15.9 GHz with a gain of 14.4 dBi at 15.9 GHz. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2977–2980, 2016
Multiple‐mode‐based four‐way filtering‐response power divider with wide stopband and high fabrication tolerance
Authors: Song Kaijun , Li Xiaoyan , Fan Maoyu , Mo Yuxia , Fan Yong
Published: September 2016

A multiple‐mode‐based four‐way filtering‐response power divider with wide stopband and high fabrication tolerance is presented. The bandpass‐filtering response is implemented by using the cross shaped resonators. The direct coupling can make the divider have high fabrication tolerance. The equivalent even‐ and odd‐mode circuits of the power divider are analyzed and the design equations are derived. Finally, a 4‐way power divider is designed and fabricated. Simulated results are well confirmed by experiments. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2993–2996, 2016
Physical characterization using diffusion NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Zubkov Mikhail , Dennis Gary R. , Stait‐Gardner Tim , Torres Allan M. , Willis Scott A. , Zheng Gang , Price William S.
Published: September 2016

NMR diffusion measurements (or dNMR) provide a powerful tool for analysis of solution organization and microgeometry of the environment by probing random molecular motion. Being a very versatile method, dNMR can be applied to a large variety of samples and systems. Here, a brief introduction into dNMR and a summary of recent advances in the field are presented. The research topics include restricted diffusion, anisotropic diffusion, polymer dynamics, solution structuring and dNMR method development. The dNMR studied systems include plants, cells (cell models), liquid crystals, polymer solutions, ionic liquids, supercooled solutions, untreated water, amino acid solutions and more. It is demonstrated how a variety of dNMR methods can be applied to a system to extract the data on particular structures present among, formed by or surrounding the diffusing particles. It is also demonstrated how dNMR methods can be developed to allow probing larger geometries, low sample concentrations and faster processes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reduced field‐of‐view DWI with robust fat suppression and unrestricted slice coverage using tilted 2DRF excitation
Authors: Banerjee Suchandrima , Nishimura Dwight G. , Shankaranarayanan Ajit , Saritas Emine Ulku
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Reduced field‐of‐view (rFOV) diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) using 2D echo‐planar radiofrequency (2DRF) excitation has been widely and successfully applied in clinical settings. The purpose of this work is to further improve its clinical utility by overcoming slice coverage limitations without any scan time penalty while providing robust fat suppression.

Theory and Methods

During multislice imaging with 2DRF pulses, periodic sidelobes in the slice direction cause partial saturation, limiting the slice coverage. In this work, a tilting of the excitation plane is proposed to push the sidelobes out of the imaging section while preserving robust fat suppression. The 2DRF pulse is designed using Shinnar‐Le Roux algorithm on a rotated excitation k‐space. The performance of the method is validated via simulations, phantom experiments, and high in‐plane resolution in vivo DWI of the spinal cord.

Results

Results show that rFOV DWI using the tilted 2DRF pulse provides increased signal‐to‐noise ratio, extended coverage, and robust fat suppression, without any scan time penalty.

Conclusion

Using a tilted 2DRF excitation, a high‐resolution rFOV DWI method with robust fat suppression and unrestricted slice coverage is presented. This method will be beneficial in clinical applications needing large slice coverage, for example, axial imaging of the spine, prostate, or breast. Magn Reson Med 76:1668–1676, 2016. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Delay discounting and utility for money or weight loss
Authors: Sze Y. Y. , Slaven E. M. , Bickel W. K. , Epstein L. H.
Published: September 2016

Objective

Obesity is related to a bias towards smaller immediate over larger delayed rewards. This bias is typically examined by studying single commodity discounting. However, weight loss often involves choices among multiple commodities. To our knowledge, no research has examined delay discounting of delayed weight loss compared with other commodities.

Methods

We examined single commodity discounting of money and cross commodity discounting of money and weight loss in a sample of 84 adults with obesity or overweight statuses interested in weight loss. The exchange rate between money and weight loss was calculated, and participants completed two delay discounting tasks: money now versus money later and money now versus weight loss later.

Results

Participants discounted weight loss more than money (p < 0.001). When participants were divided into those who preferred weight loss (n = 61) versus money (n = 23), those who preferred money over weight loss discounted weight loss even more than individuals that preferred weight loss (p = 0.003).

Conclusions

Greater discounting of weight loss for those who preferred money suggest that idiosyncratic preferences are related to multiple commodity discounting, and greater discounting of weight loss across all participants provide insight on important challenges for weight control.
Measurement of hepatic insulin sensitivity early after the bypass of the proximal small bowel in humans
Authors: Miras A. D. , Herring R. , Vusirikala A. , Shojaee‐Moradi F. , Jackson N. C. , Chandaria S. , Jackson S. N. , Goldstone A. P. , Hakim N. , Patel A. G. , Umpleby A. M. , Le Roux C. W.
Published: September 2016

Objective

Unlike gastric banding or sleeve gastrectomy procedures, intestinal bypass procedures, Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass in particular, lead to rapid improvements in glycaemia early after surgery. The bypass of the proximal small bowel may have weight loss and even caloric restriction‐independent glucose‐lowering properties on hepatic insulin sensitivity. In this first human mechanistic study, we examined this hypothesis by investigating the early effects of the duodeno‐jejunal bypass liner (DJBL; GI Dynamics, USA) on the hepatic insulin sensitivity by using the gold standard euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp methodology.

Method

Seven patients with obesity underwent measurement of hepatic insulin sensitivity at baseline, 1 week after a low‐calorie liquid diet and after a further 1 week following insertion of the DJBL whilst on the same diet.

Results

Duodeno‐jejunal bypass liner did not improve the insulin sensitivity of hepatic glucose production beyond the improvements achieved with caloric restriction.

Conclusions

Caloric restriction may be the predominant driver of early increases in hepatic insulin sensitivity after the endoscopic bypass of the proximal small bowel. The same mechanism may be at play after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass and explain, at least in part, the rapid improvements in glycaemia.
Madhya Pradesh Housing & Infrastructure Development Board: affordable housing via public–private partnership mode
Authors: Nidugala Ganesh Kumar , Shukla Rashmi
Published: September 2016

The Madhya Pradesh Housing & Infrastructure Development Board (MPHIDB) is a state‐owned entity in Madhya Pradesh State of India with the mandate of providing housing for citizens, particularly for those in the low‐income segment. MPHIDB has been constructing houses on its own using the traditional engineering and procurement contract (EPC) model. In July 2015, it was exploring the possibility of creating affordable housing units via public–private partnership (PPP). The advantage of involving private sector is that MPHIDB can tap into creative energy and construction efficiency of the private sector and deliver the best results within the given set of time and resource constraints. The proposed structure of PPP is that the private partner will be given a portion of land in lieu of the affordable housing units that it will build and transfer to MPHIDB. However, there are trade‐offs involved in doing the project in PPP mode instead of EPC mode. The main advantages of a government body like MPHDIB doing the project on its own are as follows: (a) It is able to better manage regulatory risks in terms of getting clearances, land acquisition, and so forth; (b) it can raise finances at lower interest rates than what is charged for private sector entities; and (c) the entire land parcel is available to construct houses, and hence it can get more housing units per unit of land. The Commissioner (CEO) of MPHIDB had to decide whether to go for PPP or EPC model, and if he opted for PPP, how should the PPP be structured?
No effect of Bt‐transgenic rice litter on the meiobenthos community in field ditches
Authors: Liu Yongbo , Jiang Wanxiang , Liang Yuyong , Zhao Caiyun , Li Junsheng
Published: September 2016

BACKGROUND

The non‐target effect of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins in aquatic ecosystems is crucial to improve the present assessment of Bt‐transgenic plants, particularly where crops are cultivated near aquatic ecosystems. We conducted decomposition experiments during two growing seasons to determine the effects of Bt‐transgenic rice litter with and without insecticide application on the meiobenthos communities in a field ditch.

RESULTS

The community composition of meiobenthos colonised on leaf litter was not significantly different between Bt and non‐Bt rice. The abundance of meiobenthos colonising leaves differed between insecticide application and control, and this insecticide effect interacted with rice type. No Bt toxin was detected in field ditch water. Leaf decomposition and nutrient content were comparable for both Bt and non‐Bt rice with or without insecticide application.

CONCLUSION

Bt‐transgenic rice litter had no effect on the meiobenthos community composition in field ditches, but the chronic persistence of transgenic litter in nature needs to be taken into account at large scales in aquatic ecosystems. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of bending on the molecular transport along carbon nanotubes
Authors: Rahman M. M. , Chowdhury M. M. , Rosul M. G. , Alam M. K.
Published: September 2016

The effect of bending on the molecular transport and oscillation of carbon nanotube–fullerene‐based systems is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. It is known that single‐walled carbon nanotubes demonstrate gradual buckling phenomenon under bending strain. In this work, we investigate the limit of bending curvature for successful transport of fullerene along a carbon nanotube for nanotube–fullerene‐based systems. We also analyze the behavior of nanotube transport through another nanotube for nanotube–nanotube‐based systems. The dependence of transport characteristics on the atomicity of the inner nanotube is also investigated in this regard. In addition, the effect of the outer nanotube's diameter and surface smoothness on the oscillation stability in relation to the oscillation property of the inner molecules has been studied for both systems.
Structural, mechanical, electronic, and thermodynamic properties of dense B3N4 under high pressure predicted from first principles
Authors: Mao Xiao‐Chun , Liu Ke , Hou Bao‐Sen , Tan Jiao , Zhou Xiao‐Lin
Published: September 2016

Five dense B3N4 structures are established by substitution of C atoms with B atoms in the five hypothetical dense C3N4 phases. The structural, elastic, and electronic properties of the five B3N4 polymorphs are investigated through the first‐principles calculations. Our calculations indicate that c‐B3N4 is energetically favorable in the five structures. Through the calculations of formation enthalpy, we conclude that the B3N4 polymorphs are thermodynamically stable at zero pressure except for the cs‐B3N4. The elastic moduli of the five B3N4 polymorphs are calculated using the Voigt–Reuss–Hill approximation. The calculated bulk modulus of cs‐B3N4 (337 GPa) is the highest of them. The c‐B3N4, with shear modulus of 248 GPa, might be a potentially ultra incompressible and hard material. By the elastic stability criteria, it is predicted that the cs‐B3N4, c‐B3N4, and p‐B3N4 are mechanically stable within 100 GPa, while the β‐B3N4 and α‐B3N4 become mechanically unstable when pressure increases to 30 and 80 GPa, respectively. The calculated B/G ratios indicate that cs‐B3N4 and p‐B3N4 possess a ductile nature within 100 GPa. The c‐B3N4 possess a brittle nature at 0 GPa, as it begins to be prone to ductility, when the pressure increases to 90 GPa. The calculated band structures and densities of states show that all the five B3N4 phases are insulative. Through the quasiharmonic Debye model, we also investigated the thermodynamic properties of these B3N4 polymorphs.
Bandgap engineering in semiconducting one to few layers of SnS and SnSe
Authors: Deb Arpan Krishna , Kumar Vijay
Published: September 2016

Ab initio calculations on one, two, and three layers of SnS and SnSe compound semiconductors show that they all have indirect band gap similar to bulk and it varies in the range of ∼0.5–1.6 eV within the generalized gradient approximation due to quantum confinement as well as structural relaxations. In two‐dimensional structures, the difference between the direct and the indirect band gap is very low and in the case of a SnS bilayer, this difference is minimum. Further, the band gaps calculated with HSE06 functional are in good agreement with the experimental results available for bulk and single layer. The total and projected densities of states show that the top of the valence band arises from the hybridization of Sn 5s and chalcogen p valence orbitals while the bottom of the conduction band has predominantly Sn 5p character. The effective mass of electrons and holes are found to be small. These features are similar to the recently discovered perovskite materials for photovoltaics with high efficiency and suggest that SnS and SnSe layered materials are also promising for photovoltaics. Further calculations on bulk and layers of GeS and GeSe are reported and the results are compared with those of SnS and SnSe structures.
Depurated inversion method for orbital‐specific exchange potentials
Authors: Mendez Alejandra M. P. , Mitnik Darío M. , Miraglia Jorge E.
Published: September 2016

This work presents exchange potentials for specific orbitals calculated by inverting Hartree–Fock wavefunctions. This was achieved by using a Depurated Inversion Method. The basic idea of the method relies on the substitution of Hartree–Fock orbitals and eigenvalues into the Kohn–Sham equation. Through inversion, the corresponding effective potentials were obtained. Further treatment of the inverted potential should be carried on. The depuration is a careful optimization which eliminates the poles and also ensures the fullfilment of the appropriate boundary conditions. The procedure developed here is not restricted to the ground state or to a nodeless orbital and is applicable to all kinds of atoms. As an example, exchange potentials for noble gases and term‐dependent orbitals of the lower configuration of Nitrogen are calculated. The method allows to reproduce the input energies and wavefunctions with a remarkable degree of accuracy.
Did university's public statement about coach's dismissal violate his rights?
Authors: Gelpi Aileen
Published: September 2016

Penn State hired Emmanuil Kaidanov in 1982 as a fencing coach pursuant to a contract that was renewed annually.
Itaconic Acid as an Environmentally Benign Catalyst in Efficient and Scalable Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones
Authors: Quadri Syed Aziz Imam , Das Tonmoy C , Malik M. Shaheer , Seddigi Zaki Shakir , Farooqui Mazahar
Published: September 2016

An environmentally benign, efficient and scalable approach for the synthesis of 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐(1H)‐ones (DHPMs) is reported. The multi component one‐pot reaction is catalysed by either itaconic acid or its salt, which are non‐hazardous, readily available, mild and biodegradable with a simple workup procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of itaconic acid as a catalyst in organic transformation. Diverse and new challenging DHPMs have been synthesized using this methodology in excellent yields and in addition the practicality of the method is demonstrated on multi gram level.
Continuous Production of Discrete Plasmid DNA‐Polycation Nanoparticles Using Flash Nanocomplexation
Authors: Santos Jose Luis , Ren Yong , Vandermark John , Archang Maani M. , Williford John‐Michael , Liu Heng‐Wen , Lee Jason , Wang Tza‐Huei , Mao Hai‐Quan
Published: September 2016

Despite successful demonstration of linear polyethyleneimine (lPEI) as an effective carrier for a wide range of gene medicine, including DNA plasmids, small interfering RNAs, mRNAs, etc., and continuous improvement of the physical properties and biological performance of the polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles prepared from lPEI and nucleic acids, there still exist major challenges to produce these nanocomplexes in a scalable manner, particularly for lPEI/DNA nanoparticles. This has significantly hindered the progress toward clinical translation of these nanoparticle‐based gene medicine. Here the authors report a flash nanocomplexation (FNC) method that achieves continuous production of lPEI/plasmid DNA nanoparticles with narrow size distribution using a confined impinging jet device. The method involves the complex coacervation of negatively charged DNA plasmid and positive charged lPEI under rapid, highly dynamic, and homogeneous mixing conditions, producing polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles with narrow distribution of particle size and shape. The average number of plasmid DNA packaged per nanoparticles and its distribution are similar between the FNC method and the small‐scale batch mixing method. In addition, the nanoparticles prepared by these two methods exhibit similar cell transfection efficiency. These results confirm that FNC is an effective and scalable method that can produce well‐controlled lPEI/plasmid DNA nanoparticles.
Traditional marijuana, high‐potency cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids: increasing risk for psychosis
Authors: Murray Robin M. , Quigley Harriet , Quattrone Diego , Englund Amir , Di Forti Marta
Published: September 2016

Epidemiological evidence demonstrates that cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of psychotic outcomes, and confirms a dose‐response relationship between the level of use and the risk of later psychosis. High‐potency cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids carry the greatest risk. Experimental administration of tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient of cannabis, induces transient psychosis in normal subjects, but this effect can be ameliorated by co‐administration of cannabidiol. This latter is a constituent of traditional hashish, but is largely absent from modern high‐potency forms of cannabis. Argument continues over the extent to which genetic predisposition is correlated to, or interacts with, cannabis use, and what proportion of psychosis could be prevented by minimizing heavy use. As yet, there is not convincing evidence that cannabis use increases risk of other psychiatric disorders, but there are no such doubts concerning its detrimental effect on cognitive function. All of the negative aspects are magnified if use starts in early adolescence. Irrespective of whether use of cannabis is decriminalized or legalized, the evidence that it is a component cause of psychosis is now sufficient for public health messages outlining the risk, especially of regular use of high‐potency cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids.