bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fibrous‐Structured Freestanding Electrodes for Oxygen Electrocatalysis
Authors: Jiang Shan , Li Jingliang , Fang Jian , Wang Xungai
Published: December 2019

Electrocatalysts used for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions are critical materials in many renewable‐energy devices, such as rechargeable metal–air batteries, regenerative fuel cells, and water‐splitting systems. Compared with conventional electrodes made from catalyst powders, oxygen electrodes with a freestanding architecture are highly desirable because of their binder‐free fabrication and effective elimination of catalyst agglomeration. Among all freestanding electrode structures that have been investigated so far, fibrous materials exhibit many unique advantages, such as a wide range of available fibers, low material and material‐processing costs, large specific surface area, highly porous structure, and simplicity of fiber functionalization. Recent advances in the use of fibrous structures for freestanding electrocatalytic oxygen electrodes are summarized, including electrospun nanofibers, bacterial cellulose, cellulose fibrous structures, carbon clothes/papers, metal nanowires, and metal meshes. After detailed discussion of common techniques for oxygen electrode evaluation, freestanding electrode fabrication, and their electrocatalytic performance, current challenges and future prospects are also presented for future development.
A Two Competing Substrates Michaelis–Menten Kinetics Scheme for the Analysis of In Vitro Starch Digestograms
Authors: Meraz Monica , Alvarez‐Ramirez Jose , Vernon‐Carter E. Jaime , Reyes Isabel , Hernandez‐Jaimes Carmen , Martinez‐Martinez Filiberto
Published: December 2019

Progress curves of enzymatic hydrolysis are commonly used for gaining insights on the structure and functionality of native and modified starch. Commonly, heuristic models (e.g., first‐order kinetics) are used to fit the experimental data. Models derived from kinetics schemes provide valuable insights on the digestibility properties of starch. In this work, a two competing substrates Michaelis–Menten scheme with enzyme inhibition by‐products is used for developing a structured model for enzymatic hydrolysis of starch dispersions. The resulting nonlinear model can provide estimates of the hydrolysis dynamics of rapidly and slowly digested starch fractions. The estimation of parameters is carried out by the numerical solution of a least‐squares problem, and illustrated with the hydrolysis by α‐amylase of gelatinized corn starch dispersions.
Intra-articular venous malformation of the knee in children: magnetic resonance imaging findings and significance of synovial involvement
Authors: Mattila Katariina A. , Aronniemi Johanna , Salminen Päivi , Rintala Risto J. , Kyrklund Kristiina
Published: December 2019

Background

Intra-articular venous malformations of the knee are an uncommon cause of unilateral knee pain in children. Timely diagnosis is important because lesions with intrasynovial involvement can lead to joint space hemorrhage and secondary cartilage damage.

Objective

To describe our tertiary center’s experience of diagnostics and typical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

Materials and methods

A retrospective review of all patients ≤16 years of age managed for intra-articular venous malformations of the knee at our institution between 2002 and 2018.

Results

Of 14 patients (8 male), the mean age at presentation was 6 years (range: 0–14 years). The most common clinical findings were unilateral knee pain (93%), joint swelling (79%), quadriceps atrophy (50%) and a limited range of motion (29%). Cutaneous manifestations were present in four patients (29%). Contrast-enhanced MRI was available in all cases. After initial MRI, a vascular anomaly etiology had been identified in 11 cases (79%), and correctly reported as a venous malformation in 6 (55%). Three patients received entirely different diagnoses (arthritis, tumor or pigmented villonodular synovitis). Three of seven patients with intrasynovial lesions had established chondropathy at diagnosis. Two patients with lesions of the suprapatellar fat pad had intrasynovial involvement that was not visualised on MRI.

Conclusion

Although MRI usually permits the diagnosis, clinical awareness of these lesions is important for optimal imaging, accurate interpretation and timely diagnosis. Involvement of the intrasynovial cavity carries a risk of hemarthrosis and progressive chondropathy that may be underestimated by MRI.
Policy and Practice Certainty for Effective Uptake of Diffuse Pollution Practices in A Light-Touch Regulated Country
Authors: Knook Jorie , Dynes Robyn , Pinxterhuis Ina , de Klein Cecile A. M. , Eory Vera , Brander Matthew , Moran Dominic
Published: December 2019

Although the link between agriculture and diffuse water pollution has been understood for decades, there is still a need to implement effective measures to address this issue. In countries with light-touch regulation, such as New Zealand and Australia, most efforts to promote environmental management practices have relied on voluntary initiatives such as participatory research and extension programmes; the success of which is largely dependent on farmers’ willingness and ability to adopt these practices. Increased understanding of the factors influencing farmer decision-making in this area would aid the promotion of effective advisory services. This study provides insights from 52 qualitative interviews with farmers and from observations of nine farmer meetings and field days. We qualitatively identify factors that influence farmer decision-making regarding the voluntary uptake of water quality practices and develop a typology for categorising farmers according to the factors that influence their decision-making. We find that in light-touch regulated countries certainty around policy and also around the effectiveness of practices is essential, particularly for farmers who delay action until compelled to act due to succession or regulation. The contribution of this paper is threefold: (i) it identifies factors influencing decision-making around the uptake of water quality practices in a light-touch regulated country; (ii) it develops a typology of different farmer types; and (iii) it provides recommendations on policy approaches for countries with light-touch regulation, which has potential relevance for any countries facing changes regarding their agricultural policy, such as post-Brexit policy in the UK.
The four-minute approach revisited: accelerating MRI-based multi-factorial age estimation
Authors: Neumayer Bernhard , Lesch Andreas , Thaler Franz , Widek Thomas , Tschauner Sebastian , De Tobel Jannick , Ehammer Thomas , Kirnbauer Barbara , Boldt Julian , van Wijk Mayonne , Stollberger Rudolf , Urschler Martin
Published: December 2019

Objectives

This feasibility study aimed to investigate the reliability of multi-factorial age estimation based on MR data of the hand, wisdom teeth and the clavicles with reduced acquisition time.

Methods

The raw MR data of 34 volunteers—acquired on a 3T system and using acquisition times (TA) of 3:46 min (hand), 5:29 min (clavicles) and 10:46 min (teeth)—were retrospectively undersampled applying the commercially available CAIPIRINHA technique. Automatic and radiological age estimation methods were applied to the original image data as well as undersampled data to investigate the reliability of age estimates with decreasing acquisition time. Reliability was investigated determining standard deviation (SSD) and mean (MSD) of signed differences, intra-class correlation (ICC) and by performing Bland-Altman analysis.

Results

Automatic age estimation generally showed very high reliability (SSD < 0.90 years) even for very short acquisition times (SSD ≈ 0.20 years for a total TA of 4 min). Radiological age estimation provided highly reliable results for images of the hand (ICC ≥ 0.96) and the teeth (ICC ≥ 0.79) for short acquisition times (TA = 16 s for the hand, TA = 2:21 min for the teeth), imaging data of the clavicles allowed for moderate acceleration (TA = 1:25 min, ICC ≥ 0.71).

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that reliable multi-factorial age estimation based on MRI of the hand, wisdom teeth and the clavicles can be performed using images acquired with a total acquisition time of 4 min.
Formation and degradation of lipid droplets in human adipocytes and the expression of aldehyde oxidase (AOX)
Authors: Heid Hans , Zimbelmann Ralf , Dörflinger Yvette , Rickelt Steffen
Published: December 2019

Lipid droplet (LD) binding proteins in mammary glands and in adipocytes were previously compared and striking similar sets of these specific proteins demonstrated. Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) together with perilipins and the lactating mammary gland protein butyrophilin play an important role in the secretion process of LDs into milk ducts. In contrast, in adipose tissue and in adipocytes, mainly perilipins have been described. Moreover, XOR was reported in mouse adipose tissue and adipocyte culture cells as “novel regulator of adipogenesis”. This obvious coincidence of protein sets prompted us to revisit the formation of LDs in human-cultured adipocytes in more detail with special emphasis on the possibility of a LD association of XOR. We demonstrate by electron and immunoelectron microscopy new structural details on LD formation in adipocytes. Surprisingly, by immunological and proteomic analysis, we identify in contrast to previous data showing the enzyme XOR, predominantly the expression of aldehyde oxidase (AOX). AOX could be detected tightly linked to LDs when adipocytes were treated with starvation medium. In addition, the majority of cells show an enormous interconnected, tubulated mitochondria network. Here, we discuss that (1) XOR is involved—together with perilipins—in the secretion of LDs in alveolar epithelial cells of the lactating mammary gland and is important in the transcytosis pathway of capillary endothelial cells. (2) In cells, where LDs are not secreted, XOR cannot be detected at the protein level, whereas in contrast in these cases, AOX is often present. We detect AOX in adipocytes together with perilipins and find evidence that these proteins might direct LDs to mitochondria. Finally, we here report for the first time the exclusive and complementary localization of XOR and AOX in diverse cell types.
Disk Cluster Allocation Behavior in Windows and NTFS
Authors: Karresand Martin , Axelsson Stefan , Dyrkolbotn Geir Olav
Published: December 2019

The allocation algorithm of a file system has a huge impact on almost all aspects of digital forensics, because it determines where data is placed on storage media. Yet there is only basic information available on the allocation algorithm of the currently most widely spread file system; NTFS. We have therefore studied the NTFS allocation algorithm and its behavior empirically. To do that we used two virtual machines running Windows 7 and 10 on NTFS formatted fixed size virtual hard disks, the first being 64 GiB and the latter 1 TiB in size. Files of different sizes were written to disk using two writing strategies and the $Bitmap files were manipulated to emulate file system fragmentation. Our results show that files written as one large block are allocated areas of decreasing size when the files are fragmented. The decrease in size is seen not only within files, but also between them. Hence a file having smaller fragments than another file is written after the file having larger fragments. We also found that a file written as a stream gets the opposite allocation behavior, i. e. its fragments are increasing in size as the file is written. The first allocated unit of a stream written file is always very small and hence easy to identify. The results of the experiment are of importance to the digital forensics field and will help improve the efficiency of for example file carving and timestamp verification.
Linking renewables and fossil fuels with carbon capture via energy storage for a sustainable energy future
Authors: Hanak Dawid P. , Manovic Vasilije
Published: December 2019

Renewable energy sources and low-carbon power generation systems with carbon capture and storage (CCS) are expected to be key contributors towards the decarbonisation of the energy sector and to ensure sustainable energy supply in the future. However, the variable nature of wind and solar power generation systems may affect the operation of the electricity system grid. Deployment of energy storage is expected to increase grid stability and renewable energy utilisation. The power sector of the future, therefore, needs to seek a synergy between renewable energy sources and low-carbon fossil fuel power generation. This can be achieved via wide deployment of CCS linked with energy storage. Interestingly, recent progress in both the CCS and energy storage fields reveals that technologies such as calcium looping are technically viable and promising options in both cases. Novel integrated systems can be achieved by integrating these applications into CCS with inherent energy storage capacity, as well as linking other CCS technologies with renewable energy sources via energy storage technologies, which will maximise the profit from electricity production, mitigate efficiency and economic penalties related to CCS, and improve renewable energy utilisation.
Still Controversial: Early Detection and Screening for Breast Cancer in Brazil, 1950–2010s
Authors: Teixeira Luiz Antonio da Silva , Araújo Neto Luiz Alves
Published: December 2019

Mammographic screening for breast cancer is a widely used public health approach, but is constantly a subject of controversy. Medical and historical research on this topic has been mainly conducted in Western Europe and North America. In Brazil, screening mammography has been an open topic of discussion and a challenge for health care and public health since the 1970s. Effectively, Brazilian public health agencies never implemented a nationwide population-based screening programme for breast cancer, despite the pressures of many specific groups such as advocacy associations and the implementation of local programmes. This article examines the complex process of incorporating mammography as a diagnostic tool and the debates towards implementing screening programmes in Brazil. We argue that debates about screening for breast malignancies, especially those conducted in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, took place in a context of change and uncertainty in the Brazilian health field. These discussions were strongly affected both by tensions between the public and the private health care sectors during the formative period of a new Brazilian health system, and by the growing role of civil society actors. Our study investigates these tensions and their consequences. We use several medical sources that discussed the topic in Brazil, mainly specialised leading oncology journals published between 1950 and 2017, medical congress reports for the same period, books and theses, institutional documents and oral testimonies of health professionals, patients and associations collected in the framework of the ‘The History of Cancer’ project from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and Brazilian National Cancer Institute.
The history of theJournal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdomand the influence of the publication on marine research
Authors: Dando Paul R. , Southward Eve C.
Published: December 2019

The origin and development of theJournal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdomis described on the occasion of the publication of the 100th volume. Papers in the Journal demonstrate how the techniques and approaches to the study of the marine environment have evolved over the 120 years of publication. The early papers provided a baseline description of the marine environment and of marine communities that allowed the effects of later perturbations of the environment to be determined. Both the early papers and the long time series of records have proved to be particularly relevant as marine scientists try to predict the long-term results of climatic and anthropogenic effects on the marine ecosystem. The Journal has now become increasingly international, with most papers coming from outside Europe.
The average speed of motion and optimal power consumption in biped robots
Authors: Shams Esfanabadi Vida , Rostami Mostafa , Rahmati Seyed Mohammadali , Baltes Jacky , Sadeghnejad Soroush
Published: December 2019

One of the issues that have garnered little attention, but that is nevertheless important for developing practical robots, is optimal walking conditions like power consumption during walking. The main contribution of this research is to prepare a correct walking pattern for humans who have a problem with their walking and also study the effect of average motion speed on optimal power consumption. In this study, we firstly optimize the stability and minimize the power consumption of the robot during the single support phase using parameter optimization. Our approach is based on the well-known Zero Moment Point method to calculate the stability of the proposed biped robot. Secondly, we performed experiments on healthy male, age 29 years, to analyze human walking by placing 28 markers, attached to anatomical positions and two power plates for a distance of more than one gait cycle at an average speed of 1.23 ± 0.1 m s−1validate our results for motion analysis of correct walking ability. Our model was continuously validated by comparing the results of our empirical evaluation against the prediction of our model. The errors between experimental test and our prediction were about 4%–11% for the joint trajectories and about 0.2%–0.5% for the ground reaction forces which is acceptable for our prediction. Due to the presented model and optimized issue and predicted path, the robot can move like a person in a way that has maximum stability along with the minimum power consumption. Finally, the robot was able to walk like a specific person that we considered. This study is a case study and also can be generalized to all samples and can perform these procedures to another person’s with different features.
An overview of jail-based competency restoration
Authors: Kirkorsky Scott E. , Gable Mary , Warburton Katherine
Published: December 2019

Forensic populations in the United States are increasing, driven largely by a rise in individuals determined to be Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST). Across most states, including California, the number of mentally ill inmates awaiting competency restoration has increased dramatically in recent years. Traditionally, competency restoration has taken place in state hospitals, but incompetent inmates often experience a significant wait for state hospital beds because of the rising demand for beds in such facilities. The resulting waitlists, which range from days to months, have led to states being held in contempt of court for violating limits placed on how long incompetent defendants can be held in jail. Therefore, alternatives to state hospitalization for IST patients have been developed, including jail-based competency (JBCT) restoration programs. JBCT programs provide restoration services in county jails, rather than in psychiatric hospitals. The following article will review the nature of JBCT programs and will emphasize the structure and evolution of such programs within California.
Validierung des Adaptiven Tests des Emotionswissens für drei- bis neunjährige Kinder (ATEM 3 – 9)
Authors: Voltmer Katharina
Published: December 2019

Zusammenfassung. Das Emotionswissen von Kindern umfasst neben dem Ablesen von Emotionen aus Gesichtern anderer Menschen auch das Erkennen von externalen und internalen Ursachen von Emotionen sowie das Wissen über ihre Konsequenzen und Regulationsmöglichkeiten. Im deutschsprachigen Raum gibt es bisher kein Testverfahren, welches das Emotionswissen auf diese Weise differenziert und gleichzeitig reliabel und valide erfasst. Mit dem Adaptiven Test des Emotionswissens (ATEM) wird diese Lücke geschlossen. Der ATEM fragt in einem adaptiven Design 6 Teilaspekte des Emotionswissens ab, wobei die 32 Items in eine kinderfreundliche Geschichte eingebettet sind. Der nach der Item-Response-Theorie aufgebaute Test zeigt mit einer Gesamtstichprobe von N = 581 Kindern im Alter zwischen 3 und 9 Jahren gute psychometrische Eigenschaften. In einer Substichprobe von n = 254 Kindern im Alter zwischen 3 und 5 Jahren wurde der ATEM anhand von Korrelationen mit verschiedenen Variablen validiert. Insgesamt eignet sich der ATEM gut zur differenzierten Messung des Emotionswissens bei Kindern.
Mars's Twilight Cloud Band: A New Cloud Feature Seen During the Mars Year 34 Global Dust Storm
Authors: Connour Kyle , Schneider Nicholas M. , Milby Zachariah , Forget François , Alhosani Mohamed , Spiga Aymeric , Millour Ehouarn , Lefèvre Franck , Deighan Justin , Jain Sonal K. , Wolff Michael J.
Published: December 2019

We report a new water‐ice cloud feature observed during the Mars year 34 global dust storm: twilight cloud bands that routinely formed just past the evening terminator. We use images taken by the MAVEN/IUVS instrument. These bands were often latitudinally continuous, spanning over 6,000 km and were present between 18:00 and 19:00 local time. They were present for nearly the entire time IUVS imaged the evening terminator and often reached altitudes of at least 40 to 50 km during the mature phase of the storm. We compare these observations to LMD global climate model simulations. The simulations generally contain the temporal and spatial extents of the bands seen in IUVS data throughout the storm, but there are some discrepancies. We infer that these clouds formed as a result of semidiurnal thermal tides.
Retrieving True Plasma Characteristics from Langmuir Probes Immersed in the Spacecraft Sheath: The Double Hemispherical Probe Technique
Authors: Samaniego Joseph I. , Wang Xu
Published: December 2019

Langmuir probes have been widely used for in situ measurements of ambient plasma in space. However, in situations where the Debye sheath is relatively large (e.g., planetary magnetospheres and solar wind plasma), probes with a limited boom length have a risk of being engulfed by the sheath of the spacecraft (SC) as indicated in previous missions, causing errors in derived plasma parameters. Here we present a double hemispherical probe (DHP) technique which is able to identify whether the probe is in the SC sheath and retrieve true plasma parameters. The DHP consists of two hemispheres that are installed back‐to‐back and electrically isolated from each other. The two hemispheres are swept with the same bias voltage simultaneously. It is shown that the currents of the two hemispheres diverge when the probe is in the sheath. Through laboratory experiments, empirical relationships are established between the current ratio of the two hemispheres, measured parameters in the sheath, and true ambient plasma parameters. Using these relationships, the plasma parameters retrieved from the DHP measurements in the sheath show good agreement with the true ambient plasma parameters. The DHP technique significantly improves the measurement accuracy across a wide range of plasma environments.
On the Importance of Interactive Ozone Chemistry in Earth‐System Models for Studying Mesophere‐Lower Thermosphere Tidal Changes during Sudden Stratospheric Warmings
Authors: Siddiqui T. A. , Maute A. , Pedatella N. M.
Published: December 2019

We use the CESM2‐Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model, to study the importance of ozone in the vertical coupling between lower and upper atmosphere during sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs). During SSWs, the build up of stratospheric ozone concentrations at tropical latitudes and its increased asymmetrical distribution carries the potential to affect the generation of migrating and nonmigrating semidiurnal solar tides. Much of the upper atmospheric variability associated with SSWs is known to be driven by large changes in the vertically propagating semidiurnal migrating (SW2) and nonmigrating (SW1 and SW3) solar tides. In this study, we investigate the effect of stratospheric ozone variability during SSWs on these solar tides. For this purpose, a case study of the 2009 SSW event is carried out using the WACCM with two distinct simulation setups. In the first setup, the ozone concentrations are interactively calculated in the model and resemble the ozone observations during the 2009 SSW event, while in the second setup, the ozone concentrations are specified using zonal mean values. We constrain both of the simulations to the Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications‐2 reanalysis so that the background atmosphere through which the solar tides propagate are almost identical in each case. Following the onset of the SSW, we find that in the vicinity of the peak enhancements of SW1, SW2, and SW3 in the mesosphere‐lower thermosphere (MLT), the amplitudes of these semidiurnal solar tides are approximately about 15–50% larger for the simulation with interactive ozone as compared with the one with prescribed ozone, indicating that the stratospheric ozone variability plays an important role in driving semidiurnal solar tidal changes during SSWs.
Suprathermal Magnetospheric Atomic and Molecular Heavy Ions at and Near Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn: Observations and Identification
Authors: Christon S. P. , Hamilton D. C. , Mitchell D. G. , Plane J. M. C. , Nylund S. R.
Published: December 2019

We examine long‐term suprathermal, singly charged heavy ion composition measured at three planets using functionally identical charge‐energy‐mass ion spectrometers, one on Geotail, orbiting Earth at ~9–30 Re, the other on Cassini, in interplanetary space, during Jupiter flyby, and then in orbit around Saturn. O+, a principal suprathermal (~80–220 keV/e) heavy ion in each magnetosphere, derives primarily from outflowing ionospheric O+ at Earth, but mostly from satellites and rings at Jupiter and Saturn. Comparable amounts of Iogenic O+ and S+ are present at Jupiter. Ions escaping the magnetospheres: O+ and S+ at Jupiter; C+, N+, O+, H2O+, 28M+ (possibly an aggregate of the molecular ions, MI, CO+, N2+, HCNH+, and/or C2H4+), and O2+ at Saturn; and N+, O+, N2+, NO+, O2+, and Fe+ at Earth. Generally, escaped atomic ions (MI) at Earth and Saturn have similar (higher) ratios to O+ compared to their magnetospheric ratios; Saturn's H2O+ and Fe+ ratios are lower. At Earth, after O+ and N+, ionospheric origin N2+, NO+, and O2+ (with proportions ~0.9:1.0:0.2) dominate magnetospheric heavy ions, consistent with recent high‐altitude/latitude ionospheric measurements and models; average ion count rates correlate positively with geomagnetic and solar activity. At ~27–33 amu/e, Earth's MIs dominate over lunar pickup ions (PUIs) in the magnetosphere; MIs are roughly comparable to lunar PUIs in the magnetosheath, and lunar PUIs dominate over MIs beyond Earth's bow shock. Lunar PUIs are detected at ~39–48 amu/e in the lobe and possibly in the plasma sheet at very low levels.
Understanding the Role of Tropical Moisture in Atmospheric Rivers
Authors: Hu Huancui , Dominguez Francina
Published: December 2019

There has been a long‐standing debate about whether tropical moisture transport or local moisture convergence plays the dominant role in the development and strength of atmospheric rivers (ARs). In this work, we quantify the contribution of tropical moisture to 29 simulated extreme ARs that affected the U.S. Northwest Coast by “tagging” tropical moisture from the eastern tropical Pacific using water vapor tracers in the Weather Research and Forecast model. From a case study with strong tropical moisture, we find three mechanisms by which tropical moisture can contribute to AR strength: direct contribution of moisture, indirect contributions via thermodynamic feedbacks, and indirect contributions via synoptic‐scale dynamic feedbacks. Focusing on these processes, we divide the 29 simulated ARs into two groups (>25% of direct tropical moisture contribution from the eastern tropical Pacific to inland precipitation as DTM‐ARs and the other ARs with <25% as OT‐ARs) and find that DTM‐ARs are characterized by stronger pre‐cold‐frontal low‐level jets and stronger warm air advection. Notably, the ARs with the greatest 2‐day precipitation are found to be DTM‐ARs but with <50% tropical moisture contributions, indicating a more dominant role of indirect enhancement of local moisture convergence due to tropical moisture than the direct moisture contribution supplying precipitation.
Regional Differences of Chemical Composition and Optical Properties of Aerosols in the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Xu Jianzhong , Hettiyadura Anusha Priyadarshani Silva , Liu Yanmei , Zhang Xinghua , Kang Shichang , Laskin Alexander
Published: December 2019

In this study, PM2.5 filter samples were collected from two high‐elevation sites located in the southern and northern areas of Tibetan Plateau (TP): the Qomolangma Station for Atmospheric Environmental Observation and Research (QOMS) and Waliguan Baseline Observatory (WLG), respectively. Collected samples were analyzed to examine the regional differences in aerosol properties and relate them to potential chemical processes in the TP area. The aerosol mass concentrations inferred from measured chemical components were higher at WLG (11.2 μg m−3) compared to QOMS (6.8 μg m−3). The chemical composition shows higher contribution of organic aerosol at QOMS than that of WLG. The optical properties of water‐soluble organic carbon (WSOC) from the QOMS samples show higher light absorption efficient than those collected at WLG. The light absorption of WSOC at QOMS indicates significant pH dependence with enhanced light absorption at higher pH values, while the light absorption of WSOC from WLG samples show very weak pH dependence. The different pH dependence property suggests the different chemical composition between them. The molecular‐level chemical composition investigated using high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) assisted with an electrospray ionization (ESI) shows significant differences in WSOC composition representative of two sampling sites. For QOMS samples, CHO and CHON compounds are the major chemical species detected in the negative (−) ESI mode, while CHO and CHOS compounds are the most abundant chemical species detected by the same method in samples collected at WLG. The differences in their molecular composition indicate the different sources and chemical processes in these two regions.
Transition Period Between Vegetation Growth and Senescence Controlling Interannual Variability of C Fluxes in a Mediterranean Reed Wetland
Authors: Serrano‐Ortiz P. , Aranda‐Barranco S. , López‐Ballesteros A. , Lopez‐Canfin C. , Sánchez‐Cañete E.P. , Meijide A. , Kowalski A.S.
Published: December 2019

Key Points

Interannual variability of C fluxes of the Mediterranean wetland mainly depends on the behavior of reed dynamics during the transition to senescence period

Evapotranspiration of the Mediterranean reed wetland does not present a relevant interannual variability

The role of the Mediterranean reed wetland in the global warming is determined far more by the CO2 than the CH4
Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in heart disease
Authors: Peoples Jessica N. , Saraf Anita , Ghazal Nasab , Pham Tyler T. , Kwong Jennifer Q.
Published: December 2019

Beyond their role as a cellular powerhouse, mitochondria are emerging as integral players in molecular signaling and cell fate determination through reactive oxygen species (ROS). While ROS production has historically been portrayed as an unregulated process driving oxidative stress and disease pathology, contemporary studies reveal that ROS also facilitate normal physiology. Mitochondria are especially abundant in cardiac tissue; hence, mitochondrial dysregulation and ROS production are thought to contribute significantly to cardiac pathology. Moreover, there is growing appreciation that medical therapies designed to mediate mitochondrial ROS production can be important strategies to ameliorate cardiac disease. In this review, we highlight evidence from animal models that illustrates the strong connections between mitochondrial ROS and cardiac disease, discuss advancements in the development of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant therapies, and identify challenges faced in bringing such therapies into the clinic.
PD-L1 and MRN synergy in platinum-based chemoresistance of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Shen Bin , Huang Dongyan , Ramsey Andrew J. , Ig-Izevbekhai Kevin , Zhang Kevin , Lajud Shayanne A. , O’Malley Bert W. , Li Daqing
Published: December 2019

Background

We have been investigating the molecular mechanisms of cisplatin-induced chemoresistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Based on our previous findings, the present study investigates how the Mre11, Rad50, and NBS1 (MRN) DNA repair complex interacts at the molecular level with the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in cisplatin-induced chemoresistance.

Methods

Human HNSCC cell lines were used to determine the role played by PD-L1 in cisplatin resistance. Initial experiments investigated PD-L1 expression levels in cells exposed to cisplatin and whether PD-L1 interacts directly with the MRN complex. Finally, in vitro studies and in vivo experiments on BALB/c nu/nu mice were performed to determine whether interference of PD-L1 or NBS1 synthesis modulated cisplatin resistance.

Results

Exposure to cisplatin resulted in PD-L1 being upregulated in the chemoresistant but not the chemosensitive cell line. Subsequent co-immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that PD-L1 associates with NBS1. In addition, we found that the knockdown of either PD-L1 or NBS1 re-sensitised the chemoresistant cell line to cisplatin. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, synergy was observed when both PD-L1 and NBS1 were knocked down making the formerly chemoresistant strain highly cisplatin sensitive.

Conclusions

PD-L1 plays a pivotal role in cisplatin resistance in chemoresistant human HNSCC cell lines.
Measurability of D-concurrence
Authors: Karimi N. , Heshmati A. , Yahyavi M. , Jafarizadeh M. A. , Mohammadzadeh A.
Published: December 2019

An effective approach to quantify entanglement of any bipartite systems is D-concurrence, which is important in quantum information science. In this paper, we present a direct method for experimental determination of the D-concurrence of an arbitrary bipartite pure state. To do this, we show that measurement of the D-concurrence of bipartite pure state can be conversed into the measurement performed on some observables so called generalized Gell-Mann operators. We first introduce the concept of D-concurrence for a bipartite system. Then we explain the method of measuring this entanglement measure for the pure state. Finally, for clarify of the subject, we give an example consisting of two parties A and B with dimensions 3.
Mechanism for transitions between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orders in d-electron metallic magnets
Authors: Wysokiński Marcin M.
Published: December 2019

We propose mechanism for pressure-induced transitions between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases that relies on a competition between characteristic energy scales ubiquitous among d-electron metallic magnetic compounds. Principles behind the mechanism are demonstrated on the example of the minimal two-orbital p-d lattice model. We suggest that LaCrGe3, where pressure-induced ferromagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic phase transition has been recently observed, is a promising candidate to realize discussed mechanism.
An ultrasensitive fiveplex activity assay for cellular kinases
Authors: Smolko Christian M. , Janes Kevin A.
Published: December 2019

Protein kinases are enzymes whose abundance, protein-protein interactions, and posttranslational modifications together determine net signaling activity in cells. Large-scale data on cellular kinase activity are limited, because existing assays are cumbersome, poorly sensitive, low throughput, and restricted to measuring one kinase at a time. Here, we surmount the conventional hurdles of activity measurement with a multiplexing approach that leverages the selectivity of individual kinase-substrate pairs. We demonstrate proof of concept by designing an assay that jointly measures activity of five pleiotropic signaling kinases: Akt, IκB kinase (IKK), c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-extracellular regulated kinase kinase (MEK), and MAPK-activated protein kinase-2 (MK2). The assay operates in a 96-well format and specifically measures endogenous kinase activation with coefficients of variation less than 20%. Multiplex tracking of kinase-substrate pairs reduces input requirements by 25-fold, with ~75 µg of cellular extract sufficient for fiveplex activity profiling. We applied the assay to monitor kinase signaling during coxsackievirus B3 infection of two different host-cell types and identified multiple differences in pathway dynamics and coordination that warrant future study. Because the Akt–IKK–JNK–MEK–MK2 pathways regulate many important cellular functions, the fiveplex assay should find applications in inflammation, environmental-stress, and cancer research.
Self‐biased nano‐power four‐transistor current and voltage reference with a single resistor
Authors: Aminzadeh H.
Published: December 2019

A generic nano‐power voltage and current reference topology, which takes advantage of the unequal threshold voltage () of two MOSFETs in subthreshold region, is developed to provide reliable bias and reference signals for the analogue integrated blocks used in the Internet‐of‐Things applications. The new architecture is a self‐powered four‐transistor topology with a single temperature‐insensitive resistor, generating both temperature‐independent voltage and current without any operational amplifier or bias network. Instead, the resistor defines the absolute value of the current reference () which supplies the core devices. The circuit is designed and simulated for a target current reference of 7.50 nA in 0.18 µm CMOS process, and achieves a worst‐case temperature coefficient (TC) of 59.47 ppm/°C over a temperature range from −40 to 125°C and 1.8 V voltage supply. The average voltage reference () is 346 mV, and the worst‐case TC of different corners is 21.98 ppm/°C. The nominal current consumption is twice the (15 nA) regardless of the supply and temperature, and can be scaled down by reducing the desired current reference.
Morphological updates and molecular description of Heterosentis holospinus Amin, Heckmann, & Ha, 2011 (Acanthocephala, Arhythmacanthidae) in the Pacific Ocean off Vietnam
Authors: Amin Omar M. , Rodríguez Sara M. , Heckmann Richard A.
Published: December 2019

Heterosentis holospinus Amin, Heckmann & Ha, 2011 (Arhythmacanthidae) was first described from the striped eel catfish, Plotosus lineatus (Plotosidae) in Halong Bay, Vietnam. New morphological information, scanning electron microscope images, molecular analysis, and Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) of hooks of specimens of H. holospinus from a new collection from the common ponyfish, Leiognathus equulus (Leiognathidae), in Quang Binh, Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam are reported here for the first time. Additional details of the anterior trunk cone, proboscis hooks, wholly spined trunk, duck-bill-like spines with micropores, and micropore distribution, are described. The unique metal composition of hooks (EDXA) demonstrated a considerably higher level of calcium and phosphorus but lower level of sulfur at the hook basal arch than at the hook tip and edge. An analysis of our new sequences of cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI) showed that H. holospinus had low genetic variation and two haplotypes.
Chancen für die Adhärenz – die Patientenperspektive
Authors: Saner Jeannette
Published: December 2019

Laut Studien liegt die Adhärenz von Patienten für Eigenübungen unter 50 Prozent. Als Therapeuten müssen wir diesem ernüchternden Ergebnis aber nicht hilflos gegenüberstehen. In Interviews geben Patienten klare Hinweise darauf, was sie in der Therapie benötigen, um auf lange Sicht die Übungen auszuführen. Wir sollten auf sie hören.
Risks of Maternal Obesity in Pregnancy: A Case-control Study in a Portuguese Obstetrical Population
Authors: Alves Patrícia , Malheiro Maria Filipa , Gomes João Cavaco , Ferraz Tiago , Montenegro Nuno
Published: December 2019

Objective The present study aims to understand to what extent obesity is related to adverse maternal, obstetrical, and neonatal outcomes in a Portuguese obstetrical population.

Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics of a differentiated perinatal care facility. The study compared 1,183 obese pregnant women with 5,399 normal or underweight pregnant women for the occurrence of gestational diabetes, hypertensive pregnancy disorders, and preterm birth. Mode of delivery, birthweight, and neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were also evaluated. Mean blood glucose values were evaluated and compared between groups, in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Only singleton pregnancies were considered.

Results The prevalence of obesity was 13.6%. Obese pregnant women were significantly more likely to have cesarean sections (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.0, p < 0.001), gestational diabetes (aOR 2.14, p < 0.001), hypertensive pregnancy disorders (aOR 3.43, p < 0.001), and large-for-gestational age or macrosomic infants (aOR 2.13, p < 0.001), and less likely to have small-for-gestational age newborns (aOR 0.51, p < 0.009). No significant differences were found in terms of preterm births, fetal/neonatal deaths, low birthweight newborns, and neonatal ICU admissions among cases and controls. Maternal obesity was significantly associated with higher mean blood glucose levels, in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.

Conclusion Obesity is associated with increased risks of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. These risks seem to increase progressively with increasing body mass index (BMI) class. Female obesity should be considered a major public health issue and has consequences on maternal-fetal health.
Predictors of In-Hospital Events for Patients with Nonischemic Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Kanumuri Sudhkar , Jonnalagadda Neeharika , Garre Indrani , Jyotsna Maddury
Published: December 2019

Aim The main purpose of this article is to evaluate the clinical profile and in-hospital outcome among heart failure (HF) patients due to different diseases other than acute coronary syndromes (ACS) admitted in intensive coronary care unit (ICCU) at a tertiary center in South India.

Materials and Methods This is an observational study of HF patients who were admitted to ICCU for a period of 6 months from January 2019 to June 2019. ACS patients were excluded. All the demographic data, clinical history, examination details, electrocardiographic (ECG), two-dimensional echocardiography (ECHO), baseline routine, and special investigations were collected. In-hospital progress of the patient was monitored along with events (recurrence of HF, arrhythmias, acute kidney injury, cardiogenic shock, and death).

Results The total number of patients included in the study was 130. The male:female ratio was 2.09:1(88/42) with a mean age of 53.61 years. Hypertension and diabetes were present in 52.3% (68 patients). The etiology of HF was either ischemic (51 patients—39.2%) or dilated (24 patients—18.4%) cardiomyopathy in the majority of the patients (75 patients—57.6%). Rest of the diagnosis for HF were hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 6 (4.6%) patients, chronic rheumatic heart disease in 18 (13.8%) patients, primary pulmonary arterial hypertension in 6 (4.6%) patients, severe valvular pulmonary restenosis in 3 (2.3%) patients, Cor-pulmonale in 6 (4.6%) patients, and others in 16 (12.3%) patients. Events occurred in 17 patients (13.1%). Mortality occurred in 6 patients (4.62%). Patients with events had more severe dyspnea with pedal edema with low systolic blood pressure clinically; all patients had ECG abnormalities with more severe left ventricular (LV) dilatation with right and LV dysfunction with significant functional mitral regurgitation (MR) with more laboratory abnormalities including grossly elevated N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP) levels when compared with patients without events. All the above said parameters were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion The common cause of HF admissions in ICCU was predominantly due to ischemic cardiomyopathy. Still, valvular heart diseases were accounting for 13.8% of admissions. High incidence of event rate (13.1%) despite the improvement in treatment strategies of ICCU patients in this new era, also the all-cause in-hospital mortality, was 4.62%. There were multiple clinical (degree of dyspnea, pedal edema, low systolic blood pressure), ECHO (LV dilatation with dysfunction, right ventricle dysfunction, significant MR), and laboratory parameters (pre-azotemia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, grossly elevated NT pro-BNP levels) to predict the in-hospital events.
Antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Jakarta, Indonesia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Indriatmi Wresti , Prayogo Rizky Lendl , Nilasari Hanny , Suseno Lis Surachmiati
Published: December 2019

Background Neisseria gonorrhoeae has developed resistance to various antimicrobials. At least 10 countries have reported treatment failures with extended-spectrum cephalosporins. Periodic surveillance is essential to determine local treatment guidelines. This study was conducted to determine the resistance of N. gonorrhoeae to penicillin, tetracycline, levofloxacin, cefixime and ceftriaxone among the high-risk population for acquiring STIs in Jakarta and to identify factors associated with resistance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia, from September to November 2018. In all, 98 high-risk males and females who fulfilled the study criteria were included. Specimens were collected from urethral or endocervical swabs, put into Amies transport medium and then transported to the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Universitas Indonesia for culture and identification. Proven gonococcal isolates were examined for susceptibility to various antimicrobials using the disk diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute guidelines. Results: Of the 98 specimens, 35 were confirmed to be N. gonorrhoeae. The proportion of N. gonorrhoeae specimens resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, levofloxacin, cefixime and ceftriaxone among the high-risk population was 97.1%, 97.1%, 34.3%, 0% and 0% respectively. The possible factors associated with resistance could only be analysed for levofloxacin. Age, sexual orientation and a history of orogenital sexual activity during the past month were not associated with N. gonorrhoeae resistance to levofloxacin. Conclusion: This study detected no resistance of N. gonorrhoeae to cefixime and ceftriaxone. Further studies with larger samples are needed to obtain more representative results of N. gonorrhoeae resistance and the possible factors associated with resistance.