bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination of gallium(iii) with acetate for combating antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Wang Yuchuan , Han Bingjie , Xie Yanxuan , Wang Haibo , Wang Runming , Xia Wei , Li Hongyan , Sun Hongzhe
Published: May 2019

Combination of Ga(iii) with acetate greatly enhances the antimicrobial activity of Ga(iii) against P. aeruginosa, and shows promise to combat the crisis of antimicrobial resistance.
Emergent supramolecular assembly properties of a recognition-encoded oligoester
Authors: Szczypiński Filip T. , Gabrielli Luca , Hunter Christopher A.
Published: May 2019

An oligoester containing an alternating sequence of hydrogen bonding donor and acceptor side-chains forms a supramolecular architecture that resembles the kissing stem-loops motif found in folded RNA.
Predicting the effect of chain-length mismatch on phase separation in noble metal nanoparticle monolayers with chemically mismatched ligands
Authors: Merz Steven N. , Hoover Elise , Egorov Sergei A. , DuBay Kateri H. , Green David L.
Published: May 2019

Enhanced Monte Carlo sampling can be used to predict the morphology of mixed ligand nanoparticle monolayers, providing a step forward in the design of monolayer protected nanoparticles for biosensing, drug delivery, and photonics.
Long-wavelength fluctuations and static correlations in quasi-2D colloidal suspensions
Authors: Zhang Bo , Cheng Xiang
Published: May 2019

Dynamics of quasi-2D colloidal suspensions of binary spherical particles (left) and ellipsoids (right) under circular confinement.
Supramolecular organization of membrane proteins with anisotropic hydrophobic thickness
Authors: Kahraman Osman , Haselwandter Christoph A.
Published: May 2019

Azimuthal variations in membrane protein hydrophobic thickness can yield self-assembly of distinctive protein lattices and produce membrane compartmentalization.
Superwetting Janus membranes: focusing on unidirectional transport behaviors and multiple applications
Authors: Zhou Hui , Guo Zhiguang
Published: May 2019

A comprehensive insight about Janus membranes is provided from their unidirectional transport behaviors and systematic physical mechanisms to asymmetric-wettability-dominated applications, which brings a new perspective to the manipulation of microfluids.
Oily core/amphiphilic polymer shell nanocapsules change the intracellular fate of doxorubicin in breast cancer cells
Authors: Coelho Janaina Moreira , Camargo Nichollas Serafim , Ganassin Rayane , Rocha Márcia Cristina Oliveira , Merker Carolin , Böttner Julia , Estrela-Lopis Irina , Py-Daniel Karen Rapp , Jardim Katiúscia Vieira , Sousa Marcelo Henrique , Ombredane Alicia Simalie , Joanitti Graziella Anselmo , Silva Renata Carvalho , Azevedo Ricardo Bentes , Longo João Paulo Figueiró , Muehlmann Luis Alexandre
Published: May 2019

The aim of this work was to develop and test thein vitrobiological activity of nanocapsules loaded with a doxorubicin (DOX) free base dissolved in a core of castor oil shelled by poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride) conjugated ton-octadecylamine residues.
Non-linear enhancement of thermoelectric performance of a TiSe2 monolayer due to tensile strain, from first-principles calculations
Authors: Nayeb Sadeghi Safoura , Zebarjadi Mona , Esfarjani Keivan
Published: May 2019

Using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations combined with the Boltzmann transport theory, we investigate the effect of strain on the electronic and thermoelectric transport properties of the 1T-TiSe2 monolayer, a two-dimensional (2D) material, and compare it with the bulk phase within the PBE, LDA+U and HSE exchange–correlation functionals.
High dielectric and breakdown properties obtained in a PVDF based nanocomposite with sandwich structure at high temperature via all-2D design
Authors: Feng Yefeng , Wu Qin , Deng Qihuang , Peng Cheng , Hu Jianbing , Xu Zhichao
Published: May 2019

A high relative permittivity and breakdown strength are important to the high energy storage of dielectrics.
Commendable Pr3+-activated Ba2Ga2GeO7 phosphor with high-brightness white long-persistent luminescence
Authors: Li Huimin , Pang Ran , Luo Yanqing , Wu Haiyan , Zhang Su , Jiang Lihong , Li Da , Li Chengyu , Feng Jing , Zhang Hongjie
Published: May 2019

Novel white long-persistent phosphor Ba2Ga2GeO7:Pr3+ was synthesized and characterized by its structural information, photoluminescence and long-persistent luminescence properties.
Direct plasma printing of nano-gold from an inorganic precursor
Authors: Hong Jungmi , Yick Samuel , Chow Edith , Murdock Adrian , Fang Jinghua , Seo Dong Han , Wolff Annalena , Han Zhaojun , van der Laan Timothy , Bendavid Avi , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken) , Murphy Anthony B.
Published: May 2019

A direct one-step nano-gold printing process from a HAuCl4 solution precursor is demonstrated using an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet.
miR-206 inhibits cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by down-regulating PTP1B in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yang Qian , Zhang Lunli , Zhong Yuanbin , Lai Lingling , Li Xiaopeng
Published: May 2019

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has been reported as an oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, how PTP1B is regulated in HCC remains unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs involved many biological processes including tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated whether miRNA participated in the regulation of PTP1B in HCC. We found that miR-206, which was down-regulated during tumorigenesis, inhibited HCC cell proliferation and invasion. Overexpression of miR-206 inhibited proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cell lines HepG2 and Huh7. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that miR-206 directly targeted PTP1B by binding to the 3′-UTR of PTP1B mRNA as demonstrated by the luciferase reporter assay. Overexpression miR-206 inhibited PTP1B expression while miR-206 inhibition enhanced PTP1B expression in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Functionally, the regulatory effect on cell proliferation/migration/invasion of miR-206 was reversed by PTP1B overexpression. Furthermore, tumor inoculation nude mice model was used to explore the function of miR-206 in vivo. Our results showed that overexpression of miR-206 drastically inhibited tumor development. In summary, our data suggest that miR-206 inhibits HCC development by targeting PTP1B.
Autologous decellularized extracellular matrix protects against H2O2-induced senescence and aging in adipose-derived stem cells and stimulates proliferation in vitro
Authors: Yu Xiaofang , He Yucang , Chen Zhuojie , Qian Yao , Wang Jingping , Ji Ziwan , Tan Xiaoyan , Li Liqun , Lin Ming
Published: May 2019

Background: Adipose-derived stem cells have attracted significant interest, especially in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. However, these cells undergo gradual premature senescence in long-term cultures, which are essential for clinical applications that require cell-assisted lipotransfer or tissue repair. Methods: Since the extracellular matrix forms the microenvironment around stem cells in vitro and regulates self-renewal and multipotency in part by slowing down stem cell aging, we evaluated its potential to protect against senescence, using H2O2-induced adipose-derived stem cells as a model. Results: We found that supplementing cultures with decellularized extracellular matrix harvested from the same cells significantly promotes proliferation and reverses signs of senescence, including decreased multipotency, increased expression of senescence-associated β-galactosidase, and accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Conclusion: These findings suggest a novel approach in which an autologous decellularized extracellular matrix is used to prevent cellular senescence to enable the use of adipose-derived stem cells in regenerative medicine.
Imageability and Neighborhood Density Facilitate the Age of Word Acquisition in Czech
Authors: Smolík Filip
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The study examined the effects of imageability and phonological neighborhood density on the acquisition of word production in Czech, controlling for part-of-speech class, word length, and word frequency. Phonological neighborhood density is of interest because previous research has not examined highly inflected languages such as Czech. The effects of imageability on word acquisition are widely assumed, but only a few empirical studies examined such effects using child data directly.

Method

Data from the Czech norming study of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (
Smolík, Turková, Marušincová, & Malechová, 2017
) adaptation were used, and all nouns and action words in the data set were examined (total 359). Based on the norming sample of 493 children, the expected age of acquisition was calculated.

Results

A small but significant effect of neighborhood density (explaining 1.5% of unique variance) was found, as well as a robust effect of imageability (9% of unique variance). Imageability also accounted for the difference between nouns and verbs in the age of acquisition.

Conclusion

Imageability is a robust predictor of word age of acquisition that should be taken into account in future studies. The identifiability of the referent and the memory mechanisms are likely responsible for the strong imageability effect. Words with large phonological neighborhoods are acquired earlier, even in a language with complex inflectional morphology.
Approximate optimal estimation based on Kullback–Leibler divergence for lossy networks without acknowledgement
Authors: Liang Shi , Qiu Chan , Liu Zhenyu , Peng Xiang , Liu Daxin , Tan Jianrong
Published: May 2019

This study is concerned with the estimation problem for systems with both missing inputs and measurements but without any acknowledgement mechanism. The acknowledgement mechanism is used to provide the estimator with the status information that whether the input is lost or not during the transmission. Affected by the missing input with unknown status information, the probability density function of system state is a Gaussian mixture, of which the number of terms is growing exponentially with time. Two major limitations of state estimation for these systems are (i) the computational inefficiency of the optimal estimation and (ii) the undetermined stability of the approximate optimal estimation. Thus, the aim of this study is to design an estimator such that it can enhance computational efficiency greatly while its stability can be guaranteed simultaneously. Using Kullback–Leiber divergence, an approximate optimal estimator, which is named as the KLD estimator, is developed as an efficient alternative to the optimal one. By establishing a Riccati‐like equation subject to both‐side packet dropouts, a sufficient and necessary condition is given for the stability of the KLD estimator. It reveals an interesting fact that the proposed approximate optimal estimator has the same stability as the optimal estimator.
Stability of highly non‐linear switched stochastic systems
Authors: Zhao Ying , Wu Xiaotai , Cao Jinde
Published: May 2019

It is well known that the linear growth condition is an important assumption for the stochastic differential system, which can ensure that the solution of the stochastic system will not explode at a finite time. However, there exist a lot of highly non‐linear stochastic differential systems, which do not satisfy the linear growth condition, i.e. their coefficients cannot be bounded by a linear function. In this study, the existence of the unique global solution is first proved for highly non‐linear switched stochastic systems with non‐random switching signals, where the linear growth condition is not required anymore. In addition, by using the mode‐dependent average dwell time approach and the Lyapunov functions method, the p th moment exponential stability is presented for highly non‐linear switched stochastic systems with both stable and unstable subsystems. An illustrative example is provided to show the effectiveness of the developed theoretical results.
Graphene‐based low side‐lobe microwave horn antenna
Authors: Balegh Hadi , Arand Bijan Abbasi , Yousefi Leila
Published: May 2019

In this study, a novel method is proposed to control and reduce the side‐lobe level (SLL) of the pyramidal horn antennas. In this method, graphene sheets are deposited on the antenna walls to taper the aperture field leading to pattern engineering with the goal of the SLL reduction. In essence, graphene sheet acts as a high‐impedance surface and hinders electromagnetic power from reaching to the horn antenna aperture edges, in such a way that the diffraction phenomenon could be drastically diminished. The proposed design is numerically analysed and optimised using full‐wave three‐dimensional simulation methods. Numerical full‐wave results illustrate more than 17.6 dB reduction in the SLL of the proposed antenna.
Jugement évaluatif : confrontation d’un modèle conceptuel à des données empiriques
Authors: Gauthier Geneviève , Couture Simonne , St-Onge Christina
Published: May 2019

Contexte : Le recours au jugement des évaluateurs est de plus en plus présent en contexte d’utilisation d’une approche de formation par compétences ; toutefois sa subjectivité a souvent été critiquée. Plus récemment, les perspectives variées des évaluateurs ont commencé à être traitées comme source d’information importante et les recherches sur le jugement évaluatif (rater cognition) se sont multipliées. Lors d’une synthèse d’études empiriques sur le sujet, Gauthier et al. ont proposé un modèle conceptuel englobant une série de résultats concourants. Objectif : Dans le cadre de cette étude à devis mixte concomitant imbriqué (quan/QUAL), nous confrontons ce modèle théorique à des données empiriques issues d’entrevues semi-dirigées d’évaluateurs hors pair. Cette analyse vise à valider le modèle théorique et déterminer son utilité pour mieux comprendre le jugement évaluatif. Méthodes : Les verbatim d’entrevues audio-enregistrées de 11 participants observant et jugeant la vidéo d’une résidente lors d’une consultation avec un patient standardisé ont été codés en utilisant le modèle théorique comme arbre de codage. Les données quantitatives portant sur l’occurrence et la co-occurrence de chaque code, en général et par individu, ont été extraites et analysées. Résultats : Les données corroborent que l’ensemble des neuf mécanismes du modèle conceptuel sont bien représentés dans le discours des évaluateurs. Toutefois, les résultats suggèrent que le modèle avec ses neuf mécanismes indépendants ne rend pas justice à la complexité des interactions entre certains mécanismes et qu’un des mécanismes, le concept personnel de compétence, semble soutenir une grande partie des autres mécanismes.
Reliability of Paris Classification for superficial neoplastic gastric lesions improves with training and narrow band imaging
Authors: Ribeiro Helena , Libânio Diogo , Castro Rui , Ferreira Anibal , Barreiro Pedro , Boal Carvalho Pedro , Capela Tiago , Pimentel-Nunes Pedro , Santos Cristina , Dinis-Ribeiro Mário
Published: May 2019

Background and study aims Paris Classification is used to classify gastrointestinal superficial neoplastic lesions and to predict presence of submucosal invasion. We aimed to evaluate interobserver reliability and agreement for this classification among Western endoscopists.

Methods A total of 54 superficial gastric lesions were independently classified according to Paris classification by eight endoscopists (4 experts and 4 non-experts). Observers were asked to classify two sets of images – first, obtained with high-resolution white light (HR-WL) endoscopy and secondly, with the same HR-WL images paired with images obtained with high-resolution Narrow Band Imaging (HR-NBI) – HR-WL + NBI image group.

Results Overall interobserver reliability when asked to classify in I, II or III was good both using HR-WL images and HR-WL + NBI images (wK of 0.65 and 0.70, respectively). The proportion of agreement for type III lesions was 0.48 for HR-WL images increasing to 0.74 in the HR-WL + NBI group. Interobserver reliability for identification of a IIc component was only moderate (wK 0,47). NBI improves both sensitivity and interobserver reliability among trainees (from wK 0.19 to 0.47). Specificity was higher than sensitivity in predicting submucosal invasion.

Conclusion Overall, the reliability of Paris classification is moderate to good. Training on this classification or its revision and use of technology such as NBI may improve not only reliability and agreement but also accuracy.
Glaukomchirurgie bei Vorderabschnittsdysgenesien
Authors: van Oterendorp Christian
Published: May 2019

Kongenitale Vorderabschnittsdysgenesien sind selten und treten meist sporadisch auf. Ihre phänotypische Ausprägung ist sehr variabel. In etwa 50% aller Fälle tritt ein Glaukom auf – entweder als Teil der Dysgenesie oder als Sekundärglaukom, vor allem nach Lentektomie bei kongenitaler Katarakt. In diesem Übersichtsartikel werden neben den embryologischen Grundlagen und dem Spektrum der Erkrankungen vor allem die chirurgischen Möglichkeiten zu Senkung des intraokularen Drucks vorgestellt. Ein Schwerpunkt liegt hierbei auf der in letzter Zeit zunehmend angewandten mikrokatheterassistierten 360°-Trabekulotomie sowie dem Einsatz von Drainageimplantaten.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection with a novel high viscosity injection solution (LiftUp) in an ex vivo model: a prospective randomized study
Authors: Wedi E. , Koehler P. , Hochberger J. , Maiss J. , Milenovic S. , Gromski M. , Ho N. , Gabor C. , Baulain U. , Ellenrieder V. , Jung C.
Published: May 2019

Introduction Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is increasingly being used in the western world. Submucosal injectates are an essential tool for the ESD procedure. In this study, we evaluated a novel copolymer injectate (LiftUp, Ovesco, Tübingen Germany) in an established ESD model (EASIE-R) in comparison to existing submucosal injectables.

Materials and methods We conducted a prospective, randomized ex vivo study performing ESD with three injectates: LiftUp, hydroxyethyl starch (HAES 6 %) and normal saline solution (NaCl 0.9 %). A total of 60 artificial lesions, each 3 × 3 cm in size, were resected in an ex vivo porcine model, utilizing one of the three studied injectates (n = 20 ESDs per injectate). Study parameters were: en bloc resection rate, perforation rate, lifting property, time of injection, injectate volume, general ESD procedure time, and overall procedure time.

Results All 60 lesions were successfully resected using the standard ESD technique. LiftUp had no procedure related perforations, one perforation occurred in the HAES group, and two perforations in the NaCl group (P > 0.05). Furthermore, adequate lifting was achieved in 16/20 (80 %) using LiftUp, 6/20 (30 %) in the HAES group and 6/20 (30 %) in the NaCl group (P < 0.0002). En bloc resection was achieved in 19 (95 %) with LiftUp, in 20 (100 %) with HAES, and in 16 (80 %) with NaCl. General ESD procedure time and overall procedure time were not different among the three groups.

Conclusion LiftUp appears to be a safe alternative to established fluids for ESD. It had a significantly improved lifting effect and required significantly less injected volume compared to well-established lifting solutions.
Serum Myeloperoxidase, C-reactive Protein and α1-acid Glycoprotein: Insights about Cardiovascular Risk in End-stage Renal Disease
Authors: Rickli Cristiane , Borato Danielle Cristyane Kalva , Silva Anderson José de Melo E , Schuinski Adriana Fatima Menegat , Vilela Gustavo Henrique Frigieri , Vellosa José Carlos Rebuglio
Published: May 2019

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Elevated serum concentrations of myeloperoxidase (MPO) are associated with an increased risk of developing CVD. The objective of this study was to evaluate serum MPO levels, as well as other laboratory parameters, in individuals with ESRD, with and without CVD, undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods 80 volunteers were admitted, divided into the following groups: control group (CON): 20 individuals without chronic kidney disease (CKD); ESRD group: 45 individuals with CKD stage V and ESRD/CVD group: 15 individuals with CKD stage V and with CVD. The following biomarkers were evaluated: MPO, High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and α1-acid glycoprotein, following the manufacturer's guidelines in the package inserts. The data were processed through the statistical software SPSS 20.0®.

Results The level of MPO for the CON group was 84 ng/mL (73–87 ng/mL), for the ESRD group 77 ng/mL (11–89 ng/mL) and for the ESRD/CVD group 21 ng/mL (8–47 ng/mL), with a significant statistical difference of the ESRD/CVD group from the CON and ESRD groups (p<0.001). For the parameters hs-CRP and α1-acid glycoprotein a statistical difference between the ESRD and ESRD/CVD groups from the CON group (p<0.0001) was observed, but not between the ESRD and ESRD/CVD groups.

Conclusion It is suggested that further studies should be performed to define the potential role of MPO as a cardiovascular risk marker for patients with ESRD on hemodialysis.
Research on influence of ice-induced vibration on offshore wind turbines
Authors: Ye Kehua , Li Chun , Yang Yang , Zhang Wanfu , Xu Zifei
Published: May 2019

This paper presents the simulation of offshore wind turbines (OWTs) suffering from turbulent wind and ice-induced vibrations (IIVs). To ascertain the effectiveness of IIVs, the fully coupled simulation of the NREL 5 MW OWT is implemented. The OWT model, which is processed as a multibody system, takes the aerodynamic load and the IIV simultaneously. Firstly, the Kaimal spectrum is used to simulate the turbulent wind conditions. Then, the aerodynamic load acting on the blades is solved by the blade momentum theory. The IIV can be explained as the forced vibration or the self-excited vibration. The Matlock model and the Määttänen model are employed here to solve the forced ice-induced vibration and the self-excited ice-induced vibration, respectively. Finally, the kinetics and the kinematic computation are coupled with aerodynamic load calculations. The dynamic responses of some crucial parts of the OWT model reveal some important results. The results prove the great effectiveness of IIVs impacting the OWTs, especially for the tower. The frequency-domain responses note that the IIV affects the particular frequencies remarkably.
A hybrid MWOAL approach for fast and efficient maximum power point tracking in wind energy conversion systems
Authors: Dhas Bensam Samraj , Maruthu Pandi Perumal
Published: May 2019

This paper proposes an efficient hybrid approach for the fast and efficient MPPT in WECS. The system consists of an MPPT based control of IPMSG consisting of a hybrid Meta-heuristic algorithm. The hybrid Meta-heuristic algorithm presented in the proposed approach is the joined execution of both WOA and the ALO algorithm named as MWOAL. In the proposed approach, the WOA is considered to resolve the optimal gain parameters of the PI controller with a minimum error objective function based on the variation of direct and quadrature current parameters. Here, the searching behavior of the whales is modified by using the efficient ALO algorithm is known as modified WOAL MWOAL. The setpoint direct axis and the quadrature axis current parameters of the WECS are determined using the MPPT technique and the loss minimization approach based on the generator speed variation. Hence, the proposed scheme has improved the efficiency of the WECS. At that point, the performance of the proposed adaptive MPPT control of WECS is executed in the MATLAB/Simulink working platform and the execution is assessed using the existing techniques.
Site preference and magnetic properties of Zn-Sn-substituted strontium hexaferrite
Authors: Dixit Vivek , Thapa Dinesh , Lamichhane Bipin , Nandadasa Chandani N. , Hong Yang-Ki , Kim Seong-Gon
Published: May 2019

The site preference and magnetic properties of Zn, Sn, and Zn-Sn substituted M-type strontium hexaferrite (SrFe12O19) have been investigated using first-principles total-energy calculations based on density-functional theory. The site occupancy of substituted atoms was estimated by calculating the substitution energies of different configurations. The distribution of different configurations during the annealing process at high temperature was determined using the formation probabilities of configurations to calculate magnetic properties of substituted strontium hexaferrite. We found that the magnetization and magnetocrystalline anisotropy are closely related to the distributions of Zn-Sn ions on the five Fe sites. Our calculation shows that in SrFe11.5Zn0.5O19, Zn atoms prefer to occupy 4f1, 12k, and 2a sites with occupation probabilities of 78%, 19%, and 3%, respectively, while in SrFe11.5SnO19, Sn atoms occupy the 12k and 4f2 sites with occupation probabilities of 54% and 46%, respectively. We also found that in SrFe11Zn0.5Sn0.5O19, (Zn,Sn) atom pairs prefer to occupy the (4f1, 4f2), (4f1, 12k), and (12k, 12k) sites with occupation probabilities of 82%, 8%, and 6%, respectively. Our calculation shows that the increase of magnetization and the reduction of magnetic anisotropy in Zn-Sn substituted M-type strontium hexaferrite as observed experimentally are due to the occupation of (Zn,Sn) pairs at the (4f1, 4f2) sites.
Interplay of topologically interconnected mesoporous network and defects number density in improving electroactivity of graphene-single-walled carbon nanotube aerogels
Authors: Gupta S. , Meek R. , Evans B. , Henson A.
Published: May 2019

Electroactivity of graphene-family nanomaterials and three-dimensional porous architectures is key for various applications at the grand challenges of “energy-water-sensing nexus.” It requires well-controlled morphology, manipulation of surface chemistry, interconnected topologic network, as well as electronic properties. Here, we demonstrate by taking advantage of hierarchical mesoporosity, optimized defects number density, nD (edges-plane and pore sites, oxygenated and nitrogenated functionalities), further invoked by synergistic coupling between one-dimensional single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) as “nano” spacers and polymer linker with two-dimensional reduced graphene oxide derived three-dimensional scaffolds (known as aerogels) under hydrothermal conditions, and improved electrochemical (re)activity by enhancing the heterogeneous electron transfer rate (kET). We determined the correlation among nD, in-plane sp2C cluster, La and interdefect distance, LD (all via Raman spectroscopy), and kET (via scanning electrochemical microscopy) to establish “structure–property–functionality–electroactivity” relationships. The prominent Raman bands were also analyzed to determine the sp2-bonded C cluster size (La) for graphene- and nanotube-rich phases. The interplay of (1) rich surface redox chemistry due to carbonyl—C=O, carboxyl—COOH, pryridinic—N and pyrrolic—N functional groups, and geometric defects; (2) protruded edge plane and nanopores sites; (3) topological network; and (4) finite density of states with increased vacancy sites is emphasized and signifies the inherently activated electronic states in functionalized nanoporous composite carbon aerogels, for improved physicochemical processes (following graphene < N-graphene < graphene-SWCNT < N-graphene-SWCNT aerogels) relevant for electrocatalysis, thermo-electrochemical energy harvesting, desalination, and biosensing.
Rotational instabilities in microchannel flows
Authors: Sengupta Saunak , Ghosh Sukhendu , Saha Sandeep , Chakraborty Suman
Published: May 2019

Mixing in numerous medical and chemical applications, involving overly long microchannels, can be enhanced by inducing flow instabilities. The channel length is thus shortened in the inertial microfluidics regime due to the enhanced mixing, thereby making the device compact and portable. Motivated by the emerging applications of a lab on a compact disk based microfluidic devices, we analyze the linear stability of rotationally actuated microchannel flows commonly deployed for biochemical and biomedical applications. The solution of the coupled system of Orr-Sommerfeld and Squire equations yields the growth rate and the neutral curves for the Coriolis force-driven instability. We report on the existence of four different types of unstable modes (Type-I to Type-IV) at low rotation numbers. Furthermore, Types-I and II exhibit competing characteristics, signifying that Type-II can play an important role in the transition to turbulence. Type-III and Type-IV modes have relatively lower growth rates, but the associated normal velocity has an oscillatory nature near the center of the channel. Thus, we infer that Types-III and IV might cause strong mixing locally by virtue of strong velocity perturbation in proximity to the various point depths. Moreover, the situation is reliable if the channel is too short to allow for the amplification of Types-I and II. We quantify the potential of all the unstable modes to induce such localized mixing near an imaginary interface (near a hyphothetical interface) inside the flow using the notion of penetration depth. This study also presents an instability regime diagram obtained from the parametric study over a range of Reynolds numbers, rotation numbers, and streamwise and spanwise wavenumbers to assist the design of efficient microchannels. Further insight into the mechanism of energy transfer, drawn from the evaluation of the kinetic-energy budget, reveals how the Reynolds stress first transfers energy from the mean flow to the streamwise velocity fluctuations. The Coriolis force, thereafter, redistributes the axial momentum into spanwise and wall-normal directions, generating the frequently observed roll-cell structures. A qualitative comparison of our predictions with the reported experiments on roll-cells indicates a good agreement.
Decoupled shear flexoelectric effects in polymers
Authors: Liu Kaiyuan , Zhang Shuwen , Wu Tonghui , Ji Hui , Xu Minglong , Shen Shengping
Published: May 2019

The coupling between dielectric polarization and strain gradient, known as flexoelectricity, is a property of all dielectric materials. Flexoelectric coefficients are essential during applications. In order to increase the number of measurable flexoelectric coefficients, more experimental approaches are needed. In this work, circular terrace and column models are developed to generate shear strain gradients along radial and longitudinal directions to obtain the flexoelectric coefficients. Theoretical deduction, finite element method analyses, and experiments are applied to several polymeric specimens. The relationships between torque load and electric charge are then obtained, and the flexoelectric coefficients μφzρz and μφzzz are simultaneously obtained. This flexoelectric coefficient decoupling method is proved to be applicable to various polymeric materials. This work enhances the experimental methods of research on decoupled shear flexoelectric effects.
Pumping flow model in a microchannel with propagative rhythmic membrane contraction
Authors: Aboelkassem Yasser
Published: May 2019

A pumping flow model in a microchannel with a single attached membrane subjected to propagative contraction is presented in this article. The lubrication theory is used to approximate the induced flow field at a low Reynolds number flow regime. A well-posed expression for the wall profile is derived to describe the membrane propagative mode of rhythmic contractions. Unlike our previously derived pumping model “nonpropagative” where at least two membranes that operate with time-lag are required to produce unidirectional flow, the present results demonstrate that an inelastic channel with a single membrane contraction that operates in a “propagative” mode can produce unidirectional flow and work as a micropump. The model can be used to understand flow transport in many biological systems including but not limited to insect respiration, urine flow, and fluid dynamics of duodenum and intestine. The present pumping paradigm is relatively easy to fabricate and is expected to be useful in many biomedical applications.
Cavitation and ventilation modalities during ditching
Authors: Iafrati A. , Grizzi S.
Published: May 2019

The flow taking place in the rear part of the fuselage during the emergency landing on water is investigated experimentally in realistic conditions. To this aim, tests on a double curvature specimen have been performed at horizontal velocities ranging from 21 m/s to 45 m/s. Test data highlight different cavitation and/or ventilation modalities which are strongly dependent on the horizontal velocity, with substantial changes in the flow features occurring with velocity variations of few meters per second. For the specimen considered here, the inception of the cavitation is found at about 30 m/s, confirming that scaled model tests performed at small horizontal velocities are unable to capture the hydrodynamics correctly. By analyzing pressure data, underwater movies, and force measurements, it is shown that the transition from the cavitation to ventilation condition has a significant effect on the longitudinal distribution of the loading which, together with inertia, aerodynamic loads, and engine thrust, governs the aircraft dynamics.
(Ga,In)N/GaN light emitting diodes with a tunnel junction and a rough n-contact layer grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Fan Arcara V. , Damilano B. , Feuillet G. , Courville A. , Chenot S. , Duboz J.-Y.
Published: May 2019

Tunnel junctions (TJs) are envisaged as potential solutions to improve the electrical injection efficiency of nitride emitters in the visible as well as in the UV range. Indeed TJs would solve the issues related to the poor contact with the top p type nitride layer, replacing it by an n type one. But if metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) is chosen to grow the n side of the TJ on a LED, one faces the problem of a potential re-passivation by hydrogen of the underlying p type layer. We propose a TJ epitaxial process whereby low growth temperatures, high growth rates and the type of carrier gas will minimize hydrogen incorporation in the underlying layers. In this view, n++/p++ GaN TJs with and without an (Ga,In)N intermediate layer are grown by MOCVD at varying temperatures (800°C and 1080°C), using N2 as a carrier gas under a very high growth rate of 2.5μm/h on top of blue (Ga,In)N/GaN LEDs. The LEDs made under N2 carrier gas and lower temperature growth conditions are operational without the need for further thermal activation of the Mg acceptors. The light emission intensity from the top surface of the TJ-LEDs is improved compared to the reference LED without TJ: besides the more efficient carrier injection this is also attributable to the larger photon extraction efficiency because of the rough surface of the low temperature grown n-GaN contact layer of the TJ-LEDs.
Response modes of erythrocytes in high-frequency oscillatory shear flows
Authors: Zhu Qiang , Asaro Robert J.
Published: May 2019

Due to its capability of duplicating the deformation scenario of erythrocytes (red blood cells), in in vivo time scales, passing through interendothelial slits in the spleen, the understanding of the dynamic response of erythrocytes in oscillatory shear flows is of critical importance to the development of an effective in vitro methodology to study the mechanics, metabolism, and aging procedure in vivo [R. Asaro et al., “Erythrocyte aging, protection via vesiculation: An analysis methodology via oscillatory flow,” Front. Physiol. 9, 1607 (2018)]. Accordingly, we conducted a systematic computational investigation of the dynamics of erythrocytes in high-frequency oscillatory shear flows by using a fluid-cell interaction model based on the Stokes-flow framework and a multiscale structural depiction of the cell. Within the range of parameters we consider, we identify five different response modes (wheeling, tilted wheeling, tank treading mode 1, tank treading mode 2, and irregular). The occurrence and stability of these response modes depend on the frequency of the flow, the peak capillary number, the viscosity ratio, the initial orientation of the cell, and the stress-free state of the protein skeleton. Through long-term simulations [O(102) periods], mode switching events have been discovered, during which the cell transfers from one mode to another, often via an intermediate transient mode. The deformation of the skeleton and the contact stress between the skeleton and the lipid bilayer are computed since these are of direct importance to describing vital cell phenomena such as vesiculation by which the cell protects itself from premature elimination.
New theoretical model for effects of Reynolds number on laminar boundary layer along ribbed surfaces
Authors: Liebendorfer Adam
Published: May 2019

By utilizing a simplified asymptotic model, researchers calculate the effects of surface geometry on laminar boundary layer flows for ribbed surfaces.
Characterisation of a rice vacuolar invertase isoform, OsINV2, for growth and yield-related traits
Authors: Morey Shamitha R. , Hirose Tatsuro , Hashida Yoichi , Miyao Akio , Hirochika Hirohiko , Ohsugi Ryu , Yamagishi Junko , Aoki Naohiro
Published: May 2019

OsINV2, a rice vacuolar invertase isoform, was assessed for its functional roles in plant growth and development with key focus on its agronomic traits such as grain weight, grain filling percentage, grain number and dry weights at various stages until harvest. Lack of differences between the wild-type and the mutants with respect to any of the aforementioned traits tested revealed a possibility of functional compensation of OsINV2 in the mutants conceivably by its isoform. This was confirmed by OsINV2 promoter::GUS studies, where its spatial and temporal expression in the panicle elongation stages showed that although OsINV2 expression was observed from the stage with young panicles ~1 cm in length to the flag leaf stage, significant differences with respect to panicle and spikelet phenotypes between the wild-type and the mutant were not present. However, complement lines displaying an overexpression phenotype of OsINV2 possessed a higher stem non-structural carbohydrate content under both monoculm and normal tillering conditions. A trade-off between the spikelet number and grain weight in the complement lines grown under monoculm conditions was also observed, pointing towards the necessity of OsINV2 regulation for grain yield-related traits.
Haifa fire restoration project – urban forest management: a case study
Authors: Tessler Naama , Borger Hanoch , Rave Erez , Argaman Eli , Kopel Daniela , Brook Anna , Elkabets Eli , Wittenberg Lea
Published: May 2019

On 24 November 2016, extreme hot and dry weather led to more than 1000 fires in Israel. One of the largest fires (120ha) occurred in the city of Haifa. The fire began on the slopes of the north-eastern part of the wildland–urban interface (WUI) and spread into the city, moving westward owing to strong wind gusts. Although private houses in open lands and villages in Israel have previously been affected by fires, this was the first ‘urban fire’ in Israel. In order to determine the best management strategy for the various types of burned areas, an ‘identity card’ was prepared for each area including main vegetation species and other points of interest. For urban forest areas, rehabilitation was planned according to topographic structure and anticipated soil erosion. In each reclaimed area, terraces were constructed using burned logs or local stones and inhibitors to mitigate soil erosion. After restoration, each urban forest underwent planting and renewal according to its geographic properties and location.
The impact of climate change on fertility*
Authors: Casey Gregory , Shayegh Soheil , Moreno-Cruz Juan , Bunzl Martin , Galor Oded , Caldeira Ken
Published: May 2019

We examine the potential for climate change to impact fertility via adaptations in human behavior. We start by discussing a wide range of economic channels through which climate change might impact fertility, including sectoral reallocation, the gender wage gap, longevity, and child mortality. Then, we build a quantitative model that combines standard economic-demographic theory with existing estimates of the economic consequences of climate change. In the model, increases in global temperature affect agricultural and non-agricultural sectors differently. Near the equator, where many poor countries are located, climate change has a larger negative effect on agriculture. The resulting scarcity in agricultural goods acts as a force towards higher agricultural prices and wages, leading to a labor reallocation into this sector. Since agriculture makes less use of skilled labor, climate damage decreases the return to acquiring skills, inducing parents to invest less resources in the education of each child and to increase fertility. These patterns are reversed at higher latitudes, suggesting that climate change may exacerbate inequities by reducing fertility and increasing education in richer northern countries, while increasing fertility and reducing education in poorer tropical countries. While the model only examines the role of one mechanism, it suggests that climate change could have an impact on fertility, indicating the need for future work on this important topic.
The morphometrics of autopolyploidy: insignificant differentiation among sexual–apomictic cytotypes
Authors: Bigl Karin , Paule Juraj , Dobeš Christoph
Published: May 2019

Polyploidization of the plant genome affects the phenotype of individuals including their morphology, i.e. size and form. In autopolyploids, we expect mainly nucleotypic effects, from a number of monoploid genomes (i.e. chromosome sets) or genome size, seen from an increase in size or dimension of the polyploids compared with the diploids (or lower ploids). To identify nucleotypic effects, confounding effects of hybridity (observed in allopolyploids), postpolyploidization processes or environmental effects need to be considered. We morphometrically analysed five ploidy cytotypes of the sexual–apomictic species Potentilla puberula cultivated ex situ under the same experimental conditions. Sexuals are mainly tetraploid, while higher ploidy (penta- to octoploidy) is typically associated with the expression of apomixis. The cytotypes likely arose via autopolyploidization although historic involvement of another species in the origin of apomicts cannot be fully ruled out, suggested by a slight molecular differentiation among reproductive modes. We (i) revisited molecular differentiation using amplified fragment length polymorphisms and performed a morphometric analysis to test (ii) if cytotypes are morphologically differentiated from each other and (iii) if the size of individuals is related to their ploidy. Weak molecular differentiation of sexual versus apomictic individuals was confirmed. Cytotypes and reproductive modes were also morphologically poorly differentiated from each other, i.e. apomicts largely resampled the variation of the sexuals and did not exhibit a unique morphology. Overall size of individuals increased moderately but significantly with ploidy (ca. 14 % in the comparison of octo- with tetraploids). The results support an autopolyploid origin of the P. puberula apomicts and suggest a nucleotypic effect on overall plant size. We discuss taxonomic consequences of the results in the context of data on reproductive relationships among cytotypes and their ecological preferences and evolutionary origin, and conclude that cytotypes are best treated as intraspecific variants within a single species.
Qualitative Scoring of the Pentagon Test: A Tool for the Identification of Subtle Cognitive Deficits in Isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Patients
Authors: Galbiati Andrea , Carli Giulia , Dodich Alessandra , Marelli Sara , Caterina Pagnini , Cerami Chiara , Zucconi Marco , Ferini-Strambi Luigi
Published: May 2019

Objective

Isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) frequently represents the prodromal stage of alpha-synucleinopathies, and similar to these pathologies, iRBD patients show neuropsychological deficits, particularly in the domain of visuospatial abilities and executive functions. We hypothesized that the qualitative scoring of the Mini-Mental State Examination pentagon test (QSPT) may detect subtle visuospatial deficits in these subjects, and we evaluated its relationship with indexes of sleep quality, as measured by polysomnography.

Methods

A total of 80 polysomnography-confirmed iRBD patients and 40 healthy controls (HCs) were retrospectively recruited. Global and specific qualitative performances were evaluated according to QSPT procedure. Comparisons between iRBD and HC regarding all QSPT parameters, neuropsychological tests, and polysomnographic recordings were performed.

Results

Patients displayed significantly lower scores in both “closing-in” and total score parameters in comparison to HC. The QSPT total score exhibited significant positive correlations with verbal comprehension, fluency, visuospatial abilities, and executive functions. Notably, iRBD patients with impaired performance at QSPT showed decreased neuropsychological performances and higher percentages of slow wave sleep (SWS). In addition, SWS percentages negatively correlated with verbal comprehension, fluency, visuospatial abilities, executive functions, and QSPT total score.

Conclusion

QSPT may represent a brief and easy to administer tool for the detection of subtle visuospatial changes in iRBD patients. Furthermore, polysomnographic findings suggest a possible slowdown of electroencephalographic pattern during non-REM sleep in iRBD patients in line with the presence of cognitive decline.
Accurate peptide fragmentation predictions allow data driven approaches to replace and improve upon proteomics search engine scoring functions
Authors: C. Silva Ana S , Bouwmeester Robbin , Martens Lennart , Degroeve Sven
Published: May 2019

Motivation

The use of post-processing tools to maximize the information gained from a proteomics search engine is widely accepted and used by the community, with the most notable example being Percolator—a semi-supervised machine learning model which learns a new scoring function for a given dataset. The usage of such tools is however bound to the search engine’s scoring scheme, which doesn’t always make full use of the intensity information present in a spectrum. We aim to show how this tool can be applied in such a way that maximizes the use of spectrum intensity information by leveraging another machine learning-based tool, MS2PIP. MS2PIP predicts fragment ion peak intensities.

Results

We show how comparing predicted intensities to annotated experimental spectra by calculating direct similarity metrics provides enough information for a tool such as Percolator to accurately separate two classes of peptide-to-spectrum matches. This approach allows using more information out of the data (compared with simpler intensity based metrics, like peak counting or explained intensities summing) while maintaining control of statistics such as the false discovery rate.

Availability and implementation

All of the code is available online at https://github.com/compomics/ms2rescore.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.