bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retrospective study of the predictors of mortality and radiographic deterioration in 782 patients with nodular/bronchiectaticMycobacterium aviumcomplex lung disease
Authors: Gochi Mina , Takayanagi Noboru , Kanauchi Tetsu , Ishiguro Takashi , Yanagisawa Tsutomu , Sugita Yutaka
Published: August 2015

Objectives

Some patients with nodular/bronchiectaticMycobacterium aviumcomplex lung disease (NB MAC-LD) deteriorate and die. The main aim of the study is to evaluate the prognostic factors and radiographic outcomes in patients with NB MAC-LD.

Setting

Retrospective single-centre review.

Participants

782 HIV-negative patients with NB MAC-LD treated at our institution in Japan.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

All-cause and MAC-LD progression mortality rates and the prognostic factors, and radiographic deterioration rates and the prognostic factors.

Results

Mean age was 68.1 years, and median follow-up period was 4.3 years. Death from any cause and progression of MAC lung disease (MAC-LD) occurred in 130 (16.6%), and 19 (2.4%) patients, respectively. All-cause and MAC-LD progression 10-year mortality rates were 27.4% and 4.8%, respectively. In 536 patients with MAC-LD who were followed-up for more than 1 year, radiographic deterioration occurred in 221 (41.2%) patients and median time-to-radiographic deterioration was 9 years. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model showed male sex, older age, body mass index <18.5 kg/m2, absence of bloody sputum, hypoalbuminaemia and erythrocyte sedimentation rate >40 mm/h to be negative prognostic factors for all-cause mortality, and the presence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, haemoglobin <11.3 mg/dL, C reactive protein >1.0 mg/dL and the presence of cavity to be negative prognostic factors for radiographic deterioration.

Conclusions

Only 2.4% of patients with NB MAC-LD died from MAC-LD progression. As clinical trials testing the effectiveness of drug therapy in patients with NB MAC-LD are being designed and implemented, the primary end point could be time-to-radiographic deterioration, and trial patients need to be stratified according to these prognostic factors before randomisation.
Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in male and female patients with cirrhosis of different aetiologies
Authors: Huang Chih-Yang , Tseng Kuo-Chih , Lin Ming-Nan , Tsai Jen-Pi , Su Cheng-Chuan
Published: August 2015

Background

Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis may be reversible in some circumstances. Reliable diagnostic tests are necessary for monitoring hepatic fibrogenesis. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are two of the major MMPs in the circulation and may be most relevant to hepatic fibrosis. The behaviour of MMPs may be significantly different in men and women and may also differ in cases of cirrhosis of various aetiologies.

Aims

To evaluate the manifestations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in liver cirrhosis of different aetiologies in men and women and to compare these patterns with those of healthy controls.

Methods

We measured MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in plasma samples from 112 patients with cirrhosis and 112 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We then correlated these MMP levels with gender and disease aetiology.

Results

Plasma MMP-2 concentrations in patients showed a trend towards increasing values with cirrhosis severity and were markedly increased in patients regardless of gender and aetiology compared with healthy controls (p<0.0001). Plasma mean MMP-9 levels were comparable in patients with cirrhosis and controls, but increased with disease severity. They were significantly lower in patients (130.5 ng/mL), female patients (85.4 ng/mL) and male patients (150.4 ng/mL) with mild cirrhosis than in controls (163.2 ng/mL), female controls (162.5 ng/mL) and male controls (163.3 ng/mL) (p=0.001, 0.041 and 0.009, respectively). MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations were not significantly different between genders among controls and among various patient subgroups.

Conclusions

Plasma MMP-2 level may be a useful diagnostic marker for monitoring hepatic fibrogenesis in patients with disease of different aetiologies.
Radiation dose reduction during neurointerventional procedures by modification of default settings on biplane angiography equipment
Authors: Kahn Elyne N , Gemmete Joseph J , Chaudhary Neeraj , Thompson Byron Gregory , Chen Kevin , Christodoulou Emmanuel G , Pandey Aditya S
Published: August 2015

Background

Neurointerventional procedures represent a significant source of ionizing radiation. We sought to assess the effect during neurointerventional procedures of varying default rates of radiation dose in fluoroscopy (F) and image acquisition (IA) modes, and frame rates during cine acquisition (CINE) on total X-ray dose, acquisition exposures, fluoroscopy time, and complications.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed procedures performed with two radiation dose and CINE settings: a factory setting dose cohort (30 patients, F 45 nGy/pulse, IA 3.6 μGy/pulse, factory CINE frame rate) and a reduced dose cohort (30 patients, F 32 nGy/pulse, IA 1.2 μGy/pulse, with a decreased CINE frame rate). Total radiation dose, dose area product, number of acquisition exposures, fluoroscopy time, and complications were compared between the groups. Means comparisons (t tests) were employed to evaluate differences in the outcome variables between the two groups. p Value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

The reduced dose cohort had a significant reduction in mean radiation dose (factory, 3650 mGy; reduced, 1650 mGy; p=0.005) and dose area product (factory, 34 700 μGy×m2; reduced, 15 000 μGy×m2; p=0.02). There were no significant differences between cohorts in acquisition exposure (p=0.73), fluoroscopy time (p=0.45), or complications.

Conclusions

Significant reductions in radiation dose delivered by neurointerventional procedures can be achieved through simple modifications of default radiation dose in F and IA and frame rate during CINE without an increase in procedural complexity (fluoroscopy time) or rate of complications.
Identified charged particle distributions in Au + Au collisions at s NN = 9.2GeV
Authors: Bashir Inam-ul , Uddin Saeed , Bhat Riyaz Ahmed , Bashir Waseem
Published: August 2015

Midrapidity results on multiplicity density [Formula: see text] and transverse momentum distributions [Formula: see text] of pions, kaons and protons in Au + Au collisions at [Formula: see text] are reproduced by using our earlier proposed Unified Statistical Thermal Freeze-out Model (USTFM). The calculated results are found to be in fairly good agreement with the experimental data points taken from STAR experiment. Freeze-out conditions in terms of a transverse flow velocity parameter and the thermal freeze-out temperature are extracted from the fits of transverse momentum spectra of the particles at different collision centralities. A large value of midrapidity chemical potential reveals the effects of almost complete stopping in the center-of-mass frame of the system produced. The resonance decay contributions are found to have a negligible effect on the transverse momentum spectra of the particles while these are found to be significant for determining the shape of the rapidity spectra.
Quantum entanglement of fermions–antifermions pair creation modes in noncommutative Bianchi I space–time
Authors: Ghiti M. F. , Mebarki N. , Aissaoui H.
Published: August 2015

The noncommutative Bianchi I curved space–time vierbeins and spin connections are derived. Moreover, the corresponding noncommutative Dirac equation as well as its solutions are presented. As an application within the quantum field theory approach using Bogoliubov transformations, the von Neumann fermion–antifermion pair creation quantum entanglement entropy is studied. It is shown that its behavior is strongly dependent on the value of the noncommutativity [Formula: see text] parameter, [Formula: see text]-modes frequencies and the structure of the curved space–time. Various discussions of the obtained features are presented.
Multiple Depth Maps Integration for 3D Reconstruction Using Geodesic Graph Cuts
Authors: Zheng Jiangbin , Zuo Xinxin , Ren Jinchang , Wang Sen
Published: August 2015

Depth images, in particular depth maps estimated from stereo vision, may have a substantial amount of outliers and result in inaccurate 3D modelling and reconstruction. To address this challenging issue, in this paper, a graph-cut based multiple depth maps integration approach is proposed to obtain smooth and watertight surfaces. First, confidence maps for the depth images are estimated to suppress noise, based on which reliable patches covering the object surface are determined. These patches are then exploited to estimate the path weight for 3D geodesic distance computation, where an adaptive regional term is introduced to deal with the "shorter-cuts" problem caused by the effect of the minimal surface bias. Finally, the adaptive regional term and the boundary term constructed using patches are combined in the graph-cut framework for more accurate and smoother 3D modelling. We demonstrate the superior performance of our algorithm on the well-known Middlebury multi-view database and additionally on real-world multiple depth images captured by Kinect. The experimental results have shown that our method is able to preserve the object protrusions and details while maintaining surface smoothness.
p-polarized nonlinear surface polaritons near the surface of an epsilon-near-zero metamaterial with saturable permittivity
Authors: Groza A. D.
Published: August 2015

We study p-polarized nonlinear surface polaritons (NLSP) propagating along the interface of an epsilon-near-zero metamaterial with saturable nonlinearity, very small negative linear permittivity and an optically linear medium. On the basis of the exact solution of Maxwell's equations, we investigate the relationship between the NLSP propagation constant and the NLSP energy flux for self-focusing and self-defocusing cases. In both cases, for the chosen value of propagation constant, calculations due to Kerr model lead to the lowest NLSP energy flux compared with the energy flux for metamaterial with saturable permittivity.
Enhanced third-order nonlinear optical properties of high purity ZnS nanoparticles
Authors: Vijai Anand K. , Vinitha G. , Karl Chinnu M. , Mohan R. , Jayavel R.
Published: August 2015

This paper reports on the preparation of high purity ZnS nanoparticles by a facile single step solvent-free route via thermal decomposition of zinc acetate dihydrate and thiourea in air atmosphere. The third-order optical nonlinearity of the prepared ZnS nanoparticles were measured by Z-scan technique using continuous wave 532-nm diode pumped Nd:YAG laser. From nonlinear optical (NLO) measurements, the prepared ZnS nanoparticles possess negative nonlinearity i.e., self-defocusing. Open aperture Z-scan measurement shows saturable absorption within the medium. These results show that the prepared ZnS nanoparticles are promising candidate for various potential applications in the field of nonlinear optics.
Optimization of eigenstates and spectra for quasi-linear nonlinear optical systems
Authors: Lytel Rick , Mossman Sean M. , Kuzyk Mark G.
Published: August 2015

Quasi-1D quantum structures with spectra scaling faster than the square of the eigenmode number (superscaling) can generate intrinsic, off-resonant optical nonlinearities near the fundamental physical limits, independent of the details of the potential energy along the structure. The scaling of spectra is determined by the topology of the structure, while the magnitudes of the transition moments are set by the geometry of the structure. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the geometrical optimization of superscaling quasi-1D structures and provides heuristics for designing molecules to maximize intrinsic response. A main result is that designers of conjugated structures should attach short side groups at least a third of the way along the bridge, not near its end as is conventionally done. A second result is that once a side group is properly placed, additional side groups do not further enhance the response.
Biocatalysis: A Status Report
Authors: Bommarius Andreas S.
Published: August 2015

This review describes the status of the fields of biocatalysts and enzymes, as well as existing drawbacks, and recent advances in the areas deemed to represent drawbacks. Although biocatalysts are often highly active and extremely selective, there are still drawbacks associated with biocatalysis as a generally applicable technique: the lack of designability of biocatalysts; their limits of stability; and the insufficient number of well-characterized, ready-to-use biocatalysts.

There has been significant progress on the following fronts: (a) novel protein engineering tools, both experimental and computational, have significantly enhanced the toolbox for biocatalyst development. (b) The deactivation of biocatalysts under various stresses can be described quantitatively via rational models. There are several cases of spectacular leaps of stabilization after accumulating all stabilizing mutations found in earlier rounds. The concept that stabilization against one type of stress commonly also stabilizes against other types of stress is now experimentally considerably better founded than a few years ago. (c) A host of developments of novel biocatalysts in the past few years, in part fueled by improved designability and improved methods of stabilization, has considerably broadened the toolbox for synthetic chemistry.
Clean Water for Developing Countries
Authors: Pandit Aniruddha B. , Kumar Jyoti Kishen
Published: August 2015

Availability of safe drinking water, a vital natural resource, is still a distant dream to many around the world, especially in developing countries. Increasing human activity and industrialization have led to a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological pollutants entering water bodies and affecting human lives. Efforts to develop efficient, economical, and technologically sound methods to produce clean water for developing countries have increased worldwide. We focus on solar disinfection, filtration, hybrid filtration methods, treatment of harvested rainwater, herbal water disinfection, and arsenic removal technologies. Simple, yet innovative water treatment devices ranging from use of plant xylem as filters, terafilters, and hand pumps to tippy taps designed indigenously are methods mentioned here. By describing the technical aspects of major water disinfection methods relevant for developing countries on medium to small scales and emphasizing their merits, demerits, economics, and scalability, we highlight the current scenario and pave the way for further research and development and scaling up of these processes.

This review focuses on clean drinking water, especially for rural populations in developing countries. It describes various water disinfection techniques that are not only economically viable and energy efficient but also employ simple methodologies that are effective in reducing the physical, chemical, and biological pollutants found in drinking water to acceptable limits.
Electric Field Tunable Band Gap in Bi-Axially Strained Graphene/Hexagonal Boron Nitride Super-Lattice
Authors: Masood Khalid Ibne , Alam Md. Hasibul , Khosru Quazi D. M.
Published: August 2015

In this work, we have reported the tunable band gap of single-layer graphene (SLG) on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) monolayer arranged in B3 super-lattice form, as a function of an external electric field perpendicular to the super-lattice plane and an applied external bidirectional stress from the first principle Density Functional Theory. To reduce the effect of substrate related performance degradation and open a band gap, graphene placed on h-BN has been reported in literature. To tailor the band gap,perpendicular electric field and biaxial stress were applied in this work. It was observed that band gap increases from compressive to tensile biaxial strain when no electric field was applied. With the application of 5×109V/m external electric field a band gap of 144.5 meV was found which is promising for logic FET with a trade off in degradation in Fermi velocity and higher electron effective mass.
Quantum Mechanical Electrostatics and Transport Simulation and Performance Evaluation of Short Channel Monolayer WSe2 Field Effect Transistor
Authors: Khan Saeed Uz Zaman , Khosru Quazi D. M.
Published: August 2015

In this work a numerical electrostatics and transport simulator is developed for monolayer WSe2 channel Field Effect Transistor considering Quantum Mechanical effects. The electrostatics simulator solves 1-D Schrödinger-Poisson equation self-consistently in the direction perpendicular to the channel. Whereas, the transport simulator employs Fast Uncoupled Mode Space (FUMS) approach with Non-Equlibrium Green’s Function (NEGF) formalism. The simulator explored 20 nm long monolayer WSe2 channel FET with top and bottom oxide thickness 3 and 5 nm respectively. This device showed excellent ON state performance with maximum ON current reaching up to 467.2 A/m and maximum transconductance of 887.7 S/m. On the other hand, the OFF state and short channel performances also showed promise with 1010 on/off current ratio, 77.72 mV/dec Subthreshold Slope (SS) and 14.91 mV/V Drain Induced Barrier Lowering (DIBL). The overall performance reveals great potential of this monolayer WSe2 FET in many low power and high speed applications.
Preparation and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Multilayered WS2 Coated Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites
Authors: Lu Rongteng , Du Kang , Liu Guohua , Yang Changping , Wang Kaiying
Published: August 2015

In this paper, nanocomposite titanium dioxide and tungsten sulfide (TiO2-WS2) was prepared through high energy ball milling. The images of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that particle size of the as-prepared nanocomposites is approximately ~300 nm. The analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates formation of a few layers WS2 anchored on TiO2 nanoparticle surface, which present enhancement (> 90%) of visible light absorption after 32 hours ball milling. The photocurrent of the nanocomposite TiO2-WS2 correspondently increases about 10% under UV illumination.
Ruthenium Volatilisation from Reprocessed Spent Nuclear Fuel – Studying the Baseline Thermodynamics of Ru(III)
Authors: Johal Sukhraaj Kaur , Boxall Colin , Gregson Colin , Steele Carl
Published: August 2015

Ruthenium is a fission product possessed of two relatively long lived isotopes, 103Ru and 106Ru, both of which form part of the Highly Active (HA) waste raffinate during spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. During reprocessing ruthenium, which may be in the form of the RuNO3+ complex, encounters temperatures conducive to volatilization. Due rutheium’s high specific radioactivity it is important to understand the mechanism by which volatilisation occurs. Here we use combined CV, RDE and electrochemical microgravimetry experiments in a study of the the RuCl3 system for the first time. We do this in the interest of establishing NO-free Ru(III) baseline behaviour so as to support future studies on NO complexed ruthenium. Using wide aqueous solvent window carbon electrodes we have observed discrete oxidations to a solution phase Ru(III)–Ru(IV)–Ru(III) trimer, to solid RuO2 and volatile RuO4. We have also observed and assigned discrete reductions of solid RuO2 back to Ru(III) and Ru(III) reduction to ruthenium metal.
Deposition of Suspended Magnetite in High Temperature High Pressure Boiler Environments
Authors: Raman Balaji , Hall Derek M. , Shulder Stephen J , Caravaggio Michael , Lvov Serguei N.
Published: August 2015

Suspended magnetite particles in boiler waters were found to deposit in orifice headers, impeding flow and causing inefficiencies and boiler tube failures from overheating. Particle interactions due to the zeta potential developed on the colloidal magnetite particles could also be a factor in deposition. To study the mechanism behind the deposition of suspended magnetite on stainless steel, a high temperature high pressure electrophoretic deposition cell with provisions to test 304 stainless steel substrates has been developed. The tests, conducted at pH25 °C of 9.3 in simulated boiler conditions in terms of temperature, pressure and water chemistry. The deposition was monitored using in-situ Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and post-test surface analyses were carried out on the substrate. The results of the tests concurred with the theory on oxide particle behavior in aqueous systems and colloidal stability. The specific conditions in the boiler that favor deposition have been successfully replicated.
Electrochemical Reduction of Oligo-nitrocalix[4]Arenes – Molecules with Multiple Redox Centers, Different Conformations and Variable Shape
Authors: Ludvík Jiří , Liška Alan , Lhoták Pavel
Published: August 2015

Calix[4]arenes substituted by one, two, three or four nitro groups enable electrochemical investigation. As molecules with multiple redox centers, they attract attention namely from the fundamental point of view: dealing with the question of reduction pattern, mutual electron interaction within the molecule, order of electron transfer steps, possible radical nature of intermediates etc. Besides that, this contribution has an additional message – use of electrochemical experimental data for acquiring information on 3D-shape of dissolved molecule in solution, on its conformation, substitution site and dynamic behavior influenced by conformation and positions of substituents.
Physical and Electrochemical Properties of Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids Containing Allyl-Based Phosphonium Cations and Bis(fluorosulfonyl)Amide Anion
Authors: Tsunashima Katsuhiko , Sakai Yuki , Matsumiya Masahiko
Published: August 2015

The physical and electrochemical properties of room-temperature ionic liquids based on quaternary phosphonium cations containing an allyl group in combination with bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide anion. It was found that the allyl-based phosphonium RTILs showed lower melting points, lower viscosities and higher conductivities than those of the unsubstituted phosphonium and the corresponding ammonium RTILs. The allyl-based phosphonium RTILs with bis(trifluoromethyl- sulfonyl)amide anion exhibited relatively high thermal stability when compared to the corresponding bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide anion based RTILs. The electrochemical stability tended to be more or less reduced by introducing the allyl group.
(Invited) Efficient Production of Hydrogen Using Composite Nanomaterial Electrode: A Step towards Using Solar Powered Electrolyzer
Authors: Santhanam Kalathur S.V.
Published: August 2015

An electrolyzer was constructed using a composite made of atomized nickel and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Ni-MWCNT) as cathode (area= 0.0946 cm2) and graphite or platinum rod as anode. The electrolysis of water was carried out using several different electrolytes such as sodium sulfate, sodium hydroxide and sulfuricacid. Hydrogen gas that is produced at different current densities hasbeen measured for determining the rates of production of hydrogen and power efficiencies. Since composites are made of MWCNT, its performance has been compared with the composites for hydrogen generation. Cyclic voltammetry curves were recorded using the atomized Ni-MWCNT in different electrolytes forexamining the electro catalysis. Thermogravimetric analysis of atomized Ni-MWCNT shows that the nickel atom is protected from oxidation, suggesting a strong interaction with MWCNT. This is probably the first case of a spin polarized cathode to be used for hydrogen production.
Structure and Dynamics at Ionic Liquid/Electrode Interfaces
Authors: Parr Daniel , Chrestenson Jacob , Malik Kasim , Molter Michael , Zibart Christina , Egan Bryce , Haverhals Luke M.
Published: August 2015

The utilization of ionic liquids (ILs) for future electrochemical applications shows great promise. Recently ILs have been investigated for many electrochemical systems however, further characterization and development of ILs remains as they are utilized in devices such as batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, sensors, and other applications. In this study, we present time resolved (TRS) FTIR spectroscopy data as a means to characterize interfaces between IL-based electrolytes and gold electrodes. These data are important in that dynamic interactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface are crucial to device efficiency, power density, sensitivity, et cetera.
Investigation of Ce3+-doped Na3Mo1-x
W
x
O4F and Na2Mo1-x
W
x
O4 as Novel Phopshor Materials
Authors: Gahrs Casey J , Sullivan Eirin
Published: August 2015

A study of the effect of substituting dopant amounts of Ce3+ for Na+ into the recently characterized self-activating oxyfluoride Na3MoO4F according to Na3-3a
Ce
a
MoO4F (0 ≤ a ≤ 0.25) showed the optimum intensity of photoluminescent output is achieved for a = 0.05 yielding maximum excitation λex = 216 nm and emission λem = 450 nm. It was shown that the known oxide phases Na2WO4 and Na2MoO4 with spinel structure readily form an isostructural solid solution with general formula Na2Mo1-x
W
x
O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1). Similar to the oxyfluorides, these oxide materials also display self-activating photoluminescence with excitation λex = 200 nm and emission λem = 446.5 nm and optimum intensity of photoluminescence observed for the tungstate Na2WO4.
Screen Printed Potentiometric Sensor for Non-Invasive Measurement of Blood Urea in Human Subjects Using Reverse Iontophoresis
Authors: K Varadharaj Eswaramoorthy , Jampana Nagaraju
Published: August 2015

A screen printed potentiometric urea biosensor is developed to monitor blood urea level non-invasively using reverse iontophoresis. The extraction and sensing system consists of a reverse iontophoresis electrodes, a working electrode and a reference electrode. The working electrode is screen printed using graphitic carbon paste, reference and reverse iontophoresis electrodes are screen printed using silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) paste. Urease enzyme is immobilized in the polypyrrole matrix on the working electrode using cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical characterization and material characterization is conducted on screen printed electrode. The sensing range, sensitivity and eliminating interfering species shows that developed sensor has potential application in reverse ionophoresis (RI) sensing method. Developed urea sensor is validated by conducting clinical investigations on 10 human subjects. The correlation co-efficient is arrived between blood urea level and transdermal extracted urea level and it is found to be 0.391.
Stability of Prussian Blue Films for Sensing H2O2 in a PEM-fuel Cell Environment
Authors: Akbari Khorami Hamed , Jacobs Nadine , Wagner Peter , Dyck Alexander , Wild Peter , Djilali Ned
Published: August 2015

Developing a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sensor able to measure small concentrations of H2O2
in-situ is crucial to understanding the degradation mechanisms that take place in the Membrane-Electrode-Assembly of a PEM-fuel cell. Fiber optic sensing probes based on Prussian blue (PB) are promising for this application. The PB film is however required to sustain the harsh environment of PEM-fuel cells. In this work, Prussian blue films have been deposited at different synthesis temperatures, and using different precursors. The samples were immersed and left in a Phosphate-Buffer-Solution (PBS) at pH 2 at 80 °C for 21 hours and thereafter at 90 °C for 3 hours. These PB films were characterized using FTIR to analyze their stability following PBS processing at operating temperature and pH corresponding to an operating PEM-fuel cell. The PB film prepared using the single-source-precursor (SSP) at the temperature of 60 °C is found to be the most stable.
Magnetostrictive Fe-Co-B Alloys for High-frequency Sensor Applications
Authors: Sheng Zhizhi , Zhang Kewei , Cheng Z.-Y.
Published: August 2015

Fe-rich Fe-Co-B magnetostrictive alloys have been considered as good high-frequency sensor materials. In this paper, Fe-rich Fe-Co-B thin films with the composition of Fe57Co29B14, Fe55Co28B17, Fe53Co27B20, Fe51Co26B23 and Fe49Co25B26 were fabricated. The structure, morphology, magnetic property and resonant behavior of the films were studied. Among the different compositions, Fe55Co28B17 has the highest Q value and relatively high amplitude, which is beneficial for sensor application. Au/Fe55Co28B17/Au magnetostrictive particles (MSPs) were prepared by electrodeposition and microfabrication. The 500 μm×100 μm×6 μm MSP shows a resonant frequency of 3.320 MHz and Q value of 127. Fe-Co-B thin film sensors with good performance can be potentially utilized for high-frequency application and food safety detection.
Gas Sensing Behaviors of Hierarchically Structured Nickel Oxide Film by Electrophoretic Deposition
Authors: Chung Yoonsung , Park Hyejin , Lee Eunji , Lee Seokhee , Kim Dong-Joo
Published: August 2015

This work presents a simple route to fabricate p-type nickel oxide films. Different morphologies of NiO particles were prepared by using a precipitation method and a hydrothermal method. The preformed particles by both methods transformed to pure NiO phase after calcination at 300 °C. NiO particles with different morphologies such as flake-like, rod-like, and cube-like shape were deposited into films by electrophoretic deposition. Three different morphologies of NiO were found to exhibit p-type gas sensing properties against ethanol gas, leading to higher responses to ethanol with rod-like shape at 300 °C.
A Pre-Concentrator for Explosive Vapor Detection
Authors: Caron Zachary , Mallin Daniel , Champlin Mitchell , Gregory Otto
Published: August 2015

A pre-concentrator was developed for a vapor detection system to improve its response when continuously monitoring trace levels of explosives. The pre-concentrator employs an additional polymer coated microheater upstream from the active sensor element, allowing the delivery of a concentrated burst of analyte to the detector. And has resulted in a lower detection limit for both nitrogen and non-nitrogen based explosives. Further improvements in sensor response were realized by using zinc oxide nanowires as a catalyst and/or a catalyst support. The increased surface area available for catalytic interaction and the pre-concentration step have lowered the detection limit of explosives such as TATP and 2, 6-DNT by orders of magnitude.
The Use of Scallop Shell Powder as a Method of Extracting Alkaline-Earth Metals
Authors: Mihara Fumihiro , Takeuchi Ken , Tamura Sanae , Idemoto Yasushi , Kogo Yasuo
Published: August 2015

Scallop shells become industrial waste every year in Japan. So far, attempts to reuse the shells have been mainly limited to the commercial production of CaCO3. There are no obvious economical benefits to using scallop shells as a source of CaCO3. Therefore, we are attempting to find a new value added use for scallop shells as an advanced functional material. The other background is nuclear wastewater, which contains radioactive Sr and Cs+. Sr tends to accumulate in bones and is believed to be a cause of bone cancer. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop a method for the removal of Sr from the contaminated water.
Theoretical Approach to the CH4 Decomposition on BaTiO3(001)
Authors: Rivera Rocabado David Samuel , Ishimoto Takayoshi , Koyama Michihisa
Published: August 2015

The catalytic activity of BaTiO3(001) to the methane decomposition was analyzed by employing density functional theory (DFT) with an idealized model. As it was expected, the “clean” surfaces of BaTiO3(001), TiO2-terminated and BaO-terminated showed low catalytic activity mainly due to the high energy required to break the C-H bonds of the methane molecule. Our results show that the TiO2-terminated surface requires almost six times less energy to break the first C-H bond and is approximately four times more active for the total decomposition of methane than the BaO-terminated surface. To our knowledge, to date there is no theoretical study focused on the methane decomposition on the BaTiO3(001) surfaces. This study will provide insight of the catalytic behavior of the surfaces of BaTiO3(001).
Oxygen Reduction Reaction of Hemoglobin on Indium-Tin-Oxide Electrodes and Its Application to Biofuel Cell Cathode
Authors: Ayato Yusuke , Sugimoto Wataru
Published: August 2015

Direct electron transfer characteristics of hemoglobin (Hb) molecules were enhanced on indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes synthesized by using a dip-coating solution with a molar ratio of In:Sn = 1:1. The quantity of electrochemically active Hb was estimated to be 222 pmol cm-2 from cyclic voltammetry in a pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. In addition, the Hb exhibited oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in O2 saturated PBS solution at negative potential range from around -0.15 V vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl(satd.). The ORR current reached to 90 mA cm-2 at -0.45 V vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl(satd.). A single cell with the O2|Hb|ITO cathode showed an open circuit voltage of ca. 0.72 V and a maximum power density of ca. 1.1 mW cm-2.
Growth of Ordered Nanostructure Arrays including Nanotubes and Nanorods for High Efficiency Solar Cells
Authors: Liyanage Wipula Priya Rasika , Nath Manashi
Published: August 2015

A simple and straightforward approach has been described for the fabrication of CdTe nanotube and nanorod arrays with a high degree of precision through confined electrodeposition on lithographically patterned nanoelectrodes. This technique has the potential of growing these nanotube/nanowire arrays with extreme uniformity over a significantly large area. The desired nanoelectrode pattern was defined through electron beam lithography on indium tin oxide coated glass, and electrodeposition of the semiconducting material of interest (CdTe) on the nanoelecrodes produced the nanotubes/nanowires. It is interesting to note that the measured photocurrent density of nanotube device created by this protocol exceeds that obtained from a thin film device fabricated under similar conditions by several orders of magnitude. The ability to fine tune all the physical dimensions and distribution density of the nanostructures, make this method a versatile tool to fabricate and investigate nano-structured photovoltaic devices and study their structure-property relationship. Additionally the ability to create uniform nano-feature arrays in addition to nanotube/nanorod arrays through one-step electrodeposition makes this protocol unique.
Enhanced Light Scattering with Energy Downshifting Using 16 Nm Indium Nitride Nanoparticles for Improved Thin-Film a-Si N-I-P Solar Cells
Authors: Chowdhury Farsad Imtiaz , Islam Kazi , Alkis Sabri , Ortaç Bülend , Alevli Mustafa , Dietz Nikolaus , Okyay Ali , Nayfeh Ammar
Published: August 2015

In this work the effect of Indium nitride (InN) nanoparticles (NPs) on the performance of a-Si:H solar cells has been investigated. The average Jsc of InN NPs coated cells was found 6.76 mA/cm2 which is 16.69% higher than the average Jsc of the reference cell which was 5.79 mA/cm2. Average efficiency of InN NPs coated cells showed 14.16% increase from 3.32% to 3.79%. Peak EQE has increased from 44.8% at 500 nm to 51.67% at 510 nm and peak IQE has increased from 51.70% at 510 nm to 68.38% at 500 nm for InN NPs coated cell. Further study shows that EQE change is larger between 510 nm-700 nm compared to IQE change indicting a surface scattering mechanism that reduces the reflectivity. However, between 400 nm-510 nm IQE change is larger than EQE change which indicates that energy downshifting mechanism is dominating. So overall performance enhancement can be attributed to the scattering and photoluminescence properties of InN NPs that enhances absorption inside a-Si:H solar cells.
Proximal tubule NHE3 activity is inhibited by beta-arrestin-biased angiotensin II type 1 receptor signaling
Authors: Carneiro de Morais Carla P. , Polidoro Juliano Z. , Ralph Donna L. , Pessoa Thaissa D. , Oliveira-Souza Maria , Barauna Valério G. , Rebouças Nancy A. , Malnic Gerhard , McDonough Alicia A. , Girardi Adriana C. C.
Published: August 2015

Physiological concentrations of angiotensin II (ANG II) upregulate the activity of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) in the renal proximal tubule through activation of the ANG II type I (AT1) receptor/G protein-coupled signaling. This effect is key for maintenance of extracellular fluid volume homeostasis and blood pressure. Recent findings have shown that selective activation of the beta-arrestin-biased AT1 receptor signaling pathway induces diuresis and natriuresis independent of G protein-mediated signaling. This study tested the hypothesis that activation of this AT1 receptor/beta-arrestin signaling inhibits NHE3 activity in proximal tubule. To this end, we determined the effects of the compound TRV120023, which binds to the AT1R, blocks G-protein coupling, and stimulates beta-arrestin signaling on NHE3 function in vivo and in vitro. NHE3 activity was measured in both native proximal tubules, by stationary microperfusion, and in opossum proximal tubule (OKP) cells, by Na+-dependent intracellular pH recovery. We found that 10−7 M TRV120023 remarkably inhibited proximal tubule NHE3 activity both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, stimulation of NHE3 by ANG II was completely suppressed by TRV120023 both in vivo as well as in vitro. Inhibition of NHE3 activity by TRV120023 was associated with a decrease in NHE3 surface expression in OKP cells and with a redistribution from the body to the base of the microvilli in the rat proximal tubule. These findings indicate that biased signaling of the beta-arrestin pathway through the AT1 receptor inhibits NHE3 activity in the proximal tubule at least in part due to changes in NHE3 subcellular localization.
Imaging of oxygen gradients in giant umbrella cells: an ex vivo PLIM study
Authors: Zhdanov A. V. , Golubeva A. V. , Okkelman I. A. , Cryan J. F. , Papkovsky D. B.
Published: August 2015

O2 plays a pivotal role in aerobic metabolism and regulation of cell and tissue function. Local differences and fluctuations in tissue O2 levels are well documented; however, the physiological significance of O2 microgradients, particularly at the subcellular level, remains poorly understood. Using the cell-penetrating phosphorescent O2 probe Pt-Glc and confocal fluorescence microscopy, we visualized O2 distribution in individual giant (>100-μm) umbrella cells located superficially in the urinary bladder epithelium. We optimized conditions for in vivo phosphorescent staining of the inner surface of the mouse bladder and subsequent ex vivo analysis of excised live tissue. Imaging experiments revealed significant (≤85 μM) and heterogeneous deoxygenation within respiring umbrella cells, with radial O2 gradients of up to 40 μM across the cell, or ∼0.6 μM/μm. Deeply deoxygenated (5–15 μM O2) regions were seen to correspond to the areas enriched with polarized mitochondria. Pharmacological activation of mitochondrial respiration decreased oxygenation and O2 gradients in umbrella cells, while inhibition with antimycin A dissipated the gradients and caused gradual reoxygenation of the tissue to ambient levels. Detailed three-dimensional maps of O2 distribution potentially can be used for the modeling of intracellular O2-dependent enzymatic reactions and downstream processes, such as hypoxia-inducible factor signaling. Further ex vivo and in vivo studies on intracellular and tissue O2 gradients using confocal imaging can shed light on the molecular mechanisms regulating O2-dependent (patho)physiological processes in the bladder and other tissues.
The anti-inflammatory effect and potential mechanism of cardamonin in DSS-induced colitis
Authors: Ren Gaiyan , Sun Aning , Deng Chao , Zhang Jingjing , Wu Xiaojun , Wei Xiaohui , Mani Sridhar , Dou Wei , Wang Zhengtao
Published: August 2015

Cardamonin is a naturally occurring chalcone with strong anti-inflammatory activity. However, the direct effect of cardamonin on intestinal inflammation remains elusive. In the present study, we found that cardamonin markedly ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium-induced mouse body weight loss, diarrhea, colon shortening, spleen swelling, and histological damage, which correlated with a decline in the activity of myeloperoxidase and the production of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the colon. The upregulation of toll-like receptor 4 after dextran sulfate sodium treatment was associated with an increase in the activation of myeloid differentiation factor 88, interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65, inhibitor κBα, and inhibitor κB kinase-α/β, as well as the mitogen-activated protein kinase molecules of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and this upregulation was reversed by cardamonin administration. Moreover, cardamonin blocked the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65, inhibited NF-κB-luciferase activity, and downregulated NF-κB target genes expression. The present study clearly demonstrates a beneficial effect of cardamonin on experimental inflammatory bowel disease via a mechanism associated with suppression of toll-like receptor 4 expression and inactivation of NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. This study may give insight into the further evaluation of the therapeutic potential of cardamonin or its derivatives for human inflammatory bowel disease.
Glycomacropeptide is a prebiotic that reduces Desulfovibrio bacteria, increases cecal short-chain fatty acids, and is anti-inflammatory in mice
Authors: Sawin Emily A. , De Wolfe Travis J. , Aktas Busra , Stroup Bridget M. , Murali Sangita G. , Steele James L. , Ney Denise M.
Published: August 2015

Glycomacropeptide (GMP) is a 64-amino acid (AA) glycophosphopeptide with application to the nutritional management of phenylketonuria (PKU), obesity, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). GMP is a putative prebiotic based on extensive glycosylation with sialic acid, galactose, and galactosamine. Our objective was to determine the prebiotic properties of GMP by characterizing cecal and fecal microbiota populations, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and immune responses. Weanling PKU ( Pah enu2) and wild-type (WT) C57Bl/6 mice were fed isoenergetic AA, GMP, or casein diets for 8 wk. The cecal content and feces were collected for microbial DNA extraction to perform 16S microbiota analysis by Ion Torrent PGM sequencing. SCFA were determined by gas chromatography, plasma cytokines via a Bio-Plex Pro assay, and splenocyte T cell populations by flow cytometry. Changes in cecal and fecal microbiota are primarily diet dependent. The GMP diet resulted in a reduction from 30–35 to 7% in Proteobacteria, genera Desulfovibrio, in both WT and PKU mice with genotype-dependent changes in Bacteroidetes or Firmicutes. Cecal concentrations of the SCFA acetate, propionate, and butyrate were increased with GMP. The percentage of stimulated spleen cells producing interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was significantly reduced in mice fed GMP compared with casein. In summary, plasma concentrations of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-2 were reduced in mice fed GMP. GMP is a prebiotic based on reduction in Desulfovibrio, increased SCFA, and lower indexes of inflammation compared with casein and AA diets in mice. Functional foods made with GMP may be beneficial in the management of PKU, obesity, and IBD.
Reduced placental amino acid transport in response to maternal nutrient restriction in the baboon
Authors: Pantham Priyadarshini , Rosario Fredrick J. , Nijland Mark , Cheung Alex , Nathanielsz Peter W. , Powell Theresa L. , Galan Henry L. , Li Cun , Jansson Thomas
Published: August 2015

Intrauterine growth restriction increases the risk of perinatal complications and predisposes the infant to diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life. Mechanisms by which maternal nutrient restriction (MNR) reduces fetal growth are poorly understood. We hypothesized that MNR decreases placental amino acid (AA) transporter activity, leading to reduced transplacental transfer of AAs. Pregnant baboons were fed either a control (ad libitum, n = 7), or MNR diet (70% of control diet, n = 7) from gestational day (GD) 30. At GD 165 (0.9 gestation), placentas ( n = 7 in each group) were collected, and microvillous plasma membrane vesicles (MVM) isolated. MVM system A and system L AA transport was determined in vitro using radiolabeled substrates and rapid filtration techniques. In vivo transplacental AA transport was assessed by infusing nine 13C- or 2H-labeled essential AA as a bolus into the maternal circulation ( n = 5 control, n = 4 MNR) at cesarean section. A fetal vein-to-maternal artery mole percent excess ratio for each essential AA was calculated. Fetal and placental weights were significantly reduced in the MNR group compared with controls ( P < 0.01). The activity of system A and system L was markedly reduced by 73 and 84%, respectively, in MVM isolated from baboon placentas at GD 165 following MNR ( P < 0.01). In vivo, the fetal vein-to-maternal artery mole percent excess ratio was significantly reduced for leucine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, and tryptophan in MNR baboons ( P < 0.05). This is the first study to investigate placental AA transport in a nonhuman primate model of MNR. We demonstrate that the downregulation of system A and system L activity in syncytiotrophoblast MVM in MNR leads to decreased transplacental AA transport and, consequently, reduced circulating fetal AA concentrations, a potential mechanism linking maternal undernutrition to reduced fetal growth.
Thalamic mechanisms underlying alpha-delta sleep with implications for fibromyalgia
Authors: Vijayan Sujith , Klerman Elizabeth B. , Adler Gail K. , Kopell Nancy J.
Published: August 2015

Alpha-delta sleep is the abnormal intrusion of alpha activity (8- to 13-Hz oscillations) into the delta activity (1- to 4-Hz oscillations) that defines slow-wave sleep. Alpha-delta sleep is especially prevalent in fibromyalgia patients, and there is evidence suggesting that the irregularities in the sleep of these patients may cause the muscle and tissue pain that characterizes the disorder. We constructed a biophysically realistic mathematical model of alpha-delta sleep. Imaging studies in fibromyalgia patients suggesting altered levels of activity in the thalamus motivated a thalamic model as the source of alpha activity. Since sodium oxybate helps to alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia and reduces the amount of alpha-delta sleep in fibromyalgia patients, we examined how changes in the molecular targets of sodium oxybate affected alpha-delta activity in our circuit. Our model shows how alterations in GABAB currents and two thalamic currents, Ih (a hyperpolarization-activated current) and a potassium leak current, transform a circuit that normally produces delta oscillations into one that produces alpha-delta activity. Our findings suggest that drugs that reduce Ih conductances and/or increase potassium conductances, without necessarily increasing GABAB conductances, might be sufficient to restore delta sleep. Furthermore, they suggest that delta sleep might be restored by drugs that preferentially target these currents in the thalamus; such drugs might have fewer side effects than drugs that act systemically.
Black Plane Solutions and Localized Gravitational Energy
Authors: Halpern Paul , Roberts Jennifer
Published: August 2015

We explore the issue of gravitational energy localization for static plane-symmetric
solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell equations in 3+1 dimensions with
asymptotic anti-de Sitter behavior. We apply three different energy-momentum
complexes, the Einstein, Landau-Lifshitz, and Møller prescriptions, to the metric
representing this category of solutions and determine the energy distribution for
each. We find that the three prescriptions offer identical energy distributions,
suggesting their utility for this type of model.