bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving of the water preparation systems in the industry thermal power plants
Authors: Choshnova Daniela
Published: January 2018

Some modern possibilities for modernization of the water preparation in the heat power plants of metallurgical enterprises are presented. It is focused on the ecological and technological advantages of the methods for obtaining of ultra-pure water. This work is not intended to justify the need of usage of particular technology in an object. This is a separate task requiring in-depth consideration.
Bayesian reconstruction of images of objects with high-density inclusions with suppression of artifacts
Authors: Zolotarev Sergei , Vengrinovich Valery , Mirzavand Mohsen , Mukhtar Mieteeg , Georgiev Ivan
Published: January 2018

The technology of three-dimensional Bayesian tomographic reconstruction of homogeneous objects with high-density inclusions is developed. The approach is based on preliminary correction of projections by extracting the data corresponding to X-rays passing through a high-density region, and replacing it with synthesized data obtained by two-dimensional interpolation. An original method for selecting interpolation points is proposed and a mathematical algorithm is described that ensures the implementation of two-dimensional interpolation correction of projections.
Dispositifs intramaxillaires de distalisation des molaires en technique multi-attache et avec aligneurs
Authors: Dallel Ines , Bergeyron Patrice , Chok Ameni , Tobji Samir , Ben Amor Adel
Published: January 2018

Introduction : La malocclusion de classe II est une dysmorphose qui peut résulter de différentes composantes squelettiques et/ou alvéolaires d'origine maxillaire et/ou mandibulaire. Dans les cas de classe II dentaires par dérive mésiale des molaires maxillaires, il est parfois intéressant de reculer les molaires maxillaires pour éviter dans certaines situations, des extractions de prémolaires. Pour y parvenir, plusieurs dispositifs ont été décrits dans la littérature. Les dispositifs intra-oraux les plus récents permettent une correction de plus en plus maîtrisée, et ne sollicitent plus la coopération du patient. En outre, les aligneurs représentent aujourd'hui, dans un certain nombre de cas de distalisation, une alternative thérapeutique de choix puisqu'ils sont esthétiques et faciles à utiliser.Matériels et méthodes : Dans ce travail, nous avons effectué une synthèse bibliographique des différentes études qui s'intéressent à la distalisation des molaires maxillaires en technique multi-attache, ainsi qu'avec aligneurs, avec les illustrations cliniques d'un cas de classe II traité par des gouttières d'alignement.
Myelomeningocele with Unilateral Right Renal Agenesis: A Case Report
Authors: Maeda Hajime , Go Hayato , Sakuma Jun , Imamura Takashi , Sato Maki , Momoi Nobuo , Hosoya Mitsuaki
Published: January 2018

Congenital anomalies of the spine may occur with malformations of the central nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genitourinary systems. This is a case of myelomeningocele with unilateral right renal agenesis in a newborn. The patient suffered complications of cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis, but was successfully treated and discharged on day 86. In this case, unilateral right renal agenesis represented a significant surgical risk because failure of the remaining kidney could result in renal failure. Because congenital anomalies of the spine may be associated with malformations of the genitourinary system, and additional surgeries were necessary in our case following birth, it is very important that the presence of genitourinary malformations be evaluated.
Burnout in der Intensivmedizin
Authors: Michalsen Andrej , Hillert Andreas , Schießl Andreas , Hinzmann Dominik
Published: January 2018

Both acute crises and chronically incriminating circumstances in people’s lives may lead to their being afflicted by psychological and somatic ailments. “Burnout” has been coined and established as the term for chronic occupational strain. Many professions claim to be extraordinarily affected by burnout, amongst others physicians and nurses, especially those working in anaesthesiology and critical care. Usually assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventary, the prevalence of moderate or severe burnout in these areas is estimated at about 30 % amongst nurses and about 40 % to 50 % amongst physicians. Both individual characteristics of those afflicted and occupational factors – as well as their interactions – are made responsible for causing burnout. The complexity of potentially stressful impingements, though, particularly within anaesthesiology and critical care, cannot be covered by the traditional burnout-paradigm. The plethora of recommendations found in popular science may be helpful in individual cases. However, there are no evidence-based preventive or therapeutic measures yet, that would endurably mitigate the sequelae of chronic occupational strain. On the one hand, occupationally burdensome factors needed to be registered more elaborately, for instance using the “Stress-Monitor” instrument. On the other hand, an in-hospital “peer-support system” has been developed and implemented in a Munich hospital recently. Anaesthetists and intensive care physicians have formed a network that supports health care workers surmounting acute occupational strain and thus helps to prevent its chronification. Ultimately, the goal of health care workers needed to consist of establishing individual work-related strategies to adequately cope with the manifold occupational stressors in a lifelong learning process.
Abklärung von Leberwerterhöhungen in der hausärztlichen Praxis – Versorgungsrealität in Deutschland
Authors: Jansky Michael , Mattlinger Christina , Nguyen-Tat Marc , Galle Peter , Lammert Frank , Jäger Johannes , Wangler Julian
Published: January 2018

Hintergrund Leberwerterhöhungen stellen in der Hausarztpraxis eine häufige Zufallsdiagnose dar. Bislang fehlt ein evidenzbasierter, strukturierter Diagnosealgorithmus zur Einordnung und Bewertung erhöhter Leberwerte, insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Früherkennung von Patienten mit erhöhtem Risiko für eine Leberfibrose oder Leberzirrhose. Dementsprechend stellt der Umgang mit erhöhten Leberwerten, welche im Rahmen einer allgemeinen Blutuntersuchung auffallen, eine diagnostische Herausforderung dar, die stark vom jeweiligen Arzt abhängt.

Methoden Mittels schriftlicher Befragung wurden zwischen März und Juni 2017 insgesamt 391 Hausärzte in Rheinland-Pfalz und im Saarland zum Vorgehen bei Leberwerterhöhungen befragt. Schwerpunkte waren Verhalten und Strategien bei der Abklärung (unklar) erhöhter Leberwerte sowie die Identifizierung von Herausforderungen und Fortbildungsinteressen. Neben der deskriptiven Analyse kam eine Faktorenanalyse zum Einsatz.

Ergebnisse Die nicht-anlassbezogene Bestimmung von Leberwerten wie γ-GT, AST und ALT wird in der hausärztlichen Praxis häufig durchgeführt. Für die bestimmten leberassoziierten Laborwerte zeigen sich stark unterschiedliche Cluster. Im Fall erhöhter Leberwerte präferiert eine Mehrheit der Hausärzte grundsätzlich ein kontrolliertes Zuwarten (58 %). In Ermangelung eines feststehenden Behandlungspfads treten im Praxisalltag Herausforderungen auf, die sich auf das kontrollierte Zuwarten, die Zusammenarbeit mit gastroenterologischen Fachärzten sowie die Orientierung an vorgegebenen Laborwertportfolios beziehen.

Schlussfolgerung Neben der Einführung eines evidenzbasierten Algorithmus ist über eine Optimierung im Informationsfluss zwischen Haus- und Fachärzten nachzudenken. Der Ausbau von themenbezogenen Schulungs- und Fortbildungsformaten für Hausärzte wäre begrüßenswert.
Time trend of reported cases and publications: hepatitis E in comparison to hepatitis A – D in Germany from 2001 to 2016
Authors: Wehmeyer Malte , Hartl Johannes , von Wulffen Moritz , Lohse Ansgar , Pischke Sven
Published: January 2018

Background The frequency of autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in Western countries has increased since the millennium, probably due to a higher awareness for HEV. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological situation and regional distribution of HEV in comparison to hepatitis A – D in Germany.

Methods Data of the reported cases, patients’ travel histories, and the regional distribution of hepatitis A – E virus infections from 2001 to 2017 were extracted from databases of the Robert Koch Institute. The number of publications per year on each hepatitis virus was used as a surrogate parameter for scientific awareness.

Results The incidence of HEV infections increased from 31 reported cases in 2001 to 1991 cases in 2016 with a rate of autochthonous HEV infections of 44.4 % in 2001 and 83.9 % in 2016. In 2016, the HEV incidence was 4.4/100 000 in Eastern Germany and 2.0/100 000 in Western Germany. From 2001 to 2016, the numbers of hepatitis A and C virus infections decreased, while the number of hepatitis B virus infections initially decreased followed by an increase since 2014. The incidence of hepatitis D virus infections remained low. The incidence rates of hepatitis A – D virus infections were comparable between Eastern and Western Germany in 2016. There was a strong correlation between publications on HEV and reported HEV cases (Pearson r = 0.9803, p < 0.01).

Conclusions Especially in Eastern Germany, but also in Western Germany, the rate of reported HEV cases and the scientific awareness for this disease increased strongly since 2001.
The effects of geometrical configurations on the head collision on nonlinear solitary pulses in a quantum semiconductor plasma: A case study on GaAs semiconductor
Authors: EL-Shamy E. F. , Gohman F. S. , Alqahtani M. M. , AlFaify S.
Published: January 2018

An investigation is presented to examine nonlinear electrostatic waves in a quantum semiconductor plasma. A quantum semiconductor plasma model consisting of electrons and holes is going to be used, which includes exchange–correlation potentials, the quantum recoil effect, and degenerate pressures of electrons and holes. Actually, a nonlinear solitary pulse can be used to represent the intrinsic coherent electrostatic wave in a quantum semiconductor plasma. The propagation and the collision of nonlinear solitary pulses are examined by the extended Poincaré-Lighthill-Kuo method. Typical values for the GaAs semiconductors are employed to investigate the basic characteristics of solitary pulses. The numerical studies show that the energies and then the trajectories of nonlinear solitary pulses after the collision are significantly changed due to the effects of the exchange and correlation potentials and the variety in the studied system's geometry. The results obtained here may be useful for gaining a better understanding of the basic features of the nonlinear solitary pulses in quantum semiconductor plasmas.
Experimental investigation of ventilated supercavitation with gas jet cavitator
Authors: Jiang Yunhua , Shao Siyao , Hong Jiarong
Published: January 2018

We conduct an experimental study of the ventilated supercavitation generated from gas jet cavitator [gas jet ventilated supercavitation (GJVS)] over a broad range of ventilation and flow conditions for two gas jet nozzle sizes. The experiments show that supercavity evolves across different cavity regimes with distinct patterns, i.e., bubbly flow, Stable Cavity (SC), Unstable Cavity (UC), and Jet Cavity (JC) with increasing ventilation rate. The supercavity transition is shown to be a result of the stagnation location of gas jet shifting from the potential core zone to the established turbulent flow zone of the jet as ventilation increases. The variation of supercavity regimes under a broad range of Froude numbers is compiled, and the map of supercavity regime transition shows similar trends for different Froude numbers and nozzle sizes. Compared to a disc cavitator, in the SC regime, the GJVS exhibits similar ventilation hysteresis with a significantly higher ventilation demand for the formation of a supercavity. The transitions from SC to UC and UC to JC are examined using the ratio of gas jet length to potential core length, which shows a variation across different Froude numbers and nozzle sizes. Moreover, the change of supercavity dimension upon increasing ventilation is examined for SC and JC regimes. In the SC regime, the maximum diameter of the supercavity and the corresponding cavitation number remain constant with increasing ventilation, similar to the case of a disc cavitator. In contrast, the maximum diameter and the cavitation number grow linearly upon an increase of ventilation in the JC regime.
Graphene nanoribbon field-effect transistors fabricated by etchant-free transfer from Au(788)
Authors: Ohtomo Manabu , Sekine Yoshiaki , Hibino Hiroki , Yamamoto Hideki
Published: January 2018

We report etching-free and iodine-free transfer of highly aligned array of armchair-edge graphene nanoribbons (ACGNRs) and their field-effect transistor (FET) characteristics. They were prepared by on-surface polymerization on Au(788) templates. The ACGNRs were mechanically delaminated and transferred onto insulating substrates with the aid of a nano-porous support layer composed of hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ). The key process in the mechanical delamination is the intercalation of octanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), which penetrate the HSQ layer and intercalate between the ACGNRs and Au(788). After the transfer, the octanethiol SAMs were removed with Piranha solution, enabling the reuse of the Au single crystals. The FETs fabricated with the transferred ACGNR array showed ambipolar behavior when the channel length was as long as 60 nm. Quasi-one-dimensional conductivity was observed, which implies a good alignment of GNRs after the transfer. In contrast, short-channel ACGNR FETs (channel length ∼20 nm) suffer from a geometry-dependent short-channel effect. This effect is more severe in the FETs with ACGNRs parallel to the channel, which is an ideal geometry, than in ones perpendicular to the channel. Since the ID-VD curve is well fitted by the power-law model, the short-channel effect likely stems from the space-charge limited current effect, while the wide charge-transfer region in the GNR channel can be another possible cause for the short-channel effect. These results provide us with important insights into the designing short-channel GNR-FETs with improved performance.
Tutorial: Junction spectroscopy techniques and deep-level defects in
semiconductors
Authors: Peaker A. R. , Markevich V. P. , Coutinho J.
Published: January 2018

The term junction spectroscopy embraces a wide range of techniques used to explore the properties of semiconductor materials and semiconductor devices. In this tutorial review, we describe the most widely used junction spectroscopy approaches for characterizing deep-level defects in semiconductors and present some of the early work on which the principles of today's methodology are based. We outline ab-initio calculations of defect properties and give examples of how density functional theory in conjunction with formation energy and marker methods can be used to guide the interpretation of experimental results. We review recombination, generation, and trapping of charge carriers associated with defects. We consider thermally driven emission and capture and describe the techniques of Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS), high resolution Laplace DLTS, admittance spectroscopy, and scanning DLTS. For the study of minority carrier related processes and wide gap materials, we consider Minority Carrier Transient Spectroscopy (MCTS), Optical DLTS, and deep level optical transient spectroscopy together with some of their many variants. Capacitance, current, and conductance measurements enable carrier exchange processes associated with the defects to be detected. We explain how these methods are used in order to understand the behaviour of point defects and the determination of charge states and negative-U (Hubbard correlation energy) behaviour. We provide, or reference, examples from a wide range of materials including Si, SiGe, GaAs, GaP, GaN, InGaN, InAlN, and ZnO.
van der Waals epitaxial ZnTe thin film on single-crystalline graphene
Authors: Sun Xin , Chen Zhizhong , Wang Yiping , Lu Zonghuan , Shi Jian , Washington Morris , Lu Toh-Ming
Published: January 2018

Graphene template has long been promoted as a promising host to support van der Waals flexible electronics. However, van der Waals epitaxial growth of conventional semiconductors in planar thin film form on transferred graphene sheets is challenging because the nucleation rate of film species on graphene is significantly low due to the passive surface of graphene. In this work, we demonstrate the epitaxy of zinc-blende ZnTe thin film on single-crystalline graphene supported by an amorphous glass substrate. Given the amorphous nature and no obvious remote epitaxy effect of the glass substrate, this study clearly proves the van der Waals epitaxy of a 3D semiconductor thin film on graphene. X-ray pole figure analysis reveals the existence of two ZnTe epitaxial orientational domains on graphene, a strong X-ray intensity observed from the ZnTe [1¯1¯2] ǁ graphene [10] orientation domain, and a weaker intensity from the ZnTe [1¯1¯2] ǁ graphene [11] orientation domain. Furthermore, this study systematically investigates the optoelectronic properties of this epitaxial ZnTe film on graphene using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, and fabrication and characterization of a ZnTe-graphene photodetector. The research suggests an effective approach towards graphene-templated flexible electronics.
Perspective: Structural fluctuation of protein and Anfinsen’s thermodynamic hypothesis
Authors: Hirata Fumio , Sugita Masatake , Yoshida Masasuke , Akasaka Kazuyuki
Published: January 2018

The thermodynamics hypothesis, casually referred to as “Anfinsen’s dogma,” is described theoretically in terms of a concept of the structural fluctuation of protein or the first moment (average structure) and the second moment (variance and covariance) of the structural distribution. The new theoretical concept views the unfolding and refolding processes of protein as a shift of the structural distribution induced by a thermodynamic perturbation, with the variance-covariance matrix varying. Based on the theoretical concept, a method to characterize the mechanism of folding (or unfolding) is proposed. The transition state, if any, between two stable states is interpreted as a gap in the distribution, which is created due to an extensive reorganization of hydrogen bonds among back-bone atoms of protein and with water molecules in the course of conformational change. Further perspective to applying the theory to the computer-aided drug design, and to the material science, is briefly discussed.
Acoustic perfect absorption and broadband insulation achieved by double-zero metamaterials
Authors: Wang Xiaole , Luo Xudong , Zhao Hui , Huang Zhenyu
Published: January 2018

We report the mechanism for simultaneous realization of acoustic perfect absorption (PA) and broadband insulation (BI) in the acoustic free field by a layered acoustic metamaterial (LAM). The proposed LAM comprises two critically coupled membrane-type acoustic metamaterials sandwiching a porous material layer. Both theoretical and experimental results verify that the proposed LAM sample can achieve nearly PA (98.4% in experiments) at 312 Hz with a thickness of 15 mm (1/73 of wavelength) and BI in the frequency range of 200–1000 Hz with an areal density of 2.2 kg/m2. In addition, the real parts of both the effective dynamic density and bulk modulus reach zero precisely at the critical frequency of 312 Hz, arising from the monopolar eigenmode of LAM. Our work advances the concept of synthetic design of sound absorption and insulation properties of multi-impedance-coupled acoustic systems and promotes membrane-type acoustic metamaterials to more practical engineering applications.
Inverse scattering transform for the nonlocal nonlinear Schrödinger equation with nonzero boundary conditions
Authors: Ablowitz Mark J. , Luo Xu-Dan , Musslimani Ziad H.
Published: January 2018

In 2013, a new nonlocal symmetry reduction of the well-known AKNS (an integrable system of partial differential equations, introduced by and named after Mark J. Ablowitz, David J. Kaup, and Alan C. Newell et al. (1974)) scattering problem was found. It was shown to give rise to a new nonlocal PT symmetric and integrable Hamiltonian nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation. Subsequently, the inverse scattering transform was constructed for the case of rapidly decaying initial data and a family of spatially localized, time periodic one-soliton solutions was found. In this paper, the inverse scattering transform for the nonlocal NLS equation with nonzero boundary conditions at infinity is presented in four different cases when the data at infinity have constant amplitudes. The direct and inverse scattering problems are analyzed. Specifically, the direct problem is formulated, the analytic properties of the eigenfunctions and scattering data and their symmetries are obtained. The inverse scattering problem, which arises from a novel nonlocal system, is developed via a left-right Riemann-Hilbert problem in terms of a suitable uniformization variable and the time dependence of the scattering data is obtained. This leads to a method to linearize/solve the Cauchy problem. Pure soliton solutions are discussed, and explicit 1-soliton solution and two 2-soliton solutions are provided for three of the four different cases corresponding to two different signs of nonlinearity and two different values of the phase difference between plus and minus infinity. In another case, there are no solitons.
Conservation value of koa (Acacia koa) reforestation areas on Hawaii Island
Authors: Strommer Laurie , Conant Sheila
Published: January 2018

Efforts to restore forests for ecological and economic benefit in Hawaii are converging on koa (Acacia koa), an endemic dominant or codominant canopy tree common across broad elevation and moisture gradients. We quantified plant species composition and forest structure in koa reforestation areas (KRAs) and in nearby intact native forest on Hawaii Island. Total species richness and percentage native species richness were lower in the plantation forests than in the intact forests, although species richness in the KRAs at one site was not significantly different from that in intact forest. Tree, sapling, and seedling densities differed between KRAs and forest sites at one site. At another, the native forest and one KRA had similar tree and seedling densities and similar canopy height and percentage canopy cover. Total stand basal area was greatest in the intact forest at both sites, although the basal area for the KRAs at one site exceeded those for intact forest at the other. Koa plantings can be structurally similar to intact forests though species composition differs. Our results suggest that koa forestry can facilitate native understorey development in some cases.
Transition to adult care for Aboriginal children with rheumatic fever: a review informed by a focussed ethnography in northern Australia
Authors: Mitchell Alice G. , Belton Suzanne , Johnston Vanessa , Ralph Anna P.
Published: January 2018

Aboriginal children in northern Australia have high rates of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, which are chronic conditions because of the need for long-term treatment and monitoring. This article critically reviews the literature on transition to adult care for children with chronic conditions and considers applicability to the care of these children. The review was merged with findings from a focussed ethnography conducted in four remote Aboriginal communities with young people who have these conditions. Transition care aims to support adolescents on a healthcare trajectory to facilitate best long-term health and personal outcomes. Characteristics of the two medical conditions, the children and their local health services in northern Australia were generalised and merged with principles from the transition care literature, including policies governing transition clinics in urban locations. In this setting, the challenge is to transition Aboriginal children safely through to adulthood without rheumatic heart damage rather than to a separate health service on reaching adulthood. Recommended tailoring of transition care involves engaging and valuing local navigators who can address language and cultural barriers to provide a sustainable alternative to transition coordinators in mainstream programs. This has potential to improve care without further burdening overstretched clinical resources.
Linking secondary metabolites to gene clusters through genome sequencing of six diverse
Aspergillus
species
Authors: Kjærbølling Inge , Vesth Tammi C. , Frisvad Jens C. , Nybo Jane L. , Theobald Sebastian , Kuo Alan , Bowyer Paul , Matsuda Yudai , Mondo Stephen , Lyhne Ellen K. , Kogle Martin E. , Clum Alicia , Lipzen Anna , Salamov Asaf , Ngan Chew Yee , Daum Chris , Chiniquy Jennifer , Barry Kerrie , LaButti Kurt , Haridas Sajeet , Simmons Blake A. , Magnuson Jon K. , Mortensen Uffe H. , Larsen Thomas O. , Grigoriev Igor V. , Baker Scott E. , Andersen Mikael R.
Published: January 2018

Significance

The genus of
Aspergillus
holds fungi relevant to plant and human pathology, food biotechnology, enzyme production, model organisms, and a selection of extremophiles. Here we present six whole-genome sequences that represent unexplored branches of the
Aspergillus
genus. The comparison of these genomes with previous genomes, coupled with extensive chemical analysis, has allowed us to identify genes for toxins, antibiotics, and anticancer compounds, as well as show that
Aspergillus novofumigatus
is potentially as pathogenic as
Aspergillus fumigatus
, and has an even more diverse set of secreted bioactive compounds. The findings are of interest to industrial biotechnology and basic research, as well as medical and clinical research.
ALKALs are in vivo ligands for ALK family receptor tyrosine kinases in the neural crest and derived cells
Authors: Fadeev Andrey , Mendoza-Garcia Patricia , Irion Uwe , Guan Jikui , Pfeifer Kathrin , Wiessner Stephanie , Serluca Fabrizio , Singh Ajeet Pratap , Nüsslein-Volhard Christiane , Palmer Ruth H.
Published: January 2018

Significance

Neuroblastoma is a pediatric tumor arising from the neural crest. Dysregulation of the receptor tyrosine kinase ALK has been linked to neuroblastoma, making it important to understand its function in native conditions. In zebrafish, a related receptor—Ltk—is also expressed in neural crest and regulates development of specific pigment cells—iridophores. Ligands activating human ALK were recently identified as the ALKAL proteins (FAM150, AUG) by biochemical means. Our data show that this ligand–receptor pair functions in vivo in the neural crest of zebrafish to drive development of iridophores. Removal of Ltk or all three zebrafish ALKALs results in larvae completely lacking these cells. UsingDrosophilaand human cell lines, we show evolutionary conservation of this important interaction.
Shaping public view
Authors: Sidiropoulou Maria
Published: January 2018

Media research problematizes processes of mediation and the media-audience relationship. The study explores a second-order but equally important type of mediation process, that of press translation. It examines a set of pairs of English original and Greek translated headlines culled from various Greek newspapers (2005–2015). It highlights translation shifts which have the potential to drive the interest and values of some locations and political action or players, with a view to modifying perception of political landscapes and the demographics of inclusion and exclusion. The study shows that this is achieved by translation strategies managing proximity/ distance implications, agency representation, de/aestheticizing suffering or shifting perceptions of audience identity. Remediation-as-translation practice needs rigorous theorizing as it assumes an important yet rather neglected area of media tactics, which can de/mobilize moralizing ethics and affect ethical sensibility in public sphere.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of a hot pressing-dynamic partition treated steel
Authors: Sun Tao , Li Jian-ping , Song Hongwu
Published: January 2018

The microstructure and mechanical property of improved press-hardened steel with hot pressing combined dynamic partitioning (HP-DP) treatment are presented. Microstructure of the steel subjected to HP-DP treatment is featured by multi-martensite phases and the retained austenite (RA) phase with carbon content gradient. Compared with conventional hot-pressed samples, the HP-DP samples show better tensile property especially ductility. The effect of HP-DP parameters on the evolution of RA and mechanical property is then discussed. Finally, hot pressing of a double U-shaped part using both 22MnB5 steel sheet and the developed HP-DP steel sheet was carried out with exact control of part temperature at the end of hot pressing followed by air cooling.
Chemical waves in cell and developmental biology
Authors: Deneke Victoria E. , Di Talia Stefano
Published: January 2018

Many biological events, such as the propagation of nerve impulses, the synchronized cell cycles of early embryogenesis, and collective cell migration, must be coordinated with remarkable speed across very large distances. Such rapid coordination cannot be achieved by simple diffusion of molecules alone and requires specialized mechanisms. Although active transport can provide a directed and efficient way to travel across subcellular structures, it cannot account for the most rapid examples of coordination found in biology. Rather, these appear to be driven by mechanisms involving traveling waves of chemical activities that are able to propagate information rapidly across biological or physical systems. Indeed, recent advances in our ability to probe the dynamics of signaling pathways are revealing many examples of coordination of cellular and developmental processes through traveling chemical waves. Here, we will review the theoretical principles underlying such waves; highlight recent literature on their role in different contexts, ranging from chemotaxis to development; and discuss open questions and future perspectives on the study of chemical waves as an essential feature of cell and tissue physiology.
The polarity protein Angiomotin p130 controls dendritic spine maturation
Authors: Wigerius Michael , Quinn Dylan , Diab Antonios , Clattenburg Leanne , Kolar Annette , Qi Jiansong , Krueger Stefan R. , Fawcett James P.
Published: January 2018

The actin cytoskeleton is essential for the structural changes in dendritic spines that lead to the formation of new synapses. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying spine formation are well characterized, the events that drive spine maturation during development are largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that Angiomotin (AMOT-130) is necessary for spine stabilization. AMOT-130 is enriched in mature dendritic spines and functions to stabilize the actin cytoskeleton by coupling F-actin to postsynaptic protein scaffolds. These functions of AMOT are transiently restricted during postnatal development by phosphorylation imposed by the kinase Lats1. Our study proposes that AMOT-130 is essential for normal spine morphogenesis and identifies Lats1 as an upstream regulator in this process. Moreover, our findings may link AMOT-130 loss and the related spine defects to neurological disorders.
Modulating Role of Ang1-7 in Control of Blood Pressure and Renal Function in AngII-infused Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Kuczeriszka Marta , Kompanowska-Jezierska Elżbieta , Sadowski Janusz , Prieto Minolfa C , Navar L Gabriel
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Indirect evidence suggests that angiotensin 1-7 (Ang1-7) may counterbalance prohypertensive actions of angiotensin II (AngII), via activation of vascular and/or renal tubular receptors to cause vasodilation and natriuresis/diuresis. We examined if Ang1-7 would attenuate the development of hypertension, renal vasoconstriction, and decreased natriuresis in AngII-infused rats and evaluated the mechanisms involved.

METHODS

AngII, alone or with Ang1-7, was infused to conscious Sprague-Dawley rats for 13 days and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and renal excretion were repeatedly determined. In anesthetized rats, acute actions of Ang1-7 and effects of blockade of angiotensin AT1 or Mas receptors (candesartan or A-779) were studied.

RESULTS

Chronic AngII infusion increased SBP from 143 ± 4 to 195 ± 6 mm Hg. With Ang1-7 co-infused, SBP increased from 133 ± 5 to 161 ± 5 mm Hg (increase reduced, P < 0.002); concurrent increases in urine flow (V) and sodium excretion (UNaV) were greater. In anesthetized normotensive or AngII-induced hypertensive rats, Ang1-7 infusion transiently increased mean arterial pressure (MABP), transiently decreased renal blood flow (RBF), and caused increases in UNaV and V. In normotensive rats, candesartan prevented the Ang1-7-induced increases in MABP and UNaV and the decrease in RBF. In anesthetized normotensive, rats intravenous A-779 increased MABP (114 ± 5 to 120 ± 5 mm Hg, P < 0.03) and urine flow. Surprisingly, these changes were not observed with A-779 applied during background Ang1-7 infusion.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that in AngII-dependent hypertension, Ang1-7 deficit contributes to sodium and fluid retention and thereby to BP elevation; a correction by Ang1-7 infusion seems mediated by AT1 and not Mas receptors.
LeNup: learning nucleosome positioning from DNA sequences with improved convolutional neural networks
Authors: Zhang Juhua , Peng Wenbo , Wang Lei
Published: January 2018

Motivation

Nucleosome positioning plays significant roles in proper genome packing and its accessibility to execute transcription regulation. Despite a multitude of nucleosome positioning resources available on line including experimental datasets of genome-wide nucleosome occupancy profiles and computational tools to the analysis on these data, the complex language of eukaryotic Nucleosome positioning remains incompletely understood.

Results

Here, we address this challenge using an approach based on a state-of-the-art machine learning method. We present a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) to understand nucleosome positioning. We combined Inception-like networks with a gating mechanism for the response of multiple patterns and long term association in DNA sequences. We developed the open-source package LeNup based on the CNN to predict nucleosome positioning in Homo sapiens, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster as well as Saccharomyces cerevisiae genomes. We trained LeNup on four benchmark datasets. LeNup achieved greater predictive accuracy than previously published methods.

Availability and implementation

LeNup is freely available as Python and Lua script source code under a BSD style license from https://github.com/biomedBit/LeNup.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Catastrophizing Interferes with Cognitive Modulation of Pain in Women with Fibromyalgia
Authors: Ellingson Laura D , Stegner Aaron J , Schwabacher Isaac J , Lindheimer Jacob B , Cook Dane B
Published: January 2018

Background

Pain modulation is a critical function of the nociceptive system that includes the ability to engage descending pain control systems to maintain a functional balance between facilitation and inhibition of incoming sensory stimuli. Dysfunctional pain modulation is associated with increased risk for chronic pain and is characteristic of fibromyalgia (FM). Catastrophizing is also common in FM. However, its influence on pain modulation is poorly understood.

Objective

To determine the role of catastrophizing on central nervous system processing during pain modulation in FM via examining brain responses and pain sensitivity during an attention-distraction paradigm.

Methods

Twenty FM patients and 18 healthy controls (CO) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while receiving pain stimuli, administered alone and during distracting cognitive tasks. Pain ratings were assessed after each stimulus. Catastrophizing was assessed with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS).

Results

The ability to modulate pain during distraction varied among FM patients and was associated with catastrophizing. This was demonstrated by significant positive relationships between PCS scores and pain ratings (P < 0.05) and brain responses in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (P < 0.01). Relationships between catastrophizing and pain modulation did not differ between FM and CO (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

FM patients with higher levels of catastrophizing were less able to distract themselves from pain, indicative of catastrophizing-related impairments in pain modulation. These results suggest that the tendency to catastrophize interacts with attention-resource allocation and may represent a mechanism of chronic pain exacerbation and/or maintenance. Reducing catastrophizing may improve FM symptoms via improving central nervous system regulation of pain.
Obesity Does Not Increase Operative Time in Otologic Surgery: An Analysis of 5125 Cases
Authors: Muelleman Thomas , Shew Matthew , Muelleman Robert J. , Villwock Mark , Sykes Kevin , Staecker Hinrich , Lin James
Published: January 2018

Objectives:

A large shoulder can impact otologic surgical access. The physical obstruction of a large shoulder may force the surgeon to adjust his or her posture or hand position. We sought to assess the effect of body mass index (BMI) on operative time in tympanoplasties and tympanomastoidectomies.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting:

National surgical quality improvement program dataset (NSQIP) 2011 to 2014.

Patients:

Current procedural terminology (CPT) codes were used to identify patients undergoing tympanoplasties and tympanomastoidectomies.

Interventions:

Otologic surgery as indicated by CPT code.

Main Outcome Measures:

Targeted variables included height, weight, and operative time. BMI was stratified to assess a range of body compositions (<25, 25–30, >30–35, >35–40, >40). Categorical variables were compared using χ2 tests and continuous variables were compared using Kruskal–Wallis tests. Correlation between operative time and BMI was assessed using Spearman's rho. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the variables affecting operative time. Surgical complications were assessed in binary logistic regression using the enter method. Two-tailed significance was set at α = 0.05.

Results:

Two surgical groups were identified: tympanoplasty (n = 3,508) and tympanomastoidectomy (n = 1,617). There was not a significant difference in mean operative time across the BMI subgroups for either surgical group (p = 0.617, 0.859, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed no significant difference in operative times based on BMI classification.

Conclusions:

The body habitus of obese patients may force the otologic surgeon to adapt, but obese patients do not have a statistically significant longer mean operative time for tympanoplasties and tympanomastoidectomies than patients with a lower BMI.
Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct and Cochlear Implants: The Effect of Early Counseling on the Length of Time Between Candidacy and Implantation
Authors: Bostic Katlyn , Lewis Rebecca M. , Chai Brianna , Manganella Juliana L. , Barrett Devon L. , Kawai Kosuke , Kenna Margaret A. , Stiles Derek J. , Clark Terrell
Published: January 2018

Objective:

To determine if discussing cochlear implantation (CI) with patients with enlarged vestibular aqueducts (EVA) and their families before reaching audiological criteria for CI candidacy effects the length of time between reaching audiological candidacy and CI surgery, and to describe the universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) results and communication modality in this sample.

Patients:

Forty-two patients (25 females) with confirmed EVA and cochlear implants.

Intervention(s):

Diagnostic CI visit.

Main Outcome Measures:

The primary outcome measure is the difference in length of time between reaching audiological candidacy for CI and surgical implantation between those who had preliminary discussions regarding CI with their medical and healthcare providers before reaching audiological candidacy versus who had discussions after reaching candidacy. The secondary outcome measure is the result of the UNHS and primary mode of communication used by each patient.

Results:

Discussing CI before reaching audiological candidacy was associated with a significantly shorter duration between reaching audiological candidacy and receiving CI (median = 3.1 mo; interquartile range [IQR] = 1.7–5.4) as compared with discussing CI after reaching candidacy (median = 5.8 mo; IQR = 3.2–11.2; p = 0.012). Participants born after the implementation of the UNHS, 16 of 24 patients referred on one or both ears. Communication modalities were evenly divided between utilizing sign-support English and oral/aural communicators only.

Conclusions:

Discussion of CI in patients with EVA before reaching audiological candidacy reduces the amount of time the child is without adequate auditory access and contributes to a constructive and interactive preparatory experience.
Self-Evaluated Quality of Life and Functional Outcomes After Microsurgery, Stereotactic Radiation or Observation-Only for Vestibular Schwannoma of the Adult Patient: A Systematic Review
Authors: Papatsoutsos Efstathios , Spielmann Patrick M.
Published: January 2018

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of different management options on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in vestibular schwannoma patients.

Data Sources:

A systematic search of the Cochrane Database, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness, and the Ovid Medline & EMBASE was performed. English and German language studies published between 1980 and 2015 were considered.

Study Selection:

This is a systematic review of HRQoL of patients managed for vestibular schwannoma. Studies in which HRQoL after one management option were evaluated or compared with other managements or with control populations using validated or reliable questionnaires, were included.

Data Extraction:

The included studies were independently evaluated by two reviewers. The quality of studies was assessed and graded as per Oxford Centre of Evidence Based Medicine System.

Results:

Ten prospective and 29 retrospective studies were identified: microsurgery initially exerted a negative effect on HRQoL but this tended to improve with follow up. Radiotherapy had a less negative effect but with minimal change over follow up. A significant limitation was that studies did not present results stratified by tumor size. Many patients will need active treatment despite the potential for negative effects on their QoL. The concept of a minimal clinically important difference has been introduced into this field and was compared with five studies.

Conclusion:

A number of prospective studies are available but none yet with a disease-specific questionnaire. Heterogeneity and the methodological weaknesses of the included studies constitute the principle limitation of this review. The introduction of the minimal clinically important difference should improve the relevance of studies and allow a sensitive comparison of treatments.
Relations Between Self-reported Executive Functioning and Speech Perception Skills in Adult Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Moberly Aaron C. , Patel Tirth R. , Castellanos Irina
Published: January 2018

Hypothesis:

As a result of their hearing loss, adults with cochlear implants (CIs) would self-report poorer executive functioning (EF) skills than normal-hearing (NH) peers, and these EF skills would be associated with performance on speech recognition tasks.

Background:

EF refers to a group of high order neurocognitive skills responsible for behavioral and emotional regulation during goal-directed activity, and EF has been found to be poorer in children with CIs than their NH age-matched peers. Moreover, there is increasing evidence that neurocognitive skills, including some EF skills, contribute to the ability to recognize speech through a CI.

Methods:

Thirty postlingually deafened adults with CIs and 42 age-matched NH adults were enrolled. Participants and their spouses or significant others (informants) completed well-validated self-reports or informant-reports of EF, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Adult (BRIEF-A). CI users’ speech recognition skills were assessed in quiet using several measures of sentence recognition. NH peers were tested for recognition of noise-vocoded versions of the same speech stimuli.

Results:

CI users self-reported difficulty on EF tasks of shifting and task monitoring. In CI users, measures of speech recognition correlated with several self-reported EF skills.

Conclusion:

The present findings provide further evidence that neurocognitive factors, including specific EF skills, may decline in association with hearing loss, and that some of these EF skills contribute to speech processing under degraded listening conditions.
Relationship Between the Extent of Endolymphatic Hydrops and the Severity and Fluctuation of Audiovestibular Symptoms in Patients With Menière's Disease and MRI Evidence of Hydrops
Authors: Jerin Claudia , Floerke Sonja , Maxwell Rebecca , Gürkov Robert
Published: January 2018

Objective:

To characterize the short-, middle-, and long-term occurrence of vertigo attacks in a large population of Menière's disease (MD) and to investigate the relationship between the extent of endolymphatic hydrops (ELH) and the severity of audiovestibular symptoms.

Study Design:

Prospective observational study.

Methods:

One hundred ninety-two patients with clinically definite MD participated in this study. The degree of ELH was visualized by locally enhanced inner ear magnetic resonance imaging. The occurrence and intensity of vertigo attacks, hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness were documented in patient diaries.

Results:

There was no significant correlation between the extent of cochlear or vestibular hydrops and the number of definite vertigo days, neither with regard to a short-term nor with regard to a middle-term time period. There was also no correlation between the extent of ELH and the intensity or activity of the coexisting aural symptoms hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness. The duration of the disease significantly correlated with the extent of both cochlear and vestibular hydrops, but not with the number of definite vertigo days.

Conclusion:

The ELH was progressive in the long-term course of the disease in this large population of definite MD patients, but short-term and middle-term fluctuations of the symptom severity did not involve measurable variations of the ELH. Furthermore, the symptom severity did not decrease with increasing disease duration.
Association of the ideal cardiovascular behaviors and factors with the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a prospective study
Authors: Zhu Shengtao , Shi Jihong , Ji Chunpeng , Yang Guang , Xing Jie , Zhu Feng , Lin Liming , Xing Aijun , Huang Zhe , Zhu Chenrui , Wei Xiaoming , Zhang Shutian , Gu Junchao , Wu Shouling
Published: January 2018

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the association of ideal cardiovascular behaviors and factors with the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prospectively.

Patients and methods

We analyzed 25 278 (21 433 men and 11 895 women) participants in the study. Participants were divided into four categories according to the number of ideal cardiovascular behaviors and factors: 0–2, 3, 4, and 5–7 groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

After adjustment for confounding factors, the multivariate logistic regression model showed that the risk of NAFLD among the groups with 3, 4, 5–7 ideal factors was lower than the 0–2 group; after adjustment for age, sex, income, education level, and other confounders, the odds ratios were 0.74 (95% CI: 0.68–0.80), 0.49 (95% CI: 0.45–0.53), and 0.37 (95% CI: 0.33–0.41), respectively.

Conclusion

The incidence of NAFLD decreased gradually with increasing ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and factors.