bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A flower-like Zn3V2O8/Ag composite with enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic activity: the triple-functional roles of Ag nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Peng , Yi Jianhong , Bao Rui , Fang Dong
Published: April 2019

Coprecipitation, calcination and photoreduction, in a combined method, were successfully employed to fabricate a flower-like Zn3V2O8 (ZnVO)/nano-precipitated Ag composite powder.
Low-reflection, (110)-orientation-preferred CsPbBr3 nanonet films for application in high-performance perovskite photodetectors
Authors: Liu Ronghuan , Zhou Hai , Song Zhaoning , Yang Xiaohan , Wu Dingjun , Song Zehao , Wang Hao , Yan Yanfa
Published: April 2019

A photodetector based on (110)-orientation-preferred CsPbBr3 nanonet films with ordered nanostructures displayed high device performance.
A controlled blue-shift in meso-nitrogen aryl fused DIPY and BODIPY skeletons
Authors: Farinone Marco , Cybińska Joanna , Pawlicki Miłosz
Published: April 2019

An aryl-amine attached to the meso-position of the BODIPY skeleton quenches the fluorescence. The observed edge fusion creates a new heterocyclic subunit simultaneously increasing the efficiency of emission. The quantitative deprotonation of meso NH functionality leads to absorbance blue shift and increased emission quantum yield showing potential for formation of BODIPY based changeable chromophores.
Orthogonally arranged tripyrrin–BODIPY conjugates with an “edge to plane” mode
Authors: Hou Chun-Liang , Yao Yuhang , Wang Da , Zhang Jing , Zhang Jun-Long
Published: April 2019

Molecular conjugates consisting of BODIPY and tripyrrin dyes in new “edge to plane” mode with modulated energy transfer.
The preparation of synthetic graphite materials with hierarchical pores from lignite by one-step impregnation and their characterization as dye absorbents
Authors: Qiu Tian , Yang Jian-Guo , Bai Xue-Jie , Wang Yu-Ling
Published: April 2019

Herein, synthetic graphite materials with hierarchical pores and large specific surface area were prepared by one-step impregnation with lignite as the carbon source, H2SO4 as the oxidant, and H3PO4 as the activator.
One-pot synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromene derivatives by MNPs@Cu as an effective and reusable magnetic nanocatalyst
Authors: MA Wanzheng , Ebadi Abdol Ghaffar , sabil Mostafa shahbazi , Javahershenas Ramin , Jimenez Giorgos
Published: April 2019

MNPs@Cu as an effective, recyclable nanocatalyst was prepared and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis vibrating sample magnetometry, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.
Liquid membrane catalytic model of hydrolyzing cellulose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural based on the lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Mei Qun , Wei Xiangqian , Sun Weitao , Zhang Xinghua , Li Wenzhi , Ma Longlong
Published: April 2019

Conversion of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is an important means of biomass utilization.
Digital quantum simulation of molecular vibrations
Authors: McArdle Sam , Mayorov Alexander , Shan Xiao , Benjamin Simon , Yuan Xiao
Published: April 2019

We investigate how digital quantum computers may be used to calculate molecular vibrational properties, such as energy levels and spectral information.
Construction of PdO–Pd interfaces assisted by laser irradiation for enhanced electrocatalytic N2 reduction reaction
Authors: Lv Jiali , Wu Shouliang , Tian Zhenfei , Ye Yixing , Liu Jun , Liang Changhao
Published: April 2019

The synergistic effect of PdO–Pd interfaces improved N2 adsorption and activation for excellent N2 reduction activity and stability.
Zero-dimensional metal oxide Li4TiO4
Authors: Du Mao-Hua
Published: April 2019

Low-dimensional metal halides have recently emerged as promising luminescent materials; however, chemical and thermal instabilities of halides present challenges to their practical applications. This work extends the current research on low-dimensional metal halides to oxides with improved stability and new functionalities.
Near infrared mechanoluminescence from the Nd3+ doped perovskite LiNbO3:Nd3+ for stress sensors
Authors: Xiong Puxian , Peng Mingying
Published: April 2019

Mechanoluminescence (ML) from most state-of-the-art phosphors primarily appears within the spectral range of ultraviolet to visible. Here, a novel near infrared ML which can penetrate tissues is achieved in Nd3+ doped LiNbO3.
A large magnetocaloric effect in two hybrid Gd-complexes: the synergy of inorganic and organic ligands towards excellent cryo-magnetic coolants
Authors: Li Jin-Hua , Liu Ai-Ju , Ma Yu-Juan , Han Song-De , Hu Ji-Xiang , Wang Guo-Ming
Published: April 2019

We report two hybrid Gd-complexes with the maximum entropy changes comparable to commercialized gadolinium gallium garnet Gd3Ga5O12 at a high field (7 T) and low fields (smaller than 3 T).
The enhanced two-photon absorption behavior of twistfuranacenes to phenylacetylene-functionalized twistacenes
Authors: Song Tingting , Han Yanbing , Jin Pengcheng , Li Xiaofang , Song Yinglin , Xiao Jinchong
Published: April 2019

Three novel furanacenes (5/D5c) have been synthesized and characterized.
Overexpression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin is correlated with poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Xu Lu , Guo Yacong , Xu Ning , Chen Lihai , Zhu Jin , Liu Ningsheng , Zhang Zhi-Yuan
Published: April 2019

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an IL-7-like cytokine that has been reported to be associated with several malignant tumors. The present study aimed to evaluate its role in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). The mRNA levels of TSLP in human EOC samples and EOC cell lines were determined. Then, the expression of TSLP was examined in 144 clinical tissue microarray samples and correlated with clinicopathological factors. Finally, the correlation between TSLP overexpression and prognosis of EOC patients was analyzed. Our data show that mRNA levels of TSLP were significantly higher in EOC tissues and cell lines. Chi-square tests revealed that TSLP overexpression in EOC was significantly associated with age, histological type, Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histological differentiation, pelvic involvement, and lymphatic metastasis. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that poor prognosis was significantly correlated with older age, advanced FIGO stage, poor histological differentiation, pelvic involvement, lymphatic involvement, or TSLP overexpression (P<0.05). Additionally, multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed pelvic involvement and TSLP overexpression as independent prognostic factors for both overall and disease-free survival. Taken altogether, TSLP overexpression reflects a more malignant phenotype and TSLP may be a novel biomarker for EOC.
Modelling ecosystem adaptation and dangerous rates of global warming
Authors: Millington Rebecca , Cox Peter M. , Moore Jonathan R. , Yvon-Durocher Gabriel
Published: April 2019

We are in a period of relatively rapid climate change. This poses challenges for individual species and threatens the ecosystem services that humanity relies upon. Temperature is a key stressor. In a warming climate, individual organisms may be able to shift their thermal optima through phenotypic plasticity. However, such plasticity is unlikely to be sufficient over the coming centuries. Resilience to warming will also depend on how fast the distribution of traits that define a species can adapt through other methods, in particular through redistribution of the abundance of variants within the population and through genetic evolution. In this paper, we use a simple theoretical ‘trait diffusion’ model to explore how the resilience of a given species to climate change depends on the initial trait diversity (biodiversity), the trait diffusion rate (mutation rate), and the lifetime of the organism. We estimate theoretical dangerous rates of continuous global warming that would exceed the ability of a species to adapt through trait diffusion, and therefore lead to a collapse in the overall productivity of the species. As the rate of adaptation through intraspecies competition and genetic evolution decreases with species lifetime, we find critical rates of change that also depend fundamentally on lifetime. Dangerous rates of warming vary from 1°C per lifetime (at low trait diffusion rate) to 8°C per lifetime (at high trait diffusion rate). We conclude that rapid climate change is liable to favour short-lived organisms (e.g. microbes) rather than longer-lived organisms (e.g. trees).
Perception Versus Reaction: Comparison of Tinnitus Psychoacoustic Measures and Tinnitus Functional Index Scores
Authors: Manning Candice , Thielman Emily J. , Grush Leslie , Henry James A.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus include its loudness and pitch. These characteristics are commonly measured and reported; however, it has not been shown that they are associated with the impact, or bothersomeness, of tinnitus. This study addressed this question by determining correlations between measures of tinnitus loudness, tinnitus pitch, and functional effects of tinnitus.

Method

Tinnitus loudness matches, pitch matches, a numeric rating scale (NRS) of tinnitus loudness, and responses to the 25-item tinnitus functional index (TFI) were obtained from 223 participants who experienced tinnitus for at least 6 months. Estimates of tinnitus pitch were calculated by use of a Bayesian sequential analysis technique.

Results

The total TFI score, as well as each of its 8 subscales, had weak or no correlations with both loudness matches and pitch matches, but moderate correlations with the NRS.

Conclusions

Psychoacoustic measurements used to estimate aspects of tinnitus perception appear unrelated to the impact of tinnitus, as assessed by a subjective outcome instrument. These psychoacoustic measurements do not assess reactions to tinnitus. These reactions should be measured by validated questionnaires, such as the TFI, which are designed to measure tinnitus impact. The moderate correlations between the NRS and the TFI suggest that self-reported tinnitus loudness is more a measure of tinnitus reactions than perception.
Optimal day‐ahead operation of user‐level integrated energy system considering dynamic behaviour of heat loads and customers' heat satisfaction
Authors: Lv Jiawei , Zhang Shenxi , Cheng Haozhong , Fang Sidun
Published: April 2019

This study proposes a novel optimal day‐ahead operation method for the user‐level integrated energy system (IES), which can take into account the dynamic behaviour of heat loads and customers' heat satisfaction. First, based on the energy hub, the dynamic model of heat loads is added into IES. Additionally, the customers' heat satisfaction model is constructed by the variance of water temperature and punishment coefficient. Then, the optimal day‐ahead operation model aimed at minimising the total cost is proposed. Constraints of energy purchase, operation of energy converters, loads, temperature and the variation of temperature are all contained. Piecewise linearisation and a standard modelling method are utilised to simplify the initial non‐convex and non‐linear problem to a quadratic programming problem. Finally, case studies are carried out on a practical calculation example. Results indicate that the total cost can be reduced by 5.6% when considering the dynamic behaviour of heat loads. Also, customers' heat satisfaction exerts a remarkable influence on the total cost.
Using NSGA‐III for optimising biomedical ontology alignment
Authors: Xue Xingsi , Lu Jiawei , Chen Junfeng
Published: April 2019

To support semantic inter‐operability between the biomedical information systems, it is necessary to determine the correspondences between the heterogeneous biomedical concepts, which is commonly known as biomedical ontology matching. Biomedical concepts are usually complex and ambiguous, which makes matching biomedical ontologies a challenge. Since none of the similarity measures can distinguish the heterogeneous biomedical concepts in any context independently, usually several similarity measures are applied together to determine the biomedical concepts mappings. However, the ignorance of the effects brought about by different biomedical concept mapping's preference on the similarity measures significantly reduces the alignment's quality. In this study, a non‐dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA)‐III‐based biomedical ontology matching technique is proposed to effectively match the biomedical ontologies, which first utilises an ontology partitioning technique to transform the large‐scale biomedical ontology matching problem into several ontology segment‐matching problems, and then uses NSGA‐III to determine the optimal alignment without tuning the aggregating weights. The experiment is conducted on the anatomy track and large biomedic ontologies track which are provided by the Ontology Alignment Evaluation Initiative (OAEI), and the comparisons with OAEI's participants show the effectiveness of the authors' approach.
Chronic inflammation evoked by pathogenic stimulus during carcinogenesis
Authors: Brücher Björn L.D.M. , Jamall Ijaz S.
Published: April 2019

A pathogenic (biological or chemical) stimulus is the earliest information received by a cell that can result in the disruption of homeostasis with consequent development of disease. Chronic inflammation involves many cell types with numerous cytokines and signaling pathways, the release of different components by the cells, and the crosstalk provoked by such stimuli involving subclinical chronic inflammation and is mechanistically manifold. Exosomes secrete chemicals that trigger the epithelium to produce exosome-like nanoparticles promoting chronic inflammation. Small molecules, together with various cytokines, selectively target signaling pathways inducing crosstalk that suppress apoptosis. 16S rRNA gene sequencing has become routine to provide information on the composition and abundance of bacteria found in human tissues and in reservoirs. The deregulation of autophagy with chronic stimulation of inflammation is an early phenomenon in carcinogenesis. The disruption of cell–cell integrity enables transcellular CagA migration and triggers deregulation of autophagy with the net result being chronic inflammation. The complex and insidious nature of chronic inflammation can be seen both inside and outside the cell and even with intracellular nuclear fragments such as chromatin, which itself can elicit a chronic inflammatory response within the cytoplasm and affect autophagy. The ultimate result of unresolved chronic inflammation is fibrosis, a step before tissue remodeling results in the formation of a precancerous niche (PCN). Various pathogenic stimuli associated with different neoplasms result in persistent inflammation. This ongoing disruption of homeostasis in the micromilieu of cells, tissues, and organs is an essential preamble to carcinogenesis and occurs early in that process.
Microbiome and morbid obesity increase pathogenic stimulus diversity
Authors: Brücher Björn L.D.M. , Jamall Ijaz S.
Published: April 2019

The microbiome, the relationship between environmental factors, a high-fat diet, morbid obesity, and host response have been associated with cancer, only a small fraction of which (<10%) are genetically triggered. This nongenetic association is underpinned by a worldwide increase in morbid obesity, which is associated with both insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. The connection of the microbiome and morbid obesity is reinforced by an approximate shift of about 47% in the estimated total number of bacteria and an increase from 38,000,000,000,000 in a reference man to 56,000,000,000,000 in morbid obesity leading to a disruption of the microbial ecology within the gut. Humans contain 6,000,000,000 microbes and more than 90% of the cells of the human body are microorganisms. Changes in the microflora of the gut are associated with the polarization of ion channels by butyrate, thereby influencing cell growth. The decrease in the relative proportion of Bacteroidetes together with a change in the fermentation of carbohydrates by bacteria is observed in morbid obesity. The disruption of homeostasis of the microflora in the obese changes signaling and crosstalk of several pathways, resulting in inflammation while suppressing apoptosis. The interactions between the microbiome and morbid obesity are important to understand signaling and crosstalk in the context of the progression of the six-step sequence of carcinogenesis. This disruption of homeostasis increases remodeling of the extracellular matrix and fibrosis followed by the none-resolvable precancerous niche as the internal pathogenic stimuli continue. The chronic stress explains why under such circumstances there is a greater proclivity for normal cells to undergo the transition to cancer cells.
Eicosanoids in carcinogenesis
Authors: Brücher Björn L.D.M. , Jamall Ijaz S.
Published: April 2019

Inflammation is the body's reaction to pathogenic (biological or chemical) stimuli and covers a burgeoning list of compounds and pathways that act in concert to maintain the health of the organism. Eicosanoids and related fatty acid derivatives can be formed from arachidonic acid and other polyenoic fatty acids via the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways generating a variety of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, lipoxins, resolvins and others. The cytochrome P450 pathway leads to the formation of hydroxy fatty acids, such as 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and epoxy eicosanoids. Free radical reactions induced by reactive oxygen and/or nitrogen free radical species lead to oxygenated lipids such as isoprostanes or isolevuglandins which also exhibit pro-inflammatory activities. Eicosanoids and their metabolites play fundamental endocrine, autocrine and paracrine roles in both physiological and pathological signaling in various diseases. These molecules induce various unsaturated fatty acid dependent signaling pathways that influence crosstalk, alter cell–cell interactions, and result in a wide spectrum of cellular dysfunctions including those of the tissue microenvironment. Although the complete role of eicosanoids, including that of the recently elucidated anti-inflammatory specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), e.g. lipoxins, resolvins, protectins and maresins, is not completely understood, the result of unremitting chronic inflammation is fostering early stages of carcinogenesis. Chronic inflammation facilitates the transition from a normal cell to a cancerous one. The disruption of homeostasis across a wide, but identifiable, swath of diverse molecular pathways creates a micromilieu which constitutes an early and necessary step in the 6-step sequence of carcinogenesis for the vast majority of cancers, termed “sporadic cancers”.
Undervalued ubiquitous proteins
Authors: Brücher Björn L.D.M. , Jamall Ijaz S.
Published: April 2019

The role of ubiquitous proteins (UPs) and their corresponding enzymes have been underestimated in carcinogenesis as the focus of much research revolved around measuring mutations and/or other genetic epiphenomena as surrogate markers of cancer and cancer progression. Over the past three decades, the scientific community has come to realize that the concentration on microdissection of cancer cells without accounting for the neighborhood in which these cells reside, i.e., the stroma, fails to reflect the true nature of cancer biology. UPs are fundamental for cellular homeostasis and phylogenetic development as well as for the integrity of the cytoskeleton and for the stability of cells and tissues in regards to intercellular signaling, cell shape and mobility, apoptosis, wound healing, and cell polarity. Corresponding enzymes are used by microorganisms to gain entry into the host by degradation of UPs and play a role to cleave peptide bonds for killing disease-causing life forms along for the creation of the precancerous niche (PCN) during carcinogenesis, cancer invasion, and in metastasis. The language used by such proteins as well as their complementary enzymes with its influence on multiple pathways and the cross-linked extracellular matrix is incompletely understood. The role of UPs in the disruption of signaling homeostasis and resulting interference with crosstalk in carcinogenesis appears sufficiently delineated to warrant a much more refined examination of their qualitative and quantitative contribution to the development of cancer and cancer therapy.
Periodic solutions for a class of conservative Liénard-type equations
Authors: Korfanty Emily R. , Liu Ankai , Feng Wenying
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we study solvability of a class of second-order differential equations in a conservative Liénard form subject to periodic boundary conditions. Results on existence of non-trivial T-periodic solutions or positive T-periodic solutions are obtained respectively. Applications of the theorems are shown by examples. The results are proved by applying the coincidence degree theory for semilinear operator equations.
Nuklearmedizinische Therapie von Nebennierentumoren
Authors: Kreißl Michael , Genseke Philipp
Published: April 2019

In der Nebenniere liegen 2 distinkt unterschiedliche Gewebe, das Nebennierenmark und die Nebennierenrinde vor. Beide Gewebearten sezernieren unterschiedliche Hormone und besitzen eigene molekulare Charakteristika, die für eine spezifische Bildgebung mit Radiotracern genutzt werden können. Für das Nebennierenmark sind dies der Noradrenalin-Re-Uptake-Transporter und, beschränkt, auch der Somatostatinrezeptor. Für die Nebennierenrinde ist eine spezifische Darstellung von Enzymen der Cortisol- und Aldosteronbiosynthese möglich. In theranostischen Ansätzen wurden alle Zielstrukturen bisher bereits für gezielte Radionuklidtherapien genutzt, jedoch ist bisher lediglich die Noradrenalin-Re-Uptake-Transporter-gezielte 131I-metaIodBenzylGuanidin (mIBG)-Behandlung klinisch etabliert.
Radioembolisation
Authors: Paprottka Philipp
Published: April 2019

Die Radioembolisation von Lebertumoren kombiniert eine interstitielle Strahlentherapie mit Betastrahlern mit einer arteriellen Mikroembolisation durch Glas- oder Harzpartikel. Als Radionuklid wird seit einigen Jahren 90Y und seit Kurzem auch 166Ho angewandt. Im Gegensatz zu 90Y sendete 166Ho auch Gammastrahlung aus, die für die SPECT-Bildgebung eingesetzt werden kann. Holmium ist außerdem paramagnetisch, sodass die Partikel auch in der MRT sichtbar gemacht werden können. Die Radioembolisation erfordert eine sorgfältige Planung, um Nebenwirkungen durch Partikel zu verhindern. Während in der Vergangenheit v. a. Behandlungen der gesamten Leber oder eines Leberlappens durchgeführt wurden, werden jetzt zunehmend superselektive Therapien von Lebersegmenten durchgeführt, um höhere Strahlendosen unter Schonung des normalen Lebergewebes applizieren zu können.
Uroonkologische und nuklearmedizinische Behandlungsmöglichkeiten beim metastasierten, kastrationsresistenten Prostatakarzinom (mCRPC)
Authors: Kroenke Markus , Eiber Matthias , Tauber Robert
Published: April 2019

Grundlage der systemischen Therapie des fortgeschrittenen oder metastasierten Prostatakarzinoms ist die Hormontherapie. Diese besteht bei in der Regel aus einer Androgendeprivationstherapie mit dem Ziel der Absenkung des Testosteronwerts auf Kastrationsniveau. Bei Patienten mit einer hohen Metastasenlast im hormon-sensiblen Stadium wird die Behandlung initial durch eine Chemotherapie mit Docetaxel ergänzt. Alternativ können Patienten mit einem primär metastasierten, unbehandelten Prostatakarzinom und einem hohen Risikoprofil mit einer erweiterten Hormontherapie mit Abirateron/Prednison und Androgendeprivation therapiert werden. Wenn es zu einer Tumorprogression unter Androgendeprivationstherapie trotz Testosteronwerten im Kastrationsbereich kommt, spricht man von einem kastrationsresistenten Prostatakarzinom. Zur Behandlung des nicht metastasierten, kastrationsresistenten Prostatakarzinoms stehen seit Kurzem die Antiandrogene Enzalutamid und Apalutamid zur Verfügung. Das metastasierte, kastrationsresistente Prostatakarzinoms kann mit folgenden zugelassenen Therapieoptionen behandelt werden: Erweiterte Hormontherapie mit Abirateron/Prednison oder Enzalutamid; Taxan basierte Chemotherapie mit Docetaxel oder Cabazitaxel; Radioisotopentherapie mit Radium-223-Dichlorid. Eine PSMA-Liganden-basierte Radionuklidbehandlung zeigt in ersten Veröffentlichungen vielversprechende Therapieergebnisse und wird in Deutschland bereits im Rahmen eines individuellen Heilversuchs angeboten. Die Auswahl und Sequenz der verschiedenen Therapieoptionen ist u. a. abhängig von den Zulassungskriterien, der Patientenpräferenz und dem Nebenwirkungsprofil. Der folgende Artikel gibt einen Überblick über aktuelle Therapieoptionen zur Systemtherapie im hormonsensiblen und kastrationsresistenten Stadium des metastasierten Prostatakarzinoms.
Assessment of the Relationship Between Serum High Molecular Weight Adiponectin Hormone Levels and Insulin Resistance in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Pekcan Meryem , Tokmak Aytekin , Akkaya Hatice , Pekcan Gültekin , Onur Andaç , Kısa Üçler , Çil Aylin
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this study was to assess the rate of insulin resistance (IR) and the relationship between IR and high-molecular weight adiponectin (HMWA) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A cross sectional study involving 43 women with PCOS and 39 normal women was carried out over a period of nine months. Fasting glucose and insulin levels, lipid parameters and androgen levels were measured in all serum samples. HMWA was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and IR was estimated using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index. The IR was more prevalent in the PCOS group than in the controls (p=0.002). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, sex hormone binding globulin, free androgen index, total testosterone, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group as compared to the control group (all p<0.05). Moreover, HMWA was significantly lower and negatively correlated with the clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism in the PCOS group. HMWA and HOMA-IR were also associated with triglyceride, body mass index, and fat mass in this group. ROC curve analyses demonstrated that the AUC, indicative of the HMWA value for discriminating PCOS with IR, was 0.725, with a confidence interval of 0.615–0.835 (p=0.001). The serum HMWA levels are lower in patients with PCOS, which suggest that HMWA might be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. We also conclude that HMWA might be a strong determinant of IR in PCOS patients.
The Price of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Coiera Enrico
Published: April 2019

Introduction: Whilst general artificial intelligence (AI) is yet to appear, today’s narrow AI is already good enough to transform much of healthcare over the next two decades.

Objective: There is much discussion of the potential benefits of AI in healthcare and this paper reviews the cost that may need to be paid for these benefits, including changes in the way healthcare is practiced, patients are engaged, medical records are created, and work is reimbursed.

Results: Whilst AI will be applied to classic pattern recognition tasks like diagnosis or treatment recommendation, it is likely to be as disruptive to clinical work as it is to care delivery. Digital scribe systems that use AI to automatically create electronic health records promise great efficiency for clinicians but may lead to potentially very different types of clinical records and workflows. In disciplines like radiology, AI is likely to see image interpretation become an automated process with diminishing human engagement. Primary care is also being disrupted by AI-enabled services that automate triage, along with services such as telemedical consultations. This altered future may necessarily see an economic change where clinicians are increasingly reimbursed for value, and AI is reimbursed at a much lower cost for volume.

Conclusion: AI is likely to be associated with some of the biggest changes we will see in healthcare in our lifetime. To fully engage with this change brings promise of the greatest reward. To not engage is to pay the highest price.
Microplegia versus Cardioplexol® in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery with Minimal Extracorporeal Circulation: Comparison of Two Cardioplegia Concepts
Authors: Koechlin Luca , Rrahmani Bejtush , Gahl Brigitta , Berdajs Denis , Grapow Martin T.R. , Eckstein Friedrich S. , Reuthebuch Oliver
Published: April 2019

Background The aim of this study is to compare the combined use of the Myocardial Protection System and our microplegia (Basel Microplegia Protocol) with Cardioplexol® in coronary artery bypass grafting using the minimal extracorporeal circulation.

Methods The analysis focused on propensity score matched pairs of patients in whom microplegia or Cardioplexol® was used. Primary efficacy endpoints were high-sensitivity cardiac troponin-T on postoperative day 1 and peak values during hospitalization. Furthermore, we assessed creatine kinase and creatinine kinase-myocardial type, as well as safety endpoints.

Results A total of 56 patients who received microplegia and 155 patients who received Cardioplexol® were included. The use of the microplegia was associated with significantly lower geometric mean (confidence interval) peak values of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin-T (233 ng/L [194–280 ng/L] vs. 362 ng/L [315–416 ng/L]; p = 0.001), creatinine kinase (539 U/L [458–633 U/L] vs. 719 U/L [645–801 U/L]; p = 0.011), and creatinine kinase-myocardial type (13.8 µg/L [9.6–19.9 µg/L] vs. 21.6 µg/L [18.9–24.6 µg/L]; p = 0.026), and a shorter length of stay on the intensive care unit (1.5 days [1.2–1.8 days] vs. 1.9 days [1.7–2.1 days]; p = 0.011). Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events occurred with roughly equal frequency (1.8 vs. 5.2%; p = 0.331).

Conclusions The use of the Basel Microplegia Protocol was associated with lower peak values of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin-T, creatinine kinase, and creatinine kinase-myocardial type and with a shorter length of stay on the intensive care unit, as compared with the use of Cardioplexol® in isolated coronary artery bypass surgery using minimal extracorporeal circulation.
Electromechanical efficiency improvement of the surface DBD by composite dielectric
Authors: Wei Wenfu , He Shuai , Yang Zefeng , Wang Shuai , Mei Guiming , Gao Guoqiang , Wu Guangning
Published: April 2019

The induced airflow velocity level and the mechanical efficiency are the significant issues for the surface DBD flow control application. In this paper, the effects of optical characteristics, electrical performances and mechanical properties of surface DBD with composite dielectric glass/PI film are investigated. The current, discharge plasma morphology, electrical power consumption, and induced airflow velocity are analyzed at applied voltage 17-23 kV with working frequency 9.15 kHz. The experiment results indicate that with the addition of PI film, the discharge just occurs near the exposed electrode and is suppressed obviously in the negative half cycle of current. Though the induced airflow velocity decreases slightly about 0.1-0.2 m/s at each voltage level, the mechanical efficiency substantially improves. The maximum mechanical efficiency increases by 25.12% under the 23 kV.
Near-bed turbulence structures in water-worked and screeded gravel-bed flows
Authors: Padhi Ellora , Penna Nadia , Dey Subhasish , Gaudio Roberto
Published: April 2019

Coherent structures and their impact on the near-bed time-averaged flow structure in a water-worked gravel-bed (WGB) and a screeded gravel-bed (SGB) are analyzed. Instantaneous velocities were measured using a particle image velocimetry system in the WGB and SGB flows in a flume with rectangular cross section. To ascertain the response of the WGB with respect to the SGB to the coherent structures, the time- and double-averaged flow, and the spatially averaged (SA) turbulence parameters, the experimental flow conditions for both the beds were kept identical. The surface gravels in the WGB were spatially organized owing to the water action. By contrast, the surface gravels in the SGB were randomly poised. These result in a higher roughness height in the WGB than in the SGB. Time series analysis for the instantaneous velocity and vorticity on a central vertical plane along the streamwise direction proves that the coherent structures in the near-bed flow zone are constituted by rapidly and slowly moving fluid streaks. Besides, the time-averaged streamwise velocity, vorticity, turbulence level, third-order correlations, and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget are analyzed in the WGB and SGB. Their contours are plotted on the central vertical plane to study their spatial distributions. In addition, the SA higher-order correlations and TKE budget in the WGB and SGB are examined. A comparative study infers that the higher roughness in the WGB than in the SGB causes both the time-averaged and SA turbulence parameters in the former to be greater than those in the latter.
Weak electric-field detection with sub-1 Hz resolution at radio frequencies using a Rydberg atom-based mixer
Authors: Gordon Joshua A. , Simons Matthew T. , Haddab Abdulaziz H. , Holloway Christopher L.
Published: April 2019

Rydberg atoms have been used for measuring radio-frequency (RF) electric (E)-fields due to their strong dipole moments over the frequency range of 500 MHz-1 THz. For this, electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) within the Autler-Townes (AT) regime is used such that the detected E-field is proportional to AT splitting. However, for weak E-fields AT peak separation becomes unresolvable thus limiting the minimum detectable E-field. Here, we demonstrate using the Rydberg atoms as an RF mixer for weak E-field detection well below the AT regime with frequency discrimination better than 1 Hz resolution. A heterodyne detection scenario with two E-fields incident on a vapor cell filled with cesium atoms is used. One E-field at 19.626000 GHz drives the 34D5/2 → 35P3/2 Rydberg transition and acts as a local oscillator (LO) and a second signal E-field (Sig) of interest is at 19.626090 GHz. In the presence of the LO, the Rydberg atoms naturally down convert the Sig field to a 90 kHz intermediate frequency (IF) signal. This IF signal manifests as an oscillation in the probe laser intensity through the Rydberg vapor and is easily detected with a photodiode and lock-in amplifier. In the configuration used here, E-field strength down to ≈ 46 μV/m ± 2 μV/m were detected with a sensitivity of ≈ 79 μVm−1Hz−1/2. Furthermore, neighboring fields 0.1 Hz away and equal in strength to Sig could be discriminated without any leakage into the lock-in signal. For signals 1 Hz away and as high as +60 dB above Sig, leakage into the lock-in signal could be kept below -3 dB.
Mechanism of neoagarotetraose protects against intense exercise-induced liver injury based on molecular ecological network analysis
Authors: Chen Xin , Yu Jiahong , Xue Changhu , Wang Yuming , Tang Qingjuan , Mao Xiangzhao
Published: April 2019

Here we have explored the effect of neoagarotetraose (NAT) on liver injury caused by intense exercise. Our results showed that NAT treatment obviously decreased liver weight (p < 0.01), improved the liver morphological structure, decreased ALT level (p < 0.05) and endotoxin (LPS) (p < 0.01). In addition, NAT could regulate bile acid profiles in feces and serum of mice, which indicated the potential of liver function, suggesting that NAT was effective to relieve intense exercise-induced liver injury. NAT could regulate the expression of colon genes. NAT tended to alter the microbial composition of mice under intense exercise. We uncovered the network interactions between liver traits and microbial communities in NAT treatment mice. Interestingly, our data indicated that intense exercise-induced liver injury may be related to Clostridiales. In summary, these results demonstrated that NAT relieved liver injury induced by intense exercise may be related to gut microbiota.
Bacterial communication through membrane vesicles
Authors: Toyofuku Masanori
Published: April 2019

Bacteria can communicate through diffusible signaling molecules that are perceived by cognate receptors. It is now well established that bacterial communication regulates hundreds of genes. Hydrophobic molecules which do not diffuse in aqueous environments alone have been identified in bacterial communication, that raised the question on how these molecules are transported between cells and trigger gene expressions. Recent studies show that these hydrophobic signaling molecules, including a long-chain N-acyl homoserine lactone signal produced in Paracoccus denitrificans, are carried by membrane vesicles (MVs). MVs were thought to be formed only through the blebbing of the cell membrane, but new findings in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis revealed that different types of MVs can be formed through explosive cell lysis or bubbling cell death, which findings have certain implications on our view of bacterial interactions.
Exploring the entanglement of free spin-

, spin-1 and spin-2 fields *
Authors: Yang Zhi , Hung Ling-Yan
Published: April 2019

In this study, we explore the entanglement of free spin-

, spin-1, and spin-2 fields. We start with an example involving Majorana fields in 1+1 and 2+1 dimensions. Subsequently, we perform the Bogoliubov transformation and express the vacuum state with a particle pair state in the configuration space, which is used to calculate the entropy. This clearly demonstrates that the entanglement entropy originates from the particles across the boundary. Finally, we generalize this method to free spin-1 and spin-2 fields. These higher free massless spin fields have well-known complications owing to gauge redundancy. We deal with the redundancy by gauge-fixing in the light-cone gauge. We show that this gauge provides a natural tensor product structure in the Hilbert space, while surrendering explicit Lorentz invariance. We also use the Bogoliubov transformation to calculate the entropy. The area law emerges naturally by this method.
Quark-antiquark scattering phase shift and meson spectral function in pion superfluid *
Authors: Xia Tao , Hu Jin , Mao Shijun
Published: April 2019

We study the quark-antiquark scattering phase shift and meson spectral function in the pion superfluid described by the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. Meson mixing in the pion superfluid dramatically changes the full scattering phase shift and significantly broadens the spectral function of some collective modes.
Elliptic flow of transported and produced protons in Au+Au collisions with the UrQMD model *
Authors: Tu Biao , Shi Shusu , Liu Feng
Published: April 2019

Within the framework of the UrQMD model, by tracing the number of initial quarks in protons, we study the elliptic flow of protons with 3, 2, 1, 0 initial quarks and anti-protons in Au+Au collisions at

= 7.7, 11.5, 39, 200 GeV. The difference of elliptic flow between protons with 2, 1, 0 initial quarks and anti-protons is smaller than 0, or consistent with 0, respectively. The difference of elliptic flow between transported protons (with 3 initial quarks) and anti-protons is larger than 0 at 7.7, 11.5 and 39 GeV. This is in good agreement with the STAR results at 7.7 and 11.5 GeV, but overestimates the STAR results at 39 GeV. The yield of transported protons with 3 initial quarks is smaller than of protons with 2 and 1 initial quarks, and

of all protons is much smaller than the STAR results. The observation of the difference of elliptic flow between transported protons and anti-protons in the UrQMD model partly explains the

difference between protons and anti-protons observed in the Beam Energy Scan program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC).
Theoretical investigation of the antimagnetic rotation in 104Pd *
Authors: Zhang Zhen-Hua
Published: April 2019

The particle-number-conserving method based on the cranked shell model is used to investigate the antimagnetic rotation band in 104Pd. The experimental moments of inertia and reduced B(E2) transition probabilities are reproduced well. The J
(2)/B(E2) ratios are also discussed. The occupation probability of each orbital close to the Fermi surface and the contribution of each major shell to the total angular momentum alignment as function of rotational frequency are analyzed. The backbending mechanism of the ground state band in 104Pd is understood clearly and the configuration of the antimagnetic rotation after backbending is clarified. In addition, the crossing of a four quasiparticle state with this antimagnetic rotation band is also predicted. By examining the closing of the angular momenta of four proton holes towards the neutron angular momentum, the " two-shears-like” mechanism for this antimagnetic rotation is investigated and two stages of antimagnetic rotation in 104Pd are clearly seen.
Precise assembly and joining of silver nanowires in three dimensions for highly conductive composite structures
Authors: Liu Ying , Xiong Wei , Li Da Wei , Lu Yao , Huang Xi , Liu Huan , Fan Li Sha , Jiang Lan , Silvain Jean-François , Lu Yong Feng
Published: April 2019

Three-dimensional (3D) electrically conductive micro/nanostructures are now a key component in a broad range of research and industry fields. In this work, a novel method is developed to realize metallic 3D micro/nanostructures with silver-thiol-acrylate composites via two-photon polymerization followed by femtosecond laser nanojoining. Complex 3D micro/nanoscale conductive structures have been successfully fabricated with ∼200 nm resolution. The loading of silver nanowires (AgNWs) and joining of junctions successfully enhance the electrical conductivity of the composites from insulating to 92.9 S m−1 at room temperature. Moreover, for the first time, a reversible switching to a higher conductivity is observed, up to ∼105 S m−1 at 523 K. The temperature-dependent conductivity of the composite is analyzed following the variable range hopping and thermal activation models. The nanomaterial assembly and joining method demonstrated in this study pave a way towards a wide range of device applications, including 3D electronics, sensors, memristors, micro/nanoelectromechanical systems, and biomedical devices, etc.
The impact of Methodism
Authors: Abraham William J.
Published: April 2019

‘The impact of Methodism’ considers Methodism’s impact on and contribution to social movements, politics, education, and healthcare. Social movements that were deeply influenced by Methodism include the abolition of slavery in the 19th century and the Temperance Movement in the 20th century. The Methodist tradition has always encouraged diversity of judgement in the political arena and Methodists can be found on both the conservative and progressive wings of politics. One of the most important expressions of social holiness in Methodism shows up in its role in education. Methodists founded numerous successful schools and universities around the world. Methodism has also had an impact on popular and high culture.
6. Making sense of reading
Authors: Jack Belinda
Published: April 2019

Reading is an interpretative act and this is not simply the case when it comes to what we think of as more complex writing—religious scriptures, philosophical texts, legal documents, or literary works. The simplest language can need interpretation. Hermeneutics is the discipline that concerns itself with the theory and methodology of interpretation. Its history is crucial to the history of reading and brings to the fore the myriad ways in which reading has been understood across time and space. ‘Making sense of reading’ considers the relationships between rhetoric and translation with reading, and then discusses the study of literature, modern literary criticism, and the concept of rereading.
The Impact of the Revised WIC Food Package on Maternal Nutrition During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Authors: Hamad Rita , Batra Akansha , Karasek Deborah , LeWinn Kaja Z , Bush Nicole R , Davis Robert L , Tylavsky Frances A
Published: April 2019

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritional support for pregnant and postpartum women and young children. The typical food package provided to recipient families was revised in October 2009 to include more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk. Little is known about whether these revisions improved nutrition among women during this critical period of the life course. We conducted a quasiexperimental difference-in-differences analysis, comparing WIC recipients (“treatment” group) before and after the WIC policy change, while accounting for temporal trends among nonrecipients (“control” group). We examined nutritional outcomes among a cohort of 1,454 women recruited during pregnancy in 2006–2011 in Memphis and surrounding Shelby County, Tennessee. We found improvements in several measures of dietary quality and nutrient intake during pregnancy, although these did not persist into the postpartum period. Results were robust to numerous sensitivity analyses. At a time when federal WIC funding is threatened, this study provides some of the first evidence of the benefits of recent WIC revisions among low-income women.
Identification of disease-associated loci using machine learning for genotype and network data integration
Authors: Leal Luis G , David Alessia , Jarvelin Marjo-Riita , Sebert Sylvain , Männikkö Minna , Karhunen Ville , Seaby Eleanor , Hoggart Clive , Sternberg Michael J E
Published: April 2019

Motivation

Integration of different omics data could markedly help to identify biological signatures, understand the missing heritability of complex diseases and ultimately achieve personalized medicine. Standard regression models used in Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) identify loci with a strong effect size, whereas GWAS meta-analyses are often needed to capture weak loci contributing to the missing heritability. Development of novel machine learning algorithms for merging genotype data with other omics data is highly needed as it could enhance the prioritization of weak loci.

Results

We developed cNMTF (corrected non-negative matrix tri-factorization), an integrative algorithm based on clustering techniques of biological data. This method assesses the inter-relatedness between genotypes, phenotypes, the damaging effect of the variants and gene networks in order to identify loci-trait associations. cNMTF was used to prioritize genes associated with lipid traits in two population cohorts. We replicated 129 genes reported in GWAS world-wide and provided evidence that supports 85% of our findings (226 out of 265 genes), including recent associations in literature (NLGN1), regulators of lipid metabolism (DAB1) and pleiotropic genes for lipid traits (CARM1). Moreover, cNMTF performed efficiently against strong population structures by accounting for the individuals’ ancestry. As the method is flexible in the incorporation of diverse omics data sources, it can be easily adapted to the user’s research needs.

Availability and implementation

An R package (cnmtf) is available at https://lgl15.github.io/cnmtf_web/index.html.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.