bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LRS Bianchi I model with perfect fluid equation-of-state
Authors: Singh Vijay , Beesham Aroonkumar
Published: November 2018

The general solution of the field equations in LRS Bianchi-I spacetime with perfect fluid equation-of-state (EoS) is presented. The models filled with dust, vacuum energy, Zel’dovich matter and disordered radiation are studied in detail. A unified and systematic treatment of the solutions is presented, and some new solutions are found. The dust, stiff matter and disordered radiation models describe only a decelerated universe, whereas the vacuum energy model exhibits a transition from a decelerated to an accelerated phase.
AMORPHOUS/NANOCRYSTALLIZATION OF TiN-TiB2 REINFORCED LASER CLAD COMPOSITES
Authors: SU MOLIN , LI JIANING , WANG XUEGANG , LIU ZHIYUAN
Published: November 2018

Laser cladding (LC) of the Stellite6-BN-Cu-Y2O3 pre-placed powders on the Ti-6Al-4V alloy substrate formed the bulk TiN and needle-like Ti-B compounds reinforced composites, which improved the wear resistance of the substrate surface. The results showed that lots of the amorphous-nanocrystalline phases were produced in such composites; the proper content of Cu was used to refine microstructures, also a large number of the nanocrystals can be formed; the elements such as Co, Ni and Fe in Stellite6 favored the amorphous phase to be formed. The addition of Y2O3 improved the fluidity of the liquid metal, also retarding the growth of the dendrite, leading the fine microstructures to be formed, improving the property of the LC composites.
From Subkautz Digraphs to Cyclic Kautz Digraphs
Authors: DALFÓ C.
Published: November 2018

The Kautz digraphs K(d, ℓ) are a well-known family of dense digraphs, widely studied as a good model for interconnection networks. Closely related to these, the cyclic Kautz digraphs CK(d, ℓ) were recently introduced by Böhmová, Huemer and the author, and some of its distance-related parameters were fixed. In this paper we propose a new approach to the cyclic Kautz digraphs by introducing the family of the subKautz digraphs sK(d, ℓ), from where the cyclic Kautz digraphs can be obtained as line digraphs. This allows us to give exact formulas for the distance between any two vertices of both sK(d, ℓ) and CK(d, ℓ). Moreover, we compute the diameter and the semigirth of both families, also providing efficient routing algorithms to find the shortest path between any pair of vertices. Using these parameters, we also prove that sK(d, ℓ) and CK(d, ℓ) are maximally vertex-connected and super-edge-connected. Whereas K(d, ℓ) are optimal with respect to the diameter, we show that sK(d, ℓ) and CK(d, ℓ) are optimal with respect to the mean distance, whose exact values are given for both families when ℓ = 3. Finally, we provide a lower bound on the girth of CK(d, ℓ) and sK(d, ℓ).
Stochastic traveling waves of a stochastic Fisher–KPP equation and bifurcations for asymptotic behaviors
Authors: Wang Zhenzhen , Huang Zhehao , Liu Zhengrong
Published: November 2018

In this paper, traveling wave for a Fisher–KPP equation with stochastic advection and stochastic environmental capacity is investigated. Some conditions are imposed on the reaction rate and noise intensities such that the stochastic transition front exists. Following the results on stochastic transition front, the existence of stochastic traveling waves for the equation is established. Explicit relation between the wave speed and noise attributes including noise intensities and correlation is shown, which can realize the noise effects. It is found that noises reduce the wave speed. In addition, the positive correlation of noises may complement this reduction in a way. But the negative correlation of noises will further aggravate this reduction. There exists a threshold value on the noise correlation making the traveling wave wandering. If the correlation is larger than this threshold value, the wave travels with a forward tendency. Otherwise, the wave travels with a backward tendency. Bifurcations for asymptotic behaviors of the equation induced by the noise intensities and correlation are presented.
Comparison of Judgment Scales of the Analytical Hierarchy Process — A New Approach
Authors: Goepel Klaus D.
Published: November 2018

The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) remains a popular multi-criteria decision method. One topic under discussion of AHP is the use of different scales to translate judgments into ratios. The author makes a new approach to compare different scale functions and to derive a recommendation for the application of scales. The approach is based on simple analytic functions and takes into consideration the number of criteria of the decision problem. A generalization of the so-called balanced scale is proposed, and a new adaptive-balanced scale is introduced. Scales are then categorized and compared based on weight boundaries and weight ratios, weight uncertainties, weight dispersion and number of decision criteria. Finally, a practical example of a decision hierarchy is presented applying the different scales. The results show that the generalized balanced scale improves weight dispersion and weight uncertainty in comparison to the fundamental AHP scale. The proposed adaptive-balanced scale overcomes the problem of a change of the maximum weight depending on the number of decision criteria.
Impact of t-butyl group on the singlet–triplet energy gap via weak orbital overlap of [1,2,5]-thiadiazolo[3,4-C] pyridine-based TADF emitters: Structural modification
Authors: Chinnusamy Saravanan , Shaikh Nasrin I. , Dangate Milind S.
Published: November 2018

We theoretically investigated the combination of D-A and D-spacer (phenyl ring)-A with an electron donating alkyl (t-butyl) group. The strategy of twisting the geometry of the molecule with the alkyl substituents exclusion of strong electron-withdrawing or -donating groups leads to gain efficient deep blue-to-blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitter through maintaining the band gap while the reduction of singlet-triplet energy gap ([Formula: see text]. The t-butyl group strongly twisted the conformation of molecules by the steric hindrance, which resulted in weak highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO) overlap ([Formula: see text] and efficient spatial separation of HOMO and LUMO ([Formula: see text] in the [Formula: see text] state. In contrast, designed molecules [Formula: see text] state own large HOMO and LUMO overlap of excited singlet state ([Formula: see text] and inefficient spatial separation of HOMO and LUMO. The computed results indicated that introducing alkyl group into the phenyl ring of the acceptor of the designed molecules cannot affect the [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text] is mainly related to the [Formula: see text], which can be adjusted by tuning the orbital [Formula: see text]. The large modular orbital overlap at [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] excited states resulted in large [Formula: see text], which occurs in the range of 0.38–0.59[Formula: see text]eV whose dominant contribution switches from charge transfer to local excitation. Our studied results reiterate (10.1038/srep10923) that modular orbital overlap of [Formula: see text], HOMO and LUMO overlap of excited triplet state [Formula: see text], spatial separation of HOMO and LUMO in the excited singlet state ([Formula: see text], and spatial separation of HOMO and LUMO in the excited triplet state ([Formula: see text] are the essential factors to determine [Formula: see text] when inconsistencies between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] exist. Increasing the dihedral angle between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] from molecules 1–4 (9–12) decreases the transition dipole moment, which lowers the oscillator strength. When changing the connection position between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], molecules 5–8, the oscillator strength reduced to half with respect to molecules 1–4 and 9–12. The present work provides a theoretical understanding of the impact of alkyl substituents on the overlap of HOMO–LUMO resulting to tuning the [Formula: see text], as well as its influence on the oscillator strength, which may be a reliable idea to design efficient TADF emitters.
Salton Sea: An ecosystem in crisis
Authors: Upadhyay Ranjit Kumar , Kumari Sarita , Kumari Sangeeta , Rai Vikas
Published: November 2018

Salton Sea (a destination resort) is to be saved from being converted into a skeleton-filled wasteland. The critical amount of water flowing into the sea to maintain its level and salinity has been diverted since January 2018. This will lead to shrinking volumes and increasing salinities. Ecological consequences and public health impacts of altered conditions will be phenomenal. We design and analyze a minimal eco-epidemiological model to figure out future journey of this sea; a way station for fish-eating migratory birds. The mathematical model has been assembled in terms of prey-predator interaction. The salient feature of the proposed model is its seasonally varying contact rate which represents rate of conversion of susceptible fishes into infectives. We have analytically investigated the global stability, disease persistence and periodic solutions of the proposed model system. Susceptible prey-induced periodic solution is globally asymptotically stable when [Formula: see text], otherwise unstable and hence disease persists for [Formula: see text].

Global stability and Hopf bifurcation (HB) analysis help us extract parameter values to explore the dynamical behavior of the model system. Two-dimensional parameter scans and bifurcation diagrams reveal that the model displays propensity towards chaotic dynamics, which is associated with extinction-sized population densities. In the presence of stochastic external forces, this implies extinction of most of the fish species. This, in turn, suggests that resident birds will have to migrate to other destinations. The fish-eating migratory birds will be forced to switch over to invertebrates. Ecological consequences and public health impacts of this transition would be severe. Conservation groups are solicited to draw attention of the government to avert this impounding danger. It is important to plan for an ecosystem-wide transition such that impacts on birds and on human inhabitants living adjacent to the shrinking and salinizing sea are minimized.
Synthesis of ultrathin g-C3N4/graphene nanocomposites with excellent visible-light photocatalytic performances
Authors: Wang Shun , Lou Dongdong , Wang Zhaojie , Yu Nuo , Wang Haifeng , Chen Zhigang , Zhang Lisha
Published: November 2018

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N[Formula: see text] has drawn increasing interest as an efficient photocatalyst. To further improve its photocatalytic activity, herein we coupled g-C3N4 with graphene to construct ultrathin g-C3N4/graphene (g-C3N4/G) nanocomposites by a pyrolysis-sonication-hydrothermal method. Under the illumination of visible-light, g-C3N4/G nanocomposites with 10[Formula: see text]wt.%G can degrade 92% Rhodamine B (RhB) in 120[Formula: see text]min, which is higher than that (57%) from pure g-C3N4. Moreover, the recycling experiment indicates that the nanocomposite still remains excellent photocatalytic stability. Therefore, g-C3N4/G nanocomposites exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity and stability, resulting in a promising application in water purification.
THE CRITICAL ROLE OF MARKETS IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
Authors: ANDERSON SARAH E. , ANDERSON TERRY L. , HILL ALICE C. , KAHN MATTHEW E. , KUNREUTHER HOWARD , LIBECAP GARY D. , MANTRIPRAGADA HARI , MÉREL PIERRE , PLANTINGA ANDREW J. , KERRY SMITH V.
Published: November 2018

Markets, especially land markets, can facilitate climate change adaptation through price signals. A review of research reveals that urban, coastal, and agricultural land markets provide effective signals of the emerging costs of climate change. These signals encourage adjustments by both private owners and policy officials in taking preemptive action to reduce costs. In agriculture, they promote consideration of new cropping and tillage practices, seed types, timing, and location of production. They also stimulate use of new irrigation technologies. In urban areas, they motivate new housing construction, elevation, and location away from harm. They channel more efficient use of water and its application to parks and other green areas to make urban settings more desirable with higher temperatures. Related water markets play a similar role in adjusting water use and reallocation. To be effective, however, markets must reflect multiple traders and prices must be free to adjust. Where these conditions are not met, market signals will be inhibited and market-driven adaptation will be reduced. Because public policy is driven by constituent demands, it may not be a remedy. The evidence of the National Flood Insurance Program and federal wildfire response illustrates how politically difficult it may be to adjust programs to be more adaptive.
Influence of Bi nonstoichiometry on the energy storage properties of 0.93KNN–0.07BixMN relaxor ferroelectrics
Authors: Qiao Xiaoshuang , Zhang Xiaoshuai , Wu Di , Chao Xiaolian , Yang Zupei
Published: November 2018

Ceramic-based dielectric capacitors are becoming more and more important in electronic devices. The ceramics of 0.93K[Formula: see text]Na[Formula: see text]NbO3–0.07Bix(Mg[Formula: see text]Nb[Formula: see text])O3 (0.93KNN–0.07BixMN) ([Formula: see text], 2/3, 0.75 and 0.95) were successfully fabricated by virtue of the solid reaction process in this work. The results showed that the amount of Bi content has a significant impact on the ceramics of 0.93KNN–0.07BixMN. XRD indicates that all specimens exhibit a pure perovskite structure and existing oxygen vacancy in the specimens. The mean grain size for all specimens belong to submicron scale, and the sample of [Formula: see text] owns the smallest grain size is 0.11[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m. The maximum dielectric constant increases but the phase transition temperature [Formula: see text] exhibits a contrary tendency at 1[Formula: see text]MHz with increasing Bi concentration. Besides, all ceramics are relaxor ferroelectric. The impedance analysis further revealed that the activation energy of the ceramics increases with Bi content. Eventually, the highest [Formula: see text] of 58.8% and [Formula: see text] of 1.30[Formula: see text]J/cm3 are simultaneously achieved in the sample with [Formula: see text]. Overall, we demonstrate in this work that stoichiometry control of Bi in 0.93KNN–0.07BixMN ceramics is a practical method to obtain the desired structural, dielectric and energy storage properties.
Energy Circulation Theory to Derive the Cosmic Evolution, Electric Charge, Light and Electromagnetism
Authors: Nagao Shigeto
Published: November 2018

Starting from the premise that the energy is vibrations in multiple dimensions, we propose the following energy circulation theory: Energy is the movement of an intrinsic energy, and can work as a new intrinsic energy for the direction perpendicular to the original movement. The fundamental force works between two momentums, by which antiparallel energy movements bend and make a circle. A form of the fundamental force is the electric force working on the electric charge, which is the momentum in a hidden dimension. Simultaneous separations of two pairs of conjugate energy circulations provide two universes, where the energy distribution is expanding in four dimensions. We divide the energy into two parts. The space energy is a rest energy corresponding to the vacuum space. The apparent energy is the kinetic energy and what we detect as energy in the 3D space. We induce the electric charge, light and electromagnetism from an energy circulation in one hidden and one space dimensions.
Benchmarking "Hello, World!"
Authors: Sites Richard L.
Published: November 2018

As more and more software moves off the desktop and into data centers, and more and more cell phones use server requests as the other half of apps, observation tools for large-scale distributed transaction systems are not keeping up. This makes it tempting to look under the lamppost using simpler tools. You will waste a lot of high-pressure time following that path when you have a sudden complex performance crisis. Instead, know what each tool you use is blind to, know what information you need to understand a performance problem, and then look for tools that can actually observe that information directly.
Cancer Immunotherapy: Beyond Checkpoint Blockade
Authors: Dougan Michael , Dranoff Glenn , Dougan Stephanie K.
Published: November 2018

Blocking antibodies to the immune checkpoint receptors or their ligands have revolutionized the treatment of diverse malignancies. Many tumors are recognized by adaptive immunity, but these adaptive responses can be inhibited by immunosuppressive mechanisms within the tumor, often through pathways outside of the currently targeted checkpoints. For this reason, only a minority of cancer patients achieve durable responses to current immunotherapies. Multiple novel approaches strive to expand immunotherapy's reach. These may include targeting alternative immune checkpoints. However, many investigational strategies look beyond checkpoint blockade. These include cellular therapies to bypass endogenous immunity and efforts to stimulate new adaptive antitumor responses using vaccines, adjuvants, and combinations with cytotoxic therapy, as well as strategies to inhibit innate immune suppression and modulate metabolism within the tumor microenvironment. The challenge for immunotherapy going forward will be to select rational strategies for overcoming barriers to effective antitumor responses from the myriad possible targets.
Natural Killer Cells in Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Miller Jeffrey S. , Lanier Lewis L.
Published: November 2018

Natural killer (NK) cells have evolved to complement T and B cells in host defense against pathogens and cancer. They recognize infected cells and tumors using a sophisticated array of activating, costimulatory, and inhibitory receptors that are expressed on NK cell subsets to create extensive functional diversity. NK cells can be targeted to kill with exquisite antigen specificity by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. NK and T cells share many of the costimulatory and inhibitory receptors that are currently under evaluation in the clinic for cancer immunotherapy. As with T cells, genetic engineering is being employed to modify NK cells to specifically target them to tumors and to enhance their effector functions. As the selective pressures exerted by immunotherapies to augment CD8+T cell responses may result in loss of MHC class I, NK cells may provide an important fail-safe to eliminate these tumors by their capacity to eliminate tumors that are “missing self.”
PARP Trapping Beyond Homologous Recombination and Platinum Sensitivity in Cancers
Authors: Murai Junko , Pommier Yves
Published: November 2018

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) have recently been approved for the treatment of ovarian and breast cancers with BRCA mutations, as well as for maintenance therapies regardless of BRCA mutation for ovarian and primary peritoneal cancers that previously responded to platinum-based chemotherapy. The rationale of these indications is derived from the facts that cancer cells with BRCA mutations are defective in homologous recombination (HR), which confers synthetic lethality with PARPis, and that some of the sensitivity-determining factors for PARPis are shared with platinums. Although BRCA1 and BRCA2 are central for HR, more players within and beyond HR are emerging as response determinants to PARPis. Furthermore, there are similarities as well as differences in the DNA lesions and repair pathways induced by PARPis, platinums, and camptothecin topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) inhibitors. Here we review the sensitivity-determining factors for PARPis and the rationale for using PARPis as single agents and in combination therapy for cancers.
Clinical Application and Potential of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
Authors: Ooijevaar R.E. , Terveer E.M. , Verspaget H.W. , Kuijper E.J. , Keller J.J.
Published: November 2018

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a well-established treatment for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection. FMT has become a more readily available and useful new treatment option as a result of stool banks. The current state of knowledge indicates that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is implicated in several disorders in addition to C. difficile infection. Randomized controlled studies have shown FMT to be somewhat effective in treating ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and hepatic encephalopathy. In addition, FMT has been beneficial in treating several other conditions, such as the eradication of multidrug-resistant organisms and graft-versus-host disease. We expect that FMT will soon be implemented as a treatment strategy for several new indications, although further studies are needed.
Steps in Mechanotransduction Pathways that Control Cell Morphology
Authors: Wolfenson Haguy , Yang Bo , Sheetz Michael P.
Published: November 2018

It is increasingly clear that mechanotransduction pathways play important roles in regulating fundamental cellular functions. Of the basic mechanical functions, the determination of cellular morphology is critical. Cells typically use many mechanosensitive steps and different cell states to achieve a polarized shape through repeated testing of the microenvironment. Indeed, morphology is determined by the microenvironment through periodic activation of motility, mechanotesting, and mechanoresponse functions by hormones, internal clocks, and receptor tyrosine kinases. Patterned substrates and controlled environments with defined rigidities limit the range of cell behavior and influence cell state decisions and are thus very useful for studying these steps. The recently defined rigidity sensing process provides a good example of how cells repeatedly test their microenvironment and is also linked to cancer. In general, aberrant extracellular matrix mechanosensing is associated with numerous conditions, including cardiovascular disease, aging, and fibrosis, that correlate with changes in tissue morphology and matrix composition. Hence, detailed descriptions of the steps involved in sensing and responding to the microenvironment are needed to better understand both the mechanisms of tissue homeostasis and the pathomechanisms of human disease.
Temperature of water ingested before exercise alters the onset of physiological heat loss responses
Authors: Morris Nathan B. , Chaseling Georgia K. , Bain Anthony R. , Jay Ollie
Published: November 2018

This study sought to determine whether the temperature of water ingested before exercise alters the onset threshold and subsequent thermosensitivity of local vasomotor and sudomotor responses after exercise begins. Twenty men [24 (SD 4) yr of age, 75.8 (SD 8.1) kg body mass, 52.3 (SD 7.7) ml·min−1·kg−1peak O2consumption (V̇o2peak)] ingested 1.5°C, 37°C, or 50°C water (3.2 ml/kg), rested for 5 min, and then cycled at 50% V̇o2peakfor 15 min at 23.0 (SD 0.9) °C and 32 (SD 10) % relative humidity. Mean body temperature (Tb), local sweat rate (LSR), and skin blood flow (SBF) were measured. In a subset of eight men [25 (SD 5) yr of age, 78.6 (SD 8.3) kg body mass, 48.9 (SD 11.1) ml·min−1·kg−1V̇o2peak], blood pressure was measured and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was determined. The change in Tbwas greater at the onset of LSR measurement with ingestion of 1.5°C than 50°C water [ΔTb= 0.19 (SD 0.15) vs. 0.11 (SD 0.12) °C, P = 0.04], but not 37°C water [ΔTb= 0.14 (SD 0.14) °C, P = 0.23], but did not differ between trials for SBF measurement [ΔTb= 0.18 (SD 0.15) °C, 0.11 (SD 0.13) °C, and 0.09 (SD 0.09) °C with 1.5°C, 37°C, and 50°C water, respectively, P = 0.07]. Conversely, the thermosensitivity of LSR and SBF was not different [LSR = 1.11 (SD 0.75), 1.11 (SD 0.75), and 1.34 (SD 1.11) mg·min−1·cm−2·°C−1with 1.5°C, 37°C, and 50°C ingested water, respectively ( P = 0.46); SBF = 717 (SD 882), 517 (SD 606), and 857 (SD 904) %baseline arbitrary units (AU)/°C with 1.5°C, 37°C, and 50°C ingested water, respectively ( P = 0.95)]. After 15 min of exercise, LSR and SBF were greater with ingestion of 50°C than 1.5°C water [LSR = 0.40 (SD 0.17) vs. 0.31 (SD 0.19) mg·min−1·cm−2( P = 0.02); SBF = 407 (SD 149) vs. 279 (SD 117) %baseline AU ( P < 0.001)], but not 37°C water [LSR = 0.50 (SD 0.22) mg·min−1·cm−2; SBF = 324 (SD 169) %baseline AU]. CVC was statistically unaffected [275 (SD 81), 340 (SD 114), and 384 (SD 160) %baseline CVC with 1.5°C, 37°C, and 50°C ingested water, respectively, P = 0.30]. Collectively, these results support the concept that visceral thermoreceptors modify the central drive for thermoeffector responses.
Obstructive apnea causes microvascular perfusion maldistribution in the lungs of rats
Authors: Conhaim Robert L. , Watson Kal E. , Teodorescu Mihaela
Published: November 2018

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with significant cardiovascular consequences, including pulmonary hypertension, yet little is known about its effects on pulmonary microvascular perfusion. To investigate effects of OSA on pulmonary microvascular perfusion, we clamped the tracheal cannulas of anesthetized, spontaneously breathing rats to simulate obstructive apnea. The clamp remained in place for 10 breaths before it was released to allow the animals to again breathe spontaneously. We repeated this protocol every 20 s until the rat experienced a total of five apneic episodes of 10 breaths each. We then infused into a femoral vein 108fluorescent latex particles (4 µm diameter), which became trapped within the pulmonary microcirculation. We removed the lungs, allowed them to air-dry, and quantified the particle distributions in sections of the lungs using dispersion index (DI) analysis, a method we developed previously. The log of the DI (logDI) is a measure of perfusion maldistribution. Greater log(DI) values correspond to greater maldistribution. Apneic lungs had average logDI values of 1.28 (SD 0.24). Rats not subjected to apnea had average logDI values of 0.85 (SD 0.08) ( P ≤ 0.05). Rats that received latex particles 10 min or 24 h after apnea had average logDI values of 0.97 (SD 0.31) and 0.84  (SD 0.38), respectively (not significant). Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that a few apneic events produced significant, but temporary, perfusion maldistribution within the pulmonary microcirculation. Repeated nightly episodes of apnea over months and years may explain why human patients with OSA suffer from significantly greater cardiovascular disease than those without OSA.
STAT1 regulates macrophage number and phenotype and prevents renal fibrosis after ischemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: Kemmner Stephan , Bachmann Quirin , Steiger Stefanie , Lorenz Georg , Honarpisheh Mohsen , Foresto-Neto Orestes , Wang Shijun , Carbajo-Lozoya Javier , Alt Verena , Schulte Christian , Chmielewski Stefan , Bluyssen Hans A. R. , Heemann Uwe , Baumann Marcus , Lech Maciej , Schmaderer Christoph
Published: November 2018

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) leads to acute kidney injury or delayed allograft function, which predisposes to fibrosis in the native kidney or kidney transplant. Here we investigated the role of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) in inflammatory responses following renal IRI. Our study showed that a subsequent stimulation of Janus-activated kinase 2/STAT1 and Toll-like receptor 4 pathways led to greater STAT1 activation followed by increased cytokine transcription compared with single-pathway stimulation in murine renal tubular cells. Moreover, we observed increased activation of STAT1 under hypoxic conditions. In vivo, STAT1−/−mice displayed less acute tubular necrosis and decreased macrophage infiltration 24 h after renal ischemia. However, investigation of the healing phase (30 days after IRI) revealed significantly more fibrosis in STAT1−/−than in wild-type kidneys. In addition, we demonstrated increased macrophage infiltration in STAT1−/−kidneys. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that STAT1 deficiency drives an alternatively activated macrophage phenotype, which is associated with downregulated cluster of differentiation 80 expression, decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species production, and enhanced ability for phagocytosis. Furthermore, we detected immunohistochemically enhanced STAT1 expression in human renal allograft biopsies with no interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IF/TA) compared with specimens with severe IF/TA without specific etiology. Thus, STAT1 activation drives macrophages toward an alternatively activated phenotype and enhances fibrogenesis indicating a potential STAT1-driven protective mechanism in tissue repair after ischemic injury.
Identifying cystogenic paracrine signaling molecules in cyst fluid of patients with polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Kenter Annegien T. , van Rossum-Fikkert Sari E. , Salih Mahdi , Verhagen Paul C. M. S. , van Leenders Geert J. L. H. , Demmers Jeroen A. A. , Jansen Gert , Gribnau Joost , Zietse Robert , Hoorn Ewout J.
Published: November 2018

In autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) paracrine signaling molecules in cyst fluid can induce proliferation and cystogenesis of neighboring renal epithelial cells. However, the identity of this cyst-inducing factor is still unknown. The aim of this study was to identify paracrine signaling proteins in cyst fluid using a 3D in vitro cystogenesis assay. We collected cyst fluid from 15 ADPKD patients who underwent kidney or liver resection (55 cysts from 13 nephrectomies, 5 cysts from 2 liver resections). For each sample, the ability to induce proliferation and cyst formation was tested using the cystogenesis assay (RPTEC/TERT1 cells in Matrigel with cyst fluid added for 14 days). Kidney cyst fluid induced proliferation and cyst growth of renal epithelial cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Liver cyst fluid also induced cystogenesis. Using size exclusion chromatography, 56 cyst fluid fractions were obtained of which only the fractions between 30 and 100 kDa showed cystogenic potential. Mass spectrometry analysis of samples that tested positive or negative in the assay identified 43 candidate cystogenic proteins. Gene ontology analysis showed an enrichment for proteins classified as enzymes, immunity proteins, receptors, and signaling proteins. A number of these proteins have previously been implicated in ADPKD, including secreted frizzled-related protein 4, S100A8, osteopontin, and cysteine rich with EGF-like domains 1. In conclusion, both kidney and liver cyst fluids contain paracrine signaling molecules that drive cyst formation. Using size exclusion chromatography and mass spectrometry, we procured a candidate list for future studies. Ultimately, cystogenic paracrine signaling molecules may be targeted to abrogate cystogenesis in ADPKD.
Rethinking assumptions about how trial and nuisance variability impact neural task performance in a fast-processing regime
Authors: Roth Noam , Rust Nicole C.
Published: November 2018

Task performance is determined not only by the amount of task-relevant signal present in our brains but also by the presence of noise, which can arise from multiple sources. Internal noise, or “trial variability,” manifests as trial-by-trial variations in neural responses under seemingly identical conditions. External factors can also translate into noise, particularly when a task requires extraction of a particular type of information from our environment amid changes in other task-irrelevant “nuisance” parameters. To better understand how signal, trial variability, and nuisance variability combine to determine neural task performance, we explored their interactions, both in simulation and when applied to recorded neural data. This exploration revealed that trial variability is typically larger than a neuron’s task-relevant signal for tasks with fast reaction times, where spike count integration windows are short. In this low signal-to-trial variability regime, nuisance variability has the counterintuitive property of having a negligible impact on single-neuron task performance, even when it dominates the task-relevant signal. The inconsequential impact of nuisance variability on individual neurons also extends to descriptions of population performance, under the assumption that both trial and nuisance variability are uncorrelated between neurons. These results demonstrate that some basic intuitions about neural coding are misguided in the context of a fast-processing, low-spike-count regime.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Many everyday tasks require us to extract specific information from our environment while ignoring other things. When the neurons in our brains that carry task-relevant signals are also modulated by task-irrelevant “nuisance” information, nuisance modulation is expected to act as performance-limiting noise. Using both simulated and recorded neural data, we demonstrate that these intuitions are misguided when the brain operates in a fast-processing, low-spike-count regime, where nuisance variability is largely inconsequential for performance.
Lumbar Schmorl’s Nodes and Their Correlation with Spine Configuration and Degeneration
Authors: Abbas Janan , Hamoud Kamal , Peled Natan , Hershkovitz Israel
Published: November 2018

The aim of this study was to reveal whether demographic aspect, vertebral morphometry, and spine degeneration are associated with lumbar Schmorl’s nodes (SNs). A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using data from the Department of Radiology (Carmel, Medical Center, Israel) for 180 individuals: age range between 40 and 99 years; 90 males and 90 females. All participants had undergone high-resolution CT scans for abdominal diagnostic purposes in the same supine position prior to our study, which enabled the processing of the scans in all planes and allowed a 3D reconstruction of the lower lumbar region. Eighty individuals (44.4%) had at least one SN along the lumbar spine, particularly at L3-4 level (30%). Vertebral body length (L1 to L3) and width (L1 and L4) were significantly greater in the SNs group compared to non-SNs group. On contrast, disc height (L3-4 and L4-5) was significantly lesser in SNs group than non-SNs group. SNs was significantly associated with smoking (X2= 4.436, P=0.02) and degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (X2= 5.197, P=0.038). Moreover, the prevalence of SN was significantly greater in individuals with vacuum phenomenon and osteophytes formation (L1-2 to L4-5 levels). This study indicates that vacuum phenomenon on L3-4 (OR: 4.7, P=0.034), smoking habit (OR: 3.2, P=0.003), disc height loss of L4-5 (OR: 0.798, P=0.008), vertebral body length of L1 (OR: 1.37, P<0.001), and age (OR: 1.05, P=0.002) increase the probability of developing lumbar SNs.
Dandelion Chloroform Extract Promotes Glucose Uptake via the AMPK/GLUT4 Pathway in L6 Cells
Authors: Zhao Ping , Ming Qian , Xiong Mingrui , Song Guanjun , Tan Li , Tian Di , Liu Jia , Huang Zhao , Ma Jingyi , Shen Jinhua , Liu Qing-Hua , Yang Xinzhou
Published: November 2018

The number of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing rapidly worldwide. Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is one of the main proteins that transport blood glucose into the cells and is a target in the treatment of T2DM. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of action of dandelion chloroform extract (DCE) on glucose uptake in L6 cells. The glucose consumption of L6 cell culture supernatant was measured by a glucose uptake assay kit, and the dynamic changes of intracellular GLUT4 and calcium (Ca2+) levels were monitored by laser scanning confocal microscopy in L6 cell lines stably expressing IRAP‐mOrange. The GLUT4 fusion with the plasma membrane (PM) was traced via myc‐GLUT4‐mOrange. GLUT4 expression and AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), protein kinase C (PKC), and phosphorylation levels were determined by performing western blotting. GLUT4 mRNA expression was detected by real‐time PCR. DCE up‐regulated GLUT4 expression, promoted GLUT4 translocation and fusion to the membrane eventually leading to glucose uptake, and induced AMPK phosphorylation in L6 cells. The AMPK inhibitory compound C significantly inhibited DCE‐induced GLUT4 expression and translocation while no inhibitory effect was observed by the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitor Wortmannin and PKC inhibitor Gö6983. These data suggested that DCE promoted GLUT4 expression and transport to the membrane through the AMPK signaling pathway, thereby stimulating GLUT4 fusion with PM to enhance glucose uptake in L6 cells. DCE‐induced GLUT4 translocation was also found to be Ca2+‐independent. Together, these findings indicate that DCE could be a new hypoglycemic agent for the treatment of T2DM.
An Improved Sensitivity Method for the Simultaneous Identification of Unknown Parameters and External Loads of Nonlinear Structures
Authors: Wang Chongwen , Du Chengbin
Published: November 2018

Because structures may be subject to unknown loads and may simultaneously involve unknown parameters and because simple load identification or parameter identification algorithms cannot be applied under such conditions, it is necessary to seek algorithms that can simultaneously identify unknown parameters and external loads of structures. The sensitivity method is one of them, and this paper extends this method to nonlinear structures. In addition, the key issues associated with the sensitivity method are systematically studied, and suggestions for improvement are put forward, including the use of the difference method instead of the derivative method to calculate the sensitivity, the use of a fixed regularization parameter instead of the traditional regularization parameter calculation methods, and measures for guarantee of iterative convergence. The improved sensitivity method is applied to two types of nonlinear structures, and the effects of the regularization parameter, distribution of measured points, response types, noise levels, and the magnitude of the perturbation on the identified results are discussed.
An Unusual Presentation of a Large Calcified Thyroid Nodule
Authors: Jayarajah Umesh , Wijerathne Pradeep , Basnayake Oshan , Seneviratne Sanjeewa
Published: November 2018

This case highlights the rare occurrence of a large benign calcified nodule of the left lobe of the thyroid gland with associated obstructive symptoms. Unusually, the calcification was confluent with similar calcified nodules in the subcutaneous tissue plane. The symptoms were alleviated following a total thyroidectomy.
New Stability Tests for Discretized Fractional‐Order Systems Using the Al‐Alaoui and Tustin Operators
Authors: Stanisławski Rafał , Rydel Marek , Latawiec Krzysztof J.
Published: November 2018

This paper provides new results on a stable discretization of commensurate fractional‐order continuous‐time LTI systems using the Al‐Alaoui and Tustin discretization methods. New, graphical, and analytical stability/instability conditions are given for discrete‐time systems obtained by means of the Al‐Alaoui discretization scheme. On this basis, an analytically driven stability condition for discrete‐time systems using the Tustin‐based approach is presented. Finally, the stability of discrete‐time systems obtained by finite‐length approximation of the Al‐Alaoui and Tustin operators are discussed. Simulation experiments confirm the effectiveness of the introduced stability tests.
BiSON: A Bioinspired Self‐Organizing Network for Dynamic Auto‐Configuration in 5G Wireless
Authors: Roy Abhishek , Saxena Navrati , Sahu Bharat J. R. , Singh Sukhdeep
Published: November 2018

Emerging 5G wireless networks are expected to herald significant transformation in industrial applications, with improved coverage, high data rates, and massive device capacity. However, the introduction of 5G wireless makes the network configuration, management, and planning extremely challenging. For efficient network configuration, every cell needs to be allocated a particular Physical Cell Identifier (PCID), which is unique in its vicinity. Wireless standards (e.g., 3GPP) typically specify a limited number of PCIDs. However, the number of cells in 5G Ultradense Networks (UDN) is expected to significantly outnumber these limited PCIDs. Hence, these PCIDs need to be efficiently allocated among the myriad of cells, such that two cells which are neighbors or neighbor’s neighbor are assigned with different PCIDs. This complicated network configuration problem becomes even more complex by dynamic introduction and removal of 5G small cells (e.g., micro, femto, and pico). In this paper, we introduce BiSON, a new Bioinspired Self‐Organizing Solution for automated and efficient PCID configuration in 5G UDN. Using two different extensions, namely, “always near‐optimal” and “heuristic,” we explain near‐optimal and dynamic auto‐configuration in computationally feasible time, with negligible overhead. Our extensive network simulation experiments, based on actual 5G wireless trials, demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves better optimality (minimum PCIDs in use) than earlier works in a reasonable computational complexity.
Equation for General Description of Power Behaviour in Fuel Cells
Authors: Lavorante María J. , Sanguinetti Alfredo R. , Fasoli Héctor J. , Aiello Ricardo M.
Published: November 2018

The analytical development of an equation that allows representing the general behavior of electrochemical cells and, in particular, proton exchange membrane fuel cells is presented in this work. The statement from which the proposed equation emerged was made by Rysselberghe where electrolytic cells work as power supply and around which an electrical current moves out of equilibrium. The data used to test the equation were taken from discharged slopes of PEM fuel cells constructed in the Institute of Scientific and Technical Research for the Defense with researchers from the Army Engineering Faculty and from literature. The equation Pr=Ir(2-Ir) makes it clear that the relative power (Pr) is a quadratic function of the relative current (Ir) and shows a correlation coefficient close to 0.99 with respect to the experimental results of all data analyzed. It is important to remark that the parameters by which the prototypes were constructed were different: the amount and type of catalysts used, the active area, the material of bipolar plates, the type of electrolyte, the number of unit cells, and the different working conditions. In all cases and in spite of all the differences, which are very significant, the parametric equation proposed fits very well.
Reflectometric System for Continuous and Automated Monitoring of Irrigation in Agriculture
Authors: De Benedetto Egidio , Cannazza Giuseppe , Masciullo Antonio , Demitri Christian , Cataldo Andrea
Published: November 2018

In this work, a time domain reflectometry (TDR)-based system for continuous and diffused monitoring of soil water content in agriculture is presented. The proposed TDR-based system employs elongate sensing elements (SEs). In practical application, each wire-like SE is buried along the cultivation row to be monitored, and through a single TDR measurement it is possible to retrieve the water content profile of the cultivation along the length of the SE. By connecting the TDR-based monitoring system to the irrigation machines, it would be possible to automatically start/stop irrigation based on the actual water requirement of the cultivations, thus favoring precision agriculture and enhancing irrigation efficiency. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed monitoring solution, a dedicated hardware+software platform was developed and the TDR-based system was experimented in open-field cultivations.
Experimental Study of Spray Characteristics of Kerosene-Ethanol Blends from a Pressure-Swirl Nozzle
Authors: Zhang Tao , Dong Bo , Zhou Xun , Guan Linan , Li Weizhong , Zhou Shengqi
Published: November 2018

Partial replacement of kerosene by ethanol in a gas turbine is regarded as a good way to improve the spray quality and reduce the fossil energy consumption. The present work is aimed at studying the spray characteristics of kerosene-ethanol blends discharging from a pressure-swirl nozzle. The spray cone angle, discharge coefficient, breakup length, and velocity distribution are obtained by particle image velocimetry, while droplet size is acquired by particle/droplet imaging analysis. Kerosene, E10 (10% ethanol, 90% kerosene), E20 (20% ethanol, 80% kerosene), and E30 (30% ethanol, 70% kerosene) have been considered under the injection pressure of 0.1–1 MPa. The results show that as injection pressure is increased, the discharge coefficient and breakup length decrease, while the spray cone angle, drop size, and spray velocity increase. Meanwhile, the drop size decreases and the spray velocity increases with ethanol concentration when the injection pressure is lower than 0.8 MPa. However, the spray characteristics are not affected obviously by the ethanol concentration when the injection pressure exceeds 0.8 MPa. A relation to breakup length for kerosene-ethanol blends is obtained. The findings demonstrate that the adding of ethanol into kerosene can promote atomization performance.
Prevalence of Myopia among Children Attending Pediatrics Ophthalmology Clinic at Ohud Hospital, Medina, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mohammed Alemam Aisha , Aldebasi Mohammed Hamad , Rehmatullah Abdulkarem , Alsaidi Rami , Tashkandi Ishraq
Published: November 2018

Introduction. Around half of the visually impaired population has uncorrected refractive errors (URE), and myopia constitutes a high proportion of them. URE should be screened and treated early to prevent long-term complications. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of myopia among all patients attending a pediatric outpatient clinic at Ohud Hospital in Medina, Saudi Arabia (KSA). Method. This study was conducted using a convenience sample of all patients attending the clinic (1500 patients) aged between 3 and 14 years, and they were enrolled in the study during the period from May 2017 until September 2017. Result. Of 1215 subjects, only 43 (3.54%) were diagnosed with myopia. Out of the study participants, 56.8% were female and the mean age was 9.7 ± 3.6. Myopia was more prevalent in male participants than female participants (n = 525, 4%, n = 690, 3.1%, p=0.5). Low myopia was the most common form among the screened individuals. The level of myopia was associated with the degree of the strabismus angle. Approximately 22% of patients with myopia had >25° strabismus angle. There was a statistically significant association with both near work indoor and outdoor activities on weekends and the level of myopia. Conclusion. The prevalence of myopia among pediatrics patients in Medina is 3.54%. We hope that the results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of this public health issue in Saudi Arabia in order to implant a strict screening program for early detection and interventions to reduce the risk of further progression of visual impairment.