bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Smart Flexible Solid State Photovoltaic Device with Interfacial Cooling Recovery Feature through Thermoreversible Polymer Gel Electrolyte
Authors: Sonigara Keval K. , Machhi Hiren K. , Vaghasiya Jayraj V. , Gibaud Alain , Tan Swee Ching , Soni Saurabh S. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractQuasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated with lightweight flexible substrates have a great potential in wearable electronic devices for in situ powering. However, the poor lifespan of these DSSCs limits their practical application. Strong mechanical stresses involved in practical applications cause breakage of the electrode/electrolyte interface in the DSSCs greatly affecting their performance and lifetime. Here, a mechanically robust, low‐cost, long‐lasting, and environment‐friendly quasi‐solid‐state DSSC using a smart thermoreversible water‐based polymer gel electrolyte with self‐healing characteristics at a low temperature (below 0 °C) is demonstrated. When the performance of the flexible DSSC is hindered by strong mechanical stresses (i.e., from multiple bending/twisting/shrinking actions), a simple cooling treatment can regenerate the electrode/electrolyte interface and recover the performance close to the initial level. A performance recovery as high as 94% is proven possible even after 300 cycles of 90° bending. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first aqueous DSSC device with self‐healing behavior, using a smart thermoreversible polymer gel electrolyte, which provides a new perspective in flexible wearable solid‐state photovoltaic devices.
Nanoscale Discrimination between Toxic and Nontoxic Protein Misfolded Oligomers with Tip‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: D'Andrea Cristiano , Foti Antonino , Cottat Maximilien , Banchelli Martina , Capitini Claudia , Barreca Francesco , Canale Claudio , de Angelis Marella , Relini Annalisa , Maragò Onofrio M. , Pini Roberto , Chiti Fabrizio , Gucciardi Pietro G. , Matteini Paolo 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHighly toxic protein misfolded oligomers associated with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are nowadays considered primarily responsible for promoting synaptic failure and neuronal death. Unraveling the relationship between structure and neurotoxicity of protein oligomers appears pivotal in understanding the causes of the pathological process, as well as in designing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies tuned toward the earliest and presymptomatic stages of the disease. Here, it is benefited from tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) as a surface‐sensitive tool with spatial resolution on the nanoscale, to inspect the spatial organization and surface character of individual protein oligomers from two samples formed by the same polypeptide sequence and different toxicity levels. TERS provides direct assignment of specific amino acid residues that are exposed to a large extent on the surface of toxic species and buried in nontoxic oligomers. These residues, thanks to their outward disposition, might represent structural factors driving the pathogenic behavior exhibited by protein misfolded oligomers, including affecting cell membrane integrity and specific signaling pathways in neurodegenerative conditions.
UV Photodetectors Based on BiOCl Nanosheet Arrays: The Effects of Morphologies and Electrode Configurations
Authors: Ouyang Weixin , Su Longxing , Fang Xiaosheng 
Published: August 2018

AbstractA facile chemical bath method is adopted to grow bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) nanosheet arrays on a piece of Cu foil (denoted as BiOCl‐Cu) and isolated BiOCl nanosheets are collected by ultrasonication. A self‐supporting BiOCl film is obtained by the removal of Cu foil. Photodetectors (PDs) based on these BiOCl materials are assembled and the effects of morphologies and electrode configurations on the photoelectric performance of these PDs are examined. The BiOCl nanosheet PD achieves high responsivities in the spectral range from 250 to 350 nm, while it presents quite a small photocurrent and slow response speed. The BiOCl film PD yields low photocurrents and near‐unity on–off ratios, demonstrating poor photoelectric performance. The photocurrent of the BiOCl‐Cu PD with both electrodes on the BiOCl film is much higher than those of these above‐mentioned PDs, and the response times are fast. Meanwhile, the BiOCl‐Cu PD with separate electrodes on the BiOCl film and Cu foil achieves even higher photocurrents and presents a self‐powering characteristic, depicting the improved photodetecting performances induced by the specific morphology and distinct electrode configuration. These results would promote the applications of BiOCl nanostructures in the photoelectric devices.
GraftFast Surface Engineering to Improve MOF Nanoparticles Furtiveness
Authors: Giménez‐Marqués Mónica , Bellido Elena , Berthelot Thomas , Simón‐Yarza Teresa , Hidalgo Tania , Simón‐Vázquez Rosana , González‐Fernández África , Avila José , Asensio Maria Carmen , Gref Ruxandra , Couvreur Patrick , Serre Christian , Horcajada Patricia 
Published: August 2018

AbstractControlling the outer surface of nanometric metal–organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) and further understanding the in vivo effect of the coated material are crucial for the convenient biomedical applications of MOFs. However, in most studies, the surface modification protocol is often associated with significant toxicity and/or lack of selectivity. As an alternative, how the highly selective and general grafting GraftFast method leads, through a green and simple process, to the successful attachment of multifunctional biopolymers (polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hyaluronic acid) on the external surface of nanoMOFs is reported. In particular, effectively PEGylated iron trimesate MIL‐100(Fe) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit suitable grafting stability and superior chemical and colloidal stability in different biofluids, while conserving full porosity and allowing the adsorption of bioactive molecules (cosmetic and antitumor agents). Furthermore, the nature of the MOF–PEG interaction is deeply investigated using high‐resolution soft X‐ray spectroscopy. Finally, a cell penetration study using the radio‐labeled antitumor agent gemcitabine monophosphate (3H‐GMP)‐loaded MIL‐100(Fe)@PEG NPs shows reduced macrophage phagocytosis, confirming a significant in vitro PEG furtiveness.
Kronenbrücke in Freiburg
Authors: Bothner Ralf , Häberle Uwe 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHerrn Dipl.‐Ing., Dr.‐Ing. E. h. Reiner Saul zur Vollendung seines 80. Lebensjahres gewidmetIn Freiburg im Breisgau wurde der Ersatzneubau der Kronenbrücke realisiert. Das Bauwerk wurde für kombinierten Straßenbahn‐ und Straßenverkehr ausgelegt. In der Mitte zwischen den beiden Teilbauwerken ist eine Öffnung. Die Spannweite beträgt ca. 45 m, die schlanke Stahlbetonplatte wird mit einer Unterspannung gehalten.
Puente Mercosur – Die dritte Brücke über den Orinoco
Authors: Eilzer Wolfgang , Humpf Karl , Müller Michael , Moslener Michael 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHerrn Dipl.‐Ing., Dr.‐Ing. E. h. Reiner Saul zur Vollendung des 80. Lebensjahres gewidmetDas Land Venezuela sieht sich in den letzten Jahren mit schweren wirtschaftlichen und politischen Problemen konfrontiert. Stetige Preissteigerungen, Hyperinflation und entstehende Versorgungsengpässe sind die sichtbarsten Symptome einer Krise, die sich insbesondere mit dem Verfall der Erdölpreise seit 2014 verschärft hat. Auch Defizite im Staatshaushalt, eine zunehmende Staatsverschuldung und Rezession sind Ausdruck der wirtschaftlichen Herausforderungen.Dabei verfügt Venezuela über die größte Menge an Ölreserven auf der Welt, ist auch eines der Länder mit den größten Erdgasreserven, reich an Bauxit, Mangan, Gold, Eisenerzen und wertvollen Mineralien wie beispielsweise Coltan.Noch vor 10 Jahren florierte die Baubranche in Venezuela, Staudämme wurden gebaut, die Metro in Caracas erweitert sowie das Straßen‐ und Eisenbahnnetz im Landesinneren ausgebaut. Dabei entstanden auch große Brückenbauprojekte wie die Puente Nigale in Maracaibo sowie die beiden Brücken über den Orinoco, die Puente Orinoquia in Ciudad Guayana und die dritte Brücke über den Orinoco im Südosten des Landes, die Puente Mercosur, denen wegen ihrer außergewöhnlichen Größe eine besondere Bedeutung zukommt.Der Beitrag beschreibt diese dritte Brücke über den Orinoco, die sich momentan noch im Bau befindet bei einem Fertigstellungsgrad von ca. 75 % [1].
Spherical branes
Authors: Bobev Nikolay , Bomans Pieter , Gautason Fridrik Freyr 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe construct new solutions of ten-dimensional supergravity with sixteen super-charges which describe the backreaction of Dp-branes with spherical worldvolume. These solutions are holographically dual to the (p+ 1)-dimensional maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory onSp+1. The finite size of the sphere provides an IR cut-off for the gauge theory which is manifested in the supergravity solution as a smooth cap-off of the geometry. In the UV the size of the sphere plays no role and the backgrounds asymptote to the well-known supergravity solutions that describe the near-horizon limit of flat Dp-branes. We compute the on-shell action of our spherical brane solutions and show that it is in agreement with recent supersymmetric localization results for the free energy of maximal SYM theory onSp+1.
The Cost of Intramedullary Nailing Versus Skeletal Traction for Treatment of Femoral Shaft Fractures in Malawi: A Prospective Economic Analysis
Authors: Mustafa Diab Mohamed , Shearer David W. , Kahn James G. , Wu Hao‐Hua , Lau Brian , Morshed Saam , Chokotho Linda 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundIn many low‐ and middle‐income countries, non‐surgical management of femoral shaft fractures using skeletal traction is common because intramedullary (IM) nailing is perceived to be expensive. This study assessed the cost of IM nailing and skeletal traction for treatment of femoral shaft fractures in Malawi.MethodsWe used micro‐costing methods to quantify the costs associated with IM nailing and skeletal traction. Adult patients who sustained an isolated closed femur shaft fracture and managed at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi were followed from admission to discharge. Resource utilization and time data were collected through direct observation. Costs were quantified for procedures and ward personnel, medications, investigations, surgical implants, disposable supplies, procedures instruments and overhead.ResultsWe followed 38 nailing and 27 traction patients admitted between April 2016 and November 2017. Nailing patient’s average length of stay (LOS) was 36.35 days (SD 21.19), compared to 61 (SD 18.16) for traction (p = 0.0003). The total cost per patient was $596.97 ($168.81) for nailing and $678.02 (SD $144.25) for traction (p = 0.02). Major cost drivers were ward personnel and overhead; both are directly proportional to LOS. Converting patients from traction to nailing is cost‐saving up to day 23 post‐admission.ConclusionSavings from IM nailing as compared with skeletal traction were achieved by shortened LOS. Although this study did not assess the effectiveness of either intervention, the literature suggests that traction carries a higher rate of complications than nailing. Investment in IM nailing capacity may yield substantial net savings to health systems, as well as improved clinical outcomes.
Combination of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil in persistent proteinuria due to refractory childhood lupus nephritis
Authors: Almutairi Abdulaziz , Alkathiri Ziyad , Al-Mayouf Sulaiman M. 
Published: August 2018

Background:
Children with lupus nephritis particularly, diffuse proliferative and membranous glomerulonephritis, may necessitate potent immunosuppressive medications and occasionally combined therapy.

Objective:
To report the beneficial effects of tacrolimus (TAC) in children with refractory lupus nephritis from a single tertiary pediatric rheumatology clinic.

Methods:
This is a retrospective case series of children with refractory lupus nephritis treated with TAC after failure of aggressive immunosuppressive treatment. All patients were evaluated at the time of initiation of TAC and at last follow-up visit by assessing the following response parameters: cSLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), urine protein/creatinine ratio, urine sediments, serum albumin, complement (C3 and C4), anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody levels, and renal function assessed by glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Results:
Three children (two girls and one boy) with lupus nephritis and persistent nephrotic-range proteinuria failed prednisone treatment as well as sequential treatment of cyclophosphamide, myco- phenolate mofetil (MMF), and rituximab. When TAC was administered along with MMF and prednisone, all patients showed improvement in response parameters, namely, SLEDAI, serum albumin, and proteinuria, and prednisone doses were significantly weaned off and discontinued in two patients. However, eGFR remained stable during the treatment period. TAC was well tolerated, and no adverse effects were observed.

Conclusion:
TAC combined with MMF can be considered as an alternative therapeutic option for children with refractory lupus nephritis particularly those with persistent nephrotic-range proteinuria.
Outcome following repeat haemorrhoid artery ligation surgery
Authors: Forouzanfar Amir , Smith Jonathan , Chapple Keith S. 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACT

Background:
Although the Haemorrhoid Artery Ligation (HAL) operation provides a low morbidity option in the surgical management of haemorrhoids, a significant proportion of patients (up to 30%) experience recurrence. Further surgery with repeat HAL is an option for this group of patients, yet the effectiveness of this repeat HAL surgery is unreported. Therefore, we investigated patient satisfaction following repeat HAL surgery after an unsatisfactory initial procedure.

Methods:
All patients undergoing repeat HAL surgery at a single institution were identified from a prospectively-maintained database. Patient satisfaction as clinical outcome following repeat surgery was determined. Data was also collected on the interval between primary and repeat HAL surgery, grade of operating surgeon, number of sutures inserted at both operations and 30-day post-operative complications.

Results:
A total of 548 patients underwent HAL surgery over a 4 year period. Of these, 29 (5%) patients (16 male, 13 female; median age 46 [range 16–64] years) underwent repeat HAL surgery. Four (14%) patients were lost to follow up. Of the remaining 25 patients, 15 (60%) patients were satisfied with their outcome, and 10 (40%) were dissatisfied with their outcome at a median of 189 days following repeat HAL surgery. Of the dissatisfied group, 6 (24%) did not request further surgical intervention and 4 (16%) underwent further surgery (open haemorrhoidectomy).

Conclusion:
Repeat HAL has a high success rate after failed primary HAL, especially if performed by a Consultant surgeon rather than a trainee. In those patients with recurrent symptoms after primary HAL, repeat HAL surgery should be considered as a feasible treatment option.

Highlights:
UNLIKELY INTERSECTIONS IN FINITE CHARACTERISTIC
Authors: SHANKAR ANANTH N. , TSIMERMAN JACOB 
Published: August 2018

We present a heuristic argument based on Honda–Tate theory against many conjectures in ‘unlikely intersections’ over the algebraic closure of a finite field; notably, we conjecture that every abelian variety of dimension 4 is isogenous to a Jacobian. Using methods of additive combinatorics, we answer a related question of Chai and Oort where the ambient Shimura variety is a power of the modular curve.
Increased environmental sample area and recovery ofClostridium difficilespores from hospital surfaces by quantitative PCR and enrichment culture
Authors: Brown Kevin Antoine , MacDougall Laura K. , Valenta Kim , Simor Andrew , Johnstone Jennie , Mubareka Samira , Broukhanski George , Garber Gary , McGeer Allison , Daneman Nick 
Published: August 2018

AbstractObjectiveClostridium difficilespores play an important role in transmission and can survive in the environment for several months. Optimal methods for measuring environmentalC. difficileare unknown. We sought to determine whether increased sample surface area improved detection ofC. difficilefrom environmental samples.SettingSamples were collected from 12 patient rooms in a tertiary-care hospital in Toronto, Canada.MethodsSamples represented small surface-area and large surface-area floor and bedrail pairs from single-bed rooms of patients with low (without prior antibiotics), medium (with prior antibiotics), and high (C. difficileinfected) shedding risk. Presence ofC. difficilein samples was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) with targets on the 16S rRNA and toxin B genes and using enrichment culture.ResultsOf the 48 samples, 64·6% were positive by 16S qPCR (geometric mean, 13·8 spores); 39·6% were positive by toxin B qPCR (geometric mean, 1·9 spores); and 43·8% were positive by enrichment culture. By 16S qPCR, each 10-fold increase in sample surface area yielded 6·6 times (95% CI, 3·2–13) more spores. Floor surfaces yielded 27 times (95% CI, 4·9–181) more spores than bedrails, and rooms ofC. difficile–positive patients yielded 11 times (95% CI, 0·55–164) more spores than those of patients without prior antibiotics. Toxin B qPCR and enrichment culture returned analogous findings.ConclusionsClostridium difficilespores were identified in most floor and bedrail samples, and increased surface area improved detection. Future research aiming to understand the role of environmentalC. difficilein transmission should prefer samples with large surface areas.
Differentiating Treatment-Seeking Substance-Use Disordered Patients: Support for a Staging Model
Authors: Rutten Ruud J. T. , Broekman Theo , van den Brink Wim , Schippers Gerard M. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract. Background and Aims: Profiling according to a staging model could be useful for differentiating among the heterogeneous group of treatment-seeking substance use disorder (SUD) patients. The staging model that was evaluated in this study is analogous to the hierarchical Tumor-Nodes-Metastasis (TNM) model in oncology. The proposed model distinguishes profiles derived from the following stages of addiction: (0) addicted, but not severely; (1) severely addicted, but without psychiatric comorbidity or social disintegration; (2) severely addicted with psychiatric comorbidity, but with no social disintegration; and (3) severely addicted in combination with psychiatric comorbidity and social disintegration. Methods: We tested whether subgroups suggested by the staging model for SUDs could be identified among Dutch treatment-seeking SUD patients (N = 6,602). Results: The profile of 5,153 patients (80.9 %) fitted the staging model, and the model was invariant for age, sex, and primary substance of abuse. The majority of the patients not fitting the model (N = 906 of 1,202; 75.4 %) were not severely addicted but were in treatment or had recently been treated for a comorbid psychiatric disorder. When psychiatric treatment was removed as an indicator for the presence of psychiatric comorbidity, the fit increased to 87.1 %. Conclusions: These results support the validity of the hierarchical staging model, which may be used to match patients to specific treatment regimens.Keywords: staging, profiling, disease progression, addiction severity, treatment-seeking patients, substance-use disorders
Seasonal and Solar Cycle Variations of Thermally Excited 630.0 nm Emissions in the Polar Ionosphere
Authors: Kwagala Norah Kaggwa , Oksavik Kjellmar , Lorentzen Dag A. , Johnsen Magnar G. , Laundal Karl M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSolar cycle and seasonal variations have been found in the occurrence of strong thermally excited 630.0 nm emissions in the polar ionosphere. Measurements from the European Incoherent Scatter Svalbard Radar have been used to derive the thermal emission intensity. Thermally excited emissions have been found to maximize at solar maximum with peak occurrence rate of ∼40% compared to ∼2% at solar minimum. These emissions also have the highest occurrence in equinox and the lowest occurrence rate in summer and winter. There is an equinoctial asymmetry in the occurrence rate which reverses with the solar cycle. This equinoctial asymmetry is attributed to variations of the solar wind‐magnetosphere coupling arising from the Russell‐McPherron effect. The occurrence rate of thermal excitation emission on the dayside, at Svalbard, has been found to be higher in autumn than spring at solar maximum and the reverse at solar minimum. Enhanced electron temperatures characterize the strong thermal component for solar minimum and winter, whereas enhanced electron densities characterize the thermal component for solar maximum. The results point to solar wind‐magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling as the dominant controlling process.
Introduction to NASA Living With a Star Institute Special Section on Low Earth Orbit Satellite Drag: Science and Operational Impact
Authors: Zhang Yongliang , Paxton Larry J. , Jones James C. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis paper provides a brief description of the NASA Living With a Star (LWS) Institute special section on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite drag: Science and operational impact. The goals of the LWS institute are to (a) review the current status of atmospheric drag research and operational concerns for LEO satellites, (b) identify and understand the major issues in atmospheric drag estimation, and (c) provide recommendations for future improvement in our ability to provide nowcasts of satellite drag. This special section presents the progress made by the 17 institute members of the 11 participating institutes from four countries as well as additional contributions from scientists who were not part of the original NASA LWS LEO drag team. Contributions cover topics in measurement and modeling of solar extreme ultraviolet inputs, thermospheric neutral density profiles, changes in composition and total density, and satellite conjunction and orbit prediction. Errors in the thermosphere density specification are the dominant source in uncertainty of LEO drag estimation and satellite conjunction. The consensus opinion is that significant funded future effort needs to address and improve measurements and modeling of the thermospheric neutral density and composition under different solar and geomagnetic conditions.
A growth factor-free culture system underscores the coordination between Wnt and BMP signaling in Lgr5+ intestinal stem cell maintenance
Authors: Li Yehua , Liu Yuan , Liu Bofeng , Wang Jilian , Wei Siting , Qi Zhen , Wang Shan , Fu Wei , Chen Ye-Guang 
Published: August 2018

AbstractLgr5+ intestinal stem cells (ISCs) drive the fast renewal of intestinal epithelium. Several signaling pathways have been shown to regulate ISC fates. However, it is unclear what are the essential signals to sustain the ISC self-renewal. Here we show that coordination between Wnt and BMP signaling activity is necessary and sufficient to maintain Lgr5+ ISCs self-renewal. The key function of R-spondin1 is to achieve a high activity of Wnt signaling in the organoid culture. Using the GSK3 inhibitor CHIR-99021 and the BMP type I receptor inhibitor LDN-193189, we can maintain Lgr5+ ISCs without growth factors in vitro. Our results define the basic signaling pathways sustaining Lgr5+ ISCs and set up a convenient and economical culture system for their in vitro expansion. This work also set up an example for growth factor-free culture of other adult stem cells.