bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bis(bipyridinium) Salts as Multicolored Electrochromic Devices
Authors: Jordão Noémi , Cruz Hugo , Branco Aida , Pina Fernando , Branco Luís C. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSymmetrical and nonsymmetrical oxobis(bipyridinium) cations combined with iodide and bistriflimide anions were prepared. In the case of the bistriflimide‐based bis(bipyridinium) salts, two room‐temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) with a combination of linkers and terminal ethers, [(C3O)bpy(C4O)bpy(C3O)][NTf2]4 and [(C10)bpy(C4O)bpy(C3O)][NTf2]4, were obtained, with glass transition temperatures (between −6.9 and 6.0 °C) higher than those reported previously for salts of dication bipyridinium scaffolds (−17.5 to −30.0 °C). The prepared salt containing [(C10)bpy(C4O)bpy(C10)][NTf2] can form an ionic liquid crystal structure. The most promising salts were tested as efficient and reversible multicolored electrochromic devices through cyclic voltammetry studies and detailed characterizations of their electrochromic performances. In general, tetracations based on oxobis(bipyridinium) salts show higher chromatic contrast and lower coloration efficiency than similar dication salts. Exchange of the anion from iodide to [NTf2] increases the transition times and coloration efficiencies for all the prepared di‐ and tetracation salts. The electrochromic device stability of [(C3O)bpy(C4O)bpyC3O]I4 was tested by on/off cycling; this device loses around 23 % of the initial color after 8640 redox cycles and shows very good cycling stability compared with previously reported diiodide salts.
State of the art and challenges for test and reliability of emerging nonvolatile resistive memories
Authors: Vatajelu Elena Ioana , Pouyan Peyman , Hamdioui Said 
Published: October 2017

SummaryThe power and reliability issues of today's memories (static and dynamic RAMs) reduce the advances achieved by their implementation in scaled technology. There are several emergent memory technologies that address the technical constraints of today's memories, among which the most promising solutions are the resistance‐based memories, such as phase change memories, the redox‐based resistive memories, and the spin‐transfer torque magnetic memories. These technologies are facing various challenges that have to be addressed to render them efficient in today's applications. Until recently, research focus was on the design for performance and power efficiency, but lately, the test and reliability issues of these devices have become of major concern to the community. This paper presents an overview of the challenges and proposed test and reliability boost solutions developed to suit the needs of the emerging memories under analysis. It underlines (1) the unique faults that occur in the memory cell due to known issues in the emerging storage devices, (2) the dedicated solutions developed for efficient testing of the emerging memories under study, (3) the main reliability concerns related to the emerging storage devices, and (4) the design solutions targeted at mitigating these reliability issues. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Type 2 diabetes: Does pancreatic fat really matter?
Authors: Guglielmi Valeria , Sbraccia Paolo 
Published: October 2017

SummaryWith the increasing prevalence of obesity, the interest of research in nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) has grown. Even though the pancreas appears more susceptible to lipid accumulation compared with the liver, NAFPD has been less investigated due to the limits in detecting techniques. Several definitions and synonyms for NAFPD are used by authors and can be misleading. This, together with differences in methodology and ethnicity, make the integration and comparison of studies on this topic challenging. NAFPD could be used as an early indicator of ectopic fat deposition, which is recognized as a key factor of obesity cardio‐metabolic complications. However, evidence that NAFPD has a pathogenetic role in type 2 diabetes is also emerging. This article reviews the current state of knowledge on the clinical and pathophysiologic relevance of NAFPD in β‐cell function and insulin resistance.
Development of Albumin‐closo‐Dodecaborate Conjugates as Boron Carriers for Neutron‐Capture Therapy by Ru(bpy)3‐Photocatalyzed Modification of Tyrosine
Authors: Sato Shinichi , Ishii Satomu , Nakamura Hiroyuki 
Published: October 2017

AbstractInvited for the cover of this issue is the group of Hiroyuki Nakamura from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan. The cover image shows the development of albumin‐closo‐dodecaborate conjugates as boron carriers for neutron‐capture therapy by ruthenium‐photocatalyzed modification of tyrosine.
Sodium‐Ion Battery Anodes Comprising Carbon Sheets: Stable Cycling in Half‐ and Full‐Pouch Cell Configuration
Authors: Tang Jialiang , Barker Jerry , Pol Vilas G. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn this work, carbon sheets derived from starch packing peanuts were evaluated for their viability as sodium‐ion anodes in both half‐cell and full‐pouch cell configurations. The carbon sheets are ≈1 μm thick and 5–50 μm wide in dimensions with hard carbon structuring. The carbon sheets have a surface area of 430 m2 g−1 with 92.5 % micropores (<2 nm) and 7.5 % mesopores (2–6 nm). Moreover, the carbon sheets contain a native Na2CO3 layer on the surface that could act as stable artificial solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI). The carbon sheet anode delivers 153 mAh g−1 of reversible capacity at 50 mA g−1 and 55 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1 with good cycling stability (92 % capacity retention) after 150 cycles. Post‐diagnostic analysis of the cycled carbon sheet electrode reveals that sheet‐like morphology of the carbon remains preserved after one hundred discharging–charging cycles and no excessive SEI formation is observed. The carbon sheet anodes, when paired with a NaaNi1−x−y−zMnxM1yM2zO2 cathode (M1 and M2 are transition metals) by Faradion Limited (UK), exhibit an average discharge voltage of 3.15 V. Stable cycling is demonstrated in full‐cells with 90 % capacity retention after 200 cycles and 84 % retention after 300 cycles in pouch cells. This excellent long‐term cycling stability with an average coulombic efficiency of 99.8 % is among the best reported for sodium‐ion full‐cells in the literature and is attributed to the material's stable SEI formation.
Estimation of inelastic displacement ratio for base‐isolated structures
Authors: Yaghmaei‐Sabegh Saman , Safari Sina , Ghayouri Karim Abdolmohammad 
Published: October 2017

SummaryThis study develops a straightforward approximate method to estimate inelastic displacement ratio, C1 for base‐isolated structures subjected to near‐fault and far‐fault ground motions. Taking into account the inelastic behavior of isolator and superstructure, a 2 degrees of freedom model is employed. A total of 90 earthquake ground motions are selected and classified into different clusters according to the frequency content features of records represented by the peak ground acceleration to peak ground velocity ratio, Ap/Vp. A parametric study is conducted, and effective factors in C1 (i.e., fundamental vibration period of the superstructure, Ts; postyield stiffness ratio of the superstructure, αs; strength reduction ratio, R; vibration period of the isolator, Tb; strength of the isolator, Q; ratio of superstructure mass to total mass of the system, γm) are recognized. The results indicate that the practical range of C1 values could be expected for base‐isolated structures. Subsequently, effective parameters are included in simple predictive equations. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed approximate equations is evaluated and verified through error measurement, and comparisons are made in the analyses.
Applying adverse outcome pathways and species sensitivity–weighted distribution to predicted-no-effect concentration derivation and quantitative ecological risk assessment for bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenol in aquatic environments: A case study on Tianjin City, China
Authors: Wang Ying , Na Guangshui , Zong Humin , Ma Xindong , Yang Xianhai , Mu Jingli , Wang Lijun , Lin Zhongsheng , Zhang Zhifeng , Wang Juying , Zhao Jinsong 
Published: October 2017

Abstract

Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) are a novel concept that effectively considers the toxic modes of action and guides the ecological risk assessment of chemicals. To better use toxicity data including biochemical or molecular responses and mechanistic data, we further developed a species sensitivity–weighted distribution (SSWD) method for bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenol. Their aquatic predicted-no-effect concentrations (PNECs) were derived using the log-normal statistical extrapolation method. We calculated aquatic PNECs of bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenol with values of 4.01 and 0.721 µg/L, respectively. The ecological risk of each chemical in different aquatic environments near Tianjin, China, a coastal municipality along the Bohai Sea, was characterized by hazard quotient and probabilistic risk quotient assessment techniques. Hazard quotients of 7.02 and 5.99 at 2 municipal sewage sites using all of the endpoints were observed for 4-nonylphenol, which indicated high ecological risks posed by 4-nonylphenol to aquatic organisms, especially endocrine-disrupting effects. Moreover, a high ecological risk of 4-nonylphenol was indicated based on the probabilistic risk quotient method. The present results show that combining the SSWD method and the AOP concept could better protect aquatic organisms from adverse effects such as endocrine disruption and could decrease uncertainty in ecological risk assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:551–562. © 2017 SETAC
Knotting nets: Molecular junctions of interconnecting endocrine axes identified by application of the adverse outcome pathway concept
Authors: Brüggemann Maria , Licht Oliver , Fetter Éva , Teigeler Matthias , Schäfers Christoph , Eilebrecht Elke 
Published: October 2017

Abstract

To be defined as an endocrine disruptor, a substance has to meet several criteria, including the induction of specific adverse effects, a specific endocrine mode of action, and a plausible link between both. The latter criterion in particular might not always be unequivocally determined, especially because the endocrine system consists of diverse endocrine axes. The axes closely interact with each other, and manipulation of one triggers effects on the other. The present review aimed to identify some of the many interconnections between these axes. The focus was on fish, but data obtained in studies on amphibians and mammals were considered if they assisted in closing data gaps, because most of the endocrine mechanisms are evolutionarily conserved. The review includes data both from ecotoxicological studies and on physiological processes and gives information on hormone/hormone receptor interactions or gene transcription regulation. The key events and key event relationships identified provide explanations for unexpected effects on one axis, exerted by substances suspected to act specifically on another axis. Based on these data, several adverse outcome pathway (AOP) segments are identified, describing connections between the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axes, the HPG and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal/interrenal (HPA/I) axes, and the HPT and HPA/I axes. Central key events identified across axes were altered aromatase activity as well as altered expression and function of the proteins 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein. Substance classes that act on more than one endocrine axis were, for example, goitrogens or aromatase inhibitors. Despite the wealth of information gathered, the present review only provides a few insights into the molecular nets of endocrine axes, demonstrating the complexity of their interconnections. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:318–328. © 2017 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
Hybrid PLC‐VLC channel model and spectral estimation using a nonparametric approach
Authors: Ndjiongue Alain Richard , Ferreira Hendrik Christoffel , Song Jian , Yang Fang , Cheng Ling 
Published: October 2017

AbstractTelecommunication engineering may substantially benefit from the integration of power line communication (PLC) and visible light communication (VLC) technologies. This integration is enabled firstly by the ubiquitous nature of PLC and VLC infrastructures and secondly by the recent advances made in both technologies, and it will be effective with the knowledge of the cascaded PLC‐VLC channel. This paper reports on the spectral analysis and estimation of the dual channel for hybrid systems involving PLC and VLC technologies. The channels are statistically analysed using the nonparametric windowed Welch method. Experimental results giving varieties of simulated PLC‐VLC channel are presented. They show the influence of the number of taps (PLC side) and the line‐of‐sight and the non–line‐of‐sight gains (VLC side) on the PLC‐VLC frequency response. It also indicates that the cascaded channel is influenced by propagation distance and room area. We also show the influence of PLC and VLC channel parameters on the gain and notches.
On the performance of a nonorthogonal multiple‐access technique for downlink MIMO cooperative networks
Authors: Zhang Yangyang , Ge Jianhua , Serpedin Erchin 
Published: October 2017

AbstractNonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been regarded as an appropriate multiple‐access technique for fifth generation due to its radio‐frequency spectrum effective usage and significant capacity gains. In this paper, a cooperative network is considered, where 2 kinds of signal transmission links exist at the same time, ie, the direct link and the relaying link. The system performance is evaluated in a NOMA‐based downlink multiple‐input–multiple‐output relaying network in terms of 2 measures, ie, the outage probability and the ergodic rate. Due to the uncertainty of the signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio (SINR) at the users reached by the direct links, at the base station, the best antenna that maximizes the instantaneous system SINR at the relay is selected to transmit the signals. Furthermore, for the receiving antennas at the multiple users, maximal ratio combining is used to exploit efficiently the diversity offered by the multiple antennas. Closed‐form expressions for the exact outage probability and the ergodic rate at high SINR are derived. Moreover, the diversity order is obtained by analyzing the asymptotic outage probability. Finally, the extensive simulations are performed to corroborate that NOMA, in combination with a successive interference canceller, represents a significant alternative to the orthogonal multiple access in catching up with the high demands for radio spectrum.
Slow adaptive energy‐efficient resource allocation in OFDMA HetNets considering demand uncertainty
Authors: Vaezpour Elaheh , Dehghan Mehdi 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn this paper, we consider the downlink of a hybrid heterogeneous network with femtocells overlaid on a macrocell. Considering the rate requirements of femtocell users and interference thresholds for both co‐tier and cross‐tier users, we formulate the joint power and subchannel allocation problem to maximize the energy efficiency in orthogonal frequency‐division multiple access–based open‐access 2‐tier heterogeneous networks. Due to user's mobility and fluctuating data rate demand, data rate requirements of users are subject to uncertainty, which is ignored in previous works. Toward this end, we study the demand uncertainty by an error model in which femtocells do not have knowledge about the exact distributions and instead assume that each user demand follows a probability distribution function, which belongs to a set of distributions with specific properties (ie, mean and variance). Since these statistics are obtained from historical data, we also take into account the moment uncertainty. Under this error model, the distributionally robust energy‐efficient optimization problem is formulated, which is intractable. To make it tractable, we present the problem in an equivalent form by using the duality theory and then propose decomposition techniques to divide the problem into a fractional programming and a semi‐infinite subproblem. Moreover, we provide optimization methods to solve each one. Our extensive experimental results highlight the effectiveness of our robust solution in uncertain environments, examine the cost of robustness, and demonstrate the convergence of our proposed algorithm. As shown by simulations, our approach provides robustness while incurring minor loss (less than 5%) in optimality.
Joint uplink and downlink optimization of pilot assignment for massive MIMO with power control
Authors: Marinello Filho José Carlos , Panazio Cristiano Magalhães , Abrão Taufik 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate the effects of pilot assignment (PA) in multicell massive multiple‐input–multiple‐output systems. When deploying linear detection/precoding algorithms and a large number of antennas at base station (BS), it is well‐known that system performance in both uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) is mainly restricted by pilot contamination. Such interference is proper of each pilot sequence, and thus, system performance can be improved by suitably assigning the pilots to the users within a given cell, according to a certain desired metric. We show in this paper that UL and DL performances constitute conflicting metrics, since it is not possible to achieve the best performance in UL and DL concomitantly. Thus, we propose an alternative metric, namely, total capacity, aiming to simultaneously achieve a suitable performance in both directions, ie, UL and DL. Since the PA problem is combinatorial, and the search space grows with the number of pilots in a factorial fashion, we also propose a low‐complexity suboptimal algorithm that achieves promising capacity performance avoiding the exhaustive search. In addition, to fully benefit from the large excess of BS antennas, we combine our proposed PA schemes with an efficient power control algorithm, unveiling the great potential of the proposed schemes to provide improved performance for more users, even with a not‐so‐large number of BS antennas. In a limit condition, for example, our numerical results demonstrate that with 64 BS antennas serving 10 users, our proposed method can assure a 95% likely rate of 4.2 Mbps for both DL and UL, and a symmetric 95% likely rate of 1.4 Mbps when serving 32 users. If a higher number of antennas is allowed at BS, the guaranteed rates can be significantly higher.
Dopamine cross‐reacts with adrenoreceptors in cortical astrocytes to induce BDNF expression, CREB signaling and morphological transformation
Authors: Koppel Indrek , Jaanson Kaur , Klasche Airi , Tuvikene Jürgen , Tiirik Tõnis , Pärn Angela , Timmusk Tõnis 
Published: October 2017

AbstractExpression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is induced in cultured rat cortical astrocytes by catecholamines norepinephrine and dopamine as well as selective α1 and β adrenergic agonists. However, it has remained unknown which receptors mediate dopamine‐induced BDNF upregulation in astrocytes. Here, we demonstrate that β adrenoreceptors are the main mediators of this effect in cultured cortical astrocytes, while α1 adrenoreceptors and D1 dopamine receptors contribute to a lesser extent. We show that in cortical astrocytes BDNF exon IV and exon VI containing mRNAs are induced by dopamine and norepinephrine via CREB‐dependent signaling and that this regulation is mediated by a mechanism that is distinct from activity‐dependent CREB‐mediated activation of BDNF transcription in neurons. We also show that regulation of BDNF promoters IV and VI by catecholamines requires a distal regulatory element in the BDNF locus. Finally, we demonstrate that dopamine‐induced astrocyte stellation and induction of CREB signaling are mediated by cross‐reaction of dopamine with β adrenoreceptors.
Delayed methotrexate elimination: Incidence, interaction with antacid drugs, and clinical consequences?
Authors: Ranchon Florence , Vantard Nicolas , Henin Emilie , Bachy Emmanuel , Sarkozy Clémentine , Karlin Lionel , Bouafia‐Sauvy Fadhela , Gouraud Aurore , Schwiertz Verane , Bourbon Estelle , Baudouin Amandine , Caffin Anne Gaelle , Vial Thierry , Salles Gilles , Rioufol Catherine 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe aim of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the incidence of delayed methotrexate elimination in patients treated with high‐dose methotrexate (≥1 g/m2) for haematological malignancy and to identify the impact of interacting drugs, especially proton‐pump inhibitors (PPIs) and ranitidine. All patients treated with high‐dose methotrexate over a 6 year period in the haematology department of the Lyon Sud University Hospital (Hospices Civils de Lyon, France) were included. Potential risk factors for delayed methotrexate elimination were tested in a generalized linear model by univariate analysis: patient age, gender, methotrexate dose, administration of PPI or ranitidine, and concomitant nephrotoxic drugs. A total of 412 cycles of methotrexate were administered to 179 patients. Proton‐pump inhibitors were co‐administered with methotrexate in 127 cycles and ranitidine in 192 cycles. Ninety‐three cycles included no antacid drugs. A total of 918 plasma methotrexate assays were performed. Methotrexate concentrations were checked at 24 hours in 92% of cycles. Delayed methotrexate elimination was observed in 20.9% of cycles. A total of 63 cycles with delayed methotrexate elimination were only identified on plasma methotrexate measures at 72 hours: ie, plasma methotrexate was in the normal range at 24 and 48 hour post injection. Use of PPI/ranitidine or no antacid drugs did not increase risk of delayed elimination, with respectively delayed methotrexate elimination in 20.5%, 21.9%, and 19.4% of cycles (P = .89). Impaired baseline creatinine clearance showed significant association in univariate analysis. Fifteen patients showed grade 1 acute kidney injury, 1 grade 2, 2 grade 3, and none grade 4. For half of these cases, delayed methotrexate elimination was observed and the 2 grade 3 events appeared in patients treated with PPIs. This retrospective study suggests that there is no association between concomitant use of proton‐pump inhibitors (pantoprazole and esomeprazole) or ranitidine and delayed methotrexate elimination.