bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electrical Investigation of Metal‐Olivine Systems and Application to the Deep Interior of Mercury
Authors: Zhang Zhou , Pommier Anne 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe report electrical conductivity measurements on metal‐olivine systems at about 5 and 6 GPa and up to 1,675°C in order to investigate the electrical properties of core‐mantle boundary (CMB) systems. Electrical experiments were conducted in the multianvil apparatus using the impedance spectroscopy technique. The samples are composed of one metal layer (Fe, FeS, FeSi2, or Fe‐Ni‐S‐Si) and one polycrystalline olivine layer, with the metal:olivine ratio ranging from 1:0.7 to 1:9.2. For all samples, we observe that the bulk electrical conductivity increases with temperature from 10−2.5 to 101.8 S/m, which is higher than the conductivity of polycrystalline olivine but lower than the conductivity of the pure metal phase at similar conditions. In some experiments, a conductivity jump is observed at the temperature corresponding to the melting temperature of the metallic phase. Both the metal:olivine ratio and the metal phase geometry control the electrical conductivity of the two‐layer samples. By combining electrical results, textural analyses of the samples, and previous studies of the structure and composition of Mercury's interior, we propose an electrical profile of the deep interior of the planet that accounts for a layered CMB‐outer core structure. The electrical model agrees with existing conductivity estimates of Mercury's lower mantle and CMB using magnetic observations and thermodynamic calculations, and thus, supports the hypothesis of a layered CMB‐outermost core structure in the present‐day interior of Mercury. We propose that the layered CMB‐outer core structure is possibly electrically insulating, which may influence the planet's structure and cooling history.
The Role of Three‐Dimensional Boundary Stresses in Limiting the Occurrence and Size of Experimental Landslides
Authors: Prancevic Jeffrey P. , Lamb Michael P. , Palucis Marisa C. , Venditti Jeremy G. 
Published: November 2017

The occurrence of seepage‐induced shallow landslides on hillslopes and steep channel beds is important for landscape evolution and natural hazards. Infinite‐slope stability models have been applied for seven decades, but sediment beds generally require higher water saturation levels than predicted for failure, and controlled experiments are needed to test models. We initiated 90 landslides in a 5 m long laboratory flume with a range in sediment sizes (D = 0.7, 2, 5, and 15 mm) and hillslope angles (θ = 20° to 43°), resulting in subsurface flow that spanned the Darcian and turbulent regimes, and failures that occurred with subsaturated and supersaturated sediment beds. Near complete saturation was required for failure in most experiments, with water levels far greater than predicted by infinite‐slope stability models. Although 3‐D force balance models predict that larger landslides are less stable, observed downslope landslide lengths were typically only several decimeters, not the entire flume length. Boundary stresses associated with short landslides can explain the increased water levels required for failure, and we suggest that short failures are tied to heterogeneities in granular properties. Boundary stresses also limited landslide thicknesses, and landslides progressively thinned on lower gradient hillslopes until they were one grain diameter thick, corresponding to a change from near‐saturated to supersaturated sediment beds. Thus, landslides are expected to be thick on steep hillslopes with large frictional stresses acting on the boundaries, whereas landslides should be thin on low‐gradient hillslopes or in channel beds with a critical saturation level that is determined by sediment size.
The Response of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly in 120°E to the Geomagnetic Storm of 18 August 2003 at Different Altitudes From Multiple Satellite Observations
Authors: Luo Weihua , Zhu Zhengping , Xiong Chao , Chang Shanshan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIn this paper, the variations of equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) in 120°E region during the 17–20 August 2003 storm are investigated from measurements of satellites at different altitudes from Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), scientific satellite of the Republic of China (ROCSAT‐1), and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program missions. The results showed that (1) at CHAMP and GRACE altitudes, the EIA was inhibited before the storm sudden commencement (SSC) and also during the storm recovery phase, but it was enhanced significantly during the storm main phase of the storm. (2) The variations of EIA strength and interhemispheric density asymmetry of the two crests were similar at CHAMP and GRACE altitudes, while the location asymmetry of the two crests was different at CHAMP and GRACE altitudes. (3) The irregularities and long‐duration scintillation were recorded before the SSC of the storm, when the EIA was inhibited. The irregularities at different altitudes and short‐duration scintillation were observed during the main phase of the storm, when the EIA was enhanced significantly. (4) The EIA enhancement can be attributed to the enhanced electric field due to prompt penetration interplanetary electric fields and the storm time neutral wind, while the suppression of EIA on 17 August can be attributed to the absence of the equatorward neutral wind, which varied with the altitudes. The EIA inhibition during the recovery phase may be caused mainly by the neutral wind. Our results suggest that the neutral wind is the crucial factor causing the variations in EIA and the occurrence of scintillation.
Multinational Qualitative Research Study Exploring the Patient Experience of Raynaud's Phenomenon in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Pauling John D. , Domsic Robyn T. , Saketkoo Lesley A. , Almeida Celia , Withey Jane , Jay Hilary , Frech Tracy M. , Ingegnoli Francesca , Dures Emma , Robson Joanna , McHugh Neil J. , Herrick Ariane L. , Matucci‐Cerinic Marco , Khanna Dinesh , Hewlett Sarah 
Published: November 2017

ObjectiveRaynaud's phenomenon (RP) is the most common manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc). RP is an episodic phenomenon, not easily assessed in the clinic, leading to reliance on self‐report. A thorough understanding of the patient experience of SSc‐RP is essential to ensuring that patient‐reported outcome (PRO) instruments capture domains important to the target patient population. We report the findings of an international qualitative research study investigating the patient experience of SSc‐RP.MethodsFocus groups of SSc patients were conducted across 3 scleroderma centers in the US and UK, using a topic guide and a priori purposive sampling framework devised by qualitative researchers, SSc patients, and SSc experts. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, anonymized, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Focus groups were conducted until thematic saturation was achieved.ResultsForty SSc patients participated in 6 focus groups conducted in Bath (UK), New Orleans (Louisiana), and Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania). Seven major themes were identified that encapsulate the patient experience of SSc‐RP: physical symptoms, emotional impact, triggers and exacerbating factors, constant vigilance and self‐management, impact on daily life, uncertainty, and adaptation. The interrelationship of the 7 constituent themes can be arranged within a conceptual map of SSc‐RP.ConclusionWe have explored the patient experience of SSc‐RP in a diverse and representative SSc cohort and identified a complex interplay of experiences that result in significant impact. Work to develop a novel PRO instrument for assessing the severity and impact of SSc‐RP, comprising domains/items grounded in the patient experiences of SSc‐RP identified in this study, is underway.
Upregulation of epidermal gap junctional proteins in patients with venous disease
Authors: Kanapathy M , Simpson R , Madden L , Thrasivoulou C , Mosahebi A , Becker D L , Richards T 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Background
Leg ulceration is a feared complication of venous insufficiency. It is not known whether varicose veins predispose skin to poor wound healing. The expression pattern of gap junctional protein connexin, a known marker of poor wound healing, was investigated across various stages of venous disease.

Methods
Patients undergoing intervention for varicose veins were assessed according to the Clinical Etiologic Anatomic Pathophysiologic (CEAP) classification of varicose veins. Paired 4-mm punch biopsies were taken from above the ankle (pathological) and above the knee (control). Tissues were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, and for connexin 43, connexin 30 and connexin 26.

Results
Forty-eight paired biopsies were taken (12 each for CEAP class C0, C2, C4 and C6). The pathological skin showed progressive epithelial hyperthickening, an increase in the number and depth of rete ridges, increased inflammation and loss of dermal architecture with disease progression from C4 onwards. The overall absolute connexin expression and mean connexin expression per cell in the pathological skin similarly increased across the CEAP classes from as early as C2. Increasing levels of connexin in control skin were also noted, indicating progression of the disease proximally. Connexin 43 expression showed the strongest positive correlation between pathological and control skin.

Conclusion
Connexins were overexpressed in patients with simple varicose veins, with a stepwise increased expression through venous eczema to ulceration. Connexin 43 is a potential biomarker for venous disease. This finding suggests that varicose veins predispose skin to poor wound healing. Surgical relevanceThe overexpression of connexins, a family of gap junctional proteins, is known to cause poor healing in venous leg ulceration. It is not known whether there is any association with superficial venous disease. Here, connexin proteins were overexpressed in patients with uncomplicated varicose veins, before histological skin changes. Connexin could be a biomarker of venous disease progression.
Treatments of Lignocellulosic Hydrolysates and Continuous‐Flow Hydrogenation of Xylose to Xylitol
Authors: Fehér Anikó , Fehér Csaba , Rozbach Margaréta , Rácz Gergely , Fekete Melinda , Hegedűs László , Barta Zsolt 
Published: November 2017

AbstractXylitol is produced by the heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of xylose over Raney nickel. The hydrogenation must typically be followed by several purification steps, which makes the chemical production relatively complex and expensive. In this study, activated carbon and bio‐purification treatments of corn stover hydrolysates and subsequent nickel‐catalyzed hydrogenation of xylose to xylitol were investigated. The activated carbon treatment was used to eliminate inhibitory compounds and increase the efficiency of the bio‐purification step. It was found that the glucose could be completely eliminated from the hydrolysate. The hydrogenation reactions of corn stover hydrolysate demonstrated that a high reaction temperature resulted in high sugar alcohol yields and selectivity. At a given temperature, the flow rate had no significant effect on xylitol yield.
Synthesis and Optical Properties of Phenanthroline‐Derived Schiff Base‐Like Dinuclear RuII–NiII Complexes
Authors: Kurz Hannah , Lochenie Charles , Wagner Kristina G. , Schneider Sandra , Karg Matthias , Weber Birgit 
Published: November 2017

AbstractTwo phenanthroline‐derived Schiff base‐like ligands with a covalently linked ruthenium(II) phosphorescent unit were synthesised and converted into bimetallic RuII–NiII complexes. The optical properties were studied to examine a possible photoluminescence quenching through a nonradiative energy‐transfer upon a coordination‐induced spin‐state switch (CISSS) at the nickel(II) centre. Therefore, the metalloligands and the nickel(II) complexes were studied using UV/Vis absorbance, steady‐state, and time‐resolved emission spectroscopy in solutions of MeCN and pyridine. It is demonstrated that the nature of the bridging ligand between the ruthenium(II) donor and the nickel(II) acceptor strongly influences the photophysical behaviour upon CISSS. For the complex with a phenazine bridge, photoluminescence quenching is observed in the presence of a paramagnetic nickel(II) centre.
Highly‐efficient and low‐cost synthesis of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural from monosaccharides catalyzed by surface treated biomass
Authors: Zou Bin , Chen Xueshan , Zhou Cunshan , Yu Xiaojie , Ma Haile , Zhao Jing , Bao Xinjie 
Published: November 2017

AbstractLow‐cost bagasse and microcrystalline cellulose were used as the raw materials to prepare solid acid catalysts via incomplete carbonization and sulphonation. The solid acid synthesized from microcrystalline cellulose (C‐SO3H) exhibited better catalytic performance than that synthesized from bagasse. C‐SO3H was characterized by various techniques to study the reaction conditions of the catalytic transformation from glucose and fructose to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF). The conversion of glucose was 73.29 ± 0.74 %, and the conversion of fructose reached a maximum of 98.85 ± 0.01 %. The selectivity and yield of 5‐HMF reached maxima of 65.04 ± 0.28 % and 64.29 ± 0.27 %, respectively. Using C‐SO3H as the catalyst, the conversion of glucose followed second‐order kinetics at various temperatures, while the conversion of fructose followed first‐order kinetics. The activation energies of the glucose and fructose transformations were 73.75 and 51.87 kJ · mol−1, respectively.
Investigation of Surface Sulfurization in CuIn1−xGaxS2−ySey Thin Films by Using Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy
Authors: Kim Haeri , Park Se Jin , Kim Byungwoo , Hwang Yun Jeong , Min Byoung Koun 
Published: November 2017

AbstractCuIn1−xGaxS2−ySey (CIGSSe) thin films have attracted a great deal of attention as promising absorbing materials for solar cell applications, owing to their favorable optical properties (e.g. a direct band gap and high absorption coefficients) and stable structure. Many studies have sought to improve the efficiency of solar cells using these films, and it has been found that surface modification through post‐heat treatment can lead to surface passivation of surface defects and a subsequent increase in efficiency. The surface properties of solution‐processed CIGSSe films are considered to be particularly important in this respect, owing to the fact that they are more prone to defects. In this work, CIGSSe thin films with differing S/Se ratios at their surface were synthesized by using a precursor solution and post‐sulfurization heat treatment. These CIGSSe thin films were investigated with current–voltage and Kelvin probe force microscope (KPFM) analyses. Surface photovoltage (SPV), which is the difference in the work function in the dark and under illumination, was measured by using KPFM, which can examine the screening and the modification of surface charge through carrier trapping. As the concentration of S increases on the CIGSSe film surface, higher work functions and more positive SPV values were observed. Based on these measurements, we inferred the band‐bending behavior of CIGSSe absorber films and proposed reasons for the improvement in solar cell performance.
Mesocosm experiments identifying hotspots of groundwater upwelling in a water column by fibre optic distributed temperature sensing
Authors: Marruedo Arricibita Amaya Irene , Krause Stefan , Gomez‐Velez Jesus , Hannah David M. , Lewandowski Jörg 
Published: November 2017

AbstractLacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD) can substantially impact ecosystem characteristics and functions. Fibre optic distributed temperature sensing (FO‐DTS) has been successfully used to locate groundwater discharge into lakes and rivers at the sediment–water interface, but locating groundwater discharge would be easier if it could be detected from the more accessible water surface. So far, it is not clear if how and under which conditions the LGD signal propagates through the water column to the water surface–atmosphere interface, and what perturbations and signal losses occur along this pathway. In the present study, LGD was simulated in a mesocosm experiment. Under winter conditions, water with temperatures of 14 to 16 °C was discharged at the bottom of a 10 × 2.8‐m mesocosm. Water within this mesocosm ranged from 4.0 to 7.4 °C. Four layers (20, 40, 60, and 80 cm above the sediment) of the 82 cm deep mesocosm were equipped with FO‐DTS for tracing thermal patterns in the mesocosm. Aims are (a) to test whether the positive buoyancy of relatively warm groundwater imported by LGD into shallow water bodies allows detection of LGD at the lake's water surface–atmosphere interface by FO‐DTS, (b) to analyse the propagation of the temperature signal from the sediment‐water interface through the water column, and (c) to learn more about detectability of the signal under different discharge rates and weather conditions. The experiments supported the benchmarking of scale dependencies and robustness of FO‐DTS applications for measuring upwelling into aquatic environments and revealed that weather conditions can have important impacts on the detection of upwelling at water surface–atmosphere interfaces at larger scales.
Multi‐modal brain tumor image segmentation based on SDAE
Authors: Ding Yi , Dong Rongfeng , Lan Tian , Li Xuerui , Shen Guangyu , Chen Hao , Qin Zhiguang 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAccurate tumor segmentation has the ability to provide doctors with a basis for surgical planning. Moreover, brain tumor segmentation needs to extract different tumor tissues (Edema, tumor, tumor enhancement, and necrosis) from normal tissues which is a big challenge because tumor structures vary considerably across patients in terms of size, extension, and localization. In this article, we evaluate a fully automated method for segmenting brain tumor images from multi‐modal magnetic resonance imaging volumes based on stacked de‐noising auto‐encoders (SDAEs). Specially, we adopted multi‐modality information from T1, T1c, T2, and Flair images, respectively. We extracted gray level patches from different modalities as the input of the SDAE. After trained by the SDAE, the raw network parameters will be obtained, which are adopted as a parameter of the feed forward neural network for classification. A simple post‐processing is implemented by threshold segmentation method to generate a mask to get the final segmentation result. By evaluating the proposed method on the BRATS 2015, it can be proven that our method obtains the better performance than other state‐of‐the‐art counterpart methods. And a preliminary dice score of 0.86 for whole tumor segmentation has been achieved.
γ‐H2AX formation in the urinary bladder of rats treated with two norharman derivatives obtained from o‐toluidine and aniline
Authors: Toyoda T. , Totsuka Y. , Matsushita K. , Morikawa T. , Miyoshi N. , Wakabayashi K. , Ogawa K. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAminomethylphenylnorharman (AMPNH) and aminophenylnorharman (APNH) are mutagenic norharman derivatives obtained from o‐toluidine and aniline, respectively. APNH is carcinogenic to the urinary bladder of rats and present in urine samples of healthy volunteers, indicating that norharman derivatives may be associated with cancer development in the urinary bladder of humans. To evaluate the possible role of AMPNH and APNH in bladder carcinogenesis, we examined the formation of γ‐H2AX, a DNA damage response marker, in the urinary bladder of rats. Seven‐week‐old male F344 rats were treated with 400 ppm AMPNH or 40 ppm APNH in the diet for 4 weeks. Animals were killed at the end of administration or after 2 weeks of recovery, and immunohistochemistry for γ‐H2AX and Ki67, a cell proliferation marker, was performed. At week 4, γ‐H2AX formation in bladder epithelial cells was significantly increased by APNH treatment as compared with that in controls. AMPNH also induced upregulation of γ‐H2AX formation, although there was no statistical significance. After the recovery period, γ‐H2AX‐positive cells were reduced but remained significantly higher in AMPNH and APNH groups than in the control group. Ki67‐positive cells were significantly increased by AMPNH and APNH at week 4 and reduced to the same level as the control after 2 weeks of recovery. Expression of KRT14, a bladder stem cell marker, was also increased in the basal layer by the two norharman derivatives. Thus, AMPNH and APNH showed in vivo genotoxicity in the bladder epithelium of rats, and APNH may be a potent causative agent of bladder carcinogenesis.
Encapsulation of rifampin in a polymeric layer‐by‐layer structure for drug delivery
Authors: Esmaeili Akbar , Khodaei Meisam 
Published: November 2017

AbstractRifampin (RIF) is a bactericidal antibiotic drug and potent inducer of hepatic and intestinal cytochrome P‐450 (CYP‐450) enzyme systems. Given by mouth or intravenously, it can cause numerous clinical drug interactions; thus, alternative systems of drug delivery that bypass some or all of its toxic effects are well worth investigating. In this study, a controlled layer‐by‐layer (LBL) process of encapsulating RIF in biocompatible alginate and chitosan polymers loaded onto Fe3O4 nanoparticles was developed. Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized from FeCl3·6H2O using a hydrothermal procedure. Fluorescent molecular beacons containing RIF molecules and Texas Red were loaded onto the surfaces of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The loaded nanoparticles were encapsulated in alginate and chitosan layers with alternating negative and positive surface charge using an LBL self‐assembly method. Subsequently, by removing the Fe3O4 template particles, polymeric capsules containing RIF were obtained. Ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry employed to determine optimized conditions for loading RIF, measure the amount of RIF loaded onto the surface of the nanoparticles under optimized conditions, and study drug‐release capability. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the morphology of unloaded and loaded nanoparticles. X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were applied to demonstrate the production of nanoparticles and loading of RIF onto them. Zeta potential analysis was used to determine the size and surface potential of the loaded polymeric layers. After removal of the core template, confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to isolate polymeric capsules containing RIF. The average size of the nanoparticles obtained was 23 nm. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 905–913, 2018.