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Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to slow global warming and decrease the likelihood of irreversible climate scenarios. There is thus an urgent need for low‐emissions fuels. This study conducted a techno‐economic analysis of two different industrial plant concepts for producing hydrogen from woody biomass. One was a large‐scale centralized 60 MWH2 option using dual fluidized bed gasification with CO2 removal. The other was a small‐scale decentralized 1 MWH2 option using fixed‐bed gasification without CO2 removal. Mass and energy balances were calculated by the process simulation software IPSEpro. Key performance indicators, including technical, economic, and environmental parameters, were derived. Overall energy efficiencies of 64.2 and 59.5% and hydrogen yields of 87 and 68 gH2 kg−1BM.db were determined for hydrogen production by dual fluidized bed and fixed‐bed gasification, respectively. The levelized costs of hydrogen amounted to 5.6 and 15.0 €2022 kg−1H2 and agreed quite well with values from the literature. Flexible and decentralized heat, electricity, and hydrogen production based on fixed‐bed gasification within a multiproduct plant were also evaluated. The results show that the multiproduct plant could be economically feasible if at least 63% of the annual operating hours were dedicated to hydrogen production, and assuming a hydrogen selling price of 17.5 €2022 kg−1H2 in Austria. In conclusion, both of the processes that were evaluated are conceivable technologies for the transition of the energy system towards renewable energy sources from a technical and economic point of view, although small‐scale hydrogen production is considerably more expensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do private interests predict politicians' rhetoric? Focusing on housing policy, we compare issue emphasis and positions of landlord politicians and politicians who do not own multiple properties. Ireland provides a unique opportunity to study legislating landlords' behavior as housing has become one of the most important political issues. We construct a novel dataset of politicians' homeownership status between 2013 and 2022, a period characterized by rising rent and property prices. We fine‐tune a transformer‐based machine learning model and apply text scaling and sentiment analysis to identify issue salience and positions on housing in over 870,000 tweets and parliamentary questions. Contrary to our expectations, landlord politicians do not avoid the topic of housing, nor do they take different positions. We also find that government status does not influence this relationship. The results imply that private financial interests do not influence rhetoric on housing policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DNA damage response (DDR) acts as a barrier to malignant transformation and is often impaired during tumorigenesis. Exploiting the impaired DDR can be a promising therapeutic strategy; however, the mechanisms of inactivation and corresponding biomarkers are incompletely understood. Starting from an unbiased screening approach, we identified the SMC5‐SMC6 Complex Localization Factor 2 (SLF2) as a regulator of the DDR and biomarker for a B‐cell lymphoma (BCL) patient subgroup with an adverse prognosis. SLF2‐deficiency leads to loss of DDR factors including Claspin (CLSPN) and consequently impairs CHK1 activation. In line with this mechanism, genetic deletion of Slf2 drives lymphomagenesis in vivo. Tumor cells lacking SLF2 are characterized by a high level of DNA damage, which leads to alterations of the post‐translational SUMOylation pathway as a safeguard. The resulting co‐dependency confers synthetic lethality to a clinically applicable SUMOylation inhibitor (SUMOi), and inhibitors of the DDR pathway act highly synergistic with SUMOi. Together, our results identify SLF2 as a DDR regulator and reveal co‐targeting of the DDR and SUMOylation as a promising strategy for treating aggressive lymphoma. Synopsis: SLF2 was identified as a tumor suppressor of B‐cell lymphomagenesis and a crucial regulator of CHK1, and its deficiency was associated with defective DNA damage response and synthetic lethality to SUMOylation inhibition. SLF2 is a functionally relevant tumor suppressor in murine and human B‐cell lymphoma.Loss of SLF2 results in CHK1 impairment, transcriptional or post‐transcriptional repression of Claspin, and genomic instability.SLF2 deficiency drives alteration of the SUMO pathway and confers synthetic lethality to pharmacological SUMOylation inhibition.Impaired DNA damage responses, e.g., caused by SLF2 loss or pharmacological inhibition of CHK1, confer synthetic lethality to SUMO inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the electrical and thermal performance of lateral AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and metal‐insulator‐semiconductor field effect transistors (MISFETs) fabricated with 11 μm thick GaN buffer layers on 200 mm diameter Qromis Substrate Technology (QST) substrates are investigated. The QST substrate has a polycrystalline core engineered to be coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE)‐matched to GaN to minimize wafer bow and residual stress in the GaN film as a result of epitaxial growth. Raman spectroscopy is used to determine the biaxial residual stress in the GaN buffer of the as‐fabricated devices. Electrical characterization is demonstrated on the HEMTs including DC and pulsed output characteristics, DC transfer characteristics, Hall mobility, carrier concentration, sheet resistance, median transition frequency, and maximum stable gain. Finally, the thermal performance of the AlGaN/GaN MISFET is assessed via thermoreflectance thermal imaging at DC power densities up to 19 W mm−1. The thermal resistance of the MISFET, calculated using the peak temperature rises on the gate electrode for DC power densities <10 W mm−1, is measured to be 15.4 mm K W−1, which is comparable with state‐of‐the‐art GaN‐on‐Si lateral transistors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors on QST engineered substrates are grown with different GaN/AlGaN buffer layer thickness. The as‐grown heterostructures are evaluated for their structural quality via atomic force microscopy, high‐resolution X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and steady‐state thermoreflectance. Transistor devices are fabricated and evaluated via DC and pulsed electrical techniques, as well as thermoreflectance imaging. It is reported that buffer layer thickness of at least 10 μm can result in lateral high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with simultaneously high GaN quality, low stress, good DC electrical performance, low current collapse, and low thermal resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of short‐time heat treatment on the widely used and commercially available ledeburitic cold‐work tool steel 1.2379 (X153CrMoV12; AISI D2) is examined herein. Starting from a soft annealed initial condition, the influence of different austenitizing temperatures and holding times on the metastable microstructural states after heat treatment/hardening is investigated. The experimental implementation of the heat treatment is used in a quenching dilatometer, and a microstructural simulation model is built using these results. As validation of the model, on the one hand, the martensite start temperature (Ms) is used, measured experimentally by dilatometry. Additionally, the carbide content and distribution, as determined by quantitative image analysis, are compared with the simulated data and used as an indicator of the model accuracy. Through the developed simulation model, arbitrary heat treatment‐induced metastable microstructural states can be calculated. As a possible application of this model, the live‐adaption of the industrial heat treatment process in dependence on the batch chemical composition is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Before postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (pcRPLND), in patients with metastasized germ cell tumors (GCTs), those harboring necrosis (NEC) cannot be distinguished from those who have teratoma (TER), resulting in relevant overtreatment, whereas microRNA‐371a‐3p may be predictive for viable GCT. The purpose of this study was to explore messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteins to distinguish TER from NEC in pcRPLND tissue. Methods: The discovery cohort consisted in total of 48 patients, including 16 each with TER, viable GCT, and NEC. Representative areas were microdissected. A NanoString panel and proteomics were used to analyze 770 genes and >5000 proteins. The most significantly and differentially expressed combination of both parameters, mRNA and its associated protein, between TER and NEC was validated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in an independent validation cohort comprising 66 patients who were not part of the discovery cohort. Results: The authors observed that anterior gradient protein 2 homolog (AGR2) and keratin, type I cytoskeletal 19 (KRT19) were significantly differentially expressed in TER versus NEC in mRNA and protein analyses (proteomics). The technical validation using IHC was successful in the same patients. These proteins were further validated by IHC in the independent patient cohort and exhibited significantly higher levels in TER versus NEC (p <.0001; area under the curve, 1.0; sensitivity and specificity, 100% each). Conclusions: The current study demonstrated that KRT19 and AGR2 mRNA and protein are overexpressed in TER versus NEC in pcRPLND tissue and might serve as a future diagnostic target to detect TER, for instance, by functional imaging, to avoid overtreatment. Plain language summary: The proteins and the corresponding genes called AGR2 and KRT19 can differentiate between teratoma and necrosis in remaining tumor masses after chemotherapy in patients who have metastasized testicular cancer.This may be a way to improve presurgical diagnostics and to reduce the current overtreatment of patients with necrosis only, who could be treated sufficiently by surveillance. Differentially expressed AGR2 and KRT19 can distinguish teratoma from necrosis in postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection tissue on messenger RNA/proteins in patients who have metastasized testicular germ cell tumors. This might be a basis to improve diagnostics and to reduce current overtreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Swiss Political Science Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Chemkon - Chemie Konkret is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Can voters in multi‐party systems predict which coalition will form the government with any degree of accuracy? To date, studies which explore voter expectations of coalition formation have emphasized individual level attributes, such as education, but the complexity of the environment at the time the coalitions are forming should also be consequential in enabling (or handicapping) voters in forming expectations. We examine the relative effects of individual level attributes (e.g., education, cognitive mobilization) versus contextual factors (e.g., information availability) in 19 German state elections and 3 German general elections between 2009 and 2017. We find that the ease of identifiability of alternative future governments varies significantly across multi‐party systems. We find that respondents are more likely to predict governments that they would like to see in office, that have a higher probability of receiving a majority of seats, and that consist of ideologically proximate parties. Combining survey data with a novel indicator of coalition signals, measured through a quantitative text analysis of newspaper coverage, we also find that voters consider positive pre‐election coalition signals when predicting the government. Finally, we find that the information environment is much more relevant for correct coalition predictions than individual‐level characteristics of respondents. Although individual attributes do influence predictive ability, these factors are strongly dominated by the context in which the prediction is taking place. The information environment has by far the largest effect on predicting coalition outcomes. Our results have implications for the literature on strategic voting in multi‐party settings, as well as the literature on accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From an epistemological point of view, tentativeness is an important feature of scientific knowledge. With regard to current debates on "fake science", it becomes also significant within science education. The article provides a proposal for clarifying the term. In addition, results of two qualitative studies are presented. They reveal that most preservice chemistry teachers held inconsistent views on tentativeness, which are furthermore resistant to change. In order to promote a more adequate understanding, it is necessary to deal intensively with the tentative nature of science as well as to address the durability and reliability of well‐supported scientific knowledge. Further approaches to promote an adequate and functional understanding are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a comprehensive model is presented for the calculation of entire current-voltage (IV) characteristics of Schottky contacts (SCs). This treatment allows to analyze in detail the physical and technological origins of empirical fit parameters like the ideality factor. This model considers variations of the semiconductor net doping density in growth direction and barrier height inhomogeneities. The only input parameters required are the doping profile, the mean value, and the standard deviation of the barrier height distribution as well as material parameters. As measuring conditions like the integration time impact measured IV characteristics, similar sweep parameters as applied during a measurement are included in the model and proven to be necessary for the understanding of charging currents and the shift of the voltage for zero current. Using this model, various nonidealities reported in literature are explained. Further, the influence of differently doped interfacial layers on the characteristics is studied. Finally, the model is applied to multiple datasets of IV characteristics of SCs on different materials published in literature and from this laboratory, enabling a fundamental understanding of the origins of the nonidealities observed as well as the distinction between the contributions of different transport mechanisms to the total current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Swiss Political Science Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A high‐voltage AlN/GaN superlattice (SL) buffer for monolithic AlGaN/GaN power circuits is experimentally compared with a step‐graded AlGaN/GaN buffer. The SL as part of a 5.1 μm epitaxial stack withstands over 1.3 kV. Although the step‐graded buffer is sufficient for low‐side circuits, the operation voltage of monolithic topologies such as a half‐bridge is limited: static negative back gating at −200 V depletes the lateral channel completely. Asymmetrical buffer leakage at a positive substrate voltage of +250 V limits the operation voltage further. The SL buffer mitigates both effects: a negative substrate voltage of −200 V reduced the lateral channel current only by 25%. However, this condition is not required for half‐bridge operation on the SL, because low symmetrical vertical buffer leakage at substrate voltages of ±500 V allows operation of power topologies with positive substrate bias. High‐electron‐mobility transistors (HEMTs) on the graded buffer show excessive threshold voltage shift at negative substrate bias. On the SL buffer, the threshold voltage is shifted only +1 V from negative substrate biases, which allows monolithic high‐voltage power topology operation. 98.8% efficient operation of a 6 × 4 mm2 GaN‐on‐Si power integrated circuit with a monolithic half bridge, freewheeling diodes, and drivers is demonstrated on the SL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In eukaryotic cells, clathrin‐mediated endocytosis (CME) is a central pathway for the internalization of proteins from the cell surface, thereby contributing to the maintenance of the plasma membrane protein composition. A key component for the formation of endocytic clathrin‐coated vesicles (CCVs) is AP‐2, as it sequesters cargo membrane proteins, recruits a multitude of other endocytic factors and initiates clathrin polymerization. Here, we inhibited CME by depletion of AP‐2 and explored the consequences for the plasma membrane proteome. Quantitative analysis revealed accumulation of major constituents of the endosomal‐lysosomal system reflecting a block in retrieval by compensatory CME. The noticeable enrichment of integrins and blockage of their turnover resulted in severely impaired cell migration. Rare proteins such as the anti‐cancer drug target CA9 and tumor markers (CD73, CD164, CD302) were significantly enriched. The AP‐2 knockdown attenuated the global endocytic capacity, but clathrin‐independent entry pathways were still operating, as indicated by persistent internalization of specific membrane‐spanning and GPI‐anchored receptors (PVR, IGF1R, CD55, TNAP). We hypothesize that blocking AP‐2 function and thus inhibiting CME may be a novel approach to identify new druggable targets, or to increase their residence time at the plasma membrane, thereby increasing the probability for efficient therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical resection is considered to be of purely diagnostic value in aggressive lymphoma. Evidence for an impact on outcome is scant and restricted to retrospective observations. Methods: In the "Positron Emission Tomography‐guided Therapy of Aggressive non‐Hodgkin Lymphomas" (PETAL) trial, patients with a negative baseline positron emission tomography (PET) scan were documented in a prospective observational substudy. Baseline PET‐negative patients with the absence of lymph node enlargement on computed tomography and a negative bone marrow biopsy were considered to have undergone complete lymphoma resection. Results: Eighty‐two of 1,041 patients (7.9%) had a negative baseline PET scan, and 67 were included in this analysis. All were treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP), plus rituximab for CD20‐positive lymphomas. Among 52 patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), 48 had completely resected disease. Their outcome tended to be better than that of 115 baseline PET‐positive stage I DLBCL patients treated in the main part of the PETAL trial (2‐year progression‐free survival 92.7% [95% confidence interval 84.7‐100] versus 88.4% [82.5‐94.3], P =.056; 2‐year overall survival 92.7% [84.7‐100] versus 93.7% [89.2‐98.2], P =.176), but this was restricted to patients below the age of 60 years (2‐year progression‐free survival 100% versus 92.2% [84.8‐99.6], P =.031; 2‐year overall survival 100% versus 95.9% [90.2‐100], P =.075). In peripheral T‐cell lymphoma, eight of 11 patients had completely resected disease. In contrast to DLBCL, complete resection was not associated with improved outcome compared to the control. Conclusion: Young patients with early stage DLBCL may benefit from complete lymphoma resection prior to immunochemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In times of distance learning, many chemistry teachers wish they had more possibilities to provide learners with chemical content knowledge digitally and in a differentiated way. This publication presents possibilities for developing and testing digital learning environments for chemical content using simple functions. With just a few clicks, PowerPoint presentations can be transformed into "point‐and‐click" learning environments. In the project "e‐lement", student teachers from the University of Cologne tested and evaluated these functions in a school context with learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prospective randomized Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-Guided Therapy of Aggressive Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (PETAL) trial was designed to test the ability of interim PET (iPET) to direct therapy. As reported previously, outcome remained unaffected by iPET-based treatment changes. In this subgroup analysis, we studied the prognostic value of baseline total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and iPET response in 76 patients with T-cell lymphoma. TMTV was measured using the 41% maximum standardized uptake value (SUV41max ) and SUV4 thresholding methods. Interim PET was performed after two treatment cycles and evaluated using the ΔSUVmax approach and the Deauville scale. Because of significant differences in outcome, patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive lymphoma were analyzed separately from patients with ALK-negative lymphoma. In the latter, TMTV was statistically significantly correlated with progression-free survival, with thresholds best dichotomizing the population, of 232 cm3 using SUV41max and 460 cm3 using SUV4 . For iPET response, the respective thresholds were 46.9% SUVmax reduction and Deauville score 1-4 vs 5. The proportion of poor prognosis patients was 46% and 29% for TMTV by SUV41max and SUV4 , and 29% and 25% for iPET response by ΔSUVmax and Deauville, respectively. At diagnosis, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for poor prognosis vs good prognosis patients according to TMTV was 2.291 (1.135-4.624) for SUV41max and 3.206 (1.524-6.743) for SUV4 . At iPET, it was 3.910 (1.891-8.087) for ΔSUVmax and 4.371 (2.079-9.187) for Deauville. On multivariable analysis, only TMTV and iPET response independently predicted survival. Patients with high baseline TMTV and poor iPET response (22% of the population) invariably progressed or died within the first year (hazard ratio, 9.031 [3.651-22.336]). Due to small numbers and events, PET did not predict survival in ALK-positive lymphoma. Baseline TMTV and iPET response are promising tools to select patients with ALK-negative T-cell lymphoma for early allogeneic transplantation or innovative therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can voters learn meaningful information about candidates from their electoral campaigns? As with job market hiring, voters, like employers, cannot know the productivity of candidates, especially challengers, when they elect them. The real productivity of representatives only reveals itself after the election. We explore if the information revealed during the "hiring process" is a good signal of the legislative effort of elected representatives. In the incomplete information environment of election campaigns, candidates should turn to credible signals to indicate their "type" to voters. Campaigns—and campaigning—are means by which candidates can, in principle, signal their motivations to voters. Is a candidate's behavior on the campaign trail informative about his or her behavior and effort as a legislator? Does it, for example, reveal whether a candidate will be more hard working and legislatively active? Using evidence from the European Parliament, we show that campaign activity prior to the election is not related to policy‐seeking behavior in the legislature post‐election. The finding also holds in two national‐level settings and across a variety of measures of legislative effort. Those who campaign harder do seem more likely to win the election, but campaign effort seems to provide a poor guide to what the winner does once elected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthetic organisms developed various strategies to mitigate high light stress. For instance, aquatic organisms are able to spend excessive energy by exchanging dissolved CO2 (dCO2) and bicarbonate (HCO3−) with the environment. Simultaneous uptake and excretion of the two carbon species is referred to as inorganic carbon cycling. Often, inorganic carbon cycling is indicated by displacements of the extracellular dCO2 signal from the equilibrium value after changing the light conditions. In this work, we additionally use (i) the extracellular pH signal, which requires non‐ or weakly‐buffered medium, and (ii) a dynamic model of carbonate chemistry in the aquatic environment to detect and quantitatively describe inorganic carbon cycling. Based on simulations and experiments in precisely controlled photobioreactors, we show that the magnitude of the observed dCO2 displacement crucially depends on extracellular pH level and buffer concentration. Moreover, we find that the dCO2 displacement can also be caused by simultaneous uptake of both dCO2 and HCO3− (no inorganic carbon cycling). In a next step, the dynamic model of carbonate chemistry allows for a quantitative assessment of cellular dCO2, HCO3−, and H+ exchange rates from the measured dCO2 and pH signals. Limitations of the method are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain protein subunits in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Methods: Possible prognostic candidates were determined using The Cancer Genome Atlas database (n = 605). The database provided valid messenger ribonucleic acid expression data for 93 genes encoding for the subunits. Selected subunits were further investigated at the messenger ribonucleic acid and protein level by real‐time polymerase chain reaction, western blot and immunohistochemistry with the cohorts of the University Hospital Bonn. Results: The Cancer Genome Atlas messenger ribonucleic acid expression data indicated univariate and multivariate prognostic impact for seven subunits (NDUFS8, NDUFS7, COX5B, COX6B1, SDHD, COX15 and COX19). Using real‐time polymerase chain reaction, significant downregulation (P < 0.05, n = 74) could be shown for COX5B, COX6B1, NDUFS7 and NDUF8 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma tissue. Survival analysis of polymerase chain reaction data showed a non‐significant relationship (P = 0.067) of high COX5B expression and poor overall survival. Western blot (n = 8) and immunohistochemistry analysis (n = 167) confirmed significant COX5B downregulation on the protein level. Immunohistochemistry analysis identified COX5B as a prognostic marker for overall (P = 0.017) and cancer‐specific survival (P = 0.042). Conclusions: The present study findings suggest downregulation of additional subunits of mitochondrial respiratory chain proteins in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Remarkably, COX5B, a subunit of the respiratory chain complex IV, can be identified as a novel prognostic marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate non‐inferiority of intermittent docetaxel compared to continuous docetaxel in patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Patient and Methods: The investigator initiated randomised phase III study included 187 chemotherapy‐naïve patients with mCRPC who were allocated to two treatment arms: intermittent docetaxel and continuous docetaxel. Docetaxel was applied in both arms as weekly (35 mg/m2) or 3‐weekly (75 mg/m2). The primary endpoint was 1‐year survival, which was tested for non‐inferiority (margin δ = 0.125). The secondary endpoints were: overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), median time to treatment failure (TTF), and toxicity. Results: Of 156 eligible patients, 78 were allocated to each arm. The intermittent treatment met the non‐inferiority criteria for 1‐year survival (two‐sided 95% confidence interval, −0.12, 18, P = 0.022), but not for OS, according to the result of a post hoc analysis. The differences between the study arms in PFS and TTF were not significant. The median (range) treatment holiday in the intermittent arm was 110 (13–486) days, or 38% of the overall treatment duration. Safety profiles of both study arms were comparable. The main limitation of this study was that the planned number of patients could not be recruited. Conclusion: Intermittent docetaxel chemotherapy was non‐inferior to continuous therapy for 1‐year survival; non‐inferiority in regard to OS was not reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the recent use AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and integrated circuits on both semi‐insulating silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon substrates for radio communication in the microwave and mm‐wave frequency range is described. AlGaN/GaN monolithically microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) are extremely useful for point‐to‐point (P2P)‐links in the backbones of the 4th and upcoming 5th generation of mobile communication networks as power amplifiers, as they provide a great amount of linear power. At the same time GaN‐based power conversion electronics has driven the advancement of the growth of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures on conductive silicon (111) substrates. This again has indirectly led to advancements in the growth capabilities of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures on highly‐resistive (HR) silicon substrates. The paper gives examples of transistors and microstrip transmission‐line‐based MMICs realized in a direct comparison of GaN on s.i. SiC and GaN on HR‐silicon. Constraints and performances for highly‐efficient MMICs are discussed up to mm‐wave frequencies beyond 100 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents monolithically integrated power circuits, fabricated in a high-voltage GaN-on-Si heterojunction technology. Different advanced concepts are presented and compared with solutions found in the literature. High switching transition slew rates are demonstrated by means of a monolithic power circuit with integrated gate driver. A highly linear temperature sensor is integrated in a GaN-high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) power device for the 600 V class and onstate resistance of 53 mΩ. An area-efficient HEMT structure with integrated freewheeling diodes is presented. This structure is applied in a monolithic multilevel converter chip, as well as in a 600 V class half-bridge chip. The multilevel chip is integrated by an advanced printed circuit board embedding technology and tested in inverter operation with a mains voltage output of 120 VRMS. The performance of the half-bridge is demonstrated in a synchronous buck converter operation from 400 to 200 V and with a switching frequency of 3 MHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Locoregional bridging treatments are commonly applied in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) prior to liver transplantation to prevent tumor progression during waiting time. It remains unknown whether pre-transplant radioembolization treatment may increase the prevalence of hepatic artery and biliary complications post-transplant. Methods We performed a retrospective review of 173 consecutive patients with HCC who underwent liver transplantation at our transplant center between January 2007 and December 2016. Results Radioembolization bridging treatment was applied in 42 patients while 131 patients received other or no forms of bridging treatment. The overall prevalence of intra-operative and early post-operative hepatic artery complications was 9.5% in the radioembolization group and 9.2% in the control group ( P = 1.000). Biliary complications were significantly less frequent in the radioembolization group (4.8% vs 17.6%, P = .0442). In multivariable analysis, radioembolization was not significantly associated with an increased risk of arterial complications. Considering biliary complications, radioembolization bridging treatment was the only factor significantly associated with decreased odds ( OR 0.187 (0.039, 0.892), P = .036). Conclusions Radioembolization is not associated with higher odds of hepatic artery complications following liver transplantation. There may even be a protective effect regarding biliary complications. Radioembolization as a bridge to transplantation may effectively be applied without compromising successful liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance ( CAM- DR) by the bone marrow ( BM) is fundamental to multiple myeloma ( MM) propagation and survival. Targeting BM protection to increase the efficacy of current anti-myeloma treatment has not been extensively pursued. To extend the understanding of CAM- DR, we hypothesized that the cytotoxic effects of novel anti-myeloma agents may be abrogated by the presence of BM stroma cells ( BMSCs) and restored by addition of the CXCL12 antagonist NOX-A12 or the CXCR4 inhibitor plerixafor. Following this hypothesis, we evaluated different anti-myeloma agents alone, with BMSCs and when combined with plerixafor or NOX-A12. We verified CXCR4, CD49d (also termed ITGA4) and CD44 as essential mediators of BM adhesion on MM cells. Additionally, we show that CXCR7, the second receptor of stromal-derived-factor-1 ( CXCL12), is highly expressed in active MM. Co-culture proved that co-treatment with plerixafor or NOX-A12, the latter inhibiting CXCR4 and CXCR7, functionally interfered with MM chemotaxis to the BM. This led to the resensitization of MM cells to the anti-myeloma agents vorinostat and pomalidomide and both proteasome inhibitors bortezomib and carfilzomib. Within a multicentre phase I/ II study, NOX-A12 was tested in combination with bortezomib-dexamethasone, underlining the feasibility of NOX-A12 as an active add-on agent to antagonize myeloma CAM- DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binary AlN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) were grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE) as well as metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and compared with regard to their structural and electrical properties. The investigated structures differ in Al distribution and composition of the AlN barrier due to characteristic differences of the two growth methods such as growth temperature and interface sharpness. While we observe a nearly pure AlN layer and an abrupt interface for MBE growth, a graded 'AlN' barrier with a significant amount of Ga is found for the MOCVD grown structures which is reflected by the electrical properties of the HEMT structures. Si-implanted ohmic contacts were formed on MBE as well as MOCVD grown structures. The activation anneal step subsequent to implantation at temperatures ∼1100 °C changes the observed Al profiles of MBE structures and damages the active region, whereas MOCVD samples react insensitively and thus were able to be further processed. A maximum drain current of ∼1.46 A mm−1 at a gate source voltage of +3 V is observed for the processed devices. A current-gain cut-off frequency of 89 GHz and maximum oscillation frequency of 208 GHz were measured, which demonstrate an excellent small-signal performance of AlN/GaN devices with 100 nm gate length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study represents a thermodynamic evaluation and carbon footprint analysis of the application of hydrogen-based energy storage systems in residential buildings. In the system model, buildings are equipped with photovoltaic (PV) modules and a hydrogen storage system to conserve excess PV electricity from times with high solar irradiation to times with low solar irradiation. Short-term storages enable a degree of self-sufficiency of approximately 60 % for a single-family house (SFH) [multifamily house (MFH): 38 %]. Emissions can be reduced by 40 % (SFH) (MFH: 30 %) compared to households without PV modules. These results are almost independent of the applied storage technology. For seasonal storage, the degree of self-sufficiency ranges between 57 and 83 % (SFH). The emission reductions highly depend on the storage technology, as emissions caused by manufacturing the storage dominate the emission balance. Compressed gas or liquid organic hydrogen carriers are the best options, enabling emission reductions of 40 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of the IEA SHC Task 46 'Solar Resource Assessment and Forecasting' we compare solar global horizontal irradiance forecasts based on numerical weather predictions for a variety of different models. These include direct model output of several numerical weather prediction models, a rapid update cycle model assimilating satellite derived cloud products as well as radar data, the multi model ensemble prediction system GLAMEPS, and two MOS systems. In order to allow for a transparent and comparable analysis of the different methods we have set up a joint, consistent framework of evaluation. As a basis for the comparisons we have compiled a common data set of hourly measured solar irradiance values for Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Local and regional forecasts are analyzed with respect to different properties. In particular we show that spatial and temporal averaging effects have a strong impact on the root mean square error when comparing solar irradiance forecasts of numerical weather prediction models with different output resolutions. Furthermore, we investigate a new approach to evaluate the models' ability to represent and forecast solar irradiance and cloud variability. The benefit of high resolution mesoscale models in this respect is demonstrated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elementary flux modes (EFMs) are non-decomposable steady-state fluxes through metabolic networks. Every possible flux through a network can be described as a superposition of EFMs. The definition of EFMs is based on the stoichiometry of the network, and it has been shown previously that not all EFMs are thermodynamically feasible. These infeasible EFMs cannot contribute to a biologically meaningful flux distribution. In this work, we show that a set of thermodynamically feasible EFMs need not be thermodynamically consistent. We use first principles of thermodynamics to define the feasibility of a flux distribution and present a method to compute the largest thermodynamically consistent sets (LTCSs) of EFMs. An LTCS contains the maximum number of EFMs that can be combined to form a thermodynamically feasible flux distribution. As a case study we analyze all LTCSs found in Escherichia coli when grown on glucose and show that only one LTCS shows the required phenotypical properties. Using our method, we find that in our E. coli model < 10% of all EFMs are thermodynamically relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical and structural properties of undoped and Mg-doped pulsed-laser-deposited In2O3 thin films grown on r-plane sapphire were investigated by means of Hall-effect, X-ray diffraction, and space-charge spectroscopic methods, such as thermal admittance spectroscopy and deep-level transient spectroscopy. Undoped thin films are preferentially [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastatic dissemination of cancer cells is the ultimate hallmark of malignancy and accounts for approximately 90% of human cancer deaths. We investigated the role of acid sphingomyelinase (Asm) in the hematogenous metastasis of melanoma cells. Intravenous injection of B16F10 melanoma cells into wild-type mice resulted in multiple lung metastases, while Asm-deficient mice ( Smpd1−/− mice) were protected from pulmonary tumor spread. Transplanting wild-type platelets into Asm-deficient mice reinstated tumor metastasis. Likewise, Asm-deficient mice were protected from hematogenous MT/ ret melanoma metastasis to the spleen in a mouse model of spontaneous tumor metastasis. Human and mouse melanoma cells triggered activation and release of platelet secretory Asm, in turn leading to ceramide formation, clustering, and activation of α5β1 integrins on melanoma cells finally leading to adhesion of the tumor cells. Clustering of integrins by applying purified Asm or C16 ceramide to B16F10 melanoma cells before intravenous injection restored trapping of tumor cells in the lung in Asm-deficient mice. This effect was revertable by arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptides, which are known inhibitors of integrins, and by antibodies neutralizing β1 integrins. These findings indicate that melanoma cells employ platelet-derived Asm for adhesion and metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsed-laser deposited ZnO thin films were implanted with Ar-ions to generate intrinsic defects within the material. The defects created were analyzed by deep-level and optical deep-level transient spectroscopy. Deep-level defects with thermal activation energies of 980 and [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-dimensional and two-dimensional model of the frontal reaction of epoxy compounds by aromatic amines in tubular flux reactors is investigated. The influence of relevant kinetic factors (velocity, activation energy, and others) on the velocity of the traveling front, the heat regimes of the reactor, and the geometric dimensions of the reactor is studied. An optimal steady-state condition of the tubular reactor under continuous action is determined. Profiled armored carbon and glass plastics forming laboratory installation are constructed, as derived from the obtained theoretical results. It is shown that the theoretical and practical results are in satisfactory agreement. Several physico-mechanical properties (e.g., bending strength, longitudinal modulus of elasticity), as based on the reactor wall temperature, angle of armoring, and tension are determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives • To identify the prognostic impact of venous tumour thrombus (VTT) in locally advanced renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). • To further differentiate the clinical course of patients with VTT who have similar clinicopathological characteristics. Patients and Methods • We determined the VTT consistency (solid vs friable) in a retrospective cohort of 200 patients with RCC who had undergone nephrectomy between 1994 and 2011. • We examined the correlation of VTT consistency in these patients with clinical and pathological variables. Results • A total of 65% of the patients had solid VTT and 35% had friable VTT, which has a significantly lower amount of cell-cell adhesion molecules and connective tissue than solid VTT. • We found that friable VTT was associated with advanced pT stage, higher VTT level, papillary RCC subtype and a lower age. • Patients with friable VTT had a significantly shorter median overall survival than those with solid VTT (29 vs 89 months), but VTT consistency was not found to be an independent predictor of patients' survival in the multivariate Cox analysis. • We found that VTT consistency was an independent significant predictor of overall survival in patients without evidence of distant and nodal metastases (N = 119). Conclusions • The VTT consistency is caused by the tumour and not by different surgical handling. • Friable VTT is an important adverse prognostic predictor of overall survival in patients with non-metastatic RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the electrical properties of Cu Schottky contacts (SCs) on ( [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si-doped β-Ga2O3 thin films were grown at temperatures between 400 and 650 °C and oxygen partial pressures ranging from 3 × 10−4 mbar to 2.4 × 10−2 mbar prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on c-plane sapphire substrates. For high oxygen partial pressure the samples are composed of multiple crystalline phases; for decreasing oxygen partial pressure the crystallinity improves and single phase ( [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lorentz invariance has been tested rather poorly on the weak interaction in comparison to the electromagnetic interaction. This work discusses which tests on the weak interaction may be relevant. In particular, it considers exploiting the spin degrees of freedom in β decay for testing rotational invariance. The relation between the various phenomenological tests of Lorentz invariance is shown using a new theoretical framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid state physics is built on the concept of reciprocal space. The physics of any given periodic crystal is fully defined within the Wigner-Seitz cell in reciprocal space, also known as the first Brillouin zone. It is a purely symmetry-based concept and usually does not have any eye-catching signature in the experimental data, in contrast with some other geometrical constructions like the Fermi surface. However, the particular shape of the Fermi surface of nickel allowed the visualization of the system of edges (skeleton) of the Wigner-Seitz cell of the face-centred cubic lattice in reciprocal space in three dimensions by the diffuse scattering of X-rays from Ni1− xW x ( x = 0.03, 0.05, 0.08) single crystals. Employing a cluster-expansion method with first-principles input, it is possible to show that the observed scattering is inherent to the given nickel alloys and the crystal structures they form. This peculiar feature can be understood by considering the shape of the Fermi surface of pure nickel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results from GaN-based high voltage transistors used for power switching applications. The static and dynamic properties of transistors on SiC and Si substrates are determined. Overall, this technology is capable to deliver 1000 V breakdown and 95 A output current as well as a lower product of on-resistance and gate charge than conventional Si-based structures. Areas of further improvement in epitaxial growth and device processing are outlined in order to combine these high currents and high voltages in a single device. (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas-liquid mass transfer is often rate-limiting in laboratory and industrial cultures of aerobic or autotrophic organisms. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient kL a is a crucial characteristic for comparing, optimizing, and upscaling mass transfer efficiency of bioreactors. Reliable dynamic models and resulting methods for parameter identification are needed for quantitative modeling of microbial growth dynamics. We describe a laboratory-scale stirred tank reactor (STR) with a highly efficient aeration system ( kL a ≈ 570 h−1). The reactor can sustain yeast culture with high cell density and high oxygen uptake rate, leading to a significant drop in gas concentration from inflow to outflow (by 21%). Standard models fail to predict the observed mass transfer dynamics and to identify kL a correctly. In order to capture the concentration gradient in the gas phase, we refine a standard ordinary differential equation (ODE) model and obtain a system of partial integro-differential equations (PIDE), for which we derive an approximate analytical solution. Specific reactor configurations, in particular a relatively short bubble residence time, allow a quasi steady-state approximation of the PIDE system by a simpler ODE model which still accounts for the concentration gradient. Moreover, we perform an appropriate scaling of all variables and parameters. In particular, we introduce the dimensionless overall efficiency κ, which is more informative than kL a since it combines the effects of gas inflow, exchange, and solution. Current standard models of mass transfer in laboratory-scale aerated STRs neglect the gradient in the gas concentration, which arises from highly efficient bubbling systems and high cellular exchange rates. The resulting error in the identification of κ (and hence kL a) increases dramatically with increasing mass transfer efficiency. Notably, the error differs between cell-free and culture-based methods of parameter identification, potentially confounding the determination of the 'biological enhancement' of mass transfer. Our new model provides an improved theoretical framework that can be readily applied to aerated bioreactors in research and biotechnology. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2997-3006. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify an appropriate reference gene for the analysis of circulating micro-ribonucleic acid in patients with urological malignancies. Methods: Serum from patients with prostate cancer ( n = 24), bladder cancer ( n = 24), renal cell carcinoma ( n = 24) and control subjects ( n = 48) was spiked with cel-miR-39, and then ribonucleic acid was isolated. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the levels of candidate reference genes ( RNU1-4, RNU6-2, SNORD43, SNORD44, SNORD48, S NORA74A, miR-let-7a-1, miR-106a). Reference gene stability was determined using the NormFinder, geNorm and comparative delta-Ct algorithm. The effect of normalization was tested with miR-21 as the target gene, as this was previously suggested to be upregulated in cancer patients' serum. Results: Recovery of cel-miR-39 (mean 11.6%, range 1-56%) was similar in control subjects and cancer patients. SNORD44 and SNORD74A levels were around the detection limit of the assay and were thus omitted. All remaining candidates showed satisfying stability; SNORD43 was the most stable reference gene using all three algorithms. A combination of two genes ( SNORD43, RNU1-4) increases the stability somewhat. The level of miR-21 was similar in cancer patients and healthy controls, irrespective of the normalization strategy. Conclusions: SNORD43 is a suitable reference gene for the analysis of circulating micro-ribonucleic acid in patients with urological malignancies. Our study questions the suitability of miR-21 as a biomarker for uro-oncological patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mathematical description of transformation processes in magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMA) under applied stresses and external magnetic fields needs a combination of micromagnetics and continuum elasticity theory. In this note, we discuss the so-called constrained theories, i.e., models where the state described by the pair (linear strain, magnetization) is at every point of the sample constrained to assume one of only finitely many values (that reflect the material symmetries). Furthermore, we focus on large body limits, i.e., models that are formulated in terms of (local) averages of a microstructured state, as the one proposed by DeSimone and James. We argue that the effect of an interfacial energy associated with the twin boundaries survives on the level of the large body limit in form of a (local) rigidity of twins. This leads to an alternative (i.e., with respect to reference 1) large body limit. The new model has the advantage of qualitatively explaining the occurrence of a microstructure with charged magnetic walls, as observed in SPP experiments in reference 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]