Can social media usage of scientific literature predict journal indices of AJG,SNIP and JCR? An altmetric study of economics

Scientometrics - Altmetrics are often praised as an alternative or complement to classic bibliometric metrics, especially in the social sciences discipline. However, empirical investigations of...     

Role of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Head and Neck Tumorigenesis

The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a potent enzyme that converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PG), including PGE2, a key mediator of inflammation and angiogenesis. Importantly, COX-2 is activated in response to inflammatory stimuli, where it is also believed to promote the development and progression of head and neck cancers (HNC). COX-2 can mediate its protumorigenic effect through various mechanisms, such as inducing cell proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and suppressing the host’s immune response. Furthermore, COX-2 can induce the production of vascular endothelial growth factors, hence, promoting angiogenesis. Indeed, the ability of COX-2 inhibitors to selectively restrict the proliferation of tumor cells and mediating apoptosis provides promising therapeutic targets for cancer patients. Thus, in this comprehensive review, we summarized the reported differential expression patterns of COX-2 in different stages of head and neck carcinogenesis—from potentially premalignant lesions to invasive carcinomas. Furthermore, we examined the available meta-analysis evidence for COX-2 role in the carcinogenesis of HNC. Finally, further understanding of the biological processes of COX-2 and its role in orchestrating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis may give therapeutically beneficial insight to develop the management plan of HNC patients and improve their clinical outcomes.     

Strain hardening due to deformation twinning in α-titanium: Mechanisms

Novel experiments were conducted to elucidate the effect of deformation twinning on the mechanical response of high-purity α-titanium deformed at room temperature. Orientation-imaging microscopy (OIM), microhardness, and nanohardness evaluations were employed in conjunction with optical microscopy and quasi-static compression testing to obtain insight into the deformation mechanisms. Hardness measurements revealed that the newly formed deformation twins were harder than the matrix. This observation is perhaps the first experimental evidence for the Basinski mechanism for hardening associated with twinning, arising from the transition of glissile dislocations to a sessile configuration upon the lattice reorientation by twinning shear. This work also provided direct evidence for two competing effects of deformation twinning on the overall stress-strain response: (1) hardening via both a reduction of the effective slip length (Hall-Petch effect) and an increase in the hardness of twinned regions (Basinski mechanism) and (2) softening due to the lattice reorientation of the twinned regions.     

Unsaturated polyesters. II. Structure and properties of polyester resins based on cinnamylsuccinic acid

Unsaturated Polyester resins were prepared by the reaction of cinnamylsuccinic acid with saturated diols, namely, ethylene, diethylene, propylene, dipropylene, tetramethylene, and hexamethylene glycols, and the unsaturated diols, namely, 1,4-butene- and 1,4-butynediols. All the polyester resins obtained have been characterized and were found to cure with styrene, with relatively low conversions. The properties of the cured polyesters in the form of films were determined. IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy were used for both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the polyesters and their hydrolyzate products, after curing with styrene.     

Hemoptysis caused by pulmonary arterial aneurysm, disclosing Beh?et disease. Apropos of 2 cases]

MCF7 and ZR75-1 breast cancer cells grow as adherent monolayers in tissue culture. Treatment with the serum serine protease plasmin causes them to detach and to grow as floating multicellular spheroids. Two plasmin activators, urokinase plasminogen activator and streptokinase, induce the same growth pattern changes in the presence of plasminogen. Serum contains also plasminogen activator inhibitors. Aged serum, deficient in plasminogen activator inhibitors, converts spontaneously monolayer breast cancer cells into multicellular spheroids which readily revert to monolayer growth after addition of fresh serum. Urokinase blocks the reversion. The formation of multicellular spheroids does not affect the proliferative rate of breast tumor cells but endows tumor cells with increased resistance to the chemotherapeutic drugs, doxorubicin and paclitaxel.     

Strength,toughness and R-curve behaviour of SiC whisker-reinforced composite Si3N4 with reference to monolithic Si3N4

The flexural strength and fracture toughness of 30 vol% SiC whisker-reinforced Si₃N₄ material were determined as a function of temperature from 25 to 1400°C in an air environment. It was found that both strength and toughness of the composite material were almost the same as those of the monolithic counterpart. The room-temperature strength was retained up to 1100°C; however, appreciable strength degradation started at 1200°C and reached a maximum at 1400°C due to stable crack growth. In contrast, the fracture toughness of the two materials was independent of temperature with an average value of 5.66 MPam^1/2. It was also observed that the composite material exhibited no rising R-curve behaviour at room temperature, as was the case for the monolithic material. These results indicate that SiC whisker addition to the Si₃N₄ matrix did not provide any favourable effects on strength, toughness and R-curve behaviour.     

Theoretical study of a potential low-noise semimetal-basedavalanche photodetector

The authors present a theoretical analysis of a possible avalanching photodetector (APD)-based on II-VI compound semiconductors. Each unit cell is composed of a HgTe layer, or a similar semimetal, sandwiched between two layers of CdTe and HgCdTe or similar semiconducting materials. The barrier layers are graded so that the leading barrier height is just high enough to eliminate the thermionic emission dark current out of the well. The use of a semimetal within the well has a distinct advantage over a semiconductor, which is that the ionization process is essentially an interband mechanism since the confined carriers within the well lie within the overlapping conduction and valence bands. As a result, the concentration of target carriers is virtually inexhaustible as in a conventional interband device     

Dissolution of calcite crystals in the presence of some metal ions

A constant composition method has been used for the study of the kinetics of calcium carbonate (calcite) dissolution in which the activities of ionic species in relatively undersaturated solutions are maintained constant. Over a range of relative undersaturation (0.032–0.158) the dissolution reaction appears to be controlled by a bulk diffusion process. The suggestion of a predominantly diffusion-controlled process was supported by the observed low activation energy (2.09 kcal mol^–1). The influence of a number of metal ions on the reaction rate has been investigated. The retardation effect of these additives has been attributed to the blocking of active sites by adsorption of metal ions at the crystal surfaces. Inhibition of dissolution by metal ions can be interpreted in terms of a Langmuir isotherm.     

Electrode Potential Thermodynamics

A problem of determining the electrode potential by substituting the chemical potentials of electrons in metals of the electrochemical circuit into the expression for the chemical affinity of the reaction taking place in a galvanic cell is solved.