Full Reduction Research Articles

Detection method of PCB component based on automatic optical stitching algorithm

Purpose – This paper aims to propose image stitching by reduction of full line and taking line image as registration image to solve the problem of automatic optic inspection in PCB detection. In addition, surf registration was introduced for image stitching to improve the accuracy and speed of stitching. Design/methodology/approach – First, image stitching proceeded by method of full line reduction and taking line image as registration image; second, surf registration was introduced based on the traditional PCB image stitching algorithm. Scale space of the image pyramid was adopted for confirming relative future points between stitching image. The registration means of nearest neighbourhood and next neatest neighborhood was selected for feature matching and fused in region of interest to fulfil image stitching. Findings – The improved stitching algorithm with small data size of image, high speed and noncumulative transitive error eliminated displacement deviation and solved the stitching gap caused by uneven illumination, to greatly improve the accuracy and speed of stitching. Research limitations/implications – The research of this paper can only used for appearance detection and cannot be used for solder joint inspection with circuit detection or invisible solder joint detection; it can identify and mark PCB component defects but cannot classify automatically, thus artificial confirmation and processing is needed. Originality/value – Based on the traditional image stitching means, this paper proposed full line reduction for image stitching, which reduces processing of data and speeds up image stitching; in addition, surf registration was introduced into the study of PCB stitching algorithm, which greatly improves the accuracy and speed of stitching and solves stitching gap formed by opposite variation trend of image local edge caused by uneven illumination.

Isolation of Elusive HAsAsH in a Crystalline Diuranium(IV) Complex.

The HAsAsH molecule has hitherto only been proposed tentatively as a short‐lived species generated in electrochemical or microwave‐plasma experiments. After two centuries of inconclusive or disproven claims of HAsAsH formation in the condensed phase, we report the isolation and structural authentication of HAsAsH in the diuranium(IV) complex [{U(TrenTIPS)}2(μ‐η2:η2‐As2H2)] (3, TrenTIPS=N(CH2CH2NSiPri 3)3; Pri=CH(CH3)2). Complex 3 was prepared by deprotonation and oxidative homocoupling of an arsenide precursor. Characterization and computational data are consistent with back‐bonding‐type interactions from uranium to the HAsAsH π*‐orbital. This experimentally confirms the theoretically predicted excellent π‐acceptor character of HAsAsH, and is tantamount to full reduction to the diarsane‐1,2‐diide form.

Isolation of Elusive HAsAsH in a Crystalline Diuranium(IV) Complex

The HAsAsH molecule has hitherto only been proposed tentatively as a short-lived species generated in electrochemical or microwave-plasma experiments. After two centuries of inconclusive or disproven claims of HAsAsH formation in the condensed phase, we report the isolation and structural authentication of HAsAsH in the diuranium(IV) complex [{U(TrenTIPS)}2(μ-η2:η2-As2H2)] (3, TrenTIPS=N(CH2CH2NSiPri3)3; Pri=CH(CH3)2). Complex 3 was prepared by deprotonation and oxidative homocoupling of an arsenide precursor. Characterization and computational data are consistent with back-bonding-type interactions from uranium to the HAsAsH π*-orbital. This experimentally confirms the theoretically predicted excellent π-acceptor character of HAsAsH, and is tantamount to full reduction to the diarsane-1,2-diide form.

Catalytic activity of silicon nanowires decorated with silver and copper nanoparticles

The paper reports on the elaboration of silicon nanowires decorated with silver (SiNWs–Ag NPs) or copper (SiNWs–Cu NPs) nanoparticles and the investigation of their catalytic properties for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. The SiNW arrays were produced through chemical etching of crystalline silicon in HF/AgNO3 aqueous solution. The metal nanoparticles were deposited on the SiNW substrates through chemical bath immersion in a metal salt/hydrofluoric acid aqueous solution. The SiNWs decorated with Ag NPs and Cu NPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalytic activity of the SiNWs loaded with metal nanoparticles was evaluated for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The substrates exhibited good catalytic performance toward nitrophenol with a full reduction in less than 30 s for the SiNWs–Cu NPs.

Metal-Sulfur Battery Cathodes Based on PAN-Sulfur Composites.

Sulfur/polyacrylonitrile composites provide a promising route toward cathode materials that overcome multiple, stubborn technical barriers to high-energy, rechargeable lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cells. Using a facile thermal synthesis procedure in which sulfur and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) are the only reactants, we create a family of sulfur/PAN (SPAN) nanocomposites in which sulfur is maintained as S3/S2 during all stages of the redox process. By entrapping these smaller molecular sulfur species in the cathode through covalent bonding to and physical confinement in a conductive host, these materials are shown to completely eliminate polysulfide dissolution and shuttling between lithium anode and sulfur cathode. We also show that, in the absence of any of the usual salt additives required to stabilize the anode in traditional Li-S cells, Li-SPAN cells cycle trouble free and at high Coulombic efficiencies in simple carbonate electrolytes. Electrochemical and spectroscopic analysis of the SPAN cathodes at various stages of charge and discharge further show a full and reversible reduction and oxidation between elemental sulfur and Li-ions in the electrolyte to produce Li2S as the only discharge product over hundreds of cycles of charge and discharge at fixed current densities.

Effect of drug precursor in cell uptake and cytotoxicity of redox-responsive camptothecin nanomedicines.

Novel redox-responsive nanomedicines have been synthesized by conjugating camptothecin prodrugs ((pyridine-2-yldisulfanil)alkyl carbonate derivatives) to hybrid porous silica nanoparticles through disulfide bond. After disulfide reduction, camptothecin may be released by an intramolecular cyclization mechanism or by carbonate bond hydrolysis. Samples have been characterized by physico-chemical techniques, and stability and drug release in PBS and human serum have been determined. Moreover, cell uptake was studied by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, whilst cytotoxic activity was validated by MTT test. Obtained results indicate that prodrug side chain carbon number (n=1,2,3) determines material hydrophobic properties and, as a consequence, its stability in aqueous medium. When n value increases, the negative surface charge decreases dramatically due to a shielding effect provoked by hydrophobic ligands, which promotes particle aggregation and favors cell internalization. Furthermore, the n value determines the type of products released and, subsequently, the cytotoxic activity. Full disulfide bridge reduction takes place in all cases, but quick delivery of the free drug by intramolecular cyclization is only possible with the shortest linker (n=1), whereas other nanomedicines only present slow discharge of camptothecin by carbonate hydrolysis. Overall, the drug precursor incorporated to the inorganic nanoplatform modulates both cell uptake rate and cytotoxicity according to the different functionalization.

Consistent type IIB reductions to maximal 5D supergravity

We use exceptional field theory as a tool to work out the full non-linear reduction ansaetze for the AdS$_5\times S^5$ compactification of IIB supergravity and its non-compact counterparts in which the sphere $S^5$ is replaced by the inhomogeneous hyperboloidal space $H^{p,q}$. The resulting theories are the maximal 5D supergravities with gauge groups SO(p,q). They are consistent truncations in the sense that every solution of 5D supergravity lifts to a solution of IIB supergravity. In particular, every stationary point and every holographic RG flow of the scalar potentials for the compact and non-compact 5D gaugings directly lift to solutions of IIB supergravity.

COMBINATION OF VESSEL EMBOLIZATION AND CRYOTHERAPY IN SURGICAL TREATMENT OF SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS

The article analyzed the results of surgical treatment of 153 patients with soft tissue sarcomas. The surgery was complemented by preoperative embolization of vessels, which supplied the tumor, cryotherapy on the tumor and postoperative wound in 72 patients of main group. The control group consisted of 81 patients and there weren't any perioperative actions. It was shown, that more than 80% of soft tissue sarcomas had the main and mixed type of tumor blood supply. Partial and full reduction of blood flow could be obtained by embolization of the tumor in more than 50% patients. Combination of surgical and preoperative embolization of vessels and cryotherapy decreased the rate of local recurrence and increased the quantity of organosafe interventions.

The effects of a dynamic patellar realignment brace on disease determinants for patellofemoral instability in the upright weight-bearing condition.

BackgroundPatellar stabilizing braces are used to alleviate pain and prevent subluxation/dislocation by having biomechanical effects in terms of improved patellar tracking. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of the dynamic patellar realignment brace, Patella Pro (Otto Bock GmbH, Duderstadt, Germany), on disease determinants in subjects with patellofemoral instability using upright weight-bearing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodsTwenty subjects (8 males and 12 females) with lateral patellofemoral instability were studied in an open-configuration magnetic resonance imaging scanner in an upright weight-bearing position at full extension (0° flexion) and 15° and 30° flexion with and without the realignment brace. Disease determinants were defined by common patellofemoral indices that included the Insall–Salvati Index, Caton–Deschamps Index, and the Patellotrochlear Index to determine patella height and patella tilt angle, bisect offset, and tuberositas tibiae–trochlear groove (TT–TG) distance to determine patellar rotation and translation with respect to the femur and the alignment of the extensor mechanism.ResultsAnalyses of variance revealed a significant effect of the brace with reduction of the three patellar height ratios, patella tilt angle, and bisect offset as well as TT–TG distance. Post hoc pairwise comparisons of the corresponding conditions with and without the realignment brace revealed significantly reduced patella height ratios, patella tilt angles, and bisect offsets at full extension and 15° and 30° flexion. No significant differences between the TT–TG distances at full extension but significant reductions at 15° and 30° flexion were observed when using the realignment brace compared to no brace.ConclusionsThis study suggests that the dynamic patellar realignment brace is capable of improving disease determinants in the upright weight-bearing condition in the range of 0° to 30° flexion in patients with patellofemoral instability.

Global Kolmogorov tori in the planetary $\boldsymbol N$-body problem. Announcement of result

Abstract We improve a result in[8] by proving the existence of a positive measure set of (3n−2)–dimensionalquasi–periodic motions in the spacial, planetary (1+n)–body problem away from co–planar, circularmotions. We also prove that such quasi–periodic motions reach with continuity corresponding (2n−1)–dimensional ones of the planar problem, once the mutual inclinations go to zero (this is related to aspeculation in [1]). The main tool is a full reduction of the SO(3)–symmetry, which retains symmetryby reflections and highlights a quasi–integrable structure, with a small remainder, independently ofeccentricities and inclinations.Keywords:Quasi–integrable structures for perturbed super–integrable systems. N–body problem. Arnold’s The-orem on the stability of planetary motions. Multi–scale KAM Theory.MSC2000 numbers:34D10, 34C20, 70E55, 70F10, 70F15, 70F07, 37J10, 37J15, 37J25, 37J35, 37J40, 70K45 Contents 1 Set Up and Background 12 Result 73 Tools and Sketch of Proof 93.1 A symmetric reduction of the SO(3)–symmetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93.2 An integrability property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113.3 Global quasi–integrability of the planetary system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143.4 Multi–scale KAM theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15References 17

Boron-Catalyzed Silylative Reduction of Nitriles in Accessing Primary Amines and Imines

Silylative reduction of nitriles was studied under transition metal-free conditions by using B(C6F5)3 as a catalyst with hydrosilanes as a reductant. Alkyl and (hetero)aryl nitriles were efficiently converted to primary amines or imines under mild conditions. The choice of silanes was found to determine the selectivity: while a full reduction of nitriles was highly facile, the use of sterically bulky silanes allowed for the partial reduction leading to N-silylimines.

Nickel Oxide Reduction by Hydrogen: Kinetics and Structural Transformations

We studied the reduction kinetics of bulk NiO crystals by hydrogen and the corresponding structural transformations in the temperature range of 543–1593 K. A new experimental approach allows us to arrest and quench the reaction at different stages with millisecond time resolution. Two distinctive temperature intervals are found where the reaction kinetics and product microstructures are different. At relatively low temperatures, 543–773 K, the kinetic curves have a sigmoidal shape with long induction times (up to 2000 s) and result in incomplete conversion. Low-temperature reduction forms a complex polycrystalline Ni/NiO porous structure with characteristic pore size on the order of 100 nm. No induction period was observed for the high-temperature conditions (1173–1593 K), and full reduction of NiO to Ni is achieved within seconds. An extremely fine porous metal structure, with pore size under 10 nm, forms during high-temperature reduction by a novel crystal growth mechanism. This consists of the epitaxia...

TH‐EF‐BRA‐05: Investigation of Full Dose Reduction Potential of ASiRâ„¢ for Head CT Protocols in a Predominantly Pediatric Population

Purpose:To ascertain and implement the maximum level of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR) that can be used to establish dose reduced pediatric head CT protocols.Methods:Noise power spectrum (NPS), modulation transfer function (MTF), and qualitative visual assessment were used as image quality metrics to calculate image quality based on filtered back projection (FBP) and ASiR reconstruction. The effect on image quality as a function of level of ASiR implementation and tube current reduction was analyzed by comparing image noise magnitude and frequency, and spatial resolution with similar measured image quality for FBP. Relative patient dose reduction was estimated using both CTDIvol and effective dose calculated using pediatric sized physical anthropomorphic phantoms. Dose reduced protocols were investigated for CT head examinations (i.e. brain, orbits, sinus, maxillary and temporal bones) by implementing ASiR and lowering CT tube current.Results:An analysis of the effects on noise texture from implementation of statistical iterative reconstruction determined that the level of ASiR that correlated closest with FBP for the GE soft reconstruction kernel (for both 100 and 120 kVp) was determined to be 30%, and for the GE standard reconstruction kernel at 100 kVp was 20% ASiR. However, implementation of 60% ASiR (GE soft reconstruction kernel) and 30% ASiR (GE standard reconstruction kernel) led to an average relative reduction in CTDIvol by 40% (range: 30%‐47%) and effective dose by 36% (range: 12%‐54%) while maintaining the same overall noise magnitude and improving the CNR of the image as compared to FBP. A coarser noise texture was visualized at 60% ASiR.Conclusion:The data in this study are provided to allow customized selection of ASiR implementation relating to acceptable tolerance for change in noise texture appearance in reconstructed images, and level of relative dose reduction for a pediatric population undergoing head CT examination.

Surgical Treatment of Thoracolumbar Fractures with Osteosynthesis

Introduction The aim of this study is to describe the results obtained in 44 patients, all between 20 and 65 years, operated between 2011 and 2013 with the diagnosis of thoracic and lumbar vertebral fractures posttraumatic, treated in our department. In all cases, we used the same technique, which consists of fixing two levels above and two levels below the fractured vertebrae including it in the osteosynthesis system getting full or partial reduction of the fracture. After the fracture consolidation, we proceeded to the removal of the implant between 6 to 9 months after surgery. The indication was always surgical treatment with temporary fixation without arthrodesis. After the removal of the osteosynthesis material, all patients recovered the capacity of flexo-extension of the thoracolumbar spine. The patients returned to their previous levels of daily life and sport. It took them 35 days on an average to return to work and from 6 to 9 months to their sports activities. Patients were followed for 1 year after surgery. Patients and Methods A total of 44 patients were evaluated, 34 men and 10 women. The complaint was for posttraumatic back or low back pain by falls from their own height standing or sitting, in the 72% of cases, with no more than 48 hours of evolution that did not get better with rest and got worse with mobilization. The rest of the cases were traffic accidents. All patients were studied by MRI and X-rays. All fractures were treated by the same surgeon within the first 72 hours of making the diagnosis. Fractures were divided as follows: D9 (1 case), D10 (7 cases), D11 (6 cases), D12 (11 cases), L1 (10 cases), L2 (7 cases), L3 (1 case) and L4 (1 case). Overall, 83% of cases were type A fractures according to the AO classification, and the remaining 17% were type B, which were associated with rupture of the posterior wall and invasion of the spinal canal. Only two fractures had neurological and motor compromise C, according to Frenkel classification. The rest of the fractures had Frenkel E. Results All patients returned to their usual physical activities, even those who played sports with the exception of the two Frenkel C. As postoperative complications, patients had scar hygromas that were cured with puncture and compressive bandage. Everyone referred complete or partial improvement of their symptoms. Only in one case, we had a postoperative complication which was the rupture of one of the lower transpedicular screws of the system at 3 months; after the removal of the implant at 6 months, the pain disappeared without complications. Conclusion This method, temporary fixation without arthrodesis of five levels, is usually used in our department to treat thoracolumbar fractures. Patients had no postoperative complications except one patient who presented a ruptured of a transpedicular screw but no reoperation was needed. In all cases, there was a complete remission of symptoms and return to normal activity.

Mechanism and kinetics of early transition metal hydrides, oxides, and chlorides to enhance hydrogen release and uptake properties of MgH2

Selected hydrides (TiH2, ZrH2), chlorides (VCl3, ScCl3) or oxides (V2O5) utilized as additives facilitating hydrogen release and uptake for magnesium hydride were investigated using mechano-chemical treatment and in-situ synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction studies. The fastest hydrogen desorption and absorption kinetics for MgH2 was observed for a sample with 5 mol% V2O5 at 320 °C. Additional activation of the system (2 cycles, vacuum/p(H2) ~150 bar, 450 °C) leads to significant improvement of the kinetics even at lower temperatures, 270 °C. The observed prolific effect is achieved through the full reduction of vanadium oxides and formation of an efficient vanadium catalyst as nanoparticles and possibly interfacial effects in the MgO/Mg/MgH2/V system introduced during cycling hydrogen release and uptake in hydrogen/dynamic vacuum at 450 °C. Nanostructuring as well as hydrogen permeability via vanadium nanoparticles may improve kinetics and reduce the apparent activation energy for hydrogen release. Thus, the enhancement of hydrogen release/uptake in the MgH2 owe to “in situ” formation of vanadium nanoparticles by reduction of V2O5.

Comparative characterisation of two nitroreductases from Giardia lamblia as potential activators of nitro compounds

Giardia lamblia is a protozoan parasite that causes giardiasis, a diarrhoeal disease affecting humans and various animal species. Nitro drugs such as the nitroimidazole metronidazole and the nitrothiazolide nitazoxanide are used for treatment of giardiasis. Nitroreductases such as GlNR1 and GlNR2 may play a role in activation or inactivation of these drugs. The aim of this work is to characterise these two enyzmes using functional assays. For respective analyses recombinant analogues from GlNR1 and GlNR2 were produced in Escherichia coli. E. coli expressing GlNR1 and GlNR2 alone or together were grown in the presence of nitro compounds. Furthermore, pull-down assays were performed using HA-tagged GlNR1 and GlNR2 as baits. As expected, E. coli expressing GlNR1 were more susceptible to metronidazole under aerobic and semi-aerobic and to nitazoxanide under semi-aerobic growth conditions whereas E. coli expressing GlNR2 were susceptible to neither drug. Interestingly, expression of both nitroreductases gave the same results as expression of GlNR2 alone. In functional assays, both nitroreductases had their strongest activities on the quinone menadione (vitamin K3) and FAD, but reduction of nitro compounds including the nitro drugs metronidazole and nitazoxanide was clearly detected. Full reduction of 7-nitrocoumarin to 7-aminocoumarin was preferentially achieved with GlNR2. Pull-down assays revealed that GlNR1 and GlNR2 interacted in vivo forming a multienzyme complex. These findings suggest that both nitroreductases are multifunctional. Their main biological role may reside in the reduction of vitamin K analogues and FAD. Activation by GlNR1 or inactivation by GlNR2 of nitro drugs may be the consequence of a secondary enzymatic activity either yielding (GlNR1) or eliminating (GlNR2) toxic intermediates after reduction of these compounds.

Structure and activity of flame made ceria supported Rh and Pt water gas shift catalysts

A series of ceria-supported Rh and Pt catalysts was synthesized by flame spray pyrolysis for high temperature water gas shift (WGS) reactions in a membrane reactor. The structural and catalytic properties were compared with a Pt/CeO2 catalyst prepared conventionally by incipient wetness impregnation. BET results show that compared to conventionally prepared catalysts the specific surface area of the flame made catalysts is larger and decreases with increasing metal content. This is in line with X-ray diffraction (XRD) results uncovering a high nanocrystallinity of the ceria, whose crystallite size slightly increases with higher noble metal loading. Both Pt and Rh particles are not detected by XRD due to the small crystallite size. In fact, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the flame made catalysts with high loading showed Pt and Rh particles with diameters of ca. 3nm which remained stable after catalytic testing. X-ray absorption near edge spectra (XANES) at the Rh K- and Pt L3-edge showed that both Pt and Rh were in an oxidized state after preparation. In situ XANES during temperature programmed reduction in 5% H2/He indicated a lower reduction temperature than for the conventional Pt/CeO2 catalyst. Hence, Rh and Pt species are located on the surface of the CeO2 particles. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra provide further evidence for oxidized Rh, Pt before reduction and full reduction after activation in hydrogen, and small particle sizes in agreement with the TEM and XRD results. The catalytic activity measurements were performed at atmospheric pressure in two different gas mixtures by measuring CO conversion as a function of temperature. In all cases the Pt/CeO2 catalysts prepared by flame spray pyrolysis showed high catalytic activity and much higher selectivity than the Rh/CeO2 catalyst, where methane formation is observed above 300°C. Furthermore, the reaction rate in terms of turnover frequencies is much higher on the Pt-based catalysts, which makes them promising candidates for high temperature WGS catalysts in membrane and microreactors.

Comprehensive Study of Fe2O3/Al2O3 Reduction with Ultralow Concentration Methane under Conditions Pertinent to Chemical Looping Combustion

An experimental study was conducted to identify the most suitable alumina-supported iron-based oxygen carrier for the abatement of ultralow concentration methane using a chemical looping approach. This was done by evaluating the performance characteristics such as reactivity, cyclic stability, and gas conversion. The experiments were carried out in a thermogravimetric analyzer and a fixed bed reactor setup under the desired conditions. Thermodynamics analysis was carried out using the commercially available software ASPENPLUS. The analysis suggested that the favorable iron-based oxygen carriers were those with the weight content of Fe2O3 less than 50 wt %. Three Fe2O3/Al2O3 samples were therefore prepared with the metal oxide contents in the range of 10–45 wt %, i.e., Fe10Al, Fe25Al, and Fe45Al. The thermogravimetric analysis experimental results showed that the reduction reactivity and stability were improved with the addition of support material compared with unsupported Fe2O3. Moreover, the reduction reactivity varied with the solid conversion range and the weight content of the parent material. For full reduction of Fe2O3 to Fe3O4, the sample Fe10Al showed the highest reduction reactivity. However, in terms of the rate of oxygen transport (which considers the combined effects of the oxygen transfer capacity and reactivity), the highest value was achieved by the Fe45Al sample. The gas conversion of CH4 to CO2 was also quite dependent on the weight content of Fe2O3. Essentially, Fe45Al delivered the longest duration on high-level conversion (i.e., complete conversion of CH4 to CO2). In summary, Fe45Al was found to be the most suitable oxygen carrier candidate in this application. The effect of operational parameters was further examined with various reaction temperatures (873–1073 K), methane concentrations (0.1–1.5 vol %), and CO2 compositions (0–50 vol %).

Surgical Treatment Strategies for High-Grade Spondylolisthesis: A Systematic Review.

HGS is a severe deformity most commonly affecting L5-S1 vertebral segment. Treatment available for HGS includes a range of different surgical options: full or partial reduction of translation and/or abnormal alignment and in situ fusion with or without decompression. Various instrumented or non-instrumented constructs are available, and surgical approach varies from anterior/posterior to combined depending on surgeon preference and experience. The aim of this systematic review was to review the literature on lumbosacral high-grade spondylolisthesis (HGS), identify patients at risk for progression to higher-grade slip and evaluate various surgical strategies to report on complications and radiographic and clinical outcomes. Systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane and Google Scholar for papers relevant to HGS was performed. 19 articles were included after title, abstract, and full-text review and grouped to analyze baseline radiographic parameters and the effect of surgical approach, instrumentation, reduction and decompression on patient radiographic and clinical outcomes. There is a lack of high-quality studies pertaining to surgical treatment for HGS, and a majority of included papers were Level III or IV based on the JBJS Levels of Evidence Criteria. Surgical treatment for HGS can vary depending on patient age. There is strong evidence of an association between increased pelvic incidence (PI) and presence of HGS and moderately strong evidence that patients with unbalanced pelvis can benefit from correction of lumbopelvic parameters with partial reduction. Surgeons need to weigh the benefits of fixing the deformity with the risks of potential complications, assessing patient satisfaction as well as their understanding of the possible complications. However, further research is necessary to make more definitive conclusions on surgical treatment guidelines for HGS. II.

An important impact of the molecule-electrode coupling asymmetry on the efficiency of bias-driven redox processes in molecular junctions.

Two recent experimental and theoretical studies (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 2014, 111, 1282-1287; Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 25942-25949) have addressed the problem of tuning the molecular charge and vibrational properties of single molecules embedded in nanojunctions. These are molecular characteristics escaping so far from an efficient experimental control in broad ranges. Here, we present a general argument demonstrating why, out of various experimental platforms possible, those wherein active molecules are asymmetrically coupled to electrodes are to be preferred to those symmetrically coupled for achieving a(n almost) complete redox process, and why an electrochemical environment has advantages over "dry" setups. This study aims at helping to nanofabricate molecular junctions using the most appropriate platforms allowing the broadest possible bias-driven control over the redox state and vibrational modes of single molecules linked to electrodes.