bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-mercaptalbumin, Oxidized Form of Serum Albumin, Significantly Associated with Renal Function and Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Nakatani Shinya , Yasukawa Keiko , Ishimura Eiji , Nakatani Ayumi , Toi Norikazu , Uedono Hideki , Tsuda Akihiro , Yamada Shinsuke , Ikeda Hitoshi , Mori Katsuhito , Emoto Masanori , Yatomi Yutaka , Inaba Masaaki
Published: November 2018

Oxidative stress plays a major role in development of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Human mercaptalbumin (HMA), a reduced form of serum albumin, and non-mercaptalbumin (HNA), an oxidized form of serum albumin, are known as indicators for evaluating oxidative stress in systemic circulation, including end-stage renal disease cases. We investigated factors associated with fraction of HNA [f(HNA)] in 112 pre-dialysis CKD patients (63.6 ± 14.0 years old; 59 males, 53 females) using a newly established anion-exchange column packed with hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol gel as well as high performance liquid chromatography. Mean f(HNA) in our CKD patients was 30.0 ± 6.1%, higher than that previously reported for healthy subjects. In multiple regression analysis, age (β = 0.200, p = 0.014), eGFR (β = −0.238, p = 0.009), hemoglobin (β = −0.346, p < 0.001), and ferritin (β = 0.200, p = 0.019) were significantly and independently associated with f(HNA) (R2 = 0.356, p < 0.001). In addition, factors related to CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD), including intact-PTH (β = 0.218, p = 0.049) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) (β = −0.178, p = 0.040), were significantly and independently associated with serum f(HNA) (R2 = 0.339, p < 0.001), whereas fibroblast growth factor-23 was not. These findings indicate the importance of management of hemoglobin and ferritin levels, as well as appropriate control of CKD-MBD factors for a better redox state of serum albumin in CKD patients.
Source evaluation of 137Cs in foodstuffs based on trace 134Cs radioactivity measurements following the Fukushima nuclear accident
Authors: Hori Mayumi , Saito Takuya , Shozugawa Katsumi
Published: November 2018

We performed gamma-ray analysis to determine the amount of radioactive cesium-134 (134Cs) and cesium-137 (137Cs) in 259 foodstuffs five years after the Fukushima nuclear accident of 2011. Using measurements of trace 134Cs radioactivity, we investigated the contribution ratio of 137Cs derived from the Fukushima accident on 2011 and pre-Fukushima. The median detected concentration of radiocesium (134Cs + 137Cs) in foodstuffs was 0.33 Bq/kg-raw, a much lower radioactivity than the Japanese regulatory limit. However, a few samples had particularly high radioactivity, including some dried mushrooms sold in Iwate Prefecture that had a 137Cs radioactivity concentration as high as 441 Bq/kg. Our analysis showed that 75.5% of the 137Cs detected in these mushrooms originated from the Fukushima accident, and 24.5% was originated before the Fukushima event. Our study clarified the 137Cs contamination in 75 of all 259 food samples before and after the Fukushima nuclear accident, showing that not only mushrooms but also fish had been contaminated before the Fukushima accident.
Cerebral Motor Functional Connectivity at the Acute Stage: An Outcome Predictor of Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Chi Nai-Fang , Ku Hsiao-Lun , Chen David Yen-Ting , Tseng Ying-Chi , Chen Chi-Jen , Lin Ying-Chin , Hsieh Yi-Chen , Chan Lung , Chiou Hung-Yi , Hsu Chung Y. , Hu Chaur-Jong
Published: November 2018

Sixty-seven patients with first acute ischemic stroke onset between 3 to 7 days and 25 age- and sex- matched controls were analyzed for the performance of a resting-state functional MRI to investigate whether the functional connectivity (FC) of the motor network in acute ischemic stroke is independently associated with functional outcomes. The FC of cortical motor network and default mode network was analyzed. The FC was compared between controls, patients with favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale, mRS ≤1), and patients with unfavorable outcomes (mRS ≥2) at 3 months. Of the 67 patients, 23 (34%) exhibited unfavorable outcomes. In multivariate analysis, the FC between ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1) and contralesional dorsal premotor area (PMd) ≤0.63, were independently associated with unfavorable outcomes (odds ratio = 6.32,P = 0.032), whereas the FC of default mode network was not different between groups. The interhemispheric FC of the motor network is an independent predictor of functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Fecal chromogranins and secretogranins are linked to the fecal and mucosal intestinal bacterial composition of IBS patients and healthy subjects
Authors: Sundin Johanna , Stridsberg Mats , Tap Julien , Derrien Muriel , Le Nevé Boris , Doré Joël , Törnblom Hans , Simrén Magnus , Öhman Lena
Published: November 2018

Altered fecal levels of chromogranins (Cg) and secretogranins (Sg) are demonstrated in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but their role in IBS pathophysiology remains unknown. This study aimed to determine if granins are associated with bacterial composition, immune activation and IBS symptoms. Protein levels of fecal granins (CgA, CgB, SgII and SgIII) were analysed with immunoassays. Mucosal mRNA expression of granins, TPH1 and immune markers were evaluated with RT-qPCR. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on fecal and mucosal bacteria. The intestinal granin profile, based on fecal protein levels and mucosal mRNA expression, could not discriminate between IBS patients (n = 88) and healthy subjects (HS, n = 33). IBS patients dominated by high fecal or mucosal granin levels, respectively, did not differ in symptom or immune profiles. Fecal-dominated and mucosal-dominated granin clusters of IBS patients and HS, demonstrated separate fecal and mucosal bacterial profiles and high fecal abundance of granins were associated with a less diverse bacterial composition and the Bacteroides enterotype. The intestinal granin profiles of IBS patients and HS are linked to the intestinal bacterial composition, diversity and enterotypes. These findings suggest that granins may be one of several host-produced factors regulating the microbiota composition of the intestine.
Transcriptomic analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma reveals molecular features of disease progression and tumor immune biology
Authors: Okrah K. , Tarighat S. , Liu B. , Koeppen H. , Wagle M. C. , Cheng G. , Sun C. , Dey A. , Chang M. T. , Sumiyoshi T. , Mounir Z. , Cummings C. , Hampton G. , Amler L. , Fridlyand J. , Hegde P. S. , Turley S. J. , Lackner M. R. , Huang S. M.
Published: November 2018

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops in the context of chronic inflammatory liver disease and has an extremely poor prognosis. An immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment may contribute to therapeutic failure in metastatic HCC. Here, we identified unique molecular signatures pertaining to HCC disease progression and tumor immunity by analyzing genome-wide RNA-Seq data derived from HCC patient tumors and non-tumor cirrhotic tissues. Unsupervised clustering of gene expression data revealed a gradual suppression of local tumor immunity that coincided with disease progression, indicating an increasingly immunosuppressive tumor environment during HCC disease advancement. IHC examination of the spatial distribution of CD8+ T cells in tumors revealed distinct intra- and peri-tumoral subsets. Differential gene expression analysis revealed an 85-gene signature that was significantly upregulated in the peri-tumoral CD8+ T cell-excluded tumors. Notably, this signature was highly enriched with components of underlying extracellular matrix, fibrosis, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Further analysis condensed this signature to a core set of 23 genes that are associated with CD8+ T cell localization, and were prospectively validated in an independent cohort of HCC specimens. These findings suggest a potential association between elevated fibrosis, possibly modulated by TGF-β, PDGFR, SHH or Notch pathway, and the T cell-excluded immune phenotype. Indeed, targeting fibrosis using a TGF-β neutralizing antibody in the STAM™ model of murine HCC, we found that ameliorating the fibrotic environment could facilitate redistribution of CD8+ lymphocytes into tumors. Our results provide a strong rationale for utilizing immunotherapies in HCC earlier during treatment, potentially in combination with anti-fibrotic therapies.
Engineering a MOF–magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposite for enantioselective capture
Authors: Gao Yu , Du Wenrui , Yu Ajuan , Li Xinglin , Zhao Wuduo , Zhang Shusheng
Published: November 2018

A novel magnetic graphene oxide–metal organic framework [Zn2(BTC)(NO3)(DMA)3]n (MGO–ZnBND) possessing both magnetic properties and excellent enantioselective capture of chiral drug intermediates was prepared and characterized in this paper.
Facile synthesis of aquo-cisplatin arsenite multidrug nanocomposites for overcoming drug resistance and efficient combination therapy
Authors: Xin Jingyu , Zhang Ke , Huang Jiaqi , Luo Xiangjie , Gong Xuanqing , Yang Zhaoxuan , Lin Hongyu , Shan Hong , Gao Jinhao
Published: November 2018

An aquo-cisplatin arsenite multidrug nanocomposite loaded with cisplatin and arsenic trioxide prodrugs was reported for overcoming drug resistance and combination therapy.
Novel non-peptidic small molecule inhibitors of secreted aspartic protease 2 (SAP2) for the treatment of resistant fungal infections
Authors: Dong Guoqiang , Liu Yang , Wu Ying , Tu Jie , Chen Shuqiang , Liu Na , Sheng Chunquan
Published: November 2018

The first-generation of small molecule SAP2 inhibitors was discovered with good antifungal potency for the treatment of resistant Candida albicans infections.
Facile in situ generation of highly active (arylimido)vanadium(v)–alkylidene catalysts for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclic olefins by immediate phenoxy ligand exchange
Authors: Hayashibara Hitomi , Hou Xiaohua , Nomura Kotohiro
Published: November 2018

Remarkably active vanadium(v)–alkylidene catalysts for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclic olefins can be generated in situ upon addition of C6F5OH or C6Cl5OH.
A recyclable self-assembled composite catalyst consisting of Fe3O4-rose bengal-layered double hydroxides for highly efficient visible light photocatalysis in water
Authors: Huang Yuxing , Xin Zhuo , Yao Wenlong , Hu Qi , Li Zhuohua , Xiao Liuqing , Yang Bo , Zhang Junmin
Published: November 2018

A novel recyclable composite catalyst (Fe3O4-RB/LDH) formed by stable self-assembly of Fe3O4 NPs, rose bengal, and layered double hydroxides can catalyze various organic transformations with high efficiency in water under visible light irradiation.
Desferrioxamine:gallium-pluronic micelles increase outer membrane permeability and potentiate antibiotic activity againstPseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Purro Max , Qiao Jing , Liu Zhi , Ashcraft Morgan , Xiong May P.
Published: November 2018

The outer membrane ofPseudomonas aeruginosafunctions primarily as a permeability barrier and imparts a broad spectrum of intrinsic antibiotic resistance.
Catalytic asymmetricde novoconstruction of dihydroquinazolinone scaffoldsviaenantioselective decarboxylative [4+2] cycloadditions
Authors: Lu Yi-Nan , Lan Jin-Ping , Mao Yu-Jia , Wang Ye-Xin , Mei Guang-Jian , Shi Feng
Published: November 2018

The firstde novoconstruction of enantioenriched dihydroquinazolinonesviaan intermolecular strategy has been established. This approach also represents the first catalytic asymmetric [4+2] cycloaddition of vinyl benzoxazinanones with sulfonyl isocyanates.
Facile synthesis, morphology and tunable photoluminescence properties of BaMgF4:Ce3+/Tb3+/Eu3+ phosphors
Authors: Xia Wenpeng , Zhang Yufeng , Xiong Jie , Hu Shanshan , Yu Jie , Zhang Yanfei , Wan Yuxin , Yang Jun
Published: November 2018

A series of BaMgF4:Ce3+/Tb3+/Eu3+ phosphors were successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal process.
Adsorption and oxidation of propane and cyclopropane on IrO2(110)
Authors: Martin Rachel , Kim Minkyu , Franklin Austin , Bian Yingxue , Asthagiri Aravind , Weaver Jason F.
Published: November 2018

Initial activation by ring-opening enables cyclopropane to achieve higher reaction yields than n-propane on IrO2(110).
Water as a modulator in the synthesis of surface-mounted metal–organic framework films of type HKUST-1
Authors: Müller Kai , Singh Malhi Jasleen , Wohlgemuth Jonas , Fischer Roland A. , Wöll Christof , Gliemann Hartmut , Heinke Lars
Published: November 2018

By using water as modulator, the growth of thin nanoporous SURMOF films, prepared in a layer-by-layer fashion, can be improved.
Eu(iii) and Tb(iii) complexes of 6-fold coordinating ligands showing high affinity for the hydrogen carbonate ion: a spectroscopic and thermodynamic study
Authors: Piccinelli Fabio , De Rosa Chiara , Melchior Andrea , Faura Georgina , Tolazzi Marilena , Bettinelli Marco
Published: November 2018

The unprecedented affinity of Eu(bpcd)+ and Eu(bQcd)+ towards HCO3− renders these complexes as high-performing systems for the optical assessment of metabolic acidosis.
Schiff-base macrocyclic ZnII complexes based upon flexible pendant-armed extended dialdehydes
Authors: Chang Fei-Fan , Zhang Kun , Huang Wei
Published: November 2018

This Frontier article reviews Schiff-base ZnII macrocycles derived from flexible pendant-armed extended dialdehydes including structure-determining factors in template-directed syntheses, further post-modifications and applications.
Cytotoxicity of sesquiterpene alkaloids from Nuphar plants toward sensitive and drug-resistant cell lines
Authors: Fukaya Masashi , Nakamura Seikou , Hegazy Mohamed Elamir F. , Sugimoto Yoshikazu , Hayashi Noriko , Nakashima Souichi , Yoshikawa Masayuki , Efferth Thomas , Matsuda Hisashi
Published: November 2018

Thioalkaloids isolated from Nuphar plants showed cytotoxic effects on sensitive and resistant cancer cell lines.
Fabrication of curcumin-loaded folic acid-tagged metal organic framework for triple negative breast cancer therapy inin vitroandin vivosystems
Authors: Laha Dipranjan , Pal Kunal , Chowdhuri Angshuman Ray , Parida Pravat Kumar , Sahu Sumanta Kumar , Jana Kuladip , Karmakar Parimal
Published: November 2018

Curcumin has shown therapeutic activity against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, but it shows low efficacy and low bioavailability when administered as a free drug.
Shape-controlled synthesis of porous carbons for flexible asymmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Liu Yujing , Wang Xuan , Jiang Xiaohui , Li Xia , Yu Liangmin
Published: November 2018

N-Doped porous nanocarbons with multiple shape-controlled and tunable morphologies were designed and synthesized by using a simple and effective method.
Ferromagnetism in magnesium chloride monolayer with an unusually large spin-up gap
Authors: Bhattacharyya Gargee , Choudhuri Indrani , Bhauriyal Preeti , Garg Priyanka , Pathak Biswarup
Published: November 2018

The primary research target of the rapidly evolving spintronic industry is to design highly efficient novel materials that consume very low power and operate with high speed.
Investigation of laser-induced inter-welding between Au and Ag nanoparticles and the plasmonic properties of welded dimers
Authors: Xu Xiaohui , Isik Tugba , Kundu Subhajit , Ortalan Volkan
Published: November 2018

The structural and compositional evolution of Ag–Au nanoparticle dimers under laser irradiation was investigated using advanced electron microscopy techniques.
Synthesis of chiral seven-membered β-substituted lactams via Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation
Authors: Huang Yi , Li Pan , Dong Xiu-Qin , Zhang Xumu
Published: November 2018

Various chiral seven-membered β-substituted lactams were successfully prepared through Rh/bisphosphine-thiourea ligand (ZhaoPhos)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation with up to >99% conversion, 99% yield, and >99% ee.
Methyl 5-MeO-N-aminoanthranilate, a minimalist fluorogenic probe for sensing cellular aldehydic load
Authors: Suchý Mojmír , Lazurko Caitlin , Kirby Alexia , Dang Trina , Liu George , Shuhendler Adam J.
Published: November 2018

A minimalist fluorogenic probe is presented capable of the mapping of aldehydic load through live cell microscopy.
Nazarov cyclisations initiated by DDQ-oxidised pentadienyl ether: a mechanistic investigation from the DFT perspective
Authors: Gouranourimi Ali , Chipman Antony , Babaahmadi Rasool , Olding Angus , Yates Brian F. , Ariafard Alireza
Published: November 2018

The rate determining step for such a Nazarov cyclization is direct hydride transfer from pentadienyl ether to the oxygen of DDQ.
Biofilm formation byExiguobacteriumsp. DR11 and DR14 alter polystyrene surface properties and initiate biodegradation
Authors: Chauhan Deepika , Agrawal Guncha , Deshmukh Sujit , Roy Susanta Sinha , Priyadarshini Richa
Published: November 2018

Isolation and characterizationExiguobacteriumsp. DR11 and DR14 from wetlands able to establish biofilm and alter polystyrene surface properties.
Tissue metabolomics study to reveal the toxicity of a traditional Tibetan medicine ‘Renqing Changjue’ in rats
Authors: Xu Can , Wang Yingfeng , Rezeng Caidan , Zhang Lan , Zhao Baosheng , Wang Xia , Wu Xiuyuan , Li Zhongfeng , Chen Jianxin
Published: November 2018

Combinatorial tissue metabolomics technique using NMR and ICP-MS to investigate the effect of RQCJ in rats.
Phytotoxicity and anti-phytopathogenic activities of marine-derived fungi and their secondary metabolites
Authors: Huang Rui-Huan , Gou Jian-Yu , Zhao Dong-Lin , Wang Dan , Liu Jing , Ma Guo-Yong , Li Yi-Qiang , Zhang Cheng-Sheng
Published: November 2018

Marine-derived fungi and their secondary metabolites with agricultural bioactivity including phytotoxicity and anti-phytopathogenic activities.
Retracted Article: Long noncoding RNA PCA3 regulates glycolysis, viability and apoptosis by mediating the miR-1/CDK4 axis in prostate cancer
Authors: Gu Shuo , Niu Xiaobing , Mao Fei , Xu Zongyuan
Published: November 2018

We proved that PCA3 regulated aerobic glycolysis, viability and apoptosis by regulating the miR-1/CDK4 axis in prostate cancer cells.
Enhancement of Fe–N–C carbon catalyst activity for the oxygen reduction reaction: effective increment of active sites by a short and repeated heating process
Authors: Yasuda Satoshi , Uchibori Yosuke , Wakeshima Makoto , Hinatsu Yukio , Ogawa Hiroaki , Yano Masahiro , Asaoka Hidehito
Published: November 2018

Controlling the formation of Fe–N–C catalytic sites is crucial to activate the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for realization of non-precious electrocatalysts in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs).
Indirect fabrication of versatile 3D microfluidic device by a rotating plate combined 3D printing system
Authors: Ha Dong-Heon , Ko Dong-Hyeon , Kim Jin-oh , Im Do Jin , Kim Byoung Soo , Park Soo-Young , Park Steve , Kim Dong-Pyo , Cho Dong-Woo
Published: November 2018

Rapid on-demand sacrificial printing techniques using suitable combinations of resin and sacrificial materials would be desirable to fabricate versatile and functional microfluidic devices with complex designs and chemical resistance.
Efficient room-temperature production of high-quality graphene by introducing removable oxygen functional groups to the precursor
Authors: Chen Hongwu , Du Wencheng , Liu Jing , Qu Liangti , Li Chun
Published: November 2018

The trade-off between structural integrity and preparation yield is removed in the wet chemical synthesis of graphene.
Fluorogenic atom transfer radical polymerization in aqueous media as a strategy for detection
Authors: Allen Zachary T. , Sackey-Addo Jemima R. , Hopps Madeline P. , Tahseen Danyal , Anderson Joseph T. , Graf Tyler A. , Cooley Christina B.
Published: November 2018

A new method for detecting polymerization and amplifying initiator signals is established by fluorogenic atom transfer radical polymerization.
Multifunctional behavior of molecules comprising stacked cytosine–AgI–cytosine base pairs; towards conducting and photoluminescence silver-DNA nanowires
Authors: Linares Fátima , García-Fernández Emilio , López-Garzón F. Javier , Domingo-García María , Orte Angel , Rodríguez-Diéguez Antonio , Galindo Miguel A.
Published: November 2018

Tuning the conducting and photoluminescence properties of molecules comprising silver(i)–cytosine base pairs.
Compound droplets derived from a cholesteric suspension of cellulose nanocrystals
Authors: Suzuki Toyoko , Li Yunfeng , Gevorkian Albert , Kumacheva Eugenia
Published: November 2018

Compound Janus droplets were generated using microfluidic emulsification of the cholesteric suspension of cellulose nanocrystals and mineral oil. The capability to fine-tune droplet composition and the shape of the cholesteric phase is shown. The droplets were used to generate cholesteric microgels with non-conventional shapes.
Electrostatic interaction of particles trapped at fluid interfaces: effects of geometry and wetting properties
Authors: Majee Arghya , Bier Markus , Dietrich S.
Published: November 2018

We investigate the effects of wetting and curvature on the effective electrostatic interaction between closely separated particles at fluid interfaces.
Influence of polymer flexibility on nanoparticle dynamics in semidilute solutions
Authors: Chen Renjie , Poling-Skutvik Ryan , Howard Michael P. , Nikoubashman Arash , Egorov Sergei A. , Conrad Jacinta C. , Palmer Jeremy C.
Published: November 2018

The effects of polymer stiffness on nanoparticle dynamics in solution are probed using multi-particle collision dynamics simulations and mode-coupling theory.
The structure–property relationship in LAPONITE® materials: from Wigner glasses to strong self-healing hydrogels formed by non-covalent interactions
Authors: Becher Tiago B. , Braga Carolyne B. , Bertuzzi Diego L. , Ramos Miguel D. , Hassan Ayaz , Crespilho Frank N. , Ornelas Catia
Published: November 2018

Rheology, SAXS, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis, zeta potential measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and micro-FTIR and absorbance spectroscopy were used to enlighten the controversial literature about LAPONITE® materials.
Correction: Tunable hydrodynamics: a field-frequency phase diagram of a non-equilibrium order-to-disorder transition
Authors: Khajehpour Tadavani Somayeh , Yethiraj Anand
Published: November 2018

Correction for ‘Tunable hydrodynamics: a field-frequency phase diagram of a non-equilibrium order-to-disorder transition’ by Somayeh Khajehpour Tadavani et al., Soft Matter, 2017, 13, 7412–7424.
Novel sea cucumber-inspired material based on stiff, strong yet tough elastomer with unique self-healing and recyclable functionalities
Authors: Xu JianHua , Ye Sheng , Fu JiaJun
Published: November 2018

An ideal sea cucumber-inspired material was fabricated using a sacrificial bond-based construction strategy, which exhibits reversible switchable and self-healing capability.
Graphene oxide–polybenzimidazolium nanocomposite anion exchange membranes for electrodialysis
Authors: Cseri Levente , Baugh Joseph , Alabi Adetunji , AlHajaj Ahmed , Zou Linda , Dryfe Robert A. W. , Budd Peter M. , Szekely Gyorgy
Published: November 2018

Reaching beyond the upper limits of electromembrane desalination processes with novel graphene-based nanocomposite anion exchange membranes.
Conductive regenerated silk-fibroin-based hydrogels with integrated high mechanical performances
Authors: Chen Feng , Lu Shaoping , Zhu Lin , Tang Ziqing , Wang Qilin , Qin Gang , Yang Jia , Sun Gengzhi , Zhang Qiang , Chen Qiang
Published: November 2018

Strong and tough RSF-based hydrogels that could be used as a strain sensor, a touch screen pen and an electronic skin were developed.
Stretchable capacitive fabric electronic skin woven by electrospun nanofiber coated yarns for detecting tactile and multimodal mechanical stimuli
Authors: You Xiaolu , He Jianxin , Nan Nan , Sun Xianqiang , Qi Kun , Zhou Yuman , Shao Weili , Liu Fan , Cui Shizhong
Published: November 2018

An electronic fabric based on stretchable capacitive sensor arrays detecting tactile and multimodal mechanical stimuli is presented.
Strong electro-optically active Ni-substituted Pb(Zr0.35Ti0.65)O3 thin films: toward integrated active and durable photonic devices
Authors: Zhu Minmin , Du Zehui , Chng Soon Siang , Tsang Siu Hon , Teo Edwin Hang Tong
Published: November 2018

Ferroelectric materials for precise control of light from lasers to optical communications have sparked great interest owing to their large electro-optic (EO) coefficients, low propagation loss, and fast switching time.
Effect of Dual-Carrier Processing on the Intelligibility of Concurrent Vocoded Sentences
Authors: Apoux Frédéric , Carter Brittney L. , Healy Eric W.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The goal of this study was to examine the role of carrier cues in sound source segregation and the possibility to enhance the intelligibility of 2 sentences presented simultaneously. Dual-carrier (DC) processing (Apoux, Youngdahl, Yoho, & Healy, 2015) was used to introduce synthetic carrier cues in vocoded speech.

Method

Listeners with normal hearing heard sentences processed either with a DC or with a traditional single-carrier (SC) vocoder. One group was asked to repeat both sentences in a sentence pair (Experiment 1). The other group was asked to repeat only 1 sentence of the pair and was provided additional segregation cues involving onset asynchrony (Experiment 2).

Results

Both experiments showed that not only is the “target” sentence more intelligible in DC compared with SC, but the “background” sentence intelligibility is equally enhanced. The participants did not benefit from the additional segregation cues.

Conclusions

The data showed a clear benefit of using a distinct carrier to convey each sentence (i.e., DC processing). Accordingly, the poor speech intelligibility in noise typically observed with SC-vocoded speech may be partly attributed to the envelope of independent sound sources sharing the same carrier. Moreover, this work suggests that noise reduction may not be the only viable option to improve speech intelligibility in noise for users of cochlear implants. Alternative approaches aimed at enhancing sound source segregation such as DC processing may help to improve speech intelligibility while preserving and enhancing the background.
Spontaneous Otoacoustic Emissions Reveal an Efficient Auditory Efferent Network
Authors: Marian Viorica , Lam Tuan Q. , Hayakawa Sayuri , Dhar Sumitrajit
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Understanding speech often involves processing input from multiple modalities. The availability of visual information may make auditory input less critical for comprehension. This study examines whether the auditory system is sensitive to the presence of complementary sources of input when exerting top-down control over the amplification of speech stimuli.

Method

Auditory gain in the cochlea was assessed by monitoring spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs), which are by-products of the amplification process. SOAEs were recorded while 32 participants (23 women, nine men;
M
age
= 21.13) identified speech sounds such as “ba” and “ga.” The speech sounds were presented either alone or with complementary visual input, as well as in quiet or with 6-talker babble.

Results

Analyses revealed that there was a greater reduction in the amplification of noisy auditory stimuli compared with quiet. This reduced amplification may aid in the perception of speech by improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Critically, there was a greater reduction in amplification when speech sounds were presented bimodally with visual information relative to when they were presented unimodally. This effect was evidenced by greater changes in SOAE levels from baseline to stimuli presentation in audiovisual trials relative to audio-only trials.

Conclusions

The results suggest that even the earliest stages of speech comprehension are modulated by top-down influences, resulting in changes to SOAEs depending on the presence of bimodal or unimodal input. Neural processes responsible for changes in cochlear function are sensitive to redundancy across auditory and visual input channels and coordinate activity to maximize efficiency in the auditory periphery.
Time Course of the Second Morpheme Processing During Spoken Disyllabic Compound Word Recognition in Chinese
Authors: Shen Wei , Li Zhao , Tong Xiuhong
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the time course of meaning activation of the 2nd morpheme processing of compound words during Chinese spoken word recognition using eye tracking technique with the printed-word paradigm.

Method

In the printed-word paradigm, participants were instructed to listen to a spoken target word (e.g., “大方”, /da4fang1/, generous) while presented with a visual display composed of 3 words: a morphemic competitor (e.g., “圆形”, /yuan2xing2/, circle), which was semantically related to the 2nd morpheme (e.g., “方”, /fang1/, square) of the spoken target word; a whole-word competitor (e.g., “吝啬”, /lin4se4/, stingy), which was semantically related to the spoken target word at the whole-word level; and a distractor, which was semantically related to neither the morpheme or the whole target word. Participants were asked to respond whether the spoken target word was on the visual display or not, and their eye movements were recorded.

Results

The logit mixed-model analysis showed both the morphemic competitor and the whole-word competitor effects. Both the morphemic and whole-word competitors attracted more fixations than the distractor. More importantly, the 2nd-morphemic competitor effect occurred at a relatively later time window (i.e., 1000–1500 ms) compared with the whole-word competitor effect (i.e., 200–1000 ms).

Conclusion

Findings in this study suggest that semantic information of both the 2nd morpheme and the whole word of a compound was activated in spoken word recognition and that the meaning activation of the 2nd morpheme followed the activation of the whole word.
Experimental observation of synchronised oscillating edges in electrical lattice with series‐connected tunnel diodes
Authors: Narahara K. , Maezawa K.
Published: November 2018

Herein, the authors experimentally characterise the dynamics of voltage edges oscillating in a transmission line with regularly spaced two series‐connected tunnel diodes (TDs). They clearly observe the mutually synchronised behaviour of the edges supported by each TD, which can be utilised to generate large‐amplitude and low‐phase‐noise oscillatory voltages. They establish the fact that the response time of the device for state‐transition is the key to qualitatively determine the edge oscillation, i.e. a single large‐amplitude edge develops for sufficiently a large response time, whereas two larger and smaller edges coexist and are synchronised for short response time.
Wavelength filter using twin one‐dimensional photonic crystal cavity silicon waveguides
Authors: Okayama H. , Onawa Y. , Shimura D. , Takahashi H. , Yaegashi H. , Sasaki H.
Published: November 2018

A wavelength filter using a pair of one‐dimensional photonic crystal (1D‐PhC) waveguides incorporating cavity sections for one‐directional output is reported. The small number of holes for 1D‐PhC is used to attain distinct transmission peaks in the stop band. Two cavity sections are used to obtain peak with steep slope and widened top. The three‐dimensional finite difference time domain simulation results agree with the experimental result.
Underwater target classification at greater depths using deep neural network with joint multiple‐domain feature
Authors: Cao Xu , Zhang Xiaomin , Togneri Roberto , Yu Yang
Published: November 2018

For underwater target classification which is supposed to recognise different ships with the radiated acoustic signal, it is the most challenging task to provide excellent classification accuracy in a variety of environments. However, most of the existing systems are optimised to get the best performance on the data set from certain situations which they are trained in, which may lead to generalisation risks when applied to new environments. Here, the authors introduce an underwater target classification framework using a deep neural network to learn deep features from a large joint multiple‐domain input. The authors propose to incorporate spectral and wavelet domain information with different resolutions to grasp the ‘global’ structure and the ‘local’ transient variation of the raw radiated signals. In contrast to shallow models, a stacked sparse autoencoder (SSAE) model, which is composed of multiple hidden layers and a softmax classifier, is adopted to learn more discriminating features for classification. In the authors’ experiments, the proposed SSAE model is evaluated on the data set consisting of underwater acoustic signal received at different ocean depths. The authors’ results show that the proposed SSAE model with joint input features achieved a 5% improvement in classification accuracy compared to the state‐of‐the‐art DBN approach.
Fault detection and isolation based on fuzzy‐integral fusion approach
Authors: Jafari Hamideh , Poshtan Javad
Published: November 2018

In this study, the bearing, as well as the electric faults of an induction motor, are diagnosed using the fuzzy‐integral data‐fusion method in feature level with high reliability. Time domain of various features is computed using the induction motor three‐phase current and voltage measurements. Appropriate features are extracted by means of the proposed method and then classified by the fuzzy C‐means algorithm. The fuzzy membership functions show the relation between a feature set and a fault to establish the mappings between the features and the given faults. Finally, different features are fused using the fuzzy‐integral method to produce diagnostic results. The technique is validated experimentally on an induction motor coupled with a centrifugal pump. The capability of the proposed technique is also evaluated in the presence of disturbances and simultaneous occurrence of different faults. The results indicate an increase in the reliability in fault detection and isolation.
Prediction of DC flashover voltage of cap‐and‐pin polluted insulator
Authors: Abimouloud Adel , Arif Salem , Korichi Dris , Ale‐Emran Sayyed Mahdi
Published: November 2018

The aim of this work is to estimate the flashover voltage of cap‐and‐pin insulator using a novel improvement of the pollution resistance evaluation. In cap‐and‐pin suspension insulators, local arcing starts around the pin where the dry bands first appear due to the evaporation of the conductive layer. In appropriate conditions, a unique dominant arc starting from the pin propagates toward the cap resulting in a complete flashover. Since the highest current density is concentrated around the arc root during propagation, the pollution layer residual resistance variation, with respect to the arc position, is non‐linear. Thus an original three‐dimensional model, which depicts a real insulator using COMSOL MultiphysicsTM to evaluate the residual resistance, is developed. This model takes into consideration the actual geometry of the insulator and the current restriction at the arc root for a specific arc radius. A novel mathematical model for calculating the residual resistance of this polluted insulator was elaborated for all possible arc radii. The mathematical model and the 3D simulation results are in satisfactory agreement. To evaluate the flashover voltage, a new approach based on Saddle Point Finding Method is proposed. The new approach and model have been validated using experimental results of previous studies.
Corona ageing characteristics of composite insulators based on orthogonal experiment
Authors: Liang Ying , Gao Ting , Dong Pingping , Gao Lijuan
Published: November 2018

To study effects of pressure, humidity and aging time on the corona aging process, aging characteristics of silicone rubber composite insulators were researched by orthogonal tests. The test platform of adjustable pressure and humidity was constructed. TSC, SEM and FTIR tests were selected for aged samples. By the range analysis, it showed that the effect of pressure on trapped charges was related to humidity and aging time. There were more trapped charges when the humidity was higher, and the influence of humidity was more obvious along with the longer aging time at a low pressure. As the pressure increased, however, the effect of humidity on trapped charges was gradually reduced. But the influence of aging time was more significant, while aged degree of silicone rubber was deepened with increasing aging time. Furthermore, the aging state of materials was the collaboration effect of charged particles and nitric acid. Moreover, it could be seen from TSC, SEM and FTIR tests, sorting results of aging states were inconsistent. Results showed that the TSC test was comprehensively embodied the corona aging characteristics caused by physical and chemical defects. Therefore, results of TSC tests could be selected as an effective criterion for aging evaluations.
ZnO ultraviolet photodetector based on flexible polyester fibre substrates by low‐temperature hydrothermal approach
Authors: Song Wenbin , Yang Dechao , Qiu Yu , Wang Qingyi , Wu Bo , Zong Yang , Feng Qiuxia
Published: November 2018

The development of flexible photodetectors is believed to have great potential for future optoelectronic applications, such as biomedical imaging and smart wearable systems. Here the work proposes a simple and low‐cost approach for integrating a flexible and wearable ZnO ultraviolet (UV) photodetector using polyester fabric as the platform for the first time. The ZnO nanowires coated polyester fabric was prepared by a low‐temperature hydrothermal approach. They measured the performance of the photodetector in terms of I–V characteristics and time‐resolved photocurrent. The results showed that the as‐fabricated ZnO UV photodetector presented great reliability. Additionally, the working mechanism of the device was also discussed.
Multiplicity of Galactic Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars from Gaia DR2
Authors: Kervella Pierre , Gallenne Alexandre , Evans Nancy Remage , Szabados Laszlo , Arenou Frédéric , Mérand Antoine , Nardetto Nicolas , Gieren Wolfgang , Pietrzynski Grzegorz
Published: November 2018

Context. The multiplicity of classical Cepheids (CCs) and RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) is still imperfectly known, particularly for RRLs.

Aims. In order to complement the close-in short orbital period systems presented in Paper I, our aim is to detect the wide, spatially resolved companions of the targets of our reference samples of Galactic CCs and RRLs.

Methods. Angularly resolved common proper motion pairs were detected using a simple progressive selection algorithm to separate the most probable candidate companions from the unrelated field stars.

Results. We found 27 resolved, high probability gravitationally bound systems with CCs out of 456 examined stars, and one unbound star embedded in the circumstellar dusty nebula of the long-period Cepheid RS Pup. We found seven spatially resolved, probably bound systems with RRL primaries out of 789 investigated stars, and 22 additional candidate pairs. We report in particular new companions of three bright RRLs: OV And (companion of F4V spectral type), RR Leo (M0V), and SS Oct (K2V). In addition, we discovered resolved companions of 14 stars that were likely misclassified as RRLs.

Conclusions. The detection of resolved non-variable companions around CCs and RRLs facilitates the validation of their Gaia DR2 parallaxes. The possibility to conduct a detailed analysis of the resolved coeval companions of CCs and old population RRLs will also be valuable to progress on our understanding of their evolutionary path.
Duality theory for multi-marginal optimal transport with repulsive costs in metric spaces
Authors: Gerolin Augusto , Kausamo Anna , Rajala Tapio
Published: November 2018

In this paper we extend the duality theory of the multi-marginal optimal transport problem for cost functions depending on a decreasing function of the distance (not necessarily bounded). This class of cost functions appears in the context of SCE Density Functional Theory introduced in Strong-interaction limit of density-functional theory by Seidl [Phys. Rev. A 60 (1999) 4387].
Canines maxillaires retenues en position palatine et technique segmentée
Authors: Robaldo D. , Bonomi-Dunoyer H. , Bolender Y.
Published: November 2018

La gestion orthodontique des canines incluses maxillaires représente un véritable challenge thérapeutique. Le cas clinique présenté ici illustre la gestion pluridisciplinaire de deux canines incluses palatines.
Zertifikat „Berufsdermatologie“
Authors: Diepgen T. , Elsner P.
Published: November 2018

Berufsbedingte Hauterkrankungen stellen eine besondere Herausforderung bez. Diagnostik, Therapie und Prävention dar. Zur Qualitätssicherung in der Berufsdermatologie führt daher die zuständige Fachgesellschaft „Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Berufs- und Umweltdermatologie (ABD)“ in der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft (DDG) seit über 20 Jahren mit großem Erfolg mehre ganztägige Fortbildungsveranstaltungen durch. Nach Teilnahme an den 4 jeweils ganztägigen Zertifizierungsseminaren der ABD (Grund-, Aufbau-, Spezialseminar I und II [Hautkrebs]) können Dermatologinnen und Dermatologen das Zertifikat „Berufsdermatologie (ABD)“ erhalten. Eine Teilnahme an den Zertifizierungsseminaren bereits während der Facharztausbildung ist durchaus empfehlenswert, um berufsdermatologische Abläufe im Klinikalltag besser verstehen zu können. Für die Re-Zertifizierung ist die Teilnahme an einem 1-tägigen ABD-Qualitätszirkel (7 Std.) innerhalb von 5 Jahren erforderlich. Inzwischen sind über 900 Dermatologinnen und Dermatologen von der ABD zertifiziert. Das interdisziplinäre ABD-Zertifikat wird von den Landesärztekammern anerkannt und kann im Praxisschild, Briefkopf geführt werden. Auf Ablauf und Inhalte der Zertifizierungsseminare wird nachgehend eingegangen.
Curriculum „Magistralrezepturen“
Authors: Staubach P. , Reimann H. , Melhorn S. , Hünerbein A.
Published: November 2018

Viele Hauterkrankungen werden mit topischen Therapeutika behandelt. Das Management und Monitoring dieser topischen Therapien inklusive der Rezepturen ist die Kernkompetenz des Dermatologen. Neben der Physiologie und Pathophysiologie der Haut fordert dies auch ein pharmazeutisches Grundwissen zu Vehikelsystemen und aktiven Substanzen. Die Magistralezepturen sind Verordnungsoptionen, die die Patientenversorgung besonders in der topischen Therapie sinnvoll optimieren. Durch das Curriculum „Magistralrezepturen“ sollen Grundkenntnisse zum Verordnen von Rezepturen mit hoher pharmakologischer und medizinischer Qualität vermittelt werden. Ergänzend besteht die Möglichkeit, eigene Individualrezepturen auf ihre Plausibilität überprüfen zu lassen. Dies alles führt zur Verbesserung der Rezepturqualität und damit zur optimierten Patientenversorgung.
Nachruf Prof. Dr. med. Joachim Heermann
Authors: Hohenhorst W. , Neumann A.
Published: November 2018

Am 20.07.2018 ist Herr Prof. Dr. med. Joachim Heermann nach langer Krankheit
im Kreise seiner großen Familie in Essen verstorben. Mit Joachim Heermann
verliert die HNO-Gesellschaft eine außergewöhnliche Persönlichkeit, einen
Pionier der Mikrochirurgie des Ohres und der Nase und einen menschlichen
innovativen Geist.
Hip Taping Positively Alters Running Kinematics in Asymptomatic Females
Authors: Masters Ashleigh , Netto Kevin , Brooker Susi , Hopper Diana , Liew Bernard
Published: November 2018

Greater functional knee valgus (FKV) is thought to contribute to a greater risk of sustaining overuse running injuries. The hip is commonly implicated in greater functional knee valgus, but no studies have investigated the effects of hip taping on running kinematics. The present study investigated whether or not hip taping altered hip and knee kinematics compared to sham and no taping in female runners demonstrating excessive functional knee valgus. Lower limb stance-phase kinematics were collected from 23 female runners using three-dimensional motion capture. Participants performed over ground running at 3.5 m/s and 5.0 m/s. Three taping conditions (no tape; sham tape; hip tape) were tested. Statistical inference was performed using Statistical Parametric Mapping Hotelling’s paired t-tests, with post-hoc paired t-tests. Hip taping significantly decreased hip adduction and internal rotation angles throughout stance phase by up to 7°, compared to sham and no taping. Hip taping significantly increased knee adduction, internal rotation, flexion, and reduced peak knee flexion angles, compared to no tape. Hip taping reduced excessive hip motion by clinically meaningful magnitudes, and also benefited knee frontal and transverse plane kinematics at the slower running speed. Hip taping may provide an immediate solution in correcting FKV in running.
Convenient Synthesis of Ethyl 5-Oxohomoadamantane-4-carboxylate: A Useful Precursor of Polyfunctional Homoadamantanes
Authors: Klimochkin Yuri , Tkachenko Ilya , Rybakov Victor
Published: November 2018

A facile and convenient synthesis of ethyl 5-oxohomoadamantane-4-carboxylate is reported, and its chemical properties as a cage analogue of acetoacetic ester are investigated. Various derivatives of homoadamantane were synthesized through the reaction of 5-oxohomoadamantane-4-carboxylate with electrophilic agents, binucleophiles, and hydrazoic acid. Some new unusual products were obtained by the reaction of that β-keto ester with nitric acid and nitrosyl chloride. Cage compounds synthesized could be used as precursors for the diverse condensed heterocyclic compounds with potential viral ion channel abrogating activity that possess conformationally rigid lipophilic moieties.
Diastereoselectivities in Reductions of α-Alkoxy Ketones Are Not Always Correlated to Chelation-Induced Rate Acceleration
Authors: Bartolo Nicole , Hornstein Alana , Zhao Annie , Woerpel K.
Published: November 2018

The chelation-control model is used to predict stereochemical outcomes of many organometallic reactions. Diastereoselectivity arises due to reaction with a chelated intermediate with sterically differentiated faces. Earlier studies with dimethylmagnesium established that the chelated intermediate is a minor component of the reaction mixture, so reaction with the chelated intermediate must be faster than reaction with a non-chelated intermediate. High diastereoselectivity and chelation-induced rate acceleration are correlated with some hydride reducing agents. There are examples in which diastereoselectivity is high, but chelation-induced rate acceleration is not observed, however. In other cases, chelation-induced rate acceleration is observed, but diastereoselectivity remains low. These experiments illustrate that a revision to the chelation-control model is needed.
Torsión testicular, anticuerpos antiesperma y repercusión clínica
Authors: García-Perdomo Herney Andrés , Arias Juan Camilo
Published: November 2018

La torsión testicular es una patología que afecta directamente la calidad del esperma de los pacientes debido a la ruptura de la barrera hematotesticular, lo cual hace que se formen anticuerpos antiesperma, que inclusive afectan al testículo contralateral. Múltiples estudios tanto en modelos animales como humanos, permiten hacer evidente la relación entre la torsión testicular y la formación de anticuerpos antiesperma y su repercusión clínica, principalmente, en la fertilidad.