bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survey data on factors that constrain the adoption of soil carbon enhancing technologies in Ethiopia
Authors: Nguru Wilson M. , Ng’ang’a Stanley K. , Gelaw Fekadu , Kanyenji George M. , Girvetz Evan H.
Published: March 2020

The data described in this paper were collected in two watersheds – Azuga-suba watershed in Angacha woreda (district) of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) region and Yesir watershed of Bure woreda (district) of the Amhara region – in Ethiopia. The data were collected from 379 households with the main objective being to assess the factors constraining the adoption of sustainable land management technologies (SLMT) that enhance soil organic carbon sequestration. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire that was designed in SurveyCTO. The data cleaning and analysis was done using STATA SE version 14. This data can be used by researchers to assess the extent of adoption of SLMTs in Ethiopia by, for example, comparing the North and the South regions of Ethiopia. It can also be used to assess the probability of adoption as well as the benefit and costs of adopting SLMTs in Ethiopia both at farm and plot level.
Publisher Correction: Whole Transcriptome Analysis of Renal Intercalated Cells Predicts Lipopolysaccharide Mediated Inhibition of Retinoid X Receptor alpha Function
Authors: Saxena Vijay , Fitch James , Ketz John , White Peter , Wetzel Amy , Chanley Melinda A. , Spencer John D. , Becknell Brian , Pierce Keith R. , Arregui Sam W. , Nelson Raoul D. , Schwartz George J. , Velazquez Victoria , Walker Logan A. , Chen Xi , Yan Pearlly , Hains David S. , Schwaderer Andrew L.
Published: March 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Numerical error analysis of the ICZT algorithm for chirp contours on the unit circle
Authors: Sukhoy Vladimir , Stoytchev Alexander
Published: March 2020

This paper shows that the inverse chirp z-transform (ICZT), which generalizes the inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) off the unit circle in the complex plane, can also be used with chirp contours that perform partial or multiple revolutions on the unit circle. This is done as a special case of the ICZT, which in algorithmic form has the same computational complexity as the IFFT, i.e.,O(n log n). Here we evaluate the ICZT algorithm for chirp contours on the unit circle and show that it is numerically accurate for large areas of the parameter space. The numerical error in this case depends on the polar angle between two adjacent contour points. More specifically, the error profile for a transform of sizenis determined by the elements of the Farey sequence of ordern − 1. Furthermore, this generalization allows the use of non-orthogonal frequency components, thus lifting one of the main restrictions of the IFFT.
On neglecting Coriolis and related couplings in first-principles rovibrational spectroscopy: considerations of symmetry, accuracy, and simplicity
Authors: Sarka János , Poirier Bill , Szalay Viktor , Császár Attila G.
Published: March 2020

The rotation-vibration (Coriolis) coupling contribution to variationally computed rovibrational energy levels is investigated, employing triatomic AB$${}_{2}$$

2

molecules as models. In particular, calculations are performed for H$${}_{2}$$

2

$${}^{16}$$

16

O, across a range of vibrational and rotational excitations, both with and without the Coriolis contribution. A variety of different embedding choices are considered, together with a hierarchy of increasingly severe approximations culminating in a generalized version of the so-called “centrifugal sudden” method. Several surprising and remarkable conclusions are found, including that the Eckart embedding is not the best embedding choice.
Unraveling reaction-diffusion-like dynamics in urban congestion propagation: Insights from a large-scale road network
Authors: Bellocchi Leonardo , Geroliminis Nikolas
Published: March 2020

We study the dynamical process of congestion formation for large-scale urban networks by exploring a unique dataset of taxi movements in a megacity. We develop a dynamic model based on a reaction and a diffusion term that properly reproduces the cascade phenomena of traffic. The interaction of these two terms brings the values of the speeds on road network in self-organized patterns and it reveals an elegant physical law that reproduces the dynamics of congestion with very few parameters. The results presented show a promising match with an available real data set of link speeds estimated from more than 40 millions of GPS coordinates per day of about 20,000 taxis in Shenzhen, China.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy as a Non-invasive Method to Quantify Muscle Carnosine in Humans: a Comprehensive Validity Assessment
Authors: da Eira Silva Vinicius , Painelli Vitor de Salles , Shinjo Samuel Katsuyuki , Ribeiro Pereira Wagner , Cilli Eduardo Maffud , Sale Craig , Gualano Bruno , Otaduy Maria Concepción , Artioli Guilherme Giannini
Published: March 2020

Carnosine is a dipeptide abundantly found in human skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and neuronal cells having numerous properties that confers performance enhancing effects, as well as a wide-range of potential therapeutic applications. A reliable and valid method for tissue carnosine quantification is crucial for advancing the knowledge on biological processes involved with carnosine metabolism. In this regard, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has been used as a non-invasive alternative to quantify carnosine in human skeletal muscle. However, carnosine quantification by 1H-MRS has some potential limitations that warrant a thorough experimental examination of its validity. The present investigation examined the reliability, accuracy and sensitivity for the determination of muscle carnosine in humans using in vitro and in vivo experiments and comparing it to reference method for carnosine quantification (high-performance liquid chromatography – HPLC). We used in vitro 1H-MRS to verify signal linearity and possible noise sources. Carnosine was determined in the m. gastrocnemius by 1H-MRS and HPLC to compare signal quality and convergent validity. 1H-MRS showed adequate discriminant validity, but limited reliability and poor agreement with a reference method. Low signal amplitude, low signal-to-noise ratio, and voxel repositioning are major sources of error.
Extensive splicing changes in an ALS/FTD transgenic mouse model overexpressing cytoplasmic fused in sarcoma
Authors: Ito Daisuke , Taguchi Ryota , Deguchi Maki , Ogasawara Hideaki , Inoue Eiji
Published: March 2020

Mutations in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) such as TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS) are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Recent evidence suggests that RNA dysregulation mediated by aberrant RBPs may play a critical role in neurodegeneration, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we performed whole transcriptome profiling of various brain tissues of a transgenic (Tg) mouse model of ALS/FTD overexpressing the exogenous nuclear localization signal deletion mutant of human FUS (ΔNLS-FUS) to investigate changes associated with the early stages of ALS/FTD. Although there were not many differences in expression profiles between wild-type and Tg mice, we found that Sema3g was significantly upregulated in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of Tg mice. Interestingly, analysis of alternative splicing events identified widespread exons that were differentially regulated in Tg mice in a tissue-specific manner. Our study thus identified aberrant splicing regulation mediated by mutant FUS during the early stages of ALS/FTD. Targeting this aberrant splicing regulation represents a potential therapeutic strategy for ALS/FTD.
Temporal association between zolpidem medication and the risk of suicide: A 12-year population-based, retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cho Chul-Hyun , Jee Hee-Jung , Nam Yoon-Ju , An Hyonggin , Kim Leen , Lee Heon-Jeong
Published: March 2020

There have been concerns about abuse and unnecessary chronic administration of zolpidem, and zolpidem’s relation to suicide risk. To investigate the temporal association of zolpidem with the risk of suicide, we conducted a 12-year, population-based, retrospective cohort study on the National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC), South Korea. Data were collected from 2002 to 2013 from the NHIS-NSC, and data cleaning was performed for 1,125,691 subjects. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to investigate the correlation over time between zolpidem medication and suicide. Over intervals commencing after 80 months of observation, the adjusted hazard ratio of suicides associated with the use of the zolpidem was 2.01 (95% CI: 1.58–2.56; p < 0.001). The mean cumulative number of days of zolpidem prescription was significantly longer in the suicide group than in the non-suicide group after log-transformation (p = 0.005). Cases of chronic use of zolpidem (over six months or one year) were significantly more common in the suicide group compared to the non-suicide group (p = 0.002 and 0.005, respectively). Subjects who received zolpidem medication had a significantly higher risk of suicide after at least 80 months of observation, suggesting a long-term increased suicide risk associated with insomnia exposed to zolpidem medication.
Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen-C (HLA-C) allorecognition patterns in women with endometriosis
Authors: Chou Ya-Ching , Chen Chi-Huang , Chen Ming-Jer , Chang Ching-Wen , Chen Pi-Hua , Yu Mu-Hsien , Chen Yi-Jen , Tsai Eing-Mei , Yang Peng-Sheng , Lin Shyr-Yeu , Tzeng Chii-Ruey
Published: March 2020

Endometriosis shares similarities with several autoimmune diseases. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C genotype is associated with several human autoimmune diseases. HLA-C is a ligand of killer cell immunoglobulin receptors (KIRs) and is an essential regulator of natural killer cell activity, which is associated with endometriosis progression. Polymorphisms in HLA-C and KIR affect the activity of NK cells and susceptibility to several diseases. Therefore, we attempted to investigate an association between HLA-C genotype and KIR polymorphism and the occurrence of endometriosis. We tested the association of certain KIR and HLA-C combinations and the development of endometriosis by characterizing both KIR and HLA-C genes in 147 women with endometriosis and 117 controls. The HLA-C genotypes and KIR polymorphisms were analyzed via DNA-based method for higher-resolution genotyping. We found that the occurrence of HLA-C*03:03*01 was increased in endometriosis than in control groups. Analysis of various KIR haplotypes revealed differences between the endometriosis and control cohorts. The number of KIR centromeric A/A haplotypes was increased in the endometriosis group than controls. Moreover, the endometriosis cohort was characterized by reduced number of KIR2DS2-positive individuals in the Han Chinese population. Our current findings suggest that the KIR and HLA-C genotypes are associated with the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
New Therapeutic Candidates for the Treatment of Malassezia pachydermatis -Associated Infections
Authors: Sastoque Angie , Triana Sergio , Ehemann Kevin , Suarez Lina , Restrepo Silvia , Wösten Han , de Cock Hans , Fernández-Niño Miguel , González Barrios Andrés Fernando , Celis Ramírez Adriana Marcela
Published: March 2020

The opportunistic pathogenMalassezia pachydermatiscauses bloodstream infections in preterm infants or individuals with immunodeficiency disorders and has been associated with a broad spectrum of diseases in animals such as seborrheic dermatitis, external otitis and fungemia. The current approaches to treat these infections are failing as a consequence of their adverse effects, changes in susceptibility and antifungal resistance. Thus, the identification of novel therapeutic targets againstM. pachydermatisinfections are highly relevant. Here, Gene Essentiality Analysis and Flux Variability Analysis was applied to a previously reportedM. pachydermatismetabolic network to identify enzymes that, when absent, negatively affect biomass production. Three novel therapeutic targets (i.e., homoserine dehydrogenase (MpHSD), homocitrate synthase(MpHCS)and saccharopine dehydrogenase (MpSDH)) were identified that are absent in humans. Notably, L-lysine was shown to be an inhibitor of the enzymatic activity of MpHCS and MpSDH at concentrations of 1 mM and 75 mM, respectively, while L-threonine (1 mM) inhibited MpHSD. Interestingly, L- lysine was also shown to inhibitM. pachydermatisgrowth duringin vitroassays with reference strains and canine isolates, while it had a negligible cytotoxic activity on HEKa cells. Together, our findings form the bases for the development of novel treatments againstM. pachydermatisinfections.
Mortality and causes of death in a population with blindness in Korea: A longitudinal follow-up study using a national sample cohort
Authors: Choi Hyo Geun , Lee Min Joung , Lee Sang-Mok
Published: March 2020

The influence of visual impairment and blindness on the risk of mortality has been reported in diverse cohort studies. However, the results reported have varied from nonsignificant to significant associations. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of blindness on the risk of mortality from 2002 to 2013 using a longitudinal database with a national sample cohort provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Of a total of 1,125,691 subjects, 1,279 subjects who were registered as blind were enrolled, and 5,116 control participants were matched at a 1:4 ratio for age, sex, income, region of residence, and medical histories of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. The life/death information contained in this dataset was used for the analysis; this information was originally recorded by the medical doctors on the death certificates of the participants. The percentage of total deaths during the mean follow-up period of 111.0 ± 41.6 months was 28.1% in the blindness group and 19.7% in the matched control group. The risk of mortality was significantly higher in the blindness group than in the control group according to the Cox proportional hazards model with additional adjustments for ischemic heart disease, stroke, and depression (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] of mortality = 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37–1.74, P < 0.001). In the subgroup analyses, the adjusted HRs for mortality were significantly higher in the blindness group than in the control group regardless of age (young defined as <60 years old vs old defined as ≥60 years old) and sex. The percentage of death due to metabolic diseases and genitourinary diseases was higher in the blindness group than in the matched control group.
Translation of mouse model to human gives insights into periodontitis etiology
Authors: Nashef Aysar , Matthias Munz , Weiss Ervin , Loos Bruno G. , Jepsen Søren , van der Velde Nathalie , Uitterlinden André G. , Wellmann Jürgen , Berger Klaus , Hoffmann Per , Laudes Matthias , Lieb Wolfgang , Franke Andre , Dommisch Henrik , Schäfer Arne , Houri-Haddad Yael , Iraqi Fuad A.
Published: March 2020

To suggest candidate genes involved in periodontitis, we combined gene expression data of periodontal biopsies from Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse lines, with previous reported quantitative trait loci (QTL) in mouse and with human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) associated with periodontitis. Periodontal samples from two susceptible, two resistant and two lines that showed bone formation after periodontal infection were collected during infection and naïve status. Differential expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed in a case-control and case-only design. After infection, eleven protein-coding genes were significantly stronger expressed in resistant CC lines compared to susceptible ones. Of these, the most upregulated genes were MMP20 (P = 0.001), RSPO4 (P = 0.032), CALB1 (P = 1.06×10−4), and AMTN (P = 0.05). In addition, human orthologous of candidate genes were tested for their association in a case-controls samples of aggressive (AgP) and chronic (CP) periodontitis (5,095 cases, 9,908 controls). In this analysis, variants at two loci, TTLL11/PTGS1 (rs9695213, P = 5.77×10−5) and RNASE2 (rs2771342, P = 2.84×10−5) suggested association with both AgP and CP. In the association analysis with AgP only, the most significant associations were located at the HLA loci HLA-DQH1 (rs9271850, P = 2.52×10−14) and HLA-DPA1 (rs17214512, P = 5.14×10−5). This study demonstrates the utility of the CC RIL populations as a suitable model to investigate the mechanism of periodontal disease.
Using the maximum clustering heterogeneous set-proportion to select the maximum window size for the spatial scan statistic
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhang Tao , Yin Fei , Xiao Xiong , Chen Shiqi , Zhang Xingyu , Li Xiaosong , Ma Yue
Published: March 2020

The spatial scan statistic has been widely used to detect spatial clusters that are of common interest in many health-related problems. However, in most situations, different scan parameters, especially the maximum window size (MWS), result in obtaining different detected clusters. Although performance measures can select an optimal scan parameter, most of them depend on historical prior or true cluster information, which is usually unavailable in practical datasets. Currently, the Gini coefficient and the maximum clustering set-proportion statistic (MCS-P) are used to select appropriate parameters without any prior information. However, the Gini coefficient may be unstable and select inappropriate parameters, especially in complex practical datasets, while the MCS-P may have unsatisfactory performance in spatial datasets with heterogeneous clusters. Based on the MCS-P, we proposed a new indicator, the maximum clustering heterogeneous set-proportion (MCHS-P). A simulation study of selecting the optimal MWS confirmed that in spatial datasets with heterogeneous clusters, the MWSs selected using the MCHS-P have much better performance than those selected using the MCS-P; moreover, higher heterogeneity led to a larger advantage of the MCHS-P, with up to 538% and 69.5% improvement in the Youden's index and misclassification in specific scenarios, respectively. Meanwhile, the MCHS-P maintains similar performance to that of the MCS-P in spatial datasets with homogeneous clusters. Furthermore, the MCHS-P has significant improvements over the Gini coefficient and the default 50% MWS, especially in datasets with clusters that are not far from each other. Two practical studies showed similar results to those obtained in the simulation study. In the case where there is no prior information about the true clusters or the heterogeneity between the clusters, the MCHS-P is recommended to select the MWS in order to accurately identify spatial clusters.
Involvement of estrogen in phosphorus-induced nephrocalcinosis through fibroblast growth factor 23
Authors: Takasugi Satoshi , Shioyama Miho , Kitade Masami , Nagata Masashi , Yamaji Taketo
Published: March 2020

Excessive phosphorus intake adversely affects bone and mineral metabolism. Estrogen is one of the factors affecting fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a phosphorus-regulating hormone. However, the interaction between excess phosphorus and estrogen status has not been fully elucidated. This study investigated the involvement of estrogen in the effects of high phosphorus intake on bone metabolism and ectopic calcification in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The interaction between high phosphorus diet and OVX was not observed in bone mineral density and aortic calcium. In contrast, high phosphorus intake markedly increased renal calcium concentration in sham rats, whereas the effect was attenuated in OVX rats, which was reversed by a selective estrogen-receptor modulator treatment. A strong positive correlation between renal calcium and serum FGF23 was observed. In addition, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1: a predominant receptor of FGF23) inhibitor treatment partially decreased renal calcium concentrations in rats with high phosphorus intake. In conclusion, the effect of high phosphorus intake on bone metabolism and aortic calcification did not depend on the estrogen status; in contrast, high phosphorus intake synergistically induced nephrocalcinosis in the presence of estrogenic action on the bone. Furthermore, FGF23 was involved in the nephrocalcinosis induced by high phosphorus intake partially through FGFR1 signaling.
Risk Factors for Progression of Barrett’s Esophagus to High Grade Dysplasia and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Thiruvengadam Swetha Kambhampati , Tieu Alan H. , Luber Brandon , Wang Hao , Meltzer Stephen J.
Published: March 2020

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Methods of identifying BE patients at high risk for progression to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or EAC are needed to improve outcomes and identify who will benefit most from intensive surveillance or ablative therapy. Clinical predictors of BE progression to HGD or EAC are poorly understood, with multiple contradictory studies. We performed a retrospective study which included 460 patients at Johns Hopkins Hospital who underwent at least 2 upper endoscopies 6 months apart showing biopsy-documented BE between 1992 and 2013. Patients with EAC or HGD at the initial endoscopy were excluded. Demographic, clinicopathological, and endoscopic data were collected. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses with time to progression to HGD and EAC were performed. Among 460 patients included in the study, 132 BE patients developed HGD and 62 developed EAC. Significant EAC risk factors included age, abdominal obesity, caffeine intake, and the presence of HGD. Risk factors for HGD or EAC included age, caffeine intake, and low-grade dysplasia while colonic adenomas trended towards significance. Notably, a history of statin or SSRI usage reduced the risk of EAC or HGD by 49% or 61%, respectively. Our study validated several known and identified several novel risk factors, including a history of colonic adenomas or caffeine usage. Low-grade dysplasia was a risk factor for progression but various endoscopic characteristics were not, suggesting that screening strategies should focus on histology instead. We identified SSRIs as a new potentially chemoprotective medication.
Author Correction: Tumour-stroma ratio and 5-year mortality in gastric adenocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kemi Niko , Eskuri Maarit , Kauppila Joonas H.
Published: March 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Publisher Correction: Truels and strategies for survival
Authors: Dorraki Mohsen , Allison Andrew , Abbott Derek
Published: March 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Genome-wide association identifies seven loci for pelvic organ prolapse in Iceland and the UK Biobank
Authors: Olafsdottir Thorhildur , Thorleifsson Gudmar , Sulem Patrick , Stefansson Olafur A. , Medek Helga , Olafsson Karl , Ingthorsson Orri , Gudmundsson Valur , Jonsdottir Ingileif , Halldorsson Gisli H. , Kristjansson Ragnar P. , Frigge Michael L. , Stefansdottir Lilja , Sigurdsson Jon K. , Oddsson Asmundur , Sigurdsson Asgeir , Eggertsson Hannes P. , Melsted Pall , Halldorsson Bjarni V. , Lund Sigrun H. , Styrkarsdottir Unnur , Steinthorsdottir Valgerdur , Gudmundsson Julius , Holm Hilma , Tragante Vinicius , Asselbergs Folkert W. , Thorsteinsdottir Unnur , Gudbjartsson Daniel F. , Jonsdottir Kristin , Rafnar Thorunn , Stefansson Kari
Published: March 2020

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a downward descent of one or more of the pelvic organs, resulting in a protrusion of the vaginal wall and/or uterus. We performed a genome-wide association study of POP using data from Iceland and the UK Biobank, a total of 15,010 cases with hospital-based diagnosis code and 340,734 female controls, and found eight sequence variants at seven loci associating with POP (P < 5 × 10−8); seven common (minor allele frequency >5%) and one with minor allele frequency of 4.87%. Some of the variants associating with POP also associated with traits of similar pathophysiology. Of these, rs3820282, which may alter the estrogen-based regulation of WNT4, also associates with leiomyoma of uterus, gestational duration and endometriosis. Rs3791675 at EFEMP1, a gene involved in connective tissue homeostasis, also associates with hernias and carpal tunnel syndrome. Our results highlight the role of connective tissue metabolism and estrogen exposure in the etiology of POP.
Study of the toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles to Chlorella sorokiniana under the influence of phosphate: spectroscopic quantification, photosynthetic efficiency and gene expression analysis
Authors: Zhang Hong , Chen Zhu , Huang Qing
Published: March 2020

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most abundantly applied nanomaterials in nanotechnology-based industries, and recent research continues to highlight their transformations and potential eco-toxicity especially to aquatic environment.
Chlorine/UV treatment of anatoxin-a by activation of the secondary amine functional group
Authors: Chen Moshan , Blatchley Ernest R.
Published: March 2020

A UV treatment process with prechlorination promotes the direct UV photodegradation of anatoxin-a by forming an N–Cl bond on the amine group.
Solvent-sensitive circularly polarized luminescent compounds bearing a 9,9′-spirobi[fluorene] skeleton
Authors: Kubo Masahiro , Takase Ko , Noguchi Keiichi , Nakano Koji
Published: March 2020

Chiral 9,9′-spirobi[fluorene] derivatives with a donor–π–acceptor system were prepared and found to exhibit solvent-sensitive circularly polarized luminescence.
Reduction of liquid terminated-carboxyl fluoroelastomers using NaBH4/SmCl3
Authors: Chang Yunfei , Liao Mingyi , Li Xueyan
Published: March 2020

A facile method using NaBH4/SmCl3 allows for reduction of liquid terminated-carboxyl fluoroelastomers (LTCFs) in excellent yields and provides an attractive potential scheme for the reduction of other carboxyl organic compounds.
A simplified fabric phase sorptive extraction method for the determination of amphetamine drugs in water samples using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
Authors: Ruan Xiaomeng , Xing Limei , Peng Ju , Li Shiying , Song Yiqun , Sun Qianqian
Published: March 2020

Fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) can directly extract the target analytes and simultaneously determine many similar substances from complicated sample matrices.
Sr9In(VO4)7as a model ferroelectric in the structural family of β-Ca3(PO4)2-type phosphates and vanadates
Authors: Belik Alexei A. , Deyneko Dina V. , Baryshnikova Oksana V. , Stefanovich Sergey Yu. , Lazoryak Bogdan I.
Published: March 2020

Novel structural mechanism of ferroelectric phase transition was discovered in Sr9In(VO4)7.
Conversion of high-ash microalgae through hydrothermal liquefaction
Authors: Liu Huihui , Chen Yingquan , Yang Haiping , Gentili Francesco G. , Söderlind Ulf , Wang Xianhua , Zhang Wennan , Chen Hanping
Published: March 2020

Natural microalgae (NM, Scenedesmus) cultivated by utilization of exhaust gas from a municipal solid waste combustion power plant were used for the biofuel production through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL).
Unravelling the nucleation, growth, and faceting of magnetite–gold nanohybrids
Authors: Nalench Yulia A. , Shchetinin Igor V. , Skorikov Alexander S. , Mogilnikov Pavel S. , Farle Michael , Savchenko Alexander G. , Majouga Alexander G. , Abakumov Maxim A. , Wiedwald Ulf
Published: March 2020

The nucleation, growth and faceting of Fe3O4–Au nanoparticles is systematically monitored using liquid probes during reaction. Two consecutive processes are obtained, the growth of Fe3O4 spheres on Au seeds and faceting towards octahedral motifs.
A RBC membrane-camouflaged biomimetic nanoplatform for enhanced chemo-photothermal therapy of cervical cancer
Authors: Luo Lin , Zeng Furen , Xie Jiangbo , Fan Jialong , Xiao Shengying , Wang Zhou , Xie Hailong , Liu Bin
Published: March 2020

An RBC membrane-camouflaged biomimetic nanoplatform for enhanced chemo-photothermal therapy of cervical cancer.
Bioinspired inorganic nanoparticles and vascular factor microenvironment directed neo-bone formation
Authors: Kim Hwan D. , Park Jungha , Amirthalingam Sivashanmugam , Jayakumar R. , Hwang Nathaniel S.
Published: March 2020

VEGF-overexpressing human tonsil-derived stem cells (VEGF-hTMSCs) and a whitlockite microenvironment induce vascularized bone tissue formation in biodegradable polymeric scaffolds.
Direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide without the use of acids or halide promoters in dissolution
Authors: Blanco-Brieva G. , Desmedt F. , Miquel P. , Campos-Martin J. M. , Fierro J. L. G.
Published: March 2020

We show the first catalyst family able to produce hydrogen peroxide at concentrations higher than 5 wt% in the absence of any promoter or stabilizing agent in dissolution.
Environmental occurrence, fate, effects, and remediation of halogenated (semi)volatile organic compounds
Authors: Tratnyek Paul G. , Edwards Elizabeth , Carpenter Lucy , Blossom Sarah
Published: March 2020

Guest editors Elizabeth Edwards, Lucy Carpenter, Sarah Blossom and Paul Tratnyek introduce the Halogenated (semi)volatile organic compounds themed issue of Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts.
Hierarchically porous electrospun nanofibrous mats produced from intrinsically microporous fluorinated polyimide for the removal of oils and non-polar solvents
Authors: Topuz Fuat , Abdulhamid Mahmoud A. , Nunes Suzana P. , Szekely Gyorgy
Published: March 2020

An electrospun nanofibrous adsorbent with micro-, meso- and macropores and surface area of 565 m2 g−1 was developed for the rapid removal of crude oil from seawater.
Nanodenitrification with bimetallic nanoparticles confined in N-doped mesoporous carbon
Authors: Wang Jing , Teng Wei , Ling Lan , Fan Jianwei , Zhang Wei-xian , Deng Zilong
Published: March 2020

Nanodenitrification on hierarchical nanoscaffolds with Cu–Pd nanocrystals confined in N-doped OMC.
Facile hydrothermal synthesis of CuO–Cu2O/GO nanocomposites for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dye and tetracycline pollutants
Authors: Zhang Zhuanfang , Sun Li , Wu Zhaojun , Liu Yongzhi , Li Shaobin
Published: March 2020

A bifunctional nanoscale photocatalyst was constructed by developing a one-step method for the in situ growth of CuO–Cu2O nanoparticles on GO sheets, and the photocatalytic mechanism was inferred.
Synergistic effects of MOF-76 on layered double hydroxides with superior activity for extractive catalytic oxidative desulfurization
Authors: Liu Siqi , Li Xiaonan , Zhang Hong
Published: March 2020

The combination of MOF-76 with an LDH provides a completely new route for the synthesis of MOF–LDH advanced functional materials.
I2-Catalyzed transformation of o-aminobenzamide to o-ureidobenzonitrile using isothiocyanates
Authors: Shamanth Sadashivamurthy , Chaithra Nagaraju , Gurukiran Mahesha , Mamatha Mahesha , Lokanath N. K. , Rangappa Kanchugarakoppal S. , Mantelingu Kempegowda
Published: March 2020

The present work describes an unexpected and unique protocol for the iodine catalysed synthesis of o-ureidobenzonitriles using o-aminobenzamides and isothiocyanates via intramolecular rearrangement.
Incorporating rare-earth cations with moderate electropositivity into iodates for the optimized second-order nonlinear optical performance
Authors: Lin Lin , Li Longhua , Wu Chao , Huang Zhipeng , Humphrey Mark G. , Zhang Chi
Published: March 2020

Introduction of rare-earth cations with moderate electropositivity into the iodate system afford three noncentrosymmetric rare-earth iodates REn(IO3)3n(H2O) with optimized balance between SHG efficiency and optical band gaps.
Effects of cholesterol on bilayers with various degrees of unsaturation of their phospholipid tails under mechanical stress
Authors: Lyu Dongyu , Zhang Lei , Zhang Yong
Published: March 2020

The concentration-effect of cholesterol on the mechanical strength of biomembranes weakens as the degree of unsaturation of the phospholipid tails increases.
Mechanically tough and highly stretchable poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel cross-linked by 2D graphene oxide
Authors: Sarkar Stephen Don , Uddin Md. Mosfeq , Roy Chanchal Kumar , Hossen Md. Jahangir , Sujan Majharul Islam , Azam Md. Shafiul
Published: March 2020

Incorporation of a novel GO based cross-linker into the conventional poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel remarkably enhances the toughness and stretchability.
Theoretical and experimental study on the electronic and optical properties of K0.5Rb0.5Pb2Br5: a promising laser host material
Authors: Vu Tuan V. , Lavrentyev A. A. , Gabrelian B. V. , Vo Dat D. , Tong Hien D. , Denysyuk N. M. , Isaenko L. I. , Tarasova A. Y. , Khyzhun O. Y.
Published: March 2020

The data on the electronic structure and optical properties of bromide K0.5Rb0.5Pb2Br5 achieved by first-principle calculations and verified by X-ray spectroscopy measurements are reported.
Solvent-free and room temperature microwave-assisted direct C7 allylation of indolines via sequential C–H and C–C activation
Authors: Wang Qiuling , Shi Linlin , Liu Shuang , Zhi Changlei , Fu Lian-Rong , Zhu Xinju , Hao Xin-Qi , Song Mao-Ping
Published: March 2020

A Ru or Rh-catalyzed direct C7 allylation of indolines with vinylcyclopropanes via sequential C–H/C–C activation under microwave irradiation has been disclosed.
Plasma-enhanced catalysis for the upgrading of methane: a review of modelling and simulation methods
Authors: Maitre Pierre-André , Bieniek Matthew S. , Kechagiopoulos Panagiotis N.
Published: March 2020

Modelling methods and simulation works on the upgrading of methane via plasma and plasma-enhanced catalysis reviewed.
Fabrication of NH2-MIL-125 nanocrystals for high performance photocatalytic oxidation
Authors: Tan Xiuniang , Zhang Jianling , Shi Jinbiao , Cheng Xiuyan , Tan Dongxing , Zhang Bingxing , Liu Lifei , Zhang Fanyu , Han Buxing , Zheng Lirong
Published: March 2020

We demonstrate for the first time that downsizing NH2-MIL-125 crystals to the nanometer scale can greatly improve their photocatalytic activity for the benzylamine oxidation reaction under mild conditions.
The quantity and type of ILs needed to form magnetic-heteropolyacid mesoporous catalysts and their highly performance for DBT removal
Authors: Li Si-Wen , Wang Wei , Zhao Jian-She
Published: March 2020

Magnetic-heteropolyacid mesoporous catalysts, formed through the linkage of an ionic liquid, a magnetic Fe3O4@MCM-41 support, and a heteropolyacid, have been prepared and used in the deep oxidative desulfurization process.
Toward real-time monitoring of lithium metal growth and dendrite formation surveillance for safe lithium metal batteries
Authors: Zhan Houchao , Zou Peichao , Yao Wentao , Qian Long , Liu Kangwei , Hu Shengyu , Zhu Haojie , He Yanbing , Kang Feiyu , Yang Cheng
Published: March 2020

A new concept for real-time monitoring of the Li metal growth and early surveillance of Li dendrites was proposed, which was demonstrated by adopting an alternating dielectric/conductive lamellar structure.
Ferrocene-modified peptides as inhibitors against insulin amyloid aggregation based on molecular simulation
Authors: Yao Pin , Zhang Jiaxing , You Shengping , Qi Wei , Su Rongxin , He Zhimin
Published: March 2020

Developed Fc-peptides (Fc-FF and Fc-FY) as effective inhibitors of insulin amyloid aggregation and revealed molecular mechanisms of inhibition.
Programmable enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine–lysine tetrapeptides
Authors: Sun Biyun , Ariawan A. Daryl , Warren Holly , Goodchild Sophia C. , in het Panhuis Marc , Ittner Lars M. , Martin Adam D.
Published: March 2020

Fmoc-capped tetrapeptides bearing two lysines and two tyrosines show programmable enzymatic activity. Solvent accessible tyrosines determine the extent of reactivity with tyrosinase, and subsequent quinone formation drives polymerisation.
Mixed-metal thiophosphate CuCd3PS6: an infrared nonlinear optical material activated by its three-in-one tetrahedra-stacking architecture
Authors: Li Zhuang , Zhang Shengzi , Xing Wenhao , Guo Yangwu , Li Chunxiao , Lin Zheshuai , Yao Jiyong , Wu Yicheng
Published: March 2020

New infrared nonlinear optical material CuCd3PS6is activated by its three-in-one tetrahedra-stacking architecture.
Insights into energy transfer pathways between the exciplex host and fluorescent guest: attaining highly efficient 710 nm electroluminescence
Authors: Huang Chun-Ying , Ho Ssu-Yu , Lai Chien-Hsun , Ko Chang-Lun , Wei Yu-Chen , Lin Jia-An , Chen Deng-Gao , Ko Tzu-Yu , Wong Ken-Tsung , Zhang Zhiyun , Hung Wen-Yi , Chou Pi-Tai
Published: March 2020

Insight has been gained into the energy transfer pathways between the exciplex host and NIR fluorescence chromophores.
Aging and Sex Effects on Mastication Performance in Healthy, Nondysphagic, Community-Dwelling Adults
Authors: Milford Erin M. , Wang Bin , Smith Kimberly , Choi Dahye , Martin-Harris Bonnie , Garand Kendrea L. (Focht)
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study investigated the impact of age and sex on mastication performance in healthy, nondysphagic, community-dwelling adults as observed during videofluoroscopy.

Method

Videofluoroscopic swallowing study imaging and mastication performance metrics (cycles, duration) were used to evaluate 185 healthy individuals (102 women, 83 men) aged 21–89 years.

Results

A significant effect of age on mastication cycles was not observed; however, a significant but weak effect of age on mastication duration was found. Female participants were observed to have significantly more mastication cycles and longer mastication durations compared to male participants. Three behavioral patterns of mastication performance emerged.

Conclusions

The results of this study contribute to normative data of mastication performance. An individual's sex was found to have a significant effect on mastication performance, although, in contrast to previous studies, age was not observed to significantly alter mastication performance. Differences in study methodologies likely explain the latter finding.
Heritability of Specific Language Impairment and Nonspecific Language Impairment at Ages 4 and 6 Years Across Phenotypes of Speech, Language, and Nonverbal Cognition
Authors: Rice Mabel L. , Taylor Catherine L. , Zubrick Stephen R. , Hoffman Lesa , Earnest Kathleen K.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Early language and speech acquisition can be delayed in twin children, a twinning effect that diminishes between 4 and 6 years of age in a population-based sample. The purposes of this study were to examine how twinning effects influence the identification of children with language impairments at 4 and 6 years of age, comparing children with specific language impairment (SLI) and nonspecific language impairment (NLI); the likelihood that affectedness will be shared within monozygotic versus dizygotic twin pairs; and estimated levels of heritability for SLI and NLI. Twinning effects are predicted to result in elevated rates of language impairments in twins.

Method

The population-based twin sample included 1,354 children from 677 twin pairs, 214 monozygotic and 463 dizygotic, enrolled in a longitudinal study. Nine phenotypes from the same comprehensive direct behavioral assessment protocol were investigated at 4 and 6 years of age. Twinning effects were estimated for each phenotype at each age using structural equation models estimated via diagonally weighted least squares. Heritabilities were calculated for SLI and NLI.

Results

As predicted, the twinning effect increased the percentage of affected children in both groups across multiple language phenotypes, an effect that diminished with age yet was still not aligned to singleton age peers. Substantial heritability estimates replicated across language phenotypes and increased with age, even with the most lenient definition of affectedness, at −1
SD
. Patterns of outcomes differed between SLI and NLI groups.

Conclusions

Nonverbal IQ is not on the same causal pathway as language impairments. Twinning effects on language acquisition affect classification of 4- and 6-year-old children as SLI and NLI, and heritability is most consistent in the SLI group. Clinical practice requires monitoring language acquisition of twins to avoid misdiagnosis when young or a missed diagnosis of language impairments at school entry.
Development of Past Tense Counterfactual Sentences: Examining Production and Comprehension in Adolescents and Adults
Authors: Nippold Marilyn A. , Nehls-Lowe Abigail , Lee Daemion
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the development of past tense counterfactual (PTCF) sentences (“If the dog had stayed in the house, he would not have bitten the police officer”) in young adolescents and young adults, addressing both production and comprehension. The goal was to determine if growth occurs during the years between early adolescence and early adulthood and when or if mastery of these sentences occurs. We also examined the development of past tense irregular verbs to determine growth and mastery.

Method

The participants included one group of young adolescents (
M
age
= 12.44 years,
n
= 80) and one group of young adults (
M
age
= 21.30 years,
n
= 80). All were monolingual speakers of Mainstream American English. Using a written language task, each participant completed a set of 40 sentences. For each sentence, the missing element affected the main clause (present perfect verb omitted), the subordinate clause (past perfect verb omitted), or either the main or the subordinate clause (past tense irregular verb omitted). To examine differences in production versus comprehension, half the participants in each group used a fill-in response format (production task), and half used a multiple-choice response format (comprehension task).

Results

On the PTCF sentences, the adults outperformed the adolescents, comprehension exceeded production, both groups experienced greater difficulty with the past perfect compared to the present perfect verb form, and the adults were more likely to show mastery of PTCF sentences than were the adolescents. Similarly, on the past irregular verbs, the adults outperformed the adolescents, and the adults were more likely to show mastery of these verbs.

Implications

The findings of this study contribute to the knowledge base in later syntactic development and suggest that some adolescents and adults may require formal instruction in subtle aspects of English grammar used in literate contexts, such as PTCF sentences.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.11971872
Acoustic Similarity of Inner and Outer Circle Varieties of Child-Produced English Vowels
Authors: Coy André , Watson Stefan
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This article compares acoustic data of normally developing children from two dominant and one nondominant variety of English in order to determine phonetic proximity.

Method

The study focuses on one variety of American English (AE), one British English (BE) variety, and one Jamaican English (JE) variety owing to the historical and sociopolitical influences of both dominant varieties on JE. The work examines the four corner vowels (/a/, /ɑ/, /u:/, and /i:/) of the specified varieties. Speech from children aged 8–11 years was processed to extract duration, intensity, and fundamental frequency as well as the first three formants (F1, F2, and F3) of each vowel.

Results

Analysis of the acoustic variables showed, for the first time, that child-produced JE is phonetically closer to the variety of BE studied, than it is to the American variety. The acoustic properties of the child-produced JE vowels were found to be similar to those of adult-produced vowels, suggesting that, as has been shown for adult speech, there appears to be a limited impact of AE on JE.

Conclusions

This is the first acoustic study of children's speech to show that, despite the proximity to BE, the Jamaican variety is clearly a distinct variety of English. As the first study comparing AE, BE, and JE, the article provides experimental evidence of the acoustic differences in the varieties and points to the implications for automatic speech recognition and educational applications for children who speak JE.
Finite‐element modelling of frictional behaviour between oesophagus and endoscope
Authors: Lin Chengxiong , Ren Pan , Li Wei , Deng Hengyi , Zhou Zhongrong
Published: March 2020

The endoscopy is the most direct and effective means for digestive tract diseases. Medical workers can conduct a series of manipulations with the help of endoscope, including checking, removing, stripping the diseased tissue or placing the stent. In order to understand the frictional behaviour at the endoscope–oesophagus interface, the finite‐element model was analysed by Abaqus in this study. Considering the different modelling conditions, the total force due to frictional stress, frictional dissipation and the maximum Mises stress for the whole model were studied. Results showed that with the increasing amplitude, coefficient of friction and decreasing diameter, the total forces due to the frictional stress and the FD increased obviously. It did not present a clear difference with the variable distance for overlapping parts (region L). The positions of maximum Mises stress for the whole model under different conditions mainly focused on the initial part of the region R. The maximum Mises stress between different diameters showed a big difference. The results can provide the basic data for the finite‐element modelling of frictional behaviour of human tissue.
Elegant procedure to estimate series capacitance of a uniform transformer winding from its measured FRA: implementable on existing FRA instruments
Authors: Muhammed Ashiq , Satish Lakshminarayana , Kumar Udaya
Published: March 2020

A simple procedure to estimate series capacitance of a uniform transformer winding from its measured frequency response analysis (FRA) and shunt capacitance is presented. Unlike previously published approaches, this method does not involve any cumbersome and time‐consuming curve‐fitting nor running optimisation/search algorithms, and neither does it require data of winding geometry. The procedure relies on a property that is observable in the impedance function of a lossless winding, viz., the ratio of the product of squares of open circuit natural frequencies to the product of squares of short circuit natural frequencies bears a special relation to impedance function coefficients. Its feasibility was initially verified by simulation, and then by experiments on small‐sized continuous‐disk and interleaved‐disc windings, followed by a large‐sized 33 kV, 3.5 MVA continuous‐disc winding, and finally on a 315 kVA 11/13.8 kV transformer. After measuring FRA, the process involves just finding roots of a polynomial, from which the initial impulse voltage distribution constant and series capacitance can directly be determined. Given these attractive features, authors believe that this method is implementable on existing FRA instruments, so that, along with routinely measured FRA, these two important constants of a winding can be displayed.