bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Both Drosophila matrix metalloproteinases have released and membrane-tethered forms but have different substrates
Authors: LaFever Kimberly S. , Wang Xiaoxi , Page-McCaw Patrick , Bhave Gautam , Page-McCaw Andrea
Published: March 2017

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extracellular proteases that can cleave extracellular matrix and alter signaling pathways. They have been implicated in many disease states, but it has been difficult to understand the contribution of individual MMPs, as there are over 20 MMPs in vertebrates. The vertebrate MMPs have overlapping substrates, they exhibit genetic redundancy and compensation, and pharmacological inhibitors are non-specific. In contrast, there are only two MMP genes in Drosophila, DmMmp1 and DmMmp2, which makes Drosophila an attractive system to analyze the basis of MMP specificity. Previously, Drosophila MMPs have been categorized by their pericellular localization, as Mmp1 appeared to be secreted and Mmp2 appeared to be membrane-anchored, suggesting that protein localization was the critical distinction in this small MMP family. We report here that products of both genes are found at the cell surface and released into media. Additionally, we show that products of both genes contain GPI-anchors, and unexpectedly, that GPI-anchored MMPs promote cell adhesion when they are rendered inactive. Finally, by using new reagents and assays, we show that the two MMPs cleave different substrates, suggesting that this is the important distinction within this smallest MMP family.
In vitro drug testing based on contractile activity of C2C12 cells in an epigenetic drug model
Authors: Ikeda Kazushi , Ito Akira , Imada Ryusuke , Sato Masanori , Kawabe Yoshinori , Kamihira Masamichi
Published: March 2017

Skeletal muscle tissue engineering holds great promise for pharmacological studies. Herein, we demonstrated an in vitro drug testing system using tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs. In response to epigenetic drugs, myotube differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cells was promoted in two-dimensional cell cultures, but the levels of contractile force generation of tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs prepared by three-dimensional cell cultures were not correlated with the levels of myotube differentiation in two-dimensional cell cultures. In contrast, sarcomere formation and contractile activity in two-dimensional cell cultures were highly correlated with contractile force generation of tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs. Among the epigenetic drugs tested, trichostatin A significantly improved contractile force generation of tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs. Follistatin expression was also enhanced by trichostatin A treatment, suggesting the importance of follistatin in sarcomere formation of muscular tissues. These observations indicate that contractility data are indispensable for in vitro drug screening.
Comparison of proteomic profiles in the zebrafish retina during experimental degeneration and regeneration
Authors: Eastlake Karen , Heywood Wendy E. , Tracey-White Dhani , Aquino Erika , Bliss Emily , Vasta Gerardo R. , Mills Kevin , Khaw Peng T. , Moosajee Mariya , Limb G. Astrid
Published: March 2017

Zebrafish spontaneously regenerate the retina after injury. Although the gene expression profile has been extensively studied in this species during regeneration, this does not reflect protein function. To further understand the regenerative process in the zebrafish, we compared the proteomic profile of the retina during injury and upon regeneration. Using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and label-free quantitative proteomics (quadrupole time of flight LC-MS/MS), we analysed the retina of adult longfin wildtype zebrafish at 0, 3 and 18 days after Ouabain injection. Gene ontology analysis indicates reduced metabolic processing, and increase in fibrin clot formation, with significant upregulation of fibrinogen gamma polypeptide, apolipoproteins A-Ib and A-II, galectin-1, and vitellogenin-6 during degeneration when compared to normal retina. In addition, cytoskeleton and membrane transport proteins were considerably altered during regeneration, with the highest fold upregulation observed for tubulin beta 2 A, histone H2B and brain type fatty acid binding protein. Key proteins identified in this study may play an important role in the regeneration of the zebrafish retina and investigations on the potential regulation of these proteins may lead to the design of protocols to promote endogenous regeneration of the mammalian retina following retinal degenerative disease.
OEPR Cloning: an Efficient and Seamless Cloning Strategy for Large- and Multi-Fragments
Authors: Liu Chang-Jun , Jiang Hui , Wu Lei , Zhu Ling-Yun , Meng Er , Zhang Dong-Yi
Published: March 2017

Here, an efficient cloning strategy for large DNA fragments and for simultaneous assembly of multiple DNA fragments assembly is presented. This strategy is named OEPR (based on O verlap E xtension P CR and R ecombination in vivo). OEPR cloning is a seamless, restriction- and ligation-independent method. The method takes advantage of both homologous recombination enzymes in E. coli and overlap PCR. Using OEPR cloning, a long fragment (1–6 kb) or multiple fragments (2–4 fragments) can be easily constructed and simultaneously assembled into a target vector.
Social contagions on interdependent lattice networks
Authors: Shu Panpan , Gao Lei , Zhao Pengcheng , Wang Wei , Stanley H. Eugene
Published: March 2017

Although an increasing amount of research is being done on the dynamical processes on interdependent spatial networks, knowledge of how interdependent spatial networks influence the dynamics of social contagion in them is sparse. Here we present a novel non-Markovian social contagion model on interdependent spatial networks composed of two identical two-dimensional lattices. We compare the dynamics of social contagion on networks with different fractions of dependency links and find that the density of final recovered nodes increases as the number of dependency links is increased. We use a finite-size analysis method to identify the type of phase transition in the giant connected components (GCC) of the final adopted nodes and find that as we increase the fraction of dependency links, the phase transition switches from second-order to first-order. In strong interdependent spatial networks with abundant dependency links, increasing the fraction of initial adopted nodes can induce the switch from a first-order to second-order phase transition associated with social contagion dynamics. In networks with a small number of dependency links, the phase transition remains second-order. In addition, both the second-order and first-order phase transition points can be decreased by increasing the fraction of dependency links or the number of initially-adopted nodes.
Chromatin modification contributes to the expression divergence of three TaGS2 homoeologs in hexaploid wheat
Authors: Zhang Wei , Fan Xiaoli , Gao Yingjie , Liu Lei , Sun Lijing , Su Qiannan , Han Jie , Zhang Na , Cui Fa , Ji Jun , Tong Yiping , Li Junming
Published: March 2017

Plastic glutamine synthetase (GS2) is responsible for ammonium assimilation. The reason that TaGS2 homoeologs in hexaploid wheat experience different selection pressures in the breeding process remains unclear. TaGS2 were minimally expressed in roots but predominantly expressed in leaves, and TaGS2-B had higher expression than TaGS2-A and TaGS2-D. ChIP assays revealed that the activation of TaGS2-B expression in leaves was correlated with increased H3K4 trimethylation. The transcriptional silencing of TaGS2 in roots was correlated with greater cytosine methylation and less H3K4 trimethylation. Micrococcal nuclease and DNase I accessibility experiments indicated that the promoter region was more resistant to digestion in roots than leaves, which indicated that the closed nucleosome conformation of the promoter region was important to the transcription initiation for the spatial-temporal expression of TaGS2. In contrast, the transcribed regions possess different nuclease accessibilities of three TaGS2 homoeologs in the same tissue, suggesting that nucleosome conformation of the transcribed region was part of the fine adjustment of TaGS2 homoeologs. This study provides evidence that histone modification, DNA methylation and nuclease accessibility coordinated the control of the transcription of TaGS2 homoeologs. Our results provided important evidence that TaGS2-B experienced the strongest selection pressures during the breeding process.
Effect of hydro-oleophobic perfluorocarbon chain on interfacial behavior and mechanism of perfluorooctane sulfonate in oil-water mixture
Authors: Meng Pingping , Deng Shubo , Du Ziwen , Wang Bin , Huang Jun , Wang Yujue , Yu Gang , Xing Baoshan
Published: March 2017

Perfluorocarbon chain of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is not only hydrophobic but also oleophobic, and its effect on PFOS distribution in oil-water mixture and underlying mechanism are unclear. For the first time, we propose that PFOS can emulsify oil-water mixture only in the presence of air, completely different from hydrocarbon surfactants. The perfluorocarbon chain repels hydrophobic compounds and its oleophobicity increases with decreasing polarity of organic solvents. The formed emulsion in oil phase contains high concentrations of PFOS, resulting in PFOS decrease in water. The increase of shaking speed and time as well as oil and air volume all increase the emulsification and decrease PFOS concentrations in water. During the settling process, the emulsion gradually disappears and the concentrated PFOS is released into water. The emulsification mechanism of PFOS based on air bubbles is proposed, and PFOS partitions to the interfaces of air bubbles with the hydro-oleophobic perfluorocarbon chain stretching into air bubbles and the polar head in water. This study clarifies the ambiguous understanding of the oleophobicity of perfluorocarbon chain in PFOS, and it is helpful for the understanding of the transport and fate of PFOS at oil-water interfaces in aquatic environments as well as the enhanced removal of PFOS from wastewater.
Interplay of myosin phosphatase and protein phosphatase-2A in the regulation of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase phosphorylation and nitric oxide production
Authors: Bátori Róbert , Bécsi Bálint , Nagy Dénes , Kónya Zoltán , Hegedűs Csaba , Bordán Zsuzsanna , Verin Alexander , Lontay Beáta , Erdődi Ferenc
Published: March 2017

The inhibitory phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) at Thr497 (eNOSpThr497) by protein kinase C or RhoA-activated kinase is a major regulatory determinant of eNOS activity. The signalling mechanisms involved in the dephosphorylation of eNOSpThr497 have not yet been clarified. This study identifies myosin phosphatase (MP) holoenzyme consisting of protein phosphatase-1 catalytic subunit (PP1c) and MP target subunit-1 (MYPT1) as an eNOSpThr497 phosphatase. In support of this finding are: (i) eNOS and MYPT1 interacts in various endothelial cells (ECs) and in in vitro binding assays (ii) MYPT1 targets and stimulates PP1c toward eNOSpThr497 substrate (iii) phosphorylation of MYPT1 at Thr696 (MYPT1pThr696) controls the activity of MP on eNOSpThr497. Phosphatase inhibition suppresses both NO production and transendothelial resistance (TER) of ECs. In contrast, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) signals ECs via the 67 kDa laminin-receptor (67LR) resulting in protein kinase A dependent activation of protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A). PP2A dephosphorylates MYPT1pThr696 and thereby stimulates MP activity inducing dephosphorylation of eNOSpThr497 and the 20 kDa myosin II light chains. Thus an interplay of MP and PP2A is involved in the physiological regulation of EC functions implying that an EGCG dependent activation of these phosphatases leads to enhanced NO production and EC barrier improvement.
Correction: Corrigendum: Paper-based CRP Monitoring Devices
Authors: Lin Shang-Chi , Tzeng Chung-Yuh , Lai Po-Liang , Hsu Min-Yen , Chu Hsueh-Yao , Tseng Fan-Gang , Cheng Chao-Min
Published: March 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 38171; published online: 02 December 2016; updated: 16 March 2017 The original version of this Article contained errors in the spelling of the authors Chung-Yuh Tzeng and Hsueh-Yao Chu, which were incorrectly given as Chung-Yuh Tseng and Shueh-Yao Chu respectively.
Erratum: Ecology and genetics affect relative invasion success of two Echium species in southern Australia
Authors: Zhu Xiaocheng , Weston Paul A. , Skoneczny Dominik , Gopurenko David , Meyer Lucie , Lepschi Brendan J. , Callaway Ragan M. , Gurr Geoff M. , Weston Leslie A.
Published: March 2017

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 42792; published online: 17 February 2017; updated: 16 March 2017 In the original version of this Article, the legend of Figure 4 was incorrect: “Figure 4: There are two spelling problem in this image. Please use the revised image uploaded with this proof”. Now reads:
Beneficial effects of paeoniflorin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by high-fat diet in rats
Authors: Ma Zhihong , Chu Li , Liu Hongying , Wang Weijie , Li Jieru , Yao Wenzao , Yi Jianfeng , Gao Yue
Published: March 2017

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent form of chronic liver diseases. This study sought to evaluate the insulin-sensitizing effect of paeoniflorin (PF) on high-fat diet-induced NAFLD and possible molecular mechanisms. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks to establish the NAFLD model, and PF (20 mg/kg/d) was gavaged to the NAFLD rats for another four weeks. Our results demonstrated that HFD resulted in hepatocellular ballooning, micro-/macrovesicular steatosis, and oxidative stress in the liver, accompanied by increased serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index. PF treatment improved the biochemical and histopathological changes in NAFLD rats. Moreover, we also found that PF could inhibit lipid ectopic deposition via regulating lipid metabolism (inhibiting lipid synthesis of cholesterol and de novo pathway), and exert insulin sensitizing effect by regulating the insulin signaling pathway IRS/Akt/GSK3β and anti-oxidation. The study findings suggest that PF has therapeutic potential against NAFLD and that it acts through multiple signaling pathways.
The radio spectra of planar aromatic heterocycles: how to quantify and predict the negative inertial defects
Authors: Jahn Michaela K. , Grabow Jens-Uwe , Travers Michael J. , Wachsmuth Dennis , Godfrey Peter D. , McNaughton Don
Published: March 2017

The simplest tricyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocyclic molecules 5,6-benzoquinoline and 7,8-benzoquinoline are possible candidates for detection of aromatic systems in the interstellar medium.
Thermal degradation of luminescence in inorganic perovskite CsPbBr3nanocrystals
Authors: Yuan Xi , Hou Xuemin , Li Ji , Qu Chaoqun , Zhang Wenjin , Zhao Jialong , Li Haibo
Published: March 2017

The PL degradation of annealed CsPbBr3NCs is related to both the formation of surface defects and growth of NCs.
Preparation and application of effective different catalysts for simultaneous control of diesel soot and NOXemissions: An overview
Authors: Dhal Ganesh Chandra , Mohan Devendra , Prasad R.
Published: March 2017

Soot particulates and nitrogen oxides (NOX) from diesel engine exhaust have been causing serious problems to human health and the global environment.
Synthesis of 2-julolidin-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé reaction and studies of optical properties
Authors: Basavanag Unnamatla M. V. , Islas-Jácome Alejandro , Rentería-Gómez Angel , Conejo Alaín S. , Kurva Mahanandaiah , Jiménez-Halla J. Oscar C. , Velusamy Jayaramakrishnan , Ramos-Ortíz Gabriel , Gámez-Montaño Rocío
Published: March 2017

Optically active bound-type bis-heterocycles were prepared by multicomponent reactions.
Ergot alkaloids: synthetic approaches to lysergic acid and clavine alkaloids
Authors: Liu Haichao , Jia Yanxing
Published: March 2017

Ergot alkaloids are among the most important pharmaceuticals and natural toxins.
Novel fluorescent organic nanoparticles as a label-free biosensor for dopamine in serum
Authors: Ding Lu , Qin Zhenwen , Xiang Chunlan , Zhou Gang
Published: March 2017

Fluorescent organic nanoparticles composed of an organic dye and a triblock copolymer have been constructed and utilized as a fluorescent biosensor for dopamine.
A sample pretreatment method to suit the metabolomic analysis of Bacillus licheniformis based on GC-MS
Authors: Wang H. B. , Feng Y. R. , Gui S. Q. , Zhang Y. , Lu F. P.
Published: March 2017

The effects of different cell disruption methods and quenching agents on the metabolomic analysis of Bacillus licheniformis.
Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular amination of unactivated C(sp3)–H bonds via a cleavable directing group
Authors: Jin Lianwen , Zeng Xiaoli , Li Siyang , Hong Xuechuan , Qiu Guofu , Liu Peng
Published: March 2017

Cleavable directing group promoted palladium-catalyzed intermolecular amination of unactivated C(sp3)–H bonds with NFSI as the amino source was developed.
Enhanced single-ion magnetic and ferroelectric properties of mononuclear Dy(iii) enantiomeric pairs through the coordination role of chiral ligands
Authors: Li Xi-Li , Hu Ming , Yin Zhigang , Zhu Cancan , Liu Cai-Ming , Xiao Hong-Ping , Fang Shaoming
Published: March 2017

Mononuclear Dy(iii) enantiomeric pair with coordinated chiral ligands exhibit enhanced single-ion magnet, ferroelectric and chiroptical properties with respect to the other one with protonated chiral ligands.
H2O-Improved O2 activation on the Pd–Au bimetallic surface
Authors: Han Sungmin , Evans Edward J. , Mullen Gregory M. , Mullins C. Buddie
Published: March 2017

Co-adsorbed H2O enhances the activation of adsorbed O2 on the Pd–Au(111) surface.
A coarse-grained model for assisting the investigation of structure and dynamics of large nucleic acids by ion mobility spectrometry–mass spectrometry
Authors: Vangaveti S. , D'Esposito R. J. , Lippens J. L. , Fabris D. , Ranganathan S. V.
Published: March 2017

We developed a five bead model that facilitates calculation of collision cross sections of coarse grained structures of nucleic acids, enabling their structural elucidation using Ion Mobility Spectrometry–Mass Spectrometry (IMS-MS).
Titanium dioxide nanotube membranes for solar energy conversion: effect of deep and shallow dopants
Authors: Ding Yuchen , Nagpal Prashant
Published: March 2017

Here we show the effect of shallow and deep dopants on titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube membranes, for applications in photocatalytic, photoelectrochemical, photovoltaic, and other photosensitized devices for converting light into chemical feedstocks or electricity.
A novel symmetric TTF-pyridyl thiolato zinc complex: synthesis, characterization and crystal structure analysis
Authors: Okuno Ryota , Yamaguchi Minayo , Fujiwara Hideki
Published: March 2017

A symmetric tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-pyridyl thiolato zinc(ii) complex in which two TTF parts connect to the central zinc atom through pyridines and thiolates.
Well-ordered mesoporous Fe2O3/C composites as high performance anode materials for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Li Mei , Ma Chao , Zhu Qian-Cheng , Xu Shu-Mao , Wei Xiao , Wu Yong-Min , Tang Wei-Ping , Wang Kai-Xue , Chen Jie-Sheng
Published: March 2017

Well-ordered mesoporous M-Fe2O3/C composite is prepared through a simple co-impregnation method and proved to be a good anode material for sodium-ion batteries.
Topochemical synthesis and photocatalytic activity of 3D hierarchical BaTiO3 microspheres constructed from crystal-axis-oriented nanosheets
Authors: Chen Chang-Ke , Zhao Shi-Xi , Lu Qian-Long , Luo Kai , Zhang Xi-Hui , Nan Ce-Wen
Published: March 2017

Novel BaTiO3 hierarchical porous microspheres were achieved by using H2Ti2O5·H2O (HTO) hierarchical microspheres as a precursor template via a facile solvothermal method.
Oxidatively stable fluorinated sulfone electrolytes for high voltage high energy lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Su Chi-Cheung , He Meinan , Redfern Paul C. , Curtiss Larry A. , Shkrob Ilya A. , Zhang Zhengcheng
Published: March 2017

New fluorinated sulfones were synthesized and evaluated in high voltage lithium-ion batteries using a LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 (NMC532) cathode.
Assembly of dicobalt and cobalt–aluminum oxide clusters on metal–organic framework and nanocast silica supports
Authors: Desai Sai Puneet , Malonzo Camille D. , Webber Thomas , Duan Jiaxin , Thompson Anthony B. , Tereniak Stephen J. , DeStefano Matthew R. , Buru Cassandra T. , Li Zhanyong , Penn R. Lee , Farha Omar K. , Hupp Joseph T. , Stein Andreas , Lu Connie C.
Published: March 2017

NU-1000, a mesoporous metal–organic framework (MOF) featuring hexazirconium oxide nodes and 3 nm wide channels, was infiltrated with a reactive dicobalt complex to install dicobalt active sites onto the MOF nodes. The anchoring of the dicobalt complex onto NU-1000 occurred with a nearly ideal stoichiometry of one bimetallic complex per node and with the cobalt evenly distributed throughout the MOF particle. To access thermally robust multimetallic sites on an all-inorganic support, the modified NU-1000 materials containing either the dicobalt complex, or an analogous cobalt–aluminum species, were nanocast with silica. The resulting materials feature Co2or Co–Al bimetallated hexazirconium oxide clusters within a silica matrix. The cobalt-containing materials are competent catalysts for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. Catalytic activity depends on the number of cobalt ions per node, but does not vary significantly between the NU-1000 and silica supports. Hence, the multimetallic oxide clusters remain site-isolated and substrate-accessible within the nanocast materials.
A self-assembled M2L4 cage incorporating electron-rich 9-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)fluorene units
Authors: Croué V. , Krykun S. , Allain M. , Morille Y. , Aubriet F. , Carré V. , Voitenko Z. , Goeb S. , Sallé M.
Published: March 2017

An electron-rich M2L4 cage is depicted, in which the four peripheral redox-active ligands (L) are 9-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)fluorene units.
The cyclopropanation of [60]fullerobenzofurans via electrosynthesis
Authors: Wang Jun-Jie , Lin Hao-Sheng , Niu Chuang , Wang Guan-Wu
Published: March 2017

The regioselective cyclopropanation of dianionic [60]fullerobenzofurans by diethyl dibromomalonate is dominantly controlled by steric factor.
Semiconducting properties of perchlorate-doped graphene using an electrochemical method
Authors: Park Chang-Soo , Chu Dongil , Shon Yoon , Kim Eun Kyu
Published: March 2017

We report a band gap opening and p-type doping for single layer graphene by an electrochemical method.
Improved thermoelectric properties of SnS synthesized by chemical precipitation
Authors: Wang Chao , Chen Yide , Jiang Jing , Zhang Rui , Niu Yi , Zhou Ting , Xia Junfeng , Tian Hanqing , Hu Jun , Yang Ping
Published: March 2017

We provide a chemical precipitation method to improve the thermoelectric properties of SnS. The largest ZT value is 0.41 at 848 K parallel to the pressing direction, which is much higher than that of mechanically-alloyed SnS materials.
Correction: An environmentally benign approach to achieving vectorial alignment and high microporosity in bacterial cellulose/chitosan scaffolds
Authors: Li Guohui , Nandgaonkar Avinav G. , Habibi Youssef , Krause Wendy E. , Wei Qufu , Lucia Lucian A.
Published: March 2017

Correction for ‘An environmentally benign approach to achieving vectorial alignment and high microporosity in bacterial cellulose/chitosan scaffolds’ by Guohui Li et al., RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 13678–13688.
A novel isophorone-based red-emitting fluorescent probe for selective detection of sulfide anions in water for in vivo imaging
Authors: Huo Fangjun , Zhang Yaqiong , Ning Peng , Meng Xiangming , Yin Caixia
Published: March 2017

A new red-emitting fluorescent probe for detection of sulfide anions in living cells (MCF-7 cells) and zebrafish was developed.
Efficient deep red electroluminescence of iridium(iii) complexes with 2,3-diphenylquinoxaline derivatives and tetraphenylimidodiphosphinate
Authors: Jing Yi-Ming , Wang Fang-Zhou , Zheng You-Xuan , Zuo Jing-Lin
Published: March 2017

Efficient deep red OLEDs based on iridium(iii) complexes show a maximum current efficiency and external quantum efficiency of up to 16.6 cd A−1and 19.9%, respectively, with mild efficiency roll-off.
Optical intensity-driven reversible photonic bandgaps in self-organized helical superstructures with handedness inversion
Authors: Sun Jian , Yu Li , Wang Ling , Li Chenyue , Yang Zhou , He Wanli , Zhang Cuihong , Zhang Lanying , Xiao Jiumei , Yuan Xiao , Li Fasheng , Yang Huai
Published: March 2017

Optical intensity-driven self-organized helical superstructures were found to exhibit reversibly photodynamical photonic bandgaps in wavelength shifting, bandwidth broadening and reflectance enhancing in single-layer system.
Speech Sound Acquisition in a 5-year-old Spanish-English Bilingual Child
Authors: Robinson Anthony Jonathan , Epstein Laura , Yu Betty
Published: March 2017

One of the most challenging aspects of assessing the phonological development of bilingual children is finding a method that is both ecologically valid and informative. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether spontaneous speech samples from an English-Spanish bilingual child give clinically relevant information through an analysis of phonological complexity. In this single subject case study, the researchers collect spontaneous speech samples from a 5-year-old, English-Spanish bilingual child. The speech samples are transcribed and evaluated to assess phonemic accuracy and levels of phonological complexity in both target languages. The results of this study indicate that spontaneous speech samples may be effective in evaluating speech sound complexity of production for bilingual children and add to previous studies that have shown similar findings.
Object segmentation framework based on dictionary‐group and sparse shape representation
Authors: Yao Jincao , Yu Huimin , Hu Roland
Published: March 2017

Given an input object whose shape is partly similar to some of the samples in the training set, a dictionary‐group‐based sparse model is introduced that can use the local information of those less similar shape neighbours to represent the object and guide the segmentation. The model follows from a new sparse energy function that combines a series of sparse local constraints with the fuzzy log‐polar decomposition‐based shape elements. Finally, a unified framework is built to connect the high‐level shape representation with the low‐level image segmentation. The model on the public datasets is tested, and the experimental results show the superior shape segmentation capabilities of the proposed model.
Towards efficient blind quality evaluation of screen content images based on edge‐preserving filter
Authors: Qian Jiansheng , Tang Lijuan , Jakhetiya Vinit , Xia Zhifang , Gu Ke , Lu Hong
Published: March 2017

The problem of quality assessment of screen content images from two respects is addressed, the edge‐preserving filter based free energy and structural degradation model. For screen content images which always contain texts, edge information plays an important role in the process of evaluating the screen images quality. Inspired by this, the edge‐preserving filter based free energy entropy and structural degradation model were combined to extract the quality features and accordingly the statistical model of screen content images was established. Experimental results prove that the proposed method can produce highly consistent with human perception, particularly superior to state‐of‐the‐art full‐ and no‐reference quality metrics on the SIQAD database dedicated to the quality assessment of screen images.
Cross‐polarisation suppression in cylindrical array antenna
Authors: Saeidi‐Manesh H. , Zhang G.
Published: March 2017

The key goal in designing a dual polarisation antenna array is to achieve a low cross‐polarisation level. The cross‐polarisation suppression method in dual linear polarisation phased array antenna is illustrated by using a dual linear penalisation probe‐fed patch element. The array consists of a number of identical 2 × 2 element sub‐arrays in which the H‐port and V‐port locations on each element are changed. A 2 × 2 element sub‐array has been fabricated and the measurements and simulation results are provided to show the accuracy of this cross‐polarisation suppression method. In addition, the co‐ and cross‐polarisation patterns of the cylindrical array are presented.
Generalised error analysis of FRFT‐OFDM over Nakagami‐m fading channel with arbitrary m
Authors: Trivedi Vinay Kumar , Kumari Saraswati , Kumar Preetam
Published: March 2017

In this study, generalised expression of probability of error for binary phase shift keying (BPSK) and quadrature PSK (QPSK) modulated fractional Fourier transform (FRFT)‐based orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system has been derived over frequency selective Nakagami‐m fading channel for any arbitrary Nakagami parameter m in the presence of carrier frequency offset (CFO). The symbol error rate (SER) performance of FRFT‐based OFDM system has been found to be better than fast FT‐based OFDM system at different values of FRFT angle for BPSK and QPSK. For different values of CFO, the optimum at which the error rate is minimum has been found and used for analysis and simulation. It has been observed that over Nakagami‐m frequency selective channel, SER expression of BPSK and QPSK for FRFT‐OFDM system exactly follows the Monte Carlo simulation in MATLAB.
Real‐time embedded implementation of robust speed‐limit sign recognition using a novel centroid‐to‐contour description method
Authors: Tsai Chi‐Yi , Liao Hsien‐Chen , Hsu Kuang‐Jui
Published: March 2017

Traffic sign recognition is a very important function in automatic driving assistance systems (ADAS). This study addresses the design and implementation of a vision‐based ADAS based on an image‐based speed‐limit sign (SLS) recognition algorithm, which can automatically detect and recognise SLS on the road in real‐time. To improve the recognition rate of SLS having different orientations and scales in the image, this study also presents a new sign content description algorithm, which describes the detected road sign using centroid‐to‐contour (CtC) distances of the extracted sign content. The proposed CtC descriptor is robust to translation, rotation and scale changes of the SLS in the image. This advantage improves the recognition accuracy of a support vector machine classifier trained using a large database of traffic signs. The proposed SLS recognition method had been implemented on two different embedded platforms, each of them equipped with an ARM‐based Quad‐Core CPU running Android 4.4 operating system. Experimental results validate that the proposed method not only provides a high recognition rate, but also achieves real‐time performance up to 30 frames per second for processing 1280 × 720 video streams running on a commercial ARM‐based smartphone.
The VLT/NaCo large program to probe the occurrence of exoplanets and brown dwarfs at wide orbits
Authors: Vigan A. , Bonavita M. , Biller B. , Forgan D. , Rice K. , Chauvin G. , Desidera S. , Meunier J.-C. , Delorme P. , Schlieder J. E. , Bonnefoy M. , Carson J. , Covino E. , Hagelberg J. , Henning T. , Janson M. , Lagrange A.-M. , Quanz S. P. , Zurlo A. , Beuzit J.-L. , Boccaletti A. , Buenzli E. , Feldt M. , Girard J. H. V. , Gratton R. , Kasper M. , Le Coroller H. , Mesa D. , Messina S. , Meyer M. , Montagnier G. , Mordasini C. , Mouillet D. , Moutou C. , Reggiani M. , Segransan D. , Thalmann C.
Published: March 2017

Understanding the formation and evolution of giant planets (≥1 MJup) at wide orbital separation (≥5 AU) is one of the goals of direct imaging. Over the past 15 yr, many surveys have placed strong constraints on the occurrence rate of wide-orbit giants, mostly based on non-detections, but very few have tried to make a direct link with planet formation theories. In the present work, we combine the results of our previously published VLT/NaCo large program with the results of 12 past imaging surveys to constitute a statistical sample of 199 FGK stars within 100 pc, including three stars with sub-stellar companions. Using Monte Carlo simulations and assuming linear flat distributions for the mass and semi-major axis of planets, we estimate the sub-stellar companion frequency to be within 0.75–5.70% at the 68% confidence level (CL) within 20–300 AU and 0.5–75 MJup, which is compatible with previously published results. We also compare our results with the predictions of state-of-the-art population synthesis models based on the gravitational instability (GI) formation scenario with and without scattering. We estimate that in both the scattered and non-scattered populations, we would be able to detect more than 30% of companions in the 1–75 MJup range (95% CL). With the threesub-stellar detections in our sample, we estimate the fraction of stars that host a planetary system formed by GI to be within 1.0–8.6% (95% CL). We also conclude that even though GI is not common, it predicts a mass distribution of wide-orbit massive companions that is much closer to what is observed than what the core accretion scenario predicts. Finally, we associate the present paper with the release of the Direct Imaging Virtual Archive (DIVA), a public database that aims at gathering the results of past, present, and future direct imaging surveys.
Quality of Life and Fitness in Children and Adolescents with Epilepsy (EpiFit)
Authors: Hagn Claudia , Walch Romana , Baumann Matthias , Haberlandt Edda , Frühwirth Martin , Rostasy Kevin , Rauchenzauner Markus
Published: March 2017

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with idiopathic epilepsy compared with a healthy matched control group.

Methods In this study, 107 children conducted a 6-minute walk test, anthropometric parameters were measured, and HRQoL was assessed using a standardized questionnaire (KINDL-R). Children were divided into two groups: (1) the patient group (n = 48) and (2) the healthy control group (n = 59).

Results HRQoL of children with focal epilepsy was greater when compared with healthy children and children with generalized epilepsy. A significant association could be demonstrated for the 6-minute walk distance and mental wellbeing in children with epilepsy but not in healthy children. Furthermore, a negative correlation between the HRQoL and the amount of time spent in front of TV and computer in children with epilepsy and healthy children was seen. In children with focal epilepsy, a significant negative correlation could be shown between school sport and mental wellbeing as well as between school sport and self-esteem.

Conclusion HRQoL in children with idiopathic epilepsy is significantly associated with physical fitness and might be positively influenced by an adequate education of patients and parents, a reduction of consumption of computer and TV in combination with age- and disease-adapted physical activity and sports.
A study of the oxygen dynamics in a reactive Ar/O2 high power impulse magnetron sputtering discharge using an ionization region model
Authors: Lundin D. , Gudmundsson J. T. , Brenning N. , Raadu M. A. , Minea T. M.
Published: March 2017

The oxygen dynamics in a reactive Ar/O2 high power impulse magnetron sputtering discharge has been studied using a new reactive ionization region model. The aim has been to identify the dominating physical and chemical reactions in the plasma and on the surfaces of the reactor affecting the oxygen plasma chemistry. We explore the temporal evolution of the density of the ground state oxygen molecule O2(X1Σg−), the singlet metastable oxygen molecules O2(a1Δg) and O2(b1Σg), the oxygen atom in the ground state O(3P), the metastable oxygen atom O(1D), the positive ions O2+ and O+, and the negative ion O−. We furthermore investigate the reaction rates for the gain and loss of these species. The density of atomic oxygen increases significantly as we move from the metal mode to the transition mode, and finally into the compound (poisoned) mode. The main gain rate responsible for the increase is sputtering of atomic oxygen from the oxidized target. Both in the poisoned mode and in the transition mode, sputtering makes up more than 80% of the total gain rate for atomic oxygen. We also investigate the possibility of depositing stoichiometric TiO2 in the transition mode.
Effect of interfacial slip on the deformation of a viscoelastic drop in uniaxial extensional flow field
Authors: Das Sayan , Mandal Shubhadeep , Som S. K. , Chakraborty Suman
Published: March 2017

The effect of interfacial slip on the deformation of a viscoelastic droplet, suspended in another viscoelastic medium, in the presence of a uniaxial extensional flow, is studied analytically. Using the Oldroyd-B constitutive relation, the Stokes flow problem is solved in the limit of a small capillary number and small Deborah number. Experimentally observed interfacial velocity slip is incorporated using a Navier slip boundary condition. The interfacial slip significantly reduces the magnitude of droplet deformation when the droplet has larger viscosity as compared with the suspending phase. The droplet shape becomes less ellipsoidal in the presence of slip. The effect of slip diminishes for low viscosity droplets. Slip effectively weakens the dependence of the droplet deformation on the droplet to medium viscosity ratio. The viscoelasticity of the suspending phase plays a dominant role on the droplet deformation as compared with the viscoelasticity of the droplet phase when there is velocity slip at the droplet surface. The interfacial slip aids the viscoelasticity of the suspending phase in deforming the droplet, while the effect of viscoelasticity of the droplet phase is suppressed by the interfacial slip.
Experimental verification of the cluster model of CH3F-(ortho-H2)n in solid para-H2 by using mid-infrared pump-probe laser spectroscopy
Authors: Miyamoto Yuki , Mizoguchi Asao , Kanamori Hideto
Published: March 2017

The bleaching process in the C–F stretching mode (ν3 band) of CH3F-(ortho-H2)n [n = 0 and 1] clusters in solid para-H2 was monitored using pump and probe laser spectroscopy on the C–H stretching mode (ν1 and 2ν5 bands). From an analysis of the depleted spectral profiles, the transition frequency and linewidth of each cluster were directly determined. The results agree with the values previously derived from a deconvolution analysis of the broadened ν1/2ν5 spectrum observed by FTIR spectroscopy. The complementary increase and decrease between the n = 0 and 1 components were also verified through monitoring the ν1 and 2ν5 bands, which suggests a closed system among the CH3F-(ortho-H2)n clusters. These observations provide experimental verification of the CH3F-(ortho-H2)n cluster model. On the other hand, a trial to observe the bleaching process by pumping the C–H stretching mode was not successful. This result may be important for understanding the dynamics of vibrational relaxation processes in CH3F-(ortho-H2)n in solid para-H2.
Thermal conductivity of the sideledge in aluminium electrolysis cells: Experiments and numerical modelling
Authors: Gheribi Aïmen E. , Poncsák Sándor , Guérard Sébastien , Bilodeau Jean-François , Kiss László , Chartrand Patrice
Published: March 2017

During aluminium electrolysis, a ledge of frozen electrolytes is generally formed, attached to the sides of the cells. This ledge acts as a protective layer, preventing erosion and chemical attacks of both the electrolyte melt and the liquid aluminium on the side wall materials. The control of the sideledge thickness is thus essential in ensuring a reasonable lifetime for the cells. The key property for modelling and predicting the sideledge thickness as a function of temperature and electrolyte composition is the thermal conductivity. Unfortunately, almost no data is available on the thermal conductivity of the sideledge. The aim of this work is to alleviate this lack of data. For seven different samples of sideledge microstructures, recovered from post-mortem industrial electrolysis cells, the thermal diffusivity, the density, and the phase compositions were measured in the temperature range of 423 K to 873 K. The thermal diffusivity was measured with a laser flash technique and the average phase compositions by X-ray diffraction analysis. The thermal conductivity of the sideledge is deduced from the present experimental thermal diffusivity and density, and the thermodynamically assessed heat capacity. In addition to the present experimental work, a theoretical model for the prediction of the effective thermal transport properties of the sideledge microstructure is also proposed. The proposed model considers an equivalent microstructure and depends on phase fractions, porosity, and temperature. The strength of the model lies in the fact that only a few key physical properties are required for its parametrization and they can be predicted with a good accuracy via first principles calculations. It is shown that the theoretical predictions are in a good agreement with the present experimental measurements.
An algorithm for the construction of substitution box for block ciphers based on projective general linear group
Authors: Altaleb Anas , Saeed Muhammad Sarwar , Hussain Iqtadar , Aslam Muhammad
Published: March 2017

The aim of this work is to synthesize 8*8 substitution boxes (S-boxes) for block ciphers. The confusion creating potential of an S-box depends on its construction technique. In the first step, we have applied the algebraic action of the projective general linear group PGL(2,GF(28)) on Galois field GF(28). In step 2 we have used the permutations of the symmetric group S256 to construct new kind of S-boxes. To explain the proposed extension scheme, we have given an example and constructed one new S-box. The strength of the extended S-box is computed, and an insight is given to calculate the confusion-creating potency. To analyze the security of the S-box some popular algebraic and statistical attacks are performed as well. The proposed S-box has been analyzed by bit independent criterion, linear approximation probability test, non-linearity test, strict avalanche criterion, differential approximation probability test, and majority logic criterion. A comparison of the proposed S-box with existing S-boxes shows that the analyses of the extended S-box are comparatively better.
Theoretical analysis and simulation of obstructed breakup of micro-droplet in T-junction under an asymmetric pressure difference
Authors: Fu Yuhang , Bai Lin , Jin Yong , Cheng Yi
Published: March 2017

Asymmetric droplet breakup under a pressure difference at two outlets of a T-junction is investigated theoretically and numerically in this study. An accurate analysis of the evolution of droplet dynamics during the obstructed breakup process has been conducted. Meanwhile, the lattice Boltzmann method based on color gradient model is employed to simulate the system with the verification of the theoretical results. It is demonstrated that the Zou-He boundary setting at each outlet is advantageous for modifying the pressure drop of the two branches of T-junction. The results reveal that asymmetric breakup of the unequally sized droplets follows two steps, namely, the filling stage and the breakup stage. Then a universal parameter is proposed to describe the asymmetric condition of droplet breakup in T-junction, which plays a key role to characterize the temporal evolution of volume ratio and the droplet length of formed smaller droplets.
Weak shock loadings induce potential hot spots formation around an intergranular pore
Authors: Ma Xiao , Li Xinguo , Zheng Xianxu , Guo Wencan , Li Jianling
Published: March 2017

The weak shock loading plays the leading role in the unexpected explosion accidents of condensed-phase explosives. Under the weak shock loading conditions, the shear localization is the main factor affecting the formation of hot spots. When a planar stress wave crosses over a pore in the polymeric binder of the polymer bonded explosive (called intergranular pore), the shear localization comes out around the pore, which may induce potential hot spots formation in the polymeric binder and cause the chemical reaction of the nearby energetic crystal granules. In the present work, a novel experiment system consisting of time-resolved shadowgraph and laser-driven compressions was used to record the interactions between the planar stress wave and the intergranular pore. Then, a two-dimensional numerical simulation was performed to calculate the shear localization and the temperature rise around the intergranular pore. The simulation results were in good agreement with the experiments. Finally, the locations of the potential hot spots were determined, and the variations of the locations with the impulse width of incident stress wave were discussed.
Grand canonical electronic density-functional theory: Algorithms and applications to electrochemistry
Authors: Sundararaman Ravishankar , Goddard William A. , Arias Tomas A.
Published: March 2017

First-principles calculations combining density-functional theory and continuum solvation models enable realistic theoretical modeling and design of electrochemical systems. When a reaction proceeds in such systems, the number of electrons in the portion of the system treated quantum mechanically changes continuously, with a balancing charge appearing in the continuum electrolyte. A grand-canonical ensemble of electrons at a chemical potential set by the electrode potential is therefore the ideal description of such systems that directly mimics the experimental condition. We present two distinct algorithms: a self-consistent field method and a direct variational free energy minimization method using auxiliary Hamiltonians (GC-AuxH), to solve the Kohn-Sham equations of electronic density-functional theory directly in the grand canonical ensemble at fixed potential. Both methods substantially improve performance compared to a sequence of conventional fixed-number calculations targeting the desired potential, with the GC-AuxH method additionally exhibiting reliable and smooth exponential convergence of the grand free energy. Finally, we apply grand-canonical density-functional theory to the under-potential deposition of copper on platinum from chloride-containing electrolytes and show that chloride desorption, not partial copper monolayer formation, is responsible for the second voltammetric peak.
Intermolecular potential energy surface and thermophysical properties of propane
Authors: Hellmann Robert
Published: March 2017

A six-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) for the interaction of two rigid propane molecules was determined from supermolecular ab initio calculations up to the coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations level of theory for 9452 configurations. An analytical site-site potential function with 14 sites per molecule was fitted to the calculated interaction energies. To validate the analytical PES, the second virial coefficient and the dilute gas shear viscosity and thermal conductivity of propane were computed. The dispersion part of the potential function was slightly adjusted such that quantitative agreement with the most accurate experimental data for the second virial coefficient at room temperature was achieved. The adjusted PES yields values for the three properties that are in very good agreement with the best experimental data at all temperatures.