bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ex vivo experimental study on the Thulium laser system: new horizons for interventional endoscopy (with videos)
Authors: Tontini Gian , Neumann Helmut , Rimondi Alessandro , Vavassori Sara , Bruni Barbara , Cattignoli Gregorio , Zhou Ping-Hong , Pastorelli Luca , Vecchi Maurizio
Published: July 2017

Background and study aims The Thulium laser system (TLS) is an emerging interventional tool adopted in many surgical specialties. Its 2.0-μm wavelength allows precise coagulation (0.2 – 0.4 mm in depth) and cutting, limiting the possibilities of collateral injuries. We tested the impact of the TLS for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) ex vivo in pigs.

Materials and methods Ex vivo porcine stomach and esophagus models underwent 2 POEMs, and 3 ESDs (mean diameter 3.5 cm) with TLS using a 272-µm and a 365-µm thick optical fibers. Both continuous and pulsed laser emission were evaluated. Subsequent histopathological analysis was performed by an expert GI pathologist on the whole porcine models.

Results Complete POEMs and gastric ESDs were successfully performed in all cases in 30 to 70 and 15 to 20 minutes. Both optical fibers were equally effective and precise. The best power output for mucosal incision was 25 to 30 W during ESD and 25 W for POEM using continuous laser emission. During submucosal dissection and tunneling the favorite power output was 20 W and 15 to 20 W, respectively, operating in continuous mode. No transmural perforation occurred throughout the operations and histopathology confirmed the absence of accidental muscular layer damage.

Conclusions The TLS stands out as a precise and manageable instrument in ex vivo models. This technique appears to be a promising tool for advanced interventional endoscopy.
Leben mit Mukoviszidose – Die Krankheit zu Hause lassen
Authors: Stamm Anja
Published: July 2017

Amelie kommt nicht zum Interview-Termin. Die 12-Jährige hat Mukoviszidose und verbringt den Tag lieber im Schwimmbad. physiopraxis spricht unterdessen mit ihrer Mutter. Ebenso wie die Patienten Silke Büchner und Andreas Schober erzählt sie uns, wie lebenswichtig Physiotherapie ist.
A novel “hitch-and-ride” deep biliary cannulation method during rendezvous endoscopic ultrasound-guided ERCP technique
Authors: Nakai Yousuke , Isayama Hiroyuki , Matsubara Saburo , Kogure Hirofumi , Mizuno Suguru , Hamada Tsuyoshi , Takahara Naminatsu , Nakamura Tomoka , Sato Tatsuya , Takeda Tsuyoshi , Hakuta Ryunosuke , Ishigaki Kazunaga , Saito Kei , Tada Minoru , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: July 2017

Background and study aim Endoscopic ultrasound-guided rendezvous (EUS-RV) is increasingly reported as a treatment option after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. We developed a novel “hitch-and-ride” catheter for biliary cannulation to reduce the risk of guidewire loss during EUS-RV.

Patients and methods We retrospectively evaluated safety and technical success of EUS-RV between June 2011 and May 2016. Biliary cannulation during EUS-RV using three methods – over-the-wire, along-the-wire, and hitch-and-ride – were compared.

Results A total of 30 EUS-RVs were attempted and the technical success rate was 93.3 %, with two failures (one bile duct puncture and one guidewire insertion). After 28 cases of successful guidewire passage, cannulation was attempted by the over-the-wire (n = 13), along-the-wire (n = 4) or hitch-and-ride (n = 11) method. Only the hitch-and-ride method achieved biliary cannulation without guidewire loss or conversion to the other methods. Time to cannulation was shorter with the hitch-and-ride method (4 minutes) than with over-the-wire and along-the-wire methods (9 and 13 minutes, respectively). The adverse event rate of EUS-RV was 23.3 %.

Conclusion A novel hitch-and-ride catheter was feasible for biliary cannulation after EUS-RV.
Improved resistive switching characteristics in Ni/SiNx/p++-Si devices by tuning x
Authors: Kim Sungjun , Chang Yao-Feng , Kim Min-Hwi , Park Byung-Gook
Published: July 2017

This letter studies the effect of the negative-set on the resistive switching performances of CMOS-compatible Ni/SiNx/p++-Si resistive memory devices by simply tuning x. A Ni/SiN1.07/p++-Si device showed lower power switching (20 μW) and better endurance cycles (103) compared to a Ni/SiN0.82/p++-Si device because of the improved negative set behavior and initially lower set and reset currents. In addition, we achieved fast switching speed for set (200 ns) and reset (100 ns) processes in the Ni/SiN1.07/p++-Si device. For the Ni/SiN1.07/p++-Si device, fine adjustment of resistance values is attainable by varying the pulse amplitude and width due to the gradual reset switching characteristics. The barrier-height-dependent conduction model is proposed to explain the change in the current level with the x value.
Effect of convective transport on dendritic crystal growth from pure and alloy melts
Authors: Galenko P. K. , Reuther K. , Kazak O. V. , Alexandrov D. V. , Rettenmayr M.
Published: July 2017

We report on the comparative influence of convective transport due to flow in the melt on dendrites growing in one-component (pure) and two-component (alloy) melts. We perform an analysis using a sharp interface model of slow and rapid dendritic growth under the influence of convective transport. As examples, solidification of melts of Ti and binary TiAl, respectively, is investigated. The observed principal differences in the effect of convective transport in melt on the growth of one-component and binary dendrites are discussed in the frame of a scaling analysis.
A method for calibrating coil constants by using the free induction decay of noble gases
Authors: Chen Linlin , Zhou Binquan , Lei Guanqun , Wu Wenfeng , Wang Jing , Zhai Yueyang , Wang Zhuo , Fang Jiancheng
Published: July 2017

We propose a precise method to calibrate the coil constants of spin-precession gyroscopes and optical atomic magnetometers. This method is based on measuring the initial amplitude of Free Induction Decay (FID) of noble gases, from which the π/2 pulse duration can be calculated, since it is inversely proportional to the amplitude of the π/2 pulse. Therefore, the coil constants can be calibrated by measuring the π/2 pulse duration. Compared with the method based on the Larmor precession frequency of atoms, our method can avoid the effect of the pump and probe powers. We experimentally validated the method in a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Gyroscope (NMRG), and the experimental results show that the coil constants are 436.63±0.04 nT/mA and 428.94±0.02 nT/mA in the x and y directions, respectively.
Spatially resolved measurements of grain size effects on the shock and spall response of quasi-Taylor wave loaded pure copper
Authors: Whiteman G. , Owen G. D. , De'Ath J. , Chapman D. J. , Eakins D. E. , Turner J. G. , Millett J. C. F.
Published: July 2017

Quasi-Taylor wave loaded plate impact experiments have been used to study the effects of bulk grain size on the shock and spall response of pure copper samples. Using line-Velocity Interferometry System for Any Reflector velocimetry, an increased particle velocity dispersion was measured for larger bulk grain size samples resulting in lower mean peak particle velocities and a lower reload velocity following spall. Spall voids were located in a surface layer of similarly sized grains for both bulk grain size materials tested. The spall strength was observed to vary with the tensile strain-rate but was unaffected by the bulk grain size. Post-mortem studies of voids in samples showed narrow void planes for the small bulk grain size materials and a larger spread of voids in the larger bulk grain size materials consistent with the free surface particle velocity data and observed particle velocity dispersion.
3D nanoSQUID based on tunnel nano-junctions with an energy sensitivity of 1.3 h at 4.2 K
Authors: Schmelz M. , Vettoliere A. , Zakosarenko V. , De Leo N. , Fretto M. , Stolz R. , Granata C.
Published: July 2017

We report the performance of a reliable three-dimensional nanometer-sized Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID). The use of superconductor-isolator-superconductor Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb Josephson tunnel junctions together with small SQUID loop dimensions permits a high modulation depth of the SQUID's critical current and thus leads to very low intrinsic flux noise of the device. In particular, we present electrical characterization including detailed noise investigations. At 4.2 K, two-stage noise measurements with a SQUID as a low noise preamplifier result in a white flux noise of 51 nΦ0/Hz1/2, which is equivalent to an energy resolution of 1.3 h, with h being Planck's constant. Simulation of spin sensitivities results in about 1 μB/Hz1/2 for an electron spin positioned directly above the SQUID ring.
Extension of the Hugoniot and analytical release model of α-quartz to 0.2–3 TPa
Authors: Desjarlais M. P. , Knudson M. D. , Cochrane K. R.
Published: July 2017

In recent years, α-quartz has been used prolifically as an impedance matching standard in shock wave experiments in the multi-Mbar regime (1 Mbar = 100 GPa = 0.1 TPa). This is due to the fact that above ∼90–100 GPa along the principal Hugoniot α-quartz becomes reflective, and thus, shock velocities can be measured to high precision using velocity interferometry. The Hugoniot and release of α-quartz have been studied extensively, enabling the development of an analytical release model for use in impedance matching. However, this analytical release model has only been validated over a range of 300–1200 GPa (0.3–1.2 TPa). Here, we extend this analytical model to 200–3000 GPa (0.2–3 TPa) through additional α-quartz Hugoniot and release measurements, as well as first-principles molecular dynamics calculations.
Combining short- and long-range fluorescence reporters with simulations to explore the intramolecular dynamics of an intrinsically disordered protein
Authors: Zosel Franziska , Haenni Dominik , Soranno Andrea , Nettels Daniel , Schuler Benjamin
Published: July 2017

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are increasingly recognized as a class of molecules that can exert essential biological functions even in the absence of a well-defined three-dimensional structure. Understanding the conformational distributions and dynamics of these highly flexible proteins is thus essential for explaining the molecular mechanisms underlying their function. Single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a powerful tool for probing intramolecular distances and the rapid long-range distance dynamics in IDPs. To complement the information from FRET, we combine it with photoinduced electron transfer (PET) quenching to monitor local loop-closure kinetics at the same time and in the same molecule. Here we employed this combination to investigate the intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain of HIV-1 integrase. The results show that both long-range dynamics and loop closure kinetics on the sub-microsecond time scale can be obtained reliably from a single set of measurements by the analysis with a comprehensive model of the underlying photon statistics including both FRET and PET. A more detailed molecular interpretation of the results is enabled by direct comparison with a recent extensive atomistic molecular dynamics simulation of integrase. The simulations are in good agreement with experiment and can explain the deviation from simple models of chain dynamics by the formation of persistent local secondary structure. The results illustrate the power of a close combination of single-molecule spectroscopy and simulations for advancing our understanding of the dynamics and detailed mechanisms in unfolded and intrinsically disordered proteins.
Extension of the D3 dispersion coefficient model
Authors: Caldeweyher Eike , Bannwarth Christoph , Grimme Stefan
Published: July 2017

A new model, termed D4, for the efficient computation of molecular dipole-dipole dispersion coefficients is presented. As in the related, well established D3 scheme, these are obtained as a sum of atom-in-molecule dispersion coefficients over atom pairs. Both models make use of dynamic polarizabilities obtained from first-principles time-dependent density functional theory calculations for atoms in different chemical environments employing fractional atomic coordination numbers for interpolation. Different from the D3 model, the coefficients are obtained on-the-fly by numerical Casimir-Polder integration of the dynamic, atomic polarizabilities α(iω). Most importantly, electronic density information is now incorporated via atomic partial charges computed at a semi-empirical quantum mechanical tight-binding level, which is used to scale the polarizabilities. Extended statistical measures show that errors for dispersion coefficients with the proposed D4 method are significantly lower than with D3 and other, computationally more involved schemes. Alongside, accurate isotropic charge and hybridization dependent, atom-in-molecule static polarizabilities are obtained with an unprecedented efficiency. Damping function parameters are provided for three standard density functionals, i.e., TPSS, PBE0, and B3LYP, allowing evaluation of the new DFT-D4 model for common non-covalent interaction energy benchmark sets.
Cage model of polar fluids: Finite cage inertia generalization
Authors: Coffey W. T. , Zarifakis M. , Kalmykov Y. P. , Titov S. V. , Dowling W. J. , Titov A. S.
Published: July 2017

The itinerant oscillator model describing rotation of a dipole about a fixed axis inside a cage formed by its surrounding polar molecules is revisited in the context of modeling the dielectric relaxation of a polar fluid via the Langevin equation. The dynamical properties of the model are studied by averaging the Langevin equations describing the complex orientational dynamics of two bodies (molecule-cage) over their realizations in phase space so that the problem reduces to solving a system of three index linear differential-recurrence relations for the statistical moments. These are then solved in the frequency domain using matrix continued fractions. The linear dielectric response is then evaluated for extensive ranges of damping, dipole moment ratio, and cage-dipole inertia ratio and along with the usual inertia corrected microwave Debye absorption gives rise to significant far-infrared absorption with a comb-like structure of harmonic peaks. The model may be also regarded as an extension of Budó’s [J. Chem. Phys. 17, 686 (1949)] treatment of molecules containing rotating polar groups to include inertial effects.
State-of-the-art ab initio potential energy curve for the xenon atom pair and related spectroscopic and thermophysical properties
Authors: Hellmann Robert , Jäger Benjamin , Bich Eckard
Published: July 2017

A new ab initio interatomic potential energy curve for two ground-state xenon atoms is presented. It is based on supermolecular calculations at the coupled-cluster level with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] employing basis sets up to sextuple-zeta quality, which were developed as part of this work. In addition, corrections were determined for higher coupled-cluster levels up to CCSDTQ as well as for scalar and spin-orbit relativistic effects at the CCSD(T) level. A physically motivated analytical function was fitted to the calculated interaction energies and used to compute the vibrational spectrum of the dimer, the second virial coefficient, and the dilute gas transport properties. The agreement with the best available experimental data for the investigated properties is excellent; the new potential function is superior not only to previous ab initio potentials but also to the most popular empirical ones.
Medical applications of hybrids made from quantum emitter and metallic nanoshell
Authors: Singh Mahi R. , Chandra Sekhar M. , Balakrishnan Shankar , Masood Shahbaz
Published: July 2017

We have studied the photoluminescence emission in a quantum emitter and metallic nanoshell hybrid system. The metallic nanoshell is made of a dielectric core coated with a thin layer of metal and is surrounded by biological cells such as cancer cells. Surface plasmon polariton resonances in the metallic nanoshell are calculated using Maxwell's equations in the quasi-static approximation. It is found that the metallic nanoshell has two surface plasmon polariton resonances. Locations of surface plasmon polariton resonances can be manipulated by changing the size of the core and the metallic shell. We have compared our theory with the extinction coefficient of metallic nanoshells. A good agreement between theory and experiment is found. A probe laser field is applied to study the photoluminescence spectrum in the hybrid system. Dipoles are induced in the metallic nanoshell and quantum emitter due to the probe laser. Hence the quantum emitter and metallic nanoshell interact via the dipole-dipole interaction. The photoluminescence spectrum of the quantum emitter is calculated using the density matrix method in the presence of the dipole-dipole interaction. It is found that the photoluminescence spectrum of the quantum emitter with degenerate excitons splits from one peak to two or three peaks depending on the locations of two surface plasmon polariton resonances. Similarly, for the nondegenerate quantum emitter we found that the photoluminescence spectrum splits from two peaks to four peaks. These interesting findings may be useful in the fabrication of nanosensors, nanoswitches, and for other applications in medicine.
3D Monte-Carlo study of toroidally discontinuous limiter SOL configurations of Aditya tokamak
Authors: Sahoo Bibhu Prasad , Sharma Devendra , Jha Ratneshwar , Feng Yühe
Published: July 2017

The plasma-neutral transport in the scrape-off layer (SOL) region formed by toroidally discontinuous limiters deviates from usual uniform SOL approximations when 3D effects caused by limiter discreteness begin to dominate. In an upgrade version of the Aditya tokamak, originally having a toroidally localized poloidal ring-like limiter, the newer outboard block and inboard belt limiters are expected to have smaller connection lengths and a multiple fold toroidal periodicity. The characteristics of plasma discharges may accordingly vary from the original observations of large diffusivity, and a net improvement and the stability of the discharges are desired. The estimations related to 3D effects in the ring limiter plasma transport are also expected to be modified and are updated by predictive simulations of transport in the new block limiter configuration. A comparison between the ring limiter results and those from new simulations with block limiter SOL shows that for the grids produced using same core plasma equilibrium, the modified SOL plasma flows and flux components have enhanced poloidal periodicity in the block limiter case. These SOL modifications result in a reduced net recycling for the equivalent edge density values. Predictions are also made about the relative level of the diffusive transport and its impact on the factors limiting the operational regime.
Analytical derivatives of the individual state energies in ensemble density functional theory method. I. General formalism
Authors: Filatov Michael , Liu Fang , Martínez Todd J.
Published: July 2017

The state-averaged (SA) spin restricted ensemble referenced Kohn-Sham (REKS) method and its state interaction (SI) extension, SI-SA-REKS, enable one to describe correctly the shape of the ground and excited potential energy surfaces of molecules undergoing bond breaking/bond formation reactions including features such as conical intersections crucial for theoretical modeling of non-adiabatic reactions. Until recently, application of the SA-REKS and SI-SA-REKS methods to modeling the dynamics of such reactions was obstructed due to the lack of the analytical energy derivatives. In this work, the analytical derivatives of the individual SA-REKS and SI-SA-REKS energies are derived. The final analytic gradient expressions are formulated entirely in terms of traces of matrix products and are presented in the form convenient for implementation in the traditional quantum chemical codes employing basis set expansions of the molecular orbitals. The implementation and benchmarking of the derived formalism will be described in a subsequent article of this series.
Effect of interlamellar interactions on shear induced multilamellar vesicle formation
Authors: Kawabata Y. , Bradbury R. , Kugizaki S. , Weigandt K. , Melnichenko Y. B. , Sadakane K. , Yamada N. L. , Endo H. , Nagao M. , Seto H.
Published: July 2017

Shear-induced multilamellar vesicle (MLV) formation has been studied by coupling the small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) technique with neutron spin echo (NSE) spectroscopy. A 10% mass fraction of the nonionic surfactant pentaethylene glycol dodecyl ether (C12E5) in water was selected as a model system for studying weak inter-lamellar interactions. These interactions are controlled either by adding an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate, or an antagonistic salt, rubidium tetraphenylborate. Increasing the charge density in the bilayer induces an enhanced ordering of the lamellar structure. The charge density dependence of the membrane bending modulus was determined by NSE and showed an increasing trend with charge. This behavior is well explained by a classical theoretical model. By considering the Caillé parameters calculated from the SANS data, the layer compressibility modulus B¯ is estimated and the nature of the dominant inter-lamellar interaction is determined. Shear flow induces MLV formation around a shear rate of 10 s−1, when a small amount of charge is included in the membrane. The flow-induced layer undulations are in-phase between neighboring layers when the inter-lamellar interaction is sufficiently strong. Under these conditions, MLV formation can occur without significantly changing the inter-lamellar spacing. On the other hand, in the case of weak inter-lamellar interactions, the flow-induced undulations are not in-phase, and greater steric repulsion leads to an increase in the inter-lamellar spacing with shear rate. In this case, MLV formation occurs as the amplitude of the undulations gets larger and the steric interaction leads to in-phase undulations between neighboring membranes.
Electron cyclotron emission at the fundamental harmonic in GDT magnetic mirror
Authors: Shalashov A. G. , Solomakhin A. L. , Gospodchikov E. D. , Lubyako L. V. , Yakovlev D. V. , Bagryansky P. A.
Published: July 2017

New electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostics has been installed to facilitate the successful experiment of electron cyclotron plasma heating (ECRH) in a large open magnetic trap GDT at Budker Institute. The particularities of ECE in the vicinity of the ECRH frequency were studied experimentally for a broad range of discharge scenarios. The measured thermal emission has partly validated the existing physical conceptions about microwave plasma heating in the machine. Besides the expected emission of thermal electrons, a clearly resolved non-thermal ECE was observed which unambiguously confirmed the presence of suprathermal electrons driven by high-power microwave heating.
Atypical transistor-based chaotic oscillators: Design, realization, and diversity
Authors: Minati Ludovico , Frasca Mattia , Oświȩcimka Paweł , Faes Luca , Drożdż Stanisław
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we show that novel autonomous chaotic oscillators based on one or two bipolar junction transistors and a limited number of passive components can be obtained via random search with suitable heuristics. Chaos is a pervasive occurrence in these circuits, particularly after manual adjustment of a variable resistor placed in series with the supply voltage source. Following this approach, 49 unique circuits generating chaotic signals when physically realized were designed, representing the largest collection of circuits of this kind to date. These circuits are atypical as they do not trivially map onto known topologies or variations thereof. They feature diverse spectra and predominantly anti-persistent monofractal dynamics. Notably, we recurrently found a circuit comprising one resistor, one transistor, two inductors, and one capacitor, which generates a range of attractors depending on the parameter values. We also found a circuit yielding an irregular quantized spike-train resembling some aspects of neural discharge and another one generating a double-scroll attractor, which represent the smallest known transistor-based embodiments of these behaviors. Through three representative examples, we additionally show that diffusive coupling of heterogeneous oscillators of this kind may give rise to complex entrainment, such as lag synchronization with directed information transfer and generalized synchronization. The replicability and reproducibility of the experimental findings are good.
Study of self-generated fields in strongly-shocked, low-density systems using broadband proton radiography
Authors: Hua R. , Sio H. , Wilks S. C. , Beg F. N. , McGuffey C. , Bailly-Grandvaux M. , Collins G. W. , Ping Y.
Published: July 2017

We report results from experiments on the study of field generation at the shock front in low-density gas configured in quasi-planar geometry using broad-energy proton probing. Experiments were conducted using three long pulse laser beams with a total energy of 6.4 kJ in 2 ns for shock generation and an 850 J, 10 ps short pulse laser to produce broadband protons for radiography. Observations of the deflection pattern of probe protons show the existence of self-generated electric fields at the shock front with the electric potential on the order of 300 V. Analytical and particle tracking methods support this conclusion.
Low spin wave damping in the insulating chiral magnet Cu2OSeO3
Authors: Stasinopoulos I. , Weichselbaumer S. , Bauer A. , Waizner J. , Berger H. , Maendl S. , Garst M. , Pfleiderer C. , Grundler D.
Published: July 2017

Chiral magnets with topologically nontrivial spin order such as Skyrmions have generated enormous interest in both fundamental and applied sciences. We report broadband microwave spectroscopy performed on the insulating chiral ferrimagnet Cu2OSeO3. For the damping of magnetization dynamics, we find a remarkably small Gilbert damping parameter of about 1×10−4 at 5 K. This value is only a factor of 4 larger than the one reported for the best insulating ferrimagnet yttrium iron garnet at room temperature. We detect a series of sharp resonances and attribute them to confined spin waves in the mm-sized samples. Considering the small damping, insulating chiral magnets turn out to be promising candidates when exploring non-collinear spin structures for high frequency applications.
Leakage current induced by surfactant residues in self-assembly based ultralow-k dielectric materials
Authors: Krishtab M. , Afanas'ev V. , Stesmans A. , De Gendt S.
Published: July 2017

In this work, we studied low-field leakage currents in the self-assembly based spin-on low-k dielectrics (k = 2.2) as it may be affected by the degree of the organic template decomposition. The distinct role of the template residues could be examined due to the remarkably different rate of organosilica matrix cross-linking and template decomposition during the hard-bake process. We found that the incomplete decomposition of the sacrificial organic phase is responsible for increased low-field leakage current through the dielectric. The analysis of photocurrent spectra and the results of electron resonance spectroscopy suggest that the degradation of electrical performance can be attributed to the presence of defect states ∼5 eV below the insulator conduction band induced by the residues in the form of oxidized sp3-carbon chains. The lowest leakage current is attained in the template-free material obtained by introduction of additional broadband UV-assisted curing (λ > 200 nm).
Determination of the cathode layer thickness in the normal glow discharge
Authors: Hou Xinyu , Fu Yangyang , Wang Hao , Zou Xiaobing , Luo Haiyun , Wang Xinxin
Published: July 2017

Two methods for the determination of the cathode layer thickness dn in the normal glow discharge were developed. The first one is the computational method based on the iteration with a differently assumed value of dn. The second one is the experimental method with a Langmuir probe. The computational results showed that the reduced cathode layer thickness p·dn monotonically decreases and finally saturates with the increase in the cathode fall. It was found with these two methods that p·dn is a constant for the given cathode fall and secondary electron emission coefficient. This implies that the cathode layer will automatically adjust its thickness to keep p·dn a constant when the gas pressure changes. The results obtained with these two developed methods were compared with the results obtained with the numerical simulation of the normal glow discharge, which shows a good agreement.
Addressing the selectivity issue of cobalt doped zinc oxide thin film iso-butane sensors: Conductance transients and principal component analyses
Authors: Ghosh A. , Majumder S. B.
Published: July 2017

Iso-butane (i-C4H10) is one of the major components of liquefied petroleum gas which is used as fuel in domestic and industrial applications. Developing chemi-resistive selective i-C4H10 thin film sensors remains a major challenge. Two strategies were undertaken to differentiate carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and iso-butane gases from the measured conductance transients of cobalt doped zinc oxide thin films. Following the first strategy, the response and recovery transients of conductances in these gas environments are fitted using the Langmuir adsorption kinetic model to estimate the heat of adsorption, response time constant, and activation energies for adsorption (response) and desorption (recovery). Although these test gases have seemingly different vapor densities, molecular diameters, and reactivities, analyzing the estimated heat of adsorption and activation energies (for both adsorption and desorption), we could not differentiate these gases unequivocally. However, we have found that the lower the vapor density, the faster the response time irrespective of the test gas concentration. As a second strategy, we demonstrated that feature extraction of conductance transients (using fast Fourier transformation) in conjunction with the pattern recognition algorithm (principal component analysis) is more fruitful to address the cross-sensitivity of Co doped ZnO thin film sensors. We have found that although the dispersion among different concentrations of hydrogen and carbon monoxide could not be avoided, each of these three gases forms distinct clusters in the plot of principal component 2 versus 1 and therefore could easily be differentiated.
Super-resolution thermographic imaging using blind structured illumination
Authors: Burgholzer Peter , Berer Thomas , Gruber Jürgen , Mayr Günther
Published: July 2017

Using an infrared camera for thermographic imaging allows the contactless temperature measurement of many surface pixels simultaneously. From the measured surface data, the structure below the surface, embedded inside a sample or tissue, can be reconstructed and imaged, if heated by an excitation light pulse. The main drawback in active thermographic imaging is the degradation of the spatial resolution with the imaging depth, which results in blurred images for deeper lying structures. We circumvent this degradation by using blind structured illumination combined with a non-linear joint sparsity reconstruction algorithm. We demonstrate imaging of a line pattern and a star-shaped structure through a 3 mm thick steel sheet with a resolution four times better than the width of the thermal point-spread-function. The structured illumination is realized by parallel slits cut in an aluminum foil, where the excitation coming from a flashlight can penetrate. This realization of super-resolution thermographic imaging demonstrates that blind structured illumination allows thermographic imaging without high degradation of the spatial resolution for deeper lying structures. The groundbreaking concept of super-resolution can be transferred from optics to diffusive imaging by defining a thermal point-spread-function, which gives the principle resolution limit for a certain signal-to-noise ratio, similar to the Abbe limit for a certain optical wavelength. In future work, the unknown illumination pattern could be the speckle pattern generated by a short laser pulse inside a light scattering sample or tissue.
Note: A wide temperature range MOKE system with annealing capability
Authors: Chahil Narpinder Singh , Mankey G. J.
Published: July 2017

A novel sample stage integrated with a longitudinal MOKE system has been developed for wide temperature range measurements and annealing capabilities in the temperature range 65 K < T < 760 K. The sample stage incorporates a removable platen and copper block with inserted cartridge heater and two thermocouple sensors. It is supported and thermally coupled to a cold finger with two sapphire bars. The sapphire based thermal coupling enables the system to perform at higher temperatures without adversely affecting the cryostat and minimizes thermal drift in position. In this system the hysteresis loops of magnetic samples can be measured simultaneously while annealing the sample in a magnetic field.
Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) radiation by laser interaction with a solid H2 ribbon
Authors: De Marco M. , Krása J. , Cikhardt J. , Velyhan A. , Pfeifer M. , Dudžák R. , Dostál J. , Krouský E. , Limpouch J. , Pisarczyk T. , Kalinowska Z. , Chodukowski T. , Ullschmied J. , Giuffrida L. , Chatain D. , Perin J.-P. , Margarone D.
Published: July 2017

The electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) generated during the interaction of a focused 1.315-μm sub-nanosecond laser pulse with a solid hydrogen ribbon were measured. The strength and temporal characteristics of EMPs were found to be dependent on the target density. If a low density target is ionized during the interaction with the laser, and the plasma does not physically touch the target holder, the EMP is weaker in strength and shorter in time duration. It is shown that during the H2 target experiment, the EMP does not strongly affect the response of fast electronic devices. The measurements of the EMP were carried out by Rohde&Schwarz B-Probes, particularly sensitive in the frequency range from 30 MHz and 1 GHz. Numerical simulations of resonant frequencies of the target chamber used in the experiment at the Prague Asterix Laser System kJ-class laser facility elucidate the peaked structure of EMP frequency spectra in the GHz domain.
Sputter synthesis of wafer-scale hexagonal boron nitride films via interface segregation
Authors: Ohta Jitsuo , Fujioka Hiroshi
Published: July 2017

We demonstrated the crystal growth of wafer-scale hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) films on AlN template substrates by pulsed sputtering deposition using Fe catalysts. It was found that hBN films with high crystalline quality were formed at the hetero-interfaces between the Fe catalytic layers and the AlN templates. The full width at half maximum value of the E2g Raman spectrum for the hBN film was as small as 5.1 cm−1. The hBN film showed a highly c-axis-oriented structure and a strong near-band-edge deep ultraviolet emission at room temperature. The present results indicate that the sputter synthesis of hBN films via interface segregation opens a new pathway for the wafer-scale production of high-quality hBN films, and we envisage its potential applications in the fabrication of prospective hBN-based optoelectronic devices.
Recent findings regarding calcium and phytase in poultry nutrition
Authors: Bedford M. , Rousseau X.
Published: July 2017

Calcium (Ca) is an essential element for poultry and even a mild deficiency can lead to significant welfare and performance issues. As a result, it is often fed at levels in excess of requirement, partly as an insurance policy and, to some degree, because of its relatively low cost compared with other feed ingredients. However, when diets meet but do not exceed the phosphorus (P) requirements of the bird, a marginal Ca excess can interfere with P digestibility. This problem is exacerbated when phytases are used to provide some of the required P because Ca decreases the efficiency of phytate (IP6) hydrolysis in a dose-dependent manner. More recently, phytases have been used at very high doses (1500 FyTase units (FTU); ‘superdosing’) in commercial diets, to improve bird performance by removing as much of the dietary IP6 and lower esters of phytate (IP5, IP4, IP3 and IP2) as possible, all of which are considered anti-nutrients, and concomitantly producing as much inositol, a nutrient, as possible. In such a regimen, the ability of the phytase to degrade the lower phytate esters, namely IP4, IP3 and IP2, takes on greater importance than does simply releasing phytate P. Calcium has recently been shown to reduce the efficacy of hydrolysis of the lower phytate esters to a greater degree than the extent to which it decreases IP6 hydrolysis. As a result, Ca concentrations in the diet should be monitored frequently if the maximum value of a phytase is to be realised.
Theme and prosody
Authors: O’Grady Gerard
Published: July 2017

In a series of extremely influential articles published in the 1960s, Halliday illustrated that what the Prague School labelled as Theme was formed out of two separate but related systems which he labelled Theme and Information (1967a & b). However, as Information is a system grounded in spoken language, this separation has had the unfortunate consequence of prioritising the study of Theme in written language. The Thematic structure of spoken language and especially the interplay of Theme and intonation has been consequently neglected. The prosodic system of Key (Brazil 1997) functions like Theme to ground a message in its local context and signal how it is to be developed. This study, by uniquely examining the interplay between Theme and Key, is able to identify a number of novel meanings, the most significant of which is a focus on the enabling of Interpersonal meanings. By so doing, it illustrates that the full semogenetic meaning making potential of Theme, as an unfolding orientating device in spoken discourse, can only be revealed by examining the prosodic realisation of the Theme choices.
Variable clitic placement in US Spanish
Authors: Limerick Philip P.
Published: July 2017

This study examines clitic placement (CP) among US Spanish-speakers using data from two corpora: Corpus del Español en el Sur de Arizona (Carvalho, 2012–) and a corpus of interviews conducted in Roswell, Georgia (Wilson, 2013). Clitics were analyzed and coded for linguistic and social variables (e.g. specific construction, age of arrival). Results indicate an overall proclisis rate of 67%, which is similar to the rate reported for speakers in Mexico City (e.g. Davies, 1995). A subsequent multivariate analysis reveals that CP is significantly influenced by the specific construction used, the non-finite verb form, and the speakers’ age of arrival. This analysis lends support to the argument for the impermeability of CP to contact-induced change in Spanish (Silva-Corvalán & Gutiérrez, 1995).
Are Argentines a-blind?
Authors: Hoff Mark R.
Published: July 2017

I examine syntactic and discursive factors conditioning the variable a-marking of inanimate DOs in Argentine Spanish, using an online questionnaire which includes 16 contextualized discourse items recorded by native Argentines. Argentine respondents (N = 140) evaluated acceptability of the items using a 5-point Likert scale. Linguistic predictors analyzed include: definiteness, mono- vs. ditransitive constructions, and topicality, operationalized in terms of pre-/post-verbal position and referential distance. Mixed-effects analyses in R showed that although participants assigned significantly higher ratings to normative unmarked inanimate DOs than to a-marked ones, a-marking was still widely accepted, with definite DOs, pre-verbal position, and monotransitivity as significant predictors of acceptance. Furthermore, in 10/16 cases, participant ratings showed no significant difference between marked and unmarked DOs, demonstrating that participants are, to an extent, “a-blind” or uninfluenced by marking.
Acquisition of articulatory control or language-specific coarticulatory patterns?
Authors: Solon Megan
Published: July 2017

The present study examines the acquisition of coarticulatory patterns in Spanish as a second language (L2). Through an acoustic analysis of the production of /l/ preceded by a front vowel and by a back vowel by a large cross-sectional sample of English-speaking learners of Spanish (n = 85) and a comparison of L2 Spanish patterns to those in L1 Spanish (n = 20 speakers) and in L1 English, evidence is provided that, similar to the acquisition of other phonetic detail, acquisition of coarticulation proceeds from more L1-like patterns in early stages of learning toward more targetlike coarticulatory patterns in later stages. Additionally, acquisition of coarticulation does not seem to be tied to overall segmental acquisition.
Voice onset time and the child foreign language learner of Spanish
Authors: Menke Mandy R.
Published: July 2017

Stop consonants are one of the most investigated sound classes in second language speech production studies. Robust age of acquisition effects are documented in the literature base; however, the advantage of early learners has been primarily documented in second language, not foreign language, contexts. In order to further tease apart the variables of age and context, this paper compares the VOT values of /p, t, k/ of a cross-sectional sample of child, foreign language learners of Spanish with those of Spanish-English bilinguals. Learner productions did not differ from those of native speaking peers, yet there was a significant interaction of first language and grade level, suggesting that age of acquisition alone is insufficient to explain outcomes. Quantity of input, in both the first and second/foreign language, is explored as a possible explanation.
Extra-syntactic factors in the that-trace effect
Authors: Heil Jeanne , Ebert Shane
Published: July 2017

Using predictions from the Interface Hypothesis and the grammar of Spanish-English bilinguals, we test whether non-syntactic factors play a role in the that-trace effect. Though generally analyzed syntactically, some work on that-trace supports a syntax-prosody account (Kandybowicz, 2006). The Interface Hypothesis predicts that bilinguals will have difficulty with interface phenomena but not narrow syntax, such that testing bilinguals’ knowledge of that-trace provides a unique testing ground for comparing the two approaches. We demonstrate that bilinguals have the syntactic underpinnings necessary for both syntactic and syntax-prosody accounts of that-trace; however, they differ from the monolinguals with regard to that-trace, extending the phenomenon’s restriction on extraction to a new context, supporting a syntax-prosody account of that-trace.
Tracing facework over time using semi-automated methods
Authors: Archer Dawn , Malory Bethan
Published: July 2017

Impolite behaviour tends to attract more evaluative comment than other facework, making it easier to investigate synchronically and diachronically. A reliance on metapragmatic commentary is not optimum for UK parliamentary studies, however, as MPs cannot use “insulting or rude language” that breaks the chamber’s “rules of politeness” (www.parliament.uk). The work reported here thus offers three innovative methods of tracing MPs’ facework as they negotiated the “unparliamentary language” prohibition, and the results gleaned when the methods were applied to Hansard records (1812–2004). Method 1 prioritises portmanteau tags made up of USAS semtags. Method 2 prioritises themes derived from the HTOED. Method 3 draws on ‘meaning constellations’ (i.e. simultaneous searches of multiple tags). The UK parliamentary website highlights the “considerable ingenuity” displayed by MPs in order to circumvent their unparliamentary language prohibition. All methods have found examples of such ingenuity, many of which are characterized by multiple facework intentions (Archer 2015).
The importance of,it is important thatorimportantly?
Authors: Larsson Tove
Published: July 2017

The ability to successfully position oneself in relation to one’s claims through the use of stance markers is of central importance for academic writers. This study, which uses data from one expert corpus (LOCRA) and three learner corpora (ALEC, VESPA and BATMAT), investigates the use of morphologically related stance markers that occur in different syntactic constructions (such aspossibly, the possibility ofandit is possible that). In doing so, it examines to what extent lexis, level of expertise in academic writing and L1 transfer influence the distribution of the different realizations of stance under investigation. The results show that all three variables are important predictors. In addition, differences pertaining to information structure are found to influence the distribution of two largely synonymous constructions (disjuncts and the introductoryitpattern). The findings suggest that there are principled explanations for why one construction is used instead of another functionally similar construction.
語音標記性與維漢聲調匹配
Authors: Du Zhaojin , Chen Baoya
Published: July 2017

抽象

本文以無聲調的維吾爾語和有聲調的漢語的自然接觸作為研究對象，通過田野調查收集維吾爾族人說漢語的第一手材料，以語音標記性差異的視角，觀察、分析維漢自然接觸環境下維吾爾族人學習漢語聲調的具體過程、特點和規律。研究發現，維漢接觸中維吾爾族人以維吾爾語的詞調調型來匹配漢語聲調；隨著維吾爾族人漢化程度的提高，聲調匹配逐步實現由「無序匹配」向「有序匹配」的轉化，這是一個相對緩慢的發展過程，往往要經歷「無聲調意識→有聲調意識→聲調匹配有序化開始→實現聲調有序匹配」等幾個階段；維漢接觸中聲調實現有序匹配需要相當長的時間，是由聲調的標記性高造成的。這一過程可稱為「聲調標記匹配有序化」。
Narratives of sex-segregated professional identities
Authors: McEntee-Atalianis Lisa , Litosseliti Lia
Published: July 2017

Building on recent investigations of the role of gendered discourses in constructing and maintaining sex-segregated professions this article highlights the significance of small story analysis for the identification of positioning acts which function as rhetorical warrants for career choices and trajectories. It analyses small stories told by Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and investigates the tensions expressed in the negotiation and performance of their gendered professional identities. Small stories act as a medium of professional identity construction, rapport-building and as a site of contestation, employed to (re)appraise the social order, particularly with respect to 'women's' and 'men's' work. Gendered discourses are shown to impact not only on the amount of men entering the SLT profession but also the specialisms and progression routes that men and women pursue. The analysis points to the reproductive and regulatory power of gendered discourses on individuals' experience of their gendered subjectivity and professional identity.
“Losing my religion”
Authors: Scharp Kristina M. , Beck Aubrey L.
Published: July 2017

The present study explores how former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who are often referred to as Mormons, construct their identities. Framed in an interpretive narrative approach, 150 online exit stories of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that voluntarily left the Church were qualitatively analyzed. Findings reveal five prominent identities: (1) the disenfranchised victim, (2) the redeemed spiritualist, (3) the liberated self, (4) the (wo)men of science, and (5) the Mormon in name only. Results suggest that membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is inextricably connected to individual identity. Thus, exiting the Church is much more than leaving an organization. Future implications for research will be discussed.