bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proton minibeam radiation therapy widens the therapeutic index for high-grade gliomas
Authors: Prezado Yolanda , Jouvion Gregory , Patriarca Annalisa , Nauraye Catherine , Guardiola Consuelo , Juchaux Marjorie , Lamirault Charlotte , Labiod Dalila , Jourdain Laurene , Sebrie Catherine , Dendale Remi , Gonzalez Wilfredo , Pouzoulet Frederic
Published: November 2018

Proton minibeam radiation therapy (pMBRT) is a novel strategy which has already shown a remarkable reduction in neurotoxicity as to compared with standard proton therapy. Here we report on the first evaluation of tumor control effectiveness in glioma bearing rats with highly spatially modulated proton beams. Whole brains (excluding the olfactory bulb) of Fischer 344 rats were irradiated. Four groups of animals were considered: a control group (RG2 tumor bearing rats), a second group of RG2 tumor-bearing rats and a third group of normal rats that received pMBRT (70 Gy peak dose in one fraction) with very heterogeneous dose distributions, and a control group of normal rats. The tumor-bearing and normal animals were followed-up for 6 months and one year, respectively. pMBRT leads to a significant tumor control and tumor eradication in 22% of the cases. No substantial brain damage which confirms the widening of the therapeutic window for high-grade gliomas offered by pMBRT. Additionally, the fact that large areas of the brain can be irradiated with pMBRT without significant side effects, would allow facing the infiltrative nature of gliomas.
Evolution of six novel ORFs in the plastome of Mankyua chejuense and phylogeny of eusporangiate ferns
Authors: Kim Hyoung Tae , Kim Ki-Joong
Published: November 2018

In this paper, three plastomes of Mankyua chejuense, Helminthostachys zeylanica, and Botrychium ternatum in Ophioglossaceae were completely sequenced in order to investigate the plastome evolution and phylogeny of eusporangiate ferns. They were similar to each other in terms of length and the gene orders; however, six unknown open reading frames (ORFs) were found between rps4 and trnL-UAA genes in M. chejuense. Similar sequence regions of six ORFs of M. chejuense were found at the plastomes of Ophioglossum californicum and H. zeylanica, as well as the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of H. zeylanica, but not in B. ternatum. Interestingly, the translated amino acid sequences of three ORFs were more similar to the proteins of distantly related taxa such as algae and bacteria than they were to proteins in land plants. It is likely that the six ORFs region arose from endosymbiotic gene transfer (EGT) or horizontal gene transfer (HGT), but further study is needed to verify this. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that Mankyua was resolved as the earliest diverging lineage and that Ophioglossum was subsequently diverged in Ophioglossaceae. This result supports why the plastome of M. chejuense have contained the most ancestral six ORFs in the family.
A Deep Neural Network Model using Random Forest to Extract Feature Representation for Gene Expression Data Classification
Authors: Kong Yunchuan , Yu Tianwei
Published: November 2018

In predictive model development, gene expression data is associated with the unique challenge that the number of samples (n) is much smaller than the amount of features (p). This “n ≪ p” property has prevented classification of gene expression data from deep learning techniques, which have been proved powerful under “n > p” scenarios in other application fields, such as image classification. Further, the sparsity of effective features with unknown correlation structures in gene expression profiles brings more challenges for classification tasks. To tackle these problems, we propose a newly developed classifier named Forest Deep Neural Network (fDNN), to integrate the deep neural network architecture with a supervised forest feature detector. Using this built-in feature detector, the method is able to learn sparse feature representations and feed the representations into a neural network to mitigate the overfitting problem. Simulation experiments and real data analyses using two RNA-seq expression datasets are conducted to evaluate fDNN’s capability. The method is demonstrated a useful addition to current predictive models with better classification performance and more meaningful selected features compared to ordinary random forests and deep neural networks.
Structural effects and lymphocyte activation properties of self-assembled polysaccharide nanogels for effective antigen delivery
Authors: Miura Risako , Tahara Yoshiro , Sawada Shin-ichi , Sasaki Yoshihiro , Akiyoshi Kazunari
Published: November 2018

The success of immunotherapeutic vaccines is often limited by their inability to activate the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-inducing Th1 pathway. We investigated the ability of self-assembled nanogels (CHP or CH-CDex) to activate this pathway, and characterised them chemically and biologically. Once loaded with antigen (ovalbumin, OVA) their OVA encapsulation and dissociation rates suggested the possibility of effective antigen delivery. The DC2.4 dendritic cell line took up either vaccine time-dependently, but both vaccines required CpG DNA for class I MHC presentation. The nanogel vaccines interacted with RAW264.7, a Balb/c mouse-derived macrophage cell line, and co-localised with lysosomes, suggesting their endocytotic internalization in RAW264.7. Both vaccines activated CTLs better than OVA alone. Unlike OVA alone, the nanogel vaccines induced IgG2a antibody production in mice, whereas the former induced IgG1 antibodies. OVA-nanogel delivery to the draining lymph nodes (DLNs) was higher than that for OVA alone, reaching a deeper medullary area. Furthermore, Langerin+CD103+DCs interacted with the nanogel vaccines effectively, which is a subset of cross-presentation DC, in the DLNs. The nanogel vaccines each had good anti-tumour efficacy in OVA tumour-bearing mice compared with the OVA alone. Thus, CHP and CH-CDex nanogels should be investigated further because of the great potential they offer for immunotherapy.
Yeast thioredoxin reductase Trr1p controls TORC1-regulated processes
Authors: Picazo Cecilia , Matallana Emilia , Aranda Agustín
Published: November 2018

The thioredoxin system plays a predominant role in the control of cellular redox status. Thioredoxin reductase fuels the system with reducing power in the form of NADPH. The TORC1 complex promotes growth and protein synthesis when nutrients, particularly amino acids, are abundant. It also represses catabolic processes, like autophagy, which are activated during starvation. We analyzed the impact of yeast cytosolic thioredoxin reductase TRR1 deletion under different environmental conditions. It shortens chronological life span and reduces growth in grape juice fermentation. TRR1 deletion has a global impact on metabolism during fermentation. As expected, it reduces oxidative stress tolerance, but a compensatory response is triggered, with catalase and glutathione increasing. Unexpectedly, TRR1 deletion causes sensitivity to the inhibitors of the TORC1 pathway, such as rapamycin. This correlates with low Tor2p kinase levels and indicates a direct role of Trr1p in its stability. Markers of TORC1 activity, however, suggest increased TORC1 activity. The autophagy caused by nitrogen starvation is reduced in the trr1Δ mutant. Ribosomal protein Rsp6p is dephosphorylated in the presence of rapamycin. This dephosphorylation diminishes in the TRR1 deletion strain. These results show a complex network of interactions between thioredoxin reductase Trr1p and the processes controlled by TOR.
Sensitive determination of psoralen and isopsoralen in Fructus Psoraleae by online solid phase microextraction with a porphyrin-based porous organic polymer modified capillary
Authors: Chen Yuling , Wang Rong , Chen Zilin
Published: November 2018

A novel porphyrin based porous organic polymer modified capillary (PPOP-capillary) was prepared for the extraction of psoralen and isopsoralen in Fructus Psoraleae.
Correction: IR820 covalently linked with self-assembled polypeptide for photothermal therapy applications in cancer
Authors: Huang Kaizong , Gao Mengyue , Fan Lin , Lai Yueyang , Fan Hongwei , Hua Zichun
Published: November 2018

Correction for ‘IR820 covalently linked with self-assembled polypeptide for photothermal therapy applications in cancer’ by Kaizong Huang et al., Biomater. Sci., 2018, 6, 2925–2931.
Biocompatible metal-assisted C–C cross-coupling combined with biocatalytic chiral reductions in a concurrent tandem cascade
Authors: Schaaf Patricia , Bayer Thomas , Koley Moumita , Schnürch Michael , Bornscheuer Uwe T. , Rudroff Florian , Mihovilovic Marko D.
Published: November 2018

We present a concurrent chemo/biocatalytic one pot reaction cascade by combining a metal (Pd/Cu) assisted Liebeskind–Srogl coupling with an enantioselective enzymatic reduction for the production of chiral amines and alcohols.
A novel cocrystal composed of CL-20 and an energetic ionic salt
Authors: Zhang Xiaopeng , Chen Shusen , Wu Yige , Jin Shaohua , Wang Xiaojun , Wang Yuqiao , Shang Fengqin , Chen Kun , Du Junyi , Shu Qinghai
Published: November 2018

A novel nitroamine/energetic ionic salt cocrystal explosive composed of CL-20 and 1-AMTN in a 1 : 1 molar ratio was discovered and characterized. It shows an appropriate explosive power and good mechanical sensitivity relative to RDX currently in use.
The localized surface plasmon resonance induced edge effect of gold regular hexagonal nanoplates for reaction progress monitoring
Authors: Gu Xiao Ying , Gao Peng Fei , Zou Hong Yan , Liu Jia Hui , Li Yuan Fang , Huang Cheng Zhi
Published: November 2018

The LSPR induced edge effect of Au regular nanoplates gradually disappears accompanied with the change of doughnut-shaped far-field scattering patterns (DNSPs) into scattering solid spots with the reaction proceeding with ferric iron in a thiourea (TU) solution.
Ca(ii), Yb(ii) and Tm(iii) complexes with tri- and tetra-anions of 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene
Authors: Fedushkin Igor L. , Lukina Daria A. , Skatova Alexandra A. , Lukoyanov Anton N. , Cherkasov Anton V.
Published: November 2018

Sandwich-like structures derived from organic polyanions and multi-centered cation assemblies.
A bicontinuous donor–acceptor hybrid heterostructure based on coordination and cation–π interactions
Authors: Li Meng-Hua , You Ming-Hua , Zhang Jiang-Yan , Xiao Wang-Chuan , Lin Mei-Jin
Published: November 2018

A bicontinuous donor–acceptor hybrid heterostructure based on metal pseudohalides exhibits enhanced efficient photocatalytic degradation activities towards organic pollutants upon visible light irradiation.
Improved visible-light absorbance of monolayer MoS2 on AlN substrate and its angle-dependent electronic structures
Authors: Li Feifei , Shi Changmin , Wang Dongchao , Cui Guangliang , Zhang Pinhua , Lv Li , Chen Li
Published: November 2018

The band gaps of type-II band structures in Mo–N stacking configuration are sensitive to the strains for MoS2/AlN hetero-structures, which exhibit more considerable optical absorption in the visible-light region than MoS2 and AlN monolayers.
A fluorescence nanoscopy marker for corticotropin-releasing hormone type 1 receptor: computer design, synthesis, signaling effects, super-resolved fluorescence imaging, and in situ affinity constant in cells
Authors: Szalai Alan M. , Armando Natalia G. , Barabas Federico M. , Stefani Fernando D. , Giordano Luciana , Bari Sara E. , Cavasotto Claudio N. , Silberstein Susana , Aramendía Pedro F.
Published: November 2018

A new fluorescent marker for CRHR1 shows an antagonist effect and suitability for super resolution fluorescence microscopy.
Eu3+/Tb3+ functionalized Bi-based metal–organic frameworks toward tunable white-light emission and fluorescence sensing applications
Authors: Xu Lifei , Xu Yan , Li Xianliang , Wang Zhuopeng , Sun Ting , Zhang Xia
Published: November 2018

Eu3+/Tb3+ singly doped or codoped bismuth-based MOFs were developed to explore white-light emitting devices and construction of supersensitive multifunctional sensors.
The relationship between lipid phytochemicals, obesity and its related chronic diseases
Authors: Guo Xin , Zhang Tao , Shi Longkai , Gong Mengyue , Jin Jun , Zhang Yu , Liu Ruijie , Chang Ming , Jin Qingzhe , Wang Xingguo
Published: November 2018

This review focuses on phytochemicals in oils, and summarizes the mechanisms of the anti-obesity effects of these compounds inin vitrostudies, animal models, and human trials.
Lycopene attenuates AFB1-induced renal injury with the activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway in mice
Authors: Yu Kaiyuan , Zhang Jian , Cao Zheng , Ji Qiang , Han Yanfei , Song Miao , Shao Bing , Li Yanfei
Published: November 2018

Proposed renoprotection mechanism of LYC via enhancing renal antioxidant in AFB1-treated mice kidney. The → indicates activation or induction, and ⊣ indicates inhibition or blockade.
An in vitro exploratory study of dietary strategies based on polyphenol-rich beverages, fruit juices and oils to control trimethylamine production in the colon
Authors: Bresciani Letizia , Dall'Asta Margherita , Favari Claudia , Calani Luca , Del Rio Daniele , Brighenti Furio
Published: November 2018

Dietary choline and l-carnitine are biotransformed by the fecal microbiota into TMA, the intestinal precursor of TMAO, and its formation could be influenced by (poly)phenol-rich foods.
Stilbenoids and cannabinoids from the leaves of Cannabis sativa f. sativa with potential reverse cholesterol transport activity
Authors: Guo Tiantian , Liu Qingchao , Hou Pengbo , Li Fahui , Guo Shoudong , Song Weiguo , Zhang Hai , Liu Xueying , Zhang Shengyong , Zhang Jianchun , Ho Chi-Tang , Bai Naisheng
Published: November 2018

Three new stilbenoids with potential reverse cholesterol transport activity were isolated from the leaves of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.).
Visible-light-promoted aerobic metal-free aminothiocyanation of activated ketones
Authors: Yuan Pan-Feng , Zhang Qing-Bao , Jin Xiao-Ling , Lei Wen-Long , Wu Li-Zhu , Liu Qiang
Published: November 2018

A direct, redox-neutral, highly atom-economical and metal-free aerobic method for the synthesis of multi-substituted olefins via simply coupling ammonium thiocyanate with activated ketones is described.
Chemoselective phosphine-catalyzed cyanoacylation of α-dicarbonyl compounds: a general method for the synthesis of cyanohydrin esters with one quaternary stereocenter
Authors: Zhang Honghui , Liu Rongfang , Liu Jialin , Fan Binbin , Li Ruifeng , Qiao Yan , Zhou Rong
Published: November 2018

A chemoselective phosphine-catalyzed cyanoacylation of α-dicarbonyl compounds with acyl cyanides is reported.
Photo-induced synthesis of chiral galaxamide analogs and the biological activities against human tumor cells
Authors: Wu Jingwan , Zhao Lishuang , Wang Zhiqiang , Jin Yingxue
Published: November 2018

Two chiral analogs of galaxamide were synthesized by a photoinduced cyclization reaction.
Onset of vertical bonds in new GaN multilayers: beyond van der Waals solids
Authors: Onen A. , Kecik D. , Durgun E. , Ciraci S.
Published: November 2018

New, thermodynamically stable allotropes of bilayer GaN are revealed.
Mimicking biological neurons with a nanoscale ferroelectric transistor
Authors: Mulaosmanovic Halid , Chicca Elisabetta , Bertele Martin , Mikolajick Thomas , Slesazeck Stefan
Published: November 2018

The integrate-and-fire activity of a biological neuron was implemented with a nanoscale hafnium oxide-based ferroelectric field-effect transistor.
RNA-based boronate internucleosidic linkages: an entry into reversible templated ligation and loop formation
Authors: Gimenez Molina Alejandro , Barvik Ivan , Müller Sabine , Vasseur Jean-Jacques , Smietana Michael
Published: November 2018

The synthesis of a 5′-boronoribonucleotidic phosphoramidite building block has been achieved and incorporated at the 5′ extremities of RNA sequences for the templated assembly of RNA shortmers.
Electrochemical cobalt-catalyzed C–H or N–H oxidation: a facile route to synthesis of substituted oxindoles
Authors: Yu Yue , Zheng Peifeng , Wu Yuanheng , Ye Xiaoyi
Published: November 2018

Two comparable protocols for the electrochemical cobalt-catalyzed C–H/N–H oxidation have been exploited for the synthesis of oxindoles via radical pathways.
Correction: An unprecedented tandem synthesis of fluorescent coumarin-fused pyrimidines via copper-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative C(sp3)–N bond coupling
Authors: Kumari Santosh , Abdul Shakoor S. M. , Khullar Sadhika , Mandal Sanjay K. , Sakhuja Rajeev
Published: November 2018

Correction for ‘An unprecedented tandem synthesis of fluorescent coumarin-fused pyrimidines via copper-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative C(sp3)–N bond coupling’ by Santosh Kumari et al., Org. Biomol. Chem., 2018, 16, 3220–3228.
Charge polarization, local electroneutrality breakdown and eddy formation due to electroosmosis in varying-section channels
Authors: Chinappi Mauro , Malgaretti Paolo
Published: November 2018

We find that local electroneutrality breakdown can be induced in varying section pores under the action of electrostatic external fields.
Stress-oscillation behaviour of semi-crystalline polymers: the case of poly(butylene succinate)
Authors: Wan Chaoying , Heeley Ellen L. , Zhou Yutao , Wang Shifeng , Cafolla Conor T. , Crabb Eleanor M. , Hughes Darren J.
Published: November 2018

Defining the origin and mechanism of SO in PBS: mapping the crystalline morphology of the polymer in the opaque/transparent bands.
How Gender Stereotypes May Limit Female Faculty Advancement in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Authors: Rogus-Pulia Nicole , Humbert Ianessa , Kolehmainen Christine , Carnes Molly
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD) faces a critical shortage of the faculty essential to train the future workforce of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Despite a predominance of women in the field, men receive doctoral degrees, tenure status, academic leadership positions, and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association awards at disproportionately higher rates than women. The purpose of this review is to explore how implicit gender bias may contribute to female faculty advancement, including current and projected faculty workforce shortages, and to propose tangible solutions.

Method

The authors present proportions of men and women who receive doctoral degrees, advance to each faculty rank, receive tenure status, hold department chairs in CSD, and receive American Speech-Language-Hearing Association honors and awards. They review ways in which cultural stereotypes give rise to implicit gender bias and discuss myriad ways that implicit gender bias may influence the decisions of students considering an academic career in CSD and their career trajectories.

Conclusions

Cultural stereotypes about men and women lead to implicit gender bias that may have real consequences for female faculty advancement in CSD. Such implicit bias can influence career selection and outcomes within the field in multiple ways. To ensure that CSD continues to attract top talent and maintain a robust pipeline of future faculty in doctoral training programs, the field must recognize the existence of implicit gender bias and implement evidence-based strategies to minimize its potentially damaging effects on the future of the profession.
The Dimensionality of Oral Language in Kindergarten Spanish–English Dual Language Learners
Authors: Gray Shelley , O'Connell Ann A. , Restrepo Maria Adelaida , Yeomans-Maldonado Gloria , Bengochea Alain , Mesa Carol , Brinkley Shara , Yeomans-Maldonado Gloria , Bengochea Alain , Mesa Carol
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the latent dimensionality of language in dual language learners (DLLs) who spoke Spanish as their native language and were learning English as their second language.

Method

Participants included 259 Spanish–English DLLs attending kindergarten. In the spring of their kindergarten year, children completed vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, and higher level language measures (comprehension monitoring and inferencing) in Spanish and English.

Results

Two models with similar fits best describe the data. The first was a bifactor model with a single general language factor “
l,
” plus 2 additional language factors, 1 for Spanish and 1 for English. The second model was a 4-factor model, 1 for English that included all English language measures and 3 additional factors that included Spanish vocabulary, Spanish grammar, and Spanish higher level language.

Conclusions

These results indicate that a general language ability may underlie development in both Spanish and English. In contrast to a unidimensional structure found for monolingual English-speaking kindergarteners, oral language appears to be multidimensional in Spanish–English DLL kindergarteners, but multidimensionality is reflected in Spanish, not English.
Measuring Articulation Rate: A Comparison of Two Methods
Authors: Cosyns Marjan , Meulemans Myriam , Vermeulen Ellen , Busschots Lauranne , Corthals Paul , Van Borsel John
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Mean articulatory rate (MAR) is an alternative approach to measure articulation rate and is defined as the mean of 5 rate measures in minimally 10 to maximally 20 consecutive syllables in perceptually fluent speech without pauses. This study examined the validity of this approach.

Method

Reading and spontaneous speech samples were collected from 80 typically fluent adults ranging in age between 20 and 59 years. After orthographic transcription, all samples were subjected to an articulation rate analysis first using the prevailing “global” method, which takes into account the entire speech sample and involves manipulation of the speech sample, and then again applying the MAR method. Paired-samples
t
tests were conducted to compare global measurements to MAR measurements.

Results

For both spontaneous speech and reading, a strong correlation was found between the 2 methods. However, for both speech tasks, the paired-samples
t
tests revealed a significant difference with MAR values being higher than the global method values.

Conclusions

The MAR method is a valid method to measure articulation rate. However, it cannot be used interchangeably with the prevailing global method. Further standardization of the MAR method is needed before general clinical use can be suggested.
Treating Speech Movement Hypokinesia in Parkinson's Disease: Does Movement Size Matter?
Authors: Kearney Elaine , Haworth Brandon , Scholl Jordan , Faloutsos Petros , Baljko Melanie , Yunusova Yana
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study evaluates the effects of a novel speech therapy program that uses a verbal cue and gamified augmented visual feedback regarding tongue movements to address articulatory hypokinesia during speech in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method

Five participants with PD participated in an ABA single-subject design study. The treatment aimed to increase tongue movement size using a combination of a verbal cue and augmented visual feedback and was conducted in 10 45-min sessions over 5 weeks. The presence of visual feedback was manipulated during treatment. Articulatory working space of the tongue was the primary outcome measure and was examined during treatment and in cued and uncued sentences pre- and posttreatment. Changes in speech intelligibility in response to a verbal cue pre- and posttreatment were also examined.

Results

During treatment, 4/5 participants showed a beneficial effect of visual feedback on tongue articulatory working space. At the end of the treatment, they used larger tongue movements when cued, relative to their pretreatment performance. None of the participants, however, generalized the effect to the uncued sentences. Speech intelligibility of cued sentences was judged as superior posttreatment only in a single participant.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that using an augmented visual feedback approach is beneficial, beyond a verbal cue alone, in addressing articulatory hypokinesia in individuals with PD. An optimal degree of articulatory expansion might, however, be required to elicit a speech intelligibility benefit.
Screening Children's Speech: The Impact of Imitated Elicitation and Word Position
Authors: McLeod Sharynne , Masso Sarah
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Diagnostic decision making is influenced by the attributes of assessments. In order to propose time-efficient protocols for screening children's speech, this study aimed to determine whether eliciting imitated responses and analyzing productions in different word positions resulted in different levels of consonant accuracy.

Method

Participants were 267 English-speaking preschool-age children in the Sound Start Study whose parents were concerned about their speech. They were assessed using the International Speech Screener: Research Version (ISS;
McLeod, 2013
) using either imitated or spontaneous elicitation. Productions were compared with an established diagnostic assessment of speech accuracy (Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology;
Dodd, Hua, Crosbie, Holm, & Ozanne, 2002
).

Results

Participants' performance on the ISS was significantly correlated with performance on the Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology. Eliciting imitated productions on the ISS (
M
= 2:18 min,
SD
= 0:59 min) took significantly less time than spontaneous productions (
M
= 6:32 min,
SD
= 2:34 min). There was no significant difference in accuracy of imitated versus spontaneous productions in word-initial position; however, consonants were significantly less accurate in spontaneous than imitated productions in other word positions. Overall, participants had significantly lower consonant accuracy in word-initial position than within-word or word-final positions. Examination of the influence of word position on test discrimination, using receiver operating characteristic analyses, revealed acceptable test discrimination for percentage of consonants correct across word positions.

Conclusion

This research supports using imitated elicitation and analysis of percentage of consonants correct in word-initial position as a time-efficient procedure when screening the speech of English-speaking preschool children.
The VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS)
Authors: Vergani D. , Garilli B. , Polletta M. , Franzetti P. , Scodeggio M. , Zamorani G. , Haines C. P. , Bolzonella M. , Guzzo L. , Granett B. R. , de la Torre S. , Abbas U. , Adami C. , Bottini D. , Cappi A. , Cucciati O. , Davidzon I. , De Lucia G. , Fritz A. , Gargiulo A. , Hawken A. J. , Iovino A. , Krywult J. , Le Brun V. , Le Fèvre O. , Maccagni D. , Małek K. , Marulli F. , Pollo A. , Tasca L. A. M. , Tojeiro R. , Zanichelli A. , Arnouts S. , Bel J. , Branchini E. , Coupon J. , Ilbert O. , Moutard T. , Moscardini L.
Published: November 2018

Aims. We analyse the properties of the host galaxies of a [NeV]-selected sample to investigate whether and how they are affected by the AGN.

Methods. We have selected a sample of galaxies at 0.62 <  z <  1.2 from the VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS) and divided it in blue cloud galaxies, red passive galaxies and green valley galaxies using the NUVrK diagram. Within each category, galaxies with AGN activity were identified based on the detection of the high-ionisation [NeV]λ3426 emission line. For each galaxy we derived several properties (stellar age and mass, the (r−K) colour, the [OII] luminosity) and compared them between active and inactive galaxies matched in stellar mass and redshift.

Results. We find statistically significant differences in the properties between active and inactive galaxies. These differences imply that the AGN is more often found in galaxies with younger stellar populations and more recent star-forming activity than their parent samples. Interestingly, the AGN identified through the [NeV]λ3426 emission line is not commonly found by traditional AGN-selection techniques based on shallow X-ray data, mid-IR colours, and classical line diagnostic diagrams, and might thus reveal a specific evolutionary phase. The spectral analysis reveals a sub-set of AGN within the blue cloud that has spectral signatures implying a sudden suppression of star formation activity similar to post-starburst galaxies.

Conclusion. Using the rich dataset of the large VIPERS sample we identify a novel class of active post-starburst galaxies that would be missed by traditional selection techniques. These galaxies belong to the blue cloud, but their star-formation activity has been recently suppressed, possibly by the AGN identified through the presence of the [NeV]λ3426 emission line in their spectra. Our results support the idea that AGN feedback may be responsible for halting star-formation in active blue galaxies and for their transition into the red sequence, at least in the 0.6–1.2 redshift range and for stellar masses greater than 5 × 1010 ℳ⊙. Our results are based on a complete spectroscopic sample and limited by the [NeV] observability, and the AGN can be variable and with a relatively short duty cycle. Considering this, AGN feedback that makes blue galaxies quickly transition to the red sequence may be even more common than previously believed.
The dependence of mass and environment on the secular processes of AGNs in terms of morphology, colour, and specific star-formation rate
Authors: Argudo-Fernández M. , Lacerna I. , Duarte Puertas S.
Published: November 2018

Context. Galaxy mass and environment play a major role in the evolution of galaxies. In the transition from star-forming to quenched galaxies, active galactic nuclei (AGNs) also have a principal action therein. However, the connections between these three actors are still uncertain.

Aims. In this work we investigate the effects of stellar mass and the large-scale structure (LSS) environment on the fraction of optical nuclear activity in a population of isolated galaxies, where AGN would not be triggered by recent galaxy interactions or mergers.

Methods. As a continuation of a previous work, we focus on isolated galaxies to study the effect of stellar mass and the LSS in terms of morphology (early- and late-type), colour (red and blue), and specific star-formation rate (quenched and star-forming). To explore where AGN activity is affected by the LSS, we separate galaxies into two groups, of low- and high mass, respectively, and use the tidal strength parameter to quantify the effects.

Results. We found that AGN is strongly affected by stellar mass in “active” galaxies (namely late-type, blue, and star-forming), but that mass has no influence on “quiescent” galaxies (namely early-type, red, and quenched), at least for masses down to 1010 M⊙. In relation to the LSS, we found an increase in the fraction of star-forming nuclei galaxies with denser LSS in low-mass star-forming and red isolated galaxies. Regarding AGN, we find a clear increase in the fraction of AGNs with denser environment in quenched and red isolated galaxies, independently of the stellar mass.

Conclusions. Active galactic nuclei activity appears to be “mass triggered” in active isolated galaxies. This means that AGN activity is independent of the intrinsic properties of the galaxies, but is dependent on their stellar mass. On the other hand, AGN activity appears to be “environment triggered” in quiescent isolated galaxies, where the fraction of AGNs as a function of specific star formation rate and colour increases from void regions to denser LSS, independently of stellar mass.
Frühgeburtenrate in 6 Perinatalzentren in Baden-Württemberg – Potential zur Reduktion der Frühgeborenenzahl
Authors: Trotter Andreas , Schreiber Ricarda , Sander Silvia , Muche Rainer , Lucke Wolfram
Published: November 2018

Hintergrund Zur Qualitätssicherung der Versorgung Früh- und Reifgeborener wurden vom Gemeinsamen Bundesausschuss umfangreiche Struktur- und Personalvorgaben formuliert. Die Ergebnisqualität für das neonatale Outcome wird bereits seit langer Zeit erhoben. Obwohl Deutschland einer der höchsten Frühgeburtenraten in Europa aufweist, existieren bislang keine zentrumsspezifischen Daten zur Frühgeburtenrate.

Methoden An 6 Perinatalzentren Level 1 in Baden-Württemberg wurden über 2 Jahre alle Schwangeren erfasst, die mit einem Schwangerschaftsalter zwischen 22+0 und 31+6 Wochen in der Frauenklinik aufgenommen wurden (n=2972). Sofern sie innerhalb von 24 h nach Aufnahme mindestens eines der folgenden sekundären Einschlusskriterien 1. Gesicherte Amnionruptur, 2. Zervixlänge<25 mm oder 3. Tokogramm mit>3 Wehen von je mind. 30 sec. Dauer in 30 min erfüllten, wurde die Frühgeburtenrate vor 32+0 Schwangerschaftswochen bestimmt. Für 70,6% der Frühgeborenen konnte das neonatale Outcome erhoben werden.

Ergebnis Bei 21,1% (n=279) der Schwangeren, die mindestens ein sekundäres Einschlusskriterium erfüllten (n=1325), kam es vor 32+0 SSW zur Geburt von 344 Frühgeborenen. Die Frühgeburtenrate lag zwischen 16,8 und 27,9% (Differenz 11,1%). Eine niedrigere Frühgeburtenrate war nicht mit einem schlechteren neonatalen Outcome vergesellschaftet.

Schlussfolgerung Um die Ergebnisqualität eines Perinatalzentrums beurteilen zu können, sollte die Frühgeburtenrate als Qualitätsindikator Einzug finden. Eine Reduktion der Frühgeburtenrate um 5% könnte die Zahl der Frühgeborenen<1500 g Geburtsgewicht in Deutschland um 2400/Jahr (ca. 25%) reduzieren.
A Rare Case of Recurrence of Craniopharyngioma at Ectopic Site after Surgical Resection of Primary Tumor
Authors: Dey Subir , Rao Akhilesh , Sinha Shilpa , Kumar Sanjay ,   Nishant
Published: November 2018

Ectopic recurrence of craniopharyngiomas after surgical resection of primary lesion is extremely rare. In this article, the authors describe a case of a 12-year-old girl with ectopic recurrence of craniopharyngioma in an extra-axial location in the right frontal region, after an attempt to completely resect the lesion originally located in the sellar region. The patient was investigated radiologically, hormonally, and histopathologic confirmation was sought. During surgery, it is important to take extra care in removing the primary lesion in toto. In case of cystic tumors, it is very important to aspirate cystic fluid completely, before resecting the capsule to avoid rupture or spillage. Long-term clinical and radiologic follow-up is suggested as ectopic recurrence may occur at a very late stage.
The Effects of a Standard Postoperative Rehabilitation Protocol for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair on Pain, Function, and Health Perception
Authors: Monesi Roberta , Benedetti Maria , Zati Alessandro , Vigna Daniela , Romanello Domenico , Monello Alberto , Rotini Roberto
Published: November 2018

Purpose There is still conflicting evidence to support postoperative rehabilitation protocols using immobilization following rotator cuff repair over early motion. The objective of the study was to evaluate the evolution of pain, shoulder function, and patients' perception of their health status up to 1 year after cuff rotator repair and a standard postoperative rehabilitation protocol consisting of 4 weeks of immobilization followed by a 2-week assisted controlled rehabilitation.

Methods Descriptive, longitudinal, uncontrolled case-series study was performed on 49 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair following traumatic or degenerative lesions. VAS scale for pain, Constant–Murley score for function, and SF-12 score for quality of life were used as outcome measures and were administered before the rehabilitation treatment, at the end of the 2-week rehabilitation, 3 months, and 1 year after surgery.

Results VAS pain score decreased significantly along the follow-up reaching almost a nil value after 1 year (0.2). Function as measured by Constant–Murley score had a significant improvement during follow-up, reaching a mean value of 84.6. The short form (SF)-12 score increased over time reaching 46.3 for the physical and 43.8 for the psychological dimension, respectively, at 1 year.

Conclusion The present study confirmed an excellent outcome at 1 year after rotator cuff repair using a traditional 4-week immobilization followed by a 2-week rehabilitation protocol without evidence of tendon un-healing or re-tearing.

Level of Evidence This is a level IV, therapeutic case series.
A speculative extension of the differential operator definition to fractal via the fundamental solution
Authors: Chen Wen , Wang Fajie
Published: November 2018

This paper makes a speculative extension of the fundamental solution of the standard integer-order differential operators to fractal. Then, the fractal fundamental solution is used via the implicit calculus equation modeling approach to define differential operators on fractal for modeling complex mechanical behaviors of fractal materials. By employing the singular boundary method, a recent boundary discretization technique with the fundamental solution, this study also makes numerical simulation of fractal Laplace problems of multiply-connected and composite material. Results show the validity and rationality of the conjectured definition of Laplace operator on fractal. Furthermore, the fractional and the fractal Laplace operators are also compared in our numerical experiments.
Full-wave theory for WGM lasing of fully anisotropic nanoparticles
Authors: Zouros Grigorios P.
Published: November 2018

A full-wave theory for the prediction of the complex whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) resonances of fully anisotropic nano/microresonators is presented. The theory is based on the volume integral equation (VIE) method, supported by appropriate perturbation theory which enables analytical closed-form expressions valid for extremely large indices of the involved spherical wavefunctions. These closed-form expressions allow for the instant computation of the eigenbasis required for the solution of the VIE. The theory is applied to the calculation of WGM spectra of uniaxial semiconductor crystals, to gyroelectric magnetic garnets, and to geometrical birefringence enhancement due to large Verdet constants. Combined with a state-of-the-art open-source algorithm for complex roots computation, this theory constitutes a rigorous tool for the interpretation of experimental data obtained from photonic and optomagnonic applications, including WGM lasing of fully anisotropic nanoparticles and magneto-optical coupling.
Defect generation by nitrogen during pulsed sputter deposition of GaN
Authors: Steib Frederik , Remmele Thilo , Gülink Jan , Fündling Sönke , Behres Alexander , Wehmann Hergo-Heinrich , Albrecht Martin , Straßburg Martin , Lugauer Hans-Jürgen , Waag Andreas
Published: November 2018

Pulsed sputter deposition has been demonstrated to be a viable process for the growth of high quality GaN and InGaN/GaN LEDs. It enables the fabrication of nitride LEDs with a red emission wavelength at large areas. In this study, we explore details on the epitaxial sputter deposition of GaN with a particular emphasis on ion damage. By changing the argon to nitrogen ratio, we adjust the growth mode from island to layer growth. TEM revealed speckles in the epitaxial GaN, which could be identified as isolated basal stacking faults, acting as non-radiative recombination centers. Using Monte Carlo methods, we modeled the energies of backscattered and sputtered atoms in order to get information on the ion damage mechanisms. Considering the collisions on the way from the target to the substrate, we found energetic nitrogen to induce the speckles. A shielding mechanism based on metallic gallium has been identified, leading to the strongly increased luminescence quality in comparison to the non-shielded material.
Characterizing time series by extended complexity-entropy curves based on Tsallis, Rényi, and power spectral entropy
Authors: Mao Xuegeng , Shang Pengjian , Wang Jing , Ma Yan
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we create three different entropy curves, Tsallis q-complexity-entropy curve, Rényi r-complexity-entropy curve, and Tsallis-Rényi entropy curve via extending the traditional complexity-entropy causality plane and replacing the permutation entropy into power spectral entropy. This kind of method is free of any parameters and some features that are obscure in the time domain can be extracted in the frequency domain. Results from numerical simulations verify that these three entropy curves can characterize time series efficiently. Chaotic and stochastic time series can be distinguished based on whether the q-complexity-entropy curves are opened or closed. The unrelated stochastic process has a negative curvature associated with the Rényi r-complexity-entropy curve, whereas there are positive curvatures for related cases. In addition, the Tsallis-Rényi entropy curve can display the relationship between two entropies. Finally, we apply this method to sleep electrocardiogram and electroencephalography signals. It is proved that these signals possess similar features with long-range correlated 1/f noise. It is robust enough to exhibit different characteristics for each sleep stage. By using surrogate data sets, the nonlinearity of simulated chaotic time series and sleep data can be identified.
Dripping faucet dynamics in a nonuniform electric field
Authors: Nogueira T. N. , Pereira F. A. C. , Procopio J. , Sartorelli J. C.
Published: November 2018

Two experimental bifurcation diagrams were obtained with two different control parameters. One parameter was the faucet opening and the other one, keeping fixed the faucet opening, was an electrical voltage (V) applied to a metallic cylinder that surrounds the pendant water column. In this way, the drops are formed in an electrical field gradient that polarizes the water column altering the effective surface tension that is consistent with the observed decreasing of the drop mass as the potential is increased, while the water flow rate remains constant. We observed that the two bifurcations are similar for S≲65 and V≲2.05kV; otherwise, the bifurcation evolutions are quite different.
Polymer-based X-ray masks patterned by direct laser writing
Authors: Achenbach Sven , Wells Garth , Jacobs Michael , Moazed Banafsheh , Iyer Swathi , Hanson Jack
Published: November 2018

X-ray masks are indispensable tools in deep X-ray lithography (XRL). To date, hardly any fabrication technology can provide affordable and readily available masks with good structure quality. The bottleneck of adequate masks to a large extent limits the widespread use of XRL. In this article, an alternative XRL mask fabrication process is described to significantly improve availability and cost efficiency of XRL masks as key instruments in XRL processing: A 355 nm UV-laser is applied to expose SU-8 resist on an antireflective coating and a copper sacrificial substrate. The voids in this resist template are filled by a two-step electroplating process with sacrificial nickel and 3.6 μm thick gold absorbers. A second SU-8 coat embeds the absorbers, forming the 40 μm mask membrane. This configuration allows for XRL into resists of up to about 200 μm thickness at the SyLMAND beamline, Canada. The absorber structure accuracy is about 1 μm, at smallest tested lateral dimensions of 2 μm isolated features and 500 nm details. Upon release from the substrate, the membrane locally deforms by up to 1.79 μm. PMMA microstructures patterned with such a mask have smooth and vertical sidewalls. The SyLMAND chopper allows one to limit thermal deformations during exposure to the micrometer range: At a beam power of 0.42 W, typical thermal deformations are 0.5 μm–1.4 μm, depending on the layout, and position inaccuracies are about 3.3 μm.
Quantum wavepacket method for state-to-state reactive cross sections in hyperspherical coordinates
Authors: Zhao Hailin , Hu Xixi , Xie Daiqian , Sun Zhigang
Published: November 2018

We present theory for calculating state-to-state differential cross sections (DCS) of triatomic reactive scattering in hyperspherical coordinates using a quantum wavepacket method. The adiabatically adjusting, principal axes hyperspherical coordinates proposed by Pack and Parker [J. Chem. Phys. 87, 3888 (1987)] are applied, which deal with all arrangement channels equivalently, allowing the analysis of the products in all three arrangement channels with one main propagation. The propagated wavepacket is analyzed by projecting it onto the product ro-vibrational states at a fixed, asymptotic radius, R, of the corresponding Jacobi coordinates; thus, the channel-specified S-matrix elements can be calculated by matching the projections with the boundary conditions in the Jacobi coordinates. For numerical demonstrations, state-to-state DCS of the H + HD (v0 = 0, j0 = 0) reaction and state-to-state reaction probabilities of the O + O2 (v0 = 0, j0 = 0) reaction and the F + HCl (v0 = 0, j0 = 0) → HF + Cl reaction for zero total angular momentum are presented. The second order split operator method and the Chebyshev polynomial expansion method were applied to propagate the wavefunction. The relative numerical efficiencies for calculating the state-to-state information of triatomic reactive scattering using the hyperspherical coordinate and the reactant Jacobi coordinate are discussed.
Velocity distributions in microskimmer supersonic expansion helium beams: High precision measurements and modeling
Authors: Eder S. D. , Salvador Palau A. , Kaltenbacher T. , Bracco G. , Holst B.
Published: November 2018

Supersonic molecular beams are used in many applications ranging from spectroscopy and matter wave optics to surface science. The experimental setup typically includes a conically shaped, collimating aperture, the skimmer. It has been reported that microskimmers with diameters below 10 μm produce beams with significantly broader velocity distributions (smaller speed ratios) than larger skimmers. Various explanations for this phenomenon have been proposed, but up till now, only a limited amount of data has been available. Here we present a systematic study of the velocity distribution in microskimmer supersonic expansion helium beams. We compare a 4 μm diameter skimmer with a 390 μm diameter skimmer for room temperature and cooled beams in the pressure range 11-181 bars. Our measurements show that for properly aligned skimmers, the only difference is that the most probable velocity for a given pressure and temperature is slightly lower for a microskimmed beam. We ascribed this to the comparatively narrow and long geometry of the microskimmers which can lead to local pressure variations along the skimmer channel. We compare our measurements to a model for the supersonic expansion and obtain good agreement between the experiments and simulations.
Magnetic coupling to the advanced Virgo payloads and its impact on the low frequency sensitivity
Authors: Cirone A. , Chincarini A. , Neri M. , Farinon S. , Gemme G. , Fiori I. , Paoletti F. , Majorana E. , Puppo P. , Rapagnani P. , Ruggi P. , Swinkels B. L.
Published: November 2018

We study the electromagnetic coupling of the Advanced Virgo (AdV) input mirror payload in response to a slowly time-varying magnetic field. As the problem is not amenable to analytical solution, we employ and validate a finite element (FE) analysis approach. The FE model is built to represent as faithfully as possible the real object, and it has been validated by comparison with experimental measurements. The intent is to estimate the induced currents and the magnetic field in the neighbourhood of the payload. The procedure found 21 equivalent electrical configurations that are compatible with the measurements. These have been used to compute the magnetic noise contribution to the total AdV strain noise. At the current stage of development, AdV seems to be unaffected by magnetic noise, but we foresee a non-negligible coupling once AdV reaches the design sensitivity.