bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resveratrol improves postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis and brain derived neurotrophic factor in prenatally stressed rats
Authors: Madhyastha Sampath , Sekhar Sudhanshu , Rao Gayathri
Published: July 2013

Prenatal stress induced neuronal dysfunction is multifactorial, including suppressed neurogenesis in developing brain. Resveratrol is known to exert its neuroprotective potential by enhancing neurogenesis. But the efficacy of resveratrol against prenatal stress was not addressed in detail. Hence in the present study we evaluated the neuroprotective action of resveratrol on prenatal stress‐induced impaired neurogenesis. Pregnant rats were subjected to restraint stress during early or late gestational period. Another sets of rats received resveratrol during entire gestational period along with early or late gestational stress. The study parameters included neuronal assay of doublecortin positive neurons (DCX +ve) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) estimations in 40th postnatal day rat brain. Both early and late gestational stress resulted in significant decrease in generation of new born neurons and BDNF expression in hippocampus. The decrease in number of DCX +ve neurons and hippocampal BDNF expression was more profound in the offspring who received late gestational stress compared to early gestational stress. Resveratrol treatment has improved the expression of DCX +ve neurons and BDNF expression. These data suggest the neuroprotective efficacy of resveratrol against prenatal stress induced impaired neurogenesis.
Too Popular to Ignore: The Influence of Online Reviews on Purchase Intentions of Search and Experience Products
Authors: Jiménez Fernando R. , Mendoza Norma A.
Published: July 2013

Consumers assess the credibility of online product reviews to guide their purchase decisions. However, little is known about how consumers determine the credibility of online product reviews. This article examines the effect of the level of detail in a product review and the level of reviewer agreement with it on the credibility of a review and consumers’ purchase intentions for search and experience products. Overall, the results indicate that more credible reviews lead to higher purchase intentions. Interestingly, the findings also demonstrate that consumers determine the credibility of a review differently for search and experience products. For search products, consumers deem online reviews to be more credible when the reviews contain detailed information about the product. However, for experience products, consumers determine the credibility of a review by assessing the level of reviewer agreement with a review. The lack of diagnosticity of detailed information in online reviews of experience products is attributed to the idiosyncratic nature of experiences. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Validity of dementia and Alzheimer's disease diagnoses in Finnish national registers
Authors: Solomon Alina , Ngandu Tiia , Soininen Hilkka , Hallikainen M. Merja , Kivipelto Miia , Laatikainen Tiina
Published: July 2013

Background

We investigated dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD) diagnoses in three national registers in Finland: the Hospital Discharge Register (HDR), the Drug Reimbursement Register, and the Causes of Death Register (CDR).

Methods

The Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study was used as the gold standard. Participants were first evaluated in 1972 to 1987, and were reexamined in 1998 and in 2005 to 2008.

Results

Two approaches were used for the HDR: with a time restriction (considering “positive” only those cases recorded in the HDR before CAIDE study evaluations) and without a time restriction. Sensitivity of the HDR was 13.7% with time restriction and 51% without time restriction (dementia), and 15.6% with time restriction 55.6% without time restriction (AD). The positive predictive value (PPV) was 87.5% with time restriction and 96.3% without time restriction (dementia), and 100% for AD. Sensitivity and PPV of the HDR were greater after 1998. For AD in the Drug Reimbursement Register alone, sensitivity was 63.5% and PPV was 97.1%; together with the HDR, sensitivity became 65.4% with time restriction and 71.1% without time restriction, and PPV was 100%. For dementia in the CDR, sensitivity was 62.2% and PPV was 100%.

Conclusions

Diagnoses in registers have very good accuracy, but underestimation of dementia/AD occurrence may cause an underestimation of associations with risk/protective factors.
SAFE-SIDE SCENARIOS FOR FINANCIAL AND BIOMETRICAL RISK
Authors: Christiansen Marcus C. , Steffensen Mogens
Published: July 2013

Premium settlement and calculation of reserves and capital requirements are typically based on worst- or just bad-case assumptions on interest rates, mortality rates, and other transition rates between states defined according to the insurance benefits. If interest and transition rates are chosen independently from each other, the worst choice, i.e. the combination of interest rates and transition rates that maximizes the reserve, can be found by dynamic programming. Here, we generalize this idea by choosing the interest and transition rates from a set that allows for mutual dependence. In general, finding the worst case is much more complicated in this situation, but we characterize a set of relatively tractable problems and present a series of examples from this set. Our approach with mutual dependence is relevant e.g. for internal models in Solvency II.
ON OPTIMAL DIVIDENDS IN THE DUAL MODEL
Authors: Bayraktar Erhan , Kyprianou Andreas E. , Yamazaki Kazutoshi
Published: July 2013

We revisit the dividend payment problem in the dual model of Avanzi et al. ([2–4]). Using the fluctuation theory of spectrally positive Lévy processes, we give a short exposition in which we show the optimality of barrier strategies for all such Lévy processes. Moreover, we characterize the optimal barrier using the functional inverse of a scale function. We also consider the capital injection problem of [4] and show that its value function has a very similar form to the one in which the horizon is the time of ruin.
Cross-Border Spillover: U.S. Gun Laws and Violence in Mexico
Authors: DUBE ARINDRAJIT , DUBE OEINDRILA , GARCÍA-PONCE OMAR
Published: July 2013

To what extent, and under what conditions, does access to arms fuel violent crime? To answer this question, we exploit a unique natural experiment: the 2004 expiration of the U.S. Federal Assault Weapons Ban exerted a spillover on gun supply in Mexican municipios near Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, but not near California, which retained a pre-existing state-level ban. We find first that Mexican municipios located closer to the non-California border states experienced differential increases in homicides, gun-related homicides, and crime gun seizures after 2004. Second, the magnitude of this effect is contingent on political factors related to Mexico's democratic transition. Killings increased disproportionately in municipios where local elections had become more competitive prior to 2004, with the largest differentials emerging in high narco-trafficking areas. Our findings suggest that competition undermined informal agreements between drug cartels and entrenched local governments, highlighting the role of political conditions in mediating the gun-crime relationship.
Compactness of embeddings of function spaces on quasi-bounded domains and the distribution of eigenvalues of related elliptic operators
Authors: Leopold Hans-Gerd , Skrzypczak Leszek
Published: July 2013

We prove sufficient and necessary conditions for compactness of the Sobolev embeddings of Besov and Triebel–Lizorkin spaces defined on bounded and unbounded uniformly E-porous domains. The asymptotic behaviour of the corresponding entropy numbers is calculated. Some applications to the spectral properties of elliptic operators are described.
Sleep enhances exposure therapy
Authors: Kleim B. , Wilhelm F. H. , Temp L. , Margraf J. , Wiederhold B. K. , Rasch B.
Published: July 2013

Background

Sleep benefits memory consolidation. Here, we tested the beneficial effect of sleep on memory consolidation following exposure psychotherapy of phobic anxiety.

Method

A total of 40 individuals afflicted with spider phobia according to DSM-IV underwent a one-session virtual reality exposure treatment and either slept for 90 min or stayed awake afterwards.

Results

Sleep following exposure therapy compared with wakefulness led to better reductions in self-reported fear (p = 0.045,d = 0.47) and catastrophic spider-related cognitions (p = 0.026,d = 0.53) during approaching a live spider, both tested after 1 week. Both reductions were associated with greater percentages of stage 2 sleep.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that sleep following successful psychotherapy, such as exposure therapy, improves therapeutic effectiveness, possibly by strengthening new non-fearful memory traces established during therapy. These findings offer an important non-invasive alternative to recent attempts to facilitate therapeutic memory extinction and consolidation processes with pharmacological or behavioral interventions.
Cooking and cuisine in late Anglo-Saxon England
Authors: Gautier Alban
Published: July 2013

This article tries to explore the question of whether the Anglo-Saxons in the tenth and eleventh centuries actually had an interest in elaborate and socially distinctive food preparations – whether, to use words that have been employed and defined by anthropologists and other social scientists, their food practices distinguished ‘cooking’ from ‘cuisine’, or even ‘gastronomy’. Through the study of written sources and archaeological data, we address several issues which can tell us about the Anglo-Saxons’ attitude towards food: the existence of proper kitchens and specialized cooks; the question of ‘privileged foods’ – categories of food widely recognized as suitable for social elites; and the ways by which recipes were transmitted. The answer is that the Anglo-Saxons may have known some forms of elaborate ‘cooking’, that ‘cuisine’ may have existed but cannot be identifi ed as such, and that ‘gastronomy’ was not a part of their thought world.
A context for the sexualization of monsters in The Wonders of the East
Authors: Monk Christopher
Published: July 2013

The belief that monsters had a human genealogy originating at a point of transgressive sexual behaviour is something attested to in early medieval texts that either circulated or were written in Anglo-Saxon England. The Hiberno-Latin Reference Bible, a widely known text of the period, and the Old English poem Genesis A both suggest that the sexual deviancy of the progenitors of monsters is perceivable as reiterated stigmata on the monstrous bodies of their progeny. It is within this context of theological exegesis and poetic imagination that the Anglo-Saxon drawings of monsters in The Wonders of the East were produced. What one sees in the depiction of monsters therein is a performance of sexual monstrosity that links monsters to their human forbears; but also, by means of the illustrated interaction of monster and human, the monster is brought perilously close to the here-and-now of the Anglo-Saxon reader-viewer's imagined world.
‘It shames me to say it’: Ælfric and the concept and vocabulary of shame
Authors: Jorgensen Alice
Published: July 2013

An investigation of Ælfric's shame-vocabulary allows us to divide his shame concept into three areas: being (a)shamed, active shaming, and the shameful. The prototypical scenario of shame is humiliation or exposure before others. However, Ælfric asks his audience to imagine this kind of public, worldly shame in relation to failures to live up to Christian ideals; he thus encourages the ethicization and psychologization of shame. In addition, readers are invited to read to find Christian moral symbolism in narratives of shaming, while the emotive label of ‘shameful’ cues rejection and disgust towards what is wrong and pagan. Ælfric's appeals to shame promote self-scrutiny and the performance of a Christian identity. With respect to Anglo-Saxon shame in general, Ælfric offers a case-study in the flexibility of shame and its importance as a mode of knowing and performing the self.

Ne sceamige nanum menn þæt he anum lareowe his gyltas cyðe · forðan þe se þe nele his synna on ðissere worulde andettan mid soðre behreowsunge · him sceal sceamian ætforan gode ælmihtigum · and ætforan his engla weorodum · and ætforan eallum mannum · and ætforan eallum deoflum æt ðam micclan dome · þær we eall gegaderode beoð · Þær beoð cuðe ure ealra dæda eallum þam werodum · and seðe ne mæg for sceame his gyltas anum menn ge-andettan · him sceal þonne sceamian · ætforan heofonwarum · and eorð-warum · and hel-warum · and seo sceamu him bið endeleas.
The voice of the king in ‘King Edgar's Establishment of Monasteries’
Authors: Pratt David
Published: July 2013

The Old English text by Æthelwold, bishop of Winchester, known as ‘King Edgar's Establishment of Monasteries’ (EEM) is here viewed as an expression of royal ideology. The article argues that the final section of EEM, in the first person, should be interpreted as words attributed to Edgar himself. This re-reading strengthens the case for dating EEM to the period 966 x c. 970, and for suspecting a female audience. It is argued that EEM accompanied an early, feminized version of Æthelwold's translation of the Rule of St Benedict. This model of religious life related to the responsibility of Edgar's queen, Ælfthryth, for female houses, and reflected her alliance with Æthelwold. EEM offered a distinctive view of English ecclesiastical history subtly tailored to these purposes. The final section of EEM presented a sophisticated defence of female monastic endowment. Ælfthryth's role provides an important context for understanding the politics and representation of Æthelred's kingship in the 990s.
Serovars and antimicrobial resistance of non-typhoidal Salmonella from human patients in Shanghai, China, 2006–2010
Authors: ZHANG J. , JIN H. , HU J. , YUAN Z. , SHI W. , RAN L. , ZHAO S. , YANG X. , MENG J. , XU X.
Published: July 2013

We conducted a retrospective study on non-typhoidal Salmonella isolates from patients with diarrhoea in Shanghai, China, 2006–2010. A total of 1484 isolates of 70 Salmonella serovars were recovered from about 18 000 stool specimens. Serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium were the most prevalent with isolation rates of 27·6% and 25·5%, respectively. The majority (1151, 77·6%) of the isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, and 598 (40·3%) to more than three antimicrobials. Approximately half (50·9%) of the isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid and other resistance rates were sulfisoxazole (47·9%), streptomycin (37·6%), ampicillin (31·3%) and tetracycline (30·5%). Co-resistance to fluoroquinolones and the third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins was also identified.
The Supererogatory, and How to Accommodate It
Authors: DORSEY DALE
Published: July 2013

Many find it plausible to posit a category of supererogatory actions. But the supererogatory resists easy analysis. Traditionally, supererogatory actions are characterized as actions that are morally good, but not morally required; actions that go ‘beyond’ the call of our moral obligations. As I shall argue in this article, however, the traditional analysis can be accepted only by a view with troubling consequences concerning the structure of the moral point of view. I propose a different analysis that is extensionally correct, avoids the problems of the traditional view, and, incidentally, also defuses any objection to act-consequentialism, or any other first-order moral theory, on grounds that it cannot accommodate the supererogatory.
Water track modification of soil ecosystems in the Lake Hoare basin, Taylor Valley, Antarctica
Authors: Levy Joseph S. , Fountain Andrew G. , Gooseff Michael N. , Barrett J.E. , Vantreese Robert , Welch Kathy A. , Lyons W. Berry , Nielsen Uffe N. , Wall Diana H.
Published: July 2013

Water tracks are zones of high soil moisture that route shallow groundwater down-slope, through the active layer and above the ice table. A water track in Taylor Valley, McMurdo Dry Valleys, was analysed for surface hydrogeological, geochemical, and biological characteristics in order to test the hypothesis that water tracks provide spatial structure to Antarctic soil ecosystems by changing the physical conditions in the soil environment within the water tracks from those outside the water tracks. The presence of the water track significantly affected the distribution of biotic and abiotic ecosystem parameters: increasing soil moisture, soil salinity, and soil organic matter within the water track relative to soils outside the water track, and reducing soil phosphate, soil pH, and the population of nematodes and other invertebrates in water track soils relative to off track soils. These results suggest that water tracks are distinct and extreme ecological zones in Taylor Valley that provide long-range (kilometre to multi- kilometre) structure to Antarctic hillslope ecosystems through physical control on soil moisture and solute content. Contrary to expectations, these high soil-moisture sites are not hotspots for faunal biological activity because high soil salinity makes them suitable habitats for only the most halo-tolerant organisms.
Atrioventricular septal defect with an imperforate right-sided component of the common atrioventricular valve: anatomic and embryologic considerations
Authors: Hernandez Lazaro E. , Kochilas Lazaros K. , Anderson Robert H.
Published: July 2013

We describe an atypical case of an atrioventricular septal defect with a common atrioventricular junction in which the right-sided component of the common atrioventricular valve was imperforate, producing tricuspid atresia with a severely hypoplastic right ventricle and an ostium primum defect. We discuss the implications of the anatomic findings with regard to concepts of cardiac development, drawing a comparison with similar cases previously reported.
Prehospital System Development in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Authors: Zimmerman John R. , Bertermann Kecia M. , Bollinger Paul J. , Woodyard Donnie R.
Published: July 2013

Introduction

The building of prehospital emergency medical care systems in developing and lower middle-income countries (as defined by the World Bank) is a critical step in those countries’ efforts to reduce unnecessary morbidity and mortality. This case report presents the development of a prehospital care system in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka and provides the results of the system's first year of operations, the likely reasons for the results, and the prospects for sustained operations of the system. The goal of this report is to add to the literature surrounding Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in developing countries by providing insight into the implementation of a prehospital emergency care system in developing and lower middle-income settings.

Methods

The level of utilization and the financial performance of the system during its first year of operation were analyzed using data from the Jaffna Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) Call Center database and information from the implementing organization, Medical Teams International.

Results

The system responded to >2000 emergency calls in its first 11 months of operation. The most utilized ambulance of the system experienced only a US $13.50 loss during the first 12 months of operation. Factors such as up-front support, a systematic approach, and appropriateness contributed to the successful implementation of the Jaffna prehospital EMS system.

Conclusion

The implementation of a prehospital EMS system and its functioning were successful in terms of utility and, in many regards, financial stability. The system's success in development may serve as a potential model for implementing prehospital emergency medical care in other developing and lower middle-income country settings, keeping in mind factors outside of the system that were integral to its developmental success.

ZimmermanJR, BertermannKM, BollingerPJ, WoodyardDR. Prehospital system development in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(5):1-8.
Amicable Settlements of WTO Disputes: Bilateral Solutions in a Multilateral System
Authors: ALSCHNER WOLFGANG
Published: July 2013

Every third dispute brought to the WTO and not withdrawn early is settled amicably through a mutually agreed solution (MAS). This includes high-profile and long-standing WTO disputes such as EC–Bananas or Softwood Lumber. By offering a negotiated solution to hard cases, MAS have added stability to the multilateral trading system. MAS, however, also raise concerns. Settlements favour the instant resolution of disputes, but may conflict with third party interests and collective stakes. Where WTO members use their MAS to contract out of WTO law (‘WTO+’/‘WTO–’MAS), the multilateral trading system may be at risk. In addition, new forms of bilateral (interim-)settlements not foreseen in the DSU have recently emerged which currently escape multilateral disciplines. This article assesses how well the DSU balances the competing interests involved in amicable settlements, preserving the contractual flexibility of disputants while safeguarding multilateral interests. Contributing to current DSU reform debates, the article rejects the need for greater MAS enforceability, endorses the strengthening of procedural and substantive safeguards protecting collective stakeholders in settlements, and calls for new DSU disciplines on interim-settlements.
Progesterone Treatment for Experimental Stroke: An Individual Animal Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wong Raymond , Renton Cheryl , Gibson Claire L , Murphy Stephanie J , Kendall David A , Bath Philip MW
Published: July 2013

Preclinical studies suggest progesterone is neuroprotective after cerebral ischemia. The gold standard for assessing intervention effects across studies within and between subgroups is to use meta-analysis based on individual animal data (IAD). Preclinical studies of progesterone in experimental stroke were identified from searches of electronic databases and reference lists. Corresponding authors of papers of interest were contacted to obtain IAD and, if unavailable, summary data were obtained from the publication. Data are given as standardized mean differences (SMDs, continuous data) or odds ratios (binary data), with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). In an unadjusted analysis of IAD and summary data, progesterone reduced standardized lesion volume (SMD −0.766, 95% CI −1.173 to −0.358, P < 0.001). Publication bias was apparent on visual inspection of a Begg’s funnel plot on lesion volume and statistically using Egger’s test ( P = 0.001). Using individual animal data alone, progesterone was associated with an increase in death in adjusted analysis (odds ratio 2.64, 95% CI 1.17 to 5.97, P = 0.020). Although progesterone significantly reduced lesion volume, it also appeared to increase the incidence of death after experimental stroke, particularly in young ovariectomized female animals. Experimental studies must report the effect of interactions on death and on modifiers, such as age and sex.
Downregulation of Src-Kinase and Glutamate-Receptor Phosphorylation after Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Park Yujung , Luo Tianfei , Zhang Fan , Liu Chunli , Bramlett Helen M , Dietrich W Dalton , Hu Bingren
Published: July 2013

Phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors is a major regulatory mechanism underlying synaptic plasticity. However, changes in NMDA receptors and phosphorylation after traumatic brain injury (TBI) remain incompletely understood. Using an animal TBI model, we observed that the protein level of NMDA receptor subunit NR2B was downregulated in synaptosomal fractions obtained from the ipsilateral neocortical injury region, whereas the levels of NR2A, NR1, and PSD93 were not significantly altered at 4 and 24 hours after TBI. Further investigation showed that tyrosine phosphorylations of NR2B Y1472 and PSD93 Y340 in synaptosomal fractions were significantly decreased relative to their total protein level after TBI. Correspondingly, phosphorylation of the Src-kinase-inhibitory site Y527 was increased, whereas phosphorylation of the activation site Y416 was decreased, indicating that the activity of Src kinase is significantly inhibited after TBI. In comparison, other Src family kinase substrates of NMDA receptor, NR2A Y1246, NR2A Y1325, and NR2B Y1070 were not obviously affected after TBI. The results suggest that TBI downregulates the Src-kinase-mediated phosphorylation of NR2 and PSD93 to destabilize the synaptic localization of NMDA receptors. Therefore, post-TBI loss of NMDA receptors may contribute to the depression of synaptic activity after TBI.
Protein analysis by time-resolved measurements with an electro-switchable DNA chip
Authors: Langer Andreas , Hampel Paul A. , Kaiser Wolfgang , Knezevic Jelena , Welte Thomas , Villa Valentina , Maruyama Makiko , Svejda Matej , Jähner Simone , Fischer Frank , Strasser Ralf , Rant Ulrich
Published: July 2013

Measurements in stationary or mobile phases are fundamental principles in protein analysis. Although the immobilization of molecules on solid supports allows for the parallel analysis of interactions, properties like size or shape are usually inferred from the molecular mobility under the influence of external forces. However, as these principles are mutually exclusive, a comprehensive characterization of proteins usually involves a multi-step workflow. Here we show how these measurement modalities can be reconciled by tethering proteins to a surface via dynamically actuated nanolevers. Short DNA strands, which are switched by alternating electric fields, are employed as capture probes to bind target proteins. By swaying the proteins over nanometre amplitudes and comparing their motional dynamics to a theoretical model, the protein diameter can be quantified with Angström accuracy. Alterations in the tertiary protein structure (folding) and conformational changes are readily detected, and even post-translational modifications are revealed by time-resolved molecular dynamics measurements.
The impact of mathematical modeling on the understanding of diabetes and related complications
Authors: Ajmera I , Swat M , Laibe C , Le Novère N , Chelliah V
Published: July 2013

Diabetes is a chronic and complex multifactorial disease caused by persistent hyperglycemia and for which underlying pathogenesis is still not completely understood. The mathematical modeling of glucose homeostasis, diabetic condition, and its associated complications is rapidly growing and provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms involved. Here, we discuss contributions to the diabetes modeling field over the past five decades, highlighting the areas where more focused research is required.

CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology (2013) 2, e54; doi:10.1038/psp.2013.30; advance online publication 10 July 2013
Exact exchange-correlation potential of an ionic Hubbard model with a free surface
Authors: Brosco V. , Ying Z.-J. , Lorenzana J.
Published: July 2013

In Kohn-Sham density functional theory (DFT) the interacting electron problem is mapped into a noninteracting problem in an effective potential vKS. It is known that the charge gap of the interacting system is different from the gap of the effective problem due to a jump Δxc in vKS when an electron is added but its magnitude and its role in the ubiquitous discrepancy between the experimental gaps and approximate DFT computations is poorly understood. Here we compute the exact vKS of a strongly interacting one-dimensional lattice model which can be driven from an ionic to a Mott insulating state. Presence of a “vacuum” region allows to determine the absolute value of vKS. We show that in the ionic regime Δxc is determined by nearest-neighbor interaction, while in the Mott regime Δxc is determined by on-site Hubbard interaction.
Treating Children Ages 3–6 Who Have Speech Sound Disorder: A Survey
Authors: Brumbaugh Klaire Mann , Smit Ann Bosma
Published: July 2013

Purpose

In a national survey, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) were asked about service delivery and interventions they use with children ages 3–6 who have speech sound disorder (SSD).

Method

The survey was e-mailed to 2,084 SLPs who worked in pre-elementary settings across the United States. Of these, 24% completed part or all of the survey, with 18% completing the entire survey.

Results

SLPs reported that they provided children ages 3–6 who had SSD with 30 or 60 min of treatment time weekly, regardless of group or individual setting. More SLPs indicated that they used traditional intervention than other types of intervention. However, many SLPs also reported using aspects of phonological interventions and providing phonological awareness training. Fewer SLPs indicated that they used nonspeech oral motor exercises than in a previous survey (Lof & Watson, 2008). Recently graduated SLPs were no more familiar with recent advances in phonological intervention than were their more experienced colleagues.

Discussion

This study confirms previous findings (Mullen & Schooling, 2010) about the amount of service provided to children ages 3–6 who have SSD. Issues related to the use of traditional and phonological intervention with children who have phonological disorder are discussed, along with concerns related to evidence-based practice and research needs.
Development and Validation of the Spanish–English Language Proficiency Scale (SELPS)
Authors: Smyk Ekaterina , Restrepo M. Adelaida , Gorin Joanna S. , Gray Shelley
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This study examined the development and validation of a criterion-referenced Spanish–English Language Proficiency Scale (SELPS) that was designed to assess the oral language skills of sequential bilingual children ages 4–8. This article reports results for the English proficiency portion of the scale.

Method

The SELPS assesses syntactic complexity, grammatical accuracy, verbal fluency, and lexical diversity based on 2 story retell tasks. In Study 1, 40 children were given 2 story retell tasks to evaluate the reliability of parallel forms. In Study 2, 76 children participated in the validation of the scale against language sample measures and teacher ratings of language proficiency.

Results

Study 1 indicated no significant differences between the SELPS scores on the 2 stories. Study 2 indicated that the SELPS scores correlated significantly with their counterpart language sample measures. Correlations between the SELPS and teacher ratings were moderate.

Conclusions

The 2 story retells elicited comparable SELPS scores, providing a valuable tool for test–retest conditions in the assessment of language proficiency. Correlations between the SELPS scores and external variables indicated that these measures assessed the same language skills. Results provided empirical evidence regarding the validity of inferences about language proficiency based on the SELPS score.
A Comparison of Methods for Decoupling Tongue and Lower Lip From Jaw Movements in 3D Articulography
Authors: Neto Henriques Rafael , van Lieshout Pascal
Published: July 2013

Purpose

One popular method to study the motion of oral articulators is 3D electromagnetic articulography. For many studies, it is important to use an algorithm to decouple the motion of the tongue and the lower lip from the motion of the mandible. In this article, the authors describe and compare 4 methods for decoupling jaw motion by using 3D tongue and lower lip data.

Method

A 3D position estimation method (3DPE), an adapted version of the estimated rotation method (ERM) proposed by Westbury, Lindstrom, and McClean (2002) for 3D recordings, a linear subtraction method, and a new method called Jaw and Oral Analysis (JOANA) were evaluated with data recorded from sensors attached to the lower molars, lower lip, and tongue.

Results

The 3DPE method showed the fewest errors. However, unlike the other methods, it requires more than one sensor attached to the lower jaw. Among the single-sensor methods, JOANA was found to be the most comparable to 3DPE.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that JOANA is efficient in decoupling tongue and lower lip motion from jaw motion, whereas ERM, with its less complicated procedure for attaching the lower jaw incisor sensor, can be considered a viable alternative.
Articulatory Distinctiveness of Vowels and Consonants: A Data-Driven Approach
Authors: Wang Jun , Green Jordan R. , Samal Ashok , Yunusova Yana
Published: July 2013

Purpose

To quantify the articulatory distinctiveness of 8 major English vowels and 11 English consonants based on tongue and lip movement time series data using a data-driven approach.

Method

Tongue and lip movements of 8 vowels and 11 consonants from 10 healthy talkers were collected. First, classification accuracies were obtained using 2 complementary approaches: (a) Procrustes analysis and (b) a support vector machine. Procrustes distance was then used to measure the articulatory distinctiveness among vowels and consonants. Finally, the distance (distinctiveness) matrices of different vowel pairs and consonant pairs were used to derive articulatory vowel and consonant spaces using multidimensional scaling.

Results

Vowel classification accuracies of 91.67% and 89.05% and consonant classification accuracies of 91.37% and 88.94% were obtained using Procrustes analysis and a support vector machine, respectively. Articulatory vowel and consonant spaces were derived based on the pairwise Procrustes distances.

Conclusions

The articulatory vowel space derived in this study resembled the long-standing descriptive articulatory vowel space defined by tongue height and advancement. The articulatory consonant space was consistent with feature-based classification of English consonants. The derived articulatory vowel and consonant spaces may have clinical implications, including serving as an objective measure of the severity of articulatory impairment.
Effects on Vocal Fold Collision and Phonation Threshold Pressure of Resonance Tube Phonation With Tube End in Water
Authors: Enflo Laura , Sundberg Johan , Romedahl Camilla , McAllister Anita
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Resonance tube phonation in water (RTPW) or in air is a voice therapy method successfully used for treatment of several voice pathologies. Its effect on the voice has not been thoroughly studied. This investigation analyzes the effects of RTPW on collision and phonation threshold pressures (CTP and PTP), the lowest subglottal pressure needed for vocal fold collision and phonation, respectively.

Method

Twelve mezzo-sopranos phonated into a glass tube, the end of which was placed under the water surface in a jar. Subglottal pressure, electroglottography, and audio signals were recorded before and after exercise. Also, the perceptual effects were assessed in a listening test with an expert panel, who also rated the subjects' singing experience.

Results

Resonance tube phonation significantly increased CTP and also tended to improve perceived voice quality. The latter effect was mostly greater in singers who did not practice singing daily. In addition, a more pronounced perceptual effect was found in singers rated as being less experienced.

Conclusion

Resonance tube phonation significantly raised CTP and tended to improve perceptual ratings of voice quality. The effect on PTP did not reach significance.
Assessment of Stigma Associated With Stuttering: Development and Evaluation of the Self-Stigma of Stuttering Scale (4S)
Authors: Boyle Michael P.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

To create a psychometrically sound scale that measures different levels of internalized stigma (i.e., self-stigma) among adults who stutter and to analyze factor structure, reliability, and initial construct validity of the scale.

Method

Two-hundred ninety-one adults who stutter were recruited from Board Recognized Specialists in Fluency Disorders and the National Stuttering Association. Participants completed a web-based survey including an experimental scale called theSelf-Stigma of Stuttering Scale(4S), designed to measure different levels of self-stigma in people who stutter, along with a series of established measures of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction.

Results

The experimental scale demonstrated adequate reliability in internal consistency and temporal stability. Factor analysis revealed underlying components supportive of a multidimensional model of stigma. Stigma self-concurrence and, to a lesser extent, stereotype agreement and stigma awareness were negatively correlated with self-esteem, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction, supporting initial construct validity of the scale.

Conclusion

Speech-language pathologists can identify the presence of self-stigma in their adult clients who stutter and help them to alter these beliefs. The 4S can be a means for researchers and clinicians to achieve these goals.
Fabrication and electrical properties of La8.33Sb(SiO4)6O2 thick films for solid oxide fuel cells
Authors: Kim Dae-Young , Lee Sung-Gap , Jung Gwang-Ho , Kim Yong-Gon
Published: July 2013

In this study, Sb-substituted La8.33Sb(SiO4)6O2 apatite thick films were fabricated by using a screen printing method and the structural and electrical properties of these materials, with variation in sintering temperature for solid oxide fuel cells were investigated. With increased sintering temperatures, the second phase La2SiO5 phase decreased and the specimens sintered at over 1350 °C showed typical X-ray diffraction patterns of apatite polycrystalline structure. The grain size increased and porosity decreased, with increasing sintering temperatures. The thickness of all films was approximately 25–30 μm. La8.33Sb(SiO4)6O2 thick films, sintered at 1350 °C, showed good conductivity and activation energy characteristics at 9.87 × 10−5 S cm−1and 1.24 eV, respectively.
Temperature and electric field stabilities of dielectric and insulating properties for c-axis-oriented CaBi4Ti4O15 films
Authors: Kimura Junichi , Takuwa Itaru , Matsushima Masaaki , Yasui Shintaro , Yamada Tomoaki , Funakubo Hiroshi
Published: July 2013

Temperature and electric field dependencies of the dielectric and insulating properties of (001)-oriented epitaxial CaBi4Ti4O15 films grown on (100)cSrRuO3//(100)SrTiO3 substrates were investigated and compared with those of conventional (100)-oriented epitaxial (Ba0.3Sr0.7)TiO3 and SrTiO3 films. All films showed negative temperature dependency of the capacitance from 25 to 500 °C, and their changes were −18%, −83%, and −58% for CaBi4Ti4O15, (Ba0.3Sr0.7)TiO3, and SrTiO3 films, respectively. Smaller change of the capacitance against dc electric field was also observed for CaBi4Ti4O15 films. Moreover, the maximum leakage current density of CaBi4Ti4O15 films measured at ±100 kV/cm was below 10−3 A/cm2 up to 500 °C, which was smaller than those of (Ba0.3Sr0.7)TiO3 and SrTiO3 films. These results indicate that (001)-oriented CaBi4Ti4O15 films are a useful candidate as the capacitor material applicable for the high temperature use because of its high stability against temperature and an electric field as well as the good insulating characteristics.
Thickness variation of electrophoretically deposited strontium titanate films for photoelectrochemical energy conversion
Authors: Hertkorn D. , Elsenheimer H. C. , Bruch R. , Paul F. , Müller C. , Hanemann T. , Reinecke H.
Published: July 2013

Photoelectrochemical cells consisting of strontium titanate (SrTiO3) films on nickel substrates in potassium hydroxide electrolyte have been developed. SrTiO3 film thicknesses in the range of 1 μm–8 μm have been realized by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The EPD process enables to produce such films in only 12 s with very high reproducibility. The samples have been studied with the focus on their photocurrents under illumination with different wavelengths. Samples with a film thickness of 5 μm show the best performance, because the trade-off between high absorption and low recombination is highest. Under 365 nm illumination, these samples show light to current efficiencies of 8% and external quantum efficiencies of 23.6%.
Magnetoelectric spintronics
Authors: Kleemann W.
Published: July 2013

A promising way to overcome power and temperature issues in optimizing the performance of microelectronic devices will take advantage of purely electric field-controlled devices with a minimum amount of Joule heating. Multiphase multiferroic and magnetoelectric materials are most promising, since they can be tailored according to the technical needs. Here, we focus onto electric switching of the exchange bias effect in Cr2O3/(Pt/Co/Pt) heterostructures thus controlling the magnetic states of spintronic devices such as MERAM and MEXOR.
Nonlinear antiferroelectric-like capacitance-voltage curves in ferroelectric BiFeO3 thin films
Authors: Jiang A. Q. , Zhang D. W. , Tang T. A.
Published: July 2013

The ferroelectric capacitance is usually nonlinear against increasing/decreasing voltage in sweeping time longer than 1 s and achieves a maximum value at around a coercive voltage within each loop. With the improved short-pulse measurements, we estimated the differential capacitance of ferroelectric Au/BiFeO3/LaNiO3/SrTiO3 thin-film capacitors from a nanosecond discharging current induced by a delta voltage after a stressing voltage pulse with widths of 500 ns–50 ms. With the shortening of the voltage sweeping time, we clearly observed two capacitance maxima from each branch of a capacitance-voltage (C-V) loop, reminiscent of an antiferroelectric behavior. After transformation of nanosecond domain switching current transients under pulses into polarization–voltage hysteresis loops, we further measured time dependent polarization retention as well as imprint in the range of 100 ns–1 s. Both positive and negative polarizations decay exponentially at characteristic times of 2.25 and 198 μs, suggesting the coexistence of preferred domains pointing to top and bottom electrodes in most epitaxial films. This exponential time dependence is similar to the dielectric degradation under a dc voltage, and the polarization retention can be improved through long-time opposite voltage stressing. With this improvement, the additional antiferroelectric-like dielectric maximum within each branch of a C-V loop disappears. This experiment provides the strong evidence of the effect of time-dependent charge injection on polarization retention and dielectric degradation.
Enhanced resistive switching effect in Ag nanoparticle embedded BaTiO3 thin films
Authors: Au K. , Gao X. S. , Wang Juan , Bao Z. Y. , Liu J. M. , Dai J. Y.
Published: July 2013

Ag nanoparticle (NP) embedded BaTiO3 (BTO) thin films on SrRuO3-coated SrTiO3 (STO) substrates are prepared by the integrated nanocluster beam deposition and laser-molecular beam epitaxy. Enhanced resistive switching, up to an ON/OFF ration of 104, has been achieved at low switching voltage (less than 1 V) without a forming voltage. These characteristics make such nanocomposite film very promising for application of low voltage non-volatile random access memory. The enhanced resistive switching effect may be attributed to the charge storage effect of the Ag nanoparticles and easy formation of Ag filament inside the BTO film.
Ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and dielectric properties of BiScO3-PbTiO3-Pb(Cd1/3Nb2/3)O3 ternary high temperature piezoelectric ceramics
Authors: Zhao Tian-Long , Chen Jianguo , Wang Chun-Ming , Yu Yang , Dong Shuxiang
Published: July 2013

(0.95-x)BiScO3-xPbTiO3-0.05Pb(Cd1/3Nb2/3)O3 (BS-xPT-PCN) high temperature piezoelectric ceramics near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) have been synthesized by traditional solid-state reaction methods. The microstructural morphology, phase structure, and electrical properties of BS-xPT-PCN ceramics were investigated in detail. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated BS-xPT-PCN ceramics have a pure perovskite structure. The coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases at MPB composition enhanced the polarizability by the coupling between two dynamically equivalent energy states, resulting in the improved piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties at MPB vicinity. The BS-xPT-PCN (x = 0.60) ceramics possess the optimal piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties with d33 = 505pC/N, kp = 55.9%, kt = 36.5%, strain = 0.23% (under the electric field 37.5 kV/cm), and Pr = 39.7 μC/cm2. High temperature dielectric behaviors showed diffuse phase transition in BS-xPT-PCN ceramics. The Curie temperature Tc was found to increase from 371 °C to 414 °C with x increasing from 0.58 to 0.62. All these results together with the good thermal stabilities make the BS-xPT-PCN ceramics promising candidates for high temperature piezoelectric applications.
Piezoelectric-metal-magnet dc magnetoelectric sensor with high dynamic response
Authors: Zhang Long , Ming Leung Chung , Wing Or Siu , Ho S. L.
Published: July 2013

A dc magnetoelectric sensor capable of measuring both dc and ac magnetic fields is developed by combining a thickness-polarized 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.3PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) piezoelectric single-crystal plate, a pair of electrically connected aluminum strips, and a pair of NdFeB magnet plates in orthogonal directions. The operation of the sensor is based on the mechanical mediation of the magnetically biased Lorentz force effect in the aluminum strips due to a drive magnetic field (B3D) applied to the sensor, a dc bias magnetic field (B3B) preset by the NdFeB plates, and an ac reference electric current (I2) flowing through the aluminum strips with the transverse piezoelectric effect in the PMN–PT plate at the sensor resonance. The theoretical and experimental results confirm an ultrahigh and linear current-controlled magnetic field sensitivity of 1.7 V/T/A in broad ranges of B3D amplitude of −100 to 100 mT and B3D frequency of 0–15 kHz by using an I2 of ≤100 mA at the sensor resonance frequency of 65 kHz.
High frequency alternating current chip nano calorimeter with laser heating
Authors: Shoifet E. , Chua Y. Z. , Huth H. , Schick C.
Published: July 2013

Heat capacity spectroscopy at frequencies up to 100 kHz is commonly performed by thermal effusivity measurements applying the 3ω-technique. Here we show that AC-calorimetry using a thin film chip sensor allows for the measurement of frequency dependent heat capacity in the thin film limit up to about 1 MHz. Using films thinner than the thermal length of the thermal wave (∼1 μm) at such frequencies is advantageous because it provides heat capacity alone and not in combination with other quantities like thermal conductivity, at least on a qualitative basis. The used calorimetric sensor and the sample are each less than 1 μm thick. For high frequency AC-calorimetry, high cooling rates at very small temperature differences are required. This is realized by minimizing the heated spot to the size of the on chip thermocouple (3 × 6 μm2). A modulated laser beam shaped and positioned by a glass fiber is used as the heat source. The device was used to measure the complex heat capacity in the vicinity of the dynamic glass transition (structural relaxation) of poly(methyl methacrylate). Combining different calorimeters finally provides data between 10−3 Hz and 106 Hz. In this frequency range the dynamic glass transition shifts about 120 K.