bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduction Method of Fluctuation in Partial Discharge Inception Voltage for Inverter‐Fed Rectangular Wire Motors
Authors: WAKIMOTO TORU , KOJIMA HIROKI , HAYAKAWA NAOKI
Published: October 2016

We investigated the decisive factors that affect partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) fluctuation between the coil wires under a sinusoidal voltage by using a rectangular wire motor. As a result, we found that PDIV under low humidity fluctuates by the surface charge, and PDIV under high humidity varies transitionally with the surface conductivity activated by predischarge. From these analyses, we proposed the measurement method of PDIV with a low fluctuation and transition for the rectangular wire motors, which will be optimized by environmental humidity, predischarge condition, and measuring frequency.
The application of GPR and ERI in combination with exposure logging and retrodeformation analysis to characterize sinkholes and reconstruct their impact on fluvial sedimentation
Authors: Zarroca Mario , Comas Xavier , Gutiérrez Francisco , Carbonel Domingo , Linares Rogelio , Roqué Carles , Mozafari Morteza , Guerrero Jesús , Pellicer Xavier M.
Published: October 2016

This work illustrates the practicality of investigating sinkholes integrating data gathered by ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) and trenching or direct logging of the subsidence‐affected sediments in combination with retrodeformation analysis. This mutidisciplinary approach has been tested in a large paleosinkhole developed during the deposition of a Quaternary terrace on salt‐bearing evaporites. The subsidence structure, exposed in an artificial excavation, is located next to Puilatos, a village that was abandoned in the 1970s due to severe subsidence damage. Detailed logging of the exposure revealed that the subsidence structure corresponds to an asymmetric sagging and collapse paleosinkhole with no clear evidence of recent activity. The sedimentological and structural relationships together with the retrodeformation analysis indicate that synsedimentary subsidence controlled channel location, the development of a palustrine environment and local changes in the channel pattern. GPR profiles were acquired using an array of systems with different antenna frequencies, including some recently developed shielded antennas with improved vertical resolution and penetration depth. Although radargrams imaged the faulted sagging structure and provided valuable data on fault throw, they did not satisfactorily image the complex architecture of the fluvial deposit. ERI showed lower resolution but higher penetration depth when compared to GPR, roughly capturing the subsidence structure and yielding information on the thickness of the high‐resistivity alluvium and the nature of the underlying low‐resistivity karstic residue developed on top of the halite‐bearing evaporitic bedrock. Data comparison allows the assessment of the advantages and limitations of these complementary techniques, highly useful for site‐specific sinkhole risk management. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Öffentlich trauern
Authors: Benz Brigitte , Kranemann Benedikt
Published: October 2016

Disaster Rituals: Gedenkfeiern nach Attentaten oder Katastrophen haben ihre eigene Dramaturgie. Je nach Ort, Ausgestaltung und Aussage höchst verschieden, sind sie direkt und indirekt mit Zeitgeist, Religionen und Weltanschauungen verbunden. Jetzt werden die neuen Formen des Innehaltens und Abschiednehmens auch Thema der liturgiewissenschaftlichen Forschung.
An in vitro investigation to assess procedure parameters for injecting therapeutic hydrogels into the myocardium
Authors: Curley Clive J. , Dolan Eimear B. , Cavanagh Brenton , O'Sullivan Janice , Duffy Garry P. , Murphy Bruce P.
Published: October 2016

Localized delivery of stem cells is potentially a promising therapeutic strategy for regenerating damaged myocardium. Many studies focus on limiting the biologic component of cell loss, but few address the contribution of mechanical factors. This study investigates optimal parameters for retaining the largest volume of cell loaded hydrogels post intramyocardial injection, without compromising cell viability. In vitro, hydrogel was injected into porcine hearts using various needle designs. Hydrogel retention and distribution pattern was then determined. The two most promising needles were then investigated to understand the effect of needle geometry on stem cell viability. The needle to best impact cell viability was then used to investigate the effect of differing hydrogels on retention and distribution. Three‐dimensional experimental modeling revealed needles with smaller diameter's to have greater poloxamer 407 hydrogel retention. No difference in retention existed among various needle designs of similar gauge, despite differences in bolus geometries. When hMSC's, embedded in fibrin hydrogel, were injected through helical and 26G bevel needles no difference in the percent of live cells was seen at 48 h. However, the helical group had almost half the metabolic activity of the 26G bevel group at both time points, and had a significant decline in the percent of live cells from 24 to 48 h. Varying gel type resulted in significantly more alginate being retained in the tissue in comparison to fibrin or poloxamer hydrogels. In conclusion, mechanical properties of injected hydrogels, and the diameter of the needle used, highly influences the volume of hydrogel retained. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 2618–2629, 2017.
Exploring the structure and stability of cholesterol dimer formation in multicomponent lipid bilayers
Authors: Bandara Asanga , Panahi Afra , Pantelopulos George A. , Straub John E.
Published: October 2016

For 40 years, the existence and possible functional importance of cholesterol dimer formation has been discussed. Due to challenges associated with structural studies of membrane lipids, there has as yet been no direct experimental verification of the existence and relevance of the cholesterol dimer. Building on recent advances in lipid force fields for molecular simulation, in this work the structure and stability of the cholesterol dimer is characterized in POPC bilayers in absence and presence of sphingomyelin. The cholesterol dimer structural ensemble is found to consist of sub‐states that reflect, but also differ from, previously proposed dimer structures. While face‐to‐face dimer structures predominate, no evidence is found for the existence of tail‐to‐tail dimers in POPC lipid bilayers. Near stoichiometric complex formation of cholesterol with sphingomyelin is found to effect cholesterol dimer structure without impacting population. Comparison with NMR‐derived order parameters provide validation for the simulation model employed and conclusions drawn related to the structure and stability of cholesterol dimers in multicomponent lipid bilayers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of different lubricating oil on the adsorption/desorption process of fuel in oil layer in an SI engine
Authors: Kushwaha Garima , Saraswati Samir , Paul Bireswar
Published: October 2016

A diffusion equation given by Fick's law is used to study the effect of different lubricants on adsorption/desorption process of fuel in oil layer that contributes to about 25–30% of total engine‐out hydrocarbon emissions in spark ignition engine. A comparative study is carried out between the six lubricants, namely, squalane (C30H62), SAE0W20, SAE10W30, SAE10W40, SAE10W60 and SAE15W60. The Henry's constant and diffusion coefficient are found to be the two most important parameters that affect the amount of fuel in oil layer. The Henry's constant dominates the adsorption/desorption process at high temperatures of oil, whereas at low temperatures, diffusion coefficient effect prevails. The percentage of fuel adsorbed/desorbed into oil layer is found to be dependent on engine speed, equivalence ratio and engine load. The results are found to be in good agreement with experimental trends of hydrocarbon emissions when tested on a single cylinder SI engine using the lubricants SAE10W30 and SAE10W40. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein‐like structure and activity in synthetic polymers
Authors: Cole Justin P. , Hanlon Ashley M. , Rodriguez Kyle J. , Berda Erik B.
Published: October 2016

The structure and activity of proteins is the gold standard for functional polymeric materials. This highlight seeks to calibrate the reader with respect to recent attempts to mimic the various structural and functional traits of proteins using the techniques of modern polymer chemistry. From advances in sequence‐controlled polymers (primary structure), to peptidomimetics, foldamers, single‐chain nanoparticles (secondary and tertiary structure), accessing the various structural aspects of protein chemistry is a vibrant research area. Likewise, the properties and utility of proteins in applications such as catalysis and molecular recognition are being emulated in the laboratory to great effect. Rather than provide an exhaustive review on any one of these topics, this article seeks to highlight the common thread among them, encouraging discussion and collaboration that will result in the next generation of smart materials with advanced structure and function. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 191–206
Redox proteomics screening cellular factors associated with oxidative stress in hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Zhou Li , Wen Ji , Huang Zhao , Nice Edouard C. , Huang Canhua , Zhang Haiyuan , Li Qifu
Published: October 2016

Liver cancer is a major global health problem being the sixth most common cancer and the third cause of cancer‐related death, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) representing more than 90% of primary liver cancers. Mounting evidence suggests that, compared with their normal counterparts, many types of cancer cell have increased levels of ROS. Therefore, cancer cells need to combat high levels of ROS, especially at early stages of tumor development. Recent studies have revealed that ROS‐mediated regulation of redox‐sensitive proteins (redox sensors) is involved in the pathogenesis and/or progression of many human diseases, including cancer. Unraveling the altered functions of redox sensors and the underlying mechanisms in hepatocarcinogenesis is critical for the development of novel cancer therapeutics. For this reason, redox proteomics has been developed for the high‐throughput screening of redox sensors, which will benefit the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of HCC. In this review, we will briefly introduce several novel redox proteomics techniques that are currently available to study various oxidative modifications in hepatocarcinogenesis and summarize the most important discoveries in the study of redox processes related to the development and progression of HCC.
Distribution‐Free Adaptive Step‐Down Procedure for Fault Identification
Authors: Turkoz Mehmet , Kim Sangahn , Jeong Young‐Seon , Al‐Khalifa Khalifa N. , Hamouda Abdel Magid
Published: October 2016

Identifying the faulty variables of the out‐of‐control signal in high‐dimensional process is an important problem for quality control areas. Even though there have been several procedures for fault variable identifications, most of the existing approaches assume the multivariate normal distribution of observations and are sensitive to the correlations between variables. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a new fault variable identification method that does not assume any specific distribution of observations. The proposed procedure based on one class classification method identifies the changed variables by identifying unchanged variables at each step using the information obtained from the previous steps. This strategy can reduce computational times when a few variables are changed in a high‐dimensional process. In addition, the proposed procedure is robust to the correlations between variables, resulting in stable performance regardless of the number of changed variables. The experiment results with diverse dataset demonstrate superiority of the proposed distribution‐free procedure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distributed filtering and synchronization of diffusively state‐coupled heterogeneous systems
Authors: Lee Sang‐Chul , Ahn Hyo‐Sung
Published: October 2016

This paper studies distributed
filtering‐based
ssynchronization of diffusively state‐coupled heterogeneous systems. For given heterogeneous subsystems and a network topology, sufficient conditions for the
filtering‐based
synchronization are developed with a guaranteed
performance. The estimation and synchronization error dynamics are obtained in a decoupled form, and it is shown that the filter and the controller can be designed separately by LMIs. The feasibility of the proposed design method using LMIs is discussed, and the main results are validated through examples with various setup. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discovering the magic
Authors: Cetinelli Selin
Published: October 2016

Inspiring transformation at Unilever CMI in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous World

In an increasingly fast‐paced environment with big data pouring in from all directions, using the word “tough” to describe the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity of business context nowadays is probably an understatement. We are now faced with principles such as perseverance and well‐being as necessities in order to survive this VUCA world. So what does that mean for organisations and more importantly for functions like market research or consumer insight departments in how they operate and how they manage research? This article focuses on hos Unilever has managed to balance this with its consumer‐centricity and “insights engine”.
Measuring passion
Authors: Heeg Robert
Published: October 2016

Scaling up data science at Spotify
Human behaviour as an aspect of cybersecurity assurance
Authors: Evans Mark , Maglaras Leandros A. , He Ying , Janicke Helge
Published: October 2016

There continue to be numerous breaches publicised pertaining to cybersecurity despite security practices being applied within industry for many years. This paper is intended to be the first in a number of papers as research into cybersecurity assurance processes. This paper is compiled based on current research related to cybersecurity assurance and the impact of the human element on it. The objective of this work is to identify elements of cybersecurity that would benefit from further research and development based on the literature review findings. The results outlined in this paper present a need for the cybersecurity field to look in to established industry areas to benefit from effective practices such as human reliability assessment, along with improved methods of validation such as statistical quality control in order to obtain true assurance. The paper proposes the development of a framework that will be based upon defined and repeatable quantification, specifically relating to the range of human aspect tasks that provide or are intended not to negatively affect cybersecurity assurance. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel feature extraction approach in SMS spam filtering for mobile communication: one‐dimensional ternary patterns
Authors: Kaya Yilmaz , Ertuğrul Ömer Faruk
Published: October 2016

The importance and utilization of mobile communication are increasing day by day, and the short message service (SMS) is one of them. Although SMS is a widely used communication way, it brings together a major problem, which is SMS spam messages. SMS spams do not only use vain in the mobile communication traffic but also disturb users. Based on this fact, blacklisting methods, statistical methods which are built on the frequency of occurrence of words or characters, and machine learning methods have been employed. Because punishments and legal laws are not enough to solve this problem and the Group Special Mobile number of SMS spam can easily be changed, a content‐based approach must be proposed. Content‐based methods showed high success in spam e‐mail filtering, but it is hard in the SMS spam filtering because SMS messages are extremely short and generally contains many abbreviations. In this study, an image processing method, local ternary pattern was improved to extract features from SMS messages in the feature extraction stage. In the proposed one‐dimensional ternary patterns, firstly, text message was converted to their UTF‐8 values. Later, each character (its UTF‐8 value) in the message was compared with its neighbors. Two different feature sets were extracted from the results of these comparisons. Finally, some machine learning methods were employed to classify these features. In order to validate the proposed approach, three different SMS corpora were used. The achieved accuracies and other employee performance measures showed that the proposed approach, one‐dimensional ternary patterns, can be effectively employed in SMS spam filtering. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
All‐in‐one implementation framework for binary heaps
Authors: Katajainen Jyrki
Published: October 2016

Even a rough literature review reveals that there are many alternative ways of implementing a binary heap, the fundamental priority‐queue structure loved by us all. Which one of these alternatives is the best in practice? The opinions of crowd‐pullers and textbook authors are aligned: use an array. Of course, the correct answer is ‘it depends’. To get from opinions to facts, a framework—a set of class templates—was written that provides a variety of customization options so it could be used to realize a large part of the proposed variants. Also, some of the derived implementations were performance benchmarked. From this work, three conclusions can be drawn: (i) It is difficult to achieve space efficiency and speed at the same time. If n denotes the current number of values in the data structure, ϵ is a small positive real, ϵ < 1, and
denotes the size of the values of type
in bytes, space efficiency means
bytes of space, and speed means O(lgn) worst‐case time per push and pop. (ii) If an array‐based solution is sufficient, Williams' original program from 1964 is still to this day hard to beat. (iii) Sometimes a linked structure and clever programming is a viable option. If the binary‐heap variant you need is not available at the software library you are using, reading this essay might save you some headaches. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Academic promotion packages: crafting connotative frames
Authors: Varpio Lara , St.Onge Christina , Young Meredith
Published: October 2016

Among the challenges of navigating the promotion and tenure (P&T) process is the need to describe one’s career using the language of P&T expectations, while also framing that language to reflect the unique work involved in health professions education (HPE) scholarship. Drawing on the distinction between denotative and connotative meanings of words, we describe how the language of P&T standards can hold different meanings depending on how they are contextualized in the HPE field and the communities therein. To illustrate, we describe our experiences of adapting the language of ‘teaching’ to the expectations of the P&T committee while also reflecting the non-traditional ‘teaching’ we do in HPE. We also share three practical tips for navigating the P&T process: (1) find a local mentor, (2) craft the story of your expertise, and (3) seek feedback from your local stakeholders on the connotative story you have crafted.
Education and the island of misfit toys
Authors: Durning Steven J. , Meyer Holly S. , Teunissen Pim W.
Published: October 2016

None
Cognitive impairment and decline in cognitively normal older adults with high amyloid‐β: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Baker Jenalle E. , Lim Yen Ying , Pietrzak Robert H. , Hassenstab Jason , Snyder Peter J. , Masters Colin L. , Maruff Paul
Published: October 2016

Introduction

This meta‐analysis aimed to characterize the nature and magnitude of amyloid (Aβ)‐related cognitive impairment and decline in cognitively normal (CN) older individuals.

Method

MEDLINE Ovid was searched from 2012 to June 2016 for studies reporting relationships between cerebrospinal fluid or positron emission tomography (PET) Aβ levels and cognitive impairment (cross‐sectional) and decline (longitudinal) in CN older adults. Neuropsychological data were classified into domains of episodic memory, executive function, working memory, processing speed, visuospatial function, semantic memory, and global cognition. Type of Aβ measure, how Aβ burden was analyzed, inclusion of control variables, and clinical criteria used to exclude participants, were considered as moderators. Random‐effects models were used for analyses with effect sizes expressed as Cohen's d.

Results

A total of 38 studies met inclusion criteria contributing 30 cross‐sectional (N = 5005) and 14 longitudinal (N = 2584) samples. Aβ‐related cognitive impairment was observed for global cognition (d = 0.32), visuospatial function (d = 0.25), processing speed (d = 0.18), episodic memory, and executive function (both d's = 0.15), with decline observed for global cognition (d = 0.30), semantic memory (d = 0.28), visuospatial function (d = 0.25), and episodic memory (d = 0.24). Aβ‐related impairment was moderated by age, amyloid measure, type of analysis, and inclusion of control variables and decline moderated by amyloid measure, type of analysis, inclusion of control variables, and exclusion criteria used.

Discussion

CN older adults with high Aβ show a small general cognitive impairment and small to moderate decline in episodic memory, visuospatial function, semantic memory, and global cognition.
Which empirical model is best suited to simulate glacier mass balances?
Authors: RÉVEILLET MARION , VINCENT CHRISTIAN , SIX DELPHINE , RABATEL ANTOINE
Published: October 2016

Based on an extensive dataset of surface mass balances (SMB) from four glaciers in the French Alps for the period 1995–2012 and in the framework of enhanced temperature-index models, we investigate the sensitivity of seasonal glacier SMB to temperature, solar radiation, precipitation and topographical variables. Our results reveal strong correlations between winter SMB and precipitation, although the precipitation gradient cannot explain the high-accumulation rates. Based on the available point measurements, we found no relevant relationship between winter SMB and topographical variables. Temperature was found to be the main driver of ice/snow ablation while solar radiation was found to strongly influence the spatial distribution of summer SMB. We compared the ability of several enhanced temperature-index models to accurately simulate point SMB and glacier-wide MB. Our analyses revealed that the uncertainties in the simulated annual SMB due to winter SMB uncertainties are larger than differences between models and prevented us from concluding, which model is the most suitable. In contrast with results of previous studies, including solar radiation in melt models did not improve the performances when modelling glacier-wide MB. We conclude that a classical degree-day model is sufficient to simulate the long-term glacier-wide MB if the underlying processes are not required to be resolved.
Gender and Intergroup Helping: Forms of Prosocial Behavior as Differential Social Control Mechanisms for Women and Men
Authors: Abad-Merino Silvia , Dovidio John F. , Tabernero Carmen , González Ignacio
Published: October 2016

The present research, drawing on the Intergroup Helping as Power Relations Model (Nadler, 2002), investigated the ways in which different forms of helping behavior can strategically affect responses to women and men who display socially valued or devalued characteristics. Participants read scenarios about concrete problems faced by a woman or man in need, who displayed positive (i.e., prosocial) or negative (i.e., antisocial) characteristics, and indicated the extent to which they would be willing to support small tax increases if that money were used to help address the target’s issues. The predicted Target Gender × Target History × Type of Support interaction, controlling for political orientation, was obtained,F(1, 149) = 6.49,p= .012, ηp2= .04. Participants tended to give less autonomy-oriented (i.e., empowering) help to a man displaying antisocial (vs. prosocial) characteristics,F(1, 36) = 3.39,p= .074, ηp2= .09.; they also tended to off more dependency-oriented (i.e., disempowering) help to a woman women exhibiting prosocial (vs. antisocial) qualities,F(1, 38) = 3.42,p= .072, ηp2= .08. The role of seemingly positive forms of social behavior as a mechanism for social control and the relation of helping to processes of group-hierarchy and system-justifying processes are considered.
Change in health status in COPD: a seven-year follow-up cohort study
Authors: Sundh Josefin , Montgomery Scott , Hasselgren Mikael , Kämpe Mary , Janson Christer , Ställberg Björn , Lisspers Karin
Published: October 2016

Health status is a prognostic factor included in the assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of our study was to examine the associations of clinical factors with change in health status over a 7-year follow-up period. In 2005, 970 randomly selected primary and secondary care patients with a COPD diagnosis completed questionnaires including the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ); and in 2012, 413 completed the CCQ questionnaire again. Linear regression used difference in mean total CCQ score between 2005 and 2012 as the dependent variable. Independent variables were CCQ score at baseline 2005, sex, age, educational level, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, heart disease, diabetes, depression, number of exacerbations in the previous 6 months, dyspnoea (modified Medical Research Council (mMRC)). Health status worsened from mean total CCQ (s.d.) 2.03 (1.26) in 2005 to 2.16 (1.37) in 2012 (P=0.011). In linear regression with adjustment for baseline CCQ; older age, lower education, higher mMRC and BMI below 25 kg/m2 at baseline were associated with worsened health status in 2012. When sex, age and all statistically significant measures were included simultaneously in the analysis of the main study group, higher mMRC and BMI below 25 kg/m2 were were associated with deteriorated health status (P<0.0001). A higher level of dyspnoea and lower weight were associated with worse health status in COPD. Strategies for decreasing dyspnoea and awareness of the possible increased risk of worsening disease in under- and normal-weight COPD patients are clinically important.
Measurement characteristics of the childhood Asthma-Control Test and a shortened, child-only version
Authors: Bime Christian , Gerald Joe K , Wei Christine Y , Holbrook Janet T , Teague William G , Wise Robert A , Gerald Lynn B
Published: October 2016

The childhood Asthma-Control Test (C-ACT) is validated for assessing asthma control in paediatric asthma. Among children aged 4–11 years, the C-ACT requires the simultaneous presence of both parent and child. There is an unmet need for a tool that can be used to assess asthma control in children when parents or caregivers are not present such as in the school setting. We assessed the psychometric properties and estimated the minimally important difference (MID) of the C-ACT and a modified version, comprising only the child responses (C-ACTc). Asthma patients aged 6–11 years (n=161) from a previously completed multicenter randomised trial were included. Demographic information, spirometry and questionnaire scores were obtained at baseline and during follow-up. Participants or their guardians kept a daily asthma diary. Internal consistency reliabilities of the C-ACT and C-ACTc were 0.76 and 0.67 (Cronbach’s α), respectively. Test–retest reliabilities of the C-ACT and C-ACTc were 0.72 and 0.66 (intra-class correlation), respectively. Significant correlations were noted between C-ACT scores and ACQ scores (Spearman’s correlation r=−0.56, 95% CI (−0.66, −0.44), P<0.001). The strength of the correlation between C-ACTc scores and ACQ scores was weaker (Spearman’s correlation r=−0.46, 95% CI (−0.58, −0.33), P<0.001). We estimated the MID for the C-ACT and C-ACTc to be 2 points and 1 point, respectively. Among asthma patients aged 6–11 years, the C-ACT had good psychometric properties. The psychometric properties of a shortened child-only version (C-ACTc), although acceptable, are not as strong.
Hepatitis C RNA assay differences in results: Potential implications for shortened therapy and determination of Sustained Virologic Response
Authors: Cloherty Gavin , Chevaliez Stephane , Sarrazin Christoph , Herman Christine , Holzmayer Vera , Dawson George , Maasoumy Benjamin , Vermehren Johannes , Wedemeyer Heiner , Feld Jordan J. , Pawlotsky Jean-Michel
Published: October 2016

Approval of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) includes the truncation of therapy from 12 to 8 weeks in treatment naïve, non-cirrhotic patients with baseline HCV RNA levels <6 million IU/mL (6.8 log10 IU/mL). The aim of this study was to evaluate this clinical cutoff with a different widely used commercially available HCV RNA test. Results from samples tested prospectively with Roche High Pure TaqMan HCV 2.0 test (HPS) were compared to those tested retrospectively with the Abbott RealTime HCV RNA test (ART). Using 6 million IU/mL as the cut-off, pre-treatment results were concordant in 70.4% of cases. When results with the same test measured at screening and baseline, clinical decisions could be impacted in 14.4% and 6.2% of cases for HPS and ART respectively. Using only HCV RNA cutoff of 6 million IU/mL, 29.55% of subjects would receive a different and potentially incorrect treatment duration based solely on HCV RNA test method used. A further 6–14% of subjects would have treatment decision change based on the day the sample was taken.
Protease induced plasticity: matrix metalloproteinase-1 promotes neurostructural changes through activation of protease activated receptor 1
Authors: Allen Megan , Ghosh Suhasini , Ahern Gerard P. , Villapol Sonia , Maguire-Zeiss Kathleen A. , Conant Katherine
Published: October 2016

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of secreted endopeptidases expressed by neurons and glia. Regulated MMP activity contributes to physiological synaptic plasticity, while dysregulated activity can stimulate injury. Disentangling the role individual MMPs play in synaptic plasticity is difficult due to overlapping structure and function as well as cell-type specific expression. Here, we develop a novel system to investigate the selective overexpression of a single MMP driven by GFAP expressing cells in vivo. We show that MMP-1 induces cellular and behavioral phenotypes consistent with enhanced signaling through the G-protein coupled protease activated receptor 1 (PAR1). Application of exogenous MMP-1, in vitro, stimulates PAR1 dependent increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and dendritic arborization. Overexpression of MMP-1, in vivo, increases dendritic complexity and induces biochemical and behavioral endpoints consistent with increased GPCR signaling. These data are exciting because we demonstrate that an astrocyte-derived protease can influence neuronal plasticity through an extracellular matrix independent mechanism.
Imaging hydrogen peroxide in Alzheimer’s disease via cascade signal amplification
Authors: Yang Jian , Yang Jing , Liang Steven H. , Xu Yungen , Moore Anna , Ran Chongzhao
Published: October 2016

In brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are significantly higher than that of healthy brains. Evidence suggests that, during AD onset and progression, a vicious cycle revolves around amyloid beta (Aβ) production, aggregation, plaque formation, microglia/immunological responses, inflammation, and ROS production. In this cycle, ROS species play a central role, and H2O2 is one of the most important ROS species. In this report, we have designed a fluorescent imaging probe CRANAD-88, which is capable of cascade amplifying near infrared fluorescence (NIRF) signals at three levels upon interacting with H2O2 in AD brains. We demonstrated that the amplification was feasible in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, we showed that, for the first time, it was feasible to monitor the changes of H2O2 concentrations in AD brains before and after treatment with an H2O2 scavenger. Our method opens new revenues to investigate H2O2 in AD brains and can be very instructive for drug development.
Inferring neutral biodiversity parameters using environmental DNA data sets
Authors: Sommeria-Klein Guilhem , Zinger Lucie , Taberlet Pierre , Coissac Eric , Chave Jérôme
Published: October 2016

The DNA present in the environment is a unique and increasingly exploited source of information for conducting fast and standardized biodiversity assessments for any type of organisms. The datasets resulting from these surveys are however rarely compared to the quantitative predictions of biodiversity models. In this study, we simulate neutral taxa-abundance datasets, and artificially noise them by simulating noise terms typical of DNA-based biodiversity surveys. The resulting noised taxa abundances are used to assess whether the two parameters of Hubbell’s neutral theory of biodiversity can still be estimated. We find that parameters can be inferred provided that PCR noise on taxa abundances does not exceed a certain threshold. However, inference is seriously biased by the presence of artifactual taxa. The uneven contribution of organisms to environmental DNA owing to size differences and barcode copy number variability does not impede neutral parameter inference, provided that the number of sequence reads used for inference is smaller than the number of effectively sampled individuals. Hence, estimating neutral parameters from DNA-based taxa abundance patterns is possible but requires some caution. In studies that include empirical noise assessments, our comprehensive simulation benchmark provides objective criteria to evaluate the robustness of neutral parameter inference.
MicroRNA-574-5p promotes metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer by targeting PTPRU
Authors: Zhou Rui , Zhou Xiaoshu , Yin Zhongyuan , Guo Jing , Hu Ting , Jiang Shun , Liu Li , Dong Xiaorong , Zhang Sheng , Wu Gang
Published: October 2016

Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been associated with malignant behavior in a variety of cancers. Our previous study demonstrated that miRNA expression profiles are predictors for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We also showed that miRNAs are involved in small-cell lung cancer metastasis. Here, we used qRT-PCR to re-analyze our previous microarray results using serum samples from 75 patients with NSCLC. Surprisingly, we found that miR-574-5p and miR-874 were overexpressed in patients with metastatic advanced NSCLC but not in patients with non-metastatic advanced NSCLC. Additionally, miR-574-5p expression was correlated between matched serum and tissue samples from 68 patients. However, these 2 miRNAs are not prognostic factors for NSCLC. Transwell and wound-healing assays showed that miR-574-5p promotes the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Furthermore, miR-574-5p enhanced the tyrosine phosphorylation of β-catenin by repressing PTPRU expression in vitro. In conclusion, this study explored the expression of miR-574-5p in clinical samples and its molecular mechanisms in the metastasis of advanced NSCLC.
Cryo-EM structure of the large subunit of the spinach chloroplast ribosome
Authors: Ahmed Tofayel , Yin Zhan , Bhushan Shashi
Published: October 2016

Protein synthesis in the chloroplast is mediated by the chloroplast ribosome (chloro-ribosome). Overall architecture of the chloro-ribosome is considerably similar to the Escherichia coli (E. coli) ribosome but certain differences are evident. The chloro-ribosome proteins are generally larger because of the presence of chloroplast-specific extensions in their N- and C-termini. The chloro-ribosome harbours six plastid-specific ribosomal proteins (PSRPs); four in the small subunit and two in the large subunit. Deletions and insertions occur throughout the rRNA sequence of the chloro-ribosome (except for the conserved peptidyl transferase center region) but the overall length of the rRNAs do not change significantly, compared to the E. coli. Although, recent advancements in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have provided detailed high-resolution structures of ribosomes from many different sources, a high-resolution structure of the chloro-ribosome is still lacking. Here, we present a cryo-EM structure of the large subunit of the chloro-ribosome from spinach (Spinacia oleracea) at an average resolution of 3.5 Å. High-resolution map enabled us to localize and model chloro-ribosome proteins, chloroplast-specific protein extensions, two PSRPs (PSRP5 and 6) and three rRNA molecules present in the chloro-ribosome. Although comparable to E. coli, the polypeptide tunnel and the tunnel exit site show chloroplast-specific features.
Dynamic Drug-Induced Sleep Computed Tomography in Adults With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Li Hsueh-Yu , Lo Yu-Lun , Wang Chao-Jan , Hsin Li-Jen , Lin Wan-Ni , Fang Tuan-Jen , Lee Li-Ang
Published: October 2016

Surgical success for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) depends on identifying sites of obstruction in the upper airway. In this study, we investigated sites of obstruction by evaluating dynamic changes in the upper airway using drug-induced sleep computed tomography (DI-SCT) in patients with OSA. Thirty-five adult patients with OSA were prospectively enrolled. Sleep was induced with propofol under light sedation (bispectral index 70–75), and low-dose 320-detector row CT was performed for 10 seconds over a span of 2–3 respiratory cycles with supporting a continuous positive airway pressure model. Most (89%) of the patients had multi-level obstructions. Total obstruction most commonly occurred in the velum (86%), followed by the tongue (57%), oropharyngeal lateral wall (49%), and epiglottis (26%). There were two types of anterior-posterior obstruction of the soft palate, uvular (94%) and velar (6%), and three types of tongue obstruction, upper (30%), lower (37%), and upper plus lower obstruction (33%). DI-SCT is a fast and safe tool to identify simulated sleep airway obstruction in patients with OSA. It provides data on dynamic airway movement in the sagittal view which can be used to differentiate palate and tongue obstructions, and this can be helpful when planning surgery for patients with OSA.
Achievement of over 1.4 V photovoltage in a dye-sensitized solar cell by the application of a silyl-anchor coumarin dye
Authors: Kakiage Kenji , Osada Hiroyuki , Aoyama Yohei , Yano Toru , Oya Keiji , Iwamoto Shinji , Fujisawa Jun-ichi , Hanaya Minoru
Published: October 2016

A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) fabricated by using a novel silyl-anchor coumarin dye with alkyl-chain substitutes, a Br3−/Br− redox electrolyte solution containing water, and a Mg2+-doped anatase-TiO2 electrode with twofold surface modification by MgO and Al2O3 exhibited an open-circuit photovoltage over 1.4 V, demonstrating the possibility of DSSCs as practical photovoltaic devices.
Core-excited and shape resonances of uracil
Authors: Fennimore Mark A. , Matsika Spiridoula
Published: October 2016

Shape and core-excited resonances of uracil created when an electron is attached to this molecule are investigated with high levelab initiomethods.
Structure and stability of neutral Al–Mg nanoclusters up to 55 atoms
Authors: Paiva Mateus A. M. , Peluzo Bárbara M. T. C. , Belchior Jadson C. , Galvão Breno R. L.
Published: October 2016

The geometries of aluminum–magnesium nanoalloys are explored using a genetic algorithm tuned to search for the 10 lowest energy minima for each cluster size and composition.
NanoSIMS measurements of trace elements at the micron scale interface between zircon and silicate glass
Authors: Hao Jia-Long , Yang Wei , Luo Yan , Hu Sen , Yin Qing-Zhu , Lin Yang-Ting
Published: October 2016

We present a new method to measure trace element variation at the micron scale interface between zircon and melt. Two analytical modes (“grain mode” and “image mode”) were applied and shown as below.
Efficient electrothermal actuation of liquid microlens arrays with low voltages
Authors: Jiang Wei , Liu Hongzhong , Zhu Shuya , Li Rui , Chen Bangdao , Yin Lei , Shi Yongsheng
Published: October 2016

A self-assembled liquid microlens array with controllable focus by electrothermal actuation.
International Survey of Audiologists' Attitudes Toward Telehealth
Authors: Eikelboom Robert H. , Swanepoel De Wet
Published: October 2016

Purpose

A better understanding of the attitudes of audiologists toward teleaudiology and their willingness to use teleaudiology is required to progress the application of teleaudiology technologies and services into clinical practice. Audiologists around the world were surveyed on their attitudes toward teleaudiology and their willingness to use it.

Method

An online survey was sent to audiologists through professional associations' mailing lists. The survey included questions on the use of computer and video-conferencing technologies, awareness and previous use of teleaudiology, and willingness to use teleaudiology.

Results

Responses were provided by 269 people from 28 different countries, representing a wide cross-section of experience, qualification, and work settings; 77.8% of respondents were women. Almost all respondents had used PC-based video-conferencing; most had used related technologies and reported positive attitudes toward using these. However, less than 25% had used teleaudiology.

Conclusions

Despite positive attitudes toward telehealth and associated technology, the low number of audiologists who have used teleaudiology for services indicates limited clinical adoption.
A Participatory Design Approach to Develop an Interactive Sound Environment Simulator
Authors: Hanssen Geir K. , Dahl Yngve
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Our purpose is to provide insight into the added value of applying a participatory design approach in the design of an interactive sound environment simulator to facilitate communication and understanding between patients and audiologists in consultation situations.

Method

We have applied a qualitative approach, presenting results and discussion in the form of a story, following 3 consecutive steps: problem investigation, design, and evaluation.

Results

We provide an overview of lessons learned, emphasizing how patients and audiologists took roles and responsibilities in the design process and the effects of this involvement.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that participatory design is a viable and practical approach to address multifaceted problems directly affecting patients and practitioners.
Usability and Online Audiological Rehabilitation
Authors: Thorén Elisabet Sundewall , Pedersen Julie Hefting , Jørnæs Nis Ove
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper describes the results from the iterative development and usability testing of an online audiological rehabilitation (OAR) program. The OAR was based on previous experience with Internet interventions and OAR.

Method

The described OAR consisted of weekly learning modules, each of which had a specific topic and contained information and learning activities. A virtual coach, a trained audiologist, led the participants through the modules. The participants' feedback was collected using the “think-aloud” method in which the participants gave their feedback in a structured manner.

Results

The early findings from the first version of the OAR showed that participants had difficulty navigating the system. As a result of the usability testing, a second major edition of the OAR program was developed, and the participants found it easier to manage and that it enhanced the learning experience. The participants appreciated the testimonial videos as well as the option to study more in-depth material for a given subject.

Conclusions

The early findings from the usability test of the program provided useful information as to how content can be developed and delivered for optimal user accessibility within the scope of OAR.
A Modeling Study of the Effects of Vocal Tract Movement Duration and Magnitude on the F2 Trajectory in CV Words
Authors: Neely Kimberly D. , Bunton Kate , Story Brad H.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This study used a computational vocal tract model to investigate the relationship of diphthong duration and vocal tract movement magnitude to measures of the F2 trajectory in CV words.

Method

Three words (
bough
,
boy
, and
buy
) were simulated on the basis of an adult female vocal tract model, in which the model parameters were estimated from audio recordings of a female talker. Model parameters were then modified to generate 35 simulations of each word corresponding to 7 different durations and 5 movement magnitude settings. In addition, these simulations were repeated with vocal tract lengths representative of an adult male and an approximately 6-year-old child.

Results

On the basis of univariate analysis, measures of frequency predicted changes in magnitude, and temporal measures predicted changes in speaking rate consistent with the hypothesis. The combined effects of duration and magnitude showed that F2 was more sensitive to changes in magnitude at shorter word durations compared with longer word durations. This finding held across words and vocal tract length.

Conclusions

Results suggest that there is an interaction between duration and magnitude that affects the slope of the F2 trajectory. The next step is to relate kinematics to F2 trajectory output using real speakers.
Discrimination Test Word Difficulty
Authors: Campbell Richard A.
Published: October 2016

Criteria for the construction and evaluation of clinical speech discrimination test word lists are reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on the need for such lists to be appropriate and homogeneous in both range and average level of word difficulty. Individual word difficulty data obtained from a clinical population with discrimination losses are presented for the recorded CID W-22 Auditory Test Series. These data permitted the rearrangement of the 200 W-22 words into eight 25-word lists which promise to be more homogeneous in average level of difficulty. However, the range of word difficulty, of both the original or reconstructed tests, falls short of the optimal distribution for a general-purpose speech discrimination test.
Adaptive sliding‐mode cluster space control of a non‐holonomic multi‐robot system with applications
Authors: Tariq Nasir Mohammad , El‐Ferik Sami
Published: October 2016

The study proposes a novel adaptive and robust model‐based sliding‐mode controller for multi‐robot system in cluster space. The study considers non‐holonomic robots, which are commonly used in several real‐life applications. The proposed controller is robust to uncertainties and external disturbances. Simulation and experimental tests show the potential of this approach. The experimental validation was done using Lego EV3 robots connected through Wi‐Fi link.