bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Language control in bimodal bilinguals: multimodality and serial order
Authors: GREEN DAVID W.
Published: July 2015

Emmorey, Giezen and Gollan (Emmorey, Giezen & Gollan) in their Key Note article review data bearing on language control in bimodal bilinguals and provoke questions critical to theoretical advance. I consider here two interrelated questions: one on multimodal synchrony and one on the control of serial order.
Comparative analysis of dietary guidelines in the Spanish-Speaking Caribbean
Authors: Fuster Melissa
Published: July 2015

Objective

Dietary guidelines are important education and policy tools to address local nutrition concerns. The current paper presents a comparative analysis of nutrition messages from three Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries (Cuba, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic) to explore how these dietary guidelines address common public health nutrition concerns, contextualized in different changing food environments and food culture similarities.

Design

Qualitative, comparative analysis of current dietary guideline documents and key recommendations.

Results

Key recommendations were categorized into sixteen themes (two diet-based, ten food-based and four ‘other’). Only the Cuban dietary guidelines included diet-based key recommendations. Of the ten food-based key recommendations, only four themes overlapped across the three dietary guidelines (the encouragement of fruits and vegetables, addressing protein sources and fat). Other overlaps were found between dietary guideline pairs, except between Cuba and Puerto Rico. Further analysis revealed differences in levels of specificity and acknowledgement of local dietary patterns and issues, as well as the need to revise the guidelines to account for current scientific advances.

Conclusions

The present study underscored the importance of context in the framing of dietary advice and the influence of national socio-economic and political situations on nutrition policy and education efforts. The results contribute to inform efforts to improve nutrition communication in the region and among migrant communities.
Species composition and host range of fruit-infesting flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in northern Ghana
Authors: Badii K.B. , Billah M.K. , Afreh-Nuamah K. , Obeng-Ofori D.
Published: July 2015

An important aspect of fruit fly management is accurate information on the species and their host spectrum. Studies were conducted between October 2011 and September 2013 to determine the host range and species diversity of pest fruit flies in the northern savannah ecology of Ghana. Fruit samples from 80 potential host plants (wild and cultivated) were collected and incubated for fly emergence; 65 (81.5%) of the plant species were positive to fruit flies. From records in Africa, 11 plant species were reported to be new hosts to the African invader fly,Bactrocera invadens(Drew, Tsuruta and White, 2005). This study documented the first records ofDacus ciliatus(Loew) andTrirhithrum nigerrimum(Bezzi) in northern Ghana although both species have been previously reported in other parts of the country. Infestation byB. invadenswas higher in the cultivated fruits;Ceratitis cosyradominated in most wild fruits. Cucurbitaceae were mainly infested by three species ofDacusandBactroceracucurbitae, a specialized cucurbit feeder. Among the commercial fruit species, the highest infestations were observed in mango, tomato, sweet pepper and watermelon, whereas marula plum, soursop, tropical almond, sycamore fig, African peach, shea nut, persimmon, icacina and albarillo dominated the wild host flora. The widespread availability of host plants and the incidence of diverse fly species in the ecology call for particular attention to their impact on commercial fruits and the development of sustainable management strategies against these economically important pests in Ghana.
Newly Discovered Properties of Elusive Gamma Ray Flashes
Authors: Minnehan Catherine
Published: July 2015

The properties of terrestrial gamma ray flashes have eluded scientists for years. This new study sheds light on how they originate.
Gap geometry dictates epithelial closure efficiency
Authors: Ravasio Andrea , Cheddadi Ibrahim , Chen Tianchi , Pereira Telmo , Ong Hui Ting , Bertocchi Cristina , Brugues Agusti , Jacinto Antonio , Kabla Alexandre J. , Toyama Yusuke , Trepat Xavier , Gov Nir , Neves de Almeida Luís , Ladoux Benoit
Published: July 2015

Closure of wounds and gaps in tissues is fundamental for the correct development and physiology of multicellular organisms and, when misregulated, may lead to inflammation and tumorigenesis. To re-establish tissue integrity, epithelial cells exhibit coordinated motion into the void by active crawling on the substrate and by constricting a supracellular actomyosin cable. Coexistence of these two mechanisms strongly depends on the environment. However, the nature of their coupling remains elusive because of the complexity of the overall process. Here we demonstrate that epithelial gap geometry in both in vitro and in vivo regulates these collective mechanisms. In addition, the mechanical coupling between actomyosin cable contraction and cell crawling acts as a large-scale regulator to control the dynamics of gap closure. Finally, our computational modelling clarifies the respective roles of the two mechanisms during this process, providing a robust and universal mechanism to explain how epithelial tissues restore their integrity.
Patient-reported side effects, concerns and adherence to corticosteroid treatment for asthma, and comparison with physician estimates of side-effect prevalence: a UK-wide, cross-sectional study
Authors: Cooper Vanessa , Metcalf Leanne , Versnel Jenny , Upton Jane , Walker Samantha , Horne Rob
Published: July 2015

Background:

Non-adherence to corticosteroid treatment has been shown to reduce treatment efficacy, thus compromising asthma control.

Aims:

To examine the experiences of treatment side effects, treatment concerns and adherence to inhaled (ICS) and oral corticosteroids (OCS) among people with asthma and to identify the degree of concordance between clinician estimates of side effects and the prevalence reported by patients.

Methods:

Asthma UK members were sent validated questionnaires assessing treatment concerns, experiences of side effects and adherence. Questionnaires measuring clinicians’ estimates of the prevalence of corticosteroid side effects were completed online.

Results:

Completed questionnaires were returned by 1,524 people taking ICS, 233 taking OCS and 244 clinicians (67% of clinicians were primary care nurses). Among people with asthma, 64% of those taking ICS and 88% of those taking OCS reported ⩾1 side effect. People reporting high adherence to ICS (t=−3.09, P<0.005) and those reporting low adherence to OCS (t=1.86, P<0.05; one-tailed test) reported more side effects. There was a disparity between clinicians’ estimates of the frequency of side effects and the frequency reported by people with asthma: e.g., although 46% of people taking ICS reported sore throat, clinicians estimated that this figure would be 10%. Patients who reported side effects had stronger concerns about both ICS (r=0.46, P<0.0001) and OCS (r=0.50, P<0.0001). Concerns about corticosteroids were associated with low adherence to ICS (t=6.90, P<0.0001) and OCS (t=1.71; P<0.05; one-tailed test).

Conclusions:

An unexpectedly large proportion of people with asthma experienced side effects and had strong concerns about their treatment, which compromised adherence. These findings have implications for the design of interventions to optimise asthma control through improved adherence.
Computing Arm Movements with a Monkey Brainet
Authors: Ramakrishnan Arjun , Ifft Peter J. , Pais-Vieira Miguel , Byun Yoon Woo , Zhuang Katie Z. , Lebedev Mikhail A. , Nicolelis Miguel A.L.
Published: July 2015

Traditionally, brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) extract motor commands from a single brain to control the movements of artificial devices. Here, we introduce a Brainet that utilizes very-large-scale brain activity (VLSBA) from two (B2) or three (B3) nonhuman primates to engage in a common motor behaviour. A B2 generated 2D movements of an avatar arm where each monkey contributed equally to X and Y coordinates; or one monkey fully controlled the X-coordinate and the other controlled the Y-coordinate. A B3 produced arm movements in 3D space, while each monkey generated movements in 2D subspaces (X-Y, Y-Z, or X-Z). With long-term training we observed increased coordination of behavior, increased correlations in neuronal activity between different brains and modifications to neuronal representation of the motor plan. Overall, performance of the Brainet improved owing to collective monkey behaviour. These results suggest that primate brains can be integrated into a Brainet, which self-adapts to achieve a common motor goal.
Neighborhood greenspace and health in a large urban center
Authors: Kardan Omid , Gozdyra Peter , Misic Bratislav , Moola Faisal , Palmer Lyle J. , Paus Tomáš , Berman Marc G.
Published: July 2015

Studies have shown that natural environments can enhance health and here we build upon that work by examining the associations between comprehensive greenspace metrics and health. We focused on a large urban population center (Toronto, Canada) and related the two domains by combining high-resolution satellite imagery and individual tree data from Toronto with questionnaire-based self-reports of general health perception, cardio-metabolic conditions and mental illnesses from the Ontario Health Study. Results from multiple regressions and multivariate canonical correlation analyses suggest that people who live in neighborhoods with a higher density of trees on their streets report significantly higher health perception and significantly less cardio-metabolic conditions (controlling for socio-economic and demographic factors). We find that having 10 more trees in a city block, on average, improves health perception in ways comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $10,000 and moving to a neighborhood with $10,000 higher median income or being 7 years younger. We also find that having 11 more trees in a city block, on average, decreases cardio-metabolic conditions in ways comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $20,000 and moving to a neighborhood with $20,000 higher median income or being 1.4 years younger.
Genome-scale long noncoding RNA expression pattern in squamous cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Ying , Qian Chen-Yue , Li Xiang-Ping , Zhang Yu , He Hui , Wang Jing , Chen Juan , Cui Jia-Jia , Liu Rong , Zhou Hui , Xiao Lin , Xu Xiao-Jing , Zheng Yi , Fu Yi-Lan , Chen Zi-Yu , Chen Xiang , Zhang Wei , Ye Cheng-Cheng , Zhou Hong-Hao , Yin Ji-Ye , Liu Zhao-Qian
Published: July 2015

In this study, we aimed to explore the long noncoding RNA expression pattern in squamous cell lung cancer (SQCC) on a genome-wide scale. Total RNAs were extracted from 16 lung SQCC patients’ normal and matched lung cancer tissues by Trizol reagent. The expression level of genome-wide scale lncRNA and mRNA was determined by microarray. qRT-PCR was used to validate the lncRNA expression level in 47 patients. Data analyses were performed using R and Bioconductor. A total of 2,748 up and 852 down regulated probes were identified to be significantly and differentially expressed in tumor tissues. The annotation result of their co-expressed mRNAs showed that the most significantly related category of GO analysis was development and differentiation, while the most significantly related pathway was cell cycle. Subgroup analysis identified that 46 and 18 probes were specifically differentially expressed in smoking and moderately differentiated tumors, respectively. Our study indicated that clusters of lncRNAs were significantly and differentially expressed in SQCC compared with normal tissues in the same subject. They may exert a significant role in lung cancer development and could be potential targets for future treatment of SQCC.
Efficient introgression of allelic variants by embryo-mediated editing of the bovine genome
Authors: Wei Jingwei , Wagner Stefan , Lu Dan , Maclean Paul , Carlson Daniel F. , Fahrenkrug Scott C. , Laible Götz
Published: July 2015

The recent development of designer nucleases allows for the efficient and precise introduction of genetic change into livestock genomes. Most studies so far have focused on the introduction of random mutations in cultured cells and the use of nuclear transfer to generate animals with edited genotypes. To circumvent the intrinsic uncertainties of random mutations and the inefficiencies of nuclear transfer we directed our efforts to the introduction of specific genetic changes by homology-driven repair directly in in vitro produced embryos. Initially, we injected zinc finger nuclease (ZFN)-encoding mRNA or DNA into bovine zygotes to verify cleavage activity at their target site within the gene for beta-lactoglobulin (LGB) and detected ZFN-induced random mutations in 30% to 80% of embryos. Next, to precisely change the LGB sequence, we co-injected ZFNs or transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) with DNA oligonucleotides (ODNs). Analysis of co-injected embryos showed targeted changes in up to 33% (ZFNs) and 46% (TALENs) of blastocysts. Deep sequence analysis of selected embryos revealed contributions of the targeted LGB allele can reach 100% which implies that genome editing by zygote injections can facilitate the one-step generation of non-mosaic livestock animals with pre-designed biallelic modifications.
Giant rotating magnetocaloric effect induced by highly texturing in polycrystalline DyNiSi compound
Authors: Zhang Hu , Li YaWei , Liu Enke , Ke YaJiao , Jin JinLing , Long Yi , Shen BaoGen
Published: July 2015

Large rotating magnetocaloric effect (MCE) has been observed in some single crystals due to strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy. By utilizing the rotating MCE, a new type of rotary magnetic refrigerator can be constructed, which could be more simplified and efficient than the conventional one. However, compared with polycrystalline materials, the high cost and complexity of preparation for single crystals hinder the development of this novel magnetic refrigeration technology. For the first time, here we observe giant rotating MCE in textured DyNiSi polycrystalline material, which is larger than those of most rotating magnetic refrigerants reported so far. This result suggests that DyNiSi compound could be attractive candidate of magnetic refrigerants for novel rotary magnetic refrigerator. By considering the influence of demagnetization effect on MCE, the origin of large rotating MCE in textured DyNiSi is attributed to the coexistence of strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy and highly preferred orientation. Our study on textured DyNiSi not only provides a new magnetic refrigerant with large rotating MCE for low temperature magnetic refrigeration, but also opens a new way to exploit magnetic refrigeration materials with large rotating MCE, which will be highly beneficial to the development of rotating magnetic refrigeration technology.
The chemomodulatory effects of resveratrol and didox on herceptin cytotoxicity in breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Abdel-Latif Ghada A. , Al-Abd Ahmed M. , Tadros Mariane G. , Al-Abbasi Fahad A. , Khalifa Amany E. , Abdel-Naim Ashraf B.
Published: July 2015

Herceptin is considered an essential treatment option for double negative breast cancer. Resveratrol and didox are known chemopreventive agents with potential anticancer properties. The aim of the current study is to investigate the influence of resveratrol and didox on the cytotoxicity profile of herceptin in HER-2 receptor positive and HER-2 receptor negative breast cancer cell lines (T47D and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively). The IC50’s of herceptin in T47D and MCF-7 were 0.133 ± 0.005 ng/ml and 23.3795 ± 1.99 ng/ml respectively. Equitoxic combination of herceptin with resveratrol or didox in T47D significantly reduced the IC50 to 0.052 ± 0.001 and 0.0365 ± 0.001 ng/ml, respectively and similar results were obtained in MCF-7. The gene expression of BCL-xl was markedly decreased in T47D cells following treatment with herceptin/resveratrol compared to herceptin alone. Immunocytochemical staining of HER-2 receptor in T47D cells showed a significant reduction after treatment with herceptin/resveratrol combination compared to herceptin alone. On the contrary, herceptin/didox combination had no significant effect on HER-2 receptor expression. Cell cycle analysis showed an arrest at G2/M phase for both cell lines following all treatments. In conclusion, herceptin/resveratrol and herceptin/didox combinations improved the cytotoxic profile of herceptin in both T47D and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines.
Spectroscopic study of Gd nanostructures quantum confined in Fe corrals
Authors: Cao R. X. , Sun L. , Miao B. F. , Li Q. L. , Zheng C. , Wu D. , You B. , Zhang W. , Han P. , Bader S. D. , Zhang W. Y. , Ding H. F.
Published: July 2015

Low dimensional nanostructures have attracted attention due to their rich physical properties and potential applications. The essential factor for their functionality is their electronic properties, which can be modified by quantum confinement. Here the electronic states of Gd atom trapped in open Fe corrals on Ag(111) were studied via scanning tunneling spectroscopy. A single spectroscopic peak above the Fermi level is observed after Gd adatoms are trapped inside Fe corrals, while two peaks appear in empty corrals. The single peak position is close to the higher energy peak of the empty corrals. These findings, attributed to quantum confinement of the corrals and Gd structures trapped inside, are supported by tight-binding calculations. This demonstrates and provides insights into atom trapping in open corrals of various diameters, giving an alternative approach to modify the properties of nano-objects.
Effects of stem cell transplantation on cognitive decline in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Zhe , Peng Weijun , Zhang Chunhu , Sheng Chenxia , Huang Wei , Wang Yang , Fan Rong
Published: July 2015

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), an irreversible progressive neurodegenerative disease, causes characteristic cognitive impairment and no curative treatments are currently available. Stem cell transplantation offers a powerful tool for the treatment of AD. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from controlled studies to study the impact of stem cell biology and experimental design on learning and memory function following stem cell transplantation in animal models of AD. A total of 58 eligible controlled studies were included by searching PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science up to April 13, 2015. Meta-analysis showed that stem cell transplantation could promote both learning and memory recovery. Stratified meta-analysis was used to explore the influence of the potential factors on the estimated effect size and meta-regression analyses were undertaken to explore the sources of heterogeneity for learning and memory function. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger’s test. The present review reinforces the evidence supporting stem cell transplantation in experimental AD. However, it highlights areas that require well-designed and well-reported animal studies.
Development of a rapid and simple LC-MS/MS method for identification and quality control of natural Calculus bovis and Calculus bovis sativus
Authors: Feng Chengyang , Li Xiping , Zhang Chengliang , He Guangzhao , Xu Yanjiao , Li Wei , Yu Zaoqin , Cai Hongjiao , Liu Dong
Published: July 2015

Calculus bovis sativus(C. bovis sativus, CBS), with the same pharmacodynamics activities as those of naturalC. bovis(CB), has been approved as an ideal substitute in China.
Improving f-element single molecule magnets
Authors: Liddle Stephen T. , van Slageren Joris
Published: July 2015

Historical developments, trends, pitfalls and strategies in improving f-element single molecule magnets are described.
Converting between the oxides of nitrogen using metal–ligand coordination complexes
Authors: Timmons Andrew J. , Symes Mark D.
Published: July 2015

The oxides of nitrogen (chiefly NO, NO3−, NO2− and N2O) are key components of the natural nitrogen cycle and are intermediates in a range of processes of enormous biological, environmental and industrial importance. In this Tutorial Review, we will examine catalysts for the inter-conversions of the various nitrogen oxides that are based on metal–ligand coordination complexes, looking in particular at more recent examples that take inspiration from the natural systems.
Multifunctional metal–organic frameworks: from academia to industrial applications
Authors: Silva Patrícia , Vilela Sérgio M. F. , Tomé João P. C. , Almeida Paz Filipe A.
Published: July 2015

Functional MOF engineering: properties, transposition of the synthesis from the laboratory to the industry and usage in society.
Systematic design of secondary building units by an efficient cation-directing strategy under regular vibrations of ionic liquids
Authors: An Bing , Wang Jun-Li , Bai Yan , Dang Dong-Bin
Published: July 2015

A cobalt-1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid system in a systematic series of ionic liquids with different alkyl chain lengths of imidazolium cations governed the construction of four MOFs with regular changes of secondary building units (SBUs).
Structural characterization of 13C-enriched humins and alkali-treated 13C humins by 2D solid-state NMR
Authors: van Zandvoort Ilona , Koers Eline J. , Weingarth Markus , Bruijnincx Pieter C. A. , Baldus Marc , Weckhuysen Bert M.
Published: July 2015

Complementary (2D) NMR techniques provide new insights into the molecular structure of humin by-products.
Efficient and selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural to cyclopentanone using Ru catalysts
Authors: Fang Ruiqi , Liu Hongli , Luque Rafael , Li Yingwei
Published: July 2015

The selective hydrogenation of furfural into cyclopentanone is an attractive transformation to advance in the sustainable synthesis of important chemicals from biomass.
Smartphone dongle for simultaneous measurement of hemoglobin concentration and detection of HIV antibodies
Authors: Guo Tiffany , Patnaik Ritish , Kuhlmann Kevin , Rai Alex J. , Sia Samuel K.
Published: July 2015

In this work, we demonstrate a microfluidic-based smartphone dongle that simultaneously measures concentration of hemoglobin and detects HIV antibodies.
A passive flow regulator with low threshold pressure for high-throughput inertial isolation of microbeads
Authors: Zhang Xinjie , Xiang Nan , Tang Wenlai , Huang Di , Wang Xin , Yi Hong , Ni Zhonghua
Published: July 2015

This paper presents a novel passive flow regulator for steady and high-throughput inertial isolation of differently sized microbeads.
Graphene-porphyrin single-molecule transistors
Authors: Mol Jan A. , Lau Chit Siong , Lewis Wilfred J. M. , Sadeghi Hatef , Roche Cecile , Cnossen Arjen , Warner Jamie H. , Lambert Colin J. , Anderson Harry L. , Briggs G. Andrew D.
Published: July 2015

We demonstrate a robust graphene-molecule-graphene transistor architecture.
Trivalent ligands for CXCR4 bearing polyproline linkers show specific recognition for cells with increased CXCR4 expression
Authors: Nomura Wataru , Koseki Taisuke , Ohashi Nami , Mizuguchi Takaaki , Tamamura Hirokazu
Published: July 2015

The trivalent ligand with rigid linkers designed for exploration of GPCR multimerization shows specific recognition for overexpressed CXCR4.
Silver-catalyzed cascade reaction of tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) with propargylic alcohols to (E)-vinyl sulfones: dual roles of TosMIC
Authors: Bounar Haniya , Liu Zhenhua , Zhang Lin , Guan Xiaoxue , Yang Zonglian , Liao Peiqiu , Bi Xihe , Li Xingqi
Published: July 2015

An silver-catalyzed cascade reaction of tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) with propargylic alcohols for the synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones has been developed where TosMIC plays a dual role as both the reactant in the allenylation of propargylic alcohols and the sulfonyl source.
Optimized quinoline amino alcohols as disruptors and dispersal agents of Vibrio cholerae biofilms
Authors: León Brian , Haeckl F. P. Jake , Linington Roger G.
Published: July 2015

The biofilm state is an integral part of the lifecycle of many bacterial pathogens, but no treatments currently exist that directly impact biofilm formation or persistence. Here we report the development of a quinoline amino alcohol scaffold with both biofilm inhibitory and biofilm dispersal activities against the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae.
A facile approach to β-amino acid derivatives via palladium-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of enimides with formic acid
Authors: Dai Jie , Ren Wenlong , Wang Haining , Shi Yian
Published: July 2015

An effective Pd(0)-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of enimides with formic acid in the presence of a catalytic amount of HCOOPh is described.
Geopolymerization with bagasse bottom ash and china clay, effect of calcination temperature and silica to alumina ratio
Authors: Noor-ul-Amin Noor-ul-Amin , Faisal Mahtab , Muhammad Khan , Amin Wajid
Published: July 2015

The object of this work is to investigate the most appropriate calcination temperature and the ratio of silica to alumina for geopolymerization reactions using bagasse bottom ash and china clay.
Design and structure–property relationship of benzothienoisoindigo in organic field effect transistors
Authors: Hasegawa Tsukasa , Ashizawa Minoru , Matsumoto Hidetoshi
Published: July 2015

A novel planar π-conjugated small molecule, benzothienoisoindigo (BTII), in which additional benzene rings are fused with the thieoisoindigo (TII) unit, has been designed and synthesized.
Electroless deposition of Ni3P–Ni arrays on 3-D nickel foam as a high performance anode for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Liu Shuai , Feng Jinkui , Bian Xiufang , Liu Jie , Xu Hui
Published: July 2015

The array structure of Ni3P–Ni can accommodate volume changes during the lithiation/de-lithiation progress and promote high-rate capability because the interspaces in such structure can act as ideal volume expansion buffers.
Superior methanol electrooxidation activity and CO tolerance of mesoporous helical nanospindle-like CeO2modified Pt/C
Authors: Chen Jing , Li Songmei , Du Juan , Liu Jianhua , Yu Mei , Meng Shiming , Wang Bo
Published: July 2015

In an attempt to enhance the electrocatalytic activity and CO tolerance of ceria modified Pt/C electrodes, a novel structured ceria material has been developed.
Aqueous phase one-pot green synthesis of SnSe nanosheets in a protein matrix: negligible cytotoxicity and room temperature emission in the visible region
Authors: Das Laboni , Guleria Apurav , Adhikari Soumyakanti
Published: July 2015

A rapid, facile, reproducible and green method for synthesizing SnSe nanosheets in aqueous media is reported. Cyclic voltammetry studies indicate better thermodynamic feasibility for reducing SnSe, while the nanomaterial is nontoxic up to a 100 μM concentration in CHO cells.
High performance sponge MnO2 nanotube monoliths
Authors: Yang Guangwu , He Bing , Zhao Fuzhen , Guo Wenyue , Xue Qingzhong , Li Hulin
Published: July 2015

Self-supported sponge MnO2 nanotube monoliths (SMM) are synthesized via a hydrothermal method using commercial polyurethane foam as a sacrificial template.
Controlled release of sunitinib in targeted cancer therapy: smart magnetically responsive hydrogels as restricted access materials
Authors: Parisi Ortensia Ilaria , Morelli Catia , Scrivano Luca , Sinicropi Maria Stefania , Cesario Maria Grazia , Candamano Sebastiano , Puoci Francesco , Sisci Diego
Published: July 2015

A magnetic hydrogel prepared by precipitation polymerization, with restricted access material (RAM) characteristics through the introduction of glycidyl methacrylate, for sunitinib malate release.
Charge-transfer excited states in phosphorescent organo-transition metal compounds: a difficult case for time dependent density functional theory?
Authors: Niehaus Thomas A. , Hofbeck Thomas , Yersin Hartmut
Published: July 2015

A series of 17 platinum(ii) and iridium(iii) complexes have been investigated theoretically and experimentally to elucidate the charge-transfer character in emission from the lowest triplet state. TDDFT is found to be surprisingly accurate.
Translating across macroscopic, submicroscopic, and symbolic levels: the role of instructor facilitation in an inquiry-oriented physical chemistry class
Authors: Becker Nicole , Stanford Courtney , Towns Marcy , Cole Renee
Published: July 2015

In physical chemistry classrooms, mathematical and graphical representations are critical tools for reasoning about chemical phenomena. However, there is abundant evidence that to be successful in understanding complex thermodynamics topics, students must go beyond rote mathematical problem solving in order to connect their understanding of mathematical and graphical representations to the macroscopic and submicroscopic phenomena they represent. Though traditional curricular materials such as textbooks may provide little support for coordinating information across macroscopic, submicroscopic, and symbolic levels, instructor facilitation of classroom discussions offers a promising route towards supporting students' reasoning. Here, we report a case study of classroom reasoning in a POGIL (process-oriented guided inquiry learning) instructional context that examines how the class coordinated macroscopic, submicroscopic, and symbolic ideas through classroom discourse. Using an analytical approach based on Toulmin's model of argumentation and the inquiry-oriented discursive moves framework, we discuss the prevalence of macroscopic, submicroscopic and symbolic-level ideas in classroom reasoning and we discuss how instructor facilitation strategies promoted reasoning with macroscopic, submicroscopic, and symbolic levels of representation. We describe one sequence of instructor facilitation moves that we believe promoted translation across levels in whole class discussion.
Thermo-stable hollow magnetic microspheres: preparation, characterization and recyclable catalytic applications
Authors: Ma Jingwen , Wu Youshen , Zeng Yun , Li Yan , Wu Daocheng
Published: July 2015

We prepared thermo-stable hollow magnetic microspheres by layer-by-layer assembly and calcination, which can be reused many times for catalyst reconjugation.
A novel Ni3N/graphene nanocomposite as supercapacitor electrode material with high capacitance and energy density
Authors: Yu Yu , Gao Wenyu , Shen Zongxu , Zheng Qing , Wu Hao , Wang Xi , Song Weiguo , Ding Kejian
Published: July 2015

A novel Ni3N/graphene nanocomposite has been synthesized as pseudo supercapacitor electrode material with high capacitance and energy density, due to its unique two-step oxidation/reduction reaction mechanism.
Facile in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles on boron nitride nanosheets with enhanced catalytic performance
Authors: Shen Heng , Duan Chunting , Guo Jing , Zhao Ning , Xu Jian
Published: July 2015

Ag nanoparticles are in situ decorated on a BNNS modified with a TA–Fe complex, and the nanohybrids show excellent catalytic activity.
The Effect of Age on Listening Effort
Authors: Degeest Sofie , Keppler Hannah , Corthals Paul
Published: July 2015

Purpose

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of age on listening effort.

Method

A dual-task paradigm was used to evaluate listening effort in different conditions of background noise. Sixty adults ranging in age from 20 to 77 years were included. A primary speech-recognition task and a secondary memory task were performed both separately and simultaneously. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate how age and hearing thresholds affect speech recognition and listening effort scores.

Results

Results of the multiple regression analyses showed that age is a significant determinant of listening effort, whereby listening effort increases with increasing age even when age-related variance in speech recognition is partialled out. On the basis of the regression equations and the median score for listening effort, it was found that listening effort started to increase in the fourth decade of life.

Conclusions

This study was a first exploration of listening effort from young to older adults and showed that, independent of hearing sensitivity, listening effort increases with age. To be more specific, there is a need to further investigate the cognitive functions important for speech communication while exploring their possible relationship with listening effort.
Accurate system for automatic pill recognition using imprint information
Authors: Yu Jiye , Chen Zhiyuan , Kamata Sei‐ichiro , Yang Jie
Published: July 2015

With rapidly advancing of contemporary medicine, it is necessary to help people identify various kinds of pills to prevent the adverse pill events. In this study, a high‐accuracy automatic pill recognition system is proposed for accurate and automatic pill recognition. As pill imprint is main distinction between different pills, this system proposes algorithms on both imprint extraction and description parts to make use of imprint information. First, proposed modified stroke width transform is adopted to extract the imprint by detecting coherent strokes of imprint on the pill. Moreover, image segmentation by Loopy belief propagation is also added on printed imprint pills to solve the incoherent and coarse stroke problem. Second, a new descriptor named two‐step sampling distance sets is proposed for accurate imprint description and successfully cut down the noise on extracted imprint. This strategy is based on the imprint partition – partitions the imprint on the basis of separated strokes, fragments and noise points. Recognition experiments are applied on extensive databases and result shows 90.46% rank‐1 matching accuracy and 97.16% on top five ranks when classifying 12 500 query pill images into 2500 categories.
Entwicklung und Implementierung eines umfassenden Gesundheitsmanagements (Fit for Work and Life) für Mitarbeiter/innen eines Universitätsklinikums – ein Praxisbericht
Authors: Gutenbrunner C. , Egen C. , Kahl K. , Briest J. , Tegtbur U. , Miede J. , Born M.
Published: July 2015

Hintergrund: Vor dem Hintergrund steigender Arbeitsunfähigkeitstage (AU-Tage), verlängerter Lebensarbeitszeit und des prognostizierten Fachkräftemangels gewinnen Maßnahmen zur betrieblichen Gesundheitsförderung kontinuierlich an Bedeutung. Beschäftigte in einem Universitätsklinikum sind besonderen Belastungen ausgesetzt, was sich auch in überdurchschnittlich hohen AU-Tagen widerspiegelt. Aus diesem Grund wurde von der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover (MHH) das Projekt „Fit for Work and Life“ (FWL) entwickelt und implementiert.

Ziele: Ziel von FWL ist es, im Rahmen eines multimodalen Ansatzes die Leistungsfähigkeit der Beschäftigten zu erhalten, zu verbessern oder wiederherzustellen sowie die AU-Tage signifikant zu reduzieren. Hierbei werden sowohl präventive als auch rehabilitative Maßnahmen angeboten.

Methodik: Das Projekt wurde durch fünf MHH-Abteilungen und der DRV Braunschweig-Hannover (DRV BS-H) nach zuvor festgelegten Grundsätzen gemeinsam entwickelt und eingeführt. Über die Parameter AU-Tage, Arbeitsfähigkeit (WAI), Lebensqualität (SF36, WHOQOL), Copingstrategien (FERUS) und Gratifikationskrisen (ERI) wird das Projekt begleitend wissenschaftlich evaluiert.

Ergebnisse und Schlussfolgerungen: Das in seiner Konzeption bislang einzigartige Projekt wurde organisatorisch erfolgreich in der MHH implementiert. Im ersten Projektjahr haben sich 376 Beschäftigte angemeldet, 182 haben die einzelnen Maßnahmen bereits abgeschlossen. 60,4% der Beschäftigten weisen zu Beginn mittelmäßige bis schlechte WAI-Werte auf. Auch die Durchschnittswerte der psychischen Summenskala des SF-36 (44,9) signalisieren eine hohe Arbeitsbelastung.
Psychological Well-Being von hochsensiblen Personen im Übergang zur Elternschaft – eine Querschnittstudie
Authors: Schmückle M. , Lindert J. , Schmolz G.
Published: July 2015

Hintergrund: Well-Being bei hochsensiblen Menschen im Übergang in die erste Elternschaft ist bisher wenig untersucht worden. Diese Studie geht der Frage nach, ob die erste Elternschaft hochsensible Personen stärker in ihrem Psychological Well-Being (PWB) beeinträchtigt, als nicht hochsensible Personen.

Methode: Diese Querschnittsstudie befragt Elternteile (n=614), hochsensible (n=440) und nichthochsensible (n=174) zu der Zeit des Übergangs in die Elternschaft mittels der Psychological Well-Being Scale. Unabhängige Variablen und Well-Being wurden deskriptiv und bivariat analysiert.

Ergebnisse: Well-Being von hochsensiblen Eltern sinkt (b=−10,129; p<0,05) in der Transition zur Elternschaft und ist insgesamt geringer als bei der Kontrollgruppe (7,3% der Hochsensiblen <50% des PWB; 0,6% der Nicht-hochsensiblen <50% des PWB).

Schlussfolgerung: Diese Studie liefert als eine der wenigen publizierten Untersuchungen Daten zu hochsensiblen Eltern. Es besteht hier ein dringender Forschungsbedarf, da bei einer Prävalenz von 10–20% Hochsensiblen in der Bevölkerung, vermutet werden kann, dass hochsensible junge Eltern in der Übergangsphase eine wichtige Zielgruppe der Gesundheitsförderung sein könnten.
Reliability Analysis of the Distal Radius and Ulna Classification for Assessing Skeletal Maturity for Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Cheung Jason Pui Yin , Samartzis Dino , Cheung Prudence Wing Hang , Cheung Kenneth M. C. , Luk Keith D. K.
Published: July 2015

Study Design

Prospective radiographic study.

Objective

To test the reliability of the Distal Radius and Ulna Classification (DRU).

Methods

This single-center study included prospectively recruited subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis managed with bracing. The left-hand radiographs were measured using the DRU classification by two examiners. Intra- and interobserver reliability analysis were performed using intraclass correlation (ICC) analysis.

Results

From these clinics, 161 patients (124 females and 37 males) with left-hand radiographs were included in the study. The mean age was 13.3 years (standard deviation: 1.5). There was excellent intra- (ICC: 0.93 to 0.95) and interobserver (ICC: 0.97) reliability.

Conclusions

The DRU classification scheme has been shown to be accurate in determining the peak growth phase and growth cessation. It has now been confirmed to be a reliable tool. Future prospective studies should be performed to investigate its application in deciding when to apply bracing or operative treatment.
The Quality and Readability of Information Available on the Internet regarding Lumbar Fusion
Authors: Zhang Dafang , Schumacher Charles , Harris Mitchel B. , Bono Christopher M.
Published: July 2015

Study Design

An Internet-based evaluation of Web sites regarding lumbar fusion.

Objective

The Internet has become a major resource for patients; however, the quality and readability of Internet information regarding lumbar fusion is unclear. The objective of this study is to evaluate the quality and readability of Internet information regarding lumbar fusion and to determine whether these measures changed with Web site modality, complexity of the search term, or Health on the Net Code of Conduct certification.

Methods

Using five search engines and three different search terms of varying complexity (“low back fusion,” “lumbar fusion,” and “lumbar arthrodesis”), we identified and reviewed 153 unique Web site hits for information quality and readability. Web sites were specifically analyzed by search term and Web site modality. Information quality was evaluated on a 5-point scale. Information readability was assessed using the Flesch-Kincaid score for reading grade level.

Results

The average quality score was low. The average reading grade level was nearly six grade levels above that recommended by National Work Group on Literacy and Health. The quality and readability of Internet information was significantly dependent on Web site modality. The use of more complex search terms yielded information of higher reading grade level but not higher quality.

Conclusions

Higher-quality information about lumbar fusion conveyed using language that is more readable by the general public is needed on the Internet. It is important for health care providers to be aware of the information accessible to patients, as it likely influences their decision making regarding care.
Derivatization and diffusive motion of molecular fullerenes: Ab initio and atomistic simulations
Authors: Berdiyorov G. , Harrabi K. , Mehmood U. , Peeters F. M. , Tabet N. , Zhang J. , Hussein I. A. , McLachlan M. A.
Published: July 2015

Using first principles density functional theory in combination with the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism, we study the effect of derivatization on the electronic and transport properties of C60 fullerene. As a typical example, we consider [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), which forms one of the most efficient organic photovoltaic materials in combination with electron donating polymers. Extra peaks are observed in the density of states (DOS) due to the formation of new electronic states localized at/near the attached molecule. Despite such peculiar behavior in the DOS of an isolated molecule, derivatization does not have a pronounced effect on the electronic transport properties of the fullerene molecular junctions. Both C60 and PCBM show the same response to finite voltage biasing with new features in the transmission spectrum due to voltage induced delocalization of some electronic states. We also study the diffusive motion of molecular fullerenes in ethanol solvent and inside poly(3-hexylthiophene) lamella using reactive molecular dynamics simulations. We found that the mobility of the fullerene reduces considerably due to derivatization; the diffusion coefficient of C60 is an order of magnitude larger than the one for PCBM.
Protecting nickel with graphene spin-filtering membranes: A single layer is enough
Authors: Martin M.-B. , Dlubak B. , Weatherup R. S. , Piquemal-Banci M. , Yang H. , Blume R. , Schloegl R. , Collin S. , Petroff F. , Hofmann S. , Robertson J. , Anane A. , Fert A. , Seneor P.
Published: July 2015

We report on the demonstration of ferromagnetic spin injectors for spintronics which are protected against oxidation through passivation by a single layer of graphene. The graphene monolayer is directly grown by catalytic chemical vapor deposition on pre-patterned nickel electrodes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that even with its monoatomic thickness, monolayer graphene still efficiently protects spin sources against oxidation in ambient air. The resulting single layer passivated electrodes are integrated into spin valves and demonstrated to act as spin polarizers. Strikingly, the atom-thick graphene layer is shown to be sufficient to induce a characteristic spin filtering effect evidenced through the sign reversal of the measured magnetoresistance.
Post-growth annealing of germanium-tin alloys using pulsed excimer laser
Authors: Wang Lanxiang , Wang Wei , Zhou Qian , Pan Jisheng , Zhang Zheng , Tok Eng Soon , Yeo Yee-Chia
Published: July 2015

We investigate the impact of pulsed excimer laser anneal on fully strained germanium-tin alloys (Ge1−xSnx) epitaxially grown on Ge substrate by molecular beam epitaxy. Using atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the morphological and compositional evolution of Ge1−xSnx with Sn content up to 17% after annealing using various conditions is studied. Ge0.83Sn0.17 samples annealed at 80 mJ/cm2 or 150 mJ/cm2 have no observable changes with respect to the as-grown sample. However, Ge0.83Sn0.17 samples annealed at 250 mJ/cm2 or 300 mJ/cm2 have Sn-rich islands on the surface, which is due to Sn segregation in the compressively strained epitaxial film. For Ge0.89Sn0.11, significant Sn redistribution occurs only when annealed at 300 mJ/cm2, indicating that it has better thermal stability than Ge0.83Sn0.17. A mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of Sn-rich islands and Sn-depleted regions.
Solitary and shock structures in a strongly coupled cryogenic quantum plasma
Authors: Hossen M. A. , Mamun A. A.
Published: July 2015

The quantum ion-acoustic (QIA) solitary and shock structures formed in a strongly coupled cryogenic quantum plasma (containing strongly coupled positively charged inertial cold ions and Fermi electrons as well as positrons) have been theoretically investigated. The generalized quantum hydrodynamic model and the reductive perturbation method have been employed to derive the Korteweg-de Vries (K-dV) and Burgers equations. The basic features of the QIA solitary and shock structures are identified by analyzing the stationary solitary and shock wave solutions of the K-dV and Burgers equations. It is found that the basic characteristics (e.g., phase speed, amplitude, and width) of the QIA solitary and shock structures are significantly modified by the effects of the Fermi pressures of electrons and positrons, the ratio of Fermi temperature of positrons to that of electrons, the ratio of effective ion temperature to electron Fermi temperature, etc. It is also observed that the effect of strong correlation among extremely cold ions acts as a source of dissipation, and is responsible for the formation of the QIA shock structures. The results of this theoretical investigation should be useful for understanding the nonlinear features of the localized electrostatic disturbances in laboratory electron-positron-ion plasmas (viz., super-intense laser-dense matter experiments).
Light-trapping optimization in wet-etched silicon photonic crystal solar cells
Authors: Eyderman Sergey , John Sajeev , Hafez M. , Al-Ameer S. S. , Al-Harby T. S. , Al-Hadeethi Y. , Bouwes D. M.
Published: July 2015

We demonstrate, by numerical solution of Maxwell's equations, near-perfect solar light-trapping and absorption over the 300–1100 nm wavelength band in silicon photonic crystal (PhC) architectures, amenable to fabrication by wet-etching and requiring less than 10 μm (equivalent bulk thickness) of crystalline silicon. These PhC's consist of square lattices of inverted pyramids with sides comprised of various (111) silicon facets and pyramid center-to-center spacing in the range of 1.3–2.5 μm. For a wet-etched slab with overall height H = 10 μm and lattice constant a = 2.5 μm, we find a maximum achievable photo-current density (MAPD) of 42.5 mA/cm2, falling not far from 43.5 mA/cm2, corresponding to 100% solar absorption in the range of 300–1100 nm. We also demonstrate a MAPD of 37.8 mA/cm2 for a thinner silicon PhC slab of overall height H = 5 μm and lattice constant a = 1.9 μm. When H is further reduced to 3 μm, the optimal lattice constant for inverted pyramids reduces to a = 1.3 μm and provides the MAPD of 35.5 mA/cm2. These wet-etched structures require more than double the volume of silicon, in comparison to the overall mathematically optimum PhC structure (consisting of slanted conical pores), to achieve the same degree of solar absorption. It is suggested these 3–10 μm thick structures are valuable alternatives to currently utilized 300 μm-thick textured solar cells and are suitable for large-scale fabrication by wet-etching.
Note: Precise radial distribution of charged particles in a magnetic guiding field
Authors: Backe H.
Published: July 2015

Current high precision beta decay experiments of polarized neutrons, employing magnetic guiding fields in combination with position sensitive and energy dispersive detectors, resulted in a detailed study of the mono-energetic point spread function (PSF) for a homogeneous magnetic field. A PSF describes the radial probability distribution of mono-energetic electrons at the detector plane emitted from a point-like source. With regard to accuracy considerations, unwanted singularities occur as a function of the radial detector coordinate which have recently been investigated by subdividing the radial coordinate into small bins or employing analytical approximations. In this note, a series expansion of the PSF is presented which can numerically be evaluated with arbitrary precision.