bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A supercapacitor constructed with a partially graphitized porous carbon and its performance over a wide working temperature range
Authors: Ye Ling , Liang Qinghua , Huang Zheng-Hong , Lei Yu , Zhan Changzhen , Bai Yu , Li Huan , Kang Feiyu , Yang Quan-Hong
Published: July 2015

A supercapacitor constructed with a partially graphitized porous carbon exhibits high energy densities of ~46 and ~43 Wh kg−1 at 50 °C and −20 °C, respectively.
Multi-band photon avalanche controlling performance of BiOCl:Er3+ crystals through facile Yb3+ doping
Authors: Li Yongjin , Song Zhiguo , Wan Ronghua , Liu Qun , Zhou Yuting , Qiu Jianbei , Yang Zhengwen , Yin Zhaoyi
Published: July 2015

Photon avalanche (PA) emission behavior of Er3+ ion at violet, green, red and near infrared emission bands were controlled through the Yb3+ dopant concentration in Er3+–Yb3+ co-doped BiOCl crystals.
Novel red and green emitting Li2SiN2:Eu3+/Tb3+ phosphors with a broad charge transfer band
Authors: Ding Jianyan , Li Yanyan , Wu Quansheng , Long Qiang , Wang Chuang , Wang Yuhua
Published: July 2015

A broad CTB of N3−–Eu3+ in Li2SiN2:Eu3+ peaking at 357 nm has been found.
Comparison of Vocal Vibration-Dose Measures for Potential-Damage Risk Criteria
Authors: Titze Ingo R. , Hunter Eric J.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

Schoolteachers have become a benchmark population for the study of occupational voice use. A decade of vibration-dose studies on the teacher population allows a comparison to be made between specific dose measures for eventual assessment of damage risk.

Method

Vibration dosimetry is reformulated with the inclusion of collision stress. Two methods of estimating amplitude of vocal-fold vibration are compared to capture variations in vocal intensity. Energy loss from collision is added to the energy-dissipation dose. An equal-energy-dissipation criterion is defined and used on the teacher corpus as a potential-damage risk criterion.

Results

Comparison of time-, cycle-, distance-, and energy-dose calculations for 57 teachers reveals a progression in information content in the ability to capture variations in duration, speaking pitch, and vocal intensity. The energy-dissipation dose carries the greatest promise in capturing excessive tissue stress and collision but also the greatest liability, due to uncertainty in parameters. Cycle dose is least correlated with the other doses.

Conclusion

As a first guide to damage risk in excessive voice use, the equal-energy-dissipation dose criterion can be used to structure trade-off relations between loudness, adduction, and duration of speech.
Bidirectional Interference Between Speech and Nonspeech Tasks in Younger, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults
Authors: Bailey Dallin J. , Dromey Christopher
Published: July 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine divided attention over a large age range by looking at the effects of 3 nonspeech tasks on concurrent speech motor performance. The nonspeech tasks were designed to facilitate measurement of bidirectional interference, allowing examination of their sensitivity to speech activity. A cross-sectional design was selected to explore possible changes in divided-attention effects associated with age.

Method

Sixty healthy participants were separated into 3 groups of 20: younger (20s), middle-aged (40s), and older (60s) adults. Each participant completed a speech task (sentence repetitions) once in isolation and once concurrently with each of 3 nonspeech tasks: a semantic-decision linguistic task, a quantitative-comparison cognitive task, and a manual motor task. The nonspeech tasks were also performed in isolation.

Results

Data from speech kinematics and nonspeech task performance indicated significant task-specific divided attention interference, with divided attention affecting speech and nonspeech measures in the linguistic and cognitive conditions and affecting speech measures in the manual motor condition. There was also a significant age effect for utterance duration.

Conclusions

The results increase what is known about bidirectional interference between speech and other concurrent tasks as well as age effects on speech motor control.
From Research to Reality: Use of literacy-based targets in Speech-Language Therapy and Special Education Classrooms
Authors: Schmitt Mary Beth , Tambyraja Sherine
Published: July 2015

Children with language impairment (LI) are at substantial risk for short and long term delays in reading development. This fact is neither surprising nor new information, as language and literacy skills have been shown to be highly correlated. Empirical evidence suggests that literacy interventions are effective in boosting the reading outcomes of children with LI; however, research into business-as-usual practices in the public schools suggests that children with LI receive very little time devoted to literacy-based instruction, including speech-therapy and special education classrooms. This article discusses the connection between oral language and literacy for children with LI, federal mandates that guide intervention, and current research regarding provision of literacy intervention for children with LI.
Concept of Word in Text Development in Emergent Literacy Instruction
Authors: Bowling Emily C. C. , Cabell Sonia Q.
Published: July 2015

In this article, the authors outline how concept of word in text is a pivotal event in early reading development and discuss research on the development of concept of word in text. Next, the authors provide a framework for the development of concept of word in text and the relation to other early literacy skills including both formal and informal assessment options. We conclude with instruction suggestions that include ways that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can help facilitate concept of word in text development with other early literacy skills.
Sharing Expository Texts with Preschool Children in Special Education
Authors: Breit-Smith Allison , Busch Jamie , Guo Ying
Published: July 2015

Although a general limited availability of expository texts currently exists in preschool special education classrooms, expository texts offer speech-language pathologists (SLPs) a rich context for addressing the language goals of preschool children with language impairment on their caseloads. Thus, this article highlights the differences between expository and narrative texts and describes how SLPs might use expository texts for targeting preschool children's goals related to listening comprehension, vocabulary, and syntactic relationships.
Performance analyses of decode‐and‐forward multi‐hop relay network scenarios with multiple antenna techniques over Nakagami‐m fading channels
Authors: Yılmaz Ahmet , Kucur Oğuz
Published: July 2015

In this study, unified performance analysis of many decode‐and‐forward multi‐antenna multi‐hop relay network scenarios is studied over flat Nakagami‐m fading channels. The investigated multi‐hop relay network scenarios include maximal‐ratio transmission, transmit antenna selection and orthogonal space–time block coding techniques as transmit diversity techniques and maximal‐ratio combining and selection combining as receive diversity techniques. Performance analysis consists of derivation of outage probability, symbol error probability, moments of end‐to‐end signal‐to‐noise ratio and ergodic capacity expressions. In addition, derivation of asymptotic outage probability and symbol error probability expressions is also presented to provide further insight to the performance analysis by quantifying the asymptotic diversity order and array gain. The theoretical performance results are validated by Monte Carlo simulations.
Active control strategy based on vector‐proportion integration controller for proton exchange membrane fuel cell grid‐connected system
Authors: Li Qi , Chen Weirong , Liu Zhixiang , Zhou Guohua , Ma Lei
Published: July 2015

Considering the influence of slow response characteristic of a high‐power proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) on a grid‐connected system adequately, a 150 kW PEMFC grid‐connected system, including a PEMFC power unit based on a Ballard Stack Modules‐FCvelocity™ HD6 is developed in this study. Moreover, then an active control strategy with vector‐proportion integration controller is proposed to regulate the cascade system actively and improve the performance of compensating low‐order harmonics. The comparisons with conventional active/reactive power (PQ) control are carried out to verify the validity of the proposed method under different conditional tests. The results demonstrate that the proposed strategy can not only track the grid power demand quickly, but also prevent the unsteady phenomena which are aroused by PQ control method from the relatively slow response of high‐power PEMFC power unit. Furthermore, the total harmonic distortion of grid‐connected current is measured by means of the criterion of IEEE Std1547‐2003 and the result of fast Fourier transform analysis testifies that the proposed strategy can decrease the total harmonic content of currents better. Therefore, this proposed method will be an optional effective technique for the design of advanced high‐power PEMFC grid‐connected control system.
Optimal operation of a low‐voltage distribution network with renewable distributed generation by NaS battery and demand response strategy: a case study in a trial site
Authors: Cresta Massimo , Gatta Fabio Massimo , Geri Alberto , Maccioni Marco , Mantineo Antonio , Paulucci Marco
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this study is to analyse possible strategies for control and management of an existing low‐voltage (LV) network, also with a supervisor control and data acquisition system with future internet potentialities, in order to flatten the network voltage profile, to improve the power factor at medium voltage supplying busbars, to minimise the overall power losses and then to reduce operating costs. In particular, operational records of the LV network have been acquired over a period of 8 months, with a time rate of 4 snap‐shots per hour (23,232 measures), and different possible scenarios (each of which compatible with the pilot plant control system and power management) have been analysed. On the base of simulation results carried out by power flow (PF), and optimal PF, studies, the effectiveness, in terms of cost–benefits analysis, of the installation of a suitable sized battery energy storage system, as well as of the implementation of a demand response strategy, has been also assessed. The main results of simulations, measurements and experimental tests are reported and discussed in detail.
Union Rate and Complications in Spine Fusion with Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Vavken Julia , Vavken Patrick , Mameghani Alexander , Schaeren Stefan
Published: July 2015

Study Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective

The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the current best evidence to assess effectiveness and safety of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 (rhBMP-7) as a biological stimulant in spine fusion.

Methods

Studies were included if they reported on outcomes after spine fusion with rhBMP-7. The data was synthesized using Mantel-Haenszel pooled risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Main end points were union rate, overall complications, postoperative back and leg pain, revision rates, and new-onset cancer.

Results

Our search produced 796 studies, 6 of which were eligible for inclusion. These studies report on a total of 442 patients (328 experimental, 114 controls) with a mean age of 59 ± 11 years. Our analysis showed no statistically significant differences in union rates (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.11, p = 0.247), overall complications (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.20, p = 0.545), postoperative back and leg pain (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.48 to 2.19, p = 0.941), or revision rate (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.40, p = 0.449). There was a mathematical indicator of increased tumor rates, but with only one case, the clinical meaningfulness of this finding is questionable.

Conclusion

We were not able to find data in support of the use of rhBMP-7 for spine fusion. We found no evidence for increased complication or revision rates with rhBMP-7. On the other hand, we also found no evidence in support of improved union rates.
The Correlation of the NA Measurements by Counting 28Si Atoms
Authors: Mana G. , Massa E. , Sasso C. P. , Stock M. , Fujii K. , Kuramoto N. , Mizushima S. , Narukawa T. , Borys M. , Busch I. , Nicolaus A. , Pramann A.
Published: July 2015

An additional value of the Avogadro constant was obtained by counting the atoms in isotopically enriched Si spheres. With respect to the previous determination, the spheres were etched and repolished to eliminate metal contaminations and to improve the roundness. In addition, all the input quantities—molar mass, lattice parameter, mass, and volume—were remeasured aiming at a smaller uncertainty. In order to make the values given in Andreas et al. [Metrologia 48, S1 (2011)] and Azuma et al. [Metrologia 52, 360 (2015)] usable for a least squares adjustment, we report about the estimate of their correlation.
A 16 MJ compact pulsed power system for electromagnetic launch
Authors: Dai Ling , Zhang Qin , Zhong Heqing , Lin Fuchang , Li Hua , Wang Yan , Su Cheng , Huang Qinghua , Chen Xu
Published: July 2015

This paper has established a compact pulsed power system (PPS) of 16 MJ for electromagnetic rail gun. The PPS consists of pulsed forming network (PFN), chargers, monitoring system, and current junction. The PFN is composed of 156 pulse forming units (PFUs). Every PFU can be triggered simultaneously or sequentially in order to obtain different total current waveforms. The whole device except general control table is divided into two frameworks with size of 7.5 m × 2.2 m × 2.3 m. It is important to estimate the discharge current of PFU accurately for the design of the whole electromagnetic launch system. In this paper, the on-state characteristics of pulse thyristor have been researched to improve the estimation accuracy. The on-state characteristics of pulse thyristor are expressed as a logarithmic function based on experimental data. The circuit current waveform of the single PFU agrees with the simulating one. On the other hand, the coaxial discharge cable is a quick wear part in PFU because the discharge current will be up to dozens of kA even hundreds of kA. In this article, the electromagnetic field existing in the coaxial cable is calculated by finite element method. On basis of the calculation results, the structure of cable is optimized in order to improve the limit current value of the cable. At the end of the paper, the experiment current wave of the PPS with the load of rail gun is provided.
Role of metal-oxide interfaces in the multiple resistance switching regimes of Pt/HfO2/TiN devices
Authors: Brivio S. , Frascaroli J. , Spiga S.
Published: July 2015

The multiple resistive switching of Pt/HfO2/TiN devices is demonstrated as a result of a competition between the switching at opposite metal/oxide interfaces. Three switching operation modes are demonstrated: clockwise (CW) switching (set for negative voltage and reset for positive voltage at Pt electrode), as already reported in literature for similar material stacks; counterclockwise (CCW) switching and complementary switching (CS) that consist in a set and a reset for increasing voltage of the same polarity. The multiple switching operation modes are enabled by a deep-reset operation that brings the cell resistance close to the initial one. As a consequence, the set transition after a deep-reset occurs at the same voltage and currents as those of the forming and leads to a low resistance state whose resistance can be further decreased in a CCW switching or increased back with a CW switching. With a suitable choice of the stop voltage, a CS in obtained, as well. The coexistence of all three CW, CCW, and CS operations demonstrates that both metal-oxide interfaces are active in the formation and the dissolution of conductive filaments responsible for the switching. All these observations are discussed in terms of a competition between ion migration processes occurring at the opposite metal-oxide interfaces.
Charge transport in molecular junctions: From tunneling to hopping with the probe technique
Authors: Kilgour Michael , Segal Dvira
Published: July 2015

We demonstrate that a simple phenomenological approach can be used to simulate electronic conduction in molecular wires under thermal effects induced by the surrounding environment. This “Landauer-Büttiker’s probe technique” can properly replicate different transport mechanisms, phase coherent nonresonant tunneling, ballistic behavior, and hopping conduction. Specifically, our simulations with the probe method recover the following central characteristics of charge transfer in molecular wires: (i) the electrical conductance of short wires falls off exponentially with molecular length, a manifestation of the tunneling (superexchange) mechanism. Hopping dynamics overtakes superexchange in long wires demonstrating an ohmic-like behavior. (ii) In off-resonance situations, weak dephasing effects facilitate charge transfer, but under large dephasing, the electrical conductance is suppressed. (iii) At high enough temperatures, kBT/ϵB > 1/25, with ϵB as the molecular-barrier height, the current is enhanced by a thermal activation (Arrhenius) factor. However, this enhancement takes place for both coherent and incoherent electrons and it does not readily indicate on the underlying mechanism. (iv) At finite-bias, dephasing effects may impede conduction in resonant situations. We further show that memory (non-Markovian) effects can be implemented within the Landauer-Büttiker’s probe technique to model the interaction of electrons with a structured environment. Finally, we examine experimental results of electron transfer in conjugated molecular wires and show that our computational approach can reasonably reproduce reported values to provide mechanistic information.
Advances in Determination of Fundamental Constants
Authors: Karshenboim Savely G. , Mohr Peter J. , Newell David B.
Published: July 2015

We present a brief overview of the presentations at the workshop on the determination of the fundamental constants (Eltville, 2015) and the contributions to the proceedings.
A simple non-chaotic map generating subdiffusive, diffusive, and superdiffusive dynamics
Authors: Salari Lucia , Rondoni Lamberto , Giberti Claudio , Klages Rainer
Published: July 2015

Analytically tractable dynamical systems exhibiting a whole range of normal and anomalous deterministic diffusion are rare. Here, we introduce a simple non-chaotic model in terms of an interval exchange transformation suitably lifted onto the whole real line which preserves distances except at a countable set of points. This property, which leads to vanishing Lyapunov exponents, is designed to mimic diffusion in non-chaotic polygonal billiards that give rise to normal and anomalous diffusion in a fully deterministic setting. As these billiards are typically too complicated to be analyzed from first principles, simplified models are needed to identify the minimal ingredients generating the different transport regimes. For our model, which we call the slicer map, we calculate all its moments in position analytically under variation of a single control parameter. We show that the slicer map exhibits a transition from subdiffusion over normal diffusion to superdiffusion under parameter variation. Our results may help to understand the delicate parameter dependence of the type of diffusion generated by polygonal billiards. We argue that in different parameter regions the transport properties of our simple model match to different classes of known stochastic processes. This may shed light on difficulties to match diffusion in polygonal billiards to a single anomalous stochastic process.
Enhanced p-type dopability of P and As in CdTe using non-equilibrium thermal processing
Authors: Yang Ji-Hui , Yin Wan-Jian , Park Ji-Sang , Burst James , Metzger Wyatt K. , Gessert Tim , Barnes Teresa , Wei Su-Huai
Published: July 2015

One of the main limiting factors in CdTe solar cells is its low p-type dopability and, consequently, low open-circuit voltage (VOC). We have systematically studied P and As doping in CdTe with first-principles calculations in order to understand how to increase the hole density. We find that both P and As p-type doping are self-compensated by the formation of AX centers. More importantly, we find that although high-temperature growth is beneficial to obtain high hole density, rapid cooling is necessary to sustain the hole density and to lower the Fermi level close to the valence band maximum (VBM) at room temperature. Thermodynamic simulations suggest that by cooling CdTe from a high growth temperature to room temperature under Te-poor conditions and choosing an optimal dopant concentration of about 1018/cm3, P and As doping can reach a hole density above 1017/cm3 at room temperature and lower the Fermi level to within ∼0.1 eV above the VBM. These results suggest a promising pathway to improve the VOC and efficiency of CdTe solar cells.
Porous composite with negative thermal expansion obtained by photopolymer additive manufacturing
Authors: Takezawa Akihiro , Kobashi Makoto , Kitamura Mitsuru
Published: July 2015

Additive manufacturing (AM) could be a novel method of fabricating composite and porous materials having various effective performances based on mechanisms of their internal geometries. Materials fabricated by AM could rapidly be used in industrial application since they could easily be embedded in the target part employing the same AM process used for the bulk material. Furthermore, multi-material AM has greater potential than usual single-material AM in producing materials with effective properties. Negative thermal expansion is a representative effective material property realized by designing a composite made of two materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion. In this study, we developed a porous composite having planar negative thermal expansion by employing multi-material photopolymer AM. After measurement of the physical properties of bulk photopolymers, the internal geometry was designed by topology optimization, which is the most effective structural optimization in terms of both minimizing thermal stress and maximizing stiffness. The designed structure was converted to a three-dimensional stereolithography (STL) model, which is a native digital format of AM, and assembled as a test piece. The thermal expansions of the specimens were measured using a laser scanning dilatometer. Negative thermal expansion corresponding to less than −1 × 10−4 K−1 was observed for each test piece of the N = 3 experiment.
Effects of topology on the adsorption of singly tethered ring polymers to attractive surfaces
Authors: Li Bing , Sun Zhao-Yan , An Li-Jia
Published: July 2015

We investigate the effect of topology on the equilibrium behavior of singly tethered ring polymers adsorbed on an attractive surface. We focus on the change of square radius of gyration Rg2, the perpendicular component Rg⊥2 and the parallel component Rg‖2 to the adsorbing surface, the mean contacting number of monomers with the surface M, and the monomer distribution along z-direction during transition from desorption to adsorption. We find that both of the critical point of adsorption εc and the crossover exponent ϕ depend on the knot type when the chain length of ring ranges from 48 to 400. The behaviors of Rg2, Rg⊥2, and Rg‖2 are found to be dependent on the topology and the monomer-surface attractive strength. At weak adsorption, the polymer chains with more complex topology are more adsorbable than those with simple topology. However, at strong adsorption, the polymer chains with complex topology are less adsorbable. By analyzing the distribution of monomer along z-direction, we give a possible mechanism for the effect of topology on the adsorption behavior.
Temperature dependence of the fundamental excitonic resonance in lead-salt quantum dots
Authors: Yue Fangyu , Tomm Jens W. , Kruschke Detlef , Ullrich Bruno , Chu Junhao
Published: July 2015

The temperature dependences of the fundamental excitonic resonance in PbS and PbSe quantum dots fabricated by various technologies are experimentally determined. Above ∼150 K, sub-linearities of the temperature shifts and halfwidths are observed. This behavior is analyzed within the existing standard models. Concordant modeling, however, becomes possible only within the frame of a three-level system that takes into account both bright and dark excitonic states as well as phonon-assisted carrier redistribution between these states. Our results show that luminescence characterization of lead-salt quantum dots necessarily requires both low temperatures and excitation densities in order to provide reliable ensemble parameters.
In-plane angular dependence of the spin-wave nonreciprocity of an ultrathin film with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction
Authors: Zhang Vanessa Li , Di Kai , Lim Hock Siah , Ng Ser Choon , Kuok Meng Hau , Yu Jiawei , Yoon Jungbum , Qiu Xuepeng , Yang Hyunsoo
Published: July 2015

The nonreciprocal propagation of spin waves in an ultrathin Pt/Co/Ni film has been measured by Brillouin light scattering. The frequency nonreciprocity, due to the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), has a sinusoidal dependence on the in-plane angle between the magnon wavevector and the applied magnetic field. The results, which are in good agreement with analytical predictions reported earlier, yield a value of the DMI constant which is the same as that obtained previously from a study of the magnon dispersion relations. We have demonstrated that our magnon-dynamics based method can experimentally ascertain the DMI constant of multilayer thin films.
Coupling of diversification and pH adaptation during the evolution of terrestrial Thaumarchaeota
Authors: Gubry-Rangin Cécile , Kratsch Christina , Williams Tom A. , McHardy Alice C. , Embley T. Martin , Prosser James I. , Macqueen Daniel J.
Published: July 2015

Significance

The link between species diversification and adaptation has long interested biologists working on multicellular eukaryotes, but remains poorly understood in prokaryotes, in which diversity is much greater. We tested the hypothesis that diversification is associated with environmental adaptation in Thaumarchaeota, an ancient and abundant microbial group and key player in the global nitrogen cycle. We provide evidence that the Thaumarchaeota underwent a major radiation event hundreds of millions of years ago that coincided with a major period of pH adaptation. Subsequently, these microbes have maintained high rates of diversification, potentially because of the high rate at which new terrestrial niches arise. This study provides a framework for comparing dynamics of evolutionary processes across the tree of life.
Energy flow and functional compensation in Great Basin small mammals under natural and anthropogenic environmental change
Authors: Terry Rebecca C. , Rowe Rebecca J.
Published: July 2015

Significance

Small mammals play a critical role in the maintenance of desert ecosystems. Using Quaternary fossils from the Great Basin, we show that energy flow through a small mammal community during today’s heightened climate warming differs from that experienced during natural rapid warming in the past. This discrepancy highlights a modern breakdown in energetic compensation among functional groups, and stresses the importance of novel anthropogenic impacts, such as the replacement of shrublands by invasive annual grasses introduced to North American deserts more than a century ago. Use of the fossil record to untangle the effects of climate and anthropogenic habitat change on ecosystem function today is thus critical for understanding how ecosystems will respond to future environmental change.
Predicting the onset of period-doubling bifurcations in noisy cardiac systems
Authors: Quail Thomas , Shrier Alvin , Glass Leon
Published: July 2015

Significance

Predicting the onset of transitions in the qualitative dynamics of complex systems remains a challenging problem, with relevance in diverse fields. This study focuses on the development of early warning signals that can predict the onset of alternating cardiac rhythms. We treat cardiac cells with a potassium channel blocker, which induces the initiation of alternating rhythms. Based on these experiments, we develop a quantitative measure that can detect how far the system is from the transition. Our results suggest that it is possible to predict the onset of potentially dangerous alternating rhythms in the heart.
Cysteine cathepsins are essential in lysosomal degradation of α-synuclein
Authors: McGlinchey Ryan P. , Lee Jennifer C.
Published: July 2015

Significance

Identifying factors that regulate the degradation of α-synuclein, the protein at the center of Parkinson’s disease etiology, is vital in designing therapeutic strategies. This study provides new mechanistic insights into α-synuclein clearance in the lysosome, a cellular site for proteolysis by using purified mouse lysosomes and purified lysosomal proteases. Cathepsins B and L are identified to be vital through peptide mapping by mass spectrometry. Importantly, cathepsin L degrades α-synuclein amyloid fibrils, materials associated with neurodegeneration, and, thus, changes in its activity or levels could provide a promising avenue for intervention. Additional results on the stimulatory effect of anionic phospholipids on cathepsin activity suggest that changes in lipid metabolism may also contribute to lysosomal dysfunction leading to pathogenesis.
Vaccine-elicited antibody that neutralizes H5N1 influenza and variants binds the receptor site and polymorphic sites
Authors: Winarski Katie L. , Thornburg Natalie J. , Yu Yingchun , Sapparapu Gopal , Crowe James. E. , Spiller Benjamin W.
Published: July 2015

Significance

A small number of mutations to the viral hemagglutinin are sufficient to permit aerosol transmission, in a ferret model of human infection, of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza A viruses. Here, we show how an antibody (H5.3) against hemagglutinin 5 (H5) recognizes both WT and variant H5 proteins. H5.3 retains germ-line characteristics, most remarkably a conformationally flexible combining site, consistent with an antibody that has not been through multiple cycles of affinity maturation. Many antibodies against H5 are lightly mutated and may arise from naive B cells, explaining the low antigenicity of H5N1 vaccines relative to seasonal influenza vaccines and supporting the idea that multiple exposures are necessary to develop a strong immune response to H5N1 strains.
Three-dimensional model of surfactant replacement therapy
Authors: Filoche Marcel , Tai Cheng-Feng , Grotberg James B.
Published: July 2015

Significance

To our knowledge, this paper presents the first structural model of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT), the delivery of liquid bolus surfactant mixtures into the lung airways. SRT has succeeded in premature neonates with surfactant deficiency but mostly failed in adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome, which claims ∼74,500 lives annually in the United States at a 39% mortality rate. Our model incorporates the fluid mechanics of the liquid bolus propagating through a branching airway tree with gravity effects. It reveals well-mixed distributions in the neonatal lung, but poorly mixed, highly nonlinear distribution features in adult lungs. The model suggests adult SRT failures are likely due to inadequate delivery, while providing a rational basis for successful protocols.
Self-control forecasts better psychosocial outcomes but faster epigenetic aging in low-SES youth
Authors: Miller Gregory E. , Yu Tianyi , Chen Edith , Brody Gene H.
Published: July 2015

Significance

Most childhood outcomes pattern by socioeconomic status (SES). Children from low-SES families complete less education, have worse health, and are convicted of more crimes. To ameliorate these disparities, policymakers are incorporating character-skills training into school curricula and social services. Among other goals, these programs attempt to improve self-control, or the ability to resist temptations that interfere with long-term aspirations. However, data suggest that self-control has unforeseen consequences for the health of low-SES youth. Here, we follow 292 African American teenagers as they transition into adulthood. Among low-SES youth, self-control forecasted better psychosocial outcomes, including less depression, substance use, and aggression. However, it also forecasted more rapid immune cell aging, highlighting the potential health costs of successful adjustment for disadvantaged youth.
Chromosomal directionality of DNA mismatch repair in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Hasan A. M. Mahedi , Leach David R. F.
Published: July 2015

Significance

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is critical to avoid mutations that can lead to genetic disease, cancer, and death. The MMR system is evolutionarily conserved from bacteria to humans and is an example of a remarkable molecular machine. Here we show that this machine operates unidirectionally with respect to the chromosome of
Escherichia coli.
The most likely explanation for this directionality is that the MMR machinery is associated with the complex responsible for DNA replication. We suggest that this association facilitates the mechanism of strand discrimination in MMR.
Enhancing electrochemical intermediate solvation through electrolyte anion selection to increase nonaqueous Li–O
2
battery capacity
Authors: Burke Colin M. , Pande Vikram , Khetan Abhishek , Viswanathan Venkatasubramanian , McCloskey Bryan D.
Published: July 2015

Significance

The Li–air battery has attracted significant interest as a potential high-energy alternative to Li-ion batteries. However, the battery discharge product, lithium peroxide, is both electronically insulative and insoluble in nonaqueous electrolytes. It therefore passivates the battery cathode as it is uniformly deposited and disallows the battery to achieve even a modest fraction of its potential electrochemical capacity. Our objective is to circumvent this challenge by enhancing the solubility of electrochemically formed intermediate species. We present a rational basis for electrolyte (i.e., solvent and salt) selection for nonaqueous Li–air batteries and demonstrate a selection criterion for an electrolyte salt that increases the stability of Li
+
in solution, thereby triggering a solution-based process that allows significantly improved battery capacities.
Alleviation of off-target effects from vector-encoded shRNAs via codelivered RNA decoys
Authors: Mockenhaupt Stefan , Grosse Stefanie , Rupp Daniel , Bartenschlager Ralf , Grimm Dirk
Published: July 2015

Significance

Induction of RNAi through shRNA expression holds great potential for biomedical research. Ideal shRNAs exhibit high specificity, potency, and safety, but options for rationally designing such shRNAs remain limited. One ensuing concern is unintended perturbation of gene expression by shRNA sense or antisense strands (off-targeting). Here, we report a novel solution that specifically counteracts adverse activity of shRNA sense strands via their sequestration by tough decoy RNAs (TuDs). Using hepatitis C virus as a clinically relevant example, we demonstrate how TuD coexpression from an Adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy vector concurrently decreases shRNA off-targeting and enhances on-target inhibition. The versatility of TuDs and AAVs makes our new strategy useful for improving specificity and safety of a wide array of RNAi experiments.
Massively parallel enzyme kinetics reveals the substrate recognition landscape of the metalloprotease ADAMTS13
Authors: Kretz Colin A. , Dai Manhong , Soylemez Onuralp , Yee Andrew , Desch Karl C. , Siemieniak David , Tomberg Kärt , Kondrashov Fyodor A. , Meng Fan , Ginsburg David
Published: July 2015

Significance

Here we report a method to rapidly examine the effect of nearly all possible single amino acid substitutions within a substrate fragment of the coagulation protein von Willebrand factor (VWF) on the efficiency of cleavage by its cognate protease, ADAMTS13. A substrate phage display library was generated containing ∼3.5 × 10
7
independent clones and uncleaved phages collected at multiple reaction time points after reaction with ADAMTS13. Analysis of these phages by high-throughput sequencing facilitated simultaneous calculations of
k
cat
/
K
M
values for multiple substitutions at each position of this protein fragment, providing a comprehensive picture of the substrate recognition landscape for the interaction between ADAMTS13 and VWF. This approach should be broadly applicable to many other protease/substrate pairs.
Glucose-dependent acetylation of Rictor promotes targeted cancer therapy resistance
Authors: Masui Kenta , Tanaka Kazuhiro , Ikegami Shiro , Villa Genaro R. , Yang Huijun , Yong William H. , Cloughesy Timothy F. , Yamagata Kanato , Arai Nobutaka , Cavenee Webster K. , Mischel Paul S.
Published: July 2015

Significance

Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism in response to growth factor receptor mutations. However, the effect of altered nutrient levels on oncogenic signaling and therapeutic response is not well understood. We demonstrate that glucose or acetate, two abundant “fuel” sources in the brain, promote epidermal growth factor receptor vIII (EGFRvIII)-dependent signaling through activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) by acetylation of its core component Rictor. This activity is mediated through elevated levels of acetyl-CoA. A surprising implication of this study is that glucose or acetate can contribute to targeted therapy resistance by maintaining signaling through downstream components of the growth factor receptor signaling cascade.
Effective charges and virial pressure of concentrated macroion solutions
Authors: Boon Niels , Guerrero-García Guillermo Ivan , van Roij René , Olvera de la Cruz Monica
Published: July 2015

Significance

Colloids constitute the basic components of many everyday products and are integrated into the fabric of modern society. Understanding their assembly is key for nanotechnological and biotechnological advances. At the single-particle level, colloids commonly possess electric charge. Consequently, the structure to which they conform is strongly influenced by electrostatic interactions. In solution, these interactions are modified by the presence of ions. We have developed a model for computing the corresponding effective electrostatic interactions as well as the osmotic pressure. Our model extends the applicability of Derjaguin−Landau−Verwey−Overbeek theory to dense systems in which many-body effects are crucial. This will allow previously impossible, mesoscale studies of colloidal assembly to be performed analytically or by simulation with implicit ions models.
Molecular mechanism of the dual activity of 4EGI-1: Dissociating eIF4G from eIF4E but stabilizing the binding of unphosphorylated 4E-BP1
Authors: Sekiyama Naotaka , Arthanari Haribabu , Papadopoulos Evangelos , Rodriguez-Mias Ricard A. , Wagner Gerhard , Léger-Abraham Mélissa
Published: July 2015

Significance

Translation initiation governs many cellular processes, including cell proliferation, growth, and development. Central to this process is the translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), which recruits the small ribosomal subunit to the 5′ end of the mRNA through its interaction with the scaffold protein eIF4G. The eIF4E/eIF4G interaction is highly regulated by competitive binding of 4E-binding proteins (4E-BPs), which are at a convergence point of signaling pathways and act as tumor suppressors. The recently discovered eIF4E/eIF4G interaction inhibitor 1 (4EGI-1) dissociates eIF4G but enhances 4E-BP1 binding and has antitumor activity. Here, we elucidate the mechanism for the dual activity of 4EGI-1—it dissociates eIF4G from eIF4E but stabilizes the binding of 4E-BP1.
Proton block of proton-activated TRPV1 current
Authors: Lee Bo Hyun , Zheng Jie
Published: July 2015

The TRPV1 cation channel is a polymodal nociceptor that is activated by heat and ligands such as capsaicin and is highly sensitive to changes in extracellular pH. In the body core, where temperature is usually stable and capsaicin is normally absent, H+ released in response to ischemia, tissue injury, or inflammation is the best-known endogenous TRPV1 agonist, activating the channel to mediate pain and vasodilation. Paradoxically, removal of H+ elicits a transient increase in TRPV1 current that is much larger than the initial H+-activated current. We found that this prominent OFF response is caused by rapid recovery from H+ inhibition of the excitatory current carried by H+-activated TRPV1 channels. H+ inhibited current by interfering with ion permeation. The degree of inhibition is voltage and permeant ion dependent, and it can be affected but not eliminated by mutations to acidic residues within or near the ion selectivity filter. The opposing H+-mediated gating and permeation effects produce complex current responses under different cellular conditions that are expected to greatly affect the response of nociceptive neurons and other TRPV1-expressing cells.
Study of the ELM fluctuation characteristics during the mitigation of type-I ELMs
Authors: Bogomolov A.V. , Classen I.G.J. , Boom J.E. , Donné A.J.H. , Wolfrum E. , Fischer R. , Viezzer E. , Schneider P. , Manz P. , Suttrop W. , Luhmann N.C.
Published: July 2015

Transitions from type-I to small edge localized modes (ELMs) and back are studied using the electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) diagnostic on the ASDEX Upgrade (AUG). ECEI measurements show that the average poloidal velocity of temperature fluctuations of both type-I ELM onsets and small ELMs is the same and is close to 5–6 km s−1. Radially, the temperature fluctuations are distributed in the same narrow 2 cm region between

with associated poloidal mode numbers

and toroidal mode numbers

. The observed fluctuations related to both type-I ELMs and small ELMs vary over the transition simultaneously, however, showing slightly different behaviour. The similarities between type-I ELMs and small ELMs observed via AUG suggest that they have the same nature and evolve together. In the transition phase a temperature fluctuation mode (‘inter-ELM mode’) appears, which becomes continuous in the mitigated ELM phase and might cause the ELM mitigation. The mode characteristics (velocity, frequency and wave number) obtained in the analysis can be further used for direct comparison in various code simulations.
Access Denied
Authors: du Plessis Dieter
Published: July 2015

The autobiographical story of Dieter is sketched here to portray his struggle to fit in the worlds of others while living in a world that is created from his luscious and profound imagination, but that is hardly possible, and mostly impossible, for others to grasp or even imagine. In spite of his reading a lot, much intellectual ability and ability with words, Dieter’s inabilities are both subtle and like walking into a brick wall. He is not defined by these limitations, however, even though his identity has been a burden. Instead, he believes, among many other things, in creating endless possibilities through the powers of thought, and heroically wants to share his world through poetry and writings that have not been heard or read before.
Executive Remuneration
Authors: Ferrarini Guido , Ungureanu Maria Cristina
Published: July 2015

This chapter examines current trends in the regulation and practice of executive remuneration, particularly emphasizing incentives like stock options and long-term pay. It first outlines the main problems of executive pay from the perspective of agency costs theory, banking theory, and corporate social responsibility. It then discusses the main policy issues relating to executive pay, from design problems and remuneration governance to disclosure of pay policies and amounts, and prudential regulation of pay structure at banks. It considers the regulation of pay governance and disclosure, with special reference to EU law, comparative law, and international practice. It explores the rise of shareholder engagement in listed companies across the Atlantic and the impact of say on pay rules on shareholder activism. Finally, it analyzes the implications of international principles and standards, the Dodd-Frank Act, and CRD IV for the regulation of the pay structure at banks and other financial institutions.
Introduction
Authors: Strohm Paul
Published: July 2015

This book examines Middle English literature and includes works by Geoffrey Chaucer, John Gower, William Langland, and John Lydgate. Essays deal with topics ranging from romances to drama, chronicles, and other narrative forms, as well as gossip, orality and aurality, translation, and multilingualism. The book also looks at vernacular texts that harbor refined ideas about beauty, aesthetics, and literary genre; authorship, an unstable category lurking in the undiscovered space between manual and intellectual labor; and the presence of “literature” in apparently “nonliterary” environments.
Multilingualism
Authors: Stein Robert M.
Published: July 2015

England was a polyglot nation even before the Norman Conquest introduced a significantly large population of French speakers to the Island of Britain. In addition to various dialects of Old English, the progressively standardized literary language of the West Saxons, and the learned Latin of the liturgy and monastery, the island was inhabited by North Germanic and Celtic speakers. After 1066, England, with its two vernaculars and a third learned language in active and multiform use, was a remarkable example of the generally polyglot reality of much of medieval life. This article examines England’s sociolinguistic situation between 1066 and the end of the thirteenth century as well as the consequences of polygot literature. It considers the multilingualism of medieval literature by citing the evidence provided by manuscripts. It also uses the example of translation to underscore the fact that any choice to speak is simultaneously a choice not to speak otherwise.
Aurality
Authors: Coleman Joyce
Published: July 2015

Orality—understood as the oral delivery of texts—is often assumed to have given way to literacy—the private reading of texts—over the course of the medieval period. The two entities are mutually exclusive and can be placed in a relationship of evolution that has preoccupied scholars of Middle English literature. Orality differs from “aurality,” which is defined as “the shared hearing of written texts” and combines aspects of both orality and literacy. Most scholars steer around the subject of aurality for a variety of reasons. This article explores some of the issues involved in aurality, explicates the practice of aurality, and considers some of the many potential directions for future research. It focuses on reports of British reading, with occasional references to the more abundant evidence about French and Burgundian reading, as well as recreational literature.
Symbolic Economies
Authors: Cady Diane
Published: July 2015

Money and language are intertwined. From Geoffrey Chaucer to Friedrich Nietzsche, William Langland, and Jacques Derrida, writers and thinkers invoke the language of money when talking about linguistic practice. The pervasive relationship between money and language is more than metaphorical. As a discipline, neoclassical economics is a language consisting of metaphors, foundational myths, and fictional underpinnings. In Symbolic Economies, Jean-Joseph Goux argues that money, language, and psychoanalysis are symbolic economies because they share a similar gendered investment in exchange and value. This article explores some of the links among money, gender, and language in the realm of value and its accompanying anxieties in the Middle Ages. It considers the idea among medieval writers that language and money are based on nature and analyzes William Langland’s Piers Plowman to highlight not only the instantiations among money, language, and gender but also the projection of social instability onto women.