bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intraoperative electrophysiological evaluations of macular function during peripheral scleral indentation
Authors: Akiyama Goichi , Matsumoto Celso Soiti , Shinoda Kei , Terauchi Gaku , Matsumoto Harue , Watanabe Emiko , Iwata Takeshi , Mizota Atsushi , Miyake Yozo
Published: October 2016

Scleral indentation is widely used to examine the peripheral fundus, however it can increase the intraocular pressure (IOP) to high levels which can then affect retinal function. We evaluated the effects of scleral indentation on the macular function electrophysiologically. Intraoperative focal macular electroretinograms (iFMERGs) were recorded with and without controlling the IOP in 7 eyes. Without IOP control, the IOP increased from 21.7 ± 4.9 to 92.7 ± 20.2 mmHg significantly (P = 0.020) and the amplitudes of the b-wave (from 6.29 ± 1.160 to 3.71 ± 1.98 uV,P = 0.007), on-photopic negative response (from 2.29 ± 0.99 to 0.72 ± 0.47 uV, on-PhNR,P = 0.005), and d-wave (from 2.57 ± 0.41 to 1.64 ± 0.69 uV,P = 0.007) decreased significantly soon after beginning the indentation. All values returned to the baseline levels after releasing the indentation. In the eyes with IOP controlled, the IOP and the amplitude of all components did not change significantly during and after the indentation except the on-PhNR amplitude which was significantly reduced during the indentation. The changes in the iFMERGs and macular function caused by scleral indentation were transient and reversible. The changes can be minimized by controlling the IOP.
Aberration-free volumetric high-speed imaging of in vivo retina
Authors: Hillmann Dierck , Spahr Hendrik , Hain Carola , Sudkamp Helge , Franke Gesa , Pfäffle Clara , Winter Christian , Hüttmann Gereon
Published: October 2016

Certain topics in research and advancements in medical diagnostics may benefit from improved temporal and spatial resolution during non-invasive optical imaging of living tissue. However, so far no imaging technique can generate entirely diffraction-limited tomographic volumes with a single data acquisition, if the target moves or changes rapidly, such as the human retina. Additionally, the presence of aberrations may represent further difficulties. We show that a simple interferometric setup–based on parallelized optical coherence tomography–acquires volumetric data with 10 billion voxels per second, exceeding previous imaging speeds by an order of magnitude. This allows us to computationally obtain and correct defocus and aberrations resulting in entirely diffraction-limited volumes. As demonstration, we imaged living human retina with clearly visible nerve fiber layer, small capillary networks, and photoreceptor cells. Furthermore, the technique can also obtain phase-sensitive volumes of other scattering structures at unprecedented acquisition speeds.
Allosteric regulation by cooperative conformational changes of actin filaments drives mutually exclusive binding with cofilin and myosin
Authors: Ngo Kien Xuan , Umeki Nobuhisa , Kijima Saku T. , Kodera Noriyuki , Ueno Hiroaki , Furutani-Umezu Nozomi , Nakajima Jun , Noguchi Taro Q. P. , Nagasaki Akira , Tokuraku Kiyotaka , Uyeda Taro Q. P.
Published: October 2016

Heavy meromyosin (HMM) of myosin II and cofilin each binds to actin filaments cooperatively and forms clusters along the filaments, but it is unknown whether the two cooperative bindings are correlated and what physiological roles they have. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that HMM-GFP and cofilin-mCherry each bound cooperatively to different parts of actin filaments when they were added simultaneously in 0.2 μM ATP, indicating that the two cooperative bindings are mutually exclusive. In 0.1 mM ATP, the motor domain of myosin (S1) strongly inhibited the formation of cofilin clusters along actin filaments. Under this condition, most actin protomers were unoccupied by S1 at any given moment, suggesting that transiently bound S1 alters the structure of actin filaments cooperatively and/or persistently to inhibit cofilin binding. Consistently, cosedimentation experiments using copolymers of actin and actin-S1 fusion protein demonstrated that the fusion protein affects the neighboring actin protomers, reducing their affinity for cofilin. In reciprocal experiments, cofilin-actin fusion protein reduced the affinity of neighboring actin protomers for S1. Thus, allosteric regulation by cooperative conformational changes of actin filaments contributes to mutually exclusive cooperative binding of myosin II and cofilin to actin filaments, and presumably to the differential localization of both proteins in cells.
3D mapping of elastic modulus using shear wave optical micro-elastography
Authors: Zhu Jiang , Qi Li , Miao Yusi , Ma Teng , Dai Cuixia , Qu Yueqiao , He Youmin , Gao Yiwei , Zhou Qifa , Chen Zhongping
Published: October 2016

Elastography provides a powerful tool for histopathological identification and clinical diagnosis based on information from tissue stiffness. Benefiting from high resolution, three-dimensional (3D), and noninvasive optical coherence tomography (OCT), optical micro-elastography has the ability to determine elastic properties with a resolution of ~10 μm in a 3D specimen. The shear wave velocity measurement can be used to quantify the elastic modulus. However, in current methods, shear waves are measured near the surface with an interference of surface waves. In this study, we developed acoustic radiation force (ARF) orthogonal excitation optical coherence elastography (ARFOE-OCE) to visualize shear waves in 3D. This method uses acoustic force perpendicular to the OCT beam to excite shear waves in internal specimens and uses Doppler variance method to visualize shear wave propagation in 3D. The measured propagation of shear waves agrees well with the simulation results obtained from finite element analysis (FEA). Orthogonal acoustic excitation allows this method to measure the shear modulus in a deeper specimen which extends the elasticity measurement range beyond the OCT imaging depth. The results show that the ARFOE-OCE system has the ability to noninvasively determine the 3D elastic map.
Comparative Study of the Catalytic Activities of Three Distinct Carbonaceous Materials through Photocatalytic Oxidation, CO Conversion, Dye Degradation, and Electrochemical Measurements
Authors: Lee Hangil , Kim Yeonwoo , Kim Min Ji , Kim Ki-jeong , Kim Byung-Kwon
Published: October 2016

In order to compare the catalytic activities of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), graphene oxide (GO), and graphene, we conducted oxidation of 2-aminothiophenol (2-ATP) and reduction of nitrobenzene (NB) in their presence by using high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy (HRPES). In addition, we determined conversion rates of CO to CO2 in the presence of these catalysts by performing a residual gas analyzer (RGA) under a UHV condition, Orange II and methylene blue degradations UV-vis spectrophotometry, and electrochemistry (EC) measurements in an aqueous solution, as well as by obtaining cyclic voltammograms and determining the change of the condition of electrodes before and after the oxidation of 2-ATP. We found that we can successively fabricate GO (oxidation) and graphene (reduction) from rGO by controlling the oxidation or reduction procedure time and then clearly comparing the critical properties among them as we perform various oxidation and reduction activities.
Polarization of an electroactive functional film on titanium for inducing osteogenic differentiation
Authors: Zhou Zhengnan , Li Weiping , He Tianrui , Qian Lei , Tan Guoxin , Ning Chengyun
Published: October 2016

To enhance the surface bioactivity of titanium (Ti) prostheses, an electroactive polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film was prepared on a Ti substrate to provide a mimetic of the electrical microenvironment, which facilitated the performance of cell functions. The results of cell proliferation and differentiation assays indicated that polarization of the PVDF-Ti (PTi) altered its surface charge, thus inducing adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of cells. The polarized PVDF-Ti (PPTi) may therefore find applications in bone regeneration.
Genomic, physiologic, and proteomic insights into metabolic versatility in Roseobacter clade bacteria isolated from deep-sea water
Authors: Tang Kai , Yang Yujie , Lin Dan , Li Shuhui , Zhou Wenchu , Han Yu , Liu Keshao , Jiao Nianzhi
Published: October 2016

Roseobacter clade bacteria are ubiquitous in marine environments and now thought to be significant contributors to carbon and sulfur cycling. However, only a few strains of roseobacters have been isolated from the deep-sea water column and have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we present the complete genomes of phylogentically closed related Thiobacimonas profunda JLT2016 and Pelagibaca abyssi JLT2014 isolated from deep-sea water of the Southeastern Pacific. The genome sequences showed that the two deep-sea roseobacters carry genes for versatile metabolisms with functional capabilities such as ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-mediated carbon fixation and inorganic sulfur oxidation. Physiological and biochemical analysis showed that T. profunda JLT2016 was capable of autotrophy, heterotrophy, and mixotrophy accompanied by the production of exopolysaccharide. Heterotrophic carbon fixation via anaplerotic reactions contributed minimally to bacterial biomass. Comparative proteomics experiments showed a significantly up-regulated carbon fixation and inorganic sulfur oxidation associated proteins under chemolithotrophic conditions compared to heterotrophic conditions. Collectively, rosebacters show a high metabolic flexibility, suggesting a considerable capacity for adaptation to the marine environment.
Juvenile hormone regulation of female reproduction in the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius
Authors: Gujar Hemant , Palli Subba Reddy
Published: October 2016

To begin studies on reproduction in common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, we identified three genes coding for vitellogenin (Vg, a protein required for the reproductive success of insects) and studied their hormonal regulation. RNA interference studied showed that expression of Vg3 gene in the adult females is a prerequisite for successful completion of embryogenesis in the eggs laid by them. Juvenile hormone (JH) receptor, Methoprene-tolerant (Met), steroid receptor coactivator (SRC) and GATAa but not ecdysone receptor (EcR) or its partner, ultraspiracle (USP) are required for expression of Vg genes. Feeding and mating working through Vg, Met, SRC, EcR, and GATAa regulate oocyte development. Knockdown of the expression of Met, SRC, EcR, USP, BR-C (Broad-Complex), TOR (target of rapamycin), and GATAa in female adults resulted in a reduction in the number eggs laid by them. Interestingly, Kruppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1) knockdown in the adult females did not reduce their fecundity but affected the development of embryos in the eggs laid by females injected with Kr-h1 double-stranded RNA. These data suggest that JH functioning through Met and SRC regulate both vitellogenesis and oogenesis in C. lectularius. However, JH does not work through Kr-h1 but may work through transcription factors not yet identified.
White matter microstructural characteristics in newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease: An unbiased whole-brain study
Authors: Wen Ming-Ching , Heng Hannah S. E. , Ng Samuel Y. E. , Tan Louis C. S. , Chan Ling Ling , Tan Eng King
Published: October 2016

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder. Findings on specific white matter (WM) alterations in PD have been inconsistent. We hypothesized that WM changes occur in early PD patients and unbiased whole-brain analysis may provide additional evidence of pathological WM changes in PD. In this study, we examined various indexes of WM microstructure in newly diagnosed PD patients at the whole-brain level. 64 PDs with Hoehn & Yahr stage 1 (HY1PDs), 87 PDs with Hoehn & Yahr stage 2 (HYPD2s), and 60 controls (HCs) were recruited. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and diffusion connectometry were used to identify changes of WM pathways associated with PD. There were no significant differences in axial diffusivity, but HY1PDs exhibited greater fractional anisotropy (FA) and decreased mean and radial diffusivities (MD and RD) in callosal, projection, and association fibres than HCs and HY2PDs. Motor severity was inversely correlated with FA, but positively correlated with MD and RD in PD patients. Connectometry analysis also revealed increased WM density in the aforementioned tracts in PD patients, compared with HCs. Our study reveals WM enhancement, suggesting neural compensations in early PD. Longitudinal follow-up studies are warranted to identify the trajectory of WM changes alongside the progression of PD.
AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway is critically involved in human pluripotent stem cell survival
Authors: Romorini Leonardo , Garate Ximena , Neiman Gabriel , Luzzani Carlos , Furmento Verónica Alejandra , Guberman Alejandra Sonia , Sevlever Gustavo Emilio , Scassa María Elida , Miriuka Santiago Gabriel
Published: October 2016

Human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells are self-renewing pluripotent stem cells (PSC) that can differentiate into a wide range of specialized cells. Basic fibroblast growth factor is essential for PSC survival, stemness and self-renewal. PI3K/AKT pathway regulates cell viability and apoptosis in many cell types. Although it has been demonstrated that PI3K/AKT activation by bFGF is relevant for PSC stemness maintenance its role on PSC survival remains elusive. In this study we explored the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of PSC survival by AKT. We found that inhibition of AKT with three non-structurally related inhibitors (GSK690693, AKT inhibitor VIII and AKT inhibitor IV) decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis. We observed a rapid increase in phosphatidylserine translocation and in the extent of DNA fragmentation after inhibitors addition. Moreover, abrogation of AKT activity led to Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and PARP cleavage. Importantly, we demonstrated by pharmacological inhibition and siRNA knockdown that GSK3β signaling is responsible, at least in part, of the apoptosis triggered by AKT inhibition. Moreover, GSK3β inhibition decreases basal apoptosis rate and promotes PSC proliferation. In conclusion, we demonstrated that AKT activation prevents apoptosis, partly through inhibition of GSK3β, and thus results relevant for PSC survival.
Differential effects of L-tryptophan and L-leucine administration on brain resting state functional networks and plasma hormone levels
Authors: Zanchi Davide , Meyer-Gerspach Anne Christin , Suenderhauf Claudia , Janach Katharina , le Roux Carel W. , Haller Sven , Drewe Jürgen , Beglinger Christoph , Wölnerhanssen Bettina K. , Borgwardt Stefan
Published: October 2016

Depending on their protein content, single meals can rapidly influence the uptake of amino acids into the brain and thereby modify brain functions. The current study investigates the effects of two different amino acids on the human gut-brain system, using a multimodal approach, integrating physiological and neuroimaging data. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, L-tryptophan, L-leucine, glucose and water were administered directly into the gut of 20 healthy subjects. Functional MRI (fMRI) in a resting state paradigm (RS), combined with the assessment of insulin and glucose blood concentration, was performed before and after treatment. Independent component analysis with dual regression technique was applied to RS-fMRI data. Results were corrected for multiple comparisons. In comparison to glucose and water, L-tryptophan consistently modifies the connectivity of the cingulate cortex in the default mode network, of the insula in the saliency network and of the sensory cortex in the somatosensory network. L-leucine has lesser effects on these functional networks. L-tryptophan and L-leucine also modified plasma insulin concentration. Finally, significant correlations were found between brain modifications after L-tryptophan administration and insulin plasma levels. This study shows that acute L-tryptophan and L-leucine intake directly influence the brain networks underpinning the food-reward system and appetite regulation.
Circular Dichroism Microscopy Free from Commingling Linear Dichroism via Discretely Modulated Circular Polarization
Authors: Narushima Tetsuya , Okamoto Hiromi
Published: October 2016

In this work, we developed a circular dichroism (CD) imaging microscope with a device to suppress the commingling of linear birefringence (LB) and linear dichroism (LD) signals. CD signals are, in principle, free from the commingling influence of LD and LB if the sample is illuminated with pure circularly polarized light, with no linear polarization contribution. Based on this idea, we here propose a novel circular polarization modulation method to suppress the contribution of linear polarization, which enables high-sensitivity CD detection (10−4 level in optical density unit or mdeg level in ellipticity) for microscopic imaging at a nearly diffraction limited spatial resolution (sub-μm level). The highly sensitive, diffraction-limited local CD detection will make direct analyses of chiral structures and spatial mappings of optical activity feasible for μm- to sub-μm-sized materials and may yield a number of applications as a unique optical imaging method.
Coverage recommendation for genotyping analysis of highly heterologous species using next-generation sequencing technology
Authors: Song Kai , Li Li , Zhang Guofan
Published: October 2016

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology is being applied to an increasing number of non-model species and has been used as the primary approach for accurate genotyping in genetic and evolutionary studies. However, inferring genotypes from sequencing data is challenging, particularly for organisms with a high degree of heterozygosity. This is because genotype calls from sequencing data are often inaccurate due to low sequencing coverage, and if this is not accounted for, genotype uncertainty can lead to serious bias in downstream analyses, such as quantitative trait locus mapping and genome-wide association studies. Here, we used high-coverage reference data sets from Crassostrea gigas to simulate sequencing data with different coverage, and we evaluate the influence of genotype calling rate and accuracy as a function of coverage. Having initially identified the appropriate parameter settings for filtering to ensure genotype accuracy, we used two different single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) calling pipelines, single-sample and multi-sample. We found that a coverage of 15× was suitable for obtaining sufficient numbers of SNPs with high accuracy. Our work provides guidelines for the selection of sequence coverage when using NGS to investigate species with a high degree of heterozygosity and rapid decay of linkage disequilibrium.
Nutrient supplements boost yeast transformation efficiency
Authors: Yu Sheng-Chun , Dawson Alexander , Henderson Alyssa C. , Lockyer Eloise J. , Read Emily , Sritharan Gayathri , Ryan Marjah , Sgroi Mara , Ngou Pok M. , Woodruff Rosie , Zhang Ruifeng , Ren Teen Chia Travis , Liu Yu , Xiang Yiyu , Spanu Pietro D.
Published: October 2016

Efficiency of yeast transformation is determined by the rate of yeast endocytosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of introducing amino acids and other nutrients (inositol, adenine, or p-aminobenzoic acid) in the transformation medium to develop a highly efficient yeast transformation protocol. The target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) kinase signalling complex influences the rate of yeast endocytosis. TORC signaling is induced by amino acids in the media. Here, we found that increasing the concentration of amino acids and other nutrients in the growth media lead to an increase yeast transformation efficiency up to 107 CFU per μg plasmid DNA and per 108 cells with a 13.8 kb plasmid DNA. This is over 130 times that of current published methods. This improvement may facilitate more efficient experimentation in which transformation efficiency is critical, such as yeast two-hybrid screening.
Eating disinhibition and vagal tone moderate the postprandial response to glycemic load: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Young Hayley A. , Watkins Heather
Published: October 2016

Reducing the glycemic load (GL) of the diet may benefit appetite control but its utility is complicated by psychological influences on eating. Disinhibited behaviour, a risk factor for overconsumption, is characterized by reduced prefrontal cortex activity, which in turn modulates vagal tone; a phenomenon associated with glucoregulation. This double blind randomised controlled trial explored for the first time the influence of disinhibited eating and vagal tone (heart rate variability (HRV)) on hunger and the postprandial response to GL. Blood glucose (BG) and hunger were measured 30 and 150 min after consumption of water, glucose or isomaltulose (low glycemic sugar). After consuming glucose, independently of BMI or habitual diet, those with the highest levels of disinhibition had higher BG levels after thirty minutes (B = 0.192, 95% CI LL. 086, UL 0.297), and lower BG after one hundred and fifty minutes (B = −0.240, 95% CI LL −0.348, UL −0.131). BG was related to hunger but only in low disinhibited eaters. Disinhibited eaters were characterised by a reduced HRV which was related to greater BG excursions (B = 0.407, 95% CI LL 0.044, UL 1.134). These findings highlight novel mechanisms by which disinhibited eating leads to obesity and insulin resistance. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT02827318.
A New Time-varying Concept of Risk in a Changing Climate
Authors: Sarhadi Ali , Ausín María Concepción , Wiper Michael P.
Published: October 2016

In a changing climate arising from anthropogenic global warming, the nature of extreme climatic events is changing over time. Existing analytical stationary-based risk methods, however, assume multi-dimensional extreme climate phenomena will not significantly vary over time. To strengthen the reliability of infrastructure designs and the management of water systems in the changing environment, multidimensional stationary risk studies should be replaced with a new adaptive perspective. The results of a comparison indicate that current multi-dimensional stationary risk frameworks are no longer applicable to projecting the changing behaviour of multi-dimensional extreme climate processes. Using static stationary-based multivariate risk methods may lead to undesirable consequences in designing water system infrastructures. The static stationary concept should be replaced with a flexible multi-dimensional time-varying risk framework. The present study introduces a new multi-dimensional time-varying risk concept to be incorporated in updating infrastructure design strategies under changing environments arising from human-induced climate change. The proposed generalized time-varying risk concept can be applied for all stochastic multi-dimensional systems that are under the influence of changing environments.
Study to explore the mechanism to form inclusion complexes of β-cyclodextrin with vitamin molecules
Authors: Saha Subhadeep , Roy Aditi , Roy Kanak , Roy Mahendra Nath
Published: October 2016

Host–guest inclusion complexes ofβ-cyclodextrin with two vitaminsviz., nicotinic acid and ascorbic acid in aqueous medium have been explored by reliable spectroscopic, physicochemical and calorimetric methods as stabilizer, carrier and regulatory releaser of the guest molecules. Job’s plots have been drawn by UV-visible spectroscopy to confirm the 1:1 stoichiometry of the host-guest assembly. Stereo-chemical nature of the inclusion complexes has been explained by 2D NMR spectroscopy. Surface tension and conductivity studies further support the inclusion process. Association constants for the vitamin-β-CD inclusion complexes have been calculated by UV-visible spectroscopy using both Benesi–Hildebrand method and non-linear programme, while the thermodynamic parameters have been estimated with the help of van’t Hoff equation. Isothermal titration calorimetric studies have been performed to determine the stoichiometry, association constant and thermodynamic parameters with high accuracy. The outcomes reveal that there is a drop in ΔSo, which is overcome by higher negative value of ΔHo, making the overall inclusion process thermodynamically favorable. The association constant is found to be higher for ascorbic acid than that for nicotinic acid, which has been explained on the basis of their molecular structures.
Self-wrinkling polyelectrolyte multilayers: construction, smoothing and the underlying mechanism
Authors: Chen Xia-chao , Ren Ke-feng , Chen Jia-yan , Wang Jing , Zhang He , Ji Jian
Published: October 2016

The spontaneous formation of these surface features can be attributed to swelling-induced film deformation during the assembling process.
Columnar shifts as symmetry-breaking degrees of freedom in molecular perovskites
Authors: Boström Hanna L. B. , Hill Joshua A. , Goodwin Andrew L.
Published: October 2016

Columnar shifts are degrees of freedom in molecular perovskites of relevance to phase transitions, improper ferroelectricity, and negative thermal expansion.
Orientation order and rotation mobility of nitroxide biradicals determined by quantitative simulation of EPR spectra
Authors: Bogdanov Alexey V. , Vorobiev Andrey Kh.
Published: October 2016

The biradical spin probe technique was used to obtain information on the molecular dynamics and structure of isotropic and anisotropic liquids.
Initial steps for the thermal decomposition of alkaline-earth metal amidoboranes: a cluster approximation
Authors: Pomogaeva A. V. , Timoshkin A. Y.
Published: October 2016

Formation of a M3H moiety during the initial steps is a key feature of thermal decomposition of alkaline-earth metal amidoboranes.
A theoretical study of the atmospherically important radical–radical reaction BrO + HO2; the product channel O2(a1Δg) + HOBr is formed with the highest rate
Authors: Chow Ronald , Mok Daniel K. W. , Lee Edmond P. F. , Dyke John M.
Published: October 2016

A theoretical study has been made of the BrO + HO2 reaction, a radical–radical reaction which contributes to ozone depletion in the atmosphere via production of HOBr.
Pushing the limit for the grid-based treatment of Schrödinger's equation: a sparse Numerov approach for one, two and three dimensional quantum problems
Authors: Kuenzer Ulrich , Sorarù Jan-Andrè , Hofer Thomas S.
Published: October 2016

The general Numerov method employed to numerically solve ordinary differential equations of second order was adapted with a special focus on matrix sparsity and applications in higher dimensions.
Concluding remarks: single entity electrochemistry one step at a time
Authors: Crooks Richard M.
Published: October 2016

This article provides a summary of the Faraday Discussion on single entity electrochemistry held in York, U.K., in early September, 2016. The introduction provides some context for thinking about electrochemical studies of single entities. The next four sections follow the themes of the meeting as they relate to single-entity electrochemistry: (1) nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanowires; (2) nanopores and nanofluidics; (3) complex surfaces and reactions at the nanoscale; and (4) molecular electroanalysis. Each paper presented at the Discussion is summarized, and some personal thoughts as to the significance of the findings, the technical advances that made the experiments possible, and common themes between articles are interspersed. Finally, at the end, I round-up my impressions and provide them in a succinct list.
Stable hybrid organic/inorganic photocathodes for hydrogen evolution with amorphous WO3 hole selective contacts
Authors: Mezzetti Alessandro , Fumagalli Francesco , Alfano Antonio , Iadicicco Daniele , Antognazza Maria Rosa , di Fonzo Fabio
Published: October 2016

Photoelectrochemical H2 production through hybrid organic/inorganic interfaces exploits the capability of polymeric absorbers to drive photo-induced electron transfer to an electrocatalyst in a water environment. Photoelectrode architectures based on solution-processed organic semiconductors are now emerging as low-cost alternatives to crystalline inorganic semiconductors based on Si, oxides and III–V alloys. In this work, we demonstrate that the stability of a hybrid organic/inorganic photocathode, employing a P3HT:PCBM blend as photoactive material, can be considerably improved by introducing an electrochemically stable WO3 hole selective layer, paired with a TiO2 electron selective layer. This hybrid photoelectrode exhibits a photocurrent of 2.48 mA cm−2 at 0 VRHE, +0.56 VRHE onset potential and a state-of the art operational activity of more than 10 hours. This work gives the perspective that photoelectrodes based on organic semiconductors, coupled with proper inorganic selective contacts, represent a sound new option for the efficient and durable photoelectrochemical conversion of solar energy into fuels.
Quantitative chemocatalytic production of lactic acid from glucose under anaerobic conditions at room temperature
Authors: Li Luyang , Shen Feng , Smith Richard L. , Qi Xinhua
Published: October 2016

An extraordinarily simple and highly-efficient chemocatalytic system for production of lactic acid (95.4% yield) from glucose at room temperature and ambient pressure is reported.
Synthesis, photophysical, electrochemical, and DSSC application of novel donor–acceptor triazole bridged dendrimers with a triphenylamine core and benzoheterazole as a surface unit
Authors: Rajavelu Kannan , Rajakumar Perumal , Sudip Mandal , Kothandaraman Ramanujam
Published: October 2016

Triazole bridged novel donor–acceptor dendrimers were synthesized via click chemistry. Lower generation dendrimers when used as additives exhibit better current-generating capacity and power conversion efficiency in DSSCs.
Anhydrides from aldehydes or alcohols via oxidative cross-coupling
Authors: Gaspa Silvia , Amura Ida , Porcheddu Andrea , De Luca Lidia
Published: October 2016

A novel type of oxidative cross-coupling was developed to prepare symmetrical and mixed anhydrides from aldehydes or alcohols using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA).
Effective asymmetric vinylogous Mannich reaction of isatin imines with α,α-dicyanoolefins in the presence of a simple chiral amide phosphonium bifunctional phase transfer catalyst
Authors: Cheng Cang , Lu Xuehe , Ge Luo , Chen Jie , Cao Weiguo , Wu Xiaoyu , Zhao Gang
Published: October 2016

A Mannich reaction betweenN-Boc isatin imine and α,α-dicyanoolefin as well as subsequent oxidative cleavage of the malonic nitrile moiety were described.
Tuning the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process in push–pull systems: effect of nitro groups
Authors: Panja Sumit Kumar , Dwivedi Nidhi , Saha Satyen
Published: October 2016

The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process in donor–acceptor systems has tremendous importance in various physical and biological systems.
Guanidinatoaluminum complexes: synthesis, crystal structures and reactivities
Authors: Han Hong-Fei , Guo Zhi-Qiang , Zhang Shao-Feng , Li Jie , Wei Xue-Hong
Published: October 2016

The reactivities of the mononuclear guanidinatoaluminum complexes with O2, carbodiimide or H2O were studied for the first time.
A non-covalent interaction of Schiff base copper alanine complex with green synthesized reduced graphene oxide for highly selective electrochemical detection of nitrite
Authors: Sakthinathan Subramanian , Kubendhiran Subbiramaniyan , Chen Shen-Ming , Al-Hemaid Fahad M. A. , Liao Wei Cheng , Tamizhdurai P. , Sivasanker S. , Ajmal Ali M. , Hatamleh A. A.
Published: October 2016

A novel and selective nitrite sensor based on non-covalent interaction of Schiff base copper complex [Cu(sal-ala)(phen)] with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was developed by simple eco-friendly approach.
Initiation of anionic polymerization of acrylonitrile with tertiary amines and ethylene or propylene oxide: some mechanistic aspects
Authors: Estrin Yakov I. , Tarasov Alexander E. , Grishchuk Alexander A. , Chernyak Alexander V. , Badamshina Elmira R.
Published: October 2016

Fast growth of the polymer chain mechanism of the anionic polymerization of acrylonitrile under the action of bicyclic tertiary amine and ethylene oxide.
Rotating electrode in electro membrane extraction: a new and efficient methodology to increase analyte mass transfer
Authors: Asadi Sakine , Tabani Hadi , Khodaei Kamal , Asadian Farhad , Nojavan Saeed
Published: October 2016

Rotating electrode electromembrane extraction (REEME) as a new EME approach was introduced for the extraction of basic drugs from different matrices.
Detecting the complex motion of self-propelled micromotors in microchannels by electrochemistry
Authors: Khezri Bahareh , Sheng Moo James Guo , Song Peng , Fisher Adrian C. , Pumera Martin
Published: October 2016

Self-propelled micromotors were detected via impact electrochemistry technique in real time which allows the different modes of micromotor motions under channel environments to be recognized.
Fabrication of reduced graphene oxide membranes for highly efficient water desalination
Authors: Pei Junxian , Zhang Xiantao , Huang Lu , Jiang Haifeng , Hu Xuejiao
Published: October 2016

The resultant PDA–RGO membranes allow faster permeation of water compared with GO membranes, but a higher retention rate of solutes.
Polymeric binder based on PAA and conductive PANI for high performance silicon-based anodes
Authors: Lee Kukjoo , Lim Sanghyun , Tron Artur , Mun Junyoung , Kim Young-Jun , Yim Taeeun , Kim Tae-Hyun
Published: October 2016

A novel polymeric binder, based on the physical interaction between PAA and conductive PANI, was developed for Si anodes.
An O3-type NaNi0.5Mn0.5O2cathode for sodium-ion batteries with improved rate performance and cycling stability
Authors: Wang Peng-Fei , You Ya , Yin Ya-Xia , Guo Yu-Guo
Published: October 2016

The rate performance of a layered O3-NaNi0.5Mn0.5O2electrode can be much improved due to the increased apparent diffusion coefficient of Na+.
Influence of the substrate on the bulk properties of hybrid lead halide perovskite films
Authors: Climent-Pascual Esteban , Hames Bruno Clasen , Moreno-Ramírez Jorge S. , Álvarez Angel Luis , Juarez-Perez Emilio J. , Mas-Marza Elena , Mora-Seró Ivan , de Andrés Alicia , Coya Carmen
Published: October 2016

Structure, morphology and concentration of defects in hybrid perovskites depend on the type of substrate used for film growth.
Community-Based Intervention Determines Tele-Audiology Site Candidacy
Authors: Coco Laura , Champlin Craig A. , Eikelboom Robert H.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Sections of the community face barriers to accessing audiology services. The aim of this study was to assess the barriers faced by people in typically underserved community settings and to provide audiology services in their natural environment. Information gathered by questionnaire was used to determine each site's candidacy as a potential tele-audiology site.

Method

Sixty-three participants were recruited across 3 community sites that were identified as gathering places for individuals who experience barriers to accessing traditional clinical audiology services. Information about demographics and participant experience with barriers to access was gathered by a locally generated, self-administered questionnaire. Pure-tone air-conduction audiometric exams were performed on participants with an automated portable diagnostic audiometer. Afterward, the investigator provided counseling regarding hearing loss rehabilitation or hearing protection. Referrals were made when appropriate.

Results

Pure-tone averages were similar within sites but varied across sites. At least 30% of individuals at each site reported they wanted to visit the audiologist more often. Each site reported different principal barriers to access, among them transportation, motivation, and money. Eleven individuals were referred to the next level of care. Questionnaire results revealed special accommodations should be considered at each potential tele-audiology site.

Conclusion

The present study provided audiology services to individuals in their natural environment, identified many of the obstacles preventing individuals from pursuing traditional audiology services and provided information for the foundation of a tele-audiology practice.
Online Data Collection to Evaluate a Theoretical Cognitive Model of Tinnitus
Authors: Handscomb Lucy , Hall Deborah A. , Shorter Gillian W. , Hoare Derek J.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to describe data collection considerations, methods, and response rates for a survey available both online and on paper. Methodological issues in the design of online data collection, and advantages and disadvantages of different data collection methods are discussed.

Method

A survey was compiled that included 9 full or partial clinical questionnaires designed to measure different components relevant to tinnitus distress. It was completed once by 342 members of the public with tinnitus. Respondents could choose whether to complete the survey online or on paper
.

Results

Ninety-five percent of participants chose to complete the survey online. The advantages of an online self-administered questionnaire include low numbers of unanswered questions, convenience (particularly in a longer survey such as this), a fast return rate, and reduced expense. Age emerged as an important variable, with those opting to complete the paper-based version of the survey being older.

Conclusions

Online data collection has several advantages to both participants and researchers. However, cross-sectional studies such as that presented here should also offer paper questionnaires to avoid excluding certain subgroups of the population. Ethics and reporting guidelines for Internet-delivered questionnaire studies are available. These can usefully inform study design and guide high-quality reporting.
Use and Mediating Effect of Interactive Design Features in Audiology Rehabilitation and Self-Management Internet-Based Interventions
Authors: Greenwell Kate , Hoare Derek J.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the presence of key interactive design features across Internet-based audiology rehabilitation and self-management interventions, and whether there is evidence of them mediating effects of the intervention.

Method

Adult audiology interventions relevant to this review were identified through a literature search in Google Scholar and a hand search of key journals. Four key interactive design features that have been proposed to mediate the effects of Internet-based health interventions were reported for each intervention: social context and support, contacts with the intervention, tailoring, and self-management.

Results

Five interventions were identified as representative examples of work in the field. Social context and support and contacts with the intervention were provided in most interventions, mainly through clinician guidance. Only 1 intervention utilized tailoring to personalize intervention content to individual users, but use was minimal. Self-management features were also used in all interventions but the precise nature of these features was poorly reported.

Conclusion

Future studies should assess the optimal dose and combinations of intervention features for maximizing efficacy in audiology intervention. To be specific, the role of tailoring should be explored, which has been identified as a potential mediator of intervention outcome in the wider e-health literature.
An Item Analysis of the French Version of the Test for Reception of Grammar Among Children and Adolescents With Down Syndrome or Intellectual Disability of Undifferentiated Etiology
Authors: Facon Bruno , Magis David
Published: October 2016

Purpose

An item analysis of Bishop's (1983) Test for Reception of Grammar (TROG) in its French version (F-TROG; Lecocq, 1996) was conducted to determine whether the difficulty of items is similar for participants with or without intellectual disability (ID).

Method

In Study 1, responses to the 92 F-TROG items by 55 participants with Down syndrome (DS), 55 with ID of undifferentiated etiology (UND), and 55 typical children (TYP) matched on their F-TROG total score were compared using the transformed item difficulties method, a statistical approach designed to detect differential item functioning (DIF) between groups. In Study 2, an additional comparison involving 526 TYP participants and 526 participants with UND was conducted to increase the statistical power of the analysis.

Results

The difficulty of items was highly similar whatever the sample size or clinical status of participants. Fewer than 3.5% of the items were flagged as showing DIF.

Conclusions

Tests such as the TROG can be used with confidence in clinical practice as well as in research studies comparing participants with or without ID. Methods designed for investigating potential internal test bias—such as done here—should be more regularly employed in the developmental disability field to affirm the absence of DIF.
Solar PV powered BLDC motor drive for water pumping using Cuk converter
Authors: Kumar Rajan , Singh Bhim
Published: October 2016

A solar photovoltaic (SPV) powered brushless DC (BLDC) motor drive for water pumping is presented in this study. The current sensors of BLDC motor and the voltage sensor at the DC bus of voltage‐source inverter (VSI) are eliminated completely. Instead, the speed is controlled by adjusting the DC bus voltage of VSI. The fundamental frequency switching pulses are generated to operate the VSI in order to minimise the switching losses and to enhance the efficiency of proposed system. A DC–DC Cuk converter is utilised to operate the SPV array at its maximum power. The starting current of BLDC motor is bounded by an optimal initialisation and selection of the control parameters, perturbation size and frequency while tracking the peak power of SPV array. The performance of proposed BLDC motor drive is thoroughly evaluated and its potential is demonstrated under realistic operating conditions. The simulated results and an experimental validation along with a comprehensive comparison with the existing techniques demonstrate prominence of the proposed drive for SPV‐based water pumping.
Fast, accurate 2D-MR relaxation exchange spectroscopy (REXSY): Beyond compressed sensing
Authors: Bai Ruiliang , Benjamini Dan , Cheng Jian , Basser Peter J.
Published: October 2016

Previously, we showed that compressive or compressed sensing (CS) can be used to reduce significantly the data required to obtain 2D-NMR relaxation and diffusion spectra when they are sparse or well localized. In some cases, an order of magnitude fewer uniformly sampled data were required to reconstruct 2D-MR spectra of comparable quality. Nonetheless, this acceleration may still not be sufficient to make 2D-MR spectroscopy practicable for many important applications, such as studying time-varying exchange processes in swelling gels or drying paints, in living tissue in response to various biological or biochemical challenges, and particularly for in vivo MRI applications. A recently introduced framework, marginal distributions constrained optimization (MADCO), tremendously accelerates such 2D acquisitions by using a priori obtained 1D marginal distribution as powerful constraints when 2D spectra are reconstructed. Here we exploit one important intrinsic property of the 2D-MR relaxation exchange spectra: the fact that the 1D marginal distributions of each 2D-MR relaxation exchange spectrum in both dimensions are equal and can be rapidly estimated from a single Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) or inversion recovery prepared CPMG measurement. We extend the MADCO framework by further proposing to use the 1D marginal distributions to inform the subsequent 2D data-sampling scheme, concentrating measurements where spectral peaks are present and reducing them where they are not. In this way we achieve compression or acceleration that is an order of magnitude greater than that in our previous CS method while providing data in reconstructed 2D-MR spectral maps of comparable quality, demonstrated using several simulated and real 2D T2 – T2 experimental data. This method, which can be called “informed compressed sensing,” is extendable to other 2D- and even ND-MR exchange spectroscopy.
Efficiency at maximum power for an Otto engine with ideal feedback
Authors: Wang Honghui , He Jizhou , Wang Jianhui , Wu Zhaoqi
Published: October 2016

We propose an Otto heat engine that undergoes processes involving a special class of feedback and analyze theoretically its response. We use stochastic thermodynamics to determine the performance characteristics of the heat engine and indicate the possibility that its maximum efficiency can surpass the Carnot value. The analytical expression for efficiency at maximum power, including the effects resulting from feedback, reduces to that previously derived based on an engine without feedback.
Electric field dependence of optical phonon frequencies in wurtzite GaN observed in GaN high electron mobility transistors
Authors: Bagnall Kevin R. , Dreyer Cyrus E. , Vanderbilt David , Wang Evelyn N.
Published: October 2016

Due to the high dissipated power densities in gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), temperature measurement techniques with high spatial resolution, such as micro-Raman thermography, are critical for ensuring device reliability. However, accurately determining the temperature rise in the ON state of a transistor from shifts in the Raman peak positions requires careful decoupling of the simultaneous effects of temperature, stress, strain, and electric field on the optical phonon frequencies. Although it is well-known that the vertical electric field in the GaN epilayers can shift the Raman peak positions through the strain and/or stress induced by the inverse piezoelectric (IPE) effect, previous studies have not shown quantitative agreement between the strain and/or stress components derived from micro-Raman measurements and those predicted by electro-mechanical models. We attribute this discrepancy to the fact that previous studies have not considered the impact of the electric field on the optical phonon frequencies of wurtzite GaN apart from the IPE effect, which results from changes in the atomic coordinates within the crystal basis and in the electronic configuration. Using density functional theory, we calculated the zone center E2 (high), A1 (LO), and E2 (low) modes to shift by −1.39 cm−1/(MV/cm), 2.16 cm−1/(MV/cm), and −0.36 cm−1/(MV/cm), respectively, due to an electric field component along the c-axis, which are an order of magnitude larger than the shifts associated with the IPE effect. Then, we measured changes in the E2 (high) and A1 (LO) Raman peak positions with ≈1 μm spatial resolution in GaN HEMTs biased in the pinched OFF state and showed good agreement between the strain, stress, and electric field components derived from the measurements and our 3D electro-mechanical model. This study helps to explain the reason the pinched OFF state is a suitable reference for removing the contributions of the electric field and the IPE-induced stress from the temperature rise in the ON state and suggests that the IPE-induced stress in the GaN buffer is an order of magnitude smaller than previously believed. Our analysis and experimental results support previous theoretical studies discussing the electric field dependence of optical phonon frequencies apart from the IPE effect and suggest that this is a general phenomenon occurring in all wurtzite and zincblende crystals. The total electric field dependence of the optical phonon frequencies in piezoelectric crystals is a critical consideration in accurately characterizing the stress, strain, electric field, and temperature distributions in microelectronic devices via micro-Raman spectroscopy.