bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction between pathogenic proteins in neurodegenerative disorders
Authors: Jellinger Kurt A.
Published: December 2011

Introduction

The proteopathic basis of AD

Protein interactions in PD

Induction and spread of protein aggregates in NDDs

Conclusions

The misfolding and progressive aggregation of specific proteins in selective regions of the nervous system is a seminal occurrence in many neurodegenerative disorders, and the interaction between pathological/toxic proteins to cause neurodegeneration is a hot topic of current neuroscience research. Despite clinical, genetic and experimental differences, increasing evidence indicates considerable overlap between synucleinopathies, tauopathies and other protein‐misfolding diseases. Inclusions, often characteristic hallmarks of these disorders, suggest interactions of pathological proteins enganging common downstream pathways. Novel findings that have shifted our understanding in the role of pathologic proteins in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer, Parkinson, Huntington and prion diseases, have confirmed correlations/overlaps between these and other neurodegenerative disorders. Emerging evidence, in addition to synergistic effects of tau protein, amyloid‐β, α‐synuclein and other pathologic proteins, suggests that prion‐like induction and spreading, involving secreted proteins, are major pathogenic mechanisms in various neurodegenerative diseases, depending on genetic backgrounds and environmental factors. The elucidation of the basic molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction and spreading of pathogenic proteins, suggesting a dualism or triad of neurodegeneration in protein‐misfolding disorders, is a major challenge for modern neuroscience, to provide a deeper insight into their pathogenesis as a basis of effective diagnosis and treatment.
Patient characteristics and symptoms associated with perceived coercion during hospital treatment
Authors: Fiorillo A. , Giacco D. , De Rosa C. , Kallert T. , Katsakou C. , Onchev G. , Raboch J. , Mastrogianni A. , Del Vecchio V. , Luciano M. , Catapano F. , Dembinskas A. , Nawka P. , Kiejna A. , Torres‐Gonzales F. , Kjellin L. , Maj M. , Priebe S.
Published: December 2011

Fiorillo A, Giacco D, De Rosa C, Kallert T, Katsakou C, Onchev G, Raboch J, Mastrogianni A, Del Vecchio V, Luciano M, Catapano F, Dembinskas A, Nawka P, Kiejna A, Torres‐Gonzales F, Kjellin L, Maj M, Priebe S. Patient characteristics and symptoms associated with perceived coercion during hospital treatment.

Objective:  Large numbers of psychiatric patients either are involuntarily admitted to hospital treatment or feel coerced despite a legally voluntary admission. For ethical and clinical reasons, their perceived coercion should be reduced as far as possible. There is however limited evidence on patient characteristics associated with perceived coercion during hospital treatment. This study aimed to identify i) sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with perceived coercion at admission and ii) changes in symptoms and global functioning associated with changes in perceived coercion over time.

Method:  Three thousand and ninety three in‐patients who were involuntarily admitted or felt coerced to hospital treatment despite a legally voluntary admission were recruited in the European evaluation of coercion in psychiatry and harmonization of best clinical practice – EUNOMIA project in 11 European countries. Perceived coercion, global functioning and symptoms were assessed after admission and at a 3‐month follow‐up.

Results:  Involuntary admission, female gender, poorer global functioning and more positive symptoms were associated with higher levels of perceived coercion at admission. Perceived coercion significantly decreased over time, and the improvements in global functioning and positive symptoms were associated with reduction in perceived coercion.

Conclusion:  Female patients perceive more coercion in psychiatric hospital treatment. Effective treatment for positive symptoms and improving patients’ global functioning may lead to a reduction in perceived coercion.
Smoking influences salivary histamine levels in periodontal disease
Authors: Bertl K , Haririan H , Laky M , Matejka M , Andrukhov O , Rausch‐Fan X
Published: December 2011

Oral Diseases (2012) 18, 410–416

Objectives:  Histamine, a potent vasoactive amine, is increased in saliva of periodontitis patients. The present study aimed to further investigate the diagnostic potential of histamine for periodontal disease and assessed smoking, a major risk factor of periodontitis, as a possible influencing factor.

Methods:  Salivary and serum samples of 106 participants (60 periodontitis patients, 46 controls) were collected. Salivary histamine was determined by a commercially available ELISA kit, and serum C‐reactive protein was measured by a routine laboratory test. Cigarettes per day and packyears were assessed as smoking exposure parameters.

Results:  Statistically significantly increased levels of salivary histamine and serum C‐reactive protein were detected between the patient and control group (P = 0.022 and P = 0.001). Salivary histamine levels were significantly higher in smoking compared with non‐smoking patients (P < 0.001), and salivary histamine as well as serum C‐reactive protein correlated significantly positively with smoking exposure parameters (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:  Smoking, an established and common risk factor of periodontitis, was assessed as a possible influencing factor for salivary histamine. Most interestingly, salivary histamine differed highly significantly between smoking and non‐smoking periodontitis patients. Our results suggest a possible involvement of histamine in tobacco‐exacerbated periodontal disease, but do not suggest salivary histamine as a reliable diagnostic marker for periodontitis.
Self‐assessment of pubertal Tanner stage by realistic colour images in representative Chinese obese and non‐obese children and adolescents
Authors: Sun Ying , Tao Fang‐Biao , Su Pu‐Yu ,   China Puberty Research Collaboration
Published: December 2011

Aim:  This investigation aims to evaluate the validity of self‐assessment of pubertal Tanner stage in representative Chinese children and adolescents.

Methods:  The study is a nationally representative cross‐sectional survey in eight research sites in the large project entitled ‘China Puberty Research Collaboration’. Weight, height, self‐assessed pubertal Tanner stage and physical examination of pubic hair in each gender, breast development in girls and genital development in boys from were analysed. Realistic colour images of pubertal rating were used as self‐assessment of pubertal stage.

Results:  A large proportion of subjects aged 7.9–18.9 years old were capable of identifying their own pubertal Tanner stage accurately or close to the rater’s assessments. Obese group tends to overestimate their pubertal development compared to non‐obese peers, except for genital assessment in boys. The k values for non‐obese and obese girls were 0.619 (p < 0.0001) and 0.527 (p < 0.0001), respectively, while the k values for non‐obese and obese boys were 0.503 (p < 0.0001) and 0.352 (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:  Self‐assessment of the pubertal stage by using realistic colour images could be a better alternative assessment tool for large epidemiological puberty research compared with Tanner’s original black and white pictures.
Maxillary Sinus Floor Augmentation Surgery with Autogenous Bone Grafts as Ceiling: A Pilot Study and Test of Principle
Authors: Raghoebar Gerry M. , Meijer Henny J.A. , Telleman Gerdien , Vissink Arjan
Published: December 2011

Background: Studies have pointed out that the mere elevation of the maxillary sinus membrane might suffice to allow for bone formation indicating the additional use of augmentation materials to be redundant.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess whether elevation of the sinus mucosal lining combined with applying an autologous bone graft as a ceiling and placement of a short implant would allow for bone formation around the implant thus surpassing the need for applying augmentation materials around the installed implants.

Materials and Methods: Fourteen consecutive patients were subjected to maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery and simultaneous placement of an implant. Using the lateral bone‐wall window technique, the membrane was exposed and elevated. Next, a bone graft taken from the zygomatic rim was placed as a ceiling above the inserted implant to ensure that the sinus membrane would not collapsed around a significant part of the implant. Finally, the bone window was returned in place. After connecting the healing abutment, the wound was closed.

Results: All implants were stable and no implants were lost. There were no complications after harvesting the bone graft. Radiographic evaluation showed a bone gain of 3.2 ± 0.9 mm after 3 months and 3.6 ± 0.9 mm after 1 year. Less than 6% of the implant was not covered by bone after 1 year.

Conclusion: Maxillary sinus membrane elevation and simultaneous placement of short endosseous implants with a bone graft as a ceiling on top of the implant result in predictable bone formation around the implant and good osseointegration on radiographs.
Three‐Dimensional Image Correlation Analyses for Strains Generated by Cement and Screw‐Retained Implant Prostheses
Authors: Clelland Nancy L. , Yilmaz Burak , Seidt Jeremy D.
Published: December 2011

Purpose: This study aimed to measure and compare strains generated by splinted implant crowns retained by cement or screws for two implants with applied load.

Materials and Methods: A stereolithic resin model was printed using computed tomography data from a patient missing all mandibular molar teeth. Two 4 × 6 mm implants were consecutively placed in the left side. One set of splinted cement and screw‐retained crowns were made to fit the two implants. Image correlation technique was used for full‐field measurement of strains using an image correlation software and two synchronized high‐resolution digital cameras. A random dot pattern was applied to the model surface. Cameras recorded changes in random dot patterns as prostheses were loaded up to 400 N in vertical and oblique directions using a universal testing machine. Testing was repeated three times for cement and screw‐retained prostheses. An image correlation algorithm used the dot pattern to define correlation areas or virtual strain gauge boxes. Three‐dimensional coordinates of gauge box centers were determined for each recorded photograph and used to calculate strains. Strain distribution data were compared for major, minor, and von Mises strains for each loading condition, as well as peak and average strains for the field of view using an analysis of variance (α = 0.05).

Results: Patterns and magnitudes of strain for cement‐ and screw‐retained splinted crowns were similar under vertical loading. Neither peak nor mean strains were significantly different for the two retention methods. For oblique loading, peak strains were lower for the screw‐retained crowns; however, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups when strains were averaged throughout the entire field of view.

Conclusions: Cement retention did not improve the magnitude of transferred strains for splinted implant crowns using either loading condition.
Characteristics and In Vitro Biologic Assay of Apatite/Titania Composite Coatings on Ti–6Al–4V for Medical Applications
Authors: Sun Tao , Zheng Nan‐Yang , Wang Min
Published: December 2011

To improve the bioactivity, corrosion resistance, and long‐term biocompatibility of Ti–6Al–4V, apatite/titania composite coatings were synthesized on its surface using a H2O2‐oxidation and subsequent accelerated biomimetic deposition method. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examination of coating surfaces and cross‐sections showed that the composite coatings were dense and uniform. The phase composition of titania inner layer and apatite outer layer was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, chemical composition of titania inner layer and apatite outer layer was determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Considering the results from TEM, XRD, and FTIR analyses, it could be concluded that titania inner layer consisted of poorly crystalline anatase phase, and apatite outer layer was composed of low crystalline, calcium‐deficient, and carbonated hydroxyapatite (HA). Based on variations of pH values of five‐time‐strength simulated body fluid (5SBF) during the accelerated biomimetic deposition, possible processes for the formation of the apatite outer layer were discussed. The chemical stability of the apatite/titania composite coatings was also investigated using potentiodynamic polarization tests. After 3 days in culture, viability of MCF‐7 cells seeded on uncoated and coated samples showed that the composite coatings were noncytotxic and could improve the biocompatibility of Ti–6Al–4V.
Evaluation of Antiproliferative Effect of N‐(alkyladamantyl)phthalimides In vitro
Authors: Horvat Margareta , Uzelac Lidija , Marjanović Marko , Cindro Nikola , Franković Oliver , Mlinarić‐Majerski Kata , Kralj Marijeta , Basarić Nikola
Published: December 2011

A series of (1‐adamantyl)phthalimides, 1–4, and (2‐adamantyl)phthalimides, 5–8, characterized by different chain length between the adamantyl and the phthalimide moiety were synthesized, as well as 1‐ and 2‐adamantylphthalimides substituted by nitro 9, 10, and amino group 11, 12, and phthalimides bearing homoadamantyl 13 and protoadamantyl substituent 14 and 15. The compounds were tested for antiproliferative activity in vitro on a series of five human cancer lines: MCF‐7 (breast carcinoma), SW 620 (colon carcinoma), HCT 116 (colon carcinoma), MOLT‐4 (acute lymphoblastic leukemia), H 460 (lung carcinoma), and a non‐tumor cell line HaCaT (human keratinocytes). All compounds except nitro derivatives 9 and 10 exhibited antiproliferative activity. The activity was generally better in the 2‐adamantyl series 5–8 and in the compounds having the longest alkyl spacers as in 4 and 8, or with an amino group as in 9 and 10. The most active compounds with the propylene spacer 4 and 8 showed the highest selectivity toward tumor cells. The activity was found to be due to a delay in the progress through the cell cycle at G1/S phase.
An engagement and access model for healthcare delivery to adolescents with mood and anxiety concerns
Authors: Ross Erin , Vingilis Evelyn , Osuch Elizabeth
Published: December 2011

Aim: Mood and anxiety disorders typically begin during adolescence or early adulthood. Yet services targeting this population are frequently lacking. This study implemented an outreach, access and assessment programme for youth with these concerns. The data reported constitute an evaluation of this mental healthcare delivery approach.

Methods: This evaluation included specification of both programme and implementation theories through causal and programme logic models and formative (process) evaluation. Outreach focused on access points for youth such as schools and family physicians' offices. Concerned youth were encouraged to self‐refer. Participants completed a semi‐structured clinical interview and symptom and function questionnaire package.

Results: Engagement sessions were conducted and results involved 93 youth. The majority of youth self‐referred, a process not possible in traditional physician‐referral healthcare systems. Interestingly, almost half had received prior treatment and over half had tried a psychiatric medication. Yet participants had significant symptomatology: 81% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms; 95% reported high levels of trait‐anxiety. Functional impairment was substantial: on average, participants missed 2.6 days of school/work and functioned at reduced levels on 4.2 days in the week prior to assessment. Demographic details are presented.

Conclusion: This study evaluated a mental healthcare delivery system that identified individuals with significant distress and functional impairment from mood/anxiety concerns and previous unsuccessful treatment attempts, verifying that they were in need of mental health services. This approach provides a model for outreach and assessment in this population, where earlier intervention has the potential to prevent chronic mental illness and disability.
Significance of human papillomavirus 16/18 infection in association with p53 mutation in lung carcinomas
Authors: Yu Yan , Yang Aimin , Hu Senke , Zhang Jinghua , Yan Hong
Published: December 2011

Introduction:  The role of high‐risk human papillomavius (HPV) 16/18 in the development of lung cancer has recently been explored, and p53 mutation is a finding in lung cancer; however, its association with HPV infection is not well studied.

Objectives:  To investigate HPV 16/18 infection and p53 mutation in lung carcinomas and their association with tumor behavior.

Methods and Results:  We expanded our prior study to include 107 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 63 adenocarcinoma (AC) and 91 non‐cancer control cases of lung from a population of Western China. The results confirmed that HPV infection is more prevalent in SCC (59.8%) comparing with that of AC (17.5%) and the control cases (23.1%) (P < 0.001), and genotyping demonstrated predominant HPV 16/18 infection in the carcinomas and HPV 6 in the control cases. By immunohistochemistry, p53 mutation was detected in 67.3% of SCC and 60.3% of AC, in comparison with 9.9% in the control (P < 0.001). Within the group of SCC, the p53 mutation rate is significantly higher in those with HPV infection (78.1%) than that of the non‐infected carcinomas (51.2%, P = 0.004). However, this difference is not proven to be significant in the groups of AC and the controls. Clinicopathological analysis demonstrated that the coexistence of p53 mutation and HPV infection was associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001) and high‐clinical TNM stage of SCC (P = 0.001). As there was no sequencing data, the evidence for HPV 16/18 E6 induced p53 mutation is still indirect.

Conclusion:  This study indicates that p53 mutation and HPV 16/18 infection might coordinate in the development of lung squamous cell carcinomas, and their coexistence is associated with poor prognosis.

Please cite this paper as: Yu Y, Yang A, Hu S, Zhang J and Yan H. Significance of human papillomavirus 16/18 infection in association with p53 mutation in lung carcinomas. Clin Respir J 2013; 7: 27–33.
EFFECT OF FORESTLAND AVAILABILITY BY OWNERSHIP TYPE ON LICENSE SALES FOR HUNTING: A SPATIAL APPROACH
Authors: CHO SEONG‐HOON , BOWKER J.M. , ROBERTS ROLAND K. , KIM SEUNG GYU , LAMBERT DAYTON M. , POUDYAL NEELAM C.
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe effect of forestland availability under different ownership types on license sales for hunting in nine Southeastern states is empirically evaluated. An equation that represents license sales for hunting is estimated assuming the sale of hunting licenses in a particular county is related to the characteristics of that county as well as the characteristics and license sales for hunting in its neighboring counties. The positive effects of the amounts of both national and private forestland on license sales reaffirm the potential benefits of maintaining forestland to stimulate hunting. The positive spillover effect of national forests on license sales for hunting suggests that availability and close access to hunting in national forests within neighboring counties are important in supporting hunting license sales in a county. This study contributes to the general understanding of the drivers affecting individuals’ decisions to use natural resources for hunting. Advances in natural resource modeling, specifically the spatial process model and geospatial data used in this research, make it possible to examine the interactions between the spatial dynamics and ownership attributes of the natural system, allowing policy makers to design natural resource management practices that respond to a system characterized by these interactions.
Dynamic Energy Budget theory meets individual‐based modelling: a generic and accessible implementation
Authors: Martin Benjamin T. , Zimmer Elke I. , Grimm Volker , Jager Tjalling
Published: December 2011

1. Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory was designed to understand the dynamics of biological systems from cells to populations and ecosystems via a mass balance approach of individuals. However, most work so far has focused on the level of the individual. To encourage further use of DEB theory in a population context, we developed DEB‐IBM, a generic individual‐based model (IBM) that is based on DEB theory.

2. The generic IBM is implemented as a computer program using NetLogo, a free software platform that is accessible to biologists with little programming background. The IBM uses DEB to represent assimilation, maintenance, growth and reproduction of individuals. The model description follows the overview, design and details (ODD) protocol, a generic format for describing IBMs, and thereby provides a novel and accessible introduction to DEB theory and how it works in a population context.

3. Dynamic Energy Budget‐individual‐based model can be used to explore properties of both individual life‐history traits and population dynamics, which emerge from the set of DEB parameters of a species, and their interaction with environmental variables such as food density. Furthermore, DEB‐IBM can be adapted to address specific research questions, for example by including spatial effects. A user manual explains how this can be done.

4. Dynamic Energy Budget‐individual‐based model is designed to both facilitate use and testing DEB theory in a population context and to advance individual‐based modelling by basing the representation of individuals on well‐tested physiological principles.
phytools: an R package for phylogenetic comparative biology (and other things)
Authors: Revell Liam J.
Published: December 2011

1. Here, I present a new, multifunctional phylogenetics package, phytools, for the R statistical computing environment.

2. The focus of the package is on methods for phylogenetic comparative biology; however, it also includes tools for tree inference, phylogeny input/output, plotting, manipulation and several other tasks.

3. I describe and tabulate the major methods implemented in phytools, and in addition provide some demonstration of its use in the form of two illustrative examples.

4. Finally, I conclude by briefly describing an active web‐log that I use to document present and future developments for phytools. I also note other web resources for phylogenetics in the R computational environment.
Investigation of Cooling Effectiveness of Gas Turbine Inlet Fogging Location Relative to the Silencer
Authors: Khan Jobaidur R. , Wang Ting , Chaker Mustapha
Published: December 2011

The output and efficiency of gas turbines are reduced significantly during the summer, especially in areas where the daytime temperature reaches as high as 50°C. Gas turbine inlet fogging and overspray has been considered a simple and cost-effective method to increase the power output. One of the most important issues related to inlet fogging is to determine the most effective location of the fogging device by determining (a) how many water droplets actually evaporate effectively to cool down the inlet air instead of colliding on the wall or coalescing and draining out (i.e., fogging efficiency), and (b) quantifying the amount of nonevaporated droplets that may reach the compressor bellmouth to ascertain the erosion risk for compressor airfoils if wet compression is to be avoided. When the silencer is installed, there is an additional consideration for placing the fogging device upstream or downstream of the silencer baffles. Placing arbitrarily the device upstream of the silencer can cause the silencer to intercept water droplets on the silencer baffles and lose cooling effectiveness. This paper employs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate the water droplet transport and cooling effectiveness with different spray locations such as before and after the silencer baffles. Analysis on the droplet history (trajectory and size) is employed to interpret the mechanism of droplet dynamics under influence of acceleration, diffusion, and body forces when the flow passes through the baffles and duct bent. The results show that, for the configuration of the investigated duct, installing the fogging system upstream of the silencer is about 3 percentage points better in evaporation effectiveness than placing it downstream of the silencer, irrespective of whether the silencer consists of a single row of baffles or two rows of staggered baffles. The evaporation effectiveness of the staggered silencer is about 0.8 percentage points higher than the single silencer. The pressure drop of the staggered silencer is 6.5% higher than the single silencer.
An analytical-numerical method for determining the mechanical response of a condenser microphone
Authors: Homentcovschi Dorel , Miles Ronald N.
Published: December 2011

The paper is based on determining the reaction pressure on the diaphragm of a condenser microphone by integrating numerically the frequency domain Stokes system describing the velocity and the pressure in the air domain beneath the diaphragm. Afterwards, the membrane displacement can be obtained analytically or numerically. The method is general and can be applied to any geometry of the backplate holes, slits, and backchamber. As examples, the method is applied to the Bruel & Kjaer (B&K) 4134 1/2-inch microphone determining the mechanical sensitivity and the mechano-thermal noise for a domain of frequencies and also the displacement field of the membrane for two specified frequencies. These elements compare well with the measured values published in the literature. Also a new design, completely micromachined (including the backvolume) of the B&K micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEM) 1/4-inch measurement microphone is proposed. It is shown that its mechanical performances are very similar to those of the B&K MEMS measurement microphone.
Spectral loudness summation of nonsimultaneous tone pulses
Authors: Heeren Wiebke , Rennies Jan , Verhey Jesko L.
Published: December 2011

The level of broadband signals is usually lower than that of equally loud narrow-band signals. This effect, referred to as spectral loudness summation, is commonly measured for broadband signals where all frequency components are presented simultaneously. The present study investigated to what extent spectral loudness summation also occurs for nonsimultaneously presented frequency components. Spectral loudness summation was measured in normal-hearing listeners with an adaptive forced-choice procedure for sequences of short tone pulses with varying frequencies, randomly chosen from a set of five frequencies. In addition, spectral loudness summation was measured for the simultaneous presentation of all five frequencies. The comparison stimulus consisted of tone pulses with the same frequency for all tone pulses of the sequence and the same repetition rate and overall duration as the test signal. The pulse duration was 10, 20, 50, or 100 ms and the inter-pulse interval ranged from 0 to 390 ms. In general, a considerable nonsimultaneous spectral loudness summation was found for short pulse durations and inter-pulse intervals, but a residual effect was also observed for the largest inter-pulse interval. The data are discussed in the light of repetition-rate dependent spectral loudness summation and effects of persistence of specific loudness after tone-pulse offset.
Nonlinear elastodynamics in micro-inhomogeneous solids observed by head-wave based dynamic acoustoelastic testing
Authors: Renaud G. , Talmant M. , Callé S. , Defontaine M. , Laugier P.
Published: December 2011

Dynamic acoustoelastic testing provides a more complete insight into the acoustic nonlinearity exhibited by micro-inhomogeneous media like granular and cracked materials. This method consists of measuring time of flight and energy modulations of pulsed ultrasonic waves induced by a low-frequency standing wave. Here pulsed ultrasonic head waves were employed to assess elastic and dissipative nonlinearities in a region near the surface of a solid. Synchronization of the ultrasound pulse sequence with the low-frequency excitation provided instantaneous variations in the elastic modulus and the attenuation as functions of the instantaneous low-frequency strain. Weak quadratic elastic nonlinearity and no dissipative nonlinearity were detected in duralumin. In limestone, distinction between tensile and compressive behaviors revealed an asymmetry in the acoustic nonlinearity and hysteresis in both the elastic modulus and the attenuation variations. Measured nonlinear acoustical parameters are in good agreement with values obtained by different techniques. Reversible acoustically induced conditioning modified the acoustic nonlinearity both quantitatively and qualitatively. It reduced tension-compression asymmetry, suggesting a nonequilibrium modification of the sources of acoustic nonlinearity. Additionally to the metrology of the acoustic nonlinearity, head wave based dynamic acoustoelastic testing may be a useful tool to monitor changes in the microstructure or the accumulation of damage in solids.
Bidirectional clear speech perception benefit for native and high-proficiency non-native talkers and listeners: Intelligibility and accentedness
Authors: Smiljanić Rajka , Bradlow Ann R.
Published: December 2011

This study investigated how native language background interacts with speaking style adaptations in determining levels of speech intelligibility. The aim was to explore whether native and high proficiency non-native listeners benefit similarly from native and non-native clear speech adjustments. The sentence-in-noise perception results revealed that fluent non-native listeners gained a large clear speech benefit from native clear speech modifications. Furthermore, proficient non-native talkers in this study implemented conversational-to-clear speaking style modifications in their second language (L2) that resulted in significant intelligibility gain for both native and non-native listeners. The results of the accentedness ratings obtained for native and non-native conversational and clear speech sentences showed that while intelligibility was improved, the presence of foreign accent remained constant in both speaking styles. This suggests that objective intelligibility and subjective accentedness are two independent dimensions of non-native speech. Overall, these results provide strong evidence that greater experience in L2 processing leads to improved intelligibility in both production and perception domains. These results also demonstrated that speaking style adaptations along with less signal distortion can contribute significantly towards successful native and non-native interactions.
A comparison between exposure-response relationships for wind turbine annoyance and annoyance due to other noise sources
Authors: Janssen Sabine A. , Vos Henk , Eisses Arno R. , Pedersen Eja
Published: December 2011

Surveys have shown that noise from wind turbines is perceived as annoying by a proportion of residents living in their vicinity, apparently at much lower noise levels than those inducing annoyance due to other environmental sources. The aim of the present study was to derive the exposure-response relationship between wind turbine noise exposure in Lden and the expected percentage annoyed residents and to compare it to previously established relationships for industrial noise and transportation noise. In addition, the influence of several individual and situational factors was assessed. On the basis of available data from two surveys in Sweden (N = 341, N = 754) and one survey in the Netherlands (N = 725), a relationship was derived for annoyance indoors and for annoyance outdoors at the dwelling. In comparison to other sources of environmental noise, annoyance due to wind turbine noise was found at relatively low noise exposure levels. Furthermore, annoyance was lower among residents who received economical benefit from wind turbines and higher among residents for whom the wind turbine was visible from the dwelling. Age and noise sensitivity had similar effects on annoyance to those found in research on annoyance by other sources.
What affects the presence versus absence of schwa and its duration: A corpus analysis of French connected speech
Authors: Bürki Audrey , Ernestus Mirjam , Gendrot Cédric , Fougeron Cécile , Frauenfelder Ulrich Hans
Published: December 2011

This study presents an analysis of over 4000 tokens of words produced as variants with and without schwa in a French corpus of radio-broadcasted speech. In order to determine which of the many variables mentioned in the literature influence variant choice, 17 predictors were tested in the same analysis. Only five of these variables appeared to condition variant choice. The question of the processing stage, or locus, of this alternation process is also addressed in a comparison of the variables that predict variant choice with the variables that predict the acoustic duration of schwa in variants with schwa. Only two variables predicting variant choice also predict schwa duration. The limited overlap between the predictors for variant choice and for schwa duration, combined with the nature of these variables, suggest that the variants without schwa do not result from a phonetic process of reduction; that is, they are not the endpoint of gradient schwa shortening. Rather, these variants are generated early in the production process, either during phonological encoding or word-form retrieval. These results, based on naturally produced speech, provide a useful complement to on-line production experiments using artificial speech tasks.
Contextual effects in the identification of nonspeech auditory patterns
Authors: Kidd Gerald , Richards Virginia M. , Streeter Timothy , Mason Christine R. , Huang Rong
Published: December 2011

This study investigated the benefit of a priori cues in a masked nonspeech pattern identification experiment. Targets were narrowband sequences of tone bursts forming six easily identifiable frequency patterns selected randomly on each trial. The frequency band containing the target was randomized. Maskers were also narrowband sequences of tone bursts chosen randomly on every trial. Targets and maskers were presented monaurally in mutually exclusive frequency bands, producing large amounts of informational masking. Cuing the masker produced a significant improvement in performance, while holding the target frequency band constant provided no benefit. The cue providing the greatest benefit was a copy of the masker presented ipsilaterally before the target-plus-masker. The masker cue presented contralaterally, and a notched-noise cue produced smaller benefits. One possible mechanism underlying these findings is auditory “enhancement” in which the neural response to the target is increased relative to the masker by differential prior stimulation of the target and masker frequency regions. A second possible mechanism provides a benefit to performance by comparing the spectrotemporal correspondence of the cue and target-plus-masker and is effective for either ipsilateral or contralateral cue presentation. These effects improve identification performance by emphasizing spectral contrasts in sequences or streams of sounds.
Comparison of the measured and theoretical performance of a broadband circular microphone array
Authors: Parthy Abhaya , Epain Nicolas , van Schaik André , Jin Craig T.
Published: December 2011

The design and construction of a circular microphone array (CMA) that has a wide frequency range suitable for human hearing is presented. The design of the CMA was achieved using a technique based on simulated directivity index (DI) curves. The simulated DI curves encapsulate the critical microphone array performance limitations: spatial aliasing, measurement noise, and microphone placement errors. This paper demonstrates how the non-regularized DI curves for a given beamforming order clearly define the bandwidth of operation, in other words, the frequency band for which the beamformer has relatively constant and maximum directivity. Detailed and comprehensive experimental data that characterizes the CMA beamformer are also presented.
Model-based seafloor characterization employing multi-beam angular backscatter data—A comparative study with dual-frequency single beam
Authors: Haris K. , Chakraborty Bishwajit , De Chanchal , Prabhudesai R. G. , Fernandes William
Published: December 2011

Sediment geoacoustic inversion results are estimated employing a multi-beam (MB) echo-sounding system operable at 95 kHz. To characterize the western continental shelf of India (off Goa) seafloor, MB backscatter signals were acquired along with grab sediment samples. The substrate type and roughness of the site were estimated using the composite roughness scattering model with the measured backscatter values. The seafloor parameters, namely mean grain size (Mϕ); roughness spectrum strength (w2) and exponent (γ2); and sediment volume parameter (σ2), for coarse and fine grain sediments are estimated by employing the MB system. These parameters have also been estimated at two other frequencies (33 and 210 kHz) and are compared to the ground truth data to provide sufficient support in validating the model results and increasing the understanding of the shelf seafloor processes. Distinct interclass separations between the sediment provinces are evident from the estimated mean grain size Mϕ and water-sediment interface roughness w2. The seafloor parameters for coarse and fine grain sediments derived from the 95 kHz MB data are consistent with the sediment sample data as well as with the inversion results obtained using backscatter data at 33 and 210 kHz from the same locations.
Influence of pitch, timbre and timing cues on melodic contour identification with a competing masker (L)
Authors: Zhu Meimei , Chen Bing , Galvin John J. , Fu Qian-Jie
Published: December 2011

Pitch, timbre, and/or timing cues may be used to stream and segregate competing musical melodies and instruments. In this study, melodic contour identification was measured in cochlear implant (CI) and normal-hearing (NH) listeners, with and without a competing masker; timing, pitch, and timbre cues were varied between the masker and target contour. NH performance was near-perfect across different conditions. CI performance was significantly poorer than that of NH listeners. While some CI subjects were able to use or combine timing, pitch and/or timbre cues, most were not, reflecting poor segregation due to poor spectral resolution.
Learning Is Harder with PKR
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: December 2011

A kinase involved in detecting viral RNA also enhances inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain.
Autophagy and Tumor Cell Clearance
Authors: Ray L. Bryan
Published: December 2011

The release of adenosine triphosphate through autophagy can promote antitumor immune responses.
Matrix Machinery Mutants
Authors: Stern Peter R.
Published: December 2011

Transmitter release at the fly neuromuscular junction is abolished in the absence of a scaffold protein.
STRUCTURE EFFECT ON ONE-NEUTRON REMOVAL REACTION USING RELATIVISTIC MEAN FIELD DENSITIES IN GLAUBER MODEL
Authors: PANDA R. N. , PATRA S. K.
Published: December 2011

We calculate the one-neutron removal reaction cross-section (σ-1n) for a few stable and neutron-rich Boron and Carbon halo nuclei with 12 C as target, using relativistic mean field (RMF) densities, in the frame work of Glauber model. The results are compared with the experimental data. Study of the stable nuclei with the deformed densities have shown a good agreement with the data. However, it differs significantly for the halo nuclei. We observe that while estimating the σ-1n value from the difference of reaction cross-sections of two neighboring nuclei with mass number A and that of A-1 in an isotopic chain, we get good agreement with the known experimental data for the halo cases.
Quantification of left and right ventricular kinetic energy using four-dimensional intracardiac magnetic resonance imaging flow measurements
Authors: Carlsson M. , Heiberg E. , Toger J. , Arheden H.
Published: December 2011

We aimed to quantify kinetic energy (KE) during the entire cardiac cycle of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) using four-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). KE was quantified in healthy volunteers ( n = 9) using an in-house developed software. Mean KE through the cardiac cycle of the LV and the RV were highly correlated ( r2 = 0.96). Mean KE was related to end-diastolic volume ( r2 = 0.66 for LV and r2 = 0.74 for RV), end-systolic volume ( r2 = 0.59 and 0.68), and stroke volume ( r2 = 0.55 and 0.60), but not to ejection fraction ( r2 < 0.01, P = not significant for both). Three KE peaks were found in both ventricles, in systole, early diastole, and late diastole. In systole, peak KE in the LV was lower (4.9 ± 0.4 mJ, P = 0.004) compared with the RV (7.5 ± 0.8 mJ). In contrast, KE during early diastole was higher in the LV (6.0 ± 0.6 mJ, P = 0.004) compared with the RV (3.6 ± 0.4 mJ). The late diastolic peaks were smaller than the systolic and early diastolic peaks (1.3 ± 0.2 and 1.2 ± 0.2 mJ). Modeling estimated the proportion of KE to total external work, which comprised ∼0.3% of LV external work and 3% of RV energy at rest and 3 vs. 24% during peak exercise. The higher early diastolic KE in the LV indicates that LV filling is more dependent on ventricular suction compared with the RV. RV early diastolic filling, on the other hand, may be caused to a higher degree of the return of the atrioventricular plane toward the base of the heart. The difference in ventricular geometry with a longer outflow tract in the RV compared with the LV explains the higher systolic KE in the RV.
Impaired vascular responses to relaxin in diet-induced overweight female rats
Authors: van Drongelen Joris , van Koppen Arianne , Pertijs Jeanne , Gooi Jonathan H. , Parry Laura J. , Sweep Fred C. G. J. , Lotgering Frederik K. , Smits Paul , Spaanderman Marc E. A.
Published: December 2011

Relaxin mediates renal and mesenteric vascular adaptations to pregnancy by increasing endothelium-dependent vasodilation and compliance and decreasing myogenic reactivity. Diet-induced overweight and obesity are associated with impaired endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling leading to a reduction in arterial diameter. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that local vascular responses to relaxin are impaired in diet-induced overweight female rats on a high-fat cafeteria-style diet for 9 wk. Rats were chronically infused with either relaxin or placebo for 5 days, and vascular responses were measured in isolated mesenteric arteries and the perfused kidney. Diet-induced overweight significantly increased sensitivity to phenylephrine (by 17%) and vessel wall thickness, and reduced renal perfusion flow (RPFF; by 16%), but did not affect flow-mediated vasodilation, myogenic reactivity, and vascular compliance. In the normal weight rats, relaxin treatment significantly enhanced flow-mediated vasodilation (2.67-fold), decreased myogenic reactivity, and reduced sensitivity to phenylephrine (by 28%), but had no effect on compliance or RPFF. NO blockade by l-NAME diminished most relaxin-mediated effects. In diet-induced overweight rats, the vasodilator effects of relaxin were markedly reduced for flow-mediated vasodilation, sensitivity to phenylephrine, and myogenic response compared with the normal diet rats, mostly persistent under l-NAME. Our data demonstrate that some of the vasodilator responses to in vivo relaxin administration are impaired in isolated mesenteric arteries and the perfused kidney in diet-induced overweight female rats. This does not result from a decrease in Rxfp1 (relaxin family peptide receptor) expression but is likely to result from downstream disruption to endothelial-dependent mechanisms in diet-induced overweight animals.
Exercise-associated generation of PPARγ ligands activates PPARγ signaling events and upregulates genes related to lipid metabolism
Authors: Thomas A. W. , Davies N. A. , Moir H. , Watkeys L. , Ruffino J. S. , Isa S. A. , Butcher L. R. , Hughes M. G. , Morris K. , Webb R.
Published: December 2011

The aim of the present study was to test the hypotheses that exercise is associated with generation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) ligands in the plasma and that this may activate PPARγ signaling within circulating monocytes, thus providing a mechanism to underpin the exercise-induced antiatherogenic benefits observed in previous studies. A cohort of healthy individuals undertook an 8-wk exercise-training program; samples were obtained before (Pre) and after (Post) standardized submaximal exercise bouts (45 min of cycling at 70% of maximal O2uptake, determined at baseline) at weeks 0, 4, and 8. Addition of plasma samples to PPARγ response element (PPRE)-luciferase reporter gene assays showed increased PPARγ activity following standardized exercise bouts (Post/Pre = 1.23 ± 0.10 at week 0, P < 0.05), suggesting that PPARγ ligands were generated during exercise. However, increases in PPARγ/PPRE-luciferase activity in response to the same standardized exercise bout were blunted during the training program (Post/Pre = 1.18 ± 0.14 and 1.10 ± 0.10 at weeks 4 and 8, respectively, P > 0.05 for both), suggesting that the relative intensity of the exercise may affect PPARγ ligand generation. In untrained individuals, specific transient increases in monocyte expression of PPARγ-regulated genes were observed within 1.5–3 h of exercise (1.7 ± 0.4, 2.6 ± 0.4, and 1.4 ± 0.1 fold for CD36, liver X receptor-α, and ATP-binding cassette subfamily A member 1, respectively, P < 0.05), with expression returning to basal levels within 24 h. In contrast, by the end of the exercise program, expression at the protein level of PPARγ target genes had undergone sustained increases that were not associated with an individual exercise bout (e.g., week 8 Pre/ week 0 Pre = 2.79 ± 0.61 for CD36, P < 0.05). Exercise is known to upregulate PPARγ-controlled genes to induce beneficial effects in skeletal muscle (e.g., mitochondrial biogenesis and aerobic respiration). We suggest that parallel exercise-induced benefits may occur in monocytes, as monocyte PPARγ activation has been linked to beneficial antidiabetic effects (e.g., exercise-induced upregulation of monocytic PPARγ-controlled genes is associated with reverse cholesterol transport and anti-inflammatory effects). Thus, exercise-triggered monocyte PPARγ activation may constitute an additional rationale for prescribing exercise to type 2 diabetes patients.