bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural changes in alginate-based microspheres exposed to in vivo environment as revealed by confocal Raman microscopy
Authors: Kroneková Zuzana , Pelach Michal , Mazancová Petra , Uhelská Lucia , Treľová Dušana , Rázga Filip , Némethová Veronika , Szalai Szabolcs , Chorvát Dušan , McGarrigle James J. , Omami Mustafa , Isa Douglas , Ghani Sofia , Majková Eva , Oberholzer José , Raus Vladimír , Šiffalovič Peter , Lacík Igor
Published: January 2018

A next-generation cure for type 1 diabetes relies on immunoprotection of insulin-producing cells, which can be achieved by their encapsulation in microspheres made of non-covalently crosslinked hydrogels. Treatment success is directly related to the microsphere structure that is characterized by the localization of the polymers constituting the hydrogel material. However, due to the lack of a suitable analytical method, it is presently unknown how the microsphere structure changesin vivo, which complicates evaluation of different encapsulation approaches. Here, confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) imaging was tailored to serve as a powerful new tool for tracking structural changes in two major encapsulation designs, alginate-based microbeads and multi-component microcapsules. CRM analyses before implantation and after explantation from a mouse model revealed complete loss of the original heterogeneous structure in the alginate microbeads, making the intentionally high initial heterogeneity a questionable design choice. On the other hand, the structural heterogeneity was conserved in the microcapsules, which indicates that this design will better retain its immunoprotective propertiesin vivo. In another application, CRM was used for quantitative mapping of the alginate concentration throughout the microbead volume. Such data provide invaluable information about the microenvironment cells would encounter upon their encapsulation in alginate microbeads.
Increased Exposure of Tacrolimus by Co-administered Mycophenolate Mofetil: Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Kim Jae Hyun , Han Nayoung , Kim Myeong Gyu , Yun Hwi-Yeol , Lee Sunhwa , Bae Eunjin , Kim Yon Su , Kim In-Wha , Oh Jung Mi
Published: January 2018

The objective of the study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions between tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in healthy Korean male volunteers. Seventeen volunteers participated in a three-period, single-dose, and fixed sequence study. They sequentially received MMF, TAC, and the combination. Concentrations of TAC, mycophenolic acid (MPA), and its metabolites MPA 7-O-glucuronide and MPA acyl glucuronide were measured. The variants of CYP3A4, CYP3A5, SLCO1B1, SLCO1B3, ABCC2, UGT1A9, and UGT2B7 were genotyped. Drug interaction was evaluated with a non-compartmental analysis and population pharmacokinetic modelling to quantify the interaction effect. A total of 1,082 concentrations of those analytes were analysed. AUC0-inf of TAC increased by 22.1% (322.4 ± 174.1 to 393.6 ± 121.7 ng·h/mL; P < 0.05) when co-administered with MMF, whereas the pharmacokinetic parameters of MPA and its metabolites were not changed by TAC. Apparent clearance (CL/F) of TAC was 17.8 L/h [relative standard error (RSE) 11%] or 13.8 L/h (RSE 11%) without or with MMF, respectively. Interaction was explained by the exponential model. The CYP3A5 genotype was the only significant covariate. The population estimate of CL/F of TAC was 1.48-fold (RSE 16%) in CYP3A5 expressers when compared to nonexpressers. CL/F of TAC was decreased when co-administered with MMF in these subjects.
A novel mouse model carrying a human cytoplasmic dynein mutation shows motor behavior deficits consistent with Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2O disease
Authors: Sabblah Thywill T. , Nandini Swaran , Ledray Aaron P. , Pasos Julio , Calderon Jami L. Conley , Love Rachal , King Linda E. , King Stephen J.
Published: January 2018

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a peripheral neuromuscular disorder in which axonal degeneration causes progressive loss of motor and sensory nerve function. The loss of motor nerve function leads to distal muscle weakness and atrophy, resulting in gait problems and difficulties with walking, running, and balance. A mutation in the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain (DHC) gene was discovered to cause an autosomal dominant form of the disease designated Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2 O disease (CMT2O) in 2011. The mutation is a single amino acid change of histidine into arginine at amino acid 306 (H306R) in DHC. In order to understand the onset and progression of CMT2, we generated a knock-in mouse carrying the corresponding CMT2O mutation (H304R/+). We examined H304R/+ mouse cohorts in a 12-month longitudinal study of grip strength, tail suspension, and rotarod assays. H304R/+ mice displayed distal muscle weakness and loss of motor coordination phenotypes consistent with those of individuals with CMT2. Analysis of the gastrocnemius of H304R/+ male mice showed prominent defects in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology including reduced size, branching, and complexity. Based on these results, the H304R/+ mouse will be an important model for uncovering functions of dynein in complex organisms, especially related to CMT onset and progression.
Identifying Hallmark Symptoms of Developmental Prosopagnosia for Non-Experts
Authors: Murray Ebony , Hills Peter J. , Bennetts Rachel J. , Bate Sarah
Published: January 2018

Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is characterised by a severe and relatively selective deficit in face recognition, in the absence of neurological injury. Because public and professional awareness of DP is low, many adults and children are not identified for formal testing. This may partly result from the lack of appropriate screening tools that can be used by non-experts in either professional or personal settings. To address this issue, the current study sought to (a) explore when DP can first be detected in oneself and another, and (b) identify a list of the condition’s everyday behavioural manifestations. Questionnaires and interviews were administered to large samples of adult DPs, their unaffected significant others, and parents of children with the condition; and data were analysed using inductive content analysis. It was found that DPs have limited insight into their difficulties, with most only achieving realisation in adulthood. Nevertheless, the DPs’ reflections on their childhood experiences, together with the parental responses, revealed specific indicators that can potentially be used to spot the condition in early childhood. These everyday hallmark symptoms may aid the detection of individuals who would benefit from objective testing, in oneself (in adults) or another person (for both adults and children).
Global ubiquitination analysis reveals extensive modification and proteasomal degradation of cowpox virus proteins, but preservation of viral cores
Authors: Grossegesse Marica , Doellinger Joerg , Fritsch Annemarie , Laue Michael , Piesker Janett , Schaade Lars , Nitsche Andreas
Published: January 2018

The emergence of Variola virus-like viruses by natural evolution of zoonotic Orthopoxviruses, like Cowpox virus (CPXV), is a global health threat. The proteasome is essential for poxvirus replication, making the viral components interacting with the ubiquitin-proteasome system attractive antiviral targets. We show that proteasome inhibition impairs CPXV replication by prevention of uncoating, suggesting that uncoating is mediated by proteasomal degradation of viral core proteins. Although Orthopoxvirus particles contain considerable amounts of ubiquitin, distinct modification sites are largely unknown. Therefore, for the first time, we analyzed globally ubiquitination sites in CPXV mature virion proteins using LC-MS/MS. Identification of 137 conserved sites in 54 viral proteins among five CPXV strains revealed extensive ubiquitination of structural core proteins. Moreover, since virions contained primarily K48-linked polyubiquitin, we hypothesized that core proteins are modified accordingly. However, quantitative analysis of ubiquitinated CPXV proteins early in infection showed no proteasomal degradation of core proteins. Instead, our data indicate that the recently suggested proteasomal regulation of the uncoating factor E5 is a prerequisite for uncoating. Expanding our understanding of poxvirus uncoating and elucidating a multitude of novel ubiquitination sites in poxvirus proteins, the present study verifies the major biological significance of ubiquitin in poxvirus infection.
T and V-shaped donor–acceptor–donor molecules involving pyridoquinoxaline: large Stokes shift, environment-sensitive tunable emission and temperature-induced fluorochromism
Authors: Sk Bahadur , Khodia Saurabh , Patra Abhijit
Published: January 2018

The critical role of molecular shapes in the environment-sensitive and temperature-induced emission properties of pyridoquinoxaline-based donor–acceptor–donor molecules was demonstrated.
Kinetically controlled transition from 2D nanostructured films to 3D multifaceted InN nanocrystals on GaN(0001)
Authors: Stanchu H. V. , Kuchuk A. V. , Lytvyn P. M. , Mazur Yu. I. , Ware M. E. , Maidaniuk Y. , Benamara M. , Wang Zh. M. , Salamo G. J.
Published: January 2018

A 2D-to-3D transition from nanostructured films to multifaceted InN nanocrystals for growth on GaN(0001) is accompanied by a 30-fold enhancement of InN photoluminescence emission.
Adsorption and decomposition of dimethyl methylphosphonate on size-selected (MoO3)3 clusters
Authors: Tang Xin , Hicks Zachary , Wang Linjie , Ganteför Gerd , Bowen Kit H. , Tsyshevsky Roman , Sun Jianwei , Kuklja Maija M.
Published: January 2018

The adsorption and decomposition of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), a chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulant, on size-selected molybdenum oxide trimer clusters, i.e. (MoO3)3, was studied both experimentally and theoretically.
Ultrafine ZnO quantum dot-modified TiO2 composite photocatalysts: the role of the quantum size effect in heterojunction-enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Chen Qian , Tong Ruifeng , Chen Xianjie , Xue Yakun , Xie Zhaoxiong , Kuang Qin , Zheng Lansun
Published: January 2018

The role of the quantum size effect in heterojunction-enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was investigated in the ultrafine ZnO QD-modified TiO2 nanowire model.
Stimuli-responsive protection of optically excited triplet ensembles against deactivation by molecular oxygen
Authors: Nazarova N. V. , Avlasevich Yu. S. , Landfester K. , Baluschev S.
Published: January 2018

The temperature-responsive protection of optically created organic triplet ensembles against deactivation by molecular oxygen was realized.
Formation of Fe3O4@C/Ni microtubes for efficient catalysis and protein adsorption
Authors: Wang Jianping , Zhang Min , Xu Jingli , Zheng Jing , Hayat Tasawar , Alharbi Njud S.
Published: January 2018

The Fe3O4@C/Ni microtubes have been synthesized by an extended stöber method combined with a carbonization process, which can be used as a catalyst for 4-nitrophenol and histidine-rich protein separation.
Three Zn(ii)-based MOFs for luminescence sensing of Fe3+ and Cr2O72− ions
Authors: Xiao Zhi-Zun , Han Li-Juan , Wang Zhong-Jie , Zheng He-Gen
Published: January 2018

Three zinc metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been hydrothermally synthesized. We explored their applications in detecting ions, and the result shows that they all show highly selective sensing for Fe3+ and Cr2O72− ions.
New iodide-based amino acid molecules for more sustainable electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Sagaidak Iryna , Huertas Guillaume , Nguyen Van Nhien Albert , Sauvage Frédéric
Published: January 2018

The electrolyte is the second key component governing at once the power conversion performances and the stability of dye-sensitized solar cells.
Concomitant ion effects on isotope ratio measurements with liquid sampling – atmospheric pressure glow discharge ion source Orbitrap mass spectrometry
Authors: Hoegg Edward D. , Marcus R. Kenneth , Hager George J. , Hart Garret L. , Koppenaal David W.
Published: January 2018

With liquid sampling glow discharge-Orbitrap MS, isotope ratio and precision performance improves with rejection of concomitant ion species.
Biotin–avidin interaction triggers conversion of triskelion peptide nanotori into nanochains
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Singh Ramesh , Joshi Khashti Ballabh
Published: January 2018

Triskelion biotinylated peptide is self-assembled into nanotorus structures followed by dimerization and chain formation in the presence of avidin.
Facile synthesis of hierarchical ZnMn2O4@ZnFe2O4 microspheres on nickel foam for high-performance supercapacitor applications
Authors: Reddy Araveeti Eswar , Anitha Tarugu , Muralee Gopi Chandu V. V. , Durga Ikkurthi Kanaka , Kim Hee-Je
Published: January 2018

ZnMn2O4@ZnFe2O4 microsphere-like structures exhibit superior specific capacitance and cyclic stability than the ZnMn2O4 and ZnFe2O4 electrodes.
Design, synthesis, anti-proliferative evaluation and docking studies of 1H-1,2,3-triazole tethered ospemifene–isatin conjugates as selective estrogen receptor modulators
Authors: Kumar Sumit , Gu Liang , Palma Gabriella , Kaur Mandeep , Singh-Pillay Ashona , Singh Parvesh , Kumar Vipan
Published: January 2018

A library of 1H-1,2,3-triazole-tethered ospemifene–isatin and ospemifene–spiroisatin conjugates have been synthesized and evaluated for their anti-proliferative activities against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines.
Domain alignment within ferroelectric/dielectric PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattice nanostructures
Authors: Park Joonkyu , Mangeri John , Zhang Qingteng , Yusuf M. Humed , Pateras Anastasios , Dawber Matthew , Holt Martin V. , Heinonen Olle G. , Nakhmanson Serge , Evans Paul G.
Published: January 2018

The ferroelectric domain pattern within lithographically defined PbTiO3/SrTiO3 ferroelectric/dielectric heteroepitaxial superlattice nanostructures is strongly influenced by the edges of the structures.
Detailed correlations between SERS enhancement and plasmon resonances in subwavelength closely spaced Au nanorod arrays
Authors: Huang Yu , Zhang Xian , Ringe Emilie , Ma Lingwei , Zhai Xiang , Wang Lingling , Zhang Zhengjun
Published: January 2018

For subwavelength closely spaced Au nanorod arrays, the continuous dependence of individual SERS peak heights on the Stokes Raman shift has been visualized and further clarified.
A nickel-based pectin coordination polymer as an oxygen reduction reaction catalyst for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Kadirov M. K. , Minzanova S. T. , Nizameev I. R. , Mironova L. G. , Gilmutdinov I. F. , Khrizanforov M. N. , Kholin K. V. , Khamatgalimov A. R. , Semyonov V. A. , Morozov V. I. , Kadirov D. M. , Mukhametzyanov A. R. , Budnikova Yu. H. , Sinyashin O. G.
Published: January 2018

Membrane-electrode assemblies with a PG-NaNi cathode catalyst and a Pt black anode catalyst have been created.
Facile synthesis of bio-based nitrogen- and oxygen-doped porous carbon derived from cotton for supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Lan , Xu Lu , Zhang Yagang , Zhou Xin , Zhang Letao , Yasin Akram , Wang Lulu , Zhi Keke
Published: January 2018

Biomass-derived O- and N-doped porous carbon has become one of the most competitive supercapacitor electrode material because of its renewability and sustainability.
Sanguinarine and chelerythrine: two natural products for mitochondria-imaging with aggregation-induced emission enhancement and pH-sensitive characteristics
Authors: Lei Yaohui , Liu Liyan , Tang Xuemei , Yang Depo , Yang Xuhui , He Feng
Published: January 2018

In this paper, two natural products: chelerythrine (Che) and sanguinarine (San) were systematically explored for aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) characteristics by a series of spectroscopic and theoretical experiments.
Increasing the bioactive space of peptide macrocycles by thioamide substitution
Authors: Verma Hitesh , Khatri Bhavesh , Chakraborti Sohini , Chatterjee Jayanta
Published: January 2018

Thioamide substitution into macrocyclic peptides increases the conformational rigidity of the backbone resulting in enhanced biological activity and metabolic stability.
Strongly electrophilic heteroatoms confined in atomic CoOOH nanosheets realizing efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation
Authors: Huang Yuanyuan , Zhao Xu , Tang Fumin , Zheng Xusheng , Cheng Weiren , Che Wei , Hu Fengchun , Jiang Yong , Liu Qinghua , Wei Shiqiang
Published: January 2018

We design Mn-confined CoOOH nanosheets that actively catalyze water oxidation with a low onset potential of 1.43 Vvs.RHE and a small Tafel slope of ∼38 mV dec−1.
Evaluation of tofu as a potential tissue engineering scaffold
Authors: Huang Jun , Huang Keqin , You Xinru , Liu Guiting , Hollett Geoffrey , Kang Yang , Gu Zhipeng , Wu Jun
Published: January 2018

Tofu not only is a delicious vegetarian food, but also shows potential biomedical applications for its high protein content and typical porous scaffold structure.
Tuning electronic and magnetic properties of monolayer α-RuCl3 by in-plane strain
Authors: Iyikanat F. , Yagmurcukardes M. , Senger R. T. , Sahin H.
Published: January 2018

By employing density functional theory-based methods, the structural, vibrational, electronic, and magnetic properties of monolayer α-RuCl3 were investigated.
Controlling the crystallinity and crystalline orientation of “shuttlecock” naphthalocyanine films for near-infrared optoelectronic applications
Authors: Dalgleish Simon , Reissig Louisa , Shuku Yoshiaki , Gourlaouen Christophe , Vela Sergi , Awaga Kunio
Published: January 2018

Thin films of Sn(ii) 2,3-naphthalocyanine display rich polymorphism and tunable crystallinity with striking effects on their optical and optoelectronic properties.
Correction: Quantitative profiling of carbonyl metabolites directly in crude biological extracts using chemoselective tagging and nanoESI-FTMS
Authors: Deng Pan , Higashi Richard M. , Lane Andrew N. , Bruntz Ronald C. , Sun Ramon C. , Raju Mandapati V. Ramakrishnam , Nantz Michael H. , Qi Zhen , Fan Teresa W.-M.
Published: January 2018

Correction for ‘Quantitative profiling of carbonyl metabolites directly in crude biological extracts using chemoselective tagging and nanoESI-FTMS’ by Pan Deng, et al., Analyst, 2018, 143, 311–322.
Nanotextured Si surfaces derived from block-copolymer self-assembly with superhydrophobic, superhydrophilic, or superamphiphobic properties
Authors: Telecka Agnieszka , Li Tao , Ndoni Sokol , Taboryski Rafael
Published: January 2018

We demonstrate the use of wafer-scale nanolithography based on block-copolymer (BCP) self-assembly for the fabrication of surfaces with enhanced wetting properties.
Globular C1q receptor (p33) binds and stabilizes pro-inflammatory MCP-1: a novel mechanism for regulation of MCP-1 production and function
Authors: Anders Emma , Nebel Daniel , Westman Johannes , Herwald Heiko , Nilsson Bengt-Olof , Svensson Daniel
Published: January 2018

The protein gC1qR (globular C1q receptor), also named p33, was originally identified as a binding partner of the globular heads of C1q in the complement system. gC1qR/p33 is abundantly expressed in many cell types, but the functional importance of this protein is not completely understood. Here, we investigate the impact of gC1qR/p33 on the production and function of the pathophysiologically important chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Knockdown of gC1qR/p33 negatively regulated the production of MCP-1, but had no effect on the expression of transcript for MCP-1 in human periodontal ligament cells, suggesting a translational/post-translational mechanism of action. Laser scanning confocal microscopy showed considerable cytosolic co-localization of gC1qR/p33 and MCP-1, and co-immunoprecipitation disclosed direct physical interaction between gC1qR/p33 and MCP-1. Surface plasmon resonance analysis revealed a high-affinity binding (KD = 10.9 nM) between gC1qR/p33 and MCP-1. Using a transwell migration assay, we found that recombinant gC1qR/p33 enhances MCP-1-induced migration of human THP-1 monocytes, pointing to a functional importance of the interaction between gC1qR/p33 and MCP-1. An in vitro assay revealed a rapid turnover of the MCP-1 protein and that gC1qR/p33 stabilizes MCP-1, hence preventing its degradation. We propose that endogenous gC1qR/p33 physically interacts with MCP-1 causing stabilization of the MCP-1 protein and stimulation of its activity in human periodontal ligament cells, suggesting a novel gC1qR/p33-mediated pro-inflammatory mechanism of action.
Complications endodontiques de l’Ostéotomie Le Fort I. À propos d’un cas clinique
Authors: TEBBEB Nesrine , AGUIR MABROUK Najet , BHOURI Lotfi
Published: January 2018

L’ostéotomie Le Fort I est l’une des interventions
chirurgicales orthognatique les plus fréquentes.
Cette technique est facile à réaliser, et permet
de résoudre un grand nombre de problèmes
fonctionnels et esthétiques.

Malgré tous les progrès réalisés dans
le domaine de la chirurgie orthognatique
une variété de complications a été documentée.
Le clivage osseux au cours de l’acte chirurgical
est associé à un risque particulièrement élevé
d’ischémie.

Cet article illustre un cas de nécroses
pulpaires multiples du secteur incisivo
canin et prémolaire maxillaire à la suite
d’une osteotomie Le Fort I.
On the accuracy and convergence of the hybrid FE-meshfree Q4-CNS element in surface fitting problems
Authors: Wong Foek Tjong , Soetanto Richo , Budiman Januar
Published: January 2018

In the last decade, several hybrid methods combining the finite element and meshfree methods have been proposed for solving elasticity problems. Among these methods, a novel quadrilateral four-node element with continuous nodal stress (Q4-CNS) is of our interest. In this method, the shape functions are constructed using the combination of the ‘non-conforming’ shape functions for the Kirchhoff’s plate rectangular element and the shape functions obtained using an orthonormalized and constrained least-squares method. The key advantage of the Q4-CNS element is that it provides the continuity of the gradients at the element nodes so that the global gradient fields are smooth and highly accurate. This paper presents a numerical study on the accuracy and convergence of the Q4-CNS interpolation and its gradients in surface fitting problems. Several functions of two variables were employed to examine the accuracy and convergence. Furthermore, the consistency property of the Q4-CNS interpolation was also examined. The results show that the Q4-CNS interpolation possess a bi-linier order of consistency even in a distorted mesh. The Q4-CNS gives highly accurate surface fittings and possess excellent convergence characteristics. The accuracy and convergence rates are better than those of the standard Q4 element.
Implementation of Highly-Flowable Strain Hardening Fiber Reinforced Concrete in New RC Beam-Column Joints
Authors: Liao Wen-Cheng , Su Wei-Ru
Published: January 2018

The purpose of New RC project was aimed to reduce the member sections and increase the available space of high rise buildings by using high strength concrete (f’c > 70 MPa) and high strength rebars (fy > 685 MPa). Material consumptions and member section sizes can be further reduced owing to the upgrade of strength. However, the nature of brittleness of high strength may also cause early cover spalling and other ductility issues. Addition of steel fibers is an alternative as transverse reinforcement. Highly flowable strain hardening fiber reinforced concrete (HF-SHFRC) has excellent workability in the fresh state and exhibits the strain-hardening and multiple cracking characteristics of high performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) in their hardened state. The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of implementing HF-SHFRC in New RC building systems, particularly for beam-column joints as an alternative of transverse reinforcements. Four full-scale exterior beam-column joints, including two specimens with intensive transverse reinforcements and two specimens made of HF-SHFRC without any stirrup, are tested. Test results show that the HF-SHFRC specimens perform as well as specimens with intensive transverse reinforcements regarding failure mode, ductility, energy dissipation and crack width control. Integration of New RC building systems and HF-SHFRC can assuring construction qualities and further diminish labor work and give infrastructure longer service life, and eventually lower the life-cycle cost.
Utilization of alternative fuels and materials in cement kiln towards emissions of benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and xylenes (BTEX)
Authors: Muliane Ulfi , Lestari Puji
Published: January 2018

Co-processing in cement industry has benefits for energy conservation and waste recycling. Nevertheless, emissions of benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylenes (BTEX) tend to increase compared to a non co-processing kiln. A study was conducted in kiln feeding solid AFR (similar to municipal solid waste, MSW) having production capacity 4600-ton clinker/day (max. 5000 ton/day) and kiln feeding biomass having production capacity 7800-ton clinker/day (max. 8000 ton/day). The concentration of VOCs emissions tends to be higher at the raw mill on rather than the raw mill off. At the raw mill on, concentration of total volatile organic carbon (VOCs) emission from cement kiln stack feeding Solid AFR 1, biomass, Solid AFR 2, and mixture of Solid AFR and biomass is 16.18 mg/Nm3, 16.15 mg/Nm3, 9.02 mg/Nm3, and 14.11 mg/Nm3 respectively. The utilization of biomass resulted in the lower fraction of benzene and the higher fraction of xylenes in the total VOCs emission. Operating conditions such as thermal substitution rate, preheater temperature, and kiln speed are also likely to affect BTEX emissions.
Contemporary Approaches to the Management of Post-stroke Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Basilakos Alexandra
Published: January 2018

Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a motor speech disorder that disrupts the planning and programming of speech motor movements. In the acute stage of stroke recovery, AOS following unilateral (typically) left hemisphere stroke can occur alongside dysarthria, an impairment in speech execution and control, and/or aphasia, a higher-level impairment in language function. At this time, perceptual evaluation (the systematic, although subjective, description of speech and voice characteristics) is perhaps the only “gold standard” for differential diagnosis when it comes to motor speech disorders. This poses a challenge for speech-language pathologists charged with the evaluation of poststroke communication abilities, as distinguishing production impairments associated with AOS from those that can occur in aphasia and/or dysarthria can be difficult, especially when more than one deficit is present. Given the need for more objective, reliable methods to identify and diagnose AOS, several studies have turned to acoustic evaluation and neuroimaging to supplement clinical assessment. This article focuses on these recent advances. Studies investigating acoustic evaluation of AOS will be reviewed, as well as those that have considered the extent that neuroimaging can guide clinical decision making. Developments in the treatment of AOS will also be discussed. Although more research is needed regarding the use of these methods in everyday clinical practice, the studies reviewed here show promise as emerging tools for the management of AOS.
Regional Brain Dysfunction Associated with Semantic Errors in Comprehension
Authors: Shahid Hinna , Sebastian Rajani , Tippett Donna , Saxena Sadhvi , Wright Amy , Hanayik Taylor , Breining Bonnie , Bonilha Leonardo , Fridriksson Julius , Rorden Chris , Hillis Argye
Published: January 2018

Here we illustrate how investigation of individuals acutely after stroke, before structure/function reorganization through recovery or rehabilitation, can be helpful in answering questions about the role of specific brain regions in language functions. Although there is converging evidence from a variety of sources that the left posterior-superior temporal gyrus plays some role in spoken word comprehension, its precise role in this function has not been established. We hypothesized that this region is essential for distinguishing between semantically related words, because it is critical for linking the spoken word to the complete semantic representation. We tested this hypothesis in 127 individuals with 48 hours of acute ischemic stroke, before the opportunity for reorganization or recovery. We identified tissue dysfunction (acute infarct and/or hypoperfusion) in gray and white matter parcels of the left hemisphere, and we evaluated the association between rate of semantic errors in a word-picture verification tasks and extent of tissue dysfunction in each region. We found that after correcting for lesion volume and multiple comparisons, the rate of semantic errors correlated with the extent of tissue dysfunction in left posterior-superior temporal gyrus and retrolenticular white matter.
Versorgungsorganisation – Die neue S3-Leitlinie Alkohol und ihre Bedeutung für die Versorgungspraxis
Authors: Günthner Arthur , Weissinger Volker , Fleischmann Heribert , Veltrup Clemens , Jäpel Bettina , Längle Gerhard , Amann Klaus , Hoch Eva , Mann Karl
Published: January 2018

Hintergrund Alkoholabhängigkeit gehört in Deutschland zu den schwerwiegendsten Suchterkrankungen. Die neue S3-Leitlinie "Screening, Diagnose und Behandlung alkoholbezogener Störungen“ wurde im Jahre 2015 vorgestellt und fasst den aktuellen Kenntnisstand zur Diagnose und Behandlung von schädlichem und abhängigem Alkoholkonsum zusammen.

Methoden Die Entwicklung der Leitlinie basiert auf einem vierjährigen Entwicklungsprozess im Rahmen der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wissenschaftlich Medizinischer Fachgesellschaften (AWMF). Die Federführung lag bei der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde (DGPPN) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Suchtforschung und Suchttherapie (DG-Sucht). In die Entwicklung waren insgesamt mehr als 50 Fachgesellschaften, Berufsverbände und Gesundheitsorganisationen sowie über 60 ausgewiesene Suchtexperten involviert, unter Beteiligung von Selbsthilfe- und Angehörigenverbänden. Die Arbeitsgruppe „Versorgungsorganisation“, deren Ergebnisse hier dargestellt werden, war eine von dreizehn Autorengruppen und widmete sich der Aufgabe, wie die Leitlinie unter den Rahmenbedingungen des deutschen Gesundheitssystems mit seinen Versorgungssektoren und Schnittstellen umgesetzt werden kann.

Ergebnisse Für das Kapitel „Versorgungsorganisation“ wurden 27 Empfehlungen konsentiert, von denen viele speziell für dieses Kapitel von den entsprechenden Arbeitsgruppen erarbeitet wurden. Die Empfehlungen beziehen sich auf Screening und Diagnostik sowie Kurzinterventionen, Entgiftung und Entzug sowie Pharmakotherapie, körperliche Komplikationen und psychische Komorbidität, Entwöhnung und andere Formen der Postakutbehandlung, die hausärztliche Versorgung, sowie besondere Zielgruppen wie Kinder und Jugendliche, Frauen/Schwangere sowie Ältere. Zusätzlich wurde der Bereich „Selbsthilfe“ aufgenommen.

Schlussfolgerung Für die bedarfsgerechte Diagnostik und Behandlung alkoholbezogener Störungen bieten leitliniengestützte Empfehlungen zur Versorgungsorganisation einen Orientierungsrahmen für die Zusammenarbeit und Koordinierung aller Sektoren und Berufsgruppen, besonders an den Schnittstellen der Versorgung. Dies schließt die Zusammenarbeit zwischen dem medizinischen und psychosozialen Hilfesystem mit ein und reicht von der Schadensbegrenzung bis hin zur sozialen Inklusion der Betroffenen. Insbesondere die Rehabilitation mit ihren Teilhabezielen ist auf diese Zusammenarbeit angewiesen.
Attosecond transient absorption instrumentation for thin film materials: Phase transitions, heat dissipation, signal stabilization, timing correction, and rapid sample rotation
Authors: Jager Marieke F. , Ott Christian , Kaplan Christopher J. , Kraus Peter M. , Neumark Daniel M. , Leone Stephen R.
Published: January 2018

We present an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) transient absorption apparatus tailored to attosecond and femtosecond measurements on bulk solid-state thin-film samples, specifically when the sample dynamics are sensitive to heating effects. The setup combines methodology for stabilizing sub-femtosecond time-resolution measurements over 48 h and techniques for mitigating heat buildup in temperature-dependent samples. Single-point beam stabilization in pump and probe arms and periodic time-zero reference measurements are described for accurate timing and stabilization. A hollow-shaft motor configuration for rapid sample rotation, raster scanning capability, and additional diagnostics are described for heat mitigation. Heat transfer simulations performed using a finite element analysis allow comparison of sample rotation and traditional raster scanning techniques for 100 Hz pulsed laser measurements on vanadium dioxide, a material that undergoes an insulator-to-metal transition at a modest temperature of 340 K. Experimental results are presented confirming that the vanadium dioxide (VO2) sample cannot cool below its phase transition temperature between laser pulses without rapid rotation, in agreement with the simulations. The findings indicate the stringent conditions required to perform rigorous broadband XUV time-resolved absorption measurements on bulk solid-state samples, particularly those with temperature sensitivity, and elucidate a clear methodology to perform them.
Vitrification and gelation in sticky spheres
Authors: Royall C. Patrick , Williams Stephen R. , Tanaka Hajime
Published: January 2018

Glasses and gels are the two dynamically arrested, disordered states of matter. Despite their importance, their similarities and differences remain elusive, especially at high density, where until now it has been impossible to distinguish them. We identify dynamical and structural signatures which distinguish the gel and glass transitions in a colloidal model system of hard and “sticky” spheres. It has been suggested that “spinodal” gelation is initiated by gas-liquid viscoelastic phase separation to a bicontinuous network and the resulting densification leads to vitrification of the colloid-rich phase, but whether this phase has sufficient density for arrest is unclear [M. A. Miller and D. Frenkel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 135702 (2003) and P. J. Lu et al., Nature 435, 499–504 (2008)]. Moreover alternative mechanisms for arrest involving percolation have been proposed [A. P. R. Eberle et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 105704 (2011)]. Here we resolve these outstanding questions, beginning by determining the phase diagram. This, along with demonstrating that percolation plays no role in controlling the dynamics of our system, enables us to confirm spinodal decomposition as the mechanism for gelation. We are then able to show that gels can be formed even at much higher densities than previously supposed, at least to a volume fraction of ϕ = 0.59. Far from being networks, these gels apparently resemble glasses but are still clearly distinguished by the “discontinuous” nature of the transition and the resulting rapid solidification, which leads to the formation of inhomogeneous (with small voids) and far-from-equilibrium local structures. This is markedly different from the glass transition, whose continuous nature leads to the formation of homogeneous and locally equilibrated structures. We further reveal that the onset of the attractive glass transition in the form of a supercooled liquid is in fact interrupted by gelation. Our findings provide a general thermodynamic, dynamic, and structural basis upon which we can distinguish gelation from vitrification.
A surface acoustic wave response detection method for passive wireless torque sensor
Authors: Fan Yanping , Kong Ping , Qi Hongli , Liu Hongye , Ji Xiaojun
Published: January 2018

This paper presents an effective surface acoustic wave (SAW) response detection method for the passive wireless SAW torque sensor to improve the measurement accuracy. An analysis was conducted on the relationship between the response energy-entropy and the bandwidth of SAW resonator (SAWR). A self-correlation method was modified to suppress the blurred white noise and highlight the attenuation characteristic of wireless SAW response. The SAW response was detected according to both the variation and the duration of energy-entropy ascension of an acquired RF signal. Numerical simulation results showed that the SAW response can be detected even when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is 6dB. The proposed SAW response detection method was evaluated with several experiments at different conditions. The SAW response can be well distinguished from the sinusoidal signal and the noise. The performance of the SAW torque measurement system incorporating the detection method was tested. The obtained repeatability error was 0.23% and the linearity was 0.9934, indicating the validity of the detection method.
Dispersion spectrum of acoustoelectric waves in 1D piezoelectric crystal coupled with 2D infinite network of capacitors
Authors: Kutsenko A. A. , Shuvalov A. L. , Poncelet O.
Published: January 2018

A one-dimensional piezoelectric crystal coupled through periodically embedded electrodes with a two-dimensional semi-infinite periodic network of capacitors is considered. The unit cell of the network contains two capacitors with capacitances C1 and C2 which are in parallel and in series, respectively, with the electrodes. The dispersion spectrum of the longitudinal acoustoelectric wave in the piezoelectric crystal coupled with the electric wave of potentials and charges in the network of capacitors is investigated. It is shown that when C1 and C2 are of the same sign, the dispersion spectrum consists of a discrete set of curves, for which the electric wave exponentially decays into the depth of the network of capacitors. In contrast, if C1 and C2 are of the opposite sign and |C1/C2|<1, then the spectrum simultaneously includes the discrete set of dispersion curves, corresponding to the localized waves, and the continuous band, which admits a finite but not localized (not decaying into the depth) wave field at any frequency and wavenumber within the band. Finally, when C1 and C2 are of the opposite sign and |C1/C2|≥1, the whole dispersion spectrum is a continuous band. The width of the continuous band and the equation describing the dispersion curves are found explicitly; the equation for the wave field is also obtained. Another interesting spectral feature is the unusual non-monotonic shape of the dispersion curves for a certain range of C1(<0), C2. This shape is due to the hybridization of the individual spectra of the crystal and of the network of capacitors.
Numerical simulation of electromagnetic surface treatment
Authors: Sonde Emmanuel , Chaise Thibaut , Nelias Daniel , Robin Vincent
Published: January 2018

Surface treatment methods, such as shot peening or laser shock peening, are generally used to introduce superficial compressive residual stresses in mechanical parts. These processes are carried out during the manufacturing steps or for the purpose of repairing. The compressive residual stresses prevent the initiation and growth of cracks and thus improve the fatigue life of mechanical components. Electromagnetic pulse peening (EMP) is an innovative process that could be used to introduce compressive residual stresses in conductive materials. It acts by generating a high transient electromagnetic field near the working surface. In this paper, the EMP process is presented and a sequentially coupled electromagnetic and mechanical model is developed for its simulation. This 2D axisymmetric model is set up with the commercial finite element software SYSWELD. After description and validation, the numerical model is used to simulate a case of introducing residual stresses of compression in a nickel-based alloy 690 thick sample, by the means of electromagnetic pulses. The results are presented in terms of effective plastic strain and residual mean stress. The influence of the process parameters, such as current intensity and frequency, on the results is analyzed. Finally, the predictability of the process is shown by several correlation studies.
Dual-blade-like shaped nanostructured metasurface inducing dual-band extinction for dye fluorescence enhancement
Authors: Le Khai Q.
Published: January 2018

The author experimentally reports here strong fluorescence enhancement (FLE) induced by a gold nanostructured surface. The metasurface consisting of periodic arrays of dual-blade-like shaped nanostructures was fabricated on a glass substrate and manipulated to excite surface plasmons. The measured extinction spectrum has a dual band maximized at approximately 645 nm and 795 nm under a linearly polarized light illumination. The author employed the dye molecule IR125 as a fluorophore whose fluorescence was significantly boosted by near-field interactions between the plasmon and the molecule. The resulting FLE induced by the near-field enhancement is attributed to the plasmonic resonances and correlated to the extinction of the metal nanostructure. The calculated Purcell enhancement factor, which simulates a spontaneous emission enhancement of an emitting dipole placed in the vicinity of the nanostructure, is in good agreement with the measured FLE.
Metastable Ar(1s5) density dependence on pressure and argon-helium mixture in a high pressure radio frequency dielectric barrier discharge
Authors: Emmons D. J. , Weeks D. E. , Eshel B. , Perram G. P.
Published: January 2018

Simulations of an α-mode radio frequency dielectric barrier discharge are performed for varying mixtures of argon and helium at pressures ranging from 200 to 500 Torr using both zero and one-dimensional models. Metastable densities are analyzed as a function of argon-helium mixture and pressure to determine the optimal conditions, maximizing metastable density for use in an optically pumped rare gas laser. Argon fractions corresponding to the peak metastable densities are found to be pressure dependent, shifting from approximately 15% Ar in He at 200 Torr to 10% at 500 Torr. A decrease in metastable density is observed as pressure is increased due to a diminution in the reduced electric field and a quadratic increase in metastable loss rates through Ar2* formation. A zero-dimensional effective direct current model of the dielectric barrier discharge is implemented, showing agreement with the trends predicted by the one-dimensional fluid model in the bulk plasma.
Characterizing scaling properties of complex signals with missed data segments using the multifractal analysis
Authors: Pavlov A. N. , Pavlova O. N. , Abdurashitov A. S. , Sindeeva O. A. , Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya O. V. , Kurths J.
Published: January 2018

The scaling properties of complex processes may be highly influenced by the presence of various artifacts in experimental recordings. Their removal produces changes in the singularity spectra and the Hölder exponents as compared with the original artifacts-free data, and these changes are significantly different for positively correlated and anti-correlated signals. While signals with power-law correlations are nearly insensitive to the loss of significant parts of data, the removal of fragments of anti-correlated signals is more crucial for further data analysis. In this work, we study the ability of characterizing scaling features of chaotic and stochastic processes with distinct correlation properties using a wavelet-based multifractal analysis, and discuss differences between the effect of missed data for synchronous and asynchronous oscillatory regimes. We show that even an extreme data loss allows characterizing physiological processes such as the cerebral blood flow dynamics.
Rotatable anisotropy on ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic bilayer investigated by Brillouin light scattering
Authors: Rodríguez-Suárez R. L. , Oliveira A. B. , Estrada F. , Maior D. S. , Arana M. , Alves Santos O. , Azevedo A. , Rezende S. M.
Published: January 2018

The nature of the rotatable anisotropy in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic (FM/AF) NiFe/IrMn bilayers has been investigated using magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry, ferromagnetic resonance, and Brillouin Light Scattering (BLS) techniques. The behavior of the magnon frequencies with an external magnetic field applied in the bilayer plane has been measured by BLS. The angular dependence of magnon frequency shows a shift when compared to numerical calculation for different magnetic field intensities. This frequency shift can be associated with the rotatable anisotropy and it depends on the magnetic field intensity. As a result, the rotatable anisotropy field exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on the applied field. The results are interpreted considering the coexistence of parallel and antiparallel coupling at the FM/AF interface.
Influence of annealing atmosphere on formation of electrically-active defects in rutile TiO2
Authors: Zimmermann C. , Bonkerud J. , Herklotz F. , Sky T. N. , Hupfer A. , Monakhov E. , Svensson B. G. , Vines L.
Published: January 2018

Electronic states in the upper part of the bandgap of reduced and/or hydrogenated n-type rutile TiO2 single crystals have been studied by means of thermal admittance and deep-level transient spectroscopy measurements. The studies were performed at sample temperatures between 28 and 300 K. The results reveal limited charge carrier freeze-out even at 28 K and evidence the existence of dominant shallow donors with ionization energies below 25 meV. Interstitial atomic hydrogen is considered to be a major contributor to these shallow donors, substantiated by infrared absorption measurements. Three defect energy levels with positions of about 70 meV, 95 meV, and 120 meV below the conduction band edge occur in all the studied samples, irrespective of the sample production batch and the post-growth heat treatment used. The origin of these levels is discussed in terms of electron polarons, intrinsic point defects, and/or common residual impurities, where especially interstitial titanium atoms, oxygen vacancies, and complexes involving Al atoms appear as likely candidates. In contrast, no common deep-level defect, exhibiting a charge state transition in the 200–700 meV range below the conduction band edge, is found in different samples. This may possibly indicate a strong influence on deep-level defects by the post-growth heat treatments employed.
A piezoelectric energy harvester for broadband rotational excitation using buckled beam
Authors: Xie Zhengqiu , Kitio Kwuimy C. A. , Wang Zhiguo , Huang Wenbin
Published: January 2018

This paper proposes a rotational energy harvester using a piezoelectric bistable buckled beam to harvest low-speed rotational energy. The proposed harvester consists of a piezoelectric buckled beam with a center magnet, and a rotary magnet pair with opposite magnetic poles mounted on a revolving host. The magnetic plucking is used to harvest the angular kinetic energy of the host. The nonlinear snap-through mechanism is utilized to improve the vibration displacement and output voltage of the piezoelectric layer over a wide rotation frequency range. Theoretical simulation and experimental results show that the proposed energy harvester can yield a stable average output power ranging between 6.91-48.01 μW over a rotation frequency range of 1-14 Hz across a resistance load of 110 kΩ. Furthermore, dual attraction magnets were employed to overcome the suppression phenomenon at higher frequencies, which yields a broadband and flat frequency response over 6-14 Hz with the output power reaching 42.19-65.44 μW, demonstrating the great potential of the bistable buckled beam for wideband rotation motion energy harvesting.
Investigating the radial spreading behavior of superimposed liquid drops
Authors: Kim Meeri
Published: January 2018

While the spreading behavior of a drop of liquid on a spinning surface is well-understood, a new study looks at what happens with superimposed drops, where one liquid drop is enclosed by another.