bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adjuvant and carrier protein-dependent T-cell priming promotes a robust antibody response against the Plasmodium falciparum Pfs25 vaccine candidate
Authors: Radtke Andrea J. , Anderson Charles F. , Riteau Nicolas , Rausch Kelly , Scaria Puthupparampil , Kelnhofer Emily R. , Howard Randall F. , Sher Alan , Germain Ronald N. , Duffy Patrick
Published: January 2017

Humoral immune responses have the potential to maintain protective antibody levels for years due to the immunoglobulin-secreting activity of long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). However, many subunit vaccines under development fail to generate robust LLPC responses, and therefore a variety of strategies are being employed to overcome this limitation, including conjugation to carrier proteins and/or formulation with potent adjuvants. Pfs25, an antigen expressed on malaria zygotes and ookinetes, is a leading transmission blocking vaccine (TBV) candidate for Plasmodium falciparum. Currently, the conjugate vaccine Pfs25-EPA/Alhydrogel is in Phase 1 clinical trials in the USA and Africa. Thus far, it has proven to be safe and immunogenic, but it is expected that a more potent formulation will be required to establish antibody titers that persist for several malaria transmission seasons. We sought to determine the contribution of carrier determinants and adjuvants in promoting high-titer, long-lived antibody responses against Pfs25. We found that both adjuvants and carrier proteins influence the magnitude and capacity of Pfs25-specific humoral responses to remain above a protective level. Furthermore, a liposomal adjuvant with QS21 and a TLR4 agonist (GLA-LSQ) was especially effective at inducing T follicular helper (Tfh) and LLPC responses to Pfs25 when coupled to immunogenic carrier proteins.
Advances and Environmental Conditions of Spring Migration Phenology of American White Pelicans
Authors: King D. Tommy , Wang Guiming , Yang Zhiqiang , Fischer Justin W.
Published: January 2017

Spring migration phenology of birds has advanced under warming climate. Migration timing of short-distance migrants is believed to be responsive to environmental changes primarily under exogenous control. However, understanding the ecological causes of the advancement in avian spring migration phenology is still a challenge due to the lack of long-term precise location data. We used 11 years of Global Positioning System relocation data to determine four different migration dates of the annual migration cycle of the American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), a short-distance migrant. We also tested the hypothesis that increases in winter temperature and precipitation on the wintering grounds would advance pelican spring migration. Pelican spring departures and arrivals advanced steadily from 2002 to 2011. Spring departure timing exhibited high repeatability at the upper end of migration timing repeatability reported in literature. However, individual spring departure and arrival dates were not related to winter daily temperature, total winter precipitation, and detrended vegetation green-up dates indexed by the normalized difference vegetation index. Despite high repeatability, the observed between-year variation of spring departure dates was still sufficient for the advancement of spring departure timing.
Evaluation of hyperspectral LiDAR for monitoring rice leaf nitrogen by comparison with multispectral LiDAR and passive spectrometer
Authors: Sun Jia , Shi Shuo , Gong Wei , Yang Jian , Du Lin , Song Shalei , Chen Biwu , Zhang Zhenbing
Published: January 2017

Fast and nondestructive assessment of leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC) is critical for crop growth diagnosis and nitrogen management guidance. In the last decade, multispectral LiDAR (MSL) systems have promoted developments in the earth and ecological sciences with the additional spectral information. With more wavelengths than MSL, the hyperspectral LiDAR (HSL) system provides greater possibilities for remote sensing crop physiological conditions. This study compared the performance of ASD FieldSpec Pro FR, MSL, and HSL for estimating rice (Oryza sativa) LNC. Spectral reflectance and biochemical composition were determined in rice leaves of different cultivars (Yongyou 4949 and Yangliangyou 6) throughout two growing seasons (2014–2015). Results demonstrated that HSL provided the best indicator for predicting rice LNC, yielding a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.74 and a root mean square error of 2.80 mg/g with a support vector machine, similar to the performance of ASD (R2 = 0.73). Estimation of rice LNC could be significantly improved with the finer spectral resolution of HSL compared with MSL (R2 = 0.56).
Retraction Note: Heavy metal removal from MSS fly ash by thermal and chlorination treatments
Authors: Liu Jingyong , Chen Jiacong , Huang Limao
Published: January 2017

The authors cannot guarantee the accuracy of the results and conclusions in this Article and wish to retract it. The choice of chlorination reagents used in the experiments was inappropriate. The chlorinating agents used included NaCl, FeCl3•6H2O, MgCl2•6H2O, AlCl3 and CaCl2 but in order to accurately compare results, all the reagents used should have been hydrous or anhydrous chlorinating agents.
Chemical Isotope Labeling LC-MS for Monitoring Disease Progression and Treatment in Animal Models: Plasma Metabolomics Study of Osteoarthritis Rat Model
Authors: Chen Deying , Su Xiaoling , Wang Nan , Li Yunong , Yin Hua , Li Liang , Li Lanjuan
Published: January 2017

We report a chemical isotope labeling (CIL) liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method generally applicable for tracking metabolomic changes from samples collected in an animal model for studying disease development and treatment. A rat model of surgically induced osteoarthritis (OA) was used as an example to illustrate the workflow and technical performance. Experimental duplicate analyses of 234 plasma samples were carried out using dansylation labeling LC-MS targeting the amine/phenol submetabolome. These samples composed of 39 groups (6 rats per group) were collected at multiple time points with sham operation, OA control group, and OA rats with treatment, separately, using glucosamine/Celecoxib and three traditional Chinese medicines (Epimedii folium, Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Bushen-Huoxue). In total, 3893 metabolites could be detected and 2923 of them were consistently detected in more than 50% of the runs. This high-coverage submetabolome dataset could be used to track OA progression and treatment. Many differentiating metabolites were found and 11 metabolites including 2-aminoadipic acid, saccharopine and GABA were selected as potential biomarkers of OA progression and OA treatment. This study illustrates that CIL LC-MS is a very useful technique for monitoring incremental metabolomic changes with high coverage and accuracy for studying disease progression and treatment in animal models.
Coulomb excitations of monolayer germanene
Authors: Shih Po-Hsin , Chiu Yu-Huang , Wu Jhao-Ying , Shyu Feng-Lin , Lin Ming-Fa
Published: January 2017

The feature-rich electronic excitations of monolayer germanene lie in the significant spin-orbit coupling and the buckled structure. The collective and single-particle excitations are diversified by the magnitude and direction of transferred momentum, the Fermi energy and the gate voltage. There are four kinds of plasmon modes, according to the unique frequency- and momentum-dependent phase diagrams. They behave as two-dimensional acoustic modes at long wavelength. However, for the larger momenta, they might change into another kind of undamped plasmons, become the seriously suppressed modes in the heavy intraband e–h excitations, keep the same undamped plasmons, or decline and then vanish in the strong interband e–h excitations. Germanene, silicene and graphene are quite different from one another in the main features of the diverse plasmon modes.
Economic Development and Forest Cover: Evidence from Satellite Data
Authors: Crespo Cuaresma Jesús , Danylo Olha , Fritz Steffen , McCallum Ian , Obersteiner Michael , See Linda , Walsh Brian
Published: January 2017

Ongoing deforestation is a pressing, global environmental issue with direct impacts on climate change, carbon emissions, and biodiversity. There is an intuitive link between economic development and overexploitation of natural resources including forests, but this relationship has proven difficult to establish empirically due to both inadequate data and convoluting geo-climactic factors. In this analysis, we use satellite data on forest cover along national borders in order to study the determinants of deforestation differences across countries. Controlling for trans-border geo-climactic differences, we find that income per capita is the most robust determinant of differences in cross-border forest cover. We show that the marginal effect of per capita income growth on forest cover is strongest at the earliest stages of economic development, and weakens in more advanced economies, presenting some of the strongest evidence to date for the existence of at least half of an environmental Kuznets curve for deforestation.
Non-invasive optical estimate of tissue composition to differentiate malignant from benign breast lesions: A pilot study
Authors: Taroni Paola , Paganoni Anna Maria , Ieva Francesca , Pifferi Antonio , Quarto Giovanna , Abbate Francesca , Cassano Enrico , Cubeddu Rinaldo
Published: January 2017

Several techniques are being investigated as a complement to screening mammography, to reduce its false-positive rate, but results are still insufficient to draw conclusions. This initial study explores time domain diffuse optical imaging as an adjunct method to classify non-invasively malignant vs benign breast lesions. We estimated differences in tissue composition (oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin, lipid, water, collagen) and absorption properties between lesion and average healthy tissue in the same breast applying a perturbative approach to optical images collected at 7 red-near infrared wavelengths (635–1060 nm) from subjects bearing breast lesions. The Discrete AdaBoost procedure, a machine-learning algorithm, was then exploited to classify lesions based on optically derived information (either tissue composition or absorption) and risk factors obtained from patient’s anamnesis (age, body mass index, familiarity, parity, use of oral contraceptives, and use of Tamoxifen). Collagen content, in particular, turned out to be the most important parameter for discrimination. Based on the initial results of this study the proposed method deserves further investigation.
Clinical variations in Parkinson’s disease patients with or without REM sleep behaviour disorder: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhu Ruo-lin , Xie Cheng-juan , Hu Pan-pan , Wang Kai
Published: January 2017

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical variations in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) with (PDRBD) or without REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) (Non-RBD), and PDRBD patients were classified into Confirmed-RBD (definite diagnosis with polysomnography, PSG) and Probable-RBD (without PSG re-confirmation). The clinical difference between the groups of patients was measured as an odds ratio (OR) or standardized mean difference (SMD, Cohen d). A total of 31 articles with data from 5,785 participants were obtained for our analysis. Overall, the occurrence of Confirmed-RBD was more frequent in male patients (OR = 1.25; p = 0.038), elderly patients (SMD = 0.25; p = 0.000), and patients with longer disease duration (SMD = 0.30; p = 0.000), increased Hoehn-Yahr scale (SMD = 0.30; p = 0.000), and higher UPDRS-III score (SMD = 0.38; p = 0.002). On the other hand, the frequency of Probable-RBD was increased with disease duration (SMD = 0.29; p = 0.000), Hoehn-Yahr scale (SMD = 0.30; p = 0.000), and UPDRS-III score (SMD = 0.26; p = 0.001). Our study indicate that PDRBD patients may have different clinical features compared to patients with Non-RBD.
Comparative genomics of canine-isolated Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis from an endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Governador Valadares, southeastern Brazil
Authors: Valdivia Hugo O. , Almeida Laila V. , Roatt Bruno M. , Reis-Cunha João Luís , Pereira Agnes Antônia Sampaio , Gontijo Celia , Fujiwara Ricardo Toshio , Reis Alexandre B. , Sanders Mandy J. , Cotton James A. , Bartholomeu Daniella C.
Published: January 2017

Leishmaniasis is a highly diverse group of diseases caused by kinetoplastid of the genus Leishmania. These parasites are taxonomically diverse, with human pathogenic species separated into two subgenera according to their development site inside the alimentary tract of the sand fly insect vector. The disease encompasses a variable spectrum of clinical manifestations with tegumentary or visceral symptoms. Among the causative species in Brazil, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis is an important etiological agent of human cutaneous leishmaniasis that accounts for more than 8% of all cases in endemic regions. L. (L.) amazonensis is generally found in the north and northeast regions of Brazil. Here, we report the first isolation of L. (L.) amazonensis from dogs with clinical manifestations of visceral leishmaniasis in Governador Valadares, an endemic focus in the southeastern Brazilian State of Minas Gerais where L. (L.) infantum is also endemic. These isolates were characterized in terms of SNPs, chromosome and gene copy number variations, confirming that they are closely related to a previously sequenced isolate obtained in 1973 from the typical Northern range of this species. The results presented in this article will increase our knowledge of L. (L.) amazonensis-specific adaptations to infection, parasite survival and the transmission of this Amazonian species in a new endemic area of Brazil.
A simple salicylaldehyde-based fluorescent “turn-on” probe for selective detection of Zn2+in water solution and its application in live cell imaging
Authors: Yan Liqiang , Li Renjie , Ma Fulong , Qi Zhengjian
Published: January 2017

A water-soluble fluorescent probe for Zn2+based on a Schiff base derivative was prepared. It displays a rapid response toward Zn2+with selectivity and sensitivity and has been successfully applied to imaging in living cells.
Petal-like hierarchical array of ultrathin Ni(OH)2 nanosheets decorated with Ni(OH)2 nanoburls: a highly efficient OER electrocatalyst
Authors: Anantharaj S. , Karthik P. E. , Kundu Subrata
Published: January 2017

A solvothermally synthesized petal-like 3D hierarchical array of β-Ni(OH)2 nanosheets and nanoburls has displayed an abnormal enhancement in activity in the OER as a consequence of surface faceting of planes from (001) to (101) and (202) within a minimum number of potential sweeps in addition to the formation of oxyhydroxide.
Enhanced thermoelectric properties of Pb1−xBixS prepared with hydrothermal synthesis and microwave sintering
Authors: Du Xueli , Shi Rongna , Guo Ying , Wang Yuelong , Ma Yongchang , Yuan Zhihao
Published: January 2017

The thermoelectric figure of meritZTvalues of microwave sintered Pb0.995Bi0.005S and Pb0.99Bi0.01S are 0.90 and 0.86 at 800 K, respectively.
Crystal structures and intense luminescence of tris(3-(2′-pyridyl)-pyrazolyl)borate Tb3+ and Eu3+ complexes with carboxylate co-ligands
Authors: Mikhalyova Elena A. , Yakovenko Anastasiya V. , Zeller Matthias , Gavrilenko Konstantin S. , Kiskin Mikhail A. , Smola Sergey S. , Dotsenko Vladimir P. , Eremenko Igor L. , Addison Anthony W. , Pavlishchuk Vitaly V.
Published: January 2017

The carboxylate coligands affect the bright luminescence of a series of Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes.
Control of the reversibility during boronic ester formation: application to the construction of ferrocene dimers and trimers
Authors: Ono Kosuke , Tohyama Yohei , Uchikura Tatsuhiro , Kikuchi Yuji , Fujii Kotaro , Uekusa Hidehiro , Iwasawa Nobuharu
Published: January 2017

Equilibration of boronic esters during boronic ester formation was controlled using protic or aprotic solvents under neutral conditions.
Flavanol concentrations do not predict dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitory activities of four cocoas with different processing histories
Authors: Ryan Caroline M. , Khoo Weslie , Stewart Amanda C. , O'Keefe Sean F. , Lambert Joshua D. , Neilson Andrew P.
Published: January 2017

Cocoa possesses mild DPP4 inhibitory activity. Activities, and variation between samples, were not explainable by traditional putative bioactives in cocoa.
Phytosterol nutritional supplement improves pregnancy and neonatal complications of gestational diabetes mellitus in a double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical study
Authors: Gao Fang , Wang Guangya , Wang Linxia , Guo Ningning
Published: January 2017

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an increasingly serious health problem among pregnant women.
Dual pH and ultrasound responsive nanoparticles with pH triggered surface charge-conversional properties
Authors: Yildirim Turgay , Yildirim Ilknur , Yañez-Macias Roberto , Stumpf Steffi , Fritzsche Carolin , Hoeppener Stephanie , Guerrero-Sanchez Carlos , Schubert Stephanie , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: January 2017

A novel ultrasound responsive nanoparticle system with tunable surface charge-conversional properties is presented.
A novel microfluidic device to model the human proximal tubule and glomerulus
Authors: Sakolish Courtney M. , Mahler Gretchen J.
Published: January 2017

A novel multi-channel microfluidic device to model human glomerular filtration and proximal tubular re-uptake.
Efficient dye-sensitized solar cells with [copper(6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)2]2+/1+ redox shuttle
Authors: Li Jiajia , Yang Xichuan , Yu Ze , Gurzadyan Gagik G. , Cheng Ming , Zhang Fuguo , Cong Jiayan , Wang Weihan , Wang Haoxin , Li Xiaoxin , Kloo Lars , Wang Mei , Sun Licheng
Published: January 2017

A copper(6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)2]2+/1+ redox couple was developed as a redox mediator in dye-sensitized solar cells.
Dip-coated PbS/PVP nanocomposite films with tunable band gap
Authors: Patel Mitesh H. , Chaudhuri Tapas K. , Patel Vaibhav K. , Shripathi T. , Deshpande U. , Lalla N. P.
Published: January 2017

PbS/PVP nanocomposite films with tunable band gap from 0.8 to 1.92 eV.
Good lithium storage performance of Fe2SiO4 as an anode material for secondary lithium ion batteries
Authors: Guo Peisheng , Wang Chengxin
Published: January 2017

The electrochemical properties of Fe2SiO4 particles were systematically investigated and our results proved that fayalite presents great specific capacity, superior rate capability and long battery cycle life when tested in the form of a half-cell.
Synthesis of a multi-branched dandelion-like SAPO-11 by an in situ inoculating seed-induced-steam-assisted conversion method (SISAC) as a highly effective hydroisomerization support
Authors: Chen Zhou , Song Wenjing , Zhu Shaohong , Lai Weikun , Yi Xiaodong , Fang Weiping
Published: January 2017

A dandelion-like SAPO-11 with multiple branches was fabricated by seed-induced-steam-assisted conversion, which combined an in situ inoculating seed method (the initial gel pre-crystallized at 433 K for 24 h) and steam-assisted conversion process.
Room temperature synthesis of reduced TiO2and its application as a support for catalytic hydrogenation
Authors: Zhang Miao , Pei Qijun , Chen Weidong , Liu Lin , He Teng , Chen Ping
Published: January 2017

Reduced TiO2(TiO2−x) with a controllable reduction degree was synthesized, which can promote the catalytic hydrogenation of N-heterocycle as a catalyst support.
Kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies for phosphate adsorption on aluminum hydroxide modified palygorskite nano-composites
Authors: Pan Min , Lin Xumeng , Xie Jingjing , Huang Xiaoming
Published: January 2017

Aluminum hydroxide was successfully loading on PG. The cost-effective and high adsorption capacity of Al–PG had widely potential utilization on phosphate removal.
Preparation of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) resin and its adsorption performance for heavy metal ions
Authors: Chen Youning , Zhao Wei , Zhang Juncai
Published: January 2017

The study focused on the preparation of a chelating resin with pyridine ring as the functional group.
Superhydrophobic silica aerogels reinforced with polyacrylonitrile fibers for adsorbing oil from water and oil mixtures
Authors: Shi Mingjia , Tang Cunguo , Yang Xudong , Zhou Junling , Jia Fei , Han Yuxiang , Li Zhenyu
Published: January 2017

Aerogels are modified by a simple method of hydrophobicity and mechanical properties simultaneously.
A novel negative thermal expansion material of Zr0.70V1.33Mo0.67O6.73
Authors: Zhang Mengdi , Mao Yanchao , Guo Juan , Zhou Wenjin , Chao Mingju , Zhang Niu , Yang Mengjie , Kong Xuhui , Kong Xiaoshuai , Liang Erjun
Published: January 2017

A novel negative thermal expansion (NTE) material of Zr0.70V1.33Mo0.67O6.73 was synthesized.
Single molecules of terrylene in di-substituted naphthalenes crystallizing in the herringbone pattern
Authors: Białkowska Magda , Chaładaj Wojciech , Deperasińska Irena , Drzewiecka-Antonik Aleksandra , Koziol Anna E. , Makarewicz Artur , Kozankiewicz Bolesław
Published: January 2017

2,3-Dichloronaphthalene and 2,3-dibromonaphthalene were synthesized, their crystal structures determined, and vibronic spectra of single terrylene molecules in the crystals indicated lowering of the guest symmetry.
Improved giant dielectric properties of CaCu3Ti4O12via simultaneously tuning the electrical properties of grains and grain boundaries by F− substitution
Authors: Jumpatam Jutapol , Putasaeng Bundit , Chanlek Narong , Kidkhunthod Pinit , Thongbai Prasit , Maensiri Santi , Chindaprasirt Prinya
Published: January 2017

A novel concept to simultaneously modify the electric responses of the grain and grain boundaries of CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics was proposed, involving doping with F− anions to improve the giant dielectric properties.
Evaluation of the performance of zero-electrolyte-discharge microbial fuel cell based on the type of substrate
Authors: Linke Lai , Lijuan Zhang , Yau Li Sam Fong
Published: January 2017

Acetic acid was found to be the most suitable candidate for zero-electrolyte-discharge MFC as it provides stable electrolyte environment and least cathodic biofilm growth.
Ultra-thin Au tip structure: a novel SERS substrate for in situ observation of a p-aminothiophenol surface-catalytic reaction
Authors: Gao Yukun , Yang Nan , You Tingting , Jiang Li , Yin Penggang
Published: January 2017

In situ observation of a p-aminothiophenol surface-catalytic reaction on a novel Au nano-tip structured SERS substrate.
Room-temperature pulsed CVD-grown SiO2 protective layer on TiO2 particles for photocatalytic activity suppression
Authors: Guo Jing , Yuan Shaojun , Yu Yangyang , van Ommen J. Ruud , Van Bui Hao , Liang Bin
Published: January 2017

Influence of initial surface states of TiO2 on the morphology of SiO2 films grown by CVD using SiCl4 and air at room temperature.
Highly selective one-step dehydration, decarboxylation and hydrogenation of citric acid to methylsuccinic acid
Authors: Verduyckt Jasper , De Vos Dirk E.
Published: January 2017

The direct formation of methylsuccinic acid from citric acid with yields up to 89% was achieved in water via the new reaction sequence of dehydration, decarboxylation and hydrogenation.
Virtual multidimensional structure‐based subspace estimation to improve parameter estimation accuracy in harmonic retrieval problems
Authors: Zhu Yutang , Zhao Yongbo , Shui Penglang
Published: January 2017

For R‐dimensional (R‐D) harmonic retrieval problems with R ≥ 2, it has been demonstrated that higher‐order singular value decomposition (HOSVD) of the measurement data can be used to improve the signal subspace estimation, leading to high parameter estimation accuracy. This, however, usually cannot be applied to the one‐dimensional harmonic retrieval problem due to the absence of the multidimensional structure in the measurement data. To overcome this difficulty, the authors propose to construct a virtual multidimensional structure in the measurement data, upon which the HOSVD can be used to estimate the signal subspace. Moreover, the idea of constructing a virtual multidimensional structure is also introduced to the R‐D harmonic retrieval problems. In conjunction with its inherent multidimensional structure, the virtual multidimensional structure is exploited to further enhance the signal subspace estimation. As examples, estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance technique algorithms are employed to estimate the signal parameters. Finally, theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the authors’ proposal.
Resource management of opportunistic digital array radar antenna aperture for pattern synthesis
Authors: Han Qinghua , Pan Minghai , Gong Shufeng , Long Weijun
Published: January 2017

Due to the complex time‐varying environments and the unknown target information, the uncertainty of target information is introduced into the echo signal. Owing to the uncertainty of target information, the number and operating modes of antenna array elements allocated for pattern synthesis are uncertain. Hence to reduce the influence of uncertainty of target information and save the antenna array elements, in the light of the uncertainty of the number and the distribution of the array elements in working state, a novel fuzzy random chance‐constrained programming model of opportunistic digital array radar antenna aperture resource management is proposed. Moreover, this model can determine the information of radar target from the echo signal by reasonable resource management and allocation under the condition that the specified confidence levels are satisfied. Meanwhile, for solving the multi‐object model, the fuzzy random simulation is integrated into fast and elitist non‐dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA_II) to compose a hybrid intelligent optimisation algorithm. Finally, two simulations are carried out to verify the validity of this model.
Interpolation‐free algorithm for persistent multi‐frame imaging of video‐SAR
Authors: Hu Ruizhi , Min Rui , Pi Yiming
Published: January 2017

Video synthetic aperture radar (ViSAR) can produce sequential images at a high frame rate, which provides a persistent surveillance over a region of interest. However, due to position changes of different apertures, most of existing imaging algorithms fail since the orientation and resolution of each frame image will change accordingly. In this article, based on the high centre frequency characteristic of ViSAR, an interpolation‐free algorithm for persistent multi‐frame imaging is proposed. The proposed algorithm can be implemented by only two‐dimensional fast Fourier transforms without any image post‐processing, thus both the efficiency and quality of imaging are obtained at the same time. Simulation and real data results have verified the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Measurement uncertainty of transmission line resistance calculation using ‘Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement’ and adaptive Monte–Carlo method
Authors: Tolić Ivan , Miličević Kruno , Tokić Amir
Published: January 2017

The study presents the evolution of a measurement uncertainty concept from the traditional error approach up to modern calculation methods. First, a method based on the internationally accepted document Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement is presented considering the conditions for its application and fundamental deficiencies. Next, the Monte–Carlo (MC) method, as an alternative, is presented together with an adaptive MC method. After a theoretical comparison between the latter methods, the practical calculation of a transmission line resistance is performed. The results show that the adaptive MC method is reliable, unlike the traditional approach, which shows a significant overestimation of the standard deviation owing to the non‐linearity of the mathematical model and associated distributions other than Gaussian.
Huber‐based Unscented Kalman Filters with theq‐gradient
Authors: Wang Shiyuan , Zhang Wenjie , Yin Chao , Feng Yali
Published: January 2017

This study presents the Huber‐based unscented Kalman filters with the q‐gradient (HUKF‐Q). As an extension of the classical gradient vector based on the concept of Jackson's derivative, the q‐gradient can be utilised to improve the optimisation performance of the Huber method, significantly. Combining the Huber method based on the q‐gradient into state estimation based on the unscented transformation, generates the novel HUKF‐Q. The Cramér–Rao lower bound is introduced as a performance measure metric. Compared with the conventional HUKF, the proposed HUKF‐Q can achieve better filtering accuracy and robustness. In addition, the impact of the tuning parameter q on the filtering performance is discussed by simulations. Simulations on the two examples of univariate non‐stationary growth model and bearings only tracking model, confirm the superior performance of the proposed HUKF‐Q.
Pressure measurement based on multi‐waves fusion algorithm
Authors: Zhou Hongliang , Zhou Hanhua , Zhang Hongjian , Ge Xiaocheng , Zhao Yanjie , Lin Weibin
Published: January 2017

Measuring the pressure of a pressure vessel accurately is one of fundamental requirements of the operation of many complex engineering systems. Ultrasonic technique has been proposed to be a good alteration of non‐intrusive measurement. Based on the study of acoustoelastic effect and thin‐shell theory, it has been identified that the travel‐time changes of the critically refracted longitudinal wave (LCR wave) and other reflected longitudinal waves are all proportional to the inner pressure. Considering the information redundancy in these waves, the authors proposed an approach for pressure measurement by using the information fusion algorithm on multiple reflected longitudinal waves. In this study, the authors discussed the fusion algorithm in details and proposed a pressure measurement model, which represents an accurate relationship between the pressure and the travel‐time changes of multiple waves. Through the experiment, the analysis of data collected from experiment system showed that the pressure measurement based on the multi‐wave model is notably more accurate than the one based on the single‐wave model (the average relative error can be <7.24% and the root‐mean‐square error can be lower than 0.3MPa).
The design of information on Ibuprofen
Authors: van der Waarde Karel
Published: January 2017

This article shows and describes the information about an ordinary pain killer—Ibuprofen—presented in medicine packaging, labels and leaflets. The article discusses both the contents and design, and questions whether this combination of information is the most appropriate way to communicate with a person who has a minor headache. The article is divided into two parts. The first part provides a step-by-step description, whereas the second part summarizes the main patterns of the pain killer (Ibuprofen) information communication. The main conclusions are: the contents are incorrectly structured, repetitive, conflicting and hard to apply; the language used is confusing, vague and at some parts inappropriate; the visual design does not enable people to find and understand information, and the information does not really help patients to make appropriate decisions. These conclusions could be used as a starting point for the development of information about Ibuprofen which would really enable people to act appropriately.
Is it syntactic or pragmatic?
Authors: Kobayashi Ryoichiro
Published: January 2017

The main aim of this study is to reconsiderTomioka’s (2007)pragmatic account of thelf-intervention effects (IE), and to claim that Polarity Sensitive Items (psis) are genuine syntactic interveners. I will examine the parallelism amongpsis in IE configurations, which is distinct from other interveners, and further claim that the study of IE should not be monolithic, but hybrid: Syntacticlf-interveners (psis), blocking scopal interactions/Pragmatic interveners, causing illegal information structures. The predictions will be borne out thatpsis actually cause IE in other contexts as well, which pragmatic accounts cannot explain (Funakoshi & Takahashi 2014). Such hybrid perspectives bring back enormous findings on IE (e.g.lfwh-movement) to the field of syntax, without relegating all of them to pragmatics.
Some notes on animals and plants for Proto-Austronesian speakers
Authors: Li Paul Jen-kuei
Published: January 2017

Man’s life has always depended on animals and plants, a dependency most directly relevant to primitive societies. What animals and plants were available to the Proto-Austronesian (PAN) people of Taiwan 5,000 BP and earlier? What animals and plants had been domesticated at that stage? What animals and plants were endemic, with other alien species introduced to the island at later stages? In this paper I shall address myself to such problems, drawing upon various disciplines, including linguistics and archaeology, as well as zoology and botany. Lists of PAN cognates for animals, plants, and a few related cognates are given in the appendices.
Development of ‘say’-derived constructions
Authors: Tamaji Mizuho
Published: January 2017

Totemo in contemporary Japanese is a degree adverb (intensifier). Previous studies have reported that totemo derived from the adverb totemo kakutemo, which means ‘either way’ (and hence is a bipolar item) in classical Japanese. These studies also reported that totemo became a negative polarity item (an adverb modifying words for negative evaluation), but then shifted to a positive polarity item (an adverb modifying words for positive evaluation), and that counter-expectation factors played an important role in this shift. It is reported that the ‘say’-derived complementizer develops into a hearsay evidential marker, counter-expectation marker, and in some cases an intensifier (e.g. Wang et al. 2003) in some languages. Tote in classical Japanese is known as a ‘say’-derived complementizer, but it does not grammaticalize into an intensifier. This study maintains that the intensifier totemo also derived from the verb ‘say’ and the entire process of grammaticalization of totemo may be chronologized as follows: concessive use of quotative > concessive use of hearsay evidential > counter-expectation marker > intensifier. Thus, this study reveals the language-specific development of grammaticalization of the intensifier totemo. We also reveal that a reanalysis of the concessive subordinator and the elision of the complement clause preceding totemo as a sentence initial counter-expectation marker further gave rise to the sentence-medial parenthetical phrase (intensifier) totemo.
Reconstructing stress in Proto-Tibetan
Authors: Caplow Nancy J.
Published: January 2017

This paper offers a synchronic description of stress patterns in two conservative varieties of Tibetan, and a diachronic reconstruction of stress patterns in Proto-Tibetan. For both Balti and Rebkong Amdo, stress falls on the second syllable (σ2) of disyllabic non-verbs — nouns, adjectives, and numerals. Through the method of “historical comparative prosody”, σ2 stress is likewise reconstructed for disyllabic non-verbs in Proto-Tibetan. Disyllabic verbs are never stressed on σ2. For Balti, robust evidence shows that they are stressed on the first syllable (σ1). Limited data for Rebkong Amdo suggests the same pattern. Thus σ1 stress is tentatively reconstructed for verbs in Proto-Tibetan. These reconstructed Proto-Tibetan stress patterns are of diachronic significance. They have reflexes in the tone patterns of the modern spoken varieties of Tibetan (Caplow 2009); in future research, it may be possible to trace them back to prosodic patterns higher up in the Tibeto-Burman and Sino-Tibetan family trees.
Vertical structure of the transition zone from infalling rotating envelope to disc in the Class 0 protostar, IRAS 04368+2557
Authors: Sakai Nami , Oya Yoko , Higuchi Aya E. , Aikawa Yuri , Hanawa Tomoyuki , Ceccarelli Cecilia , Lefloch Bertrand , López-Sepulcre Ana , Watanabe Yoshimasa , Sakai Takeshi , Hirota Tomoya , Caux Emmanuel , Vastel Charlotte , Kahane Claudine , Yamamoto Satoshi
Published: January 2017

We have resolved for the first time the radial and vertical structures of the almost edge-on envelope/disc system of the low-mass Class 0 protostar L1527. For that, we have used Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) observations with a spatial resolution of 0.25 × 0.13 arcsec2 and 0.37 × 0.23 arcsec2 at 0.8 and 1.2 mm, respectively. The L1527 dust continuum emission has a deconvolved size of 78 × 21 au2, and shows a flared disc-like structure. A thin infalling-rotating envelope is seen in the CCH emission outward of about 150 au, and its thickness is increased by a factor of 2 inward of it. This radius lies between the centrifugal radius (200 au) and the centrifugal barrier of the infalling-rotating envelope (100 au). The gas stagnates in front of the centrifugal barrier and moves towards vertical directions. SO emission is concentrated around and inside the centrifugal barrier. The rotation speed of the SO emitting gas is found to be decelerated around the centrifugal barrier. A part of the angular momentum could be extracted by the gas that moves away from the mid-plane around the centrifugal barrier. If this is the case, the centrifugal barrier would be related to the launching mechanism of low-velocity outflows, such as disc winds.
Risk Factors for Influenza-Associated Severe Acute Respiratory Illness Hospitalization in South Africa, 2012–2015
Authors: Tempia Stefano , Walaza Sibongile , Moyes Jocelyn , Cohen Adam L. , von Mollendorf Claire , Treurnicht Florette K. , Venter Marietjie , Pretorius Marthi , Hellferscee Orienka , Mtshali Senzo , Seleka Mpho , Tshangela Akhona , Nguweneza Athermon , McAnerney Johanna M. , Wolter Nicole , von Gottberg Anne , Dawood Halima , Variava Ebrahim , Madhi Shabir A. , Cohen Cheryl
Published: January 2017

Background

Data on risk factors for influenza-associated hospitalizations in low- and middle-income countries are limited.

Methods

We conducted active syndromic surveillance for hospitalized severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) in 2 provinces of South Africa during 2012–2015. We compared the characteristics of influenza-positive patients with SARI to those with ILI to identify factors associated with severe disease requiring hospitalization, using unconditional logistic regression.

Results

During the study period, influenza virus was detected in 5.9% (110 of 1861) and 15.8% (577 of 3652) of SARI and ILI cases, respectively. On multivariable analysis factors significantly associated with increased risk of influenza-associated SARI hospitalization were as follows: younger and older age (<6 months [adjusted odds ratio {aOR}, 37.6], 6–11 months [aOR, 31.9], 12–23 months [aOR, 22.1], 24–59 months [aOR, 7.1], and ≥65 years [aOR, 40.7] compared with 5–24 years of age), underlying medical conditions (aOR, 4.5), human immunodeficiency virus infection (aOR, 4.3), and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization density ≥1000 deoxyribonucleic acid copies/mL (aOR, 4.8). Underlying medical conditions in children aged <5 years included asthma (aOR, 22.7), malnutrition (aOR, 2.4), and prematurity (aOR, 4.8); in persons aged ≥5 years, conditions included asthma (aOR, 3.6), diabetes (aOR, 7.1), chronic lung diseases (aOR, 10.7), chronic heart diseases (aOR, 9.6), and obesity (aOR, 21.3). Mine workers (aOR, 13.8) and pregnant women (aOR, 12.5) were also at increased risk for influenza-associated hospitalization.

Conclusions

The risk groups identified in this study may benefit most from annual influenza immunization, and children <6 months of age may be protected through vaccination of their mothers during pregnancy.
Response of Sediment Bacterial Communities to Sudden Vegetation Dieback in a Coastal Wetland
Authors: Elmer Wade H. , Thiel Peter , Steven Blaire
Published: January 2017

There is an increasing recognition of the role coastal vegetated ecosystems play in atmospheric carbon sequestration. However, the development of sudden vegetation dieback (SVD), a phenomenon that causes the rapid death of Spartina alterniflora, followed by no or slow recovery, has affected large-scale alterations in Atlantic coastal systems. This study reports the effects of the development of SVD on the sediment microbial communities. In 1999, Hammonasset Beach State Park in Connecticut experienced the initial appearance of SVD. After more than a decade, the plants have not recovered. Yet, sediment chemistry was similar between vegetated and SVD affected sites, with the exception of water loading, which was significantly higher in the SVD affected sites. Soil CO2 flux, a proxy for soil respiration, was reduced by 64% in SVD sites compared with sites that remained vegetated. This suggests that SVD has affected large changes in carbon cycling in the wetland sediments. The microbial communities between vegetated and SVD sites were significantly different, as assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The vegetated sediments harbored significantly higher populations of Bacteroidetes-related bacteria, whereas the SVD affected sediments contained a significantly enriched relative abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria, predominantly within the genus Desulfobulbus. Thus, the development of SVD appears to favor anaerobic metabolic pathways at the expense of saprophytes. Greenhouse experiments testing if the alterations in the sediment microbial communities were associated with differences in S. alterniflora germination or growth were also pursued. Although small differences in growth and disease ratings were noted between seedling and transplants grown in soil mix (control), autoclaved SVD sediments, or non-autoclaved (natural) SVD sediments, mortality was not significantly different, indicating that the alterations in the sediment communities are not likely responsible for SVD, or a primary cause for the failure of S. alterniflora to recolonize the SVD sites.
Psoriasis Management
Authors: Nicpon Jennifer
Published: January 2017

Psoriasis is a complex inflammatory disorder of the skin that affects up to 3.2% of the people in the United States. It is associated with psoriatic arthritis, a potentially debilitating inflammatory joint condition. Psoriatic patients also have an increased risk of lymphoma, heart disease, Type II diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The degree to which each patient is affected with and by psoriasis can vary greatly. The treatment available for these patients includes topical products, phototherapy, traditional systemic medications, and biologics. With the high cost of healthcare in the United States, as healthcare providers, we must consider the direct and indirect costs of psoriasis. The annual cost of psoriasis in the United States for the year 2013 was approximately $112 billion. Current guidelines, which utilize evidence-based practice recommendations, help to provide patients with the most cost-effective treatment to yield the best results.
The Association Between Symptomatic and Diagnostic Depression and Pain Among the Elderly Population in South Korea
Authors: Lee Wanhyung , Hong Kwanyoung , Lim Sung-Shil , Kim Dong Hyun , Yoon Jin-Ha
Published: January 2017

The exact nature of pain (amount or severity) associated with in depression in the elderly population has not been studied extensively yet. We investigated the association between the characteristics of pain and both symptomatic and diagnostic depression using data from the 2012 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2164 men, 2066 women). Symptomatic depression was identified a score of 12 or higher on the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression Scale. Odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval was calculated for depression using multiple logistic regression models after adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, health behavioral factors, and chronic diseases. The fully adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for symptomatic/diagnostic depression were “1” = 2.09 (1.62–2.49)/1.71 (1.03–2.86), “2” = 1.88 (1.42–2.49)/1.82 (1.05–3.13), and “>3” = 2.27 (1.71–3.01)/3.21 (1.94–5.32), and 1.86 (1.48–2.33)/1.57 (1.00–2.49) for mild, 1.74 (1.22–2.48)/2.10 (1.11–3.98) for moderate, and 5.41 (3.77–7.77)/7.34 (4.15–12.99) for severe of pain. The results indicated a significant association between the number of sites and severity of pain and the prevalence of depression in the Korean elderly.
Anatomical Basis and Clinical Application of Synovial Flaps in the Wrist and Distal Forearm
Authors: Colen David L. , Yeh Jiun-Ting , Colen Lawrence B.
Published: January 2017

Background:

Neuropathic symptoms after median nerve repair at the wrist or secondary to refractory carpal tunnel syndrome may become debilitating. These symptoms develop because of perineural adhesions, intraneural fibrosis, and fixation of the nerve to the transverse carpal ligament after surgery, and often require neurolysis. Interposition of vascularized soft tissue over the median nerve at the time of neurolysis prevents recurrence of such adhesions. The synovial flap, fashioned from the synovial lining of the flexor tendon sheath, is an ideal tissue for this purpose. Previous authors have described the surgical technique of the synovial flap, but the anatomical basis and design of the flap have not been previously discussed.

Methods:

Twenty fresh cadaver upper extremities were injected with Microfil to analyze the arterial anatomy, flap dimensions, and arc of rotation of the flexor tendon synovium mobilized as a flap suitable for coverage of the median nerve at the wrist. The authors determined that both radial and ulnar-based flaps are clinically useful for providing coverage in the wrist and distal forearm. This flap was used in 18 patients with complicated median nerve lesions in this region.

Results:

All patients had an uncomplicated postoperative course. Of 13 patients treated for posttraumatic median nerve neuromas, all but two had significant resolution of symptoms.

Conclusions:

When used as a vascularized flap, the flexor tendon synovium provides adequate protection of the median nerve. Flap dimensions and vascularity of this tissue make it an ideal local flap option when performing reoperative surgery on the median nerve.
Leveraging biological insight and environmental variation to improve phenotypic prediction: Integrating crop growth models (CGM) with whole genome prediction (WGP)
Authors: Messina C.D , Technow F. , Tang T. , Totir R. , Gho C. , Cooper M.
Published: January 2017

A successful strategy for prediction of crop yield that accounts for the effects of genotype and environment will open up many opportunities for enhancing the productivity of agricultural systems. Crop growth models (CGMs) have a history of application for crop management decision support. Recently whole genome prediction (WGP) methodologies have been developed and applied in breeding to enable prediction of crop traits for new genotypes and thus increase the size of plant breeding programs without the need to expand expensive field testing. The presence of Genotype-by-Environment-by-Management (G×E×M) interactions for yield presents a significant challenge for the development of prediction technologies for both product development by breeding and product placement within agricultural production systems. The integration of a CGM into the algorithm for whole genome prediction WGP, referred to as CGM-WGP, has opened up the potential for prediction of G×E×M interactions for breeding and product placement applications. Here a combination of simulation and empirical studies are used to explain how the CGM-WGP methodology works and to demonstrate successful reduction to practice for applications to maize breeding and product placement recommendation in the US corn belt.