bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The oxidation of dehydroascorbic acid and 2,3-diketogulonate by distinct reactive oxygen species
Authors: Dewhirst Rebecca A. , Fry Stephen C.
Published: October 2018

l-Ascorbate, dehydro-l-ascorbic acid (DHA), and 2,3-diketo-l-gulonate (DKG) can all quench reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants and animals. The vitamin C oxidation products thereby formed are investigated here. DHA and DKG were incubated aerobically at pH 4.7 with peroxide (H2O2), ‘superoxide’ (a ∼50 : 50 mixture of and ), hydroxyl radicals (•OH, formed in Fenton mixtures), and illuminated riboflavin (generating singlet oxygen, 1O2). Products were monitored electrophoretically. DHA quenched H2O2 far more effectively than superoxide, but the main products in both cases were 4-O-oxalyl-l-threonate (4-OxT) and smaller amounts of 3-OxT and OxA + threonate. H2O2, but not superoxide, also yielded cyclic-OxT. Dilute Fenton mixture almost completely oxidised a 50-fold excess of DHA, indicating that it generated oxidant(s) greatly exceeding the theoretical •OH yield; it yielded oxalate, threonate, and OxT. 1O2 had no effect on DHA. DKG was oxidatively decarboxylated by H2O2, Fenton mixture, and 1O2, forming a newly characterised product, 2-oxo-l-threo-pentonate (OTP; ‘2-keto-l-xylonate’). Superoxide yielded negligible OTP. Prolonged H2O2 treatment oxidatively decarboxylated OTP to threonate. Oxidation of DKG by H2O2, Fenton mixture, or 1O2 also gave traces of 4-OxT but no detectable 3-OxT or cyclic-OxT. In conclusion, DHA and DKG yield different oxidation products when attacked by different ROS. DHA is more readily oxidised by H2O2 and superoxide; DKG more readily by 1O2. The diverse products are potential signals, enabling organisms to respond appropriately to diverse stresses. Also, the reaction-product ‘fingerprints’ are analytically useful, indicating which ROS are acting in vivo.
Challenges and Strategies for Speech-Language Pathologists Using the Lidcombe Program for Early Stuttering
Authors: Van Eerdenbrugh Sabine , Packman Ann , O'Brian Sue , Onslow Mark
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The Lidcombe program is a treatment for preschool-age children who stutter. Studies indicate that its implementation is not always straightforward. In this study, challenges that parents and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) encounter when implementing the Lidcombe program were identified, and strategies to address them were sought.

Method

In Part 1, Lidcombe program treatment challenges were determined from 4 sources. In Part 2, 7 SLPs with 15 to 23 years of Lidcombe program experience were interviewed to develop strategies to respond to the identified treatment challenges.

Result

A template of the themes and a report with possible strategies are the outcomes of this study. A total of 124 themes were identified, mostly related to the implementation of Lidcombe program procedures. Strategies to deal with these challenges were formulated.

Conclusions

This study provides treatment challenges that parents or SLPs may encounter during the Lidcombe program. It also provides strategies that SLPs can suggest to address them. An added contribution of the findings is that SLPs in the clinic can now anticipate the sort of treatment challenges that parents may face. A summary of the findings will be made available on the Australian Stuttering Research Centre website and through the Lidcombe Program Trainers Consortium.
Nurturing a Resilient Mindset in School-Aged Children Who Stutter
Authors: Caughter Sarah , Crofts Victoria
Published: October 2018

Purpose

To consider the rationale, methods, and potential benefits of nurturing the growth of resilience in school-aged children who stutter. Stuttering in childhood can have negative psychological consequences for some, including the development of a negative attitude toward their speech from a young age (Vanryckeghem, Brutten, & Hernandez, 2005) and possible co-occurring psychopathology in adolescence and adulthood, in particular, anxiety disorders (Blood, Blood, Maloney, Meyer, & Qualls, 2007; Iverach & Rapee, 2014; McAllister, Kelman, & Millard, 2015). Children who stutter also frequently report teasing and bullying by their peers (Blood & Blood, 2007; Boyle, 2011; Langevin, Packman, & Onslow, 2009), which can have a significant impact on children's confidence and psychological well-being. However, the capacity of children who stutter to cope or “bounce back” from adversity is not routinely explored or incorporated in therapy for stuttering.

Method

This clinical focus article will explore the construct of resilience and consider why it may be important for children who stutter and their parents. A framework for understanding resilience in relation to stuttering is used, drawing from the Reaching In Reaching Out Resiliency Program (for children aged under 8 years and their parents) and the Penn Resiliency Program (for children aged 8 years and over).

Conclusions

The role of parents is key in modeling resilient responses to children and creating a resilience-rich environment. As children who stutter may be more vulnerable to adversity, some may benefit from targeted support to build their resilience, in order to enhance their ability to overcome challenges and thrive.
The Most Important Therapy Outcomes for School-Aged Children Who Stutter: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Cooke Katie , Millard Sharon K.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The aim of this article was to identify what school-aged children who stutter consider to be the most important outcomes from therapy.

Method

A Delphi approach was employed for the study. Eighteen participants aged 9–13 years completed a survey, generating 90 statements that would constitute successful therapy outcomes. After categorization and reduction, 79 statements were sent to participants in a second survey to seek consensus on their importance. Fifteen participants aged 8–14 years completed this second survey. Statements with the highest median ratings and smallest standard deviations were retained.

Results

Twenty-one statements were retained after analysis. These reflected hopes for affective and behavioral change in the young person and in other people after therapy. Important outcomes included, but are not limited to, increased fluency, greater independence, increased confidence at school, others knowing how to support the individual, and communication situations feeling easier.

Conclusions

Participants identified a range of outcomes that were important to achieve as a result of speech and language therapy. The findings suggest a need for a more holistic view of what is meant by successful therapy, incorporating improvements in the ability to communicate and participate in daily situations. The findings suggest that an integrated or holistic approach to intervention would be required to achieve these goals and should include significant others from the child's environment. The important statements identified in this study could be used to inform the content of therapy and to evaluate change over time.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.7144205
Großflächige Narben - Fall für Vier
Authors: Bosshard Philipp , Rüegg Christine , Koller Thomas , Mansel Niklas , Meier Patrick
Published: October 2018

2014 ändert ein Arbeitsunfall das Leben des Schreiners Philipp Bosshard. Bei Schweißarbeiten verbrennt sich der damals 27-Jährige 88 Prozent seiner Hautoberfläche. Ein Jahr verbringt er daraufhin auf der Intensivstation des Universitätsspitals Zürich. Die Rehaklinik Bellikon behandelt ihn anschließend für mehrere Monate weiter. Dort arbeitet er eng mit Physiotherapeuten, einem Psychologen und einem Orthopädietechniker zusammen.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy with electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing stents: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Jacques Jeremie , Privat Jocelyn , Pinard Fabien , Fumex Fabien , Valats Jean-Christophe , Chaoui Azzedine , Cholet Franck , Godard Bruno , Grandval Philippe , Legros Romain , Kerever Sebastien , Napoleon Bertrand
Published: October 2018

Background Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage is an alternative to percutaneous biliary drainage in cases of malignant biliary obstruction and failure of classic endoscopic drainage by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Recently, a new electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stent (ECE-LAMS) that allows for endoscopic anastomosis (apposition stent) has become available for use in EUS-choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) and facilitates the procedure.

Methods This was a retrospective study of all EUS-CDS procedures performed in France between April 2016 and August 2017. The primary end point was the technical and clinical success rates of EUS-CDS using an ECE-LAMS.

Results 52 consecutive patients were included in the study. The etiology of distal bile duct obstruction was distal pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 43 patients (82.7 %). The technical success rate was 88.5 % (46 /52 patients), and the clinical success rate was 100 % (46/46 patients). The mean duration of the procedure was 10.2 minutes (range 1 – 90). Two patients (3.8 %) presented with short-term complications after EUS-CDS and before discharge from hospital. In univariate analyses, a small diameter of the common bile duct and not following the recommended procedure technique were significant risk factors for technical failure. Over a mean follow-up of 157 days, the median survival time without biliary complications was 135 days.

Conclusion EUS-CDS with an ECE-LAMS is efficacious and safe in distal malignant obstruction of the common bile duct and could be proposed as the first option in cases of ERCP failure.
Silicon Grignard Reagents as Nucleophiles in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution
Authors: Xue Weichao , Oestreich Martin
Published: October 2018

A broad range of transition-metal catalysts is shown to promote allylic substitution reactions of allylic electrophiles with silicon Grignard reagents. The procedure was further elaborated for CuI as catalyst. The regioselectively is independent of the leaving group for primary allylic precursors, favoring α over γ. The stereochemical course of this allylic transposition was probed with a cyclic system, and anti-dia­stereoselectivity was obtained.
Macrocyclic Hosts in Asymmetric Phase-Transfer Catalyzed Reactions
Authors: Della Sala Giorgio , Schettini Rosaria , Sicignano Marina , De Riccardis Francesco , Izzo Irene
Published: October 2018

The introduction and development of neutral macrocyclic hosts capable of complexing ions within their pre-organized cavity, has been of utmost importance in supramolecular chemistry. Their ability to form stable organic-soluble metal–macrocycle complexes opened up the way to their application in phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) as a viable alternative to quaternary onium salts. In particular, their conformationally rigid preorganized backbone, accommodating organic substrates in defined orientations, promotes highly efficient stereoselective reactions. This short review summarizes the applications of neutral macrocyclic hosts in stereoselective PTC, highlighting the difference and possible complementarity with quaternary ammonium salts.

1 Introduction

2 Crown Ethers and Related Coronands

2.1 Enantioselective PTC with Chiral Macrocyclic Coronands

2.2 Enantioselective PTC Reactions Catalyzed by Chiral Quaternary Ammonium Salts with Achiral Crown Ether Co-catalysts

3 Cyclic Peptoids

4 Miscellaneous Chiral Macrocyclic Hosts

5 Summary and Outlook
Diastereoselective Synthesis of Cyclic sp3-Enriched cis-β-Alkoxysulfonyl Chlorides
Authors: Grygorenko Oleksandr , Sokolov Andriy , Golovach Sergey , Kozlinsky Ihor , Dolia Krystyna , Tolmachev Andrey , Kuchkovska Yuliya
Published: October 2018

A three-step synthesis of β-alkoxy-substituted alicyclic sulfonyl chlorides from cyclic alkenes and alcohols is reported. The scope of the method was studied for a range of the substrates with various steric and electronic properties. The title compounds were obtained on a hundred-gram scale in up to 52% overall yield scale as single cis-diastereomers.
Comparison of the Effect of Dog, Surgeon and Surgical Procedure Variables on Improvement in Eight-Week Static Weight-Bearing following Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy
Authors: Wilson Megan , Renberg Walter , Roush James
Published: October 2018

Objective The purpose of this article was to compare the effect of surgeon and tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) procedure variations on the outcome of TPLO in naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament disease.

Materials and Methods Records from 142 dogs that had a TPLO procedure were reviewed for information regarding surgical procedure, status of meniscus at the time of surgery, surgeon identity, ACVS diplomate or resident, meniscal release, progression of healing at the progress evaluation based on radiographic interpretation and complications encountered. The primary outcome measure was static force on the affected limb at re-evaluation (42–84 days postoperatively) on a PetSafe Stance Analyzer.

Results Re-evaluation tibial plateau angle (TPA) was negatively and significantly correlated with improvement (r = −0.2132, p = 0.013). Postoperative and re-evaluation TPA were all significantly correlated with one another. The amount of TPA change from initial to immediate postoperative values was significantly correlated with the preoperative TPA (r = 0.628, p < 0.001). Surgeon, surgical experience, arthrotomy, meniscal damage, meniscal intervention, complications, postoperative TPA and preoperative TPA had no significant effect on weight-bearing at recheck.

Clinical Significance TPLO show improvement of 4.58% body weight on the affected limb at 6 to 12 weeks rechecks on a Stance Analyzer. Surgeon, surgical experience, arthrotomy, meniscal damage, meniscal intervention, complications, postoperative TPA and initial TPA have no effect on this measurement of surgical outcome.
Return to Sport after Injury: A Web-Based Survey of Owners and Handlers of Agility Dogs
Authors: Manfredi Jane , Tomlinson Julia
Published: October 2018

Objective Internet-based surveys of canine agility injury rates have been performed, but unlike with equine and human competition, there is a paucity of data on return to sport of agility dogs after orthopaedic injury. This study aimed to gather initial information on canine return to competition.

Methods Data were collected using an internet-based 18-question survey of 427 dogs from around the world (92.4% North America). Relationships between categorical variables and return to sport were assessed with descriptive statistics, a chi-squared or Fischer's exact test. Categorical variables included breed, sex, age, surgery, stifle versus shoulder surgery, stifle versus all other types of surgery and drop in competition class. Significance was set at p≤ 0.05.

Results Of 427 completed surveys, age, sex and breed were not significantly associated with return to competition. Overall, 67.4% of dogs returned to competition post-orthopaedic injury, but jump height was lowered in 47% of cases. Dogs were returned to competition post-stifle surgery, but were the least likely of all injury types to return to competition (p = 0.044) and were more likely to compete at a lower class (p = 0.026).

Clinical Significance While over half of all dogs returned to competition, just under half of that group decreased jump class. Dogs that have undergone stifle surgery have the worst prognosis for return to agility and if they return, they are more likely to drop class.
Initiating Telehealth in a Complex Organization
Authors: Jalalabadi Faryan , Shultz Kelly , Sussman Norman , Fisher William , Reece Edward
Published: October 2018

Medicine has been praised for breakthroughs that improve the quality and longevity of human life. In the setting of today's fast-paced, tech-savvy society in combination with increased patient volume entering hospital doors, telemedicine proves an effective tool to enable the industry to adapt to the changing world around us. A review of the current literature and legislative laws was conducted along with knowledge from the experience gathered at starting a telehealth platform at Texas Children's Hospital to find the necessary steps for starting a telehealth program. Through digital platform, telemedicine offers remote delivery of medical services to all parts of the country, urban and rural, while enhancing interprofessional referral patterns in the local setting. Telemedicine sets to preemptively triage and guide patients through their appropriate phases of care all the meanwhile, bringing the patient and physician closer together. This discussion delves into the further added benefits to large hospital systems, breaks down the basics of the technological platform, and addresses current barriers to entry in the telehealth industry. This article serves as an introduction to a series regarding effective implementation of telemedicine into the hospital system.
The good, the true and the beautiful: imagining an ethico-political future for the philosophy of religion
Authors: Hickman Louise
Published: October 2018

This article argues that the future of philosophy of religion is ethical and political. Much of the current sense of dissatisfaction felt by both critics and practitioners of philosophy of religion can be traced to a perceived lack of relevance, a problem exacerbated by the diminishing, yet persistent, divide between Anglo-American and Continental approaches. A philosophy of religion that is committed to the Platonic ideals of Goodness, Truth and Beauty offers an ethical and political imaginary that has the potential to make philosophy of religion able to consider the most urgent problems of our age. It is argued here that the work of Pamela Sue Anderson, Douglas Hedley and Mark Wynn encapsulates these Platonic ideals and shows how the philosophy of religion can model itself as truth seeking, innovative and transformative.
Propagation and branching process of negative streamers in water
Authors: Kumagai Ryo , Kanazawa Seiji , Ohtani Kiyonobu , Komiya Atsuki , Kaneko Toshiro , Nakajima Tomoki , Sato Takehiko
Published: October 2018

Streamer discharges in water, which are a pre-breakdown phenomenon caused by underwater discharge, have gained attention because of the development of plasma-based technologies for water purification and medical treatment. In this study, a single-shot pulsed negative high voltage of –18 to –21 kV with a rise time of 100 ns was applied to a needle electrode in ultrapure water, and streamers were continuously imaged using an optical system combining a high-speed video camera, a streak camera, and an ultra-high-speed camera with a microscope lens. These observations were synchronized with the applied voltage and the discharge current to investigate the effect of the discharge on streamer propagation. Negative streamers propagated with a velocity of 820 ± 50 m/s in the presence of pulsed currents, and 100 ± 20 m/s when pulsed currents were absent. The streak camera detected light emission when the pulsed currents appeared, and it was also observed that 1480 m/s pressure waves were generated during streamer propagation. Furthermore, we developed a simple new method of imaging weak density changes similar to those detected using the Schlieren method or Mach–Zehnder interferometer. This method simply involves inserting a pair of polarizing plates on the optical axis, so that the pressure waves can also be imaged in two-dimensional photographs. Our results indicated that the pressure waves were generated from the propagating streamer head when the pulsed currents appeared in the waveform. Analysis of temporal resolution with nano-second order clarified that the branching phenomenon occurred at different times resulting in the branching streamer propagation with different directions.
Chirp assisted ion acceleration via relativistic self-induced transparency
Authors: Choudhary Shivani , Holkundkar Amol R.
Published: October 2018

We study the effect of the chirped laser pulse on the transmission and associated ion acceleration by the sub-wavelength target. In the chirped laser pulses, the pulse frequency has a temporal variation about its fundamental frequency, which manifests to the temporal dependence of the critical density (nc). In this work, we used a chirp model which is beyond the linear approximation. For negatively (positively) chirped pulses, the high (low) frequency component of the pulse interacts with the target initially followed by the low (high) frequency component. The threshold plasma density for the transmission of the pulse is found to be higher for the negatively chirped laser pulses as compared to the unchirped or positively chirped pulses. The enhanced transmission of the negatively chirped pulses for higher densities (6nc) results in very efficient heating of the target electrons, creating a very stable and persistent longitudinal electrostatic field behind the target. The void of the electrons results in expansion of the target ions in either direction, resulting in the broad energy spectrum. We have introduced a very thin, low density (<nc) secondary layer behind the primary layer. The ions from the secondary layer are then found to be accelerated as a mono-energetic bunch under the influence of the electrostatic field created by the primary layer upon interaction by the negatively chirped pulse. Under the optimum conditions, the maximum energy of the protons is found to be ∼100 MeV for 10 fs (intensity FWHM); Circularly Polarized; Gaussian; negatively chirped laser pulse with peak intensity ∼8.5  × 1020 W/cm2.
Spin polarization modulation for high-speed vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers
Authors: Yokota Nobuhide , Nisaka Kunpei , Yasaka Hiroshi , Ikeda Kazuhiro
Published: October 2018

The spin polarization modulation in birefringent vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is investigated theoretically and experimentally for obtaining tailored polarization modulation characteristics suitable for high-speed data communications. A spin-flip rate equation analysis reveals that the spin polarization modulation response of VCSELs is flattened by shortening the electron spin relaxation time and its 3-dB bandwidth is broadened to a range determined by a frequency split between two orthogonal polarization modes. Optical modulations of spin polarized electrons in commercially-available InAlGaAs quantum well VCSELs demonstrate a wide 3-dB bandwidth of 23 GHz determined by the frequency split, which indicates that the spin relaxation time in the InAlGaAs quantum well VCSEL is around 20 ps at room temperature and suitable for use in high-speed data communications at a telecom wavelength of 1.55 μm.
Floating top gate-induced output enhancement of a-InGaZnO thin film transistors under single gate operations
Authors: Tai Mao-Chou , Chang Ting-Chang , Chen Ming-Chen , Chiang Hsiao-Cheng , Tsao Yu-Ching , Chien Yu-Chieh , Wang Yu-Xuan , Tsai Yu-Lin , Chen Jian-Jie , Zhang Shengdong , Chang Hsi-Ming
Published: October 2018

This work compares dual gate and single gate a-InGaZnO thin film transistor devices under single gate operations. In both devices, an abnormal drain current increase in the dual gate structures was observed. The results of structural geometry experiments, Technology Computer-Aided Design, and theoretical calculations matching the experimental results provide evidence for a larger voltage potential distribution located near the top gate even when the top gate is floating. Since an additional voltage is formed near the top gate, a better gate control capability will lead to more inverted carriers. Therefore, these dual gate structures have a larger drain current than does the single gate. Finally, both positive bias stress and negative bias illumination stress in both structures are discussed. The results of positive bias stress have shown good quality of the gate insulator layer and negative bias illumination stress was discussed to confirm the coupled voltage.
Dielectric function of polycrystalline gold films: Effects of grain boundary and temperature
Authors: Zhang Shangyu , Pei Yanbo , Liu Linhua
Published: October 2018

The experimental data of the dielectric function of gold films are vital in metal optics since optical and optoelectronic properties depend sensitively on the dielectric function. Even though significant discrepancies of the dielectric function exist among the measurements in the past 60 years, the contribution of the grain boundary is less studied. In this work, we measured the dielectric function of three different gold films using two ellipsometers covering the spectral range from 200 nm to 25 μm. Based on the Drude model and the Mayadas-Shatzkes model of the electron-grain boundary scattering, we find that electronic reflection coefficient at the grain boundary is a vital factor to influence the dielectric function of the polycrystalline gold films. Furthermore, the temperature dependent dielectric function of gold is measured from 300 K to 800 K. Performing extended Drude analysis with a frequency dependent relaxation rate, we get a deviation of relaxation rate from the Fermi liquid theory at energies below 0.1 eV from 300 K to 800 K.
Resistivity size effect in epitaxial Ru(0001) layers
Authors: Milosevic Erik , Kerdsongpanya Sit , Zangiabadi Amirali , Barmak Katayun , Coffey Kevin R. , Gall Daniel
Published: October 2018

Epitaxial Ru(0001) layers are sputter deposited onto Al2O3(0001) substrates and their resistivity ρ measured both in situ and ex situ as a function of thickness d = 5–80 nm in order to quantify the resistivity scaling associated with electron-surface scattering. All layers have smooth surfaces with a root-mean-square roughness <0.4 nm, exhibit an epitaxial relationship with the substrate: Ru[0001]||Al2O3[0001] and Ru[101¯0]||Al2O3[112¯0], and show no resistance change upon air exposure, suggesting negligible resistivity contributions from geometric surface roughness and grain boundary scattering and negligible changes in the surface scattering specularity p upon oxygen exposure. The room temperature ρ vs d data are well described by the semiclassical Fuchs-Sondheimer (FS) model, indicating a bulk electron mean free path λ = 6.7 ± 0.3 nm. However, the measured ρo × λ product at 77 K is 43% lower than at 295 K, suggesting a breakdown of the FS model and/or a thickness-dependent electron-phonon coupling and/or a temperature- or environment-dependent p. Transport simulations employing the ruthenium electronic structure determined from first-principles and a constant relaxation time approximation indicate that ρ is strongly (by a factor of two) affected by both the transport direction and the terminating surfaces. This is quantified with a room temperature effective mean free path λ*, which is relatively small for transport along the hexagonal axis independent of layer orientation (λ* = 4.3 nm) and for (0001) terminating surfaces independent of transport direction (λ* = 4.5 nm), but increases, for example, to λ* = 8.8 nm for (112¯0) surfaces and transport along [11¯00]. Direct experiment-simulation comparisons show a 12% and 49% higher λ from experiment at 77 and 295 K, respectively, confirming the limitations of the semi-classical transport simulations despite correct accounting of Fermi surface and Fermi velocity anisotropies. The overall results demonstrate a low resistivity scaling for Ru, suggesting that 10 nm half-pitch Ru interconnect lines are approximately 2 times more conductive than comparable Cu lines.
Characterization of the lossy dielectric materials using contour mapping
Authors: Chao Hsien-Wen , Chang Tsun-Hsu
Published: October 2018

The imaginary part of the complex permittivity of a lossy dielectric material is large and couples with its real part. The resonant frequency of a cavity with the sample depends not only on the real part of the complex permittivity of the sample but also the imaginary part, resulting in serious ambiguity in determining the sample’s complex permittivity. This work proposes a contour mapping method to determine the complex permittivity. The full-wave simulation gives us the contours of the resonant frequency and the quality factor, which are functions of the relative dielectric constant and the loss tangent. By mapping the measured resonant frequency and the measured quality factor, one can uniquely determine the complex permittivity of the sample. Five liquids were examined, including three low-loss materials for benchmarking and two lossy materials. The measured complex permittivities of the three low-loss materials agree very well with the other methods. As for the lossy materials, the measured relative dielectric constant and the loss tangent of alcohol are 6.786 and 0.895, respectively. Besides, the measured dielectric constant of glycerin is 6.811, and its loss tangent is 0.562. The proposed contour mapping technique can be employed to measure the complex permittivity of liquids and solids from lossless to lossy materials.
Nitrous oxide quartz-enhanced photoacoustic detection employing a broadband distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser array
Authors: Giglio Marilena , Patimisco Pietro , Sampaolo Angelo , Zifarelli Andrea , Blanchard Romain , Pfluegl Christian , Witinski Mark F. , Vakhshoori Daryoosh , Tittel Frank K. , Spagnolo Vincenzo
Published: October 2018

We present a gas sensing system based on quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) employing a monolithic distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser (QCL) array operated in a pulsed mode as a light source. The array consists of 32 quantum cascade lasers emitting in a spectral range from 1190 cm−1 to 1340 cm−1. The optoacoustic detection module was composed of a custom quartz tuning fork with a prong spacing of 1 mm, coupled with two micro-resonator tubes to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. The QEPAS sensor was validated by detecting the absorption of the P- and R-branches of nitrous oxide. The measurements were performed by switching the array QCLs in sequence while tuning their operating temperature to retrieve the fine structure of the two N2O branches. A sensor calibration was performed, demonstrating a linear responsivity for N2O:N2 concentrations from 1000 down to 200 parts-per-million. With a 10 s lock-in integration time, a detection sensitivity of less than 60 parts-per-billion was achieved permitting the monitoring of nitrous oxide at global atmospheric levels.
Standard and inverse microscale Chladni figures in liquid for dynamic patterning of microparticles on chip
Authors: Jia Hao , Tang Hao , Feng Philip X.-L.
Published: October 2018

We report on experimental demonstrations of the first sub-100 μm scale standard and inverse Chladni figures in both one- (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) fashions in liquid, and on exploiting these micro-Chladni figures for patterning microparticles on chip, via engineering multimode micromechanical resonators with rich, reconfigurable 1D and 2D mode shapes. Silica microparticles (1–8 μm in diameter) dispersed on top of resonating doubly-clamped beams (100 × 10 × 0.4 μm3) are observed to aggregate at antinodal points, forming 1D inverse Chladni figures, while microbeads atop square trampoline resonators (50 × 50 × 0.2 μm3) cluster at nodal lines/circles, creating 2D standard Chladni figures such as “,” “○,” “×,” and “\.” These observations suggest two distinct micro-Chladni figure patterning mechanisms in liquid. Combining analytical and computational modeling, we elucidate that streaming flow dominates the inverse Chladni pattern formation in the 1D beam experiments, while vibrational acceleration dictates the standard Chladni figure generation in the 2D trampoline experiments. We further demonstrate dynamical patterning, switching, and removal of 2D micro-Chladni figures in swift succession by simply controlling the excitation frequency. These results render new understandings of Chladni patterning genuinely at the microscale, as well as a non-invasive, versatile platform for manipulating micro/nanoparticles and biological objects in liquid, which may enable microdevices and functional device-liquid interfaces toward relevant sensing and biological applications.
An effect of capping-layer material on interfacial anisotropy and thermal stability factor of MgO/CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB/MgO/capping-layer structure
Authors: Bersweiler M. , Enobio E. C. I. , Fukami S. , Sato H. , Ohno H.
Published: October 2018

We investigate the magnetic properties of a MgO/CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB/MgO/capping-layer (Ru or Ta) structure and properties of a magnetic tunnel junction with the structure as a free layer. By using Ru instead of Ta as the capping layer, interfacial anisotropy Ki increases by a factor of ∼2 and a smaller damping constant is obtained. The increase in Ki results in an enhancement of the thermal stability factor of the free layer with the Ru capping layer compared with that with the Ta capping layer in magnetic tunnel junctions.
Two distinct surface terminations of SrVO3 (001) ultrathin films as an influential factor on metallicity
Authors: Oka Hirofumi , Okada Yoshinori , Hitosugi Taro , Fukumura Tomoteru
Published: October 2018

Pulsed laser deposition-grown SrVO3 (001) ultrathin films on SrTiO3 (001) substrates were investigated by in situ low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. SrVO3 (001) ultrathin films showed two distinct surface terminations. One termination was a (√2 ×√2)-R45° reconstruction as was previously observed for SrVO3 (001) thick films, while the other was a (√5 ×√5)-R26.6° reconstruction. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy revealed that the (√2 ×√2)-R45° surface shows a metallic electronic structure, whereas the (√5×√5)-R26.6° surface exhibits a significantly reduced density of states at the Fermi level. These results suggest that the surface reconstruction may be an important factor to influence metallicity in epitaxial ultrathin films of transition metal oxides.
Improving the sensitivity of scanning probe microscopy with mechanical vibrations
Authors: Persky Eylon , Vardi Naor , Shperber Yishai , Kalisky Beena
Published: October 2018

Mechanical vibrations are typically undesired in imaging systems, as they cause noise and hinder system performance. Here, we propose to use vibrations in order to improve the sensitivity of a scanning probe system. We model the spectral and spatial structures of the response to an induced vibration and test our calculation on magnetic objects using a scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscope. In our experiments, we show that imaging the response to vibrations enhances the sensitivity of our sensor, as we detect signals that would otherwise be below the sensor's low frequency noise limit. Our results open the door to an effective way of improving the performance of many imaging systems.
Improving the performance of Ge2Sb2Te5 materials via nickel doping: Towards RF-compatible phase-change devices
Authors: Guo Pengfei , Burrow Joshua A. , Sevison Gary A. , Sood Aditya , Asheghi Mehdi , Hendrickson Joshua R. , Goodson Kenneth E. , Agha Imad , Sarangan Andrew
Published: October 2018

High-speed electrical switching of Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) remains a challenging task due to the large impedance mismatch between the low-conductivity amorphous state and the high-conductivity crystalline state. In this letter, we demonstrate an effective doping scheme using nickel to reduce the resistivity contrast between the amorphous and crystalline states by nearly three orders of magnitude. Most importantly, our results show that doping produces the desired electrical performance without adversely affecting the film's optical properties. The nickel doping level is approximately 2% and the lattice structure remains nearly unchanged when compared with undoped-GST. The refractive indices in amorphous and crystalline states were obtained using ellipsometry which echoes the results of X-ray diffraction. The material's thermal transport properties are measured using time-domain thermoreflectance, showing no change upon doping. The advantages of this doping system will open up opportunities for designing electrically reconfigurable high speed optical elements in the near-infrared spectrum.
Characterizing Dehn surgeries on links via trisections
Authors: Meier Jeffrey , Zupan Alexander
Published: October 2018

Significance

Dehn surgery is the process in which one cuts out a neighborhood of a knot or a link in 3D space and reglues this neighborhood in a different way to obtain a new 3D space. By viewing this operation as occurring smoothly over a period, there is a natural interpretation of spaces “before” and “after” a Dehn surgery as level sets of a generic function taking a 4D space to the real line. As such, 4D spaces are deeply linked to Dehn surgeries. This paper explores the ways in which trisections of 4-manifolds can be used to answer interesting questions about such surgeries.
Metabolic regulation of female puberty via hypothalamic AMPK–kisspeptin signaling
Authors: Roa Juan , Barroso Alexia , Ruiz-Pino Francisco , Vázquez Maria Jesus , Seoane-Collazo Patricia , Martínez-Sanchez Noelia , García-Galiano David , Ilhan Tuncay , Pineda Rafael , León Silvia , Manfredi-Lozano Maria , Heras Violeta , Poutanen Matti , Castellano Juan M. , Gaytan Francisco , Diéguez Carlos , Pinilla Leonor , López Miguel , Tena-Sempere Manuel
Published: October 2018

Significance

The age of puberty in humans is changing via unknown mechanisms, although metabolic alterations in childhood are blamed as a major contributing factor. Perturbations in pubertal timing are posed with increased risk of later cardiometabolic diseases and reduced life expectancy, urging a better understanding of the molecular basis for these phenomena. We describe a mechanism whereby the main cellular energy sensor, AMPK, operates in a population of hypothalamic neurons, named Kiss1, which produce the puberty-activating signal, kisspeptin, to metabolically control puberty onset. This neuroendocrine circuit provides a molecular link between conditions of negative energy balance and delayed pubertal timing, via a repressive AMPK–Kiss1 pathway, which may become a druggable target in conditions of disordered puberty, especially of metabolic origin.
Hox5genes direct elastin network formation during alveologenesis by regulating myofibroblast adhesion
Authors: Hrycaj Steven M. , Marty-Santos Leilani , Cebrian Cristina , Rasky Andrew J. , Ptaschinski Catherine , Lukacs Nicholas W. , Wellik Deneen M.
Published: October 2018

Significance

Hox5genes play critical roles in embryonic lung development, but mutants die at birth, preventing investigation of potential postnatal functions for these genes. Surprisingly, we show that the highest expression levels ofHox5genes occur 1–2 weeks after birth. We created a conditional allele forHoxa5that allowed us to generate and study mutants for all threeHox5genes during postnatal development.Hox5mutants have poorly developed alveoli and expanded distal airspaces resulting from an abrogated elastin network. These defects arise from the inability ofHox5mutant fibroblasts to adhere to the fibronectin matrix due to loss of integrins Itga5/b1. Thus, our data highlight redundant roles for all threeHox5genes in regulating fibroblast adhesion and elastogenesis during alveologenesis.
Hierarchical spidroin micellar nanoparticles as the fundamental precursors of spider silks
Authors: Parent Lucas R. , Onofrei David , Xu Dian , Stengel Dillan , Roehling John D. , Addison J. Bennett , Forman Christopher , Amin Samrat A. , Cherry Brian R. , Yarger Jeffery L. , Gianneschi Nathan C. , Holland Gregory P.
Published: October 2018

Significance

The true physical form of the proteins within the silk glands of spiders that permits storage at very high concentrations rather than as precipitated material prior to being transformed into solid silk fibers remains one of the fundamental mysteries that has limited our ability to produce artificial silks of the quality of natural silks. Here we determine that spider silk proteins are stored as complex micellar nanoparticles composed of assembled subdomains. When extruded during the silk spinning process, these subdomains undergo fibrillization while remaining assembled in micelles. Knowledge of the nanostructured protein assemblies in the dope is critical to the basic understanding of the spinning process and to our ability to mimic the natural material properties in synthetic analogues.
Self-assembling supramolecular dendrimer nanosystem for PET imaging of tumors
Authors: Garrigue Philippe , Tang Jingjie , Ding Ling , Bouhlel Ahlem , Tintaru Aura , Laurini Erik , Huang Yuanyu , Lyu Zhenbin , Zhang Mengjie , Fernandez Samantha , Balasse Laure , Lan Wenjun , Mas Eric , Marson Domenico , Weng Yuhua , Liu Xiaoxuan , Giorgio Suzanne , Iovanna Juan , Pricl Sabrina , Guillet Benjamin , Peng Ling
Published: October 2018

Significance

Nanotechnology-based imaging is expected to bring breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis by improving imaging sensitivity and specificity while reducing toxicity. Here, we developed an innovative nanosystem for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging based on a self-assembling amphiphilic dendrimer. This dendrimer assembled spontaneously into uniform supramolecular nanomicelles with abundant PET reporting units on the surface. By harnessing both dendrimeric multivalence and the “enhanced permeation and retention” (EPR) effect, this dendrimer nanosystem effectively accumulated in tumors, leading to exceedingly sensitive and specific imaging of various tumors, especially those that are otherwise undetectable using the clinical gold reference 2-fluorodeoxyglucose ([
18
F]FDG). This study illustrates the power of nanotechnology based on self-assembling dendrimers to provide an effective platform for bioimaging and related biomedical applications.
Role of sexual imprinting in assortative mating and premating isolation in Darwin’s finches
Authors: Grant Peter R. , Grant B. Rosemary
Published: October 2018

Significance

It is important to preserve the potential for future speciation because global biodiversity is being rapidly degraded. A key question is how incipient species become reproductively isolated from each other. Here we provide evidence that two species of Darwin’s finches choose mates on the basis of learning morphological features of their parents and possibly from inherited preferences. The evidence for imprinting is stronger in sons than in daughters and for imprinting by both sons and daughters is stronger on fathers, which sing, than on mothers, which do not. Imprinting establishes a barrier to interbreeding between morphologically different species. The barrier is leaky, species occasionally hybridize, and the hybrids can give rise to a new species based on learned mate preferences.
Alignment-free clustering of UMI tagged DNA molecules
Authors: Orabi Baraa , Erhan Emre , McConeghy Brian , Volik Stanislav V , Le Bihan Stephane , Bell Robert , Collins Colin C , Chauve Cedric , Hach Faraz
Published: October 2018

Motivation

Next-Generation Sequencing has led to the availability of massive genomic datasets whose processing raises many challenges, including the handling of sequencing errors. This is especially pertinent in cancer genomics, e.g. for detecting low allele frequency variations from circulating tumor DNA. Barcode tagging of DNA molecules with unique molecular identifiers (UMI) attempts to mitigate sequencing errors; UMI tagged molecules are polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified, and the PCR copies of UMI tagged molecules are sequenced independently. However, the PCR and sequencing steps can generate errors in the sequenced reads that can be located in the barcode and/or the DNA sequence. Analyzing UMI tagged sequencing data requires an initial clustering step, with the aim of grouping reads sequenced from PCR duplicates of the same UMI tagged molecule into a single cluster, and the size of the current datasets requires this clustering process to be resource-efficient.

Results

We introduce Calib, a computational tool that clusters paired-end reads from UMI tagged sequencing experiments generated by substitution-error-dominant sequencing platforms such as Illumina. Calib clusters are defined as connected components of a graph whose edges are defined in terms of both barcode similarity and read sequence similarity. The graph is constructed efficiently using locality sensitive hashing and MinHashing techniques. Calib’s default clustering parameters are optimized empirically, for different UMI and read lengths, using a simulation module that is packaged with Calib. Compared to other tools, Calib has the best accuracy on simulated data, while maintaining reasonable runtime and memory footprint. On a real dataset, Calib runs with far less resources than alignment-based methods, and its clusters reduce the number of tentative false positive in downstream variation calling.

Availability and implementation

Calib is implemented in C++ and its simulation module is implemented in Python. Calib is available at https://github.com/vpc-ccg/calib.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The Israeli Constitution
Authors: Gideon Sapir
Published: October 2018

Israeli constitutional law is a sphere of many contradictions and traditions. Growing out of British law absorbed by the legal system of Mandate Palestine, Israeli constitutional law has followed the path of constitutional law based on unwritten constitutional principles. This book evaluates the development of the Israeli constitution from an unwritten British-style body of law to the declaration of the Basic Laws as the de facto Israeli constitution by the supreme court and on through the present day.The book is divided into a chronological history, devoted to a description of the process of establishing a constitution; and a thematic one, devoted to the review and evaluation of major constitutional issues that are also the subject of discussion and research in other countries, with emphasis on the unique characteristics of the Israeli case.
Evolution
Authors: Kenny Susan
Published: October 2018

This chapter is about Australian constitutional evolution. It concerns the meaning, the processes, and the possibilities of constitutional change in Australia. ‘Constitutional evolution’ here means the transformation of the Australian constitutional system from its original form in 1901 into different forms until it reached the form we know today, by an aggregation of changes over time. These changes have mostly occurred in the constitutional space for which the written Constitution originally provided, with the result that, from 1901 until now, the Constitution has provided the framework for the Australian federation. The Constitution, as enacted by the British Parliament and as formally amended by popular referenda, has been critical to this evolutionary process; but the changes in the constitutional system, though consistent with the written text, have not been required by it.
Unwritten Rules
Authors: Appleby Gabrielle
Published: October 2018

This chapter attempts to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the Australian constitutional system through which government power is arranged, defined, and limited by investigating ‘unwritten’ constitutional rules. Unwritten constitutional rules are most usually associated with the constitutional conventions that govern the exercise of executive power, which is cursorily, nebulously, and at times somewhat misleadingly defined and vested in Chapter II of the Constitution. The chapter thus commences by defining the concept of ‘unwrittenness’ with respect to constitutional rules and relating that to the norms of the Australian constitutional system. It then describes the three identified types of such rules—convention, common law protections, and judicially drawn implications from the constitutional text. Finally, the chapter analyses the existence, scope, enforceability, and acceptance of these unwritten norms within Australia's blend of political and legal constitutionalism.