bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One's Voice: A Central Component of Personal Factors in Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Authors: Patel Rupal , Threats Travis T.
Published: November 2016

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices have opened the gates to interaction for those with severe communication impairments. In the assessment and intervention, all components of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) should be addressed. However, an important Personal Factor to full integration has been largely ignored—that of one's voice. Each one of us has a unique voice that conveys our age, cultural background and personality—it's how people know and remember you. These affordances of the natural voice are not available to those who express themselves using AAC devices. A personalized digital voice brings the field of AAC to a closer realization of the social model of disability in which individuals are not defined by their disability and it is just one aspect of them. Access to a personalized voice uplifts the AAC user and provides an opportunity for social and emotional engagement that enhances quality of life.
Underlying Mechanisms in Episodic Laryngeal Breathing Disorders
Authors: Shembel Adrianna C.
Published: November 2016

The study and management of episodic laryngeal breathing disorders (ELBD)—characterized by paradoxical laryngeal movement patterns and dyspnea—has traditionally focused on clinical presentation of these conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms driving these entities are largely unknown. This article provides a review of potential underlying mechanisms driving clinical expression in ELBD and suggests approaches to the future study of ELBD etiology.
The Relationship Between Voice and Breathing in the Assessment and Treatment of Voice Disorders
Authors: Lewandowski Ali , Gillespie Amanda I.
Published: November 2016

Coordination between the larynx and lower airways is essential for normal voice production. Dyscoordination may contribute to myriad voice problems. The current study provides an overview of respiratory and laryngeal physiology as it relates to normal and disordered voice production, as well as a review of phonatory aerodynamic assessment practices. Finally, the integration of voice and breathing in common voice therapy programs is explored.
Target detection in cluster based WSN with massive MIMO systems
Authors: Hosseini S.M. , Kahaei M.H.
Published: November 2016

Neyman–Pearson detection method is presented for a cluster‐based wireless sensor network (WSN) massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) system. In this scenario, the sensors are divided into K clusters in which the number of clusters is smaller than the number of receivers antennas. A closed‐form optimal solution is derived for the gain of each sensor. Simulation results show that for a constant total transmit power in the network, the probability of detection of the proposed method outperforms the corresponding methods addressed by Jiang et al.
Automated test generation and error localisation for Simulink/Stateflow modelled systems using extended automata
Authors: Li Meng , Kumar Ratnesh
Published: November 2016

Model‐based development frameworks for cyber‐physical systems (CPSs) such as Simulink and Stateflow are popular for many applications. For safety and security concerns, verification and testing/validation must be performed on the model‐based CPS designs. In this study, the authors present an automatic test generation approach for model‐based CPS designs in Simulink/Stateflow based on its translation to input/output extended finite automata (I/O‐EFA) developed in the authors’ prior works. The test generation problem requires identifying the executable paths of the I/O‐EFA model and also generating a test input for those paths. To execute a path, a certain sequence of other paths must be executed first, which they automatically identify. The approach is implemented by applying two different techniques, model checking and constraint solving. Both test generation implementations are validated by a case study. The results show that both implementations can generate test cases, while the implementation based on constraint solving is in general faster. The approach is further extended to requirements‐based test generation. These tests are then used for validation purposes, and the failed versus passed tests are used to localise the fault to plausible Simulink/Stateflow blocks using the notion of fault‐seed used in their earlier work. The approaches are applied on a bounded counter and a thermal control of a house as two different case studies.
Space charge distribution and leakage current pulses for contaminated glass insulator strings in power transmission lines
Authors: Othman Nordiana Azlin , Mohamed Piah Mohamed Afendi , Adzis Zuraimy
Published: November 2016

This study reports an investigation on space charge distribution and leakage current (LC) pulses of four units of glass insulators recently removed from service. Simulation works were conducted using finite element software and validated by laboratory experiments. The simulation and experimental results were found to be in good agreement when studying the space charge distribution pattern along the glass insulator string. It is evident that the LC waveform can be used to characterise the types of partial discharge according to their occurrence with respect to the AC supply. Thus, the proposed method is viable and reliable to be applied in an online measurement system.
Graphical presentation of harmonic operating principles in voltage source converter with sparse vector methods
Authors: Zhong Qing , Feng Junjie , Lin Linxue , Wang Gang , Li Haifeng
Published: November 2016

This study presents a graphical presentation of the harmonic operating principles in voltage source converter (VSC) with sparse vector methods and provides a visualisation method for analysing the harmonic operations of VSC. Based on the dynamic phasor sequence components model of the VSC, the operation analysis of VSC has been transformed into a solution of an algebraic equations. With the sparse characteristics of the vectors and coefficient matrix, the sparse vector method is applied into solving equations. The coupling from the ac‐side to the dc‐side can be represented by the forward substitution operations and the coupling from the dc‐side to the ac‐side can be represented by the back solution operations in the sparse vector method correspondingly. Therefore, the factorisation paths which describe the forward substitution and the back solution operations can describe the harmonic operating principles of VSC too. When the set of factorisation paths are presented as the weighted directed graphs based on graph theory, the harmonic operating principles of VSC can be displayed as the graphs, which is direct and clear. Finally, the simulation results testify the correctness of the studies.
Design of a compact, fully‐autonomous 433 MHz tunable antenna for wearable wireless sensor applications
Authors: Buckley John L. , McCarthy Kevin G. , Gaetano Domenico , Loizou Loizos , O'Flynn Brendan , O'Mathuna Cian
Published: November 2016

The authors present the design of a tunable 433 MHz antenna that is tailored for wearable wireless sensor applications. This study first presents a detailed analysis of the measured impedance characteristics of a chosen antenna under test (AUT) in varying proximity to a human test subject. Instead of limiting the analysis to the head and hand only, this analysis measures the AUT impedance at varying distances from 11 different body positions. A novel antenna equivalent circuit model is then developed that enables both the free‐space and total on‐body AUT impedance variation to be rapidly computed using a circuit simulator instead of the requirement for computationally intensive finite‐element methods for example. The design and characterisation of a tunable matching network that enables AUT impedance matching for 11 different positions on the human body is then outlined. Finally, a fully‐autonomous 433 MHz tunable antenna is demonstrated. The antenna occupies a small printed circuit board area of 51 × 28 mm and is printed on standard FR‐4 material with the tuner completely integrated into the antenna itself. Prototype measurements show an improvement of 3.9 dB in power delivery to the antenna for a load voltage standing wave ratio of 17:1, with a maximum matching loss of 0.84 dB and S11 (−10 dB) ≥ 18 MHz for all load conditions.
Compressive sensing based sparse antenna array design for directional modulation
Authors: Zhang Bo , Liu Wei , Gou Xiaoming
Published: November 2016

Directional modulation (DM) can be achieved based on uniform linear arrays where the maximum spacing between adjacent antennas is half‐wavelength of the frequency of interest in order to avoid spatial aliasing. To exploit the additional degrees of freedom provided in the spatial domain, sparse antenna arrays can be employed for more effective DM. In this study, the spare array design problem in the context of DM is formulated from the viewpoint of compressive sensing (CS), so that it can be solved using standard convex optimisation toolboxes in the CS area. In detail, a common set of active antennas needs to be found for all modulation symbols generating a response close to the desired one. The key to the solution is to realise that group sparsity has to be employed, as a common antenna set cannot be guaranteed if the antenna locations are optimised for each modulation symbol individually. Moreover, two practical scenarios are considered for the proposed design: robust design with model errors and design with practical non‐zero‐sized antennas, and corresponding solutions are found by modifying the proposed standard solution.
Differential operator acting on accelerated Cartesian expansion algorithm
Authors: Zheng Yuteng , Zhao Yanwen , Cai Qiangming , Jia Miaomiao , Nie Zaiping
Published: November 2016

The multilevel accelerated Cartesian expansion algorithm (MLACEA) and its incorporation with multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) have been studied and used for solving practical problems. The algorithms are successful, but the authors found the truncation error of accelerated Cartesian expansion (ACE) is sensitive with the differential operator. Integral equations in electromagnetics always contain differential operators, so the precision will be influenced when trying to accelerate the method of moments with MLACE algorithm. The reason of why differential operator can influence the precision of the ACE is given, and also proved by numerical experimentation. To meet the requirements of piratical application, electric field integral equation is deeply investigated. The studies also extend to the hybrid algorithm MLFMA–MLACEA and performances are tested on different implementation.
High‐strength nanostructured black‐silicon wafer for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Hsu Chia‐Liang , Kumar Amarendra , Kashyap Kunal , Peng Te‐Husan , Hou Max Ti‐Kuang , Yeh Jer‐Liang Andrew
Published: November 2016

Silicon nanostructures can improve the bending strength of wafers, but often trap particle contaminates. A double‐sided surface nanostructure with a morphology controlled via wet chemical etching is used to both improve the mechanical strength and reduce surface reflection. Compared with a conventional polished silicon wafer, the bending strength was increased by 3.4 times and the surface reflection was reduced to 1%, and so can provide a promising solution for photovoltaic applications. The optically unused side of the wafer was protected by a thin silicon layer that prevented the entrapment of particles that might cause glitches in subsequent fabrication processes, all the while maintaining the enhancement in strength. The particle test confirmed that incorporating protection layer intacts the particle count with polished silicon sample.
Evolution of lithium abundance in the Sun and solar twins
Authors: Thévenin F. , Oreshina A. V. , Baturin V. A. , Gorshkov A. B. , Morel P. , Provost J.
Published: November 2016

Evolution of the 7Li abundance in the convection zone of the Sun during different stages of its life time is considered to explain its low photospheric value in comparison with that of the solar system meteorites. Lithium is intensively and transiently burned in the early stages of evolution (pre-main sequence, pMS) when the radiative core arises, and then the Li abundance only slowly decreases during the main sequence (MS). We study the rates of lithium burning during these two stages. In a model of the Sun, computed ignoring pMS and without extra-convective mixing (overshooting) at the base of the convection zone, the lithium abundance does not decrease significantly during the MS life time of 4.6 Gyr. Analysis of helioseismic inversions together with post-model computations of chemical composition indicates the presence of the overshooting region and restricts its thickness. It is estimated to be approximately half of the local pressure scale height (0.5HP) which corresponds to 3.8% of the solar radius. Introducing this extra region does not noticeably deplete lithium during the MS stage. In contrast, at the pMS stage, an overshooting region with a value of approximately 0.18HP is enough to produce the observed lithium depletion. If we conclude that the dominant lithium burning takes place during the pMS stage, the dispersion of the lithium abundance in solar twins is explained by different physical conditions, primarily during the early stage of evolution before the MS.
Essstörungen bei Schülerinnen: Bildungs- und Migrationshintergrund, leistungsorientiertes Klassenklima und leistungsbezogener Schulstress
Authors: Grüttner M.
Published: November 2016

Hintergrund: Auffälliges Ernährungsverhalten bis hin zur manifesten Essstörung sind weit verbreitete Phänomene bei Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen. Insbesondere Mädchen und junge Frauen sind betroffen. Kinder und Jugendliche mit Migrationshintergrund und niedriger sozialer Herkunft sind häufiger von Essstörungen betroffen 1. Obwohl die Schule in der Lebenswelt von Kindern- und Jugendlichen eine zentrale Bedeutung hat, fehlen bisher Studien, die schulische Faktoren in die Erklärung einbeziehen. Die vorliegende Arbeit prüft inwieweit unter Kontrolle von personalen und familialen Ressourcen ein Zusammenhang zwischen leistungsbezogenem Schulstress sowie leistungsorientiertem Klassenklima mit Essstörungen besteht.

Methodik: Verwendet werden Daten von Schülern der Startkohorte 3 des Nationalen Bildungspanels (NEPS)*, die sich im Befragungszeitraum in der 7. Klasse befanden. Es handelt sich um eine Querschnittanalyse. Die abhängige Variable basiert auf dem Fragebogen SCOFF und wird in logistischen Regressionsmodellen mit Angaben der Schüler sowie der Eltern in Verbindung gesetzt. Leistungsbedingter Schulstress wird über die negative Abweichung realistischer von idealistischer Bildungsaspiration (AB) und unerfüllte soziale Erwartungen (SE), leistungsorientiertes Klima über die Schülerwahrnehmung des Deutschlehrers (DL) und der Anstrengungserwartungen der Klassenkameraden (AM) operationalisiert.

Ergebnisse: Leistungsbedingter Schulstress (AB: AME: 0,18; p<0,001; SE: AME: 0,12; p<0,05) und leistungsorientiertes Klima (DL: AME: 0,05; p<0,1; AM: AME: 0,15, p<0,01) gehen mit der erhöhten Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Essstörung einher und können zum Teil die Zusammenhänge zwischen Migrationshintergrund sowie Bildungshintergrund und Essstörungen erklären.

Schlussfolgerungen: Essstörungen sollte in der schulischen Gesundheitsförderung mehr beachtung geschänkt werden. Zur Prävention von Essstörungen bei Schülerinnen könnte die Frage von Leistungserwartungen, die die schulische und soziale Umwelt an die Schülerinnen stellt, sowie deren Umgang mit diesen Erwartungen, stärker in den Fokus gerückt werden. Weitere Untersuchungen – insbesondere im Längsschnitt oder unter Einbeziehung weiterer Drittvariablen (z. B. Perfaktionismus, Copingstrategien) – wären notwendig, um eine kausale Interpretation der Zusammenhänge abzusichern.
An IT Project as a Plaything of its Organizational Environment: Long-term Challenges in Financial Services
Authors: Bürger Olga , Fridgen Gilbert , Kleindienst Dominikus , Manderscheid Jonas , Zare Garizy Tirazheh
Published: November 2016

At the end of 2015, and after 10 years, the German financial service provider FinAdvizard finally achieved the first results from the development project of its next-generation advisory application. Although this achievement can be considered as project success, the new application includes only the core of the initially intended scope because of environmental changes. First, the project team had to continuously deal with resource scarcity, stakeholder influences, regulatory requirements, and the involvement of its sales force. The team also had to adapt different management approaches and software development methods. Furthermore, the organization's focus and management attention repeatedly changed over time. Subsequently, this case retrospectively highlights information technology (IT) project management issues and challenges faced by large software development projects. Given the longitudinal analysis of the period of a decade, both positive and negative effects that are not visible in shorter IT projects become apparent. Additionally, the case sheds light and stimulates a discussion on, among others, collaboration between the business and IT departments, the importance of top IT management support, the challenge of bimodal or two-speed IT, and the influence of a strong sales force.
Development of plasma bolometers using fiber-optic temperature sensors
Authors: Reinke M. L. , Han M. , Liu G. , van Eden G. G. , Evenblij R. , Haverdings M. , Stratton B. C.
Published: November 2016

Measurements of radiated power in magnetically confined plasmas are important for exhaust studies in present experiments and expected to be a critical diagnostic for future fusion reactors. Resistive bolometer sensors have long been utilized in tokamaks and helical devices but suffer from electromagnetic interference (EMI). Results are shown from initial testing of a new bolometer concept based on fiber-optic temperature sensor technology. A small, 80 μm diameter, 200 μm long silicon pillar attached to the end of a single mode fiber-optic cable acts as a Fabry–Pérot cavity when broadband light, λo ∼ 1550 nm, is transmitted along the fiber. Changes in temperature alter the optical path length of the cavity primarily through the thermo-optic effect, resulting in a shift of fringes reflected from the pillar detected using an I-MON 512 OEM spectrometer. While initially designed for use in liquids, this sensor has ideal properties for use as a plasma bolometer: a time constant, in air, of ∼150 ms, strong absorption in the spectral range of plasma emission, immunity to local EMI, and the ability to measure changes in temperature remotely. Its compact design offers unique opportunities for integration into the vacuum environment in places unsuitable for a resistive bolometer. Using a variable focus 5 mW, 405 nm, modulating laser, the signal to noise ratio versus power density of various bolometer technologies are directly compared, estimating the noise equivalent power density (NEPD). Present tests show the fiber-optic bolometer to have NEPD of 5-10 W/m2 when compared to those of the resistive bolometer which can achieve <0.5 W/m2 in the laboratory, but this can degrade to 1-2 W/m2 or worse when installed on a tokamak. Concepts are discussed to improve the signal to noise ratio of this new fiber-optic bolometer by reducing the pillar height and adding thin metallic coatings, along with improving the spectral resolution of the interrogator.
Revised greenhouse-gas emissions from Australian dairy farms following application of updated methodology
Authors: Christie K. M. , Rawnsley R. P. , Phelps C. , Eckard R. J.
Published: November 2016

Every year since 1990, the Australian Federal Government has estimated national greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions to meet Australia’s reporting commitments under the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI) methodology used to estimate Australia’s GHG emissions has altered over time, as new research data have been used to improve the inventory emission factors and algorithms, with the latest change occurring in 2015 for the 2013 reporting year. As measuring the GHG emissions on farm is expensive and time-consuming, the dairy industry is reliant on estimating emissions using tools such as the Australian Dairy Carbon Calculator (ADCC). The present study compared the emission profiles of 41 Australian dairy farms with ADCC using the old (pre-2015) and new (post-2015) NGGI methodologies to examine the impact of the changes on the emission intensity across a range of dairy-farm systems. The estimated mean (±s.d.) GHG emission intensity increased by 3.0%, to 1.07 (±0.02) kg of carbon dioxide equivalents per kilogram of fat-and-protein-corrected milk (kg CO2e/kg FPCM). When comparing the emission intensity between the old and new NGGI methodologies at a regional level, the change in emission intensity varied between a 4.6% decrease and 10.4% increase, depending on the region. When comparing the source of emissions between old and new NGGI methodologies across the whole dataset, methane emissions from enteric fermentation and waste management both increased, while nitrous oxide emissions from waste management and nitrogen fertiliser management, CO2 emissions from energy consumption and pre-farm gate (supplementary feed and fertilisers) emissions all declined. Enteric methane remains a high source of emissions and so will remain a focus for mitigation research. However, these changes to the NGGI methodology have highlighted a new ‘hotspot’ in methane from manure management. Researchers and farm managers will have greater need to identify and implement practices on-farm to reduce methane losses to the environment.
A framework for testing the influence of Aboriginal burning on grassy ecosystems in lowland, mesic south–eastern Australia
Authors: Foreman Paul W.
Published: November 2016

The complex interactions among climate, soils, fire and humans in the biogeography of natural grasslands has long been debated in Australia. On the one hand, ecological models assume the primacy of climate and soils. On the other, Aboriginal burning is hypothesised to have altered the entire continent since before the last glacial maximum. The present paper develops a framework to test for the ‘fingerprint’ of Aboriginal burning in lowland, mesic grassy ecosystems of south-eastern Australia, using ecological theory, and the ethno-historical record. It is clear that fire-stick farming was used to promote staple roots in south-eastern Australia and, in some instances, it has been shown to influence grassland–woodland boundaries. The framework comprises the following three evidence lines: (1) archival benchmarking and palaeoecology; (2) phytoecology; and (3) ethnology and archaeology. That fire-stick farming was likely instrumental in grassland formation and maintenance must be supported by evidence that shows that ‘natural’ grasslands exist in climatically–edaphically unexpected places, that fine-scale patterns and dynamics are at least partly due to fire and that the fire regime has been influenced by Aboriginal burning. Application of the framework indicated that widespread Aboriginal burning for staple foods likely extended the area of temperate grasslands and influenced their structure and function.
Temperature response of soil respiration largely unaltered with experimental warming
Authors: Carey Joanna C. , Tang Jianwu , Templer Pamela H. , Kroeger Kevin D. , Crowther Thomas W. , Burton Andrew J. , Dukes Jeffrey S. , Emmett Bridget , Frey Serita D. , Heskel Mary A. , Jiang Lifen , Machmuller Megan B. , Mohan Jacqueline , Panetta Anne Marie , Reich Peter B. , Reinsch Sabine , Wang Xin , Allison Steven D. , Bamminger Chris , Bridgham Scott , Collins Scott L. , de Dato Giovanbattista , Eddy William C. , Enquist Brian J. , Estiarte Marc , Harte John , Henderson Amanda , Johnson Bart R. , Larsen Klaus Steenberg , Luo Yiqi , Marhan Sven , Melillo Jerry M. , Peñuelas Josep , Pfeifer-Meister Laurel , Poll Christian , Rastetter Edward , Reinmann Andrew B. , Reynolds Lorien L. , Schmidt Inger K. , Shaver Gaius R. , Strong Aaron L. , Suseela Vidya , Tietema Albert
Published: November 2016

Significance

One of the greatest challenges in projecting future shifts in the global climate is understanding how soil respiration rates will change with warming. Multiple experimental warming studies have explored this response, but no consensus has been reached. Based on a global synthesis of 27 experimental warming studies spanning nine biomes, we find that although warming increases soil respiration rates, there is limited evidence for a shifting respiration response with experimental warming. We also note a universal decline in the temperature sensitivity of respiration at soil temperatures >25 °C. Together, our data indicate that future respiration rates are likely to follow the current temperature response function, but higher latitudes will be more responsive to warmer temperatures.
Regional asynchronicity in dairy production and processing in early farming communities of the northern Mediterranean
Authors: Debono Spiteri Cynthianne , Gillis Rosalind E. , Roffet-Salque Mélanie , Castells Navarro Laura , Guilaine Jean , Manen Claire , Muntoni Italo M. , Saña Segui Maria , Urem-Kotsou Dushka , Whelton Helen L. , Craig Oliver E. , Vigne Jean-Denis , Evershed Richard P.
Published: November 2016

Significance

This unique research combines the analyses of lipid residues in pottery vessels with slaughter profiles for domesticated ruminants to provide compelling evidence for diverse subsistence strategies in the northern Mediterranean basin during the Neolithic. Our findings show that the exploitation and processing of milk varied across the region, although most communities began to exploit milk as soon as domesticates were introduced between 9,000 and 7,000 y ago. This discovery is especially noteworthy as the shift in human subsistence toward milk production reshaped prehistoric European culture, biology, and economy in ways that are still visible today.
Lifestyle chemistries from phones for individual profiling
Authors: Bouslimani Amina , Melnik Alexey V. , Xu Zhenjiang , Amir Amnon , da Silva Ricardo R. , Wang Mingxun , Bandeira Nuno , Alexandrov Theodore , Knight Rob , Dorrestein Pieter C.
Published: November 2016

Significance

This paper introduces the concept of skin-associated lifestyle chemistries found on personal belongings as a form of trace evidence. We propose a mass spectrometry-based approach to illuminate chemical traces recovered from personal objects. Using a chemical composite recovered from a swab of a phone, as a representative personal belonging, we can provide insights into personal lifestyle profile by predicting the kind of beauty product the individual uses, the food he/she eats, the medications he/she takes, or the places he/she has been. Therefore, the chemical interpretation of traces recovered from objects found on a crime scene can help a criminal investigator to learn about the lifestyle of the individual who used or touched these objects.
Genome-wide screen identifies host colonization determinants in a bacterial gut symbiont
Authors: Powell J. Elijah , Leonard Sean P. , Kwong Waldan K. , Engel Philipp , Moran Nancy A.
Published: November 2016

Significance

Many bacteria are adapted to live in specific locations in animal hosts, even while these same locations exclude colonization by most microorganisms. However, the genetic underpinnings enabling successful colonization are largely unclear. We developed a system to genetically manipulateSnodgrassella alvi, a bacterium restricted to bees, and explored the factors permittingS. alvito establish within its natural habitat in the bee digestive tract. Using high-throughput methods that screen the entire genome, we find that host colonization is dependent on genes mediating cell surface interactions (e.g., adhesion), metabolism under nutrient limitation, and responses to various stresses. This study demonstrates the genetic tractability of the bee gut microbiota, an emerging system with parallels to the human microbiome.
Gram-positive bacteria are held at a distance in the colon mucus by the lectin-like protein ZG16
Authors: Bergström Joakim H. , Birchenough George M. H. , Katona Gergely , Schroeder Bjoern O. , Schütte André , Ermund Anna , Johansson Malin E. V. , Hansson Gunnar C.
Published: November 2016

Significance

The small lectin-like protein ZG16 (zymogen granulae protein 16) aggregates bacteria and by that works together with the inner colon mucus layer to maintain bacteria at a safe distance from the epithelial cell surface. In the absence of Zg16, more bacteria penetrate the epithelium, enter the regional lymph nodes and spleen, trigger the immune system, and cause abdominal fat pad mass increase. ZG16 is important for a safe normal host-bacteria symbiosis as it does not kill commensal bacteria, but limit bacterial translocation into the host.
Adolescents growing up amidst intractable conflict attenuate brain response to pain of outgroup
Authors: Levy Jonathan , Goldstein Abraham , Influs Moran , Masalha Shafiq , Zagoory-Sharon Orna , Feldman Ruth
Published: November 2016

Significance

Intergroup conflicts are among the world’s most imminent problems, particularly with the shift of battlefields into the heart of civilian locations and the participation of increasingly younger adolescents in intergroup conflict. We found that Israeli and Palestinian adolescents reared in a climate of long-standing strife shut down the brain’s automatic response to outgroup pain. This neural modulation characterized a top-down process superimposed upon an automatic response to the pain of all and was sensitive to hostile behavior toward outgroup, uncompromising worldviews, and brain-to-brain synchrony among group members. Findings pinpoint adolescents’ sociocognitive top-down processes as targets for intervention.
An HD domain phosphohydrolase active site tailored for oxetanocin-A biosynthesis
Authors: Bridwell-Rabb Jennifer , Kang Gyunghoon , Zhong Aoshu , Liu Hung-wen , Drennan Catherine L.
Published: November 2016

Significance

Over the past few decades, natural products, or chemical compounds derived from plants, animals, or microbes have greatly inspired drug discovery. Because natural products often have more complex and architecturally unique scaffolds than available man-made drugs, characterization of natural product biosynthetic pathways often reveals unprecedented chemistry and enzymatic platforms. Oxetanocin-A (OXT) is a natural product nucleoside analog that has an unusual four-membered oxetane ring connected to an adenine base. Prior to this work, there were no details available about OXT biosynthesis. Here, we not only elucidate a scheme for the two-enzyme catalyzed production of OXT, but also reveal modifications to an HD domain phosphohydrolase enzyme scaffold that expand the catalytic repertoire of this enzyme superfamily.
Transposon mutagenesis identifies genes that cooperate with mutant Pten in breast cancer progression
Authors: Rangel Roberto , Lee Song-Choon , Hon-Kim Ban Kenneth , Guzman-Rojas Liliana , Mann Michael B. , Newberg Justin Y. , Kodama Takahiro , McNoe Leslie A. , Selvanesan Luxmanan , Ward Jerrold M. , Rust Alistair G. , Chin Kuan-Yew , Black Michael A. , Jenkins Nancy A. , Copeland Neal G.
Published: November 2016

Significance

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype. Despite extensive cancer genome-sequencing efforts, there is still an incomplete understanding of the genetic networks driving TNBC. Here, we usedSleeping Beautytransposon mutagenesis to identify genes that cooperate with mutantPtenin the induction of TNBC. We identified 12 candidate TNBC trunk drivers and a larger number of progression genes. Subsequent functional validation studies identified eight human TNBC tumor suppressor genes, including the GATA-like transcriptional repressorTRPS1, which was shown to inhibit lung metastasis by deregulating the expression of multiple serpin and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway genes. Our study provides a better understanding of the genetic forces driving TNBC and discovered genes with clinical importance in TNBC.
Endogenous central amygdala mu-opioid receptor signaling promotes sodium appetite in mice
Authors: Smith Craig M. , Walker Lesley L. , Leeboonngam Tanawan , McKinley Michael J. , Denton Derek A. , Lawrence Andrew J.
Published: November 2016

Significance

Sodium appetite is an important instinctive behavior with high survival value. Although a role of opioid signaling in salt appetite has been identified in rats, the exact contribution made by different opioid receptor subtypes within specific brain regions is not fully characterized. Here, we report that mu-opioid receptor (MOR) signaling is intrinsically responsible for opioid-dependent sodium appetite rendered by sodium deficiency in mice. Furthermore, we identified that during gratification of sodium appetite, the central amygdala is activated, and endogenous MOR signaling within this region promotes sodium intake in sodium-depleted mice. Accordingly, we reveal a key nucleus within the endogenous opioid circuit that is likely to be conserved across mammals and important in the control of dietary sodium consumption.
Quorum sensing controls the
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune system
Authors: Høyland-Kroghsbo Nina M. , Paczkowski Jon , Mukherjee Sampriti , Broniewski Jenny , Westra Edze , Bondy-Denomy Joseph , Bassler Bonnie L.
Published: November 2016

Significance

The cell–cell communication process, called quorum sensing, activates all three key aspects of the prokaryotic adaptive immune system (termed CRISPR-Cas): expression, activity, and adaptation in the pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. We show that pro- and antiquorum-sensing compounds activate and repress CRISPR-Cas, respectively, suggesting the exciting possibility of a combination quorum-sensing–inhibition-phage therapy cocktail. In
P. aeruginosa
, quorum-sensing inhibitors repress virulence, making
P. aeruginosa
more susceptible to elimination by the human immune system, while simultaneously making
P. aeruginosa
more prone to killing by phage therapy through inhibition of the CRISPR-Cas defense mechanism. Finally, because we show that quorum sensing activates adaptation by the CRISPR-Cas immune system, a quorum-sensing inhibitor should also reduce acquisition of resistance against the administered phage.
Designing Speech for a Recipient
Authors: Fischer Kerstin
Published: November 2016

This study asks how speakers adjust their speech to their addressees, focusing on the potential roles of cognitive representations such as partner models, automatic processes such as interactive alignment, and social processes such as interactional negotiation. The nature of addressee orientation is investigated on three candidates for so-called ‘simplified registers’: speech to children (also called motherese or baby talk), speech to foreigners (also called foreigner talk) and speech to robots. The volume integrates research from various disciplines, such as psychology, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics and conversation analysis, and offers both overviews of child-directed, foreigner-directed and robot-directed speech and in-depth analyses of the processes involved in adjusting to a communication partner.
The obviation agreement effect
Authors: Alcaraz Alejo
Published: November 2016

I will critically review Kayne’s (2009) hypothesis that the presence of a silent clitic explains the Absence of Principle B Effects APBE (Burzio 1991, 1992 among others) with 1st and 2nd person clitics in Romance languages. I will show that APBE does not depend on the presence of any silent clitic – against Kayne (2009) –, but on the φ-features of the DP cross-referenced by subject agreement. I will finally develop a syntactic account for the APBE with local clitics in Romance languages based on the feature decomposition of person morphemes (Kayne 2003, Béjar 2003, Harley and Ritter 2002) and the existence in Romance languages of fake indexicals clitics (Kratzer 2009).
Explicative clauses in Portuguese as a case of parentheses
Authors: Colaço Madalena , Matos Gabriela
Published: November 2016

A subset of causal explicative clauses in European Portuguese (EP) introduced by the connectors pois ‘for’, que ‘that’ and porque ‘because’ has been classified either as coordinate or subordinate clauses, or alternatively as autonomous discursive expressions. Extending previous work, we claim that, although the sentences they head present most of the characteristics of subordination, they establish with the host sentence a paratactic link, and involve secondary and non-restrictive information. We will argue that these explicative clauses arise from parenthetical inclusion via Par-Merge, in the sense of De Vries (2012). This analysis allows us to provide a syntactic account for these clauses, and to capture some of their correlated discursive properties.
Against deficiency-based typologies
Authors: Folli Raffaella , Harley Heidi
Published: November 2016

Can the well-known verb-framed/satellite-framed variation observed by Talmy (1975 et seq.) be productively analyzed as a true parameter, or is it in fact something else, perhaps a morphological tendency of individual lexical items in a given language? Here we defend the view that it is indeed a parameter, of a well-understood type: a head-movement parameter. We claim that it results from the variety of uninterpretable feature that is bundled with the flavor of v which is used in change-of-state constructions. The technical apparatus employed is another instance of a typical head-movement parameter, of the kind that accounts for the familiar V-to-T or T-to-C parameters. In verb-framed languages, head-movement to change-of-state v0 is mandatory, just as head-movement to finite T0 is mandatory in V-to-T languages. The approach, in contrast to previous analyses, does not ascribe a deficiency to verb-framed languages, either in their semantic composition inventory, or their inventory of structural operations, both of which seem prima facie implausible from a biolinguistic/Minimalist perspective.
Case in Italian complex PPs
Authors: Garzonio Jacopo , Rossi Silvia
Published: November 2016

This paper discusses complex Italian prepositional structures (PPs) involving a lexical P followed by a functional P, in particular a ‘to, at’ and di ‘of’, as in sopra (a) un tavolo “on (to) a table”, and analyzes them in a split-PP framework. Di and a in complex PPs may alternate between them or be obligatory, optional or forbidden according to various factors. By investigating the distributional properties of these Ps w.r.t. the type of lexical P they follow, the syntactic category of their complement, and the predicate sub-categorization, we argue that they are case-markers and that the variation affecting their omission or selection is syntactically-driven. The subtle semantic differentiations pointed out in the literature are claimed to be a by-product of different underlying structures.
Yes/no interrogatives and focus in Sardinian
Authors: Mensching Guido
Published: November 2016

In this article, I analyze several structures used to form yes/no questions in Sardinian within a cartographic generative framework. The leading hypothesis (building on previous work) is that the standard yes/no question device is based on the activation of FocP (see Rizzi 1997 et seqq.). Whereas two mechanisms (involving fronting to the left periphery) are already quite well known, the syntactic properties of a third type, formed with the element ite (originally meaning ‘what’), are described for the first time, based on the inquiry of speakers. I show that ite is also located in FocP, similar to the question particle a, though it functions quite differently. The final analysis challenges the view that Int(errogative)P is universally needed to license yes/no questions; it seems instead that in Sardinian IntP is available in a very limited way and subject to specific conditions, which are also addressed in the article.
In defense of defective intervention
Authors: Marchis Moreno Mihaela , Petersen Carolina
Published: November 2016

Bruening (2014) has recently challenged the status of defective intervention as a real syntactic phenomenon, arguing that it is actually the effect of linear order. Our first goal is to show that Bruening’s (2014) potential counterexamples to the existence of syntactic defective intervention are only apparent. We will provide an explanation for his data based on adverb placement and the hierarchical architecture of clauses with experiencers. Moreover, we aim to provide a typology of Romance languages that either prohibit defective intervention like Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and Italian or languages of the Romanian/Spanish-type that obviate defective intervention on the basis of the availability of clitic doubling (Anagnostopoulou 2003, 2005).
EPP and ECP revisited
Authors: Rizzi Luigi
Published: November 2016

In the GB framework, EPP and ECP are stated as two independent principles, but they both attribute a special status to the subject position of clauses: subjects are obligatory, and they are not possible extraction sites (unless special conditions are met). This common core suggests the possibility of establishing a closer link between the two properties (Chomsky 2015, Rizzi 2015b). In this paper I would like to revisit EPP and ECP in terms of certain cartographic assumptions on clause structure, the notion of criterial freezing, and the possibility of deriving the freezing effects from labeling.
Person features and functional heads
Authors: Sánchez López Cristina
Published: November 2016

This paper provides empirical support to the hypothesis that clause typing operators can bear person features and contribute to the sentence not only semantically but also syntactically. Assuming that optative sentences contain an EX operator that combines with a proposition and turns it into the expression of an emotion, I derive the general restriction banning wh-elements that introduce optative sentences from semantic factors. The exceptional grammaticality of certain wh-optatives headed by the wh-word who in Ibero-Romance (Sp. quién, Cat. qui, Gal. quen) requires an account crucially involving syntax in addition to semantics. I propose that the EX operator in optatives bears a person feature and, when in a sufficiently local configuration, binds the subject and enters into an agreement relation with it. The exceptional Ibero-Romance who-optatives are a consequence of this agreement relation.
High resolution imaging of martensitic all-weld metal
Authors: Haslberger P. , Ernst W. , Schnitzer R.
Published: November 2016

Martensitic steel welds show promising results regarding their strength while they may tend to be brittle. As martensite is a quite complex microstructure, high resolution techniques like electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and atom probe tomography (APT) are valuable tools for an in-depth characterisation. In this study, the average block size and misorientation distribution of martensitic all-weld samples were evaluated with EBSD. A lower carbon content led to a smaller block size and consequently a higher toughness of the all-weld sample. Furthermore, APT revealed a concentration fluctuation of the main alloying elements and particles with a high carbon content. It is discussed how these methods can be used in the future to design the microstructure to achieve optimum properties.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing 2 Multimodal Analgesic Techniques in Patients Predicted to Have Severe Pain After Cesarean Delivery
Authors: Booth Jessica L. , Harris Lynnette C. , Eisenach James C. , Pan Peter H.
Published: November 2016

Anesth Analg 2016;122:1114–1119

Severe acute pain following cesarean delivery is a predictor of persistent pain and depression at 2 months postpartum. Although systemic and neuraxial medications have been used to manage this pain, there are side effects, varied success rates, and little guidance on titration of opioids. Many women in the United States receive a mixture of systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and a single dose of intrathecal morphine after cesarean delivery.
Does Oral Carbohydrate Supplementation Improve Labour Outcome? A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis
Authors: Malin G.L. , Bugg G.J. , Thornton J. , Taylor M.A. , Grauwen N. , Devlieger R. , Kardel K.R. , Kubli M. , Tranmer J.E. , Jones N.W.
Published: November 2016

(BJOG 2016;123:510–517)

Oral carbohydrate intake is known to improve outcomes in patients undergoing general surgery. It is also used by athletes to improve their performance. Labor also involves significant physical activity where pain and stress may have a doubling effect on basal metabolic rate. The practice of many anesthesiologists has been to withhold oral intake for women in labor due to concerns about gastric aspiration. However, in some countries oral intake of fluid and a light diet during labor are being allowed based on some recent research. Numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed over the years to assess if oral carbohydrate supplementation could have a positive impact on labor outcomes. This current systematic review attempted to determine this impact using an individual patient data meta-analysis.
#3: Periviable Birth
Authors: Ecker J.L. , Kaimal A. , Mercer B.M. , Blackwell S.C. , deRegnier R.A. , Farrell R.M. , Grobman W.A. , Resnik J.L. , Sciscione A.C.
Published: November 2016

(Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015;213(5):604–614)

This consensus statement describes newborn outcomes after periviable birth (delivery occurring from 20 0/7 weeks to 25 6/7 weeks of gestation), provides current evidence and recommendations regarding interventions in cases where delivery is anticipated near the limit of viability, and provides an outline for family counseling with the goal of incorporating informed patient preferences. It is reported that approximately 0.5% of all births occur before the third trimester of pregnancy and these very early deliveries result in the majority of neonatal deaths and >40% of infant deaths. The consensus statement intends to provide support and guidance regarding decisions (declining or accepting interventions and therapies) based on individual circumstances and patient values.
Extended-Spectrum β-lactamase Infections During Pregnancy: A Growing Threat
Authors: Eppes C.S. , Clark S.L.
Published: November 2016

(Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015;213(5):650–652)

This article is a summary of clinically relevant information on extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), which are plasmid transferable enzymes that evolve rapidly to provide antibiotic resistance to different bacterial species. Although ESBL infection is common during pregnancy, these organisms present special challenges for identification in the laboratory, antibiotic selection and administration, and follow-up.
Prevention of Preterm Birth With Vaginal Progesterone or 17-Alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate: A Critical Examination of Efficacy and Safety
Authors: O’Brien J.M. , Lewis D.F.
Published: November 2016

(Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016;214(1):45–56)

Progestogens, natural progesterone or the synthetic 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC), are the only class of medication to consistently demonstrate significant reductions in the rate of early preterm birth. The synthetic 17-OHPC and natural progesterone have been studied with the use of a prophylactic strategy in women with a history of preterm birth and in women with a multiple gestation. This review addresses the efficacy and safety of progestogen use, given recent experimental observations regarding pharmacodynamics and the evolving understanding of risk-benefit provided from trials and meta-analysis.