bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Displacement Current in Domain Walls of Bismuth Ferrite
Authors: Prosandeev Sergey , Yang Yurong , Paillard Charles , Bellaiche L.
Published: March 2018

In 1861, Maxwell conceived the idea of the displacement current, which then made laws of electrodynamics more complete and also resulted in the realization of devices exploiting such displacement current. Interestingly, it is presently unknown if such displacement current can result in large intrinsic ac current in ferroic systems possessing domains, despite the flurry of recent activities that have been devoted to domains and their corresponding conductivity in these compounds. Here, we report first-principles-based atomistic simulations that predict that the transverse (polarization-related) displacement currents of 71° and 109° domains in the prototypical BiFeO3 multiferroic material are significant at the walls of such domains and in the GHz regime, and, in fact, result in currents that are at least of the same order of magnitude than previously reported dc currents (that are likely extrinsic in nature and due to electrons). Such large, localized and intrinsic ac currents are found to originate from low-frequency vibrations at the domain walls, and may open the door to the design of novel devices functioning in the GHz or THz range and in which currents would be confined within the domain wall.
Proximate mechanisms affecting seasonal differences in migration speed of avian species
Authors: Schmaljohann Heiko
Published: March 2018

Faster migration in spring than in autumn seems to be a common pattern in birds. This has been ultimately explained by seasonally different selection pressures. Variation in migration speed is proximately caused by adjusting travel speed (distance covered during flight) and/or stopover duration (times when birds rest and refuel). Yet, it remains unclear whether individual seasonal differences in migration speed match the common pattern and what the precise role of the proximate, behavioural mechanisms for adjusting migration speed is. By reviewing 64 studies of 401 tracks, I show that in waders, gulls, swifts, and songbirds speeds were significantly higher in spring, while the opposite was the case in waterfowl and owls. Thus, the ultimate mechanisms selecting for a faster migration in spring might not consistently act across bird groups. Breeding latitude, migration strategy, migration distance, flight style, body mass, and sex did not explain seasonal differences in speed. The ratio between spring and autumn total stopover duration of 257 bird tracks significantly negatively affected the seasonal migration speed ratio of the same individuals in a comparative analysis accounting for shared ancestry. Seasonal variation in stopover duration appears thus to be the main biological mechanism regulating seasonal differences in migration speed.
Author Correction: ERV1 Overexpression in Myeloid Cells Protects against High Fat Diet Induced Obesity and Glucose Intolerance
Authors: Sima Corneliu , Montero Eduardo , Nguyen Daniel , Freire Marcelo , Norris Paul , Serhan Charles N. , Van Dyke Thomas E.
Published: March 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Prolonged life of human acute hippocampal slices from temporal lobe epilepsy surgery
Authors: Wickham J. , Brödjegård N. G. , Vighagen R. , Pinborg L. H. , Bengzon J. , Woldbye D. P. D. , Kokaia M. , Andersson M.
Published: March 2018

Resected hippocampal tissue from patients with drug-resistant epilepsy presents a unique possibility to test novel treatment strategies directly in target tissue. The post-resection time for testing and analysis however is normally limited. Acute tissue slices allow for electrophysiological recordings typically up to 12 hours. To enable longer time to test novel treatment strategies such as, e.g., gene-therapy, we developed a method for keeping acute human brain slices viable over a longer period. Our protocol keeps neurons viable well up to 48 hours. Using a dual-flow chamber, which allows for microscopic visualisation of individual neurons with a submerged objective for whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, we report stable electrophysiological properties, such as action potential amplitude and threshold during this time. We also demonstrate that epileptiform activity, monitored by individual dentate granule whole-cell recordings, can be consistently induced in these slices, underlying the usefulness of this methodology for testing and/or validating novel treatment strategies for epilepsy.
Induced nano-scale self-formed metal-oxide interlayer in amorphous silicon tin oxide thin film transistors
Authors: Liu Xianzhe , Xu Hua , Ning Honglong , Lu Kuankuan , Zhang Hongke , Zhang Xiaochen , Yao Rihui , Fang Zhiqiang , Lu Xubing , Peng Junbiao
Published: March 2018

Amorphous Silicon-Tin-Oxide thin film transistors (a-STO TFTs) with Mo source/drain electrodes were fabricated. The introduction of a ~8 nm MoOx interlayer between Mo electrodes and a-STO improved the electron injection in a-STO TFT. Mo adjacent to the a-STO semiconductor mainly gets oxygen atoms from the oxygen-rich surface of a-STO film to form MoOx interlayer. The self-formed MoOx interlayer acting as an efficient interface modification layer could conduce to the stepwise internal transport barrier formation while blocking Mo atoms diffuse into a-STO layer, which would contribute to the formation of ohmic contact between Mo and a-STO film. It can effectively improve device performance, reduce cost and save energy for the realization of large-area display with high resolution in future.
A transcriptional MAPK Pathway Activity Score (MPAS) is a clinically relevant biomarker in multiple cancer types
Authors: Wagle Marie-Claire , Kirouac Daniel , Klijn Christiaan , Liu Bonnie , Mahajan Shilpi , Junttila Melissa , Moffat John , Merchant Mark , Huw Ling , Wongchenko Matthew , Okrah Kwame , Srinivasan Shrividhya , Mounir Zineb , Sumiyoshi Teiko , Haverty Peter M. , Yauch Robert L. , Yan Yibing , Kabbarah Omar , Hampton Garret , Amler Lukas , Ramanujan Saroja , Lackner Mark R. , Huang Shih-Min A.
Published: March 2018

KRAS- and BRAF-mutant tumors are often dependent on MAPK signaling for proliferation and survival and thus sensitive to MAPK pathway inhibitors. However, clinical studies have shown that MEK inhibitors are not uniformly effective in these cancers indicating that mutational status of these oncogenes does not accurately capture MAPK pathway activity. A number of transcripts are regulated by this pathway and are recurrently identified in genome-based MAPK transcriptional signatures. To test whether the transcriptional output of only 10 of these targets could quantify MAPK pathway activity with potential predictive or prognostic clinical utility, we created a MAPK Pathway Activity Score (MPAS) derived from aggregated gene expression. In vitro, MPAS predicted sensitivity to MAPK inhibitors in multiple cell lines, comparable to or better than larger genome-based statistical models. Bridging in vitro studies and clinical samples, median MPAS from a given tumor type correlated with cobimetinib (MEK inhibitor) sensitivity of cancer cell lines originating from the same tissue type. Retrospective analyses of clinical datasets showed that MPAS was associated with the sensitivity of melanomas to vemurafenib (HR: 0.596) and negatively prognostic of overall or progression-free survival in both adjuvant and metastatic CRC (HR: 1.5 and 1.4), adrenal cancer (HR: 1.7), and HER2+ breast cancer (HR: 1.6). MPAS thus demonstrates potential clinical utility that warrants further exploration.
Recent advances in microRNA detection
Authors: Cheng Yongqiang , Dong Lijuan , Zhang Jiangyan , Zhao Yaqing , Li Zhengping
Published: March 2018

Recent advances in miRNA detection methods and new applications.
Bioinks for 3D bioprinting: an overview
Authors: Gungor-Ozkerim P. Selcan , Inci Ilyas , Zhang Yu Shrike , Khademhosseini Ali , Dokmeci Mehmet Remzi
Published: March 2018

Bioprinting is an emerging technology with various applications in making functional tissue constructs to replace injured or diseased tissues. In all bioprinting strategies, the bioinks are an essential component. We provide an in-depth discussion of the different bioinks currently employed for bioprinting, and outline some future perspectives in their further development.
Photo-responsive photonic crystals for broad wavelength shifts
Authors: Yang Bingquan , Li Lu , Du Kuishan , Fan Bingbing , Long Yue , Song Kai
Published: March 2018

Benefiting from a photobase, an inverse opal photonic film affords a wavelength shift of more than 200 nm under irradiation.
High-performance thermoelectric materials based on ternary TiO2/CNT/PANI composites
Authors: Erden Fuat , Li Hui , Wang Xizu , Wang FuKe , He Chaobin
Published: March 2018

High-performance thermoelectric materials with a thermoelectric power factor of 114.5 μW mK−2 were obtained by using the ternary composite of TiO2/CNT/PANI.
Nuclear quantum effects on the liquid–liquid phase transition of a water-like monatomic liquid
Authors: Nguyen Binh , Lopez Gustavo E. , Giovambattista Nicolas
Published: March 2018

The liquid–liquid phase transition of a classical monatomic liquid shifts towards low-temperatures and high-pressures when nuclear quantum effects are included.
Intermediate temperature fuel cells via an ion-pair coordinated polymer electrolyte
Authors: Lee Kwan-Soo , Maurya Sandip , Kim Yu Seung , Kreller Cortney R. , Wilson Mahlon S. , Larsen Dennis , Elangovan S. Elango , Mukundan Rangachary
Published: March 2018

High performance of SnP2O7-based intermediate temperature fuel cells was obtained with a quaternary ammonium-biphosphate ion-pair coordinated polymer electrolyte.
Hg isotopes reveal in-stream processing and legacy inputs in East Fork Poplar Creek, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
Authors: Demers Jason D. , Blum Joel D. , Brooks Scott C. , Donovan Patrick M. , Riscassi Ami L. , Miller Carrie L. , Zheng Wang , Gu Baohua
Published: March 2018

Reduction processes and inputs of hyporheic pore water influence Hg cycling and flux in Hg-contaminated headwater stream.
The precipitation, growth and stability of mercury sulfide nanoparticles formed in the presence of marine dissolved organic matter
Authors: Mazrui Nashaat M. , Seelen Emily , King'ondu Cecil K. , Thota Sravan , Awino Joseph , Rouge Jessica , Zhao Jing , Mason Robert P.
Published: March 2018

Coastal and oceanic DOM formed stable mercury sulfide nanoparticle solutions but smaller sized particles were obtained when coastal DOM was used.
Tuning the molecular weight distribution from atom transfer radical polymerization using deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Li Haichen , Collins Christopher R. , Ribelli Thomas G. , Matyjaszewski Krzysztof , Gordon Geoffrey J. , Kowalewski Tomasz , Yaron David J.
Published: March 2018

Combination of deep reinforcement learning and atom transfer radical polymerization gives precise in silico control on polymer molecular weight distributions.
Evidence for the electrochemical production of persulfate at TiO2 nanotubes decorated with PbO2
Authors: Santos José Eudes L. , Antonio Quiroz Marco , Cerro-Lopez Monica , de Moura Dayanne Chianca , Martínez-Huitle Carlos A.
Published: March 2018

The aim of this work is to study the viability of using TiO2 nanotube arrays decorated with PbO2 to electrochemically produce persulfate
Oxygen atom transfer between DMSO and benzoin catalyzed by cis-dioxidomolybdenum(vi) complexes of tetradentate Mannich bases
Authors: Maurya Mannar R. , Mengesha Bekele , Uprety Bhawna , Jangra Nancy , Tomar Reshu , Avecilla Fernando
Published: March 2018

Dioxidomolybdenum(vi) complexes of tetradentate ONNO donor Mannich base ligands for the catalytic oxygen atom transfer between benzoin and DMSO are reported.
A colorimetric-dispersive solid-phase extraction method for the sensitive and selective determination of iron using dissolvable bathocuproinedisulfonic acid-intercalated layered double hydroxide nanosheets
Authors: Hamid Yahya , Fat’hi Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2018

In this research, a novel, simple, sensitive and selective method has been presented for the determination of iron using dissolvable bathocuproine disulfonic acid (BCS)-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) for dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE).
Functional phenylethynylene side arm poly(arylene ethynylene) conjugated polymers: optical and electrochemical behavior for enrichment of electronic applications
Authors: Arun Kumar G. , Gomathi Priya P. , Alagar M.
Published: March 2018

The new type of poly(phenyl ethynylene) side arm conjugated polymers were synthesised with effective photophysical and electrochemical properties.
A HPLC-ICP-AES technique for the screening of [XW11NbO40]n− aqueous solutions
Authors: Shmakova Alexandra A. , Akhmetova Maria M. , Volchek Victoria V. , Romanova Tamara E. , Korolkov Ilya , Sheven Dmitri G. , Adonin Sergey A. , Abramov Pavel A. , Sokolov Maxim N.
Published: March 2018

In this research combined HPLC-ICP-AES technique was used to study formation of mixed [XW11O40]n− (X = P, Ge, B) complexes.
A metabolomic strategy based on integrating headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to differentiate the five cultivars of Chrysanthemum flower
Authors: Zhang Lin-Ning , Wang Long , Shi Zi-Qi , Li Ping , Li Hui-Jun
Published: March 2018

A metabolomic strategy based on HSGC-MS and UPLC-QTOF/MS provided complementary information through fully monitoring functional constituents.
Fabrication of double core–shell Si-based anode materials with nanostructure for lithium-ion battery
Authors: Wu Pengfei , Guo Changqing , Han Jiangtao , Yu Kairui , Dong Xichao , Yue Guanghui , Yue Huijuan , Guan Yan , Liu Anhua
Published: March 2018

Double core shell structure can not only improve the efficiency of lithium transport, but also effectively alleviate volume expansion.
Developing communication confidence and professional identity in chemistry through international online collaborative learning
Authors: Skagen Darlene , McCollum Brett , Morsch Layne , Shokoples Brandon
Published: March 2018

The use of online collaborative assignments (OCAs) between two flipped organic chemistry classrooms, one in Canada and the other in the United States, was examined for impact on learners. The intervention was designed to support content mastery, aid in increasing students’ communication skills through chemistry drawing and verbalization, facilitate emergence of professional identity, and promote development of appreciation for chemistry as an international language. A mixed-methods approach consisting of interviews, student written reflections, and questionnaires was used to evaluate the impact of the OCAs. Students described their experience of the OCAs in terms of: chemistry communication confidence; engaged learning; chemistry learning; relationships; and professional identity.
Understanding homogeneous hydrogen evolution reactivity and deactivation pathways of molecular molybdenum sulfide catalysts
Authors: Dave M. , Rajagopal A. , Damm-Ruttensperger M. , Schwarz B. , Nägele F. , Daccache L. , Fantauzzi D. , Jacob T. , Streb C.
Published: March 2018

The first example of light driven, homogeneous hydrogen evolution reactivity of a molecular molybdenum sulfide is presented together with experimental and theoretical insights into the reasons for the unusually high activity.
Earthworm-like N, S-Doped carbon tube-encapsulated Co9S8nanocomposites derived from nanoscaled metal–organic frameworks for highly efficient bifunctional oxygen catalysis
Authors: Liu Tao , Zhang Limin , Tian Yang
Published: March 2018

Herein, a novel earthworm-like N, S-doped carbon nanotube-encapsulated Co9S8hybrid was developed using the metal–organic framework (MOF) UiO-66-NH2as a nanoscaled templateviaan immiscible two-phase incorporation.
Bimetallic Co2Mo3O8 suboxides coupled with conductive cobalt nanowires for efficient and durable hydrogen evolution in alkaline electrolyte
Authors: Ou Yingqing , Tian Weiquan , Liu Lu , Zhang Yunhuai , Xiao Peng
Published: March 2018

Development of highly active and robust earth-abundant electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of great significance for the broad utilization of alkaline electrolyzers.
Bioinspired heptapeptides as functionalized mineralization inducers with enhanced hydroxyapatite affinity
Authors: Liu Yuebo , Ding Chunmei , He Libang , Yang Xiao , Gou Yaping , Xu Xinyuan , Liu Yanpeng , Zhao Changsheng , Li Jianshu , Li Jiyao
Published: March 2018

Statherin-inspired heptapeptides with enhanced affinity with hydroxyapatite function as a mineralization inducer.
Strategies to design antimicrobial contact lenses and contact lens cases
Authors: Xiao Amy , Dhand Chetna , Leung Chak Ming , Beuerman Roger W. , Ramakrishna Seeram , Lakshminarayanan Rajamani
Published: March 2018

Different strategies to design antimicrobial contact lenses and contact lens cases.
Translucent, color-neutral and efficient perovskite thin film solar modules
Authors: Rakocevic Lucija , Gehlhaar Robert , Jaysankar Manoj , Song Wenya , Aernouts Tom , Fledderus Henri , Poortmans Jef
Published: March 2018

This work defines the possibilities and limitations of an industry-known ablation process applied to perovskite PVs resulting in translucent and efficient modules.
A versatile matrix of an ionic liquid functionalized with aldehyde and ferrocene groups for label-free electrochemical immunosensors
Authors: Shen Youming , Shen Guangyu , Zhang Youyu
Published: March 2018

A new “all-in-one” ionic liquid anchored with both Fc and aldehyde groups for immunoassay applications.
Discovery of a self-assembling and self-adjuvant lipopeptide as a saccharide-free peptide vaccine targeting EGFRvIII positive cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Chen Yujuan , Yuan Fengjiao , Jiang Xian , Lv Qing , Luo Na , Gong Changyang , Wang Chunting , Yang Li , He Gu
Published: March 2018

Recently, tumor immunotherapy has achieved great progress in the treatment of hematological and solid neoplasms.
Base-controlled chemoselectivity reaction of vinylanilines with isothiocyanates for synthesis of quinolino-2-thione and 2-aminoquinoline derivatives
Authors: Zhang Xi , Wang Tong-Lin , Huo Cong-De , Wang Xi-Cun , Quan Zheng-Jun
Published: March 2018

Quinolino-2-thione and 2-aminoquinoline derivatives were obtained by a base-controlled chemo-selective reaction of vinylanilines with alkyl/aryl isothiocyanates.
Binding sites for luminescent amyloid biomarkers from non-biased molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: König Carolin , Skånberg Robin , Hotz Ingrid , Ynnerman Anders , Norman Patrick , Linares Mathieu
Published: March 2018

Luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes showing fibrillar amyloid site-binding as revealed by computer-aided visual analysis of MD trajectories.
Using lead chalcogenide nanocrystals as spin mixers: a perspective on near-infrared-to-visible upconversion
Authors: Nienhaus Lea , Wu Mengfei , Bulović Vladimir , Baldo Marc A. , Bawendi Moungi G.
Published: March 2018

This perspective highlights recent advances in the field of PbS NC-sensitized near-infrared-to-visible upconversion based on triplet–triplet annihilation in rubrene.
Rubber-based carbon electrode materials derived from dumped tires for efficient sodium-ion storage
Authors: Wu Zhen-Yue , Ma Chao , Bai Yu-Lin , Liu Yu-Si , Wang Shi-Feng , Wei Xiao , Wang Kai-Xue , Chen Jie-Sheng
Published: March 2018

A carbon composite decorated within situgenerated ZnS nanoparticles has been preparedviaa simple pyrolysis of the rubber powder from dumped tires. Upon being used as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries, the carbon composite shows high electrochemical performance.
Analysis and experimental validation of the figure of merit for piezoelectric energy harvesters
Authors: Deutz Daniella B. , Pascoe John-Alan , Schelen Ben , van der Zwaag Sybrand , de Leeuw Dago M. , Groen Pim
Published: March 2018

We demonstrate that the figure of merit for materials in piezoelectric energy harvesters does not depend on the compliance.
Cu(OTf)2 loaded protonated trititanate nanotubes catalyzed reaction: a facile method for the synthesis of furo[2,3-b]quinoxalines
Authors: Reddy Bhoomireddy Rajendra Prasad , Reddy Sirigireddy Sudharsan , Reddy Peddiahgari Vasu Govardhana
Published: March 2018

An efficient method is developed for the synthesis of furo[2,3-b]quinoxalines via one-pot three-component reaction of o-phenylenediamine, ethylglyoxalate and phenylacetylenes.
Noninvasive magnetic resonance/photoacoustic imaging for photothermal therapy response monitoring
Authors: Ye Jing , Fu Guifeng , Yan Xiaohui , Liu Jingyi , Wang Xiaoyong , Cheng Liang , Zhang Fan , Sun Phillip Zhe , Liu Gang
Published: March 2018

The combined use of magnetic resonance/photoacoustic imaging techniques is useful in monitoring vascular permeability and temperature status following nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy.
The enzyme-like catalytic activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles and its dependency on Ce3+ surface area concentration
Authors: Baldim V. , Bedioui F. , Mignet N. , Margaill I. , Berret J.-F.
Published: March 2018

Cerium oxide nanoparticles are known to catalyze the decomposition of reactive oxygen species such as the superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide.
The alkyne-tag Raman imaging of coronatine, a plant pathogen virulence factor, in Commelina communis and its possible mode of action
Authors: Ueda Minoru , Hayashi Kengo , Egoshi Syusuke , Ishimaru Yasuhiro , Takaoka Yousuke , Yamakoshi Hiroyuki , Dodo Kosuke , Sodeoka Mikiko
Published: March 2018

Coronatine, a virulence factor of plant bacteria, facilitates bacterial infection through an ER (endoplasmic reticulum)-mediated mechanism and works by affecting the ethylene signaling pathway.
Mechanisms of partial hydrogen sorption reversibility in a 3NaBH4/ScF3 composite
Authors: Zhao Ning , Zou Jianxin , Zeng Xiaoqin , Ding Wenjiang
Published: March 2018

The dehydrogenation of 3NaBH4/ScF3 involves three consecutive processes, and the second dehydrogenation step has reversibility.
Supported cobalt catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of ethyl levulinate to various chemicals
Authors: Cen Youliang , Zhu Shanhui , Guo Jing , Chai Jiachun , Jiao Weiyong , Wang Jianguo , Fan Weibin
Published: March 2018

Biomass-derived ethyl levulinate can flexibly convert to GVL, EHP, 1,4-PDO and 2-MTHF with excellent selectivity on a supported cobalt catalyst.
Enhanced performance of perovskite solar cells via anti-solvent nonfullerene Lewis base IT-4F induced trap-passivation
Authors: Guo Yaxiong , Ma Junjie , Lei Hongwei , Yao Fang , Li Borui , Xiong Liangbin , Fang Guojia
Published: March 2018

We have developed a new method to introduce defect passivation agents using an in situ technique for planar p–i–n perovskite solar cells, during the anti-solvent deposition step.
CO2 capture by amine infused hydrogels (AIHs)
Authors: Xu Xingguang , Heath Charles , Pejcic Bobby , Wood Colin D.
Published: March 2018

The AIHs are formed in 300 seconds by mixing hydrogel particles with liquid amine (left) which increases the contact area between the CO2 and the amine (right).
An AIE + ESIPT ratiometric fluorescent probe for monitoring sulfur dioxide with distinct ratiometric fluorescence signals in mammalian cells, mouse embryonic fibroblast and zebrafish
Authors: Liu Yong , Nie Jing , Niu Jie , Wang Weishan , Lin Weiying
Published: March 2018

We have developed a novel ratiometric probe,TPE-TE, monitoring SO2with distinct ratiometric fluorescence signals in mammalian cells, mouse embryonic fibroblast, and zebrafish.
A degradable hydrogel formed by dendrimer-encapsulated platinum nanoparticles and oxidized dextran for repeated photothermal cancer therapy
Authors: Li Lin , Wang Changping , Huang Quan , Xiao Jianru , Zhang Qiang , Cheng Yiyun
Published: March 2018

A Dex-DEPt hydrogel was immobilized in tumors for a period of days to allow repeated PTT and degraded spontaneously post-treatment.
Progress in TiO2nanotube coatings for biomedical applications: a review
Authors: Cheng Yan , Yang Hui , Yang Yun , Huang Jianying , Wu Ke , Chen Zhong , Wang Xiaoqin , Lin Changjian , Lai Yuekun
Published: March 2018

The biocompatibility, controllable size and crystal structure and surface functionalization ability of TNTs accelerate its efficient development in biomedical applications including implants and biosensors.
The role of renal dipeptidyl peptidase-4 in kidney disease: renal effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with a focus on linagliptin
Authors: Kanasaki Keizo
Published: March 2018

Emerging evidence suggests that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors used to treat type 2 diabetes may have nephroprotective effects beyond the reduced renal risk conferred by glycemic control. DPP-4 is a ubiquitous protein with exopeptidase activity that exists in cell membrane-bound and soluble forms. The kidneys contain the highest levels of DPP-4, which is increased in diabetic nephropathy. DPP-4 inhibitors are a chemically heterogeneous class of drugs with important pharmacological differences. Of the globally marketed DPP-4 inhibitors, linagliptin is of particular interest for diabetic nephropathy as it is the only compound that is not predominantly excreted in the urine. Linagliptin is also the most potent DPP-4 inhibitor, has the highest affinity for this protein, and has the largest volume of distribution; these properties allow linagliptin to penetrate kidney tissue and tightly bind resident DPP-4. In animal models of kidney disease, linagliptin elicited multiple renoprotective effects, including reducing albuminuria, glomerulosclerosis, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, independent of changes in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose levels. At the molecular level, linagliptin prevented the pro-fibrotic endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition by disrupting the interaction between membrane-bound DPP-4 and integrin β1 that enhances signaling by transforming growth factor-β1 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1. Linagliptin also increased stromal cell derived factor-1 levels, ameliorated endothelial dysfunction, and displayed unique antioxidant effects. Although the nephroprotective effects of linagliptin are yet to be translated to the clinical setting, the ongoing Cardiovascular and Renal Microvascular Outcome Study with Linagliptin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (CARMELINA®) study will definitively assess the renal effects of this DPP-4 inhibitor. CARMELINA® is the only clinical trial of a DPP-4 inhibitor powered to evaluate kidney outcomes.
Speech Adaptation to Kinematic Recording Sensors: Perceptual and Acoustic Findings
Authors: Dromey Christopher , Hunter Elise , Nissen Shawn L.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This study used perceptual and acoustic measures to examine the time course of speech adaptation after the attachment of electromagnetic sensor coils to the tongue, lips, and jaw.

Method

Twenty native English speakers read aloud stimulus sentences before the attachment of the sensors, immediately after attachment, and again 5, 10, 15, and 20 min later. They read aloud continuously between recordings to encourage adaptation. Sentence recordings were perceptually evaluated by 20 native English listeners, who rated 150 stimuli (which included 31 samples that were repeated to assess rater reliability) using a visual analog scale with the end points labeled as “precise” and “imprecise.” Acoustic analysis began by segmenting and measuring the duration of the fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ as well as the whole sentence. The spectral center of gravity and spectral standard deviation of the 2 fricatives were measured using Praat. These phonetic targets were selected because the standard placement of sensor coils on the lingual surface was anticipated to interfere with normal fricative production, causing them to become distorted.

Results

Perceptual ratings revealed a decrease in speech precision after sensor attachment and evidence of adaptation over time; there was little perceptual change beyond the 10-min recording. The spectral center of gravity for /s/ decreased, and the spectral standard deviation for /ʃ/ increased after sensor attachment, but the acoustic measures showed no evidence of adaptation over time.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that 10 min may be sufficient time to allow speakers to adapt before experimental data collection with Northern Digital Instruments Wave electromagnetic sensors.
Language Changes Following Combined Aphasia and Apraxia of Speech Treatment
Authors: Bunker Lisa D. , Wright Sandra , Wambaugh Julie L.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Combined Aphasia and Apraxia of Speech Treatment (CAAST) is a newly developed treatment shown to increase production of accurate content in narrative discourse for persons with aphasia and apraxia of speech. The purpose of this post hoc study was to further describe lexical and morphosyntactic changes associated with changes in content production.

Method

Existing probe data from 8 persons with aphasia who had completed CAAST were used to complete analyses of morphosyntactic production, lexical diversity, and novelty of content. Language analyses were completed using discourse samples obtained at numerous pretreatment and posttreatment intervals.

Results

All participants demonstrated gains in morphosyntactic language output for treated items, which extended to untreated sets for 7 participants. All 8 increased in production of novel content. Lexical diversity increases were evident for most participants. Although there were some similarities in language changes, there was substantial variability across response profiles.

Conclusion

CAAST, previously associated with positive treatment effects for production of accurate content, also appears to facilitate acquisition and generalization of morphosyntactic complexity, lexical diversity, and novelty of content for individuals with nonfluent aphasia. Further investigation is needed to determine causality and appropriate clinical application.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5912530
Data‐driven recovery of hand depth using CRRF on stereo images
Authors: Basaru Rilwan Remilekun , Child Chris , Alonso Eduardo , Slabaugh Gregory
Published: March 2018

Hand pose is emerging as an important interface for human–computer interaction. This study presents a data‐driven method to estimate a high‐quality depth map of a hand from a stereoscopic camera input by introducing a novel superpixel‐based regression framework that takes advantage of the smoothness of the depth surface of the hand. To this end, the authors introduce conditional regressive random forest (CRRF), a method that combines a conditional random field (CRF) and an RRF to model the mapping from a stereo red, green and blue image pair to a depth image. The RRF provides a unary term that adaptively selects different stereo‐matching measures as it implicitly determines matching pixels in a coarse‐to‐fine manner. While the RRF makes depth prediction for each superpixel independently, the CRF unifies the prediction of depth by modelling pairwise interactions between adjacent superpixels. Experimental results show that CRRF can generate a depth image more accurately than the leading contemporary techniques using an inexpensive stereo camera.
Non‐negative scattering power decomposition for PolSAR data interpretation
Authors: Maurya Himanshu , Panigrahi Rajib Kumar
Published: March 2018

This study presents a hybrid technique for polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) data decomposition. The proposed technique aims to overcome the negative power problem of model‐based decomposition methods. To achieve this, matrix rotation theory is used along with hybrid scattering models. The matrix rotation theory is utilised on the basis of underlying dominant scatterer to remove maximal of the cross‐polarisation power generated by the coupling between orthogonal states of polarisation. Removing the coupling energy between orthogonal states not only optimised the PolSAR coherency matrix but also transform it more close to reflection symmetry condition. The applicability of the proposed approach is shown through the implementation of hybrid three‐ and four‐component decomposition methods. The proposed hybrid methods are experimentally verified on C‐band Radarsat‐2 San Francisco and L‐band UAVSAR Hayward datasets. For further analysis, different land‐cover patches are selected. Moreover, the variations in percentage of negative power pixels are investigated by employing different volume scattering models. Comparative analyses are presented with existing PolSAR decomposition techniques in terms of normalised scattering power means and amount of negative power pixels. All experimental analyses clearly report the superiority of the proposed hybrid approach through improvements over existing PolSAR decomposition techniques along with non‐negative scattering powers.
2D optimal MMF design with a controllable maximum loss for Doppler signals
Authors: Wang Yan , He Yuliang , Sun Sibo , Fu Jin
Published: March 2018

Mismatched filter (MMF) is a commonly used technique to suppress the masking effect of weak targets due to the range sidelobes of stronger targets. Although the existing design of MMFs is proved to have a good performance for radar, they cannot be directly applied to sonar, since the Doppler effect for sonar is far more severe than that for radar. In this study, the authors propose a novel two‐dimensional (2D) optimal design of MMFs with a controllable maximum loss for sonar. First, they investigate the design of MMFs based on the 2D cross‐correlation function when considering the Doppler effect. It is capable of improving the suppression performance of range sidelobes caused by Doppler signals. MMFs are extended to two dimensions. Then, the optimisation problems to minimise the integrated sidelobe level or the peak sidelobe level are established. It has the capability to flexibly control the maximum loss of signal‐to‐noise ratio and the 2D MMF characteristics by weighted functions. Finally, the constrained optimisation problems can be solved by transforming into the second‐order cone programming problems. Simulations relative to multiple signals (P4 polyphase code, binary m‐sequence and chirp signal) prove the validity of the design approach.
Atmospheric radiation boundary conditions for the Helmholtz equation
Authors: Barucq Hélène , Chabassier Juliette , Duruflé Marc , Gizon Laurent , Leguèbe Michael
Published: March 2018

This work offers some contributions to the numerical study of acoustic waves propagating in the Sun and its atmosphere. The main goal is to provide boundary conditions for outgoing waves in the solar atmosphere where it is assumed that the sound speed is constant and the density decays exponentially with radius. Outgoing waves are governed by a Dirichlet-to-Neumann map which is obtained from the factorization of the Helmholtz equation expressed in spherical coordinates. For the purpose of extending the outgoing wave equation to axisymmetric or 3D cases, different approximations are implemented by using the frequency and/or the angle of incidence as parameters of interest. This results in boundary conditions called atmospheric radiation boundary conditions (ARBC) which are tested in ideal and realistic configurations. These ARBCs deliver accurate results and reduce the computational burden by a factor of two in helioseismology applications.
Mixed schemes for quad-curl equations
Authors: Zhang Shuo
Published: March 2018

In this paper, mixed schemes are presented for two variants of quad-curl equations. Specifically, stable equivalent mixed formulations for the model problems are presented, which can be discretized by finite elements of low regularity and of low degree. The regularities of the mixed formulations and thus equivalently the primal formulations are established, and some finite elements examples are given which can exploit the regularity of the solutions to an optimal extent.
Numerical analysis of the mixed finite element method for the neutron diffusion eigenproblem with heterogeneous coefficients
Authors: Ciarlet P. , Giret L. , Jamelot E. , Kpadonou F.D.
Published: March 2018

We study first the convergence of the finite element approximation of the mixed diffusion equations with a source term, in the case where the solution is of low regularity. Such a situation commonly arises in the presence of three or more intersecting material components with different characteristics. Then we focus on the approximation of the associated eigenvalue problem. We prove spectral correctness for this problem in the mixed setting. These studies are carried out without, and then with a domain decomposition method. The domain decomposition method can be non-matching in the sense that the traces of the finite element spaces may not fit at the interface between subdomains. Finally, numerical experiments illustrate the accuracy of the method.
Quadratic convergence of Levenberg-Marquardt method for elliptic and parabolic inverse robin problems
Authors: Jiang Daijun , Feng Hui , Zou Jun
Published: March 2018

We study the Levenberg-Marquardt (L-M) method for solving the highly nonlinear and ill-posed inverse problem of identifying the Robin coefficients in elliptic and parabolic systems. The L-M method transforms the Tikhonov regularized nonlinear non-convex minimizations into convex minimizations. And the quadratic convergence of the L-M method is rigorously established for the nonlinear elliptic and parabolic inverse problems for the first time, under a simple novel adaptive strategy for selecting regularization parameters during the L-M iteration. Then the surrogate functional approach is adopted to solve the strongly ill-conditioned convex minimizations, resulting in an explicit solution of the minimisation at each L-M iteration for both the elliptic and parabolic cases. Numerical experiments are provided to demonstrate the accuracy, efficiency and quadratic convergence of the methods.
Biodosimetrie in der Nuklearmedizin
Authors: Schumann Sarah , Lassmann Michael , Eberlein Uta
Published: March 2018

Die Biodosimetrie leistet einen wichtigen Beitrag zum Verständnis der Wirkung ionisierender Strahlung. Ziel dieser Übersichtsarbeit ist es daher, Methoden und Ergebnisse der Biodosimetrie und deren Zusammenhang mit der physikalischen Dosimetrie vorzustellen. Die Daten dieser Arbeit wurden aus Veröffentlichungen nach 1995 erhoben. Die dabei verwendeten Methoden sind hauptsächlich die Analyse dizentrischer Chromosomen, der Mikrokern-Assay, sowie der γ-H2AX-Assay in Lymphozyten. Die Mehrzahl der Daten wurde während Radioiodtherapien erhoben. Etwa die Hälfte der Veröffentlichungen bezog die Ergebnisse nur auf die verabreichte Aktivität. Dosis-Wirkungsbeziehungen konnten nur in wenigen Arbeiten hergestellt werden. Insbesondere anhand der Daten, die mittels des γ-H2AX-Assays gewonnen wurden, konnte die Dosisabhängigkeit und der zeitliche Verlauf der DNA-Schadensantwort in vitro und in vivo mit ß–-Emittern gezeigt werden. Weitere Arbeiten sind nötig, um die Reparatur von DNA-Schäden und deren Zusammenhang mit der Energiedosis nach nuklearmedizinischer Diagnostik und Therapie, insbesondere auch mit α-Strahlern, noch besser beschreiben zu können.
Pharmakokinetische Modellierung in der Nuklearmedizin
Authors: Kletting Peter , Glatting Gerhard
Published: March 2018

Für die nuklearmedizinische Dosimetrie wird die Kenntnis der Anzahl der Zerfälle des verwendeten Radionuklids im jeweiligen Gewebe oder dem betrachteten Volumenelement (Voxel) benötigt. Hierfür muss die Pharmakokinetik, also der entsprechende Zeitaktivitätsverlauf, bekannt sein, weil die Zahl der Zerfälle durch die mathematische Integration des Aktivitätsverlaufs über der Zeit berechnet werden kann. Da die Aktivität nur für einige wenige Zeitpunkte gemessen werden kann, muss die vollständige Pharmakokinetik für alle Zeitpunkte anhand von mathematischen Modellen geschätzt werden. Nur auf der Basis geeigneter Modelle können Vorhersagen der Pharmakokinetik zur Optimierung der Therapie erhalten werden.

Diese Modelle unterscheiden sich in ihrer Komplexität aufgrund des im Modell enthaltenen Vorwissens über die zugrundeliegende Physiologie und der zur Verfügung stehenden Anzahl von Messpunkten: So gibt es modellunabhängige Varianten, einfache Kompartimentmodelle oder physiologisch basierte Kompartimentmodelle. In den Letzteren werden die mathematischen Kompartimente mit entsprechenden physiologischen Kompartimenten identifiziert, weshalb die Parameter des Modells physiologischen Größen entsprechen. Damit erlauben diese physiologisch basierten pharmakokinetischen (PBPK) Modelle nicht nur eine Kurvenanpassung an die Messwerte sondern zusätzlich auch die Simulation verschiedener therapeutischer Optionen als Basis zukünftiger Optimierungen der Therapie. Die unterschiedliche Komplexität des verwendeten Vorwissens für die verschiedenen Modelle beeinflusst die Anzahl der benötigten Messdaten und damit sowohl die Kosten als auch die Qualität der Ergebnisse.

In dieser Übersicht werden zuerst verschiedene Arten von Modellen eingeführt und beobachterunabhängige Verfahren zur Auswahl des besten Modells basierend auf den gegebenen Messdaten diskutiert. Danach wird die Modellselektion am Beispiel des Akaike Informations-Kriteriums und von Qualitätskriterien für die Datenanpassung durch Modelle demonstriert. Des Weiteren werden Beispiele für den Einsatz von physiologisch basierten pharmakokinetischen Ganzkörpermodellen in der nuklearmedizinischen Dosimetrie zur Optimierung der Radionuklid-Therapie vorgestellt.
Carbon footprints for the supply of electricity to a heat pump: Solar energy vs. electric grid
Authors: de Souza Grilo Maria Mayara , Fortes Anderson Felipe Chaves , de Souza Raoni Pinheiro Gonzaga , Silva Júlio Augusto Mendes , Carvalho Monica
Published: March 2018

The carbon footprint is one of the most commonly employed environmental indicators used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with a process or a product. The energy sector is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector. This has raised concerns about the consequences of the high consumption of non-renewable resources and increased the search for renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic solar energy, enable diversification of the global energy system. In this study, a comparative environmental analysis was performed for a heat pump utilized for dehumidification and heating purposes. The carbon footprints associated with two different scenarios for the supply of electricity to a heat pump were calculated. The first scenario used electricity from the national electric grid (Brazilian electricity mix), and the second scenario used electricity from a photovoltaic solar energy system connected to the grid. Photovoltaic solar energy presented a considerable environmental advantage in comparison to the direct use of electricity from the grid, with a reduction of approximately −207.88 kg CO2-eq/year. The use of cleaner energy sources, such as photovoltaic solar energy, significantly contributes to a reduction of the carbon footprint, and herein a significant potential for the mitigation of climate change was demonstrated.
Topological edge states for disordered bosonic systems
Authors: Peano Vittorio , Schulz-Baldes Hermann
Published: March 2018

Quadratic bosonic Hamiltonians over a one-particle Hilbert space can be described by a Bogoliubov-de Gennes (BdG) Hamiltonian on a particle-hole Hilbert space. In general, the BdG Hamiltonian is not self-adjoint, but only J-self-adjoint on the particle-hole space viewed as a Krein space. Nevertheless, its energy bands can have non-trivial topological invariants like Chern numbers or winding numbers. By a thorough analysis for tight-binding models, it is proved that these invariants lead to bosonic edge modes which are robust to a large class of possibly disordered perturbations. Furthermore, general scenarios are presented for these edge states to be dynamically unstable even though the bulk modes are stable.
Relaxation rates of gene expression kinetics reveal the feedback signs of autoregulatory gene networks
Authors: Jia Chen , Qian Hong , Chen Min , Zhang Michael Q.
Published: March 2018

The transient response to a stimulus and subsequent recovery to a steady state are the fundamental characteristics of a living organism. Here we study the relaxation kinetics of autoregulatory gene networks based on the chemical master equation model of single-cell stochastic gene expression with nonlinear feedback regulation. We report a novel relation between the rate of relaxation, characterized by the spectral gap of the Markov model, and the feedback sign of the underlying gene circuit. When a network has no feedback, the relaxation rate is exactly the decaying rate of the protein. We further show that positive feedback always slows down the relaxation kinetics while negative feedback always speeds it up. Numerical simulations demonstrate that this relation provides a possible method to infer the feedback topology of autoregulatory gene networks by using time-series data of gene expression.
Microfluidic platform for selective microparticle parking and paired particle isolation in droplet arrays
Authors: Chen Lynna , Kim Jae Jung , Doyle Patrick S.
Published: March 2018

Immobilizing microscale objects (e.g., cells, spheroids, and microparticles) in arrays for direct observation and analysis is a critical step of many biological and chemical assays; however, existing techniques are often limited in their ability to precisely capture, arrange, isolate, and recollect objects of interest. In this work, we present a microfluidic platform that selectively parks microparticles in hydrodynamic traps based on particle physical characteristics (size, stiffness, and internal structure). We present an accompanying scaling analysis for the particle parking process to enable rational design of microfluidic traps and selection of operating conditions for successful parking of desired particles with specific size and elastic modulus. Our platform also enables parking of encoded particle pairs in defined spatial arrangements and subsequent isolation of these pairs in aqueous droplets, creating distinct microenvironments with no cross-contamination. In addition, we demonstrate the ability to recollect objects of interest (i.e., one particle from each pair) after observation within the channel. This integrated device is ideal for multiplexed assays or microenvironment fabrication for controlled biological studies.
Excitation of high wavenumber fluctuations by externally-imposed helical fields in edge pedestal plasmas
Authors: Singh R. , Kim J.-H. , Jhang Hogun , Das S.
Published: March 2018

Two-step mode coupling analyses for nonlinear excitation of the ballooning mode (BM) in pedestal plasma by external helical magnetic field perturbation [Resonant Magnetic Perturbations (RMP)] are presented. This technique allows calculating the effect of higher harmonic sidebands generated by interaction of long scale RMP pump and BM. It is shown that RMP field perturbations can modify the BM growth rate and frequency through nonlinear Reynolds stress and magnetic stress. In particular, it is shown that both stresses can efficiently excite high wavenumber BM fluctuations which, in turn, can enhance the transport in the pedestal. Another notable feature of this analysis is the existence of short scale (high-ky) nonlinear instability at Alfven time scale near the ideal BM threshold boundary.