bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human‐robot Teaming for Rescue Missions: Team ViGIR's Approach to the 2013 DARPA Robotics Challenge Trials
Authors: Kohlbrecher Stefan , Romay Alberto , Stumpf Alexander , Gupta Anant , von Stryk Oskar , Bacim Felipe , Bowman Doug A. , Goins Alex , Balasubramanian Ravi , Conner David C.
Published: December 2014

Team ViGIR entered the 2013 DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) with a focus on developing software to enable an operator to guide a humanoid robot through the series of challenge tasks emulating disaster response scenarios. The overarching philosophy was to make our operators full team members and not just mere supervisors. We designed our operator control station (OCS) to allow multiple operators to request and share information as needed to maintain situational awareness under bandwidth constraints, while directing the robot to perform tasks with most planning and control taking place onboard the robot. Given the limited development time, we leveraged a number of open source libraries in both our onboard software and our OCS design; this included significant use of the robot operating system libraries and toolchain. This paper describes the high level approach, including the OCS design and major onboard components, and it presents our DRC Trials results. The paper concludes with a number of lessons learned that are being applied to the final phase of the competition and are useful for related projects as well.
A Longitudinal Pilot Study of Resilience in Canadian Military Personnel
Authors: Sudom Kerry A. , Lee Jennifer E. C. , Zamorski Mark A.
Published: December 2014

Research on psychological resilience is important for occupations involving routine exposure to trauma or critical events. Such research can allow for the identification of factors to target in training, education and intervention programs, as well as groups that may be at higher risk for mental health problems. Although efforts have been made to determine the individual characteristics that contribute to positive outcomes under stress, little is known about whether such characteristics are stable over time or how stressful events can impact psychological resilience in high‐risk occupations such as military service. Following a review of the evidence on variations in resilience over time, results of a pilot study of Canadian Armed Forces personnel are presented in which differences in resilience characteristics were examined from military recruitment to several years after enrolment. While there was little change in resilience characteristics over time on average, there was considerable individual variation, with some individuals showing marked improvement and others showing marked deterioration in resilience characteristics. At both time points, individuals who had been deployed showed greater resilience characteristics than those who had never been deployed. Implications for the promotion of psychological resilience in military populations and personnel employed in other high‐risk occupations are discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Positive Psychological Factors are Associated with Lower PTSD Symptoms among Police Officers: Post Hurricane Katrina
Authors: McCanlies Erin C. , Mnatsakanova Anna , Andrew Michael E. , Burchfiel Cecil M. , Violanti John M.
Published: December 2014

Following Hurricane Katrina, police officers in the New Orleans geographic area faced a number of challenges. This cross‐sectional study examined the association between resilience, satisfaction with life, gratitude, posttraumatic growth, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in 84 male and 30 female police officers from Louisiana. Protective factors were measured using the Connor–Davidson Resilience scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Gratitude Questionnaire, and the Posttraumatic Growth inventory. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder were measured using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist—Civilian (PCL‐C). Potential associations were measured using linear regression and analysis of variance. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, education, and alcohol. Mean PCL‐C symptoms were 29.5 ± 14.5 for females and 27.8 ± 12.1 for males. Adjusted mean levels of PCL‐C symptoms significantly decreased as quartiles of resilience (p < .001), satisfaction with life (p < .001), and gratitude (p < .001) increased. In contrast, PCL‐C symptoms were not associated with posttraumatic growth in this sample. These results indicate that positive factors such as resilience, satisfaction with life, and gratitude may help mitigate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. To further explore these relationships, longitudinal follow‐up in a larger population would be of interest. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring the Relationship between Worry and Impulsivity in Military Recruits: The Role of Mindfulness and Self‐compassion as Potential Mediators
Authors: Mantzios Michail
Published: December 2014

When military recruits cannot tolerate the stressful environment in the military, they typically become more impulsive. Impulsivity serves to avoid the stress, or, in other words, to release the pressure and cope. Becoming more impulsive, however, is related to damaging behaviours and unsuccessful coping. This research explored the relationship between worry and impulsivity in armed forces, and the possibility of mindfulness and self‐compassion mediating this relationship. Participants (n = 166), who were in the second week of their basic military training, completed questionnaires in mindfulness, self‐compassion, worry and impulsivity. Results indicated that worry related positively to impulsivity. Further, the negative relationship of worry with mindfulness and self‐compassion mediated the relationship between worry and impulsivity. Findings support the notion that lacking mindfulness and self‐compassion, in excessive worriers, may lead to impulsivity. This research concluded that mindfulness and self‐compassion may assist military personnel who are exposed to highly stressful environments. Alternative explanations and future directions are discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Team Spirit Makes the Difference: The Interactive Effects of Team Work Engagement and Organizational Constraints during a Military Operation on Psychological Outcomes Afterwards
Authors: Boermans S. M. , Kamphuis W. , Delahaij R. , van den Berg C. , Euwema M. C.
Published: December 2014

This article prospectively explores the effects of collective team work engagement and organizational constraints during military deployment on individual‐level psychological outcomes afterwards. Participants were 971 Dutch peacekeepers within 93 teams who were deployed between the end of 2008 and beginning of 2010, for an average of 4 months, in the International Security Assistance Force. Surveys were administered 2 months into deployment and 6 months afterwards. Multi‐level regression analyses demonstrated that team work engagement during deployment moderated the relation between organizational constraints and post‐deployment fatigue symptoms. Team members reported less fatigue symptoms after deployment if they were part of highly engaged teams during deployment, particularly when concerns about organizational constraints during deployment were high. In contrast, low team work engagement was related to more fatigue symptoms, particularly when concerns about organizational constraints were high. Contrary to expectations, no effects for team work engagement or organizational constraints were found for post‐traumatic growth. The present study highlights that investing in team work engagement is important for those working in highly demanding jobs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling CRM in a Social Media Age
Authors: Harrigan Paul , Soutar Geoff , Choudhury Musfiq Mannan , Lowe Michelle
Published: December 2014

Customer relationship management is a continually evolving domain that has been particularly affected by social media, which have revolutionised the way businesses and consumers interact. This paper on social CRM builds on a previous model of CRM prior to the growth of social media ( Jayachandran et al., 2005 ). We present a new model for social CRM, including a new construct of customer engagement initiatives and adaptations of other constructs to cater for the impact of social media. An online survey was used to collect data from a population of marketing practitioners and partial least squares analysis was used to test the model. Findings show the importance of an underlying customer relationship orientation; how it impacts on social media technology use and customer engagement initiatives, and also directly on customer relationship performance. A relationship is also shown between engagement and relational information processes, which is viewed as a performance outcome of social CRM. Thus, from a managerial perspective, one recommendation we make is that organisations should utilise the rich customer information that is created with every customer engagement through social media to drive future marketing decisions.
Evaluation of neuroprotection by melatonin against adverse effects of prenatal exposure to a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug during peripheral nerve development
Authors: Keskin Ilknur , Kaplan Suleyman , Kalkan Serpil , Sutcu Mustafa , Ulkay M. Basak , Esener O. Burak
Published: December 2014

The potential ability of melatonin to protect against impairment of the fetal peripheral nerve system due to maternal consumption of diclofenac sodium (DS) was investigated. Eighty‐four pregnant rats were divided into seven groups: control (CONT), saline administered (PS), DS administered (DS), DS with low‐dose melatonin administered (DS + MLT10), DS with high‐dose melatonin administered (DS + MLT50), low‐dose melatonin administered (MLT10), and high‐dose melatonin administered (MLT50). After the pregnancy, six male newborn rats from each group were sacrificed at 4 and 20 weeks of age. Their right sciatic nerves were harvested, and nerve fibers were evaluated using stereological techniques. Mean numbers of myelinated axons, axon cross‐section areas and the mean thickness of the myelin sheet were estimated. Four‐week‐old prenatally DS‐exposed rats had significantly fewer axons, a smaller myelinated axonal area, and a thinner myelin sheath compared to CONT group (p < 0.05). Although melatonin at both doses significantly increased axon numbers, only a high dose of melatonin increased the diameter of those axons (p < 0.05). At 20‐weeks of age, myelinated axon number in the DS group was not only significantly lower than all other groups (p < 0.05) but also the cross‐sectional area of these axons was smaller than all other groups (p < 0.05). There were no differences between the groups regarding the mean thickness of the myelin sheet. The current study indicates that prenatal exposure to DS decreases the number and the diameter of sciatic nerve axons and that melatonin prophylaxis can prevent these effects.
Association between educational level and access to safe abortion in a Brazilian population
Authors: Dias Tábata Z. , Passini Renato , Duarte Graciana A. , Sousa Maria H. , Faúndes Aníbal
Published: December 2014

Objective

To evaluate sociodemographic factors associated with induced abortion.

Methods

As part of a cross‐sectional, descriptive study, 15 800 civil servants from Campinas, Brazil, were invited to complete a self‐administered questionnaire about absolutely unwanted pregnancies in January 2010. Bivariate analysis and multivariate Poisson regression analysis were used to explore the associations between induced abortion and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

Overall, 1660 questionnaires were returned. Unwanted pregnancy was reported by 296 (17.8%) respondents, of whom 165 (55.7%) resorted to abortion. Multiple regression analysis showed that college education was the only variable associated with an increased chance of abortion. Among 157 participants who answered questions about the abortion procedure, 97 (61.8%) reported that it had been performed by a physician. Following abortion, 35 (22.9%) of 153 reported that medical care was required and 26 (16.6%) of 157 reported hospitalization, principally those with a lower level of education and those whose abortion had been performed by a nonphysician.

Conclusion

Compared with women with a college education, those with a lower education level were less likely to terminate an absolutely unwanted pregnancy and to have an abortion performed by a physician, and they were more likely to have complications. These findings confirm the social inequalities associated with abortion in Brazil.
Safety of induced abortions at less than 12 weeks of pregnancy in Japan
Authors: Sekiguchi Atsuko , Ikeda Tomoaki , Okamura Kunihiro , Nakai Akihito
Published: December 2014

Objective

To assess the safety of various methods of induced abortion when used before 12 weeks of pregnancy in Japan.

Methods

A retrospective study was undertaken of induced abortions conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2012. Questionnaires were sent to 4154 institutions that employed doctors who were licensed to conduct induced abortions. Information was obtained about the numbers of induced abortions performed before 12 weeks, methods, complications, and routine management.

Results

Completed questionnaires from 2434 institutions showed that 100 851 induced abortions had been performed. Vacuum aspiration (VA) was used in 20 458 (20.3%) abortions, VA with sharp curettage in 47 148 (46.8%), dilatation and curettage (D&C) in 32 958 (32.7%), and medical abortion in 287 (0.3%). Overall, 358 complications were reported (355.0 per 100 000 procedures). The rate of complications was significantly higher after D&C than after VA and after VA with sharp curettage (P < 0.001 for both). However, incomplete abortion requiring repeat procedures was the only complication that was significantly associated with D&C (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

D&C can be safely used for induced abortion before 12 weeks of pregnancy, but changing from D&C to VA could reduce incomplete abortions and improve the safety of induced abortions before 12 weeks of pregnancy in Japan.
Demographic and delivery characteristics associated with obstetric fistula in Kigali, Rwanda
Authors: Washington Blair B. , Raker Christina A. , Kabeja George A. , Kay Allison , Hampton Brittany S.
Published: December 2014

Objective

To assess the characteristics of Rwandan women undergoing surgical correction of obstetric fistula.

Methods

A retrospective, cross‐sectional study was conducted of women undergoing surgery to repair obstetric fistula as part of a program run by the International Organization for Women and Development in Kigali, Rwanda, between April 1, 2010, and February 28, 2011. Data were collected from medical records, including demographics, obstetric history, and results of the physical examination.

Results

A total of 65 women underwent fistula surgery in the study period. Among 59 women for whom relevant data were available, 43 (73%) reported that the fetus did not survive the pregnancy during which the fistula developed. Delivery had occurred in a healthcare facility for 49 (82%) of 60 women. Delivery was by cesarean in 31 (48%) women included in the analyses. Cervicovesical or uterovesical fistula occurred more frequently among women who underwent cesarean delivery (9 [29%]) than among those who underwent vaginal delivery (3 [9%] of 34; P = 0.04). There was no difference in the number of fetal or neonatal deaths between the two groups (P = 0.2).

Conclusion

Approximately half of the women in the sample delivered by cesarean, and these women were more likely to have a fistula involving the uterus or cervix.
A social identity perspective on aspirational advertising: Implicit threats to collective self‐esteem and strategies to overcome them
Authors: Dimofte Claudiu V. , Goodstein Ronald C. , Brumbaugh Anne M.
Published: December 2014

This research explores the effects of consumers' self‐comparisons with specific social identities associated with a product‐based out‐group that are primed by aspirational advertising. We hypothesize and find that when a consumer's relevant identity is inferior to the primed social identity, product attitudes suffer. The process accounting for this effect consists of a negative social comparison between the two that reduces the consumer's related collective self‐esteem. This outcome is more (less) apparent under conditions of high comparison salience (identification with the inferior in‐group). We also demonstrate two marketer strategies that alleviate this negative effect: facilitated affiliation (i.e., making desired out‐group membership appear accessible) and indirect self‐affirmation (i.e., improving perceptions of worth associated with other self identities). The results advance theoretical knowledge of social identity processes influencing consumer attitudes.
Ultrasound-assisted digestion of biodiesel samples for determination of metals by stripping voltammetry
Authors: Freitas Helieder C. , Almeida Eduardo S. , Tormin Thiago F. , Richter Eduardo M. , Munoz Rodrigo A. A.
Published: December 2014

Room-temperature ultrasound-assisted digestion of biodiesel for stripping voltammetry of metals with adequate recovery values (94–108%) and low residual carbon content is demonstrated.
Development of benzo[1,4]oxazines as biofilm inhibitors and dispersal agents against Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Warner Christopher J. A. , Cheng Andrew T. , Yildiz Fitnat H. , Linington Roger G.
Published: December 2014

Synthesis of a library of natural product-inspired biofilm inhibitors has revealed a compound with selective and potent anti-biofilm activity against V. cholerae.
Enhancing catalytic activity and stability for CO2 methanation on Ni@MOF-5 via control of active species dispersion
Authors: Zhen Wenlong , Li Bo , Lu Gongxuan , Ma Jiantai
Published: December 2014

A novel high active catalyst Ni@MOF-5 showed unexpected higher activity under the low temperature for CO2 methanation. The characterization results indicated that Ni was in highly dispersed uniform state over MOF-5. This catalyst performed high stability and showed almost no deactivation in long term stability tests up to 100 h.
Origin of surface trap states in CdS quantum dots: relationship between size dependent photoluminescence and sulfur vacancy trap states
Authors: Veamatahau Aisea , Jiang Bo , Seifert Tom , Makuta Satoshi , Latham Kay , Kanehara Masayuki , Teranishi Toshiharu , Tachibana Yasuhiro
Published: December 2014

Trap state emission mainly originates from deep trapped electrons at surface Cd with sulfur vacancy sites of CdS quantum dot.
Hydrophobic aggregation and collective absorption of dioxin into lipid membranes: insights from atomistic simulations
Authors: Casalegno M. , Raos G. , Sello G.
Published: December 2014

MD simulations show that dioxin molecules quickly aggregate in water and jointly penetrate into cell membranes.
Synthesis and characterization of bimetallic metal–organic framework Cu–Ru-BTC with HKUST-1 structure
Authors: Gotthardt Meike A. , Schoch Roland , Wolf Silke , Bauer Matthias , Kleist Wolfgang
Published: December 2014

A mixed-metal framework Cu–Ru-BTC with the formula Cu2.75Ru0.25(BTC)2·xH2O was successfully synthesized. Partial substitution of Cu2+ by Ru3+ in the paddlewheel structure was proven using X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
Mono- and dinuclear metal complexes containing the 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane ([12]aneN3) unit and their interaction with DNA
Authors: Medina-Molner Alfredo , Rohner Melanie , Pandiarajan Devaraj , Spingler Bernhard
Published: December 2014

It takes two to tango: Only the dinuclear but not the mononuclear metal complexes of triazacyclododecane ([12]aneN3) were able to induce the Z-DNA of poly d(GC).
Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production mediates ursolic acid-induced mitochondrial uncoupling and glutathione redox cycling, with protection against oxidant injury in H9c2 cells
Authors: Chen Jihang , Wong Hoi Shan , Ko Kam Ming
Published: December 2014

Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid, is a ubiquitous compound widely distributed in many plants, fruits and medicinal herbs worldwide.
Gentio-oligosaccharides from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1426 dextransucrase as prebiotics and as a supplement for functional foods with anti-cancer properties
Authors: Kothari Damini , Goyal Arun
Published: December 2014

Gentio-oligosaccharides (GnOS) fromLeuconostoc mesenteroidesNRRL B-1426 dextransucrase showed potential prebiotic activity and selective inhibition of human colon carcinoma (HT-29) cells.
A coumarin based gold(i)-alkynyl complex: a new class of supramolecular hydrogelators
Authors: Moro Artur J. , Rome Bertrand , Aguiló Elisabet , Arcau Julià , Puttreddy Rakesh , Rissanen Kari , Lima João Carlos , Rodríguez Laura
Published: December 2014

A phosphine-gold(i)-alkynyl-coumarin complex, [Au{7-(prop-2-ine-1-yloxy)-1-benzopyran-2-one}(DAPTA)] (1), was synthesized and the formation of long luminescent fibers in solution was characterized via fluorescence microscopy and dynamic light scattering.
A microwave-assisted multicomponent synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones
Authors: Stevens Marc Y. , Wieckowski Krzysztof , Wu Peng , Sawant Rajiv T. , Odell Luke R.
Published: December 2014

A series of structurally diverse 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones was synthesized via a novel cascade imine/cyclization/aza-Henry reaction in moderate to excellent yields.
Branched ZnO nanotrees on flexible fiber-paper substrates for self-powered energy-harvesting systems
Authors: Qiu Y. , Yang D. C. , Yin B. , Lei J. X. , Zhang H. Q. , Zhang Z. , Chen H. , Li Y. P. , Bian J. M. , Liu Y. H. , Zhao Y. , Hu L. Z.
Published: December 2014

Branched ZnO nanotrees have been successfully synthesized on flexible fiber-paper substrates for realizing high-performance piezoelectric nanogenerators. And the output voltage of the NG increased to 0.1 V, enough to power some micro/nano devices.
TiO2–graphene hybrid nanostructures by atomic layer deposition with enhanced electrochemical performance for Pb(ii) and Cd(ii) detection
Authors: Zhang Hongfen , Shuang Shaomin , Wang Guizhen , Guo Yujing , Tong Xili , Yang Peng , Chen Anjia , Dong Chuan , Qin Yong
Published: December 2014

Graphene coated with TiO2by atomic layer deposition exhibits markedly enhanced sensitivity for detection of heavy metal ions.
Single molecular multianalyte signaling of sulfide and azide ions by a nitrobenzoxadiazole-based probe
Authors: Kim Ho Won , Choi Myung Gil , Park Hyunji , Lee Jung Woo , Chang Suk-Kyu
Published: December 2014

Sulfide- and azide-selective multianalyte optical signaling using nitrobenzoxadiazole-pivalate was realized by regioselective cleavage of the probe under the same conditions.
Phthalocyanine blue in aqueous solutions
Authors: C. Staniford Mark , Lezhnina Marina M. , Kynast Ulrich H.
Published: December 2014

Natively insoluble, unsubstituted Cu(II) phthalocyanines can be solubilised in water by the aid of nano-clays as colloidal α-CuPc and monomeric CuPc.
Nanoflake driven Mn2O3 microcubes modified with cooked rice derived carbon for improved electrochemical behavior
Authors: Sekhar B. Chandra , Babu Ganguli , Kalaiselvi N.
Published: December 2014

Mn2O3 microcubes, symmetrically formed out of the systematic stacking of nanoflakes, built with nanoparticles in the 30–50 nm range have been obtained from a simple co-precipitation method.
Photothermal effect of azopyridine compounds and their applications
Authors: Chen Yinjie , Yu Haifeng , Quan Maohua , Zhang Lanying , Yang Huai , Lu Yunfeng
Published: December 2014

Photothermal effect of azopyridine compounds was systematically studied. They showed higher efficiency than their azobenzene analogs, leading to possible applications as light controllable intelligent stickup and photomechanical materials.
Band structure engineering of monolayer MoS2: a charge compensated codoping strategy
Authors: Wan Hui , Xu Liang , Huang Wei-Qing , Zhou Jia-Hui , He Chao-Ni , Li Xiaofan , Huang Gui-Fang , Peng P. , Zhou Zheng-Gui
Published: December 2014

The monolayer MoS2, possessing an advantage over graphene in that it exhibits a band gap whose magnitude is appropriate for solar applications, has attracted increasing attention because of its possible use as a photocatalyst.
Synthesis high specific surface area nanotube g-C3N4 with two-step condensation treatment of melamine to enhance photocatalysis properties
Authors: Jin Zhengyuan , Zhang Qitao , Yuan Saisai , Ohno Teruhisa
Published: December 2014

High specific surface area nanotube g-C3N4 was fabricated by a simple two-step condensation method.
Ionic conductivity of YSZ/CZO multilayers with variable lattice mismatch
Authors: Shen Weida , Hertz Joshua L.
Published: December 2014

Tensile strain in yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) exhibited little impact on oxygen ion conductivity in multilayers composed of YSZ and Ce1−xZrxO2 (CZO).
Coke-free operation of an all porous solid oxide fuel cell (AP-SOFC) used as an O2 supply device
Authors: Guo Y. M. , Largiller G. , Guizard C. , Tardivat C. , Farrusseng D.
Published: December 2014

An anode-supported AP-SOFC with long-term operational stability was developed to improve cell performance over 14 times without any coke formation.
Porous nanostructured metal oxides synthesized through atomic layer deposition on a carbonaceous template followed by calcination
Authors: Deng Shaoren , Kurttepeli Mert , Cott Daire J. , Bals Sara , Detavernier Christophe
Published: December 2014

Systematic investigation on the synthesis of porous metal oxides by calcining ALD coated CNTs.
Core–shell-like structured graphene aerogel encapsulating paraffin: shape-stable phase change material for thermal energy storage
Authors: Ye Shibing , Zhang Qinglong , Hu Dingding , Feng Jiachun
Published: December 2014

A graphene/paraffin composite embedded with a myriad of core–shell-like structures is fabricated and used as a high-performance phase change material.
Formation of reusable Au-acetonitrile polymers and N-doped graphene catalyst under UV light via submerged liquid plasma process
Authors: Senthilnathan Jaganathan , Rao Kodepelly Sanjeeva , Lin Wan-Hsien , Ting Jyh-Ming , Yoshimura Masahiro
Published: December 2014

In this study, acetonitrile polymers (ANPs) synthesized using a submerged liquid plasma (SLP) process were used for the direct reduction of Au3+under ultraviolet (UV) light without the need for reducing or templating agents.
Sulfur–carbon yolk–shell particle based 3D interconnected nanostructures as cathodes for rechargeable lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Ding Ning , Lum Yanwei , Chen Shaofeng , Chien Sheau Wei , Hor T. S. Andy , Liu Zhaolin , Zong Yun
Published: December 2014

A novel 3D interconnected S@C yolk–shell nanostructure from mild oxidation of ZnS@C accommodates S volume expansion upon lithiation in Li–S batteries, giving high capacity with good cycling performance.
Highly efficient electrogenerated chemiluminescence of an oligofluorene-truxene star-shaped compound incorporating 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole units
Authors: Mohsan Zahera , Kanibolotsky Alexander L. , Stewart Alasdair J. , Inigo Anto Regis , Dennany Lynn , Skabara Peter J.
Published: December 2014

Adding 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole units into the arms of a trigonal quarterfluorene–truxene system gave monodisperse material with stable yellow electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL).
A Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Vocabulary Approach for Young Latino Dual Language Learners
Authors: Méndez Lucía I. , Crais Elizabeth R. , Castro Dina C. , Kainz Kirsten
Published: December 2014

Purpose

This study examined the role of the language of vocabulary instruction in promoting English vocabulary in preschool Latino dual language learners (DLLs). The authors compared the effectiveness of delivering a single evidence-informed vocabulary approach using English as the language of vocabulary instruction (English culturally responsive [ECR]) versus using a bilingual modality that strategically combined Spanish and English (culturally and linguistically responsive [CLR]).

Method

Forty-two DLL Spanish-speaking preschoolers were randomly assigned to the ECR group (n= 22) or CLR group (n= 20). Thirty English words were presented during small-group shared readings in their preschools 3 times a week for 5 weeks. Multilevel models were used to examine group differences in postinstruction scores on 2 Spanish and 2 English vocabulary assessments at instruction end and follow-up.

Results

Children receiving instruction in the CLR bilingual modality had significantly higher posttest scores (than those receiving the ECR English-only instruction) on Spanish and English vocabulary assessments at instruction end and on the Spanish vocabulary assessment at follow-up, even after controlling for preinstruction scores.

Conclusions

The results provide additional evidence of the benefits of strategically combining the first and second language to promote English and Spanish vocabulary development in this population. Future directions for research and clinical applications are discussed.
Differential Diagnosis of Children with Suspected Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Murray Elizabeth , McCabe Patricia , Heard Robert , Ballard Kirrie J.
Published: December 2014

Purpose

The gold standard for diagnosing childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is expert judgment of perceptual features. The aim of this study was to identify a set of objective measures that differentiate CAS from other speech disorders.

Method

Seventy-two children (4–12 years of age) diagnosed with suspected CAS by community speech-language pathologists were screened. Forty-seven participants underwent diagnostic assessment including presence or absence of perceptual CAS features. Twenty-eight children met two sets of diagnostic criteria for CAS (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2007b; Shriberg, Potter, & Strand, 2009); another 4 met the CAS criteria with comorbidity. Fifteen were categorized as non-CAS with phonological impairment, submucous cleft, or dysarthria. Following this, 24 different measures from the diagnostic assessment were rated by blinded raters. Multivariate discriminant function analysis was used to identify the combination of measures that best predicted expert diagnoses.

Results

The discriminant function analysis model, including syllable segregation, lexical stress matches, percentage phonemes correct from a polysyllabic picture-naming task, and articulatory accuracy on repetition of /pətəkə/, reached 91% diagnostic accuracy against expert diagnosis.

Conclusions

Polysyllabic production accuracy and an oral motor examination that includes diadochokinesis may be sufficient to reliably identify CAS and rule out structural abnormality or dysarthria. Testing with a larger unselected sample is required.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6170495
Phonetics Exercises Using the Alvin Experiment-Control Software
Authors: Hillenbrand James M. , Gayvert Robert T. , Clark Michael J.
Published: December 2014

Purpose

Exercises are described that were designed to provide practice in phonetic transcription for students taking an introductory phonetics course. The goal was to allow instructors to offload much of the drill that would otherwise need to be covered in class or handled with paper-and-pencil tasks using text rather than speech as input.

Method

The exercises were developed using Alvin, a general-purpose software package for experiment design and control. The simplest exercises help students learn sound–symbol associations. For example, a vowel-transcription exercise presents listeners with consonant–vowel–consonant syllables on each trial; students are asked to choose among buttons labeled with phonetic symbols for 12 vowels. Several word-transcription exercises are included in which students hear a word and are asked to enter a phonetic transcription. Immediate feedback is provided for all of the exercises. An explanation of the methods that are used to create exercises is provided.

Results

Although no formal evaluation was conducted, comments on course evaluations suggest that most students found the exercises to be useful.

Conclusions

Exercises were developed for use in an introductory phonetics course. The exercises can be used in their current form, they can be modified to suit individual needs, or new exercises can be developed.
Energetic modeling and single-molecule verification of dynamic regulation on receptor complexes by actin corrals and lipid raft domains
Authors: Lin Chien Y. , Huang Jung Y. , Lo Leu-Wei
Published: December 2014

We developed an energetic model by integrating the generalized Langevin equation with the Cahn-Hilliard equation to simulate the diffusive behaviors of receptor proteins in the plasma membrane of a living cell. Simulation results are presented to elaborate the confinement effects from actin corrals and protein-induced lipid domains. Single-molecule tracking data of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) acquired on live HeLa cells agree with the simulation results and the mechanism that controls the diffusion of single-molecule receptors is clarified. We discovered that after ligand binding, EGFR molecules move into lipid nanodomains. The transition rates between different diffusion states of liganded EGFR molecules are regulated by the lipid domains. Our method successfully captures dynamic interactions of receptors at the single-molecule level and provides insight into the functional architecture of both the diffusing EGFR molecules and their local cellular environment.
Polymer based planar coupling of self-assembled bottle microresonators
Authors: Grimaldi I. A. , Berneschi S. , Testa G. , Baldini F. , Nunzi Conti G. , Bernini R.
Published: December 2014

The investigation of a simple and self-assembling method for realizing polymeric micro-bottle resonators is reported. By dispensing precise amounts of SU-8 onto a cleaved optical fiber, employed as mechanical support, bottle microcavities with different shapes and diameters are fabricated. The balancing of surface energy between glass fiber and polymeric microresonator with surface tension of SU-8 confers different shape to these microstructures. Planar single-mode SU-8 based waveguide, realized on polymethylmethacrylate, is chosen for exciting the micro-bottle resonators by evanescent wave. The reliability of the fabrication process and the shape of the bottle microcavities are investigated through optical analysis. We observe whispering gallery modes in these resonant microstructures by a robust coupling with single mode planar waveguides around 1.5 μm wavelength. The resonance spectra of micro-bottle resonators and the spectral characteristics, such as Quality-factor (Q factor) and free spectral range, are evaluated for all the realized microstructures. SU-8 micro-bottle resonators show high Q-factors up to 3.8 × 104 and present a good mechanical stability. These features make these microcavities attractive for sensing and/or lasing applications in a planar platform.
Greater Perceptual Sensitivity to Happy Facial Expression
Authors: Maher Stephen , Ekstrom Tor , Chen Yue
Published: December 2014

Perception of subtle facial expressions is essential for social functioning; yet it is unclear if human perceptual sensitivities differ in detecting varying types of facial emotions. Evidence diverges as to whether salient negative versus positive emotions (such as sadness versus happiness) are preferentially processed. Here, we measured perceptual thresholds for the detection of four types of emotion in faces—happiness, fear, anger, and sadness—using psychophysical methods. We also evaluated the association of the perceptual performances with facial morphological changes between neutral and respective emotion types. Human observers were highly sensitive to happiness compared with the other emotional expressions. Further, this heightened perceptual sensitivity to happy expressions can be attributed largely to the emotion-induced morphological change of a particular facial feature (end-lip raise).
Spatial Attention Does Not Modulate Holistic Face Processing, Even When Multiple Faces are Present
Authors: Norman Liam J , Tokarev Alexander
Published: December 2014

The perception of faces is often considered to be unique in comparison with that of other objects in the world. The fact that faces are processed not by their constituent components but by the spatial configuration between those components (holistic face processing—HFP) is often used to support this. Despite two decades of research, however, there is no consensus as to whether or not HFP is a process that is subject to attentional modulation. Here, in two experiments, we used a method to direct spatial attention not previously used in studies of HFP—an exogenous spatial cue—as it offers a robust, rapid, and involuntary method of directing attention. In one experiment we demonstrate that the degree of HFP afforded to a face is not reduced when attention is directed away from that face. In a second experiment we replicate this finding even when the face is simultaneously flanked by other faces—a condition under which a face-specific processing module would, hypothetically, be more sensitive to attentional guidance. These results add to the argument that HFP is carried out independently of attention.
rMATS: Robust and flexible detection of differential alternative splicing from replicate RNA-Seq data
Authors: Shen Shihao , Park Juw Won , Lu Zhi-xiang , Lin Lan , Henry Michael D. , Wu Ying Nian , Zhou Qing , Xing Yi
Published: December 2014

Significance

Alternative splicing (AS) is an important mechanism of eukaryotic gene regulation. Deep RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) has become a powerful approach for quantitative profiling of AS. With the increasing capacity of high-throughput sequencers, it has become common for RNA-Seq studies of AS to examine multiple biological replicates. We developed rMATS, a new statistical method for robust and flexible detection of differential AS from replicate RNA-Seq data. Besides the analysis of unpaired replicates, rMATS includes a model specifically designed for paired replicates, such as case–control matched pairs in clinical RNA-Seq datasets. We expect rMATS will be useful for genome-wide studies of AS in diverse research projects. Our data also provide new insights about the experimental design for RNA-Seq studies of AS.
Retrieval of Enterobacteriaceae drug targets using singular value decomposition
Authors: Silvério-Machado Rita , Couto Bráulio R. G. M. , dos Santos Marcos A.
Published: December 2014

Motivation: The identification of potential drug target proteins in bacteria is important in pharmaceutical research for the development of new antibiotics to combat bacterial agents that cause diseases.

Results: A new model that combines the singular value decomposition (SVD) technique with biological filters composed of a set of protein properties associated with bacterial drug targets and similarity to protein-coding essential genes of Escherichia coli (strain K12) has been created to predict potential antibiotic drug targets in the Enterobacteriaceae family. This model identified 99 potential drug target proteins in the studied family, which exhibit eight different functions and are protein-coding essential genes or similar to protein-coding essential genes of E.coli (strain K12), indicating that the disruption of the activities of these proteins is critical for cells. Proteins from bacteria with described drug resistance were found among the retrieved candidates. These candidates have no similarity to the human proteome, therefore exhibiting the advantage of causing no adverse effects or at least no known adverse effects on humans.

Contact:  rita_silverio@hotmail.com.

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Adaptive settings for the nearest-neighbor particle tracking algorithm
Authors: Mazzaferri Javier , Roy Joannie , Lefrancois Stephane , Costantino Santiago
Published: December 2014

Background: The performance of the single particle tracking (SPT) nearest-neighbor algorithm is determined by parameters that need to be set according to the characteristics of the time series under study. Inhomogeneous systems, where these characteristics fluctuate spatially, are poorly tracked when parameters are set globally.

Results: We present a novel SPT approach that adapts the well-known nearest-neighbor tracking algorithm to the local density of particles to overcome the problems of inhomogeneity.

Conclusions: We demonstrate the performance improvement provided by the proposed method using numerical simulations and experimental data and compare its performance with state of the art SPT algorithms.

Availability and implementation: The algorithms proposed here, are released under the GNU General Public License and are freely available on the web at http://sourceforge.net/p/adaptivespt.

Contact: javier.mazzaferri@gmail.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Graphical algorithm for integration of genetic and biological data: proof of principle using psoriasis as a model
Authors: Tsoi Lam C. , Elder James T. , Abecasis Goncalo R.
Published: December 2014

Motivation: Pathway analysis to reveal biological mechanisms for results from genetic association studies have great potential to better understand complex traits with major human disease impact. However, current approaches have not been optimized to maximize statistical power to identify enriched functions/pathways, especially when the genetic data derives from studies using platforms (e.g. Immunochip and Metabochip) customized to have pre-selected markers from previously identified top-rank loci. We present here a novel approach, called Minimum distance-based Enrichment Analysis for Genetic Association (MEAGA), with the potential to address both of these important concerns.

Results: MEAGA performs enrichment analysis using graphical algorithms to identify sub-graphs among genes and measure their closeness in interaction database. It also incorporates a statistic summarizing the numbers and total distances of the sub-graphs, depicting the overlap between observed genetic signals and defined function/pathway gene-sets. MEAGA uses sampling technique to approximate empirical and multiple testing-corrected P-values. We show in simulation studies that MEAGA is more powerful compared to count-based strategies in identifying disease-associated functions/pathways, and the increase in power is influenced by the shortest distances among associated genes in the interactome. We applied MEAGA to the results of a meta-analysis of psoriasis using Immunochip datasets, and showed that associated genes are significantly enriched in immune-related functions and closer with each other in the protein–protein interaction network.

Availability and implementation:  http://genome.sph.umich.edu/wiki/MEAGA

Contact: tsoi.teen@gmail.com or goncalo@umich.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
SMARTS: reconstructing disease response networks from multiple individuals using time series gene expression data
Authors: Wise Aaron , Bar-Joseph Ziv
Published: December 2014

Motivation: Current methods for reconstructing dynamic regulatory networks are focused on modeling a single response network using model organisms or cell lines. Unlike these models or cell lines, humans differ in their background expression profiles due to age, genetics and life factors. In addition, there are often differences in start and end times for time series human data and in the rate of progress based on the specific individual. Thus, new methods are required to integrate time series data from multiple individuals when modeling and constructing disease response networks.

Results: We developed Scalable Models for the Analysis of Regulation from Time Series (SMARTS), a method integrating static and time series data from multiple individuals to reconstruct condition-specific response networks in an unsupervised way. Using probabilistic graphical models, SMARTS iterates between reconstructing different regulatory networks and assigning individuals to these networks, taking into account varying individual start times and response rates. These models can be used to group different sets of patients and to identify transcription factors that differentiate the observed responses between these groups. We applied SMARTS to analyze human response to influenza and mouse brain development. In both cases, it was able to greatly improve baseline groupings while identifying key relevant TFs that differ between the groups. Several of these groupings and TFs are known to regulate the relevant processes while others represent novel hypotheses regarding immune response and development.

Availability and implementation: Software and Supplementary information are available at http://sb.cs.cmu.edu/smarts/.

Contact: zivbj@cs.cmu.edu

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
HIPPIE: a high-throughput identification pipeline for promoter interacting enhancer elements
Authors: Hwang Yih-Chii , Lin Chiao-Feng , Valladares Otto , Malamon John , Kuksa Pavel P. , Zheng Qi , Gregory Brian D. , Wang Li-San
Published: December 2014

Summary: We implemented a high-throughput identification pipeline for promoter interacting enhancer element to streamline the workflow from mapping raw Hi-C reads, identifying DNA–DNA interacting fragments with high confidence and quality control, detecting histone modifications and DNase hypersensitive enrichments in putative enhancer elements, to ultimately extracting possible intra- and inter-chromosomal enhancer–target gene relationships.

Availability and implementation: This software package is designed to run on high-performance computing clusters with Oracle Grid Engine. The source code is freely available under the MIT license for academic and nonprofit use. The source code and instructions are available at the Wang lab website (http://wanglab.pcbi.upenn.edu/hippie/). It is also provided as an Amazon Machine Image to be used directly on Amazon Cloud with minimal installation.

Contact:  lswang@mail.med.upenn.edu or bdgregor@sas.upenn.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary Material is available at Bioinformatics online.
QuASAR: quantitative allele-specific analysis of reads
Authors: Harvey Chris T. , Moyerbrailean Gregory A. , Davis Gordon O. , Wen Xiaoquan , Luca Francesca , Pique-Regi Roger
Published: December 2014

Motivation: Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) studies have discovered thousands of genetic variants that regulate gene expression, enabling a better understanding of the functional role of non-coding sequences. However, eQTL studies are costly, requiring large sample sizes and genome-wide genotyping of each sample. In contrast, analysis of allele-specific expression (ASE) is becoming a popular approach to detect the effect of genetic variation on gene expression, even within a single individual. This is typically achieved by counting the number of RNA-seq reads matching each allele at heterozygous sites and testing the null hypothesis of a 1:1 allelic ratio. In principle, when genotype information is not readily available, it could be inferred from the RNA-seq reads directly. However, there are currently no existing methods that jointly infer genotypes and conduct ASE inference, while considering uncertainty in the genotype calls.

Results: We present QuASAR, quantitative allele-specific analysis of reads, a novel statistical learning method for jointly detecting heterozygous genotypes and inferring ASE. The proposed ASE inference step takes into consideration the uncertainty in the genotype calls, while including parameters that model base-call errors in sequencing and allelic over-dispersion. We validated our method with experimental data for which high-quality genotypes are available. Results for an additional dataset with multiple replicates at different sequencing depths demonstrate that QuASAR is a powerful tool for ASE analysis when genotypes are not available.

Availability and implementation:  http://github.com/piquelab/QuASAR.

Contact:  fluca@wayne.edu or rpique@wayne.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary Material is available at Bioinformatics online.