bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epi-illumination gradient light interference microscopy for imaging opaque structures
Authors: Kandel Mikhail E. , Hu Chenfei , Naseri Kouzehgarani Ghazal , Min Eunjung , Sullivan Kathryn Michele , Kong Hyunjoon , Li Jennifer M. , Robson Drew N. , Gillette Martha U. , Best-Popescu Catherine , Popescu Gabriel
Published: October 2019

Multiple scattering and absorption limit the depth at which biological tissues can be imaged with light. In thick unlabeled specimens, multiple scattering randomizes the phase of the field and absorption attenuates light that travels long optical paths. These obstacles limit the performance of transmission imaging. To mitigate these challenges, we developed an epi-illumination gradient light interference microscope (epi-GLIM) as a label-free phase imaging modality applicable to bulk or opaque samples. Epi-GLIM enables studying turbid structures that are hundreds of microns thick and otherwise opaque to transmitted light. We demonstrate this approach with a variety of man-made and biological samples that are incompatible with imaging in a transmission geometry: semiconductors wafers, specimens on opaque and birefringent substrates, cells in microplates, and bulk tissues. We demonstrate that the epi-GLIM data can be used to solve the inverse scattering problem and reconstruct the tomography of single cells and model organisms.
N6-methyladenosine modification of circNSUN2 facilitates cytoplasmic export and stabilizes HMGA2 to promote colorectal liver metastasis
Authors: Chen Ri-Xin , Chen Xin , Xia Liang-Ping , Zhang Jia-Xing , Pan Zhi-Zhong , Ma Xiao-Dan , Han Kai , Chen Jie-Wei , Judde Jean-Gabrie , Deas Olivier , Wang Feng , Ma Ning-Fang , Guan Xinyuan , Yun Jing-Ping , Wang Feng-Wei , Xu Rui-Hua , Dan Xie
Published: October 2019

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in cancer progression through largely unknown mechanisms. Herein, we identify an N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modified circRNA, circNSUN2, frequently upregulated in tumor tissues and serum samples from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients with liver metastasis (LM) and predicts poorer patient survival. The upregulated expression of circNSUN2 promotes LM in PDX metastasis models in vivo and accelerates cancer cells invasion in vitro. Importantly, N6-methyladenosine modification of circNSUN2 increases export to the cytoplasm. By forming a circNSUN2/IGF2BP2/HMGA2 RNA-protein ternary complex in the cytoplasm, circNSUN2 enhances the stability of HMGA2 mRNA to promote CRC metastasis progression. Clinically, the upregulated expressions of circNSUN2 and HMGA2 are more prevalent in LM tissues than in primary CRC tissues. These findings elucidate that N6-methyladenosine modification of circNSUN2 modulates cytoplasmic export and stabilizes HMGA2 to promote CRC LM, and suggest that circNSUN2 could represent a critical prognostic marker and/or therapeutic target for the disease.
A Gas Phase Route to [18F]fluoroform with Limited Molar Activity Dilution
Authors: Yang Bo Yeun , Telu Sanjay , Haskali Mohammad B. , Morse Cheryl L. , Pike Victor W.
Published: October 2019

Positron emission tomography (PET) is an important imaging modality for biomedical research and drug development. PET requires biochemically selective radiotracers to realize full potential. Fluorine-18 (t1/2 = 109.8 min) is a major radionuclide for labeling such radiotracers but is only readily available in high activities from cyclotrons as [18F]fluoride ion. [18F]fluoroform has emerged for labeling tracers in trifluoromethyl groups. Prior methods of [18F]fluoroform synthesis used difluoro precursors in solution and led to high dilution with carrier and low molar activity (Am). We explored a new approach for the synthesis of [18F]fluoroform based on the radiosynthesis of [18F]fluoromethane from [18F]fluoride ion and then cobaltIII fluoride mediated gas phase fluorination. We estimate that carrier dilution in this process is limited to about 3-fold and find that moderate to high Am values can be achieved. We show that [18F]fluoroform so produced is highly versatile for rapidly and efficiently labeling various chemotypes that carry trifluoromethyl groups, thereby expanding prospects for developing new PET radiotracers.
Sub-optimality in motor planning is not improved by explicit observation of motor uncertainty
Authors: Ota Keiji , Shinya Masahiro , Maloney Laurence T. , Kudo Kazutoshi
Published: October 2019

To make optimal decisions under risk, one must correctly weight potential rewards and penalties by the probabilities of receiving them. In motor decision tasks, the uncertainty in outcome is a consequence of motor uncertainty. When participants perform suboptimally as they often do in such tasks, it could be because they have insufficient information about their motor uncertainty: with more information, their performance could converge to optimal as they learn their own motor uncertainty. Alternatively, their suboptimal performance may reflect an inability to make use of the information they have or even to perform the correct computations. To discriminate between these two possibilities, we performed an experiment spanning two days. On the first day, all participants performed a reaching task with trial-by-trial feedback of motor error. At the end of the day, their aim points were still typically suboptimal. On the second day participants were divided into two groups one of which repeated the task of the first day and the other of which repeated the task but were intermittently given additional information summarizing their motor errors. Participants receiving additional information did not perform significantly better than those who did not.
Characterization of all second-order nonlinear-optical coefficients of organic N-benzyl-2-methyl-4-nitroaniline crystal
Authors: Notake Takashi , Takeda Masahiro , Okada Shuji , Hosobata Takuya , Yamagata Yutaka , Minamide Hiroaki
Published: October 2019

Full elements of second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) tensor can be completely characterized for an organic NLO crystal for the first time. As-grown bulk N-benzyl-2-methyl-4-nitroaniline (BNA) crystal was processed to expose (100) and (010) crystal orientations with fine optical surfaces by using precision lathe and diamond blade. Then, every five nonvanishing second-order NLO coefficient of BNA can be determined quantitatively using the precisely processed crystals based on 1st-kind Maker fringe measurements. Our method makes it possible to clarify uncertain NLO property of any organic materials and to accelerate application study via precise device fabrications even for fragile organic materials.
Structural and biochemical characterisation of a novel alginate lyase from Paenibacillus sp. str. FPU-7
Authors: Itoh Takafumi , Nakagawa Emi , Yoda Moe , Nakaichi Akari , Hibi Takao , Kimoto Hisashi
Published: October 2019

A novel alginate lyase, PsAly, with a molecular mass of 33 kDa and whose amino acid sequence shares no significant similarity to other known proteins, was biochemically and structurally characterised from Paenibacillus sp. str. FPU-7. The maximum PsAly activity was obtained at 65 °C, with an optimum pH of pH 7–7.5. The activity was enhanced by divalent cations, such as Mg2+, Mn2+, or Co2+, and inhibited by a metal chelator, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The reaction products indicated that PsAly is an endolytic enzyme with a preference for polymannuronate. Herein, we report a detailed crystal structure of PsAly at a resolution of 0.89 Å, which possesses a β-helix fold that creates a long cleft. The catalytic site was different from that of other polysaccharide lyases. Site-directed mutational analysis of conserved residues predicted Tyr184 and Lys221 as catalytic residues, abstracting from the C5 proton and providing a proton to the glycoside bond, respectively. One cation was found to bind to the bottom of the cleft and neutralise the carboxy group of the substrate, decreasing the pKa of the C5 proton to promote catalysis. Our study provides an insight into the structural basis for the catalysis of alginate lyases and β-helix polysaccharide lyases.
Study of the effect of Sn grain boundaries on IMC morphology in solid state inter-diffusion soldering
Authors: Hou Lin , Moelans Nele , Derakhshandeh Jaber , De Wolf Ingrid , Beyne Eric
Published: October 2019

This paper reports on 3D phase field simulations of IMC growth in Co/Sn and Cu/Sn solder systems. In agreement with experimental micrographs, we obtain uniform growth of the CoSn3 phase in Co/Sn solder joints and a non-uniform wavy morphology for the Cu6Sn5 phase in Cu/Sn solder joints. Furthermore, simulations were performed to obtain an insight in the impact of Sn grain size, grain boundary versus bulk diffusion, IMC/Sn interface mobility and Sn grain boundary mobility on IMC morphology and growth kinetics. It is found that grain boundary diffusion in the IMC or Sn phase have a limited impact on the IMC evolution. A wavy IMC morphology is obtained in the simulations when the grain boundary mobility in the Sn phase is relatively large compared to the interface mobility for the IMC/Sn interface, while a uniform IMC morphology is obtained when the Sn grain boundary and IMC/Sn interface mobilities are comparable. For the wavy IMC morphology, a clear effect of the Sn grain size is observed, while for uniform IMC growth, the effect of the Sn grain size is negligible.
Low erythropoietin levels predict faster renal function decline in diabetic patients with anemia: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Fujita Yohei , Doi Yohei , Hamano Takayuki , Hatazaki Masahiro , Umayahara Yutaka , Isaka Yoshitaka , Tsubakihara Yoshiharu
Published: October 2019

Elevated erythropoietin (EPO) levels have been reported to predict poor survival in various populations including diabetic patients. However, data regarding its impact on renal outcomes are scarce. We conducted a single-center, prospective cohort study of 339 type 2 diabetic patients with anemia. The primary outcome was the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope for two years. We performed multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline analyses to assess the association of serum EPO levels with the renal outcome. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio >30 mg/g creatinine. Median baseline EPO and eGFR level were 14.4 IU/L and 53 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Inappropriately low EPO levels were observed in 73% of anemic patients and 59% of anemic patients even without CKD, suggesting that EPO deficiency precedes the onset of CKD in diabetes mellitus. Multivariable analysis revealed that iron status and hemoglobin levels were major determinants of EPO levels. Median eGFR slope was −1.3 mL/min/1.73 m2/year. We found that low EPO levels, but not low hemoglobin levels, were associated with a faster decline in eGFR, independent of clinically relevant factors. The eGFR decline was steeper, particularly when the EPO level was below the upper limit of normal. Lower EPO concentrations were associated with rapid eGFR decline, especially in patients with iron deficiency (P for interaction = 0.01). Relative EPO deficiency should be considered as a culprit in anemia of unknown etiology in diabetic patients, even those without CKD. Low EPO levels, especially when accompanied by poor iron status, are predictive of rapid loss of renal function.
Coupling Multi-Angle Light Scattering to Reverse-Phase Ultra-High-Pressure Chromatography (RP-UPLC-MALS) for the characterization monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Gentiluomo Lorenzo , Schneider Vanessa , Roessner Dierk , Frieß Wolfgang
Published: October 2019

Multi-angle light scattering coupled with size-exclusion chromatography (SEC-MALS) is a standard approach for protein characterization. Recently MALS detection has been coupled with ion-exchange chromatography (IEX) which demonstrated the feasibility and high value of MALS in combination with non-sized-based fractionation methods. In this study we coupled reverse-phase ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-UPLC) with a low-dispersion MALS detector for the characterization of intact monoclonal antibody (mAbs) and their fragments. We confirmed a constant refractive index increment value for mAbs in RP gradients, in good agreement with the values in literature for other classes of proteins. We showed that the impurities eluting from a RP column can often be related to aggregated species and we confirmed that in most cases those oligomers are present also in SEC-MALS. Yet, in few cases small aggregates fractions in RP-UPLC are an artifact. In fact, proteins presenting thermal and physical stability not suitable for the harsh condition applied during the RP separation of mAbs (i.e. organic solvents at high temperature) can aggregate. Further, we applied RP-UPLC-MALS during a long term stability studies. The different principle of separation used in RP-UPLC- MALS provides an additional critical level of protein characterization compared to SEC-MALS and IEX-MALS.
Risk Factors of Neovascular Glaucoma After 25-gauge Vitrectomy for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy with Vitreous Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Takayama Kei , Someya Hideaki , Yokoyama Hiroshi , Takamura Yoshihiro , Morioka Masakazu , Sameshima Seiji , Ueda Tetsuo , Kitano Shigehiko , Tashiro Maki , Sugimoto Masahiko , Kondo Mineo , Sakamoto Taiji , Takeuchi Masaru
Published: October 2019

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a terminal severe complication in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and PDR eyes with vitreous hemorrhage (VH) which undergo vitrectomy may have higher risk of postoperative NVG. The incidence and the prognostic factor of postoperative NVG after 25-gauge vitrectomy with advanced surgical options remain unclear. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 268 eyes of 268 consecutive PDR patients with VH who underwent 25-gauge vitrectomy and 12 months follow-up at seven centers. Preoperative ocular factors (visual acuity, tractional retinal detachment, panretinal photocoagulation [PRP]), demographics and clinical factors (sex, age, diabetic duration, HbA1c, hypertension, anticoagulant medication, and kidney function), surgical procedures, and postoperative complications were compared between patients who developed postoperative NVG (9.3%) and those who did not. NVG eyes was significantly younger (P = 0.026), had shorter diabetic duration (P = 0.022), higher HbA1c (P = 0.028), absence of PRP (P = 0.039) and higher frequency of postoperative VH (P = 0.0075) than non-NVG eyes. Logistic regression analysis identified postoperative VH (P = 0.014), shorter diabetic duration (P = 0.029), and no PRP (P = 0.028) as prognostic factors for postoperative NVG. This multicenter study indicates that younger age, uncontrolled diabetes, no PRP, and postoperative VH are risk factors of post-vitrectomy NVG.
Cereblon gene variants and clinical outcome in multiple myeloma patients treated with lenalidomide
Authors: Huang Phoebe A. , Beedie Shaunna L. , Chau Cindy H. , Venzon David J. , Gere Sheryl , Kazandjian Dickran , Korde Neha , Mailankody Sham , Landgren Ola , Figg William D.
Published: October 2019

Carfilzomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (KRd) therapy has yielded promising results in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Cereblon (CRBN) is the direct molecular target of lenalidomide and genetic polymorphisms in CRBN have been associated with lenalidomide efficacy. In this study, we assessed the correlation of five single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the CRBN gene with clinical response and outcomes in patients with NDMM administered KRd therapy with lenalidomide maintenance, achieving favorable trial endpoints in a prospective Phase II study (NCT01402284). Of the observed SNVs, no associations with KRd therapy response were found in this patient cohort, although strong trends in hypoalbuminemia grade and hyperbilirubinemia grade emerged across the CRBN rs1672753 genotype (P = 0.0008) and the rs1714327 genotype (P = 0.0010), respectively. Our results do not provide conclusive support for the predictive utility of CRBN gene polymorphisms as potential biomarkers of clinical response to lenalidomide-based therapy in our patient population. However, these findings remain to be validated in prospective studies using larger patient populations.
Differential protein expression of DARPP-32 versus Calcineurin in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Authors: Kunii Yasuto , Hino Mizuki , Matsumoto Junya , Nagaoka Atsuko , Nawa Hiroyuki , Kakita Akiyoshi , Akatsu Hiroyasu , Hashizume Yoshio , Yabe Hirooki
Published: October 2019

Dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of molecular weight 32 kDa (DARPP-32) integrates dopaminergic signaling into that of several other neurotransmitters. Calcineurin (CaN), located downstream of dopaminergic pathways, inactivates DARPP-32 by dephosphorylation. Despite several studies have examined their expression levels of gene and protein in postmortem patients’ brains, they rendered inconsistent results. In this study, protein expression levels of DARPP-32 and CaN were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and nucleus accumbens (NAc) of 49 postmortem samples from subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and normal controls. We also examined the association between this expression and genetic variants of 8 dopaminergic system-associated molecules for 55 SNPs in the same postmortem samples. In the PFC of patients with schizophrenia, levels of DARPP-32 were significantly decreased, while those of CaN tended to increase. In the NAc, both of DARPP-32 and CaN showed no significant alternations in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Further analysis of the correlation of DARPP-32 and CaN expressions, we found that positive correlations in controls and schizophrenia in PFC, and schizophrenia in NAc. In PFC, the expression ratio of DARPP-32/CaN were significantly lower in schizophrenia than controls. We also found that several of the aforementioned SNPs may predict protein expression, one of which was confirmed in a second independent sample set. This differential expression of DARPP-32 and CaN may reflect potential molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, or differences between these two major psychiatric diseases.
Effects of cycling on lithium-ion battery hysteresis and overvoltage
Authors: Ovejas V. J. , Cuadras A.
Published: October 2019

Currently, lithium-ion batteries are widely used as energy storage systems for mobile applications. However, a better understanding of their nature is still required to improve battery management systems (BMS). Overvoltages and open-circuit voltage (OCV) hysteresis provide valuable information regarding battery performance, but estimations of these parameters are generally inaccurate, leading to errors in BMS. Studies on hysteresis are commonly avoided because the hysteresis depends on the state of charge and degradation level and requires time-consuming measurements. We have investigated hysteresis and overvoltages in Li(NiMnCo)O2/graphite and LiFePO4/graphite commercial cells. Here we report a direct relationship between an increase in OCV hysteresis and an increase in charge overvoltage when the cells are degraded by cycling. We find that the hysteresis is related to diffusion and increases with the formation of pure phases, being primarily related to the graphite electrode. These findings indicate that the graphite electrode is a determining factor for cell efficiency.
Direct detection of brown adipose tissue thermogenesis in UCP1−/− mice by hyperpolarized 129Xe MR thermometry
Authors: Antonacci Michael A. , McHugh Christian , Kelley Michele , McCallister Andrew , Degan Simone , Branca Rosa T.
Published: October 2019

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a type of fat specialized in non-shivering thermogenesis. While non-shivering thermogenesis is mediated primarily by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), the development of the UCP1 knockout mouse has enabled the study of possible UCP1-independent non-shivering thermogenic mechanisms, whose existence has been shown so far only indirectly in white adipose tissue and still continues to be a matter of debate in BAT. In this study, by using magnetic resonance thermometry with hyperpolarized xenon, we produce the first direct evidence of UCP1-independent BAT thermogenesis in knockout mice. We found that, following adrenergic stimulation, the BAT temperature of knockout mice increases more and faster than rectal temperature. While with this study we cannot exclude or separate the physiological effect of norepinephrine on core body temperature, the fast increase of iBAT temperature seems to suggest the existence of a possible UCP1-independent thermogenic mechanism responsible for this temperature increase.
Bacterial, archaeal and micro-eukaryotic communities characterize a disease-suppressive or conducive soil and a cultivar resistant or susceptible to common scab
Authors: Kopecky Jan , Samkova Zuzana , Sarikhani Ensyeh , Kyselková Martina , Omelka Marek , Kristufek Vaclav , Divis Jiri , Grundmann Geneviève G. , Moënne-Loccoz Yvan , Sagova-Mareckova Marketa
Published: October 2019

Control of common scab disease can be reached by resistant cultivars or suppressive soils. Both mechanisms are likely to translate into particular potato microbiome profiles, but the relative importance of each is not known. Here, microbiomes of bulk and tuberosphere soil and of potato periderm were studied in one resistant and one susceptible cultivar grown in a conducive and a suppressive field. Disease severity was suppressed similarly by both means yet, the copy numbers of txtB gene (coding for a pathogenicity determinant) were similar in both soils but higher in periderms of the susceptible cultivar from conducive soil. Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes for bacteria (completed by 16S rRNA microarray approach) and archaea, and of 18S rRNA genes for micro-eukarytes showed that in bacteria, the more important was the effect of cultivar and diversity decreased from resistant cultivar to bulk soil to susceptible cultivar. The major changes occurred in proportions of Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Proteobacteria. In archaea and micro-eukaryotes, differences were primarily due to the suppressive and conducive soil. The effect of soil suppressiveness × cultivar resistance depended on the microbial community considered, but differed also with respect to soil and plant nutrient contents particularly in N, S and Fe.
Multidimensional LC-GC
Authors: Biedermann M. , Grob K.
Published: October 2019

Using liquid chromatography (LC; often high-resolution liquid chromatography, HPLC) for sample clean-up and pre-separation seems an obvious way to improve analyses through greatly enhanced selectivity, lower detection limits, automation, reduced solvent consumption and improved quantitative results. The basic technology was developed between 1980 and 2000, but has been more widely applied in a routine manner only since about 2010, triggered by mineral oil analysis in food. Pre-separation liquid chromatography and the use of detectors for accurately determining the relevant fraction are well-established technologies, fast and more efficient than alternative methods. It was the transfer of large volumes of liquid to gas chromatography (GC), usually based on solvent effects and the retention gap technique, that challenged analysts. Particularly in the 1990s, numerous ideas, techniques and methods have been described, highlighting the potential, but so far little has become routine. This review deals with mainstream online LC-GC, but also with ideas considered interesting and perhaps worthwhile to follow up in further developments.
A new dibenzothiophene-based dual-channel chemosensor for cyanide with aggregation induced emission
Authors: Zou Qiqi , Tao Furong , Xu Zhen , Ding Yunqiao , Tian Yan , Cui Yuezhi
Published: October 2019

A new dibenzothiophene-based barbituric acid derivative (DTB) with an aggregation induced emission (AIE) effect was synthesized as a naked-eye colorimetric and fluorescent probe for CN−.
Catalytic and biophysical investigation of rhodium hydroformylase
Authors: Imam Hasan T. , Jarvis Amanda G. , Celorrio Veronica , Baig Irshad , Allen Christopher C. R. , Marr Andrew C. , Kamer Paul C. J.
Published: October 2019

Rh-Containing artificial metalloenzymes based on two mutants of sterol carrier protein_2L (SCP_2L) have been shown to act as hydroformylases, exhibiting significant activity and unexpectedly high selectivity in the hydroformylation of alkenes.
Effects of dietary apple polyphenol supplementation on carcass traits, meat quality, muscle amino acid and fatty acid composition in finishing pigs
Authors: Xu Xiaojiao , Chen Xiaoling , Chen Daiwen , Yu Bing , Yin Jingdong , Huang Zhiqing
Published: October 2019

Dietary APP supplementation improves the carcass traits, meat color, meat flavor, and meat nutritional value in finishing pigs.
Nutritional properties and osteogenic activity of enzymatic hydrolysates of proteins from the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis)
Authors: Xu Zhe , Zhao Fujunzhu , Chen Hui , Xu Shiqi , Fan Fengjiao , Shi Pujie , Tu Maolin , Wang Ziye , Du Ming
Published: October 2019

Seafood provides a range of health benefits due to its nutritional and bioactive components. The proteins and peptides from Mytilus edulis have good bone growth promoting activities.
Antibody-targeting of ultra-small nanoparticles enhances imaging sensitivity and enables longitudinal tracking of multiple myeloma
Authors: Detappe Alexandre , Reidy Mairead , Yu Yingjie , Mathieu Clelia , Nguyen Hung V.-T. , Coroller Thibaud P. , Lam Fred , Jarolim Petr , Harvey Peter , Protti Andrea , Nguyen Quang-De , Johnson Jeremiah A. , Cremillieux Yannick , Tillement Olivier , Ghobrial Irene M. , Ghoroghchian P. Peter
Published: October 2019

Monitoring malignant progression and disease recurrence post-therapy are central challenges to improving the outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).
Carbon-based dots for electrochemiluminescence sensing
Authors: Chen Ying , Cao Yue , Ma Cheng , Zhu Jun-Jie
Published: October 2019

This review summarizes the recent development of ECL sensors based on carbon-based dots. Particularly, various analytical approaches involving metal ions, small molecules, proteins, nucleic acids and cells are thoroughly presented.
Poly(pyrrole-co-o-toluidine) wrapped CoFe2O4/R(GO–OXSWCNTs) ternary composite material for Ga3+ sensing ability
Authors: Katowah Dina F. , Hussein Mahmoud A. , Alam M. M. , Sobahi T. R. , Gabal M. A. , Asiri Abdullah M. , Rahman Mohammed M.
Published: October 2019

A ternary P(Py-co-OT)/CF/R(GO–OXSWCNTs) nanocomposite has been fabricated as a novel conductive hybrid material with high stability and excellent electrochemical Ga3+ sensing ability.
Monolayer formed by l-Asp-based gemini surfactants self-assembled in 1D nanostructures
Authors: Anchev Borislav A. , Tsekova Daniela S. , Mircheva Kristina M. , Grozev Nikolay A.
Published: October 2019

l-Asp-based gemini surfactants form primary fibrils (1D structure) that interact with each other and arrange in a film (2D structure).
Biomimetic heterobimetallic architecture of Ni(ii) and Fe(ii) for CO2 hydrogenation in aqueous media. A DFT study
Authors: Shiekh Bilal Ahmad
Published: October 2019

The hydrogenation of CO2 by our newly designed [NiFe] heterobimetallic catalyst inspired by the active site of [NiFe] hydrogenase.
Development and Refinement of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Hearing: A Brief Introduction to Nonparametric Item Response Theory
Authors: Cassarly Christy , Matthews Lois J. , Simpson Annie N. , Dubno Judy R.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this report was to demonstrate the value of incorporating nonparametric item response theory in the development and refinement of patient- reported outcome measures for hearing.

Conclusions

Nonparametric item response theory can be useful in the development and refinement of patient-reported outcome measures for hearing. These methods are particularly useful as an alternative to exploratory factor analysis to determine the number of underlying abilities or traits represented by a scale when the items have ordered-categorical responses.
The Effort Required to Comprehend a Short Documentary in Noise: A Comparison of Younger and Older Francophones
Authors: Tangkhpanya Fatima , Le Carrour Morgane , Doucet Félicia , Gagné Jean-Pierre
Published: October 2019

Speech processing is more effortful under difficult listening conditions. Using a dual-task paradigm, it has been shown that older adults deploy more listening effort than younger adults when performing a speech recognition task in noise.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether a dual-task paradigm could be used to investigate differences in listening effort for an audiovisual speech comprehension task. If so, it was predicted that older adults would expend more listening effort than younger adults.

Method

Three groups of participants took part in the investigation: (a) young normal-hearing adults, (b) young normal-hearing adults listening to the speech material low-pass filtered above 3 kHz, and (c) older adults with age-related normal hearing sensitivity or better. A dual-task paradigm was used to measure listening effort. The primary task consisted of comprehending a short documentary presented at 63 dBA in a background noise that consisted of a 4-talker speech babble presented at 69 dBA. The participants had to answer a set of 15 questions related to the content of the documentary. The secondary task was a tactile detection task presented at a random time interval, over a 12-min period (approximately 8 stimuli/min). Each task was performed separately and concurrently.

Results

The younger participants who performed the listening task under the low-pass filtered condition displayed significantly more listening effort than the 2 other groups of participants.

Conclusion

First, the study confirmed that the dual-task paradigm used in this study was sufficiently sensitive to reveal significant differences in listening effort for a speech comprehension task across 3 groups of participants. Contrary to our prediction, it was the group of young normal-hearing participants who listened to the documentaries under the low-pass filtered condition that displayed significantly more listening effort than the other 2 groups of listeners.
Lexical-Level Predictors of Reading Comprehension in Third Grade: Is Spelling a Unique Contributor?
Authors: Murphy Kimberly A. , Justice Laura M.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Considerable research effort has focused on understanding reading comprehension and reading comprehension difficulties. The purpose of this correlational study was to add to the small but growing body of literature on the role that spelling may play in reading comprehension, by investigating the full range of lexical-level literacy skills and whether spelling makes a unique contribution. This study also explored whether these relations vary with the spelling scoring metric.

Method

Data were collected from 63 children attending Grade 3 in a Midwestern state. In addition to measuring reading comprehension, word recognition, and vocabulary, 4 spelling scoring metrics were examined: the number of words spelled correctly, the number of correct letter sequences (CLS), and Spelling Sensitivity Scores for elements and for words.

Results

All spelling metrics were significantly correlated with reading comprehension. Results of hierarchical regressions showed that spelling was a significant, unique predictor of reading comprehension when the CLS metric was used. The scoring metrics were differentially related to reading comprehension. Metrics that gave credit based on orthographic precision only (number of words spelled correctly and CLS) were more highly related to reading comprehension than metrics that scored not only on orthographic accuracy but also on phonological and morphological accuracy (Spelling Sensitivity Scores for elements and for words).

Conclusion

These results indicate that spelling is related to reading comprehension and have theoretical and clinical implications for the use of spelling assessment.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9947216
Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Apraxia of Speech and Cortical Activation in Patients With Stroke: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Study
Authors: Wang Jie , Wu Dongyu , Cheng Yinan , Song Weiqun , Yuan Ying , Zhang Xu , Zhang Dahua , Zhang Tiantian , Wang Zhuo , Tang Jingwen , Yin Ling
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The study aims to investigate, using anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS), over which site, the left lip region of primary motor cortex (M1) or the Broca's area, there would be better recovery from apraxia of speech (AoS) in patients with poststroke aphasia and to examine for altered activation in speech-related areas after tDCS with nonlinear electroencephalography (EEG).

Method

Fifty-two patients with AoS were randomized into A-tDCS over the left M1 (A-tDCS-M1), Broca's area, and sham tDCS groups who underwent 10 sessions of tDCS and speech treatment for 5 days. The EEG nonlinear index of approximate entropy was calculated for 6 subjects in each group before and after treatment.

Results

After treatment, the change in speech-language performance improved more significantly in the A-tDCS-M1 group than the other 2 groups (
p
< .05). EEG approximate entropy indicated that both A-tDCS groups could activate the stimulated sites; the improvement in the A-tDCS-M1 group was correlated with high activation in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex and Broca's areas of the left hemisphere in addition to the stimulated site.

Conclusion

A-tDCS over the left M1 can improve the speech function in patients with poststroke aphasia and severe AoS and excite and recruit more areas in the motor speech network.
RSF model with SCE‐based global constraint for image segmentation
Authors: Wang Jinfeng , Cheng Irene
Published: October 2019

A novel region‐scalable fitting (RSF) active contour model with symmetric cross entropy (SCE)‐based global constraint is proposed to segment various kinds of images. The energy functional is mainly composed of two parts, namely the local and global constraints. The local constraint is the weighted region‐scalable fitting term, which computes the local intensity information. The global constraint is constructed by measuring the difference between the intensity distribution of the object image and the intensity distribution of the original image using SCE. Moreover, some regularised terms are incorporated into the energy functional. Experimental results for synthetic and real images show that the proposed model achieves better segmentation performance and is insensitive to initial contour and noise.
Background bit‐weight calibration in pipelined successive approximation register ADC
Authors: Shen Changsheng
Published: October 2019

A background bit‐weight calibration in pipelined successive approximation register ADC is proposed. By exploiting the conversion results of the first stage to determine the injection of the dithered signal and introducing two extra capacitors into the first stage to reduce the range of first‐stage residue, a robust and totally background calibration is implemented. According to the simulation, the signal‐to‐noise and distortion ratio and spurious free dynamic range are improved from 66.3 to 73.3 dB and 78.4 to 85.1 dB, respectively, after calibration.
Feed‐forward control scheme to improve light‐load power factor for single‐stage flyback PFC converters
Authors: Kim M.
Published: October 2019

In this Letter, the author proposes a new feed‐forward controller for single‐stage flyback power factor correction (PFC) converters. By compensating the phase‐lead effect caused by input capacitor current, the proposed feed‐forward control duty improves the displacement factor as well as the distortion factor, and so the flyback PFC converter has high power quality. By means of the synchronous rectification circuit, the flyback PFC converter can operate in reverse when the negative current is required. To confirm the theoretical analysis and validity of the proposed control scheme, the author demonstrated the proposed control algorithm with 80 W flyback PFC converter prototype.
Closed‐form formula of Cramer–Rao lower bound for 3D TOA target localisation
Authors: Li Yin‐Ya , Wang Chang‐Cheng , Qi Guo‐Qing , Sheng An‐Dong
Published: October 2019

This Letter focuses on the problem of analytically evaluating the performance metric using the Cramer–Rao lower bound (CRLB) for three‐dimensional (3D) time‐of‐arrival (TOA) target localisation. The necessary and sufficient condition on the invertibility (non‐singularity) of the Fisher information matrix (FIM) is presented, and then the existence of the CRLB is analysed. Two types of equivalent closed‐form formulas of the CRLB are proposed, and any one of which can be adopted to analytically evaluate the best achievable accuracy of 3D TOA localisation. Moreover, three types of the worst sensor‐target geometries described by the unit vectors of line‐of‐sight of TOA sensors are extensively illustrated, which will lead to a worse localisation accuracy or even result in singularities of the FIM and should be avoided in the deployment of 3D TOA sensors.
Polarisation detection sensor with EO polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals
Authors: Manzoor Z.
Published: October 2019

This Letter proposed a polarisation detection sensor by utilising electro‐optic (EO) crystals in purpose of tumour's boundary detection. In this work, efficiency of uniaxial (anisotropic) EO crystals like CdTe and isotropic EO crystals such as polymer‐dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) as the polarisation detection sensor is studied and compared with each other. Based on, derived equations for refractive index change as a function of electric field (Pockels effect) for these two types of EO crystals, capability of using PDLCs in polarisation detection sensors is confirmed. In addition, simulations are prepared to support this claim. To this end, PDLC probe is used to detect boundaries of a simulated tumour (target with the ability to change polarisation of backscattered signal).
Unified analysis of channel capacity under different adaptive transmission policies
Authors: Al‐Hmood H. , Al‐Raweshidy H.S.
Published: October 2019

In this Letter, the channel capacity under different transmission policies is analysed using a mixture gamma distribution. Specifically, the capacity of the channel with inversion and fixed rate, optimum power and rate adaptation, and truncated inversion and fixed rate IS derived in unified exact simple closed‐form expressions. The composite /gamma fading channel which includes most of the well‐known fading distributions as special cases, has been employed in this work. Moreover, a comparison between numerical and simulation results has been carried out to verify the validation of the derived expressions.
Miniaturised LTCC diplexer with low insertion loss for LTE application
Authors: Kewei Qian
Published: October 2019

A novel multilayer diplexer with low insertion loss and high selectivity for long‐term evolution (LTE) application is proposed through the combination of two quasi‐lumped element filters. Based on the equivalent circuit of the diplexer, the locations of the transmission zeros can be adjusted separately by changing the component value of each channel, thus high isolation level and wide stopband can be achieved simultaneously. Furthermore, the diplexer has an extremely compact size of 1.6 mm × 0.8 mm × 0.5 mm by using low temperature co‐fired ceramic (LTCC) multilayer technology.
Detecting instant of multiple faults on the transmission line and its types using time–frequency analysis
Authors: Na Shweta , Kishor Nand , Uhlen Kjetil , Mohanty Soumya Ranjan
Published: October 2019

In a complex interconnected network, due to dynamic interaction between the AC networks, during occurrences of faults, the successful relay operation is threatened. For security and reliability of the power system network, a fast and accurate protection scheme is of great importance. This study presents a protection scheme for multiple fault detection at bus/line and its type in a wide area network. If a fault occurs on a line, followed by another fault at the same/different line, before the clearance of former fault, the proposed scheme is capable of detecting such multiple fault events. The scheme applies processed signal information for its time–frequency representation using Smoothed Pseudo Wigner–Ville distribution, followed by Hilbert transform and calculation of indices to interpret the fault events. It is shown that faulted bus, faulted line, time instant, and types of faults can be easily identified with low computational burden. The scheme is validated on the signals simulated on Kundur's model, IEEE 39 bus system and verified with signals on real‐time digital simulator for different fault conditions; fault resistance and fault location on the line. The scheme can be successfully applied on signals available from phasor measurement units for wide area network protection.
Partial discharge behaviour due to irregular‐shaped copper particles in transformer oil with a different moisture content of pressboard barrier under uniform field
Authors: Rahman Muhammed Faisal , Nirgude Pradeep
Published: October 2019

This study presents the investigations on Partial Discharge (PD) behaviour of irregular‐shaped copper particle in oil with pressboard barrier placed in two positions under uniform field with different moisture contents. Frequency Domain Spectroscopy (FDS) was used to estimate percentage moisture in pressboard. Recovery Voltage Measurement was used to confirm obtained FDS results. PD characteristics like magnitude, number, discharge power, rise time and duration time of PD pulse were analysed. Electric field due to particle in oil with moisture content pressboard barrier was studied by simulations. Phase Resolved PD (PRPD) pattern for different moisture pressboard observed to have similar patterns with variation in PD inception voltage (PDIV), magnitude and number of discharges. It was observed that PD characteristics as a function of voltage, increases nearly quadratic rate with respect to percentage moisture in pressboard. Simulation results complimented experimentally measured PDIV values for particle in oil with moisture in pressboard. Filtering and conditioning of oil is mandatory practice in a new transformer before going to any high voltage (HV) applications. PRPD pattern and PD characteristics data obtained in this study has great practical significance to assess the condition of transformer insulation systems before proceeding for HV application to avoid any potential failure.
Target recognition in synthetic aperture radar image based on PCANet
Authors: Qi Baogui , Jing Haitao , Chen He , Zhuang Yin , Yue Zhuo , Wang Chonglei
Published: October 2019

Automatic targets recognition (ATR) for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image is very important. ATR can be used in traffic management, national frontier safety, and so on. Traditional algorithms for SAR ATR is composed of extraction features and training classifier. The features are essential for the classification accuracy. However, choosing good features by hand is a hard task. The deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) which can learn features automatically have got a great performance in natural images. However, the CNNs have many parameters and need a lot of data to train such networks. The remote‐sensing data of SAR is limited. Then, the authors need a simple network which needs not much data and easy to train. The principal component analysis network (PCANet) is a shallow network that performs well in the recognition task and needs no hand features choosing. Though this network has produced a wide application in the natural images, it is rarely used in the SAR images. The experimental result of the moving and stationary target acquisition and recognition (MSTAR) dataset shows that the PCANet can achieve over 99% accuracy on ten‐class targets. This result is better than traditional algorithms and is very close to the results of deep‐learning methods.
Retractation note: Historical development of IEQ in Danish dwellings has energy efficiency requirements inhibited positive IEQ developments?
Authors:   Guest editors, Tanabe S.I , Zhang H. , Kurnitski J. , Gameiro da Silva M.C. , Nastase I. , Wargocki P. , Cao G. , Mazzarela L. , Inard C.
Published: October 2019

This article is an accidental publication. It was accepted by the Guest Editors in charge of the peer-review process without the authors' final consent. The Guest Editors have given their approval for this decision.
Objets Connectés : Mise en oeuvre d’un challenge intitulé « Industrie du futur, c’est maintenant ! » dans le cadre d’un enseignement pour des élèves ingénieurs
Authors: Vrignat Pascal , Delouche David , Avila Manuel , Begot Stéphane , Bardet Christophe , Duculty Florent , Kratz Frédéric
Published: October 2019

Parmi les nombreuses stratégies pédagogiques permettant d’améliorer la motivation, le savoir-être et le savoir-faire des élèves ou des étudiants, la pédagogie par projet est souvent citée comme exemple. C’est dans ce contexte, qu’un challenge intitulé « L’industrie du futur, c’est maintenant ! » a été activé en 2018 pour des élèves ingénieurs de spécialités mécatronique et robotique. Sept équipes tirées au sort et constituées d’élèves en 5ème année à HEI campus Centre ont donc participé à ce challenge. Les enjeux techniques à franchir étaient vastes car ils devaient répondre à certains besoins et services consacrés aux enjeux liés à l’industrie digitale ou l’industrie 4.0. Un système de production de jetons en polymère pour serrure de caddy et connecté en réseau a servi de support. Cet article détaille la stratégie pédagogique qui a été adoptée, le cahier des charges technique ainsi que la planification à respecter et certains résultats significatifs. Un outil de mesures concernant l’efficience de la méthode a également été mis en place. Les résultats ainsi obtenus nous ont permis d’affiner notre retour sur expérience concernant le challenge.
Retractation note: Road Traffic Monitoring System with Self-Learning Function using the Raspberry Pi Platform
Authors: Zaucha Jacek , Matczak Maciej , Rus Cosmin , Marcuș Răzvan , Stoicuța Olimpiu
Published: October 2019

The authors, Cosmin Rus, Răzvan Marcuş and Olimpiu Stoicuța, regret that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/52456-analyzing-trafficusing-a-webcam-a-raspberry-pi-and-thingspeak. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The Guest Editors have given their approval for this decision.
Energy-efficient and cost-effective methods of driving trains under the conditions of development of the electricity market
Authors: Pshinko Alexander , Afanasov Andrii , Kuznetsov Valeriy , Skalozub Vladislav , Arpul Sergiy , Ivanov Alexander
Published: October 2019

The article for the first time considers the possibilities for the organization of cost-effective rail transportation on electrified section in terms of the functioning of the Ukrainian balancing electricity market. It is formulated the complex task of choosing effective mechanisms of purchase and sale on the electricity market on the basis of contracts for the implementation of markets “for the day ahead”, as well as for the appointment of parameters and tariffs of the intraday market. The authors presented the models and results of calculations of optimum modes of trains’ driving, which are calculated for various criteria of efficiency taking into account the cost of the consumed active and reactive electric energy. The technique of tariff formation for purchase of electricity on the balancing market was proposed.