bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in oxidative stress in response to different levels of energy restriction in obese ponies
Authors: Bruynsteen Lien , Janssens Geert P. J. , Harris Patricia A. , Duchateau Luc , Valle Emanuela , Odetti Patrizio , Vandevelde Kimberley , Buyse Johan , Hesta Myriam
Published: September 2014

The present study evaluated the effect of different levels of energy restriction on metabolic parameters in obese ponies. Relative weight changes, markers of lipid metabolism and oxidant/antioxidant balance were monitored. A total of eighteen obese (body condition score ≥ 7/9) Shetland ponies were studied over a 23·5-week trial, which was divided into three periods. The first period involved a 4-week adaptation period in which each animal was fed 100 % of their maintenance energy requirements needed to maintain a stable obese body weight (MERob). This was followed by a 16·5-week weight-loss period in which ponies were assigned to receive either 100 % (control group, CONTROL), 80 % (slow weight-loss (SLOW) group) or 60 % (rapid weight-loss (RAPID) group) of their MERob. During the 3-week end-phase period, all ponies were again fed 100 % of their MERob. Relative weight loss was higher in the RAPID group (P< 0·001) compared with the SLOW group. No linear relationship was found as a doubling of the percentage of energy restriction was accompanied by a tripling of the percentage of weight loss. Relative weight gain afterwards in the end-phase period was higher in the RAPID group (P< 0·001) compared with the SLOW and CONTROL groups. During the weight-loss period, TAG and NEFA concentrations were highest in the RAPID group, as were α-tocopherol and ferric-reducing ability of plasma concentrations. After 8 weeks of weight loss, the concentrations of advanced oxidation protein products were higher in the RAPID group compared with the SLOW and CONTROL groups (P< 0·001). In conclusion, the level of energy restriction influences the extent of changes in oxidant/antioxidant balance. Practically, more severe energy restriction regimens may be associated with a greater regain of weight after the restriction period.
Domestic and sexual violence against patients with severe mental illness
Authors: Khalifeh H. , Moran P. , Borschmann R. , Dean K. , Hart C. , Hogg J. , Osborn D. , Johnson S. , Howard L. M.
Published: September 2014

Background

Domestic and sexual violence are significant public health problems but little is known about the extent to which men and women with severe mental illness (SMI) are at risk compared with the general population. We aimed to compare the prevalence and impact of violence against SMI patients and the general population.

Method

Three hundred and three randomly recruited psychiatric patients, in contact with community services for ⩾1 year, were interviewed using the British Crime Survey domestic/sexual violence questionnaire. Prevalence and correlates of violence in this sample were compared with those from 22 606 general population controls participating in the contemporaneous 2011/12 national crime survey.

Results

Past-year domestic violence was reported by 27% v. 9% of SMI and control women, respectively [odds ratio (OR) adjusted for socio-demographics, aOR 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–4.0], and by 13% v. 5% of SMI and control men, respectively (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0–2.8). Past-year sexual violence was reported by 10% v. 2.0% of SMI and control women respectively (aOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.4–5.8). Family (non-partner) violence comprised a greater proportion of overall domestic violence among SMI than control victims (63% v. 35%, p < 0.01). Adulthood serious sexual assault led to attempted suicide more often among SMI than control female victims (53% v. 3.4%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Compared to the general population, patients with SMI are at substantially increased risk of domestic and sexual violence, with a relative excess of family violence and adverse health impact following victimization. Psychiatric services, and public health and criminal justice policies, need to address domestic and sexual violence in this at-risk group.
Toward a limited realism for psychiatric nosology based on the coherence theory of truth
Authors: Kendler K. S.
Published: September 2014

A fundamental debate in the philosophy of science is whether our central concepts are true or only useful instruments to help predict and manipulate the world. The first position is termed ‘realism’ and the second ‘instrumentalism’. Strong support for the instrumentalist position comes from the ‘pessimistic induction’ (PI) argument. Given that many key scientific concepts once considered true (e.g. humors, ether, epicycles, phlogiston) are now considered false, how, the argument goes, can we assert that our current concepts are true? The PI argument applies strongly to psychiatric diagnoses. Given our long history of abandoned diagnoses, arguments that we have finally ‘gotten it right’ and developed definitive psychiatric categories that correspond to observer-independent reality are difficult to defend. For our current diagnostic categories, we should settle for a less ambitious vision of truth. For this, the coherence theory, which postulates that something is true when it fits well with the other things we confidently know about the world, can serve us well. Using the coherence theory, a diagnosis is real to the extent that it is well integrated into our accumulating scientific data base. Furthermore, the coherence theory establishes a framework for us to evaluate our diagnostic categories and can provide a set of criteria, closely related to our concept of validators, for deciding when they are getting better. Finally, we need be much less skeptical about the truth status of the aggregate concept of psychiatric illness than we are regarding the specific categories in our current nosology.
VALIDATION OF SURROGATE ENDPOINTS IN ADVANCED SOLID TUMORS: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF STATISTICAL METHODS, RESULTS, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY MAKERS
Authors: Ciani Oriana , Davis Sarah , Tappenden Paul , Garside Ruth , Stein Ken , Cantrell Anna , Saad Everardo D. , Buyse Marc , Taylor Rod S.
Published: September 2014

Objectives: Licensing of, and coverage decisions on, new therapies should rely on evidence from patient-relevant endpoints such as overall survival (OS). Nevertheless, evidence from surrogate endpoints may also be useful, as it may not only expedite the regulatory approval of new therapies but also inform coverage decisions. It is, therefore, essential that candidate surrogate endpoints be properly validated. However, there is no consensus on statistical methods for such validation and on how the evidence thus derived should be applied by policy makers.

Methods: We review current statistical approaches to surrogate-endpoint validation based on meta-analysis in various advanced-tumor settings. We assessed the suitability of two surrogates (progression-free survival [PFS] and time-to-progression [TTP]) using three current validation frameworks: Elston and Taylor's framework, the German Institute of Quality and Efficiency in Health Care's (IQWiG) framework and the Biomarker-Surrogacy Evaluation Schema (BSES3).

Results: A wide variety of statistical methods have been used to assess surrogacy. The strength of the association between the two surrogates and OS was generally low. The level of evidence (observation-level versus treatment-level) available varied considerably by cancer type, by evaluation tools and was not always consistent even within one specific cancer type.

Conclusions: Not in all solid tumors the treatment-level association between PFS or TTP and OS has been investigated. According to IQWiG's framework, only PFS achieved acceptable evidence of surrogacy in metastatic colorectal and ovarian cancer treated with cytotoxic agents. Our study emphasizes the challenges of surrogate-endpoint validation and the importance of building consensus on the development of evaluation frameworks.
Choosing and using multiple traits in functional diversity research
Authors: LEFCHECK JONATHAN S. , BASTAZINI VINICIUS A. G. , GRIFFIN JOHN N.
Published: September 2014

Species are different, but they are not equally different. Yet many indices of biodiversity assume species vary to identical degrees. This notion does not meet with intuition: some species vary greatly in terms of their morphology, behaviour and ecology, while others vary only a little. One way to reconcile the dissimilarity between species is by collecting information on their functional traits (FTs), descriptors of how organisms interact with their environment and each other. Functional diversity (FD) is the total variation in one or more FTs across all species within a community, and provides a powerful complement to species diversity. There are several challenges facing the application of FD to conservation science, including lack of rigorous trait data for many organisms, and sparse details on how to select available traits to generate meaningful inferences for the various summary metrics of FD. This Comment provides a brief discussion on choosing and using FTs, and recommendations for best practice. Ultimately, researchers need to consider using a variety of traits when hypotheses are multifaceted or could potentially evolve, at the same time thinking critically about trait selection to avoid redundant information.
The Wire as speculative research
Authors: Leclair-Paquet Benjamin
Published: September 2014

Created by David Simon in 2002, the HBO series The Wire presents the established moral code of a society that lies outside mainstream America and depicts institutions designed to maintain the status quo. Terry Eagleton suggests of Dickens, that his ‘grotesque realism is a stylistic distortion in the service of truth, a kind of astigmatism which allows us to see more accurately.’ The content of Simon's programme operates in a similar way. It proposes an alternative to academic narratives able to disseminate knowledge beyond the closed-off world of peer review.

The richness, uniqueness and intricacy of The Wire has made it difficult to trace its thematic and stylistic heritage. The programme has been referred to as a ‘lyrical sociology’, ‘a type of urban sociology’, ‘a rendering of urban theory’, a ‘fontless social science’, a ‘theoretical archetype’, a ‘Dickensian show’, and more. At an aesthetic level, The Wire has been qualified as a work of ‘psychological realism’, ‘social realism’, as something aspiring to Fredric Jameson's aesthetics of ‘cognitive mapping’, or even a ‘rich counterpart to actor-network-theory’.
Positional Correlative Anatomy of Invertebrate Model Organisms Increases Efficiency of TEM Data Production
Authors: Kolotuev Irina
Published: September 2014

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is an important tool for studies in cell biology, and is essential to address research questions from bacteria to animals. Recent technological innovations have advanced the entire field of TEM, yet classical techniques still prevail for most present-day studies. Indeed, the majority of cell and developmental biology studies that use TEM do not require cutting-edge methodologies, but rather fast and efficient data generation. Although access to state-of-the-art equipment is frequently problematic, standard TEM microscopes are typically available, even in modest research facilities. However, a major unmet need in standard TEM is the ability to quickly prepare and orient a sample to identify a region of interest. Here, I provide a detailed step-by-step method for a positional correlative anatomy approach to flat-embedded samples. These modifications make the TEM preparation and analytic procedures faster and more straightforward, supporting a higher sampling rate. To illustrate the modified procedures, I provide numerous examples addressing research questions inCaenorhabditis elegansandDrosophila. This method can be equally applied to address questions of cell and developmental biology in other small multicellular model organisms.
The protein DIIIC‐2, aggregated with a specific oligodeoxynucleotide and adjuvanted in alum, protects mice and monkeys against DENV‐2
Authors: Gil Lázaro , Marcos Ernesto , Izquierdo Alienys , Lazo Laura , Valdés Iris , Ambala Peris , Ochola Lucy , Hitler Rikoi , Suzarte Edith , Álvarez Mayling , Kimiti Prisilla , Ndung'u James , Kariuki Thomas , Guzmán María Guadalupe , Guillén Gerardo , Hermida Lisset
Published: September 2014

Previously, we reported the ability of the chimeric protein DIIIC‐2 (domain III of the dengue envelope protein fused to the capsid protein of dengue‐2 virus), to induce immunity and protection in mice, when it is highly aggregated with a non‐defined oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) and adjuvanted in alum. In this work, three different defined ODNs were studied as aggregating agents. Our results suggest that the nature of the ODN influences the capacity of protein DIIIC‐2 to activate cell‐mediated immunity in mice. Consequently, the ODN 39M was selected to perform further experiments in mice and nonhuman primates. Mice receiving the preparation 39M‐DIIIC‐2 were solidly protected against dengue virus (DENV) challenge. Moreover, monkeys immunized with the same preparation developed neutralizing antibodies, as measured by four different neutralization tests varying the virus strains and the cell lines used. Two of the immunized monkeys were completely protected against challenge, whereas the third animal had a single day of low‐titer viremia. This is the first work describing the induction of short‐term protection in monkeys by a formulation that is suitable for human use combining a recombinant protein from DENV with alum.
DNA bioassay-on-chip using SERS detection for dengue diagnosis
Authors: Ngo Hoan T. , Wang Hsin-Neng , Fales Andrew M. , Nicholson Bradly P. , Woods Christopher W. , Vo-Dinh Tuan
Published: September 2014

A signal-on DNA bioassay-on-chip using SERS detection and a single incubation step without any washing was developed for dengue diagnosis.
Selective detection of 1000 B. anthracis spores within 15 minutes using a peptide functionalized SERS assay
Authors: Farquharson Stuart , Shende Chetan , Smith Wayne , Huang Hermes , Inscore Frank , Sengupta Atanu , Sperry Jay , Sickler Todd , Prugh Amber , Guicheteau Jason
Published: September 2014

We developed a SERS assay that allowed selective detection of 1000B. anthracisAmes spores in less than 15 minutes using dipicolinic acid (DPA) as a biomarker.
Electrical immunosensor based on dielectrophoretically-deposited carbon nanotubes for detection of influenza virus H1N1
Authors: Singh Renu , Sharma Abhinav , Hong Seongkyeol , Jang Jaesung
Published: September 2014

A label-free and highly sensitive electrical immunosensor to detect influenza viruses H1N1 using the single-walled carbon nanotubes deposited on a PDDA self-assembled monolayer by dielectrophoresis is presented.
Highly effective yet simple transmembrane anion transporters based upon ortho-phenylenediamine bis-ureas
Authors: Karagiannidis Louise E. , Haynes Cally J. E. , Holder Katie J. , Kirby Isabelle L. , Moore Stephen J. , Wells Neil J. , Gale Philip A.
Published: September 2014

Simple, highly fluorinated receptors are shown to function as effective transmembrane anion transporters with the most active transporters rivalling the transport efficacy of natural anion transporter prodigiosin for chloride/bicarbonate antiport.
Structure optimization of Prussian blue analogue cathode materials for advanced sodium ion batteries
Authors: Yang Dezhi , Xu Jing , Liao Xiao-Zhen , He Yu-Shi , Liu Haimei , Ma Zi-Feng
Published: September 2014

A Prussian blue analogue Na1.76Ni0.12Mn0.88[Fe(CN)6]0.98 containing electrochemically inactive Ni2+ with active Mn2+/3+ simultaneously exhibits particularly excellent cycle life and high capacity.
An NIR-responsive and sugar-targeted polypeptide composite nanomedicine for intracellular cancer therapy
Authors: Liu Gang , Zhou Linzhu , Su Yue , Dong Chang-Ming
Published: September 2014

The UCNP-loaded polypeptide composite nanoparticles that present fast NIR-sensitivity and tunable sugar-targeting properties are fabricated, opening a new avenue for on-demand and targeted cancer therapy.
Efficient imidation of C(sp3)–H bonds adjacent to oxygen atoms of aryl ethers under metal-free conditions
Authors: Sun Kai , Wang Xin , Li Gang , Zhu Zhonghong , Jiang Yongqing , Xiao Beibei
Published: September 2014

A metal-free intermolecular oxidative C–N formation reaction of aryl ethers with saccharins was realized for the first time.
Photo-controlled deactivation of immobilised lipase
Authors: Poloni Claudia , Szymanski Wiktor , Feringa Ben L.
Published: September 2014

Immobilization of lipase on a quartz surface using a photoswitchable linker permits to control the deactivation of the enzyme by irradiation with light.
On the chemistry of activation of a commercial carbon-supported PtRu electrocatalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction
Authors: Chen D.-J. , Sun S.-G. , Tong Y. Y. J.
Published: September 2014

The best activation of a PtRu/C electrocatalyst is to achieve a partition of segregated Pt and Ru ensembles that maximizes Pt–Ru boundaries.
On the near UV photophysics of a phenylalanine residue: conformation-dependent ππ* state deactivation revealed by laser spectroscopy of isolated neutral dipeptides
Authors: Loquais Yohan , Gloaguen Eric , Alauddin Mohammad , Brenner Valérie , Tardivel Benjamin , Mons Michel
Published: September 2014

The primary step of the near UV photophysics is investigated in pump–probe R2PI ns experiments carried out on specific conformers of model peptide chains.
Synthesis and characterization of β-triketimine cobalt complexes and their behaviour in the polymerization of 1,3-butadiene
Authors: Alnajrani Mohammed N. , Mair Francis S.
Published: September 2014

Cobalt II ions ligated byfac-κ3-β-triketimine ligands form bromide-bridged square-based pyramidal dimers which upon activation with MAO and fed with a constant supply of butadiene produce high-cis-1,4-polybutadiene with activities and molecular weights surpassing all previously seen for this metal.
Ti7-containing, tetrahedral 36-tungsto-4-arsenate(iii) [Ti6(TiO6)(AsW9O33)4]20−
Authors: Wang Kai-Yao , Bassil Bassem S. , Lin Zheng-Guo , Haider Ali , Cao Jie , Stephan Holger , Viehweger Katrin , Kortz Ulrich
Published: September 2014

Ti7-containing [Ti6(TiO6)(AsW9O33)4]20− (1) comprises a central, octahedrally coordinated Ti4+ ion bridged to six square-pyramidally coordinated Ti4+ ions, and this titanium-oxo core is surrounded by four {AsW9O33} capping units, resulting in an overall tetrahedral assembly.
Identifying the potential extracellular electron transfer pathways from a c-type cytochrome network
Authors: Ding De-Wu , Xu Jun , Li Ling , Xie Jian-Ming , Sun Xiao
Published: September 2014

A genome-widec-type cytochrome network was constructed to explore the extracellular electron transfer pathways inShewanella oneidensisMR-1.
A colorimetric chemosensor based on a Schiff base for highly selective sensing of cyanide in aqueous solution: the influence of solvents
Authors: Na Yu Jeong , Park Gyeong Jin , Jo Hyun Yong , Lee Seul Ah , Kim Cheal
Published: September 2014

A new highly selective colorimetric chemosensor 1 shows exclusive response toward cyanide by a color change in aqueous solution.
Encapsulation of nanoscale metal oxides into an ultra-thin Ni matrix for superior Li-ion batteries: a versatile strategy
Authors: Zhu Jianhui , Jiang Jian , Ai Wei , Fan Zhanxi , Huang Xintang , Zhang Hua , Yu Ting
Published: September 2014

A versatile strategy of encapsulating nanoscale metal oxides into ultrathin Ni “armors” is proposed for superior anodes of LIBs. The hybrids of metal oxide@Ni show drastic improvements in the capacity retention, long-term cyclic stability and rate performance.
Local defect-induced red-shift of cathodoluminescence in individual ZnS nanobelts
Authors: Liu B. D. , Yang B. , Dierre B. , Sekiguchi T. , Jiang X.
Published: September 2014

Local defect-induced red-shift of cathodoluminescence in individual ZnS nanobelts has been observed using a high-resolution spatially-resolved CL technique. Structural defects such as strip stacking faults and the heterostructure area with a size of 10–20 nm are responsible for luminescence difference.
ent-Kaurane-based regio- and stereoselective inverse electron demand hetero-Diels–Alder reactions: synthesis of dihydropyran-fused diterpenoids
Authors: Ding Chunyong , Wang Lili , Chen Haijun , Wild Christopher , Ye Na , Ding Ye , Wang Tianzhi , White Mark A. , Shen Qiang , Zhou Jia
Published: September 2014

A mild and concise approach for the construction of a 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran ring integrated into the A-ring of the natural product oridonin is reported herein.
Anion effects to deliver enhanced iridium catalysts for hydrogen isotope exchange processes
Authors: Kennedy Alan R. , Kerr William J. , Moir Rory , Reid Marc
Published: September 2014

Enhanced catalyst efficiency and solvent applicability has been achieved for hydrogen isotope exchange processes with Ir(i) complexes possessing larger, more weakly coordinating counterions.
In situ and readily prepared metal catalysts and initiators for living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether: dual-purpose salphen as a ligand framework for ZrCl4and an initiating proton source
Authors: Kigoshi Sensho , Kanazawa Arihiro , Kanaoka Shokyoku , Aoshima Sadahito
Published: September 2014

A well-defined catalyst, generated quantitativelyin situsimply by mixing ZrCl4and a salphen ligand was shown to induce the living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether.
Energetic and topological approach for characterization of supramolecular clusters in organic crystals
Authors: Martins Marcos A. P. , Frizzo Clarissa P. , Martins Anna C. L. , Tier Aniele Z. , Gindri Izabelle M. , Meyer Alexandre R. , Bonacorso Helio G. , Zanatta Nilo
Published: September 2014

In this work, an approach is proposed for understanding the crystal arrangements of organic compounds.
Highly efficient photoelectrochemical anticorrosion performance of C3N4@ZnO composite with quasi-shell–core structure on 304 stainless steel
Authors: Bu Yuyu , Chen Zhuoyuan
Published: September 2014

Carbon nitride@zinc oxide (C3N4@ZnO) composite with a quasi-shell–core structure was prepared in this work.
Synthesis and infrared shielding properties of molybdenum-containing ammonium tungsten bronzes
Authors: Wang Tingyu , Li Yan , Li Junping , Feng Zhihai , Sun Dongfeng , Zhao Bin , Xu Yaohui , Li Ruixing , Cai Hongnian
Published: September 2014

Mo-containing (NH4)xWO3was synthesized by a solvothermal process and exhibited low infrared transmittance with an actual Mo/W (mol) of 0.159.
A novel colorimetric and fluorogenic chemosensor for selective detection of Cu2+ ions in mixed aqueous media
Authors: Yadav Urmiladevi Narad , Pant Preeti , Sahoo Suban Kumar , Shankarling Ganapati Subray
Published: September 2014

A novel and easy-to-synthesize chemosensor (L) was developed for the selective sensing of Cu2+ ions in mixed aqueous medium.
“One-pot” access to α-d-mannopyranosides from glycals employing ruthenium catalysis
Authors: Chittela Sravanthi , Reddy Thurpu Raghavender , Krishna Palakodety Radha , Kashyap Sudhir
Published: September 2014

An efficient and convenient one-pot method for the preparation of α-d-mannopyranosides from glycal is described.
Nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide for high-performance flexible all-solid-state micro-supercapacitors
Authors: Liu Shuangyu , Xie Jian , Li Haibo , Wang Ye , Yang Hui Ying , Zhu Tiejun , Zhang Shichao , Cao Gaoshao , Zhao Xinbing
Published: September 2014

Flexible all-solid-state micro-supercapacitors were fabricated by a screen printing method using N-doped reduced graphene oxide as an active material and show high specific capacitance and long cycle life.
Novel SCR catalyst with superior alkaline resistance performance: enhanced self-protection originated from modifying protonated titanate nanotubes
Authors: Wang Penglu , Wang Haiqiang , Chen Xiongbo , Liu Yue , Weng Xiaole , Wu Zhongbiao
Published: September 2014

Increased protons in TNTs exchange with alkaline metal cations, protecting CeO2 and achieving enhanced alkaline poisoning resistance.
High dispersion of TiO2nanocrystals within porous carbon improves lithium storage capacity and can be applied batteries to LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4
Authors: Ming Hai , Ming Jun , Oh Seung-Min , Lee Eung-Ju , Huang Hui , Zhou Qun , Zheng Junwei , Sun Yang-Kook
Published: September 2014

A new and simple strategy was developed to effectively disperse titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocrystals into porous carbon (PC), and a series of hierarchical PC–TiO2composites with different architectures were synthesized.
Insights into capacity loss mechanisms of all-solid-state Li-ion batteries with Al anodes
Authors: Leite Marina S. , Ruzmetov Dmitry , Li Zhipeng , Bendersky Leonid A. , Bartelt Norman C. , Kolmakov Andrei , Talin A. Alec
Published: September 2014

The dynamic degradation of Al anodes in solid-state batteries is quantitatively measured by combining real-time scanning electron microscopy with electrochemical cycling.
Anomalous tunable visible to near infrared emission in the Mn2+-doped spinel MgGa2O4 and room-temperature upconversion in the Mn2+ and Yb3+-codoped spinel
Authors: Song E. H. , Wang J. L. , Yu D. C. , Ye S. , Zhang Q. Y.
Published: September 2014

In contrast to common visible emission, an anomalous near-infrared emission at 790 nm has been demonstrated in spinel structure MgGa2O4:Mn2+ with heavy Mn2+ doping.
Technical Advances Toward an Endoscopic–Phototransducer Approach to Investigation of Velopharyngeal Physiology
Authors: Karnell Michael , Moon Jerald
Published: September 2014

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the response characteristics of a new generation phototransducer and to test new recording and processing procedures when used with endoscopy to track velopharyngeal closure during normal speech.

Method

Integrated phototransducer–endoscopy response linearity was laboratory tested using a wide range of simulated velopharyngeal orifice areas. In vivo speech testing was completed to determine the effect of endoscope to light receptor distance on measurements documenting variations in normal velopharyngeal closure.

Results

Phototransducer response linearity was excellent (
r
= .99) provided an indirect (reflected light) orientation was used between the endoscope and the light-sensing fiber coupled with the phototransducer. Phototransducer response time exceeded expected velopharyngeal movement rates by an order of magnitude. In vivo speech measurements were affected by the distance between the light-emitting endoscope and the light-receiving tip of the light-sensing fiber. Data normalization to a light-out condition effectively controlled for this expected phenomenon. Patterns of velopharyngeal valving during speech were found to be stable and appropriate given the phonetic content of the utterance.

Conclusions

Technological and data-processing advances support further exploration of an integrated phototransducer–endoscopic approach to studying velopharyngeal closure for speech. Additional studies involving normal speakers are under way.
Extended target probability hypothesis density filter based on cubature Kalman filter
Authors: Chen Jinguang , Wang Ni , Ma Lili , Xu Bugao
Published: September 2014

Aiming at the extended target tracking problem in a non‐linear Gaussian system, we proposed an extended target probability hypothesis density (EPHD) filter based on the cubature Kalman filter (CKF). To approximate the analytical solution of the extended target tracking, a spherical radial cubature rule was applied to make it possible to numerically compute multivariate moment integrals in the non‐linear Bayesian filter. Cubature points and weights were obtained to approximate the integrals in the process. The new algorithm achieved almost the same filtering accuracy as the Gaussian mixture extended Kalman EPHD (EK‐EPHD) filter, when solving tracking problems in such complex conditions that the Jacobian matrix of a non‐linear function does not exist or is difficult to solve. This work provides a new approach for the extended target tracking under the non‐linear Gaussian system.
Low-temperature dynamics of matrix isolated methane molecules in fullerite C60: The heat capacity, isotope effects
Authors: Bagatskii M. I. , Manzhelii V. G. , Sumarokov V. V. , Dolbin A. V. , Barabashko M. S. , Sundqvist B.
Published: September 2014

The heat capacity of the interstitial solid solution (CH4)0.4C60 has been investigated in the temperature interval 1.4–120 K. The contribution of CH4 molecules to the heat capacity of the solution has been separated. The contributions of CH4 and CD4 molecules to the heat capacity of the solutions (CH4)0.40C60 and (CD4)0.40C60 have been compared. It is found that above 90 K the character of the rotational motion of CH4 and CD4 molecules changes from libration to hindered rotation. In the interval 14–35 K the heat capacities of CH4 and CD4 molecules are satisfactorily described by contributions of the translational and libration vibrations, as well as the tunnel rotation for the equilibrium distribution of the nuclear spin species. The isotope effect is due to mainly, the difference in the frequencies of local translational and libration vibrations of molecules CH4 and CD4. The contribution of the tunnel rotation of the CH4 and CD4 molecules to the heat capacity is dominant below 8 K. The isotopic effect is caused by the difference between both the conversion rates and the rotational spectra of the nuclear spin species of CH4 and CD4 molecules. The conversion rate of CH4 molecules is several times lower than that of CD4 ones. Weak features observed in the curves of temperature dependencies of the heat capacity of CH4 and CD4 molecules near 6 and 8 K, respectively, are most likely a manifestation of first-order polyamorphic phase transitions in the orientational glasses of these solutions.
Nonadiabatic photofragmentation dynamics of BrCN−
Authors: Opoku-Agyeman Bernice , Case Amanda S. , Lehman Julia H. , Lineberger W. Carl , McCoy Anne B.
Published: September 2014

The photofragmentation dynamics of BrCN− in the 270–355 nm and the 430–600 nm wavelength regions is explored both experimentally and theoretically. In the case of excitation between 430 nm and 600 nm, it is found that the molecular ion accesses two dissociation channels with a measured 60:40 branching ratio that is nearly constant over this range of photon energies. The dominant product channel corresponds to Br− + CN, while the second channel correlates to spin-orbit excited Br* with CN−. A larger wavelength dependence of the branching ratio is observed at shorter wavelengths, where the fraction of Br− based products ranges from 80% to 95% at 355 nm and 270 nm, respectively. These branching ratios are reproduced and the mechanisms are explored by quantum dynamics calculations based on ground and excited state potential energy surfaces for BrCN−, evaluated at the SO-MRCISD level of theory. It is found that the electronic states that correlate to the two observed product channels are coupled through the spin-orbit terms in the electronic Hamiltonian. The strength of this coupling displays a strong dependence on the Br-CN angle. Specifically, after promotion to the excited state that is energetically accessible with 430–600 nm photons, it is found that when the wave packet accesses Br-CN separations of between 4 Å and 6 Å, predominantly the Br− + CN products are formed when the Br-CN angle is smaller than 120°. For larger values of the Br-CN angle, the Br* + CN− channel dominates. At the shorter wavelength excitation, the dynamics is complicated by a pair of states that correlate to electronically excited CN* + Br− products that borrow oscillator strength from the bright state, leading to an increase in the amount of Br− relative to CN−. The implications of these findings are discussed and compared to the experimentally measured product branching ratios for the photodissociation of BrCN−.
Multiple-robot drug delivery strategy through coordinated teams of microswimmers
Authors: Kei Cheang U , Lee Kyoungwoo , Julius Anak Agung , Kim Min Jun
Published: September 2014

Untethered robotic microswimmers are very promising to significantly improve various types of minimally invasive surgeries by offering high accuracy at extremely small scales. A prime example is drug delivery, for which a large number of microswimmers is required to deliver sufficient dosages to target sites. For this reason, the controllability of groups of microswimmers is essential. In this paper, we demonstrate simultaneous control of multiple geometrically similar but magnetically different microswimmers using a single global rotating magnetic field. By exploiting the differences in their magnetic properties, we triggered different swimming behaviors from the microswimmers by controlling the frequency and the strength of the global field, for example, one swim and the other does not while exposed to the same control input. Our results show that the balance between the applied magnetic torque and the hydrodynamic torque can be exploited for simultaneous control of two microswimmers to swim in opposite directions, with different velocities, and with similar velocities. This work will serve to establish important concepts for future developments of control systems to manipulate multiple magnetically actuated microswimmers and a step towards using swarms of microswimmers as viable workforces for complex operations.
In-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry and structural study of HfO2 thin films deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering
Authors: Cantas Ayten , Aygun Gulnur , Basa Deepak Kumar
Published: September 2014

We have investigated the reduction of unwanted interfacial SiO2 layer at HfO2/Si interface brought about by the deposition of thin Hf metal buffer layer on Si substrate prior to the deposition of HfO2 thin films for possible direct contact between HfO2 thin film and Si substrate, necessary for the future generation devices based on high-κ HfO2 gate dielectrics. Reactive rf magnetron sputtering system along with the attached in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) was used to predeposit Hf metal buffer layer as well as to grow HfO2 thin films and also to undertake the in-situ characterization of the high-κ HfO2 thin films deposited on n-type 〈100〉 crystalline silicon substrate. The formation of the unwanted interfacial SiO2 layer and its reduction due to the predeposited Hf metal buffer layer as well as the depth profiling and also structure of HfO2 thin films were investigated by in-situ SE, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, and Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction. The study demonstrates that the predeposited Hf metal buffer layer has played a crucial role in eliminating the formation of unwanted interfacial layer and that the deposited high-κ HfO2 thin films are crystalline although they were deposited at room temperature.
Pressure-induced oligomerization of benzene at room temperature as a precursory reaction of amorphization
Authors: Shinozaki Ayako , Mimura Koichi , Kagi Hiroyuki , Komatu Kazuki , Noguchi Naoki , Gotou Hirotada
Published: September 2014

Oligomerization of benzene at high pressures up to 16 GPa was investigated at room temperature using an opposed-anvil type pressure apparatus. The recovered samples were analyzed using GC-MS to identify and quantify the products after the high-pressure experiments. Some structural isomers of benzene dimer as well as biphenyl, naphthalene, and terphenyl isomers were detected at pressures higher than 13 GPa. The molar yield of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons increased concomitantly with increasing pressure, although benzene still remained. The oligomerization is likely to occur when the neighbor distance of the benzene molecules exceeds the threshold of the reaction distance. The oligomerization is regarded as a precursory phenomenon of the amorphization that occurs at higher pressure.
Analysis of temperature dependent current-conduction mechanisms in Au/TiO2/n-4H-SiC (metal/insulator/semiconductor) type Schottky barrier diodes
Authors: Alialy S. , Altındal Ş. , Tanrıkulu E. E. , Yıldız D. E.
Published: September 2014

In order to determine the effective current-conduction mechanisms in Au/TiO2/n-4H-SiC (metal-insulator semiconductor) type Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs), their current-voltage (I-V) measurements were carried out in the temperature range of 200–380 K. Some electrical parameters, such as ideality factor (n), zero-bias barrier height (BH) (ΦBo), series and shunt resistances (Rs, Rsh), were obtained as 5.09, 0.81 eV, 37.43 Ω, and 435 kΩ at 200 K and 2.68, 0.95 eV, 5.99 Ω, and 73 kΩ at 380 K, respectively. The energy density distribution profile of surface states (Nss) was extracted from the forward-bias I-V data by taking into account voltage dependent of the ideality factor (nV), effective BH (Φe), and Rs for 200, 300, and 380 K. The Ln(I) vs V plots are completely parallel in the intermediate bias voltages, which may be well explained by field emission (FE) mechanism for each temperature. On the other hand, the high value of n cannot be explained with this mechanism. Therefore, to explain the change in BH and n with temperature, ΦBo vs q/2kT plot was drawn to obtain an evidence of a Gaussian distribution (GD) of the BHs and thus the mean value of BH (Φ¯Bo) and standard deviation (σso) values were found from this plot as 1.396 eV and 0.176 V, respectively. The Φ¯Bo and Richardson constant (A*) values were found as 1.393 eV and 145.5 A.cm−2 K−2 using modified Ln(Io/T2)-(q2σs2/2k2T2) vs q/kT plot, respectively. It is clear that all of the obtained main electrical parameters were found as a strong function of temperature. These results indicated that the current conduction mechanism in Au/TiO2/n-4 H-SiC (SBD) well obey the FE and GD mechanism rather than other mechanisms.
Diagnostics for energetic particle studies on the HL-2A tokamak
Authors: Yang Q. W. , Yin Z. J. , Zhou H. Y. , Yang J. W. , Shi Z. B. , Ji X. Q. , Yuan G. L. , Zhang Y. P. , Yu D. L. , Jiang M. , Li W. , Ding X. T. , Cao H. R.
Published: September 2014

About 13 kinds of diagnostics for energetic particle physics studied on the HuanLiuqi-2A (commonly referred to as HL-2A) tokamak are described in this paper. Their measurement ranges, resolutions, and arrangement are presented. Three under-construction diagnostics including imaging fast ion D-alpha, scintillator matrix (for hard X-ray detection), and bundle fission chamber are described in detail.
Discovery of a thermally persistent h.c.p. solid-solution phase in the Ni-W system
Authors: Kurz S. J. B. , Maisel S. B. , Leineweber A. , Höfler M. , Müller S. , Mittemeijer E. J.
Published: September 2014

Although the accepted Ni-W phase diagram does not reveal the existence of h.c.p.-based phases, h.c.p.-like stacking sequences were observed in magnetron-co-sputtered Ni-W thin films at W contents of 20 to 25 at. %, by using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The occurrence of this h.c.p.-like solid-solution phase could be rationalized by first-principles calculations, showing that the vicinity of the system's ground-state line is populated with metastable h.c.p.-based superstructures in the intermediate concentration range from 20 to 50 at. % W. The h.c.p.-like stacking in Ni-W films was observed to be thermally persistent, up to temperatures as high as at least 850 K, as evidenced by extensive X-ray diffraction analyses on specimens before and after annealing treatments. The tendency of Ni-W for excessive planar faulting is discussed in the light of these new findings.
Particle-in-cell simulation of the head-on collision between two ion acoustic solitary waves in plasmas
Authors: Qi Xin , Xu Yan-xia , Duan Wen-shan , Zhang Ling-yu , Yang Lei
Published: September 2014

The head-on collision of two ion acoustic solitary waves in plasmas composed of hot electrons and cold ions has been studied by using the Poincare-Lighthill-Kuo (PLK) perturbation method and one-dimensional Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulation. Then the phase lags of ion acoustic solitary waves (IASWs) obtained from the two approaches have been compared and discussed. It has been found that: if the amplitudes of both the colliding IASWs are small enough, the phase lags obtained from PLK method are in good agreement with those obtained from PIC simulation. As the amplitudes of IASWs increase, the phase lags from PIC simulation become smaller than the analytical ones from PLK method. Besides, the PIC simulation shows the phase lag of an IASW involved in collision depends not only on the characteristics of the wave it collides with but also on itself, which disagrees with the prediction of the PLK method. Finally, the application scopes of the PLK method in studying both the single IASW and the head-on collisions of IASWs have been studied and discussed, and the latter turns out to be more strict.
Large positive magnetoresistance effects in the dilute magnetic semiconductor (Zn,Mn)Se in the regime of electron hopping
Authors: Jansson F. , Wiemer M. , Nenashev A. V. , Petznick S. , Klar P. J. , Hetterich M. , Gebhard F. , Baranovskii S. D.
Published: September 2014

Magnetoresistance in dilute magnetic semiconductors is studied in the hopping transport regime. Measurements performed on Cl-doped Zn1–xMnxSe with x < 8% are compared with simulation results obtained by a hopping transport model. The energy levels of the Cl donors are affected by the magnetization of Mn atoms in their vicinity via the s-d exchange interaction. Compositional disorder, in particular, the random distribution of magnetic atoms, leads to a magnetic-field induced broadening of the donor energy distribution. As the energy distribution broadens, the electron transport is hindered and a large positive contribution to the magnetoresistance arises. This broadening of the donor energy distribution is largely sufficient to account for the experimentally observed magnetoresistance effects in n-type (Zn,Mn)Se with donor concentrations below the metal–insulator transition.
Experimental investigation of bifurcation induced bandgap reconfiguration
Authors: Bernard Brian P. , Mazzoleni Michael J. , Garraud Nicolas , Arnold David P. , Mann Brian P.
Published: September 2014

By applying an asymmetric on-site restoring force in a 1D chain of oscillators, we demonstrate experimentally that a morphing in the bandgap structure or passive bandgap reconfiguration can be triggered by an increase in environmental excitation amplitude. Recent studies on wave propagation have focused on new capabilities and behaviors resulting from intrinsic nonlinearities. This paper details a bistable experimental design that achieves amplitude dependent filtering through passive bandgap reconfiguration, which is triggered by a bifurcation. The system studied comprises a 1D chain of axially aligned pendulums in dimer unit cells with geometrically nonlinear nearest neighbor coupling where bistability is induced through repulsive magnets. When the bistability is asymmetric, each potential well has a different linear spectra. Though this paper uses mechanically coupled oscillators as an example, the phenomenon itself could be used in any wave propagation media where asymmetric bistability can be implemented.
Note: High density pulsed molecular beam for cold ion chemistry
Authors: Kokish M. G. , Rajagopal V. , Marler J. P. , Odom B. C.
Published: September 2014

A recent expansion of cold and ultracold molecule applications has led to renewed focus on molecular species preparation under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. Meanwhile, molecular beams have been used to study gas phase chemical reactions for decades. In this paper, we describe an apparatus that uses pulsed molecular beam technology to achieve high local gas densities, leading to faster reaction rates with cold trapped ions. We characterize the beam's spatial profile using the trapped ions themselves. This apparatus could be used for preparation of molecular species by reactions requiring excitation of trapped ion precursors to states with short lifetimes or for obtaining a high reaction rate with minimal increase of background chamber pressure.
Effect of nitrogen sorption mechanisms on the properties of fullerite C60 over a wide range of temperatures
Authors: Legchenkova I. V. , Yagotintsev K. A. , Galtsov N. N. , Meleshko V. V. , Stetsenko Yu. E. , Prokhvatilov A. I.
Published: September 2014

X-ray diffractometry is used to study the effect of the adsorption of nitrogen at a pressure of 30 atm and temperatures of 200–550 °C on the structural and thermodynamic properties of fullerite C60. The sorption kinetics of nitrogen at different temperatures are studied, and the lattice parameter is plotted as a function of the time for fullerite to saturate with nitrogen. The sorption mechanism is found to change with increasing saturation temperature. The diffusive filling of lattice octahedral voids by nitrogen atoms at temperatures below 450 °C is supplanted at higher temperatures by a chemical interaction of nitrogen with fullerite molecules leading to the formation of a new molecular compound, fullerite nitride C60Nx. The transition from physisorption to chemisorption of nitrogen by fullerite (the adsorption crossover) takes place at saturation temperatures of 450 > T > 400 °C. When C60 molecules are nitrogenated, the volume of the cubic cell increases dramatically, while the intensity of the x-ray reflections decreases and their width increases rapidly. The limiting distortions of the fcc lattice are determined, as well as the characteristic times for diffusional filling of the lattice voids and for nitrogenation, respectively, during physical and chemical sorption of nitrogen. Nitrogenation of fullerite molecules leads to a significant reduction in thermal expansion of the crystalline material, and suppresses both the orientational phase transition and formation of the glassy state.
Structural transitions of ternary imide Li2Mg(NH)2 for hydrogen storage
Authors: Liang C. , Gao M. X. , Pan H. G. , Liu Y. F.
Published: September 2014

Phase transitions and energetic properties of Li2Mg(NH)2 with different crystal structures are investigated by experiments and first-principles calculations. The Li2Mg(NH)2 with the primitive cubic and orthorhombic structure is obtained by dynamically dehydrogenating a Mg(NH2)2-2LiH mixture up to 280 °C under an initial vacuum and 9.0 bars H2, respectively. It is found that the obtained orthorhombic Li2Mg(NH)2 is converted to a primitive cubic structure as the dehydrogenation temperature is further increased to 400 °C or performed by a 36 h of high-energetic ball milling. Moreover, the primitive cubic phase can be converted to an orthorhombic phase after heating at 280 °C under 9.0 bars H2 for 1 h. Thermodynamic calculations show that the orthorhombic phase is the ground state structure of Li2Mg(NH)2. The mechanism for phase transitions of Li2Mg(NH)2 is also discussed from the angle of energy.
Electronic structures and magnetic stabilities of 2D Mn-doped GaAs nanosheets: The role of long-range exchange interactions and doping strategies
Authors: Lan Mu , Xiang Gang , Zhang Xi
Published: September 2014

We investigate the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Mn atoms doped two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal GaAs nanosheets (GaAsNSs) using both first-principle calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. The first-principle molecular dynamics is first used to test the structural stability of Mn-doped GaAsNS ((Ga,Mn)AsNS). The analysis of spin-resolved electronic structures and determination of magnetic exchange interactions based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveals the existence of long-range exchange interaction in the system. Finally, Metropolis Monte Carlo simulation is employed to estimate Curie temperatures (TCs) of (Ga,Mn)AsNSs with different doping concentrations by different doping strategies. The results indicate that a TC up to 82 K can be obtained in regularly-doped (Ga,Mn)AsNSs and doping strategies have prominent impact on TCs of the systems, which emphasizes the importance of both long-range interactions and doping strategies in reduced dimensional diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs).