bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ni–Pd bimetallic catalysts for the direct synthesis of H2O2– unusual enhancement of Pd activity in the presence of Ni
Authors: Maity S. , Eswaramoorthy M.
Published: January 2016

A highly active NiPd catalyst in comparison with Pd and AuPd catalysts towards direct synthesis of H2O2.
Large thermoelectric power factors and impact of texturing on the thermal conductivity in polycrystalline SnSe
Authors: Popuri S. R. , Pollet M. , Decourt R. , Morrison F. D. , Bennett N. S. , Bos J. W. G.
Published: January 2016

Large thermoelectric power factors and low thermal conductivities linked to changes in texturing have been observed in consolidated polycrystalline SnSe ingots.
The HIV gp41 pocket binding domain enables C-terminal heptad repeat transition from mediating membrane fusion to immune modulation
Authors: Klug Yoel A. , Kapach Gal , Rotem Etai , Dubreuil Benjamin , Shai Yechiel
Published: January 2016

For successful infection and propagation viruses must overcome many obstacles such as the immune system and entry into their host cells. HIV utilizes its trimeric envelope protein gp160, specifically the gp41 subunit, to enter its host cell. During this process, a gp41-central coiled coil is formed from three N- and three C-terminal heptad repeats, termed the six-helix bundle (SHB), which drives membrane fusion. Recently, T-cell suppression has been reported as an additional function for several regions of gp41 by interfering with the T-cell receptor (TCR) signalling cascade. One of these regions encompasses the conserved pocket binding domain (PBD) that is situated in the C-terminal heptad repeat (CHR) and stabilizes SHB formation. This could indicate that the PBD plays a role in T-cell suppression in addition to its role in membrane fusion. To investigate this dual function, we used two independent cell cultures coupled with biophysical techniques. The data reveal that the PBD mediates T-cell suppression by stabilizing a TCR-binding conformation in the membrane. Moreover, we show that the clinically used HIV fusion inhibitor T-20 did not show suppressive abilities, in contrast with the potent fusion inhibitor C34. In addition, by focusing on SHB conformation after its assembly, we shed light on a mechanism by which gp41’s function alternates from membrane fusion facilitation to suppression of TCR activation.
Gender difference in plasma fatty-acid-binding protein 4 levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Zhang Xue , Li Diandian , Wang Hao , Pang Caishuang , Wu Yanqiu , Wen Fuqiang
Published: January 2016

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is characterized by airway inflammation and increases the likelihood of the development of atherosclerosis. Recent studies have indicated that FABP4 (fatty-acid-binding protein 4), an intracellular lipid chaperone of low molecular mass, plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation and atherosclerosis. We carried out a preliminary clinical study aiming at investigating the relationships between circulating FABP4 levels in patients with COPD and inflammation and lung function. We enrolled 50 COPD patients and 39 healthy controls in the study. Lung function tests were performed in all subjects. Plasma levels of FABP4 and adiponectin, TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α) and CRP (C-reactive protein) were measured. The correlations between FABP4 and lung function, adipokine (adiponectin), inflammatory factors and BMI (body mass index) were analysed. Compared with both males with COPD and healthy females, plasma FABP4 levels in females with COPD were significantly increased. Adiponectin and CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with COPD. Furthermore, we found that FABP4 levels were inversely correlated with FEV1% predicted (FEV1 is forced expiratory volume in 1 s) and positively correlated with adiponectin and TNFα in COPD patients. In addition, a positive correlation between plasma FABP4 and CRP was found in females with COPD. However, FABP4 levels were not correlated with BMI. Our results underline a gender difference in FABP4 secretion in stable COPD patients. Further studies are warranted to clarify the exact role of FABP4 in the pathogenesis of COPD.
Fault detection filter design for networked multi‐rate systems with fading measurements and randomly occurring faults
Authors: Zhang Yong , Wang Zidong , Zou Lei , Liu Zhenxing
Published: January 2016

In this study, the fault detection (FD) problem is investigated for a class of networked multi‐rate systems (NMSs) with network‐induced fading channels and randomly occurring faults. The stochastic characteristics of the fading measurements are governed by mutually independent random channel coefficients over the known interval [0,1]. By applying the lifting technique, the system model for the observer‐based FD is established. With the aid of the stochastic analysis approach, sufficient conditions are established under which the stochastic stability of the error dynamics for the state estimation is guaranteed and the prescribed H∞ performance constraint on the error dynamics for the fault estimation is achieved. Based on the established conditions, the addressed FD problem of NMSs is recast as a convex optimisation one that can be solved via the semi‐definite program method, and the explicit expression of the desired FD filter is derived by means of the feasibility of certain matrix inequalities. The main results are specialised to the networked single‐rate systems that are a special case of the NMSs. Finally, two simulation examples are utilised to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed FD method.
Walphy, un projet expérimental de réhabilitation de cours d'eau : suivis hydromorphologiques et écologiques
Authors: Castelain Liévin , Peeters Alexandre , Halleux Marie , Court Bernard de le , Verniers Gisèle
Published: January 2016

Le projet Life Environnement WALPHY, co-financé par l'Union Européenne, a eu pour objectif de réaliser des travaux de restauration de la qualité hydromorphologique du Bocq, affluent de la Meuse. La continuité longitudinale, qui concerne la libre circulation des poissons et le transport naturel des sédiments, a été fortement perturbée par un grand nombre d'obstacles (vannages, déversoirs, ...). Afin de rétablir cette continuité, des travaux d'arasement ou d'aménagement (passes à bassins, bras de contournement, rampes rugueuses...) d'obstacles ont été réalisés. De plus, des travaux de reméandration, de diversification des écoulements ou de création d'habitats piscicoles ont été menés afin d'améliorer la continuité transversale. Ces travaux ont fait l'objet de suivis scientifiques sur base d'analyses géomorphologiques, hydromorphologiques et écologiques. Des méthodes standardisées et reproductibles ont été mises au point pour comparer la situation avant et après travaux. L'application de ces méthodes a montré que le suivi des microhabitats couplé à l'analyse des populations de macroinvertébrés et de poissons est à même de mettre en évidence les évolutions post-travaux. Deux exemples d'études avant et après travaux sont présentés : l'arasement d'un déversoir et la reméandration d'un secteur rectifié. Les résultats montrent une bonne évolution des indicateurs biologiques.
Effect of Vitamin D Treatment on Serum Sclerostin Level
Authors: Acıbucu F. , Dokmetas H. , Acıbucu D. , Kılıclı F. , Aydemir M. , Cakmak E.
Published: January 2016

Objective Sclerostin is an osteocyte-secreted endogenous inhibitor of Wnt signaling. Several systemic and local factors have been suggested as possible regulators of sclerostin expression by osteocytes. In this study, we examined the effect of vitamin D treatment on sclerostin levels.

Subject and Methods 44 patients with diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D≤20 ng/ml) were involved in the study. Patients had monthly intramuscular injection of 300.000 IU cholecalciferol for 3 consecutive months. Sclerostin, 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were measured during the diagnosis and after the replacement of vitamin D.

Results 8 male and 36 female patients were enrolled in the study. Minimum age, maximum age and average age were 21, 55 and 32.02±9.26 years, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between the pre-treatment and post-treatment values in 25(OH)D levels (p:0.001, 10.27±4.62 ng/ml and 51.40±14.62 ng/ml, respectively), PTH levels (p:0.001, 50.32±19.05 pg/ml and 33.97±13.12 pg/ml, respectively) and sclerostin levels (p:0.002, 858.98±351.63 pg/ml and 689.52±197.92 pg/ml, respectively). No statistically significant difference, however, was found between the pre-treatment and post-treatment calcium, phosphorus and ALP levels. Correlation analysis made on pre-treatment and post-treatment sclerostin levels and 25(OH)D, PTH, calcium, phosphorus and ALP levels revealed no statistically significant correlation.

Conclusion Our findings show that the sclerostin level of patients with vitamin D deficiency decreases considerably through treatment.
Kommentar zur TIDieR Checkliste
Authors: Voigt-Radloff S. , Blümle A. , Meerpohl J.
Published: January 2016

Der Kommentar erläutert mit kurzen Beispielen die Notwendigkeit und Möglichkeiten der TIDieR-Leitlinie zur Forschungsberichterstattung.
Tunneling current noise in the fractional quantum Hall effect: When the effective charge is not what it appears to be
Authors: Snizhko Kyrylo
Published: January 2016

Fractional quantum Hall quasiparticles are famous for having fractional electric charge. Recent experiments report that the quasiparticle's effective electric charge determined through tunneling current noise measurements can depend on the system parameters such as temperature or bias voltage. Several works proposed to understand this as a signature for edge theory properties changing with energy scale. I consider two of such experiments and show that in one of them the apparent dependence of the electric charge on a system parameter is likely to be an artefact of experimental data analysis. Conversely, in the second experiment the dependence cannot be explained in such a way.
A beam branching method for timing and spectral characterization of hard X-ray free-electron lasers
Authors: Katayama Tetsuo , Owada Shigeki , Togashi Tadashi , Ogawa Kanade , Karvinen Petri , Vartiainen Ismo , Eronen Anni , David Christian , Sato Takahiro , Nakajima Kyo , Joti Yasumasa , Yumoto Hirokatsu , Ohashi Haruhiko , Yabashi Makina
Published: January 2016

We report a method for achieving advanced photon diagnostics of x-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) under a quasi-noninvasive condition by using a beam-splitting scheme. Here, we used a transmission grating to generate multiple branches of x-ray beams. One of the two primary diffracted branches (+1st-order) is utilized for spectral measurement in a dispersive scheme, while the other (−1st-order) is dedicated for arrival timing diagnostics between the XFEL and the optical laser pulses. The transmitted x-ray beam (0th-order) is guided to an experimental station. To confirm the validity of this timing-monitoring scheme, we measured the correlation between the arrival timings of the −1st and 0th branches. The observed error was as small as 7.0 fs in root-mean-square. Our result showed the applicability of the beam branching scheme to advanced photon diagnostics, which will further enhance experimental capabilities of XFEL.
Polymerization in highly compressed nitrogen (Review Article)
Authors: Yakub L. N.
Published: January 2016

The results of experimental and theoretical studies of the thermodynamic properties of new polymeric phases of nitrogen at ultra-high pressures, as well as computer modeling of the structure and properties of polymeric nitrogen based on the potential models of interaction of atoms and molecules are reviewed. The location of the phase transition lines for the transitions between the molecular and polymeric crystals, molecular and polymeric fluids as well as the position of the melting line for the polymeric nitrogen in the phase diagram are discussed.
Anomalous re-entrant glassy magnetic phase in LaMn0.5Co0.5O3 single crystals
Authors: Manna Kaustuv , Elizabeth Suja , Anil Kumar P. S.
Published: January 2016

We report an anomalous re-entrant glassy magnetic phase in (l00) oriented ferromagnetic LaMn0.5Co0.5O3 single crystals. The characterization is fortified with conventional magnetometry, like linear as-well-as non-linear ac susceptibility and specific heat. As the sample is cooled below the ferromagnetic transition temperature, it reenters a glassy magnetic phase whose dynamics have little resemblance with the conventional response. The glassy transition shifts to a higher temperature with increasing frequency of the applied ac field. But it does not respond to the dc biasing or memory experiment. Specific heat as well as nonlinear ac susceptibility data also do not relate to the conventional glassy response. Unusually low magnetic entropy indicates the lack of long range magnetic ordering. The results demonstrate that the glassy phase in LaMn0.5Co0.5O3 is not due to any of the known conventional origins. We infer that the competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interaction due to high B-site disorder is responsible for this anomalous re-entrant glassy phase.
Gyrotron with a sectioned cavity based on excitation of a far-from-cutoff operating mode
Authors: Bandurkin I. V. , Kalynov Yu. K. , Osharin I. V. , Savilov A. V.
Published: January 2016

A typical problem of weakly relativistic low-power gyrotrons (especially in the case of operation at high cyclotron harmonics) is the use of long cavities ensuring extremely high diffraction Q-factors for the operating near-cutoff waves. As a result, a great share of the rf power radiated by electrons is spent in Ohmic losses. In this paper, we propose to use a sectioned cavity with π-shifts of the wave phase between sections. In such a cavity, a far-from-cutoff axial mode of the operating cavity having a decreased diffraction Q-factor is excited by the electron beam in a gyrotron-like regime.
A generalized Poisson solver for first-principles device simulations
Authors: Bani-Hashemian Mohammad Hossein , Brück Sascha , Luisier Mathieu , VandeVondele Joost
Published: January 2016

Electronic structure calculations of atomistic systems based on density functional theory involve solving the Poisson equation. In this paper, we present a plane-wave based algorithm for solving the generalized Poisson equation subject to periodic or homogeneous Neumann conditions on the boundaries of the simulation cell and Dirichlet type conditions imposed at arbitrary subdomains. In this way, source, drain, and gate voltages can be imposed across atomistic models of electronic devices. Dirichlet conditions are enforced as constraints in a variational framework giving rise to a saddle point problem. The resulting system of equations is then solved using a stationary iterative method in which the generalized Poisson operator is preconditioned with the standard Laplace operator. The solver can make use of any sufficiently smooth function modelling the dielectric constant, including density dependent dielectric continuum models. For all the boundary conditions, consistent derivatives are available and molecular dynamics simulations can be performed. The convergence behaviour of the scheme is investigated and its capabilities are demonstrated.
Classical affine W-algebras associated to Lie superalgebras
Authors: Suh Uhi Rinn
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we prove classical affine W-algebras associated to Lie superalgebras (W-superalgebras), which can be constructed in two different ways: via affine classical Hamiltonian reductions and via taking quasi-classical limits of quantum affine W-superalgebras. Also, we show that a classical finite W-superalgebra can be obtained by a Zhu algebra of a classical affine W-superalgebra. Using the definition by Hamiltonian reductions, we find free generators of a classical W-superalgebra associated to a minimal nilpotent. Moreover, we compute generators of the classical W-algebra associated to spo(2|3) and its principal nilpotent. In the last part of this paper, we introduce a generalization of classical affine W-superalgebras called classical affine fractional W-superalgebras. We show these have Poisson vertex algebra structures and find generators of a fractional W-superalgebra associated to a minimal nilpotent.
Proposal of leak path passivation for InGaN solar cells to reduce the leakage current
Authors: Wang Ke , Imai Daichi , Kusakabe Kazuhide , Yoshikawa Akihiko
Published: January 2016

We propose some general ways to passivate the leak paths in InGaN solar cells and report some experimental evidences of its effectiveness. By adopting an AlOx passivation process, the photovoltaic performances of GaN pn-junctions and InGaN solar cells, grown by molecular beam epitaxy, have been significantly improved. The open circuit voltage under 1 sun illumination increases from 1.46 to 2.26 V for a GaN pn junction, and from 0.95 to 1.27 V for an InGaN solar cell, demonstrating evidence of leak path passivation (LPP) by AlOx. The proposed LPP is expected to be a realistic way to exploit the potential of thick and relaxed but defective InGaN for solar cell applications.
Mach-Zehnder interferometric photonic crystal fiber for low acoustic frequency detections
Authors: Pawar Dnyandeo , Rao Ch. N. , Choubey Ravi Kant , Kale S. N.
Published: January 2016

Low frequency under-water acoustic signal detections are challenging, especially for marine applications. A Mach-Zehnder interferometric hydrophone is demonstrated using polarization-maintaining photonic-crystal-fiber (PM-PCF), spliced between two single-mode-fibers, operated at 1550 nm source. These data are compared with standard hydrophone, single-mode and multimode fiber. The PM-PCF sensor shows the highest response with a power shift (2.32 dBm) and a wavelength shift (392.8 pm) at 200 Hz. High birefringence values and the effect of the imparted acoustic pressure on this fiber, introducing the difference between the fast and slow axis changes, owing to the phase change in the propagation waves, demonstrate the strain-optic properties of the sensor.
Filler-depletion layer adjacent to interface impacts performance of thermal interface material
Authors: Yada Susumu , Oyake Takafumi , Sakata Masanori , Shiomi Junichiro
Published: January 2016

When installing thermal interface material (TIM) between heat source and sink to reduce contact thermal resistance, the interfacial thermal resistance (ITR) between the TIM and heat source/sink may become important, especially when the TIM thickness becomes smaller in the next-generation device integration. To this end, we have investigated ITR between TIM and aluminum surface by using the time-domain thermoreflectance method. The measurements reveal large ITR attributed to the depletion of filler particles in TIM adjacent to the aluminum surface. The thickness of the depletion layer is estimated to be about 100 nm. As a consequence, the fraction of ITR to the total contact thermal resistance becomes about 20% when the TIM thickness is about 50 μm (current thickness), and it exceeds 50% when the thickness is smaller than 10 μm (next-generation thickness).
External noise-induced transitions in a current-biased Josephson junction
Authors: Huang Qiongwei , Xue Changfeng , Tang Jiashi
Published: January 2016

We investigate noise-induced transitions in a current-biased and weakly damped Josephson junction in the presence of multiplicative noise. By using the stochastic averaging procedure, the averaged amplitude equation describing dynamic evolution near a constant phase difference is derived. Numerical results show that a stochastic Hopf bifurcation between an absorbing and an oscillatory state occurs. This means the external controllable noise triggers a transition into the non-zero junction voltage state. With the increase of noise intensity, the stationary probability distribution peak shifts and is characterised by increased width and reduced height. And the different transition rates are shown for large and small bias currents.
Ferromagnetism of MnxSi1-x(x ∼ 0.5) films grown in the shadow geometry by pulsed laser deposition method
Authors: Nikolaev S. N. , Semisalova A. S. , Rylkov V. V. , Tugushev V. V. , Zenkevich A. V. , Vasiliev A. L. , Pashaev E. M. , Chernoglazov K. Yu. , Chesnokov Yu. M. , Likhachev I. A. , Perov N. S. , Matveyev Yu. A. , Novodvorskii O. A. , Kulatov E. T. , Bugaev A. S. , Wang Y. , Zhou S.
Published: January 2016

The results of a comprehensive study of magnetic, magneto-transport and structural properties of nonstoichiometric MnxSi1-x (x ≈ 0.51-0.52) films grown by the Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technique onto Al2O3(0001) single crystal substrates at T = 340°C are present. A highlight of used PLD method is the non-conventional (“shadow”) geometry with Kr as a scattering gas during the sample growth. It is found that the films exhibit high-temperature (HT) ferromagnetism (FM) with the Curie temperature TC ∼ 370 K accompanied by positive sign anomalous Hall effect (AHE); they also reveal the polycrystalline structure with unusual distribution of grains in size and shape. It is established that HT FM order is originated from the bottom interfacial self-organizing nanocrystalline layer. The upper layer adopted columnar structure with the lateral grain size ≥50 nm, possesses low temperature (LT) type of FM order with Tc ≈ 46 K and contributes essentially to the magnetization at T ≤ 50 K. Under these conditions, AHE changes its sign from positive to negative at T ≤ 30K. We attribute observed properties to the synergy of distribution of MnxSi1-x crystallites in size and shape as well as peculiarities of defect-induced FM order in shadow geometry grown polycrystalline MnxSi1-x (x ∼ 0.5) films.
Dynamics of surface screening charges on domains of BiFeO3 films
Authors: Gu Jun-xing , Jin Kui-juan , Ge Chen , Ma Chao , Yang Guo-zhen
Published: January 2016

The dynamics of surface screening charges on BiFeO3 films with pre-written stripe domains was studied with surface potential measurements by Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy. The screening effect decays exponentially over time, and this decay is slower in the arrays with wider domains or larger intervals of domains, indicating that the in-plane diffusion of the surface screening charges plays a major role in the decay dynamics. The good agreement between experimental data and theoretical results based on diffusion-drift model confirms the mechanism of in-plane diffusion of the screening charges in the decay dynamics. Our work could provide a pathway to control the data stability of charge storage by artificially designing the ferroelectric domains.
Synthesis and characterisation of W–Bi–S-tridoped TiO2 nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity
Authors: Tan D. , Liu Y. , Guo W. , Wang J. , Chang Z. , Li D.
Published: January 2016

In the present work, W–Bi–S-tridoped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesised by a simple sol–gel method. The structure and morphology of as-prepared W–Bi–S-tridoped TiO2 were characterised by using X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum. It was found that the W–Bi–S-tridoped TiO2 nanoparticles were well crystallised with a small size distribution. The absorption edge of TiO2 was extended into visible-light region obviously after being doped with W, Bi and S. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was used as a probe reaction to evaluate the efficiency of W, Bi and S doping. The W–Bi–S-tridoped TiO2 exhibited the best photocatalytic activity, compared with TiO2, S-TiO2, W–S–TiO2 and Bi–S–TiO2. The mechanism that enhanced photocatalytic activity might be attributed to the synergistic effect of W, Bi and S.
The interaction between social saliency and perceptual saliency
Authors: Liu Minghui , Sui Jie
Published: January 2016

The ability to select visual targets in hierarchical stimuli can be affected by both perceptual saliency and social saliency. However, the functional relations between the effects are not understood. Here we examined whether these two factors interact or combine in an additive way. Participants first learnt to associate geometric shapes with three people (e.g., triangle–self, square–stranger). After learning the associations, participants were presented with compound stimuli (e.g., a global triangle formed by a set of local squares) and had to select a target at the global or local level. In Experiment 1 the task was to identify the person associated with the local or global shape. In Experiment 2 the task was simply to identify the shape. We manipulated perceptual saliency by blurring local elements to form perceptually global salient stimuli or by contrasting the colours of neighbouring local elements (red vs. white) to form perceptually local salient stimuli. In Experiment 1 (person discrimination) there was a strong effect of saliency on local targets (there were faster and more accurate responses to high than to low saliency targets) when social and perceptual saliency occurred at same level. However, both perceptual and social saliency effects were eliminated when the effect of saliency at one level competed with that at the other level. In Experiment 2 (shape discrimination), there were only effects of perceptual saliency. The data indicate that social saliency interacts with perceptual saliency when explicit social categorizations are made, consistent with both factors modulating a common process of visual selection.
Knowledge Central: A Central Role for Knowledge Attributions in Social Evaluations
Authors: Turri John , Friedman Ori , Keefner Ashley
Published: January 2016

Five experiments ( N = 1710) demonstrate the central role of knowledge attributions in social evaluations. In Experiments 1–3, we manipulated whether an agent believes, is certain of, or knows a true proposition and asked people to rate whether the agent should perform a variety of actions. We found that knowledge, more so than belief or certainty, leads people to judge that the agent should act. In Experiments 4–5, we investigated whether attributions of knowledge or certainty can explain an important finding on how people act based on statistical evidence, known as “the Wells effect”. We found that knowledge attributions, but not certainty attributions, mediate this effect on decision making.
Can the Self Become Another? Investigating the Effects of Self-Association with a New Facial Identity
Authors: Payne Sophie , Tsakiris Manos , Maister Lara
Published: January 2016

The mental representation of the self is a complex construct, comprising both conceptual information and perceptual information regarding the body. Evidence suggests that both the conceptual self-representation and the bodily self-representation are malleable, and that these different aspects of the self are linked. Changes in bodily self-representation appear to affect how the self is conceptualized, but it is unclear whether the opposite relationship is also true: Do changes to the conceptual self-representation affect how the physical self is perceived? First, we adopted a perceptual matching paradigm to establish an association between the self and an unfamiliar face (Experiment 1). Robust attentional and perceptual biases in the processing of this newly self-associated object suggested that the conceptual self-representation was extended to include it. Next, we measured whether the bodily self-representation had correspondingly changed to incorporate the new face (Experiment 2). Participants rated morphs between their own and the newly-associated according to how similar they were to the self, before and after performing the perceptual matching task. Changes to the conceptual self did not have an effect on the bodily self-representation. These results suggest that modulatory links between aspects of the mental self-representation, when focused on the non-social self, are unidirectional and flow in a bottom-up manner.
Exploring the Motion Advantage: Evaluating the Contribution of Familiarity and Differences in Facial Motion
Authors: Butcher Natalie , Lander Karen
Published: January 2016

Seeing a face move can improve familiar face recognition, face matching, and learning. More specifically, familiarity with a face may facilitate the learning of an individual's “dynamic facial signature”. In the outlined research we examine the relationship between participant ratings of familiarity, the distinctiveness of motion, the amount of facial motion, and the recognition of familiar moving faces (Experiment 1) as well as the magnitude of the motion advantage (Experiment 2). Significant positive correlations were found between all factors. Findings suggest that faces rated as moving a lot and in a distinctive manner benefited the most from being seen in motion. Additionally findings indicate that facial motion information becomes a more important cue to recognition the more familiar a face is, suggesting that “dynamic facial signatures” continue to be learnt over time and integrated within the face representation. Results are discussed in relation to theoretical explanations of the moving face advantage.
Reexamination of Mood-Mediation Hypothesis of Background-Music-Dependent Effects in Free Recall
Authors: Isarida Toshiko K. , Kubota Takayuki , Nakajima Saki , Isarida Takeo
Published: January 2016

The present study reexamined the mood-mediation hypothesis for explaining background-music-dependent effects in free recall. Experiments 1 and 2 respectively examined tempo- and tonality-dependent effects in free recall, which had been used as evidence for the mood-mediation hypothesis. In Experiments 1 and 2, undergraduates ( n = 75 per experiment) incidentally learned a list of 20 unrelated words presented one by one at a rate of 5 s per word and then received a 30-s delayed oral free-recall test. Throughout the study and test sessions, a piece of music was played. At the time of test, one third of the participants received the same piece of music with the same tempo or tonality as at study, one third heard a different piece with the same tempo or tonality, and one third heard a different piece with a different tempo or tonality. Note that the condition of the same piece with a different tempo or tonality was excluded. Furthermore, the number of sampled pieces of background music was increased compared with previous studies. The results showed neither tempo- nor tonality-dependent effects, but only a background-music-dependent effect. Experiment 3 ( n = 40) compared the effects of background music with a verbal association task and focal music (only listening to musical selections) on the participants’ moods. The results showed that both the music tempo and tonality influenced the corresponding mood dimensions (arousal and pleasantness). These results are taken as evidence against the mood-mediation hypothesis. Theoretical implications are discussed.
Human latent inhibition and the density of predictive relationships in the context in which the target stimulus occurs
Authors: Rodríguez Gabriel , Hall Geoffrey
Published: January 2016

In two experiments, participants were exposed to a listing of actions performed by a fictitious Mr. X, over three days of his life. For most of his actions an outcome was described, but some were not followed by any outcome. On Day 3, Mr. X performed an action (the target action) that was followed by a novel outcome. For participants in the control condition, the target action that preceded the appearance of this outcome was also novel; for participants in the latent inhibition (LI) condition, Mr. X had performed the target action on repeated occasions during Days 2 and 3, without it producing any outcome. All the participants were tested on their ability to retrieve the action performed by Mr. X prior to the target outcome. In Experiment 1, retrieval of the target action (indicating a less effective target action–outcome association) was poorer in the LI than in the control condition. In Experiment 2, reducing the proportion (the density) of nontarget actions that brought outcomes during initial training was found to reduce the size of the LI effect. These results are predicted by the account of LI put forward previously [Hall, G., & Rodríguez, G. (2010). Associative and nonassociative processes in latent inhibition: An elaboration of the Pearce-Hall model. In R. E. Lubow & I. Weiner (Eds.), Latent inhibition: Data, theories, and applications to schizophrenia (pp. 114–136). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press]. A high density of predictive relationships ensures strong activation of the expectancy that some outcome will occur when the target action is first presented; this facilitates the formation of a target action–no-event association during training in the LI condition, thus enhancing the LI effect.
The influence of speech rate and accent on access and use of semantic information
Authors: Sajin Stanislav M. , Connine Cynthia M.
Published: January 2016

Circumstances in which the speech input is presented in sub-optimal conditions generally lead to processing costs affecting spoken word recognition. The current study indicates that some processing demands imposed by listening to difficult speech can be mitigated by feedback from semantic knowledge. A set of lexical decision experiments examined how foreign accented speech and word duration impact access to semantic knowledge in spoken word recognition. Results indicate that when listeners process accented speech, the reliance on semantic information increases. Speech rate was not observed to influence semantic access, except in the setting in which unusually slow accented speech was presented. These findings support interactive activation models of spoken word recognition in which attention is modulated based on speech demands.
Rab1 recruits WHAMM during membrane remodeling but limits actin nucleation
Authors: Russo Ashley J. , Mathiowetz Alyssa J. , Hong Steven , Welch Matthew D. , Campellone Kenneth G.
Published: January 2016

Small G-proteins are key regulatory molecules that activate the actin nucleation machinery to drive cytoskeletal rearrangements during plasma membrane remodeling. However, the ability of small G-proteins to interact with nucleation factors on internal membranes to control trafficking processes has not been well characterized. Here we investigated roles for members of the Rho, Arf, and Rab G-protein families in regulating WASP homologue associated with actin, membranes, and microtubules (WHAMM), an activator of Arp2/3 complex–mediated actin nucleation. We found that Rab1 stimulated the formation and elongation of WHAMM-associated membrane tubules in cells. Active Rab1 recruited WHAMM to dynamic tubulovesicular structures in fibroblasts, and an active prenylated version of Rab1 bound directly to an N-terminal domain of WHAMM in vitro. In contrast to other G-protein–nucleation factor interactions, Rab1 binding inhibited WHAMM-mediated actin assembly. This ability of Rab1 to regulate WHAMM and the Arp2/3 complex represents a distinct strategy for membrane remodeling in which a Rab G-protein recruits the actin nucleation machinery but dampens its activity.
Regulatory roles of conserved phosphorylation sites in the activation T-loop of the MAP kinase ERK1
Authors: Lai Shenshen , Pelech Steven
Published: January 2016

The catalytic domains of most eukaryotic protein kinases are highly conserved in their primary structures. Their phosphorylation within the well-known activation T-loop, a variable region between protein kinase catalytic subdomains VII and VIII, is a common mechanism for stimulation of their phosphotransferase activities. Extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1 (ERK1), a member of the extensively studied mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, serves as a paradigm for regulation of protein kinases in signaling modules. In addition to the well-documented T202 and Y204 stimulatory phosphorylation sites in the activation T-loop of ERK1 and its closest relative, ERK2, three additional flanking phosphosites have been confirmed (T198, T207, and Y210 from ERK1) by high-throughput mass spectrometry. In vitro kinase assays revealed the functional importance of T207 and Y210, but not T198, in negatively regulating ERK1 catalytic activity. The Y210 site could be important for proper conformational arrangement of the active site, and a Y210F mutant could not be recognized by MEK1 for phosphorylation of T202 and Y204 in vitro. Autophosphorylation of T207 reduces the catalytic activity and stability of activated ERK1. We propose that after the activation of ERK1 by MEK1, subsequent slower phosphorylation of the flanking sites results in inhibition of the kinase. Because the T207 and Y210 phosphosites of ERK1 are highly conserved within the eukaryotic protein kinase family, hyperphosphorylation within the kinase activation T-loop may serve as a general mechanism for protein kinase down-regulation after initial activation by their upstream kinases.
Stability and flexibility of marginally hydrophobic–segment stalling at the endoplasmic reticulum translocon
Authors: Kida Yuichiro , Ishihara Yudai , Fujita Hidenobu , Onishi Yukiko , Sakaguchi Masao
Published: January 2016

Many membrane proteins are integrated into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane through the protein-conducting channel, the translocon. Transmembrane segments with insufficient hydrophobicity for membrane integration are frequently found in multispanning membrane proteins, and such marginally hydrophobic (mH) segments should be accommodated, at least transiently, at the membrane. Here we investigated how mH-segments stall at the membrane and their stability. Our findings show that mH-segments can be retained at the membrane without moving into the lipid phase and that such segments flank Sec61α, the core channel of the translocon, in the translational intermediate state. The mH-segments are gradually transferred from the Sec61 channel to the lipid environment in a hydrophobicity-dependent manner, and this lateral movement may be affected by the ribosome. In addition, stalling mH-segments allow for insertion of the following transmembrane segment, forming an Ncytosol/Clumen orientation, suggesting that mH-segments can move laterally to accommodate the next transmembrane segment. These findings suggest that mH-segments may be accommodated at the ER membrane with lateral fluctuation between the Sec61 channel and the lipid phase.
Semiparametric inverse propensity weighting for nonignorable missing data
Authors: Shao Jun , Wang Lei
Published: January 2016

To estimate unknown population parameters based on data having nonignorable missing values with a semiparametric exponential tilting propensity, Kim & Yu (2011) assumed that the tilting parameter is known or can be estimated from external data, in order to avoid the identifiability issue. To remove this serious limitation on the methodology, we use an instrument, i.e., a covariate related to the study variable but unrelated to the missing data propensity, to construct some estimating equations. Because these estimating equations are semiparametric, we profile the nonparametric component using a kernel-type estimator and then estimate the tilting parameter based on the profiled estimating equations and the generalized method of moments. Once the tilting parameter is estimated, so is the propensity, and then other population parameters can be estimated using the inverse propensity weighting approach. Consistency and asymptotic normality of the proposed estimators are established. The finite-sample performance of the estimators is studied through simulation, and a real-data example is also presented.
Hepatic disease
Authors: Williams Ashleigh , Christie John
Published: January 2016

This chapter describes the anaesthetic management of the patient with liver disease and its sequelae. Acute liver failure and chronic liver failure are discussed, together with their anaesthetic implications on coagulation and drug metabolism. Major sequelae of liver disease are discussed, including portal hypertension, varices, and hepatorenal syndrome. The preoperative investigation and optimization, treatment, and anaesthetic management of the patient with liver failure are described. The investigation and management of post-operative liver dysfunction are described. The anaesthetic management of acute oesophageal variceal haemorrhage and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) are described.
Plastic surgery
Authors: Warwick Jonathan
Published: January 2016

This chapter discusses the anaesthetic management of plastic surgery. It begins with general principles of the anaesthetic management of plastic surgical patients. Surgical procedures covered include breast augmentation, reconstruction, and reduction surgery, correction of prominent ears, facelift (rhytidectomy), free-flap surgery, liposuction, and skin grafting. The chapter concludes with a series of vignettes of minor plastic surgical operations.
Anaesthesia data
Authors: Gibson Charles , Roberts Fred
Published: January 2016

This final chapter contains a selection of useful information for the anaesthetist, gathered together for convenience and for the aid of revision in examinations. It contains the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, the (National) Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death classification, the Mapleson classification of breathing systems, a discussion of pulmonary function tests and their normal values, cardiovascular physiology data, the Glasgow Coma Scale, and a series of useful anaesthetic equations and definitions. It concludes with a table of normal values, a list of useful websites, and a checklist for anaesthetic equipment.
The hallmarks of cancer
Authors: Hanahan Douglas , Weinberg Robert A.
Published: January 2016

A major challenge for cancer medicine involves the remarkable variability of the disease, at all levels. The hallmarks of cancer constitute an organizing principle that may provide a rational basis for distilling this complexity so as to better understand mechanisms of the disease in its diverse manifestations. The conceptualization involves eight acquired capabilities—the hallmarks of cancer—and two generic characteristics of neoplastic disease that facilitate their acquisition during the multistage process of neoplastic development and malignant progression. The integration of these hallmark capabilities in symptomatic disease involves multiple cell types populating the tumor microenvironment, including heterogeneous populations of cancer cells, in particular cancer stem cells, and three prominent classes of stromal support cells. A premise is that the hallmarks of cancer constitute a useful heuristic tool for understating the mechanistic basis and interrelationships between different forms of human cancer, with potential applications to cancer therapy.
Cell signalling pathways
Authors: Knapp Stefan
Published: January 2016

Development and progression of cancer is driven by dysfunctional signalling pathways that promote tumour growth and invasion. The combined effect of a variety of deregulated key pathways leads to the acquisition of capabilities in cancer that are tightly controlled in normal cells. These altered cellular properties strongly promote cancer cell proliferation and the evasion of cellular growth suppression mechanisms and apoptosis. Cancer-specific alterations in signalling pathways also overcome limitations of cellular replication potential. In late-stage cancers, communication of cancer cells with the tumour microenvironment leads to tissue remodelling and reprogramming, including the formation of new blood vessels and the spread of tumour cells in the body. These complex cellular changes are controlled by a myriad of cellular signalling pathways. The chapter reviews the principal regulatory mechanisms that control key cancer signalling pathways, particularly focusing on pathways that have been successfully targeted in cancer therapy.
Cancer cell death
Authors: Coutts Amanda S. , Maniam Sandra , La Thangue Nicholas B.
Published: January 2016

Inducing cancer cell death is the basis of the majority of cancer treatments and understanding the mechanisms that control cell death is of prime clinical importance. As a defining feature of cancer is the ability to circumvent cell death pathways, understanding the mechanisms involved is also important in the development of novel therapeutic agents. This chapter outlines three main mechanisms involved in cancer cell death—apoptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy—to give an overview of some of the specific pathways involved. There are a plethora of genetic and epigenetic changes in tumour cells that can circumvent apoptotic pathways; as such understanding and developing therapies that can target other death-signalling pathways could have great clinical significance. Given the complexity involved in the variety of cell death mechanisms, the challenge in oncology is how to harness these different modes of cell death in order to effectively eliminate cancer cells.
DNA repair after oncological therapy (radiotherapy and chemotherapy)
Authors: Dikomey Ekkehard , Borgmann Kerstin , Kriegs Malte , Mansour Wael Y. , Petersen Cordula , Rieckmann Thorsten
Published: January 2016

The lethal effect of ionizing irradiation on tumour cells is mostly determined by the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Cells are able to repair most of the DSBs, but 1% to 3 % are either non- or mis-repaired, which will then give rise to lethal chromosomal aberrations. Cells have evolved complex DSB repair mechanisms with a stringent hierarchy to guarantee the genomic stability. However, in tumour cells both mechanisms as well as hierarchy are often disturbed. This knowledge is important for an understanding of the radiation response of tumours, but—most of all—for the establishment of new and specific targets for therapy.
Biology of cancer and metastasis stem cells
Authors: Trumpp Andreas , Baccelli Irène
Published: January 2016

Regenerative tissues such as the skin epidermis, the gastrointestinal mucosa, or the haematopoietic system are maintained by the activity of rare stem cells, which sit at the helm of the cellular hierarchy of these tissues. Moreover, in response to injury signals, the tissue stem cells are activated and become critical for tissue repair. In analogy to the normal situation, many haematopoietic malignancies and carcinomas are also hierarchically organized with a cancer stem cell (CSC) at the top which is responsible for tumour growth and progression. Dissemination of CSCs from the primary tumour into the blood circulation leads to colonization and metastasis formation in distant organs. CSCs show increased resistance to chemotherapy and radiation and surviving CSCs after therapy (minimal residual disease) are thought to be the cellular source for disease relapse and metastases. Targeting and elimination of the entire CSC pool is required for long-term cure from the disease.
Biomarker identification and clinical validation
Authors: Kennedy Richard D. , Salto-Tellez Manuel , Paul Harkin D. , Johnston Patrick G.
Published: January 2016

Most cancer therapy is given in a ‘one size fits all’ manner depending on the anatomical site involved and basic histopathology, with drug dosage calculated from clinical trials using toxicity as an endpoint. An improved understanding of cancer at a molecular level has led clinicians to question how we develop novel drugs and select appropriate patients in the clinic. A biomarker is a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention. Biomarkers can potentially be used to tailor a patient’s treatment to improve survival and reduce unnecessary toxicity. Though many cancer-related biomarkers have been published in peer-reviewed articles, few have made an impact on patient care because of a failure to demonstrate clinical validity. This chapter explains biomarker discovery and delivery with a view to describing what constitutes a valid biomarker suitable for clinical use.