bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stigmasterol prevents glucolipotoxicity induced defects in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion
Authors: Ward Meliza G. , Li Ge , Barbosa-Lorenzi Valéria C. , Hao Mingming
Published: August 2017

Type 2 diabetes results from defects in both insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. Elevated cholesterol content within pancreatic β-cells has been shown to reduce β-cell function and increase β-cell apoptosis. Hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia contribute to glucolipotoxicity that leads to type 2 diabetes. Here we examined the capacity of glucolipotoxicity to induce free cholesterol accumulation in human pancreatic islets and the INS-1 insulinoma cell line. Glucolipotoxicity treatment increased free cholesterol in β-cells, which was accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased insulin secretion. Addition of AAPH, a free radical generator, was able to increase filipin staining indicating a link between ROS production and increased cholesterol in β-cells. We also showed the ability of stigmasterol, a common food-derived phytosterol with anti-atherosclerotic potential, to prevent the increase in both free cholesterol and ROS levels induced by glucolipotoxicity in INS-1 cells. Stigmasterol addition also inhibited early apoptosis, increased total insulin, promoted actin reorganization, and improved insulin secretion in cells exposed to glucolipotoxicity. Overall, these data indicate cholesterol accumulation as an underlying mechanism for glucolipotoxicity-induced defects in insulin secretion and stigmasterol treatment as a potential strategy to protect β-cell function during diabetes progression.
The Legionella effector WipB is a translocated Ser/Thr phosphatase that targets the host lysosomal nutrient sensing machinery
Authors: Prevost Marie S. , Pinotsis Nikos , Dumoux Maud , Hayward Richard D. , Waksman Gabriel
Published: August 2017

Legionella pneumophila infects human alveolar macrophages and is responsible for Legionnaire’s disease, a severe form of pneumonia. L. pneumophila encodes more than 300 putative effectors, which are translocated into the host cell via the Dot/Icm type IV secretion system. These effectors highjack the host’s cellular processes to allow bacterial intracellular growth and replication. Here we adopted a multidisciplinary approach to investigate WipB, a Dot/Icm effector of unknown function. The crystal structure of the N-terminal domain at 1.7 Å resolution comprising residues 25 to 344 revealed that WipB harbours a Ser/Thr phosphatase domain related to the eukaryotic phospho-protein phosphatase (PPP) family. The C-terminal domain (residues 365–524) is sufficient to pilot the effector to acidified LAMP1-positive lysosomal compartments, where WipB interacts with the v-ATPase and the associated LAMTOR1 phosphoprotein, key components of the lysosomal nutrient sensing (LYNUS) apparatus that controls the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTORC1) kinase complex at the lysosomal surface. We propose that WipB is a lysosome-targeted phosphatase that modulates cellular nutrient sensing and the control of energy metabolism during Legionella infection.
Diversity of Amyloid-beta Proteoforms in the Alzheimer’s Disease Brain
Authors: Wildburger Norelle C. , Esparza Thomas J. , LeDuc Richard D. , Fellers Ryan T. , Thomas Paul M. , Cairns Nigel J. , Kelleher Neil L. , Bateman Randall J. , Brody David L.
Published: August 2017

Amyloid-beta (Aβ) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but little is known about the proteoforms present in AD brain. We used high-resolution mass spectrometry to analyze intact Aβ from soluble aggregates and insoluble material in brains of six cases with severe dementia and pathologically confirmed AD. The soluble aggregates are especially relevant because they are believed to be the most toxic form of Aβ. We found a diversity of Aβ peptides, with 26 unique proteoforms including various N- and C-terminal truncations. N- and C-terminal truncations comprised 73% and 30%, respectively, of the total Aβ proteoforms detected. The Aβ proteoforms segregated between the soluble and more insoluble aggregates with N-terminal truncations predominating in the insoluble material and C- terminal truncations segregating into the soluble aggregates. In contrast, canonical Aβ comprised the minority of the identified proteoforms (15.3%) and did not distinguish between the soluble and more insoluble aggregates. The relative abundance of many truncated Aβ proteoforms did not correlate with post-mortem interval, suggesting they are not artefacts. This heterogeneity of Aβ proteoforms deepens our understanding of AD and offers many new avenues for investigation into pathological mechanisms of the disease, with implications for therapeutic development.
Comments on “Experimental and theoretical studies of the nanostructured {Fe3O4@SiO2@(CH2)3Im}C(CN)3 catalyst for 2-amino-3-cyanopyridine preparation via an anomeric based oxidation”, RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 50100–50111, and “The first computational study for the oxidative aromatization of pyrazolines and 1,4-dihydropyridines using 1,2,4-triazolinediones: an anomeric-based oxidation”, RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 102280–102291
Authors: Salehzadeh Sadegh
Published: August 2017

The papers mentioned in the title of the present comment article contain some calculations/results that are in disagreement with some basic concepts of chemistry.
A comparative study of different Fe3O4-functionalized carbon-based nanomaterials for the development of electrochemical sensors for bisphenol A
Authors: Deng Keqin , Liu Xinyan , Li Chunxiang , Hou Zhaohui , Huang Haowen
Published: August 2017

A study and comparison of Fe3O4-functionalized carbon-based nanomaterials.
Ambient mass spectrometry
Authors: Fernández Facundo M. , Garcia-Reyes Juan F.
Published: August 2017

Welcome to this Analytical Methods themed collection on ambient mass spectrometry, guest edited by Facundo M. Fernández and Juan F. García-Reyes.
Esterase-sensitive sulfur dioxide prodrugs inspired by modified Julia olefination
Authors: Wang Wenyi , Wang Binghe
Published: August 2017

Esterase-triggered SO2prodrugs with tunable release rates.
Effect of incarcerated HF on the exohedral chemical reactivity of HF@C60
Authors: Vidal Sara , Izquierdo Marta , Alom Shamim , Garcia-Borràs Marc , Filippone Salvatore , Osuna Sílvia , Solà Miquel , Whitby Richard J. , Martín Nazario
Published: August 2017

The first chemical modification on the brand new endohedral HF@C60 is reported.
Synthesis, crystal growth, physicochemical properties and quantum chemical investigations of a D–π–A type organic single crystal: 2-amino-5-nitropyridinium p-phenolsulfonate (2A5NPP) for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications
Authors: Sivasubramani V. , Mohankumar V. , Senthil Pandian M. , Ramasamy P.
Published: August 2017

Efficient organic NLO 2A5NPP single crystals have been grown by slow cooling method.
Co-crystallization of 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (1,3,5-TFTIB) with a variety of Lewis bases through halogen-bonding interactions
Authors: Ding Xue-Hua , Ou Chang-Jin , Wang Shi , Xie Ling-Hai , Lin Jin-Yi , Wang Jian-Pu , Huang Wei
Published: August 2017

Co-crystallization of 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (1,3,5-TFTIB) with a variety of halogen-bonding acceptors.
Pd-P nanoparticles supported on PxOy-incorporated carbon nanotubes for enhanced methanol oxidation in an alkaline medium
Authors: Xie Yanan , Yu Weizhen , Wang Juan , Wu Yifei , Niu Shuo , Guo Wenyao , Lin Tsungwu , Shao Lidong
Published: August 2017

In comparison to Pd-P/OCNTs, an enhanced electrochemical performance of Pd-P/PCNTs towards methanol oxidation is observed.
Statistical thermodynamics unveils the dissolution mechanism of cellobiose
Authors: Nicol Thomas W. J. , Isobe Noriyuki , Clark James H. , Shimizu Seishi
Published: August 2017

Statistical thermodynamic analysis of cellobiose solubility in aqueous salts sheds light on the mechanism of cellulose solubilization on a molecular scale.
Unravelling the radical transition during the carbon-catalyzed oxidation of cyclohexane by in situ electron paramagnetic resonance in the liquid phase
Authors: Yang Xixian , Cao Yonghai , Yu Hao , Huang Hongyu , Wang Hongjuan , Peng Feng
Published: August 2017

The selective oxidation of hydrocarbons is of great importance in the chemical industry.
Two-dimensional graphene-directed formation of cylindrical iron carbide nanocapsules for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis
Authors: Jiang Feng , Liu Bing , Li Wenping , Zhang Min , Li Zaijun , Liu Xiaohao
Published: August 2017

Cylindrical Hägg carbide nanocapsules with a single (510) crystal facet were formed during the FTS reaction with the assistance of GO, which show excellent activity and selectivity for olefins.
Environmental impact assessment of wheat straw based alkyl polyglucosides produced using novel chemical approaches
Authors: Lokesh K. , West C. , Kuylenstierna J. , Fan J. , Budarin V. , Priecel P. , Lopez-Sanchez J. A. , Clark J.
Published: August 2017

A comparative environmental life cycle assessment of using low-value wheat straw to produce high value biosurfactants using a novel biorefinery, compared to those produced from palm and wheat, is reported.
Capabilities of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Burger Marcel , Schwarz Gunnar , Gundlach-Graham Alexander , Käser Debora , Hattendorf Bodo , Günther Detlef
Published: August 2017

Evaluation of capabilities offered by ICP-TOFMS for various laser-ablation-based sample introduction schemes.
Enantioselective recognition of an isomeric ligand by a biomolecule: mechanistic insights into static and dynamic enantiomeric behavior and structural flexibility
Authors: Peng Wei , Ding Fei
Published: August 2017

Enantioselective biorecognition is a vital trigger that results in remarkable enantiomeric differences in the biochemical behavior of chiral substances.
High performance photosensitizers with aggregation-induced emission for image-guided photodynamic anticancer therapy
Authors: Wu Wenbo , Mao Duo , Xu Shidang , Ji Shenglu , Hu Fang , Ding Dan , Kong Deling , Liu Bin
Published: August 2017

A series of D–A′–π–A type photosensitizers were designed and synthesized to show strong aggregation-induced far red and near infrared emission and very effective 1O2 generation simultaneously, and have been successfully used for image-guided photodynamic anticancer therapy.
Effects of developmental arsenite exposure on hippocampal synapses in mouse offspring
Authors: Zhao Fenghong , Liao Yingjun , Tang Hongge , Piao Jie , Wang Gaoyang , Jin Yaping
Published: August 2017

Arsenic exposure through drinking water can impair the learning and memory ability of children in China and other countries.
Actinomycetes: still a source of novel antibiotics
Authors: Genilloud Olga
Published: August 2017

An update on last ten years of actinomycetes antibiotic discovery, including recent key molecules in clinical development and overlooked compounds discovered using novel strategies.
Charge storage performances and mechanisms of MnO2 nanospheres, nanorods, nanotubes and nanosheets
Authors: Tanggarnjanavalukul Chan , Phattharasupakun Nutthaphon , Kongpatpanich Kanokwan , Sawangphruk Montree
Published: August 2017

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) has been widely used as an active material for high-performance supercapacitors due to its high theoretical capacitance, high cycling stability, low cost, and environmental friendliness.
Point defects in turbostratic stacked bilayer graphene
Authors: Gong Chuncheng , Lee Sungwoo , Hong Suklyun , Yoon Euijoon , Lee Gun-Do , Warner Jamie H.
Published: August 2017

The point defects in turbostratic bilayer graphene are characterized using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy, density functional theory, and tight-binding molecular dynamics simulation.
N-Doped hollow carbon nanosheet supported SnO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Mao Heng , Shi Lei , Song Shili , Xiao Chunhui , Liang Jin , Dong Bitao , Ding Shujiang
Published: August 2017

The novel structure of hollow carbon nanosheets could buffer large strains and prolong the cycle life effectively.
Mn–Fe bi-metal oxides in situ created on metal wire mesh as monolith catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3
Authors: Liu Jie , Kang Lin , Li Hongrui , Maitarad Phornphimon , Zhang Jianping , Shi Liyi , Zhang Dengsong
Published: August 2017

Mn–Fe bi-metal oxides in situ created on a metal wire mesh are demonstrated as high-performance deNOx monolith catalysts.
Hydrophobic tagging-mediated degradation of Alzheimer's disease related Tau
Authors: Gao Na , Chu Ting-Ting , Li Qian-Qian , Lim Yeh-Jun , Qiu Tian , Ma Meng-Rong , Hu Zhi-Wen , Yang Xi-Fei , Chen Yong-Xiang , Zhao Yu-Fen , Li Yan-Mei
Published: August 2017

HyT-Tau-CPP reduced Tau levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model, and appeared to be a promising candidate for AD treatment.
The influence of water, lanolin, urea, proline, paraffin and fatliquor on collagen D-spacing in leather
Authors: Sizeland K. H. , Wells H. C. , Kelly S. J. R. , Edmonds R. L. , Kirby N. M. , Hawley A. , Mudie S. T. , Ryan T. M. , Haverkamp R. G.
Published: August 2017

Water, lanolin and Lipsol interact with collagen to alter the structure at the fibrillar scale.
Assessing inter lanthanide photophysical interactions in co-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles for multiplex assays
Authors: Chakraborty Arijita , Debnath Gouranga H. , Mukherjee Prasun
Published: August 2017

This work assesses inter lanthanide photophysical interactions in titanium dioxide nanoparticles towards the development of multiplex assays.
Performance of palladium–tin bimetallic catalysts supported on activated carbon for the hydrodechlorination of 4-chlorophenol
Authors: Fang Xu , Fang Deren
Published: August 2017

The influence of Sn on the activity and selectivity of Pd catalysts for the hydrodechlorination (HDC) of 4-chlorophenol (CP) in an aqueous phase was studied.
Preparation of silver/reduced graphene oxide coated polyester fabric for electromagnetic interference shielding
Authors: Wang Can , Xiang Cheng , Tan Lin , Lan Jianwu , Peng Linghui , Jiang Shouxiang , Guo Ronghui
Published: August 2017

In this study, silver/reduced graphene oxide (Ag/RGO) coated polyester (PET) fabrics with dopamine as adhesive agent were prepared through an efficient chemical reduction method under microwave irradiation.
A highly selective ratiometric fluorescent probe for the cascade detection of Zn2+ and H2PO4− and its application in living cell imaging
Authors: Du Kui , Niu Shizhen , Qiao Li , Dou Yandong , Zhu Qing , Chen Xinzhi , Zhang Pengfei
Published: August 2017

A simple ratiometric sensor (L1) for the cascade detection of Zn2+ and H2PO4− with high selectivity was reported based on the intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism.
Reversible control of cell membrane receptor function using DNA nano-spring multivalent ligands
Authors: Zhang Kaixiang , Deng Ruijie , Sun Yupeng , Zhang Ling , Li Jinghong
Published: August 2017

DNA nano-spring multivalent ligands for reversibly controlling the nanoscale distribution of cell binding ligands and regulating the cell behavior.
Rheological characterization of yield stress gels formed via electrostatic heteroaggregation of metal oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Weston Javen S. , Harwell Jeffrey H. , Grady Brian P.
Published: August 2017

Yield stress gels are formed when oppositely charged fumed nanoparticle species are dispersed in water. The gels are stable against sedimentation, have tunable rheological properties, and exhibit very little thixotropy.
Shear induced formation of lubrication layers of negative normal stress gels
Authors: Yamamoto Tetsuya , Masubuchi Yuichi , Doi Masao
Published: August 2017

Many biopolymer gels generate negative normal stress, with which their polymer networks shrink in the normal of applied shear. Shearing such a gel produces a solvent layer, which greatly reduces the contact friction between the gel and the solid surface.
Deformation mechanisms of sub-micrometer thermoplastic vulcanizates obtained by reaction-induced phase separation of miscible poly(ε-caprolactone)/dimethacrylate systems
Authors: l'Abee Roy , van Duin Martin , Goossens Han
Published: August 2017

The rubber particle size as well as chemical grafting onto the surface of cross-linked rubber particles control the mechanical deformation behavior of sub-μm thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs).
Cobalt selenide nanoflake decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for efficient glucose electro-oxidation in alkaline medium
Authors: Cooray M. C. Dilusha , Zhang Xiaolong , Zhang Ying , Langford Steven J. , Bond Alan M. , Zhang Jie
Published: August 2017

A simple one pot hydrothermal procedure for the synthesis of cobalt selenide (CoSe) decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is reported along with the application of this hybrid material as a new electrocatalyst for glucose oxidation.
CO2 capture, storage, and conversion using a praseodymium-modified Ga2O3 photocatalyst
Authors: Huang Zeai , Teramura Kentaro , Asakura Hiroyuki , Hosokawa Saburo , Tanaka Tsunehiro
Published: August 2017

Praseodymium-modified gallium oxide (Pr/Ga2O3) was found to show enhanced activity and selectivity toward CO evolution in the photocatalytic conversion of CO2 using H2O as an electron donor in an aqueous solution of NaHCO3 as compared to those of bare Ga2O3.
Facile synthesis of Ge–MWCNT nanocomposite electrodes for high capacity lithium ion batteries
Authors: Goriparti Subrahmanyam , Gulzar Umair , Miele Ermanno , Palazon Francisco , Scarpellini Alice , Marras Sergio , Monaco Simone , Proietti Zaccaria Remo , Capiglia Claudio
Published: August 2017

Solvothermal synthesis of Ge–MWCNT.
Soft-template assisted synthesis of Fe/N-doped hollow carbon nanospheres as advanced electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in microbial fuel cells
Authors: Zhou Lihua , Yang Chunli , Wen Jing , Fu Peng , Zhang Yaping , Sun Jian , Wang Huaqian , Yuan Yong
Published: August 2017

Fe and N-co-doped hollow carbon nanospheres have been fabricated via a simple pyrolysis method using poly(aniline-co-pyrrole) copolymer hollow nanospheres as precursors. The resulting catalyst displayed potential application as a cathode in a MFC.
Unlocking the structure of mixed amorphous-crystalline ceramic oxide films synthesized under low temperature electromagnetic excitation
Authors: Nakamura Nathan , Terban Maxwell W. , Billinge Simon J. L. , Reeja-Jayan B.
Published: August 2017

The effect of electromagnetic fields on nanoscale atomic structure was determined using synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis.
Correction: Size effects of a graphene quantum dot modified-blocking TiO2 layer for efficient planar perovskite solar cells
Authors: Ryu Jaehoon , Lee Jong Woo , Yu Haejun , Yun Juyoung , Lee Kisu , Lee Jungsup , Hwang Doyk , Kang Jooyoun , Kim Seong Keun , Jang Jyongsik
Published: August 2017

Correction for ‘Size effects of a graphene quantum dot modified-blocking TiO2 layer for efficient planar perovskite solar cells’ by Jaehoon Ryu et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, DOI: 10.1039/c7ta02242e.
Hollow mesoporous silica nanosphere-supported FePt nanoparticles for potential theranostic applications
Authors: Lin Chih-Yu , Li Wei-Peng , Huang Shao-Peng , Yeh Chen-Sheng , Yang Chia-Min
Published: August 2017

A nanocomposite comprising FePt nanoparticles and hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres has been fabricated for MRI, NIR photothermal therapy and combined chemo-/thermotherapy.
Considering the spin–orbit coupling effect on the photocatalytic performance of AlN/MX2 nanocomposites
Authors: Yang Qun , Zhang Shengli , Tan Chunjian , Ye Huaiyu , Ming Xing , Ingebrandt Sven , Chen Xianping
Published: August 2017

The enhanced photocatalytic mechanisms for the hybrid AlN/MX2 (MX2 = MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2) nanocomposites are systematically investigated by density-functional-theory calculations.
New insight on the S100A1–STIP1 complex highlights the important relationship between allostery and entropy in protein function
Authors: Nucci Nathaniel V.
Published: August 2017

Calcium signaling serves as a nexus of many vital cellular processes. Of particular importance is the role the calcium signaling plays in the prevention of protein misfolding, and the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins is a key player in this pathway. While the S100 proteins carry out a range of roles, the interaction of S100A1 and the stress-inducible phosphoprotein 1 (STIP1) has been shown to be particularly important. A recent study by Maciejewski et al. in Biochemical Journal (Biochemical Journal (2017) 474, 1853–1866) revealed new insights into the nature of the S100A1–STIP1 interaction. Not only did the present paper indicate the stoichiometry of binding for this interaction (three S100A1 dimers : one STIP1), it also demonstrated that the binding interaction is highly co-operative and that each S100A1–STIP1-binding interaction is entropically driven. The findings presented raise important new questions regarding the relationship between entropy and allostery in protein function. Recently, the dynamical underpinnings of allostery in protein function have become a topic of increased interest. A broad range of investigations have demonstrated that allostery can be mediated by entropic processes such as changes in the flexibility of the protein backbone and in the range of motions explored by side chains. The S100A1–STIP1 complex as described by Maciejewski et al. suggests a new system in which an allosteric-binding interaction driven by entropic processes may be systematically dissected in the future.
Novel rapid-acting antidepressants: molecular and cellular signaling mechanisms
Authors: Thomas Alexandra M. , Duman Ronald S.
Published: August 2017

Depression is a chronic, debilitating, and common illness. Currently available pharmacotherapies can be helpful but have several major drawbacks, including substantial rates of low or no response and a long therapeutic time lag. In pursuit of better treatment options, recent research has focussed on rapid-acting antidepressants, including the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine, which affects a range of signaling pathways in ways that are distinct from the mechanisms of typical antidepressants. Because ketamine and similar drugs hold the promise of dramatically improving treatment options for depressed patients, there has been considerable interest in developing new ways to understand how these compounds affect the brain. Here, we review the current understanding of how rapid-acting antidepressants function, including their effects on neuronal signaling pathways and neural circuits, and the research techniques being used to address these questions.
A Preliminary Comparison of Reading Subtypes in a Clinical Sample of Children With Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Werfel Krystal L. , Krimm Hannah
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this preliminary study was to (a) compare the pattern of reading subtypes among a clinical sample of children with specific language impairment (SLI) and children with typical language and (b) evaluate phonological and nonphonological language deficits within each reading impairment subtype.

Method

Participants were 32 children with SLI and 39 children with typical language in Grades 2 through 4. Each child was classified as demonstrating 1 of 4 reading subtypes on the basis of word-level and text-level skills: typical reading, dyslexia, specific reading comprehension impairment, or garden variety reading impairment. In addition, phonological and nonphonological language skills were evaluated.

Results

Children with SLI were more likely to exhibit reading impairments than children with typical language. Children with SLI were more likely to exhibit text-level deficits than children with typical language. Phonological language deficits were observed in children with word-level deficits, and nonphonological language deficits were observed in children with text-level deficits.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the patterns of reading subtypes differ among children with SLI and children with typical language. The findings highlight the importance of simultaneously but separately considering word-level and text-level skills in studies of reading impairment.
A Cross-Language Study of Acoustic Predictors of Speech Intelligibility in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Kim Yunjung , Choi Yaelin
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The present study aimed to compare acoustic models of speech intelligibility in individuals with the same disease (Parkinson's disease [PD]) and presumably similar underlying neuropathologies but with different native languages (American English [AE] and Korean).

Method

A total of 48 speakers from the 4 speaker groups (AE speakers with PD, Korean speakers with PD, healthy English speakers, and healthy Korean speakers) were asked to read a paragraph in their native languages. Four acoustic variables were analyzed: acoustic vowel space, voice onset time contrast scores, normalized pairwise variability index, and articulation rate. Speech intelligibility scores were obtained from scaled estimates of sentences extracted from the paragraph.

Results

The findings indicated that the multiple regression models of speech intelligibility were different in Korean and AE, even with the same set of predictor variables and with speakers matched on speech intelligibility across languages. Analysis of the descriptive data for the acoustic variables showed the expected compression of the vowel space in speakers with PD in both languages, lower normalized pairwise variability index scores in Korean compared with AE, and no differences within or across language in articulation rate.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the basis of an intelligibility deficit in dysarthria is likely to depend on the native language of the speaker and listener. Additional research is required to explore other potential predictor variables, as well as additional language comparisons to pursue cross-linguistic considerations in classification and diagnosis of dysarthria types.
Stimulus Characteristics of Single-Word Tests of Children's Speech Sound Production
Authors: Macrae Toby
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This clinical focus article provides readers with a description of the stimulus characteristics of 12 popular tests of speech sound production.

Method

Using significance testing and descriptive analyses, stimulus items were compared in terms of the number of opportunities for production of all consonant singletons, clusters, and rhotic and nonrhotic vowels of Standard American English; phonetic/phonological and structural complexity; and the presence of bound morphemes.

Results

The tests varied widely in terms of the number of opportunities for production of consonant singletons, clusters, and rhotic and nonrhotic vowels. Most of the tests included only 1 opportunity, scored or unscored, to produce a majority of the consonant singletons in each word position. Only 3 of the tests included stimulus items with 3-element clusters. The majority contained limited opportunities to produce 3- or 4-syllable stimulus items. The tests provided sufficient opportunities for production of most vowels, although most did not score vowels. The tests differed significantly in the complexity of their stimulus items. Most, however, contained a negligible number of items that, with the addition of a bound morpheme, resulted in a word-final cluster.

Conclusion

Most of the tests elicit an inadequate sample with which to conduct a comprehensive phonological analysis.
Smartphone‐based crowdsourcing for position estimation of public transport vehicles
Authors: Mukheja Pankaj , Kiran K Mukesh , Velaga Nagendra R. , Sharmila R.B.
Published: August 2017

In this research, a real‐time positioning method, which utilises crowdsourced positioning data obtained from smartphone GPS is developed. Such vehicle location information obtained from crowdsourcing and smartphones in public transport could replace traditional automatic vehicle location systems. However, the location information from smartphone GPS is more erroneous. The proposed methodology serves as an alternative to existing positioning methods to improve the vehicle positioning accuracy. The developed enhanced particle filter algorithm takes smartphone GPS positioning data [from multiple passengers in a single transit vehicle (e.g. bus)] as input data. This ‘crowdsourced’ data can then be utilised to calculate the vehicles’ positioning information with better accuracy using the developed enhanced particle filter algorithm. The developed algorithm was tested using data collected on 14 different bus routes in urban and suburban areas of Mumbai, India, and it was identified that the algorithm is effective in reducing the average error up to 21.3% from a regular smartphone GPS and 10% from extended Kalman filter algorithm and was able to curtail positioning error within 8.672 m (average over 14 routes).
Modelling the driving behaviour at a signalised intersection with the information of remaining green time
Authors: Tang Tie‐Qiao , Yi Zhi‐Yan , Zhang Jian , Zheng Nan
Published: August 2017

Signal lights are essential for maintaining the operational efficiency and safety in urban road networks. Operational efficiency and safety at intersection have been two important topics in transportation science. In this study, the authors propose a car‐following model to investigate the impacts of signal light on driving behaviour, fuel consumption and emissions during the whole process that each vehicle runs across the intersection. In particular, the proposed model has explicitly considered the behaviours at an intersection with countdown device that provides instantaneous information to drivers. The proposed model is tested by numerical analysis and the results indicate that the model can enhance the operational efficiency and the traffic safety near the intersection, and also reduce the average fuel consumption of the vehicles. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the vehicles’ initial time headway at the road origin may have major influences on the flow capacity and the total fuel consumption.
DustPedia: Multiwavelength photometry and imagery of 875 nearby galaxies in 42 ultraviolet-microwave bands
Authors: Clark C. J. R. , Verstocken S. , Bianchi S. , Fritz J. , Viaene S. , Smith M. W. L. , Baes M. , Casasola V. , Cassara L. P. , Davies J. I. , De Looze I. , De Vis P. , Evans R. , Galametz M. , Jones A. P. , Lianou S. , Madden S. , Mosenkov A. V. , Xilouris M.
Published: August 2017

Aims. The DustPedia project is capitalising on the legacy of the Herschel Space Observatory, using cutting-edge modelling techniques to study dust in the 875 DustPedia galaxies – representing the vast majority of extended galaxies within 3000 km s-1 that were observed by Herschel. This work requires a database of multiwavelength imagery and photometry that greatly exceeds the scope (in terms of wavelength coverage and number of galaxies) of any previous local-Universe survey.

Methods. We constructed a database containing our own custom Herschel reductions, along with standardised archival observations from GALEX, SDSS, DSS, 2MASS, WISE, Spitzer, and Planck. Using these data, we performed consistent aperture-matched photometry, which we combined with external supplementary photometry from IRAS and Planck.

Results. We present our multiwavelength imagery and photometry across 42 UV-microwave bands for the 875 DustPedia galaxies. Our aperture-matched photometry, combined with the external supplementary photometry, represents a total of 21 857 photometric measurements. A typical DustPedia galaxy has multiwavelength photometry spanning 25 bands. We also present the Comprehensive & Adaptable Aperture Photometry Routine (CAAPR), the pipeline we developed to carry out our aperture-matched photometry. CAAPR is designed to produce consistent photometry for the enormous range of galaxy and observation types in our data. In particular, CAAPR is able to determine robust cross-compatible uncertainties, thanks to a novel method for reliably extrapolating the aperture noise for observations that cover a very limited amount of background. Our rich database of imagery and photometry is being made available to the community.
Monitoring bacterial biofilms with a microfluidic flow chip designed for imaging with white-light interferometry
Authors: Brann Michelle , Suter Jonathan D. , Addleman R. Shane , Larimer Curtis
Published: August 2017

There is a need for imaging and sensing instrumentation that can monitor transitions in a biofilm structure in order to better understand biofilm development and emergent properties such as anti-microbial resistance. Herein, we describe the design, manufacture, and use of a microfluidic flow cell to visualize the surface structure of bacterial biofilms with white-light interferometry (WLI). The novel imaging chip enabled the use of this non-disruptive imaging method for the capture of high resolution three-dimensional profile images of biofilm growth over time. The fine axial resolution (3 nm) and the wide field of view (>1 mm by 1 mm) enabled the detection of biofilm formation as early as 3 h after inoculation of the flow cell with a live bacterial culture (Pseudomonas fluorescens). WLI imaging facilitated the monitoring of the early stages of biofilm development and subtle variations in the structure of mature biofilms. Minimally-invasive imaging enabled the monitoring of biofilm structure with surface metrology metrics (e.g., surface roughness). The system was used to observe a transition in the biofilm structure that occurred in response to exposure to a common antiseptic. In the future, WLI and the biofilm imaging cell described herein may be used to test the effectiveness of biofilm-specific therapies to combat common diseases associated with biofilm formation such as cystic fibrosis and periodontitis.
Temporal dynamics of excitonic states with nonlinear electron-vibrational coupling
Authors: Chorošajev Vladimir , Marčiulionis Tomas , Abramavicius Darius
Published: August 2017

A straightforward extension to the stochastic time-dependent variational approach allows the introduction of higher-order interaction effects to the Hamiltonian of an electronic-vibrational system. This is done using an Ansatz for the global wavefunction, describing vibrational wavepackets as squeezed coherent states (a generalized version of Davydov Ansatz). The approach allows quantum dynamics simulation and simulation of spectroscopic signals on anharmonic molecular potential surfaces. We calculate electronic and vibrational dynamics for a number of model systems, showing some results attributed to nonlinearities in spectroscopy experiments (such as breaking of mirror symmetry between absorption and fluorescence signals) and analyzing the influence of nonlinear effects on electronic energy transfer in multi-site aggregates.
Reaction of Si nanopowder with water investigated by FT-IR and XPS
Authors: Imamura Kentaro , Kobayashi Yuki , Matsuda Shinsuke , Akai Tomoki , Kobayashi Hikaru
Published: August 2017

The initial reaction of Si nanopowder with water to generate hydrogen is investigated using FT-IR and XPS measurements. Si nanopowder is fabricated using the simple beads milling method. For HF-etched Si nanopowder, strong peaks due to Si-H and Si-H2 stretching vibrational modes and a weak shoulder peak due to Si-H3 are observed. Although no peaks due to oxide is observed in the Si 2p XPS spectrum, weak vibrational peaks due to HSiO2 and HSiO3 species are observable. The hydrogen generation rate greatly increases with pH, indicating that the reacting species is hydroxide ions (OH− ions). After the reaction, the intensities of the peaks due to SiH and SiH2 species decrease while those for HSiO, HSiO2, and HSiO3 species increase. This result demonstrates that OH− ions attack Si back-bonds, with surface Si-H bonds remaining. After initial reaction of HF-etched Si nanopowder with heavy water, vibrational peaks for SiD, SiDH, and SiDH2 appear, and then, a peak due to DSiO3 species is observed, but no peaks due to DSiO2 and DSiO species are observable. This result indicates that SiD, SiDH, and SiDH2 species are formed by substitution reactions, followed by oxidation of back-bonds to form DSiO3 species. After immersion in D2O for a day, 37% H atoms on the surface are replaced to D atoms.
Probing elastically or plastically induced structural heterogeneities in bulk metallic glasses by nanoindentation pop-in tests
Authors: Liu Tingkun , Gao Yanfei , Bei Hongbin
Published: August 2017

Shear banding dynamics in bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) is manifested by the spatiotemporal evolution of strain fields which in turn depend on structural heterogeneities. The spacing of these heterogeneities, as a characteristic length scale, was determined from the analysis of nanoindentation pop-in tests using a stochastic model. Furthermore, the pre-stress by elastic bending and residual stress by plastic bending of BMG plates were found to dramatically decrease such spacings, thus increasing heterogeneity density and mechanically rejuvenating the glass structure.
Role of wide bandgap host in the degradation of blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Yang R. Y. , Li X. M. , Cao X. A.
Published: August 2017

Accelerated reliability tests of blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) comprising bis[(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridinato-N,C2](picolinato)-iridium(III) (FIrpic) doped in four different wide bandgap hosts were conducted. The half-life of the OLEDs stressed under a high current density of 100 mA/cm2 varied in a wide range, revealing an important role of the host. Pulsed current stressing with a 1% duty cycle was performed to suppress self-heating, but only extended the lifetime by 2–3.2×. For blue OLEDs with a host favoring hole transport, current stressing caused a shift of the recombination zone toward the anode, turning the emission color to greenish blue. These results suggest that device degradation was mainly caused by charge-trapping defects generated within a narrow zone close to the electron-transport layer. It is expected that the lifetime of blue phosphorescent OLEDs can be effectively extended by selecting an appropriate host which has good stability, enables efficient charge injection and balanced charge transport in the emissive layer.
Coexistence on reflecting hyperplane in generalized probability theories
Authors: Kobayshi Masatomo
Published: August 2017

The coexistence of effects in a certain class of generalized probability theories is investigated. The effect space corresponding to an even-sided regular polygon state space has a central hyperplane that contains all the nontrivial extremal effects. The existence of such a hyperplane, called a reflecting hyperplane, is closely related to the point symmetry of the corresponding state space. The effects on such a hyperplane can be regarded as the (generalized) unbiased effects. A necessary and sufficient condition for a pair of unbiased effects in the even-sided regular polygon theories is presented. This result reproduces a low-dimensional analogue of known results of qubit effects in a certain limit.
Why do we live for much less than 100 years? A fluid mechanics view and approach
Authors: Messaris Gerasimos A. T. , Hadjinicolaou Maria , Karahalios George T.
Published: August 2017

Blood flow in arteries induces shear stresses on the arterial walls. The present work is motivated by the implications of low shear stress on the human arterial system and its effect on the duration of the life of a subject. The low and/or bidirectional wall shear stress stiffens the arterial wall and in synergy with the fluctuating tissue stress due to the fluctuating blood pressure activates the mechanism of aging. If the shear stress were not low and/or bidirectional and if it did not contribute to local endothelium dysfunctions, the tissue stress alone would take more than 100 yr to cause a failure on the human arterial system. Applying the s-n diagram (tissue stress against the number of cycles to failure) to determine the fatigue life of the aorta, for example, we find that in the absence of other pathogenic factors, for a tissue stress 1.2 times bigger than the tissue stress of a non-stiff aorta, the potential 100 yr of life are reduced to nearly 80 yr. Calculation of the rate of variation of the tissue stress of a subject with time may lead to a possible prognosis about the evolution of wall stiffness and its impact on the arterial aging of this subject. Further patient-specific in vivo mechanistic studies complemented by molecular imaging are needed to contribute to the formation of a data base, from which improved models describing the evolution of the arterial stiffness can be developed. Accordingly, the degree of stiffness of the aorta compared with existing data from a corresponding data base may provide with information about the degree of the fatigue of the aortic wall and its possible future behavior and lead to a patient-adapted medical treatment as a means of a would-be preventive medication.
Fourier transform spectral interferometry with non-phase stable setups by broadband single shot detection of fs and ps pulses
Authors: Achazi Georg , Cannizzo Andrea
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we present a novel approach to Fourier transform spectral interferometry based on single-shot detection of broadband pulses. It allows heterodyne detection with non-phase-stabilised setups, which use ps- and fs-pulsed laser sources. This approach can tremendously simplify the implementation of complex techniques such as heterodyne Fourier transform four-wave mixing and pave the way to novel phase-sensitive diagnostics for lasers and optical setups.
Single and multi-band electromagnetic induced transparency-like metamaterials with coupled split ring resonators
Authors: Bagci Fulya , Akaoglu Baris
Published: August 2017

We present a metamaterial configuration exhibiting single and multi-band electromagnetic induced transparency (EIT)-like properties. The unit cell of the single band EIT-like metamaterial consists of a multi-split ring resonator surrounded by a split ring resonator. The multi-split ring resonator acts as a quasi-dark or dark resonator, depending on the polarization of the incident wave, and the split ring resonator serves as the bright resonator. Combination of these two resonators results in a single band EIT-like transmission inside the stop band. EIT-like transmission phenomenon is also clearly observed in the measured transmission spectrum at almost the same frequencies for vertical and horizontal polarized waves, and the numerical results are verified for normal incidence. Moreover, multi-band transmission windows are created within a wide band by combining the two slightly different single band EIT-like metamaterial unit cells that exhibit two different coupling strengths inside a supercell configuration. Group indices as high as 123 for single band and 488 for tri-band transmission, accompanying with high transmission rates (over 80%), are achieved, rendering the metamaterial very suitable for multi-band slow light applications. It is shown that the group delay of the propagating wave can be increased and dynamically controlled by changing the polarization angle. Multi-band EIT-like transmission is also verified experimentally, and a good agreement with simulations is obtained. The proposed novel methodology for obtaining multi-band EIT, which takes advantage of a supercell configuration by hosting slightly different configured unit cells, can be utilized for easily formation and manipulation of multi-band transmission windows inside a stop band.
Experimental and numerical analysis of the performance and wake of a scale–model horizontal axis marine hydrokinetic turbine
Authors: Javaherchi Teymour , Stelzenmuller Nick , Aliseda Alberto
Published: August 2017

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of a scale-model Horizontal Axis Hydrokinetic Turbine (HAHT). The model turbine is based on the U.S. Department of Energy Reference Model 1 (RM1), with the blade geometry modified to reproduce the design Cp–TSR performance curve of the RM1 at the flume scale Reynolds numbers (5 × 104–10 × 105). The performance and wake structure of a 45:1 scale turbine were measured using a load cell (torque applied on shaft) and a magnetic angular encoder (rotor rpm), and by planar particle image velocimetry, respectively. The details of the rotor flow field and three-dimensional wake evolution are analyzed from the numerical solution of the RANS equations solved around a computational model of the turbine. The comparison of experimental and numerical results highlights the strengths and limitations of the experimental and numerical analyses in the characterization of HAHT. Useful guidelines for developing experimental flume scale data and using them for validating numerical tools, as well as for performing a similar type of analysis and design validation of full scale devices as pilot projects start to go in the water in the United States, are provided.
THE APPLICATION OF SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY TO EXPLORATION AND RESERVOIR DEVELOPMENT IN THE COOPER-EROMANGA-BOWEN-SURAT BASIN SYSTEM
Authors: Lang S.C. , Grech P. , Root R. , Hill A. , Harrison D.
Published: August 2017

The application of sequence stratigraphy to non-marine strata in intracratonic basins is still in its infancy, however, the predominantly non-marine Cooper- Eromanga-Surat-Bowen basin system of Eastern Australia provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how sequence stratigraphic concepts can be applied to non-marine successions to assist with exploration and reservoir development. The key to applying sequence stratigraphic concepts in non-marine basins lies in understanding the role of alluvial sediment accommodation relative to sediment supply. Accommodation is created by a combination of tectonic subsidence, compaction and changing water tables in floodplain lakes, marshlands and peat mires. If the alluvial basin is directly connected to the marine system then eustacy may influence accommodation in the lower reaches of the alluvial network, but its effect will significantly diminish upstream depending on the slope. Climate change will, however, have an impact on fluvial discharge, rising water tables, floodplain lake levels, and sediment flux. For sediments to accumulate, accommodation must be positive, whereas negative accommodation leads to erosion. Fluvial accommodation is, therefore, comparable with the concept of base-level. During an episode of basin-wide tectonic uplift or tilting, falling base-level (negative accommodation) leads to widespread erosion on the basin margins or over intra-basinal highs, and an unconformity equivalent to a sequence boundary develops. If followed by a period of low accommodation, rivers rework much of their floodplain, resulting in a sheetlike, amalgamated succession of predominantly sandy bedload deposits of high nett to gross, equivalent to an alluvial lowstand. Further downstream, lowstand deltas may form in the lakes.