bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic prophylaxis may not be necessary in patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria undergoing intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA injections for neurogenic detrusor overactivity
Authors: Leitner Lorenz , Sammer Ulla , Walter Matthias , Knüpfer Stephanie C. , Schneider Marc P. , Seifert Burkhardt , Tornic Jure , Mehnert Ulrich , Kessler Thomas M.
Published: September 2016

Many of the patients undergoing intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA injections for refractory neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) present with chronic bacteriuria. In these patients, antibiotic prophylaxis has been widely recommended since bacteriuria might impair treatment efficacy and cause urinary tract infections (UTI) but the evidence is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate if an antibiotic prophylaxis is needed in patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria undergoing intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA injections. Between 06/2012 and 12/2014, a consecutive series of 154 patients undergoing a total of 273 treatment cycles were prospectively evaluated. Before treatment urine samples were collected, patients with no clinical signs for UTI underwent onabotulinumtoxinA injections, no antibiotic prophylaxis was given. Asymptomatic bacteriuria was found in 73% (200/273 treatments). Following treatment, UTI occurred in 5% (9/200) and 7% (5/73) of patients with and without bacteriuria, respectively. Intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA injections were clinically and urodynamically successful in 70% (192/273). There was no association between bacteriuria and treatment-related adverse events (odds ratio 0.64, 95% CI 0.23–1.81, p = 0.4) nor between bacteriuria and therapy failure (odds ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.43–1.43, p = 0.4). Thus, we conclude that antibiotic prophylaxis needs to be critically reconsidered in patients undergoing intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA injections, especially taking into account the alarming antibiotic resistance worldwide.
Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms based on RNA sequencing data of diverse bio-geographical accessions in barley
Authors: Takahagi Kotaro , Uehara-Yamaguchi Yukiko , Yoshida Takuhiro , Sakurai Tetsuya , Shinozaki Kazuo , Mochida Keiichi , Saisho Daisuke
Published: September 2016

Barley is one of the founder crops of Old world agriculture and has become the fourth most important cereal worldwide. Information on genome-scale DNA polymorphisms allows elucidating the evolutionary history behind domestication, as well as discovering and isolating useful genes for molecular breeding. Deep transcriptome sequencing enables the exploration of sequence variations in transcribed sequences; such analysis is particularly useful for species with large and complex genomes, such as barley. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing of 20 barley accessions, comprising representatives of several biogeographic regions and a wild ancestor. We identified 38,729 to 79,949 SNPs in the 19 domesticated accessions and 55,403 SNPs in the wild barley and revealed their genome-wide distribution using a reference genome. Genome-scale comparisons among accessions showed a clear differentiation between oriental and occidental barley populations. The results based on population structure analyses provide genome-scale properties of sub-populations grouped to oriental, occidental and marginal groups in barley. Our findings suggest that the oriental population of domesticated barley has genomic variations distinct from those in occidental groups, which might have contributed to barley’s domestication.
Identifying the Neural Substrates of Procrastination: a Resting-State fMRI Study
Authors: Zhang Wenwen , Wang Xiangpeng , Feng Tingyong
Published: September 2016

Procrastination is a prevalent problematic behavior that brings serious consequences to individuals who suffer from it. Although this phenomenon has received increasing attention from researchers, the underpinning neural substrates of it is poorly studied. To examine the neural bases subserving procrastination, the present study employed resting-state fMRI. The main results were as follows: (1) the behavioral procrastination was positively correlated with the regional activity of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the parahippocampal cortex (PHC), while negatively correlated with that of the anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC). (2) The aPFC-seed connectivity with the anterior medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex was positively associated with procrastination. (3) The connectivity between vmPFC and several other regions, such as the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, the bilateral inferior prefrontal cortex showed a negative association with procrastination. These results suggested that procrastination could be attributed to, on the one hand, hyper-activity of the default mode network (DMN) that overrides the prefrontal control signal; while on the other hand, the failure of top-down control exerted by the aPFC on the DMN. Therefore, the present study unravels the biomarkers of procrastination and provides treatment targets for procrastination prevention.
Relationship between grip strength and newly diagnosed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a large-scale adult population
Authors: Meng Ge , Wu Hongmei , Fang Liyun , Li Chunlei , Yu Fei , Zhang Qing , Liu Li , Du Huanmin , Shi Hongbin , Xia Yang , Guo Xiaoyan , Liu Xing , Bao Xue , Su Qian , Gu Yeqing , Yang Huijun , Bin Yu  , Wu Yuntang , Sun Zhong , Niu Kaijun
Published: September 2016

Enhanced muscle strength is often related to improved insulin sensitivity and secretion, control of lipid metabolism, and increased secretion of myokines. These factors have emerged as important mechanisms involved in the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), implying that muscle strength may be a useful predictor for NAFLD. We aimed to assess the relationship between grip strength (GS) and NAFLD in a large-scale adult population. GS was assessed using an electronic hand-grip dynamometer, and NAFLD was diagnosed by the liver ultrasonography. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the quartiles of GS per body weight and the prevalence of NAFLD. After adjusting for potentially confounding factors, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for overall NAFLD, NAFLD with normal alanine aminotransferase levels, and NAFLD with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels across the quartiles of GS were 1.00 (reference), 0.89 (0.78, 1.01), 0.77 (0.67, 0.89), and 0.67 (0.57, 0.79); 1.00 (reference), 0.91 (0.80, 1.04), 0.79 (0.68, 0.92), and 0.72 (0.61, 0.85); 1.00 (reference), 0.77 (0.61, 0.98), 0.67 (0.51, 0.86), and 0.53 (0.40, 0.71) (all P for trend < 0.01), respectively. This is the first study shows that increased GS is independently associated with lower prevalence of NAFLD.
In vivo quantification of the secretion rates of the hemolysin A Type I secretion system
Authors: Lenders Michael H. H. , Beer Tobias , Smits Sander H. J. , Schmitt Lutz
Published: September 2016

Type 1 secretion systems (T1SS) of Gram-negative bacteria secrete a broad range of substrates into the extracellular space. Common to all substrates is a C-terminal secretion sequence and nonapeptide repeats in the C-terminal part that bind Ca2+ in the extracellular space, to trigger protein folding. Like all T1SS, the hemolysin A (HlyA) T1SS of Escherichia coli consists of an ABC transporter, a membrane fusion protein and an outer membrane protein allowing the one step translocation of the substrate across both membranes. Here, we analyzed the secretion rate of the HlyA T1SS. Our results demonstrate that the rate is independent of substrate-size and operates at a speed of approximately 16 amino acids per transporter per second. We also demonstrate that the rate is independent of the extracellular Ca2+ concentration raising the question of the driving force of substrate secretion by T1SS in general.
Functional metabolic interactions of human neuron-astrocyte 3D in vitro networks
Authors: Simão Daniel , Terrasso Ana P. , Teixeira Ana P. , Brito Catarina , Sonnewald Ursula , Alves Paula M.
Published: September 2016

The generation of human neural tissue-like 3D structures holds great promise for disease modeling, drug discovery and regenerative medicine strategies. Promoting the establishment of complex cell-cell interactions, 3D culture systems enable the development of human cell-based models with increased physiological relevance, over monolayer cultures. Here, we demonstrate the establishment of neuronal and astrocytic metabolic signatures and shuttles in a human 3D neural cell model, namely the glutamine-glutamate-GABA shuttle. This was indicated by labeling of neuronal GABA following incubation with the glia-specific substrate [2-13C]acetate, which decreased by methionine sulfoximine-induced inhibition of the glial enzyme glutamine synthetase. Cell metabolic specialization was further demonstrated by higher pyruvate carboxylase-derived labeling in glutamine than in glutamate, indicating its activity in astrocytes and not in neurons. Exposure to the neurotoxin acrylamide resulted in intracellular accumulation of glutamate and decreased GABA synthesis. These results suggest an acrylamide-induced impairment of neuronal synaptic vesicle trafficking and imbalanced glutamine-glutamate-GABA cycle, due to loss of cell-cell contacts at synaptic sites. This work demonstrates, for the first time to our knowledge, that neural differentiation of human cells in a 3D setting recapitulates neuronal-astrocytic metabolic interactions, highlighting the relevance of these models for toxicology and better understanding the crosstalk between human neural cells.
An easy-to-use and versatile method for building cell-laden microfibres
Authors: Kalisky Jérome , Raso Jérémie , Rigothier Claire , Rémy Murielle , Siadous Robin , Bareille Reine , Fricain Jean-Christophe , Amedée-Vilamitjana Joëlle , Oliveira Hugo , Devillard Raphaël
Published: September 2016

Fibre-shaped materials are useful for creating different functional three-dimensional (3D) structures that could mimic complex tissues. Several methods (e.g. extrusion, laminar flow or electrospinning) have been proposed for building hydrogel microfibres, with distinctive cell types and with different degrees of complexity. However, these methods require numerous protocol adaptations in order to achieve fibre fabricating and lack the ability to control microfibre alignment. Here, we present a simple method for the production of microfibers, based on a core shell approach, composed of calcium alginate and type I collagen. The process presented here allows the removal of the calcium alginate shell, after only 24 hours of culture, leading to stable and reproducible fibre shaped cellular constructs. With time of culture cells show to distribute preferentially to the surface of the fibre and display a uniform cellular orientation. Moreover, when cultured inside the fibres, murine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells show the capacity to differentiate towards the osteoblastic lineage, under non-osteoinductive culture conditions. This work establishes a novel method for cellular fibre fabrication that due to its inherent simplicity can be easily upscaled and applied to other cell types.
A comparative study of small 3d-metal oxide (FeO)n, (CoO)n, and (NiO)n clusters
Authors: Gutsev G. L. , Belay K. G. , Bozhenko K. V. , Gutsev L. G. , Ramachandran B. R.
Published: September 2016

Geometrical and electronic structures of the 3d-metal oxide clusters (FeO)n, (CoO)n, and (NiO)n are computed using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation in the range of 1 ≤ n ≤ 10.
Lipid molecules can induce an opening of membrane-facing tunnels in cytochrome P450 1A2
Authors: Jeřábek Petr , Florián Jan , Martínek Václav
Published: September 2016

The structure and dynamics of the membrane-bound full-length human cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) in aqueous solution determined by coarse-grained and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations.
Hydration structure of trimethylamine N-oxide in aqueous solutions revealed by soft X-ray emission spectroscopy and chemometric analysis
Authors: Sasaki Yuu , Horikawa Yuka , Tokushima Takashi , Okada Kazumasa , Oura Masaki , Aida Misako
Published: September 2016

Soft X-ray emission spectroscopy coupled with a quantitative spectral analysis offers a useful technique for probing the solvation structure around the solute which interacts strongly with the solvent.
Application of the dielectric-dependent screened exchange potential approach to organic photocell materials
Authors: Shimazaki Tomomi , Nakajima Takahito
Published: September 2016

This paper discusses the fundamental features of the dielectric-dependent screened exchange potential approach for organic molecules and photocell materials.
Molecular dynamics simulation of O2 adsorption on Ag(110) from first principles electronic structure calculations
Authors: Lončarić Ivor , Alducin M. , Juaristi J. I.
Published: September 2016

State of the art simulations show that the physisorption state could be important for O2/Ag(110) adsorption.
The first example of ab initio calculations of f–f transitions for the case of [Eu(DOTP)]5− complex—experiment versus theory
Authors: Janicki Rafał , Kędziorski Andrzej , Mondry Anna
Published: September 2016

Structure, IR and UV-vis-NIR spectra of the [Eu(DOTP)]5− complex in single crystals were studied experimentally. Ab initio calculations of the excited states of the [Eu(DOTP)]5− complex provide new insights into the interpretation of the observed f–f electronic transitions spectra.
Observation of isolated ionic liquid cations and water molecules in an inert solvent
Authors: Sung Woongmo , Kim Doseok
Published: September 2016

1-Octyl-3-methyl imidazolium halides ([OMIM]I and [OMIM]Cl) were loaded on top of CCl4, and an in situ inclusion process was monitored from the CCl4 phase as time elapses by infrared absorption spectroscopy.
Controlling O coverage and stability by alloying Au and Ag
Authors: Montemore Matthew M. , Cubuk Ekin D. , Klobas J. Eric , Schmid Martin , Madix Robert J. , Friend Cynthia M. , Kaxiras Efthimios
Published: September 2016

Alloying Au into Ag(110) reduces the O coverage and stability in a well-controlled manner.
1001 lights: luciferins, luciferases, their mechanisms of action and applications in chemical analysis, biology and medicine
Authors: Kaskova Zinaida M. , Tsarkova Aleksandra S. , Yampolsky Ilia V.
Published: September 2016

This review summarizes the properties of 9 studied bioluminescent systems and their applications in different fields of science.
The coordination of amidoxime ligands with uranyl in the gas phase: a mass spectrometry and DFT study
Authors: Qin Zhen , Shi Siwei , Yang Chuting , Wen Jun , Jia Jianping , Zhang Xiaofang , Yu Haizhu , Wang Xiaolin
Published: September 2016

The coordination of three amidoxime ligands (NAO, GIO, and GDO) with uranyl was compared by MS studies and DFT calculations in the gas phase to reveal the structural information.
Dinuclear clathrochelate complexes with pendent cyano groups as metalloligands
Authors: Marmier Mathieu , Cecot Giacomo , Vologzhanina Anna V. , Bila José L. , Zivkovic Ivica , Ronnow Henrik M. , Nafradi Balint , Solari Euro , Pattison Philip , Scopelliti Rosario , Severin Kay
Published: September 2016

Dinuclear clathrochelate complexes can be decorated with two, three, four, or five cyano groups. These complexes represent versatile metalloligands for the construction of coordination polymers.
Plasmon resonance energy transfer and hot electron injection induced high photocurrent density in liquid junction Ag@Ag2S sensitized solar cells
Authors: Wu Dapeng , Wang Fujuan , Wang Hongju , Cao Kun , Gao Zhiyong , Xu Fang , Jiang Kai
Published: September 2016

Due to plasmon induced absorption enhancement and direct hot electron injection, a high photocurrent density of ∼25.6 mA cm−2 was demonstrated in an Ag@Ag2S co-sensitized solar energy conversion device.
The use of an n-type macromolecular additive as a simple yet effective tool for improving and stabilizing the performance of organic solar cells
Authors: Park Kwang Hyun , An Yujin , Jung Seungon , Park Hyesung , Yang Changduk
Published: September 2016

Introduction of an n-type macromolecular additive (P(NDI2OD-T2) polymer) in organic solar cells brings significant improvements in power conversion efficiency along with robust thermal stability.
The conjugate of jasmonic acid and tetrapeptide as a novel promising biologically active compound
Authors: Kapuscinska Alicja , Olejnik Anna , Nowak Izabela
Published: September 2016

The newly designed derivative of jasmonic acid, JA–YPFF–NH2, is believed to have a promising pharmacological effect on the skin.
Convergent synthesis and properties of photoactivable NADPH mimics targeting nitric oxide synthases
Authors: Nguyen N.-H. , Bogliotti N. , Chennoufi R. , Henry E. , Tauc P. , Salas E. , Roman L. J. , Slama-Schwok A. , Deprez E. , Xie J.
Published: September 2016

Synthesis, photophysical properties, binding affinity and two-photon fluorescence imaging in living cells of photoactivable NADPH mimics targeting the nitric oxide synthases NADPH binding site are reported.
Stabilized pyrrolyl iodonium salts and metal-free oxidative cross-coupling
Authors: Morimoto Koji , Ohnishi Yusuke , Koseki Daichi , Nakamura Akira , Dohi Toshifumi , Kita Yasuyuki
Published: September 2016

We have developed a direct oxidative C–H bond arylation of pyrroles with various aromatic compoundsviastabilized pyrrolyl iodonium(iii) salts generated from modified hypervalent iodine(iii) and TMSCl as an activator.
Fluorescent C-dot nanocomposites as efficient photothermal agents and multi-modal imaging tracers
Authors: Liu Zhe , Xu Qien , Li Yihong , Chen Waner
Published: September 2016

Fluorescent C-dot nanocomposites were developed as photothermal agents and multi-modal tracers for cell tracking and photoacoustic imaging of ocular blood vessels.
Manipulating the magnetic moment in phosphorene by lanthanide atom doping: a first-principle study
Authors: Yuan Ziyuan , Li Nan
Published: September 2016

Doping Ln atom can manipulate the magnetic moment in phosphorene in the range from 1 μBto 7 μB, which could be a next-generation candidates of potential dilute magnetic semiconductor.
Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of Ag incorporated ZnO–graphene nanocomposites
Authors: Naskar Atanu , Bera Susanta , Bhattacharya Rahul , Saha Pritam , Roy Sib Sankar , Sen Tuhinadri , Jana Sunirmal
Published: September 2016

One pot low temperature synthesis of silver incorporated ZnO–chemically converted graphene nanocomposites is reported. An optimum of 10% Ag incorporated sample at 6.25 μg ml−1 dose shows an excellent antibacterial activity on E. coli and S. aureus.
Nanocrystalline ceria: a novel material for electrorheological fluids
Authors: Agafonov A. V. , Krayev A. S. , Davydova O. I. , Ivanov K. V. , Shekunova T. O. , Baranchikov A. E. , Ivanova O. S. , Borilo L. P. , Garshev A. V. , Kozik V. V. , Ivanov V. K.
Published: September 2016

Nanocrystalline CeO2shows intriguing electroheological performance.
Synergistic flame retardant properties of a layered double hydroxide in combination with zirconium phosphonate in polypropylene
Authors: Jiang Ting , Liu Changhua , Liu Li , Hong Jing , Dong Ming , Deng Xi
Published: September 2016

High-performance flame retardant nanocomposites were prepared for polypropylene (PP).
Rigid versus flexible anilines or anilides confirm the bicyclic ring as the hydrophobic portion for optimal σ2 receptor binding and provide novel tools for the development of future σ2 receptor PET radiotracers
Authors: Niso Mauro , Pati Maria Laura , Berardi Francesco , Abate Carmen
Published: September 2016

Despite their uncertain identification, σ2 receptors are promising targets for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for tumor diseases.
Surface area control of nanocomposites Mg(OH)2/graphene using a cathodic electrodeposition process: high adsorption capability of methyl orange
Authors: Deng X. Z. , Wang Y. W. , Peng J. P. , Liu K. J. , Feng N. X. , Di Y. Z.
Published: September 2016

The nanocomposites Mg(OH)2/graphene (nano-MG) were controllably prepared by a facile cathodic electrodeposition.
Tungsten oxide nanowire on copper surfaces: a DFT model
Authors: Šedivá R. , Mašek K. , Pronsato M. E. , Pistonesi C.
Published: September 2016

WO3 nanowire on copper surfaces: structure and effects of oxygen vacancies on the electronic structure.
Polymer precursor synthesis of TaC–SiC ultrahigh temperature ceramic nanocomposites
Authors: Lu Yan , Chen Fenghua , An Pengfei , Ye Li , Qiu Wenfeng , Zhao Tong
Published: September 2016

The first report on polymer precursor synthesis for TaC–SiC nanocomposties with Ta-polymer characterized by XAFS.
Turn-on pH nano-fluorosensor based on imidazolium salicylaldehyde ionic liquid-labeled silica nanoparticles
Authors: Ali Reham , Saleh Sayed M. , Elshaarawy Reda F. M.
Published: September 2016

A turn-on pH nano-fluorosensor based on a new probe labeled SiNPs was designed. The new probe is based on ESIPT process for Sal bearing 2-MeIm ionic liquid terminal. The pH sensing performance of the nanosensor has been investigated.
The green preparation of poly N-vinylpyrrole nanoparticles
Authors: Hao Lu , Zhu Kaiming , Zhang Shihu , Yu Demei
Published: September 2016

The UV-catalytic preparation of polyN-vinylpyrrole nanoparticles using a green oxidant H2O2in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).
Ultra-fast microwave-assisted reverse microemulsion synthesis of Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles as a highly recyclable silver nanoparticle catalytic platform in the reduction of 4-nitroaniline
Authors: Lu C. Y. , Puig T. , Obradors X. , Ricart S. , Ros J.
Published: September 2016

Highly efficient silver catalytic platform Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles is synthesized via novel microwave-assisted reverse microemulsion fast methodology.
Nickel/cobalt oxide as a highly efficient OER electrocatalyst in an alkaline polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer
Authors: Chi Jun , Yu Hongmei , Li Guangfu , Fu Li , Jia Jia , Gao Xueqiang , Yi Baolian , Shao Zhigang
Published: September 2016

Water electrolysis by an alkaline solid polymer electrolyte (APE) water electrolyzer is a promising approach for hydrogen production from water.
Facile synthesis of porous carbon spheres embedded with metal nanoparticles and their applications as supercapacitor electrodes
Authors: Tan Yuanzhong , Wong Ka-wai , Ng Ka Ming
Published: September 2016

A porous carbon matrix with uniformly dispersed metal nanoparticles was synthesized using a facile template-free method.
Correction: Preparation and characterization of Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2@Pd and Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2@Pd–Ag nanocomposites and their utilization in enhanced degradation systems and rapid magnetic separation
Authors: Khojasteh Hossein , Salavati-Niasari Masoud , Mazhari Mohammad-Peyman , Hamadanian Masood
Published: September 2016

Correction for ‘Preparation and characterization of Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2@Pd and Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2@Pd–Ag nanocomposites and their utilization in enhanced degradation systems and rapid magnetic separation’ by Hossein Khojasteh et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 78043–78052.
Optically assembled droplet interface bilayer (OptiDIB) networks from cell-sized microdroplets
Authors: Friddin Mark S. , Bolognesi Guido , Elani Yuval , Brooks Nicholas J. , Law Robert V. , Seddon John M. , Neil Mark A. A. , Ces Oscar
Published: September 2016

We report a new platform technology to systematically assemble droplet interface bilayer (DIB) networks in user-defined 3D architectures from cell-sized droplets using optical tweezers.
In situ large-scale construction of sulfur-functionalized metal–organic framework and its efficient removal of Hg(ii) from water
Authors: Liang Linfeng , Chen Qihui , Jiang Feilong , Yuan Daqiang , Qian Jinjie , Lv Guangxun , Xue Hui , Liu Luyao , Jiang Hai-Long , Hong Maochun
Published: September 2016

A novel sulfur-functionalized metal–organic framework FJI-H12 has been developed, which can completely and selectively remove Hg(ii) from water with high saturation, adsorption and distribution.
In situ confocal microscopic observation on inhibiting the dendrite formation of a-CNx/Li electrode
Authors: Zhang Yi-jun , Bai Wen-qi , Wang Xiu-li , Xia Xin-hui , Gu Chang-dong , Tu Jiang-ping
Published: September 2016

Nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon (a-CNx) layer modified Li electrodes are fabricated by a magnetron sputtering technique. In situ visualization using confocal microscopy was adopted to monitor the formation of dendrite growth for the first time.
Highly efficient electrochemical and chemical hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol using recyclable narrow mesoporous magnetic CoPt nanowires
Authors: Serrà Albert , Alcobé Xavier , Sort Jordi , Nogués Josep , Vallés Elisa
Published: September 2016

Magnetically actuated CoPt nanowires show extraordinary performance for 4-nitrophenol degradation.
A combined approach for predicting the cytotoxic effect of drug-nanoaggregates
Authors: Wojnilowicz M. , Tortora M. , Bobay B. G. , Santiso E. , Caruso M. , Micheli L. , Venanzi M. , Menegatti S. , Cavalieri F.
Published: September 2016

Polymer carriers induce assembly of drugs into nanoaggregates and play a role in tuning the architecture and bioactivity of drug nanoaggregates.
‘Up with the LRRK’: a phosphorylated Rab10 assay for evaluation of LRRK2 activity and inhibitor engagement
Authors: Eyers Patrick A.
Published: September 2016

Protein kinases catalyse the addition of phosphate groups to Ser/Thr and Tyr residues in cognate substrates and are mutated or hyperactive in a variety of diseases, making them important targets for rationally designed drugs. A good example is the Parkinson's disease-associated kinase, leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), which is mutated (and probably hyperactive) in a small, but significant, subset of patients. An exciting new approach for personalised therapy is the development of central nervous system (CNS)-active small-molecule kinase inhibitors, which could be employed to ‘normalise’ LRRK2 signalling in affected cell types. However, the development of such drugs requires validated assays for the analysis of target engagement and the assembly of a set of tools for interrogating LRRK2, and its substrates, both in vitro and in vivo. A new study published in the Biochemical Journal by Ito et al. establishes that a ‘Phos-tag’™-binding assay can be exploited to measure phosphorylation of a recently identified LRRK2 substrate (Ras-related protein in brain 10 (Rab10)), and to compare and contrast relative catalytic output from disease-associated LRRK2 mutants. Powerful in vivo chemical genetic approaches are also disclosed, in which the catalytic activity of LRRK2 is unequivocally linked to the extent of Rab10 phosphorylation and the effects of chemically distinct LRRK2 inhibitors are matched with on-target inhibition mechanisms mediated through LRRK2 and its substrate Rab10. These important findings should simplify the generic analysis of Rab10 phosphorylation in model biological systems and are likely to be applicable to other substrates of LRRK2 (or indeed other kinases) for which phospho-specific antibodies are either absent or unsatisfactory.
A Brief Version of the Unhelpful Thoughts and Beliefs About Stuttering Scales: The UTBAS-6
Authors: Iverach Lisa , Heard Rob , Menzies Ross , Lowe Robyn , O'Brian Sue , Packman Ann , Onslow Mark
Published: September 2016

Purpose

A significant proportion of adults who stutter experience anxiety in social and speaking situations. The Unhelpful Thoughts and Beliefs About Stuttering (UTBAS) scales provide a comprehensive measure of the unhelpful cognitions associated with social anxiety in stuttering. However, reducing the number of UTBAS items would make it ideal as a brief screening instrument. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop a brief version of the full UTBAS scales.

Method

The 66-item UTBAS scales were completed by 337 adults who stutter. Item reduction was used to determine a smaller set of items that could adequately reproduce the total score for each full UTBAS scale.

Results

Item reduction resulted in the inclusion of six items for the brief UTBAS-6 scales. Decile ranges for scores on the brief UTBAS-6 provide reliable estimates of the full UTBAS scores and valuable clinical information about whether a psychological assessment is warranted.

Conclusions

The brief UTBAS-6 provides a reliable and efficient means of screening the unhelpful thoughts and beliefs associated with speech-related anxiety among adults who stutter. Referral for a psychological assessment is recommended in cases where the UTBAS total score falls in or above the fifth decile.
The Relationship Between Speech Production and Speech Perception Deficits in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: De Keyser Kim , Santens Patrick , Bockstael Annelies , Botteldooren Dick , Talsma Durk , De Vos Stefanie , Van Cauwenberghe Mieke , Verheugen Femke , Corthals Paul , De Letter Miet
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This study investigated the possible relationship between hypokinetic speech production and speech intensity perception in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method

Participants included 14 patients with idiopathic PD and 14 matched healthy controls (HCs) with normal hearing and cognition. First, speech production was objectified through a standardized speech intelligibility assessment, acoustic analysis, and speech intensity measurements. Second, an overall estimation task and an intensity estimation task were addressed to evaluate overall speech perception and speech intensity perception, respectively. Finally, correlation analysis was performed between the speech characteristics of the overall estimation task and the corresponding acoustic analysis. The interaction between speech production and speech intensity perception was investigated by an intensity imitation task.

Results

Acoustic analysis and speech intensity measurements demonstrated significant differences in speech production between patients with PD and the HCs. A different pattern in the auditory perception of speech and speech intensity was found in the PD group.

Conclusions

Auditory perceptual deficits may influence speech production in patients with PD. The present results suggest a disturbed auditory perception related to an automatic monitoring deficit in PD.
Objective Measure of Nasal Air Emission Using Nasal Accelerometry
Authors: Cler Gabriel J. , Lien Yu-An S. , Braden Maia N. , Mittelman Talia , Downing Kerri , Stepp Cara E.
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This article describes the development and initial validation of an objective measure of nasal air emission (NAE) using nasal accelerometry.

Method

Nasal acceleration and nasal airflow signals were simultaneously recorded while an expert speech language pathologist modeled NAEs at a variety of severity levels. In addition, microphone and nasal accelerometer signals were collected during the production of /pɑpɑpɑpɑ/ speech utterances by 25 children with and without cleft palate. Fourteen inexperienced raters listened to the microphone signals from the pediatric speakers and rated the samples for the severity of NAE using direct magnitude estimation. Mean listener ratings were compared to a novel quantitative measurement of NAE derived from the nasal acceleration signals.

Results

Correlation between the nasal acceleration energy measure and the measured nasal airflow was high (
r =
.87). Correlation between the measure and auditory-perceptual ratings was moderate (
r =
.49).

Conclusion

The measure presented here is quantitative and noninvasive, and the required hardware is inexpensive ($150). Future studies will include speakers with a wider range of NAE severity and etiology, including cleft palate, hearing impairment, or dysarthria. Further development will also involve validation of the measure against airflow measures across subjects.
Joint optimisation technique for multi‐edge type low‐density parity‐check codes
Authors: Jayasooriya Sachini , Shirvanimoghaddam Mahyar , Ong Lawrence , Johnson Sarah J.
Published: September 2016

This study considers the optimisation of multi‐edge type low‐density parity‐check (MET‐LDPC) codes to maximise the decoding threshold. The authors propose an algorithm to jointly optimise the node degree distribution and the multi‐edge structure of MET‐LDPC codes for given values of the maximum number of edge‐types and maximum node degrees. This joint optimisation is particularly important for MET‐LDPC codes as it is not clear a priori which structures will be good. Using several examples, they demonstrate that the MET‐LDPC codes designed by the proposed joint optimisation algorithm exhibit improved decoding thresholds compared with previously reported MET‐LDPC codes.
Performance analysis of centralised and distributed scheduling schemes for mobile multihop relay systems
Authors: Kim Taejoon , An Kwanghoon , Yu Heejung
Published: September 2016

For a mobile multihop relay (MMR) system, a centralised packet scheduling method is compared with a distributed packet scheduling method. The performance of the MMR system considering the joint effect of a finite‐length queue and an adaptive modulation and coding scheme for base station and relay station is analysed. A finite state Markov chain (FSMC) describing the queue and channel state pairs’ transitions for the MMR system is built. Moreover, a method of reducing the state space of the FSMC, which enables a hop‐by‐hop performance analysis of the MMR system without explosive growth in the number of states, is presented. Numerical and simulation results show that the proposed FSMC modelling is accurate and the performance of centralised scheduling becomes degraded because of increased mismatches between a scheduled modulation and coding scheme (MCS) level and the actual MCS level.
K‐means based multiple objects tracking with long‐term occlusion handling
Authors: Shehzad Muhammad Imran , Shah Yasir A. , Mehmood Zahid , Malik Abdul Waheed , Azmat Shoaib
Published: September 2016

This study presents a novel multiple objects tracking (MOT) approach that models object's appearance based on K‐means, while introducing a new statistical measure for association of objects after occlusion. The proposed method is tested on several standard datasets dealing complex situations in both indoor and outdoor environments. The experimental results show that the proposed model successfully tracks multiple objects in the presence of occlusion with high accuracy. Moreover, the presented work has the capability to deal long term and complete occlusion without any prior training of the shape and motion model of the objects. Accuracy of the proposed method is comparable with that of the existing state‐of‐the‐art techniques as it successfully deals with all MOT cases in the standard datasets. Most importantly, the proposed method is cost effective in terms of memory and/or computation as compared with that of the existing state‐of‐the‐art techniques. These traits make the proposed system very useful for real‐time embedded video surveillance platforms especially those that have low memory/compute resources.
Consideration of small signal stability in multi‐objective DS reconfiguration in the presence of distributed generation
Authors: Shukla Jyoti , Das Biswarup , Pant Vinay
Published: September 2016

This study presents a methodology for distribution system (DS) reconfiguration in the presence of distributed generations with objectives of minimising real power loss, switching operations as well as maximising the voltage stability margin while maintaining the constraints of bus voltage, branch current carrying capacity and radiality of DS. Furthermore, small signal stability of the system has also been considered in the formulated reconfiguration problem. To obtain the pareto‐optimal solutions of this constrained multi‐objective optimisation problem, knee point‐driven evolutionary algorithm, is applied. In contrast to the non‐dominated sorting genetic algorithm‐II (NSGA‐II)‐based approach, preference is given to the knee points among non‐dominated solutions in selection and tournament mating. Therefore, it maintains better balance between the convergence of the method and the diversity in the population. The method has been tested on IEEE 33‐bus, 69‐bus and 119‐bus radial DSs to demonstrate its feasibility and effectiveness. The obtained results have also been compared with those obtained by the multi‐objective NSGA‐II‐based method.
Performance analysis of EEDR routing protocol for WSNs
Authors: Mutthigarahalli Shankarappa Pramod , Shankar Shiva
Published: September 2016

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) possess formidable design challenges in Energy constrained operation, Communication range, Memory and processing power constraints, Bandwidth constrained links, Dynamic network topologies and Network traffic patterns. These new‐found types of networks are largely dictated by application requirements and characterized by severe resource constraints in terms of available energy, computational and communication capabilities. Routing is one of the significant design considerations in WSNs, more especially under severe energy constraints. In this paper the Energy Efficient Distributed Receiver (EEDR) based routing protocol for WSNs is proposed. The proposed work employs the concept of initiating the route from the receiver side instead of sender side. The procedure aims to opt the best route from the multiple routes based on the quality of the multiple channels. The main outcomes of EEDR protocol are (1) Finding a stable route between the source and the destination, (2) adaptation to dynamic conditions of the links with very small delay, (3) Reducing the power consumption of node, (4) Improving the lifetime of the node. The simulation results shows that, for EEDR protocol, the node energy consumption is very less, reduced end‐to‐end delay and increased throughput. EEDR also ensures loop free routing with reduced hop count.
Superiority of partial discharge characteristics of cross‐linked polyethylene nanocomposites over microcomposites for electrical insulation application
Authors: Paramane Ashish Sharad , Kannaiah Sathish Kumar
Published: September 2016

Partial discharge (PD) study is considered as an effective tool to evaluate the condition of electrical insulation. The PD test results for cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE)/silica microcomposite (30, 40, 50 wt%) and nanocomposite (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 wt%) samples in comparison to virgin (0 wt%) samples is presented. It has been found that nanocomposite samples have lower PD formation, higher discharge inception voltage (DIV) as well as breakdown voltage as compared with virgin and microcomposite samples. From the results, it has been observed that XLPE/silica nano 5 wt% sample exhibits the lowest PD formation, the highest breakdown voltage and DIV. The breakdown resulted due to PD is shown using oscilloscope waveforms and optical microscopic images. Improvement in results is ascribed to decreased interparticle distance between two adjacent nanofillers and increased interactions at the area between nanofiller‐polymer matrix. The possible mechanism for the improved results is proposed using plausible explanation.
Fremdheit – das Erleben von Männern, deren Partnerinnen nach der Geburt eines Babys psychisch erkranken
Authors: Roebers Sabine , Razum Oliver , Makowsky Katja
Published: September 2016

Anliegen Wie erleben Partner postpartal psychisch erkrankter Frauen die Erkrankung und psychiatrische Versorgung?

Methode Narrativ-biografische Interviews mit 13 Partnern. Analyse mittels Grounded-Theory-Methodologie.

Ergebnisse Fremdheit dominiert das Erleben der Partner in den Bereichen Beziehung zur Partnerin, Wahrnehmung der psychischen Störung sowie der psychiatrischen Versorgung.

Schlussfolgerung Empfehlenswert sind die stärkere Berücksichtigung der Bedürfnisse der Partner sowie ihr Einbezug in die Behandlung der Partnerin zur Unterstützung des Familiensystems.
Tomography and imaging at the PSICHE beam line of the SOLEIL synchrotron
Authors: King A. , Guignot N. , Zerbino P. , Boulard E. , Desjardins K. , Bordessoule M. , Leclerq N. , Le S. , Renaud G. , Cerato M. , Bornert M. , Lenoir N. , Delzon S. , Perrillat J.-P. , Legodec Y. , Itié J.-P.
Published: September 2016

PSICHE (Pressure, Structure and Imaging by Contrast at High Energy) is the high-energy beam line of the SOLEIL synchrotron. The beam line is designed to study samples at extreme pressures, using diffraction, and to perform imaging and tomography for materials science and other diverse applications. This paper presents the tomograph and the use of the beam line for imaging, with emphasis on developments made with respect to existing instruments. Of particular note are the high load capacity rotation stage with free central aperture for installing large or complex samples and sample environments, x-ray mirror and filter optics for pink beam imaging, and multiple options for combining imaging and diffraction measurement. We describe how x-ray imaging techniques have been integrated into high-pressure experiments. The design and the specifications of the beam line are described, and several case studies drawn from the first user experiments are presented.
Suspending superconducting qubits by silicon micromachining
Authors: Chu Y. , Axline C. , Wang C. , Brecht T. , Gao Y. Y. , Frunzio L. , Schoelkopf R. J.
Published: September 2016

We present a method for relieving aluminum 3D transmon qubits from a silicon substrate using micromachining. Our technique is a high yield, one-step deep reactive ion etch that requires no additional fabrication processes and results in the suspension of the junction area and edges of the aluminum film. The drastic change in the device geometry affects both the dielectric and the flux noise environment experienced by the qubit. In particular, the participation ratios of various dielectric interfaces are significantly modified, and suspended qubits exhibited longer T1's than non-suspended ones. We also find that the suspension increases the flux noise experienced by tunable SQUID-based qubits.
Impact of metal ion’s charge on the interatomic Coulombic decay widths in microsolvated clusters
Authors: Stumpf V. , Brunken C. , Gokhberg K.
Published: September 2016

Interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) is an efficient electronic decay mechanism of electronically excited atoms and molecules embedded in an environment. For the series of isoelectronic Na+, Mg2+, and Al3+ ions in aqueous solution, ultrashort ICD lifetimes of 3.1 fs, 1.5 fs, and 0.9 fs, respectively, were observed experimentally. The magnitude of the ICD lifetimes and their variation within the series were qualitatively explained by shortening metal-oxygen equilibrium distances and the increasing polarization of the water molecules as the metal’s charge grows. We carried out an extensive ab initio investigation of the variation of the ICD widths with the metal-oxygen distances and the number of water neighbors in Na+–(H2O)m (m = 1-4) and Mg2+–(H2O)n (n = 1-6) clusters including and excluding polarization effects in the decaying state. We demonstrated that the effect of the induced polarization of the water ligand and the equilibrium cation-oxygen distance are equally important in determining the ordering and ratios of the ICD lifetimes in the series. Moreover, we showed that the induced polarization of the water molecules leads to a slower than linear growth of ICD width with the number of equivalent water neighbors; the non-linearity is stronger for Mg2+. The ab initio ICD widths in microsolvated Na+–(H2O)4 and Mg2+–(H2O)6 clusters are found to be in good agreement with the experimental values.
Velocity map imaging of OH radical products from IR activated (CH3)2COO Criegee intermediates
Authors: Li Hongwei , Kidwell Nathanael M. , Wang Xiaohong , Bowman Joel M. , Lester Marsha I.
Published: September 2016

The unimolecular dissociation dynamics of the dimethyl-substituted Criegee intermediate (CH3)2COO is examined experimentally using velocity map imaging to ascertain the translational and internal energy distributions of the OH and H2CC(CH3)O radical products. The energy profile of key features along the reaction coordinate is also evaluated theoretically. Unimolecular decay of (CH3)2COO is initiated by vibrational activation in the CH stretch overtone region and the resultant OH X2Π3/2 (v = 0) products are state-selectively ionized and imaged. Analysis reveals an isotropic spatial distribution, indicative of a 3 ps lower limit for the timescale of dissociation, and a broad and unstructured total kinetic energy release distribution. The energy released to products is partitioned principally as internal excitation of the H2CC(CH3)O fragments with modest translational excitation of the fragments and a small degree of OH rotational excitation. The total kinetic energy release distribution observed for (CH3)2COO is compared with that predicted for statistical partitioning over product quantum states, and contrasted with recent experimental and quasi-classical trajectory results for syn-CH3CHOO [N. M. Kidwell et al., Nat. Chem. 8, 509 (2016)].
Low-noise THz MgB2 Josephson mixer
Authors: Cunnane Daniel , Kawamura Jonathan H. , Acharya Narendra , Wolak Matthäus A. , Xi X. X. , Karasik Boris S.
Published: September 2016

The potential applications for high frequency operation of the Josephson effect in MgB2 include THz mixers, direct detectors, and digital circuits. Here we report on MgB2 weak links which exhibit the Josephson behavior up to almost 2 THz and using them for low-noise heterodyne detection of THz radiation. The devices are made from epitaxial film grown in the c-axis direction by the hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition method. The current in the junctions travels parallel to the surface of the film, thus making possible a large contribution of the quasi-two-dimensional σ-gap in transport across the weak link. These devices are connected to a planar spiral antenna with a dielectric substrate lens to facilitate coupling to free-space radiation for use as a detector. The IcRn product of the junction is 5.25 mV, giving confirmation of a large gap parameter. The sensitivity of the mixer was measured from 0.6 THz to 1.9 THz. At a bath temperature of over 20 K, a mixer noise temperature less than 2000 K (DSB) was measured near 0.6 THz.
Different photosynthetic acclimation mechanisms are activated under waterlogging in two contrasting Lolium perenne genotypes
Authors: Jurczyk Barbara , Pociecha Ewa , Košcielniak Janusz , Rapacz Marcin
Published: September 2016

Increased precipitation and snowmelt during warmer winters may lead to low-temperature waterlogging of plants. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is one of the most important cool-season grasses in agriculture. It is well adapted to cold climates, and may be considered as a model system for studying the mechanisms involved in cold acclimation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of waterlogging on photosynthetic acclimation to cold in perennial ryegrass. Two L. perenne genotypes that differ in their responses to waterlogging in terms of freezing tolerance were compared. We evaluated the effects of waterlogging during cold acclimation on the water-soluble carbohydrate concentration, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity, photochemical efficiency of PSII, and transcript levels of the Rubisco activase (RcaA) and sucrose-sucrose fructosyltransferase (1-SST) genes. The genotype that did not accumulate water-soluble carbohydrates in the leaf under waterlogging showed a lower degree of feedback inhibition of photosynthesis under low temperature, and activated a photochemical mechanism of photosynthetic acclimation to cold. The other genotype accumulated water-soluble carbohydrates in the leaf during waterlogging, and activated a non-photochemical mechanism under cold conditions. Different photosynthetic acclimation systems to cold under waterlogging may be activated in these two contrasting L. perenne genotypes.