bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spider dragline silk composite films doped with linear and telechelic polyalanine: Effect of polyalanine on the structure and mechanical properties
Authors: Tsuchiya Kousuke , Ishii Takaoki , Masunaga Hiroyasu , Numata Keiji 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSpider dragline silks have attracted intensive attention as eco-friendly tough materials because of their excellent mechanical property and biomass-based origin. Composite films based on a recombinant spider dragline silk protein (ADF3) from Araneus diadematus were prepared by doping with linear or telechelic poly(l-alanine) (L- or T-polyA, respectively) as a reinforcing agent. Higher tensile strength and toughness of the composite films were achieved with the addition of polyA compared with the tensile strength and toughness of the silk-only film. The difference in the reinforcing behavior between L- and T-polyA was associated with their primary structures, which were revealed by wide angle X-ray diffraction analysis. L-polyA showed a tendency to aggregate in the composite films and induce crystallization of the inherent silk β-sheet to afford rigid but brittle films. By contrast, T-polyA dispersion in the composite films led to the formation of β-sheet crystal of both T-polyA and the inherent silk, which imparted high strength and toughness to the silk films.
Lightning initiation: Strong pulses of VHF radiation accompany preliminary breakdown
Authors: Kolmašová Ivana , Santolík Ondřej , Defer Eric , Rison William , Coquillat Sylvain , Pedeboy Stéphane , Lán Radek , Uhlíř Luděk , Lambert Dominique , Pinty Jean-Pierre , Prieur Serge , Pont Véronique 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWe analyze lightning initiation process using magnetic field waveforms of preliminary breakdown (PB) pulses observed at time scales of a few tens of microseconds by a broad-band receiver. We compare these pulses with sources of narrow-band very high frequency (VHF) radiation at 60–66 MHz recorded by two separate Lightning Mapping Arrays (LMAs). We find that almost none of the observed PB pulses correspond to geo-located VHF radiation sources, in agreement with previous results and with the hypothesis that processes generating VHF radiation and PB pulses are only weakly related. However, our detailed analysis discovers that individual peaks of strong VHF radiation seen by separate LMA stations correspond surprisingly well to the PB pulses. This result shows that electromagnetic radiation generated during fast stepwise extension of developing lightning channels is spread over a large interval of frequencies. We also show that intense VHF radiation abruptly starts with the first PB pulse and that it is then continuously present during the entire PB phase of developing discharges.
Social status and parasitism in male and female vertebrates: a meta-analysis
Authors: Habig Bobby , Doellman Meredith M. , Woods Kourtney , Olansen Jonathan , Archie Elizabeth A. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSocial status is an important predictor of parasite risk in vertebrates. To date, general frameworks to explain status-related variation in parasitism have remained elusive. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated five hypotheses proposed to explain status-related variation in parasitism in male and female vertebrates by leveraging variation in hierarchy type, mating system, parasite transmission mode, and allostatic load to test associated predictions. Our meta-analyses span 66 analyses (26 studies) of male vertebrates (two orders and five classes), and 62 analyses (13 studies) of female vertebrates (four vertebrate orders). Contrary to the prevailing paradigm that low status is linked to poor health, we found that dominant animals typically faced higher parasite risk than subordinates. This pattern was especially well-supported in analyses of males versus females, in linear versus egalitarian hierarchies, in mating systems where dominance rank predicts mating effort, and for contact- and environmentally-transmitted parasites rather than vector-borne parasites. These findings supported the priority-of-access and tradeoffs hypotheses suggesting that variation in parasitism is driven by rank-associated differences in exposure to parasites and mating effort. Together, these results suggest that high parasite risk might sometimes be an unappreciated cost of high rank, and conversely, reduced parasite risk might be a benefit of social subordination.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Simulation and spatiotemporal pattern of air temperature and
precipitation in Eastern Central Asia using RegCM
Authors: Meng Xianyong , Long Aihua , Wu Yiping , Yin Gang , Wang Hao , Ji Xiaonan 
Published: February 2018

AbstractCentral Asia is a region that has a large land mass, yet meteorological
stations in this area are relatively scarce. To address this data issues, in this
study, we selected two reanalysis datasets (the ERA40 and NCEP/NCAR) and downscaled
them to 40 × 40 km using RegCM. Then three gridded datasets (the CRU, APHRO, and WM)
that were extrapolated from the observations of Central Asian meteorological
stations to evaluate the performance of RegCM and analyze the spatiotemporal
distribution of precipitation and air temperature. We found that since the 1960s,
the air temperature in Xinjiang shows an increasing trend and the distribution of
precipitation in the Tianshan area is quite complex. The precipitation is increasing
in the south of the Tianshan Mountains (Southern Xinjiang, SX) and decreasing in the
mountainous areas. The CRU and WM data indicate that precipitation in the north of
the Tianshan Mountains (Northern Xinjiang, NX) is increasing, while the APHRO data
show an opposite trend. The downscaled results from RegCM are generally consistent
with the extrapolated gridded datasets in terms of the spatiotemporal patterns. We
believe that our results can provide useful information in developing a regional
climate model in Central Asia where meteorological stations are scarce.
Radiosensitization Effect of Talazoparib, a Parp Inhibitor, on Glioblastoma Stem Cells Exposed to Low and High Linear Energy Transfer Radiation
Authors: Lesueur Paul , Chevalier François , El-Habr Elias A. , Junier Marie-Pierre , Chneiweiss Hervé , Castera Laurent , Müller Etienne , Stefan Dinu , Saintigny Yannick 
Published: February 2018

AbstractDespite continuous improvements in treatment of glioblastoma, tumor recurrence and therapy resistance still occur in a high proportion of patients. One underlying reason for this radioresistance might be the presence of glioblastoma cancer stem cells (GSCs), which feature high DNA repair capability. PARP protein plays an important cellular role by detecting the presence of damaged DNA and then activating signaling pathways that promote appropriate cellular responses. Thus, PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have recently emerged as potential radiosensitizing agents. In this study, we investigated the preclinical efficacy of talazoparib, a new PARPi, in association with low and high linear energy transfer (LET) irradiation in two GSC cell lines. Reduction of GSC fraction, impact on cell proliferation, and cell cycle arrest were evaluated for each condition. All combinations were compared with a reference schedule: photonic irradiation combined with temozolomide. The use of PARPi combined with photon beam and even more carbon beam irradiation drastically reduced the GSC frequency of GBM cell lines in vitro. Furthermore, talazoparib combined with irradiation induced a marked and prolonged G2/M block, and decreased proliferation. These results show that talazoparib is a new candidate that effects radiosensitization in radioresistant GSCs, and its combination with high LET irradiation, is promising.
Overexpression of preeclampsia induced microRNA-26a-5p leads to proteinuria in zebrafish
Authors: Müller-Deile Janina , Schröder Patricia , Beverly-Staggs Lynne , Hiss Rebecca , Fiedler Jan , Nyström Jenny , Thum Thomas , Haller Hermann , Schiffer Mario 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSo far the pathomechanism of preeclampsia in pregnancy is focussed on increased circulating levels of soluble fms-like tyrosin kinase-1 (sFLT-1) that neutralizes glomerular VEGF-A expression and prevents its signaling at the glomerular endothelium. As a result of changed glomerular VEGF-A levels endotheliosis and podocyte foot process effacement are typical morphological features of preeclampsia. Recently, microRNA-26a-5p (miR-26a-5p) was described to be also upregulated in the preeclamptic placenta. We found that miR-26a-5p targets VEGF-A expression by means of PIK3C2α in cultured human podocytes and that miR-26a-5p overexpression in zebrafish causes proteinuria, edema, glomerular endotheliosis and podocyte foot process effacement. Interestingly, recombinant zebrafish Vegf-Aa protein could rescue glomerular changes induced by miR-26a-5p. In a small pilot study, preeclamptic patients with podocyte damage identified by podocyturia, expressed significantly more urinary miR-26a-5p compared to healthy controls. Thus, functional and ultrastructural glomerular changes after miR-26a-5p overexpression can resemble the findings seen in preeclampsia and indicate a potential pathophysiological role of miR-26a-5p in addition to sFLT-1 in this disease.
A large, open source dataset of stroke anatomical brain images and manual lesion segmentations
Authors: Liew Sook-Lei , Anglin Julia M. , Banks Nick W. , Sondag Matt , Ito Kaori L. , Kim Hosung , Chan Jennifer , Ito Joyce , Jung Connie , Khoshab Nima , Lefebvre Stephanie , Nakamura William , Saldana David , Schmiesing Allie , Tran Cathy , Vo Danny , Ard Tyler , Heydari Panthea , Kim Bokkyu , Aziz-Zadeh Lisa , Cramer Steven C. , Liu Jingchun , Soekadar Surjo , Nordvik Jan-Egil , Westlye Lars T. , Wang Junping , Winstein Carolee , Yu Chunshui , Ai Lei , Koo Bonhwang , Craddock R. Cameron , Milham Michael , Lakich Matthew , Pienta Amy , Stroud Alison 
Published: February 2018

AbstractStroke is the leading cause of adult disability worldwide, with up to two-thirds of individuals experiencing long-term disabilities. Large-scale neuroimaging studies have shown promise in identifying robust biomarkers (e.g., measures of brain structure) of long-term stroke recovery following rehabilitation. However, analyzing large rehabilitation-related datasets is problematic due to barriers in accurate stroke lesion segmentation. Manually-traced lesions are currently the gold standard for lesion segmentation on T1-weighted MRIs, but are labor intensive and require anatomical expertise. While algorithms have been developed to automate this process, the results often lack accuracy. Newer algorithms that employ machine-learning techniques are promising, yet these require large training datasets to optimize performance. Here we present ATLAS (Anatomical Tracings of Lesions After Stroke), an open-source dataset of 304 T1-weighted MRIs with manually segmented lesions and metadata. This large, diverse dataset can be used to train and test lesion segmentation algorithms and provides a standardized dataset for comparing the performance of different segmentation methods. We hope ATLAS release 1.1 will be a useful resource to assess and improve the accuracy of current lesion segmentation methods.
Epidemiological characteristics of human-infective RNA viruses
Authors: Woolhouse Mark E. J. , Brierley Liam 
Published: February 2018

AbstractRNA viruses are a major threat to human health. Here, based on extensive literature searches carried out over a period of 18 years, we provide a catalogue of all 214 known human-infective RNA virus species. We link these viruses to metadata for a number of traits that influence their epidemiology, including the date of the first report of human infection, transmissibility in human populations, transmission route(s) and host range. This database can be used in comparative studies of human-infective RNA viruses to identify the characteristics of viruses most likely to pose the greatest public health threat, both now and in the future.
The Effects of Varying Directional Bandwidth in Hearing Aid Users' Preference and Speech-in-Noise Performance
Authors: Goyette Adriana , Crukley Jeff , Galster Jason 
Published: February 2018

PurposeDirectional microphone systems are typically used to improve hearing aid users' understanding of speech in noise. However, directional microphones also increase internal hearing aid noise. The purpose of this study was to investigate how varying directional microphone bandwidth affected listening preference and speech-in-noise performance.MethodTen participants with normal hearing and 10 participants with hearing impairment compared internal noise levels between hearing aid memories with 4 different microphone modes: omnidirectional, full directional, high-frequency directionality with directional processing above 900 Hz, and high-frequency directionality with directional processing above 2000 Hz. Speech-in-noise performance was measured with each memory for the participants with hearing impairment.ResultsParticipants with normal hearing preferred memories with less directional bandwidth. Participants with hearing impairment also tended to prefer the memories with less directional bandwidth. However, the majority of participants with hearing impairment did not indicate a preference between omnidirectional and directional above 2000 Hz memories. Average hearing-in-noise performance improved with increasing directional bandwidth.ConclusionsMost participants preferred memories with less directional bandwidth in quiet. Participants with hearing impairment indicated no difference in preference between directional above 2000 Hz and the omnidirectional memories. Speech recognition in noise performance improved with increasing directional bandwidth.
Management of Recurrent Vestibular Neuritis in a Patient Treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Roberts Richard A. 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
This clinical report is presented to describe how results of vestibular function testing were considered along with other medical history to develop a management plan that was ultimately successful.

Method
The patient underwent audio-vestibular assessment including comprehensive audiogram, videonystagmography, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential, and postural stability testing.

Results
Results from initial testing were most consistent with uncompensated peripheral vestibular dysfunction affecting the right superior vestibular nerve. These results, considered along with history and symptoms, supported vestibular neuritis. After a second vertigo event, we became concerned about the potential temporal association between the patient's rheumatoid arthritis treatment and symptom onset. It is established that treatment for rheumatoid arthritis can exacerbate latent viral issues, but this has not specifically been reported for vestibular neuritis. There are reports in the literature in which patients successfully used viral suppressant medication to decrease viral activity while they were able to continue benefiting from immunosuppressive therapy. We hypothesized that, if the current patient's vestibular neuritis events were related to her treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, she may also benefit from use of viral suppressant medication while continuing her otherwise successful immunosuppressive intervention.

Conclusions
Patients treated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are more susceptible to viral issues, and this may include vestibular neuritis. For the current case, identifying this possibility and recommending viral suppressant medication allowed her to continue with successful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis while avoiding additional vertigo events.
Acoustic Predictors of Pediatric Dysarthria in Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Allison Kristen M. , Hustad Katherine C. 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
The objectives of this study were to identify acoustic characteristics of connected speech that differentiate children with dysarthria secondary to cerebral palsy (CP) from typically developing children and to identify acoustic measures that best detect dysarthria in children with CP.

Method
Twenty 5-year-old children with dysarthria secondary to CP were compared to 20 age- and sex-matched typically developing children on 5 acoustic measures of connected speech. A logistic regression approach was used to derive an acoustic model that best predicted dysarthria status.

Results
Results indicated that children with dysarthria secondary to CP differed from typically developing children on measures of multiple segmental and suprasegmental speech characteristics. An acoustic model containing articulation rate and the F2 range of diphthongs differentiated children with dysarthria from typically developing children with 87.5% accuracy.

Conclusion
This study serves as a first step toward developing an acoustic model that can be used to improve early identification of dysarthria in children with CP.
Pitch and Time Processing in Speech and Tones: The Effects of Musical Training and Attention
Authors: Sares Anastasia G. , Foster Nicholas E. V. , Allen Kachina , Hyde Krista L. 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
Musical training is often linked to enhanced auditory discrimination, but the relative roles of pitch and time in music and speech are unclear. Moreover, it is unclear whether pitch and time processing are correlated across individuals and how they may be affected by attention. This study aimed to examine pitch and time processing in speech and tone sequences, taking musical training and attention into account.

Method
Musicians (16) and nonmusicians (16) were asked to detect pitch or timing changes in speech and tone sequences and make a binary response. In some conditions, the participants were focused on 1 aspect of the stimulus (directed attention), and in others, they had to pay attention to all aspects at once (divided attention).

Results
As expected, musicians performed better overall. Performance scores on pitch and time tasks were correlated, as were performance scores for speech and tonal stimuli, but most markedly in musicians. All participants performed better on the directed versus divided attention task, but again, musicians performed better than nonmusicians.

Conclusion
In general, this experiment shows that individuals with a better sense of pitch discrimination also have a better sense of timing discrimination in the auditory domain. In addition, although musicians perform better overall, these results do not support the idea that musicians have an added advantage for divided attention tasks. These findings serve to better understand how musical training and attention affect pitch and time processing in the context of speech and tones and may have applications in special populations.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5895997
Comparison between stereoscopic structure of nano‐silver colloid pre‐ and post‐intervened with PVA through arc discharge
Authors: Tseng Kuo‐Hsiung , Chou Chih‐Ju , Shih Sheng‐Hao , Tien Der‐Chi , Wu Tong‐chi , Stobinski Leszek 
Published: February 2018

The study used arc discharge method (ADM) to produce silver nano‐colloid in deionised water (DW), and compared the difference between pre‐adding and post‐adding of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). First, they added 50 ppm of PVA into 200 mL silver nano‐colloid, named Ag‐PVA. Second, they added 50 ppm of PVA into 200 mL DW as the dielectrics and produced silver nano‐colloid through it, named PVA‐Ag. Then they compared the differences between two samples with several instruments. They examined wavelength and absorbance by using UV–visible spectrophotometer (UV–vis), used Zetasizer to measure particle size and zeta potential, adopted scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) to observe shape, size, and distribution of the silver nanoparticles in the colloid. The results indicated that colloid PVA‐Ag had higher zeta potential and better suspension.
Optical absorption properties and nanosensing application based on metallic rectangle nanoparticles array
Authors: Chen Fang 
Published: February 2018

This work studies field distribution and nanosensing based on a metallic rectangle nanoparticles arrays structure. The structure consists of a metallic rectangle nanoparticles layer, a dielectric layer and a metallic layer. A finite‐difference time‐domain approach is adopted to investigate the optical properties. Simulation results show that the localised surface plasmon resonance of the metallic rectangle nanoparticles give rise to absorption peaks in the spectra. Also, the absorption spectrum can be controlled by varying the geometrical parameters of the structure. It is also found that the reflection spectra dependence on the surrounding refractive index. The proposed structure can be used as an excellent plasmonic nanosensor. The simulation results show that the proposed plasmonic structure can serve as an optical absorber in the range of 700–1800 nm, which will have potential application in optical switching, optical modulator and nanosensors.
Spectroscopic and physical parameters of Galactic O-type stars
Authors: Markova N. , Puls J. , Langer N. 
Published: February 2018

Context.Massive stars play a key role in the evolution of galaxies and our Universe.Aims.Our goal is to compare observed and predicted properties of single Galactic O stars to identify and constrain uncertain physical parameters and processes in stellar evolution and atmosphere models.Methods.We used a sample of 53 objects of all luminosity classes and with spectral types from O3 to O9.7. For 30 of these, we determined the main photospheric and wind parameters, including projected rotational rates accounting for macroturbulence, and He and N surface abundances, using optical spectroscopy and applying the model atmosphere code FASTWIND. For the remaining objects, similar data from the literature, based on analyses by means of the CMFGEN code, were used instead. The properties of our sample were then compared to published predictions based on two grids of single massive star evolution models that include rotationally induced mixing.Results.Any of the considered model grids face problem in simultaneously reproducing the stellar masses, equatorial gravities, surface abundances, and rotation rates of our sample stars. The spectroscopic masses derived for objects below ~30M⊙tend to be smaller than the evolutionary ones, no matter which of the two grids have been used as a reference. While this result may indicate the need to improve the model atmosphere calculations (e.g. regarding the treatment of turbulent pressure), our analysis shows that the established mass problem cannot be fully explained in terms of inaccurate parameters obtained by quantitative spectroscopy or inadequate model values ofVroton the zero age main sequence. Within each luminosity class, we find a close correlation of N surface abundance and luminosity, and a stronger N enrichment in more massive and evolved O stars. Additionally, we also find a correlation of the surface nitrogen and helium abundances. The large number of nitrogen-enriched stars above ~30M⊙argues for rotationally induced mixing as the most likely explanation. However, none of the considered models can match the observed trends correctly, especially in the high mass regime.Conclusions.We confirm mass discrepancy for objects in the low mass O-star regime. We conclude that the rotationally induced mixing of helium to the stellar surface is too strong in some of the models. We also suggest that present inadequacies of the models to represent the N enrichment in more massive stars with relatively slow rotation might be related (among other issues) to problematic efficiencies of rotational mixing. We are left with a picture in which invoking binarity and magnetic fields is required to achieve a more complete agreement of the observed surface properties of a population of massive main-sequence stars with corresponding evolutionary models.