bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Robustness and load disturbance conditions for state based iterative learning control
Authors: Alsubaie Muhammad A. , Rogers Eric 
Published: August 2018

SummaryRobust conditions and load disturbance limitations are developed for the design of iterative learning control laws for linear dynamics for two commonly used schemes. Many industrial applications encounter periodic disturbances acting on the input of a system operating under repetitive control, which can be represented by a time delay model whose output is applied to the system input in the mathematical representation of the controlled dynamics. The design isolates the disturbance system and defines the overall transfer function around the delay model. Then, the small gain theorem can be used to develop conditions for disturbance accommodation and error convergence of the repetitive control scheme. A simulation case study to support the new results is given, where the model used has been developed by frequency response tests on a gantry robot and is a necessary step before experimental verification.
Salience, Food Security, and SNAP Receipt
Authors: Gregory Christian A. , Smith Travis A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHousehold food insecurity status in the United States is ascertained by a battery of close‐ended questions. We posit that the monthly nature of benefit receipt from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) creates experiences of food hardship, which become salient in the context of SNAP receipt, and in turn exert influence on the response to food security questions. We test this hypothesis by examining answers to a 30‐day food security module in relation to when SNAP benefits are received. We find that for SNAP households near the end of or at the beginning of the benefit month, the probability of being classified as food insecure increases by 11 percentage points, over a baseline of 42 percent. We also find that the probability of responding affirmatively to any of the first five items in the module increases during this time. We discuss the importance of these findings for the estimation of food security and its implication on program evaluation.
Antimicrobial activity of a porphyrin binding peptide
Authors: Shirley David J. , Chrom Christina L. , Richards Elizabeth A. , Carone Benjamin R. , Caputo Gregory A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAmphiphilic alpha‐helices are common motifs used in numerous biological systems including membrane channels/pores and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and binding proteins, and a variety of synthetic biomaterials. Previously, an amphiphilic peptide with lysine‐containing motifs was shown to reversibly bind the anionic porphyrin meso‐Tetra(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin () and promote the formation of excitonically coupled conductive J‐aggregates. The work presented here focuses on the use of this amphiphilic peptide and derivatives as a potential antimicrobial agent. AMPs are naturally occurring components of the innate immune system, which selectively target and kill bacteria. Sequence derivatives were synthesized in which the position of the Trp, used as a fluorescence reporter, was changed. Additional variants were synthesized where the hydrophobic amino acids were replaced with Ala to reduce net hydrophobicity or where the cationic Lys residues were replaced with diaminopropionic acid (Dap). All peptide sequences retained the ability to bind and promote the formation of J‐aggregates. The peptides all exhibited a preference for binding anionic lipid vesicles compared to zwitterionic bilayers. The Trp position did not impact antimicrobial activity, but the substituted peptides exhibited markedly lower efficacy. The Dap‐containing peptide was only active against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, while the Ala‐substituted peptide was inactive at the concentrations tested. This trend was also evident in bacterial membrane permeabilization. The results indicate that the amphiphilic porphyrin binding peptides can also be used as antimicrobial peptides. The cationic nature is a driver in binding to lipid bilayers, but the overall hydrophobicity is important for antimicrobial activity and membrane disruption.
Phospho‐Proteomic Analysis of Cardiac Dyssynchrony and Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Stachowski Marisa J. , Holewinski Ronald J. , Grote Eric , Venkatraman Vidya , Van Eyk Jennifer E. , Kirk Jonathan A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractCardiac dyssynchrony arises from conduction abnormalities during heart failure and worsens morbidity and mortality. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) re‐coordinates contraction using bi‐ventricular pacing, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved remain largely unknown. The aim is to determine how dyssynchronous heart failure (HFdys) alters the phospho‐proteome and how CRT interacts with this unique phospho‐proteome by analyzing Ser/Thr and Tyr phosphorylation. Phospho‐enriched myocardium from dog models of Control, HFdys, and CRT is analyzed via MS. There were 209 regulated phospho‐sites among 1761 identified sites. Compared to Con and CRT, HFdys is hyper‐phosphorylated and tyrosine phosphorylation is more likely to be involved in signaling that increased with HFdys and was exacerbated by CRT. For each regulated site, the most‐likely targeting‐kinase is predicted, and CK2 is highly specific for sites that are “fixed” by CRT, suggesting activation of CK2 signaling occurs in HFdys that is reversed by CRT, which is supported by western blot analysis. These data elucidate signaling networks and kinases that may be involved and deserve further study. Importantly, a possible role for CK2 modulation in CRT has been identified. This may be harnessed in the future therapeutically to compliment CRT, improving its clinical effects.
Respiratory health service utilization of children with neuromuscular disease
Authors: Rose Louise , McKim Douglas , Leasa David , Nonoyama Mika , Tandon Anu , Bai Yu Qing , Goldstein Roger , Amin Reshma , Katz Sherri , Gershon Andrea 
Published: August 2018

AbstractObjectivesTo quantify health service utilization including assessment, monitoring, and treatment of respiratory complications of children with neuromuscular disease (NMD), identifying practice variation and adherence to guideline recommendations at a population level.MethodsNorth American population‐based cohort study (2003‐2015) of children with NMD using hospital diagnostic and physician billing codes within health administrative databases.ResultsWe identified 18 163 children with NMD. Mean (SD) age was 7.8 (5.6) years with 40% ≤5; 45% were female. Most common diagnoses were cerebral palsy (50%) and spina bifida (16%); 8% had muscular dystrophy. From fiscal years 2003‐2014, 15 600 (86%) children went to an emergency department on average 3.5 times every 3 years; 6575 (36%) for respiratory reasons. 8788 (48%) were admitted to hospital with 2190 (12%) for respiratory reasons and 2451 (13%) required intensive care. Respiratory specialist outpatient visits occurred for 2226 (12%) children on average 6.5 visits every 3 years; 723 (4%) had in‐hospital respiratory specialist consultation. Pulmonary function testing was conducted in 3194 (18%) children on average 2.4 times every 3 years; sleep studies in 1389 (8%).ConclusionIn this population‐based study of children with NMD, healthcare utilization for respiratory complications was considerable. Frequency of respiratory specialist consultation, monitoring of respiratory function and sleep disordered breathing was variable but on average reflected professional society recommendations. Children with NMD are frequent ED users suggesting a need to improve community and social supports. We did not detect reduced access to respiratory monitoring or specialist consultation in adolescents transitioning to adult services.
Prediction of the presence of a seventh ankyrin repeat in IκBε from homology modeling combined with hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX‐MS)
Authors: Ramsey Kristen M. , Narang Dominic , Komives Elizabeth A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe ankyrin repeat (AR) structure is a common protein–protein interaction motif and ankyrin repeat proteins comprise a vast family across a large array of different taxa. Natural AR proteins adopt a conserved fold comprised of several repeats with the N‐ and C‐terminal repeats generally being of more divergent sequences. Obtaining experimental crystal structures for natural ankyrin repeat domains (ARD) can be difficult and often requires complexation with a binding partner. Homology modeling is an attractive method for creating a model of AR proteins due to the highly conserved fold; however, modeling the divergent N‐ and C‐terminal “capping” repeats remains a challenge. We show here that amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX‐MS), which reports on the presence of secondary structural elements and “foldedness,” can aid in the refinement and selection of AR protein homology models when multiple templates are identified with variations between them localizing to these terminal repeats. We report a homology model for the AR protein IκBε from three different templates and use HDX‐MS to establish the presence of a seventh AR at the C‐terminus identified by only one of the three templates used for modeling.
The effects of medicinal plants on muscarinic receptors in various types of smooth muscle
Authors: Gholamnezhad Zahra , Ghorani Vahideh , Saadat Saeideh , Shakeri Farzaneh , Boskabady Mohammad Hossein 
Published: August 2018

Pharmacological agents that can affect muscarinic receptors are commonly used to treat or manage various diseases. Medicinal plants have been used from ancient time to treat cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital disorders, which may related to their muscarinic receptors effects. Several pharmacological studies revealed the inhibitory or stimulatory effect of some herbal plants on muscarinic receptors.Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar as online database were searched from the beginning of 1983 to March 2018 using following keywords: muscarinic receptor, medicinal plant, herbal medicine, and smooth muscle, animal, human, in vivo, and in vitro. The original studies in English language were included.Based on the results of the reviewed articles, more than 70 medicinal plants extracts or constituents affected muscarinic receptors (stimulatory or inhibitory) of smooth muscles in cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital systems. Among them, there are some tropical plant and herbs that have been traditionally used as food additive. The therapeutic properties of these plants may be regarded in treatment of cardiovascular (hypertension and tachycardia); gastrointestinal (diarrhea, colitis, and constipation); and urological (overactive bladder, abortion, and preterm labor) diseases. However, more clinical trials are needed to use some of these medicinal plants in clinical target therapy.
The influence of polyatomic primary ion chemistry on matrix effects in secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis
Authors: Alnajeebi Afnan M. , Vickerman John C. , Lockyer Nicholas P. 
Published: August 2018

RationaleThe application of mass spectrometry imaging techniques to determine two‐ (2D) and three‐ (3D) dimensional chemical distribution ideally provides uniform, high sensitivity to multiple components and reliable quantification. These criteria are typically not met due to variations in sensitivity due to the chemistry of the analyte and surrounding surface chemistry. Here we explore the influence of projectile beam chemistry and sample chemistry in time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS). To the authors' knowledge this is the first time the combined effects of projectile chemistry and sample environment on the quantitative determination of mixed samples have been systematically studied.MethodsSecondary ion yields of lipid and amino acid mixtures were measured under 20 keV C60, Arn, and (H2O)n cluster ion bombardment (n = 2000 or 4000) using TOF‐SIMS. Ion suppression/enhancement effects were studied in dry sample films and in trehalose and water ice matrices.ResultsThe extent of the matrix effects and the secondary ion yield were found to depend on the chemistry of the primary ion beam and (for C60, Arn) on the nature of the sample matrix. Under (H2O)n bombardment the sample matrix had negligible effect on the analysis.ConclusionsCompared with C60 and Arn, water‐containing cluster projectiles enhanced the sensitivity of TOF‐SIMS determination of the chosen analytes and reduced the effect of signal suppression/enhancement in multicomponent samples and in different sample matrices. One possible explanation for this is that the (H2O)4000 projectile initiates on impact a nanoscale matrix environment that is very similar to that in frozen‐hydrated samples in terms of the resulting ionisation effects. The competition between analytes for protons and the effect of the sample matrix are reduced with water‐containing cluster projectiles. These chemically reactive projectile beams have improved characteristics for quantitative chemical imaging by TOF‐SIMS compared with their non‐reactive counterparts.
Double resonance ejection using novel radiofrequency phase tracking circuitry in a miniaturized planar linear ion trap mass spectrometer
Authors: Decker Trevor K. , Zheng Yajun , McClellan Joshua S. , Ruben Aaron J. , Lammert Stephen A. , Austin Daniel E. , Hawkins Aaron R. 
Published: August 2018

RationaleIon trap mass spectrometers are attractive due to their inherent sensitivity and specificity. Miniaturization increases trap portability for in situ mass analysis by relaxing vacuum and voltage requirements but decreases the trapping volume. To overcome signal/resolution loss from miniaturization, double resonance ejection using phase tracking circuitry was investigated.MethodsPhase tracking circuitry was developed to induce double resonance ejection in a planar linear ion trap using the β 2/3 hexapole resonance line.ResultsDouble resonance was observed using phase tracking circuitry. Resolution of 0.5 m/z units and improved signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) compared with AC resonant ejection were achieved.ConclusionsThe phase tracking circuitry proved effective despite deviations from a true phase locked condition. Double resonance ejection is a means to increase signal intensity in a miniaturized planar ion trap.
Adaptive neural tracking control for nonstrict‐feedback nonlinear systems with unknown backlash‐like hysteresis and unknown control directions
Authors: Wang Xinjun , Yin Xinghui , Wu Qinghui , Meng Fanqi 
Published: August 2018

SummaryIn this paper, a neural network–based adaptive tracking control problem is investigated for a class of nonstrict‐feedback nonlinear systems in the presence of unknown backlash‐like hysteresis nonlinearity, unmodeled dynamics, and unknown control directions. A state feedback controller is developed for the considered system by applying the adaptive backstepping technique and neural networks. The design difficulties exhibited in this paper due to unmodeled dynamics, unknown control directions, and nonstrict‐feedback form are handled by resorting to a dynamic signal, a Nussbaum function, and the variable separation approach, respectively. It is shown that the designed adaptive controller can guarantee that all the signals remain bounded and that the desired signal can be tracked with a small domain of the origin. A numerical example and an example of a real plant for a one‐link manipulator are provided to show the feasibility of the newly designed controller scheme.
Response of a barrier estuary to climate change and river regulation using attractor analysis: Snowy River estuary, Australia
Authors: McLean Errol J. , Hinwood Jon B. , Williams Simon A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe evolution of the entrance channel of the Snowy River estuary in response to river regulation and climate change is predicted. The predictions are made in terms of the physical attractors that define possible long‐term states of the estuary entrance condition. The classification of these attractors shows the dependence of the entrance stability on the catchment inflows and the present entrance depth. The Snowy River estuary in south‐eastern Australia is a barrier estuary with an unstable entrance that tends to closure. The classification from the attractor map shows that the estuary entrance has changed from predominantly stable to a predominantly unstable state attributable to diversion of water from the upper catchment. The introduction of a series of environmental flow regimes, commencing in 2002, has returned 8% rising to 21% of the mean annual natural flow, but this study shows that the releases provide limited improvement in entrance stability. Additionally, the predicted effects of climate change for this region include increased mean sea level (MSL), decreased annual rainfall, and increased incidence of storms. These changes will decrease stability, primarily through the rise in MSL. The rise in sea level will increase the plan area of the tidal basin, increasing the tidal prism, and hence drawing in more marine sand. The application to the Snowy River estuary provides a proof of concept of the attractor classification to support estuary management.
A geomorphic perspective on the rights of the river in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Brierley Gary , Tadaki Marc , Hikuroa Dan , Blue Brendon , Šunde Charlotte , Tunnicliffe Jon , Salmond Anne 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe granting of rights to the Whanganui River in 2017 emerged as an outcome of Tribunal hearings relating to breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, signed between Māori chiefs and the British Crown in 1840. As this expression of a river as having legal personhood with rights reflects a distinctively Māori perspective upon river systems, it offers the prospect for a new era of sociocultural approaches to river management in Aotearoa New Zealand. Using the Whanganui River as a case study, this paper explores prospective geomorphic meanings of river rights. The paper asks, “What role can geomorphology play in identifying, articulating and protecting the rights of a river?” Ancestral Māori relations to the river based upon mutual codependence (reciprocity) are juxtaposed against geomorphic understandings of a river's agency as expressed through self‐adjustment, diversity of form, evolution, and catchment‐scale connectivities. Relations between river science and indigenous concepts of rivers, framed under the auspices of river rights, present opportunities for different approaches to river management.
Partitioning of macroinvertebrate communities in a large New Zealand river highlights the role of multiple shore‐zone habitat types
Authors: Shell Toni M. , Collier Kevin J. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBank stabilization is increasing along large rivers as urban areas expand, and the need to protect infrastructure increases in the face of changing climate and flow patterns, but the cumulative effects of different stabilization approaches on reach‐scale biodiversity are not well understood. We investigated physical habitat characteristics and macroinvertebrate community composition and diversity for four shore‐zone habitat types across nested spatial scales over two sampling occasions. Distinct physical conditions were evident for riprap, beach and willow (mixed trees dominated by Salix spp.) habitats, reflecting variations in the combinations of shade, water velocity and substrate size/type, but there was wide variation in habitat conditions for mixed willow‐riprap sites. Additive biodiversity partitioning decomposed reach (γ) diversity into within (α) and among (β1) sample, among habitat (β2), and among site (β3) components, and highlighted significant effects of all spatial scales on macroinvertebrate diversity. Low autumn water levels led to truncated species accumulation curves at beach sites where macrophyte beds that supported macroinvertebrates became stranded, or elevated species accumulation curves for exposed willow‐riprap sites where the river benthos was sampled during hydrological disconnection of bank habitats. Spring and autumn differences in macroinvertebrate community composition were stronger than differences between habitat types. Our findings (a) highlight the interacting effect of river level with shore‐zone habitat function, and (b) underscore the importance of maintaining a diversity of bank habitat types at multiple sites along river shore‐zones to maximize macroinvertebrate diversity.
The Role of Microwave Irradiation Temperature on Nitrogen Doping in Metal‐Free Graphene Catalysts for an Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction in an Alkaline Condition
Authors: Sudhakar S. , Jaiswal Krishna Kumar , Ramaswamy Arun Prasath 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe reported the synthesis and characterization of metal‐free nitrogen‐doped graphene catalysts, and demonstrated their efficiency towards ORR in alkaline medium. The influence of varied microwave irradiation temperature on nitrogen doping efficiency in the graphene oxide (GO) catalyst has been investigated. Nitrogen‐doped reduced graphene oxide (NrGO) catalysts with varied nitrogen content were synthesized under microwave irradiation temperature at 120–200 oC. The catalyst synthesized at 180 oC (NrGO‐180) has the highest nitrogen content of 9.8 at% with a maximum proportion of pyridinic‐N moiety in the graphene structure. The XPS analysis demonstrates the presence of different nitrogen‐containing moieties such as pyridinic, pyrrolic and graphitic nitrogen, and their respective composition changes significantly with microwave‐irradiation temperature. The linear sweep voltammograms studies demonstrated that NrGO‐180 with a maximum amount of pyridinic‐N has displayed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards ORR with an Eonset potential ∼0.89 V (vs RHE) and half‐wave potential E1/2 = 0.72, which is at par with the studied commercial Pt/C (Eonset=0.93 V, E1/2=0.82) and demonstrated 4‐electron pathway. The catalyst NrGO‐180 with enhanced electrochemical activity has been subjected to durability test of 5,000 potential cycles via LSV. The durability test confirms the superiority of NrGO‐180 over commercial Pt/C catalyst under similar condition.
Li2TiO3/Graphene and Li2TiO3/CNT Composites as Anodes for High Power Li–Ion Batteries
Authors: Lakshmi‐Narayana Ambadi , Dhananjaya Merum , Guru‐Prakash Nunna , Hussain Obili M. , Mauger Alain , Julien Christian M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThree‐dimensional composites Li2TiO3/graphene (LTO/Gr) and Li2TiO3/carbon nanotube (LTO/CNTs) were synthesized by solid‐state reaction for application as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries. These composites are structurally characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, while electrochemically tests are performed by cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. The synergetic effect of graphene and CNTs with LTO facilitate the network conduction leading to faster electron and Li+ ion transfer and improve cycling stability and rate capability of the anode. The LTO/Gr and LTO/CNTs composites exhibited an initial discharge capacity as high as 154 and 149 mAh g−1 at 1C rate, respectively and retained excellent cycling stability of 98% and 96% after 30 charge–discharge cycles.