Clear Modifications Research Articles

Study of the amorphous and crystalline states in Ge(Te1-xSex) thick films (x = 0, 0.50) by in situ temperature-dependent structural analyses

As-deposited and unencapsulated GeTe1-xSex (x = 0, 0.5) 3-μm-thick amorphous films on Si(001) were obtained via the thermal co-evaporation technique. The crystallization and the structure of these phase change materials were examined using in situ temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction (XRD) and grazing-incidence fluorescence X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) in isochronal annealing conditions under nitrogen flow. The results show that the onset temperature of crystallization is highly sensitive to the substitution of the Te atoms by the Se ones and that the rhombohedral structure, with the space group R3m, is the one that crystallized for both samples without Ge or Te rejection. Moreover, the local order around the Ge and Se atoms, probed by Ge and Se K-edge XANES analyses, presents clear modifications from the amorphous state to the crystalline one expecting a Ge four-fold and a Se two-fold coordination in the amorphous state, with an increase of the local disorder with the Se substitution (x = 0.5).

InAs–InP Superlattice Nanowires with Tunable Phonon Frequencies

AbstractThe control of heat conduction through the manipulation of phonons in solids is of fundamental interest and can be exploited in applications for thermoelectric conversion. In this context, the advent of novel semiconductor nanomaterials with high surface‐to‐volume ratio, e.g. nanowires, offer exciting perspectives, leading to significant leaps forwarding the efficiency of solid‐state thermoelectric converters after decades of stagnation. Beyond the high aspect ratio, the nanowire geometry offers unprecedented possibilities of materials combination and crystal phase engineering not achievable with 2D counterparts. In this work, the growth of long (up to 100 repetitions) wurtzite InAs/InP superlattice nanowires with homogeneous segment thicknesses is reported, with control down to the single digit of nanometer. By means of Raman scattering experiments, clear modifications of the phonon dispersion in superlattice nanowires are found, where both InAs‐like and InP‐like modes are present. The experimentally measured modes are well reproduced by density functional perturbation theory calculations. Remarkably, it is found that the phonon frequencies can be tuned by the superlattice periodicity, opening exciting perspectives for phonon engineering and thermoelectric applications.

The Oxidative Stability of Champagne Base Wines Aged on Lees in Barrels: A 2-Year Study.

In contrast with the elaboration of still wines, the impact of barrel aging before the "prise de mousse" on the aging potential of Champagne base wines has not been studied so far. In the present study, the oxidative stability and related molecular fingerprints of Chardonnay Champagne base wines were reported after 1 year of on lees ageing in new oak barrels for two consecutive vintages. Regardless of the vintage, on lees ageing in new oak barrels improved the wines' oxidative stability estimated by DPPH assay at 1 year, while UHPLC-Q-ToF-MS molecular profiling showed clear chemical modifications according to the ageing period. Oak wood molecular ellagitannins followed a linear extraction during barrel ageing for both vintages. However, the wines' antioxidant metabolome composed by antiradical and nucleophilic compounds clearly appeared vintage- and barrel-aging dependent. These results enrich the understanding of white wines antioxidant metabolome and improve the knowledge of the ageing potential of Chardonnay Champagne base wines by integrating vintage- and barrel-ageing effects.

Efficacy of in-house clear aligner therapy mechanics on root torque: an in-vitro study

Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the torque effectiveness of different attachment types and power ridges used in clear aligner therapy (CAT) on the upper lateral incisors. Methods A typodont model simulating oral conditions was developed. Two hundred lateral incisor samples were divided into five groups based on attachment types and clear aligner modifications: no attachments (NA), horizontal ellipsoid attachment (HEA), vertical ellipsoid attachment (VEA), buccal power ridge (BPR), and buccal and palatal power ridge (BPPR). Subsequently, a 5° palatal torque moment was applied to the lateral incisors. In-house clear aligners were inserted, and 3D scanning was performed after each aligner step. Post-treatment 3D models were compared with pre-treatment models. The lateral incisors were assessed for torque, tipping, and rotational movements. Results The HEA group (41.6%) and the BPPR group (40.8%) showed significantly higher torque effectiveness than the NA group (20%) when 5° of torque was delivered. The planned movement was approximated when 1° and 2° of torque were applied in the NA group (114% and 98%, respectively). The NA and BPR groups showed the highest loss of anchorage. Conclusions When more than 3° of torque was applied, HEA and BPPR were more effective than NA in achieving the CAT’s planned torque of the upper lateral incisors, although with an efficacy rate of approximately 40%. Highlights It is challenging to achieve torque movement using CAT. When less than 3° of torque was required, additional mechanics were not necessary. BPPR and HEA showed higher effectiveness when 5° of torque was applied. The efficacy of BPR was similar to that of NA.

Association between the number of teeth and incident pre-diabetes among middle-aged adults with periodontal disease: a retrospective cohort analysis of Japanese claims data

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between the number of teeth and the new onset of pre-diabetes.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingThe National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan, which...

Dental bicortical basal implant in anterior maxillary region with immediate loading in a patient of diabetic profile – A case study

Anterior maxilla continues to present with height risk for aesthetic failure, and as a result their is a clear need modifications that would allow for natural looking restorations that are harmonious with the rest of the mouth.To aim of this study was to evaluate the results of single tooth implant treatment in diabetic patient where the teeth have been lost as a result of trauma. Bicortical basal implant for rehabilitation of mouth is gaining popularity and emerging as a gold stranded technique in recent times. This approach help in improvising the patient aesthetic for a longer duration and provide a permanent solution. Bicortical screw are implanted in heavily corticated bone (basal bone) and is less vulnerable to infection and failure. In patients with diabetic history convention dental implants is generally contraindicated and has high failure rate. To overcome this and provide a better solution need of alternative treatments has arisen. In our study of a case report, we used bicortical dental implant for replacing the missing maxillary anterior tooth with fixed prosthetic. Interesting, though, the patients had diabetes. We found positive out come with favourable prognosis. No any significant complications were noticed and implant was successful. A Retrospective studies of various published literature and observation of our patient for a period of 12 month. We conclude that bicortical dental implants with immediate loading may be used for rehabilitating mouth in diabetes patient after evaluation of various factors such as, blood sugar levels, Cost, time and preference of patient.

GaAs/GaP Superlattice Nanowires for Tailoring Phononic Properties at the Nanoscale: Implications for Thermal Engineering.

The possibility to tune the functional properties of nanomaterials is key to their technological applications. Superlattices, i.e., periodic repetitions of two or more materials in one or more dimensions, are being explored for their potential as materials with tailor-made properties. Meanwhile, nanowires offer a myriad of possibilities to engineer systems at the nanoscale, as well as to combine materials that cannot be put together in conventional heterostructures due to the lattice mismatch. In this work, we investigate GaAs/GaP superlattices embedded in GaP nanowires and demonstrate the tunability of their phononic and optoelectronic properties by inelastic light scattering experiments corroborated by ab initio calculations. We observe clear modifications in the dispersion relation for both acoustic and optical phonons in the superlattices nanowires. We find that by controlling the superlattice periodicity, we can achieve tunability of the phonon frequencies. We also performed wavelength-dependent Raman microscopy on GaAs/GaP superlattice nanowires, and our results indicate a reduction in the electronic bandgap in the superlattice compared to the bulk counterpart. All of our experimental results are rationalized with the help of ab initio density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) calculations. This work sheds fresh insights into how material engineering at the nanoscale can tailor phonon dispersion and open pathways for thermal engineering.

Multi-modal cross-linguistic perception of Mandarin tones in clear speech.

Clearly enunciated speech (relative to conversational, plain speech) involves articulatory and acoustic modifications that enhance auditory-visual (AV) segmental intelligibility. However, little research has explored clear-speech effects on the perception of suprasegmental properties such as lexical tone, particularly involving visual (facial) perception. Since tone production does not primarily rely on vocal tract configurations, tones may be less visually distinctive. Questions thus arise as to whether clear speech can enhance visual tone intelligibility, and if so, whether any intelligibility gain can be attributable to tone-specific category-enhancing (code-based) clear-speech cues or tone-general saliency-enhancing (signal-based) cues. The present study addresses these questions by examining the identification of clear and plain Mandarin tones with visual-only, auditory-only, and AV input modalities by native (Mandarin) and nonnative (English) perceivers. Results show that code-based visual and acoustic clear tone modifications, although limited, affect both native and nonnative intelligibility, with category-enhancing cues increasing intelligibility and category-blurring cues decreasing intelligibility. In contrast, signal-based cues, which are extensively available, do not benefit native intelligibility, although they contribute to nonnative intelligibility gain. These findings demonstrate that linguistically relevant visual tonal cues are existent. In clear speech, such tone category-enhancing cues are incorporated with saliency-enhancing cues across AV modalities for intelligibility improvements.

Acoustic properties of non-native clear speech: Korean speakers of English

The present study examined the acoustic properties of clear speech produced by non-native speakers of English (L1 Korean), in comparison to native clear speech. L1 Korean speakers of English (N=30) and native speakers of English (N=20) read an English word-list in casual and clear speaking styles. Analysis included clear speech correlates thought to be universal across languages (vowel space expansion and stressed vowel lengthening) and clear speech modifications believed to function in a languages-specific way (increased mean voice fundamental frequency and fo range and acoustic enhancement of English voicing contrast via voice onset time and onset fo). The results showed that across the two groups of participants clear speech was acoustically distinct from casual speech in every parameter. In addition, the presence and direction of the acoustic difference between the two speaking styles was largely the same for both native and non-native speakers. Nevertheless, non-native clear speech differed from native one in the magnitude of acoustic modifications. Specifically, L2 speakers implemented less vowel space expansion, less increase of mean fo, and less positive and negative VOT lengthening in clear speech than native speakers. Many, but not all differences between native and non-native clear speech could be attributed to the effect of participants’ L1, for example, lower functional load of VOT in the differentiation of Korean laryngeal categories and absence of pitch-dependent system of prosodic prominence in Korean. Overall, we conclude that Korean speakers were successful in producing native-like English clear speech, although the observed deviations in the extent of acoustic modifications suggest some reliance on L1-specific prosodic system and system of phonetic implementation and enhancement of phonological contrasts.

Impact of UV Irradiation on the Chitosan Bioactivity for Biopesticide Applications.

Chitosan is known for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties that make it a promising candidate for plant protection. However, when sprayed in open fields, the bioactivity of chitosan significantly diminishes, suggesting a possible influence of sunlight on chitosan structure. This study aimed to investigate the effects of UV radiation, by using artificial UV sources simulating sunlight, on the stability of chitosan. A powdered chitosan with a low polymerization degree was selected and analyzed using various physicochemical methods, both before and after irradiation. Some minor differences appeared. UV spectra analysis revealed the disappearance of initially present chromophores and the emergence of a new band around 340 nm, potentially indicating the formation of carbonyl compounds. However, elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF spectra, polymerization degree, and infrared spectra did not exhibit any clear structural modifications of chitosan. Interestingly, irradiated powdered chitosan samples maintained their bioactivity, including their eliciting and antifungal properties. In the case of grapevine, irradiated chitosan demonstrated effectiveness in controlling grapevine diseases such as downy mildew, contradicting the assumption that sunlight is responsible for the decreased effectiveness of chitosan in open field conditions.

Speakers coarticulate less in response to both real and imagined communicative challenges: An acoustic analysis of the LUCID corpus

Overlap of adjacent articulatory gestures leads to coarticulation. Understanding how hyperarticulated intelligibility-enhancing clear speech modifications affect coarticulation can inform theories of phonetic variation and speech intelligibility. However, prior research yielded mixed findings regarding the relationship between hyperarticulation and coarticulatory patterns. This study extends previous work by analyzing the degree of coarticulation across several different communicative conditions in the LUCID corpus (Baker & Hazan, 2010). Southern British English speakers completed an interactive spot-the-difference task with a partner with and without a communicative barrier (e.g., speech degraded by talker babble). They also read sentences without an interlocutor casually and clearly. Diphones in keywords produced in both tasks were analyzed using two whole-spectrum measures, with greater spectral distance and shorter coarticulatory overlap between the diphones indexing less coarticulation. Results revealed that speakers coarticulated less in response to both real (interactive task) and imaginary (sentence-reading) communicative challenges. Speakers furthermore varied the degree of coarticulatory resistance in different real communicative barriers. Diphones with greater consonant articulatory constraint were less sensitive to differences between the conditions, suggesting a limit to the hyperarticulation-induced phonetic variation. The findings agree with the models of targeted speaker adaptations assuming coarticulatory resistance in hyperarticulated clear speech (the H&H theory: Lindblom, 1990).

Raman spectroscopy study of damage in swift heavy ion‐irradiated ceramics

AbstractRaman scattering is applied to probe the radiation damage in swift heavy ion‐irradiated ceramics, namely zirconium nitride (ZrN), ceria (CeO2), and yttria‐stabilized zirconia (ZrO2: Y, or YSZ) for about the same high electronic stopping power of heavy ions. Raman spectra show that these ceramics are radiation‐resistant materials that are not amorphized by such irradiations even for large ion track overlap at high fluences. However, for ZrN, the increase of the TA/LA and TO/LO band intensities versus fluence is evidenced after 100‐MeV Xe ion irradiation up to a saturation for the fluence of 3 × 1012 cm−2. The band growths are ascribed to the increase of the concentration of Zr and N vacancies induced by electronic excitations inside tracks. However, the diffuse reflectance spectra do not exhibit any clear modifications of the electronic structure. For ceria, the decrease and broadening of the main F2g peak of the fluorite‐like structure and the growth of a broad defect band assigned to oxygen vacancy formation is observed versus fluence up to 1014 cm−2 for 200‐MeV Xe ion irradiation. For YSZ, Raman spectra mainly give evidence of the intrinsic lattice disorder due to the native oxygen vacancies even up to high fluences of about 3 × 1013 cm−2 for 200‐MeV I and 200‐MeV Au ion irradiation. Results are discussed on the basis of the interplay between the native structural disorder and the radiation‐induced disorder by electronic excitations in these three materials.

Photon Recycling in CsPbBr3 All-Inorganic Perovskite Nanocrystals.

Photon recycling, the iterative process of re-absorption and re-emission of photons in an absorbing medium, can play an important role in the power-conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cells. To date, several studies have proposed that this process may occur in bulk or thin films of inorganic lead-halide perovskites, but conclusive proof of the occurrence and magnitude of this effect is missing. Here, we provide clear evidence and quantitative estimation of photon recycling in CsPbBr3 nanocrystal suspensions by combining measurements of steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) and PL quantum yield with simulations of photon diffusion through the suspension. The steady-state PL shows clear spectral modifications including red shifts and quantum yield decrease, while the time-resolved measurements show prolonged PL decay and rise times. These effects grow as the nanocrystal concentration and distance traveled through the suspension increase. Monte Carlo simulations of photons diffusing through the medium and exhibiting absorption and re-emission account quantitatively for the observed trends and show that up to five re-emission cycles are involved. We thus identify 4 quantifiable measures, PL red shift, PL QY, PL decay time, and PL rise time that together all point toward repeated, energy-directed radiative transfer between nanocrystals. These results highlight the importance of photon recycling for both optical properties and photovoltaic applications of inorganic perovskite nanocrystals.

Changes in Device-Measured Physical Activity Patterns in U.K. Adults Related to the First COVID-19 Lockdown

The response to COVID-19 resulted in behavioral restrictions to tackle the spread of infection. Initial data indicates that step counts were impacted by lockdown restrictions; however, there is little evidence regarding changes of light and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) behavioral intensities. In this study, participants were asked to provide longitudinal wearable data from Fitbit devices over a period of 30 weeks, from December 2019 to June 2020. Self-assessed key worker status was captured, along with wearable estimates of steps, light activity, and MVPA. Bayesian change point analyses of data from 97 individuals found that there was a sharp decrease of 1,473 steps (95% credible interval [CI] [−2,218, −709]) and light activity minutes (41.9; 95% CI [−54.3, −29.3]), but an increase in MVPA minutes (11.7; 95% CI [2.9, 19.4]) in the mean weekly totals for nonkey workers. For the key workers, the total number of steps (207; 95% CI [−788, 1,456]) and MVPA minutes increased (20.5; 95% CI [12.6, 28.3]) but light activity decreased by an average of 46.9 min (95% CI [−61.2, −31.8]). Interestingly, the change in steps was commensurate with that observed during Christmas (1,458; 95% CI [−2,286, −554]) for nonkey workers and behavioral changes occurred at different time points and rates depending on key worker status. Results indicate that there were clear behavioral modifications before and during the initial COVID-19 lockdown period, and future research should assess whether any behavioral modifications were sustained over time.

Low-frequency ultrasonication modulates the impact of annealing on physicochemical and functional properties of rice flour

Ultrasonication (US) is a green technology used to physically modify flours to increase their industrial range of applicability. The aim of this work was to study the combined effect that dual US and annealing (ANN) treatments have on starch and protein structure of rice flour, at 20, 40, 50 and 60 °C. Results showed clear modifications of functional, thermal and pasting properties of flours, as well as rheological properties of gels made from them. US + ANN led to generation of small-size particles, which markedly increased the swelling power and starch damage. X-Ray Diffraction and FTIR indicated that starch crystallinity and protein secondary structure was affected by the shear forces of cavitation. The combination of US + ANN improved the crystalline structure arrangement within the starch granules, causing narrowing of the gelatinization temperature range (ΔT). Pasting viscosities were significantly decreased by ultrasonication, following an increasing trend with increasing temperature, while pasting temperature was increased, agreeing in the achievement of a thermodynamically more stable structure. The rheological properties indicated a reduction of the elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) moduli after ultrasonication, as well as lower values of tan (δ), reflecting a higher predominance of elastic modulus versus viscous one than the non-sonicated flours. The rice flour's properties were found to be highly sensitive to the applied treatment conditions, showing a synergetic effect when sonicating at the highest studied temperature.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Since the beginning of the XXI century, there have been clear modifications in the sector of higher education, when the institutions have moved near to the economic sector. These changes were primary introduced as the consecutive response to the transformation processes within the society, which should be embedded in the following construct: there was a clear move towards a more competitive and market-based system. Due to the changes in the operating environment financial sustainability and its management for the higher education institutions became one of the core elements. The main objective of the current paper is to discuss the practical application of the methodology for the management of higher education institutions based on the example of Latvian private higher education institutions. The author would like to argue that the paper contributes to the fundamental discussion of financial sustainability in the field of higher education institution management. Moreover, it has got practical implications for the management of the organizations not only in Latvia but also in other countries when efficiency and effectiveness are primary issues.

Treating obsessive‐compulsive disorder in the presence of autism spectrum disorders

Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is a frequent comorbidity (about 17%) for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite this, clear modifications and utilization of evidence‐based techniques for the treatment of comorbid OCD have not been widely disseminated; to date, there have been no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of modifications in OCD treatment for children and adolescents with comorbid ASD and only one RCT for modifications of a targeted OCD treatment in adults with ASD. Adapted approaches to CBT for anxiety in ASD are not always appropriate; indeed, some modified therapies for comorbid anxiety and ASD specifically advise against using those treatments for comorbid OCD. This article seeks to elucidate methods or modifications, founded in evidence‐based principles, for treating OCD in children and adolescents with ASD.

Regulation of Protein Synthesis and Apoptosis in Lymphocytes of Parkinson Patients: The Effect of Dopaminergic Treatment

Background: Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, presumably due to increased apoptosis. In previous studies, we showed altered expression of proteins involved in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) antiapoptotic and double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) apoptotic pathways of translational control in experimental cellular and animal models of PD. Results: In this work, our results showed clear modifications in the expression of kinases involved in mTOR and PKR apoptosis pathways, in lymphocytes of PD patients treated or not with anti-PD treatment (levodopa), which confirmed the role played by apoptosis in the pathogenesis of this disease and the positive effect of treatment with medication on this parameter. Others proteins involved in apo­ptosis were also evaluated in lymphocytes of patients as the expression of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor and caspase-3. Conclusion: Translational control is altered in PD and hence its evaluation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells may serve as an early marker of apoptosis and indicate the efficacy of the dopaminergic treatment.

Brushite (Ca,M)HPO4, 2H2O doping with bioactive ions (M = Mg2+, Sr2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Ag+): a new path to functional biomaterials?

Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, DCPD (CaHPO4·2H2O), brushite, is an important calcium phosphate compound encountered in mineralized tissues and used in medicine, especially in bone cement formulations. However, the use of DCPD as direct implantable biomaterial has not received dedicated attention. In addition, the possibility to dope DCPD with biologically active ions to modulate its performances was not systematically explored. We have investigated in depth the doping of DCPD with Mg2+, Sr2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Ag+ ions. Clear modifications in terms of chemical composition, particle size, pore distribution, crystal morphology, and affinity for water were pointed out. Then, the samples were cultured with human adipose-derived stem cells to explore cytotoxicity and proliferation. Various behaviors were noticed dependent on the incorporated metal ions. Such DCPD compounds associated with bioactive metal ions, and particularly Ag+ and Zn2+, appear promising as a new family of reactive materials for use, as such or in combination, in bone-related applications.

Beneficial bile acid metabolism from Lactobacillus plantarum of food origin

Bile acid (BA) signatures are altered in many disease states. BA metabolism is an important microbial function to assist gut colonization and persistence, as well as microbial survival during gastro intestinal (GI) transit and it is an important criteria for potential probiotic bacteria. Microbes that express bile salt hydrolase (BSH), gateway BA modifying enzymes, are considered to have an advantage in the gut. This property is reported as selectively limited to gut-associated microbes. Food-associated microbes have the potential to confer health benefits to the human consumer. Here, we report that food associated Lactobacillus plantarum strains are capable of BA metabolism, they can withstand BA associated stress and propagate, a recognised important characteristic for GIT survival. Furthermore, we report that these food associated Lactobacillus plantarum strains have the selective ability to alter BA signatures in favour of receptor activation that would be beneficial to humans. Indeed, all of the strains examined showed a clear preference to alter human glycol-conjugated BAs, although clear strain-dependent modifications were also evident. This study demonstrates that BA metabolism by food-borne non-pathogenic bacteria is beneficial to both microbe and man and it identifies an evolutionary-conserved characteristic, previously considered unique to gut residents, among food-associated non-pathogenic isolates.