bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why vertically π-expanded imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines are weak fluorescence emitters: experimental and computational studies
Authors: Banasiewicz Marzena , Deperasińska Irena , Makarewicz Artur , Firmansyah Dikhi , Gryko Daniel T. , Kozankiewicz Bolesław
Published: February 2015

Two novel π-expanded analogs of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine are studied by spectroscopic, kinetic and DFT methods. Low fluorescence quantum yield has been attributed to intersystem crossing.
Soft nano-wrapping on graphene oxide by using metal–organic network films composed of tannic acid and Fe ions
Authors: Ozawa Hiroaki , Haga Masa-aki
Published: February 2015

Graphene oxide nanosheets were easily covered with uniform metal–organic network films composed of tannic acid and Fe ions. The graphene oxide in the composite sheets was reduced chemically without the collapse of the wrapped nanostructure.
Strong second harmonic generation in SiC, ZnO, GaN two-dimensional hexagonal crystals from first-principles many-body calculations
Authors: Attaccalite C. , Nguer A. , Cannuccia E. , Grüning M.
Published: February 2015

By using a real-time approach based on Green's function theory we predict a strong second-harmonic generation (SHG) for frequencies at which Ti:sapphire laser operates and for which the materials are transparent.
Rapid degradation of cyclic peroxides by titanium and antimony chlorides
Authors: Bali Mark S. , Armitt David , Wallace Lynne , Day Anthony I.
Published: February 2015

Rapid and safe degradation of a cyclic peroxide (TPTP) to relatively innocuous products.
CO2-free electric power circulation via direct charge and discharge using the glycolic acid/oxalic acid redox couple
Authors: Watanabe R. , Yamauchi M. , Sadakiyo M. , Abe R. , Takeguchi T.
Published: February 2015

We demonstrate a carbon-neutral energy circulation by highly selective electrocatalyses using the glycolic acid/oxalic acid redox couple.
Nanostructured lipid carrier improved in vivo anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effect of Zerumbone in 4T1 challenged mice
Authors: Mohamad Nurul Elyani , Abu Nadiah , Rahman Heshu Sulaiman , Ky Huynh , Ho Wan Yong , Lim Kian Lam , How Chee Wun , Rasedee Abdullah , Alitheen Noorjahan Banu , Yeap Swee Keong
Published: February 2015

Nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) encapsulation enhanced thein vivoantitumor, antitumor immunity and anti-inflammatory effects of Zerumbone on 4T1 challenged mice.
Seven rings, eight-coordinated binuclear chelate: [Ca2(SCZ)4(NO3)2(H2O)2]Cl2(SCZ = semicarbazide)
Authors: Tong Wenchao , Zhang Rui , Zhang Tonglai , Yang Li
Published: February 2015

An eight-coordinated nitrate alkaline-earth metal coordination compound [Ca2(SCZ)4(NO3)2(H2O)2]Cl2was synthesized and characterized. Noticeably, SCZ (semicarbazide) presents typical bidentate coordination and unusual tridentate coordination modes.
The magnetic and optical properties of 3d transition metal doped SnO2 nanosheets
Authors: Feng Yong , Ji Wei-Xiao , Huang Bao-Jun , Chen Xin-lian , Li Feng , Li Ping , Zhang Chang-wen , Wang Pei-Ji
Published: February 2015

Based on first-principles calculations, we study the electronic structure, magnetic properties and optical properties of transition metal atom doped SnO2NSs.
Open mesoporous spherical shell structured Co3O4with highly efficient catalytic performance in Li–O2batteries
Authors: Wang Fan , Wen Zhaoyin , Shen Chen , Rui Kun , Wu Xiangwei , Chen Chunhua
Published: February 2015

An open mesoporous spherical shell structured Co3O4was designed and synthesized through a two-step process.
A photo-bactericidal thin film composite membrane for forward osmosis
Authors: Li Jingguo , Yin Lei , Qiu Guanglei , Li Xue , Liu Qing , Xie Jianping
Published: February 2015

This paper reports an effective anti-microbial-fouling membrane that could readily use sunlight to effectively inactivate bacteria on the membrane surface.
Magneto-fluorescent nanoparticles with high-intensity NIR emission, T1- and T2-weighted MR for multimodal specific tumor imaging
Authors: Wang Guannan , Zhang Xuanjun , Liu Yaxu , Hu Zhangjun , Mei Xifan , Uvdal Kajsa
Published: February 2015

Fe3O4@NIR semiconducting polymer nanoparticles were used for both T1-, T2-weighted MRI and fluorescence imaging of targeted tumors.
A Bioethics Primer for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Working With Older Adults
Authors: Schreck Janet Simon
Published: February 2015

Speech-language pathologists and audiologists practicing in geriatric settings often encounter ethical dilemmas associated with clinical care. This article defines and discusses the four principles of bioethics: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. Using a case study, the bioethical framework is applied to demonstrate the overlap between the principles and the complexity of ethical decision-making by the geriatric clinician.
Preliminary study on activity monitoring using an android smart‐watch
Authors: Ahanathapillai Vijayalakshmi , Amor James D. , Goodwin Zoe , James Christopher J.
Published: February 2015

The global trend for increasing life expectancy is resulting in aging populations in a number of countries. This brings to bear a pressure to provide effective care for the older population with increasing constraints on available resources. Providing care for and maintaining the independence of an older person in their own home is one way that this problem can be addressed. The EU Funded Unobtrusive Smart Environments for Independent Living (USEFIL) project is an assistive technology tool being developed to enhance independent living. As part of USEFIL, a wrist wearable unit (WWU) is being developed to monitor the physical activity (PA) of the user and integrate with the USEFIL system. The WWU is a novel application of an existing technology to the assisted living problem domain. It combines existing technologies and new algorithms to extract PA parameters for activity monitoring. The parameters that are extracted include: activity level, step count and worn state. The WWU, the algorithms that have been developed and a preliminary validation are presented. The results show that activity level can be successfully extracted, that worn state can be correctly identified and that step counts in walking data can be estimated within 3% error, using the controlled dataset.
Crosstalk suppression bandwidth optimisation of a vertically coupled ring resonator add/drop filter
Authors: Mansoor Riyadh , Koziel Slawomir , Sasse Hugh , Duffy Alistair
Published: February 2015

In this study, a vertical coupled single ring resonator add/drop filter is simulated and the effect of different design parameters on the crosstalk suppression bandwidth is numerically investigated. Crosstalk suppression is defined as the difference between drop port and through port spectral responses. In a vertically coupled ring resonator, coupling efficiency between the evanescent tails of modes on the bus and bent waveguides is controlled by vertical separation and lateral deviation between waveguides. Designing a small size (single ring) add/drop filter that provides an increased crosstalk suppression bandwidth (to drop 10 Gbps non‐return to zero signals) is proposed. As the analytical calculations cannot produce an accurate prediction of the design parameters, a simulation‐driven design optimisation procedure is used to determine the values of the design parameters that produce a 21 GHz crosstalk suppression bandwidth.
Surfactant coated magnetic nanoparticle‐based solid‐phase extraction coupled with spectrophotometric detection for determination of ultra‐trace amounts of indomethacin in biological fluids
Authors: Amoli‐Diva Mitra , Pourghazi Kamyar , Pourasadollah‐Karani Hossein
Published: February 2015

A novel mixed hemimicelle‐based solid‐phase extraction method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) adsorbed onto the surface of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles was developed for extraction/preconcentration of ultra‐trace amounts of indomethacin from biological fluids. Magnetic nanoparticles were synthesised via a simple chemical co‐precipitation method and characterised by a transmission electron microscope, an X‐ray diffractometer and Fourier transform infrared techniques. The method utilises the unique properties of Fe3O4 nanoparticles including high surface area and superparamagnetism causing rapid separation (<20 min) and low adsorbent usage (only 50 mg). A comprehensive study on the parameters affecting the adsorption efficiency such as the amount of CTAB, pH of the solution, desorption conditions, amount of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, extraction and preconcentration time, sample volume and ionic strength are presented. Under optimum conditions, the method's linearity was over a range of 25–450 ng ml−1. ‏ The limit of detection of 8.6 ng ml−1, an enrichment factor of 99 and the relative standard deviation (%RSD) of 1.9% (for a concentration of 50 ng ml−1) were obtained. The method was successfully applied to determine indomethacin in human plasma and urine samples. Good recoveries (89–102%) with low %RSD, (1.7–2.7%) were achieved.
Mesoscale simulations of shockwave energy dissipation via chemical reactions
Authors: Antillon Edwin , Strachan Alejandro
Published: February 2015

We use a particle-based mesoscale model that incorporates chemical reactions at a coarse-grained level to study the response of materials that undergo volume-reducing chemical reactions under shockwave-loading conditions. We find that such chemical reactions can attenuate the shockwave and characterize how the parameters of the chemical model affect this behavior. The simulations show that the magnitude of the volume collapse and velocity at which the chemistry propagates are critical to weaken the shock, whereas the energetics in the reactions play only a minor role. Shock loading results in transient states where the material is away from local equilibrium and, interestingly, chemical reactions can nucleate under such non-equilibrium states. Thus, the timescales for equilibration between the various degrees of freedom in the material affect the shock-induced chemistry and its ability to attenuate the propagating shock.
Transport properties of ultrathin black phosphorus on hexagonal boron nitride
Authors: Doganov Rostislav A. , Koenig Steven P. , Yeo Yuting , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Özyilmaz Barbaros
Published: February 2015

Ultrathin black phosphorus, or phosphorene, is a two-dimensional material that allows both high carrier mobility and large on/off ratios. Similar to other atomic crystals, like graphene or layered transition metal dichalcogenides, the transport behavior of few-layer black phosphorus is expected to be affected by the underlying substrate. The properties of black phosphorus have so far been studied on the widely utilized SiO2 substrate. Here, we characterize few-layer black phosphorus field effect transistors on hexagonal boron nitride—an atomically smooth and charge trap-free substrate. We measure the temperature dependence of the field effect mobility for both holes and electrons and explain the observed behavior in terms of charged impurity limited transport. We find that in-situ vacuum annealing at 400 K removes the p-doping of few-layer black phosphorus on both boron nitride and SiO2 substrates and reduces the hysteresis at room temperature.
Exchange interaction effects on waves in magnetized quantum plasmas
Authors: Trukhanova Mariya Iv. , Andreev Pavel A.
Published: February 2015

We have applied the many-particle quantum hydrodynamics that includes the Coulomb exchange interaction to magnetized quantum plasmas. We considered a number of wave phenomena that are affected by the Coulomb exchange interaction. Since the Coulomb exchange interaction affects the longitudinal and transverse-longitudinal waves, we focused our attention on the Langmuir waves, the Trivelpiece-Gould waves, the ion-acoustic waves in non-isothermal magnetized plasmas, the dispersion of the longitudinal low-frequency ion-acoustic waves, and low-frequency electromagnetic waves at Te ≫ Ti. We have studied the dispersion of these waves and present the numeric simulation of their dispersion properties.
The dynamics of attached and free-living bacterial population in tropical coastal waters
Authors: Lee Siew Wen , Lee Choon Weng , Bong Chui Wei , Narayanan Kumaran , Sim Edmund Ui-Hang
Published: February 2015

We investigated the dynamics of attached and free-living bacterial abundance over a period of 18 months in tropical coastal waters of Malaysia. We measured the abundance at both oligotrophic coastal water (Port Dickson) and eutrophic estuary (Klang), and hypothesised that attached bacteria are predominant in eutrophic waters. We found that bacterial abundance was higher at Klang than Port Dickson (Student’s t-test: t=4.87, d.f.=19, P<0.001). Attached bacteria also formed a large fraction of the total bacteria at Klang (75% ±13s.d.) relative to Port Dickson (56% ±22), and showed preference for chlorophyll-a-based particles rather than total suspended solids. The bacterial community structure was clearly different between the two stations but was similar between the attached and free-living bacterial population. Our results showed the importance of attached bacteria in eutrophic water where they could play a major role in carbon and nutrient cycling.
CD47 regulates the phagocytic clearance and replication of thePlasmodium yoeliimalaria parasite
Authors: Banerjee Rajdeep , Khandelwal Sanjay , Kozakai Yukiko , Sahu Bikash , Kumar Sanjai
Published: February 2015

Significance

SeveralPlasmodiumspecies exhibit age-based preference for the red blood cells (RBC) they invade, with implications for virulence and disease severity. CD47, a marker of self, prevents the early clearance of cells by phagocytosis. We report here that in the absence of CD47, growth of aPlasmodiumspecies that preferentially infects CD47hiyoung RBC is highly attenuated, and the macrophages from CD47−/−mice are more effective in phagocytizing the malaria-parasitized RBC than wild-type mice. We suggest that preferential invasion of young RBC is an evolutionary adaptation that shields the malaria parasite from phagocytic clearance and controls parasitemia, as fewer RBC are available for invasion. Modulation of CD47 levels by antibody treatment may have therapeutic value in patients with severe malaria.
Tetramers reveal IL-17–secreting CD4+T cells that are specific for U1-70 in lupus and mixed connective tissue disease
Authors: Kattah Nicole H. , Newell Evan W. , Jarrell Justin Ansel , Chu Alvina D. , Xie Jianming , Kattah Michael G. , Goldberger Ofir , Ye Jessica , Chakravarty Eliza F. , Davis Mark M. , Utz Paul J.
Published: February 2015

Significance

Patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop pathogenic antibodies against their own “self”-antigens. The development of such autoantibodies is thought in part to require help from CD4+T cells that also recognize the same self-antigens and direct autoantibody production. In this study, antigen-specific CD4+T cells in lupus are identified and tracked for the first time using tetramers containing peptides from the spliceosomal protein U1-70. The proportion of circulating, tetramer-positive CD4+cells correlates with the presence of U1-70–specific autoantibodies, and antigen-specific T cells are directly implicated in disease activity by their production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17. The role of these cells in disease pathology makes them candidate targets for therapeutic intervention.
Learning to Manage and Managing to Learn: Sustaining Freshwater Recreational Fisheries in a Changing Environment
Authors: Hansen Gretchen J. A. , Gaeta Jereme W. , Hansen Jonathan F. , Carpenter Stephen R.
Published: February 2015

Freshwaters are being transformed by multiple environmental drivers, creating uncertainty about future conditions. One way of coping with uncertainty is to manage for resilience to unanticipated events while facilitating learning through adaptive management. We outline the application of these strategies to freshwater recreational fisheries management using a case study in Wisconsin, USA, where black bass (Micropterus spp.) populations are increasing, while Walleye (Sander vitreus) populations are decreasing. Managing for heterogeneity in functional groups (e.g., age classes and prey species of sport fishes), fishery objectives, and regulations can increase resilience, although heterogeneity must be balanced with replication to facilitate learning. Monitoring designed to evaluate management objectives and inform about critical uncertainties, when combined with heterogeneity, creates opportunities for adaptive management, another critical resilience strategy. Although barriers exist to implementing resilience strategies, management designed to accommodate uncertainty and illuminate its consequences is needed to maintain critical fisheries in a rapidly changing world.

Los cuerpos de agua dulce están siendo transformados por múltiples factores ambientales, lo que genera incertidumbre sobre lo que sucederá en el futuro. Una forma de enfrentar esta incertidumbre es el manejo de la resiliencia con respeto a eventos no anticipados y, simultáneamente, facilitar el aprendizaje a través del manejo adaptativo. En este trabajo se muestra la aplicación de estas estrategias en el manejo de pesquerías recreativas de agua dulce tomando un caso de estudio en Wisconsin, en el que las poblaciones de la lobina negra (Micropterus spp.) están incrementándose, en tanto que las de la lucioperca americana (Sander vitreus) están disminuyendo. El manejo enfocado en la heterogeneidad de grupos funcionales (p.e., ciertas clases de edad y presas de peces de pesca deportiva), en los objetivos y en las regulaciones de la pesquería pueden aumentar la resiliencia, no obstante atender la heterogeneidad debe equilibrarse usando réplicas que faciliten el aprendizaje. El monitoreo diseñado para evaluar los objetivos del manejo e informar acerca de imprecisiones importantes que, al combinarse con la heterogeneidad, generan oportunidades para el manejo adaptativo, representa otra estrategia crítica para incrementar la resiliencia. Aunque existen obstáculos para implementar las estrategias enfocadas en la resiliencia, se necesita un manejo que incorpore la incertidumbre y que advierta sobre sus consecuencias, con el fin de mantener vivas importantes pesquerías en un mundo que está en constante cambio.
A restriction estimate using polynomial partitioning
Authors: Guth Larry
Published: February 2015

If

S
S

is a smooth compact surface in

R

3

\mathbb {R}^3

with strictly positive second fundamental form, and

E
S

E_S

is the corresponding extension operator, then we prove that for all

p
>
3.25

p > 3.25

,
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="double-vertical-bar upper E Subscript upper S Baseline f double-vertical-bar Subscript upper L Sub Superscript p Subscript left-parenthesis double-struck upper R cubed right-parenthesis Baseline less-than-or-equal-to upper C left-parenthesis p comma upper S right-parenthesis double-vertical-bar f double-vertical-bar Subscript upper L Sub Superscript normal infinity Subscript left-parenthesis upper S right-parenthesis">

‖

E
S

f

‖

L
p

(

R

3

)

≤
C
(
p
,
S
)
‖
f

‖

L
∞

(
S
)

\| E_S f\|_{L^p(\mathbb {R}^3)} \le C(p,S) \| f \|_{L^\infty (S)}

. The proof uses polynomial partitioning arguments from incidence geometry.
Surface modification of carbon steel reinforcement of concrete
Authors: Rendón Belmonte Mariela , Madrid Miguel Martínez , Pérez-Quiroz José Trinidad , Salas Benjamín Valdez , Juarez-Arellano Erick A. , Schorr Miguel
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to characterize the surface of steel reinforcement of concrete under cathodic protection (CP), submerged in seawater, to understand the surface changes due to the application of CP and their consequences on cathodic current requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

– Reinforced concrete specimens with applied CP were immersed in natural seawater. The experimental methodology included monitoring of corrosion potential (Ecorr); measurement of galvanic current (Igalv), protection potential (Eprotection) and the depolarization potential of steel during the time of exposure; and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The chemical composition of the steel surface was assessed using X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Findings

– The application of CP leads to the formation of a deposit on the steel surface that according to XRD results, Pourbaix diagram and physical characteristics, is a protective oxide: magnetite (Fe3O4). This oxide causes a decrease in the corrosion rate and requires application of the protection current. It was found that the surface remained protected even after eight days when the CP system was interrupted.

Research limitations/implications

– It is necessary to carry out analysis of the chemical composition of deposits formed on the steel surface, perhaps using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Mössbauer, to verify the presence of the magnetite.

Practical implications

– Determination of the main cause of the decrease in current required for protection and deposit formation conditions will enable the design of a CP system to be optimized and economized. At present, the CP design considers only a constant current value for the duration of the protection time.

Originality/value

– CP is a technique that has proven effective for the protection of metal structures. However, little attention has been devoted to the surface changes that occur under applied CP and their impact on the electrochemical behavior of the system. This paper describes the phenomena produced at the metal surface and determines kinetic parameters and their consequences on the CP behavior.
Parametric virtual lower body of elderly women for apparel industry
Authors: Park Sunmi , Nam Yunja , Choi Kuengmi
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a virtual body that resembles the customer’s body shape using only the minimum information provided by the customer and without requiring individually scanned data.

Design/methodology/approach

– The target of this study includes the three-dimensional scanned data of 91 senior women aged 60 or older and human body measurement data of 268 people. The parametric virtual body was generated in three steps: a basic virtual body, a trans-shaped virtual body, and a trans-sized virtual body.

Findings

– Using organic relationships found in the body shape factors of the lower body, this study developed an algorithm to generate elderly women’s parametric virtual lower body that is quick and reproducible. Having tested the reproducibility of the algorithm, the parametric virtual body showed excellent reproducibilityvis-à-visthe personal scanned data in both the shape acceptability and size acceptability.

Originality/value

– Because virtual bodies in this study are based on the results of body shape analysis related to apparel design, those resembling customer body shapes can be quickly and accurately generated. In addition, because body shape information for target groups is provided to the clothing manufacturers, it will likely contribute significantly to enhancing clothes fitting.
ARIMA modelling of Lithuanian house price index
Authors: Jadevicius Arvydas , Huston Simon
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate Lithuanian house price changes. Its twin motivations are the importance of information on future house price movements to sector stakeholders and the limited number of related Lithuanian property market studies.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study employs ARIMA modelling approach. It assesses whether past is a good predictor of the future. It then examines issues relating to an application of this univariate time-series modelling technique in a forecasting context.

Findings

– As the results of the study suggest, ARIMA is a useful technique to assess broad market price changes. Government and central bank can use ARIMA modelling approach to forecast national house price inflation. Developers can employ this methodology to drive successful house-building programme. Investor can incorporate forecasts from ARIMA models into investment strategy for timing purposes.

Research limitations/implications

– Certainly, there are number of limitations attached to this particular modelling approach. Firm predictions about house price movements are also a challenge, as well as more research needs to be done in establishing a dynamic interrelationship between macro variables and the Lithuanian housing market.

Originality/value

– Although the research focused on Lithuania, the findings extend to global housing market. ARIMA house price modelling provides insights for a spectrum of stakeholders. The use of this modelling approach can be employed to improve monetary policy oversight, facilitate planning for infrastructure or social housing as a countercyclical policy and mitigate risk for investors. What is more, a greater appreciation of Lithuania housing market can act as a bellwether for real estate markets in other trade-exposed small country economies.
Survival of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota in the intestines of healthy Chinese adults
Authors: Wang Ran , Chen Shanbin , Jin Junhua , Ren Fazheng , Li Yang , Qiao Zhenxing , Wang Yue , Zhao Liang
Published: February 2015

Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) is a widely used probiotic strain with health benefits. In this study, the survival of LcS in the intestines of healthy Chinese adults was assessed and the effects of LcS on stool consistency, stool SCFAs and intestinal microbiota evaluated. Subjects consumed 100 mL per day of a probiotic beverage containing 1.0 × 108 CFU/mL of LcS for 14 days. LcS were enumerated using a culture method and the colony identity confirmed by ELISA. Fourteen days after ingestion, the amount of LcS recovered from fecal samples was between 6.86 ± 0.80 and 7.17 ± 0.57 Log10 CFU/g of feces (mean ± SD). The intestinal microbiotas were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Principal component analysis showed that consuming LcS significantly changed fecal microbiota profiles. According to redundancy analysis, the amounts of 25 bacterial strains were significantly correlated with LcS intake (P < 0.05), 11 of them positively and fourteen negatively. Concentrations of acetic acid and propionic acid in feces were significantly lower during the ingestion period than during the baseline period (P < 0.05). These results confirm that LcS can survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract of Chinese people; however, they were found to have little ability to persist once their consumption had ceased. Furthermore, consumption of probiotic beverages containing LcS can modulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota on a long‐term basis, resulting in decreased concentrations of SCFAs in the gut.
Fatty acid‐releasing activities in Sinorhizobium meliloti include unusual diacylglycerol lipase
Authors: Sahonero‐Canavesi Diana X. , Sohlenkamp Christian , Sandoval‐Calderón Mario , Lamsa Anne , Pogliano Kit , López‐Lara Isabel M. , Geiger Otto
Published: February 2015

Phospholipids are well known for their membrane‐forming properties and thereby delimit any cell from the exterior world. In addition, membrane phospholipids can act as precursors for signals and other biomolecules during their turnover. Little is known about phospholipid signalling, turnover and remodelling in bacteria. Recently, we showed that a FadD‐deficient mutant of Sinorhizobium meliloti, unable to convert free fatty acids to their coenzyme A derivatives, accumulates free fatty acids during the stationary phase of growth. Enzymatic activities responsible for the generation of these free fatty acids were unknown in rhizobia. Searching the genome of S. meliloti, we identified a potential lysophospholipase (SMc04041) and two predicted patatin‐like phospholipases A (SMc00930, SMc01003). Although SMc00930 as well as SMc01003 contribute to the release of free fatty acids in S. meliloti, neither one can use phospholipids as substrates. Here we show that SMc01003 converts diacylglycerol to monoacylglycerol and a fatty acid, and that monoacylglycerol can be further degraded by SMc01003 to another fatty acid and glycerol. A SMc01003‐deficient mutant of S. meliloti transiently accumulates diacylglycerol, suggesting that SMc01003 also acts as diacylglycerol lipase (DglA) in its native background. Expression of the DglA lipase in Escherichia coli causes lysis of cells in stationary phase of growth.
Perinatal outcome after first‐trimester risk assessment in monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies: a population‐based register study
Authors: Kristiansen MK , Joensen BS , Ekelund CK , Petersen OB , Sandager P ,   with the Danish Fetal Medicine Study Group
Published: February 2015

Objective

To evaluate the influence of chorionicity on outcome in twin pregnancies with two live fetuses at the nuchal translucency scan in the first trimester.

Design

Population‐based register study.

Setting

Denmark.

Population

A cohort of 3621 twin pregnancies, 84.3% dichorionic (DC) pregnancies and 15.7% monochorionic (MC) pregnancies (15% diamniotic [MCDA] and 0.7% monoamniotic [MCMA]).

Methods

A cohort study based on data collected from the Danish Fetal Medicine Database from July 2008 to July 2011.

Main outcome measures

Fetal loss rate before week 22, intrauterine death rate from week 22 to birth, and neonatal mortality.

Results

Significantly more DC than MC pregnancies resulted in at least one live born infant—98.2% versus 92.3% in MCDA (P < 0.05) and 66.7% in MCMA pregnancies (P < 0.05). The rates of spontaneous loss of both fetuses before week 22 were 0.9, 2.4, and 20.8% for DC, MCDA and MCMA twins, respectively (P < 0.05). The rate of intrauterine death of one fetus after week 22 was higher in MCDA twins than DC twins 1.7% versus 0.6% (P < 0.05). We found no significant difference in the rate of neonatal death.

Conclusions

The risk of spontaneous loss of both fetuses before week 22 of gestation was significantly higher in MCMA and MCDA pregnancies than in DC pregnancies, and significantly higher in MCMA pregnancies than in MCDA pregnancies. After week 22 the risk of loss of one fetus after week 22 was significantly higher in MCDA pregnancies than in DC pregnancies.
Wide field of view CT and acromioclavicular joint instability: A technical innovation
Authors: Dyer David R , Troupis John M , Kamali Moaveni Afshin
Published: February 2015

A 21‐year‐old female with a traumatic shoulder injury is investigated and managed for symptoms relating to this injury. Pathology at the acromioclavicular joint is detected clinically; however, clinical examination and multiple imaging modalities do not reach a unified diagnosis on the grading of this acromioclavicular joint injury. When management appropriate to that suggested injury grading fail to help the patient's symptoms, further investigation methods were utilised. Wide field of view, dynamic CT (4D CT) is conducted on the patient's affected shoulder using a 320 × 0.5 mm detector multislice CT. Scans were conducted with a static table as the patient completed three movements of the affected shoulder. Capturing multiple data sets per second over a z‐axis of 16 cm, measurements of the acromioclavicular joint were made, to show dynamic changes at the joint. Acromioclavicular (AC) joint translations were witnessed in three planes (a previously unrecognised pathology in the grading of acromioclavicular joint injuries). Translation in multiple planes was also not evident on careful clinical examination of this patient. AC joint width, anterior‐posterior translation, superior‐inferior translation and coracoclavicular width were measured with planar reconstructions while volume‐rendered images and dynamic sequences aiding visual understanding of the pathology. Wide field of view dynamic CT (4D CT) is an accurate and quick modality to diagnose complex acromioclavicular joint injury. It provides dynamic information that no other modality can; 4D CT shows future benefits for clinical approach to diagnosis and management of acromioclavicular joint injury, and other musculoskeletal pathologies.
Linkage mapping with paralogs exposes regions of residual tetrasomic inheritance in chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
Authors: Waples R. K. , Seeb L. W. , Seeb J. E.
Published: February 2015

Gene sequence similarity due to shared ancestry after a duplication event, that is paralogy, complicates the assessment of genetic variation, as sequences originating from paralogs can be difficult to distinguish. These confounded sequences are often removed prior to further analyses, leaving the underlying loci uncharacterized. Salmonids have only partially rediploidized subsequent to a whole‐genome duplication; residual tetrasomic inheritance has been observed in males. We present a maximum‐likelihood‐based method to resolve confounded paralogous loci by observing the segregation of alleles in gynogenetic haploid offspring and demonstrate its effectiveness by constructing two linkage maps for chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), with and without these newly resolved loci. We find that the resolved paralogous loci are not randomly distributed across the genome. A majority are clustered in expanded subtelomeric regions of 14 linkage groups, suggesting a significant fraction of the chum salmon genome may be missed by the exclusion of paralogous loci. Transposable elements have been proposed as drivers of genome evolution and, in salmonids, may have an important role in the rediploidization process by driving differentiation between homeologous chromosomes. Consistent with that hypothesis, we find a reduced fraction of transposable element annotations among paralogous loci, and these loci predominately occur in the genomic regions that lag in the rediploidization process.
Comparison of Metolazone Versus Chlorothiazide in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure with Diuretic Resistance
Authors: Moranville Michael P. , Choi Suji , Hogg Jennifer , Anderson Allen S. , Rich Jonathan D.
Published: February 2015

Aims

Sequential nephron blockade with thiazide‐like diuretics is a strategy used to overcome diuretic resistance in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), but head‐to‐head studies are lacking and equipoise exists regarding the preferred thiazide‐like diuretic in this setting. We thus compared the effectiveness of oral metolazone versus intravenous (IV) chlorothiazide as add‐on therapy to loop diuretics in hospitalized patients with ADHF and renal dysfunction.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral metolazone versus IV chlorothiazide as add‐on therapy to loop diuretics in patients hospitalized with ADHF and renal dysfunction. The primary endpoint was net urine output (UOP) at 72 h after initiation of thiazide‐like diuretics. Safety endpoints included worsening renal function, hypotension, and electrolyte abnormalities.

Results

Fifty‐five patients were enrolled with 33 patients receiving metolazone and 22 patients receiving chlorothiazide. There was no difference in median net UOP at 72 h in those receiving metolazone (4828 mL, interquartile range [IQR] 2800–7209 mL) compared to chlorothiazide (3779 mL, IQR 1885–6535 mL) (P = 0.16). There was no difference in hypotension, worsening renal function, hyponatremia, or hypokalemia (P = NS for all comparisons). Hospital length of stay was shorter in the metolazone cohort (median 7 days) compared to chlorothiazide (median 15 days), suggesting the chlorothiazide cohort was likely sicker.

Conclusion

Sequential nephron blockade with either metolazone or chlorothiazide appears to be efficacious and safe in ADHF, renal dysfunction, and diuretic resistance. Given the considerable cost difference favoring oral metolazone, larger randomized studies are warranted to confirm our findings and to exclude the possibility of confounding by indication.
The Use of Subdissociative‐dose Ketamine for Acute Pain in the Emergency Department
Authors: Sin Billy , Ternas Theologia , Motov Sergey M.
Published: February 2015

Objectives

Ketamine is a well‐known anesthetic with its use trailing back to the 1960s. It has antagonistic effects at the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor. There is emerging literature to suggest the use of subdissociative‐dose ketamine (SDDK) for pain reduction. This evidence‐based review evaluates the evidence regarding the use of SDDK for acute pain control in the emergency department (ED).

Methods

The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that described or evaluated the use of SDDK for acute pain in the ED were included. Literature was excluded if it was not published in English. Duplicate articles, unpublished reports, abstracts, and review articles were also excluded. Quality assessment and evaluation of literature were evaluated based on the GRADE criteria. The primary outcome of interest in this review was the difference in pain score from baseline to cutoff time as specified in the studies. Secondary outcome measures were the incidence of adverse events and reduction in the amount of adjuvant opioids consumed by patients who received SDDK.

Results

Four RCTs met the inclusion criteria, which enrolled a total of 428 patients. Three adult trials and one pediatric trial were identified. The level of evidence for the individual trials ranged from low to moderate. A significant reduction in pain scores was only found in two of the four trials. One trial found a significant reduction in mean pain scores when ketamine was compared to morphine (p < 0.05). Another trial reported a significant decrease in mean distress scores, favoring SDDK over fentanyl (1.0 vs. 2.7, p < 0.05). One trial found a significant reduction in the amount of morphine consumed, favoring ketamine over placebo (0.14 mg/kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.13 to 0.16 mg/kg vs. 0.2 mg/kg, 95% CI = 0.18 to 0.22 mg/kg; p < 0.001). An emergence phenomenon was reported in one trial.

Conclusions

Four RCTs with methodologic limitations failed to provide convincing evidence to either support or refute the use of SDDK for acute pain control in the ED.
Social Policy Implications Relating to Road Trauma in a Rapidly Motorizing World: The Example of China
Authors: Fleiter Judy J. , Senserrick Teresa
Published: February 2015

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies road trauma as a major public health issue in all countries, though most notably among low‐to‐middle income countries and particularly those experiencing rapid motorization, such as China. As China transitions from a nation of bicycle riders and pedestrians to one where car ownership is increasingly desired, there is a need to address the accompanying social policy challenges. With this increased motorization has come an increased road trauma burden, shouldered disproportionately among the population. Vulnerable road users (i.e. pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists) are of primary concern because they are most frequently killed in road crashes, representing approximately 70% of all Chinese road‐related fatalities. The aim of this paper is to summarize the scale of the road trauma burden, highlight the disparity of this burden across the Chinese population, and discuss the related social policy implications in dealing with the impact of deaths and of otherwise healthy lives diminished by injury and disability. Future research priorities are also discussed and include the need to strive to provide detailed information on the level of inequity in the road trauma burden across the population and identify appropriate social support and healthcare services required, both preventative and post‐crash, so these can be developed and implemented throughout China.
Divergent Paths, Incomplete Models: Chinese and Korean Pension Development in Comparative Context
Authors: Xia Meixiang
Published: February 2015

The aim of this article is to investigate whether or not the East Asian welfare model (EAWM) can adequately represent China and Korea by examining the historical development of their pension systems. Since Esping‐Andersen introduced his classic three‐world classification of liberal, conservative and democratic welfare types, a wave of comparative social policy analysis in East Asia has emerged. Two distinct perspectives have prevailed within this field of research. First, a number of scholars have elaborated and validated Esping‐Andersen's three‐world classification by claiming East Asian nations are on a developmental trajectory that make them comparable to the Western cases upon which his study was based. The second perspective claims that unlike advanced capitalist states in the West, East Asian countries have constituted a distinctive welfare state model – the so‐called “East Asian welfare model.” This study argues that the development of welfare systems in both China and Korea makes apparent the weaknesses of the EAWM.
Child Poverty in Rural China: Multidimensional Perspective
Authors: Wang Xiaolin , Zhou Liang , Shang Xiaoyuan
Published: February 2015

This paper describes a pilot study on child multidimensional poverty in rural China by introducing the Alkire–Foster method based on survey data collected from five provinces/autonomous regions. Results showed that the headcount ratio of child multidimensional poverty was 14.29%. On average, multidimensionally poor children were deprived in 37.62% of all the dimensions, and their adjusted headcount ratio (multidimensional poverty) index was 0.054. Health was the most deprived dimension, followed by the subsistence and participation dimensions. Disabled children, children influenced by HIV/AIDS, and ethnic minority children were severely deprived. This study not only adds to the current literature on child poverty in China, but also provides policy suggestions for future action plans.
Right‐sided congestive heart failure in a dog because of a primary intracavitary myocardial lymphoma
Authors: Tong LJ , Bennett SL , Thompson DJ , Adsett SL , Shiel RE
Published: February 2015

Case report

A 9‐year‐old female intact Cocker Spaniel was presented with a history of acute‐onset dyspnoea and abdominal distension of 3 days' duration. Ultrasonography revealed pleural, peritoneal and pericardial effusions. Abdominal fluid analysis was consistent with a modified transudate. Echocardiography revealed a large, hypoechoic space‐occupying mass within the right atrium. The dog was euthanased and the postmortem examination showed a solid, 40 × 35 × 20 mm broad‐based mass arising from the right atrial wall and occluding approximately 90% of the right atrial lumen. Histopathology revealed myocardial lymphoma. There were histologically similar, focal nodules in the lung parenchyma without involvement of other extracardiac sites. There was gross and histological evidence of hepatic congestion and marked distension of the caudal vena cava, consistent with secondary right‐sided congestive heart failure.

Conclusion

This case highlights the need to consider lymphoma as a differential diagnosis for an intra‐atrial mass and as a cause of congestive heart failure in the dog.
Canine tick‐borne pathogens and associated risk factors in dogs presenting with and without clinical signs consistent with tick‐borne diseases in northernAustralia
Authors: Hii SF , Traub RJ , Thompson MF , Henning J , O'Leary CA , Burleigh A , McMahon S , Rees RL , Kopp SR
Published: February 2015

Objectives

To estimate the proportion of canine tick‐borne disease (CTBD) pathogens in dogs from northern states ofAustralia presenting with and without clinical signs/laboratory abnormalities suggestive ofCTBDand to evaluate associated risk factors.

Design

Client‐owned dogs presented to a general practice clinic in theNorthernTerritory (NT; n = 138) and five referral hospitals in south‐eastQueensland (SEQ; n = 100) were grouped intoCTBD‐suspect and ‐control groups based on clinical and laboratory criteria. Blood and sera were screened for haemotropicMycoplasmaspp.,Babesiaspp.,Anaplasmaspp.,Ehrlichiaspp. andHepatozoonspp. using microscopic examination, in‐clinicELISAtesting andPCRassays. Dog‐specific risk factors associated with the presence ofCTBDpathogens were evaluated.

Results

Overall, 24.4% of the suspect group and 12.2% of the control group dogs were infected. The proportions ofM.haemocanis,B. vogeli,A. platys,Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, andC.Mycoplasma haemobos were 7.1%, 5.0%, 3.8%, 1.7% and 0.4%, respectively. Dogs originating from theNTwere 3.6‐fold (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51–8.62; P = 0.004) more likely to be infected withCTBDpathogens than those fromSEQ. Male dogs were 2.3‐fold (95%CI1.17–4.80, P = 0.024) more likely to bePCR‐positive toCTBDpathogens than female dogs. Dogs presenting with clinical signs consistent withCTBDand thrombocytopenia were more likely to be infected byCTBDpathogens (odds ratio 2.85; 95%CI1.16, 7.02; P = 0.019).

Conclusions

Haemotropic mycoplasmas were the most common tick‐borne pathogen infecting client‐owned dogs. Subclinical cases were common in dogs from theNT. Veterinary practitioners should be aware of the proportion ofCTBDpathogens and the presenting features of clinical and subclinical disease in their area.
A case of Murray Valley encephalitis in a 2‐year‐old Australian Stock Horse in south‐east Queensland
Authors: Barton AJ , Prow NA , Hall RA , Kidd L , Bielefeldt‐Ohmann H
Published: February 2015

Case report

This report summarises the findings from a case of naturally‐occurring Murray Valley encephalitis in a 2‐year‐old filly presenting with acute onset of depression and weakness. Serum samples tested at the onset of clinical signs were negative for Hendra and Kunjin virus antibodies, but positive for Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) using IgM‐capture ELISA (1 : 300 dilution). A virus neutralisation assay performed 4 weeks later confirmed a titre of 1 : 160. Sera collected in the weeks preceding neurological signs returned a negative titre for MVEV 2 weeks prior followed by a titre of 1:80 in the week prior to illness. Serological surveillance conducted on 67 co‐located horses returned a positive titre of 1 : 20 in one in‐contact horse. There was no history of clinical disease in that horse. At 3 months after the onset of clinical signs in the index case, the filly continued to show mild facial paresis and hypermetria; the owners elected euthanasia and gave permission for necropsy. Histopathological analysis of the brain showed a mild meningoencephalitis.

Conclusion

The progression of a naturally‐occurring MVEV infection in a horse has been documented in this case.
Prediction of desmoid tumor progression using miRNA expression profiling
Authors: Dufresne Armelle , Paturel Marie , Alberti Laurent , Philippon Heloise , Duc Adeline , Decouvelaere Anne‐Valerie , Cassier Philippe , Blay Jean‐Yves
Published: February 2015

Desmoid tumor is a rare connective tissue tumor with locoregional aggressiveness but unpredictable behavior. The miRNA profile was ascertained for 26 patients included in the Desminib phase II trial and an independent validation cohort of 15 patients. Predictive and prognostic supervised analysis on the Desminib cohort failed to identify miRNAs differentially expressed between progressive and non‐progressive patients under imatinib treatment or between progressive and non‐progressive patients after discontinuation of imatinib. However, an unsupervised hierarchical clustering of the Desminib cohort identified two groups (A and B) of 13 patients each, where only the number of previous lines of treatment before inclusion in the study differed significantly between the two groups. Time to progression after discontinuation of imatinib was longer in group B than in group A. Fifteen miRNAs were highly statistically differentially expressed between groups A and B, targeting more than 3000 genes, including AGO1, BCL2, CDK6, SMAD4, PTEN, CCND1, VEGFA, and RB1. These results were confirmed in the independent validation cohort: hierarchical clustering of these 15 miRNAs identified two groups, in which time to recurrence was statistically different (28.8 months vs 68.8 months). These results provide the first indication of the prognostic value of miRNA expression profiling with a possible direct impact on patient management. A more precise miRNA signature must now be determined to select patients who would not benefit from surgical resection of their tumor and who ought to be monitored without treatment.