bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uterine adenosarcomas are mesenchymal neoplasms
Authors: Piscuoglio Salvatore , Burke Kathleen A , Ng Charlotte KY , Papanastasiou Anastasios D , Geyer Felipe C , Macedo Gabriel S , Martelotto Luciano G , de Bruijn Ino , De Filippo Maria R , Schultheis Anne M , Ioris Rafael A , Levine Douglas A , Soslow Robert A , Rubin Brian P , Reis‐Filho Jorge S , Weigelt Britta
Published: November 2015

Uterine adenosarcomas (UAs) are biphasic lesions composed of a malignant mesenchymal (ie stromal) component and an epithelial component. UAs are generally low‐grade and have a favourable prognosis, but may display sarcomatous overgrowth (SO), which is associated with a worse outcome. We hypothesized that, akin to breast fibroepithelial lesions, UAs are mesenchymal neoplasms in which clonal somatic genetic alterations are restricted to the mesenchymal component. To characterize the somatic genetic alterations in UAs and to test this hypothesis, we subjected 20 UAs to a combination of whole‐exome (n = 6), targeted capture (n = 13) massively parallel sequencing (MPS) and/or RNA sequencing (n = 6). Only three genes, FGFR2, KMT2C and DICER1, were recurrently mutated, all in 2/19 cases; however, 26% (5/19) and 21% (4/19) of UAs harboured MDM2/CDK4/HMGA2 and TERT gene amplification, respectively, and two cases harboured fusion genes involving NCOA family members. Using a combination of laser‐capture microdissection and in situ techniques, we demonstrated that the somatic genetic alterations detected by MPS were restricted to the mesenchymal component. Furthermore, mitochondrial DNA sequencing of microdissected samples revealed that epithelial and mesenchymal components of UAs were clonally unrelated. In conclusion, here we provide evidence that UAs are genetically heterogeneous lesions and mesenchymal neoplasms. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conscientiousness and mindfulness in midlife coping: An assessment based on MIDUS II
Authors: Sesker Amanda A. , Súilleabháin Páraic Ó , Howard Siobhán , Hughes Brian M.
Published: November 2015

Research has demonstrated that conscientious individuals tend to engage in planful problem solving to cope with stressful situations. Likewise, mindful individuals tend to favour approach‐based coping and are less likely to engage in avoidant coping strategies. To examine whether conscientiousness and mindfulness determined agentic coping behaviour, hierarchical linear regressions were conducted using data from 602 participants drawn from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) Study II and MIDUS II Biomarker Project. Personality responses were derived from the five‐factor model inventory, gathered at a single time‐point. Results revealed that conscientiousness predicted problem‐focused coping (p < 0.001; β = 0.23) and inversely predicted emotion‐focused coping respectively (p < 0.001; β = −0.14), even after controlling for remaining Big Five and confounding variables. Mindfulness also predicted problem‐focused coping (p < 0.001; β = 0.21). Neuroticism predicted emotion‐focused coping (p < 0.001; β = 0.40). These findings suggest that conscientiousness and mindfulness may contribute to coping responses in potentially healthful ways, highlighting new evidence regarding the potential protective role of conscientiousness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cancer‐related hair loss: a selective review of the alopecia research literature
Authors: Dua Priya , Heiland Mark F. , Kracen Amanda C. , Deshields Teresa L.
Published: November 2015

Objective

Alopecia is a common side effect of cancer treatment, affecting approximately 65% of patients. Healthcare providers and allied staff recognize that alopecia is distressing for people with cancer; however, they are often unaware of the extent of distress or the great efforts expended by patients to cope with hair loss. This study reviews the existing literature regarding the psychosocial impact of alopecia on cancer survivors and the coping strategies they use to manage hair loss.

Methods

We searched for studies examining the psychosocial effects of alopecia on cancer survivors using PubMed and PsycInfo databases and Google Scholar.

Results

A total of 36 peer‐reviewed articles were deemed relevant to be included in this review. In this review, alopecia was consistently ranked as one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. Survivors report that hair loss disrupts how they experience their bodies, interact with others, and conceptualize their body image beyond treatment. Although upsetting for both genders, the scarce literature that exists suggests that there may be some gender‐specific aspects of experiencing cancer‐related hair loss. Cancer survivors cope with alopecia in numerous ways and often rely on strategies such as concealment, social support, social avoidance, information seeking, and behavioral rehearsal.

Conclusions

Treatment‐induced alopecia negatively affects millions of survivors each year in unique and nuanced ways. We hope that survivors' healthcare providers and loved ones may better appreciate the psychosocial challenges they experience related to hair loss, as well as the strategies they use to cope. Further research is much needed to better understand cancer‐related alopecia. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamics of electronic motion in hydrogen atom under parallel strong oscillating magnetic field and intense laser fields
Authors: Sadhukhan M. , Roy Amlan K. , Panigrahi P. K. , Deb B. M.
Published: November 2015

The mechanism of ionization of an H atom interacting with intense laser electric fields is altered when a strong, oscillating magnetic field is applied along a direction parallel to the laser field. In this first study, these two strongly nonperturbative situations have been combined together and the corresponding time‐dependent (TD) Schrödinger equation has been numerically solved without using any basis set. The electric field arising out of the magnetic field and the magnetic field arising out of the laser electric field are found to be negligibly small, thereby not affecting the results. There are two main, apparently counter‐intuitive results from this study of parallel fields of the same frequency but different field strengths: (1) In presence of an oscillating magnetic field, the ionization rate due to the laser field diminishes, and (2) increasing the laser intensity, keeping the magnetic field strength the same, makes the electron density ionize with a lesser rate, in contrast to the situation with intense lasers in the absence of a strong TD magnetic field. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Antitumor effects of deguelin on H460 human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo: Roles of apoptotic cell death and H460 tumor xenografts model
Authors: Hsu Yu‐Chieh , Chiang Jo‐Hua , Yu Chun‐Shu , Hsia Te‐Chun , Wu Rick Sai‐Chuen , Lien Jin‐Cherng , Lai Kuang‐Chi , Yu Fu‐Shun , Chung Jing‐Gung
Published: November 2015

Deguelin, a naturally occurring rotenoid of the flavonoid family, is known to be an Akt inhibitor, to have chemopreventive activities and anti‐tumor effect on several cancers. In this study, investigation to elucidate the effect of deguelin on apoptotic pathways in human lung cancer cells and on the anti‐tumor effect in lung cancer xenograft nu/nu mice was performed. In vitro studies, found that deguelin induced cell morphological changes, and decreased the percentage of viability through the induction of apoptosis in H460 lung cancer cells. Deguelin triggered apoptosis in H460 cells was also confirmed by DAPI staining, DNA gel electrophoresis, and Annexin V‐FITC staining and these effects are dose‐dependent manners. It was also found that deguelin promoted the Ca2+ production and activation of caspase‐3 but decreased the level of ΔΨm in H460 cells. Western blots indicated that the protein levels of cytochrome c, AIF, and pro‐apoptotic Bax and Bak protein were increased, but the anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐x were decreased that may have led to apoptosis in H460 cells after exposure to deguelin. It was also confirmed by confocal laser microscope examination that deguelin promoted the release of AIF from mitochondria to cytosol. In vivo studies, found that in immunodeficient nu/nu mice bearing H460 tumor xenografts showed that the deguelin significantly suppressed tumor growth. Deguelin might be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of lung cancer in the future. This finding might fully support a critical event for deguelin via induction of apoptotic cell death and H460 tumor xenografts model against human lung cancer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 84–98, 2017.
A novel silica‐based nucleating agent for polypropylene: Preparation, characterization, and application
Authors: Li Juan , He Wentao , Long Lijuan , Zhang Kai , Xiang Yushu , Zhang Minmin , Yin Xiaogang , Yu Jie
Published: November 2015

Inorganic silica is widely used as nucleating agents for isotactic polypropylene (iPP), and to achieve a better effect, the amount of addition is generally higher than 5 wt%. A novel silica‐based nucleating agent (SPKSol) was prepared by two steps: aromatic phosphate (MDBP‐POOH) was first supported on the silica sol via chemical reaction with γ‐aminopropyltrimethylsilane (KH550) as the linker, and the obtained product (PKSol) was further processed by spray‐drying. Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the incorporation of MDBP‐POOH on the silica sol. The results demonstrated a spherical particle with an average size of 5 μm, and a slit‐shaped pore structure was formed from the originally formed nano‐sized particles of PKSol after the spray‐drying process. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the SPKSol was well‐dispersed in the iPP matrix. Incorporating a very small amount of SPKSol (0.2 wt%) can effectively increase the crystallization temperature and improve the mechanical properties of polypropylene. In addition, the addition of SPKSol could even shift the haze of polypropylene to a lower value, obviously lower than that with PKSol as the nucleating agent. The preparation, characterization of SPKSol, and their application in iPP composites were explored in detail. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:58–67, 2018. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Statistical methods for complex event processing and real time decision making
Authors: Tendick Patrick H. , Denby Lorraine , Ju Wen‐Hua
Published: November 2015

While there has been a lot of attention paid recently to big data, in which data is written to massive repositories for later analysis, there also is a rapidly increasing amount of data available in the form of data streams or events. Data streams typically represent very recent measurements or current system states. Events represent things that happen, often in the context of computer processing. When processing data streams or events, we often need to make decisions in real time. Complex event processing (CEP) is an important area of computer science that provides powerful tools for processing events and analyzing data streams. CEP deals with events that can be comprised of other events and can model complex phenomena like a user's interactions with a web site or a stock market crash. In the current literature, CEP is almost entirely deterministic, that is, it does not account for randomness or rely on statistical methods. However, statistics and machine learning have a critical role to play in the use of data streams and events. Also, understanding how CEP works is critical to analyzing data based on complex events. When processing data streams, a distinction must be made between analysis, the human activity in which we try to gain understanding of an underlying process, and decision making, in which we apply knowledge to data to decide what action to take. Useful statistical techniques for data streams include smoothing, generalized additive models, change point detection, and classification methods. WIREs Comput Stat 2016, 8:5–26. doi: 10.1002/wics.1372

This article is categorized under:

Data: Types and Structure > Streaming Data

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Streaming Data Mining

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Statistical Graphics and Visualization
Population genomics of yeasts: towards a comprehensive view across a broad evolutionary scale
Authors: Peter Jackson , Schacherer Joseph
Published: November 2015

With the advent of high‐throughput technologies for sequencing, the complete description of the genetic variation that occurs in populations, also known as population genomics, is foreseeable but far from being reached. Explaining the forces that govern patterns of genetic variation is essential to elucidate the evolutionary history of species. Genetic variation results from a wide assortment of evolutionary forces, among which mutation, selection, recombination and drift play major roles in shaping genomes. In addition, exploring the genetic variation within a population also corresponds to the first step towards dissecting the genotype–phenotype relationship. In this context, yeast species are of particular interest because they represent a unique resource for studying the evolution of intraspecific genetic diversity in a phylum spanning a broad evolutionary scale. Here, we briefly review recent progress in yeast population genomics and provide some perspective on this rapidly evolving field. In fact, we truly believe that it is of interest to supplement comparative and early population genomic studies with the deep sequencing of more extensive sets of individuals from the same species. In parallel, it would be more than valuable to uncover the intraspecific variation of a large number of unexplored species, including those that are closely and more distantly related. Altogether, these data would enable substantially more powerful genomic scans for functional dissection. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recovery of the herbaceous layer in the young silver birch and black alder stands that developed spontaneously after a forest fire
Authors: Orczewska Anna , Prukop Marcin , Strzelczyk Adriana
Published: November 2015

The studies, which were conducted in southern Poland, focused on the recovery of the herb layer in 17‐year‐old post‐fire silver birch and black alder forests. Although both types of stands, which are of the same age, developed spontaneously, the alder stands occupied damper sites (with thicker A horizons that survived the fire) than those in the birch forests. We surveyed the migration rates of 44 woodland species, primarily ancient woodland indicators, into both forests and the potential differences in these rates depending on their moisture regime and the community type represented by unburned forests, which were treated as the source of the woodland species pool. Additionally, the role of local depressions with high humidity that were covered by post‐fire alder woods in the colonization process, as well as species survivorship and recolonisation, were estimated. Woodland species showed diverse migration paces among the sites; most of them migrated faster on more fertile sites with a higher humidity. Small patches of post‐fire alder woods contributed to the recolonisation process since many woodland species in the herb layer survived the fire due to its high humidity, which inhibited the intensity of the forest fire. The recovery of woodland species in post‐fire woods is the combined effect of regeneration, which relies on autochthonic propagules, and secondary succession, which is based on allochthonic propagules. Local depressions, which provide refuges for fire‐sensitive, dispersal‐limited species, contribute to their survivorship and thus to the successive recovery of herbaceous layers after a fire.
Item-focussed Trees for the Identification of Items in Differential Item Functioning
Authors: Tutz Gerhard , Berger Moritz
Published: November 2015

A novel method for the identification of differential item functioning (DIF) by means of recursive partitioning techniques is proposed. We assume an extension of the Rasch model that allows for DIF being induced by an arbitrary number of covariates for each item. Recursive partitioning on the item level results in one tree for each item and leads to simultaneous selection of items and variables that induce DIF. For each item, it is possible to detect groups of subjects with different item difficulties, defined by combinations of characteristics that are not pre-specified. The way a DIF item is determined by covariates is visualized in a small tree and therefore easily accessible. An algorithm is proposed that is based on permutation tests. Various simulation studies, including the comparison with traditional approaches to identify items with DIF, show the applicability and the competitive performance of the method. Two applications illustrate the usefulness and the advantages of the new method.
America's New Direction in Foreign Policy
Authors: Doran Peter B.
Published: November 2015

US foreign policy is approaching a decision point. One option would keep the US heavily engaged in the international system. The other would produce a gradual exit from the global stage. Out on the presidential campaign trail, candidates from both parties are offering variations of this choice to voters. This makes the stakes of the 2016 presidential election unusually high for Europe. Hanging in the balance is the future of transatlantic relations and the security of America's longstanding allies.
Rare primitive deuterostomes from the Cambrian (Series 3) of Utah
Authors: Conway Morris Simon , Halgedahl Susan L. , Selden Paul , Jarrard Richard D.
Published: November 2015

The fossil record of early deuterostome history largely depends on soft-bodied material that is generally rare and often of controversial status. Banffiids and vetulicystids exemplify these problems. From the Cambrian (Series 3) of Utah, we describe specimens of Banffia episoma n. sp. (from the Spence Shale) and Thylacocercus ignota n. gen. n. sp. (from the Wheeler Formation). The new species of Banffia Walcott, 1911 shows significant differences to the type species (B. constricta Walcott, 1911) from the Cambrian (Series 3, Stage 5) Burgess Shale, notably in possessing a prominent posterior unit but diminished anterior section. Not only does this point to a greater diversity of form among the banffiids, but also B. episoma indicates that the diagnostic median constriction and crossover of either side of the body are unlikely to be the result of taphonomic twisting but are original features. Comparisons extend also to the Cambrian (Series 2) Heteromorphus Luo and Hu in Luo et al., 1999 and, collectively, these observations support an assignment of the banffiids to the vetulicolians. The new taxon T. ignota represents the first discovery of a vetulicystid from beyond China and also significantly extends its stratigraphic range from Series 2 Cambrian into Series 3 Cambrian. Despite overall similarities in bodyplan, T. ignota differs from other vetulicystids in a number of respects, notably the possession of an anterior zone with broad tentacle-like structures. This new discovery is consistent with the vetulicystids representing stem-group ambulacrarians.
Modulational instability of a laser pulse in a non-uniform plasma channel
Authors: Panwar Anuraj , Ryu Chang-Mo , Kumar Ashok
Published: November 2015

A self-guided Gaussian laser pulse propagating in a non-uniform plasma channel is unstable to a plasma wave perturbation co-moving with the laser with its group velocity. The plasma wave amplitude has a maximum radial profile along the laser propagation axis. As the plasma wave propagates through a non-uniform plasma channel, the plasma wave perturbation causes focusing in the part of the laser that propagates with the electron density trough and defocusing in the part moving with the crest. This yields an axial gradient in the intensity of the laser and produces a ponderomotive force on the electrons. The ponderomotive force drives the plasma wave, which in turn makes the modulational instability grow. The growth rate of the modulational instability becomes larger with the increase in non-uniformity of a shallow plasma channel. In a deep cavitated plasma channel the growth rate of the modulational instability increases with the laser pulse amplitude.
Impact of Lightning Strikes on Hospital Functions
Authors: Mortelmans Luc J.M. , Springel Gert L.J. Van , Boxstael Sam Van , Herrijgers Jan , Hoflack Stefaan
Published: November 2015

Two regional hospitals were struck by lightning during a one-month period. The first hospital, which had 236 beds, suffered a direct strike to the building. This resulted in a direct spread of the power peak and temporary failure of the standard power supply.The principle problems, after restoring standard power supply, were with the fire alarm system and peripheral network connections in the digital radiology systems. No direct impact on the hardware could be found. Restarting the servers resolved all problems. The second hospital, which had 436 beds, had a lightning strike on the premises and mainly experienced problems due to induction. All affected installations had a cable connection from outside in one way or another. The power supplies never were endangered. The main problem was the failure of different communication systems (telephone, radio, intercom, fire alarm system). Also, the electronic entrance control went out. During the days after the lightening strike, multiple software problems became apparent, as well as failures of the network connections controlling the technical support systems. There are very few ways to prepare for induction problems. The use of fiberoptic networks can limit damage. To the knowledge of the authors, these are the first cases of lightning striking hospitals in medical literature.
Acute Stress Symptoms, Dissociation, and Depression among Rescue Personnel 24 Hours after the Bet-Yehoshua Train Crash in Israel: The Effects of Gender
Authors: Palgi Yuval , Ben-Ezra Menachem , Essar Nir , Sofer Hilik , Haber Yeela
Published: November 2015

Introduction:

The effect of immediate exposure to traumatic events and gender differences is under-studied in the literature. Most studies focus on acute stress disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) phases in order to measure gender differences, and tend to neglect the immediate expo-sure to the disaster.

Hypothesis:

The main hypothesis was that female rescue personnel would exhibit higher levels of acute stress symptoms, dissociation, and depressive symptoms in the 24 hours following a traumatic event.

Methods:

Twenty-three rescue personnel participated in a search and rescue operation at the Bet-Yehoshua train crash in Israel. The rescue personnel group was divided based on gender. Each participant completed a demographic questionnaire including questions that assessed psychological symptoms and issues such as perceived threat to life, the Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R), the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES), and the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression questionnaire (CES-D). Statistical inferences were calculated using t-tests and chi-square tests, along with testing of covariance (MANCOVA) in order to indentify which factors are related to psychiatric symptomatology following the immediate exposure to disaster.

Results:

The results suggest that among rescue personnel, women did not differ in their levels of acute stress, dissociation, and depressive symptoms from men.

Conclusions:

These results suggest the possibility that the gender differences in reactions to traumatic events do not emerge in the acute stress reactions (ASR) phase (up to 24 hours after the event), but later on when people have time to process the trauma. Another possibility that may explain the discrepancy between this study and the common knowledge in the literature is that women rescue personnel are considered a highly selected group, which does not reflect on the general population of women. More studies are needed in order to substantiate these results.
Evidence-Based Decision-Making (Part II): Applications in Disaster Relief Operations
Authors: Bradt David A.
Published: November 2015

Recognized limitations to data in disaster management have led to dozens of initiatives to strengthen data gathering and decision-making during disasters. These initiatives are complicated by fundamental problems of definitions of terms, ambiguity of concepts, lack of standardization in methods of data collection, and inadequate attempts to strengthen the analytic capability of field organizations. Cross-cutting issues in needs assessment, coordination, and evaluation illustrate additional recurring challenges in dealing with evidence in humanitarian assistance. These challenges include lack of agency expertise, dyscoordination at the field level, inappropriate reliance on indicators that measure process rather than outcome, flawed scientific inference, and erosion of the concept of minimum standards.

Decision-making in disaster management currently places a premium on expert or eminence-based decisions. By contrast, scientific advances in disaster medicine call for evidence-based decisions whose strength of evidence is established by the methods of data acquisition. At present, disaster relief operations may be data driven, but that does not mean that they are soundly evidence-based.

Options for strengthening evidence-based activities include rigorously adhering to evidenced-based interventions, using evidence-based tools to identify new approaches to problems of concern, studying model programs as well as failed ones to identify approaches that deserve replication, and improving standards for evidence of effectiveness in disaster science and services.
Moral Experience of Canadian Healthcare Professionals in Humanitarian Work
Authors: Hunt Matthew R.
Published: November 2015

Introduction:

Expatriate healthcare professionals frequently participate in international relief operations that are initiated in response to disasters due to natural hazards or humanitarian emergencies in low resource settings. This practice environment is significantly different from the healthcare delivery environment in the home countries of expatriate healthcare professionals. Human rights, public health, medicine, and ethics intersect in distinct ways as healthcare professionals provide care and services in communities affected by crisis.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to explore the moral experience of Canadian healthcare professionals during humanitarian relief work.

Methods:

This is a qualitative study with 18 semi-structured individual interviews based on Interpretive Description methodology. There are two groups of participants: (1) 15 healthcare professionals (nine doctors, five nurses, and one midwife) with more than three months experience in humanitarian work; and (2) three individuals who have experience as human resource or field coordination officers for humanitarian, non-governmental organizations. Participants were recruited by contacting non-governmental organizations, advertisement at the global health interest group of a national medical society, word of mouth, and a snowball sampling approach in which participants identified healthcare professionals with experience practicing in humanitarian settings who might be interested in the research.

Results:

Five central themes were identified during the analysis: (1) examination of motivations and expectations; (2) the relational nature of humanitarian work; (3) attending to steep power imbalances; (4) acknowledging and confronting the limits of what is possible in a particular setting; and (5) recognition of how organizational forms and structures shape everyday moral experience.

Discussion:

Humanitarian relief work is a morally complex activity. Healthcare professionals who participate in humanitarian relief activities, or who are contemplating embarking on a humanitarian project, will benefit from carefully considering the moral dimensions of this work. Humanitarian organizations should address the moral experiences of healthcare professionals in staff recruitment, as they implement training prior to departure, and in supporting healthcare professionals in the field.
Primary health care registered nurses’ types in implementation of health promotion practices
Authors: Maijala Virpi , Tossavainen Kerttu , Turunen Hannele
Published: November 2015

Aim

This study aimed to identify and reach consensus among primary health care participants [registered nurses (RNs) who receive clients, directors of nursing, senior physicians, health promotion officers, and local councillors] on the types of service provider that RNs who receive clients represent in the implementation of health promotion practices in primary health care in Eastern Finland.

Background

There is an increasing focus on public health thinking in many countries as the population ages. To meet the growing needs of the health promotion practices of populations, advance practice has been recognized as effective in the primary health care setting. The advance practice nurses share many common features, such as being RNs with additional education, possessing competencies to work independently, treating clients in both acute and primary care settings, and applying a variety of health promotion practices into nursing.

Methods

The two-stage modified Delphi method was applied. In round one, semi-structured interviews were conducted among primary health care participants (n=42) in 11 health centres in Eastern Finland. In round two, a questionnaire survey was conducted in the same health centres. The questionnaire was answered by 64% of those surveyed (n=56). For data analysis, content analysis and descriptive statistics were used.

Findings

This study resulted in four types of service provider that RNs who receive clients represented in the implementation of health promotion practices in the primary health care setting in Eastern Finland. First, the client-oriented health promoter demonstrated four dimensions, which reached consensus levels ranging between 82.1 and 89.3%. Second, the developer of health promotion practices comprised four dimensions, which reached consensus levels between 71.4 and 85.7%. Third, the member of multi-professional teams of health promotion practices representing three dimensions, with consensus levels between 69.6 and 82.1%. Fourth, the type who showed interest towards health policy reached a consensus level of 55.4% in this study.
THE ALTERNATIVE TO PERPETUAL PEACE: BRITAIN, IRELAND AND THE CASE FOR UNION IN FRIEDRICH GENTZ'SHISTORISCHES JOURNAL, 1799–1800
Authors: STAFFORD JAMES
Published: November 2015

The British–Irish Union of 1801 remains a significant and controversial moment in the histories of both countries, but understandings of its genesis are restricted inscope. This article seeks to place the Union in a new historical context: the crisis of the European states system that accompanied the French Revolution. It considers the position held by the Union in the critique of Kant's famous essay on “Perpetual Peace” (1795) advanced by one of his most influential students, the publicist and state official Friedrich Gentz (1764–1832). Gentz argued that the consolidation of the British state offered a model for the regeneration of European society. Only unitary forms of sovereign authority could exercise the responsible political agency required for the restoration of peace in the wake of the Revolution. The decline of small states and composite polities supported the durable civil liberty and commercial development necessary to mankind's moral development in history.
Determining Readiness for Solo Flight Training
Authors: Thomas Matt , Richards Carol
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Flight instructors are responsible for deciding when student pilots make their first solo flights. While these decisions are complex and challenging, little detailed guidance has been developed. This study aimed to articulate the elements of competence that experienced flight instructors focused on and assessed when making the decision to send student pilots on their first solo training flights. Participants were 30 Recreational Aviation Australia (RA-Aus) senior and chief flying instructors. A qualitative design was used to explore participants’ reflections on the elements of competency and behavioral markers they assess. The key themes identified from the thematic analyses fit well within the PAVE hazard checklist, which provides a framework for hazard awareness and management. The results of this study include a preliminary framework of specific competencies that flight instructors can assess as part of their decision making. Future research could lead to development of a checklist or scale that would further support flight instructors’ decision making.
Solution-printed organic semiconductor blends exhibiting transport properties on par with single crystals
Authors: Niazi Muhammad R. , Li Ruipeng , Qiang Li Er , Kirmani Ahmad R. , Abdelsamie Maged , Wang Qingxiao , Pan Wenyang , Payne Marcia M. , Anthony John E. , Smilgies Detlef-M. , Thoroddsen Sigurdur T. , Giannelis Emmanuel P. , Amassian Aram
Published: November 2015

Solution-printed organic semiconductors have emerged in recent years as promising contenders for roll-to-roll manufacturing of electronic and optoelectronic circuits. The stringent performance requirements for organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) in terms of carrier mobility, switching speed, turn-on voltage and uniformity over large areas require performance currently achieved by organic single-crystal devices, but these suffer from scale-up challenges. Here we present a new method based on blade coating of a blend of conjugated small molecules and amorphous insulating polymers to produce OTFTs with consistently excellent performance characteristics (carrier mobility as high as 6.7 cm2 V−1 s−1, low threshold voltages of<1 V and low subthreshold swings <0.5 V dec−1). Our findings demonstrate that careful control over phase separation and crystallization can yield solution-printed polycrystalline organic semiconductor films with transport properties and other figures of merit on par with their single-crystal counterparts.
Control of developmentally primed erythroid genes by combinatorial co-repressor actions
Authors: Stadhouders Ralph , Cico Alba , Stephen Tharshana , Thongjuea Supat , Kolovos Petros , Baymaz H. Irem , Yu Xiao , Demmers Jeroen , Bezstarosti Karel , Maas Alex , Barroca Vilma , Kockx Christel , Ozgur Zeliha , van Ijcken Wilfred , Arcangeli Marie-Laure , Andrieu-Soler Charlotte , Lenhard Boris , Grosveld Frank , Soler Eric
Published: November 2015

How transcription factors (TFs) cooperate within large protein complexes to allow rapid modulation of gene expression during development is still largely unknown. Here we show that the key haematopoietic LIM-domain-binding protein-1 (LDB1) TF complex contains several activator and repressor components that together maintain an erythroid-specific gene expression programme primed for rapid activation until differentiation is induced. A combination of proteomics, functional genomics and in vivo studies presented here identifies known and novel co-repressors, most notably the ETO2 and IRF2BP2 proteins, involved in maintaining this primed state. The ETO2–IRF2BP2 axis, interacting with the NCOR1/SMRT co-repressor complex, suppresses the expression of the vast majority of archetypical erythroid genes and pathways until its decommissioning at the onset of terminal erythroid differentiation. Our experiments demonstrate that multimeric regulatory complexes feature a dynamic interplay between activating and repressing components that determines lineage-specific gene expression and cellular differentiation.
Disinhibition of olfactory bulb granule cells accelerates odour discrimination in mice
Authors: Nunes Daniel , Kuner Thomas
Published: November 2015

Granule cells are the dominant cell type of the olfactory bulb inhibiting mitral and tufted cells via dendrodendritic synapses; yet the factors regulating the strength of their inhibitory output, and, therefore, their impact on odour discrimination, remain unknown. Here we show that GABAAR β3-subunits are distributed in a somatodendritic pattern, mostly sparing the large granule cell spines also known as gemmules. Granule cell-selective deletion of β3-subunits nearly abolishes spontaneous and muscimol-induced currents mediated by GABAA receptors in granule cells, yet recurrent inhibition of mitral cells is strongly enhanced. Mice with disinhibited granule cells require less time to discriminate both dissimilar as well as highly similar odourants, while discrimination learning remains unaffected. Hence, granule cells are controlled by an inhibitory drive that in turn tunes mitral cell inhibition. As a consequence, the olfactory bulb inhibitory network adjusts the speed of early sensory processing.
The origin of electronic band structure anomaly in topological crystalline insulator group-IV tellurides
Authors: Ye Zhen-Yu , Deng Hui-Xiong , Wu Hui-Zhen , Li Shu-Shen , Wei Su-Huai , Luo Jun-Wei
Published: November 2015

Group-IV tellurides have exhibited exotic band structures. Specifically, despite the fact that Sn sits between Ge and Pb in the same column of the periodic table, cubic SnTe is a topological crystalline insulator with band inversion, but both isovalent GeTe and PbTe are trivial semiconductors with normal band order. By performing first-principles band structure calculations, we unravel the origin of this abnormal behaviour by using symmetry analysis and the atomic orbital energy levels and atomic sizes of these elements. In group-IV tellurides, the s lone pair band of the group-IV element is allowed by symmetry to couple with the anion valence p band at the L-point, and such s–p coupling leads to the occurrence of bandgap at the L-point. We find that such s–p coupling is so strong in SnTe that it inverts the band order near the bandgap; however, it is not strong enough in both GeTe and PbTe, so they remain normal semiconductors. The reason for this is the incomplete screening of the core of the relatively tight-binding Ge 4s orbital by its 3d orbitals and the large atomic size and strong relativistic effect in Pb, respectively. Interestingly, we also find that the rhombohedral distortion removes the inversion symmetry and the reduced s–p coupling transforms the α-SnTe back to a normal semiconductor. Our study demonstrates that, in addition to spin–orbital coupling, strain and interface dipole fields, inter-orbital coupling is another effective way to engineer the topological insulators.
An efficient descriptor model for designing materials for solar cells
Authors: Alharbi Fahhad H , Rashkeev Sergey N , El-Mellouhi Fedwa , Lüthi Hans P , Tabet Nouar , Kais Sabre
Published: November 2015

An efficient descriptor model for fast screening of potential materials for solar cell applications is presented. It works for both excitonic and non-excitonic solar cells materials, and in addition to the energy gap it includes the absorption spectrum (α(E)) of the material. The charge transport properties of the explored materials are modelled using the characteristic diffusion length (Ld) determined for the respective family of compounds. The presented model surpasses the widely used Scharber model developed for bulk heterojunction solar cells. Using published experimental data, we show that the presented model is more accurate in predicting the achievable efficiencies. To model both excitonic and non-excitonic systems, two different sets of parameters are used to account for the different modes of operation. The analysis of the presented descriptor model clearly shows the benefit of including α(E) and Ld in view of improved screening results.
Onshore industrial wind turbine locations for the United States up to March 2014
Authors: Diffendorfer Jay E. , Kramer Louisa A. , Ancona Zach H. , Garrity Christopher P.
Published: November 2015

Wind energy is a rapidly growing form of renewable energy in the United States. While summary information on the total amounts of installed capacity are available by state, a free, centralized, national, turbine-level, geospatial dataset useful for scientific research, land and resource management, and other uses did not exist. Available in multiple formats and in a web application, these public domain data provide industrial-scale onshore wind turbine locations in the United States up to March 2014, corresponding facility information, and turbine technical specifications. Wind turbine records have been collected and compiled from various public sources, digitized or position verified from aerial imagery, and quality assured and quality controlled. Technical specifications for turbines were assigned based on the wind turbine make and model as described in public literature. In some cases, turbines were not seen in imagery or turbine information did not exist or was difficult to obtain. Uncertainty associated with these is recorded in a confidence rating.
A collection of Australian Drosophila datasets on climate adaptation and species distributions
Authors: Hangartner Sandra B. , Hoffmann Ary A. , Smith Ailie , Griffin Philippa C.
Published: November 2015

The Australian Drosophila Ecology and Evolution Resource (ADEER) collates Australian datasets on drosophilid flies, which are aimed at investigating questions around climate adaptation, species distribution limits and population genetics. Australian drosophilid species are diverse in climatic tolerance, geographic distribution and behaviour. Many species are restricted to the tropics, a few are temperate specialists, and some have broad distributions across climatic regions. Whereas some species show adaptability to climate changes through genetic and plastic changes, other species have limited adaptive capacity. This knowledge has been used to identify traits and genetic polymorphisms involved in climate change adaptation and build predictive models of responses to climate change. ADEER brings together 103 datasets from 39 studies published between 1982–2013 in a single online resource. All datasets can be downloaded freely in full, along with maps and other visualisations. These historical datasets are preserved for future studies, which will be especially useful for assessing climate-related changes over time.
Biochar as an electron shuttle for reductive dechlorination of pentachlorophenol by Geobacter sulfurreducens
Authors: Yu Linpeng , Yuan Yong , Tang Jia , Wang Yueqiang , Zhou Shungui
Published: November 2015

The reductive dechlorination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by Geobacter sulfurreducens in the presence of different biochars was investigated to understand how biochars affect the bioreduction of environmental contaminants. The results indicated that biochars significantly accelerate electron transfer from cells to PCP, thus enhancing reductive dechlorination. The promotion effects of biochar (as high as 24-fold) in this process depend on its electron exchange capacity (EEC) and electrical conductivity (EC). A kinetic model revealed that the surface redox-active moieties (RAMs) and EC of biochar (900 °C) contributed to 56% and 41% of the biodegradation rate, respectively. This work demonstrates that biochars are efficient electron mediators for the dechlorination of PCP and that both the EC and RAMs of biochars play important roles in the electron transfer process.
High-throughput transcriptome sequencing of the cold seep mussel Bathymodiolus platifrons
Authors: Wong Yue Him , Sun Jin , He Li Sheng , Chen Lian Guo , Qiu Jian-Wen , Qian Pei-Yuan
Published: November 2015

Bathymodiolid mussels dominate hydrothermal vents, cold methane/sulfide-hydrocarbon seeps and other sites of organic enrichment. Here, we aimed to explore the innate immune system and detoxification mechanism of the deep sea mussel Bathymodiolus platifrons collected from a methane seep in the South China Sea. We sequenced the transcriptome of the mussels’ gill, foot and mantle tissues and generated a transcriptomic database containing 96,683 transcript sequences. Based on GO and KEGG annotations, we reported transcripts that were related to the innate immune system, heavy metal detoxification and sulfide metabolic genes. Our in-depth analysis on the isoforms of peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP) that have different cellular location and potentially differential selectivity towards peptidoglycan (PGN) from gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were differentially expressed in different tissues. We also reported a potentially novel form of metallothionein and the production of phytochelatin in B. platifrons, which has not been reported in any of its coastal relative Mytilus mussel species. Overall, the present study provided new insights into heavy metal and sulfide metabolism in B. platifrons and can be served as the basis for future molecular studies on host-symbiont interactions in cold seep mussels.
Oral iron acutely elevates bacterial growth in human serum
Authors: Cross James H. , Bradbury Richard S. , Fulford Anthony J. , Jallow Amadou T. , Wegmüller Rita , Prentice Andrew M. , Cerami Carla
Published: November 2015

Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide and routine supplementation is standard policy for pregnant mothers and children in most low-income countries. However, iron lies at the center of host-pathogen competition for nutritional resources and recent trials of iron administration in African and Asian children have resulted in significant excesses of serious adverse events including hospitalizations and deaths. Increased rates of malaria, respiratory infections, severe diarrhea and febrile illnesses of unknown origin have all been reported, but the mechanisms are unclear. We here investigated the ex vivo growth characteristics of exemplar sentinel bacteria in adult sera collected before and 4 h after oral supplementation with 2 mg/kg iron as ferrous sulfate. Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (all gram-negative bacteria) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (gram-positive) showed markedly elevated growth in serum collected after iron supplementation. Growth rates were very strongly correlated with transferrin saturation (p < 0.0001 in all cases). Growth of Staphylococcus aureus, which preferentially scavenges heme iron, was unaffected. These data suggest that even modest oral supplements with highly soluble (non-physiological) iron, as typically used in low-income settings, could promote bacteremia by accelerating early phase bacterial growth prior to the induction of immune defenses.
Epstein-Barr virus from Burkitt Lymphoma biopsies from Africa and South America share novel LMP-1 promoter and gene variations
Authors: Lei Haiyan , Li Tianwei , Li Bingjie , Tsai Shien , Biggar Robert J. , Nkrumah Francis , Neequaye Janet , Gutierrez Marina , Epelman Sidnei , Mbulaiteye Sam M. , Bhatia Kishor , Lo Shyh-Ching
Published: November 2015

Epstein Barr virus (EBV) sequence variation is thought to contribute to Burkitt lymphoma (BL), but lack of data from primary BL tumors hampers efforts to test this hypothesis. We directly sequenced EBV from 12 BL biopsies from Ghana, Brazil and Argentina, aligned the obtained reads to the wild-type (WT) EBV reference sequence and compared them with 100 published EBV genomes from normal and diseased people from around the world. The 12 BL EBVs were Type 1. Eleven clustered close to each other and to EBV from Raji BL cell line, but away from 12 EBVs reported from other BL-derived cell lines and away from EBV from NPC and healthy people from Asia. We discovered 23 shared novel nucleotide-base changes in the latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 promoter and gene (associated with 9 novel amino acid changes in the LMP-1 protein) of the 11 BL EBVs. Alignment of this region for the 112 EBV genomes revealed four distinct patterns, tentatively termed patterns A to D. The distribution of BL EBVs was 48%, 8%, 24% and 20% for patterns A to D, respectively; the NPC EBV’s were Pattern B and EBV-WT was pattern D. Further work is needed to investigate the association between EBV LMP-1 patterns with BL.