bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anomalous transparency of the water/air interface for low-frequency sound
Authors: Godin Oleg A.
Published: October 2013

Sound transmission through water/air interface is normally weak because of a stark density contrast between the two media. For a monopole sound source, at depth larger than a wavelength, the ratio R of the acoustic power transmitted into the air to the total emitted acoustic power is a small quantity of the order of the ratio of impedances of air and water. Acoustic transparency of the interface is shown to rise dramatically at low frequencies, where depth of the monopole source is small compared to the wavelength, with R increasing by up to 36 dB. Under certain conditions, almost all of the acoustic energy emitted by a low-frequency monopole source underwater is predicted to be radiated into the air rather than into the water. Physically, higher transparency at lower frequencies is due to increasing role of inhomogeneous waves emitted by the source and a destructive interference of fields in water due to the actual and image sources. The anomalous transparency of the water/air interface may have significant implications for generation of low-frequency acoustic noise in the air by bubbles collapsing underwater and for acoustic monitoring and detection of powerful underwater explosions for the purposes of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
The effects of gas well compressor noise on nesting birds in pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Authors: Francis Clinton D. , Ortega Catherine P.
Published: October 2013

Anthropogenic noise has been implicated as a cause of declines in avian species diversity and densities; however, these patterns are not conclusive because noise has not been uncoupled from potential confounding variables that accompany noisy human activities. During the summers of 2005–2007, noise was isolated through the use of natural gas wells with and without noisy compressors (treatment and control sites, respectively). No difference in overall nest density on plots with and without compressors was found; however, noise significantly reduced nesting species richness. Individual species also demonstrated responses to noise: Mourning Dove nests were more abundant on control sites, whereas Black-chinned Hummingbird and House Finch nests were more abundant on treatment sites. Several species were also found to nest significantly farther from well pads on treatment sites than on control sites. Nest success was higher on treatment sites than on control sites, due to lower levels of predation. In areas influenced by anthropogenic noise, predators may be present, but unable to locate nests, or they are in lower densities or absent. Anthropogenic noise appears not only to influence avian nesting patterns, thereby altering the avian community, but also to influence nest success through changes to predation patterns.
Foreword
Authors: Stern Richard
Published: October 2013

This issue of References to Contemporary Papers on Acoustics contains material which has been downloaded from the Dialog Corporation (www.dialog.com) and made available from the INSPEC database (Institution of Electrical Engineers, London, United Kingdom). The INSPEC accession number is included with each reference so that users of this publication who also have computer access to their database may call up the reference directly to read the abstract and additional reference material which is available.
ERF115 Controls Root Quiescent Center Cell Division and Stem Cell Replenishment
Authors: Heyman Jefri , Cools Toon , Vandenbussche Filip , Heyndrickx Ken S. , Van Leene Jelle , Vercauteren Ilse , Vanderauwera Sandy , Vandepoele Klaas , De Jaeger Geert , Van Der Straeten Dominique , De Veylder Lieven
Published: October 2013

The Root of the Problem

The quiescent center (QC) within the root meristem plays a key role as a stem cell organizer to sustain the root stem cell niche. The QC cells execute a dual role: prevention of the differentiation of neighboring stem cells, and maintenance of the root structure by undergoing only occasional cell division. The mechanisms that account for the low QC proliferation are unclear, although the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) E3 ubiquitin ligase is known to suppress QC cell division. Through a systematic functional analysis of APC/C-copurifying proteins,

Heyman
et al.

(p.
860
) characterized a transcription factor ERF115 as a rate-limiting factor for QC cell division. ERF115 needs to be destroyed to retain QC cells in a resting state. ERF115 operates in a brassinosteroid-dependent manner and controls QC cell division through transcriptional activation of phytosulfokine signaling.
High-Resolution Mapping of the Spatial Organization of a Bacterial Chromosome
Authors: Le Tung B. K. , Imakaev Maxim V. , Mirny Leonid A. , Laub Michael T.
Published: October 2013

Caulobacter
Chromosome

Chromosomal DNA must be highly compacted to fit within the tiny volume of the cell, while at the same time it must maintain a conformation that allows critical cellular processes access to the genome.

Le
et al.

(p.
731
, published online 24 October) analyzed the structure of the circular chromosome in the prokaryote
Caulobacter crescentus
by using chromosome conformation capture and deep-sequencing. Highly self-interacting regions (chromosomal interaction domains, or CIDs) were observed—similar to the topologically associated domains previously seen in eukaryotes. Supercoiling helped to establish CIDs, and CID boundaries were defined by highly expressed genes. CIDs appeared to be established during or shortly after DNA replication, and could potentially facilitate chromosomal segregation by preventing newly replicated chromosomes from becoming entangled.
The Role of Surface Oxygen in the Growth of Large Single-Crystal Graphene on Copper
Authors: Hao Yufeng , Bharathi M. S. , Wang Lei , Liu Yuanyue , Chen Hua , Nie Shu , Wang Xiaohan , Chou Harry , Tan Cheng , Fallahazad Babak , Ramanarayan H. , Magnuson Carl W. , Tutuc Emanuel , Yakobson Boris I. , McCarty Kevin F. , Zhang Yong-Wei , Kim Philip , Hone James , Colombo Luigi , Ruoff Rodney S.
Published: October 2013

Oxygen Control of Graphene Growth

The growth of graphene on copper surfaces through the decomposition of hydrocarbons such as methane can result in a wide variety of crystal domain sizes and morphologies.

Hao
et al.

(p.
720
, published online 24 October; see the cover) found that the presence of surface oxygen could limit the number of nucleation sites and allowed centimeter-scale domains to grow through a diffusion-limited mechanism. The electrical conductivity of the graphene was comparable to that of exfoliated graphene.
Yeast Reveal a “Druggable” Rsp5/Nedd4 Network that Ameliorates α-Synuclein Toxicity in Neurons
Authors: Tardiff Daniel F. , Jui Nathan T. , Khurana Vikram , Tambe Mitali A. , Thompson Michelle L. , Chung Chee Yeun , Kamadurai Hari B. , Kim Hyoung Tae , Lancaster Alex K. , Caldwell Kim A. , Caldwell Guy A. , Rochet Jean-Christophe , Buchwald Stephen L. , Lindquist Susan
Published: October 2013

From Yeast to Therapeutic?

Yeast has shown some promise as a model system to generate lead compounds that could have therapeutic potential for the cellular problems associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Along these lines,

Tardiff
et al.

(p.
979
, published online 24 October) and

Chung
et al.

(p.
983
, published online 24 October) describe the results of multiple screens in yeast that lead to the identification of a potential therapeutic compound to combat the cytotoxic affect of α-synuclein accumulation. The compound was able to reverse the pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease in cultured neurons derived from patients with α-synuclein–induced Parkinson's disease dementia.
Buying Time with miRNAs
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: October 2013

The activity of microRNAs affects the periodicity of the mammalian circadian clock.
In Silico
Prediction and Experimental Evaluation of Furanoheliangolide Sesquiterpene Lactones as Potent Agents against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense
Authors: Schmidt Thomas J. , Da Costa Fernando B. , Lopes Norberto P. , Kaiser Marcel , Brun Reto
Published: October 2013

As a continuation of our earlier study on the
in vitro
antiprotozoal activity of 40 natural sesquiterpene lactones (STLs), we extended the set of tested compounds from our laboratories to 59. On the basis of this extended data set, further enriched by literature data for 10 compounds tested under the same conditions, our quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analyses for activity against
T. brucei rhodesiense
(etiologic agent of human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness) were continued, and the QSAR model thus obtained with 69 structures was used to predict the activity of a virtual library of 1,750 STL structures. As a major result from these calculations, furanoheliangolide-type compounds, a subclass of STLs hitherto untested against
T. brucei rhodesiense
, were predicted to have an exceptionally high level of
in vitro
activity. Four representative compounds of this type, goyazensolide, 4,5-dihydro-2′,3′-epoxy-15-deoxygoyazensolide, budlein A, and 4,15-isoatriplicolide tiglate, were therefore tested. They displayed 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC
50
s) of 0.07, 0.20, 0.07, and 0.015 μM, respectively, so that the
in silico
prediction was experimentally confirmed. 4,15-Isoatriplicolide tiglate is the most potent STL against
T. b. rhodesiense
found. Furanoheliangolide STLs were thus identified as interesting leads against this parasite which deserve more detailed investigations.
Potent Sub-MIC Effect of GSK1322322 and Other Peptide Deformylase Inhibitors on
In Vitro
Growth of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Butler Deborah , Chen Dongzhao , O'Dwyer Karen , Lewandowski Thomas , Aubart Kelly , Zalacain Magdalena
Published: October 2013

Peptide deformylase (PDF), a clinically unexploited antibacterial target, plays an essential role in protein maturation. PDF inhibitors, therefore, represent a new antibiotic class with a unique mode of action that provides an alternative therapy for the treatment of infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens, including methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). GSK1322322 is a novel PDF inhibitor that is in phase II clinical development for the treatment of lower respiratory tract and skin infections. We have discovered that PDF inhibitors can prevent
S. aureus
in vitro
growth for up to 6 h at concentrations 8- to 32-fold below their MICs. This phenomenon seems specific to PDF inhibitors, as none of the antimicrobial agents with alternative mechanisms of action tested show such a potent and widespread effect. It also appears limited to
S. aureus
, as PDF inhibitors do not show such an inhibition of growth at sub-MIC levels in
Streptococcus pneumoniae
or
Haemophilus influenzae
. Analysis of the effect of GSK1322322 on the early growth of 100 randomly selected
S. aureus
strains showed that concentrations equal to or below 1/8× MIC inhibited growth of 91% of the strains tested for 6 h, while the corresponding amount of moxifloxacin or linezolid only affected the growth of 1% and 6% of strains, respectively. Furthermore, the sub-MIC effect demonstrated by GSK1322322 appears more substantial on those strains at the higher end of the MIC spectrum. These effects may impact the clinical efficacy of GSK1322322 in serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant
S. aureus
.
Oxantel Disrupts Polymicrobial Biofilm Development of Periodontal Pathogens
Authors: Dashper Stuart , O'Brien-Simpson Neil , Liu Sze Wei , Paolini Rita , Mitchell Helen , Walsh Katrina , D'Cruze Tanya , Hoffmann Brigitte , Catmull Deanne , Zhu Ying , Reynolds Eric
Published: October 2013

Bacterial pathogens commonly associated with chronic periodontitis are the spirochete
Treponema denticola
and the Gram-negative, proteolytic species
Porphyromonas gingivalis
and
Tannerella forsythia
. These species rely on complex anaerobic respiration of amino acids, and the anthelmintic drug oxantel has been shown to inhibit fumarate reductase (Frd) activity in some pathogenic bacteria and inhibit
P. gingivalis
homotypic biofilm formation. Here, we demonstrate that oxantel inhibited
P. gingivalis
Frd activity with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC
50
) of 2.2 μM and planktonic growth of
T. forsythia
with a MIC of 295 μM, but it had no effect on the growth of
T. denticola
. Oxantel treatment caused the downregulation of six
P. gingivalis
gene products and the upregulation of 22 gene products. All of these genes are part of a regulon controlled by heme availability. There was no large-scale change in the expression of genes encoding metabolic enzymes, indicating that
P. gingivalis
may be unable to overcome Frd inhibition. Oxantel disrupted the development of polymicrobial biofilms composed of
P. gingivalis
,
T. forsythia
, and
T. denticola
in a concentration-dependent manner. In these biofilms, all three species were inhibited to a similar degree, demonstrating the synergistic nature of biofilm formation by these species and the dependence of
T. denticola
on the other two species. In a murine alveolar bone loss model of periodontitis oxantel addition to the drinking water of
P. gingivalis
-infected mice reduced bone loss to the same level as the uninfected control.
Complete Genome Sequence of an H12N8 Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Wild Bird Feces in Hunan East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve
Authors: Zhang Hong , Li Zi , Yang Hao , Liu Yunzhi , Li Fangcai , Wang Lijie , Li Xiaodan , Zhu Yun , Cai Yahui , Bai Zhiyong , Yi Feiyue , Shu Yuelong
Published: October 2013

An H12N8 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) was isolated from a wild bird in China in 2011. It is the first report of isolation of the H12N8 subtype AIV in Asia. Phylogenetic analysis results suggested it is a reassortant, and all eight gene segments belong to the Eurasian gene pool.
Maternal Infection with Schistosoma japonicum Induces a Profibrotic Response in Neonates
Authors: McDonald Emily A. , Cheng Ling , Jarilla Blanca , Sagliba Marianne J. , Gonzal Annaliza , Amoylen Amabelle J. , Olveda Remigio , Acosta Luz , Baylink David , White Eric S. , Friedman Jennifer F. , Kurtis Jonathan D.
Published: October 2013

The global burden of schistosomiasis is significant, with fibrosis a major associated morbidity and the primary cause of mortality. We have previously shown that schistosomiasis during pregnancy upregulates proinflammatory cytokines in the cord blood. In this study, we extend these findings to include a large panel of fibrosis-associated markers. We developed a multiplex bead-based assay to measure the levels of 35 proteins associated with fibrosis. Cord blood from 109 neonates born to mothers residing in an area ofSchistosoma japonicumendemicity was assessed for these molecules. Ten mediators were elevated in the cord blood from schistosome-infected pregnancies, including insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), tumor growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), procollagen I carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP), amino-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (ICTP), collagen VI, desmosine, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), and TIMP-4. Many of these were also positively correlated with preterm birth (PICP, ICTP, MMP-2, TGF-β1, desmosine, CTGF, TIMP-1). In addition, birth weight was 168 g lower for infants with detectable levels of CTGF than for those with CTGF levels below the level of detection. Maternal schistosomiasis results in upregulation of fibrosis-associated proteins in the cord blood of the neonate, a subset of which are also associated with adverse birth outcomes. As the first report of fibrosis-associated molecules altered in the newborn of infected mothers, this study has broad implications for the health of the fetus, stretching from gestation to adulthood.
Testing for sexually transmitted infections among students: a discrete choice experiment of service preferences
Authors: Llewellyn Carrie D , Sakal Chloe , Lagarde Mylene , Pollard Alex , Miners Alec H
Published: October 2013

Objectives

To assess preferences among students for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services, with a view to establishing strength of preference for different service attributes.

Design

Online discrete choice experiment (DCE) questionnaire.

Setting

South East of England.

Participants

A convenience sample of 233 students from two universities.

Outcomes

Adjusted ORs in relation to service characteristics.

Results

The study yielded 233 responses. Respondents’ ages ranged from 16 to 34 years with a mean age of 22 years. Among this sample, the respondents demonstrated strong preferences for a testing service which provided tests for all STIs including syphilis, herpes and HIV (OR 4.1; 95% CI 3.36 to 4.90) and centres staffed by a doctor or nurse with specialist knowledge of STIs (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.78 to 2.37). Receiving all test results, whether positive or negative, was also significantly preferable to not being notified when tests were all negative (‘no news is good news’; OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.5). The length of time waiting for an appointment and the method by which results are received were not significant service characteristics in terms of preferences. Patient level characteristics such as age, sex and previous testing experience did not predict the likelihood of testing.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that of the examined attributes, university students expressed the strongest preference for a comprehensive testing service. The next strongest preferences were for being tested by specialist STI staff and receiving negative as well as positive test results. However, it remains unclear how strong these preferences are in relation to characteristics which were not part of the study design and whether or not they are cost-effective.
Unscheduled return visits (URV) in adults to the emergency department (ED): a rapid evidence assessment policy review
Authors: Trivedy Chetan R , Cooke Matthew W
Published: October 2013

Unscheduled return visits (URV) to the emergency department (ED) may be an important quality indicator of performance of individual clinicians as well as organisations and systems responsible for the delivery of emergency care. The aim of this study was to perform a rapid evidence assessment policy-based literature review of studies that have looked at URVs presenting to the ED. A rapid evidence assessment using SCOPUS and PUBMED was used to identify articles looking at unplanned returns to EDs in adults; those relating to specific complaints or frequent attenders were not included. After exclusions, we identified 26 articles. We found a reported URV rate of between 0.4% and 43.9% with wide variation in the time period defined for a URV, which ranged from 24 h to undefined. Thematic analysis identified four broad subtypes of URVs: related to patient factors, to the illness, to the system or organisation and to the clinician. This review informed the development of national clinical quality indicators for England. URV rates may serve as an important indicator of quality performance within the ED. However, review of the literature shows major inconsistencies in the way URVs are defined and measured. Furthermore, the review has highlighted that there are potentially at least four subcategories of URVs (patient related, illness related, system related and clinician related). Further work is in progress to develop standardised definitions and methodologies that will allow comparable research and allow URVs to be used reliably as a quality indicator for the ED.
Persistent long-standing illness and non-drinking over time, implications for the use of lifetime abstainers as a control group
Authors: Ng Fat Linda , Cable Noriko , Marmot MG , Shelton Nicola
Published: October 2013

Background

Non-drinkers are shown to have worse health than moderate drinkers in later life. We examine the preceding health status of non-drinkers in early adulthood, and secondly whether persistent poor health is associated with persistent non-drinking.

Methods

Using two prospective British birth cohort studies established in 1958 (National Child Development Study (NCDS)) and in 1970 (British Cohort Study (BCS)), participants who reported ‘never’ or ‘never had an alcoholic drink’ to drinking status questions in successive waves from 23 to 26 years in the NCDS/BCS were derived as ‘lifetime abstainers’. Logistic regression on the odds of being a lifetime abstainer was carried out on changes in limiting long-standing illness (LLSI) in the NCDS and long-standing illness (LSI) in the BCS, adjusting for sex, education, poor psychosocial health, marital and parental status.

Results

Participants with an LLSI in consecutive waves since 23 years had 4.50 times the odds of someone who did not have an LLSI of being a lifetime abstainer at 33 years (95% CI 1.99 to 10.18) and 7.02 times the odds at 42 years (2.39 to 20.66) after adjusting for all factors. Similarly, in the BCS, having an LSI in consecutive waves resulted in higher odds of being a lifetime abstainer at 30 years (OR 2.80, 1.88 to 4.18) and 34 years (OR 3.33, 2.01 to 5.53).

Conclusions

Persistent LSI was associated with remaining a non-drinker across adulthood. Studies comparing the health outcomes of moderate drinkers to lifetime abstainers that do not account for pre-existing poor health may overestimate the better health outcomes from moderate alcohol consumption.
Serum haptoglobin concentrations in dogs with liver disease
Authors: Crawford K. , Warman S. M. , Marques A. I. , Yool D. A. , Eckersall P. D. , McCulloch E. , Lynn K. , Mellanby R. J. , Gow A. G.
Published: October 2013

Dogs with liver disease have been shown to have increased serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. However, it is unclear whether dogs with liver disease also have increased serum haptoglobin concentrations. The aim of the study was to measure serum haptoglobin concentrations in healthy dogs, hospitalised dogs and dogs with liver diseases. Haptoglobin concentrations were measured in 30 healthy dogs, 47 hospitalised dogs with non‐hepatic illness, 46 dogs with congenital portosystemic shunt (cPSS) and 11 dogs with primary hepatopathy. Haptoglobin concentrations were not significantly different between cPSS dogs with and without hepatic encephalopathy (HE), thus all cPSS dogs were considered as one group. Haptoglobin concentrations were significantly different between the remaining groups (P<0.0001). Hospitalised ill dogs had significantly higher haptoglobin concentrations than healthy dogs (P<0.001), dogs with cPSS (P<0.001) and dogs with primary hepatopathy (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between haptoglobin concentrations in healthy dogs, dogs with cPSS and dogs with primary hepatopathy. Haptoglobin concentrations were not significantly increased in dogs with liver diseases or in dogs with cPSS and HE. This is in contrast with the previously reported CRP results. This study demonstrates that liver function should be considered when interpreting haptoglobin concentrations in dogs.
GRAPH MATCHING AND LEARNING IN PATTERN RECOGNITION IN THE LAST 10 YEARS
Authors: FOGGIA PASQUALE , PERCANNELLA GENNARO , VENTO MARIO
Published: October 2013

In this paper, we examine the main advances registered in the last ten years in Pattern Recognition methodologies based on graph matching and related techniques, analyzing more than 180 papers; the aim is to provide a systematic framework presenting the recent history and the current developments. This is made by introducing a categorization of graph-based techniques and reporting, for each class, the main contributions and the most outstanding research results.
FEATURE SELECTION FOR OPTIMIZATION OF WAVELET PACKET DECOMPOSITION IN RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF SYSTEMS
Authors: WALD RANDALL , KHOSHGOFTAAR TAGHI M. , SLOAN JOHN C.
Published: October 2013

One of the most important types of signal found in the area of machine condition monitoring/prognostic health monitoring (MCM/PHM) is the vibration signal, a type of waveform. Many time-frequency domain techniques have been proposed to interpret such signals, including wavelet packet decomposition (WPD). Previous work has shown how to extend the WPD algorithm to operate on streaming signals, but the number of output variables becomes exponential in the number of levels of decomposition, hindering data mining in limited-memory environments. Feature selection techniques, well understood in other areas of data mining, can be used to greatly reduce the number of output variables and speed up the machine learning algorithms. This paper presents a case study comparing two versions of WPD both with and without feature selection, demonstrating that removing most of the features produced by the WPD does not impair its performance within the context of MCM/PHM.
TRAPEZIECTOMY WITH LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION AND TENDON INTERPOSITION: A MINIMUM 10-YEAR FOLLOW-UP
Authors: Vinycomb Toby , Crock John
Published: October 2013

Purpose: To investigate the long-term (> 10 yrs) outcomes of trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI).

Methods: We reviewed 15 cases of trapeziectomy with LRTI performed for the treatment trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis. Mean follow up was 13.5 yrs (range, 10.5–17.5 yrs). We assessed a number of subjective and objective outcomes. A good outcome was a participant who did not require revision surgery, was satisfied with the outcome of their surgery and did not experience rest pain.

Results: No patients had revision surgery and only two patients were unsatisfied or very unsatisfied with the outcome of their surgery. Pain with activity was the strongest predictor of participant satisfaction.

Discussion: Approximately half the participants in this study experienced good long-term outcomes. Some participants were experiencing long-term symptoms, particularly pain, despite reporting that they are satisfied with the outcome of their surgery. Alternative techniques should be investigated that provide superior long-term outcomes.
SALVAGE OF DELAYED UNION OF A PHALANGEAL FRACTURE WITH "A HAIRPIN WIRE"
Authors: Dhamangaonkar Anoop C. , Patankar Hemant S.
Published: October 2013

The advantages of using multiple joint sparing antegrade intramedullary wiring for displaced, transverse and short oblique fractures of the small long bones of the hand has been well documented. This technique provides stable three-point fixation and permits early range of motion exercises to prevent hand stiffness. But in some revision cases where there is a breach or deficiency of subchondral bone due to previous intramedullary wiring or in old neglected juxta articular fractures of the metacarpal, proximal phalanx or middle phalanx with disuse osteopenia, there is a high chance of inadvertent joint penetration with intra medullary wiring, inspite of using blunt tipped bent K wires. This could happen intraoperatively or later in the follow up due to collapse of the fracture ends. We describe an innovative fixation technique which ensures stable fixation, no joint penetration and enables early range of motion to prevent hand stiffness.
LARGE PAYLOAD BIDIRECTIONAL QUANTUM SECURE DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITHOUT INFORMATION LEAKAGE
Authors: YE TIAN-YU
Published: October 2013

A large payload bidirectional quantum secure direct communication (BQSDC) protocol without information leakage is proposed, which is based on entanglement swapping between any two Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) states. Two remote authorized parties, Alice and Bob, can safely exchange their individual secret messages without worrying about the information leakage problem. Our protocol uses a shared secret GHZ state to overcome the information leakage problem. The shared secret GHZ state plays two roles in the bidirectional communication process: on one hand, it lets Bob know the prepared initial state; on the other hand, it is used for encoding Bob's secret messages. Moreover, our protocol can transmit six bits of secret messages per round communication. Compared with those previous BQSDC protocols, the advantage of our protocol lies in having the following two characters simultaneously: on one hand, it overcomes the information leakage problem; one the other hand, its capacity is as high as six bits per round communication.
EFFICIENT KEY CONSTRUCTION ON SEMI-QUANTUM SECRET SHARING PROTOCOLS
Authors: YANG CHUN-WEI , HWANG TZONELIH
Published: October 2013

Semi-quantum secret sharings (SQSSs), as they are of now, require all the agents choose to measure the received qubits to produce the shared secret key. As a result, to share an n-bit secret key in an (m + 1)-party SQSS, the number of quanta required to transmit is n × 2m, which increases exponentially with the number of agents (i.e. m). This study proposes a new idea on the construction of the secret key for the existing SQSS such that only 2nm qubits are required to produce an n-bit secret key in the (m + 1)-party SQSS.
Provenance, diagenesis and reservoir quality of the Upper Triassic Wolfville Formation, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Kettanah Yawooz A. , Kettanah Muhammad Y. , Wach Grant D.
Published: October 2013

The reservoir characterization and provenance of the Wolfville Formation were investigated using petrography, heavy minerals and microprobe analysis of tourmaline and garnet. Sandstone samples were taken from exposures at Rainy Cove and Cambridge Cove, and from the subsurface at Chinampas N-37 well beneath the Bay of Fundy. The surface and subsurface rocks have differences in their relative content and/or type of detritus, cement and heavy minerals (opaques, garnet, scheelite, tourmaline, rutile, apatite and others). These sandstones have continental block provenance in the subsurface rocks and recycled orogen provenance in the exposures. The main sources of the exposed Wolfville Formation sediments were the Palaeozoic rocks of the Meguma Supergroup, South Mountain Batholith, Horton and Windsor groups; meanwhile the subsurface sandstones might have been derived from the same sources or the Avalon Terrane and/or Gondwana. The sandstones were deposited during early stages of rifting post-dating earlier Palaeozoic collision orogenies that culminated with the Appalachian orogeny. The exposures of Wolfville Formation have low porosity (
c.
6%) that diminishes to negligible in the subsurface. The Wolfville Formation has a considerable thickness beneath the Bay of Fundy where it overlies the Horton Bluff Formation, Meguma and/or Avalon terranes. However, its reservoir potential is not encouraging.
Temporal relations between mineral deposits and global tectonic cycles
Authors: Cawood Peter A. , Hawkesworth Chris J.
Published: October 2013

Mineral deposits are heterogeneously distributed in both space and time, with variations reflecting tectonic setting, evolving environmental conditions, as in the atmosphere and hydrosphere, and secular changes in the Earth's thermal history. The distribution of deposit types whose settings are tied to plate margin processes (e.g. orogenic gold, volcanic-hosted massive sulphide, Mississippi valley type Pb–Zn deposits) correlates well with the supercontinent cycle, whereas deposits related to intra-cratonic settings and mantle-driven igneous events, such as Ni–Cu–PGE deposits, lack a clear association. The episodic distribution of deposits tied to the supercontinent cycle is accentuated by selective preservation and biasing of rock units and events during supercontinent assembly, a process that encases the deposit within the assembled supercontinent and isolates it from subsequent removal and recycling at plate margins.
Mosquito Diapause
Authors: Denlinger David L. , Armbruster Peter A.
Published: October 2013

Diapause, a dominant feature in the life history of many mosquito species, offers a mechanism for bridging unfavorable seasons in both temperate and tropical environments and serves to synchronize development within populations, thus directly affecting disease transmission cycles. The trait appears to have evolved independently numerous times within the Culicidae, as exemplified by the diverse developmental stages of diapause in closely related species. Its impact is pervasive, not only influencing the arrested stage, but also frequently altering physiological processes both before and after diapause. How the diapause response can be molded evolutionarily is critical for understanding potential range expansions of native and newly introduced species. The study of hormonal regulation of mosquito diapause has focused primarily on adult diapause, with little current information available on larval diapause or the intriguing maternal effects that regulate egg diapause. Recent quantitative trait locus, transcriptome, and RNA interference studies hold promise for interpreting the complex suite of genes that subserve the diapause phenotype.
Evolutionary Interaction Networks of Insect Pathogenic Fungi
Authors: Boomsma Jacobus J. , Jensen Annette B. , Meyling Nicolai V. , Eilenberg Jørgen
Published: October 2013

Lineages of insect pathogenic fungi are concentrated in three major clades: Hypocreales (several genera), Entomophthoromycota (orders Entomophthorales and Neozygitales), and Onygenales (genus Ascosphaera). Our review focuses on aspects of the evolutionary biology of these fungi that have remained underemphasized in previous reviews. To ensure integration with the better-known domains of insect pathology research, we followed a conceptual framework formulated by Tinbergen, asking complementary questions on mechanism, ontogeny, phylogeny, and adaptation. We aim to provide an introduction to the merits of evolutionary approaches for readers with a background in invertebrate pathology research and to make the insect pathogenic fungi more accessible as model systems for evolutionary biologists. We identify a number of questions in which fundamental research can offer novel insights into the evolutionary forces that have shaped host specialization and life-history traits such as spore number and size, somatic growth rate, toxin production, and interactions with host immune systems.
Using Semifield Studies to Examine the Effects of Pesticides on Mobile Terrestrial Invertebrates
Authors: Macfadyen S. , Banks J.E. , Stark J.D. , Davies A.P.
Published: October 2013

Many farmers rely on regular pesticide applications to avoid losses from arthropod pests and the diseases they vector. However, widespread and injudicious use of pesticides is detrimental to the environment, poses a health risk, and undermines biocontrol services. Researchers are increasingly required to develop techniques to quantify the trade-offs and risks associated with pesticides. Laboratory studies, though useful for assessing short-term impacts (e.g., mortality), cannot detect longer-term or indirect effects that can potentially be assessed using semifield studies. Here we review the range and scope of studies that have used semifield methods for regulatory testing and risk assessment of pesticides and for understanding the community-level effects of pesticide use in agricultural landscapes. We include studies on target and nontarget species, with an emphasis on quantifying effects when the target species is highly mobile. We suggest improvements in the design and analysis of semifield studies to more effectively assess effects on highly mobile species.
Endless Fascination
Authors: Paul William E.
Published: October 2013

Each of us fortunate enough to have had a career in experimental science has a tale to tell, often one with surprising twists and turns, full of lessons that can help guide those embarking on a similar journey. At the very least, a well-written recounting of a career can be entertaining. I offer my memory's version of my career in immunology and hope the readers will find it of value or at least of interest.
Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates: Current Strategies and Future Directions
Authors: Kripalani Sunil , Theobald Cecelia N. , Anctil Beth , Vasilevskis Eduard E.
Published: October 2013

New financial penalties for institutions with high readmission rates have intensified efforts to reduce rehospitalization. Several interventions that involve multiple components (e.g., patient needs assessment, medication reconciliation, patient education, arranging timely outpatient appointments, and providing telephone follow-up) have successfully reduced readmission rates for patients discharged to home. The effect of interventions on readmission rates is related to the number of components implemented; single-component interventions are unlikely to reduce readmissions significantly. For patients discharged to postacute care facilities, multicomponent interventions have reduced readmissions through enhanced communication, medication safety, advanced care planning, and enhanced training to manage medical conditions that commonly precipitate readmission. To help hospitals direct resources and services to patients with greater likelihood of readmission, risk-stratification methods are available. Future work should better define the roles of home-based services, information technology, mental health care, caregiver support, community partnerships, and new transitional care personnel.
Anti–B Cell Antibody Therapies for Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Faurschou Mikkel , Jayne David R.W.
Published: October 2013

Several monoclonal antibodies targeting B cells have been tested as therapeutics for inflammatory rheumatic diseases. We review important observations from randomized clinical trials regarding the efficacy and safety of anti–B cell antibody-based therapies for rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, and primary Sjögren's syndrome. For some anti–B cell agents, clinical benefits have been convincingly demonstrated, while other B cell–targeted therapies failed to improve outcomes when added to standard-of-care treatment or were associated with increased rates of adverse events. Although the risk-benefit balance seems to be acceptable for currently licensed anti–B cell agents, additional studies are required to fully assess the safety of treatment regimens involving prolonged interference with B cell counts and functions in rheumatic disorders. Future studies should also evaluate how to maintain disease control by means of conventional and/or biologic immunosuppressants after remission-induction with anti–B cell antibodies.
Cause and Consequence of Cancer/Testis Antigen Activation in Cancer
Authors: Whitehurst Angelique W.
Published: October 2013

Tumor cells frequently exhibit widespread epigenetic aberrations that significantly alter the repertoire of expressed proteins. In particular, it has been known for nearly 25 years that tumors frequently reactivate genes whose expression is typically restricted to germ cells. These gene products are classified as cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) owing to their biased expression pattern and their immunogenicity in cancer patients. While these genes have been pursued as targets for anticancer vaccines, whether these reactivated testis proteins have roles in supporting tumorigenic features is less studied. Recent evidence now indicates that these proteins can be directly employed by the tumor cell regulatory environment to support cell-autonomous behaviors. Here, we review the history of the CTA field and present recent findings indicating that CTAs can play functional roles in supporting tumorigenesis.
Mental Health Consequences of Disasters
Authors: Goldmann Emily , Galea Sandro
Published: October 2013

We present in this review the current state of disaster mental health research. In particular, we provide an overview of research on the presentation, burden, correlates, and treatment of mental disorders following disasters. We also describe challenges to studying the mental health consequences of disasters and discuss the limitations in current methodologies. Finally, we offer directions for future disaster mental health research.
Raw bovine milk improves gut responses to feeding relative to infant formula in preterm piglets
Authors: Li Yanqi , Jensen Mikkel L. , Chatterton Dereck E. W. , Jensen Bent B. , Thymann Thomas , Kvistgaard Anne S. , Sangild Per T.
Published: October 2013

For preterm neonates, the quality of the first milk is crucial for intestinal maturation and resistance to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Among other factors, milk quality is determined by the stage of lactation and processing. We hypothesized that unprocessed mature bovine milk (BM; raw bovine milk) would have less bioactivity than corresponding bovine colostrum (BC) in a preterm pig model, but have improved bioactivity relative to its homogenized, pasteurized, spray-dried equivalent, whole milk powder (WMP), or a bovine milk protein-based infant formula (IF). For 5 days, newborn preterm pigs received parenteral and enteral nutrition consisting of IF ( n = 13), BM ( n = 13), or BC ( n = 14). In a second study, WMP ( n = 15) was compared with IF ( n = 10) and BM ( n = 9). Compared with pigs fed IF, pigs that were fed BM had significantly improved intestinal structure (mucosal weight, villus height) and function (increased nutrient absorption and enzyme activities, decreased gut permeability, nutrient fermentation, and NEC severity). BC further improved these effects relative to BM (lactase activity, lactose absorption, plasma citrulline, and tissue interleukin-8). WMP induced similar effects as BM, except for lactase activity and lactose absorption. In conclusion, the maturational and protective effects on the immature intestine decreased in the order BC>BM>WMP, but all three intact bovine milk diets were markedly better than IF. The stage of lactation (colostrum vs. mature milk) and milk processing (e.g., homogenization, fractionation, pasteurization, spray-drying) are important factors in determining milk quality during the early postnatal period of preterm neonates.
Defining the “dose” of altitude training: how high to live for optimal sea level performance enhancement
Authors: Chapman Robert F. , Karlsen Trine , Resaland Geir K. , Ge R.-L. , Harber Matthew P. , Witkowski Sarah , Stray-Gundersen James , Levine Benjamin D.
Published: October 2013

Chronic living at altitudes of ∼2,500 m causes consistent hematological acclimatization in most, but not all, groups of athletes; however, responses of erythropoietin (EPO) and red cell mass to a given altitude show substantial individual variability. We hypothesized that athletes living at higher altitudes would experience greater improvements in sea level performance, secondary to greater hematological acclimatization, compared with athletes living at lower altitudes. After 4 wk of group sea level training and testing, 48 collegiate distance runners (32 men, 16 women) were randomly assigned to one of four living altitudes (1,780, 2,085, 2,454, or 2,800 m). All athletes trained together daily at a common altitude from 1,250–3,000 m following a modified live high-train low model. Subjects completed hematological, metabolic, and performance measures at sea level, before and after altitude training; EPO was assessed at various time points while at altitude. On return from altitude, 3,000-m time trial performance was significantly improved in groups living at the middle two altitudes (2,085 and 2,454 m), but not in groups living at 1,780 and 2,800 m. EPO was significantly higher in all groups at 24 and 48 h, but returned to sea level baseline after 72 h in the 1,780-m group. Erythrocyte volume was significantly higher within all groups after return from altitude and was not different between groups. These data suggest that, when completing a 4-wk altitude camp following the live high-train low model, there is a target altitude between 2,000 and 2,500 m that produces an optimal acclimatization response for sea level performance.
Phase Transition in Long‐Range Percolation on Bipartite Hierarchical Lattices
Authors: Shang Yilun
Published: October 2013

We propose a family of bipartite hierarchical lattice of order N governed by a pair of parameters ℓ and γ. We study long‐range percolation on the bipartite hierarchical lattice where any edge (running between vertices of unlike bipartition sets) of length k is present with probability pk = 1 − exp(−αβ−k), independently of all other edges. The parameter α is the percolation parameter, while β describes the long‐range nature of the model. The model exhibits a nontrivial phase transition in the sense that a critical value αc ∈ (0, ∞) if and only if ℓ ≥ 1,  1 ≤ γ ≤ N − 1, and β ∈ (N, N2). Moreover, the infinite component is unique when α > αc.
Ocular Surface Disorders in Intensive Care Unit Patients
Authors: Saritas Tuba Berra , Bozkurt Banu , Simsek Baris , Cakmak Zeynep , Ozdemir Mehmet , Yosunkaya Alper
Published: October 2013

Patients in intensive care units (ICU) are at increased risk of corneal abrasions and infectious keratitis due to poor eyelid closure, decreased blink reflex, and increased exposure to pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the ocular surface problems in patients who stayed in ICU more than 7 days and were consulted by an ophthalmologist. There were 26 men and 14 women with a mean age of 40.1 ± 18.15 years (range 17–74 years). Conjunctiva hyperemia, mucopurulent or purulent secretion, corneal staining, and corneal filaments were observed in 56.25%, 36.25%, 15%, and 5% of the eyes, respectively. Keratitis was observed in 4 patients (10%) who were treated successfully with topical antibiotics. Mean Schirmers test results were 7.6 ± 5.7 mm/5 min (median 6.5 mm/5 min) in the right, and 7.9 ± 6.3 mm/5 min (median 7 mm/5 min) in the left eyes. Schirmers test results were <5 mm/5 min in 40% of the subjects. The parameters did not show statistically significant difference according to mechanical ventilation, sedation, and use of inotropes. As ICU patients are more susceptible to develop dry eye, keratopathy, and ocular infections, they should be consulted by an ophthalmologist for early diagnosis of ocular surface disorders.
Solvent-Free Green and Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of Dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromene Derivatives
Authors: Jain Shubha , Rajguru Deepika , Keshwal Balwant S. , Acharya Aman D.
Published: October 2013

A rapid, clean, and highly efficient method for synthesis of dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromene derivatives by one-pot, three-component condensation of aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and 4-hydroxycoumarin using DABCO as catalyst in solvent-free neat conditions is described. The present method has the advantages of mild reaction conditions, short reaction times, easy isolation of products, and excellent yields.
Evaluation ofhsp65Nested PCR-Restriction Analysis (PRA) for Diagnosing Tuberculosis in a High Burden Country
Authors: Macente Sara , Fujimura Leite Clarice Queico , Santos Adolfo Carlos Barreto , Siqueira Vera Lúcia Dias , Machado Luzia Neri Cosmo , Marcondes Nadir Rodrigues , Hirata Mario Hiroyuki , Hirata Rosário Dominguez Crespo , Cardoso Rosilene Fressatti
Published: October 2013

Current study evaluated thehsp65Nested PCR Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis (hsp65Nested PCR-PRA) to detect and identifyMycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex directly in clinical samples for a rapid and specific diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB).hsp65Nested PCR-PRA was applied directly to 218 clinical samples obtained from 127 patients suspected of TB or another mycobacterial infection from July 2009 to July 2010. Thehsp65Nested PCR-PRA showed 100% sensitivity and 95.0 and 93.1% specificity in comparison with culture and microscopy (acid fast bacillus smear), respectively.hsp65Nested PCR-PRA was shown to be a fast and reliable assay for diagnosing TB, which may contribute towards a fast diagnosis that could help the selection of appropriate chemotherapeutic and early epidemiological management of the cases which are of paramount importance in a high TB burden country.