bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restoring Soluble Amyloid Precursor Protein α Functions as a Potential Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Habib Ahsan , Sawmiller Darrell , Tan Jun
Published: August 2016

Soluble amyloid precursor protein α (sAPPα), a secreted proteolytic fragment of nonamyloidogenic amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, is known for numerous neuroprotective functions. These functions include but are not limited to proliferation, neuroprotection, synaptic plasticity, memory formation, neurogenesis, and neuritogenesis in cell culture and animal models. In addition, sAPPα influences amyloid‐β (Aβ) production by direct modulation of APP β‐secretase proteolysis as well as Aβ‐related or unrelated tau pathology, hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, the restoration of sAPPα levels and functions in the brain by increasing nonamyloidogenic APP processing and/or manipulation of its signaling could reduce AD pathology and cognitive impairment. It is likely that identification and characterization of sAPPα receptors in the brain, downstream effectors, and signaling pathways will pave the way for an attractive therapeutic target for AD prevention or intervention. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of In Situ Water Harvesting Techniques on Soil and Nutrient Losses in Semi‐Arid Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Grum Berhane , Assefa Dereje , Hessel Rudi , Woldearegay Kifle , Kessler Aad , Ritsema Coen , Geissen Violette
Published: August 2016

Land degradation, mainly due to soil erosion and nutrient losses, is a global problem for sustainable agriculture. Farmlands in the Ethiopian highlands are susceptible to water erosion because of steep slopes and extensive cultivation. A field experiment was conducted in the Gule sub‐watershed in northern Ethiopia to assess the efficacy of in situ water harvesting techniques in reducing soil and nutrient losses. The research was carried out on a sandy clay loam soil under semi‐arid conditions. Soil erosion and nutrient losses were monitored during the rainy season (June to September) in 2013 and 2014. Five treatments with tied ridges, wheat‐straw mulch and effective microorganisms, alone or in combination, and an untreated control were tested. Combined tied ridges and straw mulch, with and without effective microorganisms, significantly reduced average soil loss over the two rainy seasons by 82 and 90% respectively compared with the control. Tied ridges alone reduced average soil loss by 60%. Straw mulch with and without effective microorganisms decreased average soil loss by 81 and 85% respectively. Combined tied ridges and straw mulch significantly decreased average total nitrogen and total phosphorus losses by 82 and 83% respectively. Average nutrient losses were also significantly decreased by tied ridges (59% for nitrogen, 52% for phosphorus) and straw mulch (63% for nitrogen, 68% for phosphorus). Our results indicated that in situ water harvesting techniques can effectively reduce soil and nutrient losses from farmland and were more efficient when the techniques were combined. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oroxylin A reverses the drug resistance of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells to imatinib through CXCL12/CXCR7 axis in bone marrow microenvironment
Authors: Li Wenjun , Ding Qilong , Ding Youxiang , Lu Lu , Wang Xiaoping , Zhang Yi , Zhang Xiaobo , Guo Qinglong , Zhao Li
Published: August 2016

Imatinib (IM), a tyrosine‐kinase inhibitor, is used in treatment of multiple cancers, most notably Philadelphia chromosome‐positive (Ph+) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). However, the majority of patients continue to present with minimal residual disease occurred in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. One of the key factors that contribute to leukemia cell drug resistance is chemokine CXCL12. In the current study, co‐culturing CML cell K562 and KU812 with BM stromal cell M2‐10B4 attenuated IM‐induced apoptosis. CXCL12/CXCR7 pathway was activated in co‐culture models, which was further proved to be related to drug resistance by silencing CXCR7. ERK phosphorylation and downstream apoptosis related proteins’ activation were also observed in co‐culture group after the activation of CXCR7. Moreover, oroxylin A, a bioactive flavonoid isolated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, was found to be effective in reversing BM stroma induced CML resistance to IM. After cells were treated with weakly toxic concentration of oroxylin A, cell apoptosis induced by IM in co‐culture model was enhanced. And the activated CXCL12/CXCR7 pathway, the expression of p‐ERK and downstream apoptosis related proteins were suppressed. The in vivo study also showed that oroxylin A increased apoptosis of CML cells with low systemic toxicity, and the mechanism was consistent with the in vitro study. In conclusion, oroxylin A improved sensitivity of CML cells to IM treatment in BM microenvironment through regulating CXCL12/CXCR7 pathway. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multiple soliton solutions and other exact solutions for a two‐mode KdV equation
Authors: Wazwaz Abdul‐Majid
Published: August 2016

In this work, we study the two‐mode Korteweg–de Vries (TKdV) equation, which describes the propagation of two different waves modes simultaneously. We show that the TKdV equation gives multiple soliton solutions for specific values of the nonlinearity and dispersion parameters involved in the equation. We also derive other distinct exact solutions for general values of these parameters. We apply the simplified Hirota's method to study the specific of the parameters, which gives multiple soliton solutions. We also use the tanh/coth method and the tan/cot method to obtain other set of solutions with distinct physical structures. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sex, polyps, and medusae: Determination and maintenance of sex in cnidarians
Authors: Siebert Stefan , Juliano Celina E.
Published: August 2016

Mechanisms of sex determination vary greatly among animals. Here we survey what is known in Cnidaria, the clade that forms the sister group to Bilateria and shows a broad array of sexual strategies and sexual plasticity. This observed diversity makes Cnidaria a well‐suited taxon for the study of the evolution of sex determination, as closely related species can have different mechanisms, which allows for comparative studies. In this review, we survey the extensive descriptive data on sexual systems (e.g., gonochorism and hermaphroditism) and the plasticity of sex in various cnidarian taxa. Within Cnidaria, hydrozoans (e.g., Hydra, Hydractinia, and Clytia) are the best understood in regard to mechanistic determination and maintenance of sex, largely due to the discovery of the interstitial stem cells, which give rise to the germ cells. We also present a hypothesis for the evolution of the various sexual systems that are observed in Hydra. Finally, given the rapid advances in genome sequencing and editing, several exciting possible future directions for increasing our understanding of sex determination mechanisms in cnidarians are discussed. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 84: 105–119, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Speckle tracking as a method to measure hemidiaphragm excursion
Authors: Goutman Stephen A. , Hamilton James D. , Swihart Blake , Foerster Bradley , Feldman Eva L. , Rubin Jonathan M.
Published: August 2016

Introduction: Diaphragm excursion measured via ultrasound may be an important imaging outcome measure of respiratory function. We developed a new method for measuring diaphragm movement and compared it to the more traditional M‐mode method. Methods: Ultrasound images of the right and left hemidiaphragms were collected to compare speckle tracking and M‐mode measurements of diaphragm excursion. Speckle tracking was performed using EchoInsight (Epsilon Imaging, Ann Arbor, Michigan). Results: Six healthy subjects without a history of pulmonary diseases were included in this proof‐of‐concept study. Speckle tracking of the diaphragm is technically possible. Unlike M‐mode, speckle tracking carries the advantage of reliable visualization and measurement of the left hemidiaphragm. Conclusions: Speckle tracking accounted for diaphragm movement simultaneously in the cephalocaudad and mediolateral directions, unlike M‐mode, which is 1‐dimensional. Diaphragm speckle tracking may represent a novel, more robust method for measuring diaphragm excursion, especially for the left hemidiaphragm. Muscle Nerve 55: 125–127, 2017
Make enrollment management everyone's job
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: August 2016

Angela Tekely, Ed.D., loves commencement day. As dean of the College of LifeLong Learning and assistant vice president of academic affairs at Immaculata University, she has watched the adult learners gain confidence as they complete their degrees. They make a conscious decision to go to college, even though they have so much going on with their lives, she said. Many of them come in tentatively saying, “I think I want to finish.” But by graduation day, they walk out with confidence, she said.
Chemical O‐Glycosylations: An Overview
Authors: Das Rituparna , Mukhopadhyay Balaram
Published: August 2016

The development of glycobiology relies on the sources of particular oligosaccharides in their purest forms. As the isolation of the oligosaccharide structures from natural sources is not a reliable option for providing samples with homogeneity, chemical means become pertinent. The growing demand for diverse oligosaccharide structures has prompted the advancement of chemical strategies to stitch sugar molecules with precise stereo‐ and regioselectivity through the formation of glycosidic bonds. This Review will focus on the key developments towards chemical O‐glycosylations in the current century. Synthesis of novel glycosyl donors and acceptors and their unique activation for successful glycosylation are discussed. This Review concludes with a summary of recent developments and comments on future prospects.
Microstructure, mechanical, and rheological properties of natural rubber/ethylene propylene diene monomer nanocomposites reinforced by multi‐wall carbon nanotubes
Authors: Jahed Mohsen , Naderi Ghasem , Hamid Reza Ghoreishy Mir
Published: August 2016

Nanocomposites based on natural rubber (NR)/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)/multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have been prepared in an internal and a two roll‐mill mixer in two steps. The effect of carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and rubber composition were studied on microstructure, mechanical and rheological properties of the vulcanizated NR/EPDM/MWCNT nanocomposites. Ethylene propylene diene monomer grafted with maleic anhydride (EPDM‐g‐MAH) was prepared using a solution process. Grafting of maleic anhydride on EPDM confirmed by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). The effects of compatibilizer (EPDM‐g‐MAH) and functionalized carbon nanotubes (f‐MWCNTs) on mechanical properties of NR/EPDM/MWCNT nanocomposites was investigated as well. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) results demonstrated the glass transition temperature (Tg) of nanocomposites were slowly enhanced with increasing the amount of MWCNTs. The microstructure of nanocomposites have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which showed that the observed MWCNTs were in both NR and EPDM phases. The rheological behavior has been evaluated by a rubber processing analyzer (RPA). The ozone resistance times of the nanocomposite samples indicated that by increasing the amount of MWCNTs ozone resistance was improved. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E745–E753, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
2015 President's Plenary International Psycho‐oncology Society: psychosocial care as a human rights issue—challenges and opportunities
Authors: Travado Luzia , Breitbart William , Grassi Luigi , Fujisawa Daisuke , Patenaude Andrea , Baider Lea , Connor Stephen , Fingeret Michelle
Published: August 2016

The International Psycho‐Oncology Society (IPOS) Human Rights Task Force has been working since 2008 to raise awareness and support, for the relevance of psychosocial cancer care as a human rights issue. In 2014 the “Lisbon Declaration: Psychosocial Cancer Care as a Universal Human Right” was fully endorsed by IPOS. Subsequently, the IPOS Standard on Quality Cancer Care, endorsed by 75 cancer organizations worldwide, has been updated and now includes 3 core principles: Psychosocial cancer care should be recognised as a universal human right; Quality cancer care must integrate the psychosocial domain into routine care; Distress should be measured as the 6th vital sign. The President's plenary held at the 2015 World Congress of Psycho‐Oncology in Washington DC was devoted to discussing psychosocial care as a human rights issue. Many challenges and opportunities are illustrated in different continents and contexts: from Africa where resources for basic cancer treatment are scarce and children and their parents face significant difficulties with hospital detention practices; to Europe where for many countries psychosocial care is still seen as a luxury; and the Middle East where Muslim women face stigma and a culture of silence over cancer. We further discuss how to move the Lisbon Declaration forward towards its implementation into clinical practice globally, using the successful example of the World Health Assembly resolution supporting palliative care as a human right which has achieved widespread approval, and identifying the vital role the IPOS Federation of National Psychoncology Societies plays worldwide to move this agenda forward.
Spirituality is associated with less treatment regret in men with localized prostate cancer
Authors: Mollica Michelle A. , Underwood Willie , Homish Gregory G. , Homish D. Lynn , Orom Heather
Published: August 2016

Background

Some patients with prostate cancer regret their treatment choice. Treatment regret is associated with lower physical and mental quality of life. We investigated whether, in men with prostate cancer, spirituality is associated with lower decisional regret 6 months after treatment and whether this is, in part, because men with stronger spiritual beliefs experience lower decisional conflict when they are deciding how to treat their cancer.

Methods

One thousand ninety three patients with prostate cancer (84% white, 10% black, and 6% Hispanic; mean age = 63.18; SD = 7.75) completed measures of spiritual beliefs and decisional conflict after diagnosis and decisional regret 6 months after treatment. We used multivariable linear regression to test whether there is an association between spirituality and decisional regret and structural equation modeling to test whether decisional conflict mediated this relationship.

Results

Stronger spiritual beliefs were associated with less decisional regret (b = −0.39, 95% CI = −0.53, −0.26, P < .001, partial η2 = 0.024, confidence interval = −0.55, 39%, P < .001, partial η2 = 0.03), after controlling for covariates. Decisional conflict partially (38%) mediated the effect of spirituality on regret (indirect effect: b = −0.16, 95% CI = −0.21, −0.12, P < .001).

Conclusions

Spirituality may help men feel less conflicted about their cancer treatment decisions and ultimately experience less decisional regret. Psychosocial support post‐diagnosis could include clarification of spiritual values and opportunities to reappraise the treatment decision‐making challenge in light of these beliefs.
Experiences of “openness” between mothers and daughters during breast cancer: implications for coping and healthy outcomes
Authors: Fisher Carla L. , Wolf Bianca M. , Fowler Craig , Canzona Mollie Rose
Published: August 2016

Objective

Mother‐daughter communication is central to how women adjust to breast cancer. They may be aided by models of healthy communication that illustrate both women's perspectives. Families establish normative communication patterns that inform how they cope. We used family communication patterns theory to examine correlations between openness/avoidance and health. We extended this by capturing mother‐daughter open/avoidant narratives to illustrate how these behaviors function in helpful (health‐promoting) and unhelpful ways.

Methods

Phase 1 of this mixed‐method study involved 41 patients and 37 mothers/daughters (N = 78) completing surveys on mother‐daughter openness, avoidant coping, and quality of life. Phase 2 involved interviews with 40 patients and 38 mothers/daughters (N = 78) to ascertain what diagnosed women share (or do not share) with their mother/daughter and their reasons.

Results

Diagnosed women reporting more open mother‐daughter bonds had better relational health (r = .730,P < .001). Those who engaged in more avoidant coping reported poorer physical health (r = −.431,P = .01). Mothers and daughters talked about treatment side effects and procedures, disease risk and prevention, and medical decisions. They avoided discussions about distressing emotions and topics as well as uncertainty about the future. Motivations to disclose/avoid centered on protecting themselves and/or their mother/daughter. Qualitative findings illustrate the tension between openness and avoidance. Developmental differences and relational role perspectives illustrate women's diverse needs.

Conclusions

A history of openness is linked with relational health, but coping is not as simple as “be open.” Both openness/avoidance are helpful and unhelpful depending on age, topic, and responses.
Does a peer‐led exercise intervention affect sedentary behavior among breast cancer survivors?
Authors: Pinto Bernardine , Dunsiger Shira , Stein Kevin
Published: August 2016

Objective

Sedentary behavior is recognized as an independent risk factor for chronic diseases. Cancer survivors report high levels of sedentary behavior. In secondary analyses, we examined the effects of an exercise intervention on sedentary behavior (sitting time) among breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Seventy‐six breast cancer survivors (mean age = 55.62 y, mean 1.1 y since diagnosis) were randomized to receive either a 12‐week telephone‐delivered exercise intervention from peer volunteers or a contact control condition. The intervention did not specifically address sitting time. Participants' sedentary behavior was assessed for 7 days at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks via self‐report and objective measurement (accelerometer).

Results

At baseline, our sample reported sitting for 7.75 hours/day (10.98 h/d by accelerometer data). Spearman rank correlations showed significant positive correlations at baseline between sitting time measured by self‐report and accelerometer (ρ = 0.37; P = .002) in the entire sample. There were no significant changes over time within group nor were there any significant intervention effects on sitting time (self‐report and objective) at 12 and 24 weeks (all P's > .05).

Conclusions

An exercise intervention that did not focus specifically on sitting time did not affect sedentary behavior among breast cancer survivors. Intervention components that specifically target sitting behavior are needed to reduce this risk behavior among survivors.
Carboxylic ester hydrolases: Classification and database derived from their primary, secondary, and tertiary structures
Authors: Chen Yingfei , Black Daniel S. , Reilly Peter J.
Published: August 2016

We classified the carboxylic ester hydrolases (CEHs) into families and clans by use of multiple sequence alignments, secondary structure analysis, and tertiary structure superpositions. Our work for the first time has fully established their systematic structural classification. Family members have similar primary, secondary, and tertiary structures, and their active sites and reaction mechanisms are conserved. Families may be gathered into clans by their having similar secondary and tertiary structures, even though primary structures of members of different families are not similar. CEHs were gathered from public databases by use of Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) and divided into 91 families, with 36 families being grouped into five clans. Members of one clan have standard α/β‐hydrolase folds, while those of other two clans have similar folds but with different sequences of their β‐strands. The other two clans have members with six‐bladed β‐propeller and three‐α‐helix bundle tertiary structures. Those families not in clans have a large variety of structures or have no members with known structures. At the time of writing, the 91 families contained 321,830 primary structures and 1378 tertiary structures. From these data, we constructed an accessible database: CASTLE (CArboxylic eSTer hydroLasEs, http://www.castle.cbe.iastate.edu).
Back Cover: Exchange bias at low fields exhibited by the interface between epitaxial layers of ferromagnetic and charge‐ordered rare‐earth manganites (Phys. Status Solidi RRL 8/2016)
Authors: Saha Rana , Vasu K. , Negi D. S. , Datta R. , Sundaresan A. , Rao C. N. R.
Published: August 2016

No abstract is available for this article.
Characterization of metformin by‐products under photolysis, photocatalysis, ozonation and chlorination by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to high‐resolution mass spectrometry
Authors: Quintão Frederico Jehár Oliveira , Freitas Julia Raquel Lino , de Fátima Machado Célia , Aquino Sérgio Francisco , de Queiroz Silva Silvana , de Cássia Franco Afonso Robson José
Published: August 2016

Rationale

Metformin (MTF) is the most widely prescribed drug for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. Studies involving the removal of MTF from aqueous solutions and detailed information regarding the overall degradation process are scarce.

Methods

The degradation of MTF in aqueous solution induced by direct photolysis, photocatalysis, ozonation and chlorination was evaluated. The process was continuously monitored focusing on the identification and monitoring of the by‐products formed by applying high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to high‐resolution mass spectrometry in positive ion mode. The cytotoxicity of metformin by‐products was evaluated with an MTT assay.

Results

The results from the chlorination and ozonation tests indicate metformin removal efficiencies of 60% after 30 min of exposure. On the other hand, direct photolysis (UV‐C) and heterogeneous photocatalysis (TiO2/UV‐C) led to a lower degree of metformin degradation, with removal efficiencies of 9.2% and 31%, respectively, after 30 min of exposure. The mineralization rates varied from 20% for ozonation to 0.72% for photolysis, thereby indicating there was accumulation of degradation by‐products in all experiments. Mass spectrometric analysis indicated the presence of five metformin by‐products. It was not possible to identify any by‐product generated in the photolysis, and, in all oxidative assays, the treated samples were nontoxic to HepG2 cells.

Conclusions

It is also observed that all systems exhibited low mineralization rates, with the chlorination process being slightly more efficient in promoting the degradation, whereas the ozonation was more efficient in promoting the mineralization of metformin. Based on these results a route for the chlorination, photodegradation and ozonation of MTF, which comprised of its successive oxidation in the aqueous medium, could be proposed. It could also be concluded that the treated samples were not cytotoxic to HepG2 cells in a MTT assay. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface modification and characterization of carbon black by sodium lignosulphonate
Authors: Li Shourui , Liu Shouchao , Fu Zhiwei , Li Qiuying , Wu Chifei , Guo Weihong
Published: August 2016

Carbon black (CB) was encapsulated by the sodium lignosulphonate via the strong π–π* interaction force of aromatic ring in the planetary ball milling instrument. The use of new surfactant and ball milling instrument met the requirements about the low‐cost standard and provided an important sense to industrialization in comparison with the old surfactant, the poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate). The successful encapsulation was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. Encapsulation ratio of the modified CB increased to 15.9% when CB was prepared at longer milling time and with agate balls in different size. The morphology and dispersibility of samples studied by transmission electron microscope, sedimentation experiment and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy showed that the modified CB dispersed stably in the deionized water. The average diameter and absolute value of zeta potential of the modified CB decreased and increased compared with those of CB, respectively, which confirmed further that sodium lignosulphonate encapsulated on the surface of CB make CB disperse better. In addition, the average diameter and zeta potential of the samples were affected by ball milling conditions. The modified CB prepared at longer milling time and with different sizes of agate balls had better dispersibility than the ones prepared at shorter milling time and with same size of agate balls. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating the Economic Effects of Flat Tax Reforms Using Synthetic Control Methods
Authors: Adhikari Bibek , Alm James
Published: August 2016

Tax reforms are often motivated by their potential to improve economic performance. However, their actual impacts are difficult to quantify. We analyze the impact of flat tax reform on incomes using “synthetic control” methods. We identify the eight Eastern and Central European countries that adopted flat tax systems between 1994 and 2005, and then compare post‐reform GDP per capita of “treated” countries with a convex combination of similar but “untreated” countries, while accounting for the time‐varying impact of unobservable heterogeneity. We find positive impacts in all eight countries, with seven out of eight cases significant at the conventional level.
Exposure to an environmentally relevant mixture of organochlorine compounds and polychlorinated biphenyls Promotes hepatic steatosis in male Ob/Ob mice
Authors: Mulligan Charlee , Kondakala Sandeep , Yang Eun‐Ju , Stokes John V. , Stewart James A. , Kaplan Barbara L. F. , Howell George E.
Published: August 2016

Hepatic steatosis is recognized as an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. While obesity and type 2 diabetes are well‐established risk factors in the development of hepatic steatosis, recent studies have revealed exposure to mixtures of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are environmental contaminants in various fatty foods, can promote steatosis. Thus, the present study was designed to determine if exposure to a defined mixture of prevalent polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine (OC) pesticides or their metabolites promote hepatic steatosis in a genetically induced model of type 2 diabetes, the leptin‐deficient ob/ob mouse. Male C57BL/6J wild type (WT) or ob/ob mice were administered an environmentally relevant mixture of PCBs and OCs for 7 weeks via oral gavage. Exposure to POPs did not significantly alter fasting serum glucose or insulin levels. However, POPs exposure significantly increased hepatic triglyceride content in ob/ob animals, while decreasing serum triglyceride levels. This POPs‐mediated increase in hepatic triglyceride content did not appear to be associated with significantly increased inflammation in either the liver or adipose. Exposure to POPs significantly induced the expression of cytochrome P450 3a11 in WT animals, yet the expression of this cytochrome was significantly downregulated in ob/ob animals regardless of POPs exposure. Taken together, the present data indicate exposure to an environmentally relevant mixture of both PCBs and OC pesticides in ob/ob mice promotes hepatic steatosis while decreasing hypertriglyceridemia, which demonstrates exposure to a defined mixture of POPs alters systemic lipid metabolism in a genetically induced model of obesity and type 2 diabetes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1399–1411, 2017.
Calibrating minimum counts and catch‐per‐unit‐effort as indices of moose population trend
Authors: DeCesare Nicholas J. , Newby Jesse R. , Boccadori Vanna J. , Chilton‐Radandt Tonya , Thier Tim , Waltee Dean , Podruzny Kevin , Gude Justin A.
Published: August 2016

Monitoring wildlife population trends often involves indices assumed to correlate in proportion to abundance. We used aerial count data and harvest statistics for moose (Alces alces) populations in 16 hunting districts of Montana, USA, spanning 32 years (1983–2014) to assess population trends, drivers of uncertainty about those trends, and the relationship between aerial counts and hunter catch‐per‐unit‐effort (CPUE). We found a great deal of statistical uncertainty surrounding population trends of moose measured with aerial minimum‐count data, despite time series averaging >15 annual counts/district. State‐space models of count‐based trends suggested declining populations in 11 of 16 districts, yet 95% credible intervals overlapped 0 in all cases. The precision of count‐based trends improved with increases in the number of years spanned by the time series (β = −0.003, P < 0.001) and average number of moose counted per survey (β = −0.0006, P = 0.002). Calibration of CPUE with count data showed positive correlations in only 5 of 16 (31%) districts and a catchability exponent (β) significantly <1. This indicated a generally poor level of agreement between these 2 indices, and evidence of “hyperstability,” wherein declines measured by aerial counts were not reflected by proportionate declines in CPUE. Additionally, long‐term trends measured with CPUE were not correlated to those in aerial counts (P = 0.61). We encourage explicit attention to the precision of trend estimates and local calibration of population indices to ensure both positive and proportionate relationships to underlying patterns of abundance. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.
Effects of co‐overexpression of secretion helper factors on the secretion of a HSA fusion protein (IL2‐HSA) in pichia pastoris
Authors: Guan Bo , Chen Fengxiang , Su Shuai , Duan Zuoying , Chen Yun , Li Huazhong , Jin Jian
Published: August 2016

Pichia pastoris is generally considered as an expression host for heterologous proteins with the coding gene under control of the alcohol oxidase 1 (AOX1) promoter. The secretion of heterologous proteins in P. pastoris can be potentially affected by many factors. Based on our previous results, the secretion levels of human albumin (HSA) fusion protein IL2‐HSA were only around 500 mg/L or less in fermentor cultures, which decreased more than 50% compared with that of HSA (>1 g/L). In this study, we selected five potential secretion helper factors, in which Ero1, Pdi1 and Kar2 were involved in protein folding and Sec1 and Sly1 were involved in vesicle trafficking. We evaluated the possible effects of individual overexpression of these secretion helper factors on the secretion of IL2‐HSA in P. pastoris. Constitutive overexpression of the five selected secretion factors did not have an obvious negative effect on cell growth of the IL2‐HSA secreting strain. Individual co‐overexpression of Ero1, Kar2, Pdi1, Sec1 and Sly1 improved the secretion level of IL2‐HSA to ~2.3‐, 1.9‐, 2.2‐, 2.5‐ and 1.9‐fold that in the control strain respectively in shake flasks. We evaluated the changes in mRNA and protein levels of the intracellular IL2‐HSA, as well as the secretion helper factor genes in the co‐overexpressing strains. Our results indicated that manipulating the expression level of ER resident protein Pdi1, Ero1, Kar2 and SM protein Sec1 and Sly1 could improve the secretion level of IL2‐HSA fusion protein in P. pastoris, which provided new candidates for combinatorial engineering in future study. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rating a Sports Medicine Surgeon's “Quality” in the Modern Era: An Analysis of Popular Physician Online Rating Websites
Authors: Nwachukwu Benedict U. , Adjei Joshua , Trehan Samir K. , Chang Brenda , Amoo-Achampong Kelms , Nguyen Joseph T. , Taylor Samuel A. , McCormick Frank , Ranawat Anil S.
Published: August 2016

Background

Consumer-driven healthcare and an increasing emphasis on quality metrics have encouraged patient engagement in the rating of healthcare. As such, online physician rating websites have become mainstream and may play a potential role in future healthcare policy.

Questions/Purposes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate online patient ratings for US sports medicine surgeons, determine predictors of positive ratings and analyze for inter-website scoring correlation.

Methods

The American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) member directory was sampled. Surgeon demographic and rating data were searched on three online physicians rating websites: HealthGrades.com (HG), RateMDs.com (RM) and Vitals.com (V). Written rating comments were categorized as relating to the following: surgeon competence, surgeon affability and process of care. Bivariate linear regression, Pearson correlation and multivariable analyses were used to determine factors associated with positive ratings.

Results

Two hundred seventy-five sports medicine surgeons were included. Two hundred seventy-one (99%) had ratings on at least one of the three websites. Sports surgeons were rated highly across all three websites (mean >4.0/5); however, there was only a low to moderate degree of correlation among websites. On HG, female surgeons and surgeons in academia were more likely to receive higher overall ratings. Across all three websites, increased number of years in practice inversely correlated with ratings; this relationship neared significance for HG and was significant for RM. A surgeon's online presence or geographic location was not associated with higher ratings. In multivariable regression analysis for ratings on HG, female sex was the only significant predictor of higher ratings. Two thousand three hundred forty-one written comments were analyzed: perceived surgeon competence and communication influenced the direction of ratings for the top and bottom tier surgeons.

Conclusion

There was a low degree of correlation among online websites for surgeon ratings. Female surgeons and those with fewer years in practice appear to have higher ratings on these websites; comment content analysis suggests that high and low ratings are influenced by perceived surgeon competence and affability.
Stand By Me – Flexible and Holistic Support for Young Care Leavers: Smoothing Transitions from Care
Authors: Purtell Jade , Mendes Philip
Published: August 2016

Young people placed in out-of-home care (OHC) through Child Protection in Victoria are formally discharged by the expiration of their care order at the age of 18 years or younger. In contrast, young people in Australia generally live in their family home with parents or carers well into their twenties. Whilst there are a range of leaving care and post-care services funded for care leavers, these supports tend to be temporary and discretionary in contrast to the ongoing support young people receive whilst in care or, in some cases, from family and social networks post care. Numerous studies have documented the developmental challenges experienced by young people leaving state care, and the often poor outcomes faced by this group. The Stand By Me (SBM) programme was developed in Victoria to replicate the ongoing support provided in the UK to care leavers by Personal Advisers who remain available to assist young people until 21 years of age. Evaluation of the SBM programme has shown that ongoing, holistic support, including housing support, has assisted 12 young people through the SBM pilot to access stable housing, address multiple and complex issues, and form trusting relationships with SBM workers that contribute to positive outcomes.
Establishing Adoption as a Route Out of Care in New South Wales: A Commentary
Authors: Ainsworth Frank , Hansen Patricia
Published: August 2016

Over the last 25 years (1990–2015), the number of adoptions of children (and young persons) in Australia declined from 1,142 to 292 (25.5 %). Of the 292 adoptions that took place in 2014–15, 83 (28%) were inter country adoptions, with the remaining 209 (72 %) adoptions of Australian children. Very few of the adoptions of Australian children were in New South Wales. In amendments in 2014 to the New South Wales Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 and the Adoptions Act 2000, a new emphasis on ‘open’ adoption was introduced. The focus of these amendments is on adoption of children who are in foster care where the New South Wales Children's Court has ruled that there is no realistic possibility of restoration of the child to parental care. This article is about the implementation of this new legislative emphasis on adoption. It does not examine the benefit or otherwise of adoption for children who cannot be safely restored to parental care as this issue has been extensively canvassed elsewhere. This article also highlights the US and English experience of adoption from care in order to place the New South Wales development in perspective. The article concludes with discussion of the issues adoption raises for the parents of a child who is being considered for adoption from care.
Combined Free and Forced Convection Couette-Hartmann Flow in a Rotating Channel with Arbitrary Conducting Walls and Hall Effects
Authors: Seth G. S. , Sarkar S. , Makinde O. D.
Published: August 2016

Combined free and forced convection Couette-Hartmann flow of a viscous, incompressible and electrically conducting fluid in rotating channel with arbitrary conducting walls in the presence of Hall current is investigated. Boundary conditions for magnetic field and expressions for shear stresses at the walls and mass flow rate are derived. Asymptotic analysis of solution for large values of rotation and magnetic parameters is performed to highlight nature of modified Ekmann and Hartmann boundary layers. Numerical solution of non-linear energy equation and rate of heat transfer at the walls are computed with the help of MATHEMATICA. It is found that velocity depends on wall conductance ratio of moving wall and on the sum of wall conductance ratios of both the walls of channel. There arises reverse flow in the secondary flow direction near central region of the channel due to thermal buoyancy force. Thermal buoyancy force, rotation, Hall current and wall conductance ratios resist primary fluid velocity whereas thermal buoyancy force and Hall current favor secondary fluid velocity in the region near lower wall of the channel. Magnetic field favors both the primary and secondary fluid velocities in the region near lower wall of the channel.
Improved B-Spline Skinning Approach for Design of Hawt Blade Mold Surfaces
Authors: Hosseini S. F. , Moetakef-Imani B.
Published: August 2016

The intricate 3D design of wind turbine blades has caused unwanted problems for blade designers and blade mold manufacturers. For example the cord length variation and twisting of airfoils, change of the airfoil type and the blade pre-bend can introduce major geometric complications. A novel method is suggested to improve 3D modeling of the blade mold surfaces as well as the required parting lines during the design process of the wind turbine blade. In the proposed algorithm, the blade leading edge surface is trimmed by parting lines calculated based on the blade silhouette while keeping G1 continuity of resulting surfaces. The Minimum Variation Surface (MVS) and strain energy fairing criteria approve that blade mold surfaces obtained by the developed method have better fairness compared to the surface created by the well-established design method. All programs are written in MATLAB and the final surfaces are converted into the standard IGES file format which is importable into any commercial CAD/CAM system.
Thermal Analyses of LED Light Bars and Backlight Modules
Authors: Tsai M.-Y. , Tang C.-Y. , Zheng C.-E. , Tsai Y.-Y. , Chen C.-H.
Published: August 2016

The effects of various parameters, such as thermal properties of substrates, thermal interface materials (TIMs) and heat sinks on the thermal performance of the light emitting diode (LED) light bars and backlight module are investigated experimentally and numerically in terms of junction temperature (Tj) and thermal resistances from junction to air (Rj-a). The results show that the measured Rj-a of the light bars by powering-on five LEDs in the test is different from one by powering-on only one LED, resulting from the extra heat coming from the adjacent LED packages affecting the Tj for the case of powering-on five LEDs. For the modules, Rj-a is significantly reduced by using the heat sinks for all backlight modules, and aluminum and iron heat sinks do not show any obvious difference in heat dissipation along with any substrates and TIMs. Furthermore, both experimental and simulation results show that the thermal conductivity of the substrates are more important and dominant than TIM and heat sink for the Rj-a of the backlight modules concerned, and also demonstrate that the thermal field for the local model can represent the one in full-scale backlight module.
Defending the status quo across venues and coalitions: evidence from California interest groups
Authors: Varone Frédéric , Ingold Karin , Jourdain Charlotte
Published: August 2016

This study investigates the conditions under which pro-status quo groups increase their advocacy success during an entire policymaking process. It scrutinises whether pro-status quo defenders who are involved in multiple institutional venues and who join many coalitions of interest groups are able to achieve their policy preferences. A case study focussing on the regulation of stem cell research in California traces the policymaking process and the related advocacy activities of interest groups in legislative, administrative, judicial and direct democratic venues. The empirical results, which are based on a formal social network analysis, reveal that very few groups are multivenue players and members of several coalitions. In addition, occupying a central network position is insufficient for the pro-status quo groups to improve their advocacy success.
Reliability analysis for mutative topology structure multi-AUV cooperative system based on interactive Markov chains model
Authors: Liang Qingwei , Sun Tianyuan , Shi Liang
Published: August 2016

In the real practice of multi-AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) cooperative systems, tasks or malfunctions will change the topology. The process of mutative topology structure will affect the reliability of multi-AUV cooperative system. The interactive Markov chains model, which is an intercurrent model of functional action and capability index, is selected to reflect the reliability of topology-changed multi-AUV cooperative systems. In this model, multi-AUV cooperative systems are described by the conception—“Action”. The concept of “action transfer” is used to describe the topology-changed multi-AUV cooperative system, and model checking is used to solve the interactive Markov chains, giving the probability of reliability within a certain time for the system. The result shows that the method proposed in this paper has a practical value.
PROMISE AND PLAUSIBILITY: HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION DECISIONS WITH LIMITED EVIDENCE
Authors: Campbell Bruce , Knox Paul
Published: August 2016

Background: The adoption of new medical devices and diagnostics is often hampered by lack of published evidence which makes conventional health technology assessment (HTA) difficult. We now have 5 years’ experience of the Medical Technologies Advisory Committee of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom, addressing this problem. This committee assesses devices and diagnostics against claims of advantage, to produce guidance on adoption for the health service.

Methods: We have reflected on the practical, technical, and intellectual processes we have used in developing guidance for the health service.

Results: When scientific and clinical evidence is sparse, promise and plausibility play an increased part in decision-making. Drivers of promise include a clear design and mechanism of action, the possibility of radical improvement in care and/or resource use, and improving health outcomes for large numbers of patients. Plausibility relates to judgements about the whether the promise is likely to be delivered in a “real world” setting. Promise and plausibility need to be balanced against the amount of evidence available. We examine the influence they may have on decision-making compared with other factors such as risk and cost.

Conclusions: Decisions about adoption of new devices and diagnostics with little evidence are influenced by judgements of their promise and the plausibility of claims that they will provide benefits in a real-world setting. This kind of decision making needs to be transparent and this article explains how these influences can be balanced against the use of more familiar criteria.
Differences in topographic and soil habitat specialization between trees and two understorey plant groups in a Costa Rican lowland rain forest
Authors: Jones Mirkka M. , Ruokolainen Kalle , Llerena Martinez Nelly C. , Tuomisto Hanna
Published: August 2016

Two core questions in plant community ecology are to what extent the distributions of species are structured by local environmental conditions, and whether taxa differ in this regard. We compared the distributions of trees, Melastomataceae and ferns on soil and topographic gradients in a Costa Rican lowland rain forest (trees and ferns 983 plots, Melastomataceae 277 plots). To test whether these plant groups differed in the prevalence or type of habitat specialization, we calculated species’ environmental optima and tolerances on each gradient. Habitat specialization was defined as a significantly biased optimum, or a narrow tolerance, relative to values obtained under spatially restricted randomizations of species occurrences. Within plant groups, we also asked whether the dispersion of species optima differed from random expectation on each gradient. Fern optima were over-dispersed on multiple gradients, implying considerable interspecific habitat partitioning, and tree optima were over-dispersed in relation to topographic position. Habitat specialization was more prevalent in the two predominantly understorey groups than in trees (75% of Melastomataceae species, 81–87% of ferns, 57–58% of trees). Species optima of Melastomataceae and ferns also tended towards lower landscape positions than did those of trees, perhaps reflecting a higher proportion of drought-sensitive species in these two groups.