bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Importance of Opening Moves in Classroom Interaction
Authors: Aisyah Ginting Siti
Published: December 2017

The analysis of classroom interaction is very important in teaching learning process in order to reach the learning objectives. The purpose of this study was to describe the types of opening moves used by the teacher through the learning process. The research was carried out in Senior High School. The design of the research was descriptive qualitative. The data were collected by observing and recording the teacher’s utterances during teaching learning process. The data were analyzed based on Sinclair and Coulthard (1975). The result of the study shows that elicitation and bound types were the dominant ones and followed by re-initiation (i), re-initiation (ii), direct, repeat, inform, listing, and check.  One of the opening moves was not applied; it was reinforce. In conclusion, the teacher used all of the types of opening moves but the main focus was in elicitation in the classroom interaction.
Improving English Speaking Fluency: The Role of Six Factors
Authors: Shahini Gholamhossein , Shahamirian Fatemeh
Published: December 2017

This qualitative study, using an open interview, set out to investigate the roles six factors, including age, university education, teachers of English Language institutes, teaching English, dictionary, and note-taking, played in improving English speaking fluency of seventeen fluent Iranian EFL speakers. The participants were chosen purposefully based on the speaking scale of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). The findings indicated that early age had a great impact on the participants’ speaking fluency. They mentioned that they could not pick up fluency if they had started learning English at older ages. Moreover, university education had no effect on enhancing their fluency. They stated that not having enough opportunities to speak English in classrooms, being exposed to wrong amounts of input from their classmates or even from some university instructors, having no access to English native speakers in English Language Departments, professors’ talking in native language out of classes, in their offices or even sometimes in classes all led to their losing motivation after entering the university. In contrast, teachers in English language institutes had a supportive role in increasing the participants’ English learning. Although two participants quit teaching English since it had a negative influence on their speaking, it had a positive impact on improving speaking ability of the rest. And finally, fruitful strategies were suggested on how to use dictionaries and note-takings.
On Distributional Features of Adverbial Modifier of Manner in Typologically Different Languages: A Case Study
Authors: Gahraman Mirzayeva Intizar
Published: December 2017

The study aims to analyze the distributional features of adverbial modifier of manner in two languages that are typologically and genealogically different: English and Azerbaijani. Although the issue has been focused in these languages separately from various angles including semantic, syntactic and prosodic perspectives, there is a gap in the domain of comparative studies. In this regard, syntax is of special importance. Syntactic analysis reveals that in the both languages sentence members are not distributed randomly. In other words, their distribution within the sentence is regulated by certain rules. Each of the sentence members, entering the sentence structure in the syntagmatic order, establishing coordination with sentence members coming before or after it, turns to the bearer of the intended semantic or grammatical functions. Analyses of grammatical forms of the sentences in the English and Azerbaijani sentences show that alongside the universal features which are common for the grammatical forms in sentences of each language, these languages possess distinctive features as well.
Classroom Interaction in Teaching English as Foreign Language at Lower Secondary Schools in Indonesia
Authors: Sundari Hanna
Published: December 2017

The aim of this study was to develop a deep understanding of interaction in language classroom in foreign language context. Interviews, as major instrument, to twenty experienced English language teachers from eight lower secondary schools (SMP) were conducted in Jakarta, completed by focus group discussions and class observation/recordings. The gathered data was analyzed according to systematic design of grounded theory analysis method through 3-phase coding. A model of classroom interaction was formulated defining several dimensions in interaction. Classroom interaction can be more comprehended under the background of interrelated factors: interaction practices, teacher and student factors, learning objectives, materials, classroom contexts, and outer contexts surrounding the interaction practices. The developed model of interaction for language classroom is notably to give deep descriptions on how interaction substantially occurs and what factors affect it in foreign language classrooms at lower secondary schools from teachers’ perspectives.
Application of Interpersonal Meaning in Hillary’s and Trump’s Election Speeches
Authors: Ping Kuang , Lingling Liu
Published: December 2017

Presidential election speeches, as one significant part of western political life, deserve people’s attention. This paper focuses on the use of interpersonal meaning in political speeches. The nine texts selected from the Internet are analyzed from the perspectives of mood, modality, personal pronoun and tense system based on the theory of Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar. It aims to study the way how interpersonal meaning is realized through language by making the contrastive analysis of the speeches given by Hillary and Trump. After making a minute analysis, the paper comes to the following conclusions: (1) As for mood, Trump and Hillary mainly employ the declarative to deliver messages and make statements, and imperative is used to motivate the audiences and narrow the gap between the candidates and the audiences, and interrogative is to make the audiences concentrate on the content of the speeches. (2) With respect to the modality system, the median modal operator holds the dominant position in both Trump’s and Hillary’s speeches to make the speeches less aggressive. In this aspect, Trump does better than Hillary. (3) In regard to personal pronoun, the plural form of first personal pronoun is mainly employed by the two candidates to close the relationship with audiences. (4) Regards to tense system, simple present tense are mostly used to establish the intimacy of the audiences and the candidates. Then two influential factors are discussed. One is their personal background and the other is their language levels. This paper is helpful for people to deeply understand the two candidates’ language differences.
Promoting Intercultural Competence of Thai University Students through Role-Play
Authors: Worawong Kanoknate , Charttrakul Kanjana , Damnet Anamai
Published: December 2017

The current situation of international communication in globalization context requires intercultural competence (IC) to achieve successful communication (Crystal, 2003). Concerning this intercultural competence, non-verbal communication (NVC) plays a key role to indicate the success of having intercultural competence. On the other hand, Thai Ministry of Education (MOE) has launched the CEFR for the country policy in English teaching and learning (Ministry of Education, 2016). The purpose of this paper is to present major results of an investigation of intercultural competence, that is, the NVC. An innovative program implemented in this study is the CEFR and project- based activities (the CEFR-PBA). The study also examines Thai university students’ attitude towards this innovative class. This paper discusses the IC students learned from role-plays. The participants of the study were 44 students of third year English Education at a Thai Rajabhat University. Research method applies action research (Burns, 1999) and case study (Yin, Case Study Research: Design and Method, 2003). Data collection gained was from 1) videotape recordings of students’ role-play, and 2) the questionnaire. Data analysis for video recordings employed a NVC rating scale evaluated by native-speaker raters; while means, percentage, and SD were used for the questionnaire. Grounded theory’s color coding (Strauss & Cobin, 1990) will be utilized in analyzing the qualitative data from raters’ additional comment. Findings revealed students’ NVC performance were both appropriate on body movement and position as well as vocalic communication. Moreover, their attitude towards the CEFR-PBA was positive.
Enhancing the Students’ Positive Attitude in Learning Business English by Using Technology
Authors: Agustina Lia
Published: December 2017

Many research findings have stated that the use of technology in EFL classroom results invaluable achievements and develops positive attitudes. Technology may integrate sounds, pictures, motions, and colors that figure out a natural picture of real life. The aim of the study was to enhance the students’ attitude toward learning English by using technology of internet that used as the data-finding resources while computer software used as an instrument to do the assigned project. The instruction was performed in a project simulating business meeting, done in a group of seven members. The study was an action research using a total of 52 students from Accounting Department of State Polytechnic of Malang in the year of 2015/2016. The study took 12 meetings, with 90 minutes for each meeting. The data were collected through interviews, questionnaire, and direct observation, pre-test and post-test. Result of the study showed that by using technology, the students’ positive attitude toward learning English was promoted.
Needs Analysis in ESP Context: Saudi Engineering Students as a Case Study
Authors: Ahmed Alsamadani Hashem
Published: December 2017

Needs analysis can be a vital asset for teachers of English for specific purposes (ESP) to identify their learners’ key requirements or needs and determine the areas in which they are lacking skills. Against this background, this study was undertaken during the academic year 2015-16 to define the English language needs of engineering students (N= 200) majoring in civil engineering and industrial engineering. The data of this study was collected from different sources, including a classroom observation protocol, a questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview with both ESP and subject-matter teachers (SM) at Umm Al-Qura University. Results of the data analysis offered significant insights as to the teaching of ESP course. The study revealed that receptive skills (i.e., reading and listening) were mostly focused on in ESP classes. It has been also reported that writing and reading along with speaking skills were needed more than others. The data analysis helped to determine the most important language tasks in the context of engineering studies. Finally, a call was being made by both ESP and SM teachers to enhance the quality of the ESP course taught to engineering students by offering relevant suggestions. Based on these findings, the present study concluded with implications for course designers and recommendations for future studies.
The treatment of Indigenous Languages in Kenya’s Pre- and Post-independent Education Commissions and in the Constitution of 2010
Authors: Njoroge Martin C. , Gatambuki Gathigia Moses
Published: December 2017

An indigenous or community language is the language that nurtures the child in the early years of his or her life. The UNESCO land mark publication in 1953 underscores the importance of educating children in their community languages: an education that is packaged in a language which the child does not understand is simply difficult for the child. Kenya has had a number of education commissions that significantly address the place of indigenous languages in a child’s education. Further, Kenya Constitution on its part tackles language issues too. This paper, therefore, examines how the Constitution and the various colonial and post-colonial educational commissions that have been undertaken in Kenya treat indigenous languages. Should these indigenous languages be used as a medium of instruction? What are their benefits to a child’s life? To answer these questions, the historical method of study which utilizes mainly secondary and primary sources of data is adopted. The main sources of primary data which form the basis of the discussion and analysis in the paper are Kenya’s constitution (2010) and the educational commissions and reports in the two epochs: colonial and post-colonial periods. The main sources of secondary data scrutinized include: written documents such as books, journals and newspapers. The paper notes that the various educational commissions contain numerous recommendations that have informed Kenya’s education sector over the years on the way indigenous languages should be utilized for both individual and national development. This notwithstanding, the paper concludes that indigenous languages in Kenya have been given a short shrift to the advantage of English language hegemony. The paper proposes a sound implementation of the commissions’ recommendations in order to revitalize indigenous languages so that a Kenyan learner can reap benefits that accrue from the use of indigenous languages in education.
Prosody as a Tool for Assessing Reading Fluency of Adult ESL Students
Authors: Evina Sinambela Seftirina
Published: December 2017

The prosodic features in reading aloud assignment has been associated with the students’ decoding skill. The goal of the present study is to determine the reliability of prosody for assessing reading fluency of adult ESL students in Indonesia context. The participants were all Indonesian natives, undergraduate students, adult females and males who have learned English in school (at the very least twice a week) for more than 12 years. Text reading prosody was assessed by reading aloud task and the students’ speaking manner was taped and measured by using the Multidimensional Fluency Scale, as for text comprehension was assessed with a standardized test. It was discovered by the current study that prosody is a reliable sign to determine reading fluency and also reading comprehension. The student who did not read the text prosodically (with appropriate expression) actually showed that he/she failed to comprehend the text. This study also revealed that a struggling reader was also having low comprehension capacity in listening spoken texts. The ESL students’ common problems to acquire prosodic reading skill are low exposure to the target language and do not have a good model to imitate prosodic reading.
Opposition in the Language of Representation and Undecidability of Pronouns in William Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Authors: Hamidizadeh Parisa , Mahmoudi Yazdan
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this study is to consider the undecidability of pronouns in William Shakespeare’s sonnet sequence. In sonnet 53 of Shakespeare’s sonnet sequence it is not clear that whether the beloved is male or female, because the beloved has affinity to both men and women: “And you, but one, can every shadow lend/Describe Adonis, and the counterfeit/Is poorly imitated after you/On Helen's cheek all art of beauty set” (53. 4-7). In fact, in sonnet 53 the beloved has been likened both to Adonis who is a male character and to Helen that is female. Therefore, the speaker of sonnets uses pronouns in a very confusing manner that causes confusion for the reader in differentiating between male and female pronouns, because in some sonnets a reversal takes place in the reference point of the pronouns. Even in some of these sonnets it is never clear whether the pronoun “he” refers to a male subject or object, or whether the pronoun “she” is referring to male object. Important examples of this claim are sonnets 20 and 127. In sonnet 20, for example, the speaker tells the addressee that “A woman's face with nature's own hand painted/Hast thou, the master mistress of my passion/A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted/With shifting change, as is false women's fashion” (20.1-4).
Electron‐Transport‐Layer‐Assisted Crystallization of Perovskite Films for High‐Efficiency Planar Heterojunction Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Ying‐Chiao , Chang Junwei , Zhu Liping , Li Xiaodong , Song Changjian , Fang Junfeng
Published: December 2017

Crystal engineering of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite materials through template‐directed nucleation and growth on PbI2 nuclei dispersed in a polar fullerene (C60 pyrrolidine tris‐acid, CPTA) electron transport layer (ETL) (CPTA:PbI2) is proposed as a route for controlling crystallization kinetics and grain sizes. Chemical analysis of the CPTA:PbI2 template confirms that CPTA carboxylic acid groups can form a monodentate or bidentate chelate with Pb(II), resulting in a lower nucleation barrier that promotes rapid formation of the tetragonal perovskite phase. Moreover, it is demonstrated that a uniform CH3NH3PbI3 film with highly crystalline and large domain sizes can be realized by increasing the spacing between nuclei to retard perovskite crystal growth via careful control of the preferred nucleation site distribution in the CPTA:PbI2 layer. The improved perovskite morphology possesses a long photoluminescence lifetime and efficient photocarrier transport/separation properties to eliminate the hysteresis effect. The corresponding planar heterojunction photovoltaic yields a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.20%, with a high fill factor (FF) of 81.13%. The average PCE and FF values for 30 devices are 19.03% ± 0.57% and 78.67% ± 2.13%, respectively. The results indicate that this ETL template‐assisted crystallization strategy can be applied to other organometal halide perovskite‐based systems.
N‐Arylated Sulfoximines as Cross‐Coupling Building Blocks
Authors: Bachon Anne‐Katrin , Steinkamp Anne‐Dorothee , Bolm Carsten
Published: December 2017

The application of borylated N‐aryl sulfoximines as newly designed synthetic building blocks in Suzuki‐type cross coupling reactions offers rapid access to a wide range of N‐biaryl derivatives with potential relevance for medicinal chemistry and crop protection in good to excellent yields (up to 98%).

magnified image
Mono‐Substituted Hydrocarbon Diastereomer Combinations Reveal Stapled Peptides with High Structural Fidelity
Authors: McWhinnie Fergus S. , Sepp Kristel , Wilson Charlotte , Kunath Tilo , Hupp Ted R. , Baker Terry S. , Houston Douglas R. , Hulme Alison N.
Published: December 2017

Modified peptides, such as stapled peptides, which replicate the structure of α‐helical protein segments, represent a potential therapeutic advance. However, the 3D solution structure of these stapled peptides is rarely explored beyond the acquisition of circular dichroism (CD) data to quantify bulk peptide helicity; the detailed backbone structure, which underlies this, is typically undefined. Diastereomeric stapled peptides based on helical sections of three proteins (αSyn, Cks1 and CK1α) were generated; their overall helicity was quantified by CD; and the most helical peptide from each series was selected for structural analysis. Solution‐phase models for the optimised peptides were generated using NMR‐derived restraints and a modified CHARMM22 force field. Comparing these models with PDB structures allowed deviation between the stapled peptides and critical helical regions to be evaluated. These studies demonstrate that CD alone is not sufficient to assess the structural fidelity of a stapled peptide.
Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Stemonamine and Its Stereochemical Stability
Authors: Fujita Satoshi , Nishikawa Keisuke , Iwata Takayuki , Tomiyama Taishi , Ikenaga Hiroshi , Matsumoto Kenji , Shindo Mitsuru
Published: December 2017

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (−)‐stemonamine is described. The key reactions included intramolecular acylation to construct the seven‐membered ring and a tandem [2+2] cycloaddition‐Dieckmann condensation reaction using an ynolate to form the fully substituted cyclopentenone moiety. Racemization and epimerization of the natural product were first experimentally demonstrated.
The Anticancer Potential of Peroxisome Proliferator‐Activated Receptor Antagonists
Authors: De Lellis Laura , Cimini Annamaria , Veschi Serena , Benedetti Elisabetta , Amoroso Rosa , Cama Alessandro , Ammazzalorso Alessandra
Published: December 2017

The effects on cancer‐cell proliferation and differentiation mediated by peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs) have been widely studied, and pleiotropic outcomes in different cancer models and under different experimental conditions have been obtained. Interestingly, few studies report and little preclinical evidence supports the potential antitumor activity of PPAR antagonists. This review focuses on recent findings on the antitumor in vitro and in vivo effects observed for compounds able to inhibit the three PPAR subtypes in different tumor models, providing a rationale for the use of PPAR antagonists in the treatment of tumors expressing the corresponding receptors.
Effect of Temperature and pH on Phase Transformations in Citric Acid Mediated Hydrothermal Growth of Tungsten Oxide
Authors: Wenderich Kasper , Noack Johannes , Kärgel Anne , Trunschke Annette , Mul Guido
Published: December 2017

The temperature‐dependent composition of suspension during citric acid mediated crystallization of tungsten trioxide (WO3) from sodium tungstate was studied by in situ Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, microwave‐assisted hydrothermal synthesis experiments combined with ex situ analysis by X‐ray diffraction and SEM were performed to analyze the effect of pH on the eventually, isothermally, obtained crystal phase and morphology. The Raman results suggest that WO3·2H2O precipitates from the tungstate solution upon acidification to pH 0.5 at room temperature. This is first transformed to WO3·H2O initiating at T = 70 °C. At temperatures above 170 °C, the crystallization of phase‐pure monoclinic WO3 with well‐defined plate‐like morphology was observed at pH 0.5. Using the microwave‐assisted hydrothermal synthesis procedure shows that increasing the pH to values of 1.5 or 2 results in significant or dominant formation of hexagonal WO3, respectively. Comparing the activity of selected samples in photocatalytic oxidation of propane using visible light, demonstrates the presence of hydrate phases or hexagonal WO3 is detrimental to performance.
Photolabile Ru Model Complexes with Chelating Diimine Ligands for Light‐Triggered Drug Release
Authors: Battistin Federica , Balducci Gabriele , Wei Jianhua , Renfrew Anna K. , Alessio Enzo
Published: December 2017

A series of water‐soluble photolabile model complexes of the general formula [Ru([9]aneS3)(chel)(py)]Cl2 ([9]aneS3 = 1,4,7‐trithiacyclononane, chel = chelating diimine) was prepared and fully characterized. The phototriggered release of pyridine with visible light as a function of the nature of the diimine {chel = 2,2′‐bipyridine (6) 1,10‐phenanthroline (7), 4,7‐diphenil‐1,10‐phenanthroline (8), dipyrido‐[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine (dppz, 9), 2,2′‐biquinoline (bq, 10)} was investigated. Our aim is to establish whether this type of complexes might be realistically used in the photo‐uncaging strategy of photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) in the future. Compounds 6–9 present a MLCT absorption in the blue region of the visible spectrum. When irradiated with light at 470 nm, they rapidly and quantitatively release the coordinated pyridine. Complex 10 turned out to be quite different from the others in the series. Structure‐wise, in 10 the average plane of coordinated bq – owing to its steric demand – is remarkably tilted relative to the equatorial coordination plane [37.43(4)°, with the “front“ of the ligand pointing towards the axial py] and the orientation of py is nearly orthogonal compared to that found in 6 and 7 for minimizing steric clashes with bq. The low‐lying acceptor orbitals of bq induce a red‐shift of the MLCT absorption maximum to ca. 500 nm. Contrary to the expectations, complex 10 is more photostable compared to 6–9 and photo‐dissociation of both py and bq, in nearly equal amounts, occurs. A detailed theoretical investigation was performed on 10 (and on 6 for comparison), for explaining its peculiar spectral features and photochemical behavior.
Waste dump erosional landform stability – a critical issue for mountain mining
Authors: Martín‐Moreno Cristina , Martín Duque José F. , Nicolau Ibarra José M. , Muñoz‐Martín Alfonso , Zapico Ignacio
Published: December 2017

Mining is the largest producer of solid wastes which, when released to land or into waterways, can cause harmful environmental impacts. This is mostly due to fluvial erosion, which is highly increased in mountain areas, due to abrupt slopes. We have analysed this situation at a mountain watershed (192 ha), where steep mined sites and their waste dumps are the main source of sediment in a Natural Park. This problem was tackled by building gabion check dams downstream from the mined sites. We used the DEM of Differences (DoD) method to quantify erosion and sediment yield from three waste dumps (5 ha). Their topography and substrate properties were analysed to understand the erosion problem. The sediment trapped by the check dams was quantified by electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). The rainfall characteristics triggering an episode that filled the check dams with sediment in the winter 2009–2010, were studied to confirm whether it was a case of extreme precipitation conditions.

The waste dumps sediment yield (353 ± 95 Mg ha−1 yr−1) suggests severe landform instability. Analysis of topographic and substrate properties confirmed long, steep slopes combined with highly erodible materials. The check dams proved to be inefficient in controlling sediment loads, as they had only functioned for four years of 31 of existence, having trapped 13 000 ± 660 m3of sediment, whereas we estimated that the waste dumps have yielded approximately three times more sediment for the same period. Rainfall analyses showed that neither intense nor extreme conditions (return period of 25 to 35 years) triggered the mobilization of 37 ± 2 Mg ha−1in a month. This study highlights the fact that mining operations in similar mountainous settings, with equivalent waste dump construction and reclamation practices, are currently unfeasible. We conclude that landform stability cannot be achieved at this site without landform changes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Revised Site‐Visit Standards: A Quality‐Assurance Framework
Authors: Patton Michael Quinn
Published: December 2017

Based on the chapters in this volume and feedback from others, this chapter presents a revised framework for site‐visit standards. The framework, for the first time, uses a quality‐assurance approach to distinguish minimum quality‐control standards for site visits in addition to quality‐enhancement principles aimed at ensuring excellence. The chapter concludes with a call to make evaluation fieldwork standards‐based.
The enigmatic relationship between epiphyseal fusion and bone development in primates
Authors: Brimacombe Conrad Stephen
Published: December 2017

Epiphyseal fusion in primates is a process that occurs in a regular sequence spanning a period of years and thus provides biological anthropologists with a useful marker of maturity that can be used to assess age and stage of development. Despite the many studies that have catalogued fusion timing and sequence pattern, comparatively little research has been devoted to understanding why these sequences exist in the first place. Answering this question is not necessarily intuitive; indeed, given that neither taxonomic affinities nor recent adaptations have been clearly defined, it is a challenge to explain this process in evolutionary terms. In all mammals, there is a tendency for the fusion of epiphyses at joints to occur close in sequence, and this has been proposed to relate to locomotor adaptations. Further consideration of the evidence suggests that linking locomotor behavior to sequence data alone is difficult to prove and may require a different type of evidence. Epiphyseal fusion should be considered in the context of other parameters that affect the developing skeleton, including how joint morphology relates to growth in length, as well as other possible morphological constraints. In recent years, developmental biology has been providing a better understanding of the molecular regulators of epiphyseal fusion. At some point in the near future, we may be able to link our understanding of the genetics of fusion timing to the possible selective mechanisms that are responsible for these sequences.
Burial and preservation of a fossil forest on an early Permian (Asselian) volcano (Merangin River, Sumatra, Indonesia)
Authors: Matysová Petra , Booi Menno , Crow Michael C. , Hasibuan Fauzi , Perdono Andri Putri , Van Waveren Isabel M. , Donovan Stephen K.
Published: December 2017

The Early Permian (Asselian) Mengkarang Formation of the western Jambi Province, Sumatra, is well exposed in the valley of the Merangin River. No consensus regarding the depositional environment of this section had been reached hitherto. This section preserves abundant evidence of a Permian forest, named the Merangin Fossil Forest herein, which grew at the foot of an active volcano, where pyroclastic flows often made way and destroyed the vegetation and where epiclastic reworked pyroclastics rapidly entombed the vegetation. The present assessment is based on a detailed study of three localities using multiple lines of evidence, including petrography, silica typing including hot cathodoluminescence microscopy and spectroscopy, and palynofacies analysis. In situ Agathoxylon was near enough to the volcanic slope to be buried rapidly, shallow enough to avoid extreme crystallization in the lumina, and far enough from the metamorphic centre not to get recrystallized. All these combined contingencies make this a most unique find that provides significant insights into a rarely studied palaeoecological setting from the Early Permian.
Reduced brain glutamine in female varsity rugby athletes after concussion and in non‐concussed athletes after a season of play
Authors: Schranz Amy L. , Manning Kathryn Y. , Dekaban Gregory A. , Fischer Lisa , Jevremovic Tatiana , Blackney Kevin , Barreira Christy , Doherty Timothy J. , Fraser Douglas D. , Brown Arthur , Holmes Jeff , Menon Ravi S. , Bartha Robert
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this study was to use non‐invasive proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to monitor changes in prefrontal white matter metabolite levels and tissue microstructure in female rugby players with and without concussion (ages 18–23, n = 64). Evaluations including clinical tests and 3 T MRI were performed at the beginning of a season (in‐season) and followed up at the end of the season (off‐season). Concussed athletes were additionally evaluated 24–72 hr (n = 14), three months (n = 11), and six months (n = 8) post‐concussion. Reduced glutamine at 24–72 hr and three months post‐concussion, and reduced glutamine/creatine at three months post‐concussion were observed. In non‐concussed athletes (n = 46) both glutamine and glutamine/creatine were lower in the off‐season compared to in‐season. Within the MRS voxel, an increase in fractional anisotropy (FA) and decrease in radial diffusivity (RD) were also observed in the non‐concussed athletes, and correlated with changes in glutamine and glutamine/creatine. Decreases in glutamine and glutamine/creatine suggest reduced oxidative metabolism. Changes in FA and RD may indicate neuroinflammation or re‐myelination. The observed changes did not correlate with clinical test scores suggesting these imaging metrics may be more sensitive to brain injury and could aid in assessing recovery of brain injury from concussion.
Computed tomography diagnosed cachexia and sarcopenia in 725 oncology patients: is nutritional screening capturing hidden malnutrition?
Authors: Ní Bhuachalla Éadaoin B. , Daly Louise E. , Power Derek G. , Cushen Samantha J. , MacEneaney Peter , Ryan Aoife M.
Published: December 2017

Background

Nutrition screening on admission to hospital is mandated in many countries, but to date, there is no consensus on which tool is optimal in the oncology setting. Wasting conditions such as cancer cachexia (CC) and sarcopenia are common in cancer patients and negatively impact on outcomes; however, they are often masked by excessive adiposity. This study aimed to inform the application of screening in cancer populations by investigating whether commonly used nutritional screening tools are adequately capturing nutritionally vulnerable patients, including those with abnormal body composition phenotypes (CC, sarcopenia, and myosteatosis).

Methods

A prospective study of ambulatory oncology outpatients presenting for chemotherapy was performed. A detailed survey incorporating clinical, nutritional, biochemical, and quality of life data was administered. Participants were screened for malnutrition using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST), and the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI). Computed tomography (CT) assessment of body composition was performed to diagnose CC, sarcopenia, and myosteatosis according to consensus criteria.

Results

A total of 725 patients (60% male, median age 64 years) with solid tumours participated (45% metastatic disease). The majority were overweight/obese (57%). However, 67% were losing weight, and CT analysis revealed CC in 42%, sarcopenia in 41%, and myosteatosis in 46%. Among patients with CT‐identified CC, the MUST, MST, and NRI tools categorized 27%, 35%, and 7% of them as ‘low nutritional risk’, respectively. The percentage of patients with CT‐identified sarcopenia and myosteatosis that were categorised as ‘low nutritional risk’ by MUST, MST and NRI were 55%, 61%, and 14% and 52%, 50%, and 11%, respectively. Among these tools, the NRI was most sensitive, with scores <97.5 detecting 85.8%, 88.6%, and 92.9% of sarcopenia, myosteatosis, and CC cases, respectively. Using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models, NRI score < 97.5 predicted greater mortality risk (hazard ratio 1.8, confidence interval: 1.2–2.8, P = 0.007).

Conclusions

High numbers of nutritionally vulnerable patients, with demonstrated abnormal body composition phenotypes on CT analysis, were misclassified by MUST and MST. Caution should be exercised when categorizing the nutritional risk of oncology patients using these tools. NRI detected the majority of abnormal body composition phenotypes and independently predicted survival. Of the tools examined, the NRI yielded the most valuable information from screening and demonstrated usefulness as an initial nutritional risk grading system in ambulatory oncology patients.
On Hamilton decompositions of infinite circulant graphs
Authors: Bryant Darryn , Herke Sarada , Maenhaut Barbara , Webb Bridget S.
Published: December 2017

The natural infinite analog of a (finite) Hamilton cycle is a two‐way‐infinite Hamilton path (connected spanning 2‐valent subgraph). Although it is known that every connected 2k‐valent infinite circulant graph has a two‐way‐infinite Hamilton path, there exist many such graphs that do not have a decomposition into k edge‐disjoint two‐way‐infinite Hamilton paths. This contrasts with the finite case where it is conjectured that every 2k‐valent connected circulant graph has a decomposition into k edge‐disjoint Hamilton cycles. We settle the problem of decomposing 2k‐valent infinite circulant graphs into k edge‐disjoint two‐way‐infinite Hamilton paths for , in many cases when , and in many other cases including where the connection set is or .
Attributing drivers of the 2016 Kenyan drought
Authors: Uhe Peter , Philip Sjoukje , Kew Sarah , Shah Kasturi , Kimutai Joyce , Mwangi Emmah , van Oldenborgh Geert Jan , Singh Roop , Arrighi Julie , Jjemba Eddie , Cullen Heidi , Otto Friederike
Published: December 2017

In 2016 and continuing into 2017, Kenya experienced drought conditions, with over 3 million people in need of food aid due to low rainfall during 2016. Whenever extreme events like this happen, questions are raised about the role of climate change and how natural variability such as the El Niño ‐ Southern Oscillation influenced the likelihood and intensity of the event. Here we aim to quantify the relative contributions of different climate drivers to this drought by applying three independent methodologies of extreme event attribution. Analysing precipitation data for the South East and North West of Kenya we found no consistent signal from human‐induced climate change and thus conclude that it has not greatly affected the likelihood of low rainfall such as in 2016. However, 2016 was a La Niña year and we show that this event was indeed more likely because of the specific sea surface temperatures. There is a trend in temperatures in the region due to climate change that may have exacerbated the effects of this drought. By analysing precipitation minus evaporation and soil moisture, simulated by one climate model only, we did not see a reduction in moisture in simulations in the current climate compared with simulations without climate change. However, there are expected effects of higher temperatures that our simulations do not cover, such as increased demand on water resources and stress on livestock. Although we find no significant influence of climate change on precipitation, we cannot rule out that temperature‐related impacts of drought are linked to human‐induced climate change.
Kinetics and Mechanism of the Reaction between Barbituric Acid and Glycidol, Part III: Methylene Group Reaction with Glycidol at High Concentration
Authors: Lubczak Jacek , Lubczak Renata
Published: December 2017

The reaction of barbituric acid and glycidol leads to formation of oligoetherols upon addition of glycidol both to the methylene group and imide groups of barbituric acid. The mechanism of reaction was established by kinetic studies on the reaction between 1,3‐dimethylbarbituric acid and glycidol used at high concentration. The obtained rate law and mechanism have been derived from kinetic studies and the results obtained before, where 1,3‐dimethylbarbituric acid and glycidol were used in comparable concentrations. The completed kinetic characteristics of the system is described. It has been found that glycidol reacted with methylene groups of 3‐dimethylbarbituric according to the equation: . The rate‐determining step was transformation of enolate into carbanion. Activation energy of the reaction was 61.3 kJ mol−1 · K−1. Proton transfer from methylene group of 1,3‐dimethylbarbituric into glycidol oxirane oxygen was observed by the 1H‐NMR spectroscopy.
Predictors of long‐term distress in female partners of men diagnosed with prostate cancer
Authors: Hyde Melissa K. , Legg Melissa , Occhipinti Stefano , Lepore Stephen J. , Ugalde Anna , Zajdlewicz Leah , Laurie Kirstyn , Dunn Jeff , Chambers Suzanne K.
Published: December 2017

Objective

Female partners of men with prostate cancer (PCa) experience heightened psychological distress; however, long‐term distress for this group is not well described. We examined partner's psychological and cancer‐specific distress over 2 years and predictors of change.

Methods

A cohort of 427 female partners (63% response; mean age 62.6 y) of PCa survivors completed baseline (2‐4 y post‐PCa treatment) assessments of anxiety, depression, and cancer‐specific distress and were followed up at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Caregiver burden, threat and challenge appraisal, self‐efficacy, and dyadic adjustment were assessed as potential predictors of distress.

Results

Over time, 23% to 25% of women reported anxiety; 8% to 11% depression; 5% to 6% high cancer‐specific distress. Higher caregiver burden and more threat appraisals were associated with increased distress, anxiety, depression, and cancer‐specific distress over time. Higher dyadic adjustment over time and more challenge appraisals at 24 months were associated with less distress, anxiety, and depression. Increased partner self‐efficacy was associated with lower distress and depression at baseline.

Conclusions

A substantial subgroup of partners experience ongoing anxiety, with depression less prevalent but also persistent. Caregiver burden, partner self‐efficacy, threat, and challenge appraisals present as potential supportive care targets.
Tunable Electrodeposition of Ni Electrocatalysts onto Si Microwires Array for Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation
Authors: Tung Ching‐Wei , Chuang Yen , Chen Hsiao‐Chien , Chan Ting‐Shan , Li Jiun‐Yun , Chen Hao Ming
Published: December 2017

High‐aspect‐ratio silicon microwire (Si MW) arrays are expected to act as potential absorbers for solar energy conversion due to their excellent optically absorption capability and shorter diffusion length for collecting charge carriers. To date, most of the studies on structured Si microwire arrays devices are focusing on photocathode for the photoelectrochemical hydrogen production, only a handful of reports attempt to use photoanode based on Si microwire arrays for water oxidation. Herein, a tunable electrodeposition technique for decorating isolated Ni nanoparticles as a both protecting and oxygen evolution electrocatalyst onto the n‐type Si MW is demonstrated. The Si microwire array photoanodes with optimized surface decoration show a stable photocurrent density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1 m KOH electrolyte for several hours without additional protecting layer in addition to Ni nanoparticles, in which the optimized photoanode is able to produce a maximum photocurrent density of 35.5 mA cm−2.
Staphylococcus aureuswall teichoic acid is a pathogen-associated molecular pattern that is recognized by langerin (CD207) on skin Langerhans cells
Authors: van Dalen Rob , De La Cruz Diaz Jacinto S. , Rumpret Matevž , Fuchsberger Felix F. , van Teijlingen Nienke H. , Hanske Jonas , Rademacher Christoph , Geijtenbeek Theunis B.H. , van Strijp Jos A.G. , Weidenmaier Christopher , Peschel Andreas , Kaplan Daniel H. , van Sorge Nina M.
Published: December 2017

Staphylococcus aureusis a major cause of skin and soft tissue infections and aggravator of the inflammatory skin disease atopic dermatitis (AD). Epicutaneous exposure toS. aureusinduces Th17 responses through skin Langerhans cells (LCs), which paradoxically contribute to host defense but also to AD pathogenesis. The underlying molecular mechanisms of the association betweenS. aureusand skin inflammation are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that human LCs directly interact withS. aureusthrough the pattern-recognition receptor langerin (CD207). Human, but not mouse, langerin interacts withS. aureusthrough the conserved β-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) modifications on wall teichoic acid (WTA), thereby discriminatingS. aureusfrom other staphylococcal species. Importantly, the specificS. aureusWTA glycoprofile strongly influences the level of Th1-and Th17-polarizing cytokines that are produced byin vitrogenerated LCs. Finally, in a murine epicutaneous infection model,S. aureusinduced a more pronounced influx of inflammatory cells and pro-inflammatory cytokine transcripts in skin of human langerin transgenic mice compared to wild-type mice. Our findings provide molecular insight into the unique pro-inflammatory capacities ofS. aureusin relation to inflammatory skin disease.
Transcription-dependent spreading of canonical yeast GATA factor across the body of highly expressed genes
Authors: Ronsmans Aria , Wery Maxime , Gautier Camille , Descrimes Marc , Dubois Evelyne , Morillon Antonin , Georis Isabelle
Published: December 2017

GATA transcription factors are highly conserved among eukaryotes and play roles in transcription of genes implicated in cancer progression and hematopoiesis. However, although their consensus binding sites have been well definedin vitro, thein vivoselectivity for recognition by GATA factors remains poorly characterized. Using ChIP-Seq, we identified the Dal80 GATA factor targets in yeast. Our data reveal Dal80 binding to a large set of promoters, sometimes independently of GATA sites. Strikingly, Dal80 was also detected across the body of promoter-bound genes, correlating with high, Dal80-sensitive expression. Mechanistic single-gene experiments showed that Dal80 spreading across gene bodies is independent of intragenic GATA sites but requires transcription elongation. Consistently, Dal80 co-purified with the post-initiation form of RNA Polymerase II. Our work suggests that GATA factors could play dual, synergistic roles during transcription initiation and post-initiation steps, promoting efficient remodeling of the gene expression program in response to environmental changes.

Author Summary

GATA transcription factors are highly conserved among eukaryotes and play key roles in cancer progression and hematopoiesis. In budding yeast, four GATA transcription factors are involved in the response to the quality of nitrogen supply. We have determined the whole genome binding profile of one of them, Dal80, and revealed that it also binds across the body or promoter-bound genes. Our observation that ORF binding correlated with elevated transcription levels and exquisite Dal80 sensitivity suggests that GATA factors could play other, unexpected roles at post-initiation stages in eukaryotes.
Physical properties characterization of Natural Protein Fibre Peacock Feather Barbs
Authors: Das Sekhar , Jose Seiko , Pandit Pintu
Published: December 2017

In the present study, the barbs of peacock feather were subjected to its physio-mechanical characterisation. Various properties of barbs viz., bundle strength, diameter, moisture regain, thermal stability, X-ray diffraction, colour intensity and FTIR was studied according standard analytical methods. The surface morphology of the barbs was examined using SEM images. The results indicate that the barb is a hollow vertical structure made up of protein. The average length and diameter of the barb was found to be 45 mm and 82 μm respectively. The FTIR study confirms the presence of characteristic peaks for protein, related to the keratinous material. The barbs seem to be semi-crystalline in nature, as indicated by X-ray study.
Contact-dependent cell-cell communications drive morphological invariance during ascidian embryogenesis
Authors: Guignard Léo , Fiuza Ulla-Maj , Leggio Bruno , Faure Emmanuel , Laussu Julien , Hufnagel Lars , Malandain Grégoire , Godin Christophe , Lemaire Patrick
Published: December 2017

Canalization of developmental processes ensures the reproducibility and robustness of embryogenesis within each species. In its extreme form, found in ascidians, early embryonic cell lineages are invariant between embryos within and between species, despite rapid genomic divergence. To resolve this paradox, we used live light-sheet imaging to quantify individual cell behaviors in digitalized embryos and explore the forces that canalize their development. This quantitative approach revealed that individual cell geometries and cell contacts are strongly constrained, and that these constraints are tightly linked to the control of fate specification by local cell inductions. While in vertebrates ligand concentration usually controls cell inductions, we found that this role is fulfilled in ascidians by the area of contacts between signaling and responding cells. We propose that the duality between geometric and genetic control of inductions contributes to the counterintuitive inverse correlation between geometric and genetic variability during embryogenesis.