bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical‐ and PCR‐based assay for the reproducible, routine detection of erythrovirus B19 in thyroid tissues
Authors: Page Cyril , Hoffmann Thomas W. , Benzerdjeb Nazim , Desailloud Rachel , Sevestre Henri , Duverlie Gilles
Published: March 2015

It is generally accepted that thyroid follicle cells are at least semi‐permissive for erythrovirus B19 (EVB19). Thus, various laboratory techniques have been successfully used to detect EVB19 in the thyroid gland, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. However, the detection of EVB19 within the thyroid gland is problematic, and none of the detection protocols in the literature have been unequivocally validated. This multidisciplinary study in which 32 thyroidectomy subjects undergoing thyroidectomy in a French University hospital were prospectively recruited was performed over a period of 3 years. Prior to surgery, all the subjects were assayed for blood levels of anti‐EVB19 antibodies and (using a quantitative PCR [qPCR] assay) EVB19 itself. A qPCR assay for EVB19 and an immunohistochemical assay (based on polyclonal anti‐VP2 antibodies) were performed on the thyroidectomy samples. None of the subjects had an acute EVB19 infection. A viral load was detected in two serum samples and six thyroid biopsies. Three subjects had both a positive immunohistochemical assay and a positive qPCR assay for the thyroid tissue. It is noteworthy that the thyroid immunohistochemical and qPCR assays were negative in the two patients with detectable serum loads of EVB19. In conclusion, EVB19 can be detected in thyroid follicle cells by using immunohistochemical and qPCR assays. Ideally, patients should be tested with both PCR and immunohistochemical assays, in order to unequivocally confirm or rule out the presence of EVB19 in the thyroid gland. The present protocol must now be validated in larger series — notably with respect to its reliability and in order to determine qPCR positivity thresholds for application in future large‐scale studies. J. Med. Virol. 87:1054–1059, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microbial bioconversion and processing methods enhance the phenolic acid and flavonoids and the radical scavenging capacity of Smilax china L. leaf
Authors: Kim Ju‐Hyeong , Park Tae‐Sik , Yang Seung‐Hwan , Suh Joo‐Won , Shim Soon‐Mi
Published: March 2015

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that Smilax china L. leaf (SCL) provided various biological functions owing to polyphenols. The objective of the current study was to assess the enhancing effect of processing methods and microbial conversions on phenolic acid and flavonoid content and radical scavenging capacity of SCL for potential applications of diverse food products.

RESULTS

Targeted phenolic acid (chlorogenic acid) and flavonoids (piceid and quercetin) were identified in fresh SCL using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The total amount of identified phenolic acid and flavonoids was highest in steamed SCL (12.70 ± 0.12 mg g−1 on a dry matter basis, dmb). A substantial amount of chlorogenic acid (5.81 ± 0.16 mg g−1 dmb), piceid (3.96 ± 0.04 mg g−1 dmb) and quercetin (6.06 ± 0.12 mg g−1 dmb) were quantified in SCL fermented by Bacillus species, roasted and steamed, respectively (P < 0.05). The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value was greater in microbial fermented SCL than in others, with the exception of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus oryzae. However, vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC) was highest in SCL fermented by Aspergillus oryzae.

CONCLUSION

Results from our study suggest that the microbial fermentation processing method could improve accessibility to extraction of phenolic acids and flavonoid content and radical scavenging capacity. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Long‐term ecological patterns of alpine streams: An imprint of glacial legacies
Authors: Sertić Perić Mirela , Jolidon Christa , Uehlinger Urs , Robinson Christopher T.
Published: March 2015

We examined for a glacial fingerprint on the ecology of two postglacial streams within the Swiss National Park over a 14 yr period (1999‐2013). One stream (Aqua) emerges from a small rock glacier (0.2% of the catchment area), whereas the other stream (Fuorn) flows from a remnant ice field (0.02% of the catchment area). In general, abiotic and biotic properties of each stream showed a typical glacial‐nival seasonality and strong between‐year synchrony. Benthic organic matter and periphyton biomass peaked during so‐called “windows of opportunity” in early spring and late autumn as in other glacial streams. Importantly, the streams contrasted regarding the glacial signature in which Fuorn had highest average turbidity, total inorganic carbon (TIC), particulate organic carbon and phosphorus levels, whereas Aqua had highest average nitrogen levels and lowest temperature and electrical conductivity. The difference in glacial signature also was evident in macroinvertebrate density (fourfold higher in Aqua) and diversity (lower in Aqua) differences between streams. In contrast to most proglacial streams, macroinvertebrate assemblages were relatively diverse and dominated by typical alpine stream species, stoneflies in particular. Both streams experienced increases in phosphorus and TIC following 2006 in response to external climate drivers with concomitant increases in simuliids and Leuctra stoneflies and decreases in heptageniid mayflies in Fuorn and Protonemura stoneflies in Aqua. Our results suggest that a glacial legacy is an inherent feature of most postglacial alpine streams, this being especially important as glacial streams transform to postglacial status in response to ongoing transformation of alpine glacial landscapes globally.
A method for cyclic and tadpole‐shaped polymers
Authors: Tang Qingquan , Zhang Ke
Published: March 2015

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) was used to produce well‐defined telechelic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) with dibromomaleimide and dithiobenzoate groups at each end of the polymer chain by virtue of the functional RAFT agent 3,4‐dibromo‐1‐(4‐cyano‐4‐(phenylcarbonothioylthio)pentanoic)‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐dione. Cyclic PNIPAM was then obtained using an in situ intramolecular bromomaleimide–thiol substitution reaction after NaBH4 reduction of the dithiobenzoate end group to release a thiol group. In this ring‐closure process, another bromo substituent on the maleimide group survived, being a single reactive site for post‐functionalizing the cyclic PNIPAM by a second bromomaleimide–thiol substitution reaction. After being reacted with 2‐aminoethanethiol, the resultant amino‐functionalized cyclic PNIPAM was further demonstrated as a building block to construct a tadpole‐shaped block copolymer by coupling with linear succinimidyl ester end‐functionalized poly(ethylene oxide) based on active ester click chemistry. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Facile and Scalable Synthesis of Novel Spherical Au Nanocluster Assemblies@Polyacrylic Acid/Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles for Dual‐Modal Imaging‐Guided Cancer Chemotherapy
Authors: Li Lu , Zhang Lingyu , Wang Tingting , Wu Xiaotong , Ren Hong , Wang Chungang , Su Zhongmin
Published: March 2015

Engineering novel theranostic agents with both imaging and therapeutic functions have profound impact on molecular diagnostics, imaging, and therapeutics. In this paper, we develop for the first time a simple, scalable, and reproducible route to synthesize novel multifunctional spherical Au nanoclusters assemblies encapsulated by a polyacylic acid (PAA)/calcium phosphate (CaP) shell with aggregation enhanced fluorescence property (designated as AuNCs‐A@PAA/CaP). Furthermore, the resulting AuNCs‐A@PAA/CaP nanoparticles (NPs) possess a high payload of doxorubicin as synergetic pH‐sensitive drug delivery vehicles to employ for dual‐modal computed tomography (CT) and fluorescence imaging‐guided liver cancer chemotherapy in vivo. The results reveal that AuNCs‐A@PAA/CaP NPs not only provide excellent bimodal CT and fluorescence contrast imaging but also present efficient tumor ablation under the guidance of CT and fluorescence imaging, to achieve excellent chemotherapeutic efficacy to the hepatocarcinoma cell line (H‐22) bearing mice through intravenous injection. Comprehensive blood tests and careful histological examinations reveal no apparent toxicity of AuNCs‐A@PAA/CaP NPs. Our work highlights the great promise of AuNCs‐A@PAA/CaP NPs for guiding and monitoring the chemotherapeutic process using simultaneous dual‐modality CT and fluorescence imaging through a single theranostic agent.
High-Throughput Differentiation and Screening of a Library of Mutant Stem Cell Clones Defines New Host-Based Genes Involved in Rabies Virus Infection
Authors: Wallis Deeann , Loesch Kimberly , Galaviz Stacy , Sun Qingan , DeJesus Michael , Ioerger Thomas , Sacchettini James C.
Published: March 2015

We used a genomic library of mutant murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and report the methodology required to simultaneously culture, differentiate, and screen more than 3,200 heterozygous mutant clones to identify host-based genes involved in both sensitivity and resistance to rabies virus infection. Established neuronal differentiation protocols were miniaturized such that many clones could be handled simultaneously, and molecular markers were used to show that the resultant cultures were pan-neuronal. Next, we used a green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled rabies virus to develop, validate, and implement one of the first host-based, high-content, high-throughput screens for rabies virus. Undifferentiated cell and neuron cultures were infected with GFP-rabies and live imaging was used to evaluate GFP intensity at time points corresponding to initial infection/uptake and early and late replication. Furthermore, supernatants were used to evaluate viral shedding potential. After repeated testing, 63 genes involved in either sensitivity or resistance to rabies infection were identified. To further explore hits, we used a completely independent system (siRNA) to show that reduction in target gene expression leads to the observed phenotype. We validated the immune modulatory gene Unc13d and the dynein adapter gene Bbs4 by treating wild-type ESCs and primary neurons with siRNA; treated cultures were resistant to rabies infection/replication. Overall, the potential of such in vitro functional genomics screens in stem cells adds additional value to other libraries of stem cells. This technique is applicable to any bacterial or virus interactome and any cell or tissue types that can be differentiated from ESCs. Stem Cells  2015;33:2509–2522
Clinicopathologic Features and Outcomes in Patients with Diffuse Sclerosing Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Akaishi Junko , Sugino Kiminori , Kameyama Kaori , Masaki Chie , Matsuzu Kenichi , Suzuki Akifumi , Uruno Takashi , Ohkuwa Keiko , Shibuya Hiroshi , Kitagawa Wataru , Nagahama Mitsuji , Shimizu Kazuo , Ito Koichi
Published: March 2015

Background

Diffuse sclerosing variant (DSV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a rare variant more common among younger patients.

Materials and methods

Excluding patients with microcarcinoma, 5848 patients with PTC underwent initial surgery between 1995 and 2011. Twenty‐two patients (0.4 %) were histologically diagnosed with DSV, of whom 20 (91 %) were <45 years old. We compared clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes between patients with DSV and those with classical PTC <45 years old. Univariate analysis by the Kaplan–Meier method in relation to cause‐specific survival (CSS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rates was performed with regard to the following variables: sex; anti‐thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) positivity; presence of distant metastasis; pathological lymph node metastasis; extra‐thyroidal invasion; and pathological variant (classical vs. DSV).

Results

The 20 patients with DSV <45 years old comprised 18 females and 2 males. Frequencies of TgAb, pN1b, and local recurrence were higher in the DSV group than in the classical PTC group. Ten‐year CSS and DFS rates for PTC patients <45 years old were 99.7 and 88.6 % in the classical PTC group and 100 and 60.5 % in the DSV group. CSS rate did not differ between groups, but DFS rate was significantly lower in the DSV group than in the classical PTC group (p < 0.0001, log‐rank test). Multivariate analysis identified DSV group and pN1b as prognostic factors for recurrence in young PTC patients.

Conclusions

Most DSV patients were young and had a background of chronic thyroiditis. Outcomes for DSV were very good, but recurrence was more common than in classical PTC.
Predictive Factors for Occult Contralateral Carcinoma in Patients with Unilateral Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma by Preoperative Ultrasonographic and Pathological Features
Authors: Lee Young Chan , Eun Young Gyu , Sohn Yu‐Mee , Rhee Sang Youl , Hong Il Ki , Chon Suk , Oh Seung Joon , Kim Deog Yoon
Published: March 2015

Background

The surgical extent and indication for treatment in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) remain a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive factor for contralateral occult carcinoma in patients with unilateral PTMC by preoperative ultrasonographic and pathological features.

Methods

Of the total patients who underwent thyroidectomy, 455 patients with PTMC confined to one unilateral lobe as diagnosed using preoperative ultrasonography (US) were enrolled in the study. Occult contralateral carcinoma was defined as tumor foci in the contralateral lobe that was not detected preoperatively, but was detected pathologically. All patients underwent preoperative US review to investigate the US features of PTMC such as laterality, location, size, internal component, echogenicity, margin, calcification shape, multifocality, bilaterality, extrathyroidal extension, and location with respect to the trachea. Clinicopathological data were also analyzed.

Results

Of the total of 455 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for preoperatively detected unilateral PTMC, 71 patients (15.6 %) had contralateral occult carcinoma. Clinicopathological characteristics did not significantly differ between patients with and without contralateral occult carcinoma. Multivariate analysis showed that the absence of a well‐defined margin and the presence of a probably benign nodule in the contralateral lobe were independent predictive factors for contralateral occult carcinoma in patients with unilateral PTMC in preoperative US images.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that an absence of a well‐defined margin and the presence of a probably benign nodule in the contralateral lobe were independent predictive factors for contralateral occult carcinoma in patients with unilateral PTMC in preoperative US. The prediction of contralateral occult carcinoma in unilateral PTMC using preoperative US features could be useful for determining the optical extent of surgery.
Unusual non‐enzymatic flavin catalysis enhances understanding of flavoenzymes
Authors: Argueta Erick A. , Amoh Amanda N. , Kafle Prapti , Schneider Tanya L.
Published: March 2015

Flavin cofactors are central to many biochemical transformations and are typically tightly bound as part of a catalytically active flavoenzyme. This work indicates that naturally occurring flavins can act as stand‐alone catalysts to promote the oxidation of biosynthetically inspired heterocycles in aqueous buffers. Flavin activity was compared with that of oxidases important in non‐ribosomal peptide synthesis, providing a rare direct comparison between the catalytic efficacy of flavins alone and in the context of a full flavoenzyme. This study suggests that such oxidases are likely to possess an active site base, as oxidase activity was greater than that of flavins alone, particularly for less acidic substrates. These findings offer perspective on the development of robust and catalytically effective, designed miniature flavoenzymes.
A novel FBN2 mutation in a Chinese family with congenital contractural arachnodactyly
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhao Ning , Li Xue-fu , Wang Hong , Sui Yu , Lu Yong-ping , Feng Wen-hua , Ma Chao , Han Wei-tian , Jiang Miao
Published: March 2015

Congenital contractural arachnodactyly (CCA, OMIM:121050) is an autosomal dominant condition that shares skeletal features with Marfan syndrome (MFS, OMIM:154700), including contractures, arachnodactyly, dolichostenomelia, scoliosis, crumpled ears and pectus deformities but excluding the ocular and cardiovascular complications that characterize MFS. These two similar syndromes result from mutations in two genes belonging to the fibrillin family, FBN1 and FBN2, respectively. We successfully identified a novel FBN2 mutation (C1406R) in a Chinese family with CCA for over five generations. This mutation was detected in the patients of this family but not in the seven unaffected family members or 100 normal individuals. SIFT and PolyPhen analyses suggested that the mutation was pathogenic. We identified a missense mutation in the calcium binding‐epidermal growth factor (cbEGF)‐like domain. Our study extends the mutation spectrum of CCA and confirms a relationship between mutations in the FBN2 gene and the clinical findings of CCA.
Modified Mitchell osteotomy alone does not have higher rate of residual metatarsalgia than combined first and lesser metatarsal osteotomy
Authors: Chen Shu‐Jung , Cheng Yuh‐Min , Lin Sung‐Yen , Chen Chung‐Hwan , Huang Hsuan‐Ti , Huang Peng‐Ju
Published: March 2015

Transfer metatarsalgia (TM) is a common forefoot disorder secondary to hallux valgus (HV). Some authors suggest that a combined lesser metatarsal osteotomy while undergoing HV surgery improves metatarsalgia, whereas others concluded that isolated HV corrective osteotomy can improve symptomatic metatarsalgia. The main purpose of this retrospective study was to compare clinical outcomes in patients with and without combined lesser metatarsal osteotomy while receiving HV correction surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the patients who underwent osteotomy for HV correction between January 2000 and December 2010. All patients underwent HV correction with modified Mitchell osteotomy. Clinical evaluations including the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score and residual metatarsalgia were assessed, and radiographic measurements were carried out. Sixty‐five patients (83 feet) meeting the selection criteria were enrolled. Thirty feet receiving a combined lesser metatarsal osteotomy were classified as the combined surgery (CS) group, and the others were classified as the control (CN) group (53 feet). The overall rate of persistent symptomatic metatarsalgia was 19.28% after operative treatment. There were six feet with residual metatarsalgia in the CS group, and 10 feet in the CN group. There was no significant difference in the rate of persistent symptoms between the two groups (p = 0.9). According to this result, modified Mitchell osteotomy alone did not have a higher rate of residual metatarsalgia than CS. We also found that the average recovery rate of TM was about 80.7% and those patients whose preoperative HV angle was > 30° had the higher risk of residual metatarsalgia after surgery.
Long-Term Outcomes of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Implemented in a Hospital with Low Baseline Antibiotic Use
Authors: Jenkins Timothy C. , Knepper Bryan C. , Shihadeh Katherine , Haas Michelle K. , Sabel Allison L. , Steele Andrew W. , Wilson Michael L. , Price Connie S. , Burman William J. , Mehler Philip S.
Published: March 2015

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) implemented in a hospital with low baseline antibiotic use.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental, interrupted time-series study.

SETTING

Public safety net hospital with 525 beds.

INTERVENTION

Implementation of a formal ASP in July 2008.

METHODS

We conducted a time-series analysis to evaluate the impact of the ASP over a 6.25-year period (July 1, 2008–September 30, 2014) while controlling for trends during a 3-year preintervention period (July 1, 2005–June 30, 2008). The primary outcome measures were total antibacterial and antipseudomonal use in days of therapy (DOT) per 1,000 patient-days (PD). Secondary outcomes included antimicrobial costs and resistance, hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection, and other patient-centered measures.

RESULTS

During the preintervention period, total antibacterial and antipseudomonal use were declining (−9.2 and −5.5 DOT/1,000 PD per quarter, respectively). During the stewardship period, both continued to decline, although at lower rates (−3.7 and −2.2 DOT/1,000 PD, respectively), resulting in a slope change of 5.5 DOT/1,000 PD per quarter for total antibacterial use (P=.10) and 3.3 DOT/1,000 PD per quarter for antipseudomonal use (P=.01). Antibiotic expenditures declined markedly during the stewardship period (−$295.42/1,000 PD per quarter, P=.002). There were variable changes in antimicrobial resistance and few apparent changes in C. difficile infection and other patient-centered outcomes.

CONCLUSION

In a hospital with low baseline antibiotic use, implementation of an ASP was associated with sustained reductions in total antibacterial and antipseudomonal use and declining antibiotic expenditures. Common ASP outcome measures have limitations.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;00(0): 1–9
Cairns-Gurevich equation for soliton in plasma expansion into vacuum
Authors: Annou K. , Bara D. , Bennaceur-Doumaz D.
Published: March 2015

Plasma expansion and soliton formation in laser created plasma are addressed. Nonlinear acoustic waves in plasma where the combined effect of trapped and non-thermal electrons are dealt with, in plasma expansion are studied. Using the perturbation method, a modified Korteweg–de Vries equation (mKdV) that describes how the ion acoustic waves (IAW) are derived. The plasma is modeled by a Cairns distribution function for non-thermal electrons combined with Gurevich distribution function for the trapped electrons. It is found that parameters taken into account have significant effects on the properties of nonlinear waves as well as on plasma expansion into vacuum. We point out, that this work has been motivated by space and laboratory plasma observations of plasmas containing energetic particles, combined with trapped particles. Furthermore, this study is of interest in the context of the investigation of mono-energetic ion beams from intense laser interactions with plasmas.
Biodiversity pattern of subtidal sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae) in the Penghu Archipelago (Pescadores), Taiwan
Authors: Huang Yusheng M. , de Voogd Nicole J. , Cleary Daniel F. R. , Li Tsung-Hsuan , Mok Hin-Kiu , Ueng Jinn-Pyng
Published: March 2015

Sponge-related research in Taiwan has primarily focused on natural product exploration. This research has, however, been hampered by a lack of fundamental work on sponge taxonomy and ecology. In the present study, subtidal sponges were photo-recordedin situand collected by scuba diving at a depth range of 2–20 m from 2009 to 2012 in 16 different sites surrounding the Penghu Archipelago, Taiwan. Sponge samples were identified to the lowest taxonomic level based on skeletal morphology and spicules. A total of 53 species belonging to 24 families and 10 orders were identified in this study. The number of sponge species per site ranged from 0 to 24. The most widely distributed sponge species wasCallyspongia(Euplacella) cf.communis(Carter, 1881) followed byHaliclona(Gellius)cymaeformis(Esper, 1794), andAaptos suberitoides(Brøndsted, 1934). At one location, Chipeiyu, no sponges were observed. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination revealed relatively low similarity among most sampling sites. Large- and small-scale hydrological and habitat features are probably responsible for compositional variation of sponge assemblages among groups of sampling sites. Our richness analyses suggest that many more sponge species remain to be discovered in the Penghu Archipelago.
Orthogonality preserving linear maps on group algebras
Authors: ALAMINOS J. , EXTREMERA J. , VILLENA A. R.
Published: March 2015

We consider several types of orthogonality conditions on the group algebra L1(G) of a locally compact group G such as f$\ast $g = 0, f$\ast $g☆ = 0, f☆$\ast $g = 0, f$\ast $g = g$\ast $f = 0 and f$\ast $g☆ = g☆$\ast $f = 0, and we describe the linear maps Φ: L1(G) → L1(H) between the group algebras of locally compact groups G and H that take orthogonal functions of L1(G) into orthogonal functions of L1(H). Roughly speaking, they are weighted homomorphisms in the case where we are concerned with the one-sided orthogonality conditions and weighted Jordan homomorphisms in the case where we treat the two-sided orthogonality conditions.
A Quasi-constant Envelope Multiplexing Technique for GNSS Signals
Authors: Yan Tao , Tang Zuping , Wei Jiaolong , Qu Bo , Zhou Zhihui
Published: March 2015

A significant feature of the modernised Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals is that there are multiple signal components needing to be transmitted on a carrier frequency. How to combine these signal components into a constant envelope composite signal is a challenge. Existing constant envelope modulation techniques have some limitations, and are not effective enough. To solve this problem, we propose a quasi-constant-envelope multiplexing technique in this paper. The proposed method is based on numerical optimisation, and can work in two ways. The corresponding objective functions are provided. To verify the performance of the proposed method, we present three application examples. Results show that the first variation of our method can reach the same combining performance as Phase-Optimised Constant-Envelope Transmission (POCET). In the second variation, the combining efficiency can be pre-set. We can reach higher combining efficiency than POCET, and the envelope of the composite signal becomes quasi-constant. Furthermore, the inter-modulation signals in the final composite signal are adjustable. With the help of the proposed method, we can learn more details of the combining scheme than with POCET.
The UbuWeb Electronic Music Corpus: An MIR investigation of a historical database
Authors: Collins Nick
Published: March 2015

A corpus of historical electronic art music is available online from the UbuWeb art resource site. Though the corpus has some flaws in its historical and cultural coverage (not least of which is an over-abundance of male composers), it provides an interesting test ground for automated electronic music analysis, and one which is available to other researchers for reproducible work. We deploy open source tools for music information retrieval; the code from this project is made freely available under the GNU GPL 3 for others to explore. Key findings include the contrasting performance of single summary statistics for works versus time series models, visualisations of trends over chronological time in audio features, the difficulty of predicting which year a given piece is from, and further illumination of the possibilities and challenges of automated music analysis.
Nanoscopic Localization of Surface-Exposed Antigens ofBorrelia burgdorferi
Authors: Lemgruber Leandro , Sant’Anna Celso , Griffths Caron , Abud Yuri , Mhlanga Musa , Wallich Reinhard , Frischknecht Friedrich
Published: March 2015

Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato, the causative agent of Lyme disease, is transmitted to humans through the bite of infectedIxodesspp. ticks. Successful infection of vertebrate hosts necessitates sophisticated means of the pathogen to escape the vertebrates’ immune system. One strategy employed by Lyme disease spirochetes to evade adaptive immunity involves a highly coordinated regulation of the expression of outer surface proteins that is vital for infection, dissemination, and persistence. Here we characterized the expression pattern of bacterial surface antigens using different microscopy techniques, from fluorescent wide field to super-resolution and immunogold-scanning electron microscopy. A fluorescent strain ofB. burgdorferispirochetes was labeled with monoclonal antibodies directed against various bacterial surface antigens. Our results indicate that OspA is more evenly distributed over the surface than OspB and OspC that were present as punctate areas.
Predicting reattendance at a high-risk breast cancer clinic
Authors: Ormseth Sarah R. , Wellisch David K. , Aréchiga Adam E. , Draper Taylor L.
Published: March 2015

Objective:

The research about follow-up patterns of women attending high-risk breast-cancer clinics is sparse. This study sought to profile daughters of breast-cancer patients who are likely to return versus those unlikely to return for follow-up care in a high-risk clinic.

Method:

Our investigation included 131 patients attending the UCLA Revlon Breast Center High Risk Clinic. Predictor variables included age, computed breast-cancer risk, participants' perceived personal risk, clinically significant depressive symptomatology (CES–D score ≥ 16), current level of anxiety (State–Trait Anxiety Inventory), and survival status of participants' mothers (survived or passed away from breast cancer).

Results:

A greater likelihood of reattendance was associated with older age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.07,p= 0.004), computed breast-cancer risk (AOR= 1.10,p= 0.017), absence of depressive symptomatology (AOR= 0.25,p= 0.009), past psychiatric diagnosis (AOR= 3.14,p= 0.029), and maternal loss to breast cancer (AOR= 2.59,p= 0.034). Also, an interaction was found between mother's survival and perceived risk (p= 0.019), such that reattendance was associated with higher perceived risk among participants whose mothers survived (AOR= 1.04,p= 0.002), but not those whose mothers died (AOR= 0.99,p= 0.685). Furthermore, a nonlinear inverted “U” relationship was observed between state anxiety and reattendance (p= 0.037); participants with moderate anxiety were more likely to reattend than those with low or high anxiety levels.

Significance of Results:

Demographic, medical, and psychosocial factors were found to be independently associated with reattendance to a high-risk breast-cancer clinic. Explication of the profiles of women who may or may not reattend may serve to inform the development and implementation of interventions to increase the likelihood of follow-up care.
A Zoo of Galaxies
Authors: Masters Karen L.
Published: March 2015

We live in a universe filled with galaxies with an amazing variety of sizes and shapes. One of the biggest challenges for astronomers working in this field is to understand how all these types relate to each other in the background of an expanding universe. Modern astronomical surveys (like the Sloan Digital Sky Survey) have revolutionised this field of astronomy, by providing vast numbers of galaxies to study. The sheer size of the these databases made traditional visual classification of the types galaxies impossible and in 2007 inspired the Galaxy Zoo project (www.galaxyzoo.org); starting the largest ever scientific collaboration by asking members of the public to help classify galaxies by type and shape. Galaxy Zoo has since shown itself, in a series of now more than 30 scientific papers, to be a fantastic database for the study of galaxy evolution. In this Invited Discourse I spoke a little about the historical background of our understanding of what galaxies are, of galaxy classification, about our modern view of galaxies in the era of large surveys. I finish with showcasing some of the contributions galaxy classifications from the Galaxy Zoo project are making to our understanding of galaxy evolution.
Driving magnetic activity: differential rotation, flow structures, and surface patterns
Authors: Strassmeier Klaus G.
Published: March 2015

The interplay between stellar rotation and turbulent flows is a major ingredient for vertical angular momentum transport in stellar convection zone. Combined with the centrifugal force and the buoyancy force due to pole-equator temperature gradients one can expect a large-scale flow structure that is usually referred to as differential rotation and meridional flows. I review such observations for stars other than the Sun, mostly for stars significantly more active, and ask the question whether such observations can constrain the dynamo process.
Far-UV radiation from hot subdwarf stars in early-type galaxies
Authors: Han Zhanwen , Chen Xuefei
Published: March 2015

Far-ultraviolet (FUV) excess is crucial to our understanding of early-type galaxies and it is widely believed that the FUV radiation originates mainly from hot subwarf stars. Hot subdwarf stars may form from binary interactions or from single star evolution. In the binary channel, a star near the tip of the first giant branch (FGB) may get its envelope removed by its companion via stable Roche lobe overflow or common envelope ejection, and then evolves to a hot subdwarf star (Han et al.2002, 2003, 2007). Such a process does not depend much on metallicity.
The Ionization of the Warm Gas in Early-type Galaxies and Its UV Upturn
Authors: Yan Renbin , Blanton Michael R.
Published: March 2015

It has long been known that the majority of early-type galaxies contain warm ionized gas producing optical emission lines. These warm ionized gas are spatially extended to kpc scales. Their line ratios satisify the criteria of Low-ionization Nuclear Emission-line Regions (LINERs) on all major line-ratio diagnostic diagrams. However, their ionization mechanism has been hotly debated. Multiple ionization mechanisms can produce the same kind of line ratios, including photoionization by a central AGN, photoionization by hot evolved stars (e.g. post-AGB stars), collisional ionization by fast shocks, photoionization by hot X-ray emitting gas, and conductive heating or turbulent mixing. Therefore, determining the ionization mechanism requires other information.
Results from the EPOXI and StardustNExT Missions – A Changing View of Comet Volatiles and Activity
Authors: Meech Karen , A'Hearn Michael F. , Veverka Joseph
Published: March 2015

Within a period of ~3 months there were two extended mission flybys of comets. Both encounters have provided an exciting new view of comet activity and volatile composition that is changing our paradigm of these small early solar system remnants. The EPOXI mission flew past the nucleus of comet 103P/Hartley 2 on 4 Nov. 2010. This small nucleus was known to be exceptionally active prior to the encounter, by virtue of a very large water production rate relative to its surface area. Both the encounter and ground-based data showed that comet Hartley 2fs perihelion activity was dominated by sub-surface CO2 outgassing rather than by water, suggesting our classic comet formation picture is not correct. The gas flow carried large grains (up to >10 cm in diameter) from the nucleus, and the icy grains contributed to the large observed water production. The CO2 abundance relative to water varies with rotation between 10-20% between the two lobes of the nucleus. The bi-lobed nucleus is rotating in an excited state, with a period that varied rapidly from ~16.5 hrs to longer than 18.5 hrs over 3 months. The nucleus morphology was different from that of other nuclei visited by space craft, with some regions of rough topography in which surface ice was visible. On 2011 Feb. 14 the Stardust-NExT spacecraft flew past the nucleus of comet 9P/Tempel 1, the target of the Deep Impact (DI) experiment in July 2005. The mission goal was to look at the nucleus after and intervening perihelion passage, extending the surface area imaged during the DI encounter and also image the 2005 impact site. The layering seen during the DI flyby was exhibited over the areas newly imaged in the NExT flyby, and it was found that 30% of the nucleus was covered by smooth deposits that were likely caused by eruption of subsurface materials. Although it has long been known that comets lose on average ~ a meter of their surface per perihelion passage, it was surprising to see that in the regions imaged by both DI and NExT there was little change in the surface photometric properties and morphology with the exception of the prominent smooth flow edges. As seen from both the spacecraft and ground-based campaign, the comet continued its trend of decreasing activity from previous perihelion passages. We will present highlights from both missions and discuss implications for formation scenarios.
Development of fully depleted CCD imager NCUcam-1 and follow-up observations for PS1 sky surveys
Authors: Kinoshita Daisuke
Published: March 2015

Visible 4-color simultaneous imager is being developed for a new 2-m telescope at Lulin observatory in Taiwan. The main task of this instrument is quick and efficient follow-up observations for large scale surveys, such as PS1 sky surveys. NCUcam-1 is one of unit cameras for this instrument. It is equipped with a new type of CCD chip, fully depleted CCD, and have superb sensitivity at the wavelength of 1 micron. Igneous asteroids exhibit prominent absorption feature around 1 micron due to minerals, and NCUcam-1 is able to deliver reliable taxonomic classifications. NCUcam-1 has achieved the first-light using 1-m telescope at Lulin in July 2011. Results of the characterization work for NCUcam-1 and tests observations of asteroids are reported. Upcoming plan for the study of pair asteroids search and identification is also presented.
Fireball on 6 July 2002 over the Mediterranean Sea is a fragment of the comet's nucleus
Authors: Churyumov Klim , Kruchinenko Vitaly G. , Churyumova Tetyana , Mozgova Alyona
Published: March 2015

Today has been known for a considerable number of cases, the explosion of large meteoroids in Earth's atmosphere. This is confirmed by the data of registrations of fireballs by devices and the results of measurements in the atmosphere of bright light flashes by photodiodes Corporation “Sandia Laboratories", which were installed on geostationary satellites of the United States, and also by data of measurements of acoustic-gravitational waves from the thermal explosions of meteoroids [ReVelle D.O. Historical detection of atmospheric impacts by large bolides using acoustic-gravity waves, Near-Earth Objects, Ed. Remo J. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 882, 284-302, 1997]. The work [Brown P., Spalding R.E., ReVelle D.O. et al. The flux of small near-Earth objects colliding with the Earth, Nature 420, 314-316, 2002.] shows the results of processing the observations of flashes of large meteoroids in Earth's atmosphere, obtained with the help of geostationary satellites of the United States. Over 8.5 years (from February 1994 to September 2002) 300 such events were registered. On July 6, 2002 r over the Mediterranean Sea a bright fireball was registered. The energy of the meteoroid explosion that caused the phenomenon of the car, was 26 kilotons of TNT [Brown et al., 2002]. We believe that this energy refers to the height of the full bracking of the meteoroid. At a speed of 20.3 km/s adopted by the authors, body mass at this height is 5 × 108 g, and when entering the Earth's atmosphere, it was about 7 × 108 g. Based on the obtained values of the mass, we conclude that the exploded meteoroid, causing a phenomenon of the fireball was a fragment of the comet nucleus. In processing the density of the body were taken 1 g/cm3 and the initial velocity (~30 km/s).
Photometric Properties of Vesta
Authors: Li Jian-Yang , Jorda L. , Keller H. U. , Mastrodemos N. , Mottola S. , Nathues A. , Pieters C. , Reddy V. , Raymond C. A. , Roatsch T. , Russell C. T. , Buratti B. J. , Schroder S. E. , Sykes M. V. , Titus T. , Capaccioni F. , Capria M. T. , Le Corre L. , Denevi B. W. , De Sanctis M. , Hoffmann M. , Hicks M. D.
Published: March 2015

The Dawn spacecraft orbited Asteroid (4) Vesta for a year, and returned disk-resolved images and spectra covering visible and near-infrared wavelengths at scales as high as 20 m/pix. The visible geometric albedo of Vesta is ~ 0.36. The disk-integrated phase function of Vesta in the visible wavelengths derived from Dawn approach data, previous ground-based observations, and Rosetta OSIRIS observations is consistent with an IAU H-G phase law with H=3.2 mag and G=0.28. Hapke's modeling yields a disk-averaged single-scattering albedo of 0.50, an asymmetry factor of -0.25, and a roughness parameter of ~20 deg at 700 nm wavelength. Vesta's surface displays the largest albedo variations observed so far on asteroids, ranging from ~0.10 to ~0.76 in geometric albedo in the visible wavelengths. The phase function of Vesta displays obvious systematic variations with respect to wavelength, with steeper slopes within the 1- and 2-micron pyroxene bands, consistent with previous ground-based observations and laboratory measurement of HED meteorites showing deeper bands at higher phase angles. The relatively high albedo of Vesta suggests significant contribution of multiple scattering. The non-linear effect of multiple scattering and the possible systematic variations of phase function with albedo across the surface of Vesta may invalidate the traditional algorithm of applying photometric correction on airless planetary surfaces.
JD6 - The Connection between Radio Properties and High Energy Emission in AGNs
Authors: Giovannini Gabriele , Cheung Teddy
Published: March 2015

While observations in the radio band are providing essential information on the innermost structures of relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei (AGN), the recent detection byFermiof gamma-ray emission from many hundreds of blazars shows that the maximum jet power is emitted at high energies. Multi-wavelength monitoring observations further allow variability studies of the AGN spectral energy distributions over 13 orders of magnitude in frequency. The Joint Discussion offered the possibility for a comprehensive discussion of advances in the observational domain and stimulated theoretical discussion about our current understanding of jet physics.
Linking the planetary ephemeris to the International Celestial Reference Frame
Authors: Folkner W. M. , Border J. S.
Published: March 2015

The largest uncertainty in the ephemerides for the inner planets is in the orientation of the dynamical system to the celestial reference frame. A program of VLBI measurements of spacecraft in orbit about Venus and Mars has been performed to reduce the orientation uncertainty to 0.2 milliarcseconds.
Photometric Techniques for Exploring Multiple Populations in Clusters
Authors: Anderson Jay
Published: March 2015

The advent of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the development of new photometric algorithms that take advantage of its stable observing platform above the atmosphere have allowed us to study the populations in globular clusters with very high precision.
LAE Galaxies at High Redshift: Formation Sites for Low-Metal Globular Clusters
Authors: Elmegreen Bruce G. , Malhotra Sangeeta , Rhoads James
Published: March 2015

Lyman-α emitting (LAE) galaxies observed at intermediate to high redshift have the correct size, mass, star formation rate, metallicity, and space density to have been the formation sites of metal-poor globular clusters. LAEs are typically small galaxies with transient starbursts. They should accrete onto spiral and elliptical galaxies over time, delivering metal-poor clusters into the larger galaxies' halos as they themselves get dispersed by tidal forces. The galaxy WLM is a good example of a dwarf remnant from a very early starburst that contains a metal-poor globular cluster but failed to get incorporated into the Milky Way or M31 because of its remote location in the local group.
Globular cluster contributions to Galactic halo assembly
Authors: Martell Sarah L.
Published: March 2015

I discuss a search for red giant stars in the Galactic halo with light-element abundances similar to second-generation globular cluster stars, and discuss the implications of such a population for globular cluster formation models and the balance between in situ star formation and accretion for the assembly of the Galactic halo.
A longslit spectroscopic survey of bulges in disc galaxies
Authors: Fabricius Maximilian , Saglia Roberto , Fisher David , Drory Niv , Bender Ralf , Hopp Ulrich
Published: March 2015

We use the Marcario Low Resolution Spectrograph (LRS) at the Hobby-Eberly-Telescope (HET) to study the kinematics of pseudobulges and classical bulges in 45 S0-Sc type galaxies in the nearby universe. Our high-resolution (instrumental σ ≈ 39 km s−1) spectra allo only to resolve the typical velocity dispersions of our targets but also to derive the h3 and h4 Gauss-Hermite moments. We demonstrate for the first time that purely kinematic diagnostics of the bulge dichotomy agree systematically with those based on Sérsic index. Low Sérsic index bulges have both increased rotational support (higher v/σ values) and on average lower central velocity dispersions. Pseudobulges have systematically shallower velocity dispersion profiles. The same correlation also holds when visual morphologies are used to diagnose bulge type. Finally, we present evidence for formerly undetected counter rotation in the two systems NGC 3945 and NGC 4736. With these, a total of 16% of the systems in or sample show signs for stellar counter rotation.
Frequency maps as a probe of secular evolution in the Milky Way
Authors: Valluri Monica
Published: March 2015

The frequency analysis of the orbits of halo stars and dark matter particles from a cosmological hydrodynamical simulation of a disk galaxy from the MUGS collaboration (Stinson et al. 2010) shows that even if the shape of the dark matter halo is nearly oblate, only about 50% of its orbits are on short-axis tubes, confirming a previous result: under baryonic condensation all orbit families can deform their shapes without changing orbital type (Valluri et al. 2010). Orbits of dark matter particles and halo stars are very similar reflecting their common accretion origin and the influence of baryons. Frequency maps provide a compact representation of the 6-D phase space distribution that also reveals the history of the halo (Valluri et al. 2012). The 6-D phase space coordinates for a large population of halo stars in the Milky Way that will be obtained from future surveys can be used to reconstruct the phase-space distribution function of the stellar halo. The similarity between the frequency maps of halo stars and dark matter particles (Fig. 1) implies that reconstruction of the stellar halo distribution function can reveal the phase space distribution of the unseen dark matter particles and provide evidence for secular evolution. MV is supported by NSF grant AST-0908346 and the Elizabeth Crosby grant.