bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantifying Barriers to Improvement of Treatment Satisfaction in Men with Erectile Dysfunction: Use of Person-Item Maps
Authors: Bushmakin Andrew G. , Cappelleri Joseph C. , Stecher Vera , Lue Tom F.
Published: December 2016

Introduction

Patient-reported outcomes are a valuable tool used to gauge treatment satisfaction in different conditions, including erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim

To use person-item maps to quantify barriers to improvement of treatment satisfaction in men with ED.

Methods

Men 18 to 65 years old with documented ED received sildenafil 50 mg, sildenafil 100 mg, or placebo for 8 weeks in a double-blinded manner. Post hoc analyses were conducted on Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) data (11 items rating treatment satisfaction; each item score range = 0–4).

Main Outcome Measures

Person-item maps were developed based on Rasch models. To quantify barriers to improvement of treatment satisfaction, responses to the 11 items of the EDITS questionnaire were dichotomized to indicate improvement (responses of 3 or 4 were combined to a score of 1) vs no change or worsening (responses of 0, 1, or 2 were combined to a score of 0).

Results

Analyses were conducted using data from 278 men who completed the EDITS questionnaire at the end of double-blinded treatment. The person-item map indicated that EDITS item 4 (ease of use of treatment) was the easiest barrier to overcome, whereas the most difficult barrier to improvement of treatment satisfaction was EDITS item 2 (degree to which treatment met expectations). Most men in the sildenafil 100-mg group endorsed most EDITS items, consistent with substantial improvement. The sildenafil 50-mg group was similar, but with smaller frequencies for endorsing improvement of the more difficult EDITS items. In contrast, men receiving placebo endorsed mainly the easiest EDITS items, with only a small number of men endorsing the difficult items.

Conclusion

A person-item map is a useful means for quantifying barriers to improvement of treatment satisfaction represented by EDITS items in patients with ED.
Combination treatment with leptin and pioglitazone in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Fernandez‐Martos Carmen M. , Atkinson Rachel A.K. , Chuah Meng I. , King Anna E. , Vickers James C.
Published: December 2016

Introduction

Combination therapy approaches may be necessary to address the many facets of pathologic change in the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The drugs leptin and pioglitazone have previously been shown individually to have neuroprotective and anti‐inflammatory actions, respectively, in animal models.

Methods

We studied the impact of combined leptin and pioglitazone treatment in 6‐month‐old APP/PS1 (APPswe/PSEN1dE9) transgenic AD mouse model.

Results

We report that an acute 2‐week treatment with combined leptin and pioglitazone resulted in a reduction of spatial memory deficits (Y maze) and brain β‐amyloid levels (soluble β‐amyloid and amyloid plaque burden) relative to vehicle‐treated animals. Combination treatment was also associated with amelioration in plaque‐associated neuritic pathology and synapse loss, and also a significantly reduced neocortical glial response.

Discussion

Combination therapy with leptin and pioglitazone ameliorates pathologic changes in APP/PS1 mice and may represent a potential treatment approach for AD.
‘Conflict with the Law’: Regulation & Homeless Youth Trajectories toward Stability
Authors: Quirouette Marianne , Frederick Tyler , Hughes Jean , Karabanow Jeff , Kidd Sean
Published: December 2016

Youth without housing experience more regulation and conflict with criminal justice than their housed counterparts. Using in-depth qualitative interviews with fifty-one young people, we focus on how efforts to move away from homelessness towards long-term housing stability are impacted by conflict with law, a term referring to a broad range of experiences with various authorities in the legal system, social services, shelters, etc. Our paper comes out of a yearlong longitudinal study of the factors and processes affecting the transition away from youth homelessness in Toronto and Halifax. We consider practical barriers generated by conflict with law, but also the role that it can play in shaping the identity processes at the heart of successful transitions. Our findings highlight how conflict with law and regulation—even occurring before and during homelessness—has serious repercussions for young people well after they have left the streets.
Antiseptic Effect of Conventional Povidone–Iodine Scrub, Chlorhexidine Scrub, and Waterless Hand Rub in a Surgical Room: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Tsai Jui-Chen , Lin Yen-Kuang , Huang Yen-Jung , Loh El-Wui , Wen Hsiao-Yun , Wang Chia-Hui , Tsai Yin-Tai , Hsieh Wen-Shyang , Tam Ka-Wai
Published: December 2016

OBJECTIVE

Effective perioperative hand antisepsis is crucial for the safety of patients and medical staff in surgical rooms. The antimicrobial effectiveness of different antiseptic methods, including conventional hand scrubs and waterless hand rubs, has not been well evaluated.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the 3 antiseptic methods among surgical staff of Taipei Medical University—Shuang Ho Hospital. For each method used, a group of 80 participants was enrolled.

INTERVENTION

Surgical hand cleansing with conventional 10% povidone–iodine scrub, conventional 4% chlorhexidine scrub, or waterless hand rub (1% chlorhexidine gluconate and 61% ethyl alcohol).

RESULTS

Colony-forming unit (CFU) counts were collected using the hand imprinting method before and after disinfection and after surgery. After surgical hand disinfection, the mean CFU counts of the conventional chlorhexidine (0.5±0.2, P<0.01) and waterless hand rub groups (1.4±0.7, P<0.05) were significantly lower than that of the conventional povidone group (4.3±1.3). No significant difference was observed in the mean CFU count among the groups after surgery. Similar results were obtained when preexisting differences before disinfection were considered in the analysis of covariance. Furthermore, multivariate regression indicated that the antiseptic method (P=.0036), but not other variables, predicted the mean CFU count.

CONCLUSIONS

Conventional chlorhexidine scrub and waterless hand rub were superior to a conventional povidone–iodine product in bacterial inhibition. We recommend using conventional chlorhexidine scrub as a standard method for perioperative hand antisepsis. Waterless hand rub may be used if the higher cost is affordable.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2017;38:417–422
Carbohydrate intake and resistance-based exercise: are current recommendations reflective of actual need?
Authors: Escobar Kurt A. , VanDusseldorp Trisha A. , Kerksick Chad M.
Published: December 2016

Substantial research has been completed examining the impact of carbohydrate (CHO) intake on endurance exercise, whereas its role in resistance-based exercise performance, adaptation and cell signalling has yet to be fully characterised. This empirical shortcoming has precluded the ability to establish specific CHO recommendations for resistance exercise. This results in recommendations largely stemming from findings based on endurance exercise and/or anecdotal evidence despite the distinct energetic demands and molecular responses mediating adaptation from endurance- and resistance-based exercise. Moreover, the topic of CHO and exercise has become one of polarising nature with divergent views – some substantiated, others lacking evidence. Current literature suggests a moderately high daily CHO intake (3–7 g/kg per d) for resistance training, which is thought to prevent glycogen depletion and facilitate performance and adaptation. However, contemporary investigation, along with an emerging understanding of the molecular underpinnings of resistance exercise adaptation, may suggest that such an intake may not be necessary. In addition to the low likelihood of true glycogen depletion occurring in response to resistance exercise, a diet restrictive in CHO may not be detrimental to acute resistance exercise performance or the cellular signalling activity responsible for adaptation, even when muscle glycogen stores are reduced. Current evidence suggests that signalling of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1, the key regulatory kinase for gene translation (protein synthesis), is unaffected by CHO restriction or low muscular glycogen concentrations. Such findings may call into question the current view and subsequent recommendations of CHO intake with regard to resistance-based exercise.
Intake ofn-3 fatty acids and long-term outcome in renal transplant recipients: apost hocanalysis of a prospective cohort study
Authors: Pranger Ilse G. , Gruppen Eke G. , van den Berg Else , Soedamah-Muthu Sabita S. , Navis Gerjan , Gans Rijk O. B. , Muskiet Frits A. J. , Kema Ido P. , Joosten Michel M. , Bakker Stephan J. L.
Published: December 2016

Supplementation withn-3 fatty acids may improve long-term outcomes of renal transplant recipients (RTR). Recent evidence suggests that EPA and DHA have different outcomes compared withα-linolenic acid (ALA). We examined the prospective associations of EPA–DHA and ALA intakes with graft failure and all-cause mortality in 637 RTR. During 3·1 years (interquartile range 2·7, 3·8) of follow-up, forty-one developed graft failure and sixty-seven died. In age- and sex-adjusted analyses, EPA–DHA and ALA intakes were not associated with graft failure. EPA–DHA intake was not significantly associated with mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 0·79; 95% CI 0·54, 1·15 per 0·1 energy% difference). ALA intake was significantly associated with mortality (HR 1·17; 95% CI 1·04, 1·31 per 0·1 energy% difference). This association remained following adjustments for BMI, proteinuria and intakes of fat, carbohydrate and protein. RTR in the highest tertile of ALA intake exhibited about 2-fold higher mortality risk (HR 2·21; 95% CI 1·23, 3·97) compared with the lowest tertile. In conclusion, ALA intake may be associated with increased mortality in RTR. Future RCT are needed to confirm these results.
Social support buffers the effect of interpersonal life stress on suicidal ideation and self-injury during adolescence
Authors: Mackin D. M. , Perlman G. , Davila J. , Kotov R. , Klein D. N.
Published: December 2016

Background

The effect of life stress on suicidal symptoms during adolescence is well documented. Stressful life events can trigger suicidality, but most adolescents are resilient and it is unclear which factors protect against the deleterious impact of stress. Social support is thought to be one such factor. Therefore, we investigated the buffering effect of specific sources of social support (parental and peer) on life stress (interpersonal and non-interpersonal) in predicting suicidal symptoms during adolescence. In order to test the specificity of this stress buffering, we also examined it with regard to dysphoric mood.

Method

Data come from the Adolescent Development of Emotions and Personality Traits (ADEPT) Project, a cohort of 550 adolescent females aged 13.5–15.5 recruited from Long Island. Self-reported social support, suicidality, and dysphoria were assessed at baseline and suicidality and dysphoria were assessed again at 9-month follow-up. Life stress was assessed by interview at the follow-up.

Results

High levels of parental support protected adolescent girls from developing suicidal symptoms following a stressor. This effect was less pronounced for peer support. Also, social support did not buffer the pathogenic effects of non-interpersonal stress. Finally, social support did not buffer the effect of life stress on dysphoric symptoms.

Conclusions

Altogether, our results highlight a distinct developmental pathway for the development of suicidal symptoms involving parental support that differs from the development of dysphoria, and signifies the importance and specificity of social support in protecting against suicidality in adolescent girls.
TIPPETT'S FOURTH PIANO SONATA
Authors: Mead Philip
Published: December 2016

On 10 May 1989 pianist Philip Mead was engaged to play Tippett's Fourth Piano Sonata at Birmingham University on the occasion of the composer receiving his honorary doctorate there. This was preceded by an afternoon workshop on the piece with lively discussion between composer and pianist. Two days previously, on 8 May 1989, in preparation for the concert, Mead played the work privately to the composer. The information in this article, which is almost entirely drawn from those two meetings, begins with a brief description of working with Tippett. Then, after an overview of all four sonatas it makes general points about the structure and style of the Fourth Sonata. Finally, each movement is discussed in turn using ideas, many of which were initiated by the composer, developed by the pianist.
Constrained Bodies: Dance, Social Justice, and Choreographic Agency
Authors: Prickett Stacey
Published: December 2016

The first part of the twenty-first century has been marked by particularly fraught social and racial tensions in the United States, brought to awareness internationally by the Black Lives Matter protest movement that started in 2014 and the vitriol espoused by the 2016 Republican presidential candidate. Randy Martin's work offers paradigms for interrogating the relationships between dance and its sociopolitical contexts that are highly relevant at this historical juncture. Drawing on some of Martin's key concepts, this article explores choreographic agency and creative strategies in dances that respond to issues of social injustice, mass incarceration, and racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Works by Joanna Haigood (Zaccho Dance Theatre), Amie S. Dowling, filmmaker Justin Forbord, and Kyle Abraham (Abraham.In.Motion) focus on narratives of oppression and disenfranchisement yet also inspire resistance and hope.
The impacts of recurrent fires on diversity of fruit-feeding butterflies in a south-eastern Amazon forest
Authors: de Andrade Rafael B. , Balch Jennifer K. , Carreira Junia Y. O. , Brando Paulo M. , Freitas André V. L.
Published: December 2016

In the south-eastern Amazon, positive feedbacks between land use and severe weather events are increasing the frequency and intensity of fires, threatening local biodiversity. We sampled fruit-feeding butterflies in experimental plots in a south-eastern Amazon forest: one control plot, one plot burned every 3 y, one plot burned yearly. We also measured environmental parameters (canopy cover, temperature, humidity). Our results show no significant differences in overall species richness between plots (34, 37 and 33 species respectively), although richness was lower in burned plots during the dry season. We found significant differences in community composition and structure between control and burned plots, but not between burned treatments. In the control plot, forest-specialist species represented 64% of total abundance, decreasing to 50% in burned every 3 y and 54% in yearly burned plots. Savanna specialist species were absent in the control plot, but represented respectively 8% and 3% of total abundance in burned plots. The best predictor of the change in spatial community patterns and abundance of forest specialists was canopy cover. Although we found high resilience to forest burning in many species, our study suggests that fire disturbance can still be a threat to forest specialists due to changes in microclimate.
Facilitating second language learners’ listening comprehension with Second Life and Skype
Authors: Levak Natasha , Son Jeong-Bae
Published: December 2016

Learning how to comprehend while listening to a second language is often considered by learners to be a difficult process that can lead to anxiety when trying to communicate (Graham, 2006; Graham & Macaro, 2008). Computer-mediated communication (CMC) can be used to assist in increasing access to native speakers and opportunities to listen. This study investigates the effectiveness of the use of Second Life and Skype as part of facilitation techniques and the affordances of these online tools for developing listening comprehension. Participants in the study were learning either English or Croatian and were located in Sydney and Brisbane in Australia, Split in Croatia, and Mostar in Bosnia and Hercegovina. A mixed-methods approach was utilised incorporating pre-tests and post-tests (quantitative data) to gain information on the effectiveness of the techniques for developing listening comprehension and in-depth interviews (qualitative data) to gain the participants’ views on the perceived effectiveness of the techniques and the affordances of Second Life or Skype. The results of the study indicate that both techniques resulted in positive gains in the development of listening comprehension. Based on the analysis of the interview data, a more in-depth perspective on the affordances of each online tool was developed, which informed the creation of a new facilitation technique utilising both tools. The study demonstrates how online tools can be used to facilitate interaction between learners and illustrates the need for the selection of online tools for language learning to be based on pedagogy. It is recommended that the selection of tools should be carefully considered in alignment with task aims and the affordances of online tools.
Understanding Life: A Bioinformatics Perspective
Authors: Szostak Natalia , Wasik Szymon , Blazewicz Jacek
Published: December 2016

According to some hypotheses, from a statistical perspective the origin of life seems to be a highly improbable event. Although there is no rigid definition of life itself, life as it is, is a fact. One of the most recognized hypotheses for the origins of life is the RNA world hypothesis. Laboratory experiments have been conducted to prove some assumptions of the RNA world hypothesis. However, despite some success in the ‘wet-lab’, we are still far from a complete explanation. Bioinformatics, supported by biomathematics, appears to provide the perfect tools to model and test various scenarios of the origins of life where wet-lab experiments cannot reflect the true complexity of the problem. Bioinformatics simulations of early pre-living systems may give us clues to the mechanisms of evolution. Whether or not this approach succeeds is still an open question. However, it seems likely that linking efforts and knowledge from the various fields of science into a holistic bioinformatics perspective offers the opportunity to come one step closer to a solution to the question of the origin of life, which is one of the greatest mysteries of humankind. This paper illustrates some recent advancements in this area and points out possible directions for further research.
Modes of relating to contingency: An exploration of experiences in advanced cancer patients
Authors: Kruizinga Renske , Hartog Iris D. , Scherer-Rath Michael , Schilderman Hans , Van Laarhoven Hanneke
Published: December 2016

Objective:

Throughout their lives, people are confronted with unexpected life events, which can be difficult to incorporate into their life narratives. Such a confrontation can result in an experience of contingency. Different ways of relating to contingency have been described by Wuchterl: denying, acknowledging, and “encounter with the Other.” In the present article, we aim to trace these theoretical distinctions in real-life experiences of patients.

Method:

We analyzed 45 interviews using the constant comparative method with a directed content analysis approach in the Atlas.ti coding program. The interviews originated from a randomized controlled trial evaluating an assisted reflection on life events and ultimate life goals. Seven spiritual counselors from six hospitals in the Netherlands conducted the interviews from July of 2014 to March of 2016. All 45 patients had advanced cancer.

Results:

We found four different modes into which relating to contingency can be classified: denying, acknowledging, accepting, and receiving. With denying, patients did not mention any impact of the life event on their lives. In acknowledging, the impact was recognized and a start was made to incorporate the event into their life. In accepting, patients went through a process of reinterpretation of the event. In receiving, patients talked about receiving insights from their illness and living a more conscious life.

Significance of results:

Our study is the first to investigate the different ways of relating to contingency in clinical practice. The defined modes will improve our understanding of the various ways in which cancer patients relate to their disease, allowing caregivers to better target and shape individual care.
Robert Coe Receives 2016 John Adam Fleming Medal
Authors:   AGU
Published: December 2016

Robert Coe was awarded the 2016 John Adam Fleming Medal at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 14 December 2016 in San Francisco, Calif. The medal is for "original research and technical leadership in geomagnetism, atmospheric electricity, aeronomy, space physics, and/or related sciences."
Tracking Global Change with a Cloud-Based Living Atlas
Authors: Sidder Aaron
Published: December 2016

With their feet in the cloud, Descartes Labs is pushing the limit of how we study the Earth with satellite images.
Chirality-driven orbital magnetic moments as a new probe for topological magnetic structures
Authors: dos Santos Dias Manuel , Bouaziz Juba , Bouhassoune Mohammed , Blügel Stefan , Lounis Samir
Published: December 2016

When electrons are driven through unconventional magnetic structures, such as skyrmions, they experience emergent electromagnetic fields that originate several Hall effects. Independently, ground-state emergent magnetic fields can also lead to orbital magnetism, even without the spin–orbit interaction. The close parallel between the geometric theories of the Hall effects and of the orbital magnetization raises the question: does a skyrmion display topological orbital magnetism? Here we first address the smallest systems with nonvanishing emergent magnetic field, trimers, characterizing the orbital magnetic properties from first-principles. Armed with this understanding, we study the orbital magnetism of skyrmions and demonstrate that the contribution driven by the emergent magnetic field is topological. This means that the topological contribution to the orbital moment does not change under continuous deformations of the magnetic structure. Furthermore, we use it to propose a new experimental protocol for the identification of topological magnetic structures, by soft X-ray spectroscopy.
Twinned growth behaviour of two-dimensional materials
Authors: Zhang Tao , Jiang Bei , Xu Zhen , Mendes Rafael G. , Xiao Yao , Chen Linfeng , Fang Liwen , Gemming Thomas , Chen Shengli , Rümmeli Mark H. , Fu Lei
Published: December 2016

Twinned growth behaviour in the rapidly emerging area of two-dimensional nanomaterials still remains unexplored although it could be exploited to fabricate heterostructure and superlattice materials. Here we demonstrate how one can utilize the twinned growth relationship between two two-dimensional materials to construct vertically stacked heterostructures. As a demonstration, we achieve 100% overlap of the two transition metal dichalcogenide layers constituting a ReS2/WS2 vertical heterostructure. Moreover, the crystal size of the stacked structure is an order of magnitude larger than previous reports. Such twinned transition metal dichalcogenides vertical heterostructures exhibit great potential for use in optical, electronic and catalytic applications. The simplicity of the twinned growth can be utilized to expand the fabrication of other heterostructures or two-dimensional material superlattice and this strategy can be considered as an enabling technology for research in the emerging field of two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures.
Extending standard testing period in honeybees to predict lifespan impacts of pesticides and heavy metals using dynamic energy budget modelling
Authors: Hesketh H. , Lahive E. , Horton A. A. , Robinson A. G. , Svendsen C. , Rortais A. , Dorne J.- L. , Baas J. , Spurgeon D. J. , Heard M. S.
Published: December 2016

Concern over reported honeybee (Apis mellifera spp.) losses has highlighted chemical exposure as a risk. Current laboratory oral toxicity tests in A. mellifera spp. use short-term, maximum 96 hour, exposures which may not necessarily account for chronic and cumulative toxicity. Here, we use extended 240 hour (10 day) exposures to examine seven agrochemicals and trace environmental pollutant toxicities for adult honeybees. Data were used to parameterise a dynamic energy budget model (DEBtox) to further examine potential survival effects up to 30 day and 90 day summer and winter worker lifespans. Honeybees were most sensitive to insecticides (clothianidin > dimethoate ≫ tau-fluvalinate), then trace metals/metalloids (cadmium, arsenic), followed by the fungicide propiconazole and herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). LC50s calculated from DEBtox parameters indicated a 27 fold change comparing exposure from 48 to 720 hours (summer worker lifespan) for cadmium, as the most time-dependent chemical as driven by slow toxicokinetics. Clothianidin and dimethoate exhibited more rapid toxicokinetics with 48 to 720 hour LC50s changes of <4 fold. As effects from long-term exposure may exceed those measured in short-term tests, future regulatory tests should extend to 96 hours as standard, with extension to 240 hour exposures further improving realism.
Photon Entanglement Through Brain Tissue
Authors: Shi Lingyan , Galvez Enrique J. , Alfano Robert R.
Published: December 2016

Photon entanglement, the cornerstone of quantum correlations, provides a level of coherence that is not present in classical correlations. Harnessing it by study of its passage through organic matter may offer new possibilities for medical diagnosis technique. In this work, we study the preservation of photon entanglement in polarization, created by spontaneous parametric down-conversion, after one entangled photon propagates through multiphoton-scattering brain tissue slices with different thickness. The Tangle-Entropy (TS) plots show the strong preservation of entanglement of photons propagating in brain tissue. By spatially filtering the ballistic scattering of an entangled photon, we find that its polarization entanglement is preserved and non-locally correlated with its twin in the TS plots. The degree of entanglement correlates better with structure and water content than with sample thickness.
Arbitrary Inequality in Reputation Systems
Authors: Frey Vincenz , van de Rijt Arnout
Published: December 2016

Trust is an essential condition for exchange. Large societies must substitute the trust traditionally provided through kinship and sanctions in small groups to make exchange possible. The rise of internet-supported reputation systems has been celebrated for providing trust at a global scale, enabling the massive volumes of transactions between distant strangers that are characteristic of modern human societies. Here we problematize an overlooked side-effect of reputation systems: Equally trustworthy individuals may realize highly unequal exchange volumes. We report the results of a laboratory experiment that shows emergent differentiation between ex ante equivalent individuals when information on performance in past exchanges is shared. This arbitrary inequality results from cumulative advantage in the reputation-building process: Random initial distinctions grow as parties of good repute are chosen over those lacking a reputation. We conjecture that reputation systems produce artificial concentration in a wide range of markets and leave superior but untried exchange alternatives unexploited.
A nationwide cross-sectional survey on prevalence, management and pharmacoepidemiology patterns on hypertension in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Zhang Wen , Shi Wei , Liu Zhangsuo , Gu Yong , Chen Qinkai , Yuan Weijie , Zhang Yanlin , Gong Li , Zhou Rong , Li Mingxu , Cheng Hong , Liu Jian , Cen Jun , Huang Chaoxing , Ren Yeping , Mao Peiju , Xing Changying , Hong Fuyuan , Jiang Dongsheng , Wang Li , Xu Gang , Liu Jianshe , Chen Nan
Published: December 2016

Limited data are available on epidemiology and drug use in Chinese hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We determined the prevalence; awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension; anti-hypertensive use, expenditure pattern; and factors associated with hypertension prevalence and control in Chinese patients with CKD. This was one of the largest cross-sectional surveys that enrolled 6079 CKD participants (mean age, 51.0 ± 16.37 years) with or without hypertension from 22 centres across China. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment rates were 71.2%, 95.4%, and 93.7%, respectively. Control rates 1 and 2 (Blood pressure, BP <140/90 and <130/80 mmHg) were 41.1% and 15.0%, respectively. Patients were treated mostly with monotherapy (37.7%) or 2-drug anti-hypertensive combination (38.7%). Factors associated with prevalence of hypertension included age; smoking; body mass index; physical exercise; family history of hypertension; hyperuricaemia; and CKD. Control rate was associated with CKD stage, BP monitoring at home, and use of drug combinations. Despite high rates of awareness and treatment, the control rates are low. CKD stages 4 and 5 adversely affect the control rate. The results suggest the immediate need of comprehensive controlling measures to improve the control of hypertension in Chinese patients with CKD.
Do invasive quagga mussels alter CO2 dynamics in the Laurentian Great Lakes?
Authors: Lin Peng , Guo Laodong
Published: December 2016

The Laurentian Great Lakes have experienced unprecedented ecological and environmental changes, especially after the introduction of invasive quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis). While impacts on ecological functions have been widely recognized, the response of carbon dynamics to invasive species remains largely unknown. We report new CO2 data showing significant increases in pCO2 (up to 800 μatm in Lake Michigan) and CO2 emission fluxes in most of the Great Lakes compared to those prior to or during the early stage of the colonization of invasive quagga mussels. The increased CO2 supersaturation is most prominent in Lakes Huron and Michigan, followed by Lakes Ontario and Erie, but no evident change was observed in Lake Superior. This trend mirrors the infestation extent of invasive quagga mussels in the Great Lakes and is consistent with the decline in primary production and increase in water clarity observed pre- and post-Dreissena introduction, revealing a close linkage between invasive species and carbon dynamics. The Great Lakes have become a significant CO2 source to the atmosphere, emitting >7.7 ± 1.0 Tg-C annually, which is higher than the organic carbon burial rate in global inland-seas and attesting to the significant role of the Laurentian Great Lakes in regional/global CO2 budget and cycling.
Perceptual learning to discriminate the intensity and spatial location of nociceptive stimuli
Authors: Mancini Flavia , Dolgevica Karina , Steckelmacher James , Haggard Patrick , Friston Karl , Iannetti Giandomenico D.
Published: December 2016

Accurate discrimination of the intensity and spatial location of nociceptive stimuli is essential to guide appropriate behaviour. The ability to discriminate the attributes of sensory stimuli is continuously refined by practice, even throughout adulthood - a phenomenon called perceptual learning. In the visual domain, perceptual learning to discriminate one of the features that define a visual stimulus (e.g., its orientation) can transfer to a different feature of the same stimulus (e.g., its contrast). Here, we performed two experiments on 48 volunteers to characterize perceptual learning in nociception, which has been rarely studied. We investigated whether learning to discriminate either the intensity or the location of nociceptive stimuli (1) occurs during practice and is subsequently maintained, (2) requires feedback on performance, and (3) transfers to the other, unpractised stimulus feature. First, we found clear evidence that perceptual learning in discriminating both the intensity and the location of nociceptive stimuli occurs, and is maintained for at least 3 hours after practice. Second, learning occurs only when feedback is provided during practice. Finally, learning is largely confined to the feature for which feedback was provided. We discuss these effects in a predictive coding framework, and consider implications for future studies.
Tissue specific transcript profiling of wheat phosphate transporter genes and its association with phosphate allocation in grains
Authors: Shukla Vishnu , Kaur Mandeep , Aggarwal Sipla , Bhati Kaushal Kumar , Kaur Jaspreet , Mantri Shrikant , Pandey Ajay K.
Published: December 2016

Approaches enabling efficient phosphorus utilization in crops are of great importance. In cereal crop like wheat, utilization of inorganic phosphate (Pi) is high and mature grains are the major sink for Pi utilization and storage. Research that addresses the importance of the Pi homeostasis in developing grains is limited. In an attempt to understand the Pi homeostasis in developing wheat grains, we identified twelve new phosphate transporters (PHT), these are phyologentically well distributed along with the members reported from Arabidopsis and rice. Enhanced expression ofPHT1-subfamily genes was observed in roots subjected to the Pi starvation suggesting their active role in Pi homeostasis. Differential expression patterns of all the PHT genes during grain filling stages suggested their importance in the filial tissues. Additionally, high accumulation of Pi and total P in aleurone correlates well with the expression ofTaPHTs and other phosphate starvation related genes. Tissue specific transcript accumulation ofTaPHT1.1, TaPHT1.2, TaPHT1.4in aleurone;TaPHT3.1in embryo andTaPHT4.2in the endosperm was observed. Furthermore, their transcript abundance was affected in low phytate wheat grains. Altogether, this study helps in expanding the knowledge and prioritize the candidate wheat Pi-transporters to modulate the Pi homeostasis in cereal grains.
Experimental test of genuine multipartite nonlocality under the no-signalling principle
Authors: Zhang Chao , Zhang Cheng-Jie , Huang Yun-Feng , Hou Zhi-Bo , Liu Bi-Heng , Li Chuan-Feng , Guo Guang-Can
Published: December 2016

Genuine multipartite nonlocality (GMN) has been recognized as the strongest form of multipartite quantum correlation. However, there exist states that cannot violate the Svetlichny inequality derived from the standard definition of GMN, even though they possess GMN properties. The reason is that the standard definition of GMN allows correlations that permit signalling among parties, which is inconsistent with an operational definition. Here, for the first time, we present an experimental test of GMN in the no-signalling scenario, with a three-photon pure state |ψs〉 and a noisy W state. The experimental results show that these states cannot violate the Svetlichny inequality. However, our results also demonstrate that they do violate a new inequality derived from the definition of GMN based on the no-signalling principle, i.e., these states can exhibit GMN under the requirement of no-signalling. Our results will be useful for the study and applications of GMN in quantum communications and quantum computation.
Engineered metabarrier as shield from seismic surface waves
Authors: Palermo Antonio , Krödel Sebastian , Marzani Alessandro , Daraio Chiara
Published: December 2016

Resonant metamaterials have been proposed to reflect or redirect elastic waves at different length scales, ranging from thermal vibrations to seismic excitation. However, for seismic excitation, where energy is mostly carried by surface waves, energy reflection and redirection might lead to harming surrounding regions. Here, we propose a seismic metabarrier able to convert seismic Rayleigh waves into shear bulk waves that propagate away from the soil surface. The metabarrier is realized by burying sub-wavelength resonant structures under the soil surface. Each resonant structure consists of a cylindrical mass suspended by elastomeric springs within a concrete case and can be tuned to the resonance frequency of interest. The design allows controlling seismic waves with wavelengths from 10-to-100 m with meter-sized resonant structures. We develop an analytical model based on effective medium theory able to capture the mode conversion mechanism. The model is used to guide the design of metabarriers for varying soil conditions and validated using finite-element simulations. We investigate the shielding performance of a metabarrier in a scaled experimental model and demonstrate that surface ground motion can be reduced up to 50% in frequency regions below 10 Hz, relevant for the protection of buildings and civil infrastructures.
A new mouse model of ADHD for medication development
Authors: Majdak Petra , Ossyra John R. , Ossyra Jessica M. , Cobert Adam J. , Hofmann Gabrielle C. , Tse Stephen , Panozzo Brent , Grogan Elizabeth L. , Sorokina Anastassia , Rhodes Justin S.
Published: December 2016

ADHD is a major societal problem with increasing incidence and a stagnant track record for treatment advances. A lack of appropriate animal models has partly contributed to the incremental advance of this field. Hence, our goal was to generate a novel mouse model that could be useful for ADHD medication development. We reasoned that hyperactivity is a core feature of ADHD that could easily be bred into a population, but to what extent other hallmark features of ADHD would appear as correlated responses was unknown. Hence, starting from a heterogeneous population, we applied within-family selection over 16 generations to produce a High-Active line, while simultaneously maintaining an unselected line to serve as the Control. We discovered that the High-Active line demonstrated motor impulsivity in two different versions of the Go/No-go test, which was ameliorated with a low dose of amphetamine, and further displayed hypoactivation of the prefrontal cortex and dysregulated cerebellar vermal activation as indexed by c-Fos immunohistochemical staining. We conclude that the High-Active line represents a valid model for the Hyperactive-Impulsive subtype of ADHD and therefore may be used in future studies to advance our understanding of the etiology of ADHD and screen novel compounds for its treatment.
Central Role of CD169+ Lymph Node Resident Macrophages in the Adjuvanticity of the QS-21 Component of AS01
Authors: Detienne Sophie , Welsby Iain , Collignon Catherine , Wouters Sandrine , Coccia Margherita , Delhaye Sophie , Van Maele Laurye , Thomas Séverine , Swertvaegher Maëlle , Detavernier Aurélie , Elouahabi Abdelatif , Goriely Stanislas , Didierlaurent Arnaud M.
Published: December 2016

Saponins represent a promising class of vaccine adjuvant. Together with the TLR4-ligand MPL, QS-21 is part of the Adjuvant System AS01, a key component of the malaria and zoster candidate vaccines that display demonstrated clinical efficacy. However, the mechanism of action of QS-21 in this liposomal formulation is poorly understood. Upon intra-muscular immunisation, we observed that QS-21 rapidly accumulated in CD169+ resident macrophages of the draining lymph node where it elicited a local innate immune response. Depletion of these cells abrogated QS-21-mediated innate cell recruitment to the lymph node, dendritic cell (DC) phenotypic maturation as well as the adjuvant effect on T-cell and antibody responses to co-administered antigens. DCs rather than lymph node-resident macrophages were directly involved in T-cell priming by QS-21, as revealed by the decrease in antigen-specific T-cell response in Batf3−/− mice. Further analysis showed that the adjuvant effect of QS-21 depended on the integration of Caspase-1 and MyD88 pathways, at least in part through the local release of HMGB1. Taken together, this work unravels the key role of lymph node sentinel macrophage in controlling the adjuvant effect of a molecule proven to improve vaccine response in humans.
Long-Term Acclimation to Different Thermal Regimes Affects Molecular Responses to Heat Stress in a Freshwater Clam Corbicula Fluminea
Authors: Falfushynska Halina I. , Phan Tuan , Sokolova Inna M.
Published: December 2016

Global climate change (GCC) can negatively affect freshwater ecosystems. However, the degree to which freshwater populations can acclimate to long-term warming and the underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet fully understood. We used the cooling water discharge (CWD) area of a power plant as a model for long-term warming. Survival and molecular stress responses (expression of molecular chaperones, antioxidants, bioenergetic and protein synthesis biomarkers) to experimental warming (20–41 °C, +1.5 °C per day) were assessed in invasive clams Corbicula fluminea from two pristine populations and a CWD population. CWD clams had considerably higher (by ~8–12 °C) lethal temperature thresholds than clams from the pristine areas. High thermal tolerance of CWD clams was associated with overexpression of heat shock proteins HSP70, HSP90 and HSP60 and activation of protein synthesis at 38 °C. Heat shock response was prioritized over the oxidative stress response resulting in accumulation of oxidative lesions and ubiquitinated proteins during heat stress in CWD clams. Future studies should determine whether the increase in thermal tolerance in CWD clams are due to genetic adaptation and/or phenotypic plasticity. Overall, our findings indicate that C. fluminea has potential to survive and increase its invasive range during warming such as expected during GCC.
Translational regulation of APOBEC3G mRNA by Vif requires its 5′UTR and contributes to restoring HIV-1 infectivity
Authors: Guerrero Santiago , Libre Camille , Batisse Julien , Mercenne Gaëlle , Richer Delphine , Laumond Géraldine , Decoville Thomas , Moog Christiane , Marquet Roland , Paillart Jean-Christophe
Published: December 2016

The essential HIV-1 viral infectivity factor (Vif) allows productive infection of non-permissive cells expressing cytidine deaminases APOBEC3G (A3G) and A3F by decreasing their cellular level, and preventing their incorporation into virions. Unlike the Vif-induced degradation of A3G, the functional role of the inhibition of A3G translation by Vif remained unclear. Here, we show that two stem-loop structures within the 5′-untranslated region of A3G mRNA are crucial for translation inhibition by Vif in cells, and most Vif alleles neutralize A3G translation efficiently. Interestingly, K26R mutation in Vif abolishes degradation of A3G by the proteasome but has no effect at the translational level, indicating these two pathways are independent. These two mechanisms, proteasomal degradation and translational inhibition, similarly contribute to decrease the cellular level of A3G by Vif and to prevent its incorporation into virions. Importantly, inhibition of A3G translation is sufficient to partially restore viral infectivity in the absence of proteosomal degradation. These findings demonstrate that HIV-1 has evolved redundant mechanisms to specifically inhibit the potent antiviral activity of A3G.
Compound to Extract to Formulation: a knowledge-transmitting approach for metabolites identification of Gegen-Qinlian Decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine formula
Authors: Qiao Xue , Wang Qi , Wang Shuang , Miao Wen-juan , Li Yan-jiao , Xiang Cheng , Guo De-an , Ye Min
Published: December 2016

Herbal medicines usually contain a large group of chemical components, which may be transformed into more complex metabolites in vivo. In this study, we proposed a knowledge-transmitting strategy for metabolites identification of compound formulas. Gegen-Qinlian Decoction (GQD) is a classical formula in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is widely used to treat diarrhea and diabetes in clinical practice. However, only tens of metabolites could be detected using conventional approaches. To comprehensively identify the metabolites of GQD, a “compound to extract to formulation” strategy was established in this study. The metabolic pathways of single representative constituents in GQD were studied, and the metabolic rules were transmitted to chemically similar compounds in herbal extracts. After screening diversified metabolites from herb extracts, the knowledge was summarized to identify the metabolites of GQD. Tandem mass spectrometry (MSn), fragment-based scan (NL, PRE), and selected reaction monitoring (SRM) were employed to identify, screen, and monitor the metabolites, respectively. Using this strategy, we detected 131 GQD metabolites (85 were newly generated) in rats biofluids. Among them, 112 metabolites could be detected when GQD was orally administered at a clinical dosage (12.5 g/kg). This strategy could be used for systematic metabolites identification of complex Chinese medicine formulas.
Probabilistic Assessment of Above Zone Pressure Predictions at a Geologic Carbon Storage Site
Authors: Namhata Argha , Oladyshkin Sergey , Dilmore Robert M. , Zhang Liwei , Nakles David V.
Published: December 2016

Carbon dioxide (CO2) storage into geological formations is regarded as an important mitigation strategy for anthropogenic CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. This study first simulates the leakage of CO2 and brine from a storage reservoir through the caprock. Then, we estimate the resulting pressure changes at the zone overlying the caprock also known as Above Zone Monitoring Interval (AZMI). A data-driven approach of arbitrary Polynomial Chaos (aPC) Expansion is then used to quantify the uncertainty in the above zone pressure prediction based on the uncertainties in different geologic parameters. Finally, a global sensitivity analysis is performed with Sobol indices based on the aPC technique to determine the relative importance of different parameters on pressure prediction. The results indicate that there can be uncertainty in pressure prediction locally around the leakage zones. The degree of such uncertainty in prediction depends on the quality of site specific information available for analysis. The scientific results from this study provide substantial insight that there is a need for site-specific data for efficient predictions of risks associated with storage activities. The presented approach can provide a basis of optimized pressure based monitoring network design at carbon storage sites.
Raman spectrum identification based on the correlation score using the weighted segmental hit quality index
Authors: Park Jun-Kyu , Park Aaron , Yang Si Kyung , Baek Sung-June , Hwang Joonki , Choo Jaebum
Published: December 2016

In this paper, we consider a novel method for identification of Raman spectra recorded on different instruments with different wavelengths.
Self-templated synthesis of uniform nanoporous CuCo2O4 double-shelled hollow microspheres for high-performance asymmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Kamari Kaverlavani Saeid , Moosavifard Seyyed Ebrahim , Bakouei Ali
Published: December 2016

Multilevel interior nanoporous CuCo2O4 microspheres have been for the first time developed using a facile self-templated method.
High-speed electrodeposition of copper–tin–zinc stacks from liquid metal salts for Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells
Authors: Steichen Marc , Malaquias João C. , Arasimowicz Monika , Djemour Rabie , Brooks Neil R. , Van Meervelt Luc , Fransaer Jan , Binnemans Koen , Dale Phillip J.
Published: December 2016

High speed electrochemical deposition of copper, tin, and zinc from custom designed ionic liquids for large scale solar applications.
Transformation of nortricyclane type cage compounds P4S3, P4Se3and As4S3by [Cp′′2Zr(CO)2]
Authors: Seitz A. E. , Heinl V. , Timoshkin A. Y. , Scheer M.
Published: December 2016

The complex [Cp′′2Zr(CO)2] (Cp′′ = C5H3tBu2) was used to transform the nortricyclane type cage compounds E4Q3(E = P, Q = S, Se; E = As, Q = S) resulting in unprecedented complexes [(Cp′′2Zr)2(μ,η1:1:1:1-E2Q4)] possessing bridging ligands that represent the anions of the so far unknown tetrachalcogenohypodiphosphorous acid (HQ)2PP(QH)2and tetrathiohypodiarsenous acid (HS)2AsAs(SH)2, respectively.