bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prepubertal children exposed to concentrated disadvantage: An exploratory analysis of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction
Authors: Kepper Maura , Sothern Melinda , Zabaleta Jovanny , Ravussin Eric , Velasco‐Gonzalez Cruz , Leonardi Claudia , Griffiths Lauren , Park Chi , Estrada John , Scribner Richard
Published: March 2016

Objective

It is unclear whether physiologic and metabolic biomarkers are associated with chronic stressors evidenced during early childhood.

Methods

Cross‐sectional data were obtained from a cohort of healthy, prepubertal (Tanner stage < 2) children (n = 96; age: 8.06 [7.8] years; M = 51 [53%]; F = 45 [47%]; African‐American = 26 [27%]; Caucasian = 70 [73%]; with obesity = 21 [22%]; without obesity = 75 [78%]) from the MET study. Body mass index z‐score (z_BMI), total body fat (BF), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), intrahepatic and intramyocellular lipids, and insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) were measured. Chronic stress was assessed using neighborhood concentrated disadvantage index (CDI) for the U.S. Census tracts in which participants resided. Spearman's rank correlations were used to examine relationships, accounting for sex and race.

Results

CDI was not positively associated with inflammatory and metabolic markers of dysfunction. However, z_BMI (−0.234, P = 0.023), BF (−0.228, P = 0.028, n = 95), and VAT (−0.241, P = 0.042, n = 74) were significantly negatively associated with CDI. When stratifying by race, these relationships remained significant in Caucasian children only.

Conclusions

These findings suggest chronic stress during early childhood is not associated with inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers, typically observed in adults. Therefore, exposure to stress during this critical developmental period may remain latent and emerge during a later developmental stage.
Guideline for the Treatment of Breakthrough and the Prevention of Refractory Chemotherapy‐Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Children With Cancer
Authors: Flank Jacqueline , Robinson Paula D. , Holdsworth Mark , Phillips Robert , Portwine Carol , Gibson Paul , Maan Cathy , Stefin Nancy , Sung Lillian , Dupuis L. Lee
Published: March 2016

This clinical practice guideline provides an approach to the treatment of breakthrough chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and the prevention of refractory CINV in children. It was developed by an international, interprofessional panel and is based on systematic literature reviews. Evidence‐based interventions for the treatment of breakthrough and prophylaxis of refractory CINV are recommended. Gaps in the evidence used to support the recommendations made in this clinical practice guideline were identified. The contribution of these recommendations to breakthrough and refractory CINV control in children requires prospective evaluation.
Proteome and carbon flux analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates from different infection sites
Authors: Lassek Christian , Berger Antje , Zühlke Daniela , Wittmann Christoph , Riedel Katharina
Published: March 2016

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known as opportunistic pathogen frequently isolated from different infection sites. To investigate the expression rates of P. aeruginosa proteins commonly expressed by different clinical isolates, absolute protein quantities were determined employing a gel‐free and data‐independent LC‐IMSE approach. Moreover, the metabolic diversity of these isolates was investigated by 13C‐metabolic flux analyses. 812 proteins were reproducibly identified and absolutely quantified for the reference strain P. aeruginosa PAO1, 363 of which were also identified and relatively quantified in all isolates. Whilst the majority of these proteins were expressed in constant amounts, expression rates of 42 proteins were highly variable between the isolates. Notably, the outer membrane protein OprH and the response regulator PhoP were strongly expressed in burned wounds isolates compared to lung/urinary tract isolates. Moreover, proteins involved in iron/amino acids uptake were found to be highly abundant in urinary tract isolates. The fluxome data revealed a conserved glycolysis, and a niche‐specific divergence in fluxes through the glyoxylate shunt and the TCA cycle among the isolates. The integrated proteome/fluxome analysis did not indicate straightforward correlation between the protein amount and flux, but rather points to additional layers of regulation that mediate metabolic adaption of P. aeruginosa to different host environments. All MS data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD002373 (http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD002373).
Comparative proteomics analysis of silkworm hemolymph during the stages of metamorphosis via liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry
Authors: Hou Yong , Zhang Yan , Gong Jing , Tian Sha , Li Jianwei , Dong Zhaoming , Guo Chao , Peng Li , Zhao Ping , Xia Qingyou
Published: March 2016

The silkworm is a lepidopteran insect that has an open circulatory system with hemolymph consisting of blood and lymph fluid. Hemolymph is not only considered as a depository of nutrients and energy, but it also plays a key role in substance transportation, immunity response, and proteolysis. In this study, we used LC‐MS/MS to analyze the hemolymph proteins of four developmental stages during metamorphosis. A total of 728 proteins were identified from the hemolymph of the second day of wandering stage, first day of pupation, ninth day of pupation, and first day as an adult moth. GO annotations and categories showed that silkworm hemolymph proteins were enriched in carbohydrate metabolism, proteolysis, protein binding, and antibacterial humoral response. The levels of nutrient, immunity‐related, and structural proteins changed significantly during development and metamorphosis. Some, such as cuticle, odorant‐binding, and chemosensory proteins, showed stage‐specific expression in the hemolymph. In addition, the expression of several antimicrobial peptides exhibited their highest level of abundance in the hemolymph of the early pupal stage. These findings provide a comprehensive proteomic insight of the silkworm hemolymph and suggest additional molecular targets for studying insect metamorphosis.
Visualizing fungal metabolites during mycoparasitic interaction by MALDI mass spectrometry imaging
Authors: Holzlechner Matthias , Reitschmidt Sonja , Gruber Sabine , Zeilinger Susanne , Marchetti‐Deschmann Martina
Published: March 2016

Studying microbial interactions by MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) directly from growing media is a difficult task if high sensitivity is demanded. We present a quick and robust sample preparation strategy for growing fungi (Trichoderma atroviride, Rhizoctonia solani) on glass slides to establish a miniaturized confrontation assay. By this we were able to visualize metabolite distributions by MALDI MSI after matrix deposition with a home‐built sublimation device and thorough recrystallization. We present for the first time MALDI MSI data for secondary metabolite release during active mycoparasitism.
Synthesis and flame retardant potential of polyols based on bisphenol‐S
Authors: Sonnenschein Mark F. , Virgili Justin M. , Babb David A. , Bell Bruce M. , Nickless Brian C.
Published: March 2016

Polyether polyols based on bisphenol‐S were prepared by alkoxylation and compared with analogs based on bisphenol‐A, as well as standard aromatic polyester, and polyether polyols for viscosity and temperature stability. Thermo‐oxidative stability was determined by thermo‐gravimetric analysis, pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, and evolved gas analysis mass spectroscopy. Incorporation of the sulfone moiety was found to dramatically improve the thermo‐oxidative stability of the neat polyol. Significant char formation was observed with gas phase evolution of flame retardant SO2and aromatic sulfone only apparent at about 600 °C. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem.2016,54, 2102–2108
An Exercise Counseling Intervention in Minority Adults With Heart Failure
Authors: McCarthy Margaret M. , Dickson Victoria Vaughan , Katz Stuart D. , Chyun Deborah A.
Published: March 2016

Purpose:

The primary aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of an exercise counseling intervention for adults of diverse race/ethnicity with heart failure (HF) and to assess its potential for improving overall physical activity, functional capacity, and HF self-care.

Design:

This study was a quasi-experimental, prospective, longitudinal cohort design.

Methods:

Twenty adults were enrolled and completed the 6-minute walk and standardized instruments, followed by exercise counseling using motivational interviewing. Each received an accelerometer, hand weights, and a diary to record self-care behaviors. Participants were followed via phone for 12 weeks to collect step-counts, review symptoms, and plan the following week’s step goal.

Findings:

Results indicate that this intervention was feasible for most participants and resulted in improvements in physical activity, functional capacity, and self-care behaviors.

Conclusion/Clinical Relevance:

Brief exercise counseling may be an appropriate option to improve outcomes for stable patients with HF and may be tailored to fit different settings.
Molecular Oxygen Modulated Luminescence of an Octahedro‐hexamolybdenum Iodide Cluster having Six Apical Thiocyanate Ligands
Authors: Riehl Lara , Ströbele Markus , Enseling David , Jüstel Thomas , Meyer H.‐Jürgen
Published: March 2016

The synthesis, characterization, and luminescence properties of (Bu4N)2[Mo6I8(NCS)6] are reported. Orange crystals of (Bu4N)2[Mo6I8(NCS)6] were crystallized from acetone solution and used for X‐ray single‐crystal structure determination and refinement, yielding a structure with a centrosymmetric [Mo6I8(NCS)6]2– ion. Photoluminescence studies on the crystalline solid revealed a broad excitation in the UV/Vis region and an emission around 690 nm. The red emission intensity decreases with increasing partial pressure of atmospheric molecular O2.
“The Buoy”: Utilization of a low-threshold ambulatory setting for traumatized children and adolescents in Austria
Authors: Huemer J. , Völkl-Kernstock S. , Yee A. , Bruckner T. , Skala Katrin
Published: March 2016

Background

This investigation intended to assess the use of an outpatient clinic providing low-threshold, short-term trauma therapy for children and adolescents across the first 6 years of its existence.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of the records of all patients undergoing treatment in this institution between 2001 and 2007 (n = 2510) has been performed. We evaluated demographic data, reason for contacting the unit, the referring person or institution, the person or institution in charge of the care and custody of the child, the number of contacts with the clinic, presence of physical or psychiatric illness of a parent, and medications prescribed.

Results

Ages of patients ranged from 1 to 17. Gender distribution was even. Having experienced the death of a relative, experienced violence, or having witnessed traumatic death were the main reasons for presentation. The utilization rates of immigrants rose throughout the observation period. Children from foster care were seen less frequently than expected. Medication was hardly prescribed.

Conclusions

Ample utilization of this institution clearly demonstrates the need for short-term acute outpatient trauma therapy for children and adolescents. Efforts to provide easily accessible institutions for youth who experience traumatic events should be stepped up.
Intra‐axonal protein synthesis in development and beyond
Authors: Batista Andreia Filipa Rodrigues , Hengst Ulrich
Published: March 2016

Proteins can be locally produced in the periphery of a cell, allowing a rapid and spatially precise response to the changes in its environment. This process is especially relevant in highly polarized and morphologically complex cells such as neurons. The study of local translation in axons has evolved from being primarily focused on developing axons, to the notion that also mature axons can produce proteins. Axonal translation has been implied in several physiological and pathological conditions, and in all cases it shares common molecular actors and pathways as well as regulatory mechanisms. Here, we review the main findings in these fields, and attempt to highlight shared principles.
Functional Magnetic Stimulation of Inspiratory and Expiratory Muscles in Subjects With Tetraplegia
Authors: Zhang Xiaoming , Plow Ela , Ranganthan Vinoth , Huang Honglian , Schmitt Melissa , Nemunaitis Gregory , Kelly Clay , Frost Frederick , Lin Vernon
Published: March 2016

Background

Respiratory complications are major causes of morbidity and mortality in persons with a spinal cord injury, partly because of respiratory muscle paralysis. Earlier investigation has demonstrated that functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) can be used as a noninvasive technology for activating expiratory muscles, thus producing useful expiratory functions (simulated cough) in subjects with spinal cord injury.

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of FMS for conditioning inspiratory and expiratory muscles in persons with tetraplegia.

Design

A prospective before and after trial.

Setting

FMS Laboratory, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.

Participants

Six persons with tetraplegia.

Method

Each subject participated in a 6‐week FMS protocol for conditioning the inspiratory and expiratory muscles. A magnetic stimulator was used with the center of a magnetic coil placed at the C7‐T1 and T9‐T10 spinous processes, respectively. Pulmonary function tests were performed before, during, and after the protocol.

Main Outcome Measurements

Respiratory variables included maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), peak inspiratory flow (PIF), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), and peak expiratory flow (PEF).

Results

After 6 weeks of conditioning, the main outcome measurements (mean ± standard error) were as follows: MIP, 89.6 ± 7.3 cm H2O; IRV, 1.90 ± 0.34 L; PIF, 302.4 ± 36.3 L/min; MEP, 67.4 ± 11.1 cm H2O; ERV, 0.40 ± 0.06 L; and PEF, 372.4 ± 31.9 L/min. These values corresponded to 117%, 107%, 136%, 109%, 130%, and 124% of pre‐FMS conditioning values, respectively. Significant improvements were observed in MIP (P = .022), PIF (P = .0001), and PEF (P = .0006), respectively. When FMS was discontinued for 4 weeks, these values showed decreases from their values at the end of the conditioning protocol, which suggests that continual FMS may be necessary to maintain improved respiratory functions.

Conclusion

FMS conditioning of the inspiratory and expiratory muscles improved voluntary inspiratory and expiratory functions. FMS may be a noninvasive technology for respiratory muscle training in persons with tetraplegia.
WADGE HIERARCHY OF DIFFERENCES OF CO-ANALYTIC SETS
Authors: FOURNIER KEVIN
Published: March 2016

We begin the fine analysis of nonBorel pointclasses. Working in ZFC + DET$\left( {_1^1 } \right)$, we describe the Wadge hierarchy of the class of increasing differences of co-analytic subsets of the Baire space by extending results obtained by Louveau ([5]) for the Borel sets.
INITIAL SEGMENTS OF THE ENUMERATION DEGREES
Authors: GANCHEV HRISTO , SORBI ANDREA
Published: March 2016

Using properties of${\cal K}$-pairs of sets, we show that every nonzero enumeration degreeabounds a nontrivial initial segment of enumeration degrees whose nonzero elements have all the same jump asa. Some consequences of this fact are derived, that hold in the local structure of the enumeration degrees, including: There is an initial segment of enumeration degrees, whose nonzero elements are all high; there is a nonsplitting high enumeration degree; every noncappable enumeration degree is high; every nonzero low enumeration degree can be capped by degrees of any possible local jump (i.e., any jump that can be realized by enumeration degrees of the local structure); every enumeration degree that bounds a nonzero element of strictly smaller jump, is bounding; every low enumeration degree below a non low enumeration degreeacan be capped belowa.
SMOOTHNESS OF BOUNDED INVARIANT EQUIVALENCE RELATIONS
Authors: KRUPIŃSKI KRZYSZTOF , RZEPECKI TOMASZ
Published: March 2016

We generalise the main theorems from the paper “The Borel cardinality of Lascar strong types” by I. Kaplan, B. Miller and P. Simon to a wider class of bounded invariant equivalence relations. We apply them to describe relationships between fundamental properties of bounded invariant equivalence relations (such as smoothness or type-definability) which also requires finding a series of counterexamples. Finally, we apply the generalisation mentioned above to prove a conjecture from a paper by the first author and J. Gismatullin, showing that the key technical assumption of the main theorem (concerning connected components in definable group extensions) from that paper is not only sufficient but also necessary to obtain the conclusion.
Deficit in rewarding mechanisms and prefrontal left/right cortical effect in vulnerability for internet addiction
Authors: Balconi Michela , Finocchiaro Roberta
Published: March 2016

Objective

The present research explored the cortical correlates of rewarding mechanisms and cortical ‘unbalance’ effect in internet addiction (IA) vulnerability.

Methods

Internet Addiction Inventory (IAT) and personality trait (Behavioural Inhibition System, BIS; Behavioural Activation System, BAS) were applied to 28 subjects. Electroencephalographic (EEG, alpha frequency band) and response times (RTs) were registered during a Go-NoGo task execution in response to different online stimuli: gambling videos, videogames or neutral stimuli. Higher-IAT (more than 50 score, with moderate or severe internet addiction) and lower-IAT (<50 score, with no internet addiction).

Results

Alpha band and RTs were affected by IAT, with significant bias (reduced RTs) for high-IAT in response to gambling videos and videogames; and by BAS, BAS-Reward subscale (BAS-R), since not only higher-IAT, but also BAS and BAS-R values determined an increasing of left prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity (alpha reduction) in response to videogames and gambling stimuli for both Go and NoGo conditions, in addition to decreased RTs for these stimuli categories.

Conclusion

The increased PFC responsiveness and the lateralisation (left PFC hemisphere) effect in NoGo condition was explained on the basis of a ‘rewarding bias’ towards more rewarding cues and a deficit in inhibitory control in higher-IAT and higher-BAS subjects. In contrast lower-IAT and lower-BAS predicted a decreased PFC response and increased RTs for NoGo (inhibitory mechanism). These results may support the significance of personality (BAS) and IAT measures for explaining future internet addiction behaviour based on this observed ‘vulnerability’.
New Radiocarbon Dates and Bayesian Models for Nelson Bay Cave and Byneskranskop 1: Implications for the South African Later Stone Age Sequence
Authors: Loftus Emma , Sealy Judith , Lee-Thorp Julia
Published: March 2016

The southern African Later Stone Age sequence is widely considered to be well dated based on radiocarbon dates from dozens of archaeological sites, and apparently shows more or less synchronous cultural shifts across an extensive area. Yet, closer examination reveals the inadequacy of many of the decades-old and uncalibrated individual site chronologies that underpin this regional chronology, making robust comparisons of the chronology of technological change across this region impossible. Here, we present 26 new AMS14C dates and Bayesian modeled chronologies for two important archaeological cave sites in southernmost Africa, Nelson Bay Cave and Byneskranskop 1. The results provide more robust age estimates for these cultural and paleoenvironmental sequences and revise interpretations of these sites in several instances. This project demonstrates the necessity of redating key sites, and the value of currently underutilized methods, including calibration and Bayesian modeling, for southern African archaeology.
Vitamin D and colorectal cancer: molecular, epidemiological and clinical evidence
Authors: Dou Ruoxu , Ng Kimmie , Giovannucci Edward L. , Manson JoAnn E. , Qian Zhi Rong , Ogino Shuji
Published: March 2016

In many cells throughout the body, vitamin D is converted into its active form calcitriol and binds to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which functions as a transcription factor to regulate various biological processes including cellular differentiation and immune response. Vitamin D-metabolising enzymes (including CYP24A1 and CYP27B1) and VDR play major roles in exerting and regulating the effects of vitamin D. Preclinical and epidemiological studies have provided evidence for anti-cancer effects of vitamin D (particularly against colorectal cancer), although clinical trials have yet to prove its benefit. In addition, molecular pathological epidemiology research can provide insights into the interaction of vitamin D with tumour molecular and immunity status. Other future research directions include genome-wide research on VDR transcriptional targets, gene–environment interaction analyses and clinical trials on vitamin D efficacy in colorectal cancer patients. In this study, we review the literature on vitamin D and colorectal cancer from both mechanistic and population studies and discuss the links and controversies within and between the two parts of evidence.
IMPLEMENTATION OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT WORK IN A HOSPITAL IN KAZAKHSTAN
Authors: Kosherbayeva Lyazzat , Hailey David , Kurakbaev Kural , Tsoy Aleksey , Zhuzzhanov Ormanbek , Donbay Abilay , Kumar Ainur , Nadyrov Kamalzhan
Published: March 2016

Objectives: The aim of this study was to implement health technology assessment (HA) in the First General City Hospital in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Methods: We organized trainings to familiarize hospital staff with the purpose and details of HTA. An HTA committee was established, with representation from hospital physicians and managers, and criteria for prioritization of health technologies determined. Clinical departments of the hospital were asked to prepare applications for new technologies for their services.

Results: The HTA committee reviewed five applications and selected a technology from one of these, on single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), for assessment. A short HTA report on SILS was prepared, covering its safety, clinical effectiveness, and cost effectiveness. The report was used to support a request to the Department of Health for additional funding to implement this technology within the hospital. This funding was approved and SILS was established in several hospital departments.

Conclusions: This successful initial experience with HTA has paved the way for its routine use by the hospital for informing decisions on the procurement and use of new health technologies.
INTELLIGENCE AND TRANSPARENCY IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
Authors: Richardson Henry S.
Published: March 2016

Current thinking about the methodology of health technology assessment (HTA) seems to be dominated by two fundamental tensions: [1] between maintaining a tight focus on quality-adjusted life-years and broadening its concern out to pay attention to a broader range of factors, and [2] between thinking of the evaluative dimensions that matter as being objectively important factors or as ones that are ultimately of merely subjective importance. In this study, I will argue that health is a tremendously important all-purpose means to enjoying basic human capabilities, but a mere means, and not an end. The ends to which health is a means are manifold, requiring all those engaged in policy making to exercise intelligence in a continuing effort to identify them and to think through how they interrelate. Retreating to the subjective here would be at odds with the basic idea of HTA, which is to focus on certain objectively describable dimensions of what matters about health and to collect empirical evidence rigorously bearing on what produces improvements along those dimensions. To proceed intelligently in doing HTA, it is important to stay open to reframing and refashioning the ends we take to apply to that arena. The only way for that to happen, as an exercise of public, democratic policy making, is for the difficult value questions that arise when ends clash not to be buried in subjective preference information, but to be front-and-center in the analysis.
Undignified Arguments
Authors: HOLM SØREN
Published: March 2016

Something strange has happened to the concept of dignity in bioethics. After a long period in which U.S. pragmatist and U.K. consequentialist philosophers have argued that the concept is useless and vacuous, and in which they have been reasonably successful in expunging it from mainstream English-language academic bioethics, dignity has suddenly become popular again in debates about the legalization of physician-assisted dying (PAD). And, even stranger, it is deployed not by conservatives but by liberals. In the debates about PAD, liberal proponents of legalization seem to accept without question that there is such a state or process as “death with dignity,” which is juxtaposed to “undignified dying.” It also seems to be accepted that both of these states can be fairly easily identified and that they carry great moral weight. This article provides an analysis of the current resurgence of “undignified” arguments and argues on the basis of that analysis (1) that a proper understanding of the concept of dignity shows that the previous reductive arguments against dignity are partially incomplete and therefore partially misguided and (2) that, despite dignity having meaning, the idea of an undignified death cannot carry the moral weight it is given by proponents of the legalization of PAD.
Natural Good Theories and the Value of Human Dignity
Authors: MUDERS SEBASTIAN
Published: March 2016

One of the widely recognized facts about human dignity is its vastly divergent applicability—from highly controversial issues in bioethics to broader topics in political philosophy. A group of theories that this article subsumes under the header “natural good theories” appears to be especially fitted for normatively multifaceted notions like dignity. However, the heavy normative weight the concept of dignity has to bear due to the central position it occupies within these theories creates its own difficulties. As is shown in a discussion of Martha Nussbaum’s capability conception of dignity, dignity appears to be unable to mirror the special normative relevance people want to assign to it in cases of great moral misconduct. The article provides a suggestion on how to solve this problem by means of paradigmatic cases that work as material constraints regarding the exact boundaries of dignity violations.
Artificial Intelligence
Authors: LAWRENCE DAVID R. , PALACIOS-GONZÁLEZ CÉSAR , HARRIS JOHN
Published: March 2016

It seems natural to think that the same prudential and ethical reasons for mutual respect and tolerance that one has vis-à-vis other human persons would hold toward newly encountered paradigmatic but nonhuman biological persons. One also tends to think that they would have similar reasons for treating we humans as creatures that count morally in our own right. This line of thought transcends biological boundaries—namely, with regard to artificially (super)intelligent persons—but is this a safe assumption? The issue concerns ultimate moral significance: the significance possessed by human persons, persons from other planets, and hypothetical nonorganic persons in the form of artificial intelligence (AI). This article investigates why our possible relations to AI persons could be more complicated than they first might appear, given that they might possess a radically different nature to us, to the point that civilized or peaceful coexistence in a determinate geographical space could be impossible to achieve.
Using a Scoring Rubric to Assess the Writing of Bioethics Students
Authors: STODDARD HUGH A. , LABRECQUE CORY A. , SCHONFELD TOBY
Published: March 2016

Educators in bioethics have struggled to find valid and reliable assessments that transcend the “reproduction of knowledge” to target more important skill sets. This manuscript reports on the process of developing and grading a minimal-competence comprehensive examination in a bioethics master’s degree program. We describe educational theory and practice for the creation and deployment of scoring rubrics for high-stakes performance assessments that reduce scoring inconsistencies. The rubric development process can also benefit the program by building consensus among stakeholders regarding program goals and student outcomes.

We describe the Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome taxonomy as a mechanism for rubric design and provide an example of how we applied that taxonomy to define pass/fail cut scores. Details about domains of assessment and writing descriptors of performance are also presented. Despite the laborious work required to create a scoring rubric, we found the effort to be worthwhile for our program.
How Should Health Data Be Used?
Authors: KAPLAN BONNIE
Published: March 2016

Electronic health records, data sharing, big data, data mining, and secondary use are enabling exciting opportunities for improving health and healthcare while also exacerbating privacy concerns. Two court cases about selling prescription data, the Sorrell case in the U.S. and the Source case in the U.K., raise questions of what constitutes “privacy” and “public interest”; they present an opportunity for ethical analysis of data privacy, commodifying data for sale and ownership, combining public and private data, data for research, and transparency and consent. These interwoven issues involve discussion of big data benefits and harms and touch on common dualities of the individual versus the aggregate or the public interest, research (or, more broadly, innovation) versus privacy, individual versus institutional power, identification versus identity and authentication, and virtual versus real individuals and contextualized information. Transparency, flexibility, and accountability are needed for assessing appropriate, judicious, and ethical data uses and users, as some are more compatible with societal norms and values than others.
Commentary: The Reluctant Surrogate
Authors: Foreman Thomas
Published: March 2016

An individual’s hesitance or outright refusal to function as a substitute decisionmaker creates a number of challenges for treating teams, as is highlighted by the case of KS. It is not uncommon for individuals who suddenly find themselves in the role of substitute decisionmaker (SDM) to experience feelings of inadequacy or of being overwhelmed. The natural apprehension that comes with realizing, or being informed, that you are now responsible for providing or refusing consent on behalf of a loved one is often exacerbated by the accompanying circumstances. Even though there are movements afoot to encourage and support advance care planning and the inclusion of those who will become SDMs in conversations about values and wishes, there is still much work to be done. Although the case as presented does not provide information regarding what, if any, processes have taken place prior to the current hospital admission with regard to including the patient’s sister in discussions about future circumstances, it is clear that the sister feels unprepared to assume the role being thrust upon her. What, then, does a clinical ethics consultation have to offer in such situations? The following discussion highlights three ways in which ethics consultation can be of value to both the treating team and the identified SDM: ethics consultation (1) helps the care team and SDM navigate the regulatory landscape, (2) supports the treating team, and (3) supports the SDM.
Commentary: Cultural Issues in Decisionmaking
Authors: Muaygil Ruaim
Published: March 2016

This case presents several fundamental ethical issues. The first issue is the patient’s refusal of treatment (a nasogastric tube [NGT] insertion). Second, the patient’s refusal of a seemingly beneficial treatment, combined with her medical history, ultimately necessitates an assessment of her decisionmaking capacity. Third, the sister’s reluctance to participate in decisionmaking requires a discussion of appropriate surrogate decisionmakers. Finally, the main ethical component to this case is a cultural one, which should be addressed appropriately.
Reading a book in one or two languages? An eye movement study of cognate facilitation in L1 and L2 reading
Authors: COP USCHI , DIRIX NICOLAS , VAN ASSCHE EVA , DRIEGHE DENIS , DUYCK WOUTER
Published: March 2016

This study examined how noun reading by bilinguals is influenced by orthographic similarity with their translation equivalents in another language. Eye movements of Dutch–English bilinguals reading an entire novel in L1 and L2 were analyzed.

In L2, we found a facilitatory effect of orthographic overlap. Additional facilitation for identical cognates was found for later eye movement measures. This shows that the complex, semantic context of a novel does not eliminate cross-lingual activation in natural reading.

In L1 we detected non-identical cognate facilitation for first fixation durations of longer nouns. Identical cognate facilitation was found on total reading times for high frequent nouns. This study is the first to show cognate facilitation in L1 reading of narrative text. This shows that even when reading a novel in the mother tongue, lexical access is not restricted to the target language.
Conscientiousness Is the Most Powerful Noncognitive Predictor of	School Achievement in Adolescents
Authors: Dumfart Barbara , Neubauer Aljoscha C.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Much research has demonstrated that intelligence and conscientiousness have a high impact on individual school achievement. To figure out if other noncognitive traits have incremental validity over intelligence and conscientiousness, we conducted a study on 498 eighth-grade students from general secondary schools in Austria. Hierarchical regressions for three criteria (GPA, science, and languages) were performed, including intelligence, the Big Five, self-discipline, grit, self-efficacy, intrinsic-extrinsic motivation, and test anxiety. Intelligence and conscientiousness alone accounted for approximately 40% in the variance of school achievement. For languages and GPA, no other personality and motivational predictors could explain additional variance; in science subjects, only self-discipline added incremental variance. We conclude that – in addition to intelligence as powerful cognitive predictor – conscientiousness is the crucial noncognitive predictor for school achievement and should be focused on when supporting students in improving their performance.
Social Support, Emotional Intelligence, and Posttraumatic Stress	Disorder Symptoms
Authors: Hofman Nicole L. , Hahn Austin M. , Tirabassi Christine K. , Gaher Raluca M.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Exposure to traumatic events and the associated risk of developing Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is a significant and overlooked concern in the college population. It is important for current research to identify potential protective factors associated with the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms unique to this population. Emotional intelligence and perceived social support are two identified protective factors that influence the association between exposure to traumatic events and PTSD symptomology. The current study examined the mediating role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. Participants included 443 trauma-exposed university students who completed online questionnaires. The results of this study indicated that social support mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and reported PTSD symptoms. Thus, emotional intelligence is significantly associated with PTSD symptoms and social support may play an integral role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD. The current study is the first to investigate the role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. These findings have important treatment and prevention implications with regard to PTSD.
Genome-wide association analysis identifies novel loci for chronotype in 100,420 individuals from the UK Biobank
Authors: Lane Jacqueline M. , Vlasac Irma , Anderson Simon G. , Kyle Simon D. , Dixon William G. , Bechtold David A. , Gill Shubhroz , Little Max A. , Luik Annemarie , Loudon Andrew , Emsley Richard , Scheer Frank A. J. L. , Lawlor Deborah A. , Redline Susan , Ray David W. , Rutter Martin K. , Saxena Richa
Published: March 2016

Our sleep timing preference, or chronotype, is a manifestation of our internal biological clock. Variation in chronotype has been linked to sleep disorders, cognitive and physical performance, and chronic disease. Here we perform a genome-wide association study of self-reported chronotype within the UK Biobank cohort (n=100,420). We identify 12 new genetic loci that implicate known components of the circadian clock machinery and point to previously unstudied genetic variants and candidate genes that might modulate core circadian rhythms or light-sensing pathways. Pathway analyses highlight central nervous and ocular systems and fear-response-related processes. Genetic correlation analysis suggests chronotype shares underlying genetic pathways with schizophrenia, educational attainment and possibly BMI. Further, Mendelian randomization suggests that evening chronotype relates to higher educational attainment. These results not only expand our knowledge of the circadian system in humans but also expose the influence of circadian characteristics over human health and life-history variables such as educational attainment.
Disorder-mediated crowd control in an active matter system
Authors: Pinçe Erçağ , Velu Sabareesh K. P. , Callegari Agnese , Elahi Parviz , Gigan Sylvain , Volpe Giovanni , Volpe Giorgio
Published: March 2016

Living active matter systems such as bacterial colonies, schools of fish and human crowds, display a wealth of emerging collective and dynamic behaviours as a result of far-from-equilibrium interactions. The dynamics of these systems are better understood and controlled considering their interaction with the environment, which for realistic systems is often highly heterogeneous and disordered. Here, we demonstrate that the presence of spatial disorder can alter the long-term dynamics in a colloidal active matter system, making it switch between gathering and dispersal of individuals. At equilibrium, colloidal particles always gather at the bottom of any attractive potential; however, under non-equilibrium driving forces in a bacterial bath, the colloids disperse if disorder is added to the potential. The depth of the local roughness in the environment regulates the transition between gathering and dispersal of individuals in the active matter system, thus inspiring novel routes for controlling emerging behaviours far from equilibrium.
Nitrogen cycling in an extreme hyperarid environment inferred from δ15N analyses of plants, soils and herbivore diet
Authors: Díaz Francisca P. , Frugone Matías , Gutiérrez Rodrigo A. , Latorre Claudio
Published: March 2016

Climate controls on the nitrogen cycle are suggested by the negative correlation between precipitation and δ15N values across different ecosystems. For arid ecosystems this is unclear, as water limitation among other factors can confound this relationship. We measured herbivore feces, foliar and soil δ15N and δ13C values and chemically characterized soils (pH and elemental composition) along an elevational/climatic gradient in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. Although very positive δ15N values span the entire gradient, soil δ15N values show a positive correlation with aridity as expected. In contrast, foliar δ15N values and herbivore feces show a hump-shaped relationship with elevation, suggesting that plants are using a different N source, possibly of biotic origin. Thus at the extreme limits of plant life, biotic interactions may be just as important as abiotic processes, such as climate in explaining ecosystem δ15N values.
A High-Throughput, Multi-Cell Phenotype Assay for the Identification of Novel Inhibitors of Chemotaxis/Migration
Authors: Liao Xin-Hua , Meena Netra Pal , Southall Noel , Liu Lunhua , Swaroop Manju , Zhang Arina Li , Xiang Jan Jian , Parent Carole A. , Zheng Wei , Kimmel Alan R.
Published: March 2016

Chemotaxis and cell migration are fundamental, universal eukaryotic processes essential for biological functions such as embryogenesis, immunity, cell renewal and wound healing, as well as for pathogenesis of many diseases including cancer metastasis and chronic inflammation. To identify novel chemotaxis inhibitors as probes for mechanistic studies and leads for development of new therapeutics, we developed a unique, unbiased phenotypic chemotaxis-dependent Dictyostelium aggregation assay for high-throughput screening using rapid, laser-scanning cytometry. Under defined conditions, individual Dictyostelium secrete chemoattractants, migrate and aggregate. Chemotaxis is quantified by laser-scanning cytometry with a GFP marker expressed only in cells after chemotaxis/multi-cell aggregation. We applied the assay to screen 1,280 known compounds in a 1536-well plate format and identified two chemotaxis inhibitors. The chemotaxis inhibitory activities of both compounds were confirmed in both Dictyostelium and in human neutrophils in a directed EZ-TAXIscan chemotaxis assay. The compounds were also shown to inhibit migration of two human cancer cell lines in monolayer scratch assays. This test screen demonstrated that the miniaturized assay is extremely suited for high-throughput screening of very large libraries of small molecules to identify novel classes of chemotaxis/migratory inhibitors for drug development and research tools for targeting chemotactic pathways universal to humans and other systems.
Novel EGFR-targeted strategy with hybrid peptide against oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Kikuchi Osamu , Ohashi Shinya , Horibe Tomohisa , Kohno Masayuki , Nakai Yukie , Miyamoto Shin’ichi , Chiba Tsutomu , Muto Manabu , Kawakami Koji
Published: March 2016

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a key molecule in the pathophysiology of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, EGFR-targeted agents such as anti-EGFR antibody or tyrosine kinase inhibitors for OSCC have not demonstrated any clinical benefits. Recently, a novel chemotherapeutic agent, EGFR(2R)-lytic hybrid peptide, a composite of EGFR-binding peptide and lytic peptide fragments, has been shown to exhibit a potent anti-tumour effect against cancers that express high EGFR levels. In this study, we investigated the validity of employing EGFR(2R)-lytic hybrid peptide against OSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the toxicity of this peptide was assessed in mice. We found high EGFR expression levels on the cell surface of OSCC cells and the EGFR-binding peptide fragment showed high affinity for OSCC cells. A potent cytotoxic effect was induced within 30 minutes by the exposure of OSCC cells to EGFR(2R)-lytic hybrid peptide. Furthermore, EGFR(2R)-lytic hybrid peptide markedly suppressed the tumour growth of OSCC cells in a xenograft model. Moreover, it did not cause any identifiable adverse effects in mice. Taken together, EGFR(2R)-lytic hybrid peptide was shown to be a valid therapeutic agent against OSCC, providing a crucial rationale regarding novel EGFR-targeted therapies against OSCC.
Controlled Electromagnetically Induced Transparency and Fano Resonances in Hybrid BEC-Optomechanics
Authors: Yasir Kashif Ammar , Liu Wu-Ming
Published: March 2016

Cavity-optomechanics, a tool to manipulate mechanical effects of light to couple optical field with other physical objects, is the subject of increasing investigations, especially with regards to electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). EIT, a result of Fano interference among different atomic transition levels, has acquired a significant importance in many areas of physics, such as atomic physics and quantum optics. However, controllability of such multi-dimensional systems has remained a crucial issue. In this report, we investigate the controllability of EIT and Fano resonances in hybrid optomechanical system composed of cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), trapped inside high-finesse Fabry-Pérot cavity with one vibrational mirror, driven by a single mode optical field and a transverse pump field. The transverse field is used to control the phenomenon of EIT. It is detected that the strength of transverse field is not only efficiently amplifying or attenuating out-going optical mode but also providing an opportunity to enhance the strength of Fano-interactions which leads to the amplification of EIT-window. To observe these phenomena in laboratory, we suggest a certain set of experimental parameters. The results provide a route for tunable manipulation of optical phenomena, like EIT, which could be a significant step in quantum engineering.
Model of THz Magnetization Dynamics
Authors: Bocklage Lars
Published: March 2016

Magnetization dynamics can be coherently controlled by THz laser excitation, which can be applied in ultrafast magnetization control and switching. Here, transient magnetization dynamics are calculated for excitation with THz magnetic field pulses. We use the ansatz of Smit and Beljers, to formulate dynamic properties of the magnetization via partial derivatives of the samples free energy density and extend it to solve the Landau-Lifshitz-equation to obtain the THz transients of the magnetization. The model is used to determine the magnetization response to ultrafast multi- and single-cycle THz pulses. Control of the magnetization trajectory by utilizing the THz pulse shape and polarization is demonstrated.
Experiments testing macroscopic quantum superpositions must be slow
Authors: Mari Andrea , De Palma Giacomo , Giovannetti Vittorio
Published: March 2016

We consider a thought experiment where the preparation of a macroscopically massive or charged particle in a quantum superposition and the associated dynamics of a distant test particle apparently allow for superluminal communication. We give a solution to the paradox which is based on the following fundamental principle: any local experiment, discriminating a coherent superposition from an incoherent statistical mixture, necessarily requires a minimum time proportional to the mass (or charge) of the system. For a charged particle, we consider two examples of such experiments and show that they are both consistent with the previous limitation. In the first, the measurement requires to accelerate the charge, that can entangle with the emitted photons. In the second, the limitation can be ascribed to the quantum vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. On the other hand, when applied to massive particles our result provides an indirect evidence for the existence of gravitational vacuum fluctuations and for the possibility of entangling a particle with quantum gravitational radiation.