bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adrenal Gland Trauma: Is Extravasation an Absolute Indication for Intervention?
Authors: Liao Chien‐Hung , Lin Kuo‐Jen , Fu Chih‐Yuan , Wang Shang‐Yu , Yang Shang‐Ju , Ouyang Chun‐Hsiang
Published: January 2015

Background

Adrenal gland trauma (AGT) is potentially devastating if unrecognized during the treatment of trauma patients. Because of the adrenal glands’ rich vascularity, they often hemorrhage upon traumatic impact. However, there has been no conclusion about the indications for intervention in cases of hemorrhage after AGT.

Methods

We conducted a prospective collection with a retrospective review in a Level I trauma center in Taiwan. This study enrolled all of the patients who suffered from AGT from May 2008 to May 2013. We retrieved and analyzed the patient demographic data, clinical presentation, AGT grade, injury severity score, management, hospital stay, and mortality.

Results

The cohort consisted of 60 patients. The mean age was 31.0 ± 15.9 years. There were 32 patients (53.3 %) with extravasated AGT, which was associated with a high injury severity score, a high possibility of associated lung injury, and more than one accompanying trauma. Most of the patients could be treated conservatively. Five of these patients needed surgical hemostasis, and four of them needed angiographic embolization. Extravasation combined with a mean arterial pressure <70 mmHg was a predictor of the need for intervention (relative risk: 9.52, 95 % CI 1.64–55.56, p = 0.011).

Conclusion

In conclusion, AGT is a rare injury with a good prognosis. Most AGT patients can be treated conservatively. Extravasation in AGT is not only a sign of hemorrhage, but also an indicator of severe associated injuries. However, extravasation in AGT does not always require further treatment. When intractable hypotension simultaneously occurs, further treatment should be considered.
Methods and advances in metabolic flux analysis: a mini-review
Authors: Antoniewicz Maciek R
Published: January 2015

Metabolic flux analysis (MFA) is one of the pillars of metabolic engineering. Over the past three decades, it has been widely used to quantify intracellular metabolic fluxes in both native (wild type) and engineered biological systems. Through MFA, changes in metabolic pathway fluxes are quantified that result from genetic and/or environmental interventions. This information, in turn, provides insights into the regulation of metabolic pathways and may suggest new targets for further metabolic engineering of the strains. In this mini-review, we discuss and classify the various methods of MFA that have been developed, which include stoichiometric MFA, 13C metabolic flux analysis, isotopic non-stationary 13C metabolic flux analysis, dynamic metabolic flux analysis, and 13C dynamic metabolic flux analysis. For each method, we discuss key advantages and limitations and conclude by highlighting important recent advances in flux analysis approaches.
miRNA Expression in Human Intestinal Caco‐2 Cells is Comparably Regulated by cis‐ and trans‐Fatty Acids
Authors: Köpke Solveigh , Buhrke Thorsten , Lampen Alfonso
Published: January 2015

Trans‐fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids with at least one double bond in trans configuration. While their role in the development of coronary heart disease is broadly accepted, a potential impact of these fatty acids on colon carcinogenesis is still under discussion. MiRNAs are small non‐coding RNAs that regulate the gene expression at a post‐transcriptional level by inhibiting the translation of target mRNAs. We investigated the effect of 16 different C 18 fatty acid isomers on the expression of 84 cancer‐related miRNAs in the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line Caco‐2 by using a qRT‐PCR array. 66 of these 84 miRNAs were deregulated by at least one fatty acid, however, there was no trans‐specific impact on miRNA expression as the corresponding cis isomer of a given fatty acid generally had comparable effects on the miRNA expression profile. The most pronounced effects were observed for hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p, which was upregulated by four of the 16 investigated fatty acids, and hsa‐miR‐32‐5p, which was strongly downregulated by five fatty acids. As hsa‐miR‐32‐5p was described to target genes being involved in the regulation of apoptosis, the effect of α‐eleostearic acid on the expression of the apoptosis‐associated genes BCL2L11, BCL‐2, and BCL‐XL was examined. The qPCR results indicate that fatty acid‐mediated downregulation of hsa‐miR‐32‐5p is accompanied by a downregulation of BCL‐2 and BCL2L11 mRNA whereas BCL‐XL was shown to be simultaneously upregulated. In conclusion, our data indicate that several fatty acids are able to regulate miRNA expression of human colon cancer cells. However, no trans‐specific regulation was observed.
Novel taxa in the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex from Pinus spp.
Authors: Herron D.A. , Wingfield M.J. , Wingfield B.D. , Rodas C.A. , Marincowitz S. , Steenkamp E.T.
Published: January 2015

The pitch canker pathogen Fusarium circinatum has caused devastation to Pinus spp. in natural forests and non-natives in commercially managed plantations. This has drawn attention to the potential importance of Fusarium species as pathogens of forest trees. In this
study, we explored the diversity of Fusarium species associated with diseased Pinus patula, P. tecunumanii, P. kesiya and P. maximinoi in Colombian plantations and nurseries. Plants displaying symptoms associated with a F. circinatum-like
infection (i.e., stem cankers and branch die-back on trees in plantations and root or collar rot of seedlings) were sampled. A total of 57 isolates were collected and characterised based on DNA sequence data for the translation elongation factor 1-α and β-tubulin gene regions.
Phylogenetic analyses of these data allowed for the identification of more than 10 Fusarium species. These included F. circinatum, F. oxysporum, species within the Fusarium solani species complex and seven novel species in the Fusarium fujikuroi
species complex (formerly the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex), five of which are described here as new. Selected isolates of the new species were tested for their pathogenicity on Pinus patula and compared with that of F. circinatum. Of these, F. marasasianum,
F. parvisorum and F. sororula displayed levels of pathogenicity to P. patula that were comparable with that of F. circinatum. These apparently emerging pathogens thus pose a significant risk to forestry in Colombia and other parts of the world.
Diminishing Surgical Site Infections in Australia: Time Trends in Infection Rates, Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance Using a Comprehensive Victorian Surveillance Program, 2002–2013
Authors: Worth Leon J. , Bull Ann L. , Spelman Tim , Brett Judith , Richards Michael J.
Published: January 2015

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate time trends in surgical site infection (SSI) rates and SSI pathogens in Australia.

DESIGN

Prospective multicenter observational cohort study.

SETTING

A group of 81 Australian healthcare facilities participating in the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS).

PATIENTS

All patients underwent surgeries performed between October 1, 2002, and June 30, 2013. National Healthcare Safety Network SSI surveillance methods were employed by the infection prevention staff at the participating hospitals.

INTERVENTION

Procedure-specific risk-adjusted SSI rates were calculated. Pathogen-specific and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections were modeled using multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression.

RESULTS

A total of 183,625 procedures were monitored, and 5,123 SSIs were reported. Each year of observation was associated with 11% risk reduction for superficial SSI (risk ratio [RR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88–0.90), 9% risk reduction for deep SSI (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.90–0.93), and 5% risk reduction for organ/space SSI (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93–0.97). Overall, 3,318 microbiologically confirmed SSIs were reported. Of these SSIs, 1,174 (35.4%) were associated with orthopedic surgery, 827 (24.9%) with coronary artery bypass surgery, 490 (14.8%) with Caesarean sections, and 414 (12.5%) with colorectal procedures. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently identified pathogen, and a statistically significant increase in infections due to ceftriaxone-resistant Escherichia coli was observed (RR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.10–1.70).

CONCLUSIONS

Standardized SSI surveillance methods have been implemented in Victoria, Australia. Over an 11-year period, diminishing rates of SSIs have been observed, although AMR infections increased significantly. Our findings facilitate the refinement of recommended surgical antibiotic prophylaxis regimens and highlight the need for a more expansive national surveillance strategy to identify changes in epidemiology.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;00(0): 1–8
AUSTRIA'S LAW AGAINST DEFAMATION OF RELIGION: A CASE STUDY
Authors: Taylor Greg
Published: January 2015

Recently there have been calls from Islamic nations for the creation of a crime of “defamation of religion.” Austria already has such an offense: section 188 of the Criminal Code of 1974 prohibits giving “justified offense” (berechtigtes Ärgernis) by “publicly disparag[ing] or ridicul[ing] a person who, or an object which, is the subject of veneration of a domestically established church or religious community, or a dogma, a lawful custom or a lawful institution of such a church or religious community.” This has recently been applied to secure the conviction of an activist of the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria, who announced at a semi-public seminar attended by about thirty people, including one undercover journalist, that Mohammed was a pedophile. Drawing on the law of comparable jurisdictions, this article traces the history of the provision and considers how it is applied by the courts. In this article it is contended that this provision, while rarely used, unduly restricts public discussion. At the least, the provision needs both reinterpretation and amendment; international human rights sources suggest that repeal should be seriously considered given that the existing offense of sedition is available for serious cases.
Helical Buckling of Slender Beam Structures Surrounded by an Elastic Medium
Authors: Harasawa S. , Sato M.
Published: January 2015

The goal of this study was to investigate analytically the buckling phenomena of slender beam structures embedded in an elastic medium. In such cases, there is a possibility that spiral-shaped buckling modes can occur due to the restraining effect of the surrounding medium. As a result of analytical investigations, helical buckling occurs radically. Furthermore the pitch of the helix does not fluctuate as the radius of the helix increases. The interesting mechanical implications of the embedding effect are demonstrated by the theoretical approach established in this study.
Application of Fractional Calculus Methods to Viscoelastic Response of Amorphous Shape Memory Polymers
Authors: Fang C-Q. , Sun H.-Y. , Gu J.-P.
Published: January 2015

Constitutive models based on fractional calculus are utilized to investigate the viscoelastic response of thermally activated shape memory polymers (SMPs). Fractional calculus-based viscoelastic equations are fitted to experimental data existing in literature compared with traditional viscoelastic models. In addition, a fractional rheology model is applied to simulate the isothermal recovery of an amorphous SMP. The fit results show a significant improvement in the description of the strain recovery response of SMP by the fractional calculus method.
Organisational sequestering of workplace bullying: Adding insult to injury
Authors: Thirlwall Alison
Published: January 2015

This paper explores empirical data from human resources practitioners and employees to define the ways in which organisations respond to complaints about workplace bullying in New Zealand. Despite recommendations that organisations take workplace bullying seriously and increasing research in recent years, little evidence exists of improvements in the management of this problem. Indeed, this study adds to the gloom by providing an account of the ways in which a group of organisations failed to take responsibility for the welfare of their employees and members. A selection of disappointing responses to requests for help, and some possible explanations for these responses, is presented. Crucially, a set of terms for identifying organisational inaction towards full resolution of workplace bullying is introduced, resolving some aspects of denotative hesitancy in this area. Defining the approaches that hinder resolution of workplace bullying may contribute to its reduction.
Effects of methionine supplementation on the expression of oxidative stress-related genes in acute heat stress-exposed broilers
Authors: Del Vesco Ana Paula , Gasparino Eliane , Grieser Daiane de Oliveira , Zancanela Vittor , Soares Maria Amélia Menck , de Oliveira Neto Adhemar Rodrigues
Published: January 2015

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of heat stress (HS) and methionine supplementation on the markers of stress and on the gene expression levels of uncoupling proteins (UCP), betaine–homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT), cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), glutathione synthetase (GSS) and glutathione peroxidase 7 (GPx7). Broilers from 1 to 21 d and from 22 to 42 d of age were divided into three treatment groups related to methionine supplementation: without methionine supplementation (MD); recommended level of methionine supplementation (DL1); excess methionine supplementation (DL2). The broilers were either kept at a comfortable thermal temperature or exposed to HS (38°C for 24 h). During the starter period, we observed the effects of the interaction between diet and environment on the gene expression levels of UCP, BHMT and GSS. Higher gene expression levels of UCP and BHMT were observed in broilers that were maintained at thermal comfort conditions and received the MD diet. HS broilers fed the DL1 and DL2 diets had the highest expression level of GSS. The expression levels of the CBS and GPx7 genes were influenced by both the environment and methionine supplementation. During the grower period, the gene expression levels of BHMT, CBS, GSS and GPx7 were affected by the diet × environment interaction. A higher expression level of BHMT was observed in broilers maintained at thermal comfort conditions and on the MD diet. HS induced higher expression levels of CBS, GSS and GPx7 in broilers that received the DL1 and DL2 diets. The present results suggest that under HS conditions, methionine supplementation could mitigate the effects of stress, since methionine contributed to the increased expression levels of genes related to antioxidant activity.
Children's and parents' health perception of different soft drinks
Authors: Bucher Tamara , Siegrist Michael
Published: January 2015

Beverages are among the first independent product choices that school-aged children will make and unhealthy choices can be a threat to children's health. The present study investigated which beverage attributes shape adults' and children's health perceptions. For this purpose, 100 children (fifty-two boys; mean age 8·8 (sd 1·1) years) and their parents were invited to independently perform a beverage-sorting task. Participants were asked to place twenty commonly consumed soft drinks in a line ranging from ‘unhealthy’ to ‘healthy’. The sorting data were analysed using multidimensional scaling with property fitting and hierarchical clustering. Sugar content (βparents= − 0·78, βchildren= − 0·68; P< 0·001), artificial sweeteners (βparents= − 0·68, βchildren= − 0·66; P< 0·001), fruit content (βparents= 0·33, βchildren= 0·36; P< 0·05) and caffeine content (βparents= − 0·45, βchildren= − 0·46; P< 0·01) were found to be the predictors of parents' and children's health perceptions. Parents' and children's estimates were strongly related (rs 0·70 (sd 0·15)); both groups classified the beverages into similar clusters. However, compared with their parents, children perceived beverages such as fruit juices and grapefruit soda to be healthier. In conclusion, parents' and children's health perceptions were strongly related based on the same relevant attributes for evaluation. However, fruit content was considered a more important criterion by children, which might lead to differences in the health perception between children and their parents. Low fruit content and the belief of beverages being ‘natural’ could positively bias perceptions. Therefore, certain soft drinks such as squashes or fruit lemonades are problematic, and the consumer's awareness of their low nutritional quality should be raised.
Shareholder Litigation, Reputational Loss, and Bank Loan Contracting
Authors: Deng Saiying , Willis Richard H. , Xu Li
Published: January 2015

We examine shareholder litigation and the price and nonprice terms of bank loan contracts. After filing a lawsuit, defendant firms pay higher loan spreads and up-front charges, experience more financial covenants, and are more likely to have a collateral requirement. These findings are consistent with reputational losses associated with shareholder litigation. The magnitude of a firm’s lost market value when the lawsuit is filed is positively related to the increase in the firm’s future borrowing costs. We investigate whether the lawsuit allegations and its merit affect future bank loan terms. Our results do not appear to be affected by self-selection.
The multifactorial interplay of diet, the microbiome and appetite control: current knowledge and future challenges
Authors: Corfe Bernard M. , Harden Charlotte J. , Bull Matthew , Garaiova Iveta
Published: January 2015

The recent availability of high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing technologies has rapidly advanced approaches to analysing the role of the gut microbiome in governance of human health, including gut health, and also metabolic, cardiovascular and mental health,inter alia. Recent scientific studies suggest that energy intake (EI) perturbations at the population level cannot account for the current obesity epidemic, and significant work is investigating the potential role of the microbiome, and in particular its metabolic products, notably SCFA, predominantly acetate, propionate and butyrate, the last of which is an energy source for the epithelium of the large intestine. The energy yield from dietary residues may be a significant factor influencing energy balance. This review posits that the contribution towards EI is governed by EI diet composition (not just fibre), the composition of the microbiome and by the levels of physical activity. Furthermore, we hypothesise that these factors do not exist in a steady state, but rather are dynamic, with both short- and medium-term effects on appetite regulation. We suggest that the existing modelling strategies for bacterial dynamics, specifically for growth in chemostat culture, are of utility in understanding the dynamic interplay of diet, activity and microbiomic organisation. Such approaches may be informative in optimising the application of dietary and microbial therapy to promote health.
Windows of opportunity: legislative fragmentation conditions the effect of partisanship on product market deregulation
Authors: Smith Michael G. , Urpelainen Johannes
Published: January 2015

Previous research on deregulation in industrialised countries emphasises differences between left-wing and right-wing parties, but data on product market regulation (PMR) indicate that these differences have been modest. If partisan preferences on the merits of deregulation differ sharply, why such modest differences? We argue that partisan differences only become pronounced when the government is strong and rules a relatively unified legislature. Thus, legislative fragmentation should reduce the left-right difference in PMR. We test this theory against PMR data in 29 industrialised countries, 1978–2007. We find that right-wing governments only have a strong negative effect on regulation if the legislature and the government are not fragmented.
Reducing ion energy spread in hole-boring radiation pressure acceleration by using two-ion-species targets
Authors: Weng S. M. , Murakami M. , Sheng Z. M.
Published: January 2015

The generation of fast ion beams in the hole-boring radiation pressure acceleration by intense laser pulses has been studied for targets with different ion components. We find that the oscillation of the longitudinal electric field for accelerating ions can be effectively suppressed by using a two-ion-species target, because fast ions from a two-ion-species target are distributed into more bunches and each bunch bears less charge. Consequently, the energy spread of ion beams generated in the hole-boring radiation pressure acceleration can be greatly reduced down to 3.7% according to our numerical simulation.
Comparison of recto-anal mucosal swab and faecal culture for the detection ofEscherichia coliO157 and identification of super-shedding in a mob of Merino sheep
Authors: McPHERSON A. S. , DHUNGYEL O. P. , WARD M. P.
Published: January 2015

We compared the use of recto-anal mucosal swab (RAMS) culture and faecal culture for the detection ofE. coliO157 in a mob of Merino sheep. Fifty Merino wethers and maiden ewes housed in indoor pens were sampled on five occasions. We detectedE coliO157 in 32% (16/50) of sheep, with weekly prevalence ranging from 4% (2/50) to 16% (8/50). Overall, 12·5% (2/16) were detected by RAMS culture only, and 37·5% (6/16) were detected by faecal culture only. The level of agreement between the two sampling methods was moderate [kappa statistic = 0·583, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·460–0·707]. The relative sensitivities of RAMS and faecal culture were 67% (95% CI 41–86) and 57% (95% CI 34–77), respectively. We identified four super-shedding sheep using direct faecal culture. Although the majority of culture-positive sheep were detected at one sampling point only, 3/4 super-shedding sheep were culture-positive at two sampling points, and 1/4 was culture-positive at four sampling points. Persistent culture positivity may indicate sheep that could be considered ‘super-shedders' at some point. The use of immunomagnetic separation further improved the rate of detection ofE. coliO157, which was isolated from 1/34 animals that were previously negative by enrichment culture alone. A significant difference between sampling weeks was detected for both faecal (P= 0·021) and RAMS (P= 0·006), with the prevalence at the mid-point of sampling (week 4) significantly (P< 0·05) higher than at the beginning or end of the study. Study conditions (penned sheep) might have been responsible for the high prevalence and the epidemic pattern of infection observed, and could serve as a future model for studies ofE. coliO157 transmission, shedding and super-shedding in sheep.
Food system sustainability and vulnerability: food acquisition during the military occupation of Kuwait
Authors: Alajmi Fahhad , Somerset Shawn M
Published: January 2015

Objective

To document food acquisition experiences during Iraqi military occupation in Kuwait.

Design

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting

Urban areas in Kuwait during occupation.

Subjects

Those living in Kuwait during the period of occupation, and aged between 15 to 50 years at the time of occupation, recruited by snowball sampling. A total of 390 completed questionnaires (response rate 78 %, 202 female and 188 male) were returned.

Results

During the occupation, food became increasingly difficult to acquire. Two food systems emerged: (i) an underground Kuwaiti network linked to foods recovered from local food cooperatives and (ii) a black market supplied by food imported through Iraq or stolen locally. Food shortages led to reductions in meal size and frequency. Some respondents (47·7 %) reported not having sufficient income to purchase food and 22·1 % had to sell capital items to purchase food. There was a significant increase (P<0·01) in home production, with 23·1 % of people growing vegetables and 39·0 % raising animals to supplement food needs. Reduction in food wastage also emerged as a significant self-reported behaviour change. Respondents reported deterioration in the quality and availability of fish, milk, and fruit in particular. Despite a decrease in opportunities for physical activity, most respondents reported that they lost weight during the occupation.

Conclusions

Although the Kuwaiti population fell by about 90 % and domestic food production increased during the 7-month occupation, the local population continued to rely heavily on imported food to meet population needs. The high prevalence of self-reported weight loss indicates the inadequacies of this food supply. High apparent food security in systems which significantly exceed the ecological carrying capacity of the local environment and rely on mass food importation remains vulnerable.
The advanced phases of massive stars and the explosive yields
Authors: Chieffi Alessandro , Limongi Marco
Published: January 2015

I will briefly review the dependence of the explosive yields on the initial mass, metallicity and initial rotational velocity.
Physics of Mass Loss in Massive Stars
Authors: Puls Joachim , Sundqvist Jon O. , Markova Nevena
Published: January 2015

We review potential mass-loss mechanisms in the various evolutionary stages of massive stars, from the well-known line-driven winds of O-stars and BA-supergiants to the less-understood winds of Red Supergiants. We discuss optically thick winds from Wolf-Rayet stars and Very Massive Stars, and the hypothesis of porosity-moderated, continuum-driven mass loss from stars formally exceeding the Eddington limit, which might explain the giant outbursts from Luminous Blue Variables. We finish this review with a glance on the impact of rapid rotation, magnetic fields and small-scale inhomogeneities in line-driven winds.
Discovery of a Thorne-Żytkow object candidate in the Small Magellanic Cloud
Authors: Levesque Emily M. , Massey Philip , Żytkow Anna N. , Morrell Nidia
Published: January 2015

Thorne-Żytkow objects (TŻOs) are a theoretical class of star in which a compact neutron star is surrounded by a large, diffuse envelope. Supergiant TŻOs are predicted to be almost identical in appearance to red supergiants (RSGs), with their very red colors and cool temperatures placing them at the Hayashi limit on the H-R diagram. The only features that can be used at present to distinguish TŻOs from the general RSG population are the unusually strong heavy-element and lithium lines present in their spectra. These elements are the unique products of the stars fully convective envelope linking the photosphere with the extraordinarily hot burning region in the vicinity of the neutron star core. We have recently discovered a TŻO candidate in the Small Magellanic Cloud. It is the first star to display the distinctive chemical profile of anomalous element enhancements thought to be characteristic of TŻOs; however, up-to-date models and additional observable predictions (including potential asteroseismological signatures) are required to solidify this discovery. The definitive detection of a TŻO would provide the first direct evidence for a completely new model of stellar interiors, a theoretically predicted fate for massive binary systems, and never-before-seen nucleosynthesis processes that would offer a new channel for heavy-element and lithium production in our universe.
A New Class of Wolf-Rayet Stars: WN3/O3s
Authors: Massey Philip , Neugent Kathryn F. , Morrell Nidia , John Hillier D.
Published: January 2015

Our new survey for Wolf-Rayet stars in the Magellanic Clouds is only 15% complete but has already found 9 new Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). This suggests that the total WR population in the LMC may be underestimated by 10-40%. Eight of the nine are of the WN subtype, demonstrating that the “observed” WC to WN ratio is too large, and is biased towards WC stars. The ninth is another rare WO star, the second we have found in the LMC in the past two years. Five (and possibly six) of the 8 WNs are of a new class of WRs, which pose a significant challenge to our understanding. Naively we would classify these stars as “WN3+O3V,” but there are several reasons why such a pairing is unlikely, not the least of which is that the absolute visual magnitudes of these stars are faint, with MV ~ -2.3 to -3.1. We have performed a preliminary analysis with the atmospheric code CMFGEN, and we find that (despite the faint visual magnitudes) the bolometric luminosities of these stars are normal for early-type WNs. Our fitting suggests that these stars are evolved, with significantly enriched N and He. Their effective temperatures are also normal for early-type WNs. What is unusual about these stars is that they have a surprisingly small mass-loss rate compared to other early-type WNs. How these stars got to be the way they are (single star evolution? binary evolution?) remains an open question. For now, we are designating this class as WN3/O3, in analogy to the late-type WN “slash” stars.
Linking 1D Stellar Evolution to 3D Hydrodynamic Simulations
Authors: Cristini A. , Hirschi R. , Georgy C. , Meakin C. , Arnett D. , Viallet M.
Published: January 2015

In this contribution we present initial results of a study on convective boundary mixing (CBM) in massive stellar models using the GENEVA stellar evolution code (Eggenbergeret al.2008). Before undertaking costly 3D hydrodynamic simulations, it is important to study the general properties of convective boundaries, such as the: composition jump; pressure gradient; and “stiffness”. Models for a 15M⊙star were computed. We found that for convective shells above the core, the lower (in radius or mass) boundaries are “stiffer” according to the bulk Richardson number than the relative upper (Schwarzschild) boundaries. Thus, we expect reduced CBM at the lower boundaries in comparison to the upper. This has implications on flame front propagation and the onset of novae.
Delta-slow solution to explain B supergiant stars' winds
Authors: Haucke M. , Araya I. , Arcos C. , Curé M. , Cidale L. , Kanaan S. , Venero R. , Kraus M.
Published: January 2015

A new radiation-driven wind solution called δ-slow was found by Curé et al. (2011) and it predicts a mass-loss rate and terminal velocity slower than the fast solution (m-CAK, Pauldrach et al. 1986). In this work, we present our first synthetic spectra based on the δ-slow solution for the wind of B supergiant (BSG) stars. We use the output of our hydrodynamical code HYDWIND as input in the radiative transport code FASTWIND (Puls et al. 2005). In order to obtain stellar and wind parameters, we try to reproduce the observed Hα, Hβ, Hγ, Hδ, Hei 4471, Hei 6678 and Heii 4686 lines. The synthetic profiles obtained with the new hydrodynamical solutions are in good agreement with the observations and could give us clues about the parameters involved in the radiation force.
Fundamental parameters of B type stars
Authors: Nieva María-Fernanda
Published: January 2015

Fundamental parameters of 26 well-studied sharp-lined single early B-type stars in OB associations and in the field within a distance of ≤400 pc from the Sun are compared to high-precision data from detached eclipsing binaries (DEBs). Fundamental parameters are derived from accurate and precise atmospheric parameters determined earlier by us from non-LTE analyses of high-quality spectra, utilising the new Geneva stellar evolution models in the mass-range ~6 to 18 M⊙ at metallicity Z = 0.014. Evolutionary masses, radii and luminosities are determined to better than typically 5%, 10%, and 20% uncertainty, respectively, facilitating the mass-radius and mass-luminosity relationships to be recovered for single core hydrogen-burning objects with a similar precision as derived from DEBs. Good agreement between evolutionary and spectroscopic masses is found. Absolute visual and bolometric magnitudes are derived to typically ~0.15-0.20 mag uncertainty. Metallicities are constrained to better than 15-20% uncertainty and tight constraints on evolutionary ages of the stars are provided. The spectroscopic distances and ages of individual sample stars agree with independently derived values for the host OB associations. The accuracy and precision achieved in the determination of fundamental stellar parameters from the quantitative spectroscopy of single early B-type stars comes close (within a factor 2-4) to data derived from DEBs.
Revisiting the Hunter diagram with the Geneva Stellar Evolution Code
Authors: Simoniello R. , Meynet G. , Ekström S. , Georgy C. , Granada A.
Published: January 2015

We produced a model grid of rotating main and post-main sequence stars with the Geneva Stellar Evolution Code (GENEC). The initial chemical composition is tailored to compare with observations of early OB type stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the grid covers stellar masses in the range of 7 ≤ M/M⊙ ≤ 15 and initial velocity between 0 km s−1 ≤ v sin(i) ≤ 300 km s−1. The model grid has been used to determine the changes in the surface Nitrogen abundances during the star evolution and the results have been compared with observations.
Photometric Variability of OB-type stars as a New Window on Massive Stars
Authors: Kourniotis M. , Bonanos A. Z. , Soszyński I. , Poleski R. , Krikelis G. ,   the OGLE team
Published: January 2015

We present the first systematic study of 4646 spectroscopically confirmed early-type massive stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), using variability as a tool to confine the physics of OB-type massive stars. We report the discovery of ∼100 massive eclipsing systems which are useful for the accurate determination of the fundamental parameters of massive stars and we evaluate the frequency of multiplicity. In addition, we explore the occurrence of the Oe/Be phenomenon and provide a large number of candidate non-radial pulsators, which can be further studied via asteroseismology. The results of this work (Kourniotis et al. 2014) will contribute to a better understanding of the role of metallicity in triggering processes associated to matter ejections and/or disk formation, which in turn affect mass loss and stellar rotation.
Rotation and the Cepheid Mass Discrepancy
Authors: Anderson Richard I. , Ekström Sylvia , Georgy Cyril , Meynet Georges , Mowlavi Nami , Eyer Laurent
Published: January 2015

We recently showed that rotation significantly affects most observable Cepheid quantities, and that rotation, in combination with the evolutionary status of the star, can resolve the long-standing Cepheid mass discrepancy problem. We therefore provide a brief overview of our results regarding the problem of Cepheid masses. We also briefly mention the impact of rotation on the Cepheid period-luminosity(-color) relation, which is crucial for determining extragalactic distances, and thus for calibrating the Hubble constant.
The BinaMIcS project: understanding the origin of magnetic fields in massive stars through close binary systems
Authors: Alecian E. , Neiner C. , Wade G. A. , Mathis S. , Bohlender D. , Cébron D. , Folsom C. , Grunhut J. , Le Bouquin J.-B. , Petit V. , Sana H. , Tkachenko A. , ud-Doula A. ,   the BinaMIcS collaboration
Published: January 2015

It is now well established that a fraction of the massive (M> 8M⊙) star population hosts strong, organised magnetic fields, most likely of fossil origin. The details of the generation and evolution of these fields are still poorly understood. The BinaMIcS project takes an important step towards the understanding of the interplay between binarity and magnetism during the stellar formation and evolution, and in particular the genesis of fossil fields, by studying the magnetic properties of close binary systems. The components of such systems are most likely formed together, at the same time and in the same environment, and can therefore help us to disentangle the role of initial conditions on the magnetic properties of the massive stars from other competing effects such as age or rotation. We present here the main scientific objectives of the BinaMIcS project, as well as preliminary results from the first year of observations from the associated ESPaDOnS and Narval spectropolarimetric surveys.
Discovery of Secular Evolution of the Atmospheric Abundances of Ap Stars
Authors: Bailey J. D. , Landstreet J. D. , Bagnulo S.
Published: January 2015

The stars of the middle main-sequence have relatively quiescent outer layers, and unusual chemical abundance patterns may develop in their atmospheres, revealing the action of such subsurface phenomena as gravitational settling and radiatively driven levitation of trace elements, and their competition with mixing processes such as turbulent diffusion. We report the discovery of the time evolution of such chemical tracers through the main-sequence lifetime of magnetic chemically peculiar stars.
A Simple Mean-Field Diagnostic from Stokes V Spectra
Authors: Gayley K. G. , Owocki S. P.
Published: January 2015

It is shown that the diagnostics from an observed circularly polarized line in a rapidly rotating star are directly interpretable, not in terms of the observed Stokes V profiles, but in terms of its antiderivative with respect to wavelength (in velocity units if preferred). This also leads to a new mean-field diagnostic that is just as easily obtained as the standard “center of gravity” approach, and is less susceptible to cancellation if the line-of-sight field changes sign over the face of the star.
Multiple, short-lived “stellar prominences” on O stars: the supergiant λ Cephei
Authors: Henrichs H. F. , Sudnik N.
Published: January 2015

Many OB stars show unexplained cyclical variability in their winds and in many optical lines, which are formed at the base of the wind. For these stars no dipolar magnetic fields have been detected. We propose that these cyclical variations are caused by the presence of multiple, transient, short-lived, corotating magnetic loops, which we call “stellar prominences”. We present a simplified model representing these prominences as corotating spherical blobs and fit the rapid variability in the Heiiλ4686 line of the O supergiant λ Cep for time-resolved spectra obtained in 1989. Our conclusions are: (1) From model fits we find that the life time of the prominences varies, and is between 2–7 h. (2) The adopted inclination angle is 68° with a rotation period of ≈ 4.1 d (but not well constrained). (3) The contribution of non-radial pulsations is negligible (4) Similar behavior is observed in at least 4 other O stars. We propose that prominences are a common phenomenon among O stars.
Observing programs, what are the priorities?
Authors: Meynet Georges , Henrichs Huib
Published: January 2015

This brief note reflects the exchanges that were made between the participants during the general discussion on the observing programs. Because of time constraints only two questions have been addressed: 1) What is the priority between large programs and detailed observations of one or only a few objects? 2) Large surveys implies some automatic pipelines: what is their reliability? Elements of answers are given below. One interesting unexpected outcome of this discussion was the realization that a recent and up-to-date textbook on spectral synthesis is missing, while it would be an extremely useful tool for the community.
Epstein–barr virus vaccines
Authors: Cohen Jeffrey I
Published: January 2015

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is the primary cause of infectious mononucleosis (IM) and is associated with epithelial cell malignancies such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and gastric carcinoma, as well as lymphoid malignancies including Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. EBV vaccines to prevent primary infection or disease, or therapeutic vaccines to treat EBV malignancies have not been licensed. Most efforts to develop prophylactic vaccines have focused on EBV gp350, which is the major target of neutralizing antibody. A single phase 2 trial of an EBV gp350 vaccine has been reported; the vaccine reduced the rate of IM but not virus infection. The observation that infusion of EBV‐specific T cells can reduce disease due to Hodgkin lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma provides a proof of principle that a therapeutic vaccine for these and other EBV‐associated malignancies might be effective. Most therapeutic vaccines have targeted EBV LMP2 and EBV nuclear antigen‐1. As EBV is associated with nearly 200 000 new malignancies each year worldwide, an EBV vaccine to prevent these diseases is needed.
EBV-driven B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders: from biology, classification and differential diagnosis to clinical management
Authors: Ok Chi Young , Li Ling , Young Ken H
Published: January 2015

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus, affecting >90% of the adult population. EBV targets B-lymphocytes and achieves latent infection in a circular episomal form. Different latency patterns are recognized based on latent gene expression pattern. Latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) mimics CD40 and, when self-aggregated, provides a proliferation signal via activating the nuclear factor-kappa B, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways to promote cellular proliferation. LMP-1 also induces BCL-2 to escape from apoptosis and gives a signal for cell cycle progression by enhancing cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein and by inhibiting p16 and p27. LMP-2A blocks the surface immunoglobulin-mediated lytic cycle reactivation. It also activates the Ras/PI3K/Akt pathway and induces Bcl-xL expression to promote B-cell survival. Recent studies have shown that ebv-microRNAs can provide extra signals for cellular proliferation, cell cycle progression and anti-apoptosis. EBV is well known for association with various types of B-lymphocyte, T-lymphocyte, epithelial cell and mesenchymal cell neoplasms. B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders encompass a broad spectrum of diseases, from benign to malignant. Here we review our current understanding of EBV-induced lymphomagenesis and focus on biology, diagnosis and management of EBV-associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders.
Methanogenic food web in the gut contents of methane-emitting earthwormEudrilus eugeniaefrom Brazil
Authors: Schulz Kristin , Hunger Sindy , Brown George G , Tsai Siu M , Cerri Carlos C , Conrad Ralf , Drake Harold L
Published: January 2015

The anoxic saccharide-rich conditions of the earthworm gut provide an ideal transient habitat for ingested microbes capable of anaerobiosis. It was recently discovered that the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae from Brazil can emit methane (CH4) and that ingested methanogens might be associated with this emission. The objective of this study was to resolve trophic interactions of bacteria and methanogens in the methanogenic food web in the gut contents of E. eugeniae. RNA-based stable isotope probing of bacterial 16S rRNA as well as mcrA and mrtA (the alpha subunit of methyl-CoM reductase and its isoenzyme, respectively) of methanogens was performed with [13C]-glucose as a model saccharide in the gut contents. Concomitant fermentations were augmented by the rapid consumption of glucose, yielding numerous products, including molecular hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), formate, acetate, ethanol, lactate, succinate and propionate. Aeromonadaceae-affiliated facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes affiliated to Lachnospiraceae, Veillonellaceae and Ruminococcaceae were associated with the diverse fermentations. Methanogenesis was ongoing during incubations, and 13C-labeling of CH4 verified that supplemental [13C]-glucose derived carbon was dissimilated to CH4. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens affiliated with Methanobacteriaceae and Methanoregulaceae were linked to methanogenesis, and acetogens related to Peptostreptoccocaceae were likewise found to be participants in the methanogenic food web. H2 rather than acetate stimulated methanogenesis in the methanogenic gut content enrichments, and acetogens appeared to dissimilate supplemental H2 to acetate in methanogenic enrichments. These findings provide insight on the processes and associated taxa potentially linked to methanogenesis and the turnover of organic carbon in the alimentary canal of methane-emitting E. eugeniae.
Quorum sensing-regulated chitin metabolism provides grazing resistance to Vibrio cholerae biofilms
Authors: Sun Shuyang , Tay Qi Xiang Martin , Kjelleberg Staffan , Rice Scott A , McDougald Diane
Published: January 2015

Association of Vibrio cholerae with chitinous surfaces of zooplankton is important for its persistence in marine environments, as it provides accessibility to nutrients and resistance to stresses. Predation by heterotrophic protists has a major impact on the survival of V. cholerae. V. cholerae forms biofilms as its main defensive strategy, and quorum sensing (QS) additionally regulates the production of antiprotozoal factors. The role of chitin and QS regulation in V. cholerae grazing resistance was investigated by exposing V. cholerae wild-type (WT) and QS mutant biofilms grown on chitin flakes to the bacteriotrophic, surface-feeding flagellate Rhynchomonas nasuta. V. cholerae formed more biofilm biomass on chitin flakes compared with nonchitinous surfaces. The growth of R. nasuta was inhibited by WT biofilms grown on chitin flakes, whereas the inhibition was attenuated in QS mutant biofilms. The chitin-dependent toxicity was also observed when the V. cholerae biofilms were developed under continuous flow or grown on a natural chitin source, the exoskeleton of Artemia. In addition, the antiprotozoal activity and ammonium concentration of V. cholerae biofilm supernatants were quantified. The ammonium levels (3.5 mm) detected in the supernatants of V. cholerae WT biofilms grown on chitin flakes were estimated to reduce the number of R. nasuta by >80% in add-back experiments, and the supernatant of QS mutant biofilms was less toxic owing to a decrease in ammonium production. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the majority of genes involved in chitin metabolism and chemotaxis were significantly downregulated in QS mutant biofilms when grown on chitin compared with the WT biofilms.
DNA sequencing using polymerase substrate-binding kinetics
Authors: Previte Michael John Robert , Zhou Chunhong , Kellinger Matthew , Pantoja Rigo , Chen Cheng-Yao , Shi Jin , Wang BeiBei , Kia Amirali , Etchin Sergey , Vieceli John , Nikoomanzar Ali , Bomati Erin , Gloeckner Christian , Ronaghi Mostafa , He Molly Min
Published: January 2015

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed genomic research by decreasing the cost of sequencing. However, whole-genome sequencing is still costly and complex for diagnostics purposes. In the clinical space, targeted sequencing has the advantage of allowing researchers to focus on specific genes of interest. Routine clinical use of targeted NGS mandates inexpensive instruments, fast turnaround time and an integrated and robust workflow. Here we demonstrate a version of the Sequencing by Synthesis (SBS) chemistry that potentially can become a preferred targeted sequencing method in the clinical space. This sequencing chemistry uses natural nucleotides and is based on real-time recording of the differential polymerase/DNA-binding kinetics in the presence of correct or mismatch nucleotides. This ensemble SBS chemistry has been implemented on an existing Illumina sequencing platform with integrated cluster amplification. We discuss the advantages of this sequencing chemistry for targeted sequencing as well as its limitations for other applications.