bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spezifische Weiterbildungsangebote für Hausarztmedizin in der Schweiz – Bestandsaufnahme verschiedener kantonaler Programme
Authors: Tandjung Ryan , Garaventa-Tadres Deborah , Rosemann Thomas , Djalali Sima
Published: July 2013

Die Schweiz blickt einem Hausarztmangel entgegen − dies hat an verschiedenen Orten dazu geführt, die Angebote hausarztspezifischer Weiterbildungsinhalte wie Praxisassistenz oder Curricula auszubauen. Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Bestandsaufnahme der zurzeit bestehenden kantonalen bzw. nationalen spezifischen Weiterbildungen für Hausarztmedizin. Die Übersicht zeigt, dass die Praxisassistenzprogramme der Kantone zunehmend quantitativ ausgebaut werden, während hausarztspezifische Curricula mit Rotationen in verschiedene hausarztrelevante Spezialitäten immer noch sehr selten sind. Insbesondere diese attraktiven Curricula sollten ausgebaut werden. Um eine hohe Qualität der Weiterbildung zu gewährleisten, sollten Praxisassistenzen und Curricula regelmässig evaluiert werden und die Ergebnisse publiziert werden.
Wenn's nicht nur juckt oder brennt: Klinik und Behandlung sexuell übertragbarer Erkrankungen (Teil 1)
Authors: Vuichard Danielle , Itin Peter
Published: July 2013

In dieser zweiteiligen Serie vermitteln wir Ihnen eine umfassende Übersicht über die Urethritis, Genitalwarzen und die genitale Ulkuskrankheit. Sexuell übertragbare Infektionen (STI) sind ein globales Gesundheitsproblem. Weltweit resultieren aus 100 Mio. Sexualkontakten täglich 350 000 Neuansteckungen. In den letzten zehn Jahren war der Trend steigend. Dysurie und genitaler Juckreiz sind typische aber nicht die einzigen Beschwerden, die Anlass für eine STI-Abklärung sein sollten. Um den Kliniker angesichts der zunehmenden Zahl der STI wieder vermehrt zu sensibilisieren, beleuchten wir die wichtigsten Aspekte hinsichtlich Klinik, Diagnostik und Therapie. Im ersten Teil behandeln wir neben dem klassischen Thema der Urethritis auch das Problem der Feigwarzen. Die Diagnostik und das therapeutische Management richten sich nach den aktuellsten internationalen Guidelines.
Coevolution with phages does not influence the evolution of bacterial mutation rates in soil
Authors: Gómez Pedro , Buckling Angus
Published: July 2013

Coevolution with phages drive the evolution of high bacterial mutation rates in vitro, but the relevance of this finding to natural populations is unclear. Here, we investigated how coevolution affects mutation rate evolution in soil, in the presence and absence of the rest of the natural microbial community. Although mutation rate on average increased threefold, neither coevolving phages nor the rest of natural community significantly affected mutation rates. Our results suggest that features of the soil over and above directly interacting organisms constrain the evolution of strong mutators, helping to explain their relatively low frequency compared with some laboratory and clinical settings.
Nuclear phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate regulates ING2 stability at discrete chromatin targets in response to DNA damage
Authors: Bua Dennis J. , Martin Gloria Mas , Binda Olivier , Gozani Or
Published: July 2013

ING2 (inhibitor of growth family member 2) is a component of a chromatin-regulatory complex that represses gene expression and is implicated in cellular processes that promote tumor suppression. However, few direct genomic targets of ING2 have been identified and the mechanism(s) by which ING2 selectively regulates genes remains unknown. Here we provide evidence that direct association of ING2 with the nuclear phosphoinositide phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate (PtdIns(5)P) regulates a subset of ING2 targets in response to DNA damage. At these target genes, the binding event between ING2 and PtdIns(5)P is required for ING2 promoter occupancy and ING2-associated gene repression. Moreover, depletion of PtdIns(5)P attenuates ING2-mediated regulation of these targets in the presence of DNA damage. Taken together, these findings support a model in which PtdIns(5)P functions as a sub-nuclear trafficking factor that stabilizes ING2 at discrete genomic sites.
Caspase-2 is essential for c-Jun transcriptional activation and Bim induction in neuron death
Authors: Jean Ying Y. , Ribe Elena M. , Pero Maria Elena , Moskalenko Marina , Iqbal Zarah , Marks Lianna J. , Greene Lloyd A. , Troy Carol M.
Published: July 2013

Neuronal apoptotic death generally requires de novo transcription, and activation of the transcription factor c-Jun has been shown to be necessary in multiple neuronal death paradigms. Caspase-2 has been implicated in death of neuronal and non-neuronal cells, but its relationship to transcriptional activation has not been clearly elucidated. In the present study, using two different neuronal apoptotic paradigms, β-amyloid treatment and NGF (nerve growth factor) withdrawal, we examined the hierarchical role of caspase-2 activation in the transcriptional control of neuron death. Both paradigms induce rapid activation of caspase-2 as well as activation of the transcription factor c-Jun and subsequent induction of the pro-apoptotic BH3 (Bcl-homology domain 3)-only protein Bim (Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death). Caspase-2 activation is dependent on the adaptor protein RAIDD {RIP (receptor-interacting protein)-associated ICH-1 [ICE (interleukin-1β-converting enzyme)/CED-3 (cell-death determining 3) homologue 1] protein with a death domain}, and both caspase-2 and RAIDD are required for c-Jun activation and Bim induction. The present study thus shows that rapid caspase-2 activation is essential for c-Jun activation and Bim induction in neurons subjected to apoptotic stimuli. This places caspase-2 at an apical position in the apoptotic cascade and demonstrates for the first time that caspase-2 can regulate transcription.
New unsupervised hybrid classifier based on the fuzzy integral: applied to natural textured images
Authors: Guijarro María , Fuentes‐Fernández Rubén , Herrera P. Javier , Ribeiro Ángela , Pajares Gonzalo
Published: July 2013

This study presents a new unsupervised hybrid classifier for natural texture identification in aerial images. The proposed strategy combines through the fuzzy integral (FI) six well‐tested base supervised classifiers. This automation is based on the generation of a general rule inferred through decision tree learning, ID3 strategy from the training data. This rule allows generation of a partition of the set of images that the base classifiers use to estimate automatically their parameters. These parameters are the inputs to calculate the relative importance of each classifier in their combination by the FI. The resulting classifier has been compared with related techniques getting an improvement of 8.04% average. The study includes discussion on this comparison.
Object tracking using firefly algorithm
Authors: Gao Ming‐Liang , He Xiao‐Hai , Luo Dai‐Sheng , Jiang Jun , Teng Qi‐Zhi
Published: July 2013

Firefly algorithm (FA) is a new meta‐heuristic optimisation algorithm that mimics the social behaviour of fireflies flying in the tropical and temperate summer sky. In this study, a novel application of FA is presented as it is applied to solve tracking problem. A general optimisation‐based tracking architecture is proposed and the parameters’ sensitivity and adjustment of the FA in tracking system are studied. Experimental results show that the FA‐based tracker can robustly track an arbitrary target in various challenging conditions. The authors compare the speed and accuracy of the FA with three typical tracking algorithms including the particle filter, meanshift and particle swarm optimisation. Comparative results show that the FA‐based tracker outperforms the other three trackers.
Universal active and reactive power control of electronically interfaced distributed generation sources in virtual power plants operating in grid‐connected and islanding modes
Authors: Khan Hammad , Dasouki Sally , Sreeram Victor , Iu Herbert H.C. , Mishra Yateendra
Published: July 2013

The control paradigms of the distributed generation (DG) sources in the smart grid are realised by either utilising virtual power plant (VPP) or by employing MicroGrid structures. Both VPP and MicroGrid are presented with the problem of control of power flow between their comprising DG sources. This study depicts this issue for VPP and proposes a novel and improved universal active and reactive power flow controllers for three‐phase pulse width modulated voltage source inverters (PWM‐VSI) operating in the VPP environment. The proposed controller takes into account all cases of R–X relationship, thus allowing it to function in systems operating at high, medium (MV) and low‐voltage (LV) levels. Also proposed control scheme for the first time in an inverter control takes into account the capacitance of the transmission line which is an important factor to accurately represent medium length transmission lines. This allows the proposed control scheme to be applied in VPP structures, where DG sources can operate at MV LV levels over a short/medium length transmission line. The authors also conducted small signal stability analysis of the proposed controller and compared it against the small signal study of the existing controllers.
Dynamic formulation and approximation methods to solve economic dispatch problems
Authors: Abouheaf Mohammed I. , Lee Wei‐Jen , Lewis Frank L.
Published: July 2013

Economic dispatch (ED) is an optimisation tool that is used to allocate active load demands to the generating units through optimising the fuel generation cost function subject to the different operational constraints. The high non‐linearity of the power system imposes mathematical challenges in formulating the generation cost function models, which makes the ED problem hard to solve. This study introduces two ideas to solve issues related to the ED problem. First, a dynamic formulation technique is developed to optimally allocate the change in the total active load demand to the generating units. This technique is shown to be insensitive to the optimality of the initial active load distribution unlike the base point and participation factor method. Moreover, it guarantees an optimal distribution among the generating units due the change in the active load demand. Second, a novel approximation of the non‐convex generation cost function is developed to solve non‐convex ED problem with the transmission losses. This approximation enables the use of gradient and Newton techniques to solve the non‐convex ED problem with valve point loading effect and transmission losses in an analytic approach. This approximation is compared with some heuristic optimisation techniques.
Mixed‐integer linear model for transmission expansion planning with line losses and energy storage systems
Authors: Zhang Fang , Hu Zechun , Song Yonghua
Published: July 2013

In this study, a deterministic single‐stage transmission expansion planning model considering line losses and deployment of energy storage systems (ESSs) is proposed. A piecewise linearisation approach using secant segments is adopted to estimate non‐linear line losses, and the optimal partitioning method is studied. ESSs are introduced to reduce the overall cost, and their siting and sizing are determined by nodal power balance and load duration curve. The effectiveness of the proposed model is shown through case studies simulated on two test systems, and the potential of ESSs reducing network investment costs is illustrated in a quantitative manner.
Placement of minimum distributed generation units observing power losses and voltage stability with network constraints
Authors: Esmaili Masoud
Published: July 2013

Distributed generations (DGs) are recently in growing attention as a solution to environmental and economical challenges caused by conventional power plants. In this study, a multi‐objective framework as a nonlinear programming (NLP) is proposed for optimal placement and sizing of DG units. Objective functions include minimising the number of DGs and power losses as well as maximising voltage stability margin formulated as a function of decision variables. The objective functions are combined into one objective function. To avoid problems with choosing appropriate weighting factors, fuzzification is applied to objective functions to bring them into the same scale. DG units are placed at more efficient buses rather than end buses of radial links as usually determined by previous methods for improving voltage stability. Also, power system constraints including branch and voltage limits are observed in the problem. The proposed method not only is able to model all types of DG technologies but also it employs adaptive reactive limits for DGs rather than fixed limits. In addition, a three‐stage procedure is proposed to gradually solve the multi‐objective problem in order to prevent infeasible solutions. Also, a new technique is proposed to formulate the number of DGs without converting the NLP problem into mixed‐integer NLP. Results of testing the proposed method show its efficiency.
Analysis of uncertainty in equilibrium reconstruction in the EAST superconducting tokamak
Authors: Liu G. J. , Wan B. N. , Sun Y. W. , Xiao B. J. , Wang Y. , Luo Zh. P. , Qian J. P. , Liu D. M.
Published: July 2013

The analysis of uncertainties of magnetic measurements in equilibrium reconstruction is carried out on the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) tokamak. It is shown that uncertainties of magnetic diagnostics are about 0.2% and 10 mWb for flux loops and 0.6% and 20 G for magnetic probes. Analyzing the sensitivity of the magnetic data uncertainty in the plasma shape reconstruction is presented, based on EFIT fixed boundary and fitting mode and applying overall uncertainty as fitting weight in EFIT. It is found that reconstruction uncertainties are ranged in 0.5–1.4 cm for 6 control segments, less than 0.8 cm for X-points, and 1.0–1.6 cm for strike points with 95% confidence, in the last experimental campaign on the EAST tokamak.
New nickel-based material (Sr12Al14O33) for biomass tar steam reforming for syngas production
Authors: Li Chunshan , Wang Murong , Dai Fei , Suzuki Kenzi
Published: July 2013

A new “free oxygen” material, Sr12Al14O33 (Sr12A7), was developed as a Ni support for biomass tar steam reforming. Toluene was chosen as the model compound for biomass gasification tar. The steam reforming process was investigated in a fixed-bed reactor. The influence of the operating parameters (i.e., reaction temperature, steam-to-carbon ratio, and space time) on catalyst activity and product selectivity were studied. Ni/Sr12A7 (5 wt %) showed a higher activity compared with a similar commercial catalyst, Ni/Dolomite. The influence of the steam/carbon (S/C) molar ratio on gas yields at values ranging from 1.5 to 4.0 was investigated. The results show that the H2 and CO2 yields increased, whereas the CO yield decreased, when the S/C ratio was increased. The influence of space-time (wcat/Ftoluene) was also determined. The H2, CO2, and total gas yields increased when the ratio was increased. Catalyst ageing experiments were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). Based on the results, the kinetic model is proposed as a first-order reaction for toluene with an activation energy of 131.2 kJ·mol−1, as generally accepted in the literature.
GaN doped with beryllium—An effective light converter for white light emitting diodes
Authors: Teisseyre Henryk , Bockowski Michal , Grzegory Izabella , Kozanecki Adrian , Damilano Benjamin , Zhydachevskii Yaroslav , Kunzer Michael , Holc Katarzyna , Schwarz Ulrich T.
Published: July 2013

So far, most of the studies on GaN doped with beryllium have mainly concentrated on possible p-type doping. Unfortunately, realization of p-type conductivity in such a way appeared to be very difficult. It seems, however, that bulk crystals doped with beryllium can be used as white light converters in the monolithic white light emitting diodes. To realize monolithic white light emitting diode, we used blue light emitting diodes and a single GaN:Be crystal as converter. High value of the Color Rendering Index gives hope for obtaining an effective light converter based on gallium nitride doped with beryllium.
Arrival time of the front-edge in microwave propagation experiments
Authors: Ranfagni A. , Mugnai D.
Published: July 2013

The computation of the incoming wave-amplitude is reexamined even in relation to e.m. anomalous propagation. Specifically, we analyze the case in which a pole singularity is quite close to the instant of the beginning of the signal, and in which the contribution of the saddle-point, although appreciable, becomes less important. Along these lines, the experimental results can be well explained. Some results on electromagnetic propagation in the range of microwaves are reported and interpreted.
In situ high-temperature characterization of AlN-based surface acoustic wave devices
Authors: Aubert Thierry , Bardong Jochen , Legrani Ouarda , Elmazria Omar , Badreddine Assouar M. , Bruckner Gudrun , Talbi Abdelkrim
Published: July 2013

We report on in situ electrical measurements of surface acoustic wave delay lines based on AlN/sapphire structure and iridium interdigital transducers between 20 °C and 1050 °C under vacuum conditions. The devices show a great potential for temperature sensing applications. Burnout is only observed after 60 h at 1050 °C and is mainly attributed to the agglomeration phenomena undergone by the Ir transducers. However, despite the vacuum conditions, a significant oxidation of the AlN film is observed, pointing out the limitation of the considered structure at least at such extreme temperatures. Original structures overcoming this limitation are then proposed and discussed.
Ge as a surfactant in metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy growth of a-plane GaN exceeding carrier concentrations of 1020 cm−3
Authors: Wieneke Matthias , Witte Hartmut , Lange Karsten , Feneberg Martin , Dadgar Armin , Bläsing Jürgen , Goldhahn Rüdiger , Krost Alois
Published: July 2013

Nonpolar n-type doped a-plane GaN films were grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy on r-plane sapphire substrates using silane and isobutylgermane as Si and Ge dopants, respectively. It is found that Ge-doping acts as a surfactant enabling the growth of fully coalesced and mirror-like a-plane GaN films with electron concentrations above 1020 cm−3. Si-doping in excess of 2×1019 cm−3 shows an antisurfactant behavior leading to surface degradation. No significant impact on strain was found for any dopant. Results on the ordinary and extraordinary dielectric functions as determined by ellipsometry prove the high optical quality of the Ge-doped films.
Sustainability of remote communities: 100% renewable island of Hvar
Authors: Bačelić Medić Zlatko , Ćosić Boris , Duić Neven
Published: July 2013

Island communities require in-detail mapping of resources available for exploitation for energy purposes, since infrastructure and connections to the mainland present, in most cases, a weak point of the island energy supply. As the present energy supply on Croatian islands relies mostly on fossil fuels and electricity from the mainland, it becomes obvious that exploitation of renewable energy sources is the only solution that leads towards self-sufficiency and sustainable development. In order to design a self-sufficient and sustainable island, three major technological changes are needed: integration of renewable energy sources alongside with energy savings and improvements in energy efficiency in the energy production. Analyses for several other Croatian islands have been performed using Renewislands/ADEG methodology in order to assess all possible outcomes. The scenarios in these cases have shown that islands can become self-sufficient through combining renewable technologies and energy storage systems. Energy storage systems will be crucial for achieving desired objectives in terms of energy independence from the mainland and in general import of fossil fuels. The analysis conducted for the island of Hvar will result in creation of several scenarios which will clearly point out the favorable solutions for improvement of both security of energy supply and covering the majority of energy demand with renewable energy sources and storage technologies. Also, when talking about implementation of renewable technologies on island of Hvar, an optimal mix of technologies must be applied in order to avoid excess costs and to achieve minimal impact on environment in terms of visual pollution.
A clear sky irradiation assessment using the European Solar Radiation Atlas model and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission database: A case study for Romanian territory
Authors: Nemes Ciprian
Published: July 2013

The objectives of this paper are to develop a software application that allows to establish the clear-sky solar radiation on horizontal surface considering the shading effect of complex topography of terrain and to employ it in order to assess the amount of clear-sky irradiation over Romanian territory. In order to achieve the first objective, a clear sky solar radiation model developed in accordance with the latest mathematical equations published in European Solar Radiation Atlas has been adopted and implemented together with a digital elevation model developed based on the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission database. In order to achieve the second objective, based on a digital elevation model of the Romanian territory, the monthly average daily clear-sky irradiation over whole territory has been established. The estimates have been validated using the solar radiation values from other two well known databases, the relative errors shown that the irradiance values have a good accuracy. The software application has been involved in order to build and analyze the maps of monthly average of daily irradiation, in the assumption of the clear-sky conditions and in horizontal surface, over whole Romanian territory.
Manipulation of the crystal structure defects: An alternative route to the reduction in lattice thermal conductivity and improvement in thermoelectric performance of CuGaTe2
Authors: Wu Wenchang , Li Yapeng , Du Zhengliang , Meng Qingsen , Sun Zheng , Ren Wei , Cui Jiaolin
Published: July 2013

Here, we present the manipulation of the crystal structure defects: an alternative route to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity (κL) on an atomic scale and improve the thermoelectric performance of CuGaTe2. This semiconductor with defects, represented by anion position displacement (u) and tetragonal deformation (η), generally gives low κL values when u and η distinctly deviate from 0.25 and 1 in the ideal zinc-blende structure, respectively. However, this semiconductor will show high Seebeck coefficients and low electrical conductivities when u and η are close to 0.25 and 1, respectively, due to the electrical inactivity caused by an attractive interaction between donor-acceptor defect pairs (GaCu2+ + 2VCu−).
Stray field enhanced vortex dissipation in YBa2Cu3O7/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/YBa2Cu3O7 hetero-epitaxial tri-layer
Authors: Joseph D. Paul , Hsu Daniel , Lin J. G.
Published: July 2013

In this work, we report observation of two superconducting transitions and their response to an external field in pulsed laser deposited YBa2Cu3O7/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/YBa2Cu3O7 (Y-L-Y) hetero-epitaxial tri-layer. Magnetization data of Y-L-Y tri-layer in “out-plane” geometry showed a single Meissner transition indicating superconductivity of the top and bottom YBa2Cu3O7 layers to be magnetically coupled. In contradiction, the magneto-transport data unusually showed two transition onsets Tcon1 and Tcon2 implying electrically decoupled superconductivity. The Tcon1 decreased systematically with field, whereas Tcon2 showed anomalous behavior with substantial increase in transition width due to the local stray field induced vortex states.
Correlation between carrier localization and efficiency droop in AlGaN epilayers
Authors: Mickevičius J. , Tamulaitis G. , Shur M. , Shatalov M. , Yang J. , Gaska R.
Published: July 2013

Photoluminescence studies of carrier dynamics in AlGaN epilayers with different degrees of carrier localization and densities of nonradiative recombination centers show that the prevailing droop mechanism in AlGaN epilayers with strong carrier localization and comparatively high density of nonradiative recombination centers is enhanced nonradiative recombination due to the carrier delocalization at elevated carrier density. The photoluminescence was investigated under quasi-steady-state excitation in the temperature range from 8 to 300 K. The results proved that the onset of this droop effect is below the threshold for the droop due to high-density effects in the epilayers, such as carrier heating, phase space filling, nonradiative Auger recombination, and stimulated emission.
Blasticidin S inhibits translation by trapping deformed tRNA on the ribosome
Authors: Svidritskiy Egor , Ling Clarence , Ermolenko Dmitri N. , Korostelev Andrei A.
Published: July 2013

The antibiotic blasticidin S (BlaS) is a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis in bacteria and eukaryotes. We have determined a 3.4-Å crystal structure of BlaS bound to a 70S⋅tRNA ribosome complex and performed biochemical and single-molecule FRET experiments to determine the mechanism of action of the antibiotic. We find that BlaS enhances tRNA binding to the P site of the large ribosomal subunit and slows down spontaneous intersubunit rotation in pretranslocation ribosomes. However, the antibiotic has negligible effect on elongation factor G catalyzed translocation of tRNA and mRNA. The crystal structure of the antibiotic–ribosome complex reveals that BlaS impedes protein synthesis through a unique mechanism by bending the 3′ terminus of the P-site tRNA toward the A site of the large ribosomal subunit. Biochemical experiments demonstrate that stabilization of the deformed conformation of the P-site tRNA by BlaS strongly inhibits peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis by release factors and, to a lesser extent, peptide bond formation.
Genetic Monitoring of Threatened Chinook Salmon Populations: Estimating Introgression of Nonnative Hatchery Stocks and Temporal Genetic Changes
Authors: Van Doornik Donald M. , Eddy Debra L. , Waples Robin S. , Boe Stephen J. , Hoffnagle Timothy L. , Berntson Ewann A. , Moran Paul
Published: July 2013

Conservation efforts aimed at Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) populations have frequently utilized artificial propagation in an attempt to increase fish abundance. However, this approach carries the risk of unwanted changes in the genetic characteristics of the target population and perhaps others that might incidentally be affected. We used genetic monitoring techniques to estimate the amount of introgression that has occurred from nonnative hatchery stocks into native populations and to determine the extent of genetic changes that have occurred in association with supplementation efforts over the past 20–50 years in Snake River Chinook Salmon O. tshawytscha populations from northeastern Oregon. A total of 4,178 fish from 13 populations were genotyped for 12 microsatellite DNA loci. Expected heterozygosity values for each sample ranged from 0.707 to 0.868. Estimates of the effective number of breeders per year in the naturally spawning populations ranged from 20.6 to 459.1, whereas in the hatchery populations they ranged from 33.8 to 1,118.8. We found that introgression from the Rapid River Hatchery stock was particularly noticeable in the early 1990s but that it appears to have had a substantial effect on only two of the native populations (Lookingglass Creek and the upper Grande Ronde River) despite the ample opportunities for introgression to occur. All seven of the native populations sampled have maintained their levels of within-population genetic diversity throughout the sampling period. Overall, this region's supplementation efforts appear to have had a minimal effect on the genetic diversity of its Chinook Salmon populations.

Received October 9, 2012; accepted March 25, 2013
Genome-wide haploinsufficiency screen reveals a novel role for γ-TuSC in spindle organization and genome stability
Authors: Choy John S. , O'Toole Eileen , Schuster Breanna M. , Crisp Matthew J. , Karpova Tatiana S. , McNally James G. , Winey Mark , Gardner Melissa K. , Basrai Munira A.
Published: July 2013

How subunit dosage contributes to the assembly and function of multimeric complexes is an important question with implications in understanding biochemical, evolutionary, and disease mechanisms. Toward identifying pathways that are susceptible to decreased gene dosage, we performed a genome-wide screen for haploinsufficient (HI) genes that guard against genome instability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This led to the identification of all three genes (SPC97, SPC98, and TUB4) encoding the evolutionarily conserved γ-tubulin small complex (γ-TuSC), which nucleates microtubule assembly. We found that hemizygous γ-TuSC mutants exhibit higher rates of chromosome loss and increases in anaphase spindle length and elongation velocities. Fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, electron tomography, and model convolution simulation of spc98/+ mutants revealed improper regulation of interpolar (iMT) and kinetochore (kMT) microtubules in anaphase. The underlying cause is likely due to reduced levels of Tub4, as overexpression of TUB4 suppressed the spindle and chromosome segregation defects in spc98/+ mutants. We propose that γ-TuSC is crucial for balanced assembly between iMTs and kMTs for spindle organization and accurate chromosome segregation. Taken together, the results show how gene dosage studies provide critical insights into the assembly and function of multisubunit complexes that may not be revealed by using traditional studies with haploid gene deletion or conditional alleles.
Statistical agglomeration: peak summarization for direct infusion lipidomics
Authors: Smith Rob , Anthonymuthu Tamil S. , Ventura Dan , Prince John T.
Published: July 2013

Motivation: Quantification of lipids is a primary goal in lipidomics. In direct infusion/injection (or shotgun) lipidomics, accurate downstream identification and quantitation requires accurate summarization of repetitive peak measurements. Imprecise peak summarization multiplies downstream error by propagating into species identification and intensity estimation. To our knowledge, this is the first analysis of direct infusion peak summarization in the literature.

Results: We present two novel peak summarization algorithms for direct infusion samples and compare them with an off-machine ad hoc summarization algorithm as well as with the propriety Xcalibur algorithm. Our statistical agglomeration algorithm reduces peakwise error by 38% mass/charge (m/z) and 44% (intensity) compared with the ad hoc method over three datasets. Pointwise error is reduced by 23% (m/z). Compared with Xcalibur, our statistical agglomeration algorithm produces 68% less m/z error and 51% less intensity error on average on two comparable datasets.

Availability: The source code for Statistical Agglomeration and the datasets used are freely available for non-commercial purposes at https://github.com/optimusmoose/statistical_agglomeration. Modified Bin Aggolmeration is freely available in MSpire, an open source mass spectrometry package at https://github.com/princelab/mspire/.

Contact:  2robsmith@gmail.com or jtprince@chem.byu.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
MMuFLR: missense mutation and frameshift location reporter
Authors: Rathe Susan K. , Johnson James E. , Silverstein Kevin A.T. , Erdmann Jesse J. , Watson Adrienne L. , Popescu Flavia E. , Ohlfest John R. , Largaespada David A.
Published: July 2013

Motivation: Cancer researchers seeking immunotherapy targets in cancer cells need tools to locate highly expressed proteins unique to cancer cells. Missense mutation and frameshift location reporter (MMuFLR), a Galaxy-based workflow, analyzes next-generation sequencing paired read RNA-seq output to reliably identify small frameshift mutations and missense mutations in highly expressed protein-coding genes. MMuFLR ignores known SNPs, low quality reads and poly-A/T sequences. For each frameshift and missense mutation identified, MMuFLR provides the location and sequence of the amino acid substitutions in the novel protein candidates for direct input into epitope evaluation tools.

Availability:  http://toolshed.g2.bx.psu.edu/

Contact:  rath0096@umn.edu or johns198@umn.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Patient Injuries from Anesthesia Gas Delivery Equipment
Authors: Mehta Sonya P. , Eisenkraft James B. , Posner Karen L. , Domino Karen B.
Published: July 2013

Background:

Improvements in anesthesia gas delivery equipment and provider training may increase patient safety. The authors analyzed patient injuries related to gas delivery equipment claims from the American Society of Anesthesiologists Closed Claims Project database over the decades from 1970s to the 2000s.

Methods:

After the Institutional Review Board approval, the authors reviewed the Closed Claims Project database of 9,806 total claims. Inclusion criteria were general anesthesia for surgical or obstetric anesthesia care (n = 6,022). Anesthesia gas delivery equipment was defined as any device used to convey gas to or from (but not involving) the airway management device. Claims related to anesthesia gas delivery equipment were compared between time periods by chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and Mann–Whitney U test.

Results:

Anesthesia gas delivery claims decreased over the decades (P < 0.001) to 1% of claims in the 2000s. Outcomes in claims from 1990 to 2011 (n = 40) were less severe, with a greater proportion of awareness (n = 9, 23%; P = 0.003) and pneumothorax (n = 7, 18%; P = 0.047). Severe injuries (death/permanent brain damage) occurred in supplemental oxygen supply events outside the operating room, breathing circuit events, or ventilator mishaps. The majority (85%) of claims involved provider error with (n = 7) or without (n = 27) equipment failure. Thirty-five percent of claims were judged as preventable by preanesthesia machine check.

Conclusions:

Gas delivery equipment claims in the Closed Claims Project database decreased in 1990–2011 compared with earlier decades. Provider error contributed to severe injury, especially with inadequate alarms, improvised oxygen delivery systems, and misdiagnosis or treatment of breathing circuit events.
Polytrauma Patients With Associated Spine Fractures
Authors: Niedermeier Steven R. , Khan Safdar N.
Published: July 2013

Study Design:

Retrospective comparative study.

Objective:

To examine perioperative characteristics among polytraumatized patients with operative, unstable spine fractures with and without concomitant operative long bone injuries.

Summary of Background Data:

Treatment of polytrauma patients has delicate and time-sensitive protocols to ensure successful recovery. The literature defines standards for vertebral injury and surgical intervention.

Data:

Severely polytraumatized patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS)≥15 were divided according to those with operative spine fractures with operative long bone fractures (OSFLBF) and those with operative spine fractures alone (OSFA).

Methods:

Patients were compared by sex, age, mechanism of injury (MOI), ISS, location of injuries, time spent inpatient before procedure(s), total time in the operating room, type of procedure(s) performed, estimated operative blood loss, complications, length of stay (LOS), and time to discharge.

Results:

In a 12-year period, >600 patients were admitted to our level I trauma center with polytrauma and unstable spine fracture. Twelve had sustained operative unstable spine injuries and 21 had unstable spine injuries with a long bone injury requiring operative stabilization. Significant differences in ISS, LOS, MOI, region of vertebral injury, or total operating room time between the 2 groups were not observed. Differences were seen concerning average blood loss during surgery and time spent inpatient before entering the operating room. OSFLBF patients were discharged at a faster rate after 20 days compared with OSFSA patients.

Conclusions:

No differences in ISS, LOS, MOI, region of vertebral injury or vertebral procedure, or total operating room time were observed. Blood loss was more substantial in the OSFLBF group, but it spent fewer days in the hospital preoperatively. Despite a nonstatistical difference in LOS, a larger proportion of OSFA patients remained in the hospital after being inpatient for >20 days, reducing the risk for iatrogenic complication in that group compared with OSFA.

Level of Evidence:

III, retrospective comparative.
Remodeling of Ago2–mRNA interactions upon cellular stress reflects miRNA complementarity and correlates with altered translation rates
Authors: Karginov Fedor V. , Hannon Gregory J.
Published: July 2013

When adapting to environmental stress, cells attenuate and reprogram their translational output. In part, these altered translation profiles are established through changes in the interactions between RNA-binding proteins and mRNAs. The Argonaute 2 (Ago2)/microRNA (miRNA) machinery has been shown to participate in stress-induced translational up-regulation of a particular mRNA, CAT-1; however, a detailed, transcriptome-wide understanding of the involvement of Ago2 in the process has been lacking. Here, we profiled the overall changes in Ago2–mRNA interactions upon arsenite stress by cross-linking immunoprecipitation (CLIP) followed by high-throughput sequencing (CLIP-seq). Ago2 displayed a significant remodeling of its transcript occupancy, with the majority of 3′ untranslated region (UTR) and coding sequence (CDS) sites exhibiting stronger interaction. Interestingly, target sites that were destined for release from Ago2 upon stress were depleted in miRNA complementarity signatures, suggesting an alternative mode of interaction. To compare the changes in Ago2-binding patterns across transcripts with changes in their translational states, we measured mRNA profiles on ribosome/polysome gradients by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Increased Ago2 occupancy correlated with stronger repression of translation for those mRNAs, as evidenced by a shift toward lighter gradient fractions upon stress, while release of Ago2 was associated with the limited number of transcripts that remained translated. Taken together, these data point to a role for Ago2 and the mammalian miRNAs in mediating the translational component of the stress response.
Evolution and diversity of copy number variation in the great ape lineage
Authors: Sudmant Peter H. , Huddleston John , Catacchio Claudia R. , Malig Maika , Hillier LaDeana W. , Baker Carl , Mohajeri Kiana , Kondova Ivanela , Bontrop Ronald E. , Persengiev Stephan , Antonacci Francesca , Ventura Mario , Prado-Martinez Javier ,   Great Ape Genome Project, Marques-Bonet Tomas , Eichler Evan E.
Published: July 2013

Copy number variation (CNV) contributes to disease and has restructured the genomes of great apes. The diversity and rate of this process, however, have not been extensively explored among great ape lineages. We analyzed 97 deeply sequenced great ape and human genomes and estimate 16% (469 Mb) of the hominid genome has been affected by recent CNV. We identify a comprehensive set of fixed gene deletions (n = 340) and duplications (n = 405) as well as >13.5 Mb of sequence that has been specifically lost on the human lineage. We compared the diversity and rates of copy number and single nucleotide variation across the hominid phylogeny. We find that CNV diversity partially correlates with single nucleotide diversity (r2 = 0.5) and recapitulates the phylogeny of apes with few exceptions. Duplications significantly outpace deletions (2.8-fold). The load of segregating duplications remains significantly higher in bonobos, Western chimpanzees, and Sumatran orangutans—populations that have experienced recent genetic bottlenecks (P = 0.0014, 0.02, and 0.0088, respectively). The rate of fixed deletion has been more clocklike with the exception of the chimpanzee lineage, where we observe a twofold increase in the chimpanzee–bonobo ancestor (P = 4.79 × 10−9) and increased deletion load among Western chimpanzees (P = 0.002). The latter includes the first genomic disorder in a chimpanzee with features resembling Smith-Magenis syndrome mediated by a chimpanzee-specific increase in segmental duplication complexity. We hypothesize that demographic effects, such as bottlenecks, have contributed to larger and more gene-rich segments being deleted in the chimpanzee lineage and that this effect, more generally, may account for episodic bursts in CNV during hominid evolution.
A new on-axis micro-spectrophotometer for combining Raman, fluorescence and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy with macromolecular crystallography at the Swiss Light Source
Authors: Pompidor Guillaume , Dworkowski Florian S. N. , Thominet Vincent , Schulze-Briese Clemens , Fuchs Martin R.
Published: July 2013

The combination of X-ray diffraction experiments with optical methods such as Raman, UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy greatly enhances and complements the specificity of the obtained information. The upgraded version of thein situon-axis micro-spectrophotometer, MS2, at the macromolecular crystallography beamline X10SA of the Swiss Light Source is presented. The instrument newly supports Raman and resonance Raman spectroscopy, in addition to the previously available UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence modes. With the recent upgrades of the spectral bandwidth, instrument stability, detection efficiency and control software, the application range of the instrument and its ease of operation were greatly improved. Its on-axis geometry with collinear X-ray and optical axes to ensure optimal control of the overlap of sample volumes probed by each technique is still unique amongst comparable facilities worldwide and the instrument has now been in general user operation for over two years.
Economic policies, macroeconomic environment and entrepreneurs' expectations
Authors: Caldas Montes Gabriel , Cesar Albuquerque Bastos Júlio
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of macroeconomic variables and economic policies on expectations and confidence of entrepreneurs. It provides an econometric analysis of the expectation transmission channel under inflation targeting in Brazil, emphasizing the effect of inflation targeting credibility on the business confidence of industrial entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on ordinary least square (OLS), generalized method of moments (GMM) and vector autoregression (VAR), the paper provides empirical evidence about the influence of inflation targeting credibility and macroeconomic policies on expectations and confidence of entrepreneurs and, as a consequence, on industrial production.

Findings

The evidence for the Brazilian economy suggest that monetary and fiscal policies as well as the credibility of the monetary regime affect economic activity by their impact on expectations of entrepreneurs.

Research limitations/implication

Development of macroeconomic stability is important to the expectations formed by entrepreneurs and, therefore, for industrial production. In particular, inflation targeting credibility stimulates industrial production, since it increases the confidence of entrepreneurs about the functioning of the economy and their businesses.

Originality/value

The results suggest new insights about the influence of economic policies on the real side of the economy, pointing out that the conduct of economic policies in emerging countries with inflation targets are likely to affect the expectations of entrepreneurs and therefore their production decisions.
Accessibility for mental healthcare
Authors: Chrysikou Evangelia
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Patients' movement in mental health facilities is frequently compromised for reasons quite apart from real physical incompetence. Accessibility within mental healthcare facilities is a more complex issue than universal accessibility standards generically allow for. The purpose of this paper is to critically question the adequacy of universal design aids as the main way to deal with accessibility in facilities for the adult mentally ill in the community.

Design/methodology/approach

Several community mental healthcare units (in both Great Britain and France) are reviewed and analysed while they are occupied and running. The focus of the study is on restrictions of movement and the use of universal accessibility devices. The data are part of a broader exploratory study of facilities for mental healthcare, which used empirical, comparative and user inclusive methods.

Findings

Mental health facilities are rarely designed for the model of care and staffing regimes which they will house. This discordance between the physical and organizational milieu inevitably compromises accessibility, even though patients tend to be physically able. Outdoor access, vertical circulation and the accessibility of bathrooms are particularly affected.

Research limitations/implications

Models of care, management and staffing requirements, therapeutic needs of patients and interpersonal relationships should be considered for accessibility during planning, in addition to traditional accessibility devices and design. Furthermore, more research is needed to address the ways that accessibility devices need to be altered to comply with the psychosocial elements.

Originality/value

This paper readdresses the traditional view of accessibility, suggesting the paradigm needs to be better developed and nuanced for mental healthcare facilities.
Android smartphone adoption and intention to pay for mobile internet
Authors: Hsiao Kuo‐Lun
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The research goal of this study is to explore the factors influencing the adoption of Android smartphones and the intention to pay for mobile internet services.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study proposes a framework based on theory of reasoned action (TRA) from the perspectives of software (interface convenience and perceived content), hardware (perceived infrastructure), design (design aesthetics) and perceived value (emotional value, price/value for money, performance/quality value, and social value). A web survey was conducted, and data were collected from a total of 881 users of Android smartphones in Taiwan. The casual model was validated using partial least squares (PLS) techniques.

Findings

The results indicated that the influence of the factors on the intention of the mobile internet users and non‐users were different. Surprisingly, the effect of design aesthetics was not significant in all of the groups. Male users were found to be more likely to read e‐books on their smartphones, as are people with higher personal incomes.

Practical implications

This study contributes to a theoretical understanding of the factors that promote mobile internet users' and non‐users' intention to adopt Android smartphones and pay for mobile internet services. The proposed framework can be used by mobile internet service providers and smartphone manufacturers to design the products and marketing strategies.

Originality/value

The primary value of this paper lies in providing a better understanding of users' and non‐users' concerns about Android smartphone adoption and subscription of mobile internet services.