bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brood size moderates associations between relative size, telomere length, and immune development in European starling nestlings
Authors: Nettle Daniel , Andrews Clare , Reichert Sophie , Bedford Tom , Gott Annie , Parker Craig , Kolenda Claire , Martin‐Ruiz Carmen , Monaghan Pat , Bateson Melissa
Published: October 2016

For young birds in a nest, body size may have implications for other aspects of development such as telomere length and immune function. However, it is possible to predict associations in either direction. On the one hand, there may be trade‐offs between growth and telomere maintenance, and growth and investment in immune function, suggesting there will be negative correlations. On the other hand, relatively larger individuals might be advantaged in competition with their nest‐mates, allowing them to garner more resources overall, leading to positive correlations. We studied development over the nestling period in 34 nests of wild European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris. Intrabrood competition is typically more intense in larger broods. Hence, we predicted that body size should become an increasingly positive predictor of telomere length and immune functioning as brood size increases. In partial support of our prediction, there were significant interactions between brood size and body size in predicting both erythrocyte telomere length change and plasma levels of the cytokine interleukin‐6. The associations between body size and these outcomes went from negative in the smallest broods to positive in the largest. A further immune marker, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, showed no systematic patterning with body size or brood size. Our results confirm that the size to which a nestling grows is important for telomere dynamics and the development of the immune system, but the phenotypic associations are moderated by the competitive context.
Submicrometer‐Sized Spherical Iron Oxide Particles Fabricated by Pulsed Laser Melting in Liquid
Authors: ISHIKAWA YOSHIE , KOSHIZAKI NAOTO , PYATENKO ALEXANDER
Published: October 2016

Submicrometer‐sized spheres of iron oxide were obtained by laser irradiation of cuboidal Fe3O4 particles dispersed in ethanol, acetone, and toluene. Sphere formation condition and sphere size are explained based on a relationship between particle size and laser fluence required for solid–liquid phase transition of Fe3O4, which is calculated by equating the melting enthalpy and the optically absorbed energy derived from Mie theory. FeO was partially formed by laser irradiation at 200 mJ pulse−1 cm−2 in ethanol, acetone, and toluene. The reduction reaction is not simply due to thermal decomposition of Fe3O4, but due to the reduction by chemical species generated from solvent surrounding Fe3O4 particles melted by laser irradiation. Ethanol was more reductive than the other two solvents; Fe is formed even at 200 mJ pulse−1 cm−2. This is probably due to chemical reactivity of produced iron oxides and chemical species transiently generated from solvent.
Improvement of Growth Rate of Brassica para var. perviridis by Discharge inside Bubble under Water in Hydroponic Cultivation
Authors: TAKANO KOHEI , TAKAHATA JUNICHIRO , TAKAKI KOICHI , SATTA NAOYA , TAKAHASHI KATSUYUKI , FUJIO TAKUYA
Published: October 2016

An effect of discharge plasma irradiation to the circulating water in hydroponic cultivation system on plant growth rate was evaluated using Brassica rapa var. perviridis as specimen. The discharge plasma produced acids in the solution, which acts as a fertilizer. The Brassica rapa var. perviridis were cultivated in period of 42 days with the hydroponic system. The experimental result indicated that the growth rate of the Brassica rapa var. perviridis is improved drastically with the discharge treatment of the solution of hydroponic system, especially content of leaf blade is significantly increased (p < 0.01).
Climate and competition affect growth and survival of transplanted sugar maple seedlings along a 1700‐km gradient
Authors: Putnam Rachel C. , Reich Peter B.
Published: October 2016

Plant species distributions, broadly shaped by climate, may also be constrained by other species. The degree to which biotic factors affect range limits is unclear, however, and few experimental studies have investigated both biotic and abiotic factors across and beyond a species’ range. We examined seedling survival and net growth for three years in contrasting canopy type (closed canopy vs. gap) and neighbor density (clipped vs. unclipped) environments for northern, central, and southern populations of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) representing a climate‐of‐origin gradient, experimentally planted from Arkansas, USA to Ontario, Canada at ten forested sites along a 1700‐km transect spanning beyond the species’ range. We hypothesized that each population's highest survival and growth would occur in its region of origin, with poorer performance in cooler or warmer areas. Refuting this hypothesis, seedlings of all three populations had greater growth and survival in sites increasingly warmer than their point of origin, although they did show poorer growth and survival at increasingly colder sites. We also hypothesized that maple survival and net growth near and beyond range margins are constrained primarily by cold temperature limitation in the north, where we expected neighbors to facilitate survival, and by competition in the south, where we expected to enhance survival and growth by reducing neighbor density. Results partially supported the hypothesis concerning biotic interactions: in canopy gaps, understory neighbors enhanced maple growth at the coolest sites but did not suppress growth as expected at the warmest sites. As the northern population grew and survived reasonably well beyond the northern range limit, and as all populations performed best at warmer sites, including beyond the southern range limit, there was tepid, if any, support for the hypothesis that climate regulated the northern limit and absolutely no support for the hypothesis that competition regulated the southern limit. Together, these three‐year findings with juvenile trees suggest that sugar maple range limits may instead be constrained by factors besides climate and competition, by those factors at another life stage, and/or by climate events such as heat waves, droughts, and cold snaps that occur at longer return intervals.
“Conservation value”: a review of the concept and its quantification
Authors: Capmourteres Virginia , Anand Madhur
Published: October 2016

We examine the concept of “conservation value” (CV), its use in conservation biology and environmental management, and its quantification in the literature (1976–2015). We find that the concept has been applied to several different entities (e.g., species, communities, natural habitats, or human‐made ecosystems, such as agroecosystems), has many different meanings, and is measured using a variety of metrics (e.g., species richness, abundance/density, habitat use, or rarity/uniqueness). In most cases, the meanings of CV used must be inferred from a paper's context. Actual and inferred meanings of CV are broadly grouped into eight categories, which are clearly possibly overlapping. Most papers (86%) provide a sufficient explanation of their CV metric(s), but only 25% of all papers actually provide the explicit definitions of CV. We use multivariate analyses firstly to detect the associations between meanings and entities, and find some strong associations. For example, when considering the CV of communities/regions, the meaning used tends to be either (1) a tool to prioritize the conservation efforts or (2) an indicator of endangerment. When considering, however, other entities, such as agroecosystems, the associated meanings are (1) the provision of habitat and food supply to wildlife or (2) the capacity of these entities to complement other kinds of conservation. We use multivariate methods also to examine the associations between metrics and meanings. The well‐known metrics of species richness, diversity, and abundance are associated with (1) the provision of habitat and food supply to wildlife or (2) the capacity of agroecosystems to complement other kinds of conservation. In general, CV applied to natural systems is a far more nebulous concept (both in meanings and in metrics) than when it is applied to anthropic or human‐made ecosystems. We conclude that CV is an evolving concept adapting to new conservation and management scenarios. Given the diversity of meanings and metrics present, it would be useful to recognize CV more formally as an umbrella concept. Using CV as an umbrella concept would also enable researchers to find and compare CV methodologies more easily and thus facilitate the development of new ones.
Plague cycles in two rodent species from China: dry years might provide context for epizootics in wet years
Authors: Eads David A. , Biggins Dean E. , Xu Lei , Liu Qiyong
Published: October 2016

Plague, a rodent‐associated, flea‐borne zoonosis, is one of the most notorious diseases in history. Rates of plague transmission can increase when fleas are abundant. Fleas commonly desiccate and die when reared under dry conditions in laboratories, suggesting fleas will be suppressed during droughts in the wild, thus reducing the rate at which plague spreads among hosts. In contrast, fleas might increase in abundance when precipitation is plentiful, producing epizootic outbreaks during wet years. We tested these hypotheses using a 27‐yr data set from two rodents in Inner Mongolia, China: Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus). For both species of rodents, fleas were most abundant during years preceded by dry growing seasons. For gerbils, the prevalence of plague increased during wet years preceded by dry growing seasons. If precipitation is scarce during the primary growing season, succulent plants decline in abundance and, consequently, herbivorous rodents can suffer declines in body condition. Fleas produce more offspring and better survive when parasitizing food‐limited hosts, because starving animals tend to exhibit inefficient behavioral and immunological defenses against fleas. Further, rodent burrows might buffer fleas from xeric conditions aboveground during dry years. After a dry year, fleas might be abundant due to the preceding drought, and if precipitation and succulent plants become more plentiful, rodents could increase in density, thereby creating connectivity that facilitates the spread of plague. Moreover, in wet years, mild temperatures might increase the efficiency at which fleas transmit the plague bacterium, while also helping fleas to survive as they quest among hosts. In this way, dry years could provide context for epizootics of plague in wet years.
To exclose nests or not: structured decision making for the conservation of a threatened species
Authors: Cohen Jonathan B. , Hecht Anne , Robinson Kelly F. , Osnas Erik E. , Tyre Andrew J. , Davis Christina , Kocek Alison , Maslo Brooke , Melvin Scott M.
Published: October 2016

Decisions regarding endangered species recovery often face sparse data and multiple sources of uncertainty about the effects of management. Structured decision making (SDM) provides a framework for assembling knowledge and expert opinion and evaluating the tradeoffs between different objectives while formally incorporating uncertainty. The Atlantic Coast piping plover provides an illustrative case for the utility of SDM in endangered species management because its population growth is simple to model, most populations are monitored, decision alternatives are well defined, and many managers are open to recovery recommendations. We built a model to evaluate the decision to use nest exclosures to protect piping plover eggs from predators, where the objective was to maximize λ and the tradeoff was between nest survival and adult survival. The latter can be reduced by exclosures. We used a novel mixed multinomial logistic exposure model to predict daily nest fates and incorporated the results into a stochastic projection matrix that included renesting after nest failure, and adult mortality associated with abandonment. In our test data set (n = 329 nests from 28 sites over four years), the mean nest survival over 34 days was markedly higher for exclosed nests (0.76 ± 0.03 SE) than for unexclosed nests (0.37 ± 0.07). Abandonment rates were also higher for exclosed nests (0.092 ± 0.017) than for unexclosed nests (0.045 ± 0.017), but the difference was not statistically significant and the loss rate to “other sources” (mostly predators) was much lower for exclosed nests (0.15 ± 0.03) than for unexclosed nests (0.58 ± 0.07). Population growth rate (λ) was clearly improved by exclosure use at the sites with high background nest loss rates, but λ was still <1 with exclosure use. Where the background nest loss rates were low, the decision to use exclosures was ambiguous, and λ could benefit from reducing uncertainty in vital rates. Our process demonstrated that geographic and temporal variation in nest mortality determines whether exclosures will be useful in attaining positive population growth rates and that other management options must be considered where the background nest mortality rates are high.
CD40L is transferred to antigen‐presenting B cells during delivery of T‐cell help
Authors: Gardell Jennifer L. , Parker David C.
Published: October 2016

The delivery of T‐cell help to B cells is antigen‐specific, MHC‐restricted, and CD40L (CD154) dependent. It has been thought that when a T cell recognizes an antigen‐presenting B cell, CD40L expressed on the T‐cell surface engages with CD40 on the surface of B cells as long as the cells remain conjugated. By adding fluorescently labeled anti‐CD40L antibody during overnight incubation of antigen‐presenting B cells with antigen‐specific T cells, we discovered that CD40L does not remain on the surface of the T cell, but it is transferred to and endocytosed by B cells receiving T‐cell help. In the presence of anti‐CD40L antibody, transferred CD40L is nearly absent on bystander B cells that are not presenting antigen, and the bystander cells do not become activated. Because transfer of CD40L to B cells correlates with B‐cell activation, we speculate that persistence of helper T‐cell‐derived CD40L on or in B cells could permit sustained CD40 signaling enabling survival and proliferation of antigen‐presenting B cells following brief interactions with helper T cells in vivo in germinal centers.
Composition and oxidative stability of oil from Salvia hispanica L. seeds in relation to extraction method
Authors: Dąbrowski Grzegorz , Konopka Iwona , Czaplicki Sylwester , Tańska Małgorzata
Published: October 2016

This study evaluated the influence of the extraction method on the composition, quality and oxidation stability of chia seed oil. Commercial chia seeds were purchased from a local market and oils were obtained using various methods: Classical Soxhlet extraction using hexane and acetone, supercritical fluid extraction with CO2 at 70 and 90°C, and screw‐pressing from native seeds (cold process), and from seeds conditioned at 110°C (hot process). The oils were characterized by their contents of sterols, tocochromanols, phenolic compounds, carotenoids and squalene, acid and peroxide values and induction times. It was found that the method of obtaining oil had an influence on the extraction of components and oxidative stability. The most favorable method was classical extraction with acetone. This solvent was the most effective in the extraction of total lipids and bioactive components, especially phenolic compounds and carotenoids. The content of these components was highly correlated with induction time. The recovery of oil was generally lower by pressing than by extraction methods and the content of sterols and phenolic compounds was also reduced. In turn, fluid extraction at 70°C was effective in the extraction of squalene and the quality of oil extracted by this method was comparable to cold pressed oil.

Practical applications: Chia seeds contain a large amount of oil (from 25 to 35%), which is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly α‐linolenic and linoleic acids, with share of ca. 60–67% and 20%, respectively. The high content of PUFA makes this oil very susceptible to oxidation. The seeds are also abundant in many phytochemicals (sterols, tocopherols, squalene, waxes, carotenoids, and phenolics), but their extractivity to the oil depends on the processing conditions. In the study, we evaluated the composition and stability of chia seed oils obtained by classical solvent extraction, supercritical fluid extraction with CO2 and screw‐pressing. It was shown that the most favorable method was the extraction with acetone. This solvent was the most effective in extraction of total lipids and bioactive components, especially phenolic compounds and carotenoids. Oil obtained by extraction with acetone was additionally characterized by the highest oxidative stability. This information may be of support to producers for obtaining chia oil more stable and with better nutritional and nutraceutical properties.

Oil obtained by extraction with acetone is very different from other oils considering the quality, stability, and contents of bioactive compounds.
Downstream processing of serinol from a glycerol‐based fermentation broth and transfer to other amine containing molecules
Authors: Jost Ulrike , Andreeßen Björn , Michalik Dirk , Steinbüchel Alexander , Kragl Udo
Published: October 2016

A possible application of glycerol, which is produced in large amounts as a by‐product from the biodiesel industry, is its fermentation to serinol (2‐amino‐1,3‐propanediol), a glycerol derivative. The downstream processing of this glycerol‐based fermentation broth was investigated. The challenge of the isolation of serinol was the complex media and the solubility of the desired substance in aqueous media. In this study, the isolation of serinol was investigated by an appropriate reversible derivatization method. Serinol was isolated by protecting the amino group with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate directly in the aqueous phase, followed by extraction of the 2,2‐bis(ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl‐serinol (BECV‐serinol) with ethyl acetate resulting in an isolated yield of 63%. We demonstrate the possibility of isolation of a hydroscopic amino alcohol from the fermentation broth and the comparison of the products in water as well as the cleavage of the 2,2‐bis(ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl group (BECV group). The procedure can also be used for other amino group containing molecules, such as serine, glucosamine, hexylamine and amino methyl laureate.
Investigation of Host Polymers for Luminescent Solar Concentrators
Authors: Zettl Marcus , Mayer Oliver , Klampaftis Efthymios , Richards Bryce S.
Published: October 2016

One of the most important elements of a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) is the host material. In this work, we investigate the key optical properties of eight polymeric host matrices. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) based formulations exhibited the lowest internal absorbance within the spectral range of the absorption and emission bands of a red‐emitting fluorescent organic dye (Lumogen Red 305). The dye absorbance was dependent on the host matrix and was higher for the PC‐based formulations than the other polymers. However, two different doping concentrations were used, and the higher concentration led to the absorption of more than 90 % of the incident photons within the absorption band of the dye in all cases. The overall optical efficiency with respect to edge emission from 60 mm×60 mm×3.2 mm LSCs varied within an absolute value of 1 % for the eight host matrices investigated. The best result achieved in terms of optical efficiency was 8.9 % for PMMA‐ and PC‐based hosts.
Theoretical investigation about the optical characterization of cone‐shaped pin‐Si nanowire for top cell application
Authors: Khan Muhammad Ajmal , Sichanugrist Porponth , Kato Shinya , Ishikawa Yasuaki
Published: October 2016

Cone‐shaped semiconductor silicon nanowires (CS‐Si‐NWs) grown in vapor liquid solid mode are promising for the fabrication of low‐cost high‐performance solar cells because of their low processing cost and lower use of Si materials, as compared to planar devices. In this article, the effect of injected charge carriers on the refractive indices and extinction coefficient values in a cone‐shaped pin Si NW (CS‐pin‐Si NW) were considered. Then, the influence of top diameters and periods on the optical absorption was investigated using a finite difference time‐domain (FDTD) modeling method. The absorption increased when we decreased the period from 300 to 150 nm for a light wave with a wavelength of 700 nm. However, in the case of incident light at a wavelength of 500 nm, the absorption significantly increased by up to 100% and was found to be independent of the period. On the other hand, we varied the period and the top diameter of the NWs with a fixed bottom diameter. In this case, we found that the period did not significantly affect the absorption value. A high value of the short circuit current density of 19.5 mA/cm2 was found in the case of NWs with a top diameter of 110 nm and a period of 150 nm. Combined with the analysis of the ultimate photocurrents, an optimum geometric structure with a top diameter of 70 nm and a period of 150 nm for a CS‐pin‐Si NW‐based top cell for tandem solar cell applications was proposed.
Transparency, usability, and reproducibility: Guiding principles for improving comparative databases using primates as examples
Authors: Borries Carola , Sandel Aaron A. , Koenig Andreas , Fernandez‐Duque Eduardo , Kamilar Jason M. , Amoroso Caroline R. , Barton Robert A. , Bray Joel , Di Fiore Anthony , Gilby Ian C. , Gordon Adam D. , Mundry Roger , Port Markus , Powell Lauren E. , Pusey Anne E. , Spriggs Amanda , Nunn Charles L.
Published: October 2016

Recent decades have seen rapid development of new analytical methods to investigate patterns of interspecific variation. Yet these cutting‐edge statistical analyses often rely on data of questionable origin, varying accuracy, and weak comparability, which seem to have reduced the reproducibility of studies. It is time to improve the transparency of comparative data while also making these improved data more widely available. We, the authors, met to discuss how transparency, usability, and reproducibility of comparative data can best be achieved. We propose four guiding principles: 1) data identification with explicit operational definitions and complete descriptions of methods; 2) inclusion of metadata that capture key characteristics of the data, such as sample size, geographic coordinates, and nutrient availability (for example, captive versus wild animals); 3) documentation of the original reference for each datum; and 4) facilitation of effective interactions with the data via user friendly and transparent interfaces. We urge reviewers, editors, publishers, database developers and users, funding agencies, researchers publishing their primary data, and those performing comparative analyses to embrace these standards to increase the transparency, usability, and reproducibility of comparative studies.
Positive affect and cognitive decline: a 12‐year follow‐up of the Maastricht Aging Study
Authors: Berk Lotte , van Boxtel Martin , Köhler Sebastian , van Os Jim
Published: October 2016

Objective

In cross‐sectional studies, positive affect (PA) has been associated with higher levels of cognitive functioning. This study examined whether positive affect (PA) is associated with change in cognitive function over 12 years in an adult population sample.

Methods

Participants (n = 258), aged 40 to 82 years, were drawn from a subsample of the Maastricht Aging Study (MAAS) and assessed at baseline, 6 years and 12 years. PA was measured at baseline with a Dutch translation of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). PA scores and associations with cognitive decline were tested in random‐effects models.

Results

Controlling for demographics and depressive symptoms, there was no significant association with PA scores and decline in memory (χ2 = 1.52; df = 2; P = 0.47), executive functions (χ2 = 0.99; df = 2; P = 0.61), and information processing speed (χ2 = 0.52; df = 2; P = 0.77) at 6‐ and 12‐year follow‐up.

Conclusions

PA did not predict cognitive change over time. These findings question the extent of protective effects of PA on cognitive aging in adulthood, and are discussed in terms of age range and types of measures used for PA and cognition.
MNE Subsidiaries’ Outsourcing and InSourcing of R&D: The Role of Local Institutions
Authors: Santangelo Grazia D. , Meyer Klaus E. , Jindra Bjoern
Published: October 2016

Plain language summary

The rules for business vary not only between countries, but within countries. Subsidiaries of multinational enterprises (MNEs), thus, have to consider both the national level and the local context when designing their business practices. To examine this impact, we study R&D outsourcing in four Eastern member states of the European Union and find that local R&D outsourcing is used more frequently where local institutions are strong. However, this local impact depends on the MNE's overall knowledge sourcing practice and is weaker when MNE subsidiaries’ knowledge management prioritizes external sources of knowledge.

Technical summary

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) face multiple institutional contexts across and within countries. We analyze subnational institutions in the local environment of MNE subsidiaries to investigate their impact on subsidiaries’ knowledge sourcing‐strategies. Drawing on institutional and transaction cost economics, we argue that the degree of local R&D outsourcing is greater in high quality subnational institutional contexts. However, the quality of local institutions has less impact on the degree of R&D outsourcing by subsidiaries that are more open to external knowledge. These subsidiaries are more experienced in collaborating with external partners and, thus, have developed internal mechanisms to protect their intellectual property even in low quality institutional contexts. We test our arguments on a survey of MNE subsidiaries in four Eastern member states of the European Union. Copyright © 2016 Strategic Management Society.
Categorizing the Liability of Foreignness: Ownership, Location, and Internalization‐Specific Dimensions
Authors: Zhou Nan , Guillen Mauro F.
Published: October 2016

Plain language summary

This study explains the different types of additional costs faced by multinational firms when they invest abroad. We identify product adaptation cost, discrimination cost, governance cost, and appropriation hazard as important sources of the difficulties that multinationals face. We then link each of these costs to different dimensions of cross‐national distance, including economic, cultural, demographic, political, and administrative distance. Finally, we show that the importance of these different distance dimensions differ when multinationals invest abroad for different reasons including market seeking, efficiency seeking, knowledge seeking, and natural resource seeking.

Technical summary

This study bridges the literature on the liability of foreignness (LoF) and cross‐national distance. Following the ownership‐location‐internalization paradigm, we categorize the LoF into three dimensions: ownership‐specific LoF, location‐specific LoF, and internalization‐specific LoF, each of which reduces a specific advantage of the multinational firm. We first define the three dimensions of the LoF and then argue that each dimension is related to different types of costs. We further explain that different types of costs are associated with different dimensions of cross‐national distance, and firms face different types of the LoF and associated costs when they conduct different types of foreign direct investment. We test these hypotheses in the context of Chinese listed firms investing abroad, finding support for most of the predictions. Copyright © 2016 Strategic Management Society
Current Issues and Concerns of the SEC and PCAOB
Authors: Ciesielski Jack T. , Weirich Thomas R.
Published: October 2016

This article highlights and summarizes current issues identified by spokespersons of the SEC, PCAOB, FASB, and IASB at the AICPA/SEC/PCAOB Annual Conference held in December 2015 as being significant. In addition, the authors add some comments concerning potential actions by these accounting and auditing standards–setting bodies affecting company accountants, external auditors, and investors. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mer Tyrosine Kinase Regulates Disseminated Prostate Cancer Cellular Dormancy
Authors: Cackowski Frank C. , Eber Matthew R. , Rhee James , Decker Ann M. , Yumoto Kenji , Berry Janice E. , Lee Eunsohl , Shiozawa Yusuke , Jung Younghun , Aguirre‐Ghiso Julio A. , Taichman Russell S.
Published: October 2016

Many prostate cancer (PCa) recurrences are thought to be due to reactivation of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs). We previously found a role of the TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK in PCa dormancy regulation. However, the mechanism and contributions of the individual TAM receptors is largely unknown. Knockdown of MERTK, but not AXL or TYRO3 by shRNA in PCa cells induced a decreased ratio of P‐Erk1/2 to P‐p38, increased expression of p27, NR2F1, SOX2, and NANOG, induced higher levels of histone H3K9me3 and H3K27me3, and induced a G1/G0 arrest, all of which are associated with dormancy. Similar effects were also observed with siRNA. Most importantly, knockdown of MERTK in PCa cells increased metastasis free survival in an intra‐cardiac injection mouse xenograft model. MERTK knockdown also failed to inhibit PCa growth in vitro and subcutaneous growth in vivo, which suggests that MERTK has specificity for dormancy regulation or requires a signal from the PCa microenvironment. The effects of MERTK on the cell cycle and histone methylation were reversed by p38 inhibitor SB203580, which indicates the importance of MAP kinases for MERTK dormancy regulation. Overall, this study shows that MERTK stimulates PCa dormancy escape through a MAP kinase dependent mechanism, also involving p27, pluripotency transcription factors, and histone methylation. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 891–902, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Participation of the dentate‐rubral pathway in the kindling model of epilepsy
Authors: Hernández‐Cerón Miguel , Martínez‐Lazcano Juan Carlos , Rubio Carmen , Custodio Verónica , González‐Guevara Edith , Castillo‐Pérez Carlos , Paz Carlos
Published: October 2016

Lesions of the cerebellar dentate nucleus (DN) reduce the after‐discharge duration induced by repetitive kindling stimulation and decrease seizures to a lower rank according to Racine's scale. The DN sends cholinergic and glutamatergic fibers to the red nucleus (RN), which is composed of glutamatergic and GABAergic cells. To test the participation of these neurotransmitters in seizures, we compared the levels of glutamate and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the RN in a control condition, a kindled stage, and a kindled stage followed by DN lesions. We found that the kindled stage was associated with significant reductions in glutamate and GABA in the RN and that the lesions of the DN in kindled rats reversed the severity of seizures and restored the GABA levels. GAD65, a GABA‐synthesizing enzyme, was increased in kindled rats and decreased after DN lesions. GAD65 commonly appears localized at nerve terminals and synapses, and it is only activated when GABA neurotransmission occurs. Thus, it is possible that the increased expression of GAD65 found in kindled rats could be due to an exacerbated demand for GABA due to kindled seizures. It is known that GABA maintains the inhibitory tone that counterbalances neuronal excitation. The decreased expression of GAD65 found after the DN lesions indicated that the GABA‐synthesizing enzyme was no longer required once it eliminated the excitatory glutamate input to the RN. We thus conclude that DN lesions and their consequent biochemical changes are capable of decreasing the generalized seizures induced by kindling stimulation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement and Sustainable Management Systems at Abbott Diagnostics Longford
Authors: Kelly Seán
Published: October 2016

To improve the efficiency and quality of its operations, Abbott Diagnostics Longford, a healthcare manufacturing facility in Ireland, used its parent organization's well‐established resources, created a customer‐focused culture of system‐wide empowerment in which employees at all levels would be comfortable with change, applied numerous lean Six Sigma techniques to enhance its processes, and linked its core competencies to the Shingo principles of operational excellence. As a result, the facility dramatically cut costs, lead times, nonconformance rates, inventory, energy costs, and waste while improving output and employee development and morale. In 2015, Longford earned the Shingo Prize for its accomplishments. Management expects to continue to use the site's lean management systems and culture of employee empowerment to continue to drive the behaviors and processes consistent with ensuring world‐class performance.
Effects of different depth of grain colour on antioxidant capacity during water imbibition in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Shin Oon Ha , Kim Dae Yeon , Seo Yong Weon
Published: October 2016

BACKGROUND

The importance of the effect of phytochemical accumulation in wheat grain on grain physiology has been recognised. In this study, we tracked phytochemical concentration in the seed coat of purple wheat during the water‐imbibition phase and also hypothesised that the speed of germination was only relevant to its initial phytochemical concentration.

RESULTS

The results indicate that the speed of germination was significantly reduced in the darker grain groups within the purple wheat. Total phenol content was slightly increased in all groups compared to their initial state, but the levels of other phytochemicals varied among groups. It is revealed that anthocyanin was significantly degraded during the water imbibition stage. Also, the activities of peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, glutathione S‐transferase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase in each grain colour group did not correlated with germination speed. Overall antioxidant activity was reduced as imbibition progressed in each group. Generally, darker grain groups showed higher total antioxidant activities than did lighter grain groups.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that the reduced activity of reactive oxygen species, as controlled by internal antioxidant enzymes and phytochemicals, related with germination speed during the water imbibition stage in grains with greater depth of purple colouring. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Oncologic progress for the treatment of parathyroid carcinoma is needed
Authors: Christakis Ioannis , Silva Angelica M. , Kwatampora Lily Joy , Warneke Carla L. , Clarke Callisia N. , Williams Michelle D. , Grubbs Elizabeth G. , Lee Jeffrey E. , Busaidy Naifa L. , Perrier Nancy D.
Published: October 2016

Background and Objectives

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is rare but potentially lethal. No standardized staging system or treatment guidelines have been established. We aimed to determine whether management of PC and patient outcomes have changed at our institution over the past 35 years.

Methods

Retrospective review of patients with PC at our institution between 1980 and 2015. Patients were grouped by date of initial surgery: group 1, 1980–2001; group 2, 2002–2015.

Results

About 57 patients (26 in group 1; 31 in group 2) were included. Group 2 had more female patients (61%) than group 1 (31%; P = 0.033). Patients in group 2 were older at the time of initial operation (mean age 48 years in group 1 (SD:14.3) and 56 years (SD:14.6) in group 2; P = 0.034). The 5‐year OS rates were 82% (95%CI 59.6%, 93%) for group 1 and 72% (95%CI 45.0%, 87.7%) for group 2. The 5‐year DFS rates were 62% (95%CI 36.4%, 79.9%) for group 1 and 66% (95%CI 40.6%, 82.2%) for group 2.

Conclusion

Management of PC and patient outcomes (OS and DFS) have not significantly changed over the past 35 years at our institution. This rare malignancy needs oncologic improvement. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:708–713. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Solvation processes on phenyl‐bonded stationary phases—The influence of polar functional groups
Authors: Bocian Szymon , Skoczylas Magdalena , Goryńska Izabela , Matyska Maria , Pesek Joseph , Buszewski Bogusław
Published: October 2016

A series of phenyl‐bonded stationary phases with incorporated polar functional groups was subjected to an adsorption investigation. Measurement of acetonitrile and methanol adsorption was obtained using the minor disturbance method. It was observed that adsorption of organic solvent strongly depends on the presence of polar functional groups in the bonded phases that influence the hydrophobicity and polarity of the stationary phase surface. Additionally, relative adsorption of acetonitrile and methanol confirms earlier observations, that the presence of amine and amide groups in the stationary phase changes the relative elution strength of organic solvents. The heterogeneous surface of the stationary phase makes it possible to observe the competitiveness of the water and organic solvent adsorption.
Multiscale modeling of femur fracture
Authors: Fish Jacob , Hu Nan
Published: October 2016

We present two multiscale approaches for fracture analysis of full scale femur. The two approaches are the reduced order homogenization (ROH) previously developed by the first author and his associates and a novel accelerated ROH (AROH). The AROH is based on utilizing ROH calibrated to limited experimental data as a training tool to calibrate a simpler, single‐scale anisotropic damage model. For bone tissue orientation, we take advantage of so‐called Wolff's law, which states that bone tissue orientation is well correlated with principal strain direction in a stance position. The meso‐phase properties are identified by minimizing error between the overall cortical and trabecular bone properties resulting from the quantitative computed tomography (QCT) scans and those predicted by the two‐scale homogenization. The overall elastic and inelastic properties of the cortical and trabecular bone microstructure are derived from bone density that can be estimated from the Hounsfield units, which represent the measured grey levels in the QCT scans. For model validation, we conduct ROH and AROH simulations of full scale finite element model of femur created from the QCT and compare the simulation results with available experimental data. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New developments in the genetics and pathogenesis of tumours in tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Lam Hilaire C , Nijmeh Julie , Henske Elizabeth P
Published: October 2016

In just the past 5 years, dramatic changes have occurred in the clinical management of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Detailed knowledge about the role of the TSC proteins in regulating the activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) underlies this paradigm‐shifting progress. Advances continue to be made in understanding the genetic pathogenesis of the different tumours that occur in TSC, including pivotal discoveries using next‐generation sequencing (NGS). For example, the pathogenesis of angiofibromas is now known to involve UV‐induced mutations, and the pathogenesis of multifocal renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in TSC is now known to result from distinct second‐hit mutations. In parallel, the pathological features of TSC‐associated tumours, including TSC‐associated renal cell carcinoma, continue to be defined, despite the fact that TSC was first described 180 years ago. Here, we review recent discoveries related to the pathological features and genetic pathogenesis of TSC‐associated tumours. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recycling of waste artificial marble powder in HDPE‐wood composites
Authors: Chen Hanjiang , He Hui , Tian Shenghui , Chen Shaobing
Published: October 2016

Waste artificial marble powder (AMP), an industrial waste generated from artificial marble processing, was recycled and incorporated in high‐density polyethylene (HDPE)‐wood composites. The results showed that waste AMP was mainly made up of aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) and unsaturated polyester. Incorporating waste AMP into HDPE‐wood composites could increase the flexural strength and flexural modulus of composites but obviously decrease the notched impact strength. However, with the addition of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE), the mechanical properties of AMP/HDPE‐wood composites increased greatly. With 60 phr (parts per hundreds of resin) waste AMP, the notched impact strength and tensile strength of composites reached to 5.03 kJ/m2 and 28.0 MPa, respectively, increased by 98.1% and 55.6% compared to the composites without MAPE. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs revealed that MAPE improved the interfacial adhesion between fillers and HDPE matrix. In addition, the incorporation of waste AMP increased the heat resistance, limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of composites and decreased the horizontal burning rate. This study provides a new method for resource utilization of waste AMP, which could improve the performances of composites and avoid environmental pollution. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:2347–2355, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Calcium Channel Blocker Use and Risk of Prostate Cancer by TMPRSS2:ERG Gene Fusion Status
Authors: Geybels Milan S. , McCloskey Karen D. , Mills Ian G. , Stanford Janet L.
Published: October 2016

BACKGROUND

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) may affect prostate cancer (PCa) growth by various mechanisms including those related to androgens. The fusion of the androgen‐regulated gene TMPRSS2 and the oncogene ERG (TMPRSS2:ERG or T2E) is common in PCa, and prostate tumors that harbor the gene fusion are believed to represent a distinct disease subtype. We studied the association of CCB use with the risk of PCa, and molecular subtypes of PCa defined by T2E status.

METHODS

Participants were residents of King County, Washington, recruited for population‐based case–control studies (1993–1996 or 2002–2005). Tumor T2E status was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization using tumor tissue specimens from radical prostatectomy. Detailed information on use of CCBs and other variables was obtained through in‐person interviews. Binomial and polytomous logistic regression were used to generate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

The study included 1,747 PCa patients and 1,635 age‐matched controls. A subset of 563 patients treated with radical prostatectomy had T2E status determined, of which 295 were T2E positive (52%). Use of CCBs (ever vs. never) was not associated with overall PCa risk. However, among European‐American men, users had a reduced risk of higher‐grade PCa (Gleason scores ≥7: adjusted OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44–0.95). Further, use of CCBs was associated with a reduced risk of T2E positive PCa (adjusted OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.19–0.78), but was not associated with T2E negative PCa.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found suggestive evidence that use of CCBs is associated with reduced relative risks for higher Gleason score and T2E positive PCa. Future studies of PCa etiology should consider etiologic heterogeneity as PCa subtypes may develop through different causal pathways. Prostate 77:282–290, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structure of a glycoside hydrolase family 50 enzyme from a subfamily that is enriched in human gut microbiome bacteroidetes
Authors: Giles Kaleigh , Pluvinage Benjamin , Boraston Alisdair B.
Published: October 2016

The polysaccharide utilization locus in Bacteroides plebeius that confers the ability to catabolize porphyran contains a putative GH50 β‐agarase (BACPLE_01683, BpGH50). BpGH50 did not show any clear activity on agarose or on the related algal galactans porphyran and carrageenan. However, the 1.4 Å resolution X‐ray crystal structure of BpGH50 confirmed its possession of the core (α/β)8 barrel fold found in GH50 enzymes as well as the structural conservation of the catalytic residues and some substrate binding residues. Examination of the structure supports assignment of this protein as a β‐galactosidase but suggests that it may utilize a different, possibly hybrid, algal galactan substrate. Proteins 2016; 85:182–187. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Perspectives on the agrochemical industry and agrochemical discovery
Authors: Sparks Thomas C , Lorsbach Beth A
Published: October 2016

Agrochemicals have been critical to the production of food and fiber, as well as the control of vectors of disease. The need for the discovery and development of new agrochemicals continues unabated due to the loss of existing products through the development of resistance, the desire for products with more favorable environmental and toxicological profiles, shifting pest spectra, and changing agricultural needs and practices. As presented in the associated analysis of the agrochemical industry, the rising costs and complexities of agrochemical discovery have, in part, led to increasing consolidation, especially in the USA and Europe. However, as demonstrated by the present analysis, the discovery of new agrochemicals continues in spite of the challenges. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Self‐similarity based DDoS attack detection using Hurst parameter
Authors: Deka Rup K. , Bhattacharyya Dhruba K.
Published: October 2016

Distributed denial‐of‐service attack is a serious concern in this era of voluminous Internet world. The challenge is to find difference between distributed denial‐of‐service attack traffic of all types and legitimate traffic at the earliest, as we can see high‐rate attack traffic and low rate attack traffic resembles with bursty legitimate traffic and normal legitimate traffic, respectively. Self‐similarity exists in ethernet traffic. Using Hurst parameter, we have differentiated legitimacy of any traffic irrespective of network traffic protocol. We have validated our method using both benchmark and real‐life datasets, and the results are highly satisfactory. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distributed key generation protocol with a new complaint management strategy
Authors: Neji Wafa , Blibech Kaouther , Ben Rajeb Narjes
Published: October 2016

A distributed key generation (DKG) protocol is a fundamental building block for many threshold cryptosystems. It allows a set of participants to jointly generate a shared secret key without using a trusted party. In 1991, Pedersen proposed the first DKG protocol called Joint‐Feldman DKG. However, it was proved later that this protocol does not guarantee a uniformly random distribution of generated keys. Despite this flaw in the security requirements, Pedersen's DKG protocol has been used for several years as central component to design threshold cryptosystems. Note that most of the solutions proposed in the literature to improve the Pedersen's DKG protocol have several disadvantages. They use private channels, require participants to reveal their secret shares to solve complaints, and use costly computations. This makes them complex and not easy to use in practical situations. In this paper, we present at first an extended version of Joint‐Feldman DKG that ensures a uniform distribution of the generated keys. Then we present a DKG protocol with public channels that use a new strategy to manage complaints without revealing the shares of the secrets held by honest participants and that clearly identifies dishonest participants. We prove that our solution satisfies the security requirements of DKG protocols. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.