bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Interfacial Adhesion Interaction of Borate Ester Bonding Agents Used for HTPB Propellants
Authors: Zhang Xi‐Long , Liu Miao‐E , Liu Wen‐Zhao , Deng Jian‐Ru
Published: March 2016

The external monomers N‐methyl‐N,N‐diethanolamine, N‐butyl‐N,N‐diethanolamine, N‐(2‐cyanoethyl) diethanolamine, and N,N‐dihydroxyl‐3‐aminmethyl propionate were synthesized by modification of diethanolamine to evaluate the effects of external monomer molecular structure on the interfacial interactions of borate ester bonding agent (BEBA) applied in four‐component hydroxy‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) propellants. The compounds were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy. A series of BEBAs were synthesized using the as‐synthesized external monomers as well as diethanolamine. The interfacial interactions are evaluated using thermodynamic methods including acid‐base interaction enthalpy and wetting theory among the components in HTPB propellants. The experimental results indicate that the addition of BEBA‐3 prepared from N‐(2‐cyanoethyl) diethanolamine can significantly improve the interaction ethalpies and surface properties of the components in HTPB propellants. The results from the mechanical properties testing and SEM observations are in accordance with the results from the thermodynamic analysis of the interfacial adhesion interactions.
High‐throughput collagen fingerprinting of intact microfaunal remains; a low‐cost method for distinguishing between murine rodent bones
Authors: Buckley Mike , Gu Muxin , Shameer Sanu , Patel Soyab , Chamberlain Andrew T.
Published: March 2016

Rationale

Microfaunal skeletal remains can be sensitive indicators of the contemporary ecosystem in which they are sampled and are often recovered in owl pellets in large numbers. Species identification of these remains can be obtained using a range of morphological criteria established for particular skeletal elements, but typically dominated by a reliance on cranial characters. However, this can induce biases under different environmental and taphonomic conditions. The aim of this research was to develop a high‐throughput method of objectively identifying rodent remains from archaeological deposits using collagen fingerprinting, most notably the identification of rats from other myomorph rodents as a means to identify disturbances in the archaeofauna through the presence of invasive taxa not contemporary with the archaeological deposits.

Methods

Collagen was extracted from complete microfaunal skeletal remains in such a manner as to leave the bones morphologically intact (i.e., weaker concentration of acid than previously used over shorter length of time). Acid‐soluble collagen was then ultrafiltered into ammonium bicarbonate and digested with trypsin prior to dilution in the MALDI matrix and acquisition of peptide mass fingerprints using a matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometer.

Results

Collagen fingerprinting was able to distinguish between Rattus, Mus, Apodemus and Micromys at the genus level; at the species level, R. rattus and R. norvegicus could be separated whereas A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus could not. A total of 12,317 archaeological microvertebrate samples were screened for myomorph signatures but none were found to be invasive rats (Rattus) or mice (Mus). Of the contemporary murine fauna, no harvest mice (Micromys) were identified and only 24 field mouse (Apodemus) discovered.

Conclusions

As a result, no evidence of recent bioturbation could be inferred from the faunal remains of these archaeological deposits. More importantly this work presents a method for high‐throughput screening of specific taxa and is the first application of collagen fingerprinting to microfaunal remains of archaeological specimens. © 2016 The Authors. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Quantification of ecosystem C dynamics in a long‐term FACE study on permanent grassland
Authors: Lenhart Katharina , Kammann Claudia , Boeckx Pascal , Six Johan , Müller Christoph
Published: March 2016

Rationale

Because of the wide‐ranging appearance and high soil organic carbon (C) content of grasslands, their ecosystems play an important role in the global C cycle. Thus, even small changes in input or output rates lead to significant changes in the soil C content, thereby affecting atmospheric [CO2]. Our aim was to examine if a higher C supply provided under elevated CO2 will increase the soil C pool. Special attention was given to respirational processes, where CO2 emission rates and its sources (plant vs. soil) were considered.

Methods

The Giessen‐FACE experiment started in 1998 with a moderate CO2 enrichment of +20% and +30% above ambient on an extensively managed grassland. The experiment consists of three control plots where no CO2 is applied, three plots where [CO2] is enriched by +20% and one plot receiving [CO2] +30%. To exclude initial CO2 step increase effects, a detailed examination of respirational processes over 30 months was carried out after 6 years of CO2 enrichment starting in June 2004. At that time, the δ13C signature of the enrichment‐CO2 was switched from −25 ‰ to −48 ‰ without a concomitant change in CO2 concentration.

Results

After 9 years, the fraction of new C under [CO2] +20% was 37 ± 5.4% in the top 7.5 cm but this decreased with depth. No CO2 effect on soil carbon content was detected. Between June 2004 and December 2006, elevated [CO2] +20% increased the ecosystem respiration by 13%. The contribution of root respiration to soil respiration was 37 ± 13% (5 cm) and 43 ± 14% (10 cm) for [CO2] +20% and 35 ± 13% and 40 ± 13% for [CO2] +30%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our findings of an increased C turnover without a net soil C sequestration suggest that the sink strength of grassland ecosystems might decrease in the future, because the additional C may quickly be released as CO2 to the atmosphere. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of a neutral loss from precursor ions with nearly Gaussian‐shaped isotopic patterns via inverted isotopic patterns of product ions
Authors: Warneke J. , Dülcks T. , Kemken D. , Finze M.
Published: March 2016

Rationale

Direct atomic composition determination of ions with very broad Gaussian‐shaped isotopic patterns is challenging because no monoisotopic peak is available for high accurate mass determination and no characteristic shapes in isotopic patterns are visible.

Methods

Isolation and fragmentation of the ions corresponding to one peak (one nominal mass) in the center of the broad Gaussian‐shaped isotopic pattern lead to a mass spectrum with the product ion signal showing the inverted full isotopic profile of the neutral fragment.

Results

We have introduced a convenient method for the fast and straightforward identification of a neutral loss for molecular ions with broad isotopic patterns. The theoretical considerations underlying this method are explained and its practical limitations are considered. The benefits of this method are exemplified by guiding a reader through the analysis of a complex mixture of bridged carborate clusters, compounds with very broad isotopic patterns.

Conclusions

The presented method can be efficiently used for the determination of atomic compositions of compounds with broad isotopic patterns by their fragmentation using mass spectrometry. This method should significantly facilitate the mass spectrometric analysis of compounds containing several atoms with broad isotopic distributions, such as Ge, Sn, Mo, Ru and Hg, and, thus, can considerably broaden the use of mass spectrometry as an analytical method in inorganic and organometallic chemistry. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self‐destructive percolation as a limit of forest‐fire models on regular rooted trees
Authors: Graf Robert
Published: March 2016

Let T be a regular rooted tree. For every natural number n, let Tn be the finite subtree of vertices with graph distance at most n from the root. Consider the following forest‐fire model on Tn: Each vertex can be “vacant” or “occupied”. At time 0 all vertices are vacant. Then the process is governed by two opposing mechanisms: Vertices become occupied at rate 1, independently for all vertices. Independently thereof and independently for all vertices, “lightning” hits vertices at rate λ(n) > 0. When a vertex is hit by lightning, its occupied cluster becomes vacant instantaneously. Now suppose that λ(n) decays exponentially in n but much more slowly than 1/|Tn|, where |Tn| denotes the number of vertices of Tn. We show that then there exist such that between time 0 and time the forest‐fire model on Tn tends to the following process on T as n goes to infinity: At time 0 all vertices are vacant. Between time 0 and time τ vertices become occupied at rate 1, independently for all vertices. Immediately before time τ there are infinitely many infinite occupied clusters. At time τ all these clusters become vacant. Between time τ and time vertices again become occupied at rate 1, independently for all vertices. At time all occupied clusters are finite. This process is a dynamic version of self‐destructive percolation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 50, 86–113, 2017
A Rapid One‐Pot Five Component Sequential Access to Novel Imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazinyl‐α‐aminophosphonates
Authors: Kaur Tanpreet , Saha Debasmita , Singh Neetu , Singh Udai P. , Sharma Anuj
Published: March 2016

A facile and rapid entry towards assembly of novel imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3]thiazinyl‐α‐aminophosphonate scaffolds through a one‐pot, sequential reaction of 2‐amino‐4H‐1,3‐thiazine‐3‐one, dialdehydes, isocyanides, aromatic amines and dialkyl/aryl phosphites is demonstrated. Successive sequencing of Groebke‐Blackburn‐Bienaymé (GBB) reaction with Kabachnik Field's reaction results in the efficient formation of novel bis‐heterocyclic frameworks. The highlights of the present protocol include survival of the aldehydic group post GBB without any protection. Additionally, simplicity of execution excluding both solvent and catalyst, cheap reagents, excellent functional group tolerance under minutes of microwave irradiation justify it to be a green protocol.
Visible Light‐Driven Hydrogen Evolution from Aqueous Solution in a Noble‐Metal‐Free System Catalyzed by a Cobalt Phthalocyanine
Authors: Luo Geng‐Geng , Li Xiao‐Cong , Wang Jiang‐Hai
Published: March 2016

Solar‐driven hydrogen evolution from water has emerged as an important methodology for the storage of renewable energy in chemical bonds. Efficient photochemical splitting of water requires the highly active and low‐cost hydrogen‐evolving catalysts, which remains a significant challenge. After screening a series of metallophthalocyanines (MPcs), the macrocyclic cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) is found to be an active catalyst for visible light‐driven H2 production under basic conditions (pH=12.0) in water/ethanol mixed solvent when employed with xanthene dyes as the photosensitizers (PSs) and triethylamine (TEA) as the sacrificial electron donor. The noble‐metal‐free system gives the highest TON of 2650 with respect to the catalyst, corresponding to a TOF of ca. 810 h−1. By means of UV/vis and fluorescent spectroscopy as well as computational studies and electrochemistry, a possible catalytic mechanism of the hydrogen‐generating reaction involving organo hydrides not cobalt hydrides was proposed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of utilizing a cobalt phthalocyanine as molecular catalyst for the photogeneration of hydrogen from water.
Sustainability in highrise building design and construction
Authors: Rafiei Mohammad Hossein , Adeli Hojjat
Published: March 2016

This paper presents a review of the recent literature on sustainability in construction and design with a focus on highrise buildings. The paper is divided into the following main sections: energy consumption, environmental effects and green practices for highrise buildings. A number of concepts in sustainable design are reviewed including passive solar design, renewable energy resources, cogeneration and tri‐generations, embodied energy reduction, net zero energy building, carbon emission reduction, envelope environment quality, green materials, efficient mechanical design and innovative structural systems. Their applications in a dozen signature and iconic structures are described. In order to achieve net zero energy in a new highrise building, first, multiple green solutions need to be evaluated using two categorical solutions: passive solar and envelop environment design and renewable energy resources along with efficient energy generators. Next, a robust optimization algorithm should be used to select the optimum set of solutions. This is worth pursuing in future sustainable design of highrise buildings because they are massive and complex structures with many components. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Goldfish morphology as a model for evolutionary developmental biology
Authors: Ota Kinya G. , Abe Gembu
Published: March 2016

Morphological variation of the goldfish is known to have been established by artificial selection for ornamental purposes during the domestication process. Chinese texts that date to the Song dynasty contain descriptions of goldfish breeding for ornamental purposes, indicating that the practice originated over one thousand years ago. Such a well‐documented goldfish breeding process, combined with the phylogenetic and embryological proximities of this species with zebrafish, would appear to make the morphologically diverse goldfish strains suitable models for evolutionary developmental (evodevo) studies. However, few modern evodevo studies of goldfish have been conducted. In this review, we provide an overview of the historical background of goldfish breeding, and the differences between this teleost and zebrafish from an evolutionary perspective. We also summarize recent progress in the field of molecular developmental genetics, with a particular focus on the twin‐tail goldfish morphology. Furthermore, we discuss unanswered questions relating to the evolution of the genome, developmental robustness, and morphologies in the goldfish lineage, with the goal of blazing a path toward an evodevo study paradigm using this teleost species as a new model species.WIREs Dev Biol2016, 5:272–295. doi: 10.1002/wdev.224

This article is categorized under:

Early Embryonic Development > Development to the Basic Body Plan

Comparative Development and Evolution > Model Systems

Comparative Development and Evolution > Evolutionary Novelties
Advanced analytical techniques for bio‐oil characterization
Authors: Michailof Chrysoula M. , Kalogiannis Konstantinos G. , Sfetsas Themistoklis , Patiaka Despoina T. , Lappas Angelos A.
Published: March 2016

Bio‐oil (pyrolysis oil) is the liquid product of biomass thermochemical conversion. It is a dark, viscous liquid that contains the depolymerization products of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. The physicochemical properties of bio‐oils are determined by employing the conventional methods for fuels analysis with proper adaptations. However, the detailed composition of bio‐oils in terms of analytes as well as their concentration remains ambiguous and is a challenging task for analytical chemistry. The compounds in the bio‐oil range from nonpolar (e.g., hydrocarbons) to highly polar (e.g., phenolics) and from volatile (e.g., organic acids) to nonvolatile (e.g., sugar derivatives), covering a molecular weight (MW) range of about 50–2000 Da. Hence a combination of analytical techniques such as high pressure liquid chromatography, gas chromatography (GC), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) are required to determine the bio‐oil's composition. Despite the significant breakthroughs of these techniques, they face limitations regarding the sample pretreatment, the incomplete separation and determination of components, and the need of multiple analyses with each method for more complete results. The development of sophisticated, comprehensive, and hyphenated chromatographic and spectrometric techniques such as GC × GC, LC × LC, high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and 2D‐NMR has brought actual advancement in the field of bio‐oil analysis. GC × GC and LC × LC have allowed the development of qualitative and quantitative methods for the individual determination of lower MW compounds. However, HRMS and 2D‐NMR have facilitated the elucidation of the structure of the higher MW components, offering insight in the effect of pyrolysis conditions on biomass depolymerization and the possibilities for further upgrading of bio‐oils. WIREs Energy Environ 2016, 5:614–639. doi: 10.1002/wene.208

This article is categorized under:

Bioenergy > Science and Materials

Bioenergy > Climate and Environment

Energy and Climate > Climate and Environment
Importance of photo atomic cross section for studying physical properties of different types of soil
Authors: Medhat M. E. , Pires L. F.
Published: March 2016

The objective of this work is focused on development of a classification tool for identifying soil texture based on photon attenuation interaction atomic cross‐section data. The total mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) and the atomic cross sections (σa) of soils with different textures have been calculated for total photon interactions in a wide energy range (1 keV to 100 GeV). The values of these parameters have been found to change with soil composition in low energies (1–100 keV), whereas their behavior has been found to be similar at all energies. Slight differences were observed in σa in the energy range of 0.01 to 10 MeV and more pronounced ones from 10 MeV to 100 GeV. Regarding μ/ρ, only small differences were observed among soils for all the energy range investigated. Differences between μ/ρ and σa considering different proportions of Fe2O3 and SiO2 were also observed. The reported data should be useful for studying soil texture according photo attenuation. The results of this work can stimulate research for all types of soil texture. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prognostic Value of the Number of Retrieved Lymph Nodes in Pathological Nx or N0 Classical Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Sung Tae‐Yon , Yoon Jong Ho , Song Dong Eun , Lee Yu‐mi , Kim Tae‐Yong , Chung Ki‐Wook , Kim Won Bae , Shong Young Kee , Hong Suck Joon
Published: March 2016

Background

This study evaluated the clinical implications of the number of retrieved central lymph nodes (LN) for the recurrence and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) outcomes in patients with pathological Nx (pNx) or N0 classical papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods

In total, 464 patients were enrolled following total thyroidectomy with central LN dissection. The risk factors related to recurrence and RFS were evaluated and compared between these groups.

Results

Age, primary tumor size, and number of retrieved central LNs were independent risk factors for recurrence according to multivariate analysis (p < 0.05). The cut‐off value for the number of retrieved central LNs related to recurrence was 4.5. Group 2 (pN0; ≥5 nodes) demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of patients with an ablation‐stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) level <2.0 ng/mL (84.9 vs 61.1 %; p < 0.050) and control sTg level <1.0 ng/mL (92.1 vs 79.6 %; p < 0.050) in comparison with patients in group 1 (pNx or pN0; 1–4 nodes). Perioperative complication rates were comparable between groups.

Conclusion

The number of retrieved central LNs is an independent risk factor for recurrence, even among patients with pNx or pN0 classical PTC. A thorough central LN dissection may therefore improve the long‐term RFS rate.
The C‐reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio Predicts Long‐Term Outcomes in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer After Pancreatic Resection
Authors: Haruki Koichiro , Shiba Hiroaki , Shirai Yoshihiro , Horiuchi Takashi , Iwase Ryota , Fujiwara Yuki , Furukawa Kenei , Misawa Takeyuki , Yanaga Katsuhiko
Published: March 2016

Background

The C‐reactive protein to albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio, a novel inflammation‐based prognostic score, is associated with outcomes in septic patients. The prognostic value of CRP/Alb ratio has not been established in cancer patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of CRP/Alb ratio in therapeutic outcome after pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer.

Methods

The study comprised 113 patients who had undergone pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer between April 2001 and December 2011. We retrospectively investigated the relation between CRP/Alb ratio and disease‐free as well as overall survival.

Results

The optimal cut‐off level of the CRP/Alb ratio was 0.03. For disease‐free survival, preoperative biliary drainage (p = 0.011), advanced tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) classification (p = 0.002), and higher CRP/Alb ratio (p = 0.049) by univariate analysis, and advanced TNM classification (p = 0.003) by multivariate analysis, were independent and significant predictors of cancer recurrence. For overall survival, preoperative biliary drainage (p = 0.012), advanced TNM classification (p = 0.001), and higher CRP/Alb ratio (p = 0.023) by univariate analysis, and advanced TNM classification (p = 0.003) and higher CRP/Alb ratio (p = 0.035) by multivariate analysis, were independent and significant predictors of poor patient outcome.

Conclusions

The CRP/Alb ratio may be an independent and significant indicator of poor long‐term outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer after pancreatic resection.
Lectura crítica de investigación en educación médica
Authors: Cobos Aguilar Héctor
Published: March 2016

Introducción: La lectura crítica de informes de investigación médica es el sustento de la medicina basada en evidencias. Para facilitar el abordaje de los numerosos artículos publicados se han utilizado diversas guías para cada diseño que han llevado a la conformación de CONSORT, STROBE, QUÓRUM y PRISMA.
La investigación en educación médica se encuentra poco desarrollada y aunque existen diversas guías para el abordaje de los artículos publicados, su uso no se encuentra generalizado limitando así su valoración con rigor metodológico.
Se revisan brevemente los diseños de investigación educativa médica más frecuentemente abordados en nuestro medio: validación de instrumentos, intervenciones educativas y encuestas.
En cada diseño se refieren las características más relevantes que se analizan: la postura del autor, el uso de instrumentos válidos y confiables y su proceso de validación, la variable dependiente, las estrategias educativas, los estadísticos no paramétricos utilizados, los resultados y la discusión.
Se presentan sucintamente tres guías relacionadas con los diseños previamente referidos, resaltando los aspectos metodológicos referidos antes.
 
Comentarios: Una formación docente en los aspectos teóricos en investigación educativa es insustituible para la crítica de informes de investigación en educación médica. Sin embargo, las guías pueden apoyar inicialmente el análisis crítico de los artículos publicados.
THE RAINFALL INDEX ANNUAL FORAGE PILOT PROGRAM AS A RISK MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR COOL-SEASON FORAGE
Authors: MAPLES JOSHUA G. , BRORSEN B. WADE , BIERMACHER JON T.
Published: March 2016

The recently implemented Rainfall Index Annual Forage pilot program aims to provide risk coverage for annual forage producers in select states through the use of area rainfall indices as a proxy for yield. This article utilizes unique data from a long-term study of annual ryegrass production with rainfall recorded at the site to determine whether the use of rainfall indices provides adequate coverage for annual forage growers. The rainfall index is highly correlated with actual rainfall. However, it does not provide much yield loss risk protection for our cool-season forage data.
Beyond Black and White: Biracial Attitudes in Contemporary U.S. Politics
Authors: DAVENPORT LAUREN D.
Published: March 2016

The 2000 U.S. census was the first in which respondents were permitted to self-identify with more than one race. A decade later, multiple-race identifiers have become one of the fastest-growing groups in the nation. Such broadening multiracial identification poses important political ramifications and raises questions about the future of minority group political solidarity. Yet we know little about the opinions of multiple-race identifiers and from where those opinions emerge. Bridging literatures in racial politics and political socialization, and drawing upon a multimethod approach, this article provides insight into the consequences of the U.S.’s increasingly blurred racial boundaries by examining the attitudes of Americans of White-Black parentage, a population whose identification was traditionally constrained by the one-drop rule. Findings show that on racial issues such as discrimination and affirmative action, biracials who identify as both White and Black generally hold views akin to Blacks. But on nonracial political issues including abortion and gender/marriage equality, biracials who identify as White-Black or as Black express more liberal views than their peers of monoracial parentage. Being biracial and labeling oneself a racial minority is thus associated with a more progressive outlook on matters that affect socially marginalized groups. Two explanations are examined for these findings: the transmission of political outlook from parents to children, and biracials’ experiences straddling a long-standing racial divide.
Experimentation and Persuasion in Political Organizations
Authors: HIRSCH ALEXANDER V.
Published: March 2016

Different beliefs about how to achieve shared goals are common in political organizations such as government agencies, campaigns, and NGOs. However, the consequences of such conflicts have not yet been explored. We develop a formal model in which a principal and an agent disagree about the right policy for achieving their shared goals. Disagreement creates a motivational problem, but we show how both observing policy outcomes and experimenting with policies can ameliorate it. We also show that the principal often defers to the agent in order to motivate him, thereby generating more informative policy outcomes and building future consensus. Most surprisingly, she sometimes allows the agent to implement his desired policy even when she is sure it is wrong, to persuade him through failure that he is mistaken. Using the model, we generate empirical implications about performance measurement and Presidential appointments in U.S. federal agencies.
Predominantly night-time feeding and maternal glycaemic levels during pregnancy
Authors: Loy See Ling , Cheng Tuck Seng , Colega Marjorelee T. , Cheung Yin Bun , Godfrey Keith M. , Gluckman Peter D. , Kwek Kenneth , Saw Seang Mei , Chong Yap-Seng , Padmapriya Natarajan , Müller-Riemenschneider Falk , Lek Ngee , Yap Fabian , Chong Mary Foong-Fong , Chan Jerry Kok Yen
Published: March 2016

Little is known about the influence of meal timing and energy consumption patterns throughout the day on glucose regulation during pregnancy. We examined the association of maternal feeding patterns with glycaemic levels among lean and overweight pregnant women. In a prospective cohort study in Singapore, maternal 24-h dietary recalls, fasting glucose (FG) and 2-h postprandial glucose (2HPPG) concentrations were measured at 26–28 weeks of gestation. Women (n 985) were classified into lean (BMI<23 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI≥23 kg/m2) groups. They were further categorised as predominantly daytime (pDT) or predominantly night-time (pNT) feeders according to consumption of greater proportion of energy content from 07.00 to 18.59 hours or from 19.00 to 06.59 hours, respectively. On stratification by weight status, lean pNT feeders were found to have higher FG than lean pDT feeders (4·36 (sd 0·38) v. 4·22 (sd 0·35) mmol/l; P=0·002); however, such differences were not observed between overweight pDT and pNT feeders (4·49 (sd 0·60) v. 4·46 (sd 0·45) mmol/l; P=0·717). Using multiple linear regression with confounder adjustment, pNT feeding was associated with higher FG in the lean group (β=0·16 mmol/l; 95 % CI 0·05, 0·26; P=0·003) but not in the overweight group (β=0·02 mmol/l; 95 % CI −0·17, 0·20; P=0·879). No significant association was found between maternal feeding pattern and 2HPPG in both the lean and the overweight groups. In conclusion, pNT feeding was associated with higher FG concentration in lean but not in overweight pregnant women, suggesting that there may be an adiposity-dependent effect of maternal feeding patterns on glucose tolerance during pregnancy.
Abnormal white matter integrity as a structural endophenotype for bipolar disorder
Authors: Sarıçiçek A. , Zorlu N. , Yalın N. , Hıdıroğlu C. , Çavuşoğlu B. , Ceylan D. , Ada E. , Tunca Z. , Özerdem A.
Published: March 2016

Background

Several lines of evidence suggest that bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with white matter (WM) pathology. Investigation of unaffected first-degree relatives of BD patients may help to distinguish structural biomarkers of genetic risk without the confounding effects of burden of illness, medication or clinical state. In the present study, we applied tract-based spatial statistics to study WM changes in patients with BD, unaffected siblings and controls.

Method

A total of 27 euthymic patients with BD type I, 20 unaffected siblings of bipolar patients and 29 healthy controls who did not have any current or past diagnosis of Axis I psychiatric disorders were enrolled in the study.

Results

Fractional anisotropy (FA) was significantly lower in BD patients than in the control group in the corpus callosum, fornix, bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, anterior thalamic radiation, posterior thalamic radiation, cingulum, uncinate fasciculus, superior corona radiata, anterior corona radiata and left external capsule. In region-of-interest (ROI) analyses, we found that both unaffected siblings and bipolar patients had significantly reduced FA in the left posterior thalamic radiation, the left sagittal stratum, and the fornix compared with healthy controls. Average FA for unaffected siblings was intermediate between the healthy controls and bipolar patients within these ROIs.

Conclusions

Decreased FA in the fornix, left posterior thalamic radiation and left sagittal stratum in both bipolar patients and unaffected siblings may represent a potential structural endophenotype or a trait-based marker for BD.
Khargāh: an inquiry into the spread of the “Turkish” trellis tent within the ʿAbbāsid world up to the Saljūq conquest (mid second/eighth–early fifth/eleventh centuries)
Authors: Durand-Guédy David
Published: March 2016

The Persian term khargāh is first attested at the beginning of the fourth/tenth century. It has often been translated as “hut” or “pavilion”, but a comprehensive overview of the historical, geographical and poetic sources points to a more precise definition. Three main conclusions can be established. First, from the beginning the term exclusively referred to the trellis tent (commonly known as yurt) first identified in a Turkic milieu in Inner Asia. Second, khargāh entered the Arabic and Persian languages through the Sāmānid court and quickly replaced the Arabic expression al-qubba al-turkiyya which was previously used to refer to this kind of tent. Third, the presence of the trellis tent in Muslim courts predates the arrival of the nomadic Saljuqs in the fifth/eleventh century. The trellis tent, associated with the cloth enclosure (or sarāparda), was already a status symbol under the Sāmānids and Būyids in the fourth/tenth century. Thus this study, which lies at the crossroads of lexicography and the history of technology, provides new elements towards a better understanding of Central Asian cultural influence on the wider ‘Abbāsid world.
Memes and the evolution of religion: We need memetics, too
Authors: Blackmore Susan
Published: March 2016

In their analysis, Norenzayan et al. completely ignore memetics, which, unlike other theories, treats memes as replicators and looks to memetic as well as genetic advantage. Now that memes are evolving ever faster, genetic advantage is less relevant. So when religious and secular values are at odds, we need a memetic analysis to understand what is going on.
Why would anyone want to believe in Big Gods?
Authors: Brazil Inti A. , Farias Miguel
Published: March 2016

We suggest an alternative explanation for the emergence of Big Gods that places less emphasis on the role of cognitive tendencies and selection of prosocial cultural variants. Instead, we argue that the fundamental motivation to reduce uncertainty and increase long-term predictability provides a better account for the rise of Big moralizing Gods in a complex and heavily regulated social environment.
Coerced coordination, not cooperation
Authors: Soler Montserrat , Lenfesty Hillary L.
Published: March 2016

Norenzayan et al. propose that Big God (BG) religions are large-group cooperative enterprises that promote internal harmony and higher fertility, resulting in “mutually beneficial exchanges” for those involved. We examine the possible distributions of costs and benefits within BG religions and propose that they are, instead, successful coordinating mechanisms that rely on intragroup competition and exploitation between the classes and sexes.
Credibility, credulity, and redistribution
Authors: Viciana Hugo A. , Loverdo Claude , Gomila Antoni
Published: March 2016

After raising some doubts for cultural group selection as an explanation of prosocial religiosity, we propose an alternative that views it as a “greenbeard effect.” We combine the dynamic constraints on the evolution of greenbeard effects with Iannaccone's (1994) account of strict sects. Our model shows that certain social conditions may foster credulity and prosociality.
Vocabulary development in Norwegian L1 and L2 learners in the kindergarten–school transition
Authors: KARLSEN JANNICKE , LYSTER SOLVEIG-ALMA HALAAS , LERVÅG ARNE
Published: March 2016

This study examined the vocabulary development of Norwegian second language (L2) learners with Urdu/Punjabi as their first language (L1) at two time-points from kindergarten to primary school, and compared it to the vocabulary development of monolingual Norwegian children. Using path models, the associations between number of picture books in the home, maternal education, and previous L1 and L2 vocabulary on the development of L2 vocabulary breadth and depth were investigated. The results indicate that despite the weaker vocabulary skills of the L2 sample, the growth trajectories of the L2 learners and the monolingual comparison group did not differ. For the L2 learners, we identified both concurrent and longitudinal predictors of vocabulary: the number of books in the home and the time of introduction of the L2 predicted concurrent vocabulary. L1 vocabulary, number of books in the home, and the time of introduction of the L2 predicted vocabulary growth.
Antisocial peer affiliation and externalizing disorders: Evidence for Gene × Environment × Development interaction
Authors: Samek Diana R. , Hicks Brian M. , Keyes Margaret A. , Iacono William G. , McGue Matt
Published: March 2016

Gene × Environment interaction contributes to externalizing disorders in childhood and adolescence, but little is known about whether such effects are long lasting or present in adulthood. We examined gene–environment interplay in the concurrent and prospective associations between antisocial peer affiliation and externalizing disorders (antisocial behavior and substance use disorders) at ages 17, 20, 24, and 29. The sample included 1,382 same-sex twin pairs participating in the Minnesota Twin Family Study. We detected a Gene × Environment interaction at age 17, such that additive genetic influences on antisocial behavior and substance use disorders were greater in the context of greater antisocial peer affiliation. This Gene × Environment interaction was not present for antisocial behavior symptoms after age 17, but it was for substance use disorder symptoms through age 29 (though effect sizes were largest at age 17). The results suggest adolescence is a critical period for the development of externalizing disorders wherein exposure to greater environmental adversity is associated with a greater expression of genetic risk. This form of Gene × Environment interaction may persist through young adulthood for substance use disorders, but it appears to be limited to adolescence for antisocial behavior.
Swift monitoring and Suzaku spectroscopy of the γ-ray detected narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy 1H 0323+342
Authors: Yao S. , Yuan W. , Komossa S. , Grupe D. , Fuhrmann L. , Liu B.
Published: March 2016

1H 0323+342 is one of the rare γ-ray detected narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s), a special subset of active galactic nuclei (AGN) owing to their hybrid behavior of both NLS1s and blazars. The rarity of such kind of sources makes their properties far from being understood. We analyze simultaneous X-ray and UV/optical monitoring observations of 1H 0323+342 performed by Swift over ~7 years. The UV/X-ray correlation and the broad band SED reveal that the X-ray band is dominated by the disk/corona emission during the observations. The large normalized excess variance of the X-ray variability detected with Suzaku suggests a relatively small black hole mass of the order of 107M⊙, consistent with the estimation based on the broad Hβ line in the optical band.
May PKS 1155+251 be the habitat of a binary black hole?
Authors: Yang Xiaolong , Liu Xiang
Published: March 2016

Close binary black holes (BBH) are important not only in astrophysics but they would be the strongest gravitational wave sources in the universe. Galaxy-galaxy merging systems are mostly found in optical and X-ray images. In radio, however, the VLBI can resolve the close binary system at pc scale, if their nuclei are radio loud. Recently we analyzed the archive VLBI data of PKS 1155+251, it shows twin core-jets like VLBI structure. In this poster, we present preliminary result from analyzing of the archive data. Further investigations with high frequency VLBI observations are required to confirm if it is a true BBH system.
Resonant motions of supermassive black hole triples
Authors: Hao Wei , Spurzem Rainer , Naab Thorsten , Wang Long , Kouwenhoven M. B. N. , Amaro-Seoane Pau , Mardling Rosemary A.
Published: March 2016

Triple supermassive black holes (SMBH) can form during the hierarchical mergers of massive galaxies with an existing binary. Perturbations by a third black hole may accelerate the merging process of an inner binary, for example through the Kozai mechanism. We analyze the evolution of simulated hierarchical triple SMBHs in galactic centers, and find resonances in the evolution of the semi-major axis, the eccentricity and the inclination, for both the inner and the outer orbits of the triple system, which are not only Kozai like. Through resonant oscillations, SMBH can trigger a significant increase of the inner SMBH binary eccentricity shortening the merger timescale expected from gravitational wave (GW) emission. As hierarchical triple SMBHs may be frequent in massive galaxies, the influence of orbital resonances is of great importance to our understanding of black hole coalescence and gravitational wave detection. Although Kozai mechanism is believed to play an important role in this process, detailed studies on the pattern of these resonances is necessary.
Formation and evolution of nuclear star clusters
Authors: Mastrobuono-Battisti Alessandra , Perets Hagai B.
Published: March 2016

Nuclear stellar clusters (NSCs) are dense stellar systems known to exist at the center of most of the galaxies. Some of them host a central massive black hole (MBH). They are though to form through in-situ star formation following the infall of gas to the galactic center and/or because of the infall and merger of several stellar clusters. Here we explore the latter scenario by means of detailed self-consistent N-body simulations, proving that a NSC built by the infall and following merger of stellar clusters shows many of the observed features of the Milky Way NSC. We also explore the possibility that the infalling clusters host intermediate mass black holes (IMBHs). Once decayed to the center, the IMBHs act as massive-perturbers accelerating the relaxation of the NSC, filling the loss-cone and boosting the tidal disruption rate of stars up to a value larger than the observational estimates, therefore providing a cumulative constraint on the existence of IMBHs in NSCs. Studying how the properties of the infalling clusters map to the properties of the resulting NSC, we find that, in the IMBHs-free case, the infall mechanism is able to produce many different observational signatures in the form of age segregation.
The grey extinction curve in NGC 3603
Authors: Pang Xiaoying , Pasquali Anna , Grebel Eva K.
Published: March 2016

We use photometry in the F220W, F250W, F330W, F435W filters from the High Resolution Channel of the Advanced Camera for Surveys and photometry in the F555W, F675W, and F814W filters from the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 aboard the Hubble Space Telescope to derive individual stellar reddenings and extinctions for member stars in the HD 97950 cluster in the giant H ii region NGC 3603. Within the standard deviation associated with E(λ−F555W)/E(F435W−F555W) in each filter, the cluster extinction curve at ultraviolet wavelengths tends to be greyer than the average Galactic extinction laws from Cardelli et al. (1989) and Fitzpatrick et al. (1999). It is closer to the extinction law derived by Calzetti et al. (2000) for starburst galaxies, where the 0.2175 μm bump is absent.
Unterschiede im verbalen Lernen und Gedächtnis zwischen (teil–)remittierten Patienten mit depressiver Episode und Schizophrenie
Authors: Listunova Lena , Bartolovic Marina , Weisbrod Matthias , Roesch-Ely Daniela
Published: March 2016

Zusammenfassung. Die Studie untersuchte den Unterschied zwischen (teil–)remittierten Patienten mit einer nicht psychotischen depressiven Episode (N = 65) oder Schizophrenie (N = 76) in ihrer Leistung beim Lernen und Gedächtnis von kontextabhängigen (gemessen mittels des Untertests „Logisches Gedächtnis“ aus dem WMS-R) versus kontextunabhängigen (gemessen mittels VLMT) Wortmaterial. Schizophrenie-Patienten zeigten eine signifikant schlechtere Leistung als depressive Patienten im Abruf von kontextabhängigem Wortmaterial sowie beim kontextunabhängigen Wortmaterial in den meisten Gedächtnisparametern, ausgenommen die unmittelbare Merkspanne (Supraspanne). Explorative Analysen der Prozentränge und T-Werte deuteten außerdem darauf hin, dass die Supraspanne auch im Vergleich zur gesunden Bevölkerung in beiden Patientengruppen nicht beeinträchtigt zu sein scheint. Darüber hinaus zeigen Patienten mit einer depressiven Episode beim verzögerten Abruf (VLMT und WMS-R) Defizite. Die praktischen Implikationen werden näher diskutiert.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) und Gehirnerschütterungen im Sport
Authors: Koch Joachim
Published: March 2016

Zusammenfassung. Gehirnerschütterungen stellen einen bedeutenden Gesundheitsfaktor dar. Ein sehr häufiger Grund von mTBI sind Kollisionen und Stürze mit dem Motorrad ( Cassidy et al., 2004 ). Wenn Helme getragen werden, können bis zu 50 Prozent der mTBI Verletzungen verhindert werden. Die Benutzung eines Helms hat auch eine sehr positive Auswirkung auf den Verlauf von Unfällen mit dem Fahrrad. In dieser zusammenfassenden Arbeit ging es um MTBI hauptsächlich im Sportbereich, weniger im Bereich der Traumen z. B. nach Autounfällen oder als Folge und im Rahmen von Kriegsereignissen, in der noch andere Dynamiken vorherrschen. Viele Details sind noch unklar, es gibt widersprüchliche Befunde über das Ausmaß und die Entwicklung der Defizite.
Kognitive Kompetenzen und Sprachentwicklung bei Kindern im Alter zwischen vier und fünf Jahren
Authors: Melzer Jessica , Rißling Julia-Katharina , Petermann Franz
Published: March 2016

Zusammenfassung. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist es den Zusammenhang von verschiedenen kognitiven Basiskompetenzen und sprachlichen Fähigkeiten bei Vorschülern zu untersuchen. Verglichen werden die kognitiven Kompetenzen von Kindern mit niedrigen Leistungen im Wortschatz und/oder in der Grammatik (n = 69) und einer sprachlich unbeeinträchtigten Vergleichsgruppe (n = 69). Weiter wird eine multiple hierarchische Regressionsanalyse gerechnet um die Bedeutung von kognitiven Basiskompetenzen für die Pragmatik zu untersuchen. Insgesamt zeigt sich, dass die Vergleichsgruppe über bessere kognitive Fähigkeiten verfügt als die Risikogruppe, insbesondere in der Verarbeitungsgeschwindigkeit. Im Bereich Pragmatik konnte das Arbeitsgedächtnis als wichtiger Prädiktor identifiziert werden. Anhand der Analysen wird deutlich, dass kognitive Basiskompetenzen für verschiedene sprachliche Bereiche von Bedeutung sind.
The High Cost of Switching Power Sources
Authors: Kelleher Shannon
Published: March 2016

Researchers construct a world where nuclear energy everywhere is replaced with coal, with stark consequences for human health and the environment.
Development of a lytic peptide derived from BH3-only proteins
Authors: Liu Q , Zhao H , Jiang Y , Wu M , Tian Y , Wang D , Lao Y , Xu N , Li Z
Published: March 2016

Despite great advances in cancer therapy, drug resistance is a difficult hurdle to overcome that requires development of anticancer agents with novel and effective modes of action. In a number of studies, lytic peptides have shown remarkable ability to eliminate cancer cells through a different way from traditional treatments. Lytic peptides are positively charged, amphiphilic, and are efficient at binding and disrupting the negatively charged cell membrane of cancer cells. In this study, we described the anticancer properties of a lytic peptide that was developed on the basis of the alignment of amphiphilic BH3 peptides. Our results demonstrated that the positive charge and conformation constraint were favourable for efficient cancer cell elimination. Artificial BCL-2 homology 3 peptides (ABH3) exhibited effective anticancer effects against a series of cancer cell lines in vitro and in HeLa human cervical tumour xenografts in vivo. ABH3 induced cell death in an apoptosis-independent manner through the lytic properties of the peptide that caused disruption of cell membrane. Our results showed that charge tuning and conformation constraining in a lytic peptide could be applied to optimise the anticancer activity of lytic peptides. These results also suggest that ABH3 may be a promising beginning for the development of additional lytic peptides as anticancer reagents.
Ecological robustness of the gut microbiota in response to ingestion of transient food-borne microbes
Authors: Zhang Chenhong , Derrien Muriel , Levenez Florence , Brazeilles Rémi , Ballal Sonia A , Kim Jason , Degivry Marie-Christine , Quéré Gaëlle , Garault Peggy , van Hylckama Vlieg Johan E T , Garrett Wendy S , Doré Joël , Veiga Patrick
Published: March 2016

Resident gut microbes co-exist with transient bacteria to form the gut microbiota. Despite increasing evidence suggesting a role for transient microbes on gut microbiota function, the interplay between resident and transient members of this microbial community is poorly defined. We aimed to determine the extent to which a host’s autochthonous gut microbiota influences niche permissivity to transient bacteria using a fermented milk product (FMP) as a vehicle for five food-borne bacterial strains. Using conventional and gnotobiotic rats and gut microbiome analyses (16S rRNA genes pyrosequencing and reverse transcription qPCR), we demonstrated that the clearance kinetics of one FMP bacterium, Lactococcus lactis CNCM I-1631, were dependent on the structure of the resident gut microbiota. Susceptibility of the resident gut microbiota to modulation by FMP intervention correlated with increased persistence of L. lactis. We also observed gut microbiome configurations that were associated with altered stability upon exposure to transient bacteria. Our study supports the concept that allochthonous bacteria have transient and subject-specific effects on the gut microbiome that can be leveraged to re-engineer the gut microbiome and improve dysbiosis-related diseases.