bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D and risk of CVD: a review of the evidence
Authors: Fry Catherine M. , Sanders Thomas A. B.
Published: February 2015

This review summarises evidence for an association between vitamin D status and CVD and the mechanisms involved. Vitamin D3is predominantly provided by the action of UVB from sunlight on skin. Average UK diets supply 2–3 μg/d vitamin D but diets containing at least one portion of oily fish per week supply about 7 μg/d. Pharmacological doses of vitamin D2(bolus injection of 7500 μg or intakes >50 μg/d) result in a smaller increase in plasma 25(OH)D than those of D3but physiological doses 5–25 μg/d seem equivalent. Plasma 25(OH)D concentrations are also influenced by clothing, obesity and skin pigmentation. Up to 40 % of the population have plasma 25(OH)D concentrations <25 nmol/l in the winter compared with <10 % in the summer. The relative risk of CVD death is 1·41 (95 % CI 1·18, 1·68) greater in the lowest quintile of plasma 25(OH)D according to meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Acute deficiency may inhibit insulin secretion and promote inflammation thus increasing the risk of plaque rupture and arterial thrombosis. Chronic insufficiency may increase arterial stiffness. There is no evidence to support claims of reduced CVD from existing trials with bone-related health outcomes where vitamin D was usually co-administered with calcium. Although several trials with cardiovascular endpoints are in progress, these are using pharmacological doses. In view of the potential toxicity of pharmacological doses, there remains a need for long-term trials of physiological doses of D2and D3with CVD incidence as the primary outcome.
Byrd's dead reckoning on his 1926 North Pole flight
Authors: Newsom G. H.
Published: February 2015

Richard Byrd claimed to have reached the North Pole in his 1926 flight, based mostly on his dead reckoning navigation. His technique of finding distance traveled from observations with a drift indicator can ideally be quite accurate, as shown by simulations of his dead reckoning with a navigation log. But under real-world conditions, especially those of Byrd's flight, significant errors can easily occur. Since we do not have a copy of Byrd's navigation log from the flight, we cannot assess such errors, and there is some evidence that Byrd did not keep a navigation log. However, that would not necessarily lead to less accurate dead reckoning.
Familiality and SNP heritability of age at onset and episodicity in major depressive disorder
Authors: Ferentinos P. , Koukounari A. , Power R. , Rivera M. , Uher R. , Craddock N. , Owen M. J. , Korszun A. , Jones L. , Jones I. , Gill M. , Rice J. P. , Ising M. , Maier W. , Mors O. , Rietschel M. , Preisig M. , Binder E. B. , Aitchison K. J. , Mendlewicz J. , Souery D. , Hauser J. , Henigsberg N. , Breen G. , Craig I. W. , Farmer A. E. , Müller-Myhsok B. , McGuffin P. , Lewis C. M.
Published: February 2015

Background

Strategies to dissect phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of major depressive disorder (MDD) have mainly relied on subphenotypes, such as age at onset (AAO) and recurrence/episodicity. Yet, evidence on whether these subphenotypes are familial or heritable is scarce. The aims of this study are to investigate the familiality of AAO and episode frequency in MDD and to assess the proportion of their variance explained by common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP heritability).

Method

For investigating familiality, we used 691 families with 2–5 full siblings with recurrent MDD from the DeNt study. We fitted (square root) AAO and episode count in a linear and a negative binomial mixed model, respectively, with family as random effect and adjusting for sex, age and center. The strength of familiality was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). For estimating SNP heritabilities, we used 3468 unrelated MDD cases from the RADIANT and GSK Munich studies. After similarly adjusting for covariates, derived residuals were used with the GREML method in GCTA (genome-wide complex trait analysis) software.

Results

Significant familial clustering was found for both AAO (ICC = 0.28) and episodicity (ICC = 0.07). We calculated from respective ICC estimates the maximal additive heritability of AAO (0.56) and episodicity (0.15). SNP heritability of AAO was 0.17 (p = 0.04); analysis was underpowered for calculating SNP heritability of episodicity.

Conclusions

AAO and episodicity aggregate in families to a moderate and small degree, respectively. AAO is under stronger additive genetic control than episodicity. Larger samples are needed to calculate the SNP heritability of episodicity. The described statistical framework could be useful in future analyses.
The Broken Ladder: Why Education Provides No Upward Mobility for Migrant Children in China
Authors: Xiong Yihan
Published: February 2015

This paper attempts to explain why education fails to facilitate upward mobility for migrant children in China. By comparing a public school and a private migrant school in Shanghai, two mechanisms are found to underpin the reproduction of the class system: the ceiling effect, which is at work in public schools, and the counter-school culture, which prevails in private migrant schools. Both mechanisms might be understood as adaptations to the external circumstances of – and institutional discrimination against – migrants rather than as resistance to the prevailing institutional systems. Thus, the functioning of these mechanisms further strengthens the inequality embodied in the system.
Outbreaks attributed to fresh leafy vegetables, United States, 1973–2012
Authors: HERMAN K. M. , HALL A. J. , GOULD L. H.
Published: February 2015

Leafy vegetables are an essential component of a healthy diet; however, they have been associated with high-profile outbreaks causing severe illnesses. We reviewed leafy vegetable-associated outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1973 and 2012. During the study period, 606 leafy vegetable-associated outbreaks, with 20 003 associated illnesses, 1030 hospitalizations, and 19 deaths were reported. On average, leafy vegetable-associated outbreaks were larger than those attributed to other food types. The pathogens that most often caused leafy vegetable-associated outbreaks were norovirus (55% of outbreaks with confirmed aetiology), Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) (18%), andSalmonella(11%). Most outbreaks were attributed to food prepared in a restaurant or catering facility (85%). An ill food worker was implicated as the source of contamination in 31% of outbreaks. Efforts by local, state, and federal agencies to control leafy vegetable contamination and outbreaks should span from the point of harvest to the point of preparation.
Preferential carriage of class 2 integrons in Acinetobacter baumannii CC113 and novel singletons
Authors: RAMÍREZ M. S. , MONTAÑA S. , CASSINI M. , CENTRÓN D.
Published: February 2015

Our understanding of the distribution of integrons associated with multidrug resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates around the world remains incomplete. The association between the class 1 and 2 integron A. baumannii-positive isolates (n = 60), recovered since 1982 from 11 Argentinean hospitals, and the circulating lineages, was investigated. While class 2 integrons were highly significantly associated with clonal lineage CC113B/CC79P (P = 0·009) and novel singletons (P = 0·001), class 1 integrons were found not to be associated with CC109B/CC1P or other lineages. The study reveals a differential distribution of class 2 integrons in lineages, and suggests that the prevalence of intI2 in Argentina is related to the emergence of novel singletons in recent years and to the abundance of CC113B/CC79P, which has been the local dominant lineage for several decades.
Generalised mora affixation and quantity-manipulating morphology
Authors: Trommer Jochen , Zimmermann Eva
Published: February 2015

One of the major attributes of autosegmental phonology is the possibility of reducing procedural techniques of morphological exponence to a generalised concept of concatenation. This research programme, which equates the triggers of non-concatenative processes with affixes consisting of incomplete autosegmental or prosodic representations, is called Generalised Non-linear Affixation in Bermúdez-Otero (2012). In this paper, we argue that the Generalised Non-linear Affixation analysis of segmental lengthening by mora affixation extends naturally to subtractive morphology. Defective (phonetically uninterpretable) integration of an affix mora into the prosodic structure of its base triggers deletion and shortening. We show that this approach derives all major types of quantity-manipulating morphology (vowel shortening, segmental subtraction and vowel-length polarity), and thus demonstrate that Generalised Non-linear Affixation extends fully to subtractive morphology, which has been seen as the ultimate problem for a concatenative reanalysis (Anderson 1992).
Evidence for infixation after the first syllable: data from a Papuan language
Authors: Wilson Jennifer
Published: February 2015

Linguists have been attempting to define the range of locations in which infixes can occur since Ultan's pioneering work in 1975, but to date there has been no unambiguous evidence for infixation after the first syllable, despite previous (now controversial) claims of its existence by Ultan (1975) and Moravcsik (2000), as well as its predicted existence by Yu's Salient Pivot Hypothesis (‘phonological pivots must be salient at the psycholinguistic or phonetic level’) (2003, 2007). Previously examined potential examples are controversial due to restricted patterns and the acceptability of alternative analyses such as a first-vowel pivot or a foot-based pivot (Samuels 2010). In this article, I present strong evidence from fieldwork on Yeri, an endangered Torricelli language of Papua New Guinea, that imperfective and additive morphemes productively occur as infixes after the first syllable of the verb stem, and that a first-vowel or foot-based analysis cannot account for their position.
Utilitarianism or Prioritarianism?
Authors: TÄNNSJÖ TORBJÖRN
Published: February 2015

A simple hedonistic theory allowing for interpersonal comparisons of happiness is taken for granted in this article. The hedonistic theory is used to compare utilitarianism, urging us to maximize the sum total of happiness, with prioritarianism, urging us to maximize a sum total of weighed happiness. It is argued with reference to a few thought experiments that utilitarianism is, intuitively speaking, more plausible than prioritarianism. The problem with prioritarianism surfaces when prudence and morality come apart.
A Regional and Social Dialectology of the BATH Vowel in South African English
Authors: Mesthrie Rajend , Chevalier Alida , Dunne Timothy
Published: February 2015

This paper provides the beginnings of a pan–South African English dialectology, characterizing five cities (Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley, Johannesburg, and Durban) and four ethnicities (Black, Colored, Indian, and White), via a single vowel, BATH (or /ɑ:/). From interviews with 200 selected speakers, 5553 tokens were subjected to acoustic analysis via PRAAT (Boersma & Weenink, 2010), yielding bivariate data on vowel quality. Statistical analysis via analysis of variance focused on sets of five persons in each of 40 city-ethnicity-gender combinations. Overall, no city shows cohesion across all ethnic groups, though Kimberley, the smallest of the cities, and Johannesburg, the largest, come close. Conversely, no ethnicity shows cohesion across all cities, although Black speakers of traditional L2 English background come close. There is a robust regional difference for Colored speakers between Johannesburg and the other cities. Gender effects are notable: women's means are closer to the historically prestige [ɑ:] variant than the historically broader variant [ɔ:] in 6 of 20 possible groupings by city and ethnicity; in none of the cases is the opposite true.
Sociolinguistic Patterns in Seattle English
Authors: Wassink Alicia Beckford
Published: February 2015

Although it was the focus of several publications by Carroll Reed in the 1950s and early 1960s, English spoken in the Pacific Northwestern United States (PNWE) has received minimal research attention in variationist sociolinguistics. This paper provides the first report from an ongoing sociophonetic study. Data from a single-ethnicity, 25-person subsample of the larger corpus, constituted to explore change in apparent time, clarifies Seattleites' use of key markers of Western speech, including merger of cot /a/ and caught /ɔ/, and the positions of all vowel phonemes in the system. Several heretofore unreported characteristic features are found, including a tendency for PNWE speakers to monophthongize /e:/ bake and to raise prevelar /æ/ bag and /ε/ beg toward /e:/.
No-iteration mixed distributive laws
Authors: MARMOLEJO F. , VÁZQUEZ-MÁRQUEZ A.
Published: February 2015

We present the no-iteration version of a mixed distributive law of a monad over a comonad in a general 2-category. We present the simplifications that occur in the case of the 2-category Cat.
A statistical model for grammar mapping
Authors: BASIRAT A. , FAILI H. , NIVRE J.
Published: February 2015

The two main classes of grammars are (a) hand-crafted grammars, which are developed by language experts, and (b) data-driven grammars, which are extracted from annotated corpora. This paper introduces a statistical method for mapping the elementary structures of a data-driven grammar onto the elementary structures of a hand-crafted grammar in order to combine their advantages. The idea is employed in the context of Lexicalized Tree-Adjoining Grammars (LTAG) and tested on two LTAGs of English: the hand-crafted LTAG developed in the XTAG project, and the data-driven LTAG, which is automatically extracted from the Penn Treebank and used by the MICA parser. We propose a statistical model for mapping any elementary tree sequence of the MICA grammar onto a proper elementary tree sequence of the XTAG grammar. The model has been tested on three subsets of the WSJ corpus that have average lengths of 10, 16, and 18 words, respectively. The experimental results show that full-parse trees with average F1-scores of 72.49, 64.80, and 62.30 points could be built from 94.97%, 96.01%, and 90.25% of the XTAG elementary tree sequences assigned to the subsets, respectively. Moreover, by reducing the amount of syntactic lexical ambiguity of sentences, the proposed model significantly improves the efficiency of parsing in the XTAG system.
My Therapist is a Student? The Impact of Therapist Experience and Client Severity on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Outcomes for People with Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Mason Liam , Grey Nick , Veale David
Published: February 2015

Background: Allocation of trainee therapist cases is often performed based on intuition and clinical circumstances, with lack of empirical evidence on the role of severity of presenting problem. This has the potential to be anxiety-provoking for supervisors, trainees and service users themselves. Aims: To determine how therapist experience interacts with symptom severity in predicting client outcomes. Method: An intention-to-treat analysis of annual outcome data for primary and secondary care clients seen by a specialist anxiety disorders service. 196 clients were stratified into mild, moderate and baseline severe symptoms of anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9). We measured percentage change on these measures, as well as number of sessions and therapy dropout. We also examined rates of reliable and clinically significant change on disorder-specific measures. We hypothesized that qualified therapists would achieve better outcomes than trainees, particularly for severe presentations. Results: Overall, outcomes were comparable between trainee and qualified therapists on all measures, and trainees additionally utilized fewer therapy sessions. There was however an interaction between anxiety severity (GAD-7) and therapist group, such that severely anxious clients achieved greater symptom improvement with qualified as compared to trainee therapists. Further, for trainee but not qualified therapists, baseline anxiety was negatively associated with rate of reliable and clinically significant change on disorder-specific measures. Conclusions: These findings indicate generally favourable outcomes for trainee therapists delivering manualized treatments for anxiety disorders. They additionally suggest that trainee therapists may benefit from additional support when working with clients that present with severe anxiety.
Limitations of the Trail Making Test Part-B in Assessing Frontal Executive Dysfunction
Authors: Chan Edgar , MacPherson Sarah E. , Robinson Gail , Turner Martha , Lecce Francesca , Shallice Tim , Cipolotti Lisa
Published: February 2015

Part B of the Trail Making Test (TMT-B) is one of the most widely used neuropsychological tests of “executive” function. A commonly held assumption is that the TMT-B can be used to detect frontal executive dysfunction. However, so far, research evidence has been limited and somewhat inconclusive. In this retrospective study, performance on the TMT-B of 55 patients with known focal frontal lesions, 27 patients with focal non-frontal lesions and 70 healthy controls was compared. Completion time and the number of errors made were examined. Patients with frontal and non-frontal lesions performed significantly worse than healthy controls for both completion time and the number of errors. However, there was no significant difference for both completion time and the number of errors when patients with frontal and non-frontal lesions were compared. Performance was also not significantly different between patients with focal lesions within different regions of the frontal lobe (orbital, left lateral, right lateral, medial). Our findings suggest that the TMT-B is a robust test for detection of brain dysfunction. However, its capacity for detecting frontal executive dysfunction appears rather limited. Clinicians should be cautious when drawing conclusions from performance on the TMT-B alone. (JINS, 2015, 21, 169–174)
Prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure and reproductive hormones in premenopausal women
Authors: Wise L. A. , Troisi R. , Hatch E. E. , Titus L. J. , Rothman K. J. , Harlow B. L.
Published: February 2015

Diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen widely prescribed to pregnant women in the mid-1900s, is a potent endocrine disruptor. Prenatal DES exposure has been associated with reproductive disorders in women, but little is known about its effects on endogenous hormones. We assessed the association between prenatal DES exposure and reproductive hormones among participants from the Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles (HSMC), a longitudinal study of premenopausal women aged 36–45 years from Massachusetts (1995–1999). Prenatal DES exposure was reported at baseline (43 DES exposed and 782 unexposed). Early follicular-phase concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol were measured at baseline and every 6 months during 36 months of follow-up. Inhibin B concentrations were measured through 18 months. We used multivariable logistic and repeated-measures linear regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and percent differences in mean hormone values (β), respectively, comparing DES exposed with unexposed women, adjusted for potential confounders. DES-exposed women had lower mean concentrations of estradiol (pg/ml) (β=−15.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI): −26.5%, −3.2%) and inhibin B (pg/ml) (β=−20.3%, CI: −35.1%, −2.3%), and higher mean concentrations of FSH (IU/I) (β=12.2%, CI: −1.5%, 27.9%) and LH (IU/I) (β=10.4%, CI: −7.2%, 31.3%), than unexposed women. ORs for the association of DES with maximum FSH>10 IU/I and minimum inhibin B<45 pg/ml – indicators of low ovarian reserve – were 1.90 (CI: 0.86, 4.22) and 4.00 (CI: 0.88–18.1), respectively. Prenatal DES exposure was associated with variation in concentrations of FSH, estradiol and inhibin B among women of late reproductive age.
Integrative therapy in patients with intermittent claudication
Authors: Minar Erich
Published: February 2015

The generally accepted first-line treatment in patients with intermittent claudication is risk factor modification, medical treatment and exercise training. In an era of reduced resources, the benefit of any further invasive intervention must be weighted against best conservative therapy for patients with claudication. According to some recent trials an integrative therapeutic concept combining best conservative treatment - including (supervised) exercise therapy - with endovascular therapy gives the best midterm results concerning walking distance and health-related quality of life. The improved mid- and long-term patency rate with use of modern technology further supports this concept. The conservative and interventional treatment strategy are more complimentary than competitive. The current main challenge is to overcome the economic barriers concerning the availability of exercise programmes.
Aortic arch calcification is strongly associated with coronary artery calcification
Authors: Adar Adem , Erkan Hakan , Gokdeniz Tayyar , Karadeniz Aysegul , Cavusoglu Ismail G. , Onalan Orhan
Published: February 2015

Background: We aimed to investigate the association between aortic arch and coronary artery calcification (CAC). We postulated that low‐ and high‐risk CAC scores could be predicted with the evaluation of standard chest radiography for aortic arch calcification (AAC). Patients and methods: Consecutive patients who were referred for a multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) examination were enrolled prospectively. All patients were scanned using a commercially available 64‐slice MDCT scanner for the evaluation of CAC score. A four‐point grading scale (0, 1, 2 and 3) was used to evaluate AAC on the standard posterior‐anterior chest radiography images. Results: The study group consisted of 248 patients. Median age of the study group was 52 (IQR: 10) years, and 165 (67 %) were male. AAC grades (r = 0.676, p < 0.0001) and age (r = 0.518, p < 0.0001) were significantly and positively correlated with CAC score. Presence of AAC was independently associated with the presence of CAC (OR: 11.20, 95 % CI 4.25 to 29.52). An AAC grade of ≥ 2 was the strongest independent predictor of a high‐risk CAC score (OR: 27.42, 95 % CI 6.09 to 123.52). Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis yielded a strong predictive ability of AAC grades for a CAC score of ≥ 100 (AUC = 0.892, P < 0.0001), and ≥ 400 (AUC = 0.894, P < 0.0001). Absence of AAC had a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 90 %, 84 % and 89 %, respectively, for a CAC score of < 100. An AAC grade of ≥ 2 predicted a CAC score of ≥400 with a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 68 %, 98 % and 95 %, respectively. Conclusions: AAC is a strong and independent predictor of CAC. The discriminative performance of AAC is high in detecting patients with low‐ and high‐risk CAC scores.
Sonography of subcutaneous tissue cannot determine causes of lower limb edema
Authors: Becker Mandy , Schilling Tom , von Beckerath Olga , Kröger Knut
Published: February 2015

Background: To clarify the clinical use of sonography for differentiation of edema we tried to answer the question whether a group of doctors can differentiate lymphedema from cardiac, hepatic or venous edema just by analysing sonographic images of the edema. Patients and methods: 38 (70 ± 12 years, 22 (58 %) females) patients with lower limb edema were recruited according the clinical diagnosis: 10 (26 %) lymphedema, 16 (42 %) heart insufficiency, 6 (16 %) venous disorders, 6 (16 %) chronic hepatic disease. Edema was depicted sonographically at the most affected leg in a standardised way at distal and proximal calf. 38 sets of images were anonymised and send to 5 experienced doctors. They were asked whether they can see criteria for lymphedema: 1. anechoic gaps, 2. horizontal gaps and 3. echoic rims. Results: Accepting an edema as lymphedema if only one doctor sees at least one of the three criteria for lymphatic edema on each single image all edema would be classified as lymphatic. Accepting lymphedema only if all doctors see at least one of the three criteria on the distal image of the same patient 80 % of the patients supposed to have lymphedema are classified as such, but also the majority of cardiac, venous and hepatic edema. Accepting lymphedema only if all doctors see all three criteria on the distal image of the same patients no edema would be classified as lymphatic. In addition we separated patients by Stemmers sign in those with positive and negative sign. The interpretation of the images was not different between both groups. Conclusions: Our analysis shows that it is not possible to differentiate lymphedema from other lower limb edema sonographically.
Health and quality of life in patients with primary and secondary lymphedema of the lower extremity
Authors: Huggenberger Kai , Wagner Stephan , Lehmann Susanne , Aeschlimann André , Amann-Vesti Beatrice , Angst Felix
Published: February 2015

Background: Little is known about comprehensively measured health and quality of life of lower limb lymphedema (LLL). The aim of this study was to determine health and quality of life of LLL patients stratified by primary and secondary lymphedema compared to a normative population-based data stratified by age, sex and comorbidity. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study of patients after treatment at the department of angiology of a rehabilitation clinic was conducted. Self-assessment was performed by the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and two condition-specific measures. Results: Primary LLL (n = 52) 75 % female, mean age 47.1 years) reported health comparable to normative values, e. g. SF-36 physical functioning 80.4 (norm 84.1, p = 0.512) and SF-36 vitality 62.7 (59.7, p = 0.117) (mean scores, 100 = best). Secondary LLL (n = 60, 68 % female, mean age 60.6 years) scored 68.1 (73.9, p = 0.049) and 55.2 (56.2, p = 0.800) on the corresponding scales. Mean symptoms and function scores on the specific measures ranged from 70.0 to 83.1 for primary LLL (100 = best) and from 63.3 to 80.6 for secondary LLL. Function, vitality and both SF-36 role dimensions were higher in primary LLL than in secondary LLL, (mean SF-36 vitality 62.7 versus 55.2, p = 0.035). Conclusions: Overall health and quality of life was high and comparable to the general population norms in primary LLL. The same was true for most psycho-social scales in secondary LLL whereas functionally some deficits were recorded. Cancer as the most frequent cause for secondary LLL may affect health in these dimensions. Reported negative effects of LLL seem to be well compensated, especially in primary LLL and under optimal treatment.
Single-taxon field measurements of bacterial gene regulation controlling DMSP fate
Authors: Varaljay Vanessa A , Robidart Julie , Preston Christina M , Gifford Scott M , Durham Bryndan P , Burns Andrew S , Ryan John P , Marin III Roman , Kiene Ronald P , Zehr Jonathan P , Scholin Christopher A , Ann Moran Mary
Published: February 2015

The ‘bacterial switch’ is a proposed regulatory point in the global sulfur cycle that routes dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) to two fundamentally different fates in seawater through genes encoding either the cleavage or demethylation pathway, and affects the flux of volatile sulfur from ocean surface waters to the atmosphere. Yet which ecological or physiological factors might control the bacterial switch remains a topic of considerable debate. Here we report the first field observations of dynamic changes in expression of DMSP pathway genes by a single marine bacterial species in its natural environment. Detection of taxon-specific gene expression in Roseobacter species HTCC2255 during a month-long deployment of an autonomous ocean sensor in Monterey Bay, CA captured in situ regulation of the first gene in each DMSP pathway (dddP and dmdA) that corresponded with shifts in the taxonomy of the phytoplankton community. Expression of the cleavage pathway was relatively greater during a high-DMSP-producing dinoflagellate bloom, and expression of the demethylation pathway was greater in the presence of a mixed diatom and dinoflagellate community. These field data fit the prevailing hypothesis for bacterial DMSP gene regulation based on bacterial sulfur demand, but also suggest a modification involving oxidative stress response, evidenced as upregulation of catalase via katG, when DMSP is demethylated.
Consequences of chirality on the dynamics of a water-soluble supramolecular polymer
Authors: Baker Matthew B. , Albertazzi Lorenzo , Voets Ilja K. , Leenders Christianus M.A. , Palmans Anja R.A. , Pavan Giovanni M. , Meijer E.W.
Published: February 2015

The rational design of supramolecular polymers in water is imperative for their widespread use, but the design principles for these systems are not well understood. Herein, we employ a multi-scale (spatial and temporal) approach to differentiate two analogous water-soluble supramolecular polymers: one with and one without a stereogenic methyl. Initially aiming simply to understand the molecular behaviour of these systems in water, we find that while the fibres may look identical, the introduction of homochirality imparts a higher level of internal order to the supramolecular polymer. Although this increased order does not seem to affect the basic dimensions of the supramolecular fibres, the equilibrium dynamics of the polymers differ by almost an order of magnitude. This report represents the first observation of a structure/property relationship with regard to equilibrium dynamics in water-soluble supramolecular polymers.
Roquin binds microRNA-146a and Argonaute2 to regulate microRNA homeostasis
Authors: Srivastava Monika , Duan Guowen , Kershaw Nadia J. , Athanasopoulos Vicki , Yeo Janet H. C. , Ose Toyoyuki , Hu Desheng , Brown Simon H. J. , Jergic Slobodan , Patel Hardip R. , Pratama Alvin , Richards Sashika , Verma Anil , Jones E. Yvonne , Heissmeyer Vigo , Preiss Thomas , Dixon Nicholas E. , Chong Mark M. W. , Babon Jeffrey J. , Vinuesa Carola G.
Published: February 2015

Roquin is an RNA-binding protein that prevents autoimmunity and inflammation via repression of bound target mRNAs such as inducible costimulator (Icos). When Roquin is absent or mutated (Roquinsan), Icos is overexpressed in T cells. Here we show that Roquin enhances Dicer-mediated processing of pre-miR-146a. Roquin also directly binds Argonaute2, a central component of the RNA-induced silencing complex, and miR-146a, a microRNA that targets Icos mRNA. In the absence of functional Roquin, miR-146a accumulates in T cells. Its accumulation is not due to increased transcription or processing, rather due to enhanced stability of mature miR-146a. This is associated with decreased 3′ end uridylation of the miRNA. Crystallographic studies reveal that Roquin contains a unique HEPN domain and identify the structural basis of the ‘san’ mutation and Roquin’s ability to bind multiple RNAs. Roquin emerges as a protein that can bind Ago2, miRNAs and target mRNAs, to control homeostasis of both RNA species.
An octave-spanning mid-infrared frequency comb generated in a silicon nanophotonic wire waveguide
Authors: Kuyken Bart , Ideguchi Takuro , Holzner Simon , Yan Ming , Hänsch Theodor W. , Van Campenhout Joris , Verheyen Peter , Coen Stéphane , Leo Francois , Baets Roel , Roelkens Gunther , Picqué Nathalie
Published: February 2015

Laser frequency combs, sources with a spectrum consisting of hundred thousands evenly spaced narrow lines, have an exhilarating potential for new approaches to molecular spectroscopy and sensing in the mid-infrared region. The generation of such broadband coherent sources is presently under active exploration. Technical challenges have slowed down such developments. Identifying a versatile highly nonlinear medium for significantly broadening a mid-infrared comb spectrum remains challenging. Here we take a different approach to spectral broadening of mid-infrared frequency combs and investigate CMOS-compatible highly nonlinear dispersion-engineered silicon nanophotonic waveguides on a silicon-on-insulator chip. We record octave-spanning (1,500–3,300 nm) spectra with a coupled input pulse energy as low as 16 pJ. We demonstrate phase-coherent comb spectra broadened on a room-temperature-operating CMOS-compatible chip.
Thermodynamics and kinetics of DNA nanotube polymerization from single-filament measurements
Authors: Hariadi Rizal F. , Yurke Bernard , Winfree Erik
Published: February 2015

Single-filament measurement of the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of DNA nanotube assembly supports a polymerization/depolymerization model sharing common features with cytoskeletal polymer models.
Simultaneous intracellular redox potential and pH measurements in live cells using SERS nanosensors
Authors: Jamieson L. E. , Jaworska A. , Jiang J. , Baranska M. , Harrison D. J. , Campbell C. J.
Published: February 2015

In this paper we have presented the first example of multiplexing pH and redox responsive SERS nanosensors for intracellular live single cell measurement on a cell by cell basis.
Copper-catalyzed aerobic carboxygenation and N-arylation of [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines towards pyridinium triazolinone ylides
Authors: Pankajakshan Sreekumar , Chng Zhi Guang , Ganguly Rakesh , Loh Teck Peng
Published: February 2015

Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxyarylation of [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines is developed.
Facile thermodynamic conversion of a linear metallopolymer into a self-assembled hexameric metallomacrocycle
Authors: Li Yiming , Jiang Zhilong , Yuan Jie , Liu Die , Wu Tun , Moorefield Charles N. , Newkome George R. , Wang Pingshan
Published: February 2015

A dimetallo-macrocyclic hexamer has been quantitatively synthesized by the thermal disassembly/reassembly of a heteronuclear polymer.
Tunable thermal conductivity of thin films of polycrystalline AlN by structural inhomogeneity and interfacial oxidation
Authors: Jaramillo-Fernandez J. , Ordonez-Miranda J. , Ollier E. , Volz S.
Published: February 2015

The effect of local oxidation and grain morphology evolution on the thermal conductivity of polycrystalline aluminum nitrides (AlN) films deposited on single-crystalline silicon substrates is experimentally and theoretically investigated.
Triclosan, chlorinated triclosan derivatives, and hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-BDEs) in wastewater effluents
Authors: Hensley R. Noah , Kerrigan Jill F. , Pang Hao , Erickson Paul R. , Grandbois Matthew , McNeill Kristopher , Arnold William A.
Published: February 2015

Triclosan, chlorinated triclosan derivatives, and hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-BDEs) were detected in large and small capacity wastewater treatment plants.
Reactivity of decafluorobenzophenone and decafluoroazobenzene towards aromatic diamines: a practical entry to donor–acceptor systems
Authors: Coghi Paolo , Papagni Antonio , Po Riccardo , Calabrese Anna , Tacca Alessandra , Savoini Alberto , Stuknyte Milda
Published: February 2015

A series of Donor–Accepting–Donor (D–A–D) and Accepting–Donor–Accepting (A–D–A) compounds have been prepared and employed in the synthesis of oligomers potentially useful in optoelectronic applications.
Chemically doped three-dimensional porous graphene monoliths for high-performance flexible field emitters
Authors: Kim Ho Young , Jeong Sooyeon , Jeong Seung Yol , Baeg Kang-Jun , Han Joong Tark , Jeong Mun Seok , Lee Geon-Woong , Jeong Hee Jin
Published: February 2015

High-performance flexible field emission was demonstrated using chemically doped three-dimensional porous graphene monoliths fabricated by a simple freeze-drying method of a highly concentrated graphene/polymer paste containing dopants.
Hierarchical flower-like Bi2WO6 hollow microspheres: facile synthesis and excellent catalytic performance
Authors: Zhang Peigen , Zhang Jian , Xie Anjian , Li Shikuo , Song Jiming , Shen Yuhua
Published: February 2015

A one step method has been developed for the fabrication of hierarchical flower-like bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) hollow spheres via a solvothermal process.
Electrochemistry of Zn and co-reduction of Zn and Sm from LiCl–KCl melt
Authors: Xue Yun , Zhou Zhi-Ping , Yan Yong-De , Zhang Mi-Lin , Li Xing , Ji De-Bin , Tang Hao , Zhang Zhi-Jian
Published: February 2015

SEM image and element mapping analysis of Zn–Sm alloy obtained by galvanostatic electrolysis.
A hybrid living/organic electrochemical transistor based on the Physarum polycephalum cell endowed with both sensing and memristive properties
Authors: Tarabella G. , D'Angelo P. , Cifarelli A. , Dimonte A. , Romeo A. , Berzina T. , Erokhin V. , Iannotta S.
Published: February 2015

A hybrid bio-organic electrochemical transistor based on thePhysarum polycephalumcell, showing a multifunctional operation (transistor and memristive-like response), has been demonstrated.
Self-assembled zein–sodium carboxymethyl cellulose nanoparticles as an effective drug carrier and transporter
Authors: Liang Hongshan , Huang Qingrong , Zhou Bin , He Lei , Lin Liufeng , An Yaping , Li Yan , Liu Shilin , Chen Yijie , Li Bin
Published: February 2015

In this work, biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) were assembled with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and zein to produce zein–CMC NPs.
A triangular [Mn3] cluster-based ferrimagnet with significant magnetic entropy change
Authors: Hu Huan-Cheng , Cao Chun-Shuai , Yang Yang , Cheng Peng , Zhao Bin
Published: February 2015

A triangular [Mn3] cluster-based ferrimagnet [Na2Mn3(SO4)3(μ3-OH)2(μ2-OH2)2]n exhibits a significant magnetocaloric effect (−ΔSm = 14.4 J kg−1 K−1) at 13.5 K.
An oral redox-sensitive self-immolating prodrug strategy
Authors: Sun Tao , Morger Andrea , Castagner Bastien , Leroux Jean-Christophe
Published: February 2015

We report a novel oral prodrug approach where a solubilizing polymer conjugated to the drug is designed to be released by the action of an exogenously administered agent in the intestine.
Copper-catalyzed oxidative C(sp3)–H/N–H coupling of sulfoximines and amides with simple alkanes via a radical process
Authors: Teng Fan , Sun Song , Jiang Yan , Yu Jin-Tao , Cheng Jiang
Published: February 2015

A copper-catalyzed oxidative C(sp3)–H/N–H coupling of sulfoximines and amides with simple alkanes via a radical pathway was developed.
Cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric hydroboration of aryl ketones with pinacolborane
Authors: Guo Jun , Chen Jianhui , Lu Zhan
Published: February 2015

The highly enantioselective cobalt-catalyzed hydroboration reaction of aryl ketones with HBpin was developed using iminopyridine oxazoline ligands.
Unfolding and refolding of a protein by cholesterol and cyclodextrin: a single molecule study
Authors: Ghosh Shirsendu , Ghosh Catherine , Nandi Somen , Bhattacharyya Kankan
Published: February 2015

Cholesterol induced unfolding of a globular protein, human serum albumin (HSA), and β-cyclodextrin induced refolding of the unfolded protein is demonstrated in this study.
A study by electrical conductivity measurements of the semiconductive and redox properties of Nb-doped NiO catalysts in correlation with the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane
Authors: Popescu Ionel , Skoufa Zinovia , Heracleous Eleni , Lemonidou Angeliki , Marcu Ioan-Cezar
Published: February 2015

All the catalysts were partially reduced during catalysis and the ODH selectivity was inversely correlated with their p-type semiconductivity under the reaction mixture.
Correction: Full spectral XANES imaging using the Maia detector array as a new tool for the study of the alteration process of chrome yellow pigments in paintings by Vincent van Gogh
Authors: Monico Letizia , Janssens Koen , Alfeld Matthias , Cotte Marine , Vanmeert Frederik , Ryan Chris G. , Falkenberg Gerald , Howard Daryl L. , Brunetti Brunetto Giovanni , Miliani Costanza
Published: February 2015

Correction for ‘Full spectral XANES imaging using the Maia detector array as a new tool for the study of the alteration process of chrome yellow pigments in paintings by Vincent van Gogh’ by Letizia Monico et al., J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2015, DOI: 10.1039/c4ja00419a.
Analysis of bioactive constituents of saffron using ultrasonic assisted emulsification microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector: a chemometric study
Authors: Chaharlangi Madineh , Parastar Hadi , Malekpour Akbar
Published: February 2015

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the analysis of the major active components of saffron owing to their significant role in various industries, such as food, medicine and perfume.
Controlling the coassembly of highly amphiphilic block copolymers with a hydrolytic sol by solvent exchange
Authors: Guldin Stefan , Stefik Morgan , Sai Hiroaki , Wiesner Ulrich , Steiner Ullrich
Published: February 2015

Block copolymer co-assembly of TiO2 is facilitated by the introduction of a redissolution step in an azeotrope solvent mixture, allowing the formation of self-assembled cylindrical, lamellar and hexagonal ceramic morphologies.
The sonochemical synthesis of Ga@C-dots particles
Authors: Kumar Vijay Bhooshan , Perelshtein Ilana , Lipovsky Anat , Porat Ze’ev , Gedanken Aharon
Published: February 2015

This research article is focused on a one-step sonochemical fabrication of carbon dots doped with Ga atom.
Regioselective copper-catalyzed thiolation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: an efficient C–H functionalization strategy for C–S bond formation
Authors: Cao Hua , Chen Longbin , Liu Jingyun , Cai Huiyin , Deng Hao , Chen Guijun , Yan Caijuan , Chen Ya
Published: February 2015

Regioselective copper-catalyzed thiolation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
A facile synthesis of vicinal cis-diols from olefins catalyzed by in situ generated MnxOy nanoaggregates
Authors: Dalmizrak Diğdem , Göksu Haydar , Gültekin Mehmet Serdar
Published: February 2015

The MnxOy oxide derivatives, mainly Mn3O4 nanoaggregates, were generated in situ by KMnO4/H2O2 during the synthesis of vicinal cis-diols from olefins.
Fluorescent phenanthridine-based calix[4]arene derivatives: synthesis and thermodynamic and computational studies of their complexation with alkali-metal cations
Authors: Bakić Marina Tranfić , Jadreško Dijana , Hrenar Tomica , Horvat Gordan , Požar Josip , Galić Nives , Sokol Vesna , Tomaš Renato , Alihodžić Sulejman , Žinić Mladen , Frkanec Leo , Tomišić Vladislav
Published: February 2015

The novel calix[4]arenes exhibiting prominent fluorescence were shown to be potential sensitive fluorimetric cation sensors. Comprehensive experimental and computational studies provided detailed insight into the corresponding complexation reactions.
Correction: Facile synthesis of biocompatible N, S-doped carbon dots for cell imaging and ion detecting
Authors: Sun Yupeng , Shen Chen , Wang Jing , Lu Yun
Published: February 2015

Correction for ‘Facile synthesis of biocompatible N, S-doped carbon dots for cell imaging and ion detecting’ by Yupeng Sun et al., RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 16368–16375.
High performance porous LiMnPO4nanoflakes: synthesis from a novel nanosheet precursor
Authors: Xia Qingbo , Liu Tao , Xu Jingjing , Cheng Xueyuan , Lu Wei , Wu Xiaodong
Published: February 2015

Micro-sized porous LiMnPO4nanoflakes were synthesized using a novel precursor. Porous LiMnPO4–C nanoflakes present promising electrochemical properties, especially superior rate capability. The methodology described in this work is facile and would be helpful for practical applications of the LiMnPO4cathode.
An open-framework iron fluoride and reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite as a high-capacity cathode material for Na-ion batteries
Authors: Ali Ghulam , Oh Si Hyoung , Kim Se Young , Kim Ji Young , Cho Byung Won , Chung Kyung Yoon
Published: February 2015

Cathode materials with high capacity and good stability for rechargeable Na-ion batteries (NIBs) are few in number.
Urine-activated origami microbial fuel cells to signal proof of life
Authors: Winfield Jonathan , Chambers Lily D. , Rossiter Jonathan , Greenman John , Ieropoulos Ioannis
Published: February 2015

This study investigated microbial revival, urine as a viable inoculant and the generation of useful power using novel paper-based MFCs.
Rational design of mesoporous NiFe-alloy-based hybrids for oxygen conversion electrocatalysis
Authors: Ci Suqin , Mao Shun , Hou Yang , Cui Shumao , Kim Haejune , Ren Ren , Wen Zhenhai , Chen Junhong
Published: February 2015

A simple and convenient strategy has been developed to prepare electrically conductive nitrogen-doped carbon modified mesoporous structure supported NiFe alloy nanocatalysts. The resulting electrocatalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance for both oxygen evolution reactions (OERs) and oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs).
Porous-structured platinum nanocrystals supported on a carbon nanotube film with super catalytic activity and durability
Authors: Huang Xin Xin , Chen Yun , Wang Xiao Xia , Wang Jian Nong
Published: February 2015

The high activity of a Pt catalyst with a porous structure on a carbon nanotube film degrades very little even after 8000 potential cycles under severely harsh cycling conditions.
Stokes shift/emission efficiency trade-off in donor–acceptor perylenemonoimides for luminescent solar concentrators
Authors: Turrisi Riccardo , Sanguineti Alessandro , Sassi Mauro , Savoie Brett , Takai Atsuro , Patriarca Giorgio E. , Salamone Matteo M. , Ruffo Riccardo , Vaccaro Gianfranco , Meinardi Francesco , Marks Tobin J. , Facchetti Antonio , Beverina Luca
Published: February 2015

Careful selection of the donor in PMIs provides the best trade-off between luminescence and Stokes shifts.
Hierarchical bioglass scaffolds: introducing the “milky way” for templated bioceramics
Authors: Onna Diego , Minaberry Yanina , Jobbágy Matías
Published: February 2015

Low cost hierarchical bioglass scaffolds were prepared by freeze drying cow milk loaded with SiO2 nanoparticles.
Small-molecule inhibitors of ERK-mediated immediate early gene expression and proliferation of melanoma cells expressing mutated BRaf
Authors: Samadani Ramin , Zhang Jun , Brophy Amanda , Oashi Taiji , Priyakumar U. Deva , Raman E. Prabhu , St John Franz J. , Jung Kwan-Young , Fletcher Steven , Pozharski Edwin , MacKerell Alexander D. , Shapiro Paul
Published: February 2015

Using virtual screening and biological assays, we have identified and characterized a new class of compounds that selectively inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells containing constitutively active kinase signalling pathways by targeting kinase regulation of oncogenic transcription factors.