bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desire for weight loss, weight‐related social contact, and body mass outcomes
Authors: Andersson Matthew A. , Christakis Nicholas A.
Published: May 2016

Objective

This study evaluated whether desiring to lose weight is associated with subsequent changes in social contact with individuals perceived to be thinner or heavier.

Methods

Longitudinal data were used to examine associations between desiring to lose weight at baseline and social contact with thinner and heavier individuals across a 1‐year follow‐up period (N = 9,335, 2013–2014 Gallup National Panel). How baseline social contact is linked to body mass outcomes among those desiring to lose weight (N = 7,134) was also examined.

Results

Over time, individuals desiring to lose weight interacted more frequently (+69 interactions/year, on average) and were more likely to possess social ties (tie probability +0.12) with heavier individuals while lessening their interactions (−51 interactions/year) and decreasing their likelihood of ties (tie probability −0.048) with thinner individuals. On the other hand, increasing contacts and interactions with thinner individuals, and declining contacts and interactions with heavier individuals, were linked to actual weight loss.

Conclusions

Using national longitudinal data, an important mismatch was demonstrated between the social contacts created by individuals desiring weight loss and the contextual factors possibly useful for weight loss. This may help to explain why weight loss is often unsuccessful.
Electrical properties and thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)/polyvinylidene fluoride/ZnO polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Pandey Mayank , Joshi Girish M , Mukherjee Amitava , Thomas P
Published: May 2016

In this work, polymer nanocomposites consisting of a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer network with ZnO nanoparticles as a dopant were prepared by solution casting. An XRD study of the PVC/PVDF/ZnO polymer nanocomposites shows predominantly sharp and high intensity peaks. However, the intensity and sharpness of the XRD peaks decreases with further increment in loading of ZnO (wt%), which reveals a proper intercalation of ZnO nanoparticles within the PVC/PVDF polymer system. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been used to verify the chemical compositional change as a function of ZnO nanoparticle loading. TGA analysis clearly describes the thermal degradation of the pure polymer and polymer nanocomposites. The complex dielectric function, AC electrical conductivity and impedance spectra of these nanocomposites were investigated over the frequency range from 10 Hz to 35 MHz. These spectra were studied with respect to the Wagner − Maxwell − Sillars phenomenon in the low frequency region. Nyquist plots of the PVC/PVDF/ZnO nanocomposites were established from impedance measurements. The temperature‐dependent DC ionic conductivity obtained from the Nyquist plots follows Arrhenius behaviour. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Protein translation occurs in platelet concentrates despite riboflavin/UV light pathogen inactivation treatment
Authors: Schubert Peter , Culibrk Brankica , Karwal Simrath , Goodrich Raymond P. , Devine Dana V.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

Pathogen inactivation technologies (PITs) were introduced into blood banking to further improve the safety of blood products. However, the UV light used in PITs to terminate pathogen growth might alter the functionality of the cells in the blood product as well as the protein profile of the blood components. This study employed proteomic approaches to assess changes in the platelet proteome and translatome.

Experimental design

Apheresis‐derived platelet concentrates treated with riboflavin/UV light or untreated controls were analyzed throughout blood bank storage by quantitative proteomics using iTRAQ and puromycin‐associated nascent chain (PUNCH) proteomics.

Results

Quantitative proteomic analysis identified 408 individual proteins including 26 unique proteins that changed in the treated arm during storage. Proteomic results were confirmed using immunoblot analyses and results suggested a translational control of the protein expression profile. PUNCH proteomic analysis of day 7 samples from illuminated units identified 52 unique platelet proteins that incorporated puromycin, including proteins involved in the cytoskeleton, metabolism, and signaling.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

This study demonstrates for the first time that platelets can synthesize proteins despite the riboflavin and UV treatment and suggests that platelets may possess a mechanism to protect their mRNA from damage by the PI treatment.
A simple DNA handle attachment method for single molecule mechanical manipulation experiments
Authors: Min Duyoung , Arbing Mark A. , Jefferson Robert E. , Bowie James U.
Published: May 2016

Manipulating single molecules and systems of molecules with mechanical force is a powerful technique to examine their physical properties. Applying force requires attachment of the target molecule to larger objects using some sort of molecular tether, such as a strand of DNA. DNA handle attachment often requires difficult manipulations of the target molecule, which can preclude attachment to unstable, hard to obtain, and/or large, complex targets. Here we describe a method for covalent DNA handle attachment to proteins that simply requires the addition of a preprepared reagent to the protein and a short incubation. The handle attachment method developed here provides a facile approach for studying the biomechanics of biological systems.
Risk of antidepressant‐associated mortality
Authors: Lam Y. W. Francis
Published: May 2016

It is not unusual for patients to exhibit depressive symptoms after suffering a stroke. Although effective in managing depression, some antidepressants are believed to carry a risk of additional adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects, as well as the potential for drug‐drug interaction. Such adverse effects include conduction abnormalities and sudden death from the use of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) drugs, and the possibility of sudden cardiac death associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).1, 2 In addition, there are conflicting data in the literature regarding the association between antidepressant use and stroke. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, thicker arteries related to antidepressant use have been suggested as a plausible explanation.3
Fe 2p spectra associated with extraction/infusion of Li ions at LiFePO4 thin film cathode surface
Authors: Shigeno M. , Kurita T. , Watanabe S. , Kataoka Y.
Published: May 2016

A variation of iron ionic states in Fe 2p spectra for charged and discharged lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) thin film as a cathode corresponds to cathode behavior. The shape of valence band spectra was investigated, and a peak appeared at about 1.6 eV for discharged LiFePO4 thin film. This peak was attributed to the Fe2+ state without oxidation state using oxidized LiFePO4 thin films. The variation of iron ionic states from Fe 2p spectra was confirmed using this peak. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mediation of buprenorphine analgesia by a combination of traditional and truncated mu opioid receptor splice variants
Authors: Grinnell Steven G. , Ansonoff Michael , Marrone Gina F. , Lu Zhigang , Narayan Ankita , Xu Jin , Rossi Grace , Majumdar Susruta , Pan Ying‐Xian , Bassoni Daniel L. , Pintar John , Pasternak Gavril W.
Published: May 2016

Buprenorphine has long been classified as a mu analgesic, although its high affinity for other opioid receptor classes and the orphanin FQ/nociceptin ORL1 receptor may contribute to its other actions. The current studies confirmed a mu mechanism for buprenorphine analgesia, implicating several subsets of mu receptor splice variants. Buprenorphine analgesia depended on the expression of both exon 1‐associated traditional full length 7 transmembrane (7TM) and exon 11‐associated truncated 6 transmembrane (6TM) MOR‐1 variants. In genetic models, disruption of delta, kappa1 or ORL1 receptors had no impact on buprenorphine analgesia, while loss of the traditional 7TM MOR‐1 variants in an exon 1 knockout (KO) mouse markedly lowered buprenorphine analgesia. Loss of the truncated 6TM variants in an exon 11 KO mouse totally eliminated buprenorphine analgesia. In distinction to analgesia, the inhibition of gastrointestinal transit and stimulation of locomotor activity were independent of truncated 6TM variants. Restoring expression of a 6TM variant with a lentivirus rescued buprenorphine analgesia in an exon 11 KO mouse that still expressed the 7TM variants. Despite a potent and robust stimulation of 35S‐GTPγS binding in MOR‐1 expressing CHO cells, buprenorphine failed to recruit β‐arrestin‐2 binding at doses as high as 10 µM. Buprenorphine was an antagonist in DOR‐1 expressing cells and an inverse agonist in KOR‐1 cells. Buprenorphine analgesia is complex and requires multiple mu receptor splice variant classes but other actions may involve alternative receptors.
Seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete silo considering granular material‐structure interaction
Authors: Guo Kunpeng , Zhou Changdong , Meng Lingkai , Zhang Xiaoyang
Published: May 2016

As a special shell structure, silos are used in storing a wide range of multitudinous granular materials. However, seldom have researchers assessed seismic vulnerability of the reinforced concrete (RC) silo. This paper aims at studying the seismic vulnerability assessment of a silo, which is located in Zhoushan, China. Prior to assessing the seismic vulnerability of the selected RC silo, the validation of the hypoplastic constitutive model, which is used to simulate granular materials, is studied. After discussing the validation of the hypoplastic theory, the numerical model considering granular material‐structure interaction is developed by means of the ABAQUS software. And the numerical simulation results are compared with the experimental data obtained from a shaking table test discussed in order to confirm the validation of the numerical model, which is used to study the seismic vulnerability of the RC silo. Then the seismic fragility assessment of the selected RC silo is performed using the incremental dynamic analysis. The analytical results showed that the hypoplastic theory can be used to simulate the stored materials in the silo considering the collapse property before entering plastic state of granular materials. For the design basic acceleration, the fragility curves of the selected RC silo showed that the probability of exceeding the no or light damage state was about 2.12%. For the maximum considered earthquake, the exceeding probability of no or slight and the moderate damage states was 17.63% and 1.31%, respectively. With respect of the severe and total damage state, the exceeding probabilities were almost zero. Therefore, the selected RC silo structure has enough safety stock to withstand strong earthquakes in the future. Finally, a general design procedure considering seismic fragility assessment was presented in order to provide references for other structure design. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
My advanced prostate cancer experience
Authors: Flannigan George Michael
Published: May 2016

Mr Flannigan gives a personal account of his diagnosis with prostate cancer and a vivid description of his experience of chemotherapy.
Pharmacokinetics and excretion of 14C-omacetaxine in patients with advanced solid tumors
Authors: Nijenhuis Cynthia M. , Hellriegel Edward , Beijnen Jos H. , Hershock Diane , Huitema Alwin D. R. , Lucas Luc , Mergui-Roelvink Marja , Munteanu Mihaela , Rabinovich-Guilatt Laura , Robertson Philmore , Rosing Hilde , Spiegelstein Ofer , Schellens Jan H. M.
Published: May 2016

Background Omacetaxine mepesuccinate is indicated in adults with chronic myeloid leukemia resistant and/or intolerant to ≥ 2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatments. This phase I study assessed the disposition, elimination, and safety of 14C-omacetaxine in patients with solid tumors. Methods The study comprised a 7-days pharmacokinetic assessment followed by a treatment period of ≤ six 28-days cycles. A single subcutaneous dose of 1.25 mg/m214C-omacetaxine was administered to six patients. Blood, urine, and feces were collected through 168 h or until radioactivity excreted within 24 h was <1 % of the dose. Total radioactivity (TRA) was measured in all matrices and concentrations of omacetaxine, 4′-desmethylhomoharringtonine (4′-DMHHT), and cephalotaxine were measured in plasma and urine. For each treatment cycle, patients received 1.25 mg/m2 omacetaxine twice daily for 7 days. Results Mean TRA recovered was approximately 81 % of the dose, with approximately half of the radioactivity recovered in feces and half in urine. Approximately 20 % of the dose was excreted unchanged in urine; cephalotaxine (0.4 % of dose) and 4′ DMHHT (9 %) were also present. Plasma concentrations of TRA were higher than the sum of omacetaxine and known metabolites, suggesting the presence of other 14C-omacetaxine-derived compounds. Fatigue and anemia were common, consistent with the known toxicity profile of omacetaxine. Conclusion Renal and hepatic processes contribute to the elimination of 14C-omacetaxine-derived radioactivity in cancer patients. In addition to omacetaxine and its known metabolites, other 14C-omacetaxine-derived materials appear to be present in plasma and urine. Omacetaxine was adequately tolerated, with no new safety signals.
One Year after Minsk Ii: Consequences and Progress
Authors: Golanski Robert
Published: May 2016

Ukraine is currently undergoing one of the most decisive phases since its independence. It has to both contain the Russian aggression in Donbas and deal with the consequences of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula. This requires substantial effort and resources, which Ukraine is lacking. At the same time, it is also undergoing a deep and comprehensive transformation process in order to have a chance of firmly standing on its own feet. The struggle for security (survival) and the future (development) is continuing in parallel. The article argues that the Minsk II agreements are unlikely to be implemented in the foreseeable future due to the political calculations of Russia, which is playing the blame game with Ukraine. The article also reasons that Ukraine has a unique window of opportunity to focus on reforms, thus building the pillars of its future strength, as it has been able to avoid the deterioration of the security situation in the east.
Gendered Energy – Analytische Perspektiven und Potenziale der Geschlechterforschung für eine sozial-ökologische Gestaltung der Energiewende im Raum
Authors: Kanning Helga , Mölders Tanja , Hofmeister Sabine
Published: May 2016

Die Energiewende stellt einen bedeutenden Transformationsprozess dar, der Räume materiell und symbolisch verändert. Diesen Wandel nachhaltig zu gestalten, stellt eine der größten Herausforderungen auf dem Weg in eine postfossile Gesellschaft dar.

Die räumlichen Planungen müssen mit diesen Herausforderungen umgehen, das heißt, insbesondere veränderte Konstellationen zwischen Akteurinnen und Akteuren sowie die Entstehung neuer Energiesysteme, -landschaften und Raumbeziehungen in ihre Aufgabenfelder einbeziehen und ihre Instrumentarien prozedural und substanziell anpassen und weiterentwickeln. Noch befinden sich sowohl die praktische Ausgestaltung der neuen Planungsaufgaben als auch die planungswissenschaftliche Forschung zur Energiewende am Anfang.

Wir gehen davon aus, dass die Verbindung raum- und planungswissenschaftlicher Debatten zur Energiewende mit analytischen Perspektiven der nachhaltigkeitsbezogenen Geschlechterforschung besondere, noch unerschlossene Potenziale für die Gestaltung der Transformation der Energiesysteme in Richtung einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung bietet. Ausgehend von unterschiedlichen analytischen Perspektiven der sozial-ökologischen Nachhaltigkeits- und Geschlechterforschung, wonach Geschlecht als Differenz-, als Struktur-, als Prozess- sowie als epistemologische Kategorie begriffen werden kann, fragen wir danach, welche „blinden Flecken“, Gerechtigkeits- und Demokratiedefizite sowie herrschaftliche Umgangsweisen mit Natur sichtbar gemacht werden können, um so Transformationswissen für eine emanzipatorische (Um-) Gestaltung der Energiewende im Raum sowie neue Perspektiven für die raum- und planungswissenschaftliche Energieforschung zu gewinnen.
Prospective study of home use of mifepristone and misoprostol for medical abortion up to 10 weeks of pregnancy in Kazakhstan
Authors: Platais Ingrida , Tsereteli Tamar , Grebennikova Galina , Lotarevich Tatyana , Winikoff Beverly
Published: May 2016

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of at‐home medical abortion in Kazakhstan.

Methods

A comparative, non‐randomized study was undertaken at three clinics in Kazakhstan between October 10, 2013, and November 27, 2014. Women who sought medical abortion and had an intrauterine pregnancy of up to 70 days were enrolled. All participants took 200 mg mifepristone followed by 600 μg sublingual misoprostol 24–48 hours later. Women were offered the choice to take mifepristone at the clinic or at home; all took misoprostol at home. Abortion completion was assessed at an in‐clinic follow‐up appointment scheduled for all participants 2 weeks after mifepristone administration.

Results

Of 290 enrolled women, 185 (63.8%) chose to self‐administer mifepristone at home. Three (1.0%) of 289 women included in outcome analyses required surgical intervention for incomplete abortion. Therefore, the overall success rate was 99.0% (95% confidence interval 97.0%–99.7%). No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusion

Outpatient medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol is safe and effective up to 70 days of pregnancy. This service should be offered to women in Kazakhstan.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02018796
Changes in thromboelastography parameters in pregnancy, labor, and the immediate postpartum period
Authors: Shreeve Norman E. , Barry John A. , Deutsch Leah R. , Gomez Keith , Kadir Rezan A.
Published: May 2016

Objective

To demonstrate changes in clot mechanics during pregnancy, and to determine the effect that delivery has on immediate postpartum thromboelastography parameters.

Methods

In an observational cross‐sectional/longitudinal study, thromboelastography was performed on whole blood aliquots obtained from women carrying singleton pregnancies attending a center in London, UK, between December 2013 and March 2014. Thromboelastography was repeated 6 hours after delivery among patients recruited in the third trimester or labor. Bleeding questionnaires were completed and routine clinical/demographic data obtained.

Results

Overall, 112 women were included. The thromboelastography parameters were significantly correlated with length of pregnancy. From the third trimester to the postpartum period, there was a significant decrease in time until fibrin formation (R value; 5.8 vs 5.0 minutes, P = 0.036) and in time to reach a certain clot strength (amplitude of 20 mm; K value; 1.3 vs 1.1 minutes, P = 0.007). From established labor to after delivery, there was a significant increase in clot lysis at 60 minutes after the maximum amplitude of clot formation (LY60; 1.8% vs 3.1%, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

The present study describes a novel finding regarding changes in clot mechanics in late pregnancy/puerperium and supports the concept of using thromboelastography as part of the routine assessments at delivery.
The Mesoproterozoic mantle plume beneath the northern part of the Siberian craton
Authors: Gladkochub D.P. , Donskaya T.V. , Mazukabzov A.M. , Pisarevsky S.A. , Ernst R.E. , Stanevich A.M.
Published: May 2016

The study of the Mesoproterozoic (1473 ± 24 Ma) dolerites of the Olenek uplift of the Siberian craton basement has shown their petrologic and geochemical similarity to typical OIB produced with participation of a mantle plume. The dolerites are characterized by variations in the geochemical composition explained by different degrees of melting of the same source. A conclusion is drawn that the parental melts of the rocks were slightly modified by crustal contamination, as evidenced from their Nd isotope composition (εNd(T) = + 0.6 to − 0.8) and the presence of inherited zircons of four ages (2564, 2111, 2053, and 1865 Ma). Since the Siberian craton in the structure of the Nuna supercontinent (Columbia) was located relatively close to the Baltic continent and the Congo and São Francisco cratons, we assume that the Early Mesoproterozoic mafic intrusions (1500–1470 Ma) of all these cratons belong to the same large igneous province (LIP). The province formation was related to the activity of superplume (or mantle hot field), which supplied mantle matter to the lithosphere basement. The superplume core was probably located beneath the northern part of the Siberian craton, where basites are compositionally most similar to the primary mantle source.
Confirmatory factor analysis of 2 versions of the Brief Pain Inventory in an ambulatory population indicates that sleep interference should be interpreted separately
Authors: Walton David M. , Putos Joseph , Beattie Tyler , MacDermid Joy C.
Published: May 2016

Background

The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-SF) is a widely-used generic pain interference scale, however its factor structure remains unclear. An expanded 10-item version of the Interference subscale has been proposed, but the additional value of the 3 extra items has not been rigorously evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and contrast the factorial and concurrent validity of the original 7-item and 10-item versions of the BPI-SF in a large heterogeneous sample of patients with chronic pain.

Methods

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on independent subsets of the sample, and concurrent correlations with scales capturing similar constructs were evaluated.

Results

Two independent exploratory factor analyses (n = 500 each) supported a single interference factor in both the 7- and 10-item versions, while confirmatory factor analysis (N =1000) suggested that a 2-factor structure (Physical and Affective) provided better fit. A 3-factor model, where sleep interference was the third factor, improved in model fit further. There was no significant difference in model fit between the 7- and 10-item versions. Concurrent associations with measures of general health, pain intensity and pain-related cognitions were all in the anticipated direction and magnitude and were not different by version of the BPI-SF.

Conclusions and implications

The addition of 3 extra items to the original 7-item Interference subscale of the BPI-SF did not improve psychometric properties. The combined results lead us to endorse a 3-factor structure (Physical, Affective, and Sleep Interference) as the more statistically and conceptually sound option.
Finding Space and Place: Using Narrative and Imagery to Support Successful Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Enabling Programs
Authors: Andersen Clair , Edwards Ann , Wolfe Brigette
Published: May 2016

‘Riawunna’ is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘a place of learning’ for Aboriginal people, from entry level to tertiary studies, at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and operates on Hobart, Launceston and Burnie campuses. The Riawunna Centre was established to encourage Aboriginal people to aspire to higher levels of education, and to support them to be successful in their chosen course of study. One strategy developed to support the participation, retention and success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is the Murina program. During the four year period between 2010 and 2013 every student at UTAS who graduated from the Murina program and chosen to enrol in undergraduate studies has been successful in completing their courses. One of the tools used to achieve this result is the strong use of narrative and images in our teaching. This whole-person approach to teaching resonates culturally with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but is also applicable to any student of any culture, especially those who come to university tentatively and with low expectations of what they can achieve.
Circadian regulation of lipid metabolism
Authors: Gooley Joshua J
Published: May 2016

The circadian system temporally coordinates daily rhythms in feeding behaviour and energy metabolism. The objective of the present paper is to review the mechanisms that underlie circadian regulation of lipid metabolic pathways. Circadian rhythms in behaviour and physiology are generated by master clock neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN and its efferent targets in the hypothalamus integrate light and feeding signals to entrain behavioural rhythms as well as clock cells located in peripheral tissues, including the liver, adipose tissue and muscle. Circadian rhythms in gene expression are regulated at the cellular level by a molecular clock comprising a core set of clock genes/proteins. In peripheral tissues, hundreds of genes involved in lipid biosynthesis and fatty acid oxidation are rhythmically activated and repressed by clock proteins, hence providing a direct mechanism for circadian regulation of lipids. Disruption of clock gene function results in abnormal metabolic phenotypes and impaired lipid absorption, demonstrating that the circadian system is essential for normal energy metabolism. The composition and timing of meals influence diurnal regulation of metabolic pathways, with food intake during the usual rest phase associated with dysregulation of lipid metabolism. Recent studies using metabolomics and lipidomics platforms have shown that hundreds of lipid species are circadian-regulated in human plasma, including but not limited to fatty acids, TAG, glycerophospholipids, sterol lipids and sphingolipids. In future work, these lipid profiling approaches can be used to understand better the interaction between diet, mealtimes and circadian rhythms on lipid metabolism and risk for obesity and metabolic diseases.
Angiostrongylus cantonensis: a review of its distribution, molecular biology and clinical significance as a human pathogen
Authors: BARRATT JOEL , CHAN DOUGLAS , SANDARADURA INDY , MALIK RICHARD , SPIELMAN DEREK , LEE ROGAN , MARRIOTT DEBORAH , HARKNESS JOHN , ELLIS JOHN , STARK DAMIEN
Published: May 2016

Angiostrongylus cantonensisis a metastrongyloid nematode found widely in the Asia-Pacific region, and the aetiological agent of angiostrongyliasis; a disease characterized by eosinophilic meningitis.Rattusrats are definitive hosts ofA. cantonensis, while intermediate hosts include terrestrial and aquatic molluscs. Humans are dead-end hosts that usually become infected upon ingestion of infected molluscs. A presumptive diagnosis is often made based on clinical features, a history of mollusc consumption, eosinophilic pleocytosis in cerebral spinal fluid, and advanced imaging such as computed tomography. Serological tests are available for angiostrongyliasis, though many tests are still under development. While there is no treatment consensus, therapy often includes a combination of anthelmintics and corticosteroids. Angiostrongyliasis is relatively rare, but is often associated with morbidity and sometimes mortality. Recent reports suggest the parasites’ range is increasing, leading to fatalities in regions previously consideredAngiostrongylus-free, and sometimes, delayed diagnosis in newly invaded regions. Increased awareness of angiostrongyliasis would facilitate rapid diagnosis and improved clinical outcomes. This paper summarizes knowledge on the parasites’ life cycle, clinical aspects and epidemiology. The molecular biology ofAngiostrongylusspp. is also discussed. Attention is paid to the significance of angiostrongyliasis in Australia, given the recent severe cases reported from the Sydney region.
Correlation of Density Banding in Reef Coral Skeletons With Environmental Parameters: The Basis for Interpretation of Chronological Records Preserved in the Coralla of Corals
Authors: Weber Jon N. , White Eugene W. , Weber Patricia H.
Published: May 2016

Many species of scleractinian reef corals deposit aragonite skeletons with cyclic bands of higher and lower density whose periodicity is annual. As these growth bands are frequently preserved in fossil corals, attention has been focused on their possible use as environmental indicators in as much as density variations may reflect changes in water temperature and/or light intensity. Relationships between skeletal growth banding and environmental parameters have been investigated by X-radiographic examination of 1488 specimens of modern reef corals representing 31 reef localities widely distributed over the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean regions. Average monthly seawater temperature and solar radiation data are available for each locality, and the date of collection is known for each sample. Of the 47 genera and subgenera included in the study, density variations were most pronounced in skeletons of Astreopora, Coscinarea, Cyphastrea, Favia (especially species with small corallites such as F. stelligera), Goniastrea, Hydnophora (massive forms only, e.g. M. microconos), Leptoria, Montastrea (especially M. annularis, with small corallites), Pavona, Polyastra, and Plesiastrea. Less useful are Diploastrea, Diploria, and Favites (which tend to have large corallite diameters), and Goniopora, Alveopora, Porites, Siderastrea, and Stephanaria (which frequently exhibit numerous secondary density variations within the annual cycle). Despite considerable variability among different individual corals from the same population, the average thickness of the skeletal growth bands is positively correlated with mean annual water temperature. By comparing characteristics of the outermost growth increment and the date of collection with monthly records of water temperature and solar radiation, it appears that maximum skeletal density is associated with those periods of the year when seawater temperature is above average.
Taxonomic diversity estimation using rarefaction
Authors: Raup David M.
Published: May 2016

Benthic ecologists have successfully applied rarefaction techniques to the problem of compensating for the effect of sample size on apparent species diversity (= species richness). The same method can be used in studies of diversity at higher taxonomic levels (families and orders) in the fossil record where samples represent world-wide distributions of species or genera over long periods of geologic time.

Application of rarefaction to several large samples of post-Paleozoic echinoids (totaling 7,911 species) confirms the utility of the method. Rarefaction shows that the observed increase in the number of echinoid families since the Paleozoic is real in the sense that it cannot be explained solely by the increase in numbers of preserved species. There has been no statistically significant increase in the number of families since mid-Cretaceous, however. At the order level, echinoid diversity may have been nearly constant since late Triassic or early Jurassic.
Mortality among institutionalised children during the Great Famine in Ireland: bioarchaeological contextualisation of non-adult mortality rates in the Kilkenny Union Workhouse, 1846–1851
Authors: GEBER JONNY
Published: May 2016

Over half of all victims of the Great Irish Famine (1845–1852) were children. Many of these deaths took place in the union workhouses: institutions of government poor relief which for many were the last resort in a desperate struggle to survive famine-induced conditions such as starvation and infectious disease. Archaeological excavations of a mass burial ground dating to 1847–1851 at the former workhouse in Kilkenny City have provided the opportunity to undertake a detailed interdisciplinary exploration of non-adult mortality in an Irish workhouse during the height of the Famine.
Street Politics in a Hybrid Regime: The Diffusion of Political Activism in Post-colonial Hong Kong
Authors: Cheng Edmund W.
Published: May 2016

This paper examines the diffusion of activism in post-colonial Hong Kong through the lens of the political regime and eventful analysis. It first reveals the institutional foundations of the hybrid regime that allowed the creation of a nascent movement society. It then explains how the historic 1 July rally in 2003 and a series of critical events since 2006 have led to a shift in scale and the public staging of street politics. A time-series analysis and onsite survey further capture the dynamics that spawned the collective recognition of grievances and reduced participation costs, leading to the Umbrella Movement. While the spontaneous, voluntary and decentralized organizational structure sustained protest momentum, the regime has adopted hybrid strategies to counter-mobilize bottom-up activism. The result is widening contention between the state and civil society and within civil society, or the coexistence of regime instability and regime longevity, a trend that is increasingly common in hybrid regimes encountering mass protests.
Clarifying dementia risk factors: treading in murky waters
Authors: Amjad Halima , Oh Esther S.
Published: May 2016

In light of the growing burden of dementia, continued research into risk factors and potential contributors to disease development is essential. Clearly established risk factors can not only inform our understanding of disease pathophysiology and treatments but also identify potential preventive strategies. While age and the ApoE4 allele have consistently been shown to increase risk of developing dementia (Kukull et al., 2002), other risk factors have been less studied or have had inconsistent findings. The study by Booker and colleagues (Booker et al., 2016) re-examines proposed late-life medical risk factors for incident dementia in a large population-based case-control study. This important contribution is best interpreted in the context of existing research.
Radiofrequency ablation of atrial tachyarrhythmias in adults with tetralogy of Fallot – predictors of success and outcome
Authors: Ezzat Vivienne A. , Ryan Matthew J. , O’Leary Justin , Ariti Cono , Deanfield John , Pandya Bejal , Cullen Shay , Walker Fiona , Khan Fakhar , Abrams Dominic J. , Lambiase Pier D. , Lowe Martin D.
Published: May 2016

Background

Adults with tetralogy of Fallot experience atrial tachyarrhythmias; however, there are a few data on the outcomes of radiofrequency ablation. We examined the characteristics, outcome, and predictors of recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias after radiofrequency ablation in tetralogy of Fallot patients.

Methods/results

Retrospective data were collected from 2004 to 2013. In total, 56 ablations were performed on 37 patients. We identified two matched controls per case: patients with tetralogy of Fallot but no radiofrequency ablation and not known to have atrial tachyarrhythmias. Acute success was 98%. Left atrial arrhythmias increased in frequency over time. The mean follow-up was 41 months; 78% were arrhythmia-free. Number of cardiac surgeries, age, and presence of atrial fibrillation were predictors of recurrence. Lone cavo-tricuspid isthmus-dependent flutter reduced the likelihood of atrial fibrillation. Right and left atria in patients with tetralogy of Fallot were larger in ablated cases than controls. NYHA class was worse in cases and improved after ablation; baseline status predicted death. Of matched non-ablated controls, a number of them had atrial fibrillation. These patients were excluded from the case–control study but analysed separately. Most of them had died during follow-up, whereas of the matched ablated cases all were alive and the majority in sinus rhythm.

Conclusion

Patients with tetralogy of Fallot and atrial tachyarrhythmias have more dilated atria than those without atrial tachyarrhythmias. Radiofrequency ablation improves functional status. Left atrial ablation is more commonly required with repeat procedures. There is a high prevalence of atrial tachyarrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, in patients with tetralogy of Fallot; early radiofrequency ablation may have a protective effect against this.
Assessment and Treatment of Adult Acute Responses to Traumatic Stress Following Mass Traumatic Events
Authors: Watson Patricia J. , Shalev Arieh Y.
Published: May 2016

Assessment and treatment of acute responses to traumatic stress has received much attention since September 11, 2001. This article elucidates principles of early intervention with adults in the immediate (within 48 hours) and early recovery phase (within the first week). The principles have been drawn from research on risk and recover factors, stress and traumatic stress theory, and expert consensus recommendations. The debriefing model is discussed, and principle interventions of psychological first aid, pharmacology, and mass trauma systems are described. This article concludes with brief guidelines for longer-term interventions and recommendations for future research.
Gender Differences in Reactions to Fact Checking of Negative Commercials
Authors: Fridkin Kim L. , Courey Jillian , Hernandez Samantha , Spears Joshua
Published: May 2016

One of most negative campaigns in history may have taken place during the 2014 Senate election cycle. Nearly 75% of senate ads aired during a two-week period in early fall of 2014 showed a candidate in a negative light, according to the Wesleyan Media Project. A postelection analysis by the Center for Public Integrity showed that 46% of the more than one million ads aired during the 2014 senate campaigns were negative. And, in the most competitive states, the proportion of negative ads was even higher (e.g., 67% in North Carolina, 58% in Kansas). Negative advertisements sponsored by candidates, interest groups, and political parties are being launched on the airways, in newspapers, on radio, and via the Internet at an unprecedented pace. These advertisements, however, are now routinely subjected to fact checking. The Washington Post, along with many other fact-checking organizations, such as PolitiFact, The AP Factcheck, and Factcheck.org, examine thousands of statements and political advertisements during campaigns to determine the accuracy of the claims. For instance, during the 2012 election cycle, PolitiFact had 36 reporters and editors working in 11 states producing more than 800 fact checks on the presidential campaign and hundreds more for candidates running for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
Just the Facts? Media Coverage of Female and Male High Court Appointees in Five Democracies
Authors: Escobar-Lemmon Maria C. , Hoekstra Valerie , Kang Alice , Kittilson Miki Caul
Published: May 2016

In this article, we examine gender differences in news media portrayals of nominees to high courts and whether those differences vary across country and time. Although past research has examined gender differences in news media coverage of candidates for elective office, few studies have looked at media coverage of high court nominees. As women are increasingly nominated to courts around the world, it is important to examine how nominations are covered by the news media and whether there is significant variation in coverage based on gender. We analyze media coverage of high court justices in five democracies: Argentina, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United States. We compare coverage of women appointed to the highest court with coverage of the most temporally proximate male nominees. We also compare coverage over time within each country as well as between countries that nominated women early with those that did so more recently. We find some evidence of gendered coverage, especially with regard to the attention paid to the gender of the women appointees.
On the development of a novel high VSWR programmable impedance tuner
Authors: Curutchet Arnaud , Ghiotto Anthony , Potéreau Manuel , De Matos Magali , Fregonese Sébastien , Kerhervé Eric , Zimmer Thomas
Published: May 2016

Impedance tuners are key instruments used for load- and source–pull measurements. They are crucial for any active microwave components, circuits, and systems characterization and optimization. This paper reports theoretical, simulated, and experimental results related to the development of a novel programmable impedance tuner offering high-voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). After presenting the proposed tuner principle, a fabricated prototype operating at microwave frequencies and based on a 3.5 mm coaxial line is introduced with experimental results. Depending on the targeted frequency band, different pairs of slugs, with optimized length and characteristic impedance, can be used to obtain an optimal VSWR. This first prototype allowed us to demonstrate the interest of the proposed impedance synthesis principle and to identify ways forward to further improve its performances and push forward this promising technology.
Belief in a Just World and Self-Efficacy to Promote Justice in the World Predict Helping Attitudes, but only among Volunteers
Authors: Correia Isabel , Salvado Sara , Alves Helder V.
Published: May 2016

Previous studies have shown that willingness to help particular victims is predicted separately, or in combination, by the belief in a just world (BJW) and self-efficacy to promote justice in the world (SEJW). Our goal was to extend this knowledge by studying general attitudes towards helping and the association between BJW and SEJW in people that do volunteer service, and by comparing the predictive power of two spheres of BJW, personal BJW and general BJW, on helping attitudes. We measured personal BJW, general BJW, SEJW and helping attitudes in two samples (one comprising university students and the other only volunteers). The results differed in the two samples. For volunteers endorsing strong self-efficacy to promote justice in the world, personal BJW was associated positively with helping attitudes (p = .007). For participants endorsing weak self-efficacy to promote justice in the world, personal BJW was not associated with helping attitudes in either sample. General BJW was not associated with helping attitudes in either sample, either independently or in interaction with self-efficacy to promote justice in the world. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
Cross-Cultural Invariance of Emotional Skills and Competence Questionnaire between Portugal and Croatia
Authors: Costa Ana , Faria Luísa , Takšić Vladimir
Published: May 2016

Emotional intelligence (EI) and its measures have been widespread across several countries and cultures and the need for valid and robust measures that could expand research on international settings is on the current agenda. This study aimed to assess the measurement invariance of a widely used self-report EI measure, Emotional Skills and Competence Questionnaire (ESCQ), in two cultural contexts (Portugal vs. Croatia). The ESCQ, a 42-item self-report EI scale which comprises three dimensions – Perceive and Understand Emotion, Express and Label Emotion and Manage and Regulate Emotion - was administered to 1,188 Portuguese and Croatian secondary students. The results showed that the ESCQ had satisfactory reliability and the three-factor structure was replicated on both country samples. Configural (χ2 = 308.71, df = 220, p < .01; RMSEA = .030, CFI = .956, TLI = .948) and partial metric (Δχ2 = 9.102, Δdf = 10, p = .522; ΔCFI = −.01, ΔRMSEA = .002) and scalar (Δχ2 = 15.290, Δdf = 21, p = .083; ΔCFI = .001, ΔRMSEA = .006) invariances were supported across groups. This EI measure invariance cross-cultural study highlighted cultural particularities related to emotional competence in Portugal and Croatia contexts and contributed to bring awareness to the validity of cross-cultural studies in the emotional abilities field.
Wie vermeidet man die Miktion? Eine Frage, die sich nicht nur Kinder stellen
Authors: Jäckel Kristian , Schwab Christoph , Knechtle Beat
Published: May 2016

Zusammenfassung. Wir berichten über eine 53-jährige Kioskbetreiberin, die mit einem akuten Harnverhalt auffällig wurde. Als Diagnose konnte eine unteraktive Blase gestellt werden, die entstehen kann, wenn die Blase chronisch überdehnt wird, was in ­ihrer Situation darauf zurückzuführen war, dass sie lange miktionsfreie Zeiten einhalten musste, da sie den Kiosk nicht unbeaufsichtigt lassen durfte. Therapieversuche mit Myocholin und auch eine sakrale Neuromodulation führten nicht zu einer ausreichenden Besserung; die Blase blieb hyperkapazitativ. Die Therapie besteht weiterhin in einer Urinableitung mittels Zystostoma.
Hearts deficient in both Mfn1 and Mfn2 are protected against acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Hall A R , Burke N , Dongworth R K , Kalkhoran S B , Dyson A , Vicencio J M , Dorn G W , Yellon D M , Hausenloy D J
Published: May 2016

Mitochondria alter their shape by undergoing cycles of fusion and fission. Changes in mitochondrial morphology impact on the cellular response to stress, and their interactions with other organelles such as the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Inhibiting mitochondrial fission can protect the heart against acute ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the role of the mitochondrial fusion proteins, Mfn1 and Mfn2, in the response of the adult heart to acute I/R injury is not clear, and is investigated in this study. To determine the effect of combined Mfn1/Mfn2 ablation on the susceptibility to acute myocardial I/R injury, cardiac-specific ablation of both Mfn1 and Mfn2 (DKO) was initiated in mice aged 4–6 weeks, leading to knockout of both these proteins in 8–10-week-old animals. This resulted in fragmented mitochondria (electron microscopy), decreased mitochondrial respiratory function (respirometry), and impaired myocardial contractile function (echocardiography). In DKO mice subjected to in vivo regional myocardial ischemia (30 min) followed by 24 h reperfusion, myocardial infarct size (IS, expressed as a % of the area-at-risk) was reduced by 46% compared with wild-type (WT) hearts. In addition, mitochondria from DKO animals had decreased MPTP opening susceptibility (assessed by Ca2+-induced mitochondrial swelling), compared with WT hearts. Mfn2 is a key mediator of mitochondrial/SR tethering, and accordingly, the loss of Mfn2 in DKO hearts reduced the number of interactions measured between these organelles (quantified by proximal ligation assay), attenuated mitochondrial calcium overload (Rhod2 confocal microscopy), and decreased reactive oxygen species production (DCF confocal microscopy) in response to acute I/R injury. No differences in isolated mitochondrial ROS emissions (Amplex Red) were detected in response to Ca2+ and Antimycin A, further implicating disruption of mitochondria/SR tethering as the protective mechanism. In summary, despite apparent mitochondrial dysfunction, hearts deficient in both Mfn1 and Mfn2 are protected against acute myocardial infarction due to impaired mitochondria/SR tethering.