bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oral chronic GVHD outcomes and resource utilization: a subanalysis from the chronic GVHD consortium
Authors: Yuan A , Chai X , Martins F , Arai S , Arora M , Correa ME , Pidala J , Cutler CS , Lee SJ , Treister NS
Published: December 2015

Objectives

This study evaluated the extent to which oral chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (cGVHD) consensus assessments are predictive of management across institutions with and without oral medicine (OM) centers, and whether ancillary care guidelines are followed within clinical practice.

Methods

Longitudinal oral cGVHD data were abstracted from the cGVHD Consortium, and additional mouth‐specific management data were analyzed across five transplant centers.

Results

Seventy‐nine patients with 656 visits were observed for a median of 7.1 months with one visit per follow‐up month. Ancillary therapies for oral cGVHD were prescribed for 67% of patients for a median of 0.46 months (per follow‐up month) at OM centers and 0.78 months at non‐OM centers. Patients treated with ancillary therapy were more likely to have an National Institutes of Health (NIH) mouth score of ≥1 (P < 0.001, odds ratio: 5.1) and mouth pain (P = 0.01, odds ratio: 2.6). The odds ratios of receiving ancillary therapy from OM experts were higher than transplant physicians (53%; P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Oral cGVHD consensus assessments corresponding with ancillary therapy use were mouth pain and NIH mouth score, with higher odds ratios of receiving therapy from OM experts. Ancillary care guidelines for oral cGVHD are reflected in academic clinical practice with respect to utilization of recommended prescriptions.
PERSONALIZATION AND STREET‐LEVEL PRACTICE IN ACTIVATION: THE CASE OF THE UK'S WORK PROGRAMME
Authors: FUERTES VANESA , LINDSAY COLIN
Published: December 2015

This article discusses factors shaping street‐level caseworkers' role in the ‘personalization’ of activation for people with employability and health‐related barriers to work. Rice's (2013) micro‐institutionalist framework understands street‐level bureaucracy as being defined across three levels: interactions between caseworkers and clients; the environment of the implementing organization that shapes, and is shaped by, these interactions; and the relationship between these two levels of interaction and the wider economic, policy and social context. While building on the foundations laid by previous scholars, we use Rice's framework as the starting point for a preliminary study of street‐level bureaucrats' role in compulsory activation. We analyse in‐depth interviews with caseworkers and clients involved in the UK government's main activation programme – ‘The Work Programme’. Our findings support other studies and add to the literature by suggesting that a number of organizational and high‐level policy factors have contributed to an increasing standardization of street‐level practice.
Reconsidering Korea's FTA with China in Its Economic Security
Authors: Lee Manhee
Published: December 2015

This paper explores how to keep a balance between liberalistic and realistic perspectives in Korea's free trade agreement (FTA) with China by analyzing nations’ FTA strategies. The United States uses the FTA as a supplementary to fulfill its grand strategy, while China employs it as a way to prevent the emergence of an anti‐China bloc and to reduce its vulnerability. Their strategic thinking marks the FTA as crucial in attaining these non‐economic and economic objectives. Differed FTA strategies pose a task for a higher‐cost economy to take a balanced posture in its FTA with a low‐cost economy. This feature urges Korea to attempt it for the sake of fostering economic prosperity as well as security in its FTA with China. As a way to practice it, Korea should reconsider Japan's and ASEAN's reoriented behaviors in their relations with China. Under growing asymmetrical interdependence, they resort to the alliance with the United States while maximizing economic benefits in trade with China. Korea can also take a balanced posture by increasing economic benefits in its economic relations with China and by consolidating its ties with the United States. Growing Korea–China interdependence increases their opportunity costs of troubles in trade. Not only the costs, but also the Korea–US ties would constrain China to have an incentive to use its economic advantage in managing the power relations with Korea. Another way to practice it is to undertake a hub and participate at more multilateral regimes. Currently, the Trans‐Pacific Partnership would be an alternative. Reshaping resources diplomacy and improving Korea's image from a Chinese perspective could be adopted as supplementary to attaining economic security in the relations with China.
Think outside the sieve element!
Authors: Knoblauch Michael , Peters Winfried S.
Published: December 2015

This article comments on: Allocation, stress tolerance and carbon transport in plants: how does phloem physiology affect plant ecology?
Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Ag+‐ and Sn2+‐Doped KTi0.5Te1.5O6
Authors: Guje Ravinder , Gundeboina Ravi , Reddy Jitta Raju , Veldurthi Naveen Kumar , Kurra Sreenu , Vithal Muga
Published: December 2015

In this study, the photocatalytic dye degradation efficiency of KTi0.5Te1.5O6 synthesized through solid‐state method was enhanced by cation (Ag+/Sn+2) doping at potassium site via ion exchange method. As prepared materials were characterized by XRD, SEM‐EDS, IR, TGA and UV–Vis Diffuse reflectance spectroscopic (DRS) techniques. All the compounds were crystallized in cubic lattice with space group. The bandgap energies of parent, Ag+‐ and Sn+2‐doped KTi0.5Te1.5O6 materials obtained from DRS profiles were found to be 2.96, 2.55 and 2.40 eV, respectively. Photocatalytic efficiency of parent, Ag+‐ and Sn+2‐doped materials was evaluated against the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl violet (MV) dyes under visible light irradiation. The Sn+2‐doped KTi0.5Te1.5O6 showed higher activity toward the degradation of both MB and MV dyes and its higher activity is ascribed to the lower bandgap energy compared to the parent and Ag+‐doped KTi0.5Te1.5O6. The mechanistic degradation pathway of methylene blue (MB) was studied in the presence of Sn2+‐doped KTi0.5Te1.5O6. Quenching experiments were performed to know the participation of holes, super oxide and hydroxyl radicals in the dye degradation process. The stability and reusability of the catalysts were studied.
Simple sequence repeat markers support the presence of a single genotype of Puccinia psidii in Australia
Authors: Sandhu K. S. , Karaoglu H. , Zhang P. , Park R. F.
Published: December 2015

A non‐native rust of Myrtaceae was first detected in Australia in 2010, and was later identified as Puccinia psidii. The presence of many native species of Myrtaceae and a lack of understanding of genetic variability in P. psidii in Australia led to the current study. Low coverage genome sequencing of P. psidii suggested a genome size of c. 142 Mb. A set of 240 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers was designed based on the genome sequence information generated. Seventeen isolates of P. psidii comprising 14 from Australia, two from Brazil and one from Hawaii were selected to study genetic variation in the pathogen. Out of 240 initially screened markers, 74% showed amplification among P. psidii isolates and 38% were polymorphic. Primers were fluorescently labelled and genotyping revealed three distinct genotypes among the isolates: one comprising Australian isolates and an isolate from Hawaii, and the second and third comprising two Brazilian isolates. Locus USYD_Pp151 produced a fourth genotype for the Hawaiian isolate of P. psidii. Markers revealed that all Australian isolates were genetically similar to the one from Hawaii. There was no genetic variation among the Australian isolates of P. psidii, supporting the hypothesis that only one genotype of P. psidii was introduced into Australia. The SSR markers developed in this study are highly specific to P. psidii and can be used confidently as a new profiling tool to monitor evolution of P. psidii in Australia and elsewhere.
The strategic use of patents and standards for new product development knowledge transfer
Authors: Großmann Anne‐Marie , Filipović Ellen , Lazina Luisa
Published: December 2015

In this article, we develop a theoretical understanding of patenting and standardization strategies and analyze their practical implementation for in‐ and outbound knowledge transfer in new product development processes. Our case study consists of two original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and one supplier active in the global automotive industry. We consult extensive external and company documents as well as interviews with 13 company experts. Although our theoretical considerations suggest that standardization, patenting and their interrelation can be of considerable importance for knowledge transfer in new product development and innovation processes, this is hardly implemented in practice. The resources devoted to patenting by far outweigh those for the standardization process. Neither of the OEMs have their standardization strategy linked to their new product development processes; only patenting strategies are considered in the new product development processes. The surveyed supplier, however, uses standardization strategically. We further consider how a standardization strategy should relate to the patenting strategy in terms of generating the most beneficial outcome for knowledge transfer. We recommend an integrated standardization strategy that is analogously to the patenting strategy and tied to the new product development process.
Subject‐Relative Reasons for Love
Authors: Naar Hichem
Published: December 2015

Can love be an appropriate response to a person? In this paper, I argue that it can. First, I discuss the reasons why we might think this question should be answered in the negative. This will help us clarify the question itself. Then I argue that, even though extant accounts of reasons for love are inadequate, there remains the suspicion that there must be something about people which make our love for them appropriate. Being lovable, I contend, is what makes our love for them appropriate, just as being fearsome is what makes our fear of certain situations appropriate. I finally propose a general account of this property which avoids the major problems facing the extant accounts of reasons for love.
Healthcare professionals’ descriptions of care experiences and actions when assessing postoperative pain – a critical incident technique analysis
Authors: Wikström Lotta , Eriksson Kerstin , Fridlund Bengt , Årestedt Kristofer , Broström Anders
Published: December 2015

Background

Pain is a common postoperative symptom, and length of hospital stay after surgery is short which highlights the importance of pain assessments. Experiences of assessing pain are mainly described from the perspective of nurses. In postoperative care, enrolled nurses and physicians also assess pain. It is therefore important to take note of their experiences to improve postoperative pain assessments.

Objectives

The aim of this study was, through considering critical incidents, to describe care experiences and actions taken by healthcare professionals when assessing postoperative pain.

Methods

An explorative design employing critical incidents technique analysis was used. A total of 24 strategically selected enrolled nurses, nurses and physicians employed at orthopaedic or general surgery wards in four Swedish hospitals were interviewed. The intention was to reach variation in age, sex, profession and professional experience.

Findings

In pain assessments, patient‐related facilitators were patients’ verbal and emotional expressions including pain ratings, while lack of consistency with observed behaviours was a barrier. Clinical competence, continuity in care and time were healthcare‐related facilitators. The actions healthcare professionals took were gathering facts about patients’ pain manifestations and adapting to patients’ communication abilities. Patient observations, either passive or active were used to confirm or detect pain. Collaboration between healthcare professionals, including consultations with pain experts, social workers and relatives, strengthened understanding of pain.

Conclusions

Communication skills and working conditions have an impact on performance of pain assessment. Patient comfort without compromising safety is reached by including healthcare professionals’ dissimilar responsibilities when collecting patients’ and relatives’ perspectives on current pain.
Everyday Inclusions: Rethinking Ethnocracy, Kafala, and Belonging in the Arabian Peninsula
Authors: Vora Neha , Koch Natalie
Published: December 2015

Scholarship on Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) states, which have the highest proportions of migrants in the world, usually explores how they are unique in their patterns of non‐citizen exclusion. However, state discourses, geographies, and the heterogeneity of migration to the Gulf share similar traits with contemporary nations and states. Non‐citizens are, as they are everywhere, active participants in Gulf state‐ and nation‐building projects. Aiming to advance scholarship on belonging in the GCC states, in this paper, we propose a shift in focus from exclusion to inclusion in the way research questions are asked about Gulf societies and the people who reside in them. Doing so, we suggest, requires unpacking two hegemonic concepts in the regional studies scholarship: ‘ethnocracy’ and kafala. In their current usage, both terms have become ‘black boxed’, or reified, such that scholars have largely come to accept and reproduce the exceptionalism of the Gulf and refrain from asking a number of critical questions about the region, which might highlight the GCC states' fundamental normalcy. Through a reflexive approach that draws from our own previous and current research in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, we suggest ways that we might move beyond the rigidity of exclusion‐centred narratives about the Gulf and instead consider the various ways that Gulf nationalisms themselves hail the non‐citizen presence, and how non‐citizens participate in discourses and practices of nationalism as well as statecraft in ways that cannot be reduced to nationality, class, race, or religion.
Authentic, Original, and Valuable: Stabilizing the Genetic Identity in Non‐human and Human Populations in Finland
Authors: Tupasela Aaro , Tamminen Sakari
Published: December 2015

The idea of genetic authenticity and origin has been an important issue within genetics for decades for scientific, political, and economic reasons. The question of where species and populations come from, as well as the linking of genetic traits to particular geographical locations, has resurfaced as both a scientific and political site of interest more recently through the study of population genetics in both humans and non‐humans. This article explores the ways in which genetics and notions of ‘authentic’, ‘indigenous’, and ‘endemic’ have become intertwined with everyday practices in research. Using the case of human and non‐human genetics to compare and contrast the various facets associated with genetic identity, we seek to develop a broader picture of the ways in which genetics plays an important role in stabilizing categories of origin.
Increased B Regulatory Phenotype in Non‐Metastatic Lymph Nodes of Node‐Positive Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Mehdipour F. , Razmkhah M. , Hosseini A. , Bagheri M. , Safaei A. , Talei A.‐R. , Ghaderi A.
Published: December 2015

Tumour‐draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are centre in orchestrating the immune responses against cancer. The cellularity and lymphocyte subpopulations change in the process of cancer progression and lymph node involvement. B lymphocyte subsets and their function in breast cancer‐draining lymph nodes have not been well elucidated. Here, we studied the influence of tumour metastasis on the frequencies of different B cell subsets including naïve and memory B cells as well as those which are known to be enriched in the regulatory pool in TDLNs of 30 patients with breast cancer. Lymphocytes were obtained from a fresh piece of each lymph node and stained for CD19 and other B cell‐associated markers and subjected to flow cytometry. Our investigation revealed that metastatic TDLN showed a significant decrease in active, memory and class‐switched B cells while the frequencies of B cells with regulatory phenotypes were not changed. However, CD27hiCD25+ and CD1dhiCD5+ B regulatory subsets significantly increased in non‐metastatic lymph nodes (nMLNs) of node‐positive patients compared with node‐negative patients. Our data provided evidence that in breast cancer, metastasis of tumour to axillary lymph nodes altered B cell populations in favour of resting, inactive and unswitched phenotypes. We assume that the lymphatic involvement may cause an increase in a subset of regulatory B cells in non‐metastatic lymph nodes.
Barriers and Enablers to Safeguarding Children and Adults within a Disability Services Context: Insights from an Australian Delphi Study
Authors: Ottmann Goetz , McVilly Keith , Anderson Julie , Chapman Jessica , Karlyawasam Imalka , Roy Alana , Satari Nahila , Stefano Adam
Published: December 2015

Research conducted in the 1990s revealed the tragic irony that exposure to the disability support system, and particularly to its institutional forms, was a major risk factor related to the neglect and abuse of children and adults with a disability. Subsequently, a range of policies have been introduced to minimize risk. However, recurring events of abuse and neglect in the disability services sector in high and middle income countries demonstrate that processes geared to safeguard children and adults with a disability from abuse and neglect remain insufficient. To establish the wider fabric of organizational factors that contribute to effective safeguarding practices within the Australian disability support sector, a modified online Delphi study was conducted, capturing the views of disability services staff and managers (n = 249) regarding barriers and enablers to effective safeguarding. This study identified issues concerning organizational culture, management practice, workforce development, client capacity building and contextual factors. During Round Two of the Delphi, participants were asked to rate the categorized enabler statements according to importance on a 10‐point Likert scale, to ascertain the degree of consensus. A total of 262 of the statements were regarded as important or very important. The Delphi result highlighted the considerable gap between the wider systemic and cultural processes that, in the eyes of disability services staff and management, contribute to good safeguarding practice and the safeguarding measures currently in place. The article calls for a holistic approach to safeguarding that addresses procedural issues and to the transformation of the wider systemic and cultural fabric of an organization.
Detection of 549 new HLA alleles in potential stem cell donors from the United States, Poland and Germany
Authors: Hernández‐Frederick C. J. , Cereb N. , Giani A. S. , Ruppel J. , Maraszek A. , Pingel J. , Sauter J. , Schmidt A. H. , Yang S. Y.
Published: December 2015

We characterized 549 new human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and class II alleles found in newly registered stem cell donors as a result of high‐throughput HLA typing. New alleles include 101 HLA‐A, 132 HLA‐B, 105 HLA‐C, 2 HLA‐DRB1, 89 HLA‐DQB1 and 120 HLA‐DPB1 alleles. Mainly, new alleles comprised single nucleotide variations when compared with homologous sequences. We identified nonsynonymous nucleotide mutations in 70.7% of all new alleles, synonymous variations in 26.4% and nonsense substitutions in 2.9% (null alleles). Some new alleles (55, 10.0%) were found multiple times, HLA‐DPB1 alleles being the most frequent among these. Furthermore, as several new alleles were identified in individuals from ethnic minority groups, the relevance of recruiting donors belonging to such groups and the importance of ethnicity data collection in donor centers and registries is highlighted.
Innate lymphoid cells and the MHC
Authors: Robinette M. L. , Colonna M.
Published: December 2015

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a new class of immune cells that include natural killer (NK) cells and appear to be the innate counterparts to CD4+ helper T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells based on developmental and functional similarities. Like T cells, both NK cells and other ILCs also show connections to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In human and mouse, NK cells recognize and respond to classical and nonclassical MHC I molecules as well as structural homologues, whereas mouse ILCs have recently been shown to express MHC II. We describe the history of MHC I recognition by NK cells and discuss emerging roles for MHC II expression by ILC subsets, making comparisons between both mouse and human when possible.
Description of the novel HLA‐DQB1*02:02:01:02 allele in a Spanish individual
Authors: Montero‐Martín G. , Cervera I. , Teniente‐Serra A. , Fonolleda M. , Martinez‐Laso J.
Published: December 2015

HLA‐DQB1*02:02:01:02 has an intron sequences coming from a combination of DQB1*02:01:01 and DQB1*02:02:01:01.
Fewer cytomegalovirus complications after kidney transplantation by de novo use of mTOR inhibitors in comparison to mycophenolic acid
Authors: Radtke J. , Dietze N. , Spetzler V.N. , Fischer L. , Achilles E.‐G. , Li J. , Scheidat S. , Thaiss F. , Nashan B. , Koch M.
Published: December 2015

Background

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a risk factor for patient and graft survival after kidney transplantation.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed risk factors for CMV infection in 348 patients who received a kidney transplant donated after brain death (n = 232) or by living donation (n = 116) between 2008 and 2013. Of the 348 patients analyzed, 91 received a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor (mTORi)‐based immunosuppressive regimen. A total of 266 patients were treated with standard immunosuppression (Group 1) consisting of basiliximab induction, calcineurin inhibitor (CNI), and either mycophenolic acid (MPA, n = 219) or everolimus (EVE) (n = 47). We also included 82 patients who received more intense immunosuppression (Group 2) with lymphocyte depletion, CNI, plus either MPA (n = 38) or EVE (n = 44). Only patients in the high‐risk constellation received CMV prophylaxis in Group 1, while all patients in Group 2 received prophylaxis for 6 month.

Results

The overall rate of CMV infections was low with 10.1% in all patients. Despite the different prophylaxis strategies applied, no difference was seen in CMV infections between Group 1 (10.9%) and Group 2 (13.6%). A multivariate analysis revealed that patients on EVE had fewer CMV complications compared with patients on MPA (P = 0.013, odds ratio [OR] 4.8, confidence interval [CI] 1.4–16.5). Donor and recipient age >65 years was an independent risk factor (P = 0.002, OR 3.2, CI 1.5–6.7) for CMV infections. Patients with CMV infections had significantly worse graft function after 2 years (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

CMV is a significant risk factor for long‐term graft outcome. Patients treated with EVE developed fewer CMV complications compared to patients on MPA. The use of mTORi is useful in patients at high risk of developing CMV infections.
ABI4 mediates antagonistic effects of abscisic acid and gibberellins at transcript and protein levels
Authors: Shu Kai , Chen Qian , Wu Yaorong , Liu Ruijun , Zhang Huawei , Wang Pengfei , Li Yanli , Wang Shengfu , Tang Sanyuan , Liu Chunyan , Yang Wenyu , Cao Xiaofeng , Serino Giovanna , Xie Qi
Published: December 2015

Abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs) are plant hormones which antagonistically mediate numerous physiological processes, and their optimal balance is essential for normal plant development. However, the molecular mechanism underlying ABA and GA antagonism still needs to be determined. Here, we report that ABA‐INSENSITIVE 4 (ABI4) is a central factor in GA/ABA homeostasis and antagonism in post‐germination stages. ABI4 overexpression in Arabidopsis (OE‐ABI4) leads to developmental defects including a decrease in plant height and poor seed production. The transcription of a key ABA biosynthetic gene, NCED6, and of a key GA catabolic gene, GA2ox7, is significantly enhanced by ABI4 overexpression. ABI4 activates NCED6 and GA2ox7 transcription by directly binding to the promoters, and genetic analysis revealed that mutation in these two genes partially rescues the dwarf phenotype of ABI4 overexpressing plants. Consistently, ABI4 overexpressing seedlings have a lower GA/ABA ratio than the wild type. We further show that ABA induces GA2ox7 transcription while GA represses NCED6 expression in an ABI4‐dependent manner; and that ABA stabilizes the ABI4 protein whereas GA promotes its degradation. Taken together, these results suggest that ABA and GA antagonize each other by oppositely acting on ABI4 transcript and protein levels.
Influence of early irradiation on in vitro red blood cell (RBC) storage variables of leucoreduced RBCs in additive solution SAG‐M
Authors: Hauck‐Dlimi B. , Braun T. , Eckstein R. , Strobel J. , Zimmermann R.
Published: December 2015

Background

The only accepted way to avoid transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease is irradiation of blood components. With respect to irradiation and associated storage time, different recommendations exist. We examined early irradiated (day +3) leucoreduced red blood cell units for irradiation‐associated damages during storage.

Study Design and Methods

We studied 80 leucoreduced units from two manufacturers. All RBCs were stored in the additive solution saline‐adenine‐glucose‐mannitol (SAG‐M) and leucoreduced on collection day. Forty components were irradiated on day +3 with 30 Gy, 40 served as non‐irradiated controls. Samples were drawn and analysed from these 80 units on days +3, +7, +14, +21, +28, +35 and +42.

Results

From day +14, there was a significant difference in the in vitro haemolysis rate between the non‐irradiated and the irradiated components. Two of the irradiated units showed a haemolysis rate over the recommended limit of 0·8% on day +42. Potassium and lactate dehydrogenase activity increased faster in irradiated groups during storage.

Conclusions

Our findings show that leucoreduced RBCs which are irradiated early after collection show an obvious radiation damage over storage period. Interestingly, on days +28, +35 and +42 the quality of RBCs which were irradiated on day +3 was nearly identical to the quality of RBCs which were irradiated on day +14 in a former series. Early irradiation does not cause more damage of RBCs during subsequent storage than irradiation on day +14. The maximum storage period of irradiated RBCs should remain restricted to 28 days from collection, however independently from the day of irradiation within this period.
Consequences of screening English blood donors for HHV‐8 antibodies. Is it worth it?
Authors: Tettmar K. I. , Tuke P. W. , Webster M. , Lattimore S. , Kitchen A. D. , Schulz T. F. , Tedder R. S.
Published: December 2015

Background

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV‐8) is the causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma which is of concern in organ transplantation due to transmission through either the donor organ or any associated blood components to immunologically susceptible patients. The prevalence of HHV‐8 in the UK has not been widely investigated. In this study, the seroprevalence of HHV‐8 in English blood donors was measured and the performance of confirmatory assays evaluated.

Materials and Methods

Donation samples from 5009 English blood donors were screened for antibodies to HHV‐8. A combination of four different serological and molecular assays was used to investigate any IgG reactivity identified.

Results

HHV‐8 repeatable serological reactivity in English blood donors was 0·7% but could not be confirmed as specific due to a lack of concordance in the confirmatory assays.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the seroprevalence of HHV‐8 is extremely low amongst English donors. These data confirm findings from other studies which suggest a poor predictiveness of HHV‐8 serological assays, especially when used to screen asymptomatic populations. Where a change in donor demography can be anticipated in the UK, further seroprevalence studies should be considered, but only after careful evaluation and selection of the screening and confirmatory assays used.
Atomic layer deposition on polymer fibers and fabrics for multifunctional and electronic textiles
Authors: Brozena Alexandra H. , Oldham Christopher J. , Parsons Gregory N.
Published: December 2015

Textile materials, including woven cotton, polymer knit fabrics, and synthetic nonwoven fiber mats, are being explored as low-cost, flexible, and light-weight platforms for wearable electronic sensing, communication, energy generation, and storage. The natural porosity and high surface area in textiles is also useful for new applications in environmental protection, chemical decontamination, pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing, catalytic support, tissue regeneration, and others. These applications raise opportunities for new chemistries, chemical processes, biological coupling, and nanodevice systems that can readily combine with textile manufacturing to create new “multifunctional” fabrics. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has a unique ability to form highly uniform and conformal thin films at low processing temperature on nonuniform high aspect ratio surfaces. Recent research shows how ALD can coat, modify, and otherwise improve polymer fibers and textiles by incorporating new materials for viable electronic and other multifunctional capabilities. This article provides a current overview of the understanding of ALD coating and modification of textiles, including current capabilities and outstanding problems, with the goal of providing a starting point for further research and advances in this field. After a brief introduction to textile materials and current textile treatment methods, the authors discuss unique properties of ALD-coated textiles, followed by a review of recent electronic and multifunctional textiles that use ALD coatings either as direct functional components or as critical nucleation layers for active materials integration. The article concludes with possible future directions for ALD on textiles, including the challenges in materials, manufacturing, and manufacturing integration that must be overcome for ALD to reach its full potential in electronic and other emerging multifunctional textile systems.
Improved field emission properties of CuO nanowire arrays by coating of graphene oxide layers
Authors: Yu Weiming , Hu Hailong , Zhang Dian , Huang Hang , Guo Tailiang
Published: December 2015

Graphene oxide (GO)-coated copper oxide (CuO) nanowire arrays were prepared as field emission cathodes using a solution process, in which CuO nanowires were grown on Cu substrates by a low-temperature hydrothermal process and the covering of GO sheets was carried out using an electrostatic self-assembly method. The field emission investigations of GO/CuO cathode showed a low turn-on field of 3.7 V/μm and a high enhancement factor (2080) compared to those of bare CuO nanowires. Furthermore, the emission current was stable without any attenuation during the testing. The GO/CuO composite nanostructures are promising field emission cathodes in field emission application.
Social Support in Athletic Injury Prevention and Recovery
Authors: Stowe Rennae Williams
Published: December 2015

This review presents a framework for understanding the role of social support in athletic injury prevention and recovery. The stress-injury model is presented, which is the theoretical basis for many studies on psychosocial factors related to injury in sport. In addition, we discuss the definition of social support, types and sources of social support for the athlete, and strategies supporting others can use to show their support. Finally, using social support as a rehabilitation strategy and gender differences will be presented.
Observations About Sports Injury Surveillance and Sports Medicine Psychology among Female Athletes
Authors: Wiese-Bjornstal Diane M. , Franklin Ayanna N. , Dooley Tara N. , Foster Monique A. , Winges James B.
Published: December 2015

Injuries contrast with the overwhelmingly positive benefits of sports participation for female athletes, with estimates of a third or more of all female athletes sustaining injury in any given season. Media headlines convey the impression that female athletes are more vulnerable to sports injuries than male athletes are. This observation led to our first purpose, which was to use evidence from the sports injury surveillance literature to examine the facts about female athlete risks of injury and compare these risks to those of male athletes. In light of Gill and Kamphoff’s (2010) observation that we largely ignore or underrepresent female experiences in the sport and exercise psychology literature, our second purpose was to highlight examples of the psychological, behavioral, and social aspects of female athletes’ injury experiences, and provide comparisons to male experiences within this realm of sports medicine psychology. These evidence-based observations guide our concluding recommendations for injury reporting, prevention, and rehabilitation roles of those in the media and sports professions.
Exploring Synergy between Classic Mutagens and Antibiotics To Examine Mechanisms of Synergy and Antibiotic Action
Authors: Song Lisa Yun , D'Souza Sara , Lam Karen , Kang Tina Manzhu , Yeh Pamela , Miller Jeffrey H.
Published: December 2015

We used classical mutagens in Gram-negative
Escherichia coli
to study synergies with different classes of antibiotics, test models of antibiotic mechanisms of action, and examine the basis of synergy. We used 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO), zebularine (ZEB), 5-azacytidine (5AZ), 2-aminopurine (2AP), and 5-bromodeoxyuridine (5BrdU) as mutagens (with bactericidal potency of 4NQO > ZEB > 5AZ > 2AP > 5BrdU) and vancomycin (VAN), ciprofloxacin (CPR), trimethoprim (TMP), gentamicin (GEN), tetracycline (TET), erythromycin (ERY), and chloramphenicol (CHL) as antibiotics. We detected the strongest synergies with 4NQO, an agent that oxidizes guanines and ultimately results in double-strand breaks when paired with the bactericidal antibiotics VAN, TMP, CPR, and GEN, but no synergies with the bacteriostatic antibiotics TET, ERY, and CHL. Each of the other mutagens displays synergies with the bactericidal antibiotics to various degrees that reflect their potencies, as well as with some of the other mutagens. The results support recent models showing that bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria principally by ultimately generating more double-strand breaks than can be repaired. We discuss the synergies seen here and elsewhere as representing dose effects of not the proximal target damage but rather the ultimate resulting double-strand breaks. We also used the results of pairwise tests to place the classic mutagens into functional antibacterial categories within a previously defined drug interaction network.
Doublet–singlet model and unitarity
Authors: Cynolter G. , Kovács J. , Lendvai E.
Published: December 2015

We study the renormalizable singlet–doublet fermionic extension of the Standard Model (SM). In this model, the new vector-like fermions couple to the gauge bosons and to the Higgs via new Yukawa couplings that allow for nontrivial mixing in the new sector, providing a stable, neutral dark matter candidate. Approximate analytic formulae are given for the mass spectrum around the blind spots, where the dark matter candidate coupling to h or Z vanishes. We calculate the two particle scattering amplitudes in the model, impose the perturbative unitarity constraints and establish bounds on the Yukawa couplings.
Quantum direct communication protocol strengthening against Pavičić’s attack
Authors: Zhang Bo , Shi Wei-Xu , Wang Jian , Tang Chao-Jing
Published: December 2015

A quantum circuit providing an undetectable eavesdropping of information in message mode, which compromises all two-state [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] quantum direct communication (QDC) protocols, has been recently proposed by Pavičić [Phys. Rev. A 87 (2013) 042326]. A modification of the protocol’s control mode is proposed, which improves users’ 25% detection probability of Eve to 50% at best, as that in ping-pong protocol. The modification also improves the detection probability of Wójcik’s attack [Phys. Rev. Lett 90 (2003) 157901] to 75% at best. The resistance against man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack as well as the discussion of security for four Bell state protocols is presented. As a result, the protocol security is strengthened both theoretically and practically, and quantum advantage of superdense coding is restored.
REFORMING THE IPCC’S ASSESSMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ECONOMICS
Authors: CHAN GABRIEL , CARRARO CARLO , EDENHOFER OTTMAR , KOLSTAD CHARLES , STAVINS ROBERT
Published: December 2015

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is broadly viewed as the world’s most legitimate scientific assessment body that periodically assesses the economics of climate change (among many other topics) for policy audiences. However, growing procedural inefficiencies and limitations to substantive coverage have made the IPCC an increasingly unattractive forum for the most qualified climate economists. Drawing on our observations and personal experience working on the most recent IPCC report, published last year, we propose four reforms to the IPCC’s process that we believe will lower the cost for volunteering as an IPCC author: improving interactions between governments and academics, making IPCC operations more efficient, clarifying and strengthening conflict of interest rules, and expanding outreach. We also propose three reforms to the IPCC’s substantive coverage to clarify the IPCC’s role and to make participation as an author more intellectually rewarding: complementing the IPCC with other initiatives, improving the integration of economics with other disciplines, and providing complete data for policymakers to make decisions. Despite the distinct characteristics of the IPCC that create challenges for authors unlike those in any other review body, we continue to believe in the importance of the IPCC for providing the most visible line of public communication between the scholarly community and policymakers.
Optimal Experiment Design for Monoexponential Model Fitting: Application to Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Imaging
Authors: Alipoor Mohammad , Maier Stephan E. , Gu Irene Yu-Hua , Mehnert Andrew , Kahl Fredrik
Published: December 2015

The monoexponential model is widely used in quantitative biomedical imaging. Notable applications include apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) imaging and pharmacokinetics. The application of ADC imaging to the detection of malignant tissue has in turn prompted several studies concerning optimal experiment design for monoexponential model fitting. In this paper, we propose a new experiment design method that is based on minimizing the determinant of the covariance matrix of the estimated parameters (D-optimal design). In contrast to previous methods, D-optimal design is independent of the imaged quantities. Applying this method to ADC imaging, we demonstrate its steady performance for the whole range of input variables (imaged parameters, number of measurements, and range ofb-values). Using Monte Carlo simulations we show that the D-optimal design outperforms existing experiment design methods in terms of accuracy and precision of the estimated parameters.
Quantification and Gene Expression Analysis of Histone Deacetylases in Common Bean during Rust Fungal Inoculation
Authors: Melmaiee Kalpalatha , Kalavacharla Venu (Kal) , Brown Adrianne , Todd Antonette , Thurston Yaqoob , Elavarthi Sathya
Published: December 2015

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play an important role in plant growth, development, and defense processes and are one of the primary causes of epigenetic modifications in a genome. There was only one study reported on epigenetic modifications of the important legume crop, common bean, and its interaction with the fungal rust pathogenUromyces appendiculatusprior to this project. We measured the total active HDACs levels in leaf tissues and observed expression patterns for the selected HDAC genes at 0, 12, and 84 hours after inoculation in mock inoculated and inoculated plants. Colorimetric analysis showed that the total amount of HDACs present in the leaf tissue decreased at 12 hours in inoculated plants compared to mock inoculated control plants. Gene expression analyses indicated that the expression pattern of genePvSRT1is similar to the trend of total active HDACs in this time course experiment. GenePvHDA6showed increased expression in the inoculated plants during the time points measured. This is one of the first attempts to study expression levels of HDACs in economically important legumes in the context of plant pathogen interactions. Findings from our study will be helpful to understand trends of total active HDACs and expression patterns of these genes under study during biotic stress.
New Applications of Nunokawa’s Lemmas
Authors: Xu Yi-Hui , Liu Jin-Lin
Published: December 2015

We derive several univalent andp-valent conditions on certain meromorphic functions by applying well-known Nunokawa’s lemmas.
A 3D OsteoblastIn VitroModel for the Evaluation of Biomedical Materials
Authors: Restle Luciana , Costa-Silva Daniela , Lourenço Emanuelle Stellet , Bachinski Rober Freitas , Batista Ana Carolina , Linhares Adriana Brandão Ribeiro , Alves Gutemberg Gomes
Published: December 2015

Biomedical materials for bone therapy are usually assessed for their biocompatibility and safety employing animal models orin vitromonolayer cell culture assays. However, alternativein vitromodels may offer controlled conditions closer to physiological responses and reduce animal testing. In this work, we developed a 3D spheroidal cell culture with potential to evaluate simultaneously material-cell and cell-cell interactions. Different cell densities of murine MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts or human primary osteoblasts (HOb) were used to determine the ideal procedure of spheroidal cultures and their adequacy to material testing. Cells were seeded on 96-well plates coated with agar and incubated in agitation from 1 to 7 days. Aggregate morphology was qualitatively evaluated considering the shape, size, repeatability, handling, and stability of spheroids. Higher cell densities induced more stable spheroids, and handling was considered appropriate starting from 2 × 104cells. Confocal microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy indicate that most cells within the aggregate core are viable. Exposure to positive controls has shown a dose dependent cell death as measured by XTT assay. Aggregates were stable and presented good viability when employed on standardized testing of metallic and polymer-based biomaterials. Therefore, osteoblast spheroids may provide a promising tool for material screening and biocompatibility testing.
Small Cell Carcinoma of the Gallbladder: Case Report and Comprehensive Analysis of Published Cases
Authors: Carrera Carolyn , Kunk Paul , Rahma Osama
Published: December 2015

Background. Gallbladder small cell carcinoma is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy with no established standard of care treatment. We described here a case report of small cell gallbladder cancer and we then performed a comprehensive review of 72 case reports of this disease.Methods. Published case reports of small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder between 1983 and 2014 were reviewed. Treatment modalities and survival were analyzed for metastatic and localized disease.Results. Median overall survival for all patients was 13 months. Metastatic disease was identified in 72% of cases. Treatment of metastatic disease with chemotherapy showed a significant survival benefit (p<0.001) compared to no chemotherapy, and the use of platinum doublet with etoposide showed a nonsignificant 4-month improvement in survival compared to other chemotherapy regimens (p=0.13). Adjuvant therapy did not demonstrate an improvement of median overall survival in local disease (p=0.78).Conclusion. Given the limited available data, systemic therapy with platinum and etoposide should be considered for patients with metastatic small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder. Adjuvant chemoradiation or chemotherapy for treatment of local disease warrants further investigation.
Association between IFN-γ+874A/T and IFN-γR1 (-611A/G, +189T/G, and +95C/T) Gene Polymorphisms and Chronic Periodontitis in a Sample of Iranian Population
Authors: Heidari Zahra , Mahmoudzadeh-Sagheb Hamidreza , Hashemi Mohammad , Ansarimoghaddam Somayeh , Moudi Bita , Sheibak Nadia
Published: December 2015

Background. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is an immune regulatory cytokine that acts through its receptor and plays important role in progression of inflammatory disease such as chronic periodontitis (CP). The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the distribution of IFN-γ(+874A/T) and IFN-γR1 (-611A/G, +189T/G, and +95C/T) gene polymorphisms among CP and healthy individuals and to investigate relationships between these polymorphisms and susceptibility to CP.Materials and Methods. 310 individuals were enrolled in the study including 210 CP patients and 100 healthy controls. Single nucleotide polymorphisms at IFN-γ(+874A/T) and IFN-γR1 (-611A/G, +189T/G, and +95C/T) were analyzed by ARMS-PCR and PCR-RFLP methods.Results. The significant difference was found in genotype and allele frequency of IFN-γ(+874A/T) gene polymorphism in chronic periodontitis patients and healthy controls. The distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies for IFN-γR1 (-611A/G, +189T/G, and +95C/T) were similar among the groups and no differences in the frequencies of alleles or genotypes of IFN-γR1 genetic polymorphisms variants between case and control groups were detected.Conclusion.The finding of this study showed that IFN-γ+874A/T gene polymorphism may affect susceptibility to CP, whereas IFN-γR1 genetic polymorphisms at -611A/G, +189T/G, and +95C/T were not associated with this disease.
Age and Sex Specific Reference Intervals for Modifiable Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases for Gujarati Asian Indians
Authors: Sahoo Sibasis , Shah Komal H. , Konat Ashwati R. , Sharma Kamal H. , Tripathi Payal
Published: December 2015

Objective. We aimed to establish age and sex specific percentile reference data for cardiovascular risk factors such as lipids, sugar, blood pressure, and BMI in apparently healthy and disease-free Gujarati population.Methods.In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 3265 apparently healthy and disease-free individuals of both genders residing in Gujarat state. Fasting samples of blood were used for biochemical estimations of lipids and sugar. The measurement of BMI and blood pressure was also done according to the standard guidelines. Age and gender specific 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles were obtained.Results. The mean values of lipids, sugar, blood pressure, and BMI were significantly (p<0.001) higher in males as compared to female population. Age-wise distribution trends showed increase in the risk factors from the 2nd decade until the 5th to 6th decade in most of the cases, where loss of premenopausal protection in females was also observed. Specific trends according to gender and age were observed in percentile values of various parameters.Conclusion.The outcome of current study will contribute significantly to proposing clinically important reference values of various lipids, sugar, blood pressure, and BMI that could be used to screen the asymptomatic Gujarati Indian population with a propensity of developing dyslipidemia, diabetes, blood pressure, and obesity.