bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Subluxation on the Severity of Symptoms, Disability, and the Results of Operative Treatment in TMC Osteoarthritis with Total Joint Arthroplasty
Authors: Larsen Solveig K. A. , Østergaard Ann Mai , Hansen Torben B.
Published: April 2015

Background

The role of subluxation in staging of the severity of osteoarthritic changes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of subluxation of symptomatic osteoarthritic trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint regarding severity of symptoms, disability, and results of operative treatment in TMC osteoarthritis with total joint arthroplasty.

Methods

We included 172 hands in 137 patients (32 males and 105 females), mean age 59 years (44–74 years), with a combination of radiological signs of TMC osteoarthritis and clinical symptoms in the study. All patients were operated in general anaesthesia where a ball and socket joint implant was used. Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, visual analog scale, grip strength, and abduction deficiency were recorded and subluxation was measured on computed tomography.

Results

The mean subluxation in males was 5.2 mm (SD 1.2) and in females 5.3 mm (SD 1.3) (p=0.95). We found a weak positive correlation between grip strength and subluxation both at the preoperative examination and at 3 and 12 months after the operation, but no other correlations with subluxation were found.

Conclusions

This study indicates that radial subluxation may not be an important factor in symptoms and function in patients with symptomatic TMC osteoarthritis without severe scaphotrapezio (ST) joint degeneration. In addition, preoperative subluxation seems not to be important for the result after total joint arthroplasty.
Analysis of Intact Cholesteryl Esters of Furan Fatty Acids in Cod Liver
Authors: Hammann Simon , Wendlinger Christine , Vetter Walter
Published: April 2015

Furan fatty acids (F‐acids) are a class of natural antioxidants with a furan moiety in the acyl chain. These minor fatty acids have been reported to occur with high proportions in the cholesteryl ester fraction of fish livers. Here we present a method for the direct analysis of intact cholesteryl esters with F‐acids and other fatty acids in cod liver lipids. For this purpose, the cholesteryl ester fraction was isolated by solid phase extraction (SPE) and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using a cool‐on‐column inlet. Pentadecanoic acid esterified with cholesterol was used as an internal standard. GC/MS spectra of F‐acid cholesteryl esters featured the molecular ion along with characteristic fragment ions for both the cholesterol and the F‐acid moiety. All investigated cod liver samples (n = 8) showed cholesteryl esters of F‐acids and, to a lower degree, of conventional fatty acids. By means of GC/MS‐SIM up to ten F‐acid cholesteryl esters could be determined in the samples. The concentrations of cholesteryl esters with conventional fatty acids amounted to 78–140 mg/100 g lipids (mean 97 mg/100 g lipids), while F‐acid cholesteryl esters were present at 47–270 mg/100 g lipids (mean 130 mg/100 g lipids).
Optimal magnetic Sobolev constants in the semiclassical limit
Authors: Fournais S. , Raymond N.
Published: April 2015

This paper is devoted to the semiclassical analysis of the best constants in the magnetic Sobolev embeddings in the case of a bounded domain of the plane carrying Dirichlet conditions. We provide quantitative estimates of these constants (with an explicit dependence on the semiclassical parameter) and analyze the exponential localization in

\mathsf{L}^{\infty }

-norm of the corresponding minimizers near the magnetic wells.
Withdrawal of anti-epileptic drugs: A review
Authors: Kulshreshtha Dinkar , Maurya Pradeep , Singh Ajai , Thacker Anup
Published: April 2015

Anti-epileptic drugs are the mainstay in treatment of epilepsy. It requires a strong clinical decision in patients who are well controlled on medications to withdraw anti-epileptic drugs. This decision has to be based on the clinical profile, epilepsy type, neuroimaging and electroencephalography (EEG) findings and has to be more individualized as per the patient needs. In the context of drug withdrawal, it is necessary to look into the details of why, how and when to withdraw anti-epileptics. In this article, we critically try to answer such queries and look into the established guidelines with respect to drug withdrawal. We shall look into the chances of recurrence on stopping these drugs. Also, in the end we shall discuss briefly some special clinical scenarios where decision to stop anti-epileptic drugs is a challenging task.
The Role of Public Knowledge, Resources, and Innovation in Responding to the Ebola Outbreak
Authors: Goldstone Brian J. , Brown Brandon
Published: April 2015

Since the beginning of the recent Ebola outbreak, a sense of fear has developed among the public due to the novelty of our exposure to the virus and the ill-equipped nature of our health care systems. Media sensationalism, coupled with improper knowledge of Ebola, may have contributed to mass hysteria. Most support to tackle Ebola has been direct monetary aid. However, others are working on innovative methods to control the epidemic, including the development of rapid detection methods, experimental treatments, and a viable vaccine. Rapid screening and vaccine ideas are promising, but it is unlikely that they will be ready in the coming months. This raises the question of what other tools and technological innovation can be developed to effectively stem the spread of the outbreak. Although we hope the continued outpouring of aid and health care workers to West Africa will greatly reduce the impact of Ebola, communication, screenings, treatment, and vaccine are of central importance to stop this outbreak. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:595–597)
Stabilization of a high-order harmonic generation seeded extreme ultraviolet free electron laser by time-synchronization control with electro-optic sampling
Authors: Tomizawa H. , Sato T. , Ogawa K. , Togawa K. , Tanaka T. , Hara T. , Yabashi M. , Tanaka H. , Ishikawa T. , Togashi T. , Matsubara S. , Okayasu Y. , Watanabe T. , Takahashi E.J. , Midorikawa K. , Aoyama M. , Yamakawa K. , Owada S. , Iwasaki A. , Yamanouchi K.
Published: April 2015

A fully coherent free electron laser (FEL) seeded with a higher-order harmonic (HH) pulse from high-order harmonic generation (HHG) is successfully operated for a sufficiently prolonged time in pilot user experiments by using a timing drift feedback. For HHG-seeded FELs, the seeding laser pulses have to be synchronized with electron bunches. Despite seeded FELs being non-chaotic light sources in principle, external laser-seeded FELs are often unstable in practice because of a timing jitter and a drift between the seeding laser pulses and the accelerated electron bunches. Accordingly, we constructed a relative arrival-timing monitor based on non-invasive electro-optic sampling (EOS). The EOS monitor made uninterrupted shot-to-shot monitoring possible even during the seeded FEL operation. The EOS system was then used for arrival-timing feedback with an adjustability of 100 fs for continual operation of the HHG-seeded FEL. Using the EOS-based beam drift controlling system, the HHG-seeded FEL was operated over half a day with an effective hit rate of 20%–30%. The output pulse energy was

$20~{\rm\mu}\text{J}$

at the 61.2 nm wavelength. Towards seeded FELs in the water window region, we investigated our upgrade plan to seed high-power FELs with HH photon energy of 30–100 eV and lase at shorter wavelengths of up to 2 nm through high-gain harmonic generation (HGHG) at the energy-upgraded SPring-8 Compact SASE Source (SCSS) accelerator. We studied a benefit as well as the feasibility of the next HHG-seeded FEL machine with single-stage HGHG with tunability of a lasing wavelength.
Outbreak of Clostridium difficile Infections at an Outpatient Hemodialysis Facility—Michigan, 2012–2013
Authors: See Isaac , Bagchi Suparna , Booth Stephanie , Scholz Daniel , Geller Andrew I. , Anderson Lydia , Moulton-Meissner Heather , Finks Jennie L. , Kelley Karen , Gould Carolyn V. , Patel Priti R.
Published: April 2015

Investigation of an outbreak of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) at a hemodialysis facility revealed evidence that limited intrafacility transmission occurred despite adherence to published infection control standards for dialysis clinics. Outpatient dialysis facilities should consider CDI prevention, including environmental disinfection for C. difficile, when formulating their infection control plans.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(8):972–974
The Impact of Discontinuing Contact Precautions for VRE and MRSA on Device-Associated Infections
Authors: Edmond Michael B. , Masroor Nadia , Stevens Michael P. , Ober Janis , Bearman Gonzalo
Published: April 2015

The impact of discontinuing contact precautions for patients with MRSA and VRE colonization/infection on device-associated hospital-acquired infection rates at an academic medical center was investigated in this before-and-after study. In the setting of a strong horizontal infection prevention platform, discontinuation of contact precautions had no impact on device-associated hospital-acquired infection rates.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(8):978–980
SAPPING THE NARRATIVE: IBN KATHIR’S ACCOUNT OF THESHŪRĀOF ʿUTHMAN INKITAB AL-BIDAYA WA-L-NIHAYA
Authors: Hagler Aaron M.
Published: April 2015

One mission of Ibn Kathir'sKitab al-Bidaya wa-l-Nihaya fi al-Taʾrikh(The Book of the Beginning and the End in History) is to provide a Sunni answer to a generally ʿAlid-legitimizing corpus of early Islamic historical accounts. Part of the 13th- and 14th-century movement that sought to rehabilitate the image of Syria and the otherwise reviled Umayyad dynasty (r. 661–750), Ibn Kathir's grand work of history cleverly reframes the early Islamic narrative to fit into what he considers a more “properly” Sunni framework than his sources provided. This article focuses on Ibn Kathir's presentation of theshūrā, the council appointed by ʿUmar and charged with choosing from among its six members his successor. It identifies the literary tools Ibn Kathir employed and offers a framework for his strategy of employing them. Whether through narrative aside or criticism of other historians, Ibn Kathir's recasting of a pro-ʿAlid grudge story as an Umayyad apologetic highlights moments of sectarian contention and emphasizes the evolution of Sunni opinion on ʿAli and ʿUthman.
Technologies of Liberation and/or Otherwise
Authors: Khiabany Gholam
Published: April 2015

A year and a half after the Iranian uprising in 2009, unprecedented popular uprisings in several Arab countries provided some of the most evocative moments of power meeting its opposite, in decisive and surprising ways. In a matter of weeks, powerful hereditary/republican regimes in the region, including in Tunisia and Egypt, crumbled under relentless pressure and opposition from highly mediated “street politics.” The uprising and revolts that shook Iran in the aftermath of the 2009 electoral coup, and the revolts in Tunisia and Egypt that toppled the governments in these countries in twenty-eight and eighteen days, respectively, had three significant similarities. First, the Arab revolutions, like the 2009 uprising in Iran, were, in the first place, revolts against dictatorship and in direct opposition to the ruling regimes. These uprisings, like many such movements against despotism, were also marked with demonstrations and the visible participation of young people. Second, all three happened at a time in which, unlike 1979 (the time of the Iranian Revolution), the world was not divided into two camps, but rather was confronted with US hegemony and globalization of financial capital. And finally, they all happened at a time when advances in communication technologies, and in particular the Internet, have allowed for a much faster circulation and dissemination of information—hence the constant association of these revolts with Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and so forth.
Citizenship under Surveillance: Dealing with the Digital Age
Authors: Herrera Linda
Published: April 2015

The world is not sliding, but galloping into a new transnational dystopia … The Internet, our greatest tool of emancipation, has been transformed into the most dangerous facilitator of totalitarianism we have ever seen. The Internet is a threat to human civilization.
An assessment of the effects of fertilizer nitrogen management on nitrate leaching risk from grazed dairy pasture
Authors: VOGELER I. , LUCCI G. , SHEPHERD M.
Published: April 2015

Dairy farms are under pressure to increase productivity while reducing environmental impacts. Effective fertilizer management practices are critical to achieve this. In the present study the effect of timing and rate of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application on pasture production and N losses, either via direct leaching of fertilizer N or indirectly through consumption of N in pasture and subsequent excretion via dairy cow grazing, was modelled. The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) was first tested with experimental data from N fertilizer response experiments conducted on a well-drained soil in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The model was then used in a 20-year simulation to investigate the effect of fertilizer management on the impacts on potential N leaching losses. Year-to-year variability was assessed by incorporating 20 years of climate data into the model. Modelling indicated that N fertilization at rates of 140 and 220 kg N/ha/year, applied in four split applications and avoiding application in winter months, could increase pasture yield on average by 2·2–3·0 t dry matter (DM)/ha (25–38%). There were some significant amounts of direct leaching in some years, related to environmental conditions. The maximum loss was as high as 61 kg N/ha at an N application rate of 220 kg N/ha/year, in a year with low pasture production and high rainfall following fertilizer application. In general, however, the risk of direct N leaching from applied fertilizer was low. It seems the main effect of N fertilization is to increase the risk of indirect N leaching, due to increased N intake and excretion. The modelling indicated that the major contribution to increased indirect N leaching risk was from the extra DM grown (more urine deposited per ha). Increased N concentration in the pasture due to fertilization and the resultant extra partitioning of excretal N to urine had only a minor effect on indirect leaching losses. The exception was N fertilizer applied in late winter/early spring (July), where fertilizer N (55 kg/ha) increased pasture N concentration byc. 25%, suggesting that the N concentration in urine patch areas could increase fromc. 550 to 840 kg N/ha. Further measurements are required to test the hypothesis developed from the modelling that the main effect of N fertilizer on urinary N leaching is by increasing DM production rather than increasing pasture N concentration.
Macrozoobenthic assemblages around a marine terminal for re-gasifying liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the north Adriatic Sea (Italy)
Authors: Trabucco Benedetta , Grossi Laura , Marusso Veronica , Bacci Tiziano , Bertasi Fabio , Ceracchi Silvia , Lomiri Serena , Vani Danilo , Virno Lamberti Claudia
Published: April 2015

The first offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Italy and the first gravity based structure (GBS) in the world for unloading, storing and re-gasifying liquefied natural gas, was authorized and realized. The Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA, formerly ICRAM) formulated and implemented a multidisciplinary monitoring plan at verifying possible impacts of the project on marine environment. Data from June 2006 to July 2012 on the soft-bottom macrozoobenthic assemblages around the LNG terminal are presented, with the aim of verifying possible disturbances on these assemblages associated with the LNG terminal, by comparing the structure of the benthic communities before and after installation of the terminal, and during its operation. Well-structured assemblages were observed for the entire period investigated, with all taxa normally represented both quantitatively and qualitatively. A temporary disturbance due to the construction of the LNG terminal was detected in the surrounding sediments, while the presence of the concrete structure did not show significant effects at the investigated distances.
The economic origins of ultrasociality
Authors: Gowdy John , Krall Lisi
Published: April 2015

Ultrasociality refers to the social organization of a few species, including humans and some social insects, having a complex division of labor, city-states, and an almost exclusive dependence on agriculture for subsistence. We argue that the driving forces in the evolution of these ultrasocial societies were economic. With the agricultural transition, species could directly produce their own food and this was such a competitive advantage that those species now dominate the planet. Once underway, this transition was propelled by the selection of within-species groups that could best capture the advantages of (1) actively managing the inputs to food production, (2) a more complex division of labor, and (3) increasing returns to larger scale and larger group size. Together these factors reoriented productive life and radically altered the structure of these societies. Once agriculture began, populations expanded as these economic drivers opened up new opportunities for the exploitation of resources and the active management of inputs to food production. With intensified group-level competition, larger populations and intensive resource exploitation became competitive advantages, and the “social conquest of Earth” was underway. Ultrasocial species came to dominate the earth's ecosystems. Ultrasociality also brought a loss of autonomy for individuals within the group. We argue that exploring the common causes and consequences of ultrasociality in humans and the social insects that adopted agriculture can provide fruitful insights into the evolution of complex human society.
EMPLEO Y CARRERAS LABORALES EN CORREOS DE ESPAÑA, 1890-1935
Authors: Domenech Jordi
Published: April 2015

The development of postal services has played an indisputable role in industrialization, market integration and state formation. Smooth functioning of these services depended on the existence of a well-paid and motivated body of civil servants. I study the organization of the internal labour market for civil servants in postal services in Spain from 1890 to 1935 showing a career in the postal services offered high entry wages, growing wages over the life cycle, and a secure job until retirement. There were two downsides to pursuing a career in the postal services. Firstly, entry and promotion depended on the expansion of employment. Secondly, nominal wages were upward rigid, causing large real wage losses during WWI.
High-charge divergent electron beam generation from high-intensity laser interaction with a gas-cluster target
Authors: Koester P. , Bussolino G.C. , Cristoforetti G. , Faenov A. , Giulietti A. , Giulietti D. , Labate L. , Levato T. , Pikuz T. , Gizzi L.A.
Published: April 2015

We report on an experimental study on the interaction of a high-contrast 40 fs duration 2 TW laser pulse with an argon-cluster target. A high-charge, homogeneous, large divergence electron beam with moderate kinetic energy (~2 MeV) is observed in the forward direction. The results show that an electron beam with a charge as high as 12 nC can be obtained using a table-top laser system. It was demonstrated that the accelerated electron beam is suitable for a variety of applications such as micro-radiography of thin samples in a wide field of view. It can also be applied forin vitrodosimetry studies.
RELATIONS BETWEEN STOCHASTIC ORDERINGS AND GENERALIZED STOCHASTIC PRECEDENCE
Authors: De Santis Emilio , Fantozzi Fabio , Spizzichino Fabio
Published: April 2015

The concept of stochastic precedence between two real-valued random variables has often emerged in different applied frameworks. In this paper, we analyze several aspects of a more general, and completely natural, concept of stochastic precedence that also had appeared in the literature. In particular, we study the relations with the notions of stochastic ordering. Such a study leads us to introducing some special classes of bivariate copulas. Motivations for our study can arise from different fields. In particular, we consider the frame of Target-Based Approach in decisions under risk. This approach has been mainly developed under the assumption of stochastic independence between “Prospects” and “Targets”. Our analysis concerns the case of stochastic dependence.
Using analogies to explain versus inspire concepts
Authors: Chou Amanda , Shu L.H.
Published: April 2015

We aim to examine the potential of using analogies in design education and to compare the roles of analogies in explaining versus inspiring in engineering design. We review existing research in analogical thinking, with a focus on scientific discourse and education. Then we explore the role of analogies in design education in making concepts more relatable by asking six participants in a graduate-level design course to generate analogies for course topics. We describe criteria developed to evaluate the analogies and present these evaluations. We then asked participants to perform divergent thinking tests, but we found no significant correlation between these and analogy scores. The participants were also asked to reflect on what constitutes an effective analog, describe their process of identifying analogies, and provide their definitions of analogies. We describe possible links between these comments and the ratings of their analogies. We then draw on results in using analogies in pedagogy to inform and reflect on obstacles we encountered in the use of analogies to inspire. Specifically, we related them to our experience with biomimetic or biologically inspired design, where we used a natural-language search approach to identify relevant analogies. Three aspects discussed are familiarity of source analogies, boundaries of parallels between source analogies and target concepts, and concreteness of source analogies. Finally, we discuss possible pedagogical benefits of eliciting analogies on course topics from students, namely, using the elicited analogies as tools for improved student engagement as well as more prompt instructor feedback.
How do analogizing and mental simulation influence team dynamics in innovative product design?
Authors: Casakin Hernan , Ball Linden J. , Christensen Bo T. , Badke-Schaub Petra
Published: April 2015

The aim of this study was to gain further insight into how analogical reasoning and mental simulation, two cognitive strategies, influence team dynamics in innovative product design. A particular emphasis was placed on exploring the association between these two strategies and team cohesion and team collaboration. Analogies were coded for “analogical distance” (i.e., within domain or between domain) and “analogical purpose” (i.e., problem identification, function finding, solution generation, and explanation). The results indicated that the presence of either analogizing or mental simulation was related to team cohesion and team collaboration, with mental simulation having an especially marked association with team collaboration. Within-domain analogizing was found to enhance team collaboration, but it did not influence team cohesion. Furthermore, all types of analogical purpose showed a similar association with team cohesion, whereas solution generation and function finding had a stronger association with team collaboration. We propose that analogizing and mental simulations are strategies that serve valuable functions in engendering enhanced cohesion and collaboration, which might be expected to lead to more effective design outcomes, although this remains an empirical question in need of further corroboration.
On the benefits of digital libraries of case studies of analogical design: Documentation, access, analysis, and learning
Authors: Goel Ashok K. , Zhang Gongbo , Wiltgen Bryan , Zhang Yuqi , Vattam Swaroop , Yen Jeannette
Published: April 2015

Digital libraries of case studies of analogical design have been popular since their advent in the early 1990s. We consider four benefits of digital libraries of case studies of analogical design in the context of biologically inspired design. First, a digital library affords documentation. The 83 case studies in our work come from 8 years of extended, collaborative design projects in an interdisciplinary class on biologically inspired design. Second, a digital library provides on-demand access to the case studies. We describe a web-based library of case studies of biologically inspired design called the Design Study Library (DSL). Third, a compilation of case studies supports analyses of broader patterns and trends. As an example, an analysis of DSL's case studies found that environmental sustainability was a major factor in about a third of the case studies and an explicit design goal in about a fourth. Fourth, a digital library of case studies can support analogical learning. Preliminary results from an exploratory study indicate that DSL may support novice learning about the processes of biologically inspired design.
Is impulsive violence an addiction? The Habit Hypothesis
Authors: Stahl Stephen M.
Published: April 2015

Impulsive violence may be the behavioral consequence of inefficient information processing within specific neuronal networks. Analogous to the hypothetical pathophysiology of addiction, maladaptations within reward pathways may shift goal-directed behaviors to impulsive reactions and then to compulsive habits, in order to create impulsive violence.
Intakes of apple juice, fruit drinks and soda are associated with prevalent asthma in US children aged 2–9 years
Authors: DeChristopher Luanne Robalo , Uribarri Jaime , Tucker Katherine L
Published: April 2015

Objective

High soft drink consumption has been linked with asthma. Anecdotal evidence links high-fructose corn syrup with asthma. The receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has emerged as a mediator of asthma. The objectives of the present study were to: (i) assess the correlation between intake of beverages containing excess free fructose (EFF beverages) and asthma in children; and (ii) epidemiologically test the mechanistic hypothesis that intake of high EFF beverages, such as apple juice or beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, is associated with increased risk of asthma. This hypothesis is based on the possible effect of increases in the in situ intestinal formation of advanced glycation end products (enFruAGE) with EFF, which may be absorbed and play a role in RAGE-mediated asthma.

Design

We examined cross-sectional associations between beverage intake and self-reported current or history of asthma. Exposure variables were EFF beverages, including apple juice (AJ), non-diet soft drinks (ndSD) and fruit drinks (FD). Orange juice (OJ), not an EFF beverage, was included as a comparison. Rao–Scott χ2 analysis was used for prevalence differences and logistic regression for associations, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, BMI and total energy intake.

Setting

Data are from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2006, a nationally representative survey.

Subjects

US children (n 1961) aged 2–9 years with complete responses on the dietary frequency questionnaire.

Results

Intakes of EFF beverages were significantly associated with asthma in 2–9-year-olds. Adjusted odds of asthma in children consuming EFF beverages ≥5 times/week was more than five times that in children consuming these beverages ≤1 time/month (OR=5·29, P=0·012). Children consuming AJ ≥5 times/week v. ≤1 time/month, adjusted for the other beverages, were more than twice as likely to have asthma (OR=2·43, P=0·035). In contrast, there was a tendency for OJ to be protective.

Conclusions

These results support the hypothesis that intake of high EFF beverages, including AJ and beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, is associated with asthma in children aged 2–9 years. Results support the mechanistic hypothesis that enFruAGE may be an overlooked contributor to asthma in children. Longitudinal studies are needed to provide evidence of causal association.
Identifying Potential Pediatric Chronic Abdominal Pain Triggers Using Ecological Momentary Assessment
Authors: Schurman Jennifer Verrill , Friesen Craig A.
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between pediatric chronic abdominal pain and a variety of presumed triggers for abdominal pain in real-time. Associations were explored at the level of patient self-perception and empirically across the group. Thirteen patients (8 to 17 years) presenting for initial subspecialty evaluation of chronic abdominal pain at a large Midwestern children’s hospital were asked to complete an electronic diary questionnaire on a handheld mobile device 3 times daily for 14 days. This questionnaire assessed for the presence/absence of pain and a wide variety of presumed triggers for abdominal pain. Participants also completed a survey at pre- and postmonitoring that asked them to check off whether they believed that any of the presumed triggers were actual triggers for them personally. Participants self-identified a few pain triggers consistently across the group. Group-based analyses of diary data revealed several predictive relationships, including some not consistently self-identified by participants. Several variables (e.g., acute illness, drinking soda, eating spicy or fried foods, consuming seafood, nuts, or chocolate, experiencing negative affect, getting fewer hours of sleep, and increased pollen count) appear reliably associated with onset of pain across individuals from among the array of presumed triggers investigated. Clinical treatment for pediatric chronic abdominal pain should include consideration and discussion of these triggering relationships. Future work in this line of research may help to support the development of personalized treatment approaches for this complex condition.
Identification of Pica Behaviors in Youth With Sickle Cell Disease: A Quality Improvement (QI) Project
Authors: Reed-Knight Bonney , Thompson Beth , Bigham Lindsey , Sil Soumitri , Griffin Anya , Johnson Alcuin
Published: April 2015

This article describes a quality improvement (QI) initiative integrated into a pediatric psychology service that focused on improving the standardized assessment of pica behaviors in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Pica, the persistent mouthing or eating of nonnutritive substances, can result in serious health complications and is a known problem for patients with SCD. At the time of project initiation, pica behaviors were assessed, on average, in 36% of new consultations completed by psychology providers in patients with SCD across our hospital system. The primary goal for the current project was to increase documented screening for pica behaviors to at least 95% of patients with SCD newly referred for a pediatric psychology consultation. After QI project implementation, assessment of pica behaviors increased to 100% and was maintained at that level for the final 5 months of the 12-month project period. Systematic, standardized assessment of pica behaviors for patients with SCD was deemed feasible and acceptable based on initial uptake and maintenance of the change. Of note, incidence rates of pica behaviors for patients with SCD seen by psychology ranged from 21% to 34% across the hospital system, prompting an expansion of the original project scope to ensure that all patients with SCD with pica behaviors were identified as part of routine clinical care regardless of psychology referral. Our project suggests that quality improvement methods are an effective way to implement systemic changes in regular clinical practice across providers practicing in different settings at multiple hospitals.
Revealing the role of organic cations in hybrid halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3
Authors: Motta Carlo , El-Mellouhi Fedwa , Kais Sabre , Tabet Nouar , Alharbi Fahhad , Sanvito Stefano
Published: April 2015

The hybrid halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 has enabled solar cells to reach an efficiency of about 20%, demonstrating a pace for improvements with no precedents in the solar energy arena. Despite such explosive progress, the microscopic origin behind the success of such material is still debated, with the role played by the organic cations in the light-harvesting process remaining unclear. Here van der Waals-corrected density functional theory calculations reveal that the orientation of the organic molecules plays a fundamental role in determining the material electronic properties. For instance, if CH3NH3 orients along a (011)-like direction, the PbI6 octahedral cage will distort and the bandgap will become indirect. Our results suggest that molecular rotations, with the consequent dynamical change of the band structure, might be at the origin of the slow carrier recombination and the superior conversion efficiency of CH3NH3PbI3.
Role of the endocannabinoid system in obesity induced by neuropeptide Y overexpression in noradrenergic neurons
Authors: Vähätalo L H , Ruohonen S T , Mäkelä S , Ailanen L , Penttinen A-M , Stormi T , Kauko T , Piscitelli F , Silvestri C , Savontaus E , Di Marzo V
Published: April 2015

Objective:

Endocannabinoids and neuropeptide Y (NPY) promote energy storage via central and peripheral mechanisms. In the hypothalamus, the two systems were suggested to interact. To investigate such interplay also in non-hypothalamic tissues, we evaluated endocannabinoid levels in obese OE-NPYDβH mice, which overexpress NPY in the noradrenergic neurons in the sympathetic nervous system and the brain.

Methods:

The levels of the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) were measured in key regulatory tissues, that is, hypothalamus, pancreas, epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT), liver and soleus muscle, over the development of metabolic dysfunctions in OE-NPYDβH mice. The effects of a 5-week treatment with the CB1 receptor inverse agonist AM251 on adiposity and glucose metabolism were studied.

Results:

2-AG levels were increased in the hypothalamus and epididymal WAT of pre-obese and obese OE-NPYDβH mice. Anandamide levels in adipose tissue and pancreas were increased at 4 months concomitantly with higher fat mass and impaired glucose tolerance. CB1 receptor blockage reduced body weight gain and glucose intolerance in OE-NPYDβH to the level of vehicle-treated wild-type mice.

Conclusions:

Altered endocannabinoid tone may underlie some of the metabolic dysfunctions in OE-NPYDβH mice, which can be attenuated with CB1 inverse agonism suggesting interactions between endocannabinoids and NPY also in the periphery. CB1 receptors may offer a target for the pharmacological treatment of the metabolic syndrome with altered NPY levels.
Genomic ancestry and ethnoracial self-classification based on 5,871 community-dwelling Brazilians (The Epigen Initiative)
Authors: Lima-Costa M. Fernanda , Rodrigues Laura C. , Barreto Maurício L. , Gouveia Mateus , Horta Bernardo L. , Mambrini Juliana , Kehdy Fernanda S. G. , Pereira Alexandre , Rodrigues-Soares Fernanda , Victora Cesar G. , Tarazona-Santos Eduardo ,   Epigen-Brazil group, Cesar Cibele C. , Conceição Jackson S. , Costa Gustavo N.O. , Esteban Nubia , Fiaccone Rosemeire L. , Figueiredo Camila A. , Firmo Josélia O.A. , Horimoto Andrea R.V.R. , Leal Thiago P. , Machado Moara , Magalhães Wagner C.S. , de Oliveira Isabel Oliveira , Peixoto Sérgio V. , Rodrigues Maíra R. , Santos Hadassa C. , Silva Thiago M.
Published: April 2015

Brazil never had segregation laws defining membership of an ethnoracial group. Thus, the composition of the Brazilian population is mixed and its ethnoracial classification is complex. Previous studies showed conflicting results on the correlation between genome ancestry and ethnoracial classification in Brazilians. We used 370,539 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms to quantify this correlation in 5,851 community-dwelling individuals in the South (Pelotas), Southeast (Bambui) and Northeast (Salvador) Brazil. European ancestry was predominant in Pelotas and Bambui (median = 85.3% and 83.8%, respectively). African ancestry was highest in Salvador (median = 50.5%). The strength of the association between the phenotype and median proportion of African ancestry varied largely across populations, with pseudo R2 values of 0.50 in Pelotas, 0.22 in Bambui and 0.13 in Salvador. The continuous proportion of African genomic ancestry showed a significant S-shape positive association with self-reported Blacks in the three sites and the reverse trend was found for self reported Whites, with most consistent classifications in the extremes of the high and low proportion of African ancestry. In self-classified Mixed individuals, the predicted probability of having African ancestry was bell-shaped. Our results support the view that ethnoracial self-classification is affected by both genome ancestry and non-biological factors.
Highly reliable switching via phase transition using hydrogen peroxide in homogeneous and multi-layered GaZnOx-based resistive random access memory devices
Authors: Park Sung Pyo , Yoon Doo Hyun , Tak Young Jun , Lee Heesoo , Kim Hyun Jae
Published: April 2015

Here, we propose an effective method for improving the resistive switching characteristics of solution-processed gallium-doped zinc oxide (GaZnOx) resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices using hydrogen peroxide.
Irreversible structural change of a dry ionic liquid under nanoconfinement
Authors: Jurado L. Andres , Kim Hojun , Arcifa Andrea , Rossi Antonella , Leal Cecilia , Spencer Nicholas D. , Espinosa-Marzal Rosa M.
Published: April 2015

Repeatedly applied nanoconfinement of [HMIM] EtSO4 between mica surfaces induces a long-range liquid-to-solid transition that remains after confinement has been removed.
A kinetic and thermochemical database for organic sulfur and oxygen compounds
Authors: Class Caleb A. , Aguilera-Iparraguirre Jorge , Green William H.
Published: April 2015

Potential energy surfaces and reaction kinetics were calculated for reactions involving sulfur and oxygen, which are potentially relevant in combustion and desulfurization chemistry.
Evaluation of an efficient and selective adsorbent based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes coated silica microspheres for detecting nucleobases and nucleosides in human urine
Authors: Sun Xiaoming , Tang Yanan , Di Duolong , Guo Mei , Zhao Lei
Published: April 2015

Nucleobases and nucleosides in human urine could be detected by a new efficient and selective adsorbent of MWCNTs/SiO2.
Application of combined plasma-catalytic method for carbon particulate matter (PM) removal
Authors: Liu Lu-Jie , Li Xiang-Xiang , Wang Hui , Xue Bo , Zheng Xiao-Ming , Chen Min
Published: April 2015

The carbon particulate matter (PM) generated by diesel engine emissions has attracted world-wide attention because it has a remarkable impact on air quality and the human body.
Biocompatibility studies on lanthanum oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Brabu B. , Haribabu S. , Revathy M. , Anitha S. , Thangapandiyan M. , Navaneethakrishnan K. R. , Gopalakrishnan C. , Murugan S. S. , Kumaravel T. S.
Published: April 2015

Biocompatibility on lanthanum oxide nanoparticles (LONP) were investigated. LONP was cytotoxic to balb/3T3 cells via release of ROS. LONP and/or extracts were non-irritant, non-sensitizer and non-mutagenic. LONP extracts did not show acute systemic toxicity. Whereas, LONP exerted hepatotoxicity following oral administration.
A novel iron oxide nanoparticle-based method for the determination of the antioxidant capacity of rapeseed oils at various stages of the refining process
Authors: Szydłowska-Czerniak Aleksandra , Łaszewska Anna , Tułodziecka Agnieszka
Published: April 2015

A novel method for antioxidant capacity determination based on the antioxidant-mediated generation and growth of iron oxide nanoparticles was elaborated.
Carbon nanotube–ionic liquid composite gel based high-performance bioanode for glucose/O2 biofuel cells
Authors: Sun Longfei , Zhang Xiaohua , Wang Wenyang , Chen Jinhua
Published: April 2015

An easy-operation and high-performance bioanode based on a composite gel of ferrocenecarboxaldehyde modified CNTs and an ionic liquid was successfully developed.
Green synthesis and evaluation of isoquercitrin imprinted polymers for class-selective separation and purification of flavonol glycosides
Authors: Li Xiang-Jie , Chen Xiu-Xiu , Sun Guan-Yin , Zhao Yong Xin , Liu Zhao-Sheng , Aisa Haji Akber
Published: April 2015

A method for solid-phase extraction (SPE) of isoquercitrin (ISO) from natural plant extracts was proposed based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs).
A novel microfluidic device for selecting human sperm to increase the proportion of morphologically normal, motile sperm with uncompromised DNA integrity
Authors: Zhang B. , Yin T. L. , Yang J.
Published: April 2015

We assessed a microfluidic method of sperm selection.
Visible mechanochromic responses of spiropyrans in crystals via pressure-induced isomerization
Authors: Meng Xiao , Qi Guangyu , Zhang Chen , Wang Kai , Zou Bo , Ma Yuguo
Published: April 2015

The isomerization of spiropyrans in crystals was realized under high pressure, and the corresponding mechanochromic response could be observed by the naked eye.
Immobilised molecular catalysts and the role of the supporting metal substrate
Authors: Duncan David A. , Deimel Peter S. , Wiengarten Alissa , Han Runyuan , Acres Robert G. , Auwärter Willi , Feulner Peter , Papageorgiou Anthoula C. , Allegretti Francesco , Barth Johannes V.
Published: April 2015

Demonstration that the interaction of immobilised catalysts with the underlying support cannot simply be ignored even on a noble metal.
Generation of a pair of independently binding DNA aptamers in a single round of selection using proximity ligation
Authors: Chumphukam O. , Le T. T. , Piletsky S. , Cass A. E. G.
Published: April 2015

The ability to rapidly generate a pair of aptamers that bind independently to a protein target would greatly extend their use as reagents for two site (‘sandwich’) assays.
A new family of anionic organic–inorganic hybrid doughnut-like nanostructures
Authors: Zhang Zhuxiu , Gao Wen-Yang , Wojtas Lukasz , Zhang Zhenjie , Zaworotko Michael J.
Published: April 2015

A family of soluble organic–inorganic hybrid doughnut-like anions has been prepared by the self-assembly of polyoxovanadate anions and 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate linkers.
Sulfonic acid functionalized ionic liquids for dissolution of metal oxides and solvent extraction of metal ions
Authors: Dupont David , Raiguel Stijn , Binnemans Koen
Published: April 2015

Sulfonic acid functionalized ionic liquids can dissolve metal oxides and extract metal ions very efficiently.
Large-scale synthesis of gold dendritic nanostructures for surface enhanced Raman scattering
Authors: Xia Tianyu , Luo Hu , Wang Shouguo , Liu Jialong , Yu Guanghua , Wang Rongming
Published: April 2015

A precisely controlled FIB technique is used to fabricate Au dendritic nanostructures on a large scale. These Au dendritic nanostructures exhibit excellent SERS properties with a low concentration of RhB as the target molecule and the enhancement factor of SERS reaches 107.
Reply to the “Comment on ‘Relation between metastable zone width and induction time of butyl paraben in ethanol’” by L.-D. Shiau, CrystEngComm, 2015, 17, DOI: 10.1039/C5CE00101C
Authors: Yang Huaiyu
Published: April 2015

The accumulated “nucleation potential” and “crystal density”, in the interpretations describing relation between metastable zone width and induction time, reach a critical value, respectively, at the nucleation in cooling crystallization.
Manipulating interfacial hydrogens at palladium via STM
Authors: Tremblay Jean Christophe , Blanco-Rey María
Published: April 2015

In this contribution, we provide a quantum dynamical analysis of the interfacial hydrogen migration mediated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). It is observed that the hydrogen impurity favors resurfacing over occupation of the bulk and subsurface sites whenever possible. The present simulations give strong indication that the experimentally observed protuberances after STM-excitation are due to H accumulating in the vicinity of the surface.
New particle formation and growth from methanesulfonic acid, trimethylamine and water
Authors: Chen Haihan , Ezell Michael J. , Arquero Kristine D. , Varner Mychel E. , Dawson Matthew L. , Gerber R. Benny , Finlayson-Pitts Barbara J.
Published: April 2015

Water participates in the formation of initial clusters to enhance particle formation from methanesulfonic acid and trimethylamine.
Study of chemical reactivity in relation to experimental parameters of efficiency in coumarin derivatives for dye sensitized solar cells using DFT
Authors: Soto-Rojo Rody , Baldenebro-López Jesús , Glossman-Mitnik Daniel
Published: April 2015

A group of dyes derived from coumarin was studied, which consisted of nine molecules using a very similar manufacturing process of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
Aggregation-induced preparation of ultrastable zinc sulfide colloidal nanospheres and their photocatalytic degradation of multiple organic dyes
Authors: Yang Wanting , Liu Xiaoli , Li Dong , Fan Louzhen , Li Yunchao
Published: April 2015

By utilizing an in situ aggregation strategy, we prepared medium-sized ZnS nanospheres with excellent colloidal stability, which demonstrated a size-dependent photocatalytic performance toward the photodegradation of a single dye and binary mixed dyes.
Investigating the molecular and aggregated states of a drug molecule rutaecarpine using spectroscopy, microscopy, crystallography and computational studies
Authors: Dandpat Shiba Sundar , Sarkar Moloy
Published: April 2015

The present study demonstrates the aggregation behavior of rutaecarpine and the effect of surface active ionic liquids on the dissociation of the aggregates.
The dynamic, size-dependent properties of [5]–[12]cycloparaphenylenes
Authors: Darzi Evan R. , Jasti Ramesh
Published: April 2015

A collection of data and discussion on the optical, electronic, and solid-state structure of [5]–[12]cycloparaphenylene.
Preparation and reactivity of diazoalkane complexes of ruthenium stabilised by an indenyl ligand
Authors: Albertin Gabriele , Antoniutti Stefano , Castro Jesús , Dottorello Gianluca
Published: April 2015

The preparation of half-sandwich diazoalkane complexes with an indenyl ligand is described. Reactivity studies with alkenes and alkynes led to cyclisation and/or substitution reactions.
Highly efficient microfluidic sorting device for synchronizing developmental stages of C. elegans based on deflecting electrotaxis
Authors: Wang Xixian , Hu Rui , Ge Anle , Hu Liang , Wang Shanshan , Feng Xiaojun , Du Wei , Liu Bi-Feng
Published: April 2015

We propose a PDMS–agarose hybrid microfluidic chip for simultaneous sorting of all the different stages ofC. elegans.
Silver sputtering into a liquid matrix containing mercaptans: the systematic size control of silver nanoparticles in single nanometer-orders
Authors: Ishida Yohei , Nakabayashi Ryota , Matsubara Masaki , Yonezawa Tetsu
Published: April 2015

A novel methodology to synthesize silver nanoparticles with precisely controlled diameters in single nano-meter orders by sputtering into a liquid matrix containing mercaptans as an environmental friendly preparation without reductants.
A Pd(ii)/Mg–La mixed oxide catalyst for cyanation of aryl C–H bonds and tandem Suzuki–cyanation reactions
Authors: Kishore Ramineni , Yadav Jagjit , Venu Boosa , Venugopal Akula , Lakshmi Kantam M.
Published: April 2015

We report direct cyanation of aromatic C–H bonds and tandem Suzuki–cyanation reactions catalyzed by a heterogeneous palladium impregnated magnesium–lanthanum mixed oxide catalyst.