bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Material properties of pulsed-laser crystallized Si thin films grown on yttria-stabilized zirconia crystallization-induction layers by two-step irradiation method
Authors: Lien Mai Thi Kieu , Horita Susumu
Published: February 2016

Amorphous Si thin films on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) layers were crystallized widely in solid phase by the two-step method with a pulsed laser, moving the sample stage. The crystalline quality, impurity diffusion, and electrical properties of the crystallized Si films were investigated. It was found that the crystallinity of the Si thin films was improved and their surface was smooth without an incubation layer at the interface, indicating the uniform crystallinity of Si on YSZ. The diffusion of Zr and Y into the Si thin films was as small as or smaller than the order of 1017 atoms/cm3. We evaluated the electrical properties of carrier concentration and Hall mobility of the Si thin films with/without YSZ layers by using the resistivity and AC Hall effect measurements. The temperature and doping concentration dependences were measured for both undoped and P-doped films. It was found that both the undoped and P-doped Si/YSZ/glass films showed higher mobilities and carrier concentrations (and therefore higher conductivities), which indicate a smaller number of defects, than the Si/glass films. This suggested that the Si film crystallized on the YSZ layer is more suitable for application to electronic devices than the Si film on glass.
Ion cyclotron waves at Titan
Authors: Russell C. T. , Wei H. Y. , Cowee M. M. , Neubauer F. M. , Dougherty M. K.
Published: February 2016

During the interaction of Titan's thick atmosphere with the ambient plasma, it was expected that ion cyclotron waves would be generated by the free energy of the highly anisotropic velocity distribution of the freshly ionized atmospheric particles created in the interaction. However, ion cyclotron waves are rarely observed near Titan, due to the long growth times of waves associated with the major ion species from Titan's ionosphere, such as CH4+ and N2+. In the over 100 Titan flybys obtained by Cassini to date, there are only two wave events, for just a few minutes during T63 flyby and for tens of minutes during T98 flyby. These waves occur near the gyrofrequencies of proton and singly ionized molecular hydrogen. They are left‐handed, elliptically polarized, and propagate nearly parallel to the field lines. Hybrid simulations are performed to understand the wave growth under various conditions in the Titan environment. The simulations using the plasma and field conditions during T63 show that pickup protons with densities ranging from 0.01 cm−3 to 0.02 cm−3 and singly ionized molecular hydrogens with densities ranging from 0.015 cm−3 to 0.25 cm−3 can drive ion cyclotron waves with amplitudes of ~0.02 nT and of ~0.04 nT within appropriate growth times at Titan, respectively. Since the T98 waves were seen farther upstream than the T63 waves, it is possible that the instability was stronger and grew faster on T98 than T63.
Potential precursor compounds for chlorohydrocarbons detected in Gale Crater, Mars, by the SAM instrument suite on the Curiosity Rover
Authors: Miller Kristen E. , Eigenbrode Jennifer L. , Freissinet Caroline , Glavin Daniel P. , Kotrc Benjamin , Francois Pascaline , Summons Roger E.
Published: February 2016

The detection of chlorinated organic compounds in near‐surface sedimentary rocks by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite aboard the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover represents an important step toward characterizing habitable environments on Mars. However, this discovery also raises questions about the identity and source of their precursor compounds and the processes by which they become chlorinated. Here we present the results of analog experiments, conducted under conditions similar to SAM gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analyses, in which we pyrolyzed potential precursor compounds in the presence of various Cl salts and Fe oxides that have been identified in Martian sediments. While chloromethanes could not be unambiguously identified, 1,2‐dichloropropane (1,2‐DCP), which is one of the chlorinated compounds identified in SAM data, is formed from the chlorination of aliphatic precursors. Additionally, propanol produced more 1,2‐DCP than nonfunctionalized aliphatics such as propane or hexanes. Chlorinated benzenes ranging from chlorobenzene to hexachlorobenzene were identified in experiments with benzene carboxylic acids but not with benzene or toluene. Lastly, the distribution of chlorinated benzenes depended on both the substrate species and the nature and concentration of the Cl salt. Ca and Mg perchlorate, both of which release O2 in addition to Cl2 and HCl upon pyrolysis, formed less chlorobenzene relative to the sum of all chlorinated benzenes than in experiments with ferric chloride. FeCl3, a Lewis acid, catalyzes chlorination but does not aid combustion. Accordingly, both the precursor chemistry and sample mineralogy exert important controls on the distribution of chlorinated organics.
Flow structure and resistance over subaquaeous high‐ and low‐angle dunes
Authors: Kwoll E. , Venditti J. G. , Bradley R. W. , Winter C.
Published: February 2016

A prominent control on the flow over subaqueous dunes is the slope of the downstream leeside. While previous work has focused on steep (~30°), asymmetric dunes with permanent flow separation, little is known about dunes with lower lee slope angles for which flow separation is absent or intermittent. Here we present a laboratory investigation where we systematically varied the dune lee slope, holding other geometric parameters and flow hydraulics constant, to explore effects on the turbulent flow field and flow resistance. Three sets of fixed dunes (lee slopes of 10°, 20°, and 30°) were separately installed in a 15 m long and 1 m wide flume and subjected to 0.20 m deep flow. Measurements consisted of high‐frequency, vertical profiles collected with a Laser Doppler Velocimeter. We show that the temporal and spatial occurrence of flow separation decreases with dune lee slope. Velocity gradients in the dune leeside depict a free shear layer downstream of the 30° dunes and a weaker shear layer closer to the bed for the 20° and 10° dunes. The decrease in velocity gradients leads to lower magnitude of turbulence production for gentle lee slopes. Aperiodic, strong ejection events dominate the shear layer but decrease in strength and frequency for low‐angle dunes. Flow resistance of dunes decreases with lee slope; the transition being nonlinear. Over the 10°, 20°, and 30° dunes, shear stress is 8%, 33%, and 90% greater than a flat bed, respectively. Our results demonstrate that dune lee slope plays an important but often ignored role in flow resistance.
α‐Galactosidase‐A Loaded‐Nanoliposomes with Enhanced Enzymatic Activity and Intracellular Penetration
Authors: Cabrera Ingrid , Abasolo Ibane , Corchero José L. , Elizondo Elisa , Gil Pilar Rivera , Moreno Evelyn , Faraudo Jordi , Sala Santi , Bueno Dolores , González‐Mira Elisabet , Rivas Merche , Melgarejo Marta , Pulido Daniel , Albericio Fernando , Royo Miriam , Villaverde Antonio , García‐Parajo Maria F. , Schwartz Simó , Ventosa Nora , Veciana Jaume
Published: February 2016

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are caused by lysosomal dysfunction usually as a consequence of deficiency of a single enzyme required for the metabolism of macromolecules, such as lipids, glycoproteins, and mucopolysaccharides. For instance, the lack of α‐galactosidase A (GLA) activity in Fabry disease patients causes the accumulation of glycosphingolipids in the vasculature leading to multiple organ pathology. Enzyme replacement therapy, which is the most common treatment of LSD, exhibits several drawbacks mainly related to the instability and low efficacy of the exogenously administered therapeutic enzyme. In this work, the unprecedented increased enzymatic activity and intracellular penetration achieved by the association of a human recombinant GLA to nanoliposomes functionalized with Arginine‐Glycine‐Aspartic acid (RGD) peptides is reported. Moreover, these new GLA loaded nanoliposomes lead to a higher efficacy in the reduction of the GLA substrate named globotriasylceramide in a cellular model of Fabry disease, than that achieved by the same concentration of the free enzyme. The preparation of these new liposomal formulations by DELOS‐SUSP, based on the depressurization of a CO2‐expanded liquid organic solution, shows the great potential of this CO2‐based methodology for the one‐step production of protein‐nanoliposome conjugates as bioactive nanomaterials with therapeutic interest.
Adeno‐associated virus–delivered artificial microRNA extends survival and delays paralysis in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model
Authors: Stoica Lorelei , Todeasa Sophia H. , Cabrera Gabriela Toro , Salameh Johnny S. , ElMallah Mai K. , Mueller Christian , Brown Robert H. , Sena‐Esteves Miguel
Published: February 2016

Objective

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of motor neurons, resulting in progressive muscle weakness, paralysis, and death within 5 years of diagnosis. About 10% of cases are inherited, of which 20% are due to mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene. Riluzole, the only US Food and Drug Administration–approved ALS drug, prolongs survival by only a few months. Experiments in transgenic ALS mouse models have shown decreasing levels of mutant SOD1 protein as a potential therapeutic approach. We sought to develop an efficient adeno‐associated virus (AAV)‐mediated RNAi gene therapy for ALS.

Methods

A single‐stranded AAV9 vector encoding an artificial microRNA against human SOD1 was injected into the cerebral lateral ventricles of neonatal SOD1G93A mice, and impact on disease progression and survival was assessed.

Results

This therapy extended median survival by 50% and delayed hindlimb paralysis, with animals remaining ambulatory until the humane endpoint, which was due to rapid body weight loss. AAV9‐treated SOD1G93A mice showed reduction of mutant human SOD1 mRNA levels in upper and lower motor neurons and significant improvements in multiple parameters including the numbers of spinal motor neurons, diameter of ventral root axons, and extent of neuroinflammation in the SOD1G93A spinal cord. Mice also showed previously unexplored changes in pulmonary function, with AAV9‐treated SOD1G93A mice displaying a phenotype reminiscent of patient pathophysiology.

Interpretation

These studies clearly demonstrate that an AAV9‐delivered SOD1‐specific artificial microRNA is an effective and translatable therapeutic approach for ALS. Ann Neurol 2016;79:687–700
Dynamic Imaging of Individual Remyelination Profiles in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Bodini Benedetta , Veronese Mattia , García‐Lorenzo Daniel , Battaglini Marco , Poirion Emilie , Chardain Audrey , Freeman Léorah , Louapre Céline , Tchikviladze Maya , Papeix Caroline , Dollé Frédéric , Zalc Bernard , Lubetzki Catherine , Bottlaender Michel , Turkheimer Federico , Stankoff Bruno
Published: February 2016

Background

Quantitative in vivo imaging of myelin loss and repair in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is essential to understand the pathogenesis of the disease and to evaluate promyelinating therapies. Selectively binding myelin in the central nervous system white matter, Pittsburgh compound B ([11C]PiB) can be used as a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer to explore myelin dynamics in MS.

Methods

Patients with active relapsing‐remitting MS (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 8) were included in a longitudinal trial combining PET with [11C]PiB and magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel‐wise maps of [11C]PiB distribution volume ratio, reflecting myelin content, were derived. Three dynamic indices were calculated for each patient: the global index of myelin content change; the index of demyelination; and the index of remyelination.

Results

At baseline, there was a progressive reduction in [11C]PiB binding from the normal‐appearing white matter to MS lesions, reflecting a decline in myelin content. White matter lesions were characterized by a centripetal decrease in the tracer binding at the voxel level. During follow‐up, high between‐patient variability was found for all indices of myelin content change. Dynamic remyelination was inversely correlated with clinical disability (p = 0.006 and beta‐coefficient = –0.67 with the Expanded Disability Status Scale; p = 0.003 and beta‐coefficient = –0.68 with the MS Severity Scale), whereas no significant clinical correlation was found for the demyelination index.

Interpretation

[11C]PiB PET allows quantification of myelin dynamics in MS and enables stratification of patients depending on their individual remyelination potential, which significantly correlates with clinical disability. This technique should be considered to assess novel promyelinating drugs. Ann Neurol 2016;79:726–738
A Phytic Acid Induced Super‐Amphiphilic Multifunctional 3D Graphene‐Based Foam
Authors: Song Xinhong , Chen Yiying , Rong Mingcong , Xie Zhaoxiong , Zhao Tingting , Wang Yiru , Chen Xi , Wolfbeis Otto S.
Published: February 2016

Surfaces with super‐amphiphilicity have attracted tremendous interest for fundamental and applied research owing to their special affinity to both oil and water. It is generally believed that 3D graphenes are monoliths with strongly hydrophobic surfaces. Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of a 3D super‐amphiphilic (that is, highly hydrophilic and oleophilic) graphene‐based assembly in a single‐step using phytic acid acting as both a gelator and as a dopant. The product shows both hydrophilic and oleophilic intelligence, and this overcomes the drawbacks of presently known hydrophobic 3D graphene assemblies. It can absorb water and oils alike. The utility of the new material was demonstrated by designing a heterogeneous catalytic system through incorporation of a zeolite into its amphiphilic 3D scaffold. The resulting bulk network was shown to enable efficient epoxidation of alkenes without prior addition of a co‐solvent or stirring. This catalyst also can be recovered and re‐used, thereby providing a clean catalytic process with simplified work‐up.
Supramolecular Columnar Liquid Crystals with Tapered‐Shape Simple Pyrazoles Obtained by Efficient Henry/Michael Reactions
Authors: Blanco Hugo , Iguarbe Verónica , Barberá Joaquín , Serrano José Luis , Elduque Anabel , Giménez Raquel
Published: February 2016

A straightforward synthesis of mesogenic pyrazoles starting from benzaldehydes by a combination of efficient Henry and Michael reactions led to novel supramolecular liquid crystals. The mesogens are fluorescent 3,5‐dimethyl‐4‐(di or trialkoxyphenyl)pyrazoles and, in spite of the tapered shape of these molecules and their structural simplicity (only one phenyl ring), columnar liquid‐crystal phases were formed that are stable at room temperature. The self‐assembled structure was studied by XRD and the columnar cross section contains two molecules on average with an antiparallel arrangement of pyrazoles interacting through hydrogen bonds. In contrast, the single‐crystal structure of a trimethoxy analog did not show hydrogen‐bonded pyrazoles but chains of head‐to‐tail arranged molecules.
Persistence and Leaching of Two Pesticides in a Paddy Soil in Northern Vietnam
Authors: Anyusheva Maria , Lamers Marc , La Nguyen , Nguyen Van Vien , Streck Thilo
Published: February 2016

In the present study, persistence and leaching of dimethoate and fenitrothion in a paddy soil were studied under the typical conditions of northern Vietnam. The experiments were conducted on a sandy loam soil (pH 8.1) planted with a local rice variety (Oryza sativa L. var. Nep87) during two consecutive cropping seasons. Concentrations of dimethoate and fenitrothion were monitored in paddy topsoil (5 cm) and in soil water in 20 and 40 cm soil depths. Maximum concentrations were detected in topsoil on day 1 after treatment (DAT 1) or DAT 2 and corresponded to 29–30% (dimethoate) and 2–3% (fenitrothion) of applied mass. Dissipation of both pesticides from topsoil showed strong bi‐phasic behavior. Despite differences in their properties and seasonal conditions, calculated dissipation half‐lives were always less than one day, indicating strong influence of transport processes. The transport within soil was very rapid: Already 6 h after application dimethoate and fenitrothion were found at soil depths of 20 and 40 cm, suggesting preferential transport acting under submerged conditions. It points to high groundwater vulnerability during pesticide application season on paddy rice in the studied area. To protect groundwater, actions are required both in agricultural and legal fields: Current pesticide application practices should be revised together with a more stringent authorization procedure, market regulation, and an introduction of pesticide groundwater thresholds.
Influence of Nonionic Surfactants on Fungal and Bacterial Degradation of Hexane
Authors: Wei Zongsu , Hessler Christopher M. , Sorial George , Seo Youngwoo
Published: February 2016

Batch solubility and microcosm studies were conducted to examine the role of nonionic surfactants (Brij 30, Brij 35, Triton X‐100, and Tween 80) on fungal and bacterial degradation of hexane, a model volatile organic compound with a high Henry's law constant. The apparent solubility of gas phase hexane was not observed as a linear correlation in respect to surfactant concentration due to the insufficient mass transfer at the gas–liquid interface. The hexane partitioning to micellar phase was related to the unique structure of surfactants with different lengths of hydrophobic alkyl or hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chains. Microcosm test results revealed that most tested surfactants below critical micelle concentration (CMC) improved the fungal and bacterial growth, but surfactants at high concentration (5 CMC) adversely affected biodegradation kinetics. The observed low hexane removal was possibly attributed to the toxicity of surfactants at elevated concentration, the preferential utilization of a surfactant as substrate, and the partitioning of hexane into micellar phase. The results from this study suggest that low concentrations of Brij 30 and Tween 80 are favorable to enhance both the solubility and bioavailability of hexane with fungi as working consortium, while Brij 30 and Triton X‐100 below their CMC hold promising potential for bacterial degradation of hexane without having significant biodegradation of the surfactant.
Multitarget Drugs: an Epigenetic Epiphany
Authors: Ganesan A.
Published: February 2016

Epigenetics refers to changes in a biological phenotype that are not due to an underlying change in genotype. In eukaryotes, epigenetics involves a set of chemical modifications of the DNA and the histone proteins in nucleosomes. These dynamic changes are carried out by enzymes and modulate protein–protein and protein–nucleic acid interactions to determine whether specific genes are expressed or silenced. Both the epigenetic enzymes and recognition domains are currently important drug discovery targets, particularly for the treatment of cancer. This review summarizes the progress of epigenetic targets that have reached a clinical stage: DNA methyltransferases, histone deacetylases, lysine methyltransferases, lysine demethylases, and bromodomains; this is followed by a comprehensive survey of multitarget drugs that have included an epigenetic target as one of their mechanisms of action.
Scaling the consequences of interactions between invaders from the individual to the population level
Authors: Griffen Blaine D.
Published: February 2016

The impact of human‐induced stressors, such as invasive species, is often measured at the organismal level, but is much less commonly scaled up to the population level. Interactions with invasive species represent an increasingly common source of stressor in many habitats. However, due to the increasing abundance of invasive species around the globe, invasive species now commonly cause stresses not only for native species in invaded areas, but also for other invasive species. I examine the European green crab Carcinus maenas, an invasive species along the northeast coast of North America, which is known to be negatively impacted in this invaded region by interactions with the invasive Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus. Asian shore crabs are known to negatively impact green crabs via two mechanisms: by directly preying on green crab juveniles and by indirectly reducing green crab fecundity via interference (and potentially exploitative) competition that alters green crab diets. I used life‐table analyses to scale these two mechanistic stressors up to the population level in order to examine their relative impacts on green crab populations. I demonstrate that lost fecundity has larger impacts on per capita population growth rates, but that both predation and lost fecundity are capable of reducing population growth sufficiently to produce the declines in green crab populations that have been observed in areas where these two species overlap. By scaling up the impacts of one invader on a second invader, I have demonstrated that multiple documented interactions between these species are capable of having population‐level impacts and that both may be contributing to the decline of European green crabs in their invaded range on the east coast of North America.
Synthesis and application of a sulfur‐containing phosphoric amide flame retardant for nylon fabric
Authors: Chen Yingchun , Sun Bing , Zhang Haixi , Zhou Xiangdong
Published: February 2016

A sulfur‐containing flame retardant (SFR) was synthesized from polyphosphoric acid, epoxy chloropropane, and thiourea. Using a water‐soluble isocyanate‐terminated (WIT) cross‐linker, the flame retardant was applied as a flame‐retardant finishing on nylon fabric. WIT is a compound that not only cross‐links SFR and nylon cellulose but also contains no formaldehyde. Comparisons of the main performances of SFR with those of N‐methyloldimethylphosphonopropionamide (known as ‘Pyrovatex CP’) and a bicyclic phosphonite (known as ‘Antiblaze 19T’) indicate that the presence of sulfur in SFR plays a crucial role in decreasing the flammability of the nylon fabric. The limiting oxygen index value and damaged carbon length of the finished nylon fabric were 29.4% and 5.7 cm, respectively, when the concentrations of SFR and WIT were 200 and 40 g/L, respectively, and the baking temperature and time were 150 °C and 3 min, respectively. After 10 laundry cycles, the fabric still retains some flame retardancy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cognitive impairment and mortality among the oldest‐old Chinese
Authors: An Ruopeng , Liu Gordon G.
Published: February 2016

Objective

This study examined the relationship between cognitive impairment status and all‐cause mortality among the oldest‐old Chinese.

Methods

A total of 7474 survey participants 80 years of age and above came from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey 1998–2012 waves. Baseline cognitive impairment status was assessed using the Chinese version of the mini‐mental state examination (MMSE), with total score ranging from 0 to 30. Cox proportional hazards regressions were performed to examine the relationship between baseline cognitive impairment status in 1998 and subsequent all‐cause mortality during 1998–2012, adjusting for various individual characteristics at baseline.

Results

Compared with those with no or mild cognitive impairment (18 ≤ MMSE score ≤ 30) at baseline, participants with moderate‐to‐severe cognitive impairment (0 ≤ MMSE score ≤ 17) were 28% (95% confidence interval = 20%, 37%) more likely to die during the follow‐up period from 1998 to 2012. A dose–response relationship between baseline severity level of cognitive impairment and mortality was evident. Compared with those without cognitive impairment (25 ≤ MMSE score ≤ 30) at baseline, those having mild cognitive impairment (18 ≤ MMSE score ≤ 24), moderate cognitive impairment (10 ≤ MMSE score ≤ 17), and severe cognitive impairment (0 ≤ MMSE score ≤ 9), were 20% (13%, 28%), 38% (27%, 51%), and 47% (33%, 62%) more likely to die during the follow‐up period. No statistically significant gender differences in the relationship between cognitive impairment status and mortality were found.

Conclusion

Baseline cognitive impairment was inversely associated with longevity among the oldest‐old Chinese. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The contribution of caregiver psychosocial factors to distress associated with behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia
Authors: Feast Alexandra , Orrell Martin , Russell Ian , Charlesworth Georgina , Moniz‐Cook Esme
Published: February 2016

Objective

The objective of the study is to examine caregiver factors as predictors of BPSD‐related distress and their potential mechanisms.

Method

Informal caregivers of people with dementia (n = 157) recruited from 28 community mental health teams in six NHS Trusts across England completed questionnaires regarding psychosocial factors (relationship quality, competence, guilt, health‐related quality of life in the caregiver and person with dementia, reactivity to behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia [BPSD] and burden) and frequency of BPSD. Analyses of BPSD‐related distress include hierarchical multiple regression, mediation, moderation and path analysis.

Results

Caregiver psychosocial factors explained 56% of the variance in BPSD‐related distress. After controlling for these factors, frequency of BPSD was not a significant predictor of BPSD‐related distress. Caregiver reactivity to BPSD, burden, competence and relationship quality directly influenced BPSD‐related distress. Guilt influenced distress indirectly via competence, burden and reactivity to BPSD. The final model accounted for 41% of the variance in BPSD‐related distress and achieved a good fit to the data (χ2 = 23.920, df = 19, p = 0.199).

Conclusions

Caregiver psychosocial factors including sense of competence, guilt, burden and reactivity to BPSD contribute to BPSD‐related distress. Tailored interventions for managing behaviour problems in family settings could focus on these factors associated with BPSD‐related distress to minimise distress in families. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of Molecular, Microscopic, and Culture Methods for Diagnosis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Authors: Rasti Sima , Ghorbanzadeh Baharak , Kheirandish Farnaz , Mousavi Seyed Gholamabbas , Pirozmand Ahmad , Hooshyar Hossein , Abani Bathol
Published: February 2016

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in the northwest of Isfahan province, Iran. Increase in the incidence of the disease in Kashan has made it necessary to find out the best method for diagnosis and molecular characterization of Leishmania species. In the present study, 130 patients suspected to cutaneous leishmaniosis referred to health care centers of Kashan were examined. Serosity of lesion was collected for smear preparation and cultured in Novy‐Nicolle‐McNeal medium. DNA was extracted from serosity, and Leishmania species was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR using kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) specific primers. The diagnostic criteria of CL were based on the observation of amastigotes in the smear, promastigotes in culture, presence of expected bands in PCR, or nested PCR. Of 130 specimens, 87 (66.9%), 72 (56.2%), 98 (75.4 %), 96 (73.8%), and 99 (76.2%) were positive for microscopic culture, PCR, nested PCR, and combined PCR and microscopy (proposed method), respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of PCR were 99%, 100%, 100%, 96.9%, respectively, for microscopy 87.9%, 100%, 100%, 72.1%, for culture 72.7%, 100%, 100%, 53.4 %, and for nested PCR 97%, 100%, 100%, 91.2%, respectively. Based on the results of the study, kDNA‐PCR was the most sensitive method for diagnosis of CL.
Detection of Treponema pallidum Sp. Pallidum DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) by Two PCR Techniques
Authors: Castro Rita , Águas Maria João , Batista Teresa , Araújo Carlos , Mansinho Kamal , Pereira Filomena da Luz Martins
Published: February 2016

Background

Laboratory diagnosis of neurosyphilis is complicated especially when it is asymptomatic, no single laboratory test result being appropriate to diagnose central nervous system infectivity caused by Treponema pallidum. Our objective was to evaluate two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for the detection of T. pallidum DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with syphilis.

Methods

One hundred twenty‐four CSF samples from patients with reactive blood tests for syphilis were obtained. Two PCR techniques (47‐PCR, polA‐PCR) were used to detect T. pallidum DNA. The laboratory criteria used for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis to which the PCR techniques were compared were those recommended by the IUSTI: 2008 European guidelines on the management of syphilis.

Results

Treponema pallidum DNA was detected amplified in 37 of 124 (29.8%) and 30 of 124 (24.2%) samples with the 47‐PCR and polA‐PCR, respectively. Sensitivities were 75.8% and 69.7% and specificities 86.8% and 92.3%, respectively, for 47‐PCR and polA‐PCR techniques, respectively. The three CSF samples of patients with primary syphilis did not fulfill the criteria of neurosyphilis and DNA was only detected in one by the 47‐PCR. In samples from secondary syphilis and neurosyphilis, three of nine and nine of nine respectively, results were coincident for the two PCR techniques and neurosyphilis criteria. Major discrepancies between the two PCR techniques and neurosyphilis diagnostic criteria were observed in latent syphilis.

Conclusion

Beyond some limitations of the study, which are discussed here, both PCR techniques seem to be useful for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis, although 47‐PCR presents a higher sensitivity and polA‐PCR a higher specificity.
Dressings Loaded with Cyclodextrin–Hamamelitannin Complexes Increase Staphylococcus aureus Susceptibility Toward Antibiotics Both in Single as well as in Mixed Biofilm Communities
Authors: Brackman Gilles , Garcia‐Fernandez Maria José , Lenoir Joke , De Meyer Laurens , Remon Jean‐Paul , De Beer Thomas , Concheiro Angel , Alvarez‐Lorenzo Carmen , Coenye Tom
Published: February 2016

Bacteria reside within biofilms at the infection site, making them extremely difficult to eradicate with conventional wound care products. Bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) systems to regulate biofilm formation, and QS inhibitors (QSIs) have been proposed as promising antibiofilm agents. Despite this, few antimicrobial therapies that interfere with QS exist. Nontoxic hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin‐functionalized cellulose gauzes releasing a burst of the antibiotic vancomycin and the QSI hamamelitannin are developed, followed by a sustained release of both. The gauzes affect QS and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in an in vitro model of chronic wound infection and can be considered as candidates to be used to prevent wound infection as well as treat infected wounds.

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Size Impact of Ordered P3HT Nanofibers on Optical Anisotropy
Authors: Lobov Gleb S. , Zhao Yichen , Marinins Aleksandrs , Yan Min , Li Jiantong , Sugunan Abhilash , Thylén Lars , Wosinski Lech , Östling Mikael , Toprak Muhammet S. , Popov Sergei
Published: February 2016

Poly‐3‐hexylthiophene (P3HT) nanofibers are 1D crystalline structures with semiconductor properties. When P3HT nanofibers are dispersed in nonconducting solvent, they react to external alternate electric field by aligning along the field lines. This can be used to create layers of ordered nanofibers and is referred to as alternating current poling method. P3HT nanofibers with three different size distributions are fabricated, using self‐assembly mechanism in marginal solvents, and used for the alignment studies. Anisotropic absorption of oriented 2 μm long nanofibers exponentially increases with the magnitude of applied field to a certain asymptotic limit at 0.8 V μm−1, while 100–500 nm long nanofibers respond to electric field negligibly. Effective optical birefringence of oriented 2 μm long nanofibers is calculated, based on the phase shift at 633 nm and the average layer thickness, to be 0.41. These results combined with further studies on real‐time control over orientation of P3HT nanofibers in liquid solution or host system are promising in terms of exploiting them in electroabsorptive and electrorefractive applications.

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Controlled Formation of TiO2/MoS2 Core–Shell Heterostructures with Enhanced Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activities
Authors: Wang Chuanxi , Lin Huihui , Liu Zhenyu , Wu Jiapeng , Xu Zhenzhu , Zhang Chi
Published: February 2016

Most recently, much attention has been devoted to photocatalytic materials that may help to solve the global energy crisis and may provide environmental protection. Herein, novel cocatalysts based on few layered MoS2 and TiO2 nanomaterials have been designed by growing MoS2 nanosheets on the surface of TiO2 nanospheres through a facile hydrothermal method. The method allows the formation of TiO2/MoS2 core–shell heterostructures of uniform morphologies and stable structure and provides a good control over shell thickness. The mechanism that forms these heterostructures is discussed in detail. In addition, as cocatalyst, MoS2 nanosheets can enlarge the light harvesting window to include visible light and improve the photocatalytic ability of TiO2. Using Rhodamine B as the model, the resultant heterostructure is demonstrated to possess excellent and stable photocatalytic activity in the degradation of organic pollutants under visible light illumination. The TiO2/MoS2 heterostructures possess this catalytic activity due to their large surface area and their excellent interface for separating holes and electrons. Therefore, this novel heterostructure nanomaterials possess potential applications in water treatment, degradation of dye pollutants, and environmental cleaning.
Motivation to Develop as a Leader
Authors: Rosch David M. , Villanueva Josh C.
Published: February 2016

This chapter explains the role of motivation in readying leaders to succeed. Suggestions are also offered for leadership developers in harnessing motivational factors to optimize their educational programs.
Partial evaluation of string obfuscations for Java malware detection
Authors: Chawdhary Aziem , Singh Ranjeet , King Andy
Published: February 2016

The fact that Java is platform independent gives hackers the opportunity to write exploits that can target users on any platform, which has a JVM implementation. Metasploit is a well-known source of Java exploits and to circumvent detection by anti virus (AV) software, obfuscation techniques are routinely applied to make an exploit more difficult to recognise. Popular obfuscation techniques for Java include string obfuscation and applying reflection to hide method calls; two techniques that can either be used together or independently. This paper shows how to apply partial evaluation to remove these obfuscations and thereby improve AV matching. The paper presents a partial evaluator for Jimple, which is an intermediate language for JVM bytecode designed for optimisation and program analysis, and demonstrates how partially evaluated Jimple code, when transformed back into Java, improves the detection rates of a number of commercial AV products.
Adhesions and endometriosis: challenges in subfertility management
Authors: De Wilde R. L. , Alvarez J. , Brölmann H. , Campo R. , Cheong Y. , Lundorff P. , Pawelczyk L. , Roman H. , di Spiezio Sardo A. , Wallwiener M.
Published: February 2016

There is molecular evidence that endometriosis has a negative impact on the ovaries, although the exact pathophysiology concerning endometriosis-associated subfertility is not known. The negative impact on the tubo-ovarian unit can be directly by distorting the anatomy, indirectly by invoking inflammation or by oxidative damage with poorer-quality oocytes. Endometriosis even seems to have a negative effect on pregnancy outcome after in vitro fertilization.
Numerical optimization of flow uniformity inside an under body- oval substrate to improve emissions of IC engines
Authors: Om Ariara Guhan C.P. , Arthanareeswaran G. , Varadarajan K.N. , Krishnan S.
Published: February 2016

Oval substrates are widely used in automobiles to reduce the exhaust emissions in Diesel oxidation Catalyst of CI engine. Because of constraints in space and packaging Oval substrate is preferred rather than round substrate. Obtaining the flow uniformity is very challenging in oval substrate comparing with round substrate. In this present work attempts are made to optimize the inlet cone design to achieve the optimal flow uniformity with the help of CATIA V5 which is 3D design tool and CFX which is 3D CFD tool. Initially length of inlet cone and mass flow rate of exhaust stream are analysed to understand the effects of flow uniformity and pressure drop. Then short straight cones and angled cones are designed. Angled cones have been designed by two methodologies. First methodology is rotating flow inlet plane along the substrate in shorter or longer axis. Second method is shifting the flow inlet plane along the longer axis. Large improvement in flow uniformity is observed when the flow inlet plane is shifted along the direction of longer axis by 10, 20 and 30 mm away from geometrical centre. When the inlet plane is rotated again based on 30 mm shifted geometry, significant improvement at rotation angle of 20° is observed. The flow uniformity is optimum when second shift is performed based on second rotation. This present work shows that for an oval substrate flow, uniformity index can be optimized when inlet cone is angled by rotation of flow inlet plane along axis of substrate.

Highlights Optimize the inlet cone design to achieve the optimal flow uniformity. Angled cones have been designed with rotating flow inlet plane along the substrate in shorter or longer axis. Large improvement in flow uniformity is observed along the direction of 10, 20 and 30 mm away from geometrical centre. Flow uniformity is optimum when second shift is performed based on second rotation.
How Mexican Principals Deal with Teacher Underperformance: A Study of How Public Middle School Principals in Mexico City Manage Underperforming Teachers
Authors: Jorge Luis Silva Méndez
Published: February 2016

This study, based on thirty-eight interviews of principals from public middle schools in Mexico City, analyzes the criteria and methods used by these school officials to identify underperforming teachers, as well as how they wield discretionary authority. The study also proposes several measures that can be implemented by educational authorities to improve how these cases are handled. These measures include improving both principals’ training and the mechanisms used to evaluate teacher performance in the classroom.
Group Litigation Reaches Mexico: Revisiting Mexico's System of Collective Actions as a Vehicle to Ensure Efficient Implementation of Environmental Justice
Authors: David P. Vincent
Published: February 2016

This Note analyzes the decision of the Mexican legislature to allow for a system of group litigation to redress a particular set of environmentally based legal problems. The laws of Mexico, as they currently read, do not comport with the legislative intent of the authors of the legislation to allow for group litigation. This is primarily an effect of the economic incentives imposed by the new system of group litigation on institutional interests and corporate actors in Mexico. The argument advanced by this Note is that either judicial or legislative clarifications must be made to this legislation to effectuate the intent of the acts of the Mexican Congress. This may be achieved through Jurisprudencias, Ejecutorias, expansive judicial interpretation in the coming years, or through additional legislative amendments; all of which could provide additional parameters to ensure the unassailable environmental and constitutional rights of Mexican citizens. However, this Note advances the idea that the most effectual vehicle for implementing such change is through the introduction of additional pecuniary damages with regard to group litigation. In the coming years, the system of group litigation in Mexico is certain to come under heavy criticism and scrutiny from citizens, legal scholars and politicians alike. The arguments proposed herein must be addressed by the Mexican Congress to ensure that the environmental rights of citizens, guaranteed by the Mexican Constitution, are not subordinated to institutional economic interests.
Public Policy Induced Changes in Employment: Valuation Issues for Benefit-Cost Analysis
Authors: Haveman Robert H. , Weimer David L.
Published: February 2016

We explore the economic welfare effects of direct and indirect government-induced changes in employment under varying market conditions. We begin with a discussion of those policy-induced employment changes that seamlessly reshuffle workers among jobs in an efficient (i.e., full-employment, full-information) economy; generally such changes create few, if any, net changes in economic welfare not captured in changes in wage bills. We then turn to the effects of policy-induced employment changes in economies with two market distortions: (1) inflexible wages set by law or custom that result in involuntary unemployment during periods of deficient aggregate demand, and (2) illiquidity resulting from imperfect capital markets that prevent people from borrowing against future earnings. Induced employment changes in these circumstances impose real net social costs or generate real net social benefits beyond changes in the wage bill. We also assess the likely magnitude of the social opportunity cost of labor in the case of involuntary unemployment and imperfect liquidity, and address how the welfare effects of such employment changes should be valued. Based on currently available empirical research, we develop estimates of the opportunity costs of hiring or releasing an employee during periods of high unemployment with and without other market distortions. In contrast to conventional benefit-cost analysis practice, which treats releasing workers as having a negative opportunity cost, we estimate an opportunity cost for firing that is positive and equal to about 73% of pre-firing compensation, primarily because of the “scarring effect” of unemployment. Also in contrast to conventional practice, we estimate an opportunity cost for hiring an unemployed worker that is less than the worker’s opportunity cost of time.
ROTH’S THEOREM FOR FOUR VARIABLES AND ADDITIVE STRUCTURES IN SUMS OF SPARSE SETS
Authors: SCHOEN TOMASZ , SISASK OLOF
Published: February 2016

We show that if $A\subset \{1,\ldots ,N\}$ does not contain any nontrivial solutions to the equation $x+y+z=3w$, then $$\begin{eqnarray}|A|\leqslant \frac{N}{\exp (c(\log N)^{1/7})},\end{eqnarray}$$ where $c>0$ is some absolute constant. In view of Behrend’s construction, this bound is of the right shape: the exponent $1/7$ cannot be replaced by any constant larger than $1/2$. We also establish a related result, which says that sumsets $A+A+A$ contain long arithmetic progressions if $A\subset \{1,\ldots ,N\}$, or high-dimensional affine subspaces if $A\subset \mathbb{F}_{q}^{n}$, even if $A$ has density of the shape above.
The eruptive regime of mass-transfer-driven Rayleigh–Marangoni convection
Authors: Köllner Thomas , Schwarzenberger Karin , Eckert Kerstin , Boeck Thomas
Published: February 2016

The transfer of an alcohol, 2-propanol, from an aqueous to an organic phase causes convection due to density differences (Rayleigh convection) and interfacial tension gradients (Marangoni convection). The coupling of the two types of convection leads to short-lived flow structures called eruptions, which were reported in several previous experimental studies. To unravel the mechanism underlying these patterns, three-dimensional direct numerical simulations and corresponding validation experiments were carried out and compared with each other. In the simulations, the Navier–Stokes–Boussinesq equations were solved with a plane interface that couples the two layers including solutal Marangoni effects. Our simulations show excellent agreement with the experimentally observed patterns. On this basis, the origin of the eruptions is explained by a two-step process in which Rayleigh convection continuously produces a concentration distribution that triggers an opposing Marangoni flow.
School Experiences of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder Within the Context of Student Wellbeing: A Review and Analysis of the Literature
Authors: Danker Joanne , Strnadová Iva , Cumming Therese M.
Published: February 2016

There has been an increasing body of research on student wellbeing in recent years. Despite this, there is much debate on the notion of student wellbeing, along with a lack of studies focusing on the wellbeing of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 12 studies on the wellbeing of typically developing students were used to identify the domains that comprise student wellbeing. Four studies on the school experiences of students with ASD were also included to investigate how the school experiences of students with ASD relate to the domains of student wellbeing. These articles were located through electronic and hand searches. Eight domains of student wellbeing were identified, along with 8 themes derived from the school experiences of students with ASD. Results support several recommendations for schools to promote the development of the domains of student wellbeing for students with ASD.
An S-shaped pattern in the perceived passage of time: how social interaction governs temporal experience
Authors: FLAHERTY MICHAEL G.
Published: February 2016

abstract

Variation in the passage of time is perceived against the backdrop of standard temporal units. Under certain conditions, we perceive time to be passing slowly. In other settings, our subjective temporal experience is roughly synchronized with the objective time of clocks or calendars. And given different circumstances, we perceive time to have passed quickly. Drawing from 740 narratives that depict distortion in the perceived passage of time, I formulate a theory that accounts for the full range of variation in temporal experience. This theory can be represented by an S-shaped figure. According to this theory, variation in the perceived passage of time reflects variation in the density of experience per standard temporal unit. In turn, the density of experience per standard temporal unit is conditioned by the dynamics of social interaction. In its original form, however, this theory assumes that one’s circumstances shape one’s temporal experience in deterministic fashion. Consequently, based upon interviews with 406 disparate people, I conceptualize time work (or temporal agency) as one’s efforts to control, manipulate, or customize one’s own temporal experience or that of others. I conclude with some directions for future research.