bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sedimentology, faunal content and pollen record of Middle Pleistocene palustrine and lagoonal sediments from the Peri-Adriatic basin, Abruzzi, eastern central Italy
Authors: Pieruccini Pierluigi , Celma Claudio Di , Rita Federico Di , Magri Donatella , Carnevale Giorgio , Farabollini Piero , Ragaini Luca , Caffau Mauro
Published: October 2016

A 25 m-thick outcrop section exposed at Torre Mucchia, on the sea-cliff north of Ortona, eastern central Italy, comprises a rare Middle Pleistocene succession of shallow-water and paralic sediments along the western Adriatic Sea. An integrated study of the section, including facies and microfacies analyses, and characterization of paleobiological associations (mollusks, fishes, ostracods, foraminifers and pollen), enable a detailed reconstruction of the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic conditions during deposition. The shallow-water deposits include a transgressive, deepening- and fining-upward shoreface to offshore-transition facies succession overlain by a regressive shoreface-foreshore sandstone body with an erosive base and a rooted and pedogenically altered horizon at the top that imply deposition during sea-level fall. This forced regressive unit is overlain by paralic strata forming a transgressive succession comprising palustrine carbonates and back-barrier lagoonal mudstones. The palustrine carbonates exhibit some of the typical features encountered in palustrine limestones deposited within seasonal freshwater wetlands (marl prairies). Following the sea-level rising trend, the freshwater marshes were abruptly replaced by a barrier-lagoon system that allowed deposition of the overlying mud-rich unit. Within these deposits, the faunal assemblages are consistent with a low-energy brackish environment characterized by a relatively high degree of confinement. The pollen record documents the development of open forest vegetation dominated by Pinus and accompanied by a number of mesophilous and thermophilous tree taxa, whose composition supports a tentative correlation with Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 17. The new pollen record from Torre Mucchia improves our understanding of the vegetation development in the Italian Peninsula during the Middle Pleistocene and sheds new light on the role played by the most marked glacial periods in determining the history of tree taxa.
THE FINAL STAGE OF NINEVITE 5 POTTERY: MORPHOLOGICAL TYPES, TECHNOLOGY AND DIACHRONIC ANALYSIS FROM TELL ARBID (NORTH-EAST SYRIA)
Authors: Smogorzewska Anna
Published: October 2016

This paper presents major trends in pottery development in the final Ninevite 5 period, which corresponds to the final EJZ 2 period in the Syrian Jezirah. This discussion is based primarily on a pottery assemblage from Tell Arbid, a site in north-east Syria. The pottery was recovered from a dwelling quarter (Area D), where both final Ninevite 5 (final EJZ 2) and post-Ninevite 5 (EZJ 3) occupation were recognized. Excavations at Tell Arbid have provided new data regarding the late Ninevite 5 pottery repertoire and its internal development. Morphological types of vessels and their technology are discussed at length. Major traits of the final Ninevite 5 pottery are recognized and defined, including pottery “index fossils” as well as some less distinct pottery types. Chronological variability of pottery types has also been traced, special attention being given to continuity and changes in pottery production between final Ninevite 5 and post-Ninevite 5 (EJZ 3) periods. A trend toward standardization visible in the final Ninevite 5 pottery development is related to political and economic factors in the Syrian Jezirah at this time.
Horses in the Cloud: big data exploration and mining of fossil and extantEquus(Mammalia: Equidae)
Authors: MacFadden Bruce J. , Guralnick Robert P.
Published: October 2016

Extant species of the genusEquus(e.g., horses, asses, and zebras) have a widespread distribution today on all continents except Antarctica. Extinct species ofEquusrepresented by fossils were likewise widely distributed in the Pliocene and even more so during the Pleistocene. In order to understand the efficacy of “big data” for (paleo)biogeographic analyses, location records (latitude, longitude) and fossil occurrences for the genusEquuswere mined and further explored from six databases, including iDigBio, Paleobiology Database, VertNet, BISON, Neotoma, and GBIF. These were chosen from a priori knowledge of where relevant data might be aggregated. We also realized that these databases have different objectives and data sources and therefore would provide a useful comparative study of the widespread taxonEquusin space and time.

The mining ofEquusdata from these six sources yielded a combined total of 123.8 K location records, including 116.2K fossil specimens. These include individual points that are unique, that is, only occurring in one of these databases, and those that are duplicated in multiple databases. Of the six databases, three (iDigBio, Paleobiology Database, and GBIF) were judged to be the most useful in theEquususe case. Most of the databases are biased toward North American records, thus limiting the reconstruction of the actual distribution of the genusEquusin space and time outside of this continent. AlthoughEquushas a large number of digitally accessible records, fundamentally interesting questions pertaining to evolutionary dynamics and extinction geography are still a challenge for these kinds of biodiversity databases due primarily to the lack of sufficiently dense and precise temporal data.
Researching Islam, Security, and the State in Central Asia: A Round Table Discussion
Authors: Montgomery David W. , Heathershaw John , Khalid Adeeb , Lemon Edward , Epkenhans Tim
Published: October 2016

As researchers in Central Asian Studies, we discuss the different perspectives our methodological approaches provide to understanding the content and context of Islam, security, and the state in the region. We acknowledge the role of bias in creating narratives that dominate regional and international discourse and question mono-causal explanations of Islamic practice and the roots of radicalism. As such, we offer insights into the challenges and best practices of doing research on Islam and security and posit Central Asian Studies as a case for the value of multi-disciplinary research.
Interspecific interactions between twoTuta absoluta(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) larval parasitoids with contrasting life histories
Authors: Savino V. , Luna M.G. , Salas Gervassio N.G. , Coviella C.E.
Published: October 2016

Interspecific interactions between two larval parasitoids ofTuta absoluta(Meyrick) with partially overlapping host niches were studied: the idiobiont ectoparasitoidDineulophus phthorimaeaeDe Santis, and the koinobiont endoparasitoidPseudapanteles dignus(Muesebeck).T. absolutais an important pest of tomato crops worldwide, and its management could be improved by understanding the competitive interactions and potential coexistence between these two parasitoids. Firstly, a 15-min fixed time laboratory test evaluated the host-searching ability of adultD. phthorimaeaeandP. dignuswasps onT. absolutalarvae. Secondly,D. phthorimaeaehost discrimination against endoparasitized and non-endoparasitized hosts byP. dignus, at different adult female ages, was experimentally examined.D. phthorimaeaewasps spent significantly more time in general searching in the presence of its competitor than in its absence, but, parasitism was only effective byP. dignus. OlderD. phthorimaeaewasps discriminated significantly less than young wasps betweenT. absolutalarvae parasitized and unparasitized byP. dignus, and an interaction took place by non-concurrent host-feeding. Intra-guild predation ofP. dignuslarvae byD. phthorimaeaefemale feeding behaviour might have a minor effect in this system. Results are discussed in the context of literature supporting diverse evidence of coexistence in other parasitoid-host systems, with implications forT. absolutabiological control.
Rotation and instabilities for isotope and mass separation
Authors: Rax J.-M. , Gueroult R.
Published: October 2016

Rotating plasmas have the potential to offer unique capabilities for isotope and mass separation. Among the various electric and magnetic field configurations offering mass separation capabilities, rotating plasmas produced through static or oscillating fields are shown to be a leading candidate for tackling the unsolved problem of large-scale plasma separation. The successful development and deployment of industrial-scale plasma separation technologies could, among many other applications, provide an innovative path towards advanced sustainable nuclear energy. In this context, the potential and versatility of plasma rotation induced by rotating magnetic fields is uncovered and analysed. Analytical stability diagrams are derived from rotating ion orbits as a function of ion mass. Based on these findings, the basic principles of a rotating field plasma separator are then introduced. In light of these results, challenges associated with this original separation process are underlined, and the main directions for a future research program aimed at this important unsolved problem of applied plasma physics are identified.
Linear Vlasov theory of a magnetised, thermally stratified atmosphere
Authors: Xu Rui , Kunz Matthew W.
Published: October 2016

The stability of a collisionless, magnetised plasma to local convective disturbances is examined, with a focus on kinetic and finite-Larmor-radius effects. Specific application is made to the outskirts of galaxy clusters, which contain hot and tenuous plasma whose temperature increases in the direction of gravity. At long wavelengths (the ‘drift-kinetic’ limit), we obtain the kinetic version of the magnetothermal instability (MTI) and its Alfvénic counterpart (Alfvénic MTI), which were previously discovered and analysed using a magnetofluid (i.e. Braginskii) description. At sub-ion-Larmor scales, we discover an overstability driven by the electron-temperature gradient of kinetic-Alfvén drift waves – the electron MTI (eMTI) – whose growth rate is even larger than the standard MTI. At intermediate scales, we find that ion finite-Larmor-radius effects tend to stabilise the plasma. We discuss the physical interpretation of these instabilities in detail, and compare them both with previous work on magnetised convection in a collisional plasma and with temperature-gradient-driven drift-wave instabilities well known to the magnetic-confinement-fusion community. The implications of having both fluid and kinetic scales simultaneously driven unstable by the same temperature gradient are briefly discussed.
Providing evidence to support the development of whole grain dietary recommendations in the United Kingdom
Authors: Mann Kay D. , Pearce Mark S. , Seal Chris J.
Published: October 2016

Observational evidence suggests that increased whole grain (WG) intake reduces the risks of many non-communicable diseases, such as CVD, type 2 diabetes, obesity and certain cancers. More recently, studies have shown that WG intake lowers all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Much of the reported evidence on risk reduction is from US and Scandinavian populations, where there are tangible WG dietary recommendations. At present there is no quantity-specific WG dietary recommendation in the UK, instead we are advised to choose WG or higher fibre versions. Despite recognition of WG as an important component of a healthy diet, monitoring of WG intake in the UK has been poor, with the latest intake assessment from data collected in 2000–2001 for adults and in 1997 for children. To update this information we examined WG intake in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey rolling programme 2008–2011 after developing our database of WG food composition, a key resource in determining WG intake accurately. The results showed median WG intakes remain low in both adults and children and below that of countries with quantity-specific guidance. We also found a reduction in C-reactive protein concentrations and leucocyte counts with increased WG intake, although no association with other markers of cardio-metabolic health. The recent recommendations by the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to increase dietary fibre intake will require a greater emphasis on consuming more WG. Specific recommendations on WG intake in the UK are warranted as is the development of public health policy to promote consumption of these important foods.
Initiating conservation of a newly discovered population of the Endangered hog deer Axis porcinus in Myanmar
Authors: Lwin Ngwe , Linkie Matthew , Harihar Abishek , Aung Saw Soe , Lin Aung Ko , Momberg Frank
Published: October 2016

The unprecedented political and economic reforms taking place in Myanmar offer new opportunities for biodiversity conservation. They also bring new challenges in the form of rapidly growing extractive industry and agriculture sectors that have been weakly regulated and are often unsustainable. The Endangered hog deer Axis porcinus epitomizes many of these conservation challenges, and those facing most deer species in the Indo–Burma hotspot. The hog deer has disappeared from large parts of its range as a result of overhunting and intense conversion of its floodplain grassland habitat for agriculture. We report on a population of hog deer that was discovered in the Indawgyi landscape in central Myanmar in 2012. We conducted the first rigorous assessment of a hog deer population in Myanmar using an occupancy sampling protocol, tested the protocol's robustness using a power analysis, and present the results to guide management intervention. The results from our study site revealed widespread occurrence of the species, with high precision. The population map was then used to inform the development of a conservation management zone within a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve around Indawgyi Lake. The importance of this population for the status of the hog deer in Myanmar remains unknown because documentation of the species has been sparse. Our survey protocol could make a significant contribution to addressing this knowledge gap and setting an informed agenda for conservation of the hog deer both nationally and more widely across the Indo-Burma hotspot.
Female sexual function varies over time and is dependent on partner-specific factors: a population-based longitudinal analysis of six sexual function domains
Authors: Gunst A. , Ventus D. , Kärnä A. , Salo P. , Jern P.
Published: October 2016

Background

Most studies examining female sexual functions (FSFs) have used cross-sectional designs, not allowing for studying temporal stability and possible relationships between different FSFs over time. Our aim was to study these relationships using a longitudinal approach.

Method

The study sample consisted of 2173 Finnish women from two large-scale, population-based data collections 7 years apart. The Female Sexual Function Index was used. Analyses were further conducted separately for women in different relationship constellations.

Results

Standardized autoregressive paths ranged from 0.136 (sexual satisfaction) to 0.447 (orgasm function) in the full sample, suggesting that most of the variance in FSF was explained by something other than previous function. Orgasm, desire and satisfaction were the strongest predictors of other functions in the full sample and for women in the same relationship at both time points (higher orgasm function predicted higher function in other domains; greater sexual desire and satisfaction predicted lower function in other domains), however, with small effects sizes. For single women, orgasm function and sexual desire were the only significant autoregressive paths. Significant unidirectional cross-domain paths were found for women in the same relationship at both time points. One significant cross-domain path, not confirmed as unidirectional, was found for single women.

Conclusions

FSFs varied considerably over 7 years and relationship status was of importance when assessing temporal stability and cross-domain effects. Our results advocate tailored psychobehavioural treatment interventions for female sexual dysfunctions that take partner-specific factors into account.
Environmental influence of problematic social relationships on adolescents’ daily cortisol secretion: a monozygotic twin-difference study
Authors: Brendgen M. , Ouellet-Morin I. , Lupien S. J. , Vitaro F. , Dionne G. , Boivin M.
Published: October 2016

Background

This study investigated the potential environmental effects of peer victimization and the quality of relationships with parents and friends on diurnal cortisol secretion in mid-adolescence.

Method

This study used the monozygotic (MZ) twin-difference design to control for genetic effects and thus estimate the unique environmental influences on diurnal cortisol. Participants were 136 MZ twin pairs (74 female pairs) for whom cortisol was assessed four times per day over four collection days grouped in a 2-week period in grade 8 (mean age = 14.07 years). Participants also provided self-reports of peer victimization from grade 4 to grade 8 and of the relationship quality with the mother, father and best friend in grade 8.

Results

The expected pattern of diurnal cortisol secretion was observed, with high levels at awakening followed by an increase 30 min later and a progressive decrease subsequently. Controlling for a host of confounders, only within-twin pair differences in peer victimization and a problematic relationship with the mother were significantly linked to twin differences in diurnal cortisol secretion. Specifically, whereas a more problematic mother–child relationship was associated with morning cortisol secretion, peer victimization was linked to cortisol secretion later in the day (diurnal slope).

Conclusions

Controlling for genetic influences and other confounders, stressful relationships with peers and the mother exert unique and time-specific environmental influences on the pattern of diurnal cortisol secretion in mid-adolescence.
Using Behavioural Insights to Argue for a Stronger Social Safety Net: Beyond Libertarian Paternalism
Authors: CURCHIN KATHERINE
Published: October 2016

Insights from experimental research in the behavioural sciences offer a powerful impetus to reject the new paternalist approach to social policy. The findings from psychology, behavioural economics and behavioural finance, concerning decision-making by people experiencing poverty, point to the importance of alleviating material hardship by improving the social safety net, rather than trying to remedy the character of individuals through welfare conditionality. Thus far, the behavioural sciences’ usefulness as an intellectual weapon against punitive welfare reform has been underappreciated. This is partly due to underappreciation of the considerable contrast between the libertarian paternalism advocated by some behavioural scientists, which provides a rationale for governments to nudge citizens, and Lawrence Mead's new paternalism, which emphasises the personal responsibility of the poor for their circumstances. More importantly the disproportionate attention given to nudge has inhibited recognition that the behavioural research on poverty can be used to argue for more ambitious policy approaches which seek to transform behaviour in more ethical ways.
CHANGING HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT PARADIGMS?
Authors: Husereau Don , Henshall Chris , Sampietro-Colom Laura , Thomas Sarah
Published: October 2016

Objectives: Health technology assessment (HTA) has to innovate to best support changing health system environments and to help provide access to valuable innovation under fiscal constraint.

Methods: Issues associated with changing HTA paradigms were identified through scoping and explored through deliberation at a meeting of industry and HTA leaders.

Results: Five broad areas of change (engagement, scientific dialogue, research prioritization, adaptive approaches, and real world data) were identified. The meeting focused on two themes derived from these: re-thinking scientific dialogue and multi-stakeholder engagement, and re-thinking value, affordability, and access. Earlier and ongoing engagement to steer the innovation process and help achieve appropriate use across the technology lifecycle was perceived as important but would be resource intensive and would require priority setting. Patients need to be involved throughout, and particularly at the early stages. Further discussion is needed on the type of body best suited to convening the dialogue required. There was agreement that HTA must continue to assess value, but views differed on the role that HTA should play in assessing affordability and on appropriate responses to challenges around affordability. Enhanced horizon scanning could play an important role in preparing for significant future investments.

Conclusions: Early and ongoing multi-stakeholder engagement and revisiting approaches to valuing innovation are required. Questions remain as to the most appropriate role for HTA bodies. Changing HTA paradigms extend HTA's traditional remit of being responsive to decision-makers demands to being more proactive and considering whole system value.
Treating Broome Fairly
Authors: PILLER CHRISTIAN
Published: October 2016

John Broome has developed an elegant and powerful theory of fairness. It is important to lay out his theory afresh because the basic structure of Broome's theory has been generally misunderstood. Once we understand its general structure, we are in a better position to assess what its normative implications are. In discussing objections that have been raised against Broome's theory, I will show that these implications are different from what his critics have commonly assumed.
Mackey-complete spaces and power series – a topological model of differential linear logic
Authors: KERJEAN MARIE , TASSON CHRISTINE
Published: October 2016

In this paper, we describe a denotational model of Intuitionist Linear Logic which is also a differential category. Formulas are interpreted as Mackey-complete topological vector space and linear proofs are interpreted as bounded linear functions. So as to interpret non-linear proofs of Linear Logic, we use a notion of power series between Mackey-complete spaces, generalizing entire functions in$\mathbb{C}$. Finally, we get a quantitative model of Intuitionist Differential Linear Logic, with usual syntactic differentiation and where interpretations of proofs decompose as a Taylor expansion.
A systematic review of methods to assess intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among healthy European adults and children: a DEDIPAC (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity) study
Authors: Riordan Fiona , Ryan Kathleen , Perry Ivan J , Schulze Matthias B , Andersen Lene Frost , Geelen Anouk , van’t Veer Pieter , Eussen Simone , van Dongen Martien , Wijckmans-Duysens Nicole , Harrington Janas M
Published: October 2016

Objective

Research indicates that intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) may be associated with negative health consequences. However, differences between assessment methods can affect the comparability of intake data across studies. The current review aimed to identify methods used to assess SSB intake among children and adults in pan-European studies and to inform the development of the DEDIPAC (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity) toolbox of methods suitable for use in future European studies.

Design

A literature search was conducted using three electronic databases and by hand-searching reference lists. English-language studies of any design which assessed SSB consumption were included in the review.

Setting

Studies involving two or more European countries were included in the review.

Subjects

Healthy, free-living children and adults.

Results

The review identified twenty-three pan-European studies which assessed intake of SSB. The FFQ was the most commonly used (n24), followed by the 24 h recall (n6) and diet records (n1). There were several differences between the identified FFQ, including the definition of SSB used. In total, seven instruments that were tested for validity were selected as potentially suitable to assess SSB intake among adults (n1), adolescents (n3) and children (n3).

Conclusions

The current review highlights the need for instruments to use an agreed definition of SSB. Methods that were tested for validity and used in pan-European populations encompassing a range of countries were identified. These methods should be considered for use by future studies focused on evaluating consumption of SSB.
Inflation experiences of retirees
Authors: KALWIJ ADRIAAN , ALESSIE ROBERTUS , GARDNER JONATHAN , ALI ASHIK ANWAR
Published: October 2016

The inflation experience of people depends on their expenditure patterns and price developments. This paper identifies groups of retirees that have experienced relatively high price inflation over the last few decades and could thus be considered most vulnerable when income decreases, as has been the case in the Netherlands in recent years. For this we use household budget survey data from 1978 to 2004 supplemented with price information from 1978 to 2012. A methodological contribution to the literature is that an empirical framework based on the theory of consumer demand is used that explicitly makes the link between expenditure patterns and inflation experiences of households. We find that retired couples aged 65–69 have experienced about average inflation over the past few decades. Differences in inflation experiences between households result from relative price increases in goods, such as rent and utilities, on which single, low-income and older households spend relatively more of their budget, and relative price decreases in goods, such as leisure activities (including vacations), on which these households spend relatively less. The estimated differences over the 1978–2012 period in annual inflation experience are about 0.14 percentage points between single and married retirees, 0.06 percentage points between retired couples in the age groups 65–69 and 75–79 and 0.19 percentage points between retirees with low and high expenditures. Although these differences are statistically significant, they could be considered too small to be of economic significance compared with an average household having experienced 2.4% annual inflation.
Bryophytes – an emerging source for herbal remedies and chemical production
Authors: Sabovljević Marko S. , Sabovljević Aneta D. , Ikram Nur Kusaira K. , Peramuna Anantha , Bae Hansol , Simonsen Henrik T.
Published: October 2016

Bryophytes (including mosses, liverworts and hornworts) are a heterogeneous group of terrestrial plants, which comprise over 24,000 species worldwide. Given the various biological activities reported from bryophytes, they have a huge commercial potential. Due to their minute size and rather small biomass in various ecosystems, bryophytes are a seldom part of ethnomedicine and rarely subject to medicinal and chemical analyses. Still, hundreds of novel natural products have been isolated from bryophytes. Bryophytes have been shown to contain numerous potentially useful natural products, including polysaccharides, lipids, rare amino acids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, quinones and many other specialized metabolites. Additionally, different bryophyte extracts and isolated compounds have shown antimicrobial, antiviral, cytotoxic, nematocidal, insecticidal, effects on smooth and non-striated muscles, weight loss, plant growth regulators and allelopathic activities. Bryophytes also cause allergies and contact dermatitis. All these effects highlight bryophytes as potential source for herbal remedies and production of chemicals to be used in various products.
Labor and alternative food networks: challenges for farmers and consumers
Authors: Bruce Analena B. , Som Castellano Rebecca L.
Published: October 2016

Although alternative food networks (AFNs) have made strides in modeling socially just and environmentally sound agrifood system practices, the next step is to make these innovations available to more people, or to increase participation in AFNs. However, there are several barriers to expanding the impact of AFNs. The labor intensity of producing and consuming foods in AFNs is sometimes overlooked but poses a significant challenge to alternative agrifood systems’ long-term viability. This paper brings together two independently conducted empirical research studies, one focused on sustainable food production and one focused on food provisioning in the sphere of consumption. Farmers engaged in small-scale alternative food production are investing significantly more time in maintaining the health of their soils by practicing crop rotation, growing a greater diversity of crops and building organic matter with cover crops and compost. Because much of this work is unpaid, the added labor requirements pose an obstacle to the financial viability and social sustainability of alternative production methods. On the consumption side, the labor intensity of food provisioning for women engaged in AFNs, combined with other socio-demographic factors, at times, constrains AFN participation. By identifying the ways in which labor may limit the ability of AFNs to expand to a larger portion of the population, this paper helps shed light on ways of increasing the environmental, social and health benefits of AFNs.
Der Epidemiologische Suchtsurvey 2015
Authors: Piontek Daniela , Kraus Ludwig , Matos Elena Gomes de , Atzendorf Josefine
Published: October 2016

Zusammenfassung. Ziel: Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt die Methodik und das Studiendesign des Epidemiologischen Suchtsurveys (ESA) 2015. Methodik: Zielpersonen des ESA waren deutschsprachige und in Privathaushalten lebende Personen im Alter zwischen 18 und 64 Jahren. Die Ziehung der Personenstichprobe erfolgte auf Basis der Einwohnermelderegister disproportional zur Verteilung der Geburtsjahrgänge in einem zweistufigen Zufallsverfahren. Die Befragungen wurden schriftlich, telefonisch und online durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: Insgesamt konnte im ESA 2015 mit n = 9204 Teilnehmern eine Nettoausschöpfung von 52.2 % erreicht werden. Durch die verwendete Gewichtung konnte die Stichprobe hinsichtlich Bundesland, BIK-Gemeindegrößenklasse, Geschlecht, Jahrgangsgruppe und Schulbildung an die Verteilung in der Grundgesamtheit angepasst werden. Mit der Studie nicht erreichte Personen zeigten problematischere Konsummuster als Teilnehmer der Befragung. Schriftlich befragte Personen gaben häufiger Substanzkonsum an als telefonisch und online Befragte. Schlussfolgerungen: Durch den Einsatz verschiedener Befragungsmethoden und die Gewichtung der Daten konnte sichergestellt werden, dass mit dem ESA 2015 bevölkerungsrepräsentative Daten zum (klinisch relevanten) Konsum von legalen und illegalen Substanzen sowie Medikamenten vorliegen.
Substanzkonsum in der Allgemeinbevölkerung in Deutschland
Authors: Matos Elena Gomes de , Atzendorf Josefine , Kraus Ludwig , Piontek Daniela
Published: October 2016

Zusammenfassung. Ziel: Die Verbreitung des Substanzkonsums in der erwachsenen Allgemeinbevölkerung Deutschlands soll anhand aktueller Daten dargestellt werden. Methodik: Datengrundlage bildete der Epidemiologische Suchtsurvey 2015, eine bundesweite Befragung in der Wohnbevölkerung von 18 bis 64 Jahren (n = 9,204; Rücklaufquote: 52.2 %). Probanden wurden zum Gebrauch von Tabak, Alkohol, illegalen Drogen und Medikamenten befragt. Ergebnisse: In den letzten 30 Tagen hatten 28.7 % der Befragten Tabakprodukte genutzt. Den Konsum von Alkohol in diesem Zeitraum berichteten 72.8 %. Hinweise auf klinisch relevanten Konsum in den letzten 12 Monaten wiesen 28.3 % (Männer) bzw. 9.6 % (Frauen) auf. Die 12-Monats-Prävalenz illegaler Drogen lag bei 6.1 % für Cannabis und bei maximal 1 % für alle anderen Substanzen. Unter Medikamenten hatten Schmerzmittel die höchste Gebrauchsprävalenz (47.1 %) sowie die geringste Prävalenz täglichen Gebrauchs unter Nutzern (8.6 %). Schlussfolgerungen: Die Ergebnisse belegen die nach wie vor hohe Verbreitung des Substanzkonsums in der Allgemeinbevölkerung. Konsumprävalenz sowie Hinweise auf klinisch relevanten Konsum sind in Bezug auf legale Substanzen, die eine hohe Verfügbarkeit charakterisiert, am häufigsten. Hinweise auf klinisch relevanten Konsum illegaler Drogen bestanden bei deutlich weniger Personen. Da es sich dabei jedoch um eine besondere Risikogruppe handelt, ist deren Erreichung durch adäquate Angebote sicherzustellen.
Antenna-assisted picosecond control of nanoscale phase transition in vanadium dioxide
Authors: Muskens Otto L , Bergamini Luca , Wang Yudong , Gaskell Jeffrey M , Zabala Nerea , de Groot CH , Sheel David W , Aizpurua Javier
Published: October 2016

Nanoscale devices in which the interaction with light can be configured using external control signals hold great interest for next-generation optoelectronic circuits. Materials exhibiting a structural or electronic phase transition offer a large modulation contrast with multi-level optical switching and memory functionalities. In addition, plasmonic nanoantennas can provide an efficient enhancement mechanism for both the optically induced excitation and the readout of materials strategically positioned in their local environment. Here, we demonstrate picosecond all-optical switching of the local phase transition in plasmonic antenna-vanadium dioxide (VO2) hybrids, exploiting strong resonant field enhancement and selective optical pumping in plasmonic hotspots. Polarization- and wavelength-dependent pump–probe spectroscopy of multifrequency crossed antenna arrays shows that nanoscale optical switching in plasmonic hotspots does not affect neighboring antennas placed within 100 nm of the excited antennas. The antenna-assisted pumping mechanism is confirmed by numerical model calculations of the resonant, antenna-mediated local heating on a picosecond time scale. The hybrid, nanoscale excitation mechanism results in 20 times reduced switching energies and 5 times faster recovery times than a VO2 film without antennas, enabling fully reversible switching at over two million cycles per second and at local switching energies in the picojoule range. The hybrid solution of antennas and VO2 provides a conceptual framework to merge the field localization and phase-transition response, enabling precise, nanoscale optical memory functionalities.
Genomic heterogeneity of multiple synchronous lung cancer
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhang Jianjun , Li Lin , Yin Guangliang , Zhang Jianhua , Zheng Shan , Cheung Hannah , Wu Ning , Lu Ning , Mao Xizeng , Yang Longhai , Zhang Jiexin , Zhang Li , Seth Sahil , Chen Huang , Song Xingzhi , Liu Kan , Xie Yongqiang , Zhou Lina , Zhao Chuanduo , Han Naijun , Chen Wenting , Zhang Susu , Chen Longyun , Cai Wenjun , Li Lin , Shen Miaozhong , Xu Ningzhi , Cheng Shujun , Yang Huanming , Lee J. Jack , Correa Arlene , Fujimoto Junya , Behrens Carmen , Chow Chi-Wan , William William N. , Heymach John V. , Hong Waun Ki , Swisher Stephen , Wistuba Ignacio I. , Wang Jun , Lin Dongmei , Liu Xiangyang , Futreal P. Andrew , Gao Yanning
Published: October 2016

Multiple synchronous lung cancers (MSLCs) present a clinical dilemma as to whether individual tumours represent intrapulmonary metastases or independent tumours. In this study we analyse genomic profiles of 15 lung adenocarcinomas and one regional lymph node metastasis from 6 patients with MSLC. All 15 lung tumours demonstrate distinct genomic profiles, suggesting all are independent primary tumours, which are consistent with comprehensive histopathological assessment in 5 of the 6 patients. Lung tumours of the same individuals are no more similar to each other than are lung adenocarcinomas of different patients from TCGA cohort matched for tumour size and smoking status. Several known cancer-associated genes have different mutations in different tumours from the same patients. These findings suggest that in the context of identical constitutional genetic background and environmental exposure, different lung cancers in the same individual may have distinct genomic profiles and can be driven by distinct molecular events.
Tuning thermal conductivity in molybdenum disulfide by electrochemical intercalation
Authors: Zhu Gaohua , Liu Jun , Zheng Qiye , Zhang Ruigang , Li Dongyao , Banerjee Debasish , Cahill David G.
Published: October 2016

Thermal conductivity of two-dimensional (2D) materials is of interest for energy storage, nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. Here, we report that the thermal conductivity of molybdenum disulfide can be modified by electrochemical intercalation. We observe distinct behaviour for thin films with vertically aligned basal planes and natural bulk crystals with basal planes aligned parallel to the surface. The thermal conductivity is measured as a function of the degree of lithiation, using time-domain thermoreflectance. The change of thermal conductivity correlates with the lithiation-induced structural and compositional disorder. We further show that the ratio of the in-plane to through-plane thermal conductivity of bulk crystal is enhanced by the disorder. These results suggest that stacking disorder and mixture of phases is an effective mechanism to modify the anisotropic thermal conductivity of 2D materials.
Discrete bisoliton fiber laser
Authors: Liu X. M. , Han X. X. , Yao X. K.
Published: October 2016

Dissipative solitons, which result from the intricate balance between dispersion and nonlinearity as well as gain and loss, are of the fundamental scientific interest and numerous important applications. Here, we report a fiber laser that generates bisoliton – two consecutive dissipative solitons that preserve a fixed separation between them. Deviations from this separation result in its restoration. It is also found that these bisolitons have multiple discrete equilibrium distances with the quantized separations, as is confirmed by the theoretical analysis and the experimental observations. The main feature of our laser is the anomalous dispersion that is increased by an order of magnitude in comparison to previous studies. Then the spectral filtering effect plays a significant role in pulse-shaping. The proposed laser has the potential applications in optical communications and high-resolution optics for coding and transmission of information in higher-level modulation formats.
The cytochrome bd-I respiratory oxidase augments survival of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli during infection
Authors: Shepherd Mark , Achard Maud E. S. , Idris Adi , Totsika Makrina , Phan Minh-Duy , Peters Kate M. , Sarkar Sohinee , Ribeiro Cláudia A. , Holyoake Louise V. , Ladakis Dimitrios , Ulett Glen C. , Sweet Matthew J. , Poole Robert K. , McEwan Alastair G. , Schembri Mark A.
Published: October 2016

Nitric oxide (NO) is a toxic free radical produced by neutrophils and macrophages in response to infection. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) induces a variety of defence mechanisms in response to NO, including direct NO detoxification (Hmp, NorVW, NrfA), iron-sulphur cluster repair (YtfE), and the expression of the NO-tolerant cytochrome bd-I respiratory oxidase (CydAB). The current study quantifies the relative contribution of these systems to UPEC growth and survival during infection. Loss of the flavohemoglobin Hmp and cytochrome bd-I elicit the greatest sensitivity to NO-mediated growth inhibition, whereas all but the periplasmic nitrite reductase NrfA provide protection against neutrophil killing and promote survival within activated macrophages. Intriguingly, the cytochrome bd-I respiratory oxidase was the only system that augmented UPEC survival in a mouse model after 2 days, suggesting that maintaining aerobic respiration under conditions of nitrosative stress is a key factor for host colonisation. These findings suggest that while UPEC have acquired a host of specialized mechanisms to evade nitrosative stresses, the cytochrome bd-I respiratory oxidase is the main contributor to NO tolerance and host colonisation under microaerobic conditions. This respiratory complex is therefore of major importance for the accumulation of high bacterial loads during infection of the urinary tract.
Integrating Candida albicans metabolism with biofilm heterogeneity by transcriptome mapping
Authors: Rajendran Ranjith , May Ali , Sherry Leighann , Kean Ryan , Williams Craig , Jones Brian L. , Burgess Karl V. , Heringa Jaap , Abeln Sanne , Brandt Bernd W. , Munro Carol A. , Ramage Gordon
Published: October 2016

Candida albicans biofilm formation is an important virulence factor in the pathogenesis of disease, a characteristic which has been shown to be heterogeneous in clinical isolates. Using an unbiased computational approach we investigated the central metabolic pathways driving biofilm heterogeneity. Transcripts from high (HBF) and low (LBF) biofilm forming isolates were analysed by RNA sequencing, with 6312 genes identified to be expressed in these two phenotypes. With a dedicated computational approach we identified and validated a significantly differentially expressed subnetwork of genes associated with these biofilm phenotypes. Our analysis revealed amino acid metabolism, such as arginine, proline, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, were predominantly upregulated in the HBF phenotype. On the contrary, purine, starch and sucrose metabolism was generally upregulated in the LBF phenotype. The aspartate aminotransferase gene AAT1 was found to be a common member of these amino acid pathways and significantly upregulated in the HBF phenotype. Pharmacological inhibition of AAT1 enzyme activity significantly reduced biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that biofilm phenotype is associated with differential regulation of metabolic pathways. Understanding and targeting such pathways, such as amino acid metabolism, is potentially useful for developing diagnostics and new antifungals to treat biofilm-based infections.
Suppression of iASPP-dependent aggressiveness in cervical cancer through reversal of methylation silencing of microRNA-124
Authors: Dong Peixin , Xiong Ying , Watari Hidemichi , Hanley Sharon JB , Konno Yosuke , Ihira Kei , Suzuki Fumihiko , Yamada Takahiro , Kudo Masataka , Yue Junming , Sakuragi Noriaki
Published: October 2016

Derepression of wild-type p53 by suppressing its negative inhibitor iASPP (Inhibitor of apoptosis-stimulating protein of p53) represents a potential therapeutic option for cervical cancer (CC). Here, we reported a novel functional significance of iASPP upregulation in cervical tumorigenesis: iASPP acts as a key promoter of CC cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion and cancer stemness, by interacting with p53 to suppress p53-mediated transcription of target genes and reducing p53-responsive microRNA-34a levels. Moreover, we demonstrate that miR-124, directly targeting iASPP, reduces expression of iASPP and attenuates CC cell growth and invasiveness. Low miR-124 expression is inversely correlated with increased expression of iASPP mRNA in CC tissues. In a cohort of 40 patients with CC, the low miR-124 expression was correlated with poor 5-year overall survival (P = 0.0002) and shorter disease-free survival 5-year (P = 0006). Treatment with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor Zebularine increases miR-124 expression and retards CC cell growth and invasion with minimal toxicity to normal cells. Even at a non-toxic concentration, Zebularine was effective in suppressing CC cell invasion and migration. Altogether, the restoration of miR-124 reduces iASPP expression and leads to p53-dependent tumor suppression, suggesting a therapeutic strategy to treat iASPP-associated CC.
Hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha promotes the proliferation of human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells through the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway
Authors: Zhu Chengxing , Yu Jiong , Pan Qiaoling , Yang Jinfeng , Hao Guangshu , Wang Yingjie , Li Lanjuan , Cao Hongcui
Published: October 2016

Human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) reside in a physiologically low-oxygen microenvironment. Hypoxia influences a variety of stem cell cellular activities, frequently involving hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α). This research showed that hPMSCs cultured in hypoxic conditions (5% O2) exhibited a more naïve morphology and had a higher proliferative capability and higher HIF-2α expression than hPMSCs cultured in normoxic conditions (21% O2). Similar to the hypoxic cultures, hPMSCs over-expressing HIF-2α showed higher proliferative potential and higher expression of CCND1 (CyclinD1), MYC (c-Myc), POU5F1 (Oct4) and the components of the MAPK/ERK pathway. In contrast, these genes were down-regulated in the HIF-2α-silenced hPMSCs. After adding the MAPK/ERK inhibitor PD0325901, cell growth and the expression of CCND1 and MYC were inhibited. Furthermore, the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that HIF-2α bound to the MAPK3 (ERK1) promoter, indicative of its direct regulation of MAPK/ERK components at the transcriptional level during hPMSC expansion. Taken together, our results suggest that HIF-2α facilitated the preservation of hPMSC stemness and promoted their proliferation by regulating CCND1 and MYC through the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.
Rising soil temperature in China and its potential ecological impact
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wang Enli , Zhou Daowei , Luo Zhongkui , Zhang Zhengxiang
Published: October 2016

Global warming influences a series of ecological processes and ecosystems’ stability. Although comprehensive studies have been done to investigate responses of various ecosystem processes to rising air temperatures, less is known about changes in soil temperatures and their impact on below-ground processes, particularly in deep layers. Herein, we used 50 y of temperature data (1962–2011) from 360 sites in China to assess spatio-temporal changes in soil temperatures from the surface to a depth of 3.20 m. We determined, apparently for the first time, that soil surface temperature increased 31% more than air temperature, potentially leading to more carbon release to the atmosphere than predicted. Annual mean surface temperature increased by 2.07–4.04 and 0.66–2.21 °C in northern and southern China, respectively, with the greatest in winter. Warming occurred as deep as 3.20 m. The soil temperature rise was predicted to have increased soil respiration by up to 28%, reinforcing climate warming and extending the potential growing season by up to 20 d across China. However, use of only air temperature to estimate soil temperature changes would underestimate those impacts. In conclusion, these results highlighted the importance of soil warming and of using soil temperature to assess and predict soil processes.
Fluorescence Visual Detection of Herbal Product Substitutions at Terminal Herbal Markets by CCP-based FRET technique
Authors: Jiang Chao , Yuan Yuan , Yang Guang , Jin Yan , Liu Libing , Zhao Yuyang , Huang Luqi
Published: October 2016

Inaccurate labeling of materials used in herbal products may compromise the therapeutic efficacy and may pose a threat to medicinal safety. In this paper, a rapid (within 3 h), sensitive and visual colorimetric method for identifying substitutions in terminal market products was developed using cationic conjugated polymer-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (CCP-based FRET). Chinese medicinal materials with similar morphology and chemical composition were clearly distinguished by the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping method. Assays using CCP-based FRET technology showed a high frequency of adulterants in Lu-Rong (52.83%) and Chuan-Bei-Mu (67.8%) decoction pieces, and patented Chinese drugs (71.4%, 5/7) containing Chuan-Bei-Mu ingredients were detected in the terminal herbal market. In comparison with DNA sequencing, this protocol simplifies procedures by eliminating the cumbersome workups and sophisticated instruments, and only a trace amount of DNA is required. The CCP-based method is particularly attractive because it can detect adulterants in admixture samples with high sensitivity. Therefore, the CCP-based detection system shows great potential for routine terminal market checks and drug safety controls.