bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Permian basinal ammonoid sequence in Nanpanjiang area of South China—possible overlap between basinal Guadalupian and platform-based Lopingian
Authors: Zhou Zuren
Published: April 2017

The Permian pandemic ammonoids in Nanpanjiang Basin (41 genera, including two new generaGlenisterocerasandFusicrimites, and 56 species, including 21 new species) are systematically described and/or discussed. New species described in this paper areAgathiceras sequaxiliraen. sp.,Akmilleria parahuecoensisn. sp.,Aristoceras liuzhaiensen. sp.,Bamyaniceras nandanensen. sp.,Bamyaniceras yangchangensen. sp.,Bransonoceras longyinensen. sp.,Difuntites furnishin. sp.,Emilites globosusn. sp.,Eoaraxoceras spinosain. sp.,Eumedlicottia kabiensisn. sp.,Fusicrimites nanpanjiangensisn. gen. n. sp.,Glenisteroceras sidazhaiensen. gen. n. sp.,Metaperrinites shaiwaensisn. sp.,Miklukhoceras guizhouensen. sp.,Neocrimites guizhouensisn. sp.,Neopronorites leonovaen. sp.,Popanoceras ziyunensen. sp.,Properrinites gigantusn. sp.,Stacheoceras shaiwaensen. sp.,Svetlanoceras uraloceraformisn. sp., andSynartinskia meyaoensen. sp. A relatively complete Permian basinal ammonoid sequence with six zones has been newly recognized in South China, in ascending order,Properrinites gigantus-Svetlanoceras serpentinum,Svetlanoceras uraloceraformis-Prothalassoceras biforme,Popanoceras kueichowense-Medlicottia orbignyanus,Metaperrinites shaiwaensis-Popanoceras ziyunense,Waagenocerassp.-Propinacoceras beyrichi, andEoaraxoceras spinosai-Difuntites furnishi. The upper three zones are close to being duplicated from the Permian of Las Delicias, Coahuila, Mexico and west Texas, USA; while the lower three zones compare well to those of the Lower Permian in South Urals. TheEoaraxoceras-Difuntitesassemblage, as an index fauna of the upper Capitanian in Coahuila, has been found from the Claystone (3rd) Member of the Shaiwa Formation with the commonly accepted Lopingian stratigraphic age. The updated Permian ammonoid biostratigraphy in South China reveals a possible overlap between the basinal Guadalupian from North America and the platform-based Lopingian from South China.
A new diapsid from the Middle Triassic of southern China
Authors: Li Chun , Fraser Nicholas C. , Rieppel Olivier , Zhao Li-Jun , Wang Li-Ting
Published: April 2017

The Middle and early Late Triassic of southern China is well known for a remarkable diversity of marine vertebrates, particularly reptiles, including an abundance of intriguing new forms (e.g., Jiang et al., 2005; Hu et al., 2011; Li et al., 2016). Here we describe a new diapsid from Yunnan Province. It possesses an elongate neck that exhibits a remarkable similarity to that of many Protorosauria, yet in other respects the skull and postcranium are much less derived.

The new taxon is part of the so-called Panxian-Luoping Fauna and the deposits correspond to the Upper Member of the Guanling Formation, comprising thin to medium bedded, gray to dark-gray laminated marly limestone and limestone, with several layers of bentonite intercalated in the fossil level at Panxian (Wan, 2002; Motani et al., 2008; Jiang et al., 2009). Their age is Pelsonian (middle Anisian, Middle Triassic) as is indicated by the conodont Nicoraella kockeli Zone (Sun et al., 2006; Zhang et al., 2009). A recent U-Pb study indicates the absolute age of these middle Anisian beds to be close to 244 Ma (Wang et al., 2014).
Estimating Candidates’ Political Orientation in a Polarized Congress
Authors: Tausanovitch Chris , Warshaw Christopher
Published: April 2017

Over the past decade, a number of new measures have been developed that attempt to capture the political orientation of both incumbent and nonincumbent candidates for Congress, as well as other offices, on the same scale. These measures pose the possibility of being able to answer a host of fundamental questions about political accountability and representation. In this paper, we examine the properties of six recent measures of candidates’ political orientations in different domains. While these measures are commonly viewed as proxies for ideology, each involves very different choices, incentives, and contexts. Indeed, we show that there is only a weak relationship between these measures within party. This suggests that these measures are capturing domain-specific factors rather than just candidates’ ideology. Moreover, these measures do poorly at distinguishing between moderate and extreme roll call voting records within each party. As a result, they fall short when it comes to facilitating empirical analysis of theories of accountability and representation in Congress. Overall, our findings suggest that future research should leverage the conceptual and empirical variation across these measures and avoid assuming they are synonymous with candidates’ ideology.
REGULATING EXCESSIVE SPECULATION: COMMODITY DERIVATIVES AND THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS
Authors: Chadwick Anna
Published: April 2017

Evidence suggests that commodity derivatives speculation contributed to extraordinary patterns of grain price volatility that led to a global food crisis in 2007–11. People in countries throughout the world are increasingly dependent on international commodity markets for access to food. Almost everywhere, now, the value of food is determined by a single condensed symbol of its worth—its price. Persuaded of the need to ensure that this measure of value is not put at risk of distortion in the pursuit of financial profit, governments in the US and in the EU are now implementing new regulations designed to curb ‘excessive’ levels of speculation in derivative markets. Carrying out an analysis of these regulatory measures, the article demonstrates that both sets of reforms suffer from a critical limitation: They are predicated on an inaccurate understanding of how activity in commodity derivative markets can impact on underlying food prices. If the new regulations for commodity derivative markets are not up to the task, as this article argues that they are not, a more fundamental revision of global economic structures may be required if the basic needs of human beings are not to be subsumed to the interests of financial capital in the years to come.
Selective attention and mismatch negativity in antipsychotic-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia patients before and after 6 months of antipsychotic monotherapy
Authors: Oranje B. , Aggernaes B. , Rasmussen H. , Ebdrup B. H. , Glenthøj B. Y.
Published: April 2017

Background

Attention deficits have been frequently reported in schizophrenia. It has been suggested that treatment with second-generation antipsychotics can ameliorate these deficits. In this study, the influence of 6 months treatment with quetiapine, a compound with less affinity for dopamine D2 receptors than for serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors, on electrophysiological parameters of attention was investigated in a group of antipsychotic-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia patients compared with a group of age- and gender-matched healthy controls.

Method

A total of 34 first-episode, antipsychotic-naïve patients with schizophrenia and an equal number of healthy controls were tested in a selective attention and a typical mismatch negativity (MMN) paradigm at baseline and after 6 months. The patients were treated with quetiapine according to their clinical needs during the period between baseline and follow-up, whereas controls received no treatment.

Results

Patients showed lower MMN and P200 amplitude than healthy controls in the selective attention paradigm at baseline, while this was not the case for MMN of the typical MMN paradigm. Interestingly, after 6 months treatment, this MMN deficit was only ameliorated in patients treated with above median dosages of quetiapine. Patients had lower P3B amplitude, yet showed similar levels of processing negativity and N100 amplitude compared with healthy controls, both at baseline and follow-up.

Conclusions

The results indicate that deficits in MMN, P200 and P3B amplitude are present at early stages of schizophrenia, although depending on the paradigm used. Furthermore, the results indicate that 6 months quetiapine treatment ameliorates MMN but not P3B deficits, and only in those subjects on higher dosages.
Childhood adversity, adult stress, and the risk of major depression or generalized anxiety disorder in US soldiers: a test of the stress sensitization hypothesis
Authors: Bandoli G. , Campbell-Sills L. , Kessler R. C. , Heeringa S. G. , Nock M. K. , Rosellini A. J. , Sampson N. A. , Schoenbaum M. , Ursano R. J. , Stein M. B.
Published: April 2017

Background

The stress sensitization theory hypothesizes that individuals exposed to childhood adversity will be more vulnerable to mental disorders from proximal stressors. We aimed to test this theory with respect to risk of 30-day major depressive episode (MDE) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among new US Army soldiers.

Methods

The sample consisted of 30 436 new soldier recruits in the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience (Army STARRS). Generalized linear models were constructed, and additive interactions between childhood maltreatment profiles and level of 12-month stressful experiences on the risk of 30-day MDE and GAD were analyzed.

Results

Stress sensitization was observed in models of past 30-day MDE (χ28 = 17.6, p = 0.025) and GAD (χ28 = 26.8, p = 0.001). This sensitization only occurred at high (3+) levels of reported 12-month stressful experiences. In pairwise comparisons for the risk of 30-day MDE, the risk difference between 3+ stressful experiences and no stressful experiences was significantly greater for all maltreatment profiles relative to No Maltreatment. Similar results were found with the risk for 30-day GAD with the exception of the risk difference for Episodic Emotional and Sexual Abuse, which did not differ statistically from No Maltreatment.

Conclusions

New soldiers are at an increased risk of 30-day MDE or GAD following recent stressful experiences if they were exposed to childhood maltreatment. Particularly in the military with an abundance of unique stressors, attempts to identify this population and improve stress management may be useful in the effort to reduce the risk of mental disorders.
Do Non-Reflective Thinkers Apply Extreme Personal Meanings to their Activated Moods?
Authors: Dodd Alyson L. , Haigh Matthew
Published: April 2017

Background: The integrative cognitive model of mood swings proposes that mood symptoms are driven by extreme, self-referent appraisals. For example, if activated mood is appraised positively, this prompts selection of mood regulation strategies that act to up-regulate mood. Appraisals are driven by fast and automatic Type 1 cognitive processes, which, left unchecked, can cause activated mood to escalate.Aims: It was hypothesized that greater propensity to override these automatic processes by engaging in reflective (Type 2) thinking would be negatively associated with extreme appraisals of activation and activation.Method:Study 1 (n= 150) was a cross-sectional survey consisting of measures of activation, extreme appraisals, and an objective performance-based measure of the propensity to engage in reflective thought (cognitive reflection test; CRT). In Study 2 (n= 241) participants completed these measures plus three alternative measures of effortful cognitive engagement (CRT-2, Need for Cognition and Actively Open-Minded Thinking).Results: In Study 1, propensity to engage in reflective thought (higher CRT scores) was not significantly associated with activated mood or extreme appraisals, but activated mood and extreme appraisals were positively correlated. In study 2, the association between activation and extreme appraisals was replicated. Predicted associations between alternative measures of reflective thinking, activated mood, and extreme appraisals were not found.Conclusions: Extreme appraisals of internal states may be a psychological mechanism underlying activated mood. Propensity to reflect on and override default cognitions was unrelated to these extreme appraisals and activated mood. Further research in a clinical sample using mood-relevant measures of reflective thinking is warranted.
Detecting Clusters in Atom Probe Data with Gaussian Mixture Models
Authors: Zelenty Jennifer , Dahl Andrew , Hyde Jonathan , Smith George D. W. , Moody Michael P.
Published: April 2017

Accurately identifying and extracting clusters from atom probe tomography (APT) reconstructions is extremely challenging, yet critical to many applications. Currently, the most prevalent approach to detect clusters is the maximum separation method, a heuristic that relies heavily upon parameters manually chosen by the user. In this work, a new clustering algorithm, Gaussian mixture model Expectation Maximization Algorithm (GEMA), was developed. GEMA utilizes a Gaussian mixture model to probabilistically distinguish clusters from random fluctuations in the matrix. This machine learning approach maximizes the data likelihood via expectation maximization: given atomic positions, the algorithm learns the position, size, and width of each cluster. A key advantage of GEMA is that atoms are probabilistically assigned to clusters, thus reflecting scientifically meaningful uncertainty regarding atoms located near precipitate/matrix interfaces. GEMA outperforms the maximum separation method in cluster detection accuracy when applied to several realistically simulated data sets. Lastly, GEMA was successfully applied to real APT data.
APPROXIMATION BY SPHERICAL NEURAL NETWORKS WITH ZONAL FUNCTIONS
Authors: CHEN ZHIXIANG , CAO FEILONG
Published: April 2017

We address the construction and approximation for feed-forward neural networks (FNNs) with zonal functions on the unit sphere. The filtered de la Vallée-Poussin operator and the spherical quadrature formula are used to construct the spherical FNNs. In particular, the upper and lower bounds of approximation errors by the FNNs are estimated, where the best polynomial approximation of a spherical function is used as a measure of approximation error.
Epidemiologie des Alkoholkonsums und alkoholbezogener Störungen im höheren Alter
Authors: Weyerer Siegfried , Schäufele Martina
Published: April 2017

Zusammenfassung. Ziel: Darstellung von Häufigkeit, Risiken und Folgen des Gebrauchs und Missbrauchs von Alkohol im höheren Alter und Aufzeigen von Möglichkeiten der Intervention. Methodik: Es wurde zu den einzelnen Themen an bereits vorhandene systematisch recherchierte, einschlägige Überblicksarbeiten angeknüpft, die um neuere Arbeiten ergänzt wurden. Diese wurden durch Recherchen in den einschlägigen Datenbanken und Literaturverzeichnissen der in Deutschland führenden epidemiologischen Forschungsinstitute auf diesem Gebiet ermittelt. Ergebnisse: Im höheren Alter zeigt sich ein deutlicher Rückgang riskanten Konsums sowie ein Anstieg der Alkoholabstinenz. Männer weisen dabei einen höheren riskanten Konsum und geringere Abstinenzraten auf. Neben dem Geschlecht sind mit riskantem Alkoholkonsum im höheren Alter assoziiert: Tabakrauchen, höheres Einkommen, höhere Bildung sowie höherer sozialer Status. Bei alkoholbezogenen Störungen, schädlichem Gebrauch/Missbrauch von Alkohol und Alkoholabhängigkeit, weisen die vorliegenden Studien auf einen altersbezogenen Rückgang hin. Bei älteren Menschen weitverbreitete Erkrankungen wie z. B. Bluthochdruck, Diabetes mellitus und Depression verschlechtern sich durch überhöhten Alkoholkonsum. Das Risiko für kognitive Beeinträchtigungen und demenzielle Erkrankungen ist erheblich erhöht. Im Kontrast zu den Behandlungszahlen stehen die Ergebnisse von Therapiestudien, die die Wirksamkeit psychotherapeutischer Interventionen bei älteren Menschen mit alkoholbezogenen Störungen belegen. So zeigte sich, dass der kurzfristige Therapieerfolg bei Älteren ähnlich gut ist wie bei Jüngeren. Bei längeren Katamnesezeiträumen sind die Therapien bei älteren Patienten erfolgreicher als bei jüngeren. Schlussfolgerungen: Ein Ausbau von Therapieangeboten, die speziell auf ältere Menschen ausgerichtet sind, ist dringend geboten
Suchtpotenzial und andere Risiken von Benzodiazepinen und Z-Drugs im Alter
Authors: Wolter Dirk K.
Published: April 2017

Zusammenfassung. Zielsetzung: Übersicht über Suchtpotenzial und andere Risiken von Benzodiazepinen (BZD) und Z-Drugs sowie die Behandlung der Abhängigkeit von diesen Substanzen im Alter. Methodik: Narrativ Review. Literaturrecherche in PubMed (Suchbegriffe: Benzodiazepin*, z-drugs, zolpidem, zopiclon*, jeweils UND old sowie elderly) und aktuellen einschlägigen Standardwerken; Auswahl nach altersmedizinischer Relevanz und Aktualität. Ergebnisse: BZD werden weiterhin im Alter häufig verordnet. Z-Drugs haben zu einem großen Teil BZD-Hypnotika ersetzt. Neben der Niedrigdosisabhängigkeit werden beide mit der Auslösung einer Reihe von Gesundheitsstörungen in Verbindung gebracht, darunter auch Demenzen. Z-Drugs stellen keinen prinzipiellen Fortschritt gegenüber BZD dar. Ein Entzug ist auch im Alter möglich, bedarf aber sorgfältiger Vorbereitung. Schlussfolgerungen: BZD und Z-Drugs sind nach wie vor ein wichtiges Thema für die Altersmedizin.
Neue Zusammenarbeitsformen mit Advanced Practice Nurses in der Grundversorgung aus Sicht von Hausärzten – eine qualitativ-explorative Studie
Authors: Steinbrüchel-Boesch Corinne , Rosemann Thomas , Spirig Rebecca
Published: April 2017

Zusammenfassung. Chronisch kranke und multimorbide Menschen erfordern neue Versorgungsmodelle, in denen die Zusammenarbeit der Berufsgruppen neu definiert wird. Während sich interprofessionelle Modelle international bewähren, bestehen in der Schweiz erst wenige solche Versorgungsteams. Insbesondere ist wenig bekannt über die Ansicht von Hausärzten zu neuen Versorgungsmodellen mit Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs). Deshalb untersuchten wir, wie Hausärzte mögliche Zusammenarbeitsformen mit APNs in der Grundversorgung beschreiben. Wir führten Fokusgruppeninterviews mit Hausärzten durch. Vorgängig explorierte ein Expertengremium Themen der interprofessionellen Zusammenarbeit. Die Interviews wurden mittels qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse analysiert. Die Analyse ergab, dass den Ärzten die Beibehaltung der heutigen Versorgungsqualität wichtig ist. Sie stehen einer Zusammenarbeit mit APNs offen gegenüber, wissen aber wenig über deren Kompetenzen. Erschwerend wirkt sich zudem aus, dass die Finanzierung noch nicht geregelt ist.
CME
Authors: Merkofer Franzisca , Biskup Ewelina
Published: April 2017

Zusammenfassung. Das Kolonkarzinom stellt mit jährlich ca. 4000 Erkrankungen die dritthäufigste Todesursache in der Schweiz dar. Die meisten Kolonkarzinome treten sporadisch auf und entwickeln sich aus Adenomen (Polypen), deren Latenzzeit auf über zehn Jahre geschätzt wird. Personen über 50 Jahre ohne Risikoprofil (z.B. ohne familiäre Belastung) können häufiger an einem Kolonkarzinom erkranken. Um diese Adenome frühzeitig zu entdecken und eine Progression in ein Karzinom zu verhindern, sind Screeningverfahren wichtig. Es gibt mehrere Screeningmethoden (Stuhluntersuchungen wie Hämoccult-Test, fäkaler immunologischer Test, fäkaler DNA Test und Endoskopien wie Rekto-/Sigmoidoskopie, Ileo-Koloskopie, Kapselendoskopie). Ebenso wichtig ist auch, dass Prävention betrieben wird, indem die Bevölkerung für das Screening auf ein Kolonkarzinom sensibilisiert wird und dieses vor allem bei der Risikopopulation durchgeführt wird.
Does it pay off to Complete a Doctorate?
Authors: Soucek Roman , Göritz Anja S. , Moser Klaus
Published: April 2017

Abstract. According to human capital theory, educational level should be rewarded by the labor market. Hence, a completed doctorate should translate into higher income. This relationship between a completed doctorate and income should be more pronounced in the case of self-employment, because especially in this group the doctorate serves as a signal of an extraordinary professional qualification. The hypotheses were tested against a sample of 183 former scholarship recipients, who finished their academic education and were either employed full-time or self-employed. Results for the entire sample suggest that a completed doctorate has no effect on income. This is put into a new perspective by the confirmed impact of a doctorate on income for self-employed participants. We discuss this result with respect to the specific sample analyzed (former scholarship holders), labor market regulation issues, and from both a human capital and a signaling perspective of educational credentials.
FAF1 phosphorylation by AKT accumulates TGF-β type II receptor and drives breast cancer metastasis
Authors: Xie Feng , Jin Ke , Shao Li , Fan Yao , Tu Yifei , Li Yihao , Yang Bin , van Dam Hans , ten Dijke Peter , Weng Honglei , Dooley Steven , Wang Shuai , Jia Junling , Jin Jin , Zhou Fangfang , Zhang Long
Published: April 2017

TGF-β is pro-metastatic for the late-stage breast cancer cells. Despite recent progress, the regulation of TGF-β type II receptor remains uncertain. Here we report that FAF1 destabilizes TβRII on the cell surface by recruiting the VCP/E3 ligase complex, thereby limiting excessive TGF-β response. Importantly, activated AKT directly phosphorylates FAF1 at Ser 582, which disrupts the FAF1–VCP complex and reduces FAF1 at the plasma membrane. The latter results in an increase in TβRII at the cell surface that promotes both TGF-β-induced SMAD and non-SMAD signalling. We uncover a metastasis suppressing role for FAF1 through analyses of FAF1-knockout animals, various in vitro and in vivo models of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis, an MMTV-PyMT transgenic mouse model of mammary tumour progression and clinical breast cancer samples. These findings describe a previously uncharacterized mechanism by which TβRII is tightly controlled. Together, we reveal how SMAD and AKT pathways interact to confer pro-oncogenic responses to TGF-β.
Nanodiamond-enhanced MRI via in situ hyperpolarization
Authors: Waddington David E. J. , Sarracanie Mathieu , Zhang Huiliang , Salameh Najat , Glenn David R. , Rej Ewa , Gaebel Torsten , Boele Thomas , Walsworth Ronald L. , Reilly David J. , Rosen Matthew S.
Published: April 2017

Nanodiamonds are of interest as nontoxic substrates for targeted drug delivery and as highly biostable fluorescent markers for cellular tracking. Beyond optical techniques, however, options for noninvasive imaging of nanodiamonds in vivo are severely limited. Here, we demonstrate that the Overhauser effect, a proton–electron polarization transfer technique, can enable high-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of nanodiamonds in water at room temperature and ultra-low magnetic field. The technique transfers spin polarization from paramagnetic impurities at nanodiamond surfaces to 1H spins in the surrounding water solution, creating MRI contrast on-demand. We examine the conditions required for maximum enhancement as well as the ultimate sensitivity of the technique. The ability to perform continuous in situ hyperpolarization via the Overhauser mechanism, in combination with the excellent in vivo stability of nanodiamond, raises the possibility of performing noninvasive in vivo tracking of nanodiamond over indefinitely long periods of time.
Functional organization of protein determinants of meiotic DNA break hotspots
Authors: Ma Lijuan , Fowler Kyle R. , Martín-Castellanos Cristina , Smith Gerald R.
Published: April 2017

During Schizosaccharomyces pombe meiotic prophase, homologous chromosomes are co-aligned by linear elements (LinEs) analogous to the axial elements of the synaptonemal complex (SC) in other organisms. LinE proteins also promote the formation of meiotic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), the precursors of cross-overs. Rec10 is required for essentially all DSBs and recombination, and three others (Rec25, Rec27, and Mug20) are protein determinants of DSB hotspots – they bind DSB hotspots with high specificity and are required for DSB formation there. These four LinE proteins co-localize in the nucleus in an interdependent way, suggesting they form a complex. We used random mutagenesis to uncover recombination-deficient missense mutants with novel properties. Some missense mutations changed essential residues conserved among Schizosaccharomyces species. DSB formation, gene conversion, and crossing-over were coordinately reduced in the mutants tested. Based on our mutant analysis, we revised the rec27 open reading frame: the new start codon is in the previously annotated first intron. Genetic and fluorescence-microscopy assays indicated that the Rec10 N- and C-terminal regions have complex interactions with Rec25. These mutants are a valuable resource to elucidate further how LinE proteins and the related SCs of other species regulate meiotic DSB formation to form crossovers crucial for meiosis.
Efficient High-Power Ultrashort Pulse Compression in Self-Defocusing Bulk Media
Authors: Seidel Marcus , Brons Jonathan , Arisholm Gunnar , Fritsch Kilian , Pervak Vladimir , Pronin Oleg
Published: April 2017

Peak and average power scalability is the key feature of advancing femtosecond laser technology. Today, near-infrared light sources are capable of providing hundreds of Watts of average power. These sources, however, scarcely deliver pulses shorter than 100 fs which are, for instance, highly beneficial for frequency conversion to the extreme ultraviolet or to the mid- infrared. Therefore, the development of power scalable pulse compression schemes is still an ongoing quest. This article presents the compression of 90 W average power, 190 fs pulses to 70 W, 30 fs. An increase in peak power from 18 MW to 60 MW is achieved. The compression scheme is based on cascaded phase-mismatched quadratic nonlinearities in BBO crystals. In addition to the experimental results, simulations are presented which compare spatially resolved spectra of pulses spectrally broadened in self-focusing and self-defocusing media, respectively. It is demonstrated that balancing self- defocusing and Gaussian beam convergence results in an efficient, power-scalable spectral broadening mechanism in bulk material.
Lineage-specific SNPs for genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates
Authors: Dou Horng-Yunn , Lin Chien-Hsing , Chen Yih-Yuan , Yang Shiu-Ju , Chang Jia-Ru , Wu Keh-Ming , Chen Ying-Tsong , Chin Pei-Ju , Liu Yen-Ming , Su Ih-Jen , Tsai Shih-Feng
Published: April 2017

Tuberculosis (TB) is a severe infectious disease worldwide. Genetic variation of the causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), determines the outcomes of infection and anti-TB treatment. Until recently, there has been no effective and convenient way for classifying clinical isolates based on the DNA sequences of the divergent lineages of MTB infecting human populations. Here, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of six representative strains from Taiwan by whole-genome sequencing and comparing the results to the sequence of the H37Rv reference strain. One hundred and ten SNPs, each unique to one of the six strains, were used to genotype 150 additional isolates by applying DNA mass spectrometry. Lineage-specific SNPs were identified that could distinguish the major lineages of the clinical isolates. A subset including 32 SNPs was found to be sufficient to type four major groups of MTB isolates in Taiwan (ancient Beijing, modern Beijing, East African–Indian, and Latin-American Mediterranean). However, there was high genetic homozygosity within the Euro-American lineage, which included spoligotype-classified Haarlem and T strains. By whole-genome sequencing of 12 representative Euro-American isolates, we identified multiple subtype-specific SNPs which allowed us to distinguish two major branches within the Euro-American lineage.
Risk of infections in patients with gout: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Spaetgens B. , de Vries F. , Driessen J. H. M. , Leufkens H. G. , Souverein P. C. , Boonen A. , van der Meer J. W. M. , Joosten L. A. B.
Published: April 2017

To investigate the risk of various types of infections (pneumonia and urinary tract infection (UTI)), and infection-related mortality in patients with gout compared with population-based controls. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). All patients with a first diagnosis of gout and aged >40 years between January 1987-July 2014, were included and matched with up to two controls. Time-varying Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of infections and mortality. 131,565 patients and 252,763 controls (mean age: 64 years, 74% males, mean follow-up of 6.7 years) were included in the full cohort. After full statistical adjustment, the risk of pneumonia was increased (adj. HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.36), while the risk of UTI (adj. HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.01) was similar in patients compared to controls. No differences between patients and controls were observed for infection-related mortality due to pneumonia (adj. HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.14) or UTI (adj. HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.37). In conclusion, patients with gout did not have decreased risks of pneumonia, UTI or infection-related mortality compared to population-based controls.
Using Chironomus dilutus to identify toxicants and evaluate the ecotoxicity of sediments in the Haihe River Basin
Authors: Zhu Xiaolei , Shan Baoqing , Tang Wenzhong , Zhang Chao
Published: April 2017

To effectively manage a watershed and successfully restore a river system, it is very important to assess the toxicity of sediments and identify the substances causing the toxicity. Seventy-six sediments collected in the Haihe River Basin (HRB) in China were screened for acute toxicity using Chironomus dilutus. We found that sediments from more than 32% of sampling sites, distributed mainly in the Ziya tributary and along the estuary, were acutely toxic to midges. A toxicity identification evaluation showed that the toxicity of the sediment samples was mainly from ammonia nitrogen, metals, and organics. Calculations of the toxic unit (TU) showed that ammonia and metals contributed more to sediment toxicity than organics, and that PAHs may have contributed in other tributaries. A modified three-step sequential extraction procedure to assess the bioavailability of the metals indicated that the toxicity from metals was mainly from Cd and Zn. This is one of the first studies in which this type of approach has been applied to directly connect contaminants with ecological effects in the HRB.
Forbs enhance productivity of unfertilised grass-clover leys and support low-carbon bioenergy
Authors: Cong Wen-Feng , Jing Jingying , Rasmussen Jim , Søegaard Karen , Eriksen Jørgen
Published: April 2017

Intensively managed grasslands are dominated by highly productive grass-clover mixtures. Increasing crop diversity by inclusion of competitive forbs may enhance biomass production and sustainable biofuel production. Here we examined if one or all of three forbs (chicory, Cichorium intybus L.; caraway, Carum carvi L.; plantain, Plantago lanceolata L.) included in ryegrass-red clover mixtures enhanced above- and below-ground productivity, and assessed their biofuel potentials, based on a three-year experiment with and without fertilisation as cattle slurry. We determined herbage yield, standing root biomass, and estimated methane energy output and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per energy unit using life cycle assessment. Results showed that plantain-containing grass-clover mixtures significantly increased herbage yield, while chicory- or caraway-containing mixtures maintained similar yields to the grass-clover mixture. Standing root biomass of the grass-clover mixture was enhanced by inclusion of caraway and plantain, with that of plantain further enhanced by fertilisation. The highest methane energy output was achieved in plantain-containing grass-clover mixtures. All unfertilised mixtures achieved the 60% reduction in GHG emissions compared to fossil fuel, whereas all fertilised mixtures did not meet the 60% reduction target. These findings suggest that including competitive forbs such as plantain in grass-clover mixtures enhances productivity, supporting low-carbon footprint bioenergy production.
Real-time intravascular photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging of lipid-laden plaque in human coronary artery at 16 frames per second
Authors: Hui Jie , Cao Yingchun , Zhang Yi , Kole Ayeeshik , Wang Pu , Yu Guangli , Eakins Gregory , Sturek Michael , Chen Weibiao , Cheng Ji-Xin
Published: April 2017

Intravascular photoacoustic-ultrasound (IVPA-US) imaging is an emerging hybrid modality for the detection of lipid-laden plaques, as it provides simultaneous morphological and lipid-specific chemical information of an artery wall. Real-time imaging and display at video-rate speed are critical for clinical utility of the IVPA-US imaging technology. Here, we demonstrate a portable IVPA-US system capable of imaging at up to 25 frames per second in real-time display mode. This unprecedented imaging speed was achieved by concurrent innovations in excitation laser source, rotary joint assembly, 1 mm IVPA-US catheter size, differentiated A-line strategy, and real-time image processing and display algorithms. Spatial resolution, chemical specificity, and capability for imaging highly dynamic objects were evaluated by phantoms to characterize system performance. An imaging speed of 16 frames per second was determined to be adequate to suppress motion artifacts from cardiac pulsation for in vivo applications. The translational capability of this system for the detection of lipid-laden plaques was validated by ex vivo imaging of an atherosclerotic human coronary artery at 16 frames per second, which showed strong correlation to gold-standard histopathology. Thus, this high-speed IVPA-US imaging system presents significant advances in the translational intravascular and other endoscopic applications.
How is charge transport different in ionic liquids? The effect of high pressure
Authors: Wojnarowska Z. , Thoms E. , Blanchard B. , Tripathy S. N. , Goodrich P. , Jacquemin J. , Knapik-Kowalczuk J. , Paluch M.
Published: April 2017

In this paper the key role of the apparent activation volume parameter in the charge transport properties of protic and aprotic ionic liquids is demonstrated.
Phenolic compound-mediated single-step fabrication of copper oxide nanoparticles for elucidating their influence on anti-bacterial and catalytic activity
Authors: Bala Niranjan , Sarkar M. , Maiti M. , Nandy P. , Basu R. , Das S.
Published: April 2017

A single-step synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) from a phenolic compound (rosmarinic acid) at ambient temperature was developed in this study.
Ultrasound-assisted supramolecular solvent microextraction coupled with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for speciation analysis of inorganic arsenic
Authors: Kashanaki Rohullah , Ebrahimzadeh Homeira , Moradi Morteza
Published: April 2017

A novel ultrasonic-assisted supramolecular solvent microextraction (USASS-ME) method was proposed for the selective microextraction of As(iii, v) prior to its determination via graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.
Aminoquinoline-directed, cobalt-catalyzed carbonylation of sulfonamide sp2 C–H bonds
Authors: Nguyen Tung Thanh , Grigorjeva Liene , Daugulis Olafs
Published: April 2017

Sulfonamide C–H carbonylation by first-row transition metal catalysis.
TTE DNA–Cu NPs: enhanced fluorescence and application in a target DNA triggered dual-cycle amplification biosensor
Authors: Wang Guangfeng , Wan Jing , Zhang Xiaojun
Published: April 2017

A crowded TTE DNA structure for the preparation of Cu NPs with enhanced fluorescence was prepared and applied for the ultrasensitive detection of target DNA.
Cobalt corroles with phosphonic acid pendants as catalysts for oxygen and hydrogen evolution from neutral aqueous solution
Authors: Sun Huiling , Han Yongzhen , Lei Haitao , Chen Mingxing , Cao Rui
Published: April 2017

The acid/base pendants at the secondary coordination sphere of cobalt corroles play significant roles in OER and HER.
Ab initio calculation of inelastic scattering
Authors: Moreno Carrascosa Andrés , Kirrander Adam
Published: April 2017

We calculate nonresonant inelastic electron and X-ray scattering cross sections for bound-to-bound transitions in atoms and molecules fromab initioelectronic wavefunctions.
A reaction-based luminescent switch-on sensor for the detection of OH− ions in simulated wastewater
Authors: Wu Chun , Vellaisamy Kasipandi , Yang Guanjun , Dong Zhen-Zhen , Leung Chung-Hang , Liu Jin-Biao , Ma Dik-Lung
Published: April 2017

A reaction-based luminescent switch-on iridium(iii) sensor for the detection of OH− ions in simulated wastewater.
Synthetic, structural and magnetic implications of introducing 2,2′-dipyridylamide to sodium-ferrate complexes
Authors: Maddock Lewis C. H. , Borilovic Ivana , McIntyre Jamie , Kennedy Alan R. , Aromí Guillem , Hevia Eva
Published: April 2017

Establishing transamination as an efficient method to access novel heterobimetallic complexes, this study provides magnetic and structural insights of 2,2-dipyridylamide based sodium ferrate complexes.
Synthesis, structure–activity relationship and binding mode analysis of 4-thiazolidinone derivatives as novel inhibitors of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase
Authors: Zeng Fanxun , Qi Tiantian , Li Chunyan , Li Tingfang , Li Honglin , Li Shiliang , Zhu Lili , Xu Xiaoyong
Published: April 2017

A series of 4-thiazolidinone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as novel human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) inhibitors.
Controllable coverage of Bi2S3 quantum dots on one-dimensional TiO2 nanorod arrays by pulsed laser deposition technique for high photoelectrochemical properties
Authors: Han Minmin , Guo Hongjian , Li Bo , Jia Junhong , Wang Wenzhen
Published: April 2017

Through varying the laser ablation pulses, the controlled coverage of Bi2S3 QDs on nanorods is realized and an optimal energy conversion efficiency of 3.06% is obtained under one sun illumination.
Multilayered intercalation of 1-octanol into Brodie graphite oxide
Authors: Klechikov Alexey , Sun Jinhua , Baburin Igor A. , Seifert Gotthard , Rebrikova Anastasiia T. , Avramenko Natalya V. , Korobov Mikhail V. , Talyzin Alexandr V.
Published: April 2017

Multilayered intercalation of 1-octanol into the structure of Brodie graphite oxide (B-GO) was studied as a function of temperature and pressure.
Copper-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative coupling of α-keto acids and sulfoximines
Authors: Pimpasri Chaleena , Sumunnee Ladawan , Yotphan Sirilata
Published: April 2017

The formation of N-aroylsulfoximines via a copper-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative coupling of α-keto acids with NH-sulfoximines is reported.
Enhancing the emission of hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene-containing polynorbornene via electron donating, unsymmetric constitution and solvent effects
Authors: Tsai Chou-Yi , Zhang Qiang , Wang Yi-Ze , Shyong Jocelyn , Chen Hsin-Lung , Liaw Der-Jang
Published: April 2017

Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene-containing hydrogenated polynorbornene dispersion showed an intensive emission of the 0–0 transition (465 nm) and excellent dispersibility.
Dynamic supramolecular self-assembly: hydrogen bonding-induced contraction and extension of functional polymers
Authors: Cheng Chih-Chia , Wang Jui-Hsu , Chuang Wei-Tsung , Liao Zhi-Sheng , Huang Jyun-Jie , Huang Shan-You , Fan Wen-Lu , Lee Duu-Jong
Published: April 2017

A ureido-cytosine-functionalized supramolecular polymer can be manipulated to control nano-scale microstructures and its ability to form long-range order during self-assembly.
Laser sintering and post-processing of a walnut shell/Co-PES composite
Authors: Yu Yueqiang , Guo Yanling , Jiang Ting , Jiang Kaiyi , Li Jian , Guo Shuai
Published: April 2017

In order to recycle agricultural and forestry waste and reduce the cost of materials and energy consumption of the laser sintering process, herein, a sustainable and low-cost walnut shell/Co-PES composite (WSPC) is developed.
Damage of EPS and cell structures and improvement of high-solid anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge by combined (Ca(OH)2+ multiple-transducer ultrasonic) pretreatment
Authors: Zhang Bo , Ji Min , Wang Fen , Li Ruying , Zhang Keqiang , Yin Xiaobo , Li Qiang
Published: April 2017

Effects of individual and combined Ca(OH)2and ultrasonic pretreatment on high-solid sludge were examined in terms of sludge solubilization, damages of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and cell structures, and subsequent anaerobic digestion.
Atomically thin SiC nanoparticles obtained via ultrasonic treatment to realize enhanced catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction in both alkaline and acidic media
Authors: Guo Jiahao , Song Kaiyue , Wu Bingbing , Zhu Xiang , Zhang Beilin , Shi Yantao
Published: April 2017

Atomically thin SiC derived from commercial SiC and possesses prominent ORR catalytic activity, comparable with Pt/C. The ORR process is dominated by a 4-electron pathway. Atomically thin SiC also exhibited outstanding durability and methanol crossover resistance.
MSCs on an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) sourced from neonatal mouse skin regulate collagen reconstruction of granulation tissue during adult cutaneous wound healing
Authors: Chen Maosheng , Jin Ying , Han Xue , Wang Ning , Deng Xiaoyuan , Liu Hanping
Published: April 2017

The novel strategy of MSCs seeded on ADM sourced from neonatal mouse skin promotes full-thickness cutaneous wound healing.
Synthesis and characterization of a high temperature thermosetting polyimide oligomer derived from a non-toxic, sustainable bisaniline
Authors: Harvey Benjamin G. , Yandek Gregory R. , Lamb Jason T. , Eck William S. , Garrison Michael D. , Davis Matthew C.
Published: April 2017

A high temperature, hydrophobic thermosetting polyimide oligomer has been prepared from a non-toxic, bio-based bisaniline derived from p-cymene.
A strategy to speed up formation and strengthen activity of biofilms at low temperature
Authors: Hu Huizhi , He Junguo , Yu Huarong , Liu Jian , Zhang Jie
Published: April 2017

The start-up period of biofilm reactors often takes a long time to obtain a mature and stable biofilm, especially at low temperature.
Design and synthesis of uracil urea derivatives as potent and selective fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors
Authors: Qiu Yan , Ren Jie , Ke Hongwei , Zhang Yang , Gao Qi , Yang Longhe , Lu Canzhong , Li Yuhang
Published: April 2017

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is one of the key enzymes involved in the biological degradation of endocannabinoids, especially anandamide.
Charge/discharge characteristics of Jahn–Teller distorted nanostructured orthorhombic and monoclinic Li2MnSiO4cathode materials
Authors: Babbar Prince , Tiwari Brajesh , Purohit Bhagyesh , Ivanishchev Aleksandr , Churikov Alexei , Dixit Ambesh
Published: April 2017

The nanostructured core Li2MnSiO4and carbonous shell geometries in orthorhombic phase.
Plasma membrane association facilitates conformational changes in the Marburg virus protein VP40 dimer
Authors: Bhattarai Nisha , GC Jeevan B. , Gerstman Bernard S. , Stahelin Robert V. , Chapagain Prem P.
Published: April 2017

The membrane binding interface of the Marburg virus protein mVP40 dimer differs from that of the Ebola virus eVP40 dimer but membrane binding allows conformational changes in mVP40 that makes it structurally similar to the eVP40 dimer.
Effect of cyclohexane diamine tetraacetic acid on micro morphology of rapidly grown potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals
Authors: Li Weidong , Wang Shenglai , Yu Guangwei , Wang Duanliang , Huang Pingping , Liu Hui , Yu Bo , Wang Yanchun , Gu Qingtian
Published: April 2017

Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystals were grown from aqueous solutions with different concentrations of cyclohexane diamine tetraacetic acid (CDTA) by the “point seed” rapid growth technique.
Multiplicity of shape selection in functionally graded liquid crystalline polymers
Authors: Lee Da-Wei , Phadikar Jayanta , Shankar M. Ravi
Published: April 2017

The synergy of through-thickness gradation in the orientation of the molecular director and the extent of polymerization is shown to offer a framework for controlling shape selection in integral polymer films.
ITIC surface modification to achieve synergistic electron transport layer enhancement for planar-type perovskite solar cells with efficiency exceeding 20%
Authors: Jiang Jiexuan , Jin Zhiwen , Lei Jie , Wang Qian , Zhang Xisheng , Zhang Jingru , Gao Fei , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: April 2017

With ITIC-modified TiO2, the planar perovskite solar cell performance has been dramatically increased from 17.12% to 20.08%.
A nanostructured nickel–cobalt alloy with an oxide layer for an efficient oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Wu Lian-Kui , Wu Wei-Yao , Xia Jie , Cao Hua-Zhen , Hou Guang-Ya , Tang Yi-Ping , Zheng Guo-Qu
Published: April 2017

A nanostructured nickel–cobalt alloy with an oxide layer was fabricated with excellent oxygen evolution reaction activity and good stability.
Crystal structure of thermostable alkylsulfatase SdsAP from Pseudomonas sp. S9
Authors: Sun Lifang , Chen Pu , Su Yintao , Cai Zhixiong , Ruan Lingwei , Xu Xun , Wu Yunkun
Published: April 2017

A novel alkylsulfatase from bacterium Pseudomonas sp. S9 (SdsAP) was identified as a thermostable alkylsulfatases (type III), which could hydrolyze the primary alkyl sulfate such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Thus, it has a potential application of SDS biodegradation. The crystal structure of SdsAP has been solved to a resolution of 1.76 Å and reveals that SdsAP contains the characteristic metallo-β-lactamase-like fold domain, dimerization domain, and C-terminal sterol carrier protein type 2 (SCP-2)-like fold domain. Kinetic characterization of SdsAP to SDS by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and enzymatic activity assays of constructed mutants demonstrate that Y246 and G263 are important residues for its preference for the hydrolysis of ‘primary alkyl’ chains, confirming that SdsAP is a primary alkylsulfatase.
The Influence of Social Support and Coping on Quality of Life Among Elderly With Age-Related Hearing Loss
Authors: Moser Sarah , Luxenberger Wolfgang , Freidl Wolfgang
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The consequences of hearing loss hinder the everyday life of older adults and are associated with reduced well-being. The research aim was to explore the influence of hearing problems, various coping strategies, and perceived social support on quality of life.

Method

Sixty-five older adults with age-related hearing loss (≥55 years) in Austria participated and completed a paper–pencil survey with standardized questionnaires: Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (Ventry and Weinstein, 1982), Assessment for Coping and Stress (Laireiter, 1997), short form of the Social Support Questionnaire (Fydrich, Sommer, Tydecks, & Brähler, 2009), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale–Brief Version (World Health Organization, 1996).

Results

Quality of life was predicted by perceived social support and the number of comorbid diseases (i.e., the physical, psychological, environmental, and social quality of life was better the greater the extent of perceived social support and poorer the more diseases from which the participants suffered).

Conclusions

Perceived social support may be a relevant factor to focus on in auditory rehabilitation programs, in particular, for participants who communicate little support in hearing-related situations and are, hence, at a relative disadvantage. The involvement of significant others in counseling could facilitate the everyday life for older adults with age-related hearing loss and their significant others.