bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Standardised surveillance of Clostridium difficile infection in European acute care hospitals: a pilot study, 2013
Authors: van Dorp Sofie M , Kinross Pete , Gastmeier Petra , Behnke Michael , Kola Axel , Delmée Michel , Pavelkovich Anastasia , Mentula Silja , Barbut Frédéric , Hajdu Agnes , Ingebretsen André , Pituch Hanna , Macovei Ioana S , Jovanović Milica , Wiuff Camilla , Schmid Daniela , Olsen Katharina EP , Wilcox Mark H , Suetens Carl , Kuijper Ed J ,   for the European Clostridium difficile Infection Surveillance Network (ECDIS-Net) on behalf of all participants
Published: August 2016

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) remains poorly controlled in many European countries, of which several have not yet implemented national CDI surveillance. In 2013, experts from the European CDI Surveillance Network project and from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control developed a protocol with three options of CDI surveillance for acute care hospitals: a ‘minimal’ option (aggregated hospital data), a ‘light’ option (including patient data for CDI cases) and an ‘enhanced’ option (including microbiological data on the first 10 CDI episodes per hospital). A total of 37 hospitals in 14 European countries tested these options for a three-month period (between 13 May and 1 November 2013). All 37 hospitals successfully completed the minimal surveillance option (for 1,152 patients). Clinical data were submitted for 94% (1,078/1,152) of the patients in the light option; information on CDI origin and outcome was complete for 94% (1,016/1,078) and 98% (294/300) of the patients in the light and enhanced options, respectively. The workload of the options was 1.1, 2.0 and 3.0 person-days per 10,000 hospital discharges, respectively. Enhanced surveillance was tested and was successful in 32 of the hospitals, showing that C. difficile PCR ribotype 027 was predominant (30% (79/267)). This study showed that standardised multicountry surveillance, with the option of integrating clinical and molecular data, is a feasible strategy for monitoring CDI in Europe.
Diversity of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotypes in Europe: results from the European, multicentre, prospective, biannual, point-prevalence study of Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalised patients with diarrhoea (EUCLID), 2012 and 2013
Authors: Davies Kerrie A , Ashwin Helen , Longshaw Christopher M , Burns David A , Davis Georgina L , Wilcox Mark H ,   on behalf of the EUCLID study group
Published: August 2016

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the major cause of infective diarrhoea in healthcare environments. As part of the European, multicentre, prospective, biannual, point-prevalence study of Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalised patients with diarrhoea (EUCLID), the largest C. difficile epidemiological study of its type, PCR ribotype distribution of C. difficile isolates in Europe was investigated. PCR ribotyping was performed on 1,196 C. difficile isolates from diarrhoeal samples sent to the European coordinating laboratory in 2012–13 and 2013 (from two sampling days) by 482 participating hospitals from 19 European countries. A total of 125 ribotypes were identified, of which ribotypes 027 (19%, n =222), 001/072 (11%, n = 134) and 014/020 (10%, n = 119) were the most prevalent. Distinct regional patterns of ribotype distribution were noted. Of 596 isolates from patients with toxin-positive stools (CDI cases), ribotype 027 accounted for 22% (32/144) of infections in cases aged from 18 to less than 65 years, but the prevalence decreased in those aged ≥ 65 years (14% (59/412)) and further decreased in those aged ≥ 81 years (9% (18/195)). The prevalence of ribotype 027 and 176, but not other epidemic strains, was inversely proportional to overall ribotype diversity (R2 = 0.717). This study highlights an increased diversity of C. difficile ribotypes across Europe compared with previous studies, with considerable intercountry variation in ribotype distribution. Continuous surveillance programmes are necessary to monitor the changing epidemiology of C. difficile.
Clostridium difficile PCR ribotypes 001 and 176 – the common denominator of C. difficile infection epidemiology in the Czech Republic, 2014
Authors: Krutova Marcela , Matejkova Jana , Kuijper Ed J , Drevinek Pavel , Nyc Otakar ,   Czech Clostridium difficile study group
Published: August 2016

In 2014, 18 hospitals in the Czech Republic participated in a survey of the incidence of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in the country. The mean CDI incidence was 6.1 (standard deviation (SD):7.2) cases per 10,000 patient bed-days and 37.8 cases (SD: 41.4) per 10,000 admissions. The mean CDI testing frequency was 39.5 tests (SD: 25.4) per 10,000 patient bed-days and 255.8 tests (SD: 164.0) per 10,000 admissions. A total of 774 C. difficile isolates were investigated, of which 225 (29%) belonged to PCR ribotype 176, and 184 isolates (24%) belonged to PCR ribotype 001. Multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) revealed 27 clonal complexes formed by 84% (190/225) of PCR ribotype 176 isolates, and 14 clonal complexes formed by 77% (141/184) of PCR ribotype 001 isolates. Clonal clusters of PCR ribotypes 176 and 001 were observed in 11 and 7 hospitals, respectively. Our data demonstrate the spread of two C. difficile PCR ribotypes within 18 hospitals in the Czech Republic, stressing the importance of standardising CDI testing protocols and implementing mandatory CDI surveillance in the country.
Detection of Zika virus in Brazilian patients during the first five days of infection – urine versus plasma
Authors: Pessôa Rodrigo , Patriota João Veras , de Souza Maria de Lourdes , Abd El Wahed Ahmed , Sanabani Sabri Saeed
Published: August 2016

Advantages of testing for Zika virus (ZIKV) in urine have been reported, such as the persistence of ZIKV in this type of specimen for up to 20 days after ZIKV disease onset. We investigate 61 patients in the first 5 days post-symptom onset and find more patients testing positive for ZIKV in plasma samples (n=46), than in corresponding urine samples (n=37). For patients respectively testing positive in both plasma and urine (n=28), respective viral loads appeared similar.
Prevalence and incidence of toxoplasmosis: a retrospective analysis of mother-child examinations, Styria, Austria, 1995 to 2012
Authors: Berghold Christian , Herzog Sereina Annik , Jakse Heidelinde , Berghold Andrea
Published: August 2016

In Austria, mandatory screening for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis stipulates a serological test for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii as early as possible in pregnancy. In the case of a seronegative result, subsequent tests at intervals of 8 weeks are requested. We analysed serological data from Styria, an Austrian federal state, to determine the seroprevalence and incidence of Toxoplasma infections. The study included 353,599 tests from 103,316 women during 158,571 pregnancies from 1995 to 2012. The age-adjusted seroprevalence decreased from 43.3% in 1995 to 31.5% in 2012, with a yearly decline of 0.84% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0. 79 -0.88). The intergravid incidence showed an annual decrease of 4.2%. The average yearly incidence of intragravid and intergravid seroconversions was 0.52% (95% CI 0.45–0.61) and 0.72% (95% CI 0.67–0.77), respectively. If the difference between these rates (p < 0.001) can be explained by the effect of primary prevention such as avoiding raw meat and taking hygiene precautions when encountering cats or preparing vegetables, only ca two of seven (28%) infections were avoided by hygiene measures taken by pregnant women. Primary prevention may therefore have its limits.
First human case of tick-borne encephalitis virus infection acquired in the Netherlands, July 2016
Authors: de Graaf Joris A , Reimerink Johan H J , Voorn G Paul , bij de Vaate Elisabeth A , de Vries Ankje , Rockx Barry , Schuitemaker Alie , Hira Vishal
Published: August 2016

In July 2016, the first autochthonous case of tick-borne encephalitis was diagnosed in the Netherlands, five days after a report that tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) had been found in Dutch ticks. A person in their 60s without recent travel history suffered from neurological symptoms after a tick bite. TBEV serology was positive and the tick was positive in TBEV qRT-PCR. TBEV infection should be considered in patients with compatible symptoms in the Netherlands.
Strong inference from transect sign surveys: combining spatial autocorrelation and misclassification occupancy models to quantify the detectability of a recovering carnivore
Authors: McHenry Ewan , O'Reilly Catherine , Sheerin Edel , Kortland Kenny , Lambin Xavier
Published: August 2016

Monitoring of species using surveys of ambiguous signs and assuming 100% detectability produces potentially biased occupancy estimates. Novel analytical tools have been developed that correct for bias arising from imperfect detectability, species misidentification and spatial autocorrelation between detection survey replicates that can affect transect surveys. To date they have been applied individually, but their combined value is unclear.

The recovery of carnivores such as the European pine marten Martes martes potentially has far reaching, but largely unknown, implications for ecosystem restoration. Analysis of the species' distribution has as yet been crude and hence unsuited for informing management. We aimed to assess the validity of standard scat surveys to provide recommendations to increase inference from future surveys.

We employed spatially replicated scat surveys along forest paths in NE Scotland, genetic verification of scat provenance and occupancy modelling techniques to quantify pine marten detectability and variation therein. Detectability for 1 km and 1.5 km transects, comparable to standard protocols, was estimated to be 0.35 and 0.58 respectively, highlighting the importance of accounting for imperfect detectability. Detection probabilities decreased with vegetation cover and increased with path width. Models accounting for spatial autocorrelation between adjacent transect segments suggested that segments of ≥ 400 m could be analysed as spatial replicates with negligible bias. As is the norm, not all scats yielded DNA to genetically verify they were produced by pine marten. This was accounted for through the use of ‘miss‐classification occupancy models’ which allowed the use of unverified scats, increasing detection probabilities while accounting for the probability of unverified scats being false positive detections.

This study exemplifies that robust inference on species occupancy is achievable through careful consideration of sampling design and the application of readily available analytical techniques. Adopting best‐practice need not increase monitoring costs and can even increase cost‐efficiency.
Regulation of the hunting season as a tool for adaptive harvest management — first results for pink‐footed geeseAnser brachyrhynchus
Authors: Madsen Jesper , Clausen Kevin Kuhlmann , Christensen Thomas Kjær , Johnson Fred A.
Published: August 2016

Adjustment of hunting season length is often used to regulate harvest of waterbirds but the effects are disputed. We describe the first results of season length extension on the harvest of the pink‐footed goose, which has been selected as the first test case of adaptive harvest management of waterbirds in Europe. In Denmark, the season (previously 1 September to 31 December) was extended to include January in 2014–2015 with the aim to increase the harvest and, in the longer term, reduce the population size. The total harvest in Denmark increased by 52% compared to previous years, and almost 50% of the Danish harvest was taken in the January extension. In the course of the hunting season, the proportion of adults in the bag increased. In this case, the outcomes from the first extension of season suggest that season length adjustment can be an effective tool to regulate harvest, though dependent on winter weather conditions and hunters' motivation for shooting geese.
Surgery for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Nepal
Authors: Koirala Bhagawan
Published: August 2016

Rheumatic heart disease is still very common in the developing world.Nepal is no exception.lack of health insurance for most people and monitoring of the PT/INR in a long run pose a significant financial challenge to an ordinary Nepalese family and is associated with significant lifestyle issues of the patients. This article presents the surgical issue in the management of rheumatic heart disease in Nepal.Nepalese Heart Journal 2016; 13(2): 11-14
Pattern of Valvular Involvement in Rheumatic Heart Disease Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Western Nepal
Authors: Kafle Ram Chandra , Alurkar Vijay Madhab , Paudel Navaraj , Jha Girija Shankar
Published: August 2016

Background and Amis: Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is among the commonest diseases of young adults in low-income countries like Nepal. Mitral and aortic valves are more commonly affected than others in RHD. Echocardiography is simple and cost effective tool to identify the patterns of valvular involvement that helps in diagnosis and determines the timing of surgery. This study aimed at determining the pattern of RHD in patients who underwent Echocardiography in a tertiary care hospital of western Nepal.Methods: A retrospective analysis of trans-thoracic echocardiographic record of patients from January 2009 to December 2015 was done. Data were collected in a pre-structured proforma and analyzed.Results: Among 12567 echocardiography, 609 (4.84%) were recorded to have RHD including post valve replacement patients. Females predominated with male to female ratio of 1:2.8. Most patients, 308 (50%) belonged to age group of 21-40 years. The commonest isolated lesion was mitral regurgitation (MR) in 119 (26.21%) patients followed by mitral stenosis (MS) in 31(6.82%) patients. The commonest mixed lesion was MS with MR and aortic regurgitation (AR) seen in 99 (21.8%). The frequency of atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke was 18% and 3% respectively in RHD patientsConclusions: The proportion of RHD was high in our study. Majority of RHD patients were females of reproductive age group. The commonest lesion was MR followed by mixed valvular lesions.Nepalese Heart Journal 2016; 13(2): 29-31
She May Be Hot, but She Is Also Really Crazy: Celebrity Deconversion Narratives
Authors: Connolly Andrew
Published: August 2016

Both Megan Fox and Katy Perry have discussed their Pentecostal past in magazine interviews, but the follow-up press has reacted very differently to the two celebrities on this subject. This paper looks at the formal differences between the interviews which prompted the different responses.
La télévision publique aux États-Unis à un tournant de son histoire : vers une résurgence ?
Authors: Palmeri Hélène
Published: August 2016

Constatant le regain d’intérêt pour les médias publics aux États-Unis depuis 2008, ainsi que la réminiscence de la philosophie futuriste dans les discours officiels, nous nous penchons sur la réalité des médias publics 2.0 et sur la place de la télévision publique dans le contexte de l’Amérique d’Obama. Nous examinons les contradictions et les problèmes hérités de la tradition libérale et décrivons comment la télévision publique a émergé aux États-Unis afin de discerner ce qu’il reste aujourd’hui de l’idéal initial et d’évaluer si les conditions sont favorables aux médias publics.
Acquisitive prescription and fundamental rights
Authors: Duxbury Neil
Published: August 2016

Various seventeenth-century parliamentarians resorted to the concept of acquisitive prescription when denouncing irresponsible use of the royal prerogative. Often, the concept was invoked to convey nothing more than that a custom had existed since time immemorial. Yet sometimes the concept was used in its legal sense – to denote the acquisition of a right (as if someone with the authority to grant that right had done so) by virtue of some instance of long and uninterrupted enjoyment over a period of time. This article considers the application of acquisitive prescription, a doctrine rooted in the medieval law of land obligations, in Stuart constitutional discourse.
Self-driving laws
Authors: Casey Anthony J , Niblett Anthony
Published: August 2016

Machines refine and improve products. Artificially intelligent machines will soon have the same effect on the law. Future developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning will dramatically reduce the costs currently associated with rules and standards. Extending this insight, we predict a world of precisely tailored laws (‘micro-directives’) that specify exactly what is permissible in every unique situation. These micro-directives will be largely automated. If the state of the world changes, or if the objective of the law is changed, the law will instantly update. The law will become ‘self-driving.’ The evolutionary path towards self-driving laws will be piecemeal and incremental. At first, machine-driven algorithms will merely be used to guide humans, but, over time, law will increasingly reflect principles and prescriptions developed by machines. We explore three extensions. First, we examine the possibility that the technology is not merely used to provide information about the state of the law but is also used as means of command by the state. Second, we ask how these technological changes will affect contracting behaviour. Third, we examine the effect of micro-directives on social norms.
Putamen involvement and survival outcomes in patients with insular low-grade gliomas
Authors: Wang Yongheng , Wang Yinyan , Fan Xing , Li Shaowu , Liu Xing , Wang Jiangfei , Jiang Tao
Published: August 2016

OBJECTIVE

Insular glioma has a unique origin and biological behavior; however, the associations between its anatomical features and prognosis have not been well established. The object of this study was to propose a classification system of insular low-grade gliomas based on preoperative MRI findings and to assess the system's association with survival outcome.

METHODS

A total of 211 consecutively collected patients diagnosed with low-grade insular gliomas was analyzed. All patients were classified according to whether tumor involved the putamen on MR images. The prognostic role of this novel putaminal classification, as well as that of Yaşargil's classification, was examined using multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine cases (46.9%) of insular gliomas involved the putamen. Those tumors involving the putamen, as compared with nonputaminal tumors, were larger (p < 0.001), less likely to be associated with a history of seizures (p = 0.04), more likely to have wild-type IDH1 (p = 0.003), and less likely to be totally removed (p = 0.02). Significant favorable predictors of overall survival on univariate analysis included a high preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale score (p = 0.02), a history of seizures (p = 0.04), gross-total resection (p = 0.006), nonputaminal tumors (p < 0.001), and an IDH1 mutation (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, extent of resection (p = 0.035), putamen classification (p = 0.014), and IDH1 mutation (p = 0.026) were independent predictors of overall survival. No prognostic role was found for Yaşargil's classification.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study's findings suggest that the putamen classification is an independent predictor of survival outcome in patients with insular low-grade gliomas. This newly proposed classification allows preoperative survival prediction for patients with insular gliomas.
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization outcome: distinguishing success from failure
Authors: Dewan Michael C. , Lim Jaims , Morgan Clinton D. , Gannon Stephen R. , Shannon Chevis N. , Wellons John C. , Naftel Robert P.
Published: August 2016

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization (ETV/CPC) offers an alternative to shunt treatment for infantile hydrocephalus. Diagnosing treatment failure is dependent on infantile hydrocephalus metrics, including head circumference, fontanel quality, and ventricle size. However, it is not clear to what degree these metrics should be expected to change after ETV/CPC. Using these clinical metrics, the authors present and analyze the decision making in cases of ETV/CPC failure.

METHODS

Infantile hydrocephalus metrics, including bulging fontanel, head circumference z-score, and frontal and occipital horn ratio (FOHR), were compared between ETV/CPC failures and successes. Treatment outcome predictive values of metrics individually and in combination were calculated.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients (57% males, median age 1.2 months) underwent ETV/CPC for hydrocephalus; of these patients, 25 (57%) experienced failure at a median time of 51 days postoperatively. Patients experiencing failure were younger than those experiencing successful treatment (0.8 vs 3.9 months, p = 0.01). During outpatient follow-up, bulging anterior fontanel, progressive macrocephaly, and enlarging ventricles each demonstrated a positive predictive value (PPV) of no less than 71%, but a bulging anterior fontanel remained the most predictive indicator of ETV/CPC failure, with a PPV of 100%, negative predictive value of 73%, and sensitivity of 72%. The highest PPVs and specificities existed when the clinical metrics were present in combination, although sensitivities decreased expectedly. Only 48% of failures were diagnosed on the basis all 3 hydrocephalus metrics, while only 37% of successes were negative for all 3 metrics. In the remaining 57% of patients, a diagnosis of success or failure was made in the presence of discordant data.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful ETV/CPC for infantile hydrocephalus was evaluated in relation to fontanel status, head growth, and change in ventricular size. In most patients, a designation of failure or success was made in the setting of discordant data.
A 5- to 8-year randomized study on the treatment of cervical radiculopathy: anterior cervical decompression and fusion plus physiotherapy versus physiotherapy alone
Authors: Engquist Markus , Löfgren Håkan , Öberg Birgitta , Holtz Anders , Peolsson Anneli , Söderlund Anne , Vavruch Ludek , Lind Bengt
Published: August 2016

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the 5- to 8-year outcome of anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) combined with a structured physiotherapy program as compared with that following the same physiotherapy program alone in patients with cervical radiculopathy. No previous prospective randomized studies with a follow-up of more than 2 years have compared outcomes of surgical versus nonsurgical intervention for cervical radiculopathy.

METHODS

Fifty-nine patients were randomized to ACDF surgery with postoperative physiotherapy (30 patients) or to structured physiotherapy alone (29 patients). The physiotherapy program included general and specific exercises as well as pain coping strategies. Outcome measures included neck disability (Neck Disability Index [NDI]), neck and arm pain intensity (visual analog scale [VAS]), health state (EQ-5D questionnaire), and a patient global assessment. Patients were followed up for 5–8 years.

RESULTS

After 5–8 years, the NDI was reduced by a mean score% of 21 (95% CI 14–28) in the surgical group and 11% (95% CI 4%–18%) in the nonsurgical group (p = 0.03). Neck pain was reduced by a mean score of 39 mm (95% CI 26–53 mm) compared with 19 mm (95% CI 7–30 mm; p = 0.01), and arm pain was reduced by a mean score of 33 mm (95% CI 18–49 mm) compared with 19 mm (95% CI 7–32 mm; p = 0.1), respectively. The EQ-5D had a mean respective increase of 0.29 (95% CI 0.13–0.45) compared with 0.14 (95% CI 0.01–0.27; p = 0.12). Ninety-three percent of patients in the surgical group rated their symptoms as “better” or “much better” compared with 62% in the nonsurgical group (p = 0.005). Both treatment groups experienced significant improvement over baseline for all outcome measures.

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective randomized study of 5- to 8-year outcomes of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment in patients with cervical radiculopathy, ACDF combined with physiotherapy reduced neck disability and neck pain more effectively than physiotherapy alone. Self-rating by patients as regards treatment outcome was also superior in the surgery group. No significant differences were seen between the 2 patient groups as regards arm pain and health outcome.
Comparative Effectiveness of Different Phase Change Materials to Improve Cooling Performance of Heat Sinks for Electronic Devices
Authors: Hasan Ahmad , Hejase Hassan , Abdelbaqi Shaimaa , Assi Ali , Hamdan Mohammed
Published: August 2016

This paper thermo-physically characterizes salt hydrate, paraffin wax and milk fat as phase change materials (PCMs). The three PCMs are compared in terms of improving heat sink (HS) performance for cooling electronic packaging. An experimental study is carried out on commercially available finned HS with and without PCM under natural ventilation (NV) and forced ventilation (FV) at different heat loads (4 W to 10 W). The results indicate that integration of all of the PCMs into the HS improves its cooling performance; however, milk fat lags behind the other two PCMs in terms of cooling produced. A three-dimensional pressure-based conjugate heat transfer model has been developed and validated with experimental results. The model predicts the parametric influence of PCM melting range, thermal conductivity and density on HS thermal management performance. The HS cooling performance improves with increased density and conductivity while it deteriorates with the wider melting range of the PCMs.
The Energy Impact in Buildings of Vegetative Solutions for Extensive Green Roofs in Temperate Climates
Authors: Barozzi Benedetta , Bellazzi Alice , Pollastro M.
Published: August 2016

Many bibliographical studies have highlighted the positive effects of green roofs as technological solutions both for new and renovated buildings. The one-year experimental monitoring campaign conducted has investigated, in detail, some aspects related to the surface temperature variation induced by the presence of different types of vegetation compared to traditional finishing systems for flat roofs and their impact from an energy and environmental point of view. The results obtained underlined how an appropriate vegetative solution selection can contribute to a significant reduction of the external surface temperatures (10 °C–20 °C for I > 500 W/m2 and 0 °C–5 °C for I < 500 W/m2, regardless of the season) compared to traditional flat roofs. During the winter season, the thermal gradients of the planted surface temperatures are close to zero compared to the floor, except under special improving conditions. This entails a significant reduction of the energy loads from summer air conditioning, and an almost conservative behavior with respect to that from winter heating consumption. The analysis of the inside growing medium temperatures returned a further interesting datum, too: the temperature gradient with respect to surface temperature (annual average 4 °C–9 °C) is a function of solar radiation and involves the insulating contribution of the soil.
Organocatalysis: Fundamentals and Comparisons to Metal and Enzyme Catalysis
Authors: Vogel Pierre , Lam Yu-hong , Simon Adam , Houk Kendall
Published: August 2016

Catalysis fulfills the promise that high-yielding chemical transformations will require little energy and produce no toxic waste. This message is carried by the study of the evolution of molecular catalysis of some of the most important reactions in organic chemistry. After reviewing the conceptual underpinnings of catalysis, we discuss the applications of different catalysts according to the mechanism of the reactions that they catalyze, including acyl group transfers, nucleophilic additions and substitutions, and C–C bond forming reactions that employ umpolung by nucleophilic additions to C=O and C=C double bonds. We highlight the utility of a broad range of organocatalysts other than compounds based on proline, the cinchona alkaloids and binaphthyls, which have been abundantly reviewed elsewhere. The focus is on organocatalysts, although a few examples employing metal complexes and enzymes are also included due to their significance. Classical Brønsted acids have evolved into electrophilic hands, the fingers of which are hydrogen donors (like enzymes) or other electrophilic moieties. Classical Lewis base catalysts have evolved into tridimensional, chiral nucleophiles that are N- (e.g., tertiary amines), P- (e.g., tertiary phosphines) and C-nucleophiles (e.g., N-heterocyclic carbenes). Many efficient organocatalysts bear electrophilic and nucleophilic moieties that interact simultaneously or not with both the electrophilic and nucleophilic reactants. A detailed understanding of the reaction mechanisms permits the design of better catalysts. Their construction represents a molecular science in itself, suggesting that sooner or later chemists will not only imitate Nature but be able to catalyze a much wider range of reactions with high chemo-, regio-, stereo- and enantioselectivity. Man-made organocatalysts are much smaller, cheaper and more stable than enzymes.
Statistical Approach to Diffraction of Periodic and Non-Periodic Crystals—Review
Authors: Strzalka Radoslaw , Buganski Ireneusz , Wolny Janusz
Published: August 2016

In this paper, we show the fundamentals of statistical method of structure analysis. Basic concept of a method is the average unit cell, which is a probability distribution of atomic positions with respect to some reference lattices. The distribution carries complete structural information required for structure determination via diffraction experiment regardless of the inner symmetry of diffracting medium. The shape of envelope function that connects all diffraction maxima can be derived as the Fourier transform of a distribution function. Moreover, distributions are sensitive to any disorder introduced to ideal structure—phonons and phasons. The latter are particularly important in case of quasicrystals. The statistical method deals very well with phason flips and may be used to redefine phasonic Debye-Waller correction factor. The statistical approach can be also successfully applied to the peak’s profile interpretation. It will be shown that the average unit cell can be equally well applied to a description of Bragg peaks as well as other components of diffraction pattern, namely continuous and singular continuous components. Calculations performed within statistical method are equivalent to the ones from multidimensional analysis. The atomic surface, also called occupation domain, which is the basic concept behind multidimensional models, acquires physical interpretation if compared to average unit cell. The statistical method applied to diffraction analysis is now a complete theory, which deals equally well with periodic and non-periodic crystals, including quasicrystals. The method easily meets also any structural disorder.
Vegetation Mortality within Natural Wildfire Events in the Western Canadian Boreal Forest: What Burns and Why?
Authors: Ferster Colin , Eskelson Bianca , Andison David , LeMay Valerie
Published: August 2016

Wildfires are a common disturbance event in the Canadian boreal forest. Within event boundaries, the level of vegetation mortality varies greatly. Understanding where surviving vegetation occurs within fire events and how this relates to pre-fire vegetation, topography, and fire weather can inform forest management decisions. We used pre-fire forest inventory data, digital elevation maps, and records of fire weather for 37 naturally-occurring wildfires (1961 to 1982; 30 to 5500 ha) covering a wide range of conditions in the western Canadian boreal forest to investigate these relationships using multinomial logistic models. Overall, vegetation mortality related to a combination of factors representing different spatial scales. Lower vegetation mortality occurred where there was lower fuel continuity and when fires occurred under non-drought conditions. Higher classification accuracy occurred for class extremes of no mortality (i.e., unburned areas within the burn event) and high mortality; partial vegetation mortality classes were harder to distinguish. This research contributes to the knowledge required for natural pattern emulation strategies, and developing responses to climate change.
Powers and Magnetization of Blazar Jets
Authors: Sikora Marek
Published: August 2016

In this work I review the observational constraints imposed on the energetics and magnetisation of quasar jets, in the context of theoretical expectations. The discussion is focused on issues regarding the jet production efficiency, matter content, and particle acceleration. I show that if the ratio of electron-positron-pairs to protons is of order 15, as is required to achieve agreement between jet powers computed using blazar spectral fits and those computed using radio-lobe calorimetry, the magnetization of blazar jets in flat-spectrum-radio-quasars (FSRQ) must be significant. This result favors the reconnection mechanism for particle acceleration and explains the large Compton-dominance of blazar spectra that is often observed, without the need to postulate very low jet magnetization.
Concerns about Breast Cancer, Pain, and Fatigue in Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Primary Treatment
Authors: Amiel Chelsea , Fisher Hannah , Antoni Michael
Published: August 2016

Women diagnosed with breast cancer often endorse psychosocial concerns prior to treatment, which may influence symptom experiences. Among these, low perceived social support relates to elevated fatigue. Those with low social support perceptions may also experience a greater sense of rejection. We sought to determine if social rejection concerns post-surgery predict fatigue interference 12 months later in women with non-metastatic breast cancer. Depressive symptoms and pain severity after completion of adjuvant therapy (six months post-surgery) were examined as potential mediators. Women (N = 240) with non-metastatic breast cancer were recruited 2–10 weeks post-surgery. Multiple regression analyses examined relationships among variables adjusting for relevant covariates. Greater rejection concerns at study entry predicted greater fatigue interference 12 months later (p < 0.01). Pain severity after adjuvant therapy partially mediated the relationship between social rejection concerns and fatigue interference, with significant indirect (β = 0.06, 95% CI (0.009, 0.176)) and direct effects (β = 0.18, SE = 0.07, t(146) = 2.78, p < 0.01, 95% CI (0.053, 0.311)). Therefore, pain levels post-treatment may affect how concerns of social rejection relate to subsequent fatigue interference. Interventions targeting fears of social rejection and interpersonal skills early in treatment may reduce physical symptom burden during treatment and into survivorship.
Tempo-Spatial Variations of Ambient Ozone-Mortality Associations in the USA: Results from the NMMAPS Data
Authors: Liu Tao , Zeng Weilin , Lin Hualiang , Rutherford Shannon , Xiao Jianpeng , Li Xing , Li Zhihao , Qian Zhengmin , Feng Baixiang , Ma Wenjun
Published: August 2016

Although the health effects of ambient ozone have been widely assessed, their tempo-spatial variations remain unclear. We selected 20 communities (ten each from southern and northern USA) based on the US National Morbidity, Mortality, and Air Pollution Study (NMMAPS) dataset. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to estimate the season-specific association between each 10 ppb (lag0-2 day average) increment in daily 8 h maximum ozone concentration and mortality in every community. The results showed that in the southern communities, a 10 ppb increment in ozone was linked to an increment of mortality of −0.07%, −0.17%, 0.40% and 0.27% in spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively. For the northern communities, the excess risks (ERs) were 0.74%, 1.21%, 0.52% and −0.65% in the spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons, respectively. City-specific ozone-related mortality effects were positively related with latitude, but negatively related with seasonal average temperature in the spring, summer and autumn seasons. However, a reverse relationship was found in the winter. We concluded that there were different seasonal patterns of ozone effects on mortality between southern and northern US communities. Latitude and seasonal average temperature were identified as modifiers of the ambient ozone-related mortality risks.
The Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory: Measurement Invariance and Psychometric Properties among Portuguese Youths
Authors: Pechorro Pedro , Ribeiro da Silva Diana , Andershed Henrik , Rijo Daniel , Abrunhosa Gonçalves Rui
Published: August 2016

The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) among a mixed-gender sample of 782 Portuguese youth (M = 15.87 years; SD = 1.72), in a school context. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed the expected three-factor first-order structure. Cross-gender measurement invariance and cross-sample measurement invariance using a forensic sample of institutionalized males were also confirmed. The Portuguese version of the YPI demonstrated generally adequate psychometric properties of internal consistency, mean inter-item correlation, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity of statistically significant associations with conduct disorder symptoms, alcohol abuse, drug use, and unprotected sex. In terms of known-groups validity, males scored higher than females, and males from the school sample scored lower than institutionalized males. The use of the YPI among the Portuguese male and female youth population is psychometrically justified, and it can be a useful measure to identify adolescents with high levels of psychopathic traits.
Sexually Dimorphic Gene Expression Associated with Growth and Reproduction of Tongue Sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) Revealed by Brain Transcriptome Analysis
Authors: Wang Pingping , Zheng Min , Liu Jian , Liu Yongzhuang , Lu Jianguo , Sun Xiaowen
Published: August 2016

In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome of one- and two-year-old male and female brains of Cynoglossus semilaevis by high-throughput Illumina sequencing. A total of 77,066 transcripts, corresponding to 21,475 unigenes, were obtained with a N50 value of 4349 bp. Of these unigenes, 33 genes were found to have significant differential expression and potentially associated with growth, from which 18 genes were down-regulated and 12 genes were up-regulated in two-year-old males, most of these genes had no significant differences in expression among one-year-old males and females and two-year-old females. A similar analysis was conducted to look for genes associated with reproduction; 25 genes were identified, among them, five genes were found to be down regulated and 20 genes up regulated in two-year-old males, again, most of the genes had no significant expression differences among the other three. The performance of up regulated genes in Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was significantly different between two-year-old males and females. Males had a high gene expression in genetic information processing, while female’s highly expressed genes were mainly enriched on organismal systems. Our work identified a set of sex-biased genes potentially associated with growth and reproduction that might be the candidate factors affecting sexual dimorphism of tongue sole, laying the foundation to understand the complex process of sex determination of this economic valuable species.
Aquaporin-4 in Astroglial Cells in the CNS and Supporting Cells of Sensory Organs—A Comparative Perspective
Authors: Gleiser Corinna , Wagner Andreas , Fallier-Becker Petra , Wolburg Hartwig , Hirt Bernhard , Mack Andreas
Published: August 2016

The main water channel of the brain, aquaporin-4 (AQP4), is one of the classical water-specific aquaporins. It is expressed in many epithelial tissues in the basolateral membrane domain. It is present in the membranes of supporting cells in most sensory organs in a specifically adapted pattern: in the supporting cells of the olfactory mucosa, AQP4 occurs along the basolateral aspects, in mammalian retinal Müller cells it is highly polarized. In the cochlear epithelium of the inner ear, it is expressed basolaterally in some cells but strictly basally in others. Within the central nervous system, aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is expressed by cells of the astroglial family, more specifically, by astrocytes and ependymal cells. In the mammalian brain, AQP4 is located in high density in the membranes of astrocytic endfeet facing the pial surface and surrounding blood vessels. At these locations, AQP4 plays a role in the maintenance of ionic homeostasis and volume regulation. This highly polarized expression has not been observed in the brain of fish where astroglial cells have long processes and occur mostly as radial glial cells. In the brain of the zebrafish, AQP4 immunoreactivity is found along the radial extent of astroglial cells. This suggests that the polarized expression of AQP4 was not present at all stages of evolution. Thus, a polarized expression of AQP4 as part of a control mechanism for a stable ionic environment and water balanced occurred at several locations in supporting and glial cells during evolution. This initially basolateral membrane localization of AQP4 is shifted to highly polarized expression in astrocytic endfeet in the mammalian brain and serves as a part of the neurovascular unit to efficiently maintain homeostasis.
Lane Detection via Object Positioning Systems Based on CCD Array Geometry
Authors: Young Jieh-Shian
Published: August 2016

This paper presents an approach to lane detection for a vehicle. The positions of the lane marks can be evaluated by visual information of the image captured from a single charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. This proposed approach originally utilizes the properties of the CCD array in a camera to achieve the aim of objects positioning, since one pixel information produces two equations and increases one unknown variable. After camera calibration, this approach can therefore evaluate the intrinsic parameters of a camera from more pixel information. The configuration of the CCD chip cells is the key factor in this approach. The pixels of a resulting image directly reflect the geometry of the CCD cell, or the CCD array, in the camera. According to the attitude of the camera, this paper constructs the coordinate transformation that can resolve the geometrical relations between the film coordinate (the CCD array) and a fixed coordinate. This paper also provides associated techniques to facilitate the proposed approach, including image geometry analysis, distribution analysis of the CCD array, least mean square error (LMS) algorithm, etc. A down scaled experiment for lane detection is used to verify the feasibility of the proposed approach. The results show that the proposed approach is able to achieve object positioning.
Design of Decorated Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogels as Architecture for Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Zamuner Annj , Cavo Marta , Scaglione Silvia , Messina Grazia , Russo Teresa , Gloria Antonio , Marletta Giovanni , Dettin Monica
Published: August 2016

Hydrogels from self-assembling ionic complementary peptides have been receiving a lot of interest from the scientific community as mimetic of the extracellular matrix that can offer three-dimensional supports for cell growth or can become vehicles for the delivery of stem cells, drugs or bioactive proteins. In order to develop a 3D “architecture” for mesenchymal stem cells, we propose the introduction in the hydrogel of conjugates obtained by chemoselective ligation between a ionic-complementary self-assembling peptide (called EAK) and three different bioactive molecules: an adhesive sequence with 4 Glycine-Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic Acid-Serine-Proline (GRGDSP) motifs per chain, an adhesive peptide mapped on h-Vitronectin and the growth factor Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1). The mesenchymal stem cell adhesion assays showed a significant increase in adhesion and proliferation for the hydrogels decorated with each of the synthesized conjugates; moreover, such functionalized 3D hydrogels support cell spreading and elongation, validating the use of this class of self-assembly peptides-based material as very promising 3D model scaffolds for cell cultures, at variance of the less realistic 2D ones. Furthermore, small amplitude oscillatory shear tests showed that the presence of IGF-1-conjugate did not alter significantly the viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels even though differences were observed in the nanoscale structure of the scaffolds obtained by changing their composition, ranging from long, well-defined fibers for conjugates with adhesion sequences to the compact and dense film for the IGF-1-conjugate.
Additional New Cytotoxic Triquinane-Type Sesquiterpenoids Chondrosterins K–M from the Marine Fungus Chondrostereum sp.
Authors: Huang Lei , Lan Wen-Jian , Deng Rong , Feng Gong-Kan , Xu Qing-Yan , Hu Zhi-Yu , Zhu Xiao-Feng , Li Hou-Jin
Published: August 2016

By the method of 1H NMR prescreening and tracing the diagnostic proton signals of the methyl groups, three additional new triquinane-type sesquiterpenoids—chondrosterins K–M (1–3) and the known sesquiterpenoid anhydroarthrosporone (4)—were isolated from the marine fungus Chondrostereum sp. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of MS, 1D, and 2D NMR data. Chondrosterin K is a rare hirsutane sesquiterpenoid, in which a methyl group was migrated from C-2 to C-6 and has a double bond between C-2 and C-3. Compounds 1–3 showed significant cytotoxicities against various cancer cell lines in vitro.
Characterisation of Bone Beneficial Components from Australian Wallaby Bone
Authors: Lao Weiguo , Jin Xingliang , Tan Yi , Xiao Linda , Padula Matthew , Bishop David , Reedy Brian , Ong Madeleine , Kamal Mohammad , Qu Xianqin
Published: August 2016

Background: Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become brittle, increasing the risk of fractures. Complementary medicines have traditionally used animal bones for managing bone disorders, such as osteoporosis. This study aimed to discover new natural products for these types of conditions by determining mineral and protein content of bone extracts derived from the Australian wallaby. Methods: Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis were used for mineral tests, proteome analysis was using LC/MS/MS and the effects of wallaby bone extracts (WBE)s on calcium deposition and alkaline phosphatase activity were evaluated in osteogenic cells derived from adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs). Results: Concentrations of calcium and phosphorus were 26.21% and 14.72% in WBE respectively. Additionally, minerals found were wide in variety and high in concentration, while heavy metal concentrations of aluminium, iron, zinc and other elements were at safe levels for human consumption. Proteome analysis showed that extracts contained high amounts of bone remodelling proteins, such as osteomodulin, osteopontin and osteoglycin. Furthermore, in vitro evaluation of WBEs showed increased deposition of calcium in osteoblasts with enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity in differentiated adipose-derived stem cells. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that wallaby bone extracts possess proteins and minerals beneficial for bone metabolism. WBEs may therefore be used for developing natural products for conditions such as osteoporosis and further investigation to understand biomolecular mechanism by which WBEs prevent osteoporosis is warranted.