bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Actin-dependent vacuolar occupancy of the cell determines auxin-induced growth repression
Authors: Scheuring David , Löfke Christian , Krüger Falco , Kittelmann Maike , Eisa Ahmed , Hughes Louise , Smith Richard S. , Hawes Chris , Schumacher Karin , Kleine-Vehn Jürgen
Published: December 2015

Significance

Control of cell size is fundamentally different in animals and plants. The actin cytoskeleton has a direct impact on the control of cell size in animals, but its mechanistic contribution to cellular growth in plants remains largely elusive. Here, we show that actin is used in a plant-specific growth mechanism by controlling the volume of the largest plant organelle, the vacuole. Actin is required for the auxin-dependent convolution and deconvolution of the vacuole, steering the vacuolar occupancy of the cell. This function indirectly impacts cytosol size and presumably allows plant cells to grow without alterations in cytosolic content. These findings could lead to a better understanding of plant cells’ ability to expand faster than vacuole-lacking animal cells.
In vitro reconstruction and analysis of evolutionary variation of the tomato acylsucrose metabolic network
Authors: Fan Pengxiang , Miller Abigail M. , Schilmiller Anthony L. , Liu Xiaoxiao , Ofner Itai , Jones A. Daniel , Zamir Dani , Last Robert L.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Throughout the course of human history, plant-derived natural products have been used in medicines, in cooking, as pest control agents, and in rituals of cultural importance. Plants produce rapidly diversifying specialized metabolites as protective agents and to mediate interactions with beneficial organisms. In vitro reconstruction of the cultivated tomato insect protective acylsucrose biosynthetic network showed that four acyltransferase enzymes are sufficient to produce the full set of naturally occurring compounds. This system enabled identification of simple changes in enzyme structure leading to much of the acylsucrose diversity produced in epidermal trichomes of wild tomato. These findings will enable analysis of trichome specialized metabolites throughout the Solanaceae and demonstrate the feasibility of engineering these metabolites in plants and microorganisms.
Distal substitutions drive divergent DNA specificity among paralogous transcription factors through subdivision of conformational space
Authors: Hudson William H. , Kossmann Bradley R. , de Vera Ian Mitchelle S. , Chuo Shih-Wei , Weikum Emily R. , Eick Geeta N. , Thornton Joseph W. , Ivanov Ivaylo N. , Kojetin Douglas J. , Ortlund Eric A.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Most organisms contain families of related proteins that evolved from duplication of an ancestral gene. Using the example of DNA binding by the steroid hormone receptors, this work examines the structural mechanisms by which these related proteins evolved separate functions during their history. We show that a functionally promiscuous ancestor was capable of accessing multiple protein conformations to bind disparate DNA sequences. This functional and conformational diversity were divided among daughter genes after gene duplication, allowing evolutionarily related proteins to generate disparate transcriptional outcomes in response to signaling input.
Justifying silent elements in syntax
Authors: Her One-Soon , Chen Ching-Perng , Tsai Hui-Chin
Published: December 2015

This paper demonstrates in the Mandarin construction with a numeral (Num), classifier (CL) or measure word (MW), and a noun (N), each can be a silent element (SE). A multiplicative function exists between Num and CL/MW. Num as a multiplieroneis redundant and can be silent. CL, whose multiplicand value isone, is redundant, when Num is overt. Thus, a silent Num YI, whose pronounced counterpart isyi‘one’, can be licensed by an overt CL/MW, which are clitics in Mandarin and require a c-commanding head as host, which must satisfy additional prosodic constraints. A silent general CL, GE, can be licensed by an overt Num. MWs do not have SE counterparts. A silent N TIME is licensed by an overt time MW, while MONEY is licensed by a monetary MW. In both cases, the meaning of the SE is already part of the MW in [Num MW N].
Formulaic sequences in native and non-native argumentative writing in German
Authors: Jaworska Sylvia , Krummes Cedric , Ensslin Astrid
Published: December 2015

The aim of this paper is to contribute to learner corpus research into formulaic language in native and non-native German. To this effect, a corpus of argumentative essays written by advanced British students of German (WHiG) was compared with a corpus of argumentative essays written by German native speakers (Falko-L1). A corpus-driven analysis reveals a larger number of 3-grams in WHiG than in Falko-L1, which suggests that British advanced learners of German are more likely to use formulaic language in argumentative writing than their native-speaker counterparts. Secondly, by classifying the formulaic sequences according to their functions, this study finds that native speakers of German prefer discourse-structuring devices to stance expressions, whilst British advanced learners display the opposite preferences. Thirdly, the results show that learners of German make greater use of macro-discourse-structuring devices and cautious language, whereas native speakers favour micro-discourse structuring devices and tend to use more direct language.
I do not understand but I care
Authors: Bräuer Juliane
Published: December 2015

Prosocial behaviour benefits another individual and occurs voluntarily. It may have a cognitive and a motivational component. The actor who benefits a recipient – for example by solving her/his problem (1) must recognize the recipient’s goal and understand how to fulfil it and (2) has to be motivated to support the recipient.

In the current paper I will review recent studies on prosocial behavior in dogs and I will compare them to studies with primates. I will address the cognitive and motivational skills required for the actor in order to support the recipient.

I conclude that dogs and also chimpanzees display a number of prosocial behaviours, but there are remarkable differences. In contrast to humans, which have an outstanding biological predisposition to benefit others, dogs and chimpanzees only do so under certain conditions.
Collaboration in collaborative learning
Authors: Baker Michael J.
Published: December 2015

This paper presents a theorisation of collaborative activity that was developed in the research field known as “collaborative learning”, in order to understand the processes of co-elaboration of meaning and knowledge. Collaboration, as distinguished from cooperation, coordination and collective activity, is defined as a continued and conjoined effort towards elaborating a “joint problem space” of shared representations of the problem to be solved. An approach to analysing the processes of co-construction of a joint problem space is outlined, in terms of inter-discursive operations, together with approaches to defining different forms of cooperative activity. In conclusion, the specificity of this approach to defining collaboration is discussed in relation to other fields of research.
Vocabulary acquisition and the textbook
Authors: Nordlund Marie
Published: December 2015

Recycling words, that is, using and/or encountering words many times in different contexts, is important for vocabulary acquisition and long-term retention to be successful. In the language classroom, the textbook plays an important role, but despite that, surprisingly few studies have investigated the vocabulary component of textbooks. This is particularly the case for textbooks for young learners. To somewhat remedy this scarcity, this case study reports the analysis of vocabulary in teaching materials aimed at students aged 10–12 years in Sweden. A corpus of all texts in three textbooks was compiled to facilitate analysis and comparison as regards what words can be found in the texts, their frequency and to what extent and how they are recycled. The results suggest that more conscious attention is needed to what words are included in textbooks and to how often they are recycled.
Beyond conflicts
Authors: Bova Antonio , Arcidiacono Francesco
Published: December 2015

This paper sets out to investigate the issues leading parents to engage in argumentative discussions with their children during mealtimes. Within a data corpus of 30 video-recorded meals of 10 middle to upper-middle-class Swiss and Italian families with a high socio-cultural level, 107 argumentative discussions between parents and children aged from 3 to 9 years old were selected. The approach for the analysis is based on the pragma-dialectical ideal model of a critical discussion. The results show that family argumentative discussions unfold around issues that are generated both by parental prescriptions and by children’s requests. The parental prescriptions largely concern context-bound activities such as having to eat a certain food or the teaching of correct table manners. The issues triggered by children’s requests refer to a wide range of activities, mainly related to the activity of mealtimes but also related to the children’s behavior outside the family context. These results indicate that argumentative interactions between parents and children are not mere conflictual episodes that must be avoided, but they essentially have a broader educational function.
Surprise as a conceptual category
Authors: Kövecses Zoltán
Published: December 2015

In this paper, I examine the concept of surprise from a cognitive linguistic perspective. As previous studies indicate, surprise is a not-quite-prototypical emotion category. My focus will be on the structure and content of surprise as an emotion category, as this can be revealed on the basis of the language speakers of English use to talk about it. As regards methodology, I will follow my earlier work and employ a “lexical approach” to emotion concepts (see, e.g., Kövecses, 1986, 1990, 2000) to explore the language-based folk model of surprise in English. I will investigate the conceptual metaphors and metonymies associated with surprise and will propose a cognitive model for the emotion. It is hoped that this methodology enables us to see why surprise is not a prototypical emotion concept on a par with, for example, anger or fear.
The computer-mediated expression of surprise
Authors: Ascone Laura
Published: December 2015

This paper investigates how Italian native speakers express surprise in English as their second language on Facebook. A qualitative study was conducted on a corpus of forty English utterances by Italian native speakers conveying surprise and two control corpora composed of forty Italian and forty English native speakers’ expressions. First, a systemic approach will be adopted: by analysing the order in which the speaker reacts to, comments on, and wonders about new information, the objective is to determine a pattern peculiar to the verbal expression of surprise, and to ascertain how the mother tongue and the language-learning background are influential when expressing an instinctive reaction such as surprise in a foreign language. Attention will then be paid to the lexical expression of surprise. In particular, the analysis will focus on the features specific to non-native speakers (i.e. use of verbs and code-switching), on the codes peculiar to CMC (i.e. smileys and punctuation), and on how these codes are employed to convey surprise disruption, valence and intensity. By examining all these aspects, this research examines how English non-native speakers express surprise in chats.
Surprise routines in scientific writing
Authors: Tutin Agnès
Published: December 2015

Emotions are almost absent from scientific articles except surprise, which plays a specific role in this genre. Surprise markers such as contrairement à nos
attentes (‘contrary to our expectations’) or ce résultat relativement surprenant (‘this somewhat surprising result’) are used in the framework of a scientific prediction model, implicit or explicitly formulated. A corpus linguistic study of adjectival and verbal markers allows us to determine several trends: (a) contrary to other genres such as novels or newspaper articles, surprise is not polar, that is to say it is neither positive nor negative, but stylistically “neutral”, (b) surprise is far more source-oriented than experiencer-oriented, (c) surprise generally involves the reader as a witness, and contributes, with other rhetorical markers, to “interlocutive” dialogism, (d) surprise often occurs in a prefabricated discursive scenario including several steps: (i) prediction model, (ii) observed facts, (iii) expression of surprise (or absence of surprise), (iv) explanation of surprising facts. Finally, we can question the status of surprise as an affect in scientific writing. It seems to be more a state of consciousness associated with the observation of complex facts. In any case, it appears to be a complex state, with rich conceptual content.
Influence of emitter surface roughness on high power fusion gyrotron operation
Authors: Zhang Jianghua , Illy Stefan , Gr Pagonakis Ioannis , Avramidis Konstantinos A , Thumm Manfred , Jelonnek John
Published: December 2015

Emitter surface roughness is one of the important factors of electron beam degradation in magnetron injection gun (MIG) and the decrease of gyrotron efficiency. This paper surveys the influence of emitter surface roughness on the operation of the EU 1 MW 170 GHz gyrotron for ITER for two different gun designs. The emitter surface roughness was taken into account using a simple model. The ESRAY code was used for gun simulation and the EURIDICE code for calculation of the RF interaction in the cavity. The degradation of the beam quality due to the surface roughness is quantitatively studied and, furthermore, the influence on the gyrotron efficiency and the mode competition are investigated. Some dramatic phenomena, such as the generation of magnetically trapped electrons, are predicted at a very high level of roughness.
Low Physical Activity Is Associated With Increased Arterial Stiffness in Patients Recently Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Funck Kristian L. , Laugesen Esben , Høyem Pernille , Fleischer Jesper , Cichosz Simon L. , Christiansen Jens S. , Hansen Troels K. , Poulsen Per L.
Published: December 2015

AIMS

Several studies have indicated that low physical activity is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality among patients with diabetes. The association between physical activity and subclinical cardiovascular changes preceding clinical events remains to be elucidated. We investigated the relationship between physical activity and arterial stiffness, an independent predictor of CVD, in patients with type 2 diabetes and controls.

METHODS

We included 100 patients with type 2 diabetes and 100 sex- and age-matched controls in a cross-sectional study. Arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, cfPWV) was measured using the SphygmoCor device (AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia). Physical activity was assessed by an accelerometer (counts per minute (cpm), Actiheart (CamNtech, Cambridge, UK)) worn by the participants for up to 6 days. High vs. low levels of physical activity was defined according to the median level of activity (cpm = 31).

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients and 65 controls were included in the final analysis (median age 59 years, 55% men, median diabetes duration 1.9 years). Participants with low physical activity had higher cfPWV compared to participants with high physical activity: (i) Patients and controls combined: 9.3±1.7 m/s vs. 7.8±1.5 m/s, P < 0.001; (ii) Patients with diabetes: 9.5±1.8 m/s vs. 8.3±1.6 m/s, P = 0.02 and C) Controls: 9.0±1.4 m/s vs. 7.7±1.4 m/s, P < 0.01). The difference remained significant after adjustment for other determinants of cfPWV including whole body fat percentage ( P < 0.01). No significant interaction between diabetes and the effect of low activity was seen.

CONCLUSIONS

Low physical activity is associated with increased arterial stiffness in patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and in healthy controls.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

Trial Number NCT00674271
Patient-generated health data: a pathway to enhanced long-term cancer survivorship
Authors: Petersen Carolyn
Published: December 2015

The growing ability to collect and transmit patient-generated health data, also referred to as people-generated health data and patient-reported outcomes, is creating an opportunity to greatly improve how cancer survivors and their providers manage survivors’ health in the months and years following cancer treatment. Although cancer survivors are at higher risk of chronic health problems and early death as a result of cancer treatment, some experience difficulty identifying and receiving the care they need to optimize their health post-treatment. This article describes the challenges that cancer survivors and their providers face in managing survivors’ care and identifies several ways that using patient-generated health data can improve survivors’ and providers’ ability to manage survivorship care at the individual and population levels.
Implementing Competency-Based Medical Education in a Postgraduate Family Medicine Residency Training Program: A Stepwise Approach, Facilitating Factors, and Processes or Steps That Would Have Been Helpful
Authors: Schultz Karen , Griffiths Jane
Published: December 2015

Problem

In 2009–2010, the postgraduate residency training program at the Department of Family Medicine, Queen’s University, wrestled with the practicalities of competency-based medical education (CBME) implementation when its accrediting body, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, introduced the competency-based Triple C curriculum.

Approach

The authors used a stepwise approach to implement CMBE; the steps were to (1) identify objectives, (2) identify competencies, (3) map objectives and competencies to learning experiences and assessment processes, (4) plan learning experiences, (5) develop an assessment system, (6) collect and interpret data, (7) adjust individual residents’ training programs, and (8) distribute decisions to stakeholders. The authors also note overarching processes, costs, and facil itating factors and processes or steps that would have been helpful for CBME implementation.

Outcomes

Early outcomes are encouraging. Residents are being directly observed more often with increased documented feedback about performance based on explicit competency standards (24,000 data points for 150 residents from 2013 to 2015). These multiple observations are being collated in a way that is allowing the identification of patterns of performance, red flags, and competency development trajectory. Outliers are being identified earlier, resulting in earlier individualized modification of their residency training program.

Next Steps

The authors will continue to provide and refine faculty development, are developing an entrustable professional activity field note app for handheld devices, and are undertaking research to explore what facilitates learners’ competency development, what increases assessors’ confidence in making competence decisions, and whether residents are better trained as a result of CBME implementation.
High Dose of Atorvastatin for the Treatment of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy After Carotid Artery Stenting
Authors: Fu Maolin , Dai Weizheng , Ye Yingan , Lu Qiuxiang , He Wenqin
Published: December 2015

Statins have been used to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). However, the optimal dose of statins is still under controversy. This study aimed to investigate the optimal dose of atorvastatin for the treatment of CIN after carotid artery stenting (CAS). Seventy-six patients receiving selective CAS were randomized to receive 3 different dose of atorvastatin (low dose, 20 mg, n = 30; intermediate dose, 40 mg, n = 24; high dose, 60 mg, n = 22). Preoperatively and on day 3 postoperatively, the levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatine kinase (CK) were measured. Creatinine clearance (Ccr) and CIN incidence were calculated. In patients treated with high-dose atorvastatin, no significant change was observed in levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine clearance, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein after the CAS procedure (P > 0.05). The CIN incidence in the high-dose group (0%) was significantly lower than the low-dose (13.3%) and intermediate (8.3%) groups (P < 0.05). In the high-dose group, levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase were significantly increased after CAS (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with 40 mg of atorvastatin is both effective and safe in preventing CIN after CAS. Adverse events of the live and heart should be closely monitored during atorvastatin treatment.
ŌvSim: a Simulation of the Population Dynamics of Mammalian Ovarian Follicles
Authors: Johnson Joshua , Chen Xin , Xu Xiao , Emerson John W.
Published: December 2015

No two ovaries are alike, and indeed, the same ovary can change its architecture from day to day. This is because ovarian follicles are present in different numbers, positions, and states of maturation throughout reproductive life. All possible developmental states of follicles can be represented at any time, along with follicles that have committed to death (termed follicle atresia). Static histological and whole-mount imaging approaches allow snapshots of what is occurring within ovaries, but our views of dynamic follicle growth and death have been limited to these tools. We present a simple Markov chain model of the complex mouse ovary, called “ŌvSim”. In the model, follicles can exist in one of three Markov states with stationary probabilities, Hold (growth arrest), Grow, and Die. The probability that individual primordial follicles can growth activate daily, the fraction of granulosa cells that survive as follicles grow, and the probability that individual follicles can commit to atresia daily are user definable parameters. When the probability of daily growth activation is stationary at 0.005, the probability of atresia for all follicles is near 0.1, and the probability of granulosa cell survival is modeled around 0.88, ŌvSim simulates the growth and fate of each of the approximately 3000 postpubertal mouse ovarian follicles in a fashion that approximates actual biological measurements (e.g., follicle counts). ŌvSim thus offers a starting platform to simulate mammalian ovaries and to explore factors that might impact follicle development and global organ function.

Author Summary

ŌvSim is a computer simulation of the dynamic growth of mouse ovarian follicles. The program is offered as the beginning of a research and teaching platform to model asynchronous follicle growth and survival or death.
Biological screens from linear codes: theory and tools
Authors: Erlich Yaniv , Gilbert Anna , Ngo Hung , Rudra Atri , Thierry-Mieg Nicolas , Wootters Mary , Zielinski Dina , Zuk Or
Published: December 2015

Molecular biology increasingly relies on large screens where enormous numbers of specimens are systematically assayed in the search for a particular, rare outcome. These screens include the systematic testing of small molecules for potential drugs and testing the association between genetic variation and a phenotype of interest. While these screens are “hypothesis-free,” they can be wasteful; pooling the specimens and then testing the pools is more efficient. We articulate in precise mathematical ways the type of structures useful in combinatorial pooling designs so as to eliminate waste, to provide light weight, flexible, and modular designs. We show that Reed-Solomon codes, and more generally linear codes, satisfy all of these mathematical properties. We further demonstrate the power of this technique with Reed-Solomonbased biological experiments. We provide general purpose tools for experimentalists to construct and carry out practical pooling designs with rigorous guarantees for large screens.
A Critical Review on the Use of Support Values in Tree Viewers and Bioinformatics Toolkits
Authors: Czech Lucas , Huerta-Cepas Jaime , Stamatakis Alexandros
Published: December 2015

Phylogenetic trees are routinely visualized to present and interpret the evolutionary relationships of species. Virtually all empirical evolutionary data studies contain a visualization of the inferred tree with branch support values. Ambiguous semantics in tree file formats can lead to erroneous tree visualizations and therefore to incorrect interpretations of phylogenetic analyses.

Here, we discuss problems that can and do arise when displaying branch values on trees after re-rooting. Branch values are typically stored as node labels in the widely-used Newick tree format. However, such values are attributes of branches. Storing them as node labels can therefore yield errors when re-rooting trees. This depends on the mostly implicit semantics that tools deploy to interpret node labels.

We reviewed 10 tree viewers and 10 bioinformatics toolkits that can display and re-root trees. We found that 14 out of 20 of these tools do not permit users to select the semantics of node labels. Thus, unaware users might obtain incorrect results when rooting trees inferred by common phylogenetic inference programs. We illustrate such incorrect mappings for several test cases and real examples taken from the literature. This review has already led to improvements and workarounds in 8 of the tested tools. We suggest tools should provide an option that explicitly forces users to define the semantics of node labels.
Post-embryonic hourglass patterns mark ontogenetic transitions in plant development
Authors: Drost Hajk-Georg , Bellstäedt Julia , Ó’Maoiléidigh Diarmuid S. , Silva Anderson T. , Gabel Alexander , Weinholdt Claus , Ryan Patrick T. , Dekkers Bas J.W. , Bentsink Leónie , Hilhorst Henk , Ligterink Wilco , Wellmer Frank , Grosse Ivo , Quint Marcel
Published: December 2015

The historic developmental hourglass concept depicts the convergence of animal embryos to a common form during the phylotypic period. Recently, it has been shown that a transcriptomic hourglass is associated with this morphological pattern, consistent with the idea of underlying selective constraints due to intense molecular interactions during body plan establishment. Although plants do not exhibit a morphological hourglass during embryogenesis, a transcriptomic hourglass has nevertheless been identified in the model plantArabidopsis thaliana. Here, we investigated whether plant hourglass patterns are also found post-embryonically. We found that the two main phase changes during the life cycle ofArabidopsis, from embryonic to vegetative and from vegetative to reproductive development, are associated with transcriptomic hourglass patterns. In contrast, flower development, a process dominated by organ formation, is not. This suggests that plant hourglass patterns are decoupled from organogenesis and body plan establishment. Instead, they may reflect general transitions through organizational checkpoints.
Riparian ecosystem in the alpine connectome. Terrestrial-aquatic and terrestrial-terrestrial interactions in high elevation lakes
Authors: Zaharescu Dragos G , Palanca-Soler Antonio , Hooda Peter S , Tanase Catalin , Burghelea Carmen I , Lester Richard N
Published: December 2015

Alpine regions are under increased attention worldwide do their role in storing freshwater of high quality and their high sensitivity to climate change - comparable only to the poles. Riparian ecosystems in such regions, integrating water and nutrient fluxes from aquatic and terrestrial environments, host a disproportionally rich biodiversity, despite experiencing severe climate and nutrient restrictions. With climate change rapidly encroaching in the alpine biome, it is important to fully understand how the lake and its surrounding landscape elements sustain such rich ecosystems, before their functional connectivity could be seriously severed.

A total of 189 glacial origin lakes in the Central Pyrenees were surveyed to test how key elements of lake and terrestrial environments work together at different scales to shape the riparian plant composition. Secondly, we evaluated how these ecotope features drive the formation of riparian communities potentially sensitive to environmental change, and assessed their habitat distribution. At each lake plant taxonomic composition was assessed together with elemental composition of water and sediment and ecosystem-relevant geographical factors.

At macroscale vegetation composition responded to pan-climatic gradients altitude and latitude, which captured, in a narrow geographic area the transition between large European climatic zones. Hydrodynamics was the main catchment-scale factor connecting riparian vegetation with large-scale water fluxes, followed by topography and geomorphology. Lake sediment Mg and Pb, and water Mn and Fe contents reflected local connections with nutrient availability, and water saturation of the substrate.

Community analysis identified four keystone plant communities of large niche breadths, present in a wide range of habitats, from (i) damp environments, (ii) snow bed-silicate bedrock, (iii) wet heath, and (iv) limestone bedrock. With environmental change advancing in the alpine biome, this study provides critical information on fundamental linkages between riparian ecosystem and surrounding landscape elements, which could prove invaluable in assessing future biomic impacts.
Electrochemical behavior and corrosion resistance of electrodeposited nano-particles Zn-Co-Fe alloy
Authors: Abou-Krisha Mortaga , Assaf Fawzi , Alduaij Omar , Alshammari Abdulrahman G , El-Sheref Fatma
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to compare the electrodeposition behavior and corrosion resistance of ternary and binary alloys.

Design/methodology/approach

– Potentiodynamic polarization resistance measurement and anodic linear sweep voltammetry techniques were used for the corrosion study. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the deposits were examined using scanning electron microscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy, respectively. The phase structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Electrodeposition behavior was carried out using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic techniques.

Findings

– It was found that the obtained ternary alloy exhibited better corrosion resistance and a more-preferred surface appearance compared to the binary alloys that were electrodeposited under similar conditions.

Research limitations/implications

– The ternary alloy showed better anticorrosion properties compared to binary deposits that were electroplated successfully from the plating baths. The Zn-Co-Fe alloy could be used advantageously in industry because the ternary alloy exhibits the collective properties of the binary alloys in one alloy via the electrodeposition of Zn-Ni-Co alloy.

Social implications

– Increasing the corrosion resistance implies to social economic increases.

Originality/value

– To date, the electrodeposition of Zn-Co-Fe alloy was studied in only a small number of articles. It was found that the presence of Co or Fe could provide a useful coating on the steel that would reduce its susceptibility to corrosion attack.
Corrosion process of D32 steel used for offshore oil platform in splash zone
Authors: Liu JianGuo , Li Zili , Li Yantao , Hou BaoRong
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to study the corrosion behavior of D32 steel suffered to marine splash zone. Type D32 structural steel has good mechanical properties and is commonly used for offshore oil platform construction in China. To ensure the safety of marine steel structure, it is important to study the corrosion process of D32 steel in the splash zone.

Design/methodology/approach

– The corrosion behavior of D32 steel in splash zone environments was studied using polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrochemical results were obtained from the corroded steel samples exposed in the splash zone of a bespoke simulate device, while corrosion morphologies and corrosion products of the steel samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.

Findings

– In wet–dry cyclic exposure, the reaction was a self-perpetuating process of chemical oxidation and electrochemical reduction. The rust itself took part in the reduction processes and, hence, increased the corrosion rate of the steel samples.

Originality/value

– Finally, the corrosion process of D32 steel in splash zone is considered.
Effects of water on the SCC of low carbon steel in ethanolic media
Authors: Moyo Fortunate , Van der Merwe Josias Willem
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to determine the effect of water on the SCC of low carbon steel in ethanol in the absence of supporting salts.

Design/methodology/approach

– Slow strain rate test was done to determine SCC susceptibility. Fractured samples were examined using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

– While the results demonstrated that water alone had no effect on the SCC susceptibility of low carbon steel in ethanol, 2.5 volume per cent moisture gave indications of cracking tendencies.

Originality/value

– With South Africa and the world over turning to bioethanol and ethanol blended fuels as a means of reducing its carbon foot print, there are concerns over the corrosive nature of ethanol on common engineering metals like low carbon steels.
EM3B2 – a semantic integration engine for materials science
Authors: Zhao Chongchong , Dong Chao , Zhang Xiaoming
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The integration and retrieval of the vast data have attracted sufficient attention, thus the W3C workgroup releases R2RML to standardize the transformation from relational data to semantic-aware data. However, it only provides a data transform mechanism to resource description framework (RDF). The generation of mapping alignments still needs manual work or other algorithms. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose a domain-oriented automatic mapping method and an application of the R2RML standard.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, materials science is focussed to show an example of domain-oriented mapping. source field concept and M3B2 (Metal Materials Mapping Background Base) knowledge bases are established to support the auto-recommending algorithm. As for the generation of RDF files, the idea is to generate the triples and the links, respectively. The links of the triples follow the object-subject relationship, and the links of the object properties can be achieved by the range individuals and the trail path.

Findings

– Consequently based on the previous work, the authors proposed Engine for Metal Materials Mapping Background Base (EM3B2), a semantic integration engine for materials science. EM3B2 not only offers friendly graphical interfaces, but also provides auto-recommending mapping based on materials knowledge to enable users to avoid vast manually work. The experimental result indicates that EM3B2 supplies accurate mapping. Moreover, the running time of E3MB2 is also competitive as classical methods.

Originality/value

– This paper proposed EM3B2 semantic integration engine, which contributes to the relational database-to-RDF mapping by the application of W3C R2RML standard and the domain-oriented mapping.
MAPK cascade‐mediated regulation of pathogenicity, conidiation and tolerance to abiotic stresses in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii
Authors: Chen Xiaoxuan , Xu Chuan , Qian Ying , Liu Ran , Zhang Qiangqiang , Zeng Guohong , Zhang Xin , Zhao Hong , Fang Weiguo
Published: December 2015

Metarhizium robertsii has been used as a model to study fungal pathogenesis in insects, and its pathogenicity has many parallels with plant and mammal pathogenic fungi. MAPK (Mitogen‐activated protein kinase) cascades play pivotal roles in cellular regulation in fungi, but their functions have not been characterized in M. robertsii. In this study, we identified the full complement of MAPK cascade components in M. robertsii and dissected their regulatory roles in pathogenesis, conidiation and stress tolerance. The nine components of the Fus3, Hog1 and Slt2‐MAPK cascades are all involved in conidiation. The Fus3‐ and Hog1‐MAPK cascades are necessary for tolerance to hyperosmotic stress, and the Slt2‐ and Fus3‐MAPK cascades both mediate cell wall integrity. The Hog1 and Slt2‐MAPK cascades contribute to pathogenicity; the Fus3‐MAPK cascade is indispensable for fungal pathogenesis. During its life cycle, M. robertsii experiences multiple microenvironments as it transverses the cuticle into the haemocoel. RNA‐seq analysis revealed that MAPK cascades collectively play a major role in regulating the adaptation of M. robertsii to the microenvironmental change from the cuticle to the haemolymph. The three MAPKs each regulate their own distinctive subset of genes during penetration of the cuticle and haemocoel colonization, but they function redundantly to regulate adaptation to microenvironmental change.
Prostate stem cell antigen gene TT genotype and development of intestinal metaplasia in Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: Uotani Takahiro , Sugimoto Mitsushige , Ichikawa Hitomi , Tanaka Shingo , Nagashima Hiroyuki , Uchida Tomohisa , Graham David Y. , Yamaoka Yoshio
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Gastric cancer is etiologically related to interactions between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, environmental and host factors. Gastric carcinoma is associated with a cascade of increasing atrophic gastric mucosal damage. Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) polymorphisms have been associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. We aimed to examine the interaction between PSCA polymorphisms and H. pylori in the progression of H. pylori‐related gastritis.

Methods

The genotypes (TT, TC and CC) of PSCA single nucleotide polymorphism rs2294008 among H. pylori infected and uninfected Bhutanese were compared with the severity of H. pylori‐related gastritis [neutrophils, monocytes, atrophy scores, H. pylori density, and the presence and extent of intestinal metaplasia (IM)] using the updated Sydney system.

Results

Biopsies from 339 participants were included. The proportion of biopsies with IM was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in those with the TT genotype than in either those with the CT or CC genotype. Although no significant differences were found in inflammation or H. pylori density scores, the scores for IM at both gastric corpus and antrum among participants infected by H. pylori with the TT genotype was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than in the C allele carriers.

Conclusion

PSCA TT genotype is associated with a more than a threefold increase in the prevalence and the extent of gastric mucosal IM compared to C allele carriers among H. pylori‐infected Bhutanese.
Cytokines and Blastocyst Hatching
Authors: Seshagiri Polani B. , Vani Venkatappa , Madhulika Pathak
Published: December 2015

Blastocyst implantation into the uterine endometrium establishes early pregnancy. This event is regulated by blastocyst‐ and/or endometrium‐derived molecular factors which include hormones, growth factors, cell adhesion molecules, cytokines and proteases. Their coordinated expression and function are critical for a viable pregnancy. A rate‐limiting event that immediately precedes implantation is the hatching of blastocyst. Ironically, blastocyst hatching is tacitly linked to peri‐implantation events, although it is a distinct developmental phenomenon. The exact molecular network regulating hatching is still unclear. A number of implantation‐associated molecular factors are expressed in the pre‐implanting blastocyst. Among others, cytokines, expressed by peri‐implantation blastocysts, are thought to be important for hatching, making blastocysts implantation competent. Pro‐inflammatory (IL‐6, LIF, GM‐CSF) and anti‐inflammatory (IL‐11, CSF‐1) cytokines improve hatching rates; they modulate proteases (MMPs, tPAs, cathepsins and ISP1). However, functional involvement of cytokines and their specific mediation of hatching‐associated proteases are unclear. There is a need to understand mechanistic roles of cytokines and proteases in blastocyst hatching. This review will assess the available knowledge on blastocyst‐derived pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines and their role in potentially regulating blastocyst hatching. They have implications in our understanding of early embryonic loss and infertility in mammals, including humans.
Insufficient Effort Survey Responding: An Under‐Appreciated Problem in Work and Organisational Health Psychology Research
Authors: McGonagle Alyssa K. , Huang Jason L. , Walsh Benjamin M.
Published: December 2015

Insufficient effort responding (IER) is problematic in that it can add a systematic source of variance for variables with average responses that depart from the scale midpoints. We present a rationale for why IER is of particular importance to Work and Organisational Health Psychology (WOHP) researchers. We also demonstrate its biasing effects using several variables of interest to WOHP researchers (perceived work ability, negative affectivity, perceived disability, work–safety tension, accident/injury frequencies, and experienced and instigated incivility) in two datasets. As expected, IER was significantly correlated with the focal study variables. We also found some evidence that hypothesised bivariate correlations between these variables were inflated when IER respondents were included. Corroborating IER's potential confounding role, we further found significant declines in the magnitude of the hypothesised bivariate correlations after partialling out IER. In addition, we found evidence for biasing (under‐estimation) effects for predictors not contaminated by IER in multiple regression models where some predictors and the outcome were both contaminated by IER. We call for WOHP researchers to routinely discourage IER from occurring in their surveys, screen for IER prior to analyzing survey data, and establish a standard practice for handling IER cases.
Ritonavir‐Induced Suicidal Death of Human Erythrocytes
Authors: Waibel Sabrina , Bissinger Rosi , Bouguerra Ghada , Abbès Salem , Lang Florian
Published: December 2015

The antiviral drug ritonavir has been shown to trigger suicidal death or apoptosis of tumour cells and has thus been considered for the treatment of malignancy. In analogy to apoptosis of nucleated cells, erythrocytes may enter eryptosis, the suicidal erythrocyte death characterized by cell shrinkage and cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine translocation to the erythrocyte surface. Triggers of eryptosis include Ca2+ entry with increase in cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i), oxidative stress and ceramide. The present study explored whether and how ritonavir induces eryptosis. To this end, flow cytometry was employed to estimate cell volume from forward scatter, phosphatidylserine exposure at the cell surface from Annexin‐V binding, [Ca2+]i from Fluo3 fluorescence, abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from 2',7'‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) fluorescence and ceramide abundance utilizing specific antibodies. As a result, a 48‐hr exposure of human erythrocytes to ritonavir significantly increased the percentage of Annexin‐V‐binding cells (≥5 μg/ml), significantly decreased forward scatter (≥5 μg/ml), significantly increased Fluo3 fluorescence (20 μg/ml), slightly, but significantly increased DCFDA fluorescence (20 μg/ml) and slightly, but significantly increased ceramide abundance (20 μg/ml). The effect of ritonavir on Annexin‐V binding was significantly blunted, but not fully abolished by the removal of extracellular Ca2+. In conclusion, ritonavir triggers erythrocyte shrinkage and phosphatidylserine translocation at the erythrocyte cell membrane, an effect in part due to the stimulation of Ca2+ entry, oxidative stress and ceramide.
Varenicline and Nicotine Patch Therapies in Young Adults Motivated to Quit Smoking: A Randomized, Placebo‐controlled, Prospective Study
Authors: Tuisku Anna , Salmela Merita , Nieminen Pentti , Toljamo Tuula
Published: December 2015

This study compares the nicotine patch to placebo in young adult light smokers, and the nicotine patch to varenicline in heavy smokers. Volunteer daily smokers were recruited into a randomized, placebo‐controlled study via community media, colleges and the army (aged 18–26 years). Those subjects with light tobacco dependence were randomized to (i) placebo patch (n = 86) and (ii) nicotine patch 10 mg/16 hr for 8 weeks (n = 94), and those with stronger dependence to (iii) nicotine patch 15 mg/16 hr for 8 weeks (n = 51) and (iv) varenicline for 12 weeks (n = 60). The primary outcome variable was self‐reported smoking abstinence at week 12. Secondary outcome variables were self‐reported smoking abstinence at weeks 4 and 26, and self‐reported abstinence verified by saliva cotinine level at week 12. The prevalence of self‐reported smoking abstinence did not differ statistically significantly in light smokers during the follow‐up (week 4: 19.8% for placebo patch and 26.6% for nicotine patch 10 mg/16 hr; week 12: 17.4% versus 23.4%; week 26: 15.1% versus 20.2%), but the groups of heavy smokers differed significantly for 12 weeks (week 4: 19.6% for nicotine patch 15 mg/16 hr and 73.3% for varenicline, p < 0.001; week 12: 15.7% versus 36.7%, p = 0.018). This statistically significant difference did not endure for the entire follow‐up (week 26: 9.8% versus 18.3%, p = 0.280). However, saliva cotinine verified abstinence at week 12 did not support self‐reported abstinence. Varenicline may be more effective than the nicotine patch as a smoking cessation pharmacotherapy among young adult heavy smokers in the short‐term.
Modelling of the Effect of End‐Tidal Carbon Dioxide on Cerebral Oxygen Saturation in Beach Chair Position under General Anaesthesia
Authors: Kim So Yeon , Chae Dong Woo , Chun Yong‐Min , Jeong Kyu Hee , Park Kyungsoo , Han Dong Woo
Published: December 2015

Patients undergoing shoulder surgery in the beach chair position (BCP) under general anaesthesia may be at risk of cerebral desaturation. Increasing end‐tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) is the most convenient and powerful method for the management of cerebral desaturation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the quantitative relationship between EtCO2and cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) and to identify the associated influencing factors. Fifty‐one patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in theBCPunder general anaesthesia completed this study. Desflurane and remifentanil were used, and EtCO2was steadily increased and then decreased by adjusting the ventilator settings every 3 min. so that time lag ofrSO2response to EtCO2changes could be delineated. Near‐infrared spectroscopy was used to monitorrSO2response. An indirect response model was used to examine the relationship between EtCO2andrSO2. To determine the relevant covariates, a stepwise approach was used. There was a linear relationship betweenrSO2and EtCO2with a slight delay in the peak ofrSO2relative to EtCO2. Increase in end‐tidal desflurane concentration led to a slower response ofrSO2to the changes of EtCO2(p = 0.0002). The presence of diabetes mellitus reduced the reactivity ofrSO2to EtCO2changes (p < 0.0001). This model‐based approach revealed that diabetes mellitus attenuates the response ofrSO2to changes in EtCO2. The management of cerebral desaturation by hypercapnia in patients with diabetes may be less effective than in non‐diabetic patients under general anaesthesia with BCP.