bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Closed-loop magnetic separation of nanoparticles on a packed bed of spheres
Authors: Magnet Cécilia , Akouala Mesferdon , Kuzhir Pavel , Bossis Georges , Zubarev Andrey , Wereley Norman M.
Published: March 2015

In this work, we consider magnetic separation of iron oxide nanoparticles when a nanoparticle suspension (diluted ferrofluid) passes through a closed-loop filter composed of a packed bed of micro-beads magnetized by an externally applied magnetic field. We show that the capture of nanoparticles of a size as small as 60 nm is easily achieved at low-to-moderate magnetic fields (16–32 kA/m) thanks to relatively strong magnetic interactions between them. The key parameter governing the capture process is the Mason number—the ratio of hydrodynamic-to-magnetic forces exerted to nanoparticles. The filter efficiency, Λ, defined through the ratio of the inlet-to-outlet concentration shows a power-law dependency on Mason number, Λ∝Ma−0.83, in the range of 102<Ma<104. The proposed theoretical model allows a correct prediction of the Mason number dependency of the filter efficiency. The obtained results could be of potential interest for water purification systems based on chemical adsorption of micro-pollutants on magnetic nanoparticles, followed by magnetic separation of the nanoparticles.
Influence of cold drawing on the magnetic properties and giant magneto-impedance response of FINEMET nanocrystalline wires
Authors: Chiriac H. , Corodeanu S. , Donac A. , Dobrea V. , Ababei G. , Stoian G. , Lostun M. , Óvári T.-A. , Lupu N.
Published: March 2015

The effect of annealing and applied stresses on the magnetic properties and giant magneto-impedance effect in as-cast and cold drawn FINEMET wires has been studied. The results show major changes in the evolution of the magnetic permeability, coercivity, and magneto-impedance response with the annealing and cold drawing stages. These changes have been explained considering the structural transformations, intrinsic, applied, and drawing-induced stresses, as well as their effect on the global magnetostriction of the wires. The observed sensitivity to applied stresses recommends this class of cold drawn nanocrystalline wires for applications in miniaturized magnetic sensors with enhanced sensitivity.
Quantum effects on compressional Alfven waves in compensated semiconductors
Authors: Amin M. R.
Published: March 2015

Amplitude modulation of a compressional Alfven wave in compensated electron-hole semiconductor plasmas is considered in the quantum magnetohydrodynamic regime in this paper. The important ingredients of this study are the inclusion of the particle degeneracy pressure, exchange-correlation potential, and the quantum diffraction effects via the Bohm potential in the momentum balance equations of the charge carriers. A modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation is derived for the evolution of the slowly varying amplitude of the compressional Alfven wave by employing the standard reductive perturbation technique. Typical values of the parameters for GaAs, GaSb, and GaN semiconductors are considered in analyzing the linear and nonlinear dispersions of the compressional Alfven wave. Detailed analysis of the modulation instability in the long-wavelength regime is presented. For typical parameter ranges of the semiconductor plasmas and at the long-wavelength regime, it is found that the wave is modulationally unstable above a certain critical wavenumber. Effects of the exchange-correlation potential and the Bohm potential in the wave dynamics are also studied. It is found that the effect of the Bohm potential may be neglected in comparison with the effect of the exchange-correlation potential in the linear and nonlinear dispersions of the compressional Alfven wave.
Dynamic acoustic tractor beams
Authors: Mitri F. G.
Published: March 2015

Pulling a sphere and vibrating it around an equilibrium position by amplitude-modulation in the near-field of a single finite circular piston transducer is theoretically demonstrated. Conditions are found where a fluid hexane sphere (with arbitrary radius) chosen as an example, centered on the axis of progressive propagating waves and submerged in non-viscous water, experiences an attractive (steady) force pulling it towards the transducer, as well as an oscillatory force forcing it to vibrate back-and-forth. Numerical predictions for the dynamic force illustrate the theory and suggest an innovative method in designing dynamic acoustical tractor beams.
Anisotropy of electrical and magnetic transport properties of epitaxial SrRuO3 thin films
Authors: Ning X. K. , Wang Z. J. , Zhang Z. D.
Published: March 2015

SrRuO3 (SRO) thin films with different thickness (2–70 nm) have been grown on (001), (110), and (111) SrTiO3 substrates. The (001)-SRO films (2–8 nm) exhibited smooth flat surfaces whereas the (110)- and (111)-SRO films featured a faceted island structure. Room temperature resistivity and residual resistivity are the lowest for the (111)-SRO films (30–70 nm). Over all thicknesses, we observed enhanced magnetization in the (111)-SRO films (∼4 μB/Ru) compared with that for the (001)- and (110)-SRO films (∼2 μB/Ru and ∼3 μB/Ru, respectively), suggesting a low-spin state t2g(3↑,1↓), high-spin state t2g(3↑)eg(1↑), and mixed low- and high-spin states for the (001)-, (111)-, and (110)-SRO films, respectively. The dependence of resistivity on temperatures near TC follows a power law with exponent β = 0.312 and β = 0.363 for the (110)- and (111)-SRO films, respectively. These critical exponents are consistent with magnetic data with scaling law M = C (TC − T)β. At low temperatures, dM/dT and dρ/dT show a linear relationship in the temperature range for the Fermi liquid. These results suggest that the intrinsic electrical and magnetic transport properties are coupled.
Oxygen transport in off-stoichiometric uranium dioxide mediated by defect clustering dynamics
Authors: Yu Jianguo , Bai Xian-Ming , El-Azab Anter , Allen Todd R.
Published: March 2015

Oxygen transport is central to many properties of oxides such as stoichiometric changes, phase transformation, and ionic conductivity. In this paper, we report a mechanism for oxygen transport in uranium dioxide (UO2) in which the kinetics is mediated by defect clustering dynamics. In particular, the kinetic Monte Carlo method has been used to investigate the kinetics of oxygen transport in UO2 under the condition of creation and annihilation of oxygen vacancies and interstitials as well as oxygen interstitial clustering, with variable off-stoichiometry and temperature conditions. It is found that in hypo-stoichiometric UO2−x, oxygen transport is well described by the vacancy diffusion mechanism while in hyper-stoichiometric UO2+x, oxygen interstitial cluster diffusion contributes significantly to oxygen transport kinetics, particularly at high temperatures and high off-stoichiometry levels. It is also found that di-interstitial clusters and single interstitials play dominant roles in oxygen diffusion while other larger clusters have negligible contributions. However, the formation, coalescence, and dissociation of these larger clusters indirectly affects the overall oxygen diffusion due to their interactions with mono and di-interstitials, thus providing an explanation of the experimental observation of saturation or even drop of oxygen diffusivity at high off-stoichiometry.
Influence of deep level defects on carrier lifetime in CdZnTe:In
Authors: Guo Rongrong , Jie Wanqi , Wang Ning , Zha Gangqiang , Xu Yadong , Wang Tao , Fu Xu
Published: March 2015

The defect levels and carrier lifetime in CdZnTe:In crystal were characterized with photoluminescence, thermally stimulated current measurements, as well as contactless microwave photoconductivity decay (MWPCD) technique. An evaluation equation to extract the recombination lifetime and the reemission time from MWPCD signal is developed based on Hornbeck-Haynes trapping model. An excellent agreement between defect level distribution and carrier reemission time in MWPCD signal reveals the tail of the photoconductivity decay is controlled by the defect level reemission effect. Combining 241Am gamma ray radiation response measurement and laser beam induced transient current measurement, it predicted that defect level with the reemission time shorter than the collection time could lead to better charge collection efficiency of CdZnTe detector.
Influence of electron-neutral collisions on the Compton scattering cross section and the Salpeter structure factor in warm collisional plasmas
Authors: Song Mi-Young , Yoon Jung-Sik , Jung Young-Dae
Published: March 2015

The electron-neutral collision effects on the Compton scattering process are investigated in warm collisional plasmas. The Compton scattering cross section in warm collisional plasmas is obtained by the Salpeter structure factor with the fluctuation-dissipation theorem and the plasma dielectric function as a function of the electron-neutral collision frequency, Debye length, and wave number. It is shown that the influence of electron-neutral collision strongly suppresses the Compton scattering cross section in warm collisional plasmas. It is also found that the electron-neutral collision effect on the differential Compton scattering cross section is more significant in forward scattering directions. We show that the differential Compton scattering cross section has a maximum at the scattering angle φ=π/2. In addition, we find that the electron-neutral collision effect on the total Compton scattering cross section increases with increasing Debye length and wave number. The variation of the Compton scattering cross section due to the change of collision frequency and plasma parameters is also discussed.
Novel chlorophylls and new directions in photosynthesis research
Authors: Li Yaqiong , Chen Min
Published: March 2015

Chlorophyll d and chlorophyll f are red-shifted chlorophylls, because their Qy absorption bands are significantly red-shifted compared with chlorophyll a. The red-shifted chlorophylls broaden the light absorption region further into far red light. The presence of red-shifted chlorophylls in photosynthetic systems has opened up new possibilities of research on photosystem energetics and challenged the unique status of chlorophyll a in oxygenic photosynthesis. In this review, we report on the chemistry and function of red-shifted chlorophylls in photosynthesis and summarise the unique adaptations that have allowed the proliferation of chlorophyll d- and chlorophyll f-containing organisms in diverse ecological niches around the world.
Phenotype switching through epigenetic conversion
Authors: Brevini T. A. L. , Pennarossa G. , Maffei S. , Gandolfi F.
Published: March 2015

Different cell types have been suggested as candidates for use in regenerative medicine. Embryonic pluripotent stem cells can give rise to all cells of the body and possess unlimited self-renewal potential. However, they are unstable, difficult to control and have a risk of neoplastic transformation. Adult stem cells are safe but have limited proliferation and differentiation abilities and are usually not within easy access. In recent years, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have become a new promising tool in regenerative medicine. However, the use of transgene vectors, commonly required for the induction of iPS cells, seriously limits their use in therapy. The same problem arising from the use of retroviruses is associated with the use of cells obtained through transdifferentiation. Developing knowledge of the mechanisms controlling epigenetic regulation of cell fate has boosted the use of epigenetic modifiers that drive cells into a ‘highly permissive’ state. We recently set up a new strategy for the conversion of an adult mature cell into another cell type. We increased cell plasticity using 5-aza-cytidine and took advantage of a brief window of epigenetic instability to redirect cells to a different lineage. This approach is termed ‘epigenetic conversion’. It is a simple, direct and safe way to obtain both cells for therapy avoiding gene transfection and a stable pluripotent state.
Stochastic transitions into silence cause noise correlations in cortical circuits
Authors: Mochol Gabriela , Hermoso-Mendizabal Ainhoa , Sakata Shuzo , Harris Kenneth D. , de la Rocha Jaime
Published: March 2015

Significance

Neurons in the cerebral cortex emit action potentials in a seemingly random manner. One puzzling aspect of this neuronal “noise” is that it is correlated among neighboring neurons, something thought to reflect the tendency of neurons to fire together. Here, we recorded the activity from populations of cortical neurons in rats and found that correlations could be largely explained by the tendency of cortical neurons to stop firing together. A computational network model whose activity alternated between periods of activity and silence was able to reproduce the pattern of correlations found in the experiments. Our findings shed light on the mechanisms causing neuronal variability and may contribute to elucidate its role in a neural code.
Homer3 regulates the establishment of neutrophil polarity
Authors: Wu Julie , Pipathsouk Anne , Keizer-Gunnink A. , Fusetti F. , Alkema W. , Liu Shanshan , Altschuler Steven , Wu Lani , Kortholt Arjan , Weiner Orion D.
Published: March 2015

Most chemoattractants rely on activation of the heterotrimeric G-protein Gαi to regulate directional cell migration, but few links from Gαi to chemotactic effectors are known. Through affinity chromatography using primary neutrophil lysate, we identify Homer3 as a novel Gαi2-binding protein. RNA interference–mediated knockdown of Homer3 in neutrophil-like HL-60 cells impairs chemotaxis and the establishment of polarity of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) and the actin cytoskeleton, as well as the persistence of the WAVE2 complex. Most previously characterized proteins that are required for cell polarity are needed for actin assembly or activation of core chemotactic effectors such as the Rac GTPase. In contrast, Homer3-knockdown cells show normal magnitude and kinetics of chemoattractant-induced activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Rac effectors. Chemoattractant-stimulated Homer3-knockdown cells also exhibit a normal initial magnitude of actin polymerization but fail to polarize actin assembly and intracellular PIP3and are defective in the initiation of cell polarity and motility. Our data suggest that Homer3 acts as a scaffold that spatially organizes actin assembly to support neutrophil polarity and motility downstream of GPCR activation.
Crystal structure of Hop2–Mnd1 and mechanistic insights into its role in meiotic recombination
Authors: Kang Hyun-Ah , Shin Ho-Chul , Kalantzi Alexandra-Styliani , Toseland Christopher P. , Kim Hyun-Min , Gruber Stephan , Peraro Matteo Dal , Oh Byung-Ha
Published: March 2015

In meiotic DNA recombination, the Hop2−Mnd1 complex promotes Dmc1-mediated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) invasion into homologous chromosomes to form a synaptic complex by a yet-unclear mechanism. Here, the crystal structure of Hop2−Mnd1 reveals that it forms a curved rod-like structure consisting of three leucine zippers and two kinked junctions. One end of the rod is linked to two juxtaposed winged-helix domains, and the other end is capped by extra α-helices to form a helical bundle-like structure. Deletion analysis shows that the helical bundle-like structure is sufficient for interacting with the Dmc1-ssDNA nucleofilament, and molecular modeling suggests that the curved rod could be accommodated into the helical groove of the nucleofilament. Remarkably, the winged-helix domains are juxtaposed at fixed relative orientation, and their binding to DNA is likely to perturb the base pairing according to molecular simulations. These findings allow us to propose a model explaining how Hop2−Mnd1 juxtaposes Dmc1-bound ssDNA with distorted recipient double-stranded DNA and thus facilitates strand invasion.
Stories of Recovery
Authors: Pickard Hanna
Published: March 2015

I explore the role of narrative understanding in recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and personality disorder (PD), and explain why self-autonomy and self-creation, as components of narrative understanding, are central to the recovery process. Drawing on a hypothetical clinical vignette, I show how narrative understanding can impede recovery if it is not harnessed to a patient’s sense of agency for change and hope for the future. I suggest that this risk can be averted by focusing on how narrative is a form of understanding that can surprise us and defy expectations, allowing us to free ourselves from our pasts and treat our futures as open. I conclude by reflecting on the difficult balance that clinicians must strike in supporting patients to develop narratives that genuinely promote recovery: they must hold hope for their patients, yet temper their hope with realism about the genuine constraints and hardships their patients face.
Ethical Approaches to Dealing with Impaired Health Practitioners
Authors: Howie Andrew , Rosen Alan
Published: March 2015

The concept of the impaired health practitioner is defined. The need to protect the public through professional self-regulation and the acceptance of external regulation by the health professions is emphasized, as is the need to deal compassionately with the impaired practitioner. The predominant ethical themes are identified as nonmaleficence, professional integrity, role-differentiated moral obligation, fidelity, and practical wisdom. It is recommended that preventive measures, including promoting resilience, preventing burnout, and early detection, be emphasized in health professional training and continuing professional development. The formation of effective policies and procedures is required of the organizations involved. Clinical aspects are discussed. Cautious therapeutic optimism is commended as appropriate. The risk of stigmatization of the practitioner needs to be recognized and managed, even as the right of the public to protection and information is respected.
Mixed Transcortical Aphasia: Repetition without Meaning
Authors: Baumgaertner Annette
Published: March 2015

Although mixed transcortical aphasia (MTA) is a rare syndrome, it constitutes an interesting case for modern neuroanatomically driven language models. This is because its existence may be seen as congruent with the assumption of an independently operating “dorsal stream” in language processing. Predicted by the earliest models of language processing in the brain, the syndrome also pushes the boundaries of neurolinguistic model building because its symptoms arise from an interplay between partially preserved linguistic functions and partially disrupted amodal higher-order cognitive control mechanisms. In summarizing 15 case reports of persons with MTA, this chapter provides details about neurobiological underpinnings, performance during standard language assessments, and speech characteristics of persons diagnosed as having MTA. The chapter raises critical issues, such as the question of how to operationalize “spared repetition,” and the difficulty of clearly differentiating between volitional repetition and nonvolitional echolalia. Data on the evolution of the syndrome are included, and assessment as well as treatment of MTA are discussed.
Algibacter psychrophilus sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from marine sediment
Authors: Jung You-Jung , Lee Yung Mi , Baek Kiwoon , Hwang Chung Yeon , Cho Yirang , Hong Soon Gyu , Kim Ji Hee , Lee Hong Kum
Published: March 2015

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, yellow-pigmented, flexirubin-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and psychrophilic bacterial strain, PAMC 27237T, was isolated from marine sediment of the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Strain PAMC 27237T grew at 0–20 °C (optimally at 17 °C), at pH 5.0–9.5 (optimally at pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–3.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimally at 1.5–2.5 %). The major fatty acids (≥5 %) were iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C17 : 0 2-OH, anteiso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c/C16 : 1ω7c), iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, anteiso-C17 : 1ω9c, anteiso-C15 : 1 A, iso-C16 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 1 G. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids, four unidentified lipids and a glycolipid. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain PAMC 27237T belongs to the genus

Algibacter,
showing high similarities with the type strains of

Algibacter agarivorans

(97.2 %),

Algibacter agarilyticus

(97.0 %) and

Algibacter mikhailovii

(96.4 %). Average nucleotide identity values between strain PAMC 27237T and the type strains of

A. agarivorans

and

A. agarilyticus

were 83.1 and 84.2 %, respectively, and mean genome-to-genome distances were 22.4–24.2 %, indicating that strain PAMC 27237T is clearly distinguished from the most closely related species of the genus

Algibacter

. The genomic DNA G+C content calculated from genome sequences was 33.5 mol%. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data presented, strain PAMC 27237T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Algibacter

, for which the name Algibacter psychrophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PAMC 27237T ( = KCTC 42130T = JCM 30370T).
Enhanced tribological performance of CuS thin film on Si substrate: the case of APS-PAA buffer layer
Authors: Zhang Yidong
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to demonstrate the influence of a 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane–polyacrylic acid (amino propyl silane (APS)-PAA) buffer layer on the tribological performance of copper sulfide (CuS) thin film on silicon (Si) substrate.

Design/methodology/approach

– The APS-PAA buffer layer was first deposited on Si substrate by a self-assembling method. Then, the deposited film was coated by a CuS film by a successive ionic layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The structures and morphologies of the prepared films were characterized by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The results showed that the prepared CuS film with a PAA-APS double layer had a good crystallinity and surface morphology. The tribological performance of the prepared film was analyzed on UMT-2 tribometer and scanning electric microscope.

Findings

– With use of an APS-PAA buffer layer, the CuS thin films became compact, smooth and uniform. The tribological performance of the CuS film was greatly enhanced by using an APS-PAA buffer layer.

Originality/value

– The paper is the first to demonstrate that the CuS film exhibited enhanced structure, morphology and tribological characteristics by using an APS-PAA buffer layer.
Adopting continuous auditing
Authors: Sun Ting , Alles Michael , Vasarhelyi Miklos A.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the hurdles, compared with that in the United States, for the implementation of Continuous Auditing in China. As a timely, cost-saving and efficient auditing method, continuous auditing is being increasingly adopted throughout the world. However, while it is increasingly applied in the USA, continuous auditing is still in its infancy in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper compares and contrasts China and the USA in three important dimensions that determine the “economic architecture” of assurance: the business environment, the audit profession and technology.

Findings

– The authors find that excessive government intervention in business, the lack of competition, independence of auditors, the support from management and the continuous auditing-specific regulations, as well as the technology gap between these two countries, are the main barriers for the implementation of continuous auditing in China.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings of this paper provide better understanding of the drivers of continuous auditing adoption in the USA and the barriers toward doing so in China.

Practical implications

– The term “continuous auditing” has never been formally introduced until the release of the draft of the Internal Control Audit Guide in 2011.

Originality/value

– The paper highlights how technology by itself is not deterministic, but given the extraordinary rise in the Chinese economy in both its size and its sophistication, it has be to assumed that its “leapfrog” into parity if not outright leadership in continuous assurance is still a matter of “when” and not of “if”.
Schizophrenia, psychiatry and East African Muslim families in the United Kingdom: a pilot study
Authors: Ally Farida , Brennan Toni
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of East African Muslim families who have a family member diagnosed with schizophrenia in the UK mental health system.

Design/methodology/approach

– In-depth semi-structured interviews with East African Muslim participants who had a close family member diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Findings

– Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed participants’ concerns over diagnosis, over the side effects of medication and over the lack of choice of treatment. They reported disappointment and frustration with the rejection by psychiatric services of alternative conceptualizations of mental distress incorporating religious beliefs. Participants called for more culturally sensitive service provision open to taking into account non-western conceptualizations of mental distress and its treatment.

Research limitations/implications

– Caution should be exercised in drawing firm conclusions from a pilot study with only four participants although generalization is not an aim of small-scale qualitative research.

Practical implications

– The overall negative perceptions of psychiatric services in the participants’ accounts point to poor communication between services and service users and their families. If there are attempts at culturally sensitive service provision, according to this study, they are implemented elsewhere/not extensive enough/not reaching everyone – which warrants further investigation.

Originality/value

– This study is valuable because it offers insights on how East African Muslim families living in the UK (an under-researched minority) experience the impact of living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and contact with mental health services, within the context of a “Western” model of mental distress dramatically different from and rarely open to the conceptualization shared in their culture of origin.
Law enforcement executive and principal perspectives on school safety measures
Authors: Chrusciel Margaret M. , Wolfe Scott , Hansen J. Andrew , Rojek Jeff J , Kaminski Robert
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the perspectives of law enforcement executives and public school principals regarding school resource officers (SROs), armed teachers, and armed school administrators in order to inform the policy discussion surrounding school safety issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study utilizes data collected from two surveys that were sent to law enforcement executives and public school principals in South Carolina. Respondents were asked about their experience with SROs and their perspectives on these officers’ ability to maintain school safety. Both groups of respondents were also asked about their attitudes regarding arming school employees.

Findings

– There is a large amount of support for SROs from both law enforcement executives and principals. However, in general, both groups of respondents do not believe armed administrators or armed teachers to be an effective school safety strategy.

Originality/value

– SROs have been the primary strategy adopted by schools to maintain safety, but in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, public outcry and political debate has spawned a number of proposed alternatives. Among these alternative security measures has been the idea of arming school teachers and/or administrators. However, there appears to have been little effort to empirically consider the perspectives of those directly impacted by school safety policy decisions. In particular, a gap in the literature remains regarding the perceptions of police executives and school principals concerning school safety policies and how the attitudes of these key actors compare. Thus, the current study addresses this gap by exploring the perspectives of key school safety stakeholders.
The polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste 2 is a novel therapeutic target for cervical cancer
Authors: Ding Muyang , Zhang Hang , Li Zhen , Wang Cuili , Chen Jasmine , Shi Liyun , Xu Dakang , Gao Yane
Published: March 2015

Enhancer of zeste 2 (EZH2), a polycomb histone methyltransferase, is overexpressed in various cancers, including cervical cancer. Gene expression analysis revealed that increased expression of EZH2 is associated with cervical cancer progression, particularly the progression to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Enhancer of zeste 2 is known to trimethylate lysine 27 on histone H3, leading to gene silencing that contributes to the progression of tumours into a more aggressive form of cancer. However, the specific molecular mechanisms by which EZH2 contributes to the development of cervical cancer remain largely unknown. Recently, an EZH2 inhibitor was reported to selectively inhibit trimethylated lysine 27 on histone H3 and to reactivate silenced genes in cancer cells. In this study, we found that GSK343 (a specific inhibitor of EZH2 methyltransferase) induces phenotypic reprogramming of cancer cells from mesenchymal to epithelial cells, reducing proliferation and cell motility and blocking the invasion of cervical cancer cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with the EZH2 inhibitor led to increased levels of the epithelial marker E‐cadherin and decreased levels of mesenchymal markers such as N‐cadherin and vimentin. The observed reprogramming is associated with restrained cervical cancer progression and provides direct evidence in support of EZH2 as a therapeutic target.
Contagion Risk for Australian Authorised Deposit‐Taking Institutions
Authors: Akhter Selim , Hasan Mohammad Z.
Published: March 2015

This paper investigates the contagion risk for Australian‐owned authorised deposit‐taking institutions (ADIs) spilling from the US and UK banks. We hypothesised that Australian ADIs are prone to extreme shocks experienced by their US and UK counterparts. We define four discrete events for the Australian banking sector in terms of the number of banks exceeding an extreme value at some time. The extreme value is defined as the 90th percentile on the negative tail of the distribution of changes in the distance to default obtained through the Black–Scholes–Merton formula. Then we fit a multinomial logistic model (MLM) to relate these events to the number of exceedances (extreme events) occurring in the US and the UK in the previous day for the time period from September 2006 to September 2011. The MLM estimates reveal strong contagion effects for Australian ADIs from the US and UK banks.
Host litter‐associated gut dynamics affect Escherichia coli abundance and adhesion genotype in rats
Authors: Blyton Michaela D. J. , Herawati Nur ‘Aini , O'Brien Claire L. , Gordon David M.
Published: March 2015

The probability of detecting Escherichia coli varies between host species with different diets and body sizes. An experimental study that mimicked the effect of different carnivore body masses found that digesta transit times influence E. coli abundance. In this study, we investigated how the host's gastrointestinal dynamics affected E. coli abundance and genotype in a system that reflected an herbivorous host. Forty rats from nine litters were fed a diet high in fermentable fibre. We found a small effect of fibre concentration on the difference between the liquid and particle digesta retention times. However, the rats' litter membership explained the majority of the retention time differences (79%). In turn, we found that as the difference between liquid and particle retention times increased, E. coli faecal cell densities decreased, while the likelihood that an animal's dominant E. coli strain possessed a gene involved in adhesion (agn43) increased. Thus, this experiment revealed an unanticipated high degree of association between the hosts' litter, their gastrointestinal dynamics and the E. coli genotypes. Furthermore, by comparing our findings to previous work, we show that the presence of fermentable fibre in the diet appears to change the relationship between the host's phenotype and E. coli.
Coloured sweat in two brothers: First report of familial chromhidrosis
Authors: Gaffney Daniel C , Cooper Hywel L
Published: March 2015

The uncommon diagnosis of chromhidrosis is most frequently made in young adults. This sweat gland disease, although benign, may impact significantly on the patient's quality of life. We describe the first report of familial chromhidrosis of pseudo‐eccrine type (pseudochromhidrosis) occurring in two brothers aged 9 and 12 years. The classification and causality of chromhidrosis is described and approaches to assessment and management are outlined.
Merkel cell carcinoma: A case of palliative upper limb amputation in a patient with refractory in‐transit metastases
Authors: Gunaratne Dakshika A , Howle Julie R , Veness Michael J
Published: March 2015

We report an unusual case of Merkel cell carcinoma in a 70‐year‐old woman with the rapid development of left upper limb in‐transit and hepatic metastases. The patient had a preceding history of left‐sided breast cancer. Palliative chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide produced a minimal response. The in‐transit metastases rapidly progressed and were refractory to chemotherapy and a single fraction of palliative radiotherapy, leading to a marked impact on her quality of life, secondary to sepsis and bleeding. After lengthy discussion, she consented to an above‐elbow amputation resulting in a marked improvement in her well‐being. In this case, we believe that palliative amputation of the involved arm was justified and beneficial to the patient.
The contribution of astrocytes and microglia to traumatic brain injury
Authors: Karve Ila P , Taylor Juliet M , Crack Peter J
Published: March 2015

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major cause of death and disability in developed countries. Brain injuries are highly heterogeneous and can also trigger other neurological complications, including epilepsy, depression and dementia. The initial injury often leads to the development of secondary sequelae; cellular hyperexcitability, vasogenic and cytotoxic oedema, hypoxia‐ischaemia, oxidative stress and inflammation, all of which influence expansion of the primary lesion. It is widely known that inflammatory events in the brain following TBI contribute to the widespread cell death and chronic tissue degeneration. Neuroinflammation is a multifaceted response involving a number of cell types, both within the CNS and in the peripheral circulation. Astrocytes and microglia, cells of the CNS, are considered key players in initiating an inflammatory response after injury. These cells are capable of secreting various cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, and following injury to the CNS, undergo changes in morphology. Ultimately, these changes can influence the local microenvironment and thus determine the extent of damage and subsequent repair. This review will focus on the roles of microglia and astrocytes following TBI, highlighting some of the key processes, pathways and mediators involved in this response. Additionally, both the beneficial and the detrimental aspects of these cellular responses will be examined using evidence from animal models and human post‐mortem TBI studies.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Inflammation: maladies, models, mechanisms and molecules. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2016.173.issue-4
‘We were not planning on this, but …’: Adoptive parents' reactions and adaptations to unmet expectations
Authors: Moyer April M. , Goldberg Abbie E.
Published: March 2015

This study explored adoptive parents' responses to unexpected characteristics of their children with a lens of family stress theory. Ninety individuals in 45 couples, 30 of whom adopted via child welfare and 15 of whom adopted via private domestic adoption, were interviewed 3 months post‐adoptive placement regarding unfulfilled expectations about their child's age, gender, race and special needs. Unmet expectations were especially stressful when parents lacked support and when they perceived themselves as having little power to ‘mould’ their children. In contrast, perceptions of adequate support and cognitive flexibility appeared to facilitate positive experiences during parents' transition to adoptive parenthood. Implications for professionals are discussed, including suggestions for pre‐adoption training and provision of post‐adoption support.
Public perceptions of child physical abuse in Beijing
Authors: Qiao Dong Ping , Xie Qian Wen
Published: March 2015

The present study focuses on public perceptions of parental child beating and child physical abuse (CPA) in mainland China. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 20 parents and a quantitative survey was administered to a sample of 1033 adults in urban districts of Beijing. The quantitative and qualitative results are consistent: both parents and the general public were hesitant to consider the beating of one's own child (by biological parents) as a case of CPA. Respondents indicated that only when parents beat their children malevolently and frequently, so as to cause serious physical injuries, could it be considered CPA. The majority of respondents supported governmental interventions in severe cases of CPA. However, respondents' perceptions of CPA in mainland China are different from those that are prevalent in the West. Therefore, it is essential to develop programmes that educate the public in order to improve their awareness and knowledge of CPA in mainland China.
A Metric‐Based System for Evaluating the Productivity of Preclinical Faculty at an Academic Medical Center in the Era of Clinical and Translational Science
Authors: Wiegers Susan E. , Houser Steven R. , Pearson Helen E. , Untalan Ann , Cheung Joseph Y. , Fisher Susan G. , Kaiser Larry R. , Feldman Arthur M.
Published: March 2015

Academic medical centers are faced with increasing budgetary constraints due to a flat National Institutes of Health budget, lower reimbursements for clinical services, higher costs of technology including informatics and a changing competitive landscape. As such, institutional stakeholders are increasingly asking whether resources are allocated appropriately and whether there are objective methods for measuring faculty contributions and engagement. The complexities of translational research can be particularly challenging when trying to assess faculty contributions because of team science. For over a decade, we have used an objective scoring system called the Matrix to assess faculty productivity and engagement in four areas: research, education, scholarship, and administration or services. The Matrix was developed to be dynamic, quantitative, and able to insure that a fully engaged educator would have a Matrix score that was comparable to a fully engaged investigator. In this report, we present the Matrix in its current form in order to provide a well‐tested objective system of performance evaluation for nonclinical faculty to help academic leaders in decision making.
Diagnostic power of the non‐ischaemic forearm exercise test in detecting glycogenosis type V
Authors: Hogrel J.‐Y. , van den Bogaart F. , Ledoux I. , Ollivier G. , Petit F. , Koujah N. , Béhin A. , Stojkovic T. , Eymard B. , Voermans N. , Laforêt P.
Published: March 2015

Background and purpose

This was a retrospective study to assess the diagnostic value of the non‐ischaemic forearm exercise test in detecting McArdle's disease.

Methods

The study is a retrospective diagnostic study over 15 years (1999–2013) on a referred sample of patients suffering from exercise intolerance and various muscle complaints, generally with elevated creatine kinase (CK). In all, 1226 patients underwent the non‐ischaemic forearm exercise test. Blood lactate, ammonia and CK levels were analyzed. DNA analyses and/or muscle biopsies were assessed to confirm the diagnosis of McArdle's disease. The results of 60 volunteers were used to compare with the results of study subjects.

Results

In this cohort, 40 patients were finally diagnosed with McArdle's disease. Absolute values of lactate and ammonia rise were used to discriminate all McArdle patients from healthy patients. A sensitivity and specificity of respectively 100% and 99.7% were calculated. The 24‐h CK level showed no significant difference from the CK level at the day of the test and confirms the safety of the test.

Conclusions

This study has formally assessed the diagnostic value of the non‐ischaemic forearm exercise test in the detection of McArdle's disease. Very high sensitivity and specificity were observed. Furthermore, the test is easy to set up and to perform, it is non‐traumatic and cost effective. It may circumvent a muscle biopsy in McArdle patients presenting the most common mutations. Hence, it is a perfect and safe screening instrument to detect patients with McArdle's disease. Glycogen storage disease type III patients, however, may show similar patterns to McArdle patients.
Pathologic substrates of focal epilepsy influence the generation of high‐frequency oscillations
Authors: Ferrari‐Marinho Taissa , Perucca Piero , Mok Kelvin , Olivier Andre , Hall Jeffery , Dubeau Francois , Gotman Jean
Published: March 2015

Objective

Although a clear correlation has been observed between high‐frequency oscillations (HFOs) and the seizure‐onset zone in distinct lesions, the role of the underlying pathologic substrates in the generation of HFOs is not well established. We aimed to investigate HFO correlates of different pathologic substrates in patients with drug‐resistant epilepsy, and to examine the relation of HFOs with the anatomic location of the dysplastic lesion and surrounding tissue in patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD).

Methods

We studied consecutive patients with drug‐resistant epilepsy who underwent intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) investigations with depth electrodes at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, between November 2004 and May 2013. Inclusion criteria were the following: a focal lesion documented by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); EEG recording at a 2,000 Hz sampling rate; and seizures starting from depth electrode contacts placed in lesion and perilesional tissue.

Results

Thirty‐seven patients (13 FCD, 12 mesial temporal sclerosis, five cortical atrophy, three polymicrogyria, three nodular heterotopia, and one tuberous sclerosis) were included; 18 were women (median age 34). Ripples and fast ripples were found in all lesion types, except tuberous sclerosis, which showed no fast ripples. There was a significant difference in rates of ripples and fast ripples across different lesions (p < 0.001), with higher rates in FCD, mesial temporal sclerosis, and nodular heterotopia than in atrophy, polymicrogyria, and tuberous sclerosis. Regarding patients with FCD, HFOs rates differed significantly across the three types of tissue (lesional, perilesional, and nonlesional; p < 0.001), being higher within the borders of the MRI‐visible dysplastic lesion, followed by the surrounding area, and rare in the remote cortex.

Significance

Our findings suggest that in patients who are all intractable, the HFO rates vary with different pathologies, and reflect different types of neuronal derangements. Our results also emphasize the potential usefulness of HFOs as an additional method to better define the extent of the epileptogenic dysplastic tissue in FCD.
Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor‐1α and CD271 inversely correlate with melanoma invasiveness
Authors: Marconi Alessandra , Borroni Riccardo G. , Truzzi Francesca , Longo Caterina , Pistoni Federica , Pellacani Giovanni , Pincelli Carlo
Published: March 2015

Melanoma is characterized, among other features, by microenvironmental factors and by an altered apoptotic machinery. Melanoma cell response to a hypoxic environment is transcriptionally regulated by the Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor (HIF)‐1α. p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), also called CD271, mediates apoptosis in several cell systems. The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression of HIF‐1α and CD271 in melanomas at different phases of progression, as evaluated by histology and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). By RCM, 41.67% tumors were characterized by the presence of a population of dendritic and pleomorphic cells (D+P), corresponding to in situ melanoma; 25% exhibited a predominantly round‐cell (RN) proliferation with histologic features of superficial melanoma, and 33.33% showed the presence of cells aggregated in nests (DN), typical of invasive melanoma. HIF‐1α was scarcely detected in D+P and in RN melanomas, while it was highly expressed in DN tumors. By contrast, CD271 positive cells were mostly detected in D+P population, and barely observed in the other subtypes. This work demonstrates that CD271 expression inversely correlates with hypoxia in melanoma, and that the two markers may be used in the future as diagnostic/prognostic tools for this neoplasm.
Heat shock protein 90 is required for ex vivo neutrophil‐driven autoantibody‐induced tissue damage in experimental epidermolysis bullosa acquisita
Authors: Tukaj Stefan , Hellberg Lars , Ueck Christopher , Hänsel Martin , Samavedam Unni , Zillikens Detlef , Ludwig Ralf J. , Laskay Tamás , Kasperkiewicz Michael
Published: March 2015

A broad range of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory effects of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) blockade has been described in models of autoimmune bullous diseases, but the direct contribution of this chaperone to neutrophil effector pathways in the context of autoantibody‐driven blistering is generally unknown. Therefore, this has been addressed in the current study on the basis of the subepidermal blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) characterized by autoantibodies against type VII collagen, in which a crucial role of neutrophils and both their reactive oxygen species and matrix metalloproteinases in mediating tissue injury has been established. First, the Hsp90 antagonist 17‐DMAG dose‐dependently inhibited dermal‐epidermal separation ex vivo in cryosections of human skin induced by co‐incubation of EBA patient autoantibodies with neutrophils from healthy blood donors. Next, 17‐DMAG dose‐dependently suppressed production and release of reactive oxygen species by human neutrophils induced by both fMLP ± LPS and EBA‐specific immune complexes. In addition, co‐immunoprecipitation studies revealed that extracellular Hsp90 interacted with secreted matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 12 in sera of EBA patients, suggesting that these basement membrane‐degrading proteolytic enzymes are client proteins of Hsp90 and dependent on its chaperone function. Our findings add to the knowledge of the multimodal anti‐inflammatory effects of Hsp90 blockade and implicate that Hsp90 is closely involved in the effector mechanisms of neutrophil‐driven autoantibody‐induced tissue damage, thus being a relevant therapeutic target in patients with neutrophil‐mediated autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory types of EBA.