bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Empirical Correlation for Heat Transfer to Nanofluids
Authors: Sonage B. K. , Mohanan P.
Published: January 2016

Nanofluids are emerging as alternative fluids for heat transfer applications due to enhanced thermal properties. Several correlations are available in open literature for heat transfer coefficient (HTC) and thermophysical properties of nanofluids. Reliability of correlations that use effective properties for estimation of HTC needs to be checked. Comparison of experimental HTC and that estimated from existing correlations is the main objective of the present study. An empirical correlation is developed with experimental data of the HTC for zinc–water and zinc oxide–water nanofluids. Experimental HTC is compared with that estimated from developed correlation and existing correlations. The range of Re considered for the study is 4000 to 18,000. Comparison indicated large deviation in experimental values and the values estimated from existing correlations. Based on comparison results, it can be concluded that the single‐phase models of forced convective heat transfer cannot be extended to nanofluids.
Impact of climate change on precipitation patterns: a comparative approach
Authors: Sohoulande Djebou Dagbegnon C. , Singh Vijay P.
Published: January 2016

Assessment of the impact of climate change on future precipitation scenarios is critical for water resources planning and development. Despite the advances reported in climate modelling, it remains a challenge to adequately develop approaches for impact assessment that can be easily interpreted by a wide range of decision makers in the society. The future scenarios are customarily projected with a range of uncertainties. Based on a case study, this article first discusses the complementarity of different statistical tools that are relevant for assessing the impact of climate change. Then, it reports a probabilistic method, which shows promising applicability. Specifically, we address the effect of climate change over the entire range of monthly precipitation and the number of precipitation events (>3 mm) across the Texas Gulf watershed. We consider daily precipitation series released by the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program for historical (1971–2000) and future (2041–2070) periods. The precipitation series are bias‐corrected and are then analysed using different statistical methods, including trends and pooled analyses. Subsequently, we present a probabilistic approach that is capable of depicting the plausible effects of climate change in time and space. Finally, we infer temporal changes in seasonal precipitation across the watershed, which suggest meaningful spatial disparity. The probabilistic approach may serve as a complementary tool that seems to be relevant for a holistic interpretation of critical changes in precipitation patterns under climate change.
In vitro experimental investigation of the forces and torque acting on the scaphoid during light grasp
Authors: Erhart Jochen , Unger Ewald , Schefzig Philip , Krumboeck Anna , Hagmann Michael , Vecsei Vilmos , Mayr Winfried
Published: January 2016

The aim of this study was to measure the magnitude and direction of forces and torque within osteotomized scaphoids within cadaveric wrists during grasping movement of the hand. The mechanical contributions of clinically relevant individual wrist‐crossing tendon groups were investigated. Wrists of eight forearms were immobilized in the sagittal, transverse, and coronal plane on a fixation device with unhindered axial gliding. The scaphoid was osteotomized and the fragments stabilized using an interlocking nail. The nail served as a sensor for measurement of inter‐fragmentary forces orthogonal and torque around the sensor axis. Thus, torque and cantilever forces were measured which originated between the fragments through co‐contraction through the activity of wrist‐crossing tendons. Grasping movement of the hand induced a mean maximum torque of 0.038 ± 0.051 Nm and a force of 4.01 ± 1.71 N on the scaphoid. The isolated activation of thumb tendons resulted in a torque of 9.9 E−3 ± 7.7 E−3 Nm and a force of 1.42 ± 0.49 N. Despite immobilization of the wrist, grasping movement of the hand caused substantial forces and torque within the osteotomized scaphoid bone in varying directions and severity among different specimens. These factors may contribute to the development of nonunions and malunions in unstable scaphoid fractures through interfragmentary micromotion. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1734–1742, 2016.
Review of explosive detection methodologies and the emergence of standoff deep UV resonance Raman
Authors: Gares Katie L. , Hufziger Kyle T. , Bykov Sergei V. , Asher Sanford A.
Published: January 2016

Due to terrorist use of explosive devices, intense interest has been directed towards the development of techniques and instrumentation to detect explosives. A number of analytical techniques are currently under investigation for trace explosive detection. Several methods have been successfully commercialized including colorimetric kits, fluorescence quenching sensors, and ion mobility spectrometers that see widespread field use. A key limitation of all currently utilized field techniques is that they require close proximity or physical interaction with the object being analyzed. The ideal trace explosive detection technique would be able to detect trace amounts of explosives from a distance to ensure personnel safety. Laser‐based spectroscopies are the only currently viable techniques that can be utilized to sense trace amounts of explosives at standoff distances. This review compares currently used explosive detection techniques with recently developed standoff methods. We emphasize the development of UV resonance Raman spectroscopy for standoff explosive detection. This work has recently been enabled by advances in laser and spectrometer design. Trace explosive detection has also been advanced by the recently developed understanding of deep UV photochemistry for several explosive molecules. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of annealing temperature on sensitisation behaviour and corrosion properties of an Al‐6.8 wt% Mg alloy
Authors: Radetić T. , Popović M. , Jegdić B. , Romhanji E.
Published: January 2016

Influence of annealing temperature on β‐(Al3Mg2) phase precipitation and corrosion properties of sensitised Al‐6.8 wt% Mg alloy is investigated. Sensitisation of specimens annealed at 320 °C results in IGC and SCC susceptibility. Microstructural characterization shows fine precipitation of Mg‐rich phase forming nearly continuous film at grain boundaries, despite small precipitated fraction (0.5%), and grain boundary faceting. Sensitised specimens annealed at 265 °C are IGC susceptible, but SCC resistant. Precipitation at grain boundaries is discrete, although the precipitated fraction is greater (3%) than in specimens annealed at 320 °C. Potentiodynamic measurements show that of all measured parameters, charge density is in the strongest correlation with the NAMLT and SSRT results.
MiR‐382 inhibits cell growth and invasion by targeting NR2F2 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhou Baoguo , Song Jianwei , Han Taotao , Huang Mingkui , Jiang Hongpeng , Qiao Haiquan , Shi Juan , Wang Yuli
Published: January 2016

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. MiR‐382 has been found to have a decreased expression and the ability to suppress tumorigenesis in certain cancers. However, the role of miR‐382 in CRC has not been sufficiently investigated. NR2F2 (also known as COUP‐TFII), a member of the steroid/thyroid receptor superfamily, is often aberrantly activated in various tumors, but it is currently unclear whether NR2F2 may be a target of miR‐382. In the present study, we investigated the role of miR‐382 in CRC and identified the regulation of NR2F2 by miR‐382. We observed that miR‐382 was aberrantly downregulated in CRC. Transfection with miR‐382 mimics impeded the growth, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. The direct binding of miR‐382 to the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of NR2F2 was confirmed using a luciferase reporter gene assay. We showed that the relative expression levels of NR2F2 were significantly higher in CRC tissues compared with normal adjacent mucosa. A Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated that patients with high NR2F2 expression had a poor overall survival. Knockdown of NR2F2 inhibited CRC cell growth, migration, and invasion. Ectopic expression of NR2F2 mitigated miR‐382 suppression of CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In conclusion, the present study describes a potential mechanism underlying a miR‐382/NR2F2 link contributing to CRC development. Our results demonstrate that miR‐382 represents a potential strategy against CRC. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Trends in the use of maintenance immunosuppressive drugs among liver transplant recipients in Taiwan: a nationwide population‐based study
Authors: Huang Ying‐Yu , Hsu Chia‐Chen , Chou Chia‐Lin , Loong Che‐Chuan , Wu Min‐Shan , Chou Yueh‐Ching
Published: January 2016

Purpose

During the past two decades, many novel immunosuppressive drugs have been approved for transplant recipients. Trends in the use of maintenance immunosuppressants after liver transplantation in Asia are unclear. Thus, we aimed to analyze the prescription trends in maintenance immunosuppressive drugs among liver transplant recipients in Taiwan and compare the results with the trends reported from western countries.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective nationwide population‐based study utilizing the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to analyze the prescribing patterns of immunosuppressants used in Taiwanese liver transplant recipients from 2000 to 2009.

Results

A total of 1686 liver transplant patients and their prescriptions of immunosuppressants were analyzed. The 5‐year survival rate of liver transplant recipients was 79.6%. In 2009, the major immunosuppressive therapy among liver transplant recipients was a dual‐drug regimen with tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid (57.3%). Among the calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), the use of cyclosporine decreased from 58.9% to 12.5%, while the use of tacrolimus notably increased from 23.3% to 77.5%. The use of azathioprine decreased from 21.3% to 0.4%, while the use of mycophenolic acid increased from 56.1% to 76.5%. Among the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, sirolimus was approved in 2002, and its use increased to 8.7% in 2009. In the first 3 months after liver transplantation, a total of 17 different regimens were used in 2009, compared with seven regimens in 2000.

Conclusions

Although the CNI‐based combination obviously remains the major regimen, our results reveal a trend toward individualized immunosuppressive regimens among Taiwanese liver transplant recipients. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Modular Synthesis of N‐Benzotriazole Ureas Using Alkylation of 5‐Nitrobenzotriazole
Authors: Machara Aleš , Konvalinka Jan , Kotora Martin
Published: January 2016

N‐Alkylations of monosubstituted benzotriazoles yield isomeric products with distinct topology, i. e. 1H‐ or to 2H‐isomers. Therefore, the molecular shape of these compounds varies and this results in distinct biological and physical properties. Herein, a protocol for the simple synthesis of various alkyl‐aminobenzotriazoles using 5‐nitrobenzotriazole is reported. This synthetic approach furnishes 2‐alkyl‐5‐nitro‐2H‐benzotriazoles as major products in most of the attempted cases. All three obtained isomers were separable from each other by standard column chromatography. In addition, three alternative approaches furnishing selectively substituted alkyl‐amino‐1H‐benzotriazoles are described. Finally, a library of sixty‐eight N‐benzotriazoylureas and six N‐benzotriazoylthioureas was synthesized by reactions with either isocyanates (phenyl chloroformate) or isothiocyanates.
A Guide to Training Your Own Horses: The Flaneur Appproach and Erving Goffman's Uninhibited Research Practices in Sociology
Authors: Dellwing Michael
Published: January 2016

While Erving Goffman's sociology has enjoyed great popularity and is cited often, the career of his work has been largely confined to other scholars reaping, adapting, and utilizing his concepts. Goffman was opposed to science that just reproduces and orders concepts, and opposed to his students using his concepts as easy tools. Instead, he recommended they train their own horses: While there is much to use in Goffman's work, there is little scholarship that continues the genius of his practical approach. As valuable as Goffman's categories are, his collection practice and his analytical scheme may be even more valuable. On the one hand, they offer an intricate framework for research that is as open as it is directed; on the other hand, they allow researchers to argue freedom from the ever more imposing bad imitations of natural scientific method that threaten to overgrow the social sciences. Together, they allow Goffmanesque work without merely parroting his concepts. This article attempts to outline Goffman's eclectic way of collecting material and his technique for fashioning this material into analyses, reordering this material around different metaphors that make Goffman's contribution distinct. I call Goffman's practical research a flaneur approach, and outline it. The paper then makes an argument for its continuation.
The virtual multifrequency spectrometer: a new paradigm for spectroscopy
Authors: Barone Vincenzo
Published: January 2016

Ongoing developments of hardware and software are changing computational spectroscopy from a strongly specialized research area to a general tool in the inventory of most researchers. Increased interactions between experimentally oriented users and theoretically oriented developers of new methods and models would result in more robust, flexible and reliable tools, and studies for the systems of increasing complexity, which are of current scientific and technological interest. This is the philosophy behind this review, which presents the development of a so‐called virtual multifrequency spectrometer (VMS) including state‐of‐the‐art approaches in a user‐friendly frame. The current status of the VMS tool will be illustrated by a number of case studies with special reference to infrared and UV–vis regions of the electromagnetic spectrum including also chiral spectroscopies. Only the basic theoretical background will be provided avoiding explicit equations as far as possible, and pointing out the most recent advancements beyond the standard rigid‐rotor harmonic‐oscillator model coupled to vertical electronic excitation energies. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2016, 6:86–110. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1238

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Molecular Structures

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Spectroscopy
Bringing light into the dark side of identity: Theoretical and clinical applications: A case study
Authors: Weymeis Henk
Published: January 2016

In the final part, a clinical reflection is presented on the dark side of identity formation and the empirical papers of this special issue. It is important that both researchers and clinicians ask themselves how theory and evidence about identity development can be used in clinical practice. Therefore, a relevant case study is presented about an emerging adult struggling with identity formation, Tim. Various facets of Tim's struggling are illustrated based on findings from this special issue. Starting from identity diffusion, Tim's transition to moratorium and achievement was examined from three complementary theoretical frameworks and related research on these topics as outlined in this special issue. Finally, change processes throughout therapy were discussed from various clinical frameworks.
Endogenous sex hormones and cognitive function in older women
Authors: Koyama Alain K. , Tworoger Shelley S. , Eliassen A. Heather , Okereke Olivia I. , Weisskopf Marc G. , Rosner Bernard , Yaffe Kristine , Grodstein Francine
Published: January 2016

Introduction

We examined the association between endogenous sex hormones and both objective and subjective measures of cognitive function.

Methods

We followed 3044 women up to 23 years in a prospective cohort study. We measured plasma levels of estrone, estrone sulfate, estradiol, androstenedione, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA‐S) in 1989–1990, conducted neuropsychologic testing in 1999–2008, and inquired about subjective cognition in 2012.

Results

Overall, we observed little relation between plasma levels of hormones and either neuropsychologic test performance or subjective cognition. However, after adjustment for age and education, we observed a borderline significant association of higher levels of plasma estrone with higher scores for both overall cognition (P trend = .10) and verbal memory (P trend = .08).

Discussion

There were no clear associations of endogenous hormone levels at midlife and cognition in later life, although a suggested finding of higher levels of plasma estrone associated with better cognitive function merits further research.
Validating Alzheimer's disease micro RNAs using next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Keller Andreas , Backes Christina , Haas Jan , Leidinger Petra , Maetzler Walter , Deuschle Christian , Berg Daniela , Ruschil Christoph , Galata Valentina , Ruprecht Klemens , Stähler Cord , Würstle Maximilian , Sickert Daniel , Gogol Manfred , Meder Benjamin , Meese Eckart
Published: January 2016

Introduction

Molecular biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) can support detection and improved care for patients, but novel candidates require verification. We previously reported a 12‐micro RNA (miRNA) blood‐based signature using next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of 54 AD cases and 22 controls.

Methods

We performed validation of 49 AD cases and 55 controls using NGS and also included 20 mild cognitive impairment and 90 multiple sclerosis samples to identify nonspecific markers. Thus, 103 AD cases, 77 unaffected controls, and 110 diseased controls were sequenced. Although the initial cohort came predominantly from the United States, the validation samples were collected in Germany.

Results

Five hundred eighty miRNAs were detected in the blood. In the initial cohort, we observed 203, in the validation cohort, 146 dysregulated miRNAs at a significance level of 0.05. With 68 miRNAs, the overlap was significant (P = .0003). Likewise, the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve values of the miRNAs correlated (correlation of 0.93; 95% confidence interval 0.89–0.96; P <10−16).

Discussion

MiRNAs have the potential to support AD diagnosis and patient care.
Transformations? Skilled Change Agents Influencing Organisational Sustainability Culture
Authors: Davis Keith , Boulet Mark
Published: January 2016

Training employees in sustainability knowledge and skills is considered a vital element in creating a sustainability culture within an organisation. Yet, the particular types of training programs that are effective for this task are still relatively unknown. This case study describes an innovative workplace training program using a ‘head, hands, heart and feet’ learning framework to create skilled change agents among employees, in order to influence organisational sustainability culture. Utilising a dialogic inquiry methodology (Most Significant Change), as well as Mezirow's phases of transformative learning and Schein's organisational culture framework, this study considers the training program's impact on both participants and organisational sustainability culture. While transformative learning impacts for participants were identified, questions remain as to the overall impact of the program on the organisation's sustainability culture. Considering training participants as ‘seeds of influence’ as opposed to wholly responsible for organisational culture might provide new perspectives to these questions.
Impact of co-facilitated information programmes on outcomes for service users and family members: the EOLAS programmes (paper 2)
Authors: Higgins A. , Hevey D. , Gibbons P. , O’ Connor C. , Boyd F. , McBennett P. , Monaghan M.
Published: January 2016

Objective

The present study evaluated the impact on psychosocial outcome of parallel clinician and peer-led information programmes for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and for family members within an Irish context.

Methods

A sequential mixed method design was used. Quantitative data were collected using pre- and post-programme questionnaires followed by an integrated qualitative component involving semi-structured interviews after the programme. The questionnaires assessed knowledge, attitudes towards recovery, hope, support, advocacy and well-being. Interviews with participants, facilitators and project workers explored their experiences and views of the programme.

Findings

While a number of the questionnaires did not show a statistically significant change, findings from the interviews suggest that the1 programmes had a number of positive outcomes, including increases in perceived knowledge, empowerment and support. Participants in both programmes valued the opportunity to meet people in similar circumstances, share their experiences, learn from each other and provide mutual support.

Conclusion

The EOLAS programmes offer a novel template for communication and information sharing in a way that embodies the principles of collaboration and offers users and families a meaningful opportunity to become involved in service design, delivery and evaluation.
Hydrodynamics of flagellated microswimmers near free-slip interfaces
Authors: Pimponi D. , Chinappi M. , Gualtieri P. , Casciola C. M.
Published: January 2016

The hydrodynamics of a flagellated micro-organism is investigated when swimming close to a planar free-slip surface by means of numerical solutions of the Stokes equations obtained via a boundary element method. Depending on the initial conditions, the swimmer can either escape from the free-slip surface or collide with the boundary. Interestingly, the micro-organism does not exhibit a stable orbit. Independently of escape or attraction to the interface, close to a free-slip surface, the swimmer follows a counter-clockwise trajectory, in agreement with experimental findings (Di Leonardoet al.,Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 106 (3), 2011, 038101). The hydrodynamics is indeed modified by the free surface. In fact, when the same swimmer moves close to a no-slip wall, a set of initial conditions exists which result in stable orbits. Moreover, when moving close to a free-slip or a no-slip boundary, the swimmer assumes a different orientation with respect to its trajectory. Taken together, these results contribute to shed light on the hydrodynamical behaviour of micro-organisms close to liquid–air interfaces which are relevant for the formation of interfacial biofilms of aerobic bacteria.
Nutrient uptake in a suspension of squirmers
Authors: Ishikawa Takuji , Kajiki Shunsuke , Imai Yohsuke , Omori Toshihiro
Published: January 2016

Nutrient uptake is one of the most important factors in cell growth. Despite the biological importance, little is known about the effect of cell–cell hydrodynamic interactions on nutrient uptake in a suspension of swimming micro-organisms. In this study, we numerically investigate the nutrient uptake in an infinite suspension of squirmers. In the dilute limit, our results are in good agreement with a previous study by Magar et al. (Q. J. Mech. Appl. Maths, vol. 56, 2003, pp. 65–91). When we increased the volume fraction of squirmers, the nutrient uptake of individual cells was enhanced by the hydrodynamic interactions. The average nutrient concentration in the suspension decayed exponentially as a function of time, and the relaxation time could be scaled using the Sherwood number, the Péclet number and the volume fraction of cells. We propose a fitting function for the Sherwood number, which is useful in predicting nutrient uptake in the non-dilute regime. Furthermore, we analyse the swimming energy consumed by individual cells. The results indicate that both the energetic cost and the nutrient uptake increased as the volume fraction of cells was increased, and that the uptake per unit energy was not significantly affected by the volume fraction. These findings are important in understanding the mass transport and metabolism of swimming micro-organisms in nature and for industrial applications.
CLASSES OF STRUCTURES WITH NO INTERMEDIATE ISOMORPHISM PROBLEMS
Authors: MONTALBÁN ANTONIO
Published: January 2016

We say that a theory T is intermediate under effective reducibility if the isomorphism problems among its computable models is neither hyperarithmetic nor on top under effective reducibility. We prove that if an infinitary sentence T is uniformly effectively dense, a property we define in the paper, then no extension of it is intermediate, at least when relativized to every oracle in a cone. As an application we show that no infinitary sentence whose models are all linear orderings is intermediate under effective reducibility relative to every oracle in a cone.
A Theoretical Perspective on the Formation and Fragmentation of Protostellar Discs
Authors: Whitworth A. , Lomax O.
Published: January 2016

We discuss the factors influencing the formation and gravitational fragmentation of protostellar discs. We start with a review of how observations of prestellar cores can be analysed statistically to yield plausible initial conditions for simulations of their subsequent collapse. Simulations based on these initial conditions show that, despite the low levels of turbulence in prestellar cores, they deliver primary protostars and associated discs which are routinely subject to stochastic impulsive perturbations; consequently misalignment of the spins and orbits of protostars are common. Also, the simulations produce protostars that collectively have a mass function and binary statistics matching those observed in nearby star-formation regions, but only if a significant fraction of the turbulent energy in the core is solenoidal, and accretion onto the primary protostar is episodic with a duty cycle $\stackrel{>}{\sim }3\,000\,{\rm yr}$. Under this circumstance, a core typically spawns between 4 and 5 protostars, with high efficiency, and the lower mass protostars are mainly formed by disc fragmentation. The requirement that a proto-fragment in a disc lose thermal energy on a dynamical timescale dictates that there is a sweet spot for disc fragmentation at radii $70\,{\rm AU}\stackrel{<}{\sim }R\stackrel{<}{\sim }100\,{\rm AU}$ and temperatures $10\,{\rm K}\stackrel{<}{\sim }T\stackrel{<}{\sim }20\,{\rm K}$, and this might explain the brown dwarf desert.
Preliminary Investigation on the Rapid and Direct AMS Measurement of 129I in Environmental Samples without Chemical Separation
Authors: Liu Qi , Zhao Xiaolei , Hou Xiaolin , Burr George , Zhou Weijian , Fu Yunchong , Chen Ning , Zhang Luyuan
Published: January 2016

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is the most sensitive method for measuring 129I in environmental samples available today, with a detection limit of about 10–15 for 129I/127I. A drawback of the technique is the time-consuming chemical separation required to prepare AMS targets from raw samples. This step significantly limits applications requiring rapid analyses and large numbers of samples, for example, in monitoring studies associated with nuclear accidents. This work introduces a direct method for 129I measurements by AMS that does not require chemical separation. In this approach, stable iodine (127I) is added to a matrix of niobium (Nb) powder and mixed with dried raw sample. This mixture is pressed directly into a sputter target for AMS analysis. Two types of environmental samples have been tested in this work, seaweed and sediment. No anomalous behavior was noted in the Cs+ sputtering behavior of the targets prepared from these materials. The 129I/127I ratios and 129I concentrations measured by this rapid method were found to be in agreement with reported values that used a conventional AMS method for the same material. Based on our findings, we expect that such rapid measurements can be applied to a wide variety of materials, in addition to seaweed and sediment, as long as the sputtering-induced adverse effects do not prevent the stable operation of the ion source. The method is especially useful for screening large numbers of samples before more precise analyses are made.
Statistical procedures for testing hypotheses of equivalence in the safety evaluation of a genetically modified crop
Authors: KANG Q. , VAHL C. I.
Published: January 2016

Safety evaluation of a genetically modified crop entails assessing its equivalence to conventional crops under multi-site randomized block field designs. Despite mounting petitions for regulatory approval, there lack a scientifically sound and powerful statistical method for establishing equivalence. The current paper develops and validates two procedures for testing a recently identified class of equivalence uniquely suited to crop safety. One procedure employs the modified large sample (MLS) method; the other is based on generalized pivotal quantities (GPQs). Because both methods were originally created under balanced designs, common issues associated with incomplete and unbalanced field designs were addressed by first identifying unfulfilled theoretical assumptions and then replacing them with user-friendly approximations. Simulation indicated that the MLS procedure could be very conservative in many occasions irrespective of the balance of the design; the GPQ procedure was mildly liberal with its type I error rate near the nominal level when the design is balanced. Additional pros and cons of these two procedures are also discussed. Their utility is demonstrated in a case study using summary statistics derived from a real-world dataset.
Morphometrics and molecular analysis of the free-living nematode, Belondira bagongshanensis n. sp. (Dorylaimida, Belondiridae), from China
Authors: Wu W.J. , Huang X. , Xie H. , Wang K. , Xu C.L.
Published: January 2016

A new species, Belondira bagongshanensis n. sp., extracted from soil under grass in Bagongshan Forest Park, Anhui Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is mainly characterized by a body length 1.6–2.1 mm; cephalic framework moderately sclerotized; odontostyle robust with a distinct lumen; anterior part of pharynx with a distinct fusiform swelling, bearing distinct sclerotized valve plates and basal expansion occupying about three-fifths of the total neck length; female genital system mono-opisthodelphic and anterior branch 0.8–1.6 times the corresponding body diameter; tail short and hemispheroid; male spicules 36–49 μm long and two widely spaced ventromedian supplements. The new species is close to B. wajahati, B. golden and B. eugeniae in possessing a short tail, a robust odontostyle with a distinct aperture and a moderately sclerotized cephalic framework. New sequences of 18S rDNA and the D2–D3 region of 28S rDNA of the new species were also identified.
Probabilistic Divide-and-Conquer: A New Exact Simulation Method, With Integer Partitions as an Example
Authors: ARRATIA RICHARD , DeSALVO STEPHEN
Published: January 2016

We propose a new method, probabilistic divide-and-conquer, for improving the success probability in rejection sampling. For the example of integer partitions, there is an ideal recursive scheme which improves the rejection cost from asymptotically ordern3/4to a constant. We show other examples for which a non-recursive, one-time application of probabilistic divide-and-conquer removes a substantial fraction of the rejection sampling cost.

We also present a variation of probabilistic divide-and-conquer for generating i.i.d. samples that exploits features of the coupon collector's problem, in order to obtain a cost that is sublinear in the number of samples.
Psychosocial constructs were not mediators of intervention effects for dietary and physical activity outcomes in a church-based lifestyle intervention: Delta Body and Soul III
Authors: Thomson Jessica L , Tussing-Humphreys Lisa M , Zoellner Jamie M , Goodman Melissa H
Published: January 2016

Objective

Evaluating an intervention’s theoretical basis can inform design modifications to produce more effective interventions. Hence the present study’s purpose was to determine if effects from a multicomponent lifestyle intervention were mediated by changes in the psychosocial constructs decisional balance, self-efficacy and social support.

Design

Delta Body and Soul III, conducted from August 2011 to May 2012, was a 6-month, church-based, lifestyle intervention designed to improve diet quality and increase physical activity. Primary outcomes, diet quality and aerobic and strength/flexibility physical activity, as well as psychosocial constructs, were assessed via self-report, interviewer-administered surveys at baseline and post intervention. Mediation analyses were conducted using ordinary least squares (continuous outcomes) and maximum likelihood logistic (dichotomous outcomes) regression path analysis.

Setting

Churches (five intervention and three control) were recruited from four counties in the Lower Mississippi Delta region of the USA.

Subjects

Rural, Southern, primarily African-American adults (n 321).

Results

Based upon results from the multiple mediation models, there was no evidence that treatment (intervention v. control) indirectly influenced changes in diet quality or physical activity through its effects on decisional balance, self-efficacy and social support. However, there was evidence for direct effects of social support for exercise on physical activity and of self-efficacy for sugar-sweetened beverages on diet quality.

Conclusions

Results do not support the hypothesis that the psychosocial constructs decisional balance, self-efficacy and social support were the theoretical mechanisms by which the Delta Body and Soul III intervention influenced changes in diet quality and physical activity.
THE LEVEL 12 ANALOGUE OF RAMANUJAN’S FUNCTION
Authors: COOPER SHAUN , YE DONGXI
Published: January 2016

We provide a comprehensive study of the function$h=h(q)$defined by$$\begin{eqnarray}h=q\mathop{\prod }_{j=1}^{\infty }\frac{(1-q^{12j-1})(1-q^{12j-11})}{(1-q^{12j-5})(1-q^{12j-7})}\end{eqnarray}$$and show that it has many properties that are analogues of corresponding results for Ramanujan’s function$k=k(q)$defined by$$\begin{eqnarray}k=q\mathop{\prod }_{j=1}^{\infty }\frac{(1-q^{10j-1})(1-q^{10j-2})(1-q^{10j-8})(1-q^{10j-9})}{(1-q^{10j-3})(1-q^{10j-4})(1-q^{10j-6})(1-q^{10j-7})}.\end{eqnarray}$$
Climate Change Drives Increasing Snowfall in Western Antarctica
Authors: Strelich Lily
Published: January 2016

Using ice core records from West Antarctica, researchers look back at the past 300 years of snowfall over the Amundsen Sea.
Octanol-assisted liposome assembly on chip
Authors: Deshpande Siddharth , Caspi Yaron , Meijering Anna E. C. , Dekker Cees
Published: January 2016

Liposomes are versatile supramolecular assemblies widely used in basic and applied sciences. Here we present a novel microfluidics-based method, octanol-assisted liposome assembly (OLA), to form monodisperse, cell-sized (5–20 μm), unilamellar liposomes with excellent encapsulation efficiency. Akin to bubble blowing, an inner aqueous phase and a surrounding lipid-carrying 1-octanol phase is pinched off by outer fluid streams. Such hydrodynamic flow focusing results in double-emulsion droplets that spontaneously develop a side-connected 1-octanol pocket. Owing to interfacial energy minimization, the pocket splits off to yield fully assembled solvent-free liposomes within minutes. This solves the long-standing fundamental problem of prolonged presence of residual oil in the liposome bilayer. We demonstrate the unilamellarity of liposomes with functional α-haemolysin protein pores in the membrane and validate the biocompatibility by inner leaflet localization of bacterial divisome proteins (FtsZ and ZipA). OLA offers a versatile platform for future analytical tools, delivery systems, nanoreactors and synthetic cells.
Large deglacial shifts of the Pacific Intertropical Convergence Zone
Authors: Jacobel A. W. , McManus J. F. , Anderson R. F. , Winckler G.
Published: January 2016

The position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is sensitive to changes in the balance of heat between the hemispheres which has fundamental implications for tropical hydrology and atmospheric circulation. Although the ITCZ is thought to experience the largest shifts in position during deglacial stadial events, the magnitude of shifts has proven difficult to reconstruct, in part because of a paucity of high-resolution records, particularly those including spatial components. Here we track the position of the ITCZ from 150 to 110 ka at three sites in the central equatorial Pacific at sub-millennial time resolution. Our results provide evidence of large, abrupt changes in tropical climate during the penultimate deglaciation, coincident with North Atlantic Heinrich Stadial 11 (∼136–129 ka). We identify this event both as a Northern Hemisphere increase in aeolian dust and as a shift in the mean position of the ITCZ a minimum of 4° southwards at 160° W.
p38γ and δ promote heart hypertrophy by targeting the mTOR-inhibitory protein DEPTOR for degradation
Authors: González-Terán Bárbara , López Juan Antonio , Rodríguez Elena , Leiva Luis , Martínez-Martínez Sara , Bernal Juan Antonio , Jiménez-Borreguero Luis Jesús , Redondo Juan Miguel , Vazquez Jesús , Sabio Guadalupe
Published: January 2016

Disrupted organ growth leads to disease development. Hypertrophy underlies postnatal heart growth and is triggered after stress, but the molecular mechanisms involved in these processes are largely unknown. Here we show that cardiac activation of p38γ and p38δ increases during postnatal development and by hypertrophy-inducing stimuli. p38γ/δ promote cardiac hypertrophy by phosphorylating the mTORC1 and mTORC2 inhibitor DEPTOR, which leads to its degradation and mTOR activation. Hearts from mice lacking one or both kinases are below normal size, have high levels of DEPTOR, low activity of the mTOR pathway and reduced protein synthesis. The phenotype of p38γ/δ−/− mice is reverted by overactivation of mTOR with amino acids, shRNA-mediated knockdown of Deptor, or cardiomyocyte overexpression of active p38γ and p38δ. Moreover, in WT mice, heart weight is reduced by cardiac overexpression of DEPTOR. Our results demonstrate that p38γ/δ control heart growth by modulating mTOR pathway through DEPTOR phosphorylation and subsequent degradation.
Lipid metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells
Authors: Beloribi-Djefaflia S , Vasseur S , Guillaumond F
Published: January 2016

Many human diseases, including metabolic, immune and central nervous system disorders, as well as cancer, are the consequence of an alteration in lipid metabolic enzymes and their pathways. This illustrates the fundamental role played by lipids in maintaining membrane homeostasis and normal function in healthy cells. We reviewed the major lipid dysfunctions occurring during tumor development, as determined using systems biology approaches. In it, we provide detailed insight into the essential roles exerted by specific lipids in mediating intracellular oncogenic signaling, endoplasmic reticulum stress and bidirectional crosstalk between cells of the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells. Finally, we summarize the advances in ongoing research aimed at exploiting the dependency of cancer cells on lipids to abolish tumor progression.
Hypoxia and metabolic adaptation of cancer cells
Authors: Eales K L , Hollinshead K E R , Tennant D A
Published: January 2016

Low oxygen tension (hypoxia) is a pervasive physiological and pathophysiological stimulus that metazoan organisms have contended with since they evolved from their single-celled ancestors. The effect of hypoxia on a tissue can be either positive or negative, depending on the severity, duration and context. Over the long-term, hypoxia is not usually consistent with normal function and so multicellular organisms have had to evolve both systemic and cellular responses to hypoxia. Our reliance on oxygen for efficient adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation has meant that the cellular metabolic network is particularly sensitive to alterations in oxygen tension. Metabolic changes in response to hypoxia are elicited through both direct mechanisms, such as the reduction in ATP generation by oxidative phosphorylation or inhibition of fatty-acid desaturation, and indirect mechanisms including changes in isozyme expression through hypoxia-responsive transcription factor activity. Significant regions of cancers often grow in hypoxic conditions owing to the lack of a functional vasculature. As hypoxic tumour areas contain some of the most malignant cells, it is important that we understand the role metabolism has in keeping these cells alive. This review will outline our current understanding of many of the hypoxia-induced changes in cancer cell metabolism, how they are affected by other genetic defects often present in cancers, and how these metabolic alterations support the malignant hypoxic phenotype.
Characterization of Adsorption Enthalpy of Novel Water-Stable Zeolites and Metal-Organic Frameworks
Authors: Kim Hyunho , Cho H. Jeremy , Narayanan Shankar , Yang Sungwoo , Furukawa Hiroyasu , Schiffres Scott , Li Xiansen , Zhang Yue-Biao , Jiang Juncong , Yaghi Omar M. , Wang Evelyn N.
Published: January 2016

Water adsorption is becoming increasingly important for many applications including thermal energy storage, desalination and water harvesting. To develop such applications, it is essential to understand both adsorbent-adsorbate and adsorbate-adsorbate interactions and also the energy required for adsorption/desorption processes of porous material-adsorbate systems, such as zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In this study, we present a technique to characterize the enthalpy of adsorption/desorption of zeolites and MOF-801 with water as an adsorbate by conducting desorption experiments with conventional differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). With this method, the enthalpies of adsorption of previously uncharacterized adsorbents were estimated as a function of both uptake and temperature. Our characterizations indicate that the adsorption enthalpies of type I zeolites can increase to greater than twice the latent heat whereas adsorption enthalpies of MOF-801 are nearly constant for a wide range of vapor uptakes.
Highly photoresponsive and wavelength-selective circularly-polarized-light detector based on metal-oxides hetero-chiral thin film
Authors: Lee Seung Hee , Singh Dhruv Pratap , Sung Ji Ho , Jo Moon-Ho , Kwon Ki Chang , Kim Soo Young , Jang Ho Won , Kim Jong Kyu
Published: January 2016

A highly efficient circularly-polarized-light detector with excellent wavelength selectivity is demonstrated with an elegant and simple microelectronics-compatible way. The circularly-polarized-light detector based on a proper combination of the geometry-controlled TiO2-SnO2 hetero-chiral thin film as an effective chiroptical filter and the Si active layer shows excellent chiroptical response with external quantum efficiency as high as 30% and high helicity selectivity of ~15.8% in an intended wavelength range. Furthermore, we demonstrated the ability of manipulating both bandwidth and responsivity of the detector simultaneously in whole visible wavelength range by a precise control over the geometry and materials constituting hetero-chiral thin film. The high efficiency, wavelength selectivity and compatibility with conventional microelectronics processes enabled by the proposed device can result in remarkable developments in highly integrated photonic platforms utilizing chiroptical responses.
Raman and fluorescence characteristics of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering from doped superconducting cuprates
Authors: Huang H. Y. , Jia C. J. , Chen Z. Y. , Wohlfeld K. , Moritz B. , Devereaux T. P. , Wu W. B. , Okamoto J. , Lee W. S. , Hashimoto M. , He Y. , Shen Z. X. , Yoshida Y. , Eisaki H. , Mou C. Y. , Chen C. T. , Huang D. J.
Published: January 2016

Measurements of spin excitations are essential for an understanding of spin-mediated pairing for superconductivity; and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) provides a considerable opportunity to probe high-energy spin excitations. However, whether RIXS correctly measures the collective spin excitations of doped superconducting cuprates remains under debate. Here we demonstrate distinct Raman- and fluorescence-like RIXS excitations of Bi1.5Pb0.6Sr1.54CaCu2O8+δ. Combining photon-energy and momentum dependent RIXS measurements with theoretical calculations using exact diagonalization provides conclusive evidence that the Raman-like RIXS excitations correspond to collective spin excitations, which are magnons in the undoped Mott insulators and evolve into paramagnons in doped superconducting compounds. In contrast, the fluorescence-like shifts are due primarily to the continuum of particle-hole excitations in the charge channel. Our results show that under the proper experimental conditions RIXS indeed can be used to probe paramagnons in doped high-Tc cuprate superconductors.
Topography induces differential sensitivity on cancer cell proliferation via Rho-ROCK-Myosin contractility
Authors: Chaudhuri Parthiv Kant , Pan Catherine Qiurong , Low Boon Chuan , Lim Chwee Teck
Published: January 2016

Although the role of stiffness on proliferative response of cancer cells has been well studied, little is known about the effect of topographic cues in guiding cancer cell proliferation. Here, we examined the effect of topographic cues on cancer cell proliferation using micron scale topographic features and observed that anisotropic features like microgratings at specific dimension could reduce proliferation of non-cancer breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) but not that for malignant breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). However, isotropic features such as micropillars did not affect proliferation of MCF-10A, indicating that the anisotropic environmental cues are essential for this process. Interestingly, acto-myosin contraction inhibitory drugs, Y-27632 and blebbistatin prevented micrograting-mediated inhibition on proliferation. Here, we propose the concept of Mechanically-Induced Dormancy (MID) where topographic cues could activate Rho-ROCK-Myosin signaling to suppress non-cancerous cells proliferation whereas malignant cells are resistant to this inhibitory barrier and therefore continue uncontrolled proliferation.
Obesity is associated with changes in oxysterol metabolism and levels in mice liver, hypothalamus, adipose tissue and plasma
Authors: Guillemot-Legris Owein , Mutemberezi Valentin , Cani Patrice D. , Muccioli Giulio G.
Published: January 2016

Oxysterols are bioactive lipids derived from cholesterol that are linked to inflammatory processes. Because obesity and metabolic syndrome are characterized by inflammation and altered cholesterol metabolism, we sought to investigate the variations of oxysterol levels and their metabolic pathways induced by obesity in the liver, hypothalamus, adipose tissue and plasma. To this end, we used diet-induced and genetic (ob/ob and db/db) models of obesity. Among the oxysterols measured, we found that 4β-oxysterol levels were consistently decreased in the high-fat diet study, at different time-points and in the ob/ob model. Overall, we did not find any correlation between cytochromes mRNA expression and variations of oxysterol levels. We also measured the levels of hepatic primary bile acids, in these three models and found similar profiles between HFD and ob/ob mice. However, although they are downstream metabolites of oxysterols, the variations in bile acid levels did not reflect the variations of their precursors. Our data show that, when considering oxysterol metabolism, the high-fat diet and ob/ob models are more closely related when compared to the db/db model. However, we were able to discriminate between lean and obese phenotypes based on liver oxysterol (4β-hydroxycholesterol, 27- hydroxycholesterol, 7-hydroxycholestenone) levels and enzyme (CYP3A11, CYP27A1, CYP7A1) expression.