bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crucial role of pulmonary vein firing as an initiator of typical atrial flutter: Evidence of a close relationship between atrial fibrillation and typical atrial flutter
Authors: Kaneshiro Takashi , Yoshida Kentaro , Sekiguchi Yukio , Tada Hiroshi , Kuroki Kenji , Kuga Keisuke , Kamiyama Yoshiyuki , Suzuki Hitoshi , Takeishi Yasuchika , Aonuma Kazutaka
Published: August 2016

Background

Several studies reported that cavotricuspid isthmus‐dependent atrial flutter (typical AFL) frequently coexists with atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully investigated. This study aimed to reveal the mechanisms of the initiation of typical AFL and the association between typical AFL and AF.

Methods

Among 154 consecutive patients undergoing a first catheter ablation of AF, we investigated the appearance and mechanism of spontaneous initiation of typical AFL during catheter ablation. Then, we retrospectively investigated 67 consecutive patients without a previous AF episode who underwent typical AFL ablation. The occurrence and predictors of AF after catheter ablation were evaluated.

Results

During AF ablation, spontaneous initiation of typical AFL occurred during sinus rhythm in eight (5.2%) patients. The initiations of typical AFL were pulmonary vein (PV) firings except in one patient, in whom paroxysmal AF following superior vena cava firing initiated reverse typical AFL after PV isolation. After typical AFL ablation, AF occurred in 23 (34.3%) patients (mean follow up, 28.2±20.3 months). Kaplan‐Meier analysis showed the occurrence of AF after typical AFL ablation to be significantly higher in the patients with a larger left atrial diameter over 40 mm (log‐rank test, P=0.046).

Conclusions

PV firing through AF played an important role in initiating typical AFL. The occurrence of AF after typical AFL ablation was high, and a dilated left atrium was associated with increased occurrence of AF. These findings disclosed the close relationship between typical AFL and AF, especially PV firing.
Multivariate Analysis of the Factors Associated with Sexual Intercourse, Marriage, and Paternity of Hypospadias Patients
Authors: Kanematsu Akihiro , Higuchi Yoshihide , Tanaka Shiro , Hashimoto Takahiko , Nojima Michio , Yamamoto Shingo
Published: August 2016

Introduction

Patients with hypospadias are treated surgically during childhood, which has the intention of enabling a satisfactory sexual life in adulthood. However, it is unclear whether patients with corrected hypospadias can lead a satisfactory sexual life and sustain a marital relationship and produce offspring.

Aim

To evaluate factors associated with achievement of sexual intercourse, marriage, and paternity in patients with hypospadias who have reached adulthood.

Methods

Self-completion questionnaires were mailed in April 2012 to patients with hypospadias at least 18 years old who had been treated at our institution during childhood from 1973 through 1998 by a single surgeon and the same surgical policy. Assessments included the International Prostate Symptom Score, the International Index for Erectile Function-5, and non-validated questions related to current social and physical status and sexual, marital, and paternity experiences. Candidate factors were extracted from patients’ neonatal data, surgical findings and results, and current physical and social status obtained by the questionnaires.

Main Outcome Measures

Candidate factors associated with heterosexual intercourse, marriage, and paternity experiences were analyzed using univariate and multivariate proportional hazard models and log-rank test of Kaplan-Meier curves.

Results

Of the 518 patients contacted, 108 (age = 18–50 years, median = 28 years) met the inclusion criteria. Two- and one-stage repairs were performed as the initial treatment in 79 and 12, respectively, and 17 of the analyzed cases were reoperations for patients initially treated elsewhere. Fifty-seven patients had the milder type (31 glandular, 26 penile), 36 had the proximal type (13 penoscrotal, 23 scrotal-perineal), and 15 had an unknown type. Multivariate analyses by Cox proportional hazard model and log-rank tests confirmed that experience of sexual intercourse was associated with the milder type of hypospadias (P = .025 and .0076 respectively), marriage was associated with stable employment (P = .020 and .026, respectively), and paternity was associated with the absence of additional surgery after completion of the initial repair (P = .013 by multivariate analysis).

Conclusion

There was scant overlap of factors associated with the three events. The present findings provide reference information for surgeons and parents regarding future sexual and marriage experiences of children treated for hypospadias.
Transcript signatures that predict outcome and identify targetable pathways in MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma
Authors: Hallett Robin M. , Seong Alex B.K. , Kaplan David R. , Irwin Meredith S.
Published: August 2016

Background

In the pediatric cancer neuroblastoma (NB), patients are stratified into low, intermediate or high‐risk subsets based in part on MYCN amplification status. While MYCN amplification in general predicts unfavorable outcome, no clinical or genomic factors have been identified that predict outcome within these cohorts of high‐risk patients. In particular, it is currently not possible at diagnosis to determine which high‐risk neuroblastoma patients will ultimately fail upfront therapy.

Experimental design

We analyzed the prognostic potential of most published gene expression signatures for NB and developed a new prognostic signature to predict outcome for patients with MYCN amplification. Network and pathway analyses identified candidate therapeutic targets for this MYCN‐amplified patient subset with poor outcome.

Results

Most signatures have a high capacity to predict outcome of unselected NB patients. However, the majority of published signatures, as well as most randomly generated signatures, are highly confounded by MYCN amplification, and fail to predict outcome in subpopulations of high‐risk patients with MYCN‐amplified NB. We identify a MYCN module signature that predicts patient outcome for those with MYCN‐amplified tumors, that also predicts potential tractable therapeutic signaling pathways and targets including the DNA repair enzyme Poly [ADP‐ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1).

Conclusion

Many prognostic signatures for NB are confounded by MYCN amplification and fail to predict outcome for the subset of high‐risk patients with MYCN amplification. We report a MYCN module signature that is associated with distinct patient outcomes, and predicts candidate therapeutic targets in DNA repair pathways, including PARP1 in MYCN‐amplified NB.
Review of high-power pulsed systems at the Institute of High Current Electronics
Authors: Kim A. A. , Kovalchuk B. M. , Kokshenev V. A. , Shishlov A. V. , Ratakhin N. A. , Oreshkin V. I. , Rostov V. V. , Koshelev V. I. , Losev V.F.
Published: August 2016

In this paper, we give a review of some most powerful pulsed systems developed at the Institute of High Current Electronics (HCEI), Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, and describe latest achievements of the teams dealing with these installations. Besides the presented high-power systems, HCEI performs numerous investigations using much less powerful generators. For instance, last year much attention was paying to the research and development of the intense low-energy (<200 kV) high-current electron and ion beam and plasma sources, and their application in the technology [1–3].
Is momentum trading profitable from Shari'ah compliant stocks?
Authors: Li Bob , Ee Mong Shan , Rashid Mamunur
Published: August 2016

This research offers fresh evidence supporting the pervasiveness of the momentum effect. Two decades after the momentum profitability firstly documented by Jegadeesh and Titman (1993), yet little research has been specifically devised for the momentum profitability on Shari'ah compliant stocks. We assess the momentum profitability over the Shari'ah compliant stocks in a Malaysian setting. We find evidence of strong return persistence as far as toward four‐year holding period. Interestingly, no significant momentum returns are found among the conventional stocks. Upon further exploration we find neither an industry‐driven momentum effect nor the small size firms can account for the momentum returns. Using return persistency formation criteria, we further find that underreaction seems to well fit in explaining this unique long lasting momentum profitability.
Metal-containing coals of the East Donetsk Basin: regularities of formation and integrated-use prospects
Authors: Gamov M.I. , Levchenko S.V. , Rylov V.G. , Rybin I.V. , Trufanov A.V.
Published: August 2016

We consider the regularities of formation and prospects for the integrated use of fossil coals of two conjugate lithogeodynamic groups: East Donetsk Basin group of coal-bearing deposits of suprarift genesis and platform group of coals of the southern slope of the Voronezh anteclise. The paleogeographic and lithologo-geochemical environments of formation of coal deposits in the Millerovo coal-bearing district and in the northeastern folded area of the Donetsk Basin are analyzed. The geochemical characteristics of coals with high contents of trace elements and their localization in the coal-bearing series (at the sites with hydrocarbon fluidization of coal seams) are discussed. We also assess the prospects for using coals and products of their conversion and burning as a specific mineral raw material containing nonferrous, rare, and noble metals.
Lithium-containing Na–Fe-amphibole from cryolite rocks of the Katugin rare-metal deposit (Transbaikalia, Russia): chemical features and crystal structure
Authors: Sharygin V.V. , Zubkova N.V. , Pekov I.V. , Rusakov V.S. , Ksenofontov D.A. , Nigmatulina E.N. , Vladykin N.V. , Pushcharovsky D.Yu.
Published: August 2016

Detailed chemical and structural studies were carried out for Li–Na–Fe-amphibole from cryolite rocks of the Katugin deposit, Transbaikalia. The rocks contain 30–70 vol.% cryolite, mafic minerals as Fe-silicates (Li–Na–Fe-amphibole, Li-containing fluorannite, and bafertisite), oxides (magnetite, ilmenite, pyrochlore, cassiterite, and others), and sulfides (sphalerite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite). Quartz, K-feldspar, polylithionite, REE-fluorides, and albite occur as minor or accessory phases. The chemical composition of amphibole (wt.%) varies as follows: SiO2, 48.5–48.9; TiO2, 0.4–0.8; Al2O3, 1.6–2.2; Fe2O3, 15.9–17.1; FeO, 17.6–18.4; MnO, 0.8–0.9; ZnO, 0.3–1.1; MgO, 0.2–0.3; CaO, <0.1; Na2O, 8.4–8.7; K2O, 1.4–1.5; Li2O, 0.6–0.8; H2O, 0.7–0.8; and F, 2.2–2.5. The amphibole has a specific composition intermediate among the F–Fe members of the Na-amphibole subgroup: 40–45 mol.% ferro-ferri-fluoro-nybøite, 40–45 mol.% ferro-ferri-fluoro-leakeite, and 10–20 mol.% fluoro-riebeckite ± fluoro-arfvedsonite. The mineral is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 9.7978(2), b = 17.9993(3), c = 5.33232(13) Å, β = 103.748(2)º, V = 913.43(3) Å3, and Z = 2. The structural formula of Li–Na–Fe-amphibole is (Na0.46K0.24□0.30)Na2.00(Fe0.952+Mg0.05)2⋅(Fe0.953+Ti0.025Mg0.025)2(Li0.37Fe0.482+Mn0.10Zn0.05)[(Si0.91Al0.09)4Si4O22](F0.58(OH)0.42)2. Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy data are given for this amphibole.
Paleobathymetry of the Late Jurassic–Neocomian basin in northern West Siberia and the impact of natural processes
Authors: Ershov S.V.
Published: August 2016

Paleobathymetrical reconstructions were performed for the Volgian–Neocomian basin in northern West Siberia. The proposed technique takes into account a number of factors, such as the rates of basin subsidence and sedimentation, sediment lithification and types of lithology, sea level changes, and isostasy. The role of each factor controlling the depth of the paleobasin is considered. The study reveals several stages of formation of the Neocomian clinoform complex of West Siberia, with different regimes of basin subsidence, sedimentation, and isostatic compensation.
Oxygen isotope composition of diatoms from sediments of Lake Kotokel (Buryatia)
Authors: Kostrova S.S. , Meyer H. , Tarasov P.E. , Bezrukova E.V. , Chapligin B. , Kossler A. , Pavlova L.A. , Kuzmin M.I.
Published: August 2016

This is a summary of new oxygen isotope record of diatoms from Lake Kotokel sediments, with implications for responses of the lake system and its environment to global change over the past 46 kyr. Fossil diatoms in all samples are free from visible contamination signatures and contain no more than 2.5% Al2O3, which ensures reliable reconstructions. The δ18O values in diatoms vary between +23.7 and +31.2‰ over the record. The results present mainly diatom assemblages of summer blooming periods, except for the time span between 36 and 32 kyr, when the isotopic signal records mainly a shift from summer to spring blooming conditions. Possible water temperature changes only partly explain the changes in the isotopic record. The observed isotopic patterns are produced mainly by isotope changes in lake water in response to variations in air temperature, hydrology, and atmospheric circulation in the region. During Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2 (Last Glacial maximum), high δ18Odiatom resulted from rapid evaporation and low fluvial inputs. The high δ18Odiatom values of about +29 to +30‰ during the first half of MIS 1 (Holocene interglacial) suggest an increased share of summer rainfalls associated with southern/southeastern air transport. The δ18Odiatom decrease to +24‰ during the second half of MIS 1 is due to the overall hemispheric cooling and increased moisture supply to the area by the Atlantic air masses. The record of Lake Kotokel sediments provides an example of complex interplay among several climatic/environmental controls of δ18Odiatom during the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene.
Seismic stratigraphy, formation history and gas potential of the Nadym–Pur interfluve area (West Siberia)
Authors: Kontorovich V.A. , Ayunova D.V. , Gubin I.A. , Ershov S.V. , Kalinin A.Yu. , Kalinina L.M. , Kanakov M.S. , Solov’ev M.V. , Surikova E.S. , Shestakova N.I.
Published: August 2016

The study presents a seismic and geological characterization of the Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary cover of the Nadym–Pur interfluve area and discusses the morphology of the Jurassic and Aptian–Albian–Cenomanian sedimentary complexes, formation history of structures, and geologic processes responsible for the formation of Cenomanian gas accumulations.
Current generation by deep-water breaking waves
Authors: Pizzo N. E. , Deike Luc , Melville W. Kendall
Published: August 2016

We examine the partitioning of the energy transferred to the water column by deep-water wave breaking; in this case between the turbulent and mean flow. It is found that more than 95 % of the energy lost by the wave field is dissipated in the first four wave periods after the breaking event. The remaining energy is in the coherent vortex generated by breaking. A scaling argument shows that the ratio between the energy in this breaking generated mean current and the total energy lost from the wave field to the water column due to breaking scales as $(hk)^{1/2}$, where $hk$ is the local slope at breaking. This model is examined using direct numerical simulations of breaking waves solving the full two-phase air–water Navier–Stokes equations, as well as the limited available laboratory data, and good agreement is found for strong breaking waves.
The Burial Ground: A Bridge Between Language And Culture
Authors: Burkette Allison
Published: August 2016

This paper explores the cultural and historical forces that created variation in terms for “cemetery”, including links between language and material culture, using cemetery terms found within two Linguistic Atlas data sets to demonstrate how colonial influence, cultural changes, and physical locations contribute to linguistic variation. Speakers’ lexical choices in the 1930s still show the effects of the religious and social climates of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Northern and southern colonial trends were still influencing regional language use several hundred years later. Furthermore, for the LANE data we find that the physical location of historic cemeteries has an effect on speakers’ use of specific lexical items.
The Plautdietsch Vowel Shift Across Space and Time
Authors: Burns Roslyn
Published: August 2016

This paper provides an account of the long vowel shift currently underway in the trans-statal Plautdietsch speech community. Placement of the shift within Labov’s typology of vowel shifts reveals a commonly overlooked development in Plautdietsch vowel movement, namely the centralization of mid-high back vowels which must have occurred before the breakup of the community into New and Old World groups. Shared centralization prompted both groups to have similar developments in the back vowel space after they were no longer geographically contiguous and prompted many groups to undergo centralization in the front vowel space. This case study reveals a pattern of innovation in which separation from parent communities fosters linguistic innovations in daughter communities. These innovations occur irrespective of the traditional Molotschna or Chortitza dialect affiliation of the daughter colonies in question.
Evaluation of Sample Preparation Protocols for the 14C Dating of Tupiguarani Pottery in Southeastern Brazil
Authors: Oliveira Fabiana M , Macario Kita D , Pereira Bruna B , Buarque Angela , Chivall David , Alves Eduardo Q , Ramsey Christopher Bronk
Published: August 2016

This study evaluates the radiocarbon dating of ceramic samples from Tupiguarani sites in Brazil, a settlement type dating up to 3000 cal BP. In this work, residues from ceramic samples from four archaeological sites in Rio de Janeiro (Morro Grande, Serrano, Barba Couto, and Bananeiras) were analyzed. In order to identify the most suitable sample preparation protocols, the humic fraction was isolated from the bulk material at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ORAU), whereas the acid-base-acid (ABA) residue fraction method was applied at the Radiocarbon Laboratory of the Fluminense Federal University (LAC-UFF). The dating results were compared to the current knowledge about the occupational periods of the sites. For the Morro Grande site, the results of humic and ABA residue fractions show a difference of more than 1500 yr. For the Serrano site, the 14C ages obtained from the two pretreatments are identical, and as with the Barba Couto and Bananeiras sites, indicate an occupation during the Brazilian colonial period of the 16th century AD and are compatible with the archaeological data.
Radiocarbon Marine Reservoir Effect on the Northwestern Coast of Cuba
Authors: Diaz M , Macario K D , Gomes P R S , Álvarez-Lajonchere L , Aguilera O , Alves E Q
Published: August 2016

The regional component (∆R) of the marine reservoir effect (MRE), which is crucial for the accurate calibration of radiocarbon ages of marine-influenced samples, was determined for the Cuban northwestern coast. Fifteen different locations were studied by14C dating of pre-bomb known-age marine shells specimens of bivalves and gastropods from the Felipe Poey Museum collection. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)14C measurements were performed at the Radiocarbon Laboratory of the Universidade Federal Fluminense (LAC-UFF) and mean ΔR values were estimated. The distribution of results indicates ∆R values from −46±38 to 140±5214C yr and a possible pattern related to the position along the coast and ocean dynamics. We present both mean values for each region and a general ∆R of 28±1314C yr for the northwestern coast of Cuba.
THE GOLD AND GARNET CHAIN FROM ISENBÜTTEL, GERMANY: A POSSIBLE PIN SUITE WITH ANGLO-SAXON PARALLELS
Authors: Hilgner Alexandra
Published: August 2016

The ‘Isenbüttel gold necklace’, now in the Lower Saxony State Museum in Hanover, was found almost a century ago in Lower Saxony, an area with no history of early medieval gold finds or richly furnished burials. As no parallels are known for the object, scholars have long debated the dating, provenance and function of this unique loop-in-loop chain, with its animal-head terminals and garnet cloisonné. Recent excavations of Anglo-Saxon cemeteries dating to the seventh century have, however, added new finds to the small corpus of objects known as ‘pin suites’, consisting of comparatively short pins perhaps designed to fix a veil or a light shawl in the collar area, with ornate pinheads, linked by chains. This paper focuses on Anglo-Saxon pin suites from high-status burials of the second half of the seventh century and seeks to set the finds group in its wider social and historical context, revealing the far-reaching relationships that existed between early medieval elites.
Macronutrient intake in advanced age: Te Puāwaitanga o Ngā Tapuwae Kia ora Tonu, Life and Living in Advanced Age: A Cohort Study in New Zealand (LiLACS NZ)
Authors: Wham Carol , Teh Ruth , Moyes Simon A. , Rolleston Anna , Muru-Lanning Marama , Hayman Karen , Adamson Ashley , Kerse Ngaire
Published: August 2016

As part of the 12-month follow-up of the longitudinal cohort study, Life and Living in Advanced Age: A Cohort Study in New Zealand, dietary intake was assessed in 216 Māori and 362 non-Māori octogenarians using repeat 24-h multiple pass recalls. Energy and macronutrient intakes were calculated, and food items reported were allocated to food groups used in the New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey (NZANS). Intakes were compared with the nutrient reference values (NRV) for Australia and New Zealand. The median BMI was higher for Māori (28·3 kg/m2) than for non-Māori (26·2 kg/m2)P=0·007. For Māori, median energy intake was 7·44 MJ/d for men and 6·06 MJ/d for women with 16·3 % energy derived from protein, 43·3 % from carbohydrate and 38·5 % from fat. Median energy intake was 7·91 and 6·26 MJ/d for non-Māori men and women, respectively, with 15·4 % of energy derived from protein, 45 % from carbohydrate and 36·7 % from fat. For both ethnic groups, bread was the top contributor to energy and carbohydrate intakes. Protein came from beef and veal, fish and seafood, bread, milk and poultry with the order differing by ethnic groups and sex. Fat came mainly from butter and margarine. Energy-adjusted protein was higher for Māori than non-Māori (P=0·049). For both ethnic groups, the median energy levels were similar, percent carbohydrate tended to be lower and percent fat higher compared with adults aged >70 years in NZANS. These unique cross-sectional data address an important gap in our understanding of dietary intake in this growing section of our population and highlight lack of age-appropriate NRV.
Mode of oral iron administration and the amount of iron habitually consumed do not affect iron absorption, systemic iron utilisation or zinc absorption in iron-sufficient infants: a randomised trial
Authors: Szymlek-Gay Ewa A. , Domellöf Magnus , Hernell Olle , Hurrell Richard F. , Lind Torbjörn , Lönnerdal Bo , Zeder Christophe , Egli Ines M.
Published: August 2016

Different metabolic pathways of supplemental and fortification Fe, or inhibition of Zn absorption by Fe, may explain adverse effects of supplemental Fe in Fe-sufficient infants. We determined whether the mode of oral Fe administration or the amount habitually consumed affects Fe absorption and systemic Fe utilisation in infants, and assessed the effects of these interventions on Zn absorption, Fe and Zn status, and growth. Fe-sufficient 6-month-old infants (n72) were randomly assigned to receive 6·6 mg Fe/d from a high-Fe formula, 1·3 mg Fe/d from a low-Fe formula or 6·6 mg Fe/d from Fe drops and a formula with no added Fe for 45 d. Fractional Fe absorption, Fe utilisation and fractional Zn absorption were measured with oral (57Fe and67Zn) and intravenous (58Fe and70Zn) isotopes. Fe and Zn status, infection and growth were measured. At 45 d, Hb was 6·3 g/l higher in the high-Fe formula group compared with the Fe drops group, whereas serum ferritin was 34 and 35 % higher, respectively, and serum transferrin 0·1 g/l lower in the high-Fe formula and Fe drops groups compared with the low-Fe formula group (allP<0·05). No intervention effects were observed on Fe absorption, Fe utilisation, Zn absorption, other Fe status indices, plasma Zn or growth. We concluded that neither supplemental or fortification Fe nor the amount of Fe habitually consumed altered Fe absorption, Fe utilisation, Zn absorption, Zn status or growth in Fe-sufficient infants. Consumption of low-Fe formula as the only source of Fe was insufficient to maintain Fe stores.
Retirement plans and active ageing: perspectives in three countries
Authors: PRINCIPI ANDREA , SANTINI SARA , SOCCI MARCO , SMEATON DEBORAH , CAHILL KEVIN E. , VEGERIS SANDRA , BARNES HELEN
Published: August 2016

This study explores whether the plans of older workers on the cusp of retirement are in line with the active ageing agenda set by policy makers in Europe. The study was carried out in Italy, England, and the United States of America (USA). A total of 133 older workers who planned to retire within the next 10–12 months were interviewed (55 in England, 40 in Italy and 38 in the USA) between May 2014 and early 2015 using common semi-structured questions. Active Ageing Index dimensions were used to gauge the orientation of older people towards their retirement. The results of the study suggest that, with some differences, retirement plans of interviewees were substantially consistent with the active ageing perspective. However, some challenges were highlighted, including the need for governments to do more to promote genuine freedom of choice in relation to leaving the labour market, and to provide greater support for informal family carers. Findings also pointed to the need to measure active ageing in connection with individual wellbeing,e.g.by including indicators of leisure activities and by considering the re-weighting of employment and informal care dimensions. Companies could also provide more support during the retirement transition, with opportunities for maintained social connection with former colleagues, and help in making and fulfilling retirement plans.
Chronic anthropogenic disturbance as a secondary driver of ant community structure: interactions with soil type in Brazilian Caatinga
Authors: OLIVEIRA FERNANDA M. P. , RIBEIRO-NETO JOSÉ DOMINGOS , ANDERSEN ALAN N. , LEAL INARA R.
Published: August 2016

Habitat loss is widely recognized as the major cause of global biodiversity decline, but remaining habitat is increasingly threatened by chronic human disturbances. Using a multi-model averaging approach we examined the association between five chronic disturbance surrogates and the richness and taxonomic and functional composition of ants in Brazilian Caatinga. Using pitfall traps in 47 plots near Parnamirim city (Pernambuco) across two soil types (sand and clay), we recorded 53 species from 27 genera. Ant species richness on sand was slightly higher than on clay, and was negatively related to most surrogates of anthropogenic disturbance. Soil type and human population size were the main predictors of ant species richness. Soil type was the most important predictor of functional group abundance. Taxonomic and functional composition were influenced by soil type and disturbance, but this relationship varied between clay and sandy soils. Ant functional composition showed a weak relationship with disturbance on sandy soils, but on clay soils it showed predictable winner–loser replacement. We attribute the greater effect of disturbance on clay soils to higher intensity of land use, and our study highlights the importance of considering context dependence when evaluating biodiversity responses to disturbance.
Digital design and manufacturing on the cloud: A review of software and services—RETRACTED
Authors: Wu Dazhong , Terpenny Janis , Schaefer Dirk
Published: August 2016

This paper (Wu 2016), which was published in AI EDAM online on August 22, 2016, has been retracted by Cambridge University Press as it is very similar in content to a published ASME Conference Proceedings paper. The article in question and the ASME Conference Proceedings paper were submitted for review with AI EDAM and the ASME at similar times, but copyright was assigned to ASME before the paper was accepted in AI EDAM and therefore the article in AI EDAM is being retracted. (In recent years, industrial nations around the globe have invested heavily in new technologies, software, and services to advance digital design and manufacturing using cyber-physical systems, data analytics, and high-performance computing. Many of these initiatives, such as cloud-based design and manufacturing, fall under the umbrella of what has become known as Industry 4.0 or Industrial Internet and are often hailed as pillars of a new industrial revolution. While an increasing number of companies are developing or already offer commercial cloud-based software packages and services for digital design and manufacturing, little work has been reported on providing a review of the state of the art of these commercial software and services as well as identifying research gaps in this field. The objective of this paper is to present a state-of-the-art review of digital design and manufacturing software and services that are currently available on the cloud. The focus of this paper is on assessing to what extent engineering design, engineering analysis, manufacturing, and production across all phases of the product development lifecycles can already be performed based on the software and services accessed through the cloud. In addition, the key capabilities and benefits of these software packages and services are discussed. Based on the assessment of the core features of commercial software and services, it can be concluded that almost all phases of product realization can be conducted through digital design and manufacturing software and services on the cloud. Finally, existing research gaps and related challenges to overcome are identified. The state-of-the-art review serves to provide a technology guide for decision makers in their efforts to select suitable cloud-based software and services as alternatives to existing in-house resources as well as to recommend new research areas.)
Antiretroviral treatment attrition in Swaziland: a population-based study
Authors: KHUMALO P. G. , CHOU Y. J. , PU C.
Published: August 2016

Swaziland has the highest prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the world. Attrition (loss to follow-up and mortality) in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) already on treatment is a major challenge, undermining achievements of the antiretroviral treatment (ART) programme in Swaziland. The contributing factors to attrition in the Swazi context are unclear. This study aims to (1) estimate attrition from the ART programme 12 months after ART initiation in Swaziland, and (2) determine the predictors of attrition in PLWHA treated with ART in Swaziland. A retrospective cohort study using national baseline data was conducted. A competing-risk Cox proportional hazard regression was used to determine the predictors of attrition. We estimated 10·3% (95% confidence interval 10·1–10·6) attrition in 16 423 participants that initiated ART in 2012. Attrition was significantly associated with sex, age, district, treatment supporter at initiation, co-infection of HIV and TB, functional status, WHO clinical stage, and ownership of facility. Our study can form a base of policies, plans, and service delivery strategies for preventing and controlling attrition in Swaziland.
The quantification of type-2 prudence in asset allocation by the trustees of a retirement fund
Authors: Thomson Robert J. , Reddy Taryn L.
Published: August 2016

In this paper, consideration is given to the normative use of expected-utility theory for the purposes of asset allocation by the trustees of retirement funds. A distinction is drawn between “type-1 prudence”, which relates to deliberate conservatism on the part of actuaries in the setting of assumptions and the determination of model parameters, and “type-2 prudence”, which relates to the risk aversion of the trustees. The intention of the research was to quantify type-2 prudence for the purposes of asset allocation, both for defined-contribution (DC) and defined-benefit (DB) funds. The authors propose new definitions of the objective variables used as the argument of the utility function: one for DC funds and another for DB funds. A new class of utility functions, referred to as the “weighted average relative risk aversion” class is proposed. Practicalities of implementation are discussed. Illustrative results of the application of the method are presented, and it is shown that the proposed approach resolves the paradox of counter-intuitive results found in the literature regarding the sensitivity of the optimal asset allocation to the funding level of a DB fund.
On the joint analysis of the total discounted payments to policyholders and shareholders: threshold dividend strategy
Authors: Cheung Eric C.K. , Liu Haibo
Published: August 2016

In insurance risk theory, dividend and aggregate claim amount are of great research interest as they represent the insurance company’s payments to its shareholders and policyholders, respectively. Since the analyses of these two quantities are performed separately in the literature, the companion paper by Cheung et al. generalised the Gerber–Shiu expected discounted penalty function by further incorporating the moments of the aggregate discounted claims until ruin and the discounted dividends until ruin. While Cheung et al. considered the compound Poisson model with a dividend barrier in which ruin occurs almost surely, the present paper looks at this generalised Gerber–Shiu function under a threshold dividend strategy where the insurer has a positive survival probability. Because the Gerber–Shiu function is only defined for sample paths leading to ruin, we will additionally study the joint moments of the aggregate discounted claims and the discounted dividends without ruin occurring. Some explicit formulas are derived when the individual claim distribution follows a combination of exponentials. Numerical illustrations involving the correlation between aggregate discounted claims and discounted dividends are given. For the case where ruin occurs, we additionally compute the correlations between the time of ruin and the above two quantities.
The fuzzy Bornhuetter–Ferguson method: an approach with fuzzy numbers
Authors: Heberle Jochen , Thomas Anne
Published: August 2016

This paper shows how the well-known Bornhuetter–Ferguson claims-reserving method can be extended by applying fuzzy methods. The a priori information for the ultimate claims derives from market statistics, organisational data, etc. and might contain vagueness. Likewise, the parameters of the claims development pattern can be vague or are adapted, retrospectively, due to subjective judgement. With the help of fuzzy numbers we develop new predictors for the ultimate claims. Furthermore, we quantify the uncertainty of the ultimate claims for single and aggregated accident years.
Personality Polygenes, Positive Affect, and Life Satisfaction
Authors: Weiss Alexander , Baselmans Bart M. L. , Hofer Edith , Yang Jingyun , Okbay Aysu , Lind Penelope A. , Miller Mike B. , Nolte Ilja M. , Zhao Wei , Hagenaars Saskia P. , Hottenga Jouke-Jan , Matteson Lindsay K. , Snieder Harold , Faul Jessica D. , Hartman Catharina A. , Boyle Patricia A. , Tiemeier Henning , Mosing Miriam A. , Pattie Alison , Davies Gail , Liewald David C. , Schmidt Reinhold , De Jager Philip L. , Heath Andrew C. , Jokela Markus , Starr John M. , Oldehinkel Albertine J. , Johannesson Magnus , Cesarini David , Hofman Albert , Harris Sarah E. , Smith Jennifer A. , Keltikangas-Järvinen Liisa , Pulkki-Råback Laura , Schmidt Helena , Smith Jacqui , Iacono William G. , McGue Matt , Bennett David A. , Pedersen Nancy L. , Magnusson Patrik K. E. , Deary Ian J. , Martin Nicholas G. , Boomsma Dorret I. , Bartels Meike , Luciano Michelle
Published: August 2016

Approximately half of the variation in wellbeing measures overlaps with variation in personality traits. Studies of non-human primate pedigrees and human twins suggest that this is due to common genetic influences. We tested whether personality polygenic scores for the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) domains and for item response theory (IRT) derived extraversion and neuroticism scores predict variance in wellbeing measures. Polygenic scores were based on published genome-wide association (GWA) results in over 17,000 individuals for the NEO-FFI and in over 63,000 for the IRT extraversion and neuroticism traits. The NEO-FFI polygenic scores were used to predict life satisfaction in 7 cohorts, positive affect in 12 cohorts, and general wellbeing in 1 cohort (maximalN= 46,508). Meta-analysis of these results showed no significant association between NEO-FFI personality polygenic scores and the wellbeing measures. IRT extraversion and neuroticism polygenic scores were used to predict life satisfaction and positive affect in almost 37,000 individuals from UK Biobank. Significant positive associations (effect sizes <0.05%) were observed between the extraversion polygenic score and wellbeing measures, and a negative association was observed between the polygenic neuroticism score and life satisfaction. Furthermore, using GWA data, genetic correlations of -0.49 and -0.55 were estimated between neuroticism with life satisfaction and positive affect, respectively. The moderate genetic correlation between neuroticism and wellbeing is in line with twin research showing that genetic influences on wellbeing are also shared with other independent personality domains.
Shared active site architecture between archaeal PolD and multi-subunit RNA polymerases revealed by X-ray crystallography
Authors: Sauguet Ludovic , Raia Pierre , Henneke Ghislaine , Delarue Marc
Published: August 2016

Archaeal replicative DNA polymerase D (PolD) constitute an atypical class of DNA polymerases made of a proofreading exonuclease subunit (DP1) and a larger polymerase catalytic subunit (DP2), both with unknown structures. We have determined the crystal structures of Pyrococcus abyssi DP1 and DP2 at 2.5 and 2.2 Å resolution, respectively, revealing a catalytic core strikingly different from all other known DNA polymerases (DNAPs). Rather, the PolD DP2 catalytic core has the same ‘double-psi β-barrel’ architecture seen in the RNA polymerase (RNAP) superfamily, which includes multi-subunit transcriptases of all domains of life, homodimeric RNA-silencing pathway RNAPs and atypical viral RNAPs. This finding bridges together, in non-viral world, DNA transcription and DNA replication within the same protein superfamily. This study documents further the complex evolutionary history of the DNA replication apparatus in different domains of life and proposes a classification of all extant DNAPs.
Lipidic cubic phase injector is a viable crystal delivery system for time-resolved serial crystallography
Authors: Nogly Przemyslaw , Panneels Valerie , Nelson Garrett , Gati Cornelius , Kimura Tetsunari , Milne Christopher , Milathianaki Despina , Kubo Minoru , Wu Wenting , Conrad Chelsie , Coe Jesse , Bean Richard , Zhao Yun , Båth Petra , Dods Robert , Harimoorthy Rajiv , Beyerlein Kenneth R. , Rheinberger Jan , James Daniel , DePonte Daniel , Li Chufeng , Sala Leonardo , Williams Garth J. , Hunter Mark S. , Koglin Jason E. , Berntsen Peter , Nango Eriko , Iwata So , Chapman Henry N. , Fromme Petra , Frank Matthias , Abela Rafael , Boutet Sébastien , Barty Anton , White Thomas A. , Weierstall Uwe , Spence John , Neutze Richard , Schertler Gebhard , Standfuss Jörg
Published: August 2016

Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) using X-ray free-electron laser sources is an emerging method with considerable potential for time-resolved pump-probe experiments. Here we present a lipidic cubic phase SFX structure of the light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin (bR) to 2.3 Å resolution and a method to investigate protein dynamics with modest sample requirement. Time-resolved SFX (TR-SFX) with a pump-probe delay of 1 ms yields difference Fourier maps compatible with the dark to M state transition of bR. Importantly, the method is very sample efficient and reduces sample consumption to about 1 mg per collected time point. Accumulation of M intermediate within the crystal lattice is confirmed by time-resolved visible absorption spectroscopy. This study provides an important step towards characterizing the complete photocycle dynamics of retinal proteins and demonstrates the feasibility of a sample efficient viscous medium jet for TR-SFX.
Characterization of a recently evolved flavonol-phenylacyltransferase gene provides signatures of natural light selection in Brassicaceae
Authors: Tohge Takayuki , Wendenburg Regina , Ishihara Hirofumi , Nakabayashi Ryo , Watanabe Mutsumi , Sulpice Ronan , Hoefgen Rainer , Takayama Hiromitsu , Saito Kazuki , Stitt Mark , Fernie Alisdair R.
Published: August 2016

Incidence of natural light stress renders it important to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms by which plants protect themselves from harmful effects of UV-B irradiation, as this is critical for fitness of land plant species. Here we describe natural variation of a class of phenylacylated-flavonols (saiginols), which accumulate to high levels in floral tissues of Arabidopsis. They were identified in a subset of accessions, especially those deriving from latitudes between 16° and 43° North. Investigation of introgression line populations using metabolic and transcript profiling, combined with genomic sequence analysis, allowed the identification of flavonol-phenylacyltransferase 2 (FPT2) that is responsible for the production of saiginols and conferring greater UV light tolerance in planta. Furthermore, analysis of polymorphism within the FPT duplicated region provides an evolutionary framework of the natural history of this locus in the Brassicaceae.
Crosstalk between MSH2–MSH3 and polβ promotes trinucleotide repeat expansion during base excision repair
Authors: Lai Yanhao , Budworth Helen , Beaver Jill M. , Chan Nelson L. S. , Zhang Zunzhen , McMurray Cynthia T. , Liu Yuan
Published: August 2016

Studies in knockout mice provide evidence that MSH2–MSH3 and the BER machinery promote trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion, yet how these two different repair pathways cause the mutation is unknown. Here we report the first molecular crosstalk mechanism, in which MSH2–MSH3 is used as a component of the BER machinery to cause expansion. On its own, pol β fails to copy TNRs during DNA synthesis, and bypasses them on the template strand to cause deletion. Remarkably, MSH2–MSH3 not only stimulates pol β to copy through the repeats but also enhances formation of the flap precursor for expansion. Our results provide direct evidence that MMR and BER, operating together, form a novel hybrid pathway that changes the outcome of TNR instability from deletion to expansion during the removal of oxidized bases. We propose that cells implement crosstalk strategies and share machinery when a canonical pathway is ineffective in removing a difficult lesion.
Nonlinear metamaterials for holography
Authors: Almeida Euclides , Bitton Ora , Prior Yehiam
Published: August 2016

A hologram is an optical element storing phase and possibly amplitude information enabling the reconstruction of a three-dimensional image of an object by illumination and scattering of a coherent beam of light, and the image is generated at the same wavelength as the input laser beam. In recent years, it was shown that information can be stored in nanometric antennas giving rise to ultrathin components. Here we demonstrate nonlinear multilayer metamaterial holograms. A background free image is formed at a new frequency—the third harmonic of the illuminating beam. Using e-beam lithography of multilayer plasmonic nanoantennas, we fabricate polarization-sensitive nonlinear elements such as blazed gratings, lenses and other computer-generated holograms. These holograms are analysed and prospects for future device applications are discussed.
Retinoblastoma-binding protein 2 (RBP2) is frequently expressed in neuroendocrine tumors and promotes the neoplastic phenotype
Authors: Maggi E C , Trillo-Tinoco J , Struckhoff A P , Vijayaraghavan J , Del Valle L , Crabtree J S
Published: August 2016

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), which can have survival rates as low as 4%, currently have limited therapeutic interventions available highlighting the dire need for the identification of novel biological targets for use as new potential drug targets. One such potential target is retinoblastoma-binding protein 2 (RBP2), an H3K4 demethylase whose overexpression has been linked to cancer formation and metastasis in non-endocrine tumor types. We measured RBP2 mRNA and protein levels in enteropancreatic NETs by measuring RBP2 in matched human normal and NET tissue samples. Further, proliferation, migration, invasion and colony formation assays were performed in the physiologically relevant NET cell lines βlox5, H727 and QGP-1 to understand the role of RBP2 and its demethylase activity on end points of tumorigenesis. Our data indicate a strong correlation between RBP2 mRNA and protein expression in NET specimens. RBP2 was overexpressed relative to tissue-matched normal controls in 80% of the human tumors measured. In vitro studies showed RBP2 overexpression significantly increased proliferation, migration, invasion and colony formation, whereas knockdown significantly decreases the same parameters in a demethylase-independent manner. The cell cycle inhibitors p21 and p57 decreased with RBP2 overexpression and increased upon its depletion, suggesting a regulatory role for RBP2 in cellular proliferation. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that the aberrant overexpression of RBP2 is a frequent contributing factor to tumor formation and metastasis in enteropancreatic NETs.
Organization of Nucleotides in Different Environments and the Formation of Pre-Polymers
Authors: Himbert Sebastian , Chapman Mindy , Deamer David W. , Rheinstädter Maikel C.
Published: August 2016

RNA is a linear polymer of nucleotides linked by a ribose-phosphate backbone. Polymerization of nucleotides occurs in a condensation reaction in which phosphodiester bonds are formed. However, in the absence of enzymes and metabolism there has been no obvious way for RNA-like molecules to be produced and then encapsulated in cellular compartments. We investigated 5′-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and 5′-uridine monophosphate (UMP) molecules confined in multi-lamellar phospholipid bilayers, nanoscopic films, ammonium chloride salt crystals and Montmorillonite clay, previously proposed to promote polymerization. X-ray diffraction was used to determine whether such conditions imposed a degree of order on the nucleotides. Two nucleotide signals were observed in all matrices, one corresponding to a nearest neighbour distance of 4.6 Å attributed to nucleotides that form a disordered, glassy structure. A second, smaller distance of 3.4 Å agrees well with the distance between stacked base pairs in the RNA backbone and was assigned to the formation of pre-polymers, i.e., the organization of nucleotides into stacks of about 10 monomers. Such ordering can provide conditions that promote the nonenzymatic polymerization of RNA strands under prebiotic conditions. Experiments were modeled by Monte-Carlo simulations, which provide details of the molecular structure of these pre-polymers.