bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How to Establish an Effective Midline Program: A Case Study of 2 Hospitals
Authors: Moureau Nancy , Sigl Gordon , Hill Margaret
Published: November 2015

Introduction: Establishing an effective midline program involves more than simply learning an insertion technique for a new product. Midline catheters provide a reliable vascular access option for those patients with difficult venous access who would otherwise require multiple venipunctures or the use of higher-risk central lines to maintain access. An effective midline program establishes a protocol for device selection and includes standing orders to facilitate speed to placement.

Methods: Our retrospective descriptive review evaluated the successful integration of midline programs into existing vascular access bedside insertion programs in 2 acute care hospitals. The investigator reviewed a convenience sample of hospital patients. Participants in the study included vascular access team managers and team members from the sample sites.

Results: The results of this 2-hospital study demonstrate successful integration of a midline program into a bedside insertion program with 0 midline-related infections since initiation. Documentation of overall central line-associated bloodstream infection rates for hospital 1 changed from 1.7/1000 catheter-days to 0.2/1000 catheter-days, reflecting a 78% reduction in infections and a projected cost avoidance of $531,570 annually. Both hospitals demonstrated reduced rates of infection following implementation of a midline program.

Conclusions: Midlines have a history of lower risk for both infection and thrombosis compared with central venous devices. Although more research is needed on the more recently developed midline catheters, available evidence suggests that midlines provide a safe and reliable form of vascular access, reducing costs and the risk of infection associated with central venous catheters, especially those placed solely for patients with difficult venous access.
Predictive role of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratios for diagnosis of acute appendicitis during pregnancy
Authors: Yazar Fatih Mehmet , Bakacak Murat , Emre Arif , Urfalıoglu Aykut , Serin Salih , Cengiz Emrah , Bülbüloglu Ertan
Published: November 2015

Acute appendicitis (AA) is not uncommon during pregnancy but can be difficult to diagnose. This study evaluated the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in addition to conventional diagnostic indicators of the disease to diagnose AA during pregnancy. Age, gestational age, white blood cell (WBC) count, Alvarado scores, C‐reactive protein (CRP), lymphocyte count, NLR and PLR were compared among 28 pregnant women who underwent surgery for AA, 35 pregnant women wrongly suspected as having AA, 29 healthy pregnant women, and 30 nonpregnant healthy women. Mean WBC counts and CRP levels were higher in women with proven AA than in those of control groups (all p < 0.05). Among all the groups, the median NLR and PLR were significantly different in women with proven AA (all p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine cut‐off values for WBC count, CRP, lymphocyte count, NLR and PLR, and multiple logistic regression analysis showed that NLR and PLR used with routine methods could diagnose AA with 90.5% accuracy. Used in addition to routine diagnostic methods, NLR and PLR increased the accuracy of the diagnosis of AA in pregnant women.
Intrinsic subtypes and genomic signatures of primary breast cancer and prognosis after systemic relapse
Authors: Falato Claudette , Tobin Nicholas P. , Lorent Julie , Lindström Linda S. , Bergh Jonas , Foukakis Theodoros
Published: November 2015

Molecular subtypes and gene expression signatures are widely used in early breast cancer but their role in metastatic disease is less explored. Two hundred‐twenty patients diagnosed with primary breast cancer and subsequent relapse in Stockholm, Sweden between 1997 and 2006 were identified and their primary tumor was assessed for immunohistochemistry (IHC)‐ and PAM50‐based subtypes, risk of recurrence (ROR‐S) score, 21‐gene and 70‐gene signatures using research‐based microarray expression profiles. Clinical and pathological data were retrospectively collected. Post‐relapse survival within intrinsic subtypes and genomic signatures was investigated by Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression methods. ROR weighted for proliferation index (ROR‐P) was explored and the prognostic contribution provided when combined to a clinical model estimated as change in LR‐ χ2. IHC classified 27%, 24%, 36% and 13% of the tumors as luminal A, luminal B, HER2+ and triple negative, respectively. PAM50 categorized 22%, 24%, 26%, 22%, 6% of the tumors as luminal A, luminal B, HER2‐enriched, basal‐like and normal‐like. Triple negative and basal tumors had a significantly shorter median post‐relapse survival in comparison with luminal. Overall, neither IHC nor PAM50 subtypes, 21‐ and 70‐ gene profiles were prognostic in multivariable models. Low and medium ROR‐S had a longer survival compared with the high‐risk group (23 vs 10 months; p = 0.04). ROR‐P independently correlated with post‐relapse survival (p = 0.002) and provided the most significant prognostic information when added to a clinical model. ROR score from primary tumor represents an independent prognostic factor of post‐relapse survival beyond classical clinical and pathological variables.
Common but different: The expanding realm of Cladosporium
Authors: Bensch K. , Groenewald J.Z. , Braun U. , Dijksterhuis J. , de Jesús Yáñez-Morales M. , Crous P.W.
Published: November 2015

The genus Cladosporium (Cladosporiaceae, Dothideomycetes), which represents one of the largest genera of dematiaceous hyphomycetes, has been intensively investigated during the past decade. In the process, three major species complexes (C. cladosporioides,
C. herbarum and C. sphaerospermum) were resolved based on morphology and DNA phylogeny, and a monographic revision of the genus (s. lat.) published reflecting the current taxonomic status quo. In the present study a further 19 new species are described
based on phylogenetic characters (nuclear ribosomal RNA gene operon, including the internal transcribed spacer regions ITS1 and ITS2, as well as partial actin and translation elongation factor 1-α gene sequences) and morphological differences. For a selection of the species with ornamented
conidia, scanning electron microscopic photos were prepared to illustrate the different types of surface ornamentation. Surprisingly, during this study Cladosporium ramotenellum was found to be a quite common saprobic species, being widely distributed and occurring on various substrates.
Therefore, an emended species description is provided. Furthermore, the host range and distribution data for several previously described species are also expanded.
History of the Condemnation of the Patriarch Nicon
Authors: Ligarides Paisius
Published: November 2015

The History of the Condemnation of the Patriarch Nicon, composed by the Greek prelate Paisius Ligarides of Scio (1612–1678), is an account of the bitter struggle between the leaders of the Russian church and state during the reign of Tsar Alexis Michaelovich (1629–1676) and the patriarchate of Nicon (1605–1681). The conflict resulted in the exile and deposition of the Patriarch in 1666, decreed by an ecclesiastical council headed by Ligarides. Ligarides' History, a theological and legal essay on the powers of the tsar, is one of the most important polemics produced during the period. The arguments and ideas it contains represented important advances in the developing ideological tradition of the absolute authority of the tsar. This 1873 translation, the third of six volumes on the subject compiled by William Palmer, made this key historical source accessible to English-speaking scholars of Russian ecclesiastical history and political thought.
Die Geschichte der Seele
Authors: Schubert Gotthilf Heinrich von
Published: November 2015

This is the fourth, revised and expanded 1850 edition of an influential two-volume work originally published in 1830 by the German scientist and philosopher Gotthilf Heinrich von Schubert (1780–1860). Schubert studied theology and medicine, and taught natural history at Erlangen and Munich, specialising in botany, forestry and mineralogy. He also lectured on topics including animal magnetism, clairvoyance and dreams, and attempted to reconcile Enlightenment philosophy with Christian faith. This book sets out Schubert's views on human nature as body, soul and spirit, and on humankind's place in the natural order. Volume 2 focuses mainly on the 'soul', which Schubert differentiates from the 'spirit' that clothes and feeds it. The discussion ranges from hypnosis and clairvoyance to moods and feelings, passions and affects, the unconscious and personality disorders. Schubert refers frequently to Classical and early Christian philosophers as he probes phenomena now assigned to psychology, including cognition and discernment.
Common Sense
Authors: Paine Thomas
Published: November 2015

This famous pamphlet - published anonymously in 1776 because of its seditious content - by the British political radical Thomas Paine (1737–1809) laid out his pioneering ideas for American independence, and earned him the title of 'Father of the American Revolution'. The Declaration of Independence, written chiefly by Thomas Jefferson and famously promulgated later that year, was influenced by Paine's arguments in this work: that America was too large to be governed by a country as small as Britain - which, he claimed, was ruling America only for its own financial gain - and that the colonies had now achieved the financial and military capacity to break free. Criticising the British monarchical system, with a single figure at its pinnacle, Paine called instead for a government that promoted security, liberty and equality for its people. Over half a million copies of this highly influential document were sold in America in its first year.
A Monograph on Trade and Manufactures in Northern India
Authors: Hoey William
Published: November 2015

William Hoey (1849–1919) was a magistrate in Lucknow, India when this book was published by the American Missionary Press in 1880. At the time, Lucknow was the seventh largest city in the British Empire, and it was the capital of the province that had most recently come under British rule. Hoey's monograph captures the details of trade in the city and surrounding regions at this time of change. Part 1 outlines the prominent features of trade in the area and includes tables of imports and exports. Part 2 focuses on Lucknow specifically, and contains the author's discussion of the impact of British rule on the city. The third part is a detailed A-Z of every trade, including information on production, prices and profit, and the work concludes with an extensive glossary of Indian terms. The level of detail in this work makes it an invaluable historical document.
Curiosities of Street Literature
Authors: Hindley Charles
Published: November 2015

Broadsheet papers were a popular forerunner of the tabloid newspaper, providing sensational descriptions of current events, especially violent crimes, executions and political scandal. Illustrated with satirical cartoons and often recounting stories in verse, the legacy of broadsheets can be seen in later publications such as Private Eye. This book, first published in 1871 by Charles Hindley (d. 1893), is a collection of notable and popular extracts from broadsheets, such as those produced by James Catnach. Although a wide variety of subjects were covered, including natural disasters, elopements, Parliamentary business and royal events, broadsheets were at their most profitable and lurid when reporting crime stories. Included in this text are accounts of famous cases such as Burke and Hare, child-killer Constance Kent and the Red Barn Murder. The book is an invaluable resource for social historians and provides fascinating insights into the Victorian media and the origins of today's mass media.
Electromagnetic Waves
Authors: Heaviside Oliver
Published: November 2015

Oliver Heaviside (1850–1925), the self-taught physicist and electrical engineer, began his career as an operator on the newly laid Anglo-Danish telegraph cable in 1868. The most advanced electrical technology of the time, the cable system inspired several of his early mathematical papers. This monograph, first published as a paper in the Philosophical Magazine in 1888, then as a book in 1889, draws on his established work on telegraphic propagation and self-inductance, and on Maxwell's field theory. In a fascinating insight into the contemporary scientific community, he complains that these subjects are still often misunderstood, and explains his formulae afresh from several angles. Also covered - and frequently questioned - are contemporary theories of permittivity, the speed of electromagnetic waves, and the dielectric properties of conductors. Heaviside's Electrical Papers (2 volumes, 1892) and his Electromagnetic Theory (3 volumes, 1893–1912) have also been reissued in this series.
The Idler in Italy
Authors: Blessington Marguerite
Published: November 2015

Marguerite Gardiner, countess of Blessington (1789–1849), was famous for her charm, wit and beauty, the latter reflected in Sir Thomas Lawrence's famous portrait of her in 1822. Blessington had an unhappy childhood, and was forced into her first marriage at the age of fourteen, but had developed a love of reading and story-telling. With her second husband Charles John Gardiner, first Earl of Blessington, she lived for several years in France and Italy. This three-volume work, first published 1839–40, contains Blessington's humorous account of living abroad. She gives detailed descriptions of her time in Italian cities such as Florence, Rome and Naples, drawing attention to 'the odour of the cuisine', the beautiful surroundings and weather, inspiring encounters with artists, and daily visits to art galleries. Volume 1 describes travelling around Switzerland and France, and ends with the author's encounter with Lord Byron in Genoa in 1823.
Investigation of Vibration and Thermal Buckling of Nanobeams Embedded in An Elastic Medium Under Various Boundary Conditions
Authors: Mashat D. S. , Zenkour A. M. , Sobhy M.
Published: November 2015

Analyses of free vibration and thermal buckling of nanobeams using nonlocal shear deformation beam theories under various boundary conditions are precisely illustrated. The present beam is restricted by vertically distributed identical springs at the top and bottom surfaces of the beam. The equations of motion are derived using the dynamic version of Hamilton's principle. The governing equations are solved analytically when the edges of the beam are simply supported, clamped or free. Thermal buckling solution is formulated for two types of temperature change through the thickness of the beam: Uniform and linear temperature rise. To validate the accuracy of the results of the present analysis, the results are compared, as possible, with solutions found in the literature. Furthermore, the influences of nonlocal coefficient, stiffness of Winkler springs and span-to-thickness ratio on the frequencies and thermal buckling of the embedded nanobeams are examined.
‘DO YOU HEAR ME? IT IS ME, AKIGA’:
AKIGA'S STORY AND AKIGA SAI'S
HISTORY
Authors: Fardon Richard
Published: November 2015

The publication of a new translation of Akiga Sai's History of
the Tiv invites reappraisal of Akiga himself as a local
intellectual. This essay presents a biographical account of this early Tiv
convert to Christianity, locating his celebrated History in its
social, cultural, ethnic and historical contexts, and presents a provisional
narrative of his career subsequent to the publication of
Akiga's Story, the version of the
History edited by Rupert East. As such, it is intended as
an invitation to a full biography. The essay reconstructs, insofar as sources
permit, the complex relationship between Akiga, East, the Dutch Reformed Church
Mission and the International African Institute that led to the publication of
Akiga's Story in the form known until now,
comparing that version with the complete translation. Akiga's
History emerges from this re-examination as a compellingly
contemporary narrative engaged with the lived experience of ethnic
identification under colonial rule.
THOSE DAYS AND THESE DAYS: AKIGA'S NARRATIVIZATION OF THE TIV NATION IN HISTORY OF THE TIV
Authors: Tsaaior James Tar
Published: November 2015

This article pays tribute to Akiga Sai (1898–1959) and his iconic status as the first great Tiv writer who recorded Tiv history, customs, beliefs and experiences during the turbulence unleashed by colonization and missionary intervention in the early twentieth century. It offers an appreciation of Akiga's vivid writing style and his achievements as both a historian and a recorder of his people's way of life, which was fast changing. The article presents the perspective of a younger Tiv generation who encountered Akiga Sai's work in the course of their education. Akiga, from this viewpoint, is not only an individual pioneer and creative genius, but also the representative of a better era, after which moral decay and a decline in communal health and well-being set in.
PROLOGUE: HISTORY OF THE TIV
Authors: Bergsma Harold M.
Published: November 2015

This article introduces a new translation of Akiga Sai's History of the Tiv, a manuscript completed in Tiv by Akiga in 1935. Portions of Akiga's text, translated and annotated by Rupert East, were first published in English by the International African Institute in 1939 as Akiga's Story. But the new translation, available in the online version of the journal, is the first complete one: no section of the Tiv manuscript has been omitted, and the order of the material has been left as originally written by Akiga. This article tells the story of how Harold Bergsma, when working as a secondary school principal in Nigeria, rescued the Tiv typescript from the rubbish bin and deposited it in the University of Ibadan library; and how, some forty-five years later, he assembled a team of Tiv intellectuals to undertake the task of translation. It reflects on some of the linguistic challenges presented by the Tiv text, and draws attention to the rich and varied information the work contains – on clans, genealogies, plant and animal names, food preparation, marriage customs, the religious practices of the Tiv, and Akiga's own experiences of childhood, family, and encounters with akombo and witchcraft. The article is complemented by selections from Chapters 8 and 9 of the new translation, chosen and annotated by Richard Fardon.
FABRICS OF IDENTITY: UNIFORMS, GENDER AND ASSOCIATIONS IN THE CAMEROON GRASSFIELDS
Authors: Fokwang Jude
Published: November 2015

This paper argues that the uniform, conceived as a special type of ‘social skin’, has been incorporated by individuals and groups into a complex chain of processes and meanings in the Cameroon Grassfields; I describe this practice as the uniformization of socio-cultural life. I demonstrate that uniforms, unlike ordinary clothing, are salient precisely because of their unique role as markers of collective identity but also because they embody and simultaneously express the paradox of similarity and difference. Central to these processes and construction of meaning are community-based associations that have elevated the uniform to a new kind of orthodoxy. These perspectives are borne out by ethnographic interpretations of the ways in which variously positioned subjects in the Grassfields relate to and embody the special object that the uniform represents.
Ethnic Inequality and the Ethnification of Political Parties
Authors: Huber John D. , Suryanarayan Pavithra
Published: November 2015

Why does ethnicity become a salient element of electoral politics in some places but not others? The authors argue that in majoritarian systems, ethnic identity is most salient to electoral behavior when there are high levels of inequality between ethnic groups. Theytest this argument in the Indian states and find that state-level party system ethnification is strongly correlated with economic inequality between groups, a pattern they also find in cross-national data. Theyalso show that in India, when income differences between groups increase, the groups tend to support different parties. The analysis reveals a strong class component to ethnic politics in India, underscoring the possibility that what scholars often view as identity politics can have an element of class politics in disguise.
Ethische Reflexion von Pflegenden im Akutbereich – eine Thematische Analyse
Authors: Barandun Schäfer Ursi , Ulrich Anja , Meyer-Zehnder Barbara , Frei Irena Anna
Published: November 2015

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Im Pflegealltag werden ethische Herausforderungen immer deutlicher artikuliert. Pflegende bringen Fragen zum pflegerischen Verantwortungsbereich jedoch selten zur systematischen Bearbeitung vor. Dies gab Anlass für eine Befragung ethisch engagierter Fachpersonen. Ziel: Anregungen zur Weiterentwicklung der Kompetenzen von Pflegenden in ethischen Reflexionen gewinnen. Methode: In zwei Fokusgruppen- und vier Einzelinterviews wurden 14 ethisch engagierte Fachpersonen befragt, darunter neun Pflegende. Resultate: Ethisch problematisch ist für Pflegende, wenn Präferenzen der Patienten nicht berücksichtigt oder wenn Patientinnen zu etwas gezwungen werden und der Eindruck entsteht, dass Pflege Leiden verschlimmert. Diese Aspekte werden oft übersehen, weil die Konsequenzen nicht unmittelbar sichtbar sind. Ethische Fragen aus dem pflegerischen Verantwortungsbereich werden häufig niederschwellig in informellen, unsystematischen Gesprächen unter Pflegenden angegangen. In Diskussionen zu den Therapiezielen engagieren sich Pflegende selbstbewusst und die Zusammenarbeit mit den Ärzten wird darin meist als partnerschaftlich erlebt. Dennoch zeigt sich das hierarchisch geprägte Rollengefüge zwischen Pflege und Medizin auch in Fragen der Ethik. Schlussfolgerung: Das Üben ethischer Reflexionen im Alltag, die strukturierte Gestaltung ethischer Fallbesprechungen und gezielte Fortbildungen können und sollen Pflegende befähigen, ethische Fragen aus dem Verantwortungsbereich der Pflege wahrzunehmen, zu analysieren und Antworten zu finden.
Breaking Internal Tides Keep the Ocean in Balance
Authors: Pinkel Robert , Alford Matthew , Lucas Andrew , Johnston Shaun , MacKinnon Jennifer , Waterhouse Amy , Jones Nicole , Kelly Sam , Klymak Jody , Nash Jonathan , Rainville Luc , Zhao Zhongxiang , Simmons Harper , Strutton Peter
Published: November 2015

By studying how underwater waves strike the continental slope off Tasmania, researchers seek to uncover the mechanisms that keep the circulation of the global ocean in balance.
Low-temperature-processed efficient semi-transparent planar perovskite solar cells for bifacial and tandem applications
Authors: Fu Fan , Feurer Thomas , Jäger Timo , Avancini Enrico , Bissig Benjamin , Yoon Songhak , Buecheler Stephan , Tiwari Ayodhya N.
Published: November 2015

Semi-transparent perovskite solar cells are highly attractive for a wide range of applications, such as bifacial and tandem solar cells; however, the power conversion efficiency of semi-transparent devices still lags behind due to missing suitable transparent rear electrode or deposition process. Here we report a low-temperature process for efficient semi-transparent planar perovskite solar cells. A hybrid thermal evaporation–spin coating technique is developed to allow the introduction of PCBM in regular device configuration, which facilitates the growth of high-quality absorber, resulting in hysteresis-free devices. We employ high-mobility hydrogenated indium oxide as transparent rear electrode by room-temperature radio-frequency magnetron sputtering, yielding a semi-transparent solar cell with steady-state efficiency of 14.2% along with 72% average transmittance in the near-infrared region. With such semi-transparent devices, we show a substantial power enhancement when operating as bifacial solar cell, and in combination with low-bandgap copper indium gallium diselenide we further demonstrate 20.5% efficiency in four-terminal tandem configuration.
No adaptation of a herbivore to a novel host but loss of adaptation to its native host
Authors: Grosman Amir H. , Molina-Rugama Adrián J. , Mendes-Dias Rondinelli , Sabelis Maurice W. , Menken Steph B.J. , Pallini Angelo , Breeuwer Johannes A.J. , Janssen Arne
Published: November 2015

Most herbivorous arthropods are host specialists and the question is which mechanisms drive the evolution of such specialization. The theory of antagonistic pleiotropy suggests that there is a trade-off between adaptation of herbivores to a novel host and their native host. The mutation accumulation hypothesis proposes that herbivores on a novel host lose their adaptation to the native host through the accumulation of mutations with negligible effects on performance on the novel host. Experimental evidence for either of the two hypotheses is scarce. We compared the fitness of two sympatric moth strains from an introduced host and a native host. The strain from the novel host did not perform better on this host than the strain from the native host. The strain from the novel host performed less well on the native host than did the strain from the native host. Hence, selection on the novel host did not result in noticeable gain in performance, but adaptation to the native host was lost. These results are more readily explained by the mutation-accumulation hypothesis than by the trade-off hypothesis.
Enhancing the methanol tolerance of platinum nanoparticles for the cathode reaction of direct methanol fuel cells through a geometric design
Authors: Feng Yan , Ye Feng , Liu Hui , Yang Jun
Published: November 2015

Mastery over the structure of nanoparticles might be an effective way to enhance their performance for a given application. Herein we demonstrate the design of cage-bell nanostructures to enhance the methanol tolerance of platinum (Pt) nanoparticles while remaining their catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction. This strategy starts with the synthesis of core-shell-shell nanoparticles with Pt and silver (Ag) residing respectively in the core and inner shell regions, which are then agitated with saturated sodium chloride (NaCl) solution to eliminate the Ag component from the inner shell region, leading to the formation of bimetallic nanoparticles with a cage-bell structure, defined as a movable Pt core enclosed by a metal shell with nano-channels, which exhibit superior methanol-tolerant property in catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction due to the different diffusion behaviour of methanol and oxygen in the porous metal shell of cage-bell structured nanoparticles. In particular, the use of remarkably inexpensive chemical agent (NaCl) to promote the formation of cage-bell structured particles containing a wide spectrum of metal shells highlights its engineering merit to produce highly selective electrocatalysts on a large scale for the cathode reaction of direct methanol fuel cells.
Conversion of biomass-derived sorbitol to glycols over carbon-materials supported Ru-based catalysts
Authors: Guo Xingcui , Guan Jing , Li Bin , Wang Xicheng , Mu Xindong , Liu Huizhou
Published: November 2015

Ruthenium (Ru) supported on activated carbon (AC) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was carried out in the hydrogenolysis of sorbitol to ethylene glycol (EG) and 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) under the promotion of tungsten (WOx) species and different bases. Their catalytic activities and glycols selectivities strongly depended on the support properties and location of Ru on CNTs, owning to the altered metal-support interactions and electronic state of ruthenium. Ru located outside of the tubes showed excellent catalytic performance than those encapsulated inside the nanotubes. Additionally, the introduction of WOx into Ru/CNTs significantly improved the hydrogenolysis activities and a complete conversion of sorbitol with up to 60.2% 1,2-PD and EG yields was obtained on RuWOx/CNTs catalyst upon addition of Ca(OH)2. Stability study showed that this catalyst was highly stable against leaching and poisoning and could be recycled several times.
The role of the coherence in the cross-correlation analysis of diffraction patterns from two-dimensional dense mono-disperse systems
Authors: Latychevskaia T. , Mancini G. F. , Carbone F.
Published: November 2015

The investigation of the static and dynamic structural properties of colloidal systems relies on techniques capable of atomic resolution in real space and femtosecond resolution in time. Recently, the cross-correlation function (CCF) analysis of both X-rays and electron diffraction patterns from dilute and dense aggregates has demonstrated the ability to retrieve information on the sample’s local order and symmetry. Open questions remain regarding the role of the beam coherence in the formation of the diffraction pattern and the properties of the CCF, especially in dense systems. Here, we simulate the diffraction patterns of dense two-dimensional monodisperse systems of different symmetries, varying the transverse coherence of the probing wave and analyze their CCF. We study samples with different symmetries at different size scale, as for example, pentamers arranged into a four-fold lattice where each pentamer is surrounded by triangular lattices, both ordered and disordered. In such systems, different symmetry modulations are arising in the CCF at specific scattering vectors. We demonstrate that the amplitude of the CCF is a fingerprint of the degree of the ordering in the sample and that at partial transverse coherence, the CCF of a dense sample corresponds to that of an individual scattering object.
Co-ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide/Luteolin Promotes the Maturation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells
Authors: Barbierato Massimo , Facci Laura , Marinelli Carla , Zusso Morena , Argentini Carla , Skaper Stephen D. , Giusti Pietro
Published: November 2015

Oligodendrocytes have limited ability to repair the damage to themselves or to other nerve cells, as seen in demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis. An important strategy may be to replace the lost oligodendrocytes and/or promote the maturation of undifferentiated oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Recent studies show that a composite of co-ultramicronized N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA) and luteolin (co-ultramicronized PEA/luteolin, 10:1 by mass) is efficacious in improving outcome in experimental models of spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. Here, we examined the ability of co-ultramicronized PEA/luteolin to promote progression of OPCs into a more differentiated phenotype. OPCs derived from newborn rat cortex were placed in culture and treated the following day with 10 μM co-ultramicronized PEA/luteolin. Cells were collected 1, 4 and 8 days later and analyzed for expression of myelin basic protein (MBP). qPCR and Western blot analyses revealed a time-dependent increase in expression of both mRNA for MBP and MBP content, along with an increased expression of genes involved in lipid biogenesis. Ultramicronized PEA or luteolin, either singly or in simple combination, were ineffective. Further, co-ultramicronized PEA/luteolin promoted morphological development of OPCs and total protein content without affecting proliferation. Co-ultramicronized PEA/luteolin may represent a novel pharmacological strategy to promote OPC maturation.
Mechanisms of three-dimensional growth of thyroid cells during long-term simulated microgravity
Authors: Kopp Sascha , Warnke Elisabeth , Wehland Markus , Aleshcheva Ganna , Magnusson Nils E. , Hemmersbach Ruth , Corydon Thomas Juhl , Bauer Johann , Infanger Manfred , Grimm Daniela
Published: November 2015

Three-dimensional multicellular spheroids (MCS) of human cells are important in cancer research. We investigated possible mechanisms of MCS formation of thyroid cells. Both, normal Nthy-ori 3–1 thyroid cells and the poorly differentiated follicular thyroid cancer cells FTC-133 formed MCS within 7 and 14 days of culturing on a Random Positioning Machine (RPM), while a part of the cells continued to grow adherently in each culture. The FTC-133 cancer cells formed larger and numerous MCS than the normal cells. In order to explain the different behaviour, we analyzed the gene expression of IL6, IL7, IL8, IL17, OPN, NGAL, VEGFA and enzymes associated cytoskeletal or membrane proteins (ACTB, TUBB, PFN1, CPNE1, TGM2, CD44, FLT1, FLK1, PKB, PKC, ERK1/2, Casp9, Col1A1) as well as the amount of secreted proteins (IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-17, OPN, NGAL, VEGFA). Several of these components changed during RPM-exposure in each cell line. Striking differences between normal and malignant cells were observed in regards to the expression of genes of NGAL, VEGFA, OPN, IL6 and IL17 and to the secretion of VEGFA, IL-17 and IL-6. These results suggest several gravi-sensitive growth or angiogenesis factors being involved in 3D formation of thyroid cells cultured under simulated microgravity.
Trends of HIV subtypes and phylogenetic dynamics among young men who have sex with men in China, 2009–2014
Authors: Li Zheng , Liao Lingjie , Feng Yi , Zhang Jing , Yan Jing , He Cui , Xu Wei , Ruan Yuhua , Xing Hui , Shao Yiming
Published: November 2015

To investigate the origins of HIV transmission and phylogenetic dynamics among men who have sex with men (MSM), a total of 1205 newly diagnosed HIV-infected 16–25 year-olds were recruited in 13 provinces across China between 2009 and 2014. Based on phylogenetic analyses of partial pol sequences, HIV-1 subtypes including CRF01_AE (45.3%), CRF07_BC (37.8%), subtype B (6.1%) and B’ (3.7%), as well as some other recombinants (7.1%) were identified. In addition to two distinct CRF01_AE clusters [cluster 4 (33.7%, 406/1205) and cluster 5 (7.1%, 85/1205)], we identified a new CRF07_BC cluster (cluster 1) (36.0%, 434/1205), which entered Chinese MSMs in 2004 and had been rapidly spreading since about 2004, which indicating the third wave of the HIV epidemic among the population. Moreover, two new clusters of CRF_01B recombinants were found in this study. The complexities of HIV subtypes and recombinants strongly supports the necessity for a comprehensive study about risk behaviors and their relationship with increasing HIV epidemic subtypes among the MSM group. Implementation and evaluation of comprehensive harm reduction strategies in Chinese MSM are urgently needed.
Tracing the structural evolution of eukaryotic ATP binding cassette transporter superfamily
Authors: Xiong Jie , Feng Jinmei , Yuan Dongxia , Zhou Jun , Miao Wei
Published: November 2015

The ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters superfamily is one of the largest classes of membrane proteins. The core of the ABC transporter protein is composed of transmembrane domains (TMDs) and nucleotide binding domains (NBD). Eukaryotes ABC transporters are classified into seven main families (ABCA to ABCG) based on sequence similarity and domain organizations. With different domain number and domain organizations, eukaryote ABC transporters show diverse structures: the single structure (NBD or TMD), the ABC2 structure (NBD-NBD), the half structure (TMD-NBD or NBD-TMD) and the full structure (TMD-NBD-TMD-NBD or NBD-TMD-NBD-TMD). However, studies on how various ABC transporter gene structures evolved is still absent. Therefore, in this study, we comprehensively investigated the structural evolution of eukaryotic ABC transporters. The seven eukaryote ABC transporter families (A to G) fell into three groups: A&G group, B,C&D group and E&F group. There were at least four times the number of NBD and TMD fusion events in the origin of the half structure transporter. Two fusion modes were found in the full and ABC2 structure origination. Based on these findings, we present a putative structural evolutionary path of eukaryote ABC transporters that will increase our understanding on their origin, divergence and function.
Virus-like nanostructures for tuning immune response
Authors: Mammadov Rashad , Cinar Goksu , Gunduz Nuray , Goktas Melis , Kayhan Handan , Tohumeken Sehmus , Topal Ahmet E. , Orujalipoor Ilghar , Delibasi Tuncay , Dana Aykutlu , Ide Semra , Tekinay Ayse B. , Guler Mustafa O.
Published: November 2015

Synthetic vaccines utilize viral signatures to trigger immune responses. Although the immune responses raised against the biochemical signatures of viruses are well characterized, the mechanism of how they affect immune response in the context of physical signatures is not well studied. In this work, we investigated the ability of zero- and one-dimensional self-assembled peptide nanostructures carrying unmethylated CpG motifs (signature of viral DNA) for tuning immune response. These nanostructures represent the two most common viral shapes, spheres and rods. The nanofibrous structures were found to direct immune response towards Th1 phenotype, which is responsible for acting against intracellular pathogens such as viruses, to a greater extent than nanospheres and CpG ODN alone. In addition, nanofibers exhibited enhanced uptake into dendritic cells compared to nanospheres or the ODN itself. The chemical stability of the ODN against nuclease-mediated degradation was also observed to be enhanced when complexed with the peptide nanostructures.In vivostudies showed that nanofibers promoted antigen-specific IgG production over 10-fold better than CpG ODN alone. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the modulation of the nature of an immune response through the shape of the carrier system.
Synthesis of Large Area Graphene for High Performance in Flexible Optoelectronic Devices
Authors: Polat Emre O. , Balci Osman , Kakenov Nurbek , Uzlu Hasan Burkay , Kocabas Coskun , Dahiya Ravinder
Published: November 2015

This work demonstrates an attractive low-cost route to obtain large area and high-quality graphene films by using the ultra-smooth copper foils which are typically used as the negative electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. We first compared the electronic transport properties of our new graphene film with the one synthesized by using commonly used standard copper foils in chemical vapor deposition (CVD). We observed a stark improvement in the electrical performance of the transistors realized on our graphene films. To study the optical properties on large area, we transferred CVD based graphene to transparent flexible substrates using hot lamination method and performed large area optical scanning. We demonstrate the promise of our high quality graphene films for large areas with ~400 cm2 flexible optical modulators. We obtained a profound light modulation over a broad spectrum by using the fabricated large area transparent graphene supercapacitors and we compared the performance of our devices with the one based on graphene from standard copper. We propose that the copper foils used in the lithium-ion batteries could be used to obtain high-quality graphene at much lower-cost, with the improved performance of electrical transport and optical properties in the devices made from them.
Differential immunogenicity between HAdV-5 and chimpanzee adenovirus vector ChAdOx1 is independent of fiber and penton RGD loop sequences in mice
Authors: Dicks Matthew D. J. , Spencer Alexandra J. , Coughlan Lynda , Bauza Karolis , Gilbert Sarah C. , Hill Adrian V. S. , Cottingham Matthew G.
Published: November 2015

Replication defective adenoviruses are promising vectors for the delivery of vaccine antigens. However, the potential of a vector to elicit transgene-specific adaptive immune responses is largely dependent on the viral serotype used. HAdV-5 (Human adenovirus C) vectors are more immunogenic than chimpanzee adenovirus vectors from species Human adenovirus E (ChAdOx1 and AdC68) in mice, though the mechanisms responsible for these differences in immunogenicity remain poorly understood. In this study, superior immunogenicity was associated with markedly higher levels of transgene expression in vivo, particularly within draining lymph nodes. To investigate the viral factors contributing to these phenotypes, we generated recombinant ChAdOx1 vectors by exchanging components of the viral capsid reported to be principally involved in cell entry with the corresponding sequences from HAdV-5. Remarkably, pseudotyping with the HAdV-5 fiber and/or penton RGD loop had little to no effect on in vivo transgene expression or transgene-specific adaptive immune responses despite considerable species-specific sequence heterogeneity in these components. Our results suggest that mechanisms governing vector transduction after intramuscular administration in mice may be different from those described in vitro.
High yield extraction of pure spinal motor neurons, astrocytes and microglia from single embryo and adult mouse spinal cord
Authors: Beaudet Marie-Josée , Yang Qiurui , Cadau Sébastien , Blais Mathieu , Bellenfant Sabrina , Gros-Louis François , Berthod François
Published: November 2015

Extraction of mouse spinal motor neurons from transgenic mouse embryos recapitulating some aspects of neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has met with limited success. Furthermore, extraction and long-term culture of adult mouse spinal motor neurons and glia remain also challenging. We present here a protocol designed to extract and purify high yields of motor neurons and glia from individual spinal cords collected on embryos and adult (5-month-old) normal or transgenic mice. This method is based on mild digestion of tissue followed by gradient density separation allowing to obtain two millions motor neurons over 92% pure from one E14.5 single embryo and more than 30,000 from an adult mouse. These cells can be cultured more than 14 days in vitro at a density of 100,000 cells/cm2 to maintain optimal viability. Functional astrocytes and microglia and small gamma motor neurons can be purified at the same time. This protocol will be a powerful and reliable method to obtain motor neurons and glia to better understand mechanisms underlying spinal cord diseases.
Solid Solutions of Rare Earth Cations in Mesoporous Anatase Beads and Their Performances in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Cavallo Carmen , Salleo Alberto , Gozzi Daniele , Di Pascasio Francesco , Quaranta Simone , Panetta Riccardo , Latini Alessandro
Published: November 2015

Solid solutions of the rare earth (RE) cations Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Gd3+, Er3+ and Yb3+ in anatase TiO2 have been synthesized as mesoporous beads in the concentration range 0.1–0.3% of metal atoms. The solid solutions were have been characterized by XRD, SEM, diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy, BET and BJH surface analysis. All the solid solutions possess high specific surface areas, up to more than 100 m2/g. The amount of adsorbed dye in each photoanode has been determined spectrophotometrically. All the samples were tested as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using N719 as dye and a nonvolatile, benzonitrile based electrolyte. All the cells were have been tested by conversion efficiency (J–V), quantum efficiency (IPCE), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and dark current measurements. While lighter RE cations (Pr3+, Nd3+) limit the performance of DSSCs compared to pure anatase mesoporous beads, cations from Sm3+ onwards enhance the performance of the devices. A maximum conversion efficiency of 8.7% for Er3+ at a concentration of 0.2% has been achieved. This is a remarkable efficiency value for a DSSC employing N719 dye without co-adsorbents and a nonvolatile electrolyte. For each RE cation the maximum performances are obtained for a concentration of 0.2% metal atoms.
Not seeing or feeling is still believing: conscious and non-conscious pain modulation after direct and observational learning
Authors: Egorova Natalia , Park Joel , Orr Scott P. , Kirsch Irving , Gollub Randy L. , Kong Jian
Published: November 2015

Our experience with the world is shaped not only directly through personal exposure but also indirectly through observing others and learning from their experiences. Using a conditioning paradigm, we investigated how directly and observationally learned information can affect pain perception, both consciously and non-consciously. Differences between direct and observed cues were manifest in higher pain ratings and larger skin conductance responses to directly experienced cues. However, the pain modulation effects produced by conditioning were of comparable magnitude for direct and observational learning. These results suggest that social observation can induce positive and negative pain modulation. Importantly, the fact that cues learned by observation and activated non-consciously still produced a robust conditioning effect that withstood extinction highlights the role of indirect exposure in placebo and nocebo effects.
Crosstalk between SDF-1/CXCR4 and SDF-1/CXCR7 in cardiac stem cell migration
Authors: Chen Dong , Xia Yanli , Zuo Ke , Wang Ying , Zhang Shiying , Kuang Dong , Duan Yaqi , Zhao Xia , Wang Guoping
Published: November 2015

Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) is a chemokine that can be expressed in injured cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction (MI). By combining with its receptor CXCR4, SDF-1 induced stem and progenitor cells migration. CXCR7, a novel receptor for SDF-1, has been identified recently. We aimed to explore the roles of SDF-1/CXCR4 and SDF-1/CXCR7 pathway and their crosstalk in CSCs migration. In the present study, CXCR4 and CXCR7 expression were identified in CSCs. Transwell assay showed that SDF-1 caused CSCs migration in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which could be significantly suppressed by CXCR4 or CXCR7 siRNA. Phospho-ERK, phospho-Akt and Raf-1 significantly elevated in CSCs with SDF-1 stimulation. Knockdown of CXCR4 or CXCR7 significantly decreased phospho-ERK or phospho-Akt, respectively and eventually resulted in the inhibition of CSCs migration. Moreover, western blot showed that MK2206 (Akt inhibitor) increased the expression of phospho-ERK and Raf-1, whereas PD98059 (ERK inhibitor) had no effect on phospho-Akt and Raf-1. GW5074 (Raf-1 inhibitor) upregulated the expression of phospho-ERK, but had no effect on phospho-Akt. The present study indicated that SDF-1/CXCR7/Akt and SDF-1/CXCR4/ERK pathway played important roles in CSCs migration. Akt phosphorylation inhibited Raf-1 activity, which in turn dephosphorylated ERK and negatively regulated CSCs migration.
Fully automatic GBM segmentation in the TCGA-GBM dataset: Prognosis and correlation with VASARI features
Authors: Rios Velazquez Emmanuel , Meier Raphael , Dunn Jr William D. , Alexander Brian , Wiest Roland , Bauer Stefan , Gutman David A. , Reyes Mauricio , Aerts Hugo J.W.L.
Published: November 2015

Reproducible definition and quantification of imaging biomarkers is essential. We evaluated a fully automatic MR-based segmentation method by comparing it to manually defined sub-volumes by experienced radiologists in the TCGA-GBM dataset, in terms of sub-volume prognosis and association with VASARI features. MRI sets of 109 GBM patients were downloaded from the Cancer Imaging archive. GBM sub-compartments were defined manually and automatically using the Brain Tumor Image Analysis (BraTumIA). Spearman’s correlation was used to evaluate the agreement with VASARI features. Prognostic significance was assessed using the C-index. Auto-segmented sub-volumes showed moderate to high agreement with manually delineated volumes (range (r): 0.4 – 0.86). Also, the auto and manual volumes showed similar correlation with VASARI features (auto r = 0.35, 0.43 and 0.36; manual r = 0.17, 0.67, 0.41, for contrast-enhancing, necrosis and edema, respectively). The auto-segmented contrast-enhancing volume and post-contrast abnormal volume showed the highest AUC (0.66, CI: 0.55–0.77 and 0.65, CI: 0.54–0.76), comparable to manually defined volumes (0.64, CI: 0.53–0.75 and 0.63, CI: 0.52–0.74, respectively). BraTumIA and manual tumor sub-compartments showed comparable performance in terms of prognosis and correlation with VASARI features. This method can enable more reproducible definition and quantification of imaging based biomarkers and has potential in high-throughput medical imaging research.