bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A literature review of flavonoids and lifespan in model organisms
Authors: Pallauf Kathrin , Duckstein Nils , Rimbach Gerald
Published: September 2016

Epidemiological data on consumption of flavonoid-containing food points to the notion that some of these secondary plant metabolites may favour healthy ageing. The aim of the present paper was to review the literature on lifespan extension by flavonoids in worms, flies and mice. In most studies, worms and flies experienced lifespan extension when supplemented with flavonoids either as extracts or single compounds. Studies with mutant worms and flies give hints as to which gene products may be regulated by flavonoids and consequently enhance longevity. We discuss the data considering putative mechanisms that may underlie flavonoid action such as energy-restriction-like effects, inhibition of insulin-like-growth-factor signalling, induction of antioxidant defence mechanisms, hormesis as well as antimicrobial properties. However, it remains uncertain whether human lifespan could be prolonged by increased flavonoid intake.
Towards an exposure-dependent model of post-traumatic stress: longitudinal course of post-traumatic stress symptomatology and functional impairment after the 2011 Oslo bombing
Authors: Solberg Ø. , Birkeland M. S. , Blix I. , Hansen M. B. , Heir T.
Published: September 2016

Background

Our understanding of the dynamics of post-traumatic stress symptomatology and its link to functional impairment over time is limited.

Method

Post-traumatic stress symptomatology (Post-traumatic Checklist, PCL) was assessed three times in 1-year increments (T1, T2, T3) following the Oslo bombing of 22 July, 2011, in directly (n= 257) and indirectly exposed (n= 2223) government employees, together with demographics, measures of exposure and work and social adjustment. The dynamics of post-traumatic stress disorder symptom cluster interplay were examined within a structural equation modelling framework using a cross-lagged autoregressive panel model.

Results

Intrusions at T1 played a prominent role in predicting all symptom clusters at T2 for the directly exposed group, exhibiting especially strong cross-lagged relationships with avoidance and anxious arousal. For the indirectly exposed group, dysphoric arousal at T1 played the most prominent role in predicting all symptom clusters at T2, exhibiting a strong relationship with emotional numbing. Emotional numbing seemed to be the main driver behind prolonged stress at T3 for both groups. Functional impairment was predominately associated with dysphoric arousal and emotional numbing in both groups.

Conclusions

For directly exposed individuals, memories of the traumatic incident and the following intrusions seem to drive their post-traumatic stress symptomatology. However, as these memories lose their potency over time, a sequela of dysphoric arousal and emotional numbing similar to the one reported by the indirectly exposed individuals seems to be the main driver for prolonged post-traumatic stress and functional impairment. Findings are discussed using contemporary models within an exposure-dependent perspective of post-traumatic stress.
COST OF INTENSIVE CARE IN INDIA
Authors: Peter John Victor , Thomas Kurien , Jeyaseelan Lakshmanan , Yadav Bijesh , Sudarsan Thomas Isiah , Christina Jony , Revathi Anna , John K R , Sudarsanam Thambu David
Published: September 2016

Objectives: The majority of patients in India access private sector providers for curative medical services. However, there is scanty information on the cost of treatment of critically ill patients in this setting. The study evaluates the cost and extent of financial subsidy required for patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in India.

Methods: Data on direct medical, direct nonmedical, and indirect cost were prospectively collected from critically ill patients admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital in India. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) amount was obtained from the next-of-kin following admission and the actual cost paid by the family at discharge was recorded.

Results: The main diagnoses (n = 499) were infection (26 percent) and poisoning (21 percent). The mean APACHE-II score was 13.9 (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 13.3–14.5); 86 percent were ventilated. ICU stay was 7.8 days (95 percent CI, 7.3–8.3). Hospital mortality was 27.9 percent. Direct medical cost accounted for 77 percent (US$ 2164) of the total treatment cost (US$ 2818). Indirect cost and direct nonmedical cost contributed to 19 percent (US$ 547.5) and 4 percent (US$ 106.5), respectively. Average total and daily ICU cost were US$ 1,897 and US$ 255, respectively. Although the family's WTP was 53 percent (US$ 1146; 95 percent CI, 1090–1204) of direct medical cost, their final contribution was 67.7 percent (US$ 1465; 95 percent CI, 1327–1604).

Conclusions: The cost of an ICU admission in our setting is US$ 2818. Although the family's contribution to expenses exceeded their initial WTP, a substantial subsidy (33 percent) is still required. Alternate financing strategies for the poor and optimization of ICU resources are urgently required.
Heterogeneous tree recruitment following disturbance in insular tropical forest, Kingdom of Tonga
Authors: Franklin Janet , Rey Sergio J.
Published: September 2016

What factors are related to establishment dynamics following disturbance in late-successional versus second-growth tropical forests of the Pacific islands? Are those relationships robust to interannual fluctuations in establishment? In three sites juveniles were enumerated in 30 (5 × 5-m) subplots within 45 × 50-m tree plots in 2004 and 2005, 2.5 and 3.5 y following a Category-3 tropical cyclone (hurricane), in the Vava'u Island Group, Kingdom of Tonga. Recruitment was almost three-fold greater in the second sample period. Spatial pattern of focal species density was related to density of other juveniles, proximity of conspecific adults and canopy cover in the two years using Seemingly Unrelated Regression. Shade-tolerant species were the most abundant recruits in late-successional sites, establishing near-conspecific adults and other juveniles, while shade-establishing species were recruiting in gaps in second-growth forest where they also constitute the canopy trees. This pattern, observed in both years, reinforces divergent successional trajectories for second-growth and late-successional forest.
An Inhomogeneous Jarník type theorem for planar curves
Authors: BADZIAHIN DZMITRY , HARRAP STEPHEN , HUSSAIN MUMTAZ
Published: September 2016

In metric Diophantine approximation there are classically four main classes of approximations: simultaneous and dual for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous settings. The well known measure-theoretic theorems of Khintchine and Jarník are fundamental to each of them. Recently, there has been substantial progress towards establishing a metric theory of Diophantine approximation on manifolds for each of the classes above. In particular, both Khintchine and Jarník-type results have been established for approximation on planar curves except for only one case. In this paper, we prove an inhomogeneous Jarník type theorem for convergence on planar curves in the setting of dual approximation and in so doing complete the metric theory of Diophantine approximation on planar curves.
On the φ-Selmer groups of the elliptic curvesy2=x3−Dx
Authors: KANE DANIEL M. , THORNE JACK A.
Published: September 2016

We study the variation of the φ-Selmer groups of the elliptic curvesy2=x3−Dxunder quartic twists by square-free integers. We obtain a complete description of the distribution of the size of this group when the integerDis constrained to lie in a family for which the relative Tamagawa number of the isogeny φ is fixed.
Illness absenteeism rates in primary and secondary schools in 2013–2014 in England: was there any impact of vaccinating children of primary-school age against influenza?
Authors: GREEN H. K. , BROUSSEAU N. , ANDREWS N. , SELBY L. , PEBODY R.
Published: September 2016

A phased introduction of routine influenza vaccination of healthy children was recommended in the UK in 2012, with the aim of protecting both vaccinated children and the wider population through reducing transmission. In the first year of the programme in 2013–2014, 4- to 11-year-olds were targeted in pilot areas across England. This study assesses if this was associated with school absenteeism, an important societal burden of influenza. During the spring 2014 term when influenza predominantly circulated, the proportion of absence sessions due to illness was compared between vaccination pilot and non-pilot areas for primary schools (to measure overall impact) and secondary schools (to measure indirect impact). A linear multilevel regression model was applied, adjusting for clustering within schools and potential school-level confounders, including deprivation, past absenteeism, and ethnicity. Low levels of influenza activity were reported in the community in 2013–2014. Primary schools in pilot areas had a significantly adjusted decrease in illness absenteeism of 0·05% relative to non-pilot schools; equivalent to an average of 4 days per school. In secondary schools, there was no significant indirect impact of being located in a pilot area on illness absenteeism. These insights can be used in conjunction with routine healthcare surveillance data to evaluate the full benefits of such a programme.
Faecal carriage of extended-spectrumβ-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coliin asymptomatic nursery children in Lower Saxony (Germany), 2014
Authors: HARRIES M. , DREESMAN J. , RETTENBACHER-RIEFLER S. , MERTENS E.
Published: September 2016

Children may be at higher risk for carriage of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria because of higher usage of antimicrobials. They also have higher rates of Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) infections than other population groups. Some infections, particularly in children, are asymptomatic, but still lead to the excretion of large numbers of bacteria and viruses that may cause clinical disease in other individuals. That is one reason why, in Lower Saxony as in other German federal states – asymptomatic carriers of STEC are excluded from nurseries and schools until three consecutive stool samples test negative in order to prevent secondary cases. The prevalence of children who are asymptomatic STEC carriers is unknown. But if it is high, this measure would have substantial socioeconomic effects on families. Infections with extended-spectrumβ-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) are an increasing problem for public health, especially for hospitals. However, there are no reliable estimates of the prevalence of asymptomatic ESBL-E carriers in Lower Saxony, as there is no mandatory requirement to report these carriers. In order to discuss the exclusion policies for children attending nurseries and ascertain a baseline of ESBL-E carriers, we conducted a cross-sectional study. The aim was to determine the prevalence of ESBL-E and STEC and identify risk factors for carriage in nursery children without diarrhoea (asymptomatic) aged 0–6 years in four selected districts in Northern Germany. During April–September 2014, we collected stool specimens with the support of voluntarily participating nurseries. We tested for STEC by PCR and for ESBL-E on chromogenic agar. Questionnaires answered by parents contained data on eating and drinking habits, outdoor activities, prior antibiotic treatment and animal contact for each participating child. We compared the epidemiological characteristics of ESBL-E carriersvs.non-carriers by using univariable analysis (Pvalue, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval). We could not perform a statistical analysis for STEC carriers due to the low numbers of positive STEC specimens. Of 224 asymptomatic nursery children, we found a prevalence of 2·3% for ESBL-E carriage and 0·5% for STEC carriage. Asymptomatic ESBL-E carriers were more likely to have consumed raw milk, have had contact with pet rodents, or to have taken antibiotics during the preceding 6 months. We also found a high proportion of raw milk consumption (11%). We suggest that the low STEC prevalence in asymptomatic children supports the current practice of excluding STEC carriers from nurseries. The association between ESBL-E carriage and raw milk consumption and contact with pet rodents needs further investigation.
Keyword extraction from emails
Authors: LAHIRI S. , MIHALCEA R. , LAI P.-H.
Published: September 2016

Emails constitute an important genre of online communication. Many of us are often faced with the daunting task of sifting through increasingly large amounts of emails on a daily basis. Keywords extracted from emails can help us combat such information overload by allowing a systematic exploration of the topics contained in emails. Existing literature on keyword extraction has not covered the email genre, and no human-annotated gold standard datasets are currently available. In this paper, we introduce a new dataset for keyword extraction from emails, and evaluate supervised and unsupervised methods for keyword extraction from emails. The results obtained with our supervised keyword extraction system (38.99% F-score) improve over the results obtained with the best performing systems participating in theSemEval2010 keyword extraction task.
Farm production, market access and dietary diversity in Malawi
Authors: Koppmair Stefan , Kassie Menale , Qaim Matin
Published: September 2016

Objective

The association between farm production diversity and dietary diversity in rural smallholder households was recently analysed. Most existing studies build on household-level dietary diversity indicators calculated from 7d food consumption recalls. Herein, this association is revisited with individual-level 24 h recall data. The robustness of the results is tested by comparing household- and individual-level estimates. The role of other factors that may influence dietary diversity, such as market access and agricultural technology, is also analysed.

Design

A survey of smallholder farm households was carried out in Malawi in 2014. Dietary diversity scores are calculated from 24 h recall data. Production diversity scores are calculated from farm production data covering a period of 12 months. Individual- and household-level regression models are developed and estimated.

Setting

Data were collected in sixteen districts of central and southern Malawi.

Subjects

Smallholder farm households (n408), young children (n519) and mothers (n408).

Results

Farm production diversity is positively associated with dietary diversity. However, the estimated effects are small. Access to markets for buying food and selling farm produce and use of chemical fertilizers are shown to be more important for dietary diversity than diverse farm production. Results with household- and individual-level dietary data are very similar.

Conclusions

Further increasing production diversity may not be the most effective strategy to improve diets in smallholder farm households. Improving access to markets, productivity-enhancing inputs and technologies seems to be more promising.
Development of a brief, reliable and valid diet assessment tool for impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes: the UK Diabetes and Diet Questionnaire
Authors: England Clare Y , Thompson Janice L , Jago Russ , Cooper Ashley R , Andrews Rob C
Published: September 2016

Objective

Dietary advice is fundamental in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Advice is improved by individual assessment but existing methods are time-consuming and require expertise. We developed a twenty-five-item questionnaire, the UK Diabetes and Diet Questionnaire (UKDDQ), for quick assessment of an individual’s diet. The present study examined the UKDDQ’s repeatability and relative validity compared with 4 d food diaries.

Design

The UKDDQ was completed twice with a median 3 d gap (interquartile range=1–7 d) between tests. A 4 d food diary was completed after the second UKDDQ. Diaries were analysed and food groups were mapped on to the UKDDQ. Absolute agreement between total scores was examined using intra-class correlation (ICC). Agreement for individual items was tested with Cohen’s weighted kappa (κw).

Setting

South West of England.

Subjects

Adults (n 177, 50·3 % women) with, or at high risk for, T2DM; mean age 55·8 (sd 8·6) years, mean BMI 34·4 (sd 7·3) kg/m2; participants were 91 % White British.

Results

The UKDDQ showed excellent repeatability (ICC=0·90 (0·82, 0·94)). For individual items, κw ranged from 0·43 (‘savoury pastries’) to 0·87 (‘vegetables’). Total scores from the UKDDQ and food diaries compared well (ICC=0·54 (0·27, 0·70)). Agreement for individual items varied and was good for ‘alcohol’ (κw=0·71) and ‘breakfast cereals’ (κw=0·70), with no agreement for ‘vegetables’ (κw=0·08) or ‘savoury pastries’ (κw=0·09).

Conclusions

The UKDDQ is a new British dietary questionnaire with excellent repeatability. Comparisons with food diaries found agreements similar to those for international dietary questionnaires currently in use. It targets foods and habits important in diabetes prevention and management.
Faith-based intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake among Koreans in the USA: a feasibility pilot
Authors: Hughes Suzanne C , Obayashi Saori
Published: September 2016

Objective

In the USA, adults of Korean descent tend to eat fewer vegetables than adults in South Korea. The present pilot study examined the feasibility of developing and implementing a faith-based intervention to improve knowledge, attitudes and intake of fruit and vegetables (F&V) for Koreans in the USA.

Design

Feasibility pilot using a cluster-randomized intervention trial design. The multicomponent intervention included motivational interviewing sessions by telephone and church-based group activities.

Setting

Eleven of the largest Korean churches in Southern California.

Subjects

Adults (n 71) from the eleven Korean churches.

Results

Feasibility was demonstrated for the study procedures, including recruitment of churches and individual participants. Allocating time throughout the study for church collaboration and having a study church coordinator to coordinate multiple churches were crucial. Participants’ attendance at church activities (89 %) and participation by pastors and fellow churchgoers exceeded expectations. Participants’ use of intervention materials was high (94 % or above) and satisfaction with coaching sessions was also high (75 % or above). Having a centralized coach trained in motivational interviewing, instead of one at each church, proved practical. Pilot results are promising for F&V knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. The intervention group improved knowledge and intake of the recommended amounts of F&V, above that of the control group.

Conclusions

This pilot suggests that Koreans in the USA can be reached through their church and that a faith-based intervention study can be implemented to increase F&V intake. Preliminary results for the intervention appear promising but further research is needed to properly evaluate its efficacy.
Natural progression and clinical significance of incidentally detected pulmonary nodules in radiotherapy planning CT scans of breast cancer patients: a retrospective cohort
Authors: Balu Krishna Sasidharan , Varghese Sunitha Susan , Gopurathingal Paul Gopu , Reddy Pilaka Venkata Krishna , Backianathan Selvamani
Published: September 2016

Aim

Indeterminate pulmonary nodules incidentally detected during radiological imaging completed for radiotherapy planning always creates dilemma for the oncologist. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of pulmonary nodules incidentally detected in patients undergoing locoregional radiotherapy for breast cancer and present a retrospective analysis of the natural progression of such nodules.

Methods

A retrospective review of computed tomography scans of breast cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy over a period of 3 years to screen out patients with indeterminate lung nodules was undertaken. This was correlated with the patient and tumour characteristics and the status of the disease at last follow-up.

Results

Of the 132 patients reviewed 28 had indeterminate lung nodules. Of the 28 patients, four had progressive lung nodules on follow-up. Subgroup analyses did not show any significant correlation.

Discussion and conclusion

One fifth of patients may present with incidentally detected lung nodules. Multiple nodules, ER negative status and locally advanced breast cancer may point to a higher risk of these nodules progressing to metastatic cancer. There is no indication to stop locoregional therapy in the presence of indeterminate nodules, but close follow-up of high-risk group is recommended.
Casting a wider net in behavioral health screening in primary care: a preliminary study of the Outcome Rating Scale
Authors: DeSantis Brian , Jackson Miranda J. , Duncan Barry L. , Reese Robert J.
Published: September 2016

Introduction

The integration of behavioral health services into primary care has led to enhanced use of brief screening measures to identify mental health problems. Although useful, such instruments are largely symptom based and diagnosis specific. This narrow focus can potentially limit the identification of broader social or relational distress in patients that affect medical outcomes, as well as present feasibility challenges using a multi-measure approach in identifying mental health comorbidities.

Method

This exploratory study of adult primary care patients compared an ultra-brief, and widely used measure of global distress across life functioning, the Outcome Rating Scale (ORS), with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9 and PHQ-2).

Results

Correlations between the ORS and the PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 indicated agreement between the measures in classifying patients, and the ORS identified significantly more patients in the clinical range.

Discussion

Although results are preliminary, the ORS may cast a wider net in identifying patients with significant distress in primary care.
Responding to the Troubled Families Programme: Framing the Injuries of Inequality
Authors: Sayer Andrew
Published: September 2016

Government initiatives such as the Troubled Families Programme present a difficult problem for social scientists: how to discuss the policies without accepting and appearing to legitimise the problematic framing of social problems that they embody. The programme is characteristically neoliberal in its silence on structural inequality and in its targeting of certain families as deficient and wholly responsible for their situation. Like so many such programmes, its primary addressee is arguably not merely those targeted by the policies but the wider electorate. The paper discusses the dilemmas of challenging the policy's framing. First it makes some general points about the different characters of political and academic discourses, before examining some key features of the framing of TFP, its conceptualisation of social causes of problems and individual responsibility, and how social scientists might respond. It then draws upon the work of George Lakoff to comment on how the impact of policy and political discourse depends on the kinds of value systems it invokes, before concluding.
A Qualitative Study Exploring Matters of Ill-being and Well-being in Norwegian Activation Policy
Authors: Ohls Carolina
Published: September 2016

This article is based on a qualitative study exploring reasons for ill-being and well-being among twenty participants in a Norwegian activation programme. The Qualification Programme aims to enhance participants’ overall life situations and employability by offering work training to long-term social assistance recipients, among other things. As an analytic framework for discussing ill-being and well-being, this article employs Amartya Sen's capability approach, which assesses the individual's ability to live a good life, and Martha Nussbaum's conceptualisation of that approach. The findings indicate that hardship was demonstrated in the respondents’ lives: participants could not cope financially and suffered from mental and physical health problems, while shame worsened their circumstances. However, participants also showed signs of enhanced well-being as they experienced increased individual agency. The study indicated a disparity between the intended and the actual direction of change in the lives of programme participants.
Willingness to use hospice care among caregivers of Latino patients in the United States–Mexico border region
Authors: Ko Eunjeong , Lee Jaehoon , Ramirez Carlos , Martinez Stephanie , Lopez Denicka
Published: September 2016

Objective:

Hospice is an important method of promoting quality end-of-life (EoL) care, yet its utilization is relatively low in underserved populations. The unique characteristics of a border community—such as a lack of healthcare resources and cultural integration—impact EoL decision making. The aim of our study was to assess the willingness to use hospice care services and its predictors among family caregivers of Latino patients in the United States (U.S.)–Mexico border region of Southern California.

Method:

This study analyzes secondary data from a home health agency in the U.S.–Mexico border region. Quantitative data were collected via a face-to-face interview with 189 caregivers of patients enrolled in the agency. Bivariate tests and logistic regression were employed to address our study objectives.

Results:

The majority (83%) of family caregivers were willing to use hospice services for their loved ones. The factors impacting willingness to use hospice services included the primary language of the caregiver (OR = 6.30, CI95% = 1.68, 23.58); trust in doctors to make the right decisions (OR = 3.77, CI95% = 1.05, 13.57); and the belief that using hospice care means giving up on life (OR = 0.52, CI95% = 0.30; 0.88). Caregivers who trusted doctors to make the best decisions for their loved ones and English-speaking caregivers were more willing to utilize hospice services, while caregivers who held a strong belief that hospice care means giving up on life were less likely to consider using hospice care for their loved ones.

Significance of results:

The willingness of family caregivers to use hospice services for their loved ones is influenced by cultural perspectives about hospice care. As the importance of family involvement in EoL care planning has been highlighted, family caregivers' beliefs about hospice care services need to be addressed within their particular cultural context.
Yield, product quality and energy use in organic vegetable living mulch cropping systems: research evidence and farmers’ perception
Authors: Canali S. , Ortolani L. , Campanelli G. , Robačer M. , von Fragstein P. , D'Oppido D. , Kristensen H.L.
Published: September 2016

The effects of living mulch (LM) introduction and management strategies on cash crop yield, product quality and energy use were studied in a wide range of European vegetable cropping systems, climatic and soil conditions, as well as species of LM grown as agro-ecological service crops. Nine field experiments were carried out in research stations and commercial farms located in Denmark, Germany, Italy and Slovenia. Farmers’ perception of the feasibility and applicability of the LM technique was also assessed.

The results demonstrated that the LM systems with a substitutive design can be effectively implemented in vegetable production if the value of the ecological services (positive externalities) delivered by LM can counterbalance the yield loss due to the cash crop density reduction. The crop density of the system and the length of the period in which the LM and cash crop coexist are oppositely related both for competition and yield. Moreover, if an additive design is used, the LM should be sown several weeks after the cash crop planting. Overall, different cash crop genotypes (i.e., open pollinated/local cultivars in comparison with the hybrids) performed similarly. Use of human labor (HL) and fossil fuel (FF) energy slightly increased in LM systems (7%), and there was a shift in the proportion of FF and human energy consumption. The farmers’ acceptance of the LM techniques was quite high (75% of the interviewed sample), even though their critical considerations about yield quality and quantity need consideration in future research and practical implementation of LM systems.
The particle and magnetic environments surrounding close-in exoplanets
Authors: Vidotto A. A. , Fares R. , Jardine M. , Moutou C. , Donati J.-F.
Published: September 2016

The proper characterisation of stellar winds is essential for the study of propagation of eruptive events (flares, coronal mass ejections) and the study of space weather events on exoplanets. Here, we quantitatively investigate the nature of the stellar winds surrounding the hot Jupiters HD46375b, HD73256b, HD102195b, HD130322b, HD179949b. We simulate the three-dimensional winds of their host stars, in which we directly incorporate their observed surface magnetic fields. With that, we derive the wind properties at the position of the hot-Jupiters’ orbits (temperature, velocity, magnetic field intensity and pressure). We show that the exoplanets studied here are immersed in a local stellar wind that is much denser than the local conditions encountered around the solar system planets (e.g., 5 orders of magnitude denser than the conditions experienced by the Earth). The environment surrounding these exoplanets also differs in terms of dynamics (slower stellar winds, but higher Keplerian velocities) and ambient magnetic fields (2 to 3 orders of magnitude larger than the interplanetary medium surrounding the Earth). The characterisation of the host star's wind is also crucial for the study of how the wind interacts with exoplanets. For example, we compute the exoplanetary radio emission that is released in the wind-exoplanet interaction. For the hot-Jupiters studied here, we find radio fluxes ranging from 0.02 to 0.13 mJy. These fluxes could become orders of magnitude higher when stellar eruptions impact exoplanets, increasing the potential of detecting exoplanetary radio emission.
GREGOR observations of a small flare above a sunspot
Authors: Sobotka M. , Dudík J. , Denker C. , Balthasar H. , Jurčák J. , Liu W. ,   the GREGOR Team
Published: September 2016

A small flare ribbon above a sunspot umbra in active region 12205 was observed on November 7, 2014, at 12:00 UT in the blue imaging channel of the 1.5-m GREGOR telescope, using a 0.1 nm Ca II H interference filter. Context observations from SDO/AIA, Hinode/SOT, and IRIS show that the ribbon is a part of a larger one that extends through the neighboring positive polarities and also participates in several other flares within the active region. A 140 second long time series of Ca II H images was reconstructed by means of the Multi-Frame Blind Deconvolution method, giving the respective spatial and temporal resolutions of 0”.1 and 1 s. Light curves and horizontal velocities of small-scale bright knots in the observed flare ribbon were measured. Some knots are stationary but three move along the ribbon with speeds of 7–11 km s−1. Two of them move in the opposite direction and exhibit highly correlated intensity changes, providing evidence for the presence of slipping reconnection at small spatial scales.
High-temperature solar flare plasma behaviour from crystal spectrometer observations
Authors: Sylwester Barbara , Sylwester Janusz , Phillips Kenneth J.H. , Kepa Anna , Mrozek Tomasz
Published: September 2016

We present results of analysis of the spectra collected with Polish instrument RESIK flown on CORONAS-F satellite. RESIK was the bent crystal spectrometer, measuring spectra in the spectral range 3.3 - 6.1 Å with a high cadence during flares. The emission lines as well as the continuum observed by RESIK are formed in hotter (T > 3 MK) plasmas of active regions and flares. RESIK observed various types of flares: from X-ray class B and C up to strongest flares of X-class, for both, short and long duration events. The analysis of absolute and relative spectral intensities of the lines and continuum observed for 33 events allowed for determining the plasma elemental composition with subsequent detailed study of time changes of the temperature structure of the sources described in terms of the differential emission measure (DEM). As an example we present the typical DEM evolutionary patterns for the C1.9 flare (SOL2002-12-26T08:35) and discuss its thermodynamics.
Numerical RHD simulations of flaring chromosphere with Flarix
Authors: Heinzel Petr , Kašparová Jana , Varady Michal , Karlický Marian , Moravec Zdeněk
Published: September 2016

Flarix is a radiation–hydrodynamical (RHD) code for modeling of the response of the chromosphere to a beam bombardment during solar flares. It solves the set of hydrodynamic conservation equations coupled with NLTE equations of radiative transfer. The simulations are driven by high energy electron beams. We present results of the Flarix simulations of a flaring loop relevant to the problem of continuum radiation during flares. In particular we focus on properties of the hydrogen Balmer continuum which was recently detected by IRIS.
Descriptive study of X-class flares released in the year 2014, during the double peak of SC-24
Authors: Hady Ahmed A. , Mostafa Marwa H. , Samwel Susan W.
Published: September 2016

During the declining phase of the Solar cycle 24, a new peak appeared on January 7, 2014. The release of x-class flares, with the high energetic particles, were found to be more intense than that occurred during the main peak of the same cycle. Few X-class flares were released, lately, during the year 2014. We note that during the last 5 solar cycles, a new peak has appeared, releasing high energetic particles and X-class solar flares, which are called the secondary peak or the double peak of solar cycle. The aim of this descriptive study is to follow the morphological and magnetic changes of the active region before, during, and after the production of X-class flares according to data analysis. Furthermore, the causes of the release of such eruptive storms have been discussed for the period, year 2014, during the double peak of the solar cycle 24.
First radio burst imaging observation from Mingantu Ultrawide Spectral Radioheliograph
Authors: Yan Yihua , Chen Linjie , Yu Sijie ,   CSRH Team
Published: September 2016

The Chinese Spectral Radioheliograph (CSRH) with two arrays in 400MHz-2GHz/2-15GHz ranges with 64/520 frequency channels have been established in Mingantu Observing Station, Inner Mongolia of China, since 2013 and is in test observations now. CSRH is renamed as Mingantu Ultrawide SpEctral Radioheliograph (MUSER) after its accomplishment. We introduce the progress and current status of MUSER. The first burst imaging results of MUSER is presented.
Magnetism and activity of planet hosting stars
Authors: Wright Jason T. , Miller Brendan P.
Published: September 2016

The magnetic activity levels of planet host stars may differ from that of stars not known to host planets in several ways. Hot Jupiters may induce activity in their hosts through magnetic interactions, or through tidal interactions by affecting their host's rotation or convection. Measurements of photospheric, chromospheric, or coronal activity might then be abnormally high or low compared to control stars that do not host hot Jupiters, or might be modulated at the planet's orbital period. Such detections are complicated by the small amplitude of the expected signal, by the fact that the signals may be transient, and by the difficulty of constructing control samples due to exoplanet detection biases and the uncertainty of field star ages. We review these issues, and discuss avenues for future progress in the field.
Conditions for the existence of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in a CME
Authors: Páez Andrés , Jatenco-Pereira Vera , Falceta-Gonçcalves Diego , Opher Merav
Published: September 2016

The presence of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) in the sheaths of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) has been proposed and observed by several authors in the literature. In the present work, we assume their existence and propose a method to constrain the local properties, like the CME magnetic field intensity for the development of KHI. We study a CME in the initiation phase interacting with the slow solar wind (Zone I) and with the fast solar wind (Zone II). Based on the theory of magnetic KHI proposed by Chandrasekhar (1961) we found the radial heliocentric interval for the KHI existence, in particular we constrain it with the CME magnetic field intensity. We conclude that KHI may exist in both CME Zones but it is perceived that Zone I is more appropriated for the KHI formation.
The South African War as humanitarian crisis
Authors: van Heyningen Elizabeth
Published: September 2016

Although the South African War was a colonial war, it aroused great interest abroad as a test of international morality. Both the Boer republics were signatories to the Geneva Convention of 1864, as was Britain, but the resources of these small countries were limited, for their populations were small and, before the discovery of gold in 1884, government revenues were trifling. It was some time before they could put even the most rudimentary organization in place. In Europe, public support from pro-Boers enabled National Red Cross Societies from such countries as the Netherlands, France, Germany, Russia and Belgium to send ambulances and medical aid to the Boers. The British military spurned such aid, but the tide of public opinion and the hospitals that the aid provided laid the foundations for similar voluntary aid in the First World War. Until the fall of Pretoria in June 1900, the war had taken the conventional course of pitched battles and sieges. Although the capitals of both the Boer republics had fallen to the British by June 1900, the Boer leaders decided to continue the conflict. The Boer military system, based on locally recruited, compulsory commando service, was ideally suited to guerrilla warfare, and it was another two years before the Boers finally surrendered. During this period of conflict, about 30,000 farms were burnt and the country was reduced to a wasteland. Women and children, black and white, were installed in camps which were initially ill-conceived and badly managed, giving rise to high mortality, especially of the children. As the scandal of the camps became known, European humanitarian aid shifted to the provision of comforts for women and children. While the more formal aid organizations, initiated by men, preferred to raise funds for post-war reconstruction, charitable relief for the camps was often provided by informal women's organizations. These ranged from church groups to personal friends of the Boers, to women who wished to be associated with the work of their menfolk.
Trends in work disability with mental diagnoses among social workers in Finland and Sweden in 2005–2012
Authors: Rantonen O. , Alexanderson K. , Pentti J. , Kjeldgård L. , Hämäläinen J. , Mittendorfer-Rutz E. , Kivimäki M. , Vahtera J. , Salo P.
Published: September 2016

Aims

Social workers report high levels of stress and have an increased risk for hospitalisation with mental diagnoses. However, it is not known whether the risk of work disability with mental diagnoses is higher among social workers compared with other human service professionals. We analysed trends in work disability (sickness absence and disability pension) with mental diagnoses and return to work (RTW) in 2005–2012 among social workers in Finland and Sweden, comparing with such trends in preschool teachers, special education teachers and psychologists.

Methods

Records of work disability (>14 days) with mental diagnoses (ICD-10 codes F00–F99) from nationwide health registers were linked to two prospective cohort projects: the Finnish Public Sector study, years 2005–2011 and the Insurance Medicine All Sweden database, years 2005–2012. The Finnish sample comprised 4849 employees and the Swedish 119 219 employees covering four occupations: social workers (Finland 1155/Sweden 23 704), preschool teachers (2419/74 785), special education teachers (832/14 004) and psychologists (443/6726). The reference occupations were comparable regarding educational level. Risk of work disability was analysed with negative binomial regression and RTW with Cox proportional hazards.

Results

Social workers in Finland and Sweden had a higher risk of work disability with mental diagnoses compared with preschool teachers and special education teachers (rate ratios (RR) 1.43–1.91), after adjustment for age and sex. In Sweden, but not in Finland, social workers also had higher work disability risk than psychologists (RR 1.52; 95% confidence interval 1.28–1.81). In Sweden, in the final model special education teachers had a 9% higher probability RTW than social workers. In Sweden, in the final model the risks for work disability with depression diagnoses and stress-related disorder diagnoses were similar to the risk with all mental diagnoses (RR 1.40–1.77), and the probability of RTW was 6% higher in preschool teachers after work disability with depression diagnoses and 9% higher in special education teachers after work disability with stress-related disorder diagnoses compared with social workers.

Conclusion

Social workers appear to be at a greater risk of work disability with mental diagnoses compared with other human service professionals in Finland and Sweden. It remains to be studied whether the higher risk is due to selection of vulnerable employees to social work or the effect of work-related stress in social work. Further studies should focus on these mechanisms and the risk of work disability with mental diagnoses among human service professionals.
New Technique Tracks Rock Deformation at a Micrometric Scale
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: September 2016

Scientists explore microscopic marble deformation at high pressures and temperatures using a novel experimental technique that could improve our understanding of rock deformation in nature.
Senior Scientists Must Engage in the Fight Against Harassment
Authors: Diniega Serina , Tan Joshua , Tiscareno Matthew , Wehner Elizabeth
Published: September 2016

Here are nine steps that senior scientists can take right now to change scientific culture into one where harassment is treated as a type of scientific misconduct.
lncRNA profiling in early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia identifies transcriptional fingerprints with relevance in clinical outcome
Authors: Ronchetti D , Manzoni M , Agnelli L , Vinci C , Fabris S , Cutrona G , Matis S , Colombo M , Galletti S , Taiana E , Recchia A G , Bossio S , Gentile M , Musolino C , Di Raimondo F , Grilli A , Bicciato S , Cortelezzi A , Tassone P , Morabito F , Ferrarini M , Neri A
Published: September 2016

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent a novel class of functional RNA molecules with an important emerging role in cancer. To elucidate their potential pathogenetic role in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a biologically and clinically heterogeneous neoplasia, we investigated lncRNAs expression in a prospective series of 217 early-stage Binet A CLL patients and 26 different subpopulations of normal B-cells, through a custom annotation pipeline of microarray data. Our study identified a 24-lncRNA-signature specifically deregulated in CLL compared with the normal B-cell counterpart. Importantly, this classifier was validated on an independent data set of CLL samples. Belonging to the lncRNA signature characterizing distinct molecular CLL subgroups, we identified lncRNAs recurrently associated with adverse prognostic markers, such as unmutated IGHV status, CD38 expression, 11q and 17p deletions, and NOTCH1 mutations. In addition, correlation analyses predicted a putative lncRNAs interplay with genes and miRNAs expression. Finally, we generated a 2-lncRNA independent risk model, based on lnc-IRF2-3 and lnc-KIAA1755-4 expression, able to distinguish three different prognostic groups in our series of early-stage patients. Overall, our study provides an important resource for future studies on the functions of lncRNAs in CLL, and contributes to the discovery of novel molecular markers with clinical relevance associated with the disease.
Absolute quantification of microbial taxon abundances
Authors: Props Ruben , Kerckhof Frederiek-Maarten , Rubbens Peter , De Vrieze Jo , Hernandez Sanabria Emma , Waegeman Willem , Monsieurs Pieter , Hammes Frederik , Boon Nico
Published: September 2016

High-throughput amplicon sequencing has become a well-established approach for microbial community profiling. Correlating shifts in the relative abundances of bacterial taxa with environmental gradients is the goal of many microbiome surveys. As the abundances generated by this technology are semi-quantitative by definition, the observed dynamics may not accurately reflect those of the actual taxon densities. We combined the sequencing approach (16S rRNA gene) with robust single-cell enumeration technologies (flow cytometry) to quantify the absolute taxon abundances. A detailed longitudinal analysis of the absolute abundances resulted in distinct abundance profiles that were less ambiguous and expressed in units that can be directly compared across studies. We further provide evidence that the enrichment of taxa (increase in relative abundance) does not necessarily relate to the outgrowth of taxa (increase in absolute abundance). Our results highlight that both relative and absolute abundances should be considered for a comprehensive biological interpretation of microbiome surveys.
Experimental quantum secure direct communication with single photons
Authors: Hu Jian-Yong , Yu Bo , Jing Ming-Yong , Xiao Lian-Tuan , Jia Suo-Tang , Qin Guo-Qing , Long Gui-Lu
Published: September 2016

Quantum secure direct communication is an important mode of quantum communication in which secret messages are securely communicated directly over a quantum channel. Quantum secure direct communication is also a basic cryptographic primitive for constructing other quantum communication tasks, such as quantum authentication and quantum dialog. Here, we report the first experimental demonstration of quantum secure direct communication based on the DL04 protocol and equipped with single-photon frequency coding that explicitly demonstrated block transmission. In our experiment, we provided 16 different frequency channels, equivalent to a nibble of four-bit binary numbers for direct information transmission. The experiment firmly demonstrated the feasibility of quantum secure direct communication in the presence of noise and loss.
Capacity estimates for optical transmission based on the nonlinear Fourier transform
Authors: Derevyanko Stanislav A. , Prilepsky Jaroslaw E. , Turitsyn Sergei K.
Published: September 2016

What is the maximum rate at which information can be transmitted error-free in fibre–optic communication systems? For linear channels, this was established in classic works of Nyquist and Shannon. However, despite the immense practical importance of fibre–optic communications providing for >99% of global data traffic, the channel capacity of optical links remains unknown due to the complexity introduced by fibre nonlinearity. Recently, there has been a flurry of studies examining an expected cap that nonlinearity puts on the information-carrying capacity of fibre–optic systems. Mastering the nonlinear channels requires paradigm shift from current modulation, coding and transmission techniques originally developed for linear communication systems. Here we demonstrate that using the integrability of the master model and the nonlinear Fourier transform, the lower bound on the capacity per symbol can be estimated as 10.7 bits per symbol with 500 GHz bandwidth over 2,000 km.