bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic congruence between subtropical trees and their associated fungi
Authors: Liu Xubing , Liang Minxia , Etienne Rampal S. , Gilbert Gregory S. , Yu Shixiao
Published: October 2016

Recent studies have detected phylogenetic signals in pathogen–host networks for both soil‐borne and leaf‐infecting fungi, suggesting that pathogenic fungi may track or coevolve with their preferred hosts. However, a phylogenetically concordant relationship between multiple hosts and multiple fungi in has rarely been investigated. Using next‐generation high‐throughput DNA sequencing techniques, we analyzed fungal taxa associated with diseased leaves, rotten seeds, and infected seedlings of subtropical trees. We compared the topologies of the phylogenetic trees of the soil and foliar fungi based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region with the phylogeny of host tree species based on matK, rbcL, atpB, and 5.8S genes. We identified 37 foliar and 103 soil pathogenic fungi belonging to the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota phyla and detected significantly nonrandom host–fungus combinations, which clustered on both the fungus phylogeny and the host phylogeny. The explicit evidence of congruent phylogenies between tree hosts and their potential fungal pathogens suggests either diffuse coevolution among the plant–fungal interaction networks or that the distribution of fungal species tracked spatially associated hosts with phylogenetically conserved traits and habitat preferences. Phylogenetic conservatism in plant–fungal interactions within a local community promotes host and parasite specificity, which is integral to the important role of fungi in promoting species coexistence and maintaining biodiversity of forest communities.
Aryl Ketones as Single‐Electron‐Transfer Photoredox Catalysts in the Nickel‐Catalyzed Homocoupling of Aryl Halides
Authors: Masuda Yusuke , Ishida Naoki , Murakami Masahiro
Published: October 2016

An intriguing photoredox system for the homocoupling of aryl halides is reported wherein thioxanthone catalyzes a single‐electron transfer from an amine reductant to nickel.
Interaction Between Orexin‐A and Sleep Quality in Females in Extreme Weight Conditions
Authors: Sauchelli Sarah , Jiménez‐Murcia Susana , Fernández‐García Jose C. , Garrido‐Sánchez Lourdes , Tinahones Francisco J. , Casanueva Felipe F. , Baños Rosa M. , Botella Cristina , Crujeiras Ana B. , de la Torre Rafael , Fernández‐Real Jose M. , Frühbeck Gema , Granero Roser , Ortega Francisco J. , Rodríguez Amaia , Zipfel Stephan , Giel Katrin E. , Menchón Jose M. , Fernández‐Aranda Fernando
Published: October 2016

The current study examined the relationship between plasma orexin‐A and sleep in obesity. Concentrations of orexin‐A and sleep were evaluated in 26 obese, 40 morbid obese and 32 healthy‐weight participants. The sleep monitor Actiwatch AW7 and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to evaluate sleep. The Symptom Checklist‐90‐Revised was administered to assess symptoms of psychopathology. A higher weight status was associated with elevated orexin‐A levels (p = .050), greater depression, anxiety and somatization symptoms (all: p < .001), and impoverished self‐reported sleep quality (p < .001). A quadratic trend was found in objective sleep time, being longest in the obese group (p = .031). Structural equation modelling showed plasma orexin‐A to be related to poor total sleep quality, which in turn was associated with elevated body mass index. Our data confirm an interaction between elevated plasma orexin‐A concentrations and poor sleep that contributes to fluctuations in body mass index. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Comparison of a non‐stationary voxelation‐corrected cluster‐size test with TFCE for group‐Level MRI inference
Authors: Li Huanjie , Nickerson Lisa D. , Nichols Thomas E. , Gao Jia‐Hong
Published: October 2016

Two powerful methods for statistical inference on MRI brain images have been proposed recently, a non‐stationary voxelation‐corrected cluster‐size test (CST) based on random field theory and threshold‐free cluster enhancement (TFCE) based on calculating the level of local support for a cluster, then using permutation testing for inference. Unlike other statistical approaches, these two methods do not rest on the assumptions of a uniform and high degree of spatial smoothness of the statistic image. Thus, they are strongly recommended for group‐level fMRI analysis compared to other statistical methods. In this work, the non‐stationary voxelation‐corrected CST and TFCE methods for group‐level analysis were evaluated for both stationary and non‐stationary images under varying smoothness levels, degrees of freedom and signal to noise ratios. Our results suggest that, both methods provide adequate control for the number of voxel‐wise statistical tests being performed during inference on fMRI data and they are both superior to current CSTs implemented in popular MRI data analysis software packages. However, TFCE is more sensitive and stable for group‐level analysis of VBM data. Thus, the voxelation‐corrected CST approach may confer some advantages by being computationally less demanding for fMRI data analysis than TFCE with permutation testing and by also being applicable for single‐subject fMRI analyses, while the TFCE approach is advantageous for VBM data. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1269–1280, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Benchmarking Judgmentally Adjusted Forecasts
Authors: Franses Philip Hans , de Bruijn Bert
Published: October 2016

Many publicly available macroeconomic forecasts are judgmentally adjusted model‐based forecasts. In practice, usually only a single final forecast is available, and not the underlying econometric model, nor are the size and reason for adjustment known. Hence, the relative weights given to the model forecasts and to the judgement are usually unknown to the analyst.

This paper proposes a methodology to evaluate the quality of such final forecasts, also to allow learning from past errors. To do so, the analyst needs benchmark forecasts. We propose two such benchmarks. The first is the simple no‐change forecast, which is the bottom line forecast that an expert should be able to improve. The second benchmark is an estimated model‐based forecast, which is found as the best forecast given the realizations and the final forecasts. We illustrate this methodology for two sets of GDP growth forecasts, one for the USA and one for the Netherlands. These applications tell us that adjustment appears most effective in periods of first recovery from a recession. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
BUILDING CAPACITY IN REFLECTIVE PRACTICE: A TIERED MODEL OF STATEWIDE SUPPORTS FOR LOCAL HOME‐VISITING PROGRAMS
Authors: Watson Christopher L. , Bailey Ann E. , Storm Karen J.
Published: October 2016

This preliminary study examines an initiative to further develop capacity in reflective practice among public health home visitors and their supervisors. A Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Expansion Grant to the Minnesota Department of Health funded the development of a tiered structure to support reflective practice within county public health agencies throughout the state. Study data revealed a general consensus among individuals at all levels of the county programs that state supports were adequate to implement reflective practice. Although there were no significant changes in home‐visitor and supervisor scores on a standardized measure linked to reflective functioning and reflective practice, a majority of home visitors and supervisors perceived that their knowledge and skills in reflective practice had increased during the evaluation period. A standardized measure of employee burnout did not reveal significant changes in either “depersonalization” (indicating burnout) or “personal accomplishment” (a mitigating factor in burnout) subscales; however, home visitor “emotional exhaustion” subscale scores did increase over the evaluation period. In contrast to the subscale results, home visitors reported a sense of accomplishment in their reflective work and that they value “releasing” emotions in a safe environment during reflective supervision.
Multimodal Literacies: Imagining Lives Through Korean Dramas
Authors: Kim Grace MyHyun , Omerbašić Delila
Published: October 2016

Global networks of information and interactions have created new conditions for access to myriad literacies, languages, and communities. Engagements with transnational texts and communities can support the imagination of lives different from one's local context. This article presents data from two qualitative studies of adolescent literacy practices about popular‐culture texts produced in Korea. Although these adolescents did not reside in Korea, the authors found that they constructed transnational spaces through these multimodal literacy practices: imagining different lives and engaging in multilingual mediascapes. Adolescents in both studies expressed a sense of belonging not exclusive to their places of residence. The findings support the argument that multimodal literacy practices developed through engagement with another country's popular‐culture texts support imaginative identity construction. These findings have implications for researchers and educators interested in multimodal literacies, digitally mediated learning, multilingualism, and transnational studies.
Low skeletal muscle radiation attenuation and visceral adiposity are associated with overall survival and surgical site infections in patients with pancreatic cancer
Authors: van Dijk David P. J. , Bakens Maikel J. A. M. , Coolsen Mariëlle M. E. , Rensen Sander S. , van Dam Ronald M. , Bours Martijn J. L. , Weijenberg Matty P. , Dejong Cornelis H. C. , Olde Damink Steven W. M.
Published: October 2016

Background

Cancer cachexia and skeletal muscle wasting are related to poor survival. In this study, quantitative body composition measurements using computed tomography (CT) were investigated in relation to survival, post‐operative complications, and surgical site infections in surgical patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas.

Methods

A prospective cohort of 199 patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas was analysed by CT imaging at the L3 level to determine (i) muscle radiation attenuation (average Hounsfield units of total L3 skeletal muscle); (ii) visceral adipose tissue area; (iii) subcutaneous adipose tissue area; (iv) intermuscular adipose tissue area; and (v) skeletal muscle area. Sex‐specific cut‐offs were determined at the lower tertile for muscle radiation attenuation and skeletal muscle area and the higher tertile for adipose tissues. These variables of body composition were related to overall survival, severe post‐operative complications (Dindo–Clavien ≥ 3), and surgical site infections (wounds inspected daily by an independent trial nurse) using Cox‐regression analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis, respectively.

Results

Low muscle radiation attenuation was associated with shorter survival in comparison with moderate and high muscle radiation attenuation [median survival 10.8 (95% CI: 8.8–12.8) vs. 17.4 (95% CI: 14.7–20.1), and 18.5 (95% CI: 9.2–27.8) months, respectively;P < 0.008]. Patient subgroups with high muscle radiation attenuation combined with either low visceral adipose tissue or age <70 years had longer survival than other subgroups (P = 0.011 andP = 0.001, respectively). Muscle radiation attenuation was inversely correlated with intermuscular adipose tissue (rp = −0.697,P < 0.001). High visceral adipose tissue was associated with an increased surgical site infection rate, OR: 2.4 (95% CI: 1.1–5.3;P = 0.027).

Conclusions

Low muscle radiation attenuation was associated with reduced survival, and high visceral adiposity was associated with an increase in surgical site infections. The strong correlation between muscle radiation attenuation and intermuscular adipose tissue suggests the presence of ectopic fat in muscle, warranting further investigation. CT image analysis could be implemented in pre‐operative risk assessment to assist in treatment decision‐making.
Subdecadal‐scale vegetation responses to a previously unknown late‐Allerød climate fluctuation and Younger Dryas cooling at Lake Meerfelder Maar (Germany)
Authors: Engels Stefan , Brauer Achim , Buddelmeijer Nico , Martín‐Puertas Celia , Rach Oliver , Sachse Dirk , van Geel Bas
Published: October 2016

Lake Meerfelder Maar (MFM) is the northernmost Western European sediment record with annual laminations across the Younger Dryas (YD), and the onset of the YD in the record of MFM has previously been defined as an increase in non‐arboreal pollen abundance at ca. 12 680 varve a BP. Here we present a palynological record at unprecedented subdecadal resolution for MFM, covering the Allerød–YD transition. Our results show a fluctuation in pollen accumulation rates (PARs) before the onset of the YD, with lower rates between ca. 12 725 and 12 685 varve a BP. The fluctuation in PARs occurs simultaneous with a previously undescribed short fluctuation in sediment composition and varve thickness, as well as with changes in biogeochemical proxies. The combined evidence indicates signs of climatic instability ca. 45 years before the onset of the YD. The PAR records of Betula and Pinus furthermore show earlier and more abrupt changes at the onset of the YD than the percentage‐records do. Finally, heliophilous herbaceous taxa show a delayed increase following the onset of the YD of ca. 145 years. This paper illustrates the potential to identify previously unrecognized climate variability and vegetation change when using subdecadal‐resolution analyses.
A refined paleotemperature calibration for New Zealand limnic environments using differentiation of branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (brGDGT) sources
Authors: Zink K.‐G. , Vandergoes M. J. , Bauersachs T. , Newnham R. M. , Rees A. B. H. , Schwark L.
Published: October 2016

Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) were abundant in surface sediments of freshwater lakes and in catchment soils at altitudes from 10 to 2020 m in New Zealand. Significant differences in brGDGT compositions between lake sediments and soils indicate sources from separate microbial habitats. An expanded modern calibration dataset comprising 33 lakes has enabled a revised calibration function for determining past mean annual air temperature (MAT) from brGDGTs in New Zealand lake sediments: MAT (°C) = −31.664 × MBTm + 16.252 (n = 30). The function uses a modified methylation index of branched tetraethers (MBTm) that incorporates brGDGT III in the numerator to overcome the lower correlation found between our larger dataset and the unmodified MBT which had been used for previous calibrations. Calibrations combining the cyclization index of branched tetraethers (CBT) and the MBTm or using only certain brGDGTs are possible but have limitations. The revised function shows slightly higher correlation with MAT (R2 = 0.75) than previous calibrations, which were based on nine sites. The refined calibration function is applied to a ∼16 000‐year lake sediment sequence from northern South Island, New Zealand, and yields temperature reconstructions that are consistent with independently derived climate trends from the same sequence.
Probing Endosomal Escape Using pHlexi Nanoparticles
Authors: Kongkatigumjorn Nachnicha , Cortez‐Jugo Christina , Czuba Ewa , Wong Adelene S. M. , Hodgetts Rebecca Y. , Johnston Angus P. R. , Such Georgina K.
Published: October 2016

The effective escape of nanocarriers from endosomal compartments of the cell remains a major hurdle in nanomedicine. The endosomal escape of pH‐responsive, self‐assembled, dual component particles based on poly[2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)(PDEAEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly[2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PEG‐b‐PDEAEMA) has been recently reported. Herein, we report that polymer molecular weight (Mn) can be used to tune endosomal escape of nanoparticle delivery systems. PDEAEMA of Mn 7 kDa, 27 kDa, 56 kDa and 106 kDa was synthesized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and co‐assembled with PEG‐b‐PDEAEMA (16 kDa) via nanoprecipitation. All particles had similar size, displayed pH‐responsive behaviour, and low toxicity regardless of molecular weight. Ovalbumin was loaded in the particles to demonstrate loading and release capabilities and as a marker to study internalization and endosomal escape. Association and endosomal escape was found to depend on molecular weight, with enhanced escape observed for high Mn PDEAEMA: 42% of cells with particle induced endosomal escape for 106 kDa nanoparticles, compared to minimal escape for 7 kDa particles. The results show that a simple variation in molecular weight can enhance the endosomal escape of polymeric carriers, and thus improve their effectiveness for intracellular delivery of therapeutics.

image
Understanding pine wilt disease: roles of the pine endophytic bacteria and of the bacteria carried by the disease‐causing pinewood nematode
Authors: Proença Diogo N. , Grass Gregor , Morais Paula V.
Published: October 2016

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is one of the most destructive diseases in trees of the genus Pinus and is responsible for environmental and economic losses around the world. The only known causal agent of the disease is the pinewood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Despite that, bacteria belonging to several different genera have been found associated with PWN and their roles in the development of PWD have been suggested. Molecular methodologies and the new era of genomics have revealed different perspectives to the problem, recognizing the manifold interactions between different organisms involved in the disease. Here, we reviewed the possible roles of nematode‐carried bacteria in PWD, what could be the definition of this group of microorganisms and questioned their origin as possible endophytes, discussing their relation within the endophytic community of pine trees. The diversity of the nematode‐carried bacteria and the diversity of pine tree endophytes, reported until now, is revised in detail in this review. What could signify a synergetic effect with PWN harming the plant, or what could equip bacteria with functions to control the presence of nematodes inside the tree, is outlined as two possible roles of the microbial community in the etiology of this disease. An emphasis is put on the potential revealed by the genomic data of isolated organisms in their potential activities as effective tools in PWD management.
Accelerating 4D flow MRI by exploiting low‐rank matrix structure and hadamard sparsity
Authors: Valvano Giuseppe , Martini Nicola , Huber Adrian , Santelli Claudio , Binter Christian , Chiappino Dante , Landini Luigi , Kozerke Sebastian
Published: October 2016

Purpose

To develop accelerated 4D flow MRI by exploiting low‐rank matrix structure and Hadamard sparsity.

Theory and Methods

4D flow MRI data can be represented as the sum of a low‐rank and a sparse component. To optimize the sparse representation of the data, it is proposed to incorporate a Hadamard transform of the velocity‐encoding segments. Retrospectively and prospectively, undersampled data of the aorta of healthy subjects are used to assess the reconstruction accuracy of the proposed method relative to k‐t SPARSE‐SENSE reconstruction. Image reconstruction from eight‐fold prospective undersampling is demonstrated and compared with conventional SENSE imaging.

Results

Simulation results revealed consistently lower errors in velocity estimation when compared with k‐t SPARSE‐SENSE. In vivo data yielded reduced error of peak flow with the proposed method relative to k‐t SPARSE‐SENSE when compared with two‐fold SENSE (
% versus
% in the ascending aorta,
% versus
% in the descending aorta). Streamline visualization showed more consistent flow fields with the proposed technique relative to the benchmark methods.

Conclusion

Image reconstruction by exploiting low‐rank structure and Hadamard sparsity of 4D flow MRI data improves the reconstruction accuracy relative to current state‐of‐the‐art methods and holds promise to reduce the long scan times of 4D flow MRI. Magn Reson Med 78:1330–1341, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Analytical fuel‐optimal impulsive reconfiguration of formation‐flying satellites
Authors: Li Jing
Published: October 2016

This paper investigates fuel‐optimal impulsive reconfiguration of formation‐flying satellites near circular reference orbit. First, the general reconfiguration is transformed into reconfiguration that should be accomplished during multiple orbital periods of the chief. Then, based on the primer vector analysis, multiple‐impulse fuel‐optimal analytical solutions for the transformed reconfiguration are derived. It is shown that multiple‐impulse fuel‐optimal analytical solutions appear conjugated and the corresponding reconfiguration trajectories are symmetric about the chief. Furthermore, for fuel‐optimal analytical solution with three or more impulses, the associated impulse magnitudes may have many combinations, which would yield different reconfiguration trajectories but with the same fuel cost. Finally, numerical examples for three typical formation reconfiguration maneuvers, including resizing, reorientation, and reassignment, are given to illustrate and validate the obtained results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The prevalence and practice impact of weight bias amongst Australian dietitians
Authors: Diversi T. M. , Hughes R. , Burke K. J.
Published: October 2016

Objectives

This study explored weight bias amongst Australian Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) and the effect of client weight status on dietetic practice.

Methods

Participants were 201 APDs, recruited using purposive sampling. A self‐administered questionnaire, the fat phobia scale (FPS), was completed to assess explicit weight bias. Participants were then randomized to receive either a female within the healthy weight range or female with obesity, accompanied by an identical case study for a condition unrelated to weight. Participants assessed the client based on data provided, provided recommendations and rated their perception of the client.

Results

Mean FPS scores indicated mild fat phobia. However, dietetic practice was significantly affected by the client's weight status. Dietitians presented with the female with obesity assessed the client to have significantly lower health and were more likely to provide unsolicited weight management recommendations. In addition, dietitians rated the client as less receptive, less motivated and as having a lower ability to understand and sustain recommendations.

Conclusions

The contribution of this study is the exploration of how weight status may impact dietetic practice including assessment, recommendations and perceptions of the client. Dietitians may practice in a manner that represents or could be perceived as negative implicit weight bias, despite the explicit FPS assessing only mild fat phobia. Further research to understand the extent of the problem and how it impacts client outcomes and to test possible solutions is required.
DNA methylation profiling of pediatric B‐cell lymphoblastic leukemia with KMT2A rearrangement identifies hypomethylation at enhancer sites
Authors: Bergmann Anke K. , Castellano Giancarlo , Alten Julia , Ammerpohl Ole , Kolarova Julia , Nordlund Jessica , Martin‐Subero Jose Ignacio , Schrappe Martin , Siebert Reiner
Published: October 2016

Deregulation of the epigenome is an important pathogenetic mechanism in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with lysine (K)‐specific methyltransferase 2A rearrangement (KMT2Ar). We performed array‐based DNA methylation profiling of KMT2Ar ALL cells from 26 children in comparison to normal B‐cell precursors. Significant changes in DNA methylation in KMT2Ar ALL were identified in 2,545 CpG loci, influenced by age and the translocation partners AFF1 and MLLT1. In KMT2Ar ALL, DNA methylation loss was enriched at enhancers and for certain transcription factor binding sites such as BCL11A, EBF, and MEF2A. In summary, DNA methylation changes in KMT2Ar ALL target enhancers, genes involved in leukemogenesis and normal hematopoiesis, as well as transcription factor networks.
Precision synthesis of sustainable thermoplastic elastomers from lysine‐derived monomers
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Zhang Xiaojie , Li Maosheng , Ren Xiuyan , Tao Youhua
Published: October 2016

Novel renewable thermoplastic elastomers were synthesized by sequential polymerization of lysine‐ and itaconic acid‐derived monomers. Ring‐opening polymerization of lysine‐based O‐carboxyanhydride monomer using diethylene glycol as an initiator gave well‐defined α,ω‐dihydroxy functionalized lysine‐derived polyesters. The Mn of these polyesters increased with the monomer conversion while retaining relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. Based on the successful controlled polymerization and esterification of α,ω‐dihydroxy with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide, the resultant Br‐PL‐Br macroinitiator was used for the atom transfer radical polymerization of N‐phenylitaconimide (PhII). Three poly(N‐phenylitaconimide)‐b‐polyester‐b‐poly(N‐phenylitaconimide) triblock copolymers were prepared containing 12 − 25 mol% PPhII, as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The properties of the obtained triblock copolymer are evaluated as high‐performance and renewable thermoplastic elastomer materials. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 349–355
Are N‐substituted glycine N‐thiocarboxyanhydride monomers really hard to polymerize?
Authors: Tao Xinfeng , Zheng Botuo , Kricheldorf Hans R. , Ling Jun
Published: October 2016

N‐Substituted glycine N‐thiocarboxyanhydrides (NNTAs) are promising cyclic monomers to synthesize polypeptoids with the advantages of easier preparation and higher stability during purification and storage than N‐substituted glycine N‐carboxyanhydrides (NNCAs). NNTAs were commonly considered too stable to polymerize for their low reactivity. In this contribution, we report controlled polymerizations of N‐ethylglycine NTA (NEG‐NTA) and sarcosine NTA (Sar‐NTA) using primary amines as initiator under proper polymerization conditions. The controllability has been fully supported by 1H NMR end group analyses, MALDI‐ToF mass spectra, kinetic data, block copolymerizations by sequential monomer addition, and low polydispersities (1.14–1.17) of polypeptoids. Variation of the [NNTA]/[initiator] ratio allows well control of the molar mass, and degrees of polymerization (DPs) up to 287 can be reached for poly(N‐ethylglycine) or DPs up to 262 for polysarcosine. NNTAs exhibit excellent activity and they are potential to synthesize polypeptoids with controllable polymerization. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 404–410
Validation of the pediatric sleep questionnaire in children with asthma
Authors: Ehsan Zarmina , Kercsmar Carolyn M. , Collins Jennifer , Simakajornboon Narong
Published: October 2016

Objective

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is higher in children with poorly controlled asthma. We aimed to determine the validity of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) to screen for OSA in children with asthma.

Methods

This retrospective review encompassed sleep studies and medical records of asthmatic children evaluated in the sleep center at CCHMC over 13 years. Measures of validity were calculated using various cut‐off values for obstructive apnea‐hypopnea index (OI; >1, >2, >5) and PSQ scores (>0.33, >0.5). Correlation between PSQ and OI, PSQ and spirometry, and OI and spirometry was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient.

Results

One‐hundred and sixty children were included (mean age 11 ± 4 years; 64% males). The mean OI was 4.2 ± 14.3 and the mean PSQ score was 0.57 ± 0.19. Thirty‐eight percent of patients had a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. A total of 70 children (43%) were obese (BMI ≥95th percentile). The correlation between OI and PSQ was statistically significant (r = 0.19, P = 0.015). Using a PSQ cutoff of 0.33, and OI cutoffs of 1, 2, and 5, the sensitivities were 81.6%, 81.6%, and 76.2%, and the specificities were 13.1%, 14.4%, and 14.4%, respectively. When the cutoff for PSQ was raised to 0.5 and using an OI of 1, the sensitivity decreased to 71.1%, but the specificity increased to 36.9%.

Conclusions

The sensitivity of PSQ in asthmatic children is high and comparable to previous studies, but the specificity is low. The PSQ may be considered a reasonable first‐line screening tool for OSA in asthmatic children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:382–389. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Vaccines against Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus for humans and camels
Authors: Alharbi Naif Khalaf
Published: October 2016

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) is caused by a novel betacoronavirus that was isolated in late 2012 in Saudi Arabia. The viral infections have been reported in more than 1700 humans, ranging from asymptomatic or mild cases to severe pneumonia with a mortality rate of 40%. It is well documented now that dromedary camels contract the infection and shed the virus without notable symptoms, and such animals had been infected by at least the early 1980s. The mechanism of camel to human transmission is still not clear, but several primary cases have been associated with camel contact. There is no approved antiviral drug or vaccine against MERS‐CoV despite the active research in this area. Vaccine candidates have been developed using various platforms and regimens and have been tested in several animal models. Here, this article reviews the published studies on MERS‐CoV vaccines with more focus on vaccines tested in large animals, including camels. It is foreseeable that the 1‐health approach could be the best way of tackling the MERS‐CoV endemic in the Arabian Peninsula, by using the mass vaccination of camels in the affected areas to block camel to human transmission. Camel vaccines can be developed in a faster time with fewer regulations and lower costs and could clear this virus from the Arabian Peninsula if accompanied by efficient public health measures.
Dynamic output feedback control of saturated switched delay systems under the PDT switching
Authors: Zhong Guang‐Xin , Yang Guang‐Hong
Published: October 2016

This paper is devoted to saturated control of switched delay systems. The main focus is to find a suitable switching law and saturated output feedback controllers such that the closed‐loop systems are asymptotically stable and have the disturbance tolerance/rejection capacity. A mixed slow/arbitrary switching approach, so‐called persistent dwell time (PDT) switching, is used to design the switching law. Compared with the slow switching, it is more general and leads to more flexibility in the process of constructing switching signals. More importantly, the proposed PDT is dependent on state delay, which includes the previous delay‐independent PDT. Next, time‐varying ellipsoids and a prescribe l2‐gain are introduced to characterize the disturbance tolerance and rejection capacities of systems, respectively. Based on the proposed results, the relation between delay‐dependent PDT and level of disturbance tolerance/rejection is shown. Finally, saturated controllers working in time‐varying hull controllable regions are designed. Thus, the considered problem is solved. An example is exploited to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design a fast Non‐Technical Loss fraud detector for smart grid
Authors: Han Wenlin , Xiao Yang
Published: October 2016

Non‐Technical Loss (NTL) fraud is a class of typical frauds in the power grids. The main form of NTL frauds is “stealing electricity” in the traditional power grid. Smart Grid has the capability of two‐way communication and two‐way electricity flow, and thus, adversaries can take advantage of it to commit NTL frauds via much more complicated ways. Many schemes have been proposed to detect NTL frauds. However, their detection speeds need to be improved. In this paper, a fast NTL fraud detector, named FNFD, is proposed. FNFD is based on Recursive Least Square to model adversary behavior. Experimental results show that FNFD outperforms existing schemes regarding detection speed and overhead. Moreover, experimental results and theoretical analysis of parameter selection are also provided. We further study the stability and convergence of FNFD theoretically. The study shows that FNFD is always convergent as a control method if and only if the input dataset is persistent exciting. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plasmon Resonance Energy Transfer: Coupling between Chromophore Molecules and Metallic Nanoparticles
Authors: Cao Yue , Xie Tao , Qian Ruo‐Can , Long Yi‐Tao
Published: October 2016

Plasmon resonance energy transfer (PRET) from a single metallic nanoparticle to the molecules adsorbed on its surface has attracted more and more attentions in recent years. Here, a molecular beacon (MB)‐regulated PRET coupling system composed of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and chromophore molecules has been designed to study the influence of PRET effect on the scattering spectra of GNPs. In this system, the chromophore molecules are tagged to the 5′‐end of MB, which can form a hairpin structure and modified on the surface of GNPs by its thiol‐labeled 3′‐end. Therefore, the distance between GNPs and chromophore molecules can be adjusted through the open and close of the MB loop. From the peak shift, the PRET interactions of different GNPs‐chromophore molecules coupling pairs have been calculated by discrete dipole approximation and the fitting results match well with the experimental data. Therefore, the proposed system has been successfully applied for the analysis of PRET situation between various metallic nanoparticles and chromophore molecules, and provides a useful tool for the potential application in screening the PRET‐based nanoplasmonic sensors.
A method of requirements elicitation and analysis for Global Software Development
Authors: Ali Naveed , Lai Richard
Published: October 2016

To perform requirements elicitation and analysis, effective communication and collaboration between stakeholders are necessary. Global Software Development (GSD), where software teams are located in different parts of the world, has become increasingly popular. However, geographical distance, cultural diversity, differences in time zones, and language barriers create difficulties for GSD stakeholders in engaging in effective communication. Taking into consideration the factors involved in GSD, previous research showed that the ways by which requirements are gathered and analyzed for collocated software development cannot be used effectively for GSD. Thus, in this paper, we present a method of requirements elicitation and analysis for GSD. The method consists of 4 stages: (1) data collection; (2) educating stakeholders about GSD issues; (3) post‐education assessment; and (4) requirements elicitation and analysis. Past researchers used student groups in a university environment to play the roles of stakeholders in experiments in GSD studies. Likewise, we preliminarily validate our method by applying it to a case study of an online shopping system, where the roles of client, requirements engineer, project analyst, and designers were played by a group of students.
Stochastic Ranking of Alternatives with Ordered Weighted Averaging: Comparing Network Recovery Strategies
Authors: Rocco Claudio M. , Barker Kash , Hernández‐Perdomo Elvis
Published: October 2016

Comparing system design alternatives can be difficult when the criterion used to evaluate and rank the alternatives exhibits randomness described by a probability distribution. Rather than relying on the expected value to compare alternatives, this work proposes to use a multicriteria decision‐making technique, ordered weighted averaging (OWA), for such a comparison. Here, percentiles of the cumulative distributions describing the evaluation criterion act as the “multiple criteria” in OWA, incorporating information from the entirety of the distribution, not just a lone point estimate. OWA allows for the elicitation of risk preferences by the decision maker, and a weighted OWA extension allows for the elicitation of importance weighting for each of the percentiles (e.g., weighting tail values of the distribution more heavily to account for adverse outcomes). The technique is applied to the comparison of link recovery sequences in a network disruption problem, along with a visualization aid to assist in accounting for uncertainty in importance weighting.
Effect of Nonionic Surfactant on the Micro‐Emulsifying Water in Silicone Media
Authors: Pei Liujun , Wu Ping , Liu Juanjuan , Wang Jiping
Published: October 2016

Reverse micro‐emulsion dyeing technology shows a high dye uptake and fixation rate, and effectively decreases the amount of waste water in the textile industry. However, the influence of surfactants and co‐surfactants on micro‐emulsifying water in reverse micro‐emulsions has not been investigated. In this study, the micro‐emulsifying mechanism in silicone media and the influence of nonionic surfactants and co‐surfactants on micro‐emulsifying water have been investigated. The results show that a large amount of water can be emulsified using alcohol‐polyoxyethylene ethers, especially under 3–5 ethylene oxide groups in molecular structure. As co‐surfactant, alcohol which contains 4–9 carbon chains could spontaneously form reverse micro‐emulsions in silicone media. The effects of solution pH and ionic strength on the amount of emulsified water were also evaluated. The results show that a large amount of water could be emulsified in silicone media at solution pH 2–9. Meanwhile, the amount of emulsified water decreased with increasing ionic strength. Thus, the optimum conditions for water emulsification are low ionic strength and pH between 2 and 9.
Proximal femur prosthetic interposition arthroplasty for painful dislocated hips in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Silverio Anthony L. , Nguyen Shawn V. , Schlechter John A. , Rosenfeld Samuel R.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Children with cerebral palsy often have musculoskeletal disorders involving the hip. There are several procedures that are commonly used to treat these disorders. Proximal femur prosthetic interposition arthroplasty (PFIA) is an option for non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy who have a painful, spastic dislocated hip. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the results of PFIA by examining treatment outcomes, complications, and overall effects on the child and their caregiver.

Methods

Charts were reviewed over a 5-year period at our institution. The focus of the data collection was pain, range of motion (ROM), and overall clinical outcome. Clinical outcome was graded as excellent, good, fair, and poor. Length of follow-up, presence of heterotopic ossification, femoral prosthesis migration, and information provided by competed caregiver questionnaires were analyzed.

Results

A total of 16 hips in 12 patients met the inclusion criteria. Average age at time of surgery was 12 years 1.2 months. Average follow-up was 40.4 months. Three hips required revision surgery. Average time before revision surgery was 16 months. Overall outcomes were excellent/good for seven hips and fair/poor for nine. Pain outcomes were excellent/good for nine hips and fair/good for seven. ROM outcomes were excellent/good for nine hips and fair/poor for seven. The majority of caregivers surveyed would recommend this procedure.

Conclusion

Clinical evaluation of the effectiveness of PFIA yielded variable results with this cohort of children with regards to pain and range of motion. Despite these varied results, the majority of caregivers were satisfied with the outcome and would recommend PFIA. PFIA is a salvage option for the painful, spastic dislocated hip, but significant evidence to prove its effectiveness over other salvage procedures is lacking. Based on our results, we conclude that PFIA has the ability to benefit children with cerebral palsy with an acceptable risk profile similar to that reported in recent publications. Level of evidence IV; retrospective case-series.
Well‐being and academic achievement in secondary school pupils: The unique effects of burnout and engagement
Authors: Cadime Irene , Pinto Alexandra Marques , Lima Sara , Rego Sara , Pereira Joana , Ribeiro Iolanda
Published: October 2016

The main goal of this study was to examine the relationship among burnout, engagement, well‐being, and academic performance in Portuguese secondary school pupils. The existence of gender related differences in these relationships was also investigated. The sample was composed of 489 pupils who attended an academic track at secondary school. Results of multi‐group structural equation modelling indicated that higher levels of cynicism towards studies were associated with lower academic achievement. Exhaustion was not uniquely related to the adolescents' academic achievement or well‐being. However, higher levels of engagement, namely dedication and vigour, were related to higher levels of well‐being. Moreover, vigour was also uniquely associated with academic achievement. The results were similar for boys and girls. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.
Association between sexting and sexual coercion among female adolescents
Authors: Choi HyeJeong , Van Ouytsel Joris , Temple Jeff R.
Published: October 2016

This study aims to investigate whether experiences of offline sexual coercion are associated with adolescent females’ involvement in different types of sexting behaviors. It draws on data from 450 ethnically diverse female adolescents with an average age of 19.02 years (SD = 0.74) who were originally recruited in southeast Texas. The participants were asked about their experiences with sexual coercion, and their engagement in sexting behavior (i.e., sending, requesting, and being asked for a sext, and receiving a sext without giving permission). Logistic regressions were used to analyze these relationships, while controlling for age, ethnicity, education level, living situation, and sexting behaviors in the year prior of the study. Offline sexual coercion was significantly associated with sending and being asked for a naked image, as well as receiving a naked image without giving permission. The results suggest that sexting could function as an online extension of offline forms of sexual coercion.
Blood‐brain barrier failure as a core mechanism in cerebral small vessel disease and dementia: evidence from a cohort study
Authors: Wardlaw Joanna M. , Makin Stephen J. , Valdés Hernández Maria C. , Armitage Paul A. , Heye Anna K. , Chappell Francesca M. , Muñoz‐Maniega Susana , Sakka Eleni , Shuler Kirsten , Dennis Martin S. , Thrippleton Michael J.
Published: October 2016

Introduction

Small vessel disease (SVD) is a common contributor to dementia. Subtle blood‐brain barrier (BBB) leakage may be important in SVD‐induced brain damage.

Methods

We assessed imaging, clinical variables, and cognition in patients with mild (i.e., nondisabling) ischemic lacunar or cortical stroke. We analyzed BBB leakage, interstitial fluid, and white matter integrity using multimodal tissue‐specific spatial analysis around white matter hyperintensities (WMH). We assessed predictors of 1 year cognition, recurrent stroke, and dependency.

Results

In 201 patients, median age 67 (range 34–97), BBB leakage, and interstitial fluid were higher in WMH than normal‐appearing white matter; leakage in normal‐appearing white matter increased with proximity to WMH (P < .0001), with WMH severity (P = .033), age (P = .03), and hypertension (P < .0001). BBB leakage in WMH predicted declining cognition at 1 year.

Discussion

BBB leakage increases in normal‐appearing white matter with WMH and predicts worsening cognition. Interventions to reduce BBB leakage may prevent SVD‐associated dementia.
Report of periprocedural oral anticoagulants in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: The Japanese Catheter Ablation Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (J‐CARAF)
Authors: Murakawa Yuji , Nogami Akihiko , Shoda Morio , Inoue Koichi , Naito Shigeto , Kumagai Koichiro , Miyauchi Yasushi , Yamane Teiichi , Morita Norishige , Mitamura Hideo , Okumura Ken , Hirao Kenzo ,   Japanese Heart Rhythm Society Members
Published: October 2016

Background

To obtain a perspective of the current status of catheter ablation for the cure of atrial fibrillation, the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society conducted a nationwide survey: the Japanese Catheter Ablation Registry of Atrial Fibrillation. In this report, we aimed to evaluate the periprocedural use of direct oral anticoagulants with respect to thromboembolic or bleeding complications.

Methods

Using an online questionnaire, the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society requested electrophysiology centers in Japan to register the relevant data of patients who underwent atrial fibrillation ablation over selected five‐months from 2011 to 2014. We compared the clinical profiles and the ablation data, including the incidence of pericardial effusion, major bleeding, and ischemic stroke among patients with periprocedural use of warfarin or a direct oral anticoagulant.

Results

A total of 204 institutions reported data on 6200 atrial fibrillation ablation sessions. We analyzed data obtained from 4698 subjects (Age 63.2±10.6 yr; 73.9% male, 26.1% female) who were administered warfarin or a direct oral anticoagulant, at least up to the day before atrial fibrillation ablation. Warfarin was administered to 54.7% of patients. Dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban were used in 21.9%, 12.9%, and 10.6% of patients, respectively. Clinical profiles of apixaban‐treated patients were similar to those of warfarin‐treated patients; they were different from the clinical profiles of patients treated with dabigatran or rivaroxaban. There were 104 complications in 103 subjects (2.2%). Complications were more frequent in older patients (65.3±8.6 yr vs. 63.1±10.7 yr; P=0.012), patients on chronic hemodialysis (4.9% vs. 1.1%; P=0.001), or those treated with warfarin (66.0% vs. 54.4%; P=0.019). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR, 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00–1.04; P=0.035), chronic hemodialysis (OR, 4.40; CI: 1.68–11.50; P=0.003), and assistance by 3‐D mapping system (OR, 0.30; CI: 0.16–0.57; P<0.001) were significantly related to the incidence of complications, while periprocedural direct oral anticoagulant was not a predictive factor for complication.

Conclusions

Compared with uninterrupted warfarin, the choice of a direct oral anticoagulant as a periprocedural oral anticoagulant did not significantly change the incidence of serious complications.
THE MOTIVE OF THE HILBERT CUBE
Authors: SHEN MINGMIN , VIAL CHARLES
Published: October 2016

The Hilbert scheme$X^{[3]}$of length-3 subschemes of a smooth projective variety$X$is known to be smooth and projective. We investigate whether the property of having a multiplicative Chow–Künneth decomposition is stable under taking the Hilbert cube. This is achieved by considering an explicit resolution of the rational map$X^{3}{\dashrightarrow}X^{[3]}$. The case of the Hilbert square was taken care of in Shen and Vial [Mem. Amer. Math. Soc.240(1139) (2016), vii+163 pp]. The archetypical examples of varieties endowed with a multiplicative Chow–Künneth decomposition is given by abelian varieties. Recent work seems to suggest that hyperKähler varieties share the same property. Roughly, if a smooth projective variety$X$has a multiplicative Chow–Künneth decomposition, then the Chow rings of its powers$X^{n}$have a filtration, which is the expected Bloch–Beilinson filtration, that is split.