bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcending Concordance
Authors: Wu Shaoqun , Witten Ian
Published: May 2016

This paper describes an automated scheme that extracts salient linguistic features from academic text and presents them in an interface designed for L2 students who are learning academic writing. The system is guided by several common ways of utilizing corpus technology in L2 writing. The authors have developed and tested an extraction method that identifies typical lexico-grammatical features of any word or phrase in a corpus. Collocations and lexical bundles are automatically extracted; students can explore them by searching and browsing, and inspect them along with contextual information. They also present learners with common words, and academic words, hyperlinked to their usage and collocates in authentic contexts. This article uses a single running example, the British Academic Written English corpus, but the approach is fully automated and can be applied to any collection of English writing.
A Corpus-Based Functional Analysis of Complex Nominal Groups in Written Business Discourse
Authors: Ruan Zhoulin
Published: May 2016

This paper uses a case study approach to explore the internal structure of complex nominal groups in written business discourse. A one-million word corpus of banks' corporate annual reports was compiled, and complex nominal groups with business as head noun were analyzed in terms of functions and logical relationships. The analysis shows that in the business English texts, complex nominal groups have distinctive functional and logical structures as well as particular patterns of co-occurrences among multiple premodification. Classification was found to be the main function of the experiential structure, with sub-modification used for further specifying the head referent. The co-occurrences of premodifiers also show the tendencies of functional associations underlying the configuration of the experiential structure. These findings suggest the distinctive register features of the informational writing in the written business discourse. The paper concludes with pedagogical implications of the findings for the teaching of business English to language learners.
A Social-Exchange Perspective on Supply Chain Innovation
Authors: Mandal Santanu
Published: May 2016

Supply chain innovation has become all the more important in today's competitive world. Supply chain innovation is the development of newer technologies and procedures along with implementation of new ideas of products and services through necessary supply chain activities. As supply chains are network of inter-connected firms; hence the importance of relational and social exchange attributes like trust, commitment, reciprocity and power are paramount in developing supply chain capabilities. The current investigation adopts a social exchange perspective and investigates the importance of trust, commitment, reciprocity and power on integration of logistics capabilities and their subsequent role in developing supply chain innovation. As supply chain innovation aims to provide better performance implications for the focal firm; the impact of supply chain innovation on firm performance was also explored using a service perspective. Data collected through a web-based survey from 173 logistics and supply chain professionals largely support the proposed relationships.
Understanding Continuance Usage of Mobile Social Network Sites
Authors: Zhou Tao
Published: May 2016

Retaining users and facilitating their continuance usage are crucial to the success of mobile social network sites. The purpose of this research is to identify the factors affecting continuance usage of mobile social network sites. The results indicated that both system quality and service quality affect trust, which in turn affects flow experience and privacy concern. In addition, privacy policy can help mitigate privacy concern. Trust, flow and privacy concern determine continuance usage. The results imply that service providers need to improve users' experience and mitigate their privacy concern in order to facilitate their continuance usage.
OSH at Trinidad and Tobago's Fingertips
Authors: Nathai-Balkissoon Marcia , Pun Kit Fai
Published: May 2016

As Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) embraces the digital age, one field in which the country must advance is Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). This paper seeks to identify how T&T's Occupational Safety and Health Agency (TTOSHA) addresses e-government (e-gov) through its website, how its approach compares to those used by leading OSH bodies in two first-world countries, the USA (US) and the UK, and how the T&T approach may be improved. The OSH e-gov practices of the US OSHA, UK HSE, and TTOSHA websites are presented. Through a content analysis and comparison exercise, e-gov shortcomings of the TTOSHA site are noted and recommendations for improvement are proposed. The paper's potential benefits include improved accessibility and utility of the TTOSHA site through improved matching of site content to international practice, broader ranges of resource topics and media types, improved responsiveness and connectivity with stakeholders, and better focus on OSH performance through the dissemination of searchable OSH statistics and performance reports.
Social Commerce Benefits for Small Businesses
Authors: Schaupp Ludwig Christian , Bélanger France
Published: May 2016

Small businesses represent an important element of many western economies. However, they often struggle with resources needed to succeed, and small business owners often have to perform many, if not all, roles in their organizations. One of the key functions that small businesses need to excel at for business success today is social commerce since much of their business is migrating towards the use of social media for business. In this study, determinants of social commerce benefits for small businesses are explored. Using survey data from 60 small companies, this research identifies stakeholder pressure and partner pressure as the most significant factors in determining social commerce benefits for small business. Implications of these findings and provide suggestions for future research are discussed.
Supplement 1
Authors: - -
Published: May 2016

--
Biobanking: from vision to reality
Authors: R. Harris Jennifer , Haugan Anita , Budin-Ljøsne Isabelle
Published: May 2016

-
Embedding biobanks as tools for personalised medicine
Authors: Kaye Jane
Published: May 2016

Many governments are seeking to improve the translation of medical research innovation by developing mechanisms to aid the flow of information between the laboratory and the clinic. The intention is that the combination of new research insights and the use of next generation sequencing technology in the clinic will lead to more and better personalised medicine outcomes. However, existing healthcare structures often maintain the sharp line between research and the clinic, which slows down the bidirectional flow of information that is needed to enable effective translation. At the same time, within the biobanking field, infrastructures are being built to enable more efficient and better quality research. As with translational research, there are a number of challenges for these biobanking initiatives. Questions remain as to the best way to utilise biobanks for translational research. Other challenges are how to ensure the sustainability of individual biobanks and the biobank infrastructures that are being developed. Sustainability requires public support for long-term funding, as well as the on-going commitment of patients and research participants to provide the raw material for biobanks and regular use by researchers. One possible solution to the challenges that are found in these two areas is to embed a biobank within the healthcare structure and to use it for healthcare and research purposes simultaneously. This paper discusses the CuraRata and the EnCoRe dynamic consent models that in combination could provide sustainability for biobanks and at the same time enable translational research.
The Regional Research Biobank of Central Norway – “One biobank, many collections”
Authors: Halgunset Jostein , Mikkelsen Øyvind L. , Skogseth Haakon
Published: May 2016

-
The Effect of Metalanguage on Grammar Noticing of the Iranian EFL Learners
Authors: Roshan Anita , Elhami Ali
Published: May 2016

Metalanguage did not receive a lot of attention in communicative language teaching (CLT) but has remained an untouched area in second language studies. This research wanted to examine the effect of teachers’ metalanguage on learners’ noticing of grammatical points. This research was conducted at two proficiency levels of elementary and intermediate. In each level of elementary and intermediate, two groups were chosen, an experimental and a control group. In the experimental group, the teachers used metalanguage to teach grammar points. However, in control group the teachers used examples to teach grammar points. A noticing task test was administered to the two groups to collect data. The result indicated that the metalanguage had impacted the learners’ noticing, of grammatical points.
Work With Customers to Reduce Water Use During Drought Conditions
Authors: Svindland Richard
Published: May 2016

California's historic drought has encouraged innovative water conservation measures statewide, helping the state sustain rural and urban communities and protect wildlife habitat.
Consider Membranes for Water Treatment
Authors: Alspach Brent
Published: May 2016

A large arsenal of membrane materials and platforms is available to treat most source waters and provide a long service life.
What Are Some Best Practices for Testing and Maintaining Fire Hydrants?
Authors: Ritter James
Published: May 2016

The fire hydrant is one of the most important parts of a water distribution system but is often one of the most ignored. To ensure hydrants will operate correctly when they're needed, proper procedures must be followed when they're inspected, tested, and maintained.
Revenue Analysis Promotes Water System Efficiency
Authors: Parks John
Published: May 2016

Don't let nonrevenue water drain your critical utility resources. Accurate and timely data analysis can help your utility maximize resources, efficiency, and revenues.
Essential to increase the use of generics in Europe to maintain comprehensive health care?
Authors: Godman Brian , Bennie Marion , Baumgärtel Christoph , Sović-Brkičić Ljiljana , Burkhardt Thomas , Fürst Jurij , Garuoliene Kristina , Gomes Miguel , Markovic-Pekovic Vanda , Martin Andrew , Sermet Catherine , Skiold Peter , Van Woerkom Menno , Voncina Luka , Gustafsson Lars L.
Published: May 2016

INTRODUCTION: Reforms have been introduced across Europe to increase prescribing efficiency with existing drugs. These include measures to lower prices of generics as well as increase their prescribing versus originators and patented products in a class or related class. This is essential to maintain comprehensive health care in Europe given continued pressures. The alternative is insufficient funds for new innovative drugs and increasing drug volumes with ageing populations. OBJECTIVE: To review the influence of measures and initiatives to increase the prescribing and dispensing of generics at low prices on ambulatory care prescribing efficiency. In view of this, provide guidance as authorities strive to introduce further reforms to meet their goals. METHODOLOGY: A narrative review of published papers combined with case histories. RESULTS: The different supply- and demand-side measures have reduced generic prices to as low as 2% to 3% of pre-patent loss prices in some cases as well as appreciably enhanced their utilisation. As a result, prescribing efficiency has increased without compromising care. In some cases, the reforms have led to expenditure actually falling despite appreciably increased volumes. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing use of generics at low prices will help maintain the European ideals of comprehensive and equitable health care. However, countries will continually need to learn from each other.
Can market structure explain cross-country differences in health?
Authors: Rybczynski Kate , Curtis Lori
Published: May 2016

There is a well documented health disparity between several European countries and the United States. This health gap remains even after controlling for socioeconomic status and risk factors. At the same time, we note that the U.S. market structure is characterized by significantly more large corporations and "super-sized" retail outlets than Europe. Because big business is hierarchical in nature and has been reported to engender urban sprawl, inferior work environments, and loss of social capital, all identified as correlates of poor health, we suggest that differences in market structure may help account for some of the unexplained differences in health across Europe and North America. Using national level data, this study explores the relationship between market structure and health. We investigate whether individuals who live in countries with proportionately more small business are healthier than those who do not. We use two measures of national health: life expectancy at birth, and age-standardized estimates of diabetes rates. Results from ordinary least squares regressions suggest that, there is a large and statistically significant association between market structure (the ratio of small to total businesses) and health, even after controlling income, public percent of health expenditure, and obesity rates. This association is robust to additional controls such as insufficient physical activity, smoking, alcohol disease, and air pollution.
Hepatitis B Infection and pregnancy: disease management and prevention of perinatal transmission
Authors: Perricone Giovanni , Vinci Maria
Published: May 2016

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects about 350 million individuals worldwide. Perinatal transmission is a common mode of HBV transmission. Without prophylaxis the risk of mother-to-child transmission is very high and it depends on the HBeAg status of mothers, being 85%-90% for HBeAg-positive mothers, and 32% for HBeAg-negative mothers. Maternal screening programs aimed at identifying HBsAg-positive mothers should be part of pregnancy routine examinations. Once HBsAg-positive mothers are identified, their babies receive passive-active immunoprophylaxis at birth, this reduces the risk of vertical HBV transmission from 90% to 5-10%. The present review aimed to show the peculiar and sometimes controversial aspects which concern both the mother and the fetus in the case of HBV infection in pregnancy, including the effect of pregnancy on HBV infection and of HBV infection on pregnancy; the potential viral transmission from mother to newborn; and prevention of mother-to-child transmission through antiviral drugs, and the type of antiviral drug to use considering their efficacy and potential teratogenic effect.
Directionality in Signed Language Interpreting
Authors: Wang Jihong , Napier Jemina
Published: May 2016

This mixed methods study investigated the effects of directionality (language direction) and age of signed language acquisition on the simultaneous interpreting performance of professional English/Auslan (Australian Sign Language) interpreters, who comprised native signers and non-native signers. Each participant interpreted presentations simultaneously from English into Auslan, and vice versa, with each task followed by a brief semi-structured interview. Unlike a similar study, results reveal no significant differences between the native signers’ English-to-Auslan simultaneous interpreting performance and their Auslan-to-English simultaneous interpreting performance, suggesting that balanced bilingual interpreters are free from the rule of directionality. Although this finding held true for the non-native signers, results indicate a need for the non-native signers to continue to enhance their signed language (L2) competence. Furthermore, although the native signers were similar to the non-native signers in overall simultaneous interpreting performance in each language direction, the native signers were significantly superior to the non-native signers in both the target text features and delivery features of English-to-Auslan simultaneous interpreting performance. These findings also suggest that the non-native signers need to further improve their signed language (L2) proficiency. Nevertheless, an analysis of the qualitative interview data reveals that the professional interpreters perceived distinct challenges that were unique to each language direction.
Villeray en transition : initiatives citoyennes d’appropriation de l’espace habité ?
Authors: Chanez Amélie , Lebrun-Paré Félix
Published: May 2016

Cet article s’intéresse aux initiatives citoyennes qui prennent place dans le contexte des désappropriations associées à la mondialisation économique néolibérale et de la redéfinition du rapport au politique des citoyens. À partir de l’exemple des Initiatives de transition et plus précisément du cas de Villeray en transition (VET), les auteurs explorent le cadre théorique des Initiatives citoyennes d’appropriation de l’espace habité (ICAEH) ainsi que les dimensions sociales, symboliques et matérielles de cette dernière. Ces nouvelles formes d’initiatives se réalisent dans un rapport au politique caractérisé par une logique ascendante (en termes de participation citoyenne), une démarche réflexive, horizontale et conscientisante d’empowerment entre citoyens. C’est la volonté de créer un « meilleur quartier sans pétrole » dans une perspective optimiste et de développer un « art de vivre local » qui amène les citoyens comme ceux de VET à repenser leurs pratiques sociales de voisinage et à tisser des réseaux inclusifs au sein de Villeray. En s’appropriant symboliquement et socialement l’espace habité, les citoyens transforment progressivement les pratiques matérielles de leur quartier.
Les travailleurs de rue, témoins-acteurs dans les zones grises de la lutte contre l’intimidation
Authors: Fontaine Annie
Published: May 2016

Faisant suite à un mémoire déposé dans le cadre du Forum de lutte contre l’intimidation organisé en 2014 par le gouvernement du Québec, cet article met en lumière comment la position de proximité des travailleurs de rue dans les milieux de vie des jeunes leur permet d’adopter une lecture globale des dynamiques d’intimidation et des conditions sociales dans lesquelles émerge ce phénomène. Cet article témoigne également de la contribution potentielle de ces intervenants hors murs que sont les travailleurs de rue dans la prévention de l’intimidation et dans l’intervention auprès de ceux qui sont impliqués. Enfin, cet article fait ressortir quelques conditions à préserver pour permettre aux travailleurs de rue de jouer pleinement leur rôle dans les zones grises de la lutte contre l’intimidation.
Carbon exchange between a shelf sea and the ocean: The Hebrides Shelf, west of Scotland
Authors: Painter Stuart C. , Hartman Susan E. , Kivimäe Caroline , Salt Lesley A. , Clargo Nicola M. , Bozec Yann , Daniels Chris J. , Jones Sam C. , Hemsley Victoria S. , Munns Lucie R. , Allen Stephanie R.
Published: May 2016

Global mass balance calculations indicate the majority of particulate organic carbon (POC) exported from shelf seas is transferred via downslope exchange processes. Here we demonstrate the downslope flux of POC from the Hebrides Shelf is approximately 3‐ to 5‐fold larger per unit length/area than the global mean. To reach this conclusion, we quantified the offshore transport of particulate and dissolved carbon fractions via the “Ekman Drain,” a strong downwelling feature of the NW European Shelf circulation, and subsequently compared these fluxes to simultaneous regional air‐sea CO2 fluxes and onshore wind‐driven Ekman fluxes to constrain the carbon dynamics of this shelf. Along the shelf break, we estimate a mean offshelf total carbon (dissolved + particulate) flux of 4.2 tonnes C m−1 d−1 compared to an onshelf flux of 4.5 tonnes C m−1 d−1. Organic carbon represented 3.3% of the onshelf carbon flux but 6.4% of the offshelf flux indicating net organic carbon export. Dissolved organic carbon represented 95% and POC 5% of the exported organic carbon pool. When scaled along the shelf break the total offshelf POC flux (0.007 Tg C d−1) was found to be 3 times larger than the regional air‐sea CO2 ingassing flux (0.0021 Tg C d−1), an order of magnitude larger than the particulate inorganic carbon flux (0.0003 Tg C d−1) but far smaller than the DIC (2.03 Tg C d−1) or DOC (0.13 Tg C d−1) fluxes. Significant spatial heterogeneity in the Ekman drain transport confirms that offshelf carbon fluxes via this mechanism are also spatially heterogeneous.
Whistler mode waves and Hall fields detected by MMS during a dayside magnetopause crossing
Authors: Contel O. Le , Retinò A. , Breuillard H. , Mirioni L. , Robert P. , Chasapis A. , Lavraud B. , Chust T. , Rezeau L. , Wilder F. D. , Graham D. B. , Argall M. R. , Gershman D. J. , Lindqvist P.‐A. , Khotyaintsev Y. V. , Marklund G. , Ergun R. E. , Goodrich K. A. , Burch J. L. , Torbert R. B. , Needell J. , Chutter M. , Rau D. , Dors I. , Russell C. T. , Magnes W. , Strangeway R. J. , Bromund K. R. , Leinweber H. K. , Plaschke F. , Fischer D. , Anderson B. J. , Le G. , Moore T. E. , Pollock C. J. , Giles B. L. , Dorelli J. C. , Avanov L. , Saito Y.
Published: May 2016

We present Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission measurements during a full magnetopause crossing associated with an enhanced southward ion flow. A quasi‐steady magnetospheric whistler mode wave emission propagating toward the reconnection region with quasi‐parallel and oblique wave angles is detected just before the opening of the magnetic field lines and the detection of escaping energetic electrons. Its source is likely the perpendicular temperature anisotropy of magnetospheric energetic electrons. In this region, perpendicular and parallel currents as well as the Hall electric field are calculated and found to be consistent with the decoupling of ions from the magnetic field and the crossing of a magnetospheric separatrix region. On the magnetosheath side, Hall electric fields are found smaller as the density is larger but still consistent with the decoupling of ions. Intense quasi‐parallel whistler wave emissions are detected propagating both toward and away from the reconnection region in association with a perpendicular anisotropy of the high‐energy part of the magnetosheath electron population and a strong perpendicular current, which suggests that in addition to the electron diffusion region, magnetosheath separatrices could be a source region for whistler waves.
Occurrence characteristics of outer zone relativistic electron butterfly distribution: A survey of Van Allen Probes REPT measurements
Authors: Ni Binbin , Zou Zhengyang , Li Xinlin , Bortnik Jacob , Xie Lun , Gu Xudong
Published: May 2016

Using Van Allen Probes Relativistic Electron Proton Telescope (REPT) pitch angle resolved electron flux data from September 2012 to March 2015, we investigate in detail the global occurrence pattern of equatorial (|λ| ≤ 3°) butterfly distribution of outer zone relativistic electrons and its potential correlation with the solar wind dynamic pressure. The statistical results demonstrate that these butterfly distributions occur with the highest occurrence rate ~ 80% at ~ 20–04 magnetic local time (MLT) and L > ~ 5.5 and with the second peak (> ~ 50%) at ~ 11–15 MLT of lower L shells ~ 4.0. They can also extend to L = 3.5 and to other MLT intervals but with the occurrence rates predominantly < ~25%. It is further shown that outer zone relativistic electron butterfly distributions are likely to peak between 58° and 79° for L = 4.0 and 5.0 and between 37° and 58° for L = 6.0, regardless of the level of solar wind dynamic pressure. Relativistic electron butterfly distributions at L = 4.0 also exhibit a pronounced day‐night asymmetry in response to the Pdyn variations. Compared to the significant L shell and MLT dependence of the global occurrence pattern, outer zone relativistic electron butterfly distributions show much less but still discernable sensitivity to Pdyn, geomagnetic activity level, and electron energy, the full understanding of which requires future attempts of detailed simulations that combine and differentiate underlying physical mechanisms of the geomagnetic field asymmetry and scattering by various magnetospheric waves.
The method of distributions for dispersive transport in porous media with uncertain hydraulic properties
Authors: Boso Francesca , Tartakovsky Daniel M.
Published: May 2016

Predictions of solute transport in subsurface environments are notoriously unreliable due to aquifer heterogeneity and uncertainty about the values of hydraulic parameters. Probabilistic framework, which treats the relevant parameters and solute concentrations as random fields, allows for quantification of this predictive uncertainty. By providing deterministic equations for either probability density function or cumulative distribution function (CDF) of predicted concentrations, the method of distributions enables one to estimate, e.g., the probability of a contaminant's concentration exceeding a safe dose. We derive a deterministic equation for the CDF of solute concentration, which accounts for uncertainty in flow velocity and initial conditions. The coefficients in this equation are expressed in terms of the mean and variance of concentration. The accuracy and robustness of the CDF equations are analyzed by comparing their predictions with those obtained with Monte Carlo simulations and an assumed beta CDF.
Resistive Switching Memory Integrated with Nanogenerator for Self‐Powered Bioimplantable Devices
Authors: Kim Bo‐Yun , Lee Woong‐Hee , Hwang Hyun‐Gyu , Kim Dong‐Ha , Kim Jeong‐Hun , Lee Sang‐Hoon , Nahm Sahn
Published: May 2016

Resistive random access memory (ReRAM) devices powered by piezoelectric nanogenerators (NGs) have been investigated for their application to future implantable biomedical devices. Biocompatible (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3 (NKN) films that are grown at 300 °C on TiN/SiO2/Si and flexible TiN/Polyimide (TiN‐PI) substrates are used for ReRAM and NGs, respectively. These NKN films have an amorphous phase containing NKN nanocrystals with a size of 5.0 nm. NKN ReRAM devices exhibit typical bipolar switching behavior that can be explained by the formation and rupture of oxygen‐vacancy filaments. They have good ReRAM properties such as a large ratio of RHRS to RLRS as well as high reliability. The NKN film grown on flexible TiN‐PI substrate exhibits a high piezoelectric strain constant of 50 pm V−1. The NKN NG has a large open‐circuit output voltage of 2.0 V and a short‐circuit output current of 40 nA, which are sufficient to drive NKN ReRAM devices. Stable switching properties with a large ON/OFF ratio of 102 are obtained from NKN ReRAM driven by NKN NG.
Controlled Growth and Reliable Thickness‐Dependent Properties of Organic–Inorganic Perovskite Platelet Crystal
Authors: Niu Lin , Zeng Qingsheng , Shi Jia , Cong Chunxiao , Wu Chunyang , Liu Fucai , Zhou Jiadong , Fu Wei , Fu Qundong , Jin Chuanhong , Yu Ting , Liu Xinfeng , Liu Zheng
Published: May 2016

Organolead halide perovskites (e.g., CH3NH3PbI3) have caught tremendous attention for their excellent optoelectronic properties and applications, especially as the active material for solar cells. Perovskite crystal quality and dimension is crucial for the fabrication of high‐performance optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices. Herein the controlled synthesis of organolead halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 nanoplatelets on SiO2/Si substrates is investigated via a convenient two‐step vapor transport deposition technique. The thickness and size of the perovskite can be well‐controlled from few‐layers to hundred nanometers by altering the synthesis time and temperature. Raman characterizations reveal that the evolutions of Raman peaks are sensitive to the thickness. Furthermore, from the time‐resolved photoluminescence measurements, the best optoelectronic performance of the perovskite platelet is attributed with thickness of ≈30 nm to its dominant longest lifetime (≈4.5 ns) of perovskite excitons, which means lower surface traps or defects. This work supplies an alternative to the synthesis of high‐quality organic perovskite and their possible optoelectronic applications with the most suitable materials.
Synthesis of Polyacrylate‐Based Chalcone Containing Different Donor Moieties and Studies on their Optical, Electrochemical, and Thermal Properties
Authors: Selvam R. , Subramanian K.
Published: May 2016

Four novel metal‐free acrylate polymers were synthesized via free radical polymerization using AIBN, in which a phenyl‐chalcone‐phenyl unit was connected with donor moieties such as fluorene, indole, anthracene, and benzophenone along with an acrylic acid group. The molecular weights of the polymers (P1–P4) were determined by gel permeation chromatography and their molecular structures were confirmed by FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy. The polymers were studied for their thermal properties by using DSC and thermo gravimetric analysis, which showed glass transition temperature (Tg,°C) in the range of 140–165°C. The relationship between molecular structure and optoelectronic properties of the synthesized polymers were investigated by UV–Visible, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
Patterns on serpentine shapes elicit visual attention in marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)
Authors: Wombolt Jessica R. , Caine Nancy G.
Published: May 2016

Given the prevalence of threatening snakes in the evolutionary history, and modern‐day environments of human and nonhuman primates, sensory, and perceptual abilities that allow for quick detection of, and appropriate response to snakes are likely to have evolved. Many studies have demonstrated that primates recognize snakes faster than other stimuli, and it is suggested that the unique serpentine shape is responsible for its quick detection. However, there are many nonthreatening serpentine shapes in the environment (e.g., vines) that are not threatening; therefore, other cues must be used to distinguish threatening from benign serpentine objects. In two experiments, we systematically evaluated how common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) visually attend to specific snake‐like features. In the first experiment, we examined if skin pattern is a cue that elicits increased visual inspection of serpentine shapes by measuring the amount of time the marmosets looked into a blind before, during, and after presentation of clay models with and without patterns. The marmosets spent the most time looking at the objects, both serpentine and triangle, that were etched with scales, suggesting that something may be uniquely salient about scales in evoking attention. In contrast, they showed relatively little interest in the unpatterned serpentine and control (a triangle) stimuli. In experiment 2, we replicated and extended the results of experiment 1 by adding additional stimulus conditions. We found that patterns on a serpentine shape generated more inspection than those same patterns on a triangle shape. We were unable to confirm that a scaled pattern is unique in its ability to elicit visual interest; the scaled models elicited similar looking times as line and star patterns. Our data provide a foundation for future research to examine how snakes are detected and identified by primates. Am. J. Primatol. 78:928–936, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hunting, pet trade, and forest size effects on population viability of a critically endangered Neotropical primate, Sapajus xanthosternos (Wied‐Neuwied, 1826)
Authors: da Silva Fabiana Araújo , Canale Gustavo Rodrigues , Kierulff Maria Cecília M. , Duarte Gabriela Teixeira , Paglia Adriano Pereira , Bernardo Christine S. S.
Published: May 2016

The yellow‐breasted capuchin monkey (Sapajus xanthosternos) is one of the seven Brazilian primates that are currently threatened with extinction. Although the species is known to be threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and illegal pet trade, few data exist on how these threats influence its long‐term population persistence. We conducted population viability analyses (PVAs) to estimate minimum viable populations of S. xanthosternos under 10 threat scenarios (i.e., varying hunting pressure and varying number of infants captured for the pet trade) for five forest fragments with different estimated carrying capacities (K). We also estimated the minimum forest fragment size required to sustain viable populations living under the same 10 threat scenarios, based on critical numbers of K obtained in sensitivity tests, below which the population would be unviable. Our PVAs suggests that hunting has a higher impact on population viability in comparison to threats from the pet trade. Annual losses of adult and young females from hunting had the most detrimental effect on population persistence under all forest fragment sizes. Such hunting pressure is not sustainable for populations living in areas ≤3,460 ha, since these areas may not support populations of ≥84 individuals. The seven largest of the 13 protected areas currently harboring capuchins should be effective at maintaining viable populations in the long term even under the greatest threat scenarios we modeled. Other large forest patches, mainly in the western part of the species distribution, are recommended as priority areas for protection to increase the chances of capuchins' survival for the long term. In addition, forest fragments of ≤782.8 ha cannot maintain viable populations, even when there are no threats from hunting or from captures for the pet trade. Increased law enforcement is necessary to prevent the hunting and capture of capuchins, especially within larger forest fragments. Am. J. Primatol. 78:950–960, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of a novel natural drop for treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps: a single blind randomized trial
Authors: Vazifehkah Shima , Shams‐Ardekani Mohammad Reza , Kamalinejad Mohammad , Saderhossein Seyed Mousa , Hosseini Hamed , Shams Seyed Mohammad , Abbassi Shirin , Eghtesad Sareh , Saedi Babak
Published: May 2016

Background

The present study investigated the effectiveness of a Pimpinella anisum–based herbal medicine for treating chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without polyps in comparison to fluticasone nasal spray, in a single‐blinded randomized trial.

Methods

Patients with CRS without nasal polyps were randomly assigned into 2 treatment groups: individuals in the first group (n = 26) received 2 drops of a P. anisum–based herbal medicine (Sinupim) in each nostril every 12 hours, while those in the second group (n = 22) received 2 puffs of fluticasone nasal spray in each nostril every 12 hours. Both groups used their designated treatments for 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated by the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) at the start of the trial and after the completion of their treatment.

Results

Although both treatments were effective in reducing patients’ symptoms, there were significantly better results in the Sinupim group based on the SNOT‐22 evaluation. Mean changes in computed tomography (CT) scan scoring in Sinupim and fluticasone groups before and after treatment were 2.22 ± 2.94 and 0.76 ± 1.39, respectively, which was significant within both groups (p < 0.05). Postnasal drip and nasal obstruction were more significantly improved in the Sinupim group.

Conclusion

A P. anisum–based herbal medicine may be an effective treatment for sinusitis without polyps. However, its wide acceptance needs further investigation.
Chemie und Biologie der Schilddrüsenhormon‐Biosynthese und ‐Wirkung
Authors: Mondal Santanu , Raja Karuppusamy , Schweizer Ulrich , Mugesh Govindasamy
Published: May 2016

Schilddrüsenhormone (THs) werden von der Schilddrüse abgegeben. Sie kontrollieren Fett‐, Kohlenhydrat‐ und Proteinmetabolismus, Herzfrequenz, neuronale Entwicklung sowie kardiovaskuläre, renale und neuronale Funktionen. Die Schilddrüse produziert überwiegend l‐Thyroxin (T4), das als Prohormon fungiert. Durch 5′‐Deiodierung, katalysiert von Iodthyronin‐Deiodasen, wird aktives T3 gebildet, das an den nukleären Schilddrüsenhormon‐Rezeptor bindet. In diesem Aufsatz fassen wir sowohl die grundlegende Chemie und Biologie als auch die neuesten Erkenntnisse zur TH‐Biosynthese, zum Plasmatransport und zur Internalisierung der THs in die Zielorgane, zur Deiodierung und zu einer Vielzahl anderer Enzym‐vermittelter Stoffwechselwege zusammen. Zudem erörtern wir Schilddrüsenhormon‐Rezeptoren, verschiedene Schilddrüsen‐bedingte Krankheiten und deren Therapien.
Indoor air pollution and the risk of orofacial clefts in a rural population in Shanxi province, China
Authors: Liu Yingying , Wang Bin , Li Zhiwen , Zhang Le , Liu Jufen , Ren Aiguo
Published: May 2016

Background

Shanxi Province is a region in China with a high incidence of orofacial clefts (OFCs). Our objective is to investigate the effect of maternal exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) from coal combustion and tobacco smoke on the risk of an infant being born with orofacial clefts.

Methods

Data were derived from an ongoing population‐based case–control study of major external structural birth defects in Shanxi Province. Subjects included 213 cases with OFCs and 1319 healthy babies born between November 2002 and December 2014 in four rural counties. Exposure information was collected by face‐to‐face interview with mothers within 1 week of delivery or pregnancy termination. The authors derived an exposure index by integrating a series of IAP‐related characteristics concerning dwelling and lifestyle.

Results

Increased odds of OFC were associated with IAP exposure from heating (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–4.5) and from smoking (aOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.5), but not with exposure from cooking (aOR = 0.9; 95% CI, 0.6–1.4). Compared with women without IAP exposure, the aORs of OFC for children of women with exposure indices of 1, 2, 3 and ≥ 4 were 1.1 (95% CI, 0.6–1.8), 1.4 (95% CI, 0.8–2.4), 1.8 (95% CI, 1.0–3.2), and 3.4 (95% CI, 1.6–7.4), respectively, demonstrating a clear dose–response trend (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Periconceptional exposure to IAP from coal combustion and tobacco smoking may increase the risk of OFCs in offsprings of women in Shanxi Province. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:708–715, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Two-year results from a randomized clinical trial of revascularization in patients with intermittent claudication
Authors: Nordanstig J , Taft C , Hensäter M , Perlander A , Österberg K , Jivegård L
Published: May 2016

Background

Intermittent claudication is associated with significant impairment of health-related quality of life. The use of revascularization techniques to improve health-related quality of life remains controversial.

Methods

Patients with intermittent claudication due to iliac or femoropopliteal peripheral artery disease were enrolled in the IRONIC trial. They were randomized to either best medical therapy (BMT), including a structured, non-supervised exercise programme, or revascularization with either endovascular or open techniques in addition to BMT. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life at 2 years assessed using the Short Form 36 (SF-36®) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included VascuQoL questionnaire results, treadmill walking distances and achievement of patient-specified treatment goals.

Results

Both randomized groups had improved health-related quality of life and treadmill walking distance at 2-year follow-up. Overall SF-36® physical component summary score, three SF-36® physical domain scores, overall VascuQoL score, and three of five VascuQoL domain scores showed significantly greater improvement in the group that also received invasive treatment. Intermittent claudication distance on a graded treadmill improved more in the revascularization + BMT group (117 versus 55 m; P = 0·003) whereas maximum walking distance and 6-min walk test distance were similar. Some 44 per cent of patients in the revascularization + BMT group reported they had fully achieved their treatment goal versus 10 per cent in the BMT group.

Conclusion

A revascularization strategy with unsupervised exercise improved health-related quality of life and intermittent claudication distance more than standard BMT and an unsupervised exercise programme in patients with lifestyle-limiting claudication. Registration number: NCT01219842 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
The effect of amifostine on differentiation of the human megakaryoblastic Dami cell line
Authors: Wang Hai‐tao , Yang Bo , Hu Bo , Chi Xiao‐hua , Luo Long‐long , Yang Hong‐qi , Lang Xiao‐ling , Geng Jing , Qiao Chun‐xia , Li Yan , Wu Xiao‐Xiong , Zhu Hong‐li , Lv Ming , Lu Xue‐chun
Published: May 2016

Amifostine is a cytoprotective drug that was initially used to control and treat nuclear radiation injury and is currently used to provide organ protection in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Clinical studies have also found that amifostine has some efficacy in the treatment of cytopenia caused by conditions such as myelodysplastic syndrome and immune thrombocytopenia, both of which involve megakaryocyte maturation defects. We hypothesized that amifostine induced the differentiation of megakaryocytes and investigated this by exposing the human Dami megakaryocyte leukemia cell line to amifostine (1 mmol/L). After 12 days of amifostine exposure, optical microscopy showed that the proportion of Dami cells with diameters >20 μm had increased to 24.63%. Transmission electron microscopy identified the development of a platelet demarcation membrane system, while flow cytometry detected increased CD41a expression and decreased CD33 expression on the Dami cell surface. Ploidy analysis found that the number of polyploid cells with >4N DNA content increased to 27.96%. We did not detect any elevation in the mRNA or protein levels of megakaryocytic differentiation‐associated transcription factors GATA‐binding factor 1 (GATA‐1) and nuclear factor, erythroid 2 (NF‐E2), but nuclear import assay revealed an increased nuclear translocation of these proteins. These findings indicate that amifostine induced the differentiation of Dami cells into mature megakaryocytes via a mechanism involving increased nuclear translocation of the transcription factors, NF‐E2 and GATA‐1.
CDC: Parent training underutilized in ADHD in young children
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: May 2016

Last month, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report calling for more utilization of parent training in attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), especially in children ages 2–5.
Copper‐Modified Titanium Dioxide: A Simple Photocatalyst for the Chemoselective and Diastereoselective Hydrogenation of Alkynes to Alkenes under Additive‐Free Conditions
Authors: Kominami Hiroshi , Higa Megumi , Nojima Taketo , Ito Tomohiko , Nakanishi Kousuke , Hashimoto Keiji , Imamura Kazuya
Published: May 2016

Internal alkynes were chemoselectively and diastereoselectively hydrogenated to the corresponding cis‐alkenes in alcoholic suspensions of a copper‐loaded titanium(IV) oxide photocatalyst without the use of additives and a reducing gas, and alkynes having functional groups such as a nitrile group were doubly chemoselectively converted into the corresponding alkenes.
Ionic‐Liquid‐Assisted Selective and Controlled Electrochemical CO2 Reduction at Cu‐Modified Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode
Authors: Roy Nitish , Shibano Yuta , Terashima Chiaki , Katsumata Ken‐ichi , Nakata Kazuya , Kondo Takeshi , Yuasa Makoto , Fujishima Akira
Published: May 2016

Primary challenges in electrochemical CO2 reduction lie with its product selectivity and competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Therefore, selective CO2 reduction with less hydrogen evolution or without any hydrogen evolution is very essential for industrial interests. In this study, we report a selective electrochemical CO2 reduction at a boron‐doped diamond electrode modified with Cu nanoparticles in ionic liquid. In addition to the improved product selectivity, control of the competitive HER was also achieved in this work.
Synthesis of Firefly Luciferin Analogues and Evaluation of the Luminescent Properties
Authors: Ioka Shuji , Saitoh Tsuyoshi , Iwano Satoshi , Suzuki Koji , Maki Shojiro A. , Miyawaki Atsushi , Imoto Masaya , Nishiyama Shigeru
Published: May 2016

Five new firefly luciferin (1) analogues were synthesized and their light emission properties were examined. Modifications of the thiazoline moiety in 1 were employed to produce analogues containing acyclic amino acid side chains (2–4) and heterocyclic rings derived from amino acids (5 and 6) linked to the benzothiazole moiety. Although methyl esters of all of the synthetic derivatives exhibited chemiluminescence activity, only carboluciferin (6), possessing a pyrroline‐substituted benzothiazole structure, had bioluminescence (BL) activity (λmax=547 nm). Results of bioluminescence studies with AMP‐carboluciferin (AMP=adenosine monophosphate) and AMP‐firefly luciferin showed that the nature of the thiazoline mimicking moiety affected the adenylation step of the luciferin–luciferase reaction required for production of potent BL. In addition, BL of 6 in living mice differed from that of 1 in that its luminescence decay rate was slower.
Aza‐Bambusurils En Route to Anion Transporters
Authors: Singh Mandeep , Solel Ephrath , Keinan Ehud , Reany Ofer
Published: May 2016

Previous calculations of anion binding with various bambusuril analogs predicted that the replacement of oxygen by nitrogen atoms to produce semiaza‐bambus[6]urils would award these new cavitands with multiple anion binding properties. This study validates the hypothesis by efficient synthesis, crystallography, thermogravimetric analysis and calorimetry. These unique host molecules are easily accessible from the corresponding semithio‐bambusurils in a one‐pot reaction, which converts a single anion receptor into a potential anion channel. Solid‐state structures exhibit simultaneous accommodation of three anions, linearly positioned within the cavity along the main symmetry axis. The ability to hold anions at a short distance of about 4 Å is reminiscent of natural chloride channels in E. coli, which exhibit similar distances between their adjacent anion binding sites. The calculated transition‐state energy for double‐anion movement through the channel suggests that although these host–guest complexes are thermodynamically stable they enjoy high kinetic flexibility to render them efficient anion channels.
Multiple and Highly Selective Alkyne–Isonitrile C−C and C−N Couplings at Group 4 Metallocenes
Authors: Altenburger Kai , Arndt Perdita , Becker Lisanne , Reiß Fabian , Burlakov Vladimir V. , Spannenberg Anke , Baumann Wolfgang , Rosenthal Uwe
Published: May 2016

Reactions of the group 4 metallocene alkyne complexes [Cp′2M(η2‐Me3SiC2SiMe3)] [Cp′2=rac‐(ebthi)=rac‐1,2‐ethylene‐1,1′‐bis(η5‐tetrahydroindenyl): M=Ti, Zr, Hf; Cp′2=Cp*2 (Cp*=η5‐pentamethylcyclopentadienyl): M=Zr] with 2,6‐dimethylphenyl isocyanide (2‐xylyl isonitrile, XyNC) were investigated. Depending on the metal, the Cp′ ligand, and/or the stoichiometry, as well as the reaction temperature and time, different products were obtained. The products included simple end‐on coordination compounds of XyNC in addition to those of the coupling of Me3SiC2SiMe3 with two, three, or four isonitriles to form enimine complexes, aza‐metallacycloallenes, and fused heterocyclic systems, respectively. One example of the latter tricyclic compounds was subject to demetalation by using HCl. Molecular structures of the heterometallacycles were determined by X‐ray crystallography. The interconversion of the products was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy.
ChemInform Abstract: Polyfluoro 1,3‐Diketones as Systemic Insecticides.
Authors: CROUSE G. D. , MCGOWAN M. J. , BOISVENUE R. J.
Published: May 2016

The title compounds (IV), prepared by condensation reaction of the acetophenones (I) with the perfluorinated esters (II) in the presence of sodium ethoxide, are examined for their systemic ectoparasiticidal activity in cattle.