bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hemocompatible 3D Silver(I) Coordination Polymers: Synthesis, X‐ray Structure, Photo‐Catalytic and Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Kulovi Somnath , Dalbera Subrata , Dey Surya Kanta , Maiti (Choudhury) Sujata , Puschmann Horst , Zangrando Ennio , Dalai Sudipta
Published: May 2018

Three new Ag(I) coordination polymers, namely, [Ag3(pyp)3(H2O)2](bpydc)1.5(H2O)6 (1), Ag2(dpe)2(phdac)](H2O)5.4 (2), and [Ag2(azbpy)3(H2O)2].(dga)(H2O)5 (3) (where pyp=1,3‐bis(4‐pyridylpropane), H2bpydc=2,2’‐bipyridine‐5,5’‐dicarboxylic acid, dpe=1,2‐di(4‐pyridyl)ethylene, H2phdac=1,4‐phenylenediacetic acid, azpy=4,4’‐azobispyridine and H2dga=diglycolic acid) were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, IR, UV–vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. The most interesting aspect of these coordination polymers (CPs) in the solid state is represented by the number of lattice water molecules that, along with carboxylate ligands, play a crucial role in network formation through H‐bonds to attain a 3D structure. The band gap energies of the CPs were calculated. Among the compounds studied CP 2 was proved to be the most efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of noxious organic dye methylene blue (MB) and in addition tendered better antibacterial activity. Finally, all three CPs showed to be hemocompatible.
Titanium Incorporated Mesoporous Silica Immobilized Functional Ionic Liquid as an Efficient Reusable Catalyst for Cycloaddition of Carbon Dioxide to Epoxides
Authors: Hu Yu Lin , Wang Hong Bo , Chen Zhi Wei , Li Xiao Guang
Published: May 2018

A series of functionalized ionic liquids immobilized onto SBA‐15 mesoporous materials were prepared, characterized and evaluated as catalysts in cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides. Most of these immobilized ILs perform well in the reaction, especially the multifunctional titanium incorporated SBA‐15 immobilized heterogeneous catalysts Ti‐SBA‐15@ILClCH2COO(0.5) and Al‐SBA‐15@ILClCH2COO(0.5). The catalytic tests revealed that Ti‐SBA‐15@ILClCH2COO(0.5) was the best and powerful catalyst in the cycloaddition for the preparation of cyclic carbonates with high to excellent yields. The heterogeneous catalyst can be easily separated from the reaction mixture by filtration and reused in six consecutive cycles without significant loss in catalytic activity. The studies demonstrate that the well designed supported catalysts via cooperative catalysis of the supported carrier, anion sites of ILs is a promising platform for construction of novel and highly efficient catalytic transformation systems.
Silver Nanoflower Decorated Graphene Oxide Sponges for Highly Sensitive Variable Stiffness Stress Sensors
Authors: Khan Fakhre Alam , Ajmal C. Muhammed , Bae Seonghyun , Seo Sungwon , Moon Hyungpil , Baik Seunghyun
Published: May 2018

Soft conductive materials should enable large deformation while keeping high electrical conductivity and elasticity. The graphene oxide (GO)‐based sponge is a potential candidate to endow large deformation. However, it typically exhibits low conductivity and elasticity. Here, the highly conductive and elastic sponge composed of GO, flower‐shaped silver nanoparticles (AgNFs), and polyimide (GO‐AgNF‐PI sponge) are demonstrated. The average pore size and porosity are 114 µm and 94.7%, respectively. Ag NFs have thin petals (8–20 nm) protruding out of the surface of a spherical bud (300–350 nm) significantly enhancing the specific surface area (2.83 m2 g−1). The electrical conductivity (0.306 S m−1 at 0% strain) of the GO‐AgNF‐PI sponge is increased by more than an order of magnitude with the addition of Ag NFs. A nearly perfect elasticity is obtained over a wide compressive strain range (0–90%). The strain‐dependent, nonlinear variation of Young's modulus of the sponge provides a unique opportunity as a variable stiffness stress sensor that operates over a wide stress range (0–10 kPa) with a high maximum sensitivity (0.572 kPa−1). It allows grasping of a soft rose and a hard bottle, with the minimal object deformation, when attached on the finger of a robot gripper.
Effect of TMCP on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 304 Stainless Steel
Authors: Mallick Pratik , Tewary Nisith Kumar , Ghosh Swarup Kumar , Chattopadhyay Partha Protim
Published: May 2018

The present study investigates the evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties of 304 stainless steel after thermo‐mechanical controlled processing (TMCP). Three different FRTs (finish rolling temperatures) have been adopted and the micro‐constituents are identified as austenite grains, stacking faults, annealing, and deformation twins. Fine austenite grains in the range of 1–30 μm are obtained at lower FRT (700 °C) whereas at higher FRT, coarse grains are formed. TEM and X‐ray analyses indicate the formation of M23C6 ((Cr, Fe)23C6) precipitates for higher FRT (900 °C). Specimen processed with 700 °C FRT results into 37% enhancement in UTS compared to the base metal which is attributed to fine partially recrystallized grain, extensive deformation twinning and high dislocation density. Maximum elongation (68%) is obtained due to the formation of strain‐free equiaxed grains (≈40 μm) at 900 °C FRT.
Evolution of systems engineering scholarship from 2000 to 2015, with particular emphasis on software
Authors: Sheard Sarah A.
Published: May 2018

Systems engineering in 2018 has many challenges, both to build the complex systems of systems of the future, and to build the complex systems of which they are composed. Systems engineering needs to be able to design around stable requirements when there are long‐lead manufactured items to be incorporated, and also needs to be able to evolve the design along with evolving requirements for larger systems. The “systems engineering of yesterday,” which, when done well, greatly enhanced the design and use of stand‐alone systems, has to be extended to adequately cover evolving systems of systems, being agile and resilient and responsive.

This paper compares articles in 1 year of the first 5 years and 1 year of the last 5 years out of the 20‐year history of the Systems Engineering journal, and considers generality via lexicographic trend analysis. Based on the topics addressed by the articles in each year, there is more interest today in the larger system (e.g., economics, simulation of the environment, systems‐of‐systems), on quality attributes (more often called “ilities” or life‐cycle properties in systems engineering) and on modeling, management, and technology maturity. There is less interest today in process and requirements. These can be explained by systems engineering having moved away from initially deeply‐explored topics into new areas.
Networks and Shared Tasks in Clinical Text Mining
Authors: Dalianis Hercules
Published: May 2018

This chapter provides a short survey about the most important conferences, workshops, journals, and research networks related to clinical text mining.
User Needs: Clinicians, Clinical Researchers and Hospital Management
Authors: Dalianis Hercules
Published: May 2018

This chapter is about the use of patient records and the requirements the different health professionals, such as physicians and nurses, have on the patient record system.
DECOMPOSING GAPS BETWEEN ROMA AND NON-ROMA IN ROMANIA
Authors: Rauh Christopher
Published: May 2018

It is widely known that the Roma have been suffering persistent disadvantages. Yet, little empirical evidence exists. Using the censuses of 1977, 1992, 2002, and 2011, I provide a comprehensive overview of the past, present, and an outlook on the future of the Roma in Romania, home to a large and rapidly growing Roma community. Young Roma, in particular girls, are less likely to be attending school, indicating that lack of educational attainment is likely to persist. The Roma have worse housing conditions and face lower employment and higher unemployment levels. Amongst Roma, females are less likely to be employed than males. Oaxaca–Blinder decompositions of the ethnic and gender employment gaps reveal that the differences in employment cannot be fully explained by observables, such as age or education. Despite the seemingly dire picture, there are signs of improvement for more recent cohorts, as literacy rates have reached close to universal levels.
A MORE MEASURED APPROACH: AN EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT MEASURES OF MARRIAGE RATES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FAMILY ECONOMICS
Authors: Bronson Mary Ann , Mazzocco Maurizio
Published: May 2018

Marriage patterns can be well understood only if researchers employ measures of marriage rates that are appropriate for the question asked. In this paper, we provide evidence that the two classes of measures typically used in the literature, the number of new marriages per population and the share of individuals currently or ever married within an age range, generally lead to misleading inference when used to study the probability someone marries during his or her life or fertile life, how it evolves, and how it differs across populations. An alternative measure, the share of individuals ever married in a given cohort by a given age, is better suited for such studies. When researchers are interested in year-on-year changes in marriage probabilities of singles, age-specific marriage hazards are more reliable than population-based measures. We conclude by discussing implications of our findings for studies of the drivers and consequences of marriage formation.
The Episcopal Church, the Roman Empire and the Royal Supremacy in Restoration Scotland
Authors: Carter Andrew
Published: May 2018

The churchmen who adhered to the established Church in Scotland during the years from 1661 to 1689, the last period in which it had bishops, have been overlooked by historians in favour of laymen and presbyterian dissenters. This article breaks new ground by examining the episcopalian clergy's attitude to the royal supremacy. To do so, it explores how Scottish episcopalians used the early Church under the Roman empire to illustrate their ideal relationship between Church and monarch. Three phases are evident in their approach. First, it was argued that conformists were, like early Christians, living in proper obedience, while presbyterians were seeking to create a separate jurisdiction in conflict with the king's. Later, Bishop Andrew Honeyman of Orkney tried to put some limitations on the royal supremacy over the Church, arguing that church courts had an independent power of discipline. This became politically unacceptable after the 1669 Act of Supremacy gave the king complete power over the Church, and, in the final phase, the history of the early Church was used to undermine the power of the church courts. The Church under the Roman empire, much like the royal supremacy itself, changed from an instrument to encourage conformity to a means of delegitimizing any clerical opposition to royal policy.
Cross-Cultural Comparison of Genetic and Cultural Transmission of Smoking Initiation Using an Extended Twin Kinship Model
Authors: Maes Hermine H. , Morley Kate , Neale Michael C. , Kendler Kenneth S. , Heath Andrew C. , Eaves Lindon J. , Martin Nicholas G.
Published: May 2018

Background: Considerable evidence from twin and adoption studies indicates that genetic and shared environmental factors play a role in the initiation of smoking behavior. Although twin and adoption designs are powerful to detect genetic and environmental influences, they do not provide information on the processes of assortative mating and parent–offspring transmission and their contribution to the variability explained by genetic and/or environmental factors. Methods: We examined the role of genetic and environmental factors in individual differences for smoking initiation (SI) using an extended kinship design. This design allows the simultaneous testing of additive and non-additive genetic, shared and individual-specific environmental factors, as well as sex differences in the expression of genes and environment in the presence of assortative mating and combined genetic and cultural transmission, while also estimating the regression of the prevalence of SI on age. A dichotomous lifetime ‘ever’ smoking measure was obtained from twins and relatives in the ‘Virginia 30,000’ sample and the ‘Australian 25,000’. Results: Results demonstrate that both genetic and environmental factors play a significant role in the liability to SI. Major influences on individual differences appeared to be additive genetic and unique environmental effects, with smaller contributions from assortative mating, shared sibling environment, twin environment, cultural transmission, and resulting genotype-environment covariance. Age regression of the prevalence of SI was significant. The finding of negative cultural transmission without dominance led us to investigate more closely two possible mechanisms for the lower parent–offspring correlations compared to the sibling and DZ twin correlations in subsets of the data: (1) age × gene interaction, and (2) social homogamy. Neither of the mechanism provided a significantly better explanation of the data. Conclusions: This study showed significant heritability, partly due to assortment, and significant effects of primarily non-parental shared environment on liability to SI.
Stimmen im Alltag
Authors: Freitag Kerstin
Published: May 2018

Zusammenfassung. Stimmenhören wird häufig mit erheblichen Einschränkungen auf den Alltag und das soziale Funktionsniveau Betroffener in Verbindung gebracht. Es zeigt sich jedoch, dass eine Vielzahl Betroffener die Erfahrung, Stimmen zu hören, in ihr Leben integrieren und gut bewältigen, ohne Einschränkungen in der sozialen Funktionsfähigkeit oder ihrem Leben zu empfinden. Essentiell erscheinen hierbei die Akzeptanz gegenüber der Erfahrung sowie die Anwendung effektiver und individueller Bewältigungsstrategien zu sein. Vorliegende wissenschaftliche Erkenntnis- se ergeben für psychiatrisch Tätige aller Disziplinen zahlreiche Implikationen für eine effektive Zusammenarbeit mit stimmenhörenden Menschen.
Auf der Suche – eine Recovery-Geschichte
Authors: Knobel Anne
Published: May 2018

Zusammenfassung. Zwischen 2004 und 2012 erlebte ich vier psychotische Schübe, der erste mit 20 – ein Blitzschlag aus heiterem Himmel in die bislang ungetrübte Familienidylle. Ich erlebte eine harmonische Kindheit. Aufgewachsen auf dem Land als ältestes von vier Geschwistern, Klassenbeste, vielseitig begabt und erfolgreich, stets bestrebt, es den Eltern recht zu machen – ich galt als Vorzeigekind und war ein großes Vorbild für meine jüngeren Geschwister.
Synergistic Retrieval of Multitemporal Aerosol Optical Depth Over North China Plain Using Geostationary Satellite Data of Himawari‐8
Authors: Shi Shuaiyi , Cheng Tianhai , Gu Xingfa , Letu Husi , Guo Hong , Chen Hao , Wang Ying , Wu Yu
Published: May 2018

An N‐Dimensional Cost Function (NDCF) method is introduced in this paper to simultaneously retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD) at multiple time points by exploiting multitemporal data synergy from geostationary satellite. In the proposed method, the number of remote sensing observations used is flexible, the bidirectional reflectance effect is considered, and AOD variation in different observations is allowed. Sensitivity study shows that the relative error of the retrieved AOD decreases as the dimension of the cost function increases. The retrieval accuracy of NDCF method has been improved more than 3 times by changing the dimension of the cost function from 2 to 13. The relative error of the retrieved AOD is less than 20% if viewing zenith angle is less than 70° for dark surface or 60° for bright surface. The proposed method is applied to Advanced Himawari Imager data on board Himawari‐8 over North China Plain. Case study shows that the retrieved AOD by NDCF method demonstrates the same time variation tendency with the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) AOD measurement as well as the similar spatial distribution characteristic with Moderate‐resolution Imaging Spectrometer AOD product. The validation result shows that the NDCF method demonstrates the considerable AOD retrieval accuracy in all the three selected AERONET sites of Beijing‐Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS) (slope = 0.826, R2 = 0.832), XiangHe (slope = 0.879, R2 = 0.836), and XuZhou‐China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) (slope = 0.889, R2 = 0.730). The expected error of the NDCF method is estimated as Δτ = ±0.08 ± 0.19τ. Compared to the official Himawari product, the NDCF method improves the AOD retrieval accuracy and retrieval applicability over North China Plain of Himawari‐8/Advanced Himawari Imager data.
The Oral Microbiome Bank of China
Authors: Xian Peng , Xuedong Zhou , Xin Xu , Yuqing Li , Yan Li , Jiyao Li , Xiaoquan Su , Shi Huang , Jian Xu , Ga Liao
Published: May 2018

The human microbiome project (HMP) promoted further understanding of human oral microbes. However, research on the human oral microbiota has not made as much progress as research on the gut microbiota. Currently, the causal relationship between the oral microbiota and oral diseases remains unclear, and little is known about the link between the oral microbiota and human systemic diseases. To further understand the contribution of the oral microbiota in oral diseases and systemic diseases, a Human Oral Microbiome Database (HOMD) was established in the US. The HOMD includes 619 taxa in 13 phyla, and most of the microorganisms are from American populations. Due to individual differences in the microbiome, the HOMD does not reflect the Chinese oral microbial status. Herein, we established a new oral microbiome database—the Oral Microbiome Bank of China (OMBC, http://www.sklod.org/ombc). Currently, the OMBC includes information on 289 bacterial strains and 720 clinical samples from the Chinese population, along with lab and clinical information. The OMBC is the first curated description of a Chinese-associated microbiome; it provides tools for use in investigating the role of the oral microbiome in health and diseases, and will give the community abundant data and strain information for future oral microbial studies.
Long-term weathering rate of stained-glass windows using H and O isotopes
Authors: Sessegolo Loryelle , Verney-Carron Aurélie , Saheb Mandana , Remusat Laurent , Gonzalez-Cano Adriana , Nuns Nicolas , Mertz Jean-Didier , Loisel Claudine , Chabas Anne
Published: May 2018

The understanding of glass alteration is a biogeochemical, industrial, societal (radioactive waste confinement), and cultural heritage issue. Studies have been mainly performed in aqueous conditions. However, glass reactivity under hydraulically unsaturated conditions may be more important than previously recognized. In this context, we evaluate here the role of the alteration layer formed on medieval stained-glass windows on the ongoing alteration in unsaturated conditions. H2O adsorption isotherms were measured to study the relation between the vapor sorption and the relative humidity inside the alteration layer. From it, the average pore radius was calculated, yielding a water vapor diffusion coefficient of 7.8 × 10-7 m² s-1 inside the pore network. Experiments using doped water vapor (D218O) confirm the vapor transport up to the alteration front via fractures and pore network. They also demonstrate that the alteration mainly progresses via an interdiffusion mechanism. The calculated interdiffusion coefficients at 20 °C are 3.6 × 10-20 m2 s-1 at 70% RH and 4.9 × 10-20 m2 s-1 at 90% RH, which is similar to the values measured on model stained-glass samples altered in short durations (1–4 years). Therefore, this study highlights that, given its morphology, the alteration layer is not protective against vapor transport and interdiffusion.
Author Correction: Dynamic Changes of Genome-Wide DNA Methylation during Soybean Seed Development
Authors: An Yong-qiang Charles , Goettel Wolfgang , Han Qiang , Bartels Arthur , Liu Zongrang , Xiao Wenyan
Published: May 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Discrete taxa of saprotrophic fungi respire different ages of carbon from Antarctic soils
Authors: Newsham Kevin K. , Garnett Mark H. , Robinson Clare H. , Cox Filipa
Published: May 2018

Different organic compounds have distinct residence times in soil and are degraded by specific taxa of saprotrophic fungi. It hence follows that specific fungal taxa should respire carbon of different ages from these compounds to the atmosphere. Here, we test whether this is the case by radiocarbon (14C) dating CO2evolved from two gamma radiation-sterilised maritime Antarctic soils inoculated with pure single cultures of four fungi. We show that a member of the Helotiales, which accounted for 41–56% of all fungal sequences in the two soils, respired soil carbon that was aged up to 1,200 years BP and which was 350–400 years older than that respired by the other three taxa. Analyses of the enzyme profile of the Helotialean fungus and the fluxes and δ13C values of CO2that it evolved suggested that its release of old carbon from soil was associated with efficient cellulose decomposition. Our findings support suggestions that increases in the ages of carbon respired from warmed soils may be caused by changes to the abundances or activities of discrete taxa of microbes, and indicate that the loss of old carbon from soils is driven by specific fungal taxa.
Paradoxical cardiotoxicity of intraperitoneally-injected epigallocatechin gallate preparation in diabetic mice
Authors: Rasheed Nora O. Abdel , Ahmed Lamiaa A. , Abdallah Dalaal M. , El-Sayeh Bahia M.
Published: May 2018

Numerous clinical and bioavailability studies addressed epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) beneficial effects; however, our previous work revealed EGCG-induced nephrotoxicity in the presence of diabetes. In this study, the potential myocardial toxicity of EGCG preparation (100 mg/kg/day, IP; 4 days) in diabetic mice injected with streptozotocin (STZ; 150 mg/kg, IP) was investigated. Diabetic mice receiving EGCG preparation showed electrocardiographic changes in addition to elevation of both serum creatine kinase-MB and troponin-I levels accompanied by microscopic myocardial damage. Additionally, myocardial NADPH oxidase, lipid peroxides and nitrotyrosine were increased in the vicinity of decreases of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, hemeoxygenase-1, reduced glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase and reductase and heat shock protein 90. Moreover, in diabetic mice, EGCG preparation increased myocardial nuclear factor-kappa B and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in addition to pronounced overexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and active caspase-3. Therefore, this study substantiates that EGCG-mediated deterioration compromises diabetes-induced cardiotoxicity to solidify our previous report for its potential nephrotoxicity in the same experimental setting.
Shining Light on Molecular Mechanism for Odor-selectivity of CNT-immobilized Olfactory Receptor
Authors: Zhang Liyun , Yuan Yuan , Ren Tian , Guo Yanzhi , Li Chuan , Pu Xuemei
Published: May 2018

Olfactory receptor (OR)-based bioelectronic nose is a new type of bio-affinity sensor applied for detecting numerous odorant molecules. In order to elucidate the effect of the adsorption of nanomaterial carriers on the receptor structure and its selectivity to odors, we used a systematic computation-scheme to study two OR models immobilized onto carbon nanotube. Our result indicates that there is a multistep OR-adsorption process driven by hydrophobic interaction. Many allosteric communication pathways exist between the absorbed residues and the pocket ones, leading to a significant shrinkage of the pocket. Consequently, the size-selectivity of the receptor to the odors is changed to some extent. But, the odor size and its hydrophobicity, rather than specific functional groups of the odor, still play a determinant role in binding OR, at least for the 132 odors under study. Regardless of the limitation for the odor size in initial recognition, the different-size odors could induce significant changes in the pocket conformation so that it could better match the pocket space, indicating the importance of the ligand-fit binding. Due to the CNT-induced shrinkage of the pocket, the CNT immobilization could increase the binding affinity through enhancing van der Waals interaction, in particular for the large odors.
Pdr18 is involved in yeast response to acetic acid stress counteracting the decrease of plasma membrane ergosterol content and order
Authors: Godinho Cláudia P. , Prata Catarina S. , Pinto Sandra N. , Cardoso Carlos , Bandarra Narcisa M. , Fernandes Fábio , Sá-Correia Isabel
Published: May 2018

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has the ability to become less sensitive to a broad range of chemically and functionally unrelated cytotoxic compounds. Among multistress resistance mechanisms is the one mediated by plasma membrane efflux pump proteins belonging to the ABC superfamily, questionably proposed to enhance the kinetics of extrusion of all these compounds. This study provides new insights into the biological role and impact in yeast response to acetic acid stress of the multistress resistance determinant Pdr18 proposed to mediate ergosterol incorporation in plasma membrane. The described coordinated activation of the transcription of PDR18 and of several ergosterol biosynthetic genes (ERG2-4, ERG6, ERG24) during the period of adaptation to acetic acid inhibited growth provides further support to the involvement of Pdr18 in yeast response to maintain plasma membrane ergosterol content in stressed cells. Pdr18 role in ergosterol homeostasis helps the cell to counteract acetic acid-induced decrease of plasma membrane lipid order, increase of the non-specific membrane permeability and decrease of transmembrane electrochemical potential. Collectively, our results support the notion that Pdr18-mediated multistress resistance is closely linked to the status of plasma membrane lipid environment related with ergosterol content and the associated plasma membrane properties.
Harmless sea snail parasite causes mass mortalities in numerous commercial scallop populations in the northern hemisphere
Authors: Kristmundsson Árni , Freeman Mark Andrew
Published: May 2018

Apicomplexans comprise a group of unicellular, often highly pathogenic, obligate parasites exploiting either one or two hosts to complete a full reproductive cycle. For decades, various scallop populations have suffered cyclical mass mortality events, several of which shown to be caused by apicomplexan infections. We report the first dual mollusc life cycle for an apicomplexan: a species highly pathogenic in various pectinid bivalve species, but apathogenic when infecting the common whelk as Merocystis kathae. The sympatric distribution of the common whelk and scallops in the North Atlantic makes transmission extremely effective, occurring via the gastrointestinal tract, by scavenging and predation in whelks and unselective filter feeding in scallops. Infective sporozoites from whelks utilize scallops´ haemocytes to reach muscular tissue, where asexual reproduction occurs. Phylogenetically, this apicomplexan is robustly placed within the Aggregatidae and its inclusion in analyses supports a common ancestry with other basal invertebrate apicomplexans. Scallops seem able to regulate low-level infections of M. kathae as they exist in normal populations while epizootics occur during high levels of exposure from locally infected whelks. A targeted removal of whelks from valuable scallop grounds would be advantageous to minimize the occurrence of M. kathae epizootics and prevent damaging economic losses.
Selective equal spin Andreev reflection at vortex core center in magnetic semiconductor-superconductor heterostructure
Authors: Li Chuang , Hu Lun-Hui , Zhou Yi , Zhang Fu-Chun
Published: May 2018

Sau, Lutchyn, Tewari and Das Sarma (SLTD) proposed a heterostructure consisting of a semiconducting thin film sandwiched between an s-wave superconductor and a magnetic insulator and showed possible Majorana zero mode. Here we study spin polarization of the vortex core states and spin selective Andreev reflection at the vortex center of the SLTD model. In the topological phase, the differential conductance at the vortex center contributed from the Andreev reflection, is spin selective and has a quantized value $${(dI/dV)}_{A}^{topo}=2{e}^{2}/h$$

(
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A

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=
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at zero bias. In the topological trivial phase, $${(dI/dV)}_{A}^{trivial}$$

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A

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at the lowest quasiparticle energy of the vortex core is spin selective due to the spin-orbit coupling (SOC). Unlike in the topological phase, $${(dI/dV)}_{A}^{trivial}$$

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is suppressed in the Giaever limit and vanishes exactly at zero bias due to the quantum destruction interference.
Stretching Reduces Tumor Growth in a Mouse Breast Cancer Model
Authors: Berrueta L. , Bergholz J. , Munoz D. , Muskaj I. , Badger G. J. , Shukla A. , Kim H. J. , Zhao J. J. , Langevin H. M.
Published: May 2018

There is growing interest in developing non-pharmacological treatments that could boost natural defenses against cancer and contribute to primary and secondary cancer prevention. Recent studies have shown that gentle daily stretching for 10 minutes can reduce local connective tissue inflammation and fibrosis. Because mechanical factors within the stroma can influence the tumor microenvironment, we hypothesized that stretching would reduce the growth of tumors implanted within locally stretched tissues and tested this hypothesis in a mouse orthotopic breast cancer model. Female FVB mice (N = 66) underwent bilateral injection of p53/PTEN double-null primary mouse mammary tumor cells into the third mammary fat pad. Mice were randomized to stretch vs. no stretch, and treated for 10 minutes once a day, for four weeks. Tumor volume at end-point was 52% smaller in the stretch group, compared to the no-stretch group (p < 0.001) in the absence of any other treatment. Cytotoxic immune responses were activated and levels of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators were elevated in the stretch group. These results suggest a link between immune exhaustion, inflammation resolution and tumor growth. Stretching is a gentle, non-pharmacological intervention that could become an important component of cancer treatment and prevention.
Contrasting patterns of RUNX2 repeat variations are associated with palate shape in phyllostomid bats and New World primates
Authors: Ferraz Tiago , Rossoni Daniela M. , Althoff Sérgio L. , Pissinatti Alcides , Paixão-Cortês Vanessa R. , Bortolini Maria Cátira , González-José Rolando , Marroig Gabriel , Salzano Francisco M. , Gonçalves Gislene L. , Hünemeier Tábita
Published: May 2018

Establishing the genetic basis that underlies craniofacial variability in natural populations is one of the main topics of evolutionary and developmental studies. One of the genes associated with mammal craniofacial variability is RUNX2, and in the present study we investigated the association between craniofacial length and width and RUNX2 across New World bats (Phyllostomidae) and primates (Catarrhini and Platyrrhini). Our results showed contrasting patterns of association between the glutamate/alanine ratios (Q/A ratio) and palate shape in these highly diverse groups. In phyllostomid bats, we found an association between shorter/broader faces and increase of the Q/A ratio. In New World monkeys (NWM) there was a positive correlation of increasing Q/A ratios to more elongated faces. Our findings reinforced the role of the Q/A ratio as a flexible genetic mechanism that would rapidly change the time of skull ossification throughout development. However, we propose a scenario in which the influence of this genetic adjustment system is indirect. The Q/A ratio would not lead to a specific phenotype, but throughout the history of a lineage, would act along with evolutionary constraints, as well as other genes, as a facilitator for adaptive morphological changes.
Selective improvements in balancing associated with offline periods of spaced training
Authors: Casabona Antonino , Valle Maria Stella , Cavallaro Carlo , Castorina Gabriele , Cioni Matteo
Published: May 2018

Benefits from post-training memory processing have been observed in learning many procedural skills. Here, we show that appropriate offline periods produce a performance gain during learning to stand on a multiaxial balance board. The tilt angle and the area of sway motion of the board were much more reduced in participants performing a training spaced by an interval of one day with respect to participants executing the same amount of practice over a concentrated period. In particular, offline memory encoding was specifically associated with the motion along the anterior-posterior direction, the spatio-temporal dynamics, and the frequency contents of the board sway. Overall, quantification of spaced learning in a whole-body postural task reveals that offline memory processes enhance the performance by encoding single movement components. From a practical perspective, we believe that the amount of practice and the length of inter-session interval, adopted in this study, may provide objective insights to develop appropriate programs of postural training.
Systematic biology analysis on photosynthetic carbon metabolism of maize leaf following sudden heat shock under elevated CO2
Authors: Qu Mingnan , Chen Genyun , Bunce James A. , Zhu Xiaocen , Sicher Richard C.
Published: May 2018

Plants would experience more complex environments, such as sudden heat shock (SHS) stress combined with elevated CO2 in the future, and might adapt to this stressful condition by optimizing photosynthetic carbon metabolism (PCM). It is interesting to understand whether this acclimation process would be altered in different genotypes of maize under elevated CO2, and which metabolites represent key indicators reflecting the photosynthetic rates (PN) following SHS. Although B76 had greater reduction in PN during SHS treatment, our results indicated that PN in genotype B76, displayed faster recovery after SHS treatment under elevated CO2 than in genotype B106. Furthermore, we employed a stepwise feature extraction approach by partial linear regression model. Our findings demonstrated that 9 key metabolites over the total (35 metabolites) can largely explain the variance of PN during recovery from SHS across two maize genotypes and two CO2 grown conditions. Of these key metabolites, malate, valine, isoleucine, glucose and starch are positively correlated with recovery pattern of PN. Malate metabolites responses to SHS were further discussed by incorporating with the activities and gene expression of three C4 photosynthesis-related key enzymes. We highlighted the importance of malate metabolism during photosynthesis recovery from short-term SHS, and data integration analysis to better comprehend the regulatory framework of PCM in response to abiotic stress.
From smartphone to EHR: a case report on integrating patient-generated health data
Authors: Genes Nicholas , Violante Samantha , Cetrangol Christine , Rogers Linda , Schadt Eric E. , Chan Yu-Feng Yvonne
Published: May 2018

Patient-generated health data (PGHD), collected from mobile apps and devices, represents an opportunity for remote patient monitoring and timely interventions to prevent acute exacerbations of chronic illness—if data are seen and shared by care teams. This case report describes the technical aspects of integrating data from a popular smartphone platform to a commonly used EHR vendor and explores the challenges and potential of this approach for disease management. Consented subjects using the Asthma Health app (built on Apple’s ResearchKit platform) were able to share data on inhaler usage and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) with a local pulmonologist who ordered this data on Epic’s EHR. For users who had installed and activated Epic’s patient portal (MyChart) on their iPhone and enabled sharing of health data between apps via HealthKit, the pulmonologist could review PGHD and, if necessary, make recommendations. Four patients agreed to share data with their pulmonologist, though only two patients submitted more than one data point across the 4.5-month trial period. One of these patients submitted 101 PEFR readings across 65 days; another submitted 24 PEFR and inhaler usage readings across 66 days. PEFR for both patients fell within predefined physiologic parameters, except once where a low threshold notification was sent to the pulmonologist, who responded with a telephone discussion and new e-prescription to address symptoms. This research describes the technical considerations and implementation challenges of using commonly available frameworks for sharing PGHD, for the purpose of remote monitoring to support timely care interventions.
Dimethyl ether carbonylation to methyl acetate over highly crystalline zeolite seed-derived ferrierite
Authors: Kim Jihyeon , Ham Hyungwon , Jung Hyun Seung , Wang Yang , He Yingluo , Tsubaki Noritatsu , Cho Sung June , Han Gui Young , Bae Jong Wook
Published: May 2018

Gas-phase carbonylation of dimethyl ether (DME) to methyl acetate (MA) was investigated on ferrierite (FER) zeolite having different Si/Al molar ratios of 10.4–12.5 as well as high crystallinity synthesized by using various zeolite seed materials such as MOR, ZSM-5 and USY.
Effect of the monostearate/monopalmitate ratio on the oral release of active agents from monoacylglycerol organogels
Authors: Lupi F. R. , Mancina V. , Baldino N. , Parisi O. I. , Scrivano L. , Gabriele D.
Published: May 2018

GMP/GMS organogels are promising systems for oral delivery in functional or medical foods.
Ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum ameliorates lipid metabolic disorders and modulates the gut microbiota composition in high-fat diet fed rats
Authors: Guo Wei-Ling , Pan Yu-Yang , Li Lu , Li Tian-Tian , Liu Bin , Lv Xu-Cong
Published: May 2018

Ethanol extract from Ganoderma lucidum (GL95), enriched with triterpenoids, has the potential to ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders, in part through modulating specific gut microbiota and regulating the mRNA expression levels of the genes involved in lipid and cholesterol.
Influence of a nanoparticle on the structure and dynamics of model ionomer melts
Authors: Sampath Janani , Hall Lisa M.
Published: May 2018

Ions are depleted around a neutral nanoparticle and denser around a sticky nanoparticle, impacting bulk vs. interfacial ionomer dynamics.
Bilaterales hippocampales primäres ZNS-Lymphom: Ungewöhnliche Differentialdiagnose eines rasch progredienten dementiellen Syndroms
Authors: Weidauer Stefan , Hartmann Sylvia , Fabricius Jan
Published: May 2018

Vorgestellt wird ein rasch progredientes dementielles Syndrom bei einem 63-Jährigen infolge eines bilateralen hippocampalen primären ZNS-Lymphoms. Da es sich bei sekundären Demenzformen um potentiell kausal behandelbare Ätiologien handelt, kommt der schnellen Diagnosestellung eine entscheidende Bedeutung zu. Die richtungweisenden bildgebenden Aspekte insbesondere bei hippocampalen Prozessen werden diskutiert.
Herausnehmbare Implantatkonzepte bei Zahnlosen – Umfrage zur zahnärztlichen Entscheidungsfindung
Authors: Brandstaeter Sebastian , Tschernitschek Harald , Pott Philipp-Cornelius
Published: May 2018

Konzepte zur herausnehmbaren, implantatgetragenen Versorgung des zahnlosen Kiefers sind stetiger Bestandteil wissenschaftlicher Diskussionen. Die Umsetzung von entsprechend erarbeiteten Leitlinien in der zahnärztlichen Praxis kann jedoch variieren. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, mittels Umfrage zu prüfen, ob die individuellen Therapieentscheidungen zur Versorgung zahnloser Kiefer mit implantatgetragenem totalem Zahnersatz auch in der täglichen Praxis den vorhandenen Leitlinien entsprechen.
Telefonische Beratung für Glücksspielsüchtige – der heiße Draht ins Hilfesystem? Akzeptanz und Nutzung der Mainzer Hotline Verhaltenssucht
Authors: Aster Rebecca , Quack Anke , Wejbera Martin , Beutel Manfred
Published: May 2018

Ziel Trotz erheblicher psychosozialer Folgen findet nur ein geringer Anteil der pathologischen Glücksspieler den Weg in die Beratung und Behandlung. Telefonische Beratungsangebote (Hotlines) sollen Betroffenen den Weg in das Suchthilfesystem erleichtern. In Deutschland fehlt es an Forschung zur Inanspruchnahme und den Effekten von Hotlines. Es soll die Frage beantwortet werden, ob telefonische Beratungsangebote dazu beitragen, Glücksspielsüchtigen den Weg in das Suchthilfesystem zu bahnen.

Methodik Alle Erstanrufe, die auf der Hotline Verhaltenssucht der Universitätsmedizin Mainz zwischen 2013 und 2016 aufgrund eines problematischen Glücksspielverhaltens eingingen, wurden mit SPSS ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse Ausgewertet wurden 773 Anrufe. 89,0% der Betroffenen waren männlich. 79,7% nannten das Automatenspiel in Spielhallen als problemverursachend. 66,6% erhielten die Empfehlung für ein diagnostisches Erstgespräch in der Ambulanz für Spielsucht der Universitätsmedizin Mainz, davon vereinbarten 80,4% einen Termin, der von 81,3% wahrgenommen wurde. Männer nahmen den Termin signifikant häufiger wahr. Nur vereinzelte Anrufer erfuhren über Glücksspielanbieter von der Hotline.

Schlussfolgerungen Hotlines tragen dazu bei, Glücksspielsüchtigen den Weg in das Suchthilfesystem zu bahnen.Es besteht ein Defizit in der Vermittlung eines solchen Angebotes seitens der Glücksspielanbieter. Das Angebot einer Hotline für Problemspieler sollte in allen Spielstätten aktiver kommuniziert werden.
Begutachtung der Kodierung im German Diagnosis Related Groups System in der HNO-Heilkunde
Authors: Ellies Maik , Anders Berit , Seger Wolfgang
Published: May 2018

Hintergrund Im Rahmen einer prospektiven Untersuchung wurden die im Zeitraum vom 01.03.2011 bis zum 31.03.2017 auf dem Gebiet der Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde abgeschlossenen Begutachtungsaufträge im Geschäftsbereich GKV Krankenhaus der Medizinischen Dienste der Krankenversicherung Niedersachsen und im Lande Bremen hinsichtlich der Kodierung im G-DRG-System analysiert.

Material und Methoden Die Dokumentation der Behandlungsfälle erfolgte mit einem standardisierten Datenbanksystem, welches auf Basis des elektronischen Datenaustausches (DTA) vom MDK Niedersachsen entwickelt wurde. Ergänzend wurden die Unterlagen der durchgeführten Begutachtungen von Fallpauschalen nach dem G-DRG-System zur Beurteilung herangezogen. Weiterhin wurde die Begutachtung von einem Fall nochmals anhand der vorliegenden Begutachtungsunterlagen ausgewertet und exemplarisch ausführlich dargestellt.

Ergebnisse Im Zeitraum vom 01.03.2011 bis zum 31.03.2017 konnten im Fachgebiet HNO-Heilkunde insgesamt 27 424 Fälle von stationären Begutachtungen von Fallpauschalen nach dem G-DRG-System erhoben werden. In 7249 Fällen wurde nach der durchgeführten Begutachtung die dem Fall zugrundeliegende Fallpauschale verändert und in 20 175 Fällen war der Verdacht auf einen DRG-relevanten Kodierfehler in der Begutachtung nicht begründet; somit war über den gesamten Zeitraum eine DRG-Änderungsquote von 26% der Begutachtungen festzustellen.

Schlussfolgerungen Die fehlerhaften Kodierungen umfassten alle Arten von Kodierfehlern. Zur Verbesserung der Kodierqualität in der HNO-Heilkunde könnte neben der besonderen Berücksichtigung der vorgestellten „Hitliste“ durch die HNO-Abteilungen auch eine intensivere Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Krankenhäusern und den Medizinischen Diensten der Länder beitragen.
Strukturparameter und pflegerische Ergebnisqualität in der ambulanten Pflege
Authors: Suhr Ralf , Raeder Kathrin , Kuntz Simone , Strube-Lahmann Sandra , Latendorf Antje , Klingelhöfer-Noe Jürgen , Lahmann Nils
Published: May 2018

Einleitung In den letzten Jahren kam es zu Veränderungen der ambulanten Pflege in Deutschland. Daher sollen die Strukturen ambulanter Pflegedienste in der vorliegenden Studie im Hinblick auf Personalqualifikation, Trägerschaft, Größe, Versorgungsregion und Fortbildungsbedarfe beschrieben werden. Darüber hinaus wird untersucht, ob es einen Zusammenhang zwischen diesen Strukturparametern und den pflegerisch relevanten Outcomes Dekubitus und Mangelernährung gibt.

Methode 2015 wurde eine multizentrische Querschnittsstudie in ambulanten Diensten in Deutschland durchgeführt (IMKE-Studie). Es konnten Strukturdaten von 99 Pflegediensten und Daten zu Mangelernährung und Dekubitus von 903 Klient*innen berücksichtigt werden. Die Unterscheidung nach der Größe der Pflegedienste erfolgte durch den Median (<98 Klient*innen); eine Region mit weniger als 20 000 Einwohner*innen galt als ländlich. Für jeden Dienst wurde die durchschnittliche Dekubitusprävalenz sowie die Mangelernährungsprävalenz (BMI<20 Kg/m2) bestimmt, und der Einfluss der Strukturparameter mittels einer multiplen linearen Regression untersucht.

Ergebnisse Der Anteil von Pflegefachkräften lag bei nicht-privaten (privaten) Pflegediensten bei 60,6% (52,3%). Der Anteil von Mitarbeiter*innen mit einer 200- h-Basisqualifikation war bei privaten (12,5 vs. 4,7%), kleineren Diensten (14,0 vs. 5,8%) und in städtischen Gebieten (11,5 vs. 5,7%) höher. In kleineren Diensten arbeiteten Pflegefachkräfte mit durchschnittlich 3,8 Wochenstunden je Klient*in signifikant länger bei diesen als in größeren Diensten (2,9 Wochenstunden je Klient*in). Im Unterschied zu Inkontinenz, Aggression und Mobilität wird der Fortbildungsbedarf zu den Themen Schmerz, Medikamente, und kognitive Einschränkung von den Leitungen der Pflegedienste deutlich höher eingeschätzt. Zur durchschnittlichen Dekubitusprävalenz zeigten sich keine statistisch signifikanten Zusammenhänge zu den untersuchten Strukturparametern, bezogen auf Mangelernährung zeigte sich nur die Fachkraftquote mit einem standardisierten β von 0,28 statistisch signifikant.

Schlussfolgerung Die vorliegende repräsentative Studie zeigt Unterschiede bezogen auf die Qualifikation des Pflegepersonals, die Trägerschaft sowie die Größe eines Dienstes. Ein statistisch signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen Strukturparametern und pflegerischer Ergebnisqualität war nicht nachweisbar. Schulungsbedarf wurde zu den Themen Medikamente, Schmerzen und kognitive Einschränkungen aufgezeigt.