bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate change and the eco‐hydrology of fire: Will area burned increase in a warming western USA?
Authors: McKenzie Donald , Littell Jeremy S.
Published: August 2016

Wildfire area is predicted to increase with global warming. Empirical statistical models and process‐based simulations agree almost universally. The key relationship for this unanimity, observed at multiple spatial and temporal scales, is between drought and fire. Predictive models often focus on ecosystems in which this relationship appears to be particularly strong, such as mesic and arid forests and shrublands with substantial biomass such as chaparral. We examine the drought–fire relationship, specifically the correlations between water‐balance deficit and annual area burned, across the full gradient of deficit in the western USA, from temperate rainforest to desert. In the middle of this gradient, conditional on vegetation (fuels), correlations are strong, but outside this range the equivalence hotter and drier equals more fire either breaks down or is contingent on other factors such as previous‐year climate. This suggests that the regional drought–fire dynamic will not be stationary in future climate, nor will other more complex contingencies associated with the variation in fire extent. Predictions of future wildfire area therefore need to consider not only vegetation changes, as some dynamic vegetation models now do, but also potential changes in the drought–fire dynamic that will ensue in a warming climate.
Calcium carbonate deposition drives nutrient cycling in a calcareous headwater stream
Authors: Corman Jessica R. , Moody Eric K. , Elser James J.
Published: August 2016

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) deposition is common in aquatic ecosystems and may reduce phosphorus availability via coprecipitation of phosphate, an impact with broad implications for ecosystem processes. To determine if CaCO3 deposition in streams increases phosphorus (P) retention in minerals while reducing P availability to organisms, we studied paired streams (with and without active CaCO3 deposition) subjected to experimental shading and monitored changes in ecosystem attributes (e.g., periphyton biomass content, nutrient spiraling, periphyton nutrient limitation, and leaf litter decomposition). Shading reduced rates of CaCO3 deposition by over 50%, suggesting that a substantial proportion of CaCO3 deposition is supported by photosynthetically induced changes in alkalinity. Shading‐induced reductions in CaCO3 deposition led to increases in epilithon biomass P content (P < 0.05) and periphyton growth (F2,12 = 5.79, P < 0.05). Reductions in CaCO3 deposition also relieved P limitation of periphyton growth (F3,16 = 59.32, P < 0.001), extended P uptake lengths at least an order of magnitude, and reduced both P mass transfer velocity and areal uptake rates by over 80% (F2,3 = 22.62, P < 0.05 and F2,3 = 13.19, P < 0.05, respectively). Finally, while shading caused reductions in leaf litter decomposition in the non‐CaCO3 depositing stream (F5,7 = 22.45, P < 0.001), shading had no effect on leaf litter decomposition in the stream with active CaCO3 deposition. These results indicate that CaCO3 deposition can regulate P bioavailability and retention in streams and may drive streams to be P limited, as has been suggested in lake and wetland ecosystems.
Changing forests—changing streams: riparian forest stand development and ecosystem function in temperate headwaters
Authors: Warren Dana R. , Keeton William S. , Kiffney Peter M. , Kaylor Matthew J. , Bechtold Heather A. , Magee John
Published: August 2016

Light availability influences temperature, primary production, nutrient dynamics, and secondary production in aquatic ecosystems. In forested freshwater ecosystems, shading by streamside (riparian) vegetation is a dominant control on light flux and represents an important interaction at the aquatic–terrestrial interface. Changes in forest structure over time, particularly tree mortality processes that gradually increase light penetration through maturing forest canopies, are likely to influence stream light fluxes and associated ecosystem functions. We provide a set of conceptual models describing how stream light dynamics change with the development of complex canopy structure and how changes in light availability are likely to affect stream ecosystem processes. Shortly after a stand‐replacing event, light flux to the stream is high, but light fluxes decline as canopies reestablish and close. Tree density, the degree of understory growth, patterns of tree mortality, and small‐scale disturbances interact as drivers of multiple pathways of forest structural development. Changes in canopy structure will, in turn, influence stream light, which is expected to impact primary production and stream nutrient dynamics as well as the amount of autochthonous carbon supporting aquatic food webs. Ultimately, these conceptual models stress the importance of recovery from historic forest disturbances as well as future forest change as important factors influencing the long‐term trajectories of ecosystem processes in headwaters.
Characteristics of lesser prairie‐chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) long‐distance movements across their distribution
Authors: Earl Julia E. , Fuhlendorf Samuel D. , Haukos David , Tanner Ashley M. , Elmore Dwayne , Carleton Scott A.
Published: August 2016

Long‐distance movements are important adaptive behaviors that contribute to population, community, and ecosystem connectivity. However, researchers have a poor understanding of the characteristics of long‐distance movements for most species. Here, we examined long‐distance movements for the lesser prairie‐chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus), a species of conservation concern. We addressed the following questions: (1) At what distances could populations be connected? (2) What are the characteristics and probability of dispersal movements? (3) Do lesser prairie‐chickens display exploratory and round‐trip movements? (4) Do the characteristics of long‐distance movements vary by site? Movements were examined from populations using satelliteGPStransmitters across the entire distribution of the species in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado. Dispersal movements were recorded up to 71 km net displacement, much farther than hitherto recorded. These distances suggest that there may be greater potential connectivity among populations than previously thought. Dispersal movements were displayed primarily by females and had a northerly directional bias. Dispersal probabilities ranged from 0.08 to 0.43 movements per year for both sexes combined, although these movements averaged only 16 km net displacement. Lesser prairie‐chickens displayed both exploratory foray loops and round‐trip movements. Half of round‐trip movements appeared seasonal, suggesting a partial migration in some populations. None of the long‐distance movements varied by study site. Data presented here will be important in parameterizing models assessing population viability and informing conservation planning, although further work is needed to identify landscape features that may reduce connectivity among populations.
Scarcity of autoreactive human blood IgA+ memory B cells
Authors: Prigent Julie , Lorin Valérie , Kök Ayrin , Hieu Thierry , Bourgeau Salomé , Mouquet Hugo
Published: August 2016

Class‐switched memory B cells are key components of the “reactive” humoral immunity, which ensures a fast and massive secretion of high‐affinity antigen‐specific antibodies upon antigenic challenge. In humans, IgA class‐switched (IgA+) memory B cells and IgA antibodies are abundant in the blood. Although circulating IgA+ memory B cells and their corresponding secreted immunoglobulins likely possess major protective and/or regulatory immune roles, little is known about their specificity and function. Here, we show that IgA+ and IgG+ memory B‐cell antibodies cloned from the same healthy humans share common immunoglobulin gene features. IgA and IgG memory antibodies have comparable lack of reactivity to vaccines, common mucosa‐tropic viruses and commensal bacteria. However, the IgA+ memory B‐cell compartment contains fewer polyreactive clones and importantly, only rare self‐reactive clones compared to IgG+ memory B cells. Self‐reactivity of IgAs is acquired following B‐cell affinity maturation but not antibody class switching. Together, our data suggest the existence of different regulatory mechanisms for removing autoreactive clones from the IgG+ and IgA+ memory B‐cell repertoires, and/or different maturation pathways potentially reflecting the distinct nature and localization of the cognate antigens recognized by individual B‐cell populations.
A Simple and Highly Stable Porous Gold‐based Electrochemical Sensor for Bisphenol A Detection
Authors: Wannapob Rodtichoti , Thavarungkul Panote , Dawan Supaporn , Numnuam Apon , Limbut Warakorn , Kanatharana Proespichaya
Published: August 2016

A porous gold electrode with a uniform pore size was prepared by a simple single potential step method. It provided around 19 times more surface area than a bare gold electrode. The porous gold electrode, without any modification, exhibited good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of bisphenol A (BPA). The effect of the pH and scan rate, on the porous gold electrode was studied and discussed. Under optimum conditions of the flow system, the calibration plot of BPA was linear over a wide range of concentration, from 2.0 nM to 800 nM (R2=0.999), and the detection limit was 2.0 nM (s/n=3). It was of interest that, the porous gold electrode showed an exceptional result in minimizing the fouling from the oxidation product of BPA and led to a very high operational stability of the electrode for the detection of BPA (560 consecutive times). The porous gold electrode showed good fabrication reproducibility and can be used to detect bisphenol A that leached from baby bottles and drinking water bottles. The obtained results were in good agreement with the GC‐MS method (P>0.05).
High‐sensitive Electrochemical Determination of Ethyl Carbamate Using Urethanase and Glutamate Dehydrogenase Modified Electrode
Authors: Zhang Zhiwei , Lu Xiaoxia , Tian Yaping , Zhou Nandi
Published: August 2016

An amperometric biosensor for ethyl carbamate (EC) was developed for the first time through the cascade reactions of urethanase and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH). Urethanase decomposes ethyl carbamate to produce ammonia, which converts to L‐glutamate under the catalysis of GLDH in the presence of α‐ketoglutarate and NADH. Then the change of NADH can be detected chronoamperometrically. The two enzymes were entrapped into chitosan/gelatine/γ‐glycidoxy propyl trimethoxy silane sol‐gel and immobilized on the surface of pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE). The modified electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under the optimized conditions, the amperometric EC biosensor exhibits a linear detection range from 0.5 to 40 μM with a low detection limit of 5.30 nM. The biosensor was successfully used to detect EC in mimic Chinese rice wine samples, and satisfactory recovery and relative standard deviation were achieved.
Scalable Coating of Single‐Source Nickel Hexadecanethiolate Precursor on 3D Graphitic Petals for Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Gupta Ritu , Fisher Timothy S.
Published: August 2016

A hybrid Ni‐based pseudocapacitive coating consisting of NiO–Ni3S4 on graphene petals is studied as an efficient electrode for supercapacitor applications. A single‐source precursor of Ni is synthesized for coating on graphene petals supported on conducting carbon cloth as the current collector. The loading of Ni hexadecanethiolate on graphene petals surface is optimized with respect to electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacitance. The hybrid electrode gives high specific capacitance (≈2360 F g−1) and stability over 5000 cycles. Importantly, this coating process of Ni‐based pseudocapacitive layer can be readily deployed in roll‐to‐roll (R2R) processes.
Development of Combustion Technology for Methane Emitted from Coal‐Mine Ventilation Air Systems
Authors: Setiawan Adi , Kennedy Eric M. , Stockenhuber Michael
Published: August 2016

Fugitive gas emissions from coal mining are widely known to be significant contributors to the emission of alkanes, mainly methane, to the environment. Utilization of coal‐mine ventilation air methane (VAM) is a crucial mission to minimize methane emission in the atmosphere. This paper reviews current technology for mitigation and utilization of methane emissions from coal mining. Challenges and opportunities for each technology are discussed together with their benefits/disadvantages. Catalytic combustion technology is recommended as the best option due to the low and variable concentration of methane in coal‐mine ventilation air, as well as its high volumetric flow. Herein, current developments in flameless combustion are discussed in detail with a few highlights on palladium‐based catalyst development. The remaining uncertainties and obstacles in the development of palladium‐based catalysts for VAM are also discussed. This paper highlights a few important practical aspects that necessitate further detailed investigation, such as catalyst deactivation phenomena, the stability of the catalyst under humid conditions, and the effect of coal dust on catalytic activity and stability. Notably, a pressure decrease, heat recovery/self‐sustaining, and long‐term deactivation are key for the successful development of VAM catalytic combustors.
Mechanical Properties of Supports and Half‐Cells for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Influenced by Alumina‐Zirconia Composites
Authors: Charlas B. , Ni D. W. , Frandsen H. L. , Brodersen K. , Chen M.
Published: August 2016

In order to improve the durability and robustness of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) and stacks, it is necessary to improve the strength of its components. In cathode supported SOEC, the main structural component is the Ni(O)‐YSZ support. But the strength of the half‐cell or cell is also determined by the strength of other weaker components and by the residual stress state induced by the thermal expansion mismatch.

In this study, the mechanical properties of Ni(O)‐3YSZ supports with a reference composition and with substitution of 3YSZ by 20A3YSZ (3YSZ with 20 wt.% Al2O3) have been tested and compared. The initial interest of this substitution are a decrease of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch within the half‐cell and the fact that 20A3YSZ is stronger than 3YSZ.

The influence of the process on the composition, strength, elastic properties and electrical conductivity of the supports have been measured and analyzed. The short and long‐term evolution of these properties is linked to the formation of a NiAl2O4 phase. The samples properties were measured at room temperature or high temperature (800 °C) and in oxidized or reduced conditions. The impact of these supports on residual stresses and strength of half‐cells is also discussed.
TRAIL delivered by mesenchymal stromal/stem cells counteracts tumor development in orthotopic Ewing sarcoma models
Authors: Guiho Romain , Biteau Kevin , Grisendi Giulia , Taurelle Julien , Chatelais Mathias , Gantier Malika , Heymann Dominique , Dominici Massimo , Redini Françoise
Published: August 2016

Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is the second most frequent pediatric malignant bone tumor. EWS patients have not seen any major therapeutic progress in the last 30 years, in particular in the case of metastatic disease, which requires new therapeutic strategies. The pro‐apoptotic cytokine TNF‐Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) can selectively kill tumor cells while sparing normal cells, making it a promising therapeutic tool in several types of cancer. However, certain EWS cell lines appear resistant to recombinant human (rh) TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. We therefore hypothesized that a TRAIL presentation at the surface of the carrier cells might overcome this resistance and trigger apoptosis. For this purpose, human adipose mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) transfected in a stable manner to express full‐length human TRAIL were co‐cultured with several human EWS cell lines, inducing apoptosis by cell‐to‐cell contact even in cell lines initially resistant to rhTRAIL or AMG655, an antibody agonist to the death receptor, DR5. In vivo, TRAIL delivered by MSCs was able to counteract tumor progression in two orthotopic models of Ewing sarcoma, associated with caspase activation, indicating that a cell‐based delivery of a potent apoptosis‐inducing factor could be relevant in EWS.
Acellular mineral deposition within injectable, dual‐gelling hydrogels for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Vo Tiffany N. , Tatara Alexander M. , Santoro Marco , van den Beucken Jeroen J. J. P. , Leeuwenburgh Sander C. G. , Jansen John A. , Mikos Antonios G.
Published: August 2016

This study sought to characterize the composition and morphology of acellular mineralization occurring in thermally and chemically gelable hydrogels comprising copolymers of hydrophobic N‐isopropylacrylamide as a function of hydrogel hydrophobicity and culture medium formulation. The deposition of calcium phosphate (CaP) mineral was hypothesized to occur with increasing hydrogel hydrophobicity and presence of serum proteins in the culture medium. Two hydrogel compositions with a solid content of 15 and 20 wt % were examined in serum‐containing and nonserum‐containing media for 0, 14, 28, and 56 days. Using biochemical assays, calcium, but not phosphate content, was found to significantly increase over time in hydrophobic hydrogels soaked in cell culture medium with fetal bovine serum. Significant increases in the calcium to phosphate ratio were observed within these hydrogels from day 0 to 56, with mineralization indicated by von Kossa histological staining. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) were used to analyze CaP mineral characteristics. No crystalline apatitic reflection peaks were observed using XRD, which was supported by the lack of observable mineral deposits as observed using SEM/EDX. However, FTIR showed the presence of new absorption peaks in the serum‐containing samples at 28 and 56 days which suggested the formation of an immature apatitic‐like mineral. The ability to undergo hydrophobicity‐dependent and protein‐mediated mineralization demonstrates the potential of these dual‐gelling hydrogels as acellular self‐mineralizing materials for bone tissue engineering. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 110–117, 2017.
Sulfatides in extracellular vesicles isolated from plasma of multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Moyano Ana Lis , Li Guannan , Boullerne Anne I. , Feinstein Douglas L. , Hartman Elizabeth , Skias Demetrios , Balavanov Roumen , van Breemen Richard B. , Bongarzone Ernesto R. , Månsson Jan‐Eric , Givogri Maria I.
Published: August 2016

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane nanovesicles of diverse sizes secreted by different cell types and are involved in intercellular communication. EVs shuttle proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids that reflect their cellular origin and could mediate their biological function in recipient cells. EVs circulate in biological fluids and are considered as potential biomarkers that could be used to analyze and characterize disease development, course and response to treatment. EVs exhibit specific distribution of glycolipids and membrane organization, but little is known about the biological significance of this distribution or how it could contribute to pathological conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). We provide the first description of sulfatide composition in plasma‐derived EVs by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We found that EVs of different sizes showed C16:0 sulfatide but no detectable levels of C18:0, C24:0, or C24:1 sulfatide species. Small EVs isolated at 100,000 × g—enriched in exosomes—from plasma of patients with MS showed a significant increase of C16:0 sulfatide compared with healthy controls. Nanoparticle tracking analysis showed that the particle size distribution in MS plasma was significantly different compared with healthy controls. Characterization of small EVs isolated from MS plasma showed similar protein content and similar levels of exosomal markers (Alix, Rab‐5B) and vesicular marker MHC class I (major histocompatibility complex class I) compared with healthy controls. Our findings indicate that C16:0 sulfatide associated with small EVs is a candidate biomarker for MS that could potentially reflect pathological changes associated with this disease and/or the effects of its treatment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spatio‐temporal development of vegetation die‐off in a submerging coastal marsh
Authors: Schepers Lennert , Kirwan Matthew , Guntenspergen Glenn , Temmerman Stijn
Published: August 2016

In several places around the world, coastal marsh vegetation is converting to open water through the formation of pools. This is concerning, as vegetation die‐off is expected to reduce the marshes' capacity to adapt to sea level rise by vegetation‐induced sediment accretion. Quantitative analyses of the spatial and temporal development of marsh vegetation die‐off are scarce, although these are needed to understand the bio‐geomorphic feedback effects of vegetation die‐off on flow, erosion, and sedimentation. In this study, we quantified the spatial and temporal development of marsh vegetation die‐off with aerial images from 1938 to 2010 in a submerging coastal marsh along the Blackwater River (Maryland, U.S.A). Our results indicate that die‐off begins with conversion of marsh vegetation into bare open water pools that are relatively far (> 75 m) from tidal channels. As vegetation die‐off continues, pools expand, and new pools emerge at shorter and shorter distances from channels. Consequently larger pools are found at larger distances from the channels. Our results suggest that the size of the pools and possibly the connection of pools with the tidal channel system have important bio‐geomorphic implications and aggravate marsh deterioration. Moreover, we found that the temporal development of vegetation die‐off in moderately degraded marshes is similar as the spatial die‐off development along a present‐day gradient, which indicates that the contemporary die‐off gradient might be considered a chronosequence that offers a unique opportunity to study vegetation die‐off processes.
Temporal variability of nitrogen fixation and particulate nitrogen export at Station ALOHA
Authors: Böttjer Daniela , Dore John E. , Karl David M. , Letelier Ricardo M. , Mahaffey Claire , Wilson Samuel T. , Zehr Jonathan , Church Matthew J.
Published: August 2016

We present nearly 9 yrs (June 2005–December 2013) of measurements of upper‐ocean (0 m to 125 m) dinitrogen (N2) fixation rates, coupled with particulate nitrogen (PN) export at 150 m, from Station ALOHA (22° 45′N, 158°W) in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Between June 2005 and June 2012, N2 fixation rates were measured based on adding the 15N2 tracer as a gas bubble. Beginning in August 2012, 15N2 was first dissolved into filtered seawater and the 15N2‐enriched water was subsequently added to N2 fixation incubations. Direct comparisons between methodologies revealed a robust relationship, with the addition of 15N2‐enriched seawater resulting in twofold greater depth‐integrated rates than those derived from adding a 15N2 gas bubble. Based on this relationship, we corrected the initial period of measurements, and the resulting rates of N2 fixation averaged 230 ± 136 μmol N m−2 d−1 for the full time series (n = 71). Analysis of the 15N isotopic composition of sinking PN, together with an isotope mass balance model, revealed that N2 fixation supported 26–47% of PN export during calendar years 2006–2013. The N export derived from these fractional contributions and measured N2 fixation rates ranged between 502 and 919 μmol N m−2 d−1, which are equivalent to rates of net community production (NCP) of 1.5 to 2.7 mol C m−2 yr−1, consistent with previous independent estimates of NCP at this site.
How the World Changes By Going from One‐ to Two‐Dimensional Polymers in Solution
Authors: Schlüter A. Dieter , Payamyar Payam , Öttinger Hans Christian
Published: August 2016

Scaling behavior of one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) polymers in dilute solution is discussed with the goal of stimulating experimental work by chemists, physicists, and material scientists in the emerging field of 2D polymers. The arguments are based on renormalization‐group theory, which is explained for a general audience. Many ideas and methods successfully applied to 1D polymers are found not to work if one goes to 2D polymers. The role of the various states exhibiting universal behavior is turned upside down. It is expected that solubility will be a serious challenge for 2D polymers. Therefore, given the crucial importance of solutions in characterization and processing, synthetic concepts are proposed that allow the local bending rigidity and the molar mass to be tuned and the long‐range interactions to be engineered, all with the goal of preventing the polymer from falling into flat or compact states.

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Acid‐base properties and supramolecular structure of N‐[(hydroxymethyl)triazolyl]triflamides: DFT, ab initio, and FTIR study
Authors: Shainyan Bagrat A. , Chipanina Nina N. , Oznobikhina Larisa P. , Meshcheryakov Vladimir I.
Published: August 2016

For N‐{[2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐2H‐1,2,3‐triazolyl‐4‐yl]methyl}triflamide 1, N‐{[2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐2H‐1,2,3‐triazolyl‐4‐yl]methyl}‐N‐phenyltriflamide 2, and N,N‐bis{[2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐2H‐1,2,3‐triazolyl‐4‐yl]methyl}triflamide 3, the proton affinities of the triazole nitrogen atoms and the hydroxy and sulfonyl oxygen atoms as well as the energies of formation of the conformers with intramolecular H‐bonds and dimers with intermolecular NH⋯N, OH⋯N, OH⋯O═S, and NH⋯O═S H‐bonds were calculated by density functional theory and second‐order Møller‐Plesset perturbation methods. Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules analysis was performed to investigate the nature of H‐bonds. According to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, in CH2Cl2 solution, the monomeric molecules of 1 to 3 exist in the equilibrium with cyclic dimers having the OH⋯N hydrogen bonds.
Ramalin Isolated from Ramalina Terebrata Attenuates Atopic Dermatitis‐like Skin Lesions in Balb/c Mice and Cutaneous Immune Responses in Keratinocytes and Mast Cells
Authors: Park Hye‐Jin , Jang Yeon Jeong , Yim Joung‐Han , Lee Hong‐Kum , Pyo Suhkneung
Published: August 2016

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that involves eczematous skin lesions with pruritic erythematous papules. In this study, we investigated the mitigating effects of ramalin, a component of the Antarctic lichen Ramalina terebrata against AD in vivo and in vitro. Oral administration of ramalin lessened scratching behaviors and significantly reduced both serum immunoglobulin E and IL‐4 levels, and mRNA levels of IL‐4 and IL‐10 in AD‐induced Balb/c mice. In vitro, treatment with ramalin produced significantly less inflammatory chemokines and cytokines, including TARC, MCP‐1, RANTES, and IL‐8 in TNF‐α‐stimulated HaCaT cells. In addition, ramalin inhibited the activation of nuclear factor‐kappa B as well as the phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK). Furthermore, ramalin treatment resulted in decreased production of β‐hexosaminidase and proinflammatory cytokines IL‐4, IL‐6, and TNF‐α in 2,4 dinitrophenyl‐human serum albumin‐stimulated RBL‐2H3 cells through blocking MAPK signaling pathways. The results suggest that ramalin modulates the production of immune mediators by inhibiting the nuclear factor‐kappa B and MAPK signaling pathways. Taken together, ramalin effectively attenuated the development of AD and promoted the mitigating effects on Th2 cell‐mediated immune responses and the production of inflammatory mediators in mast cells and keratinocytes. Thus, ramalin may be a potential therapeutic agent for AD. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On assessing calibration of multivariate ensemble forecasts
Authors: Wilks Daniel S.
Published: August 2016

A necessary condition for optimal use in decision making of probability forecasts in general, and ensemble forecasts in particular, is that they should be calibrated. Ensemble calibration implies that each observation is statistically indistinguishable from the members of its forecast ensemble. The dimensionality of multivariate forecast settings, where the observation is a vector of related quantities rather than a scalar, affords opportunities for a rich variety of types of ensemble miscalibration, and so requires more sophisticated metrics for detection and diagnosis. This article investigates the performance in an artificial data setting of five multivariate ensemble calibration metrics that have been proposed in the literature. It is found that none of these dominates the others for detecting covariance miscalibration across a variety of miscalibration types, and that each exhibits weak performance in some instances, implying that several of the metrics should be used simultaneously when multivariate ensemble miscalibration is to be investigated. Multivariate biases were detected more strongly and diagnostically using univariate rank histograms for the individual forecast vector components.
Process True Capability Evaluation with the Consideration of Measurement System Variability and Expected Quality Loss
Authors: Ben Amara Souha , Dhahri Jamel , Ben Fredj Nabil
Published: August 2016

Process capability indices are widely computed under the assumption that the measurement system is free from errors. However, measurement variability is unavoidable and has a significant impact in process capability evaluation. From an economic point of view, Taguchi loss function is an effective tool to measure the quality loss of a product characteristic deviated from target value that is extensively used without taking into account the effect of the measurement system. This paper investigates the influence of measurement system variability on the process capability analysis through the calculation of process capability indices. A new quality loss function, integrating the measurement system errors, is developed to compute the optimal true process capability regarding to the expected mean value of the Taguchi loss function and the loss resulting from the control of the true process capability. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An intelligent three‐phase spam filtering method based on decision tree data mining
Authors: Sheu Jyh‐Jian , Chen Yin‐Kai , Chu Ko‐Tsung , Tang Jih‐Hsin , Yang Wei‐Pang
Published: August 2016

In this paper, we proposed an efficient spam filtering method based on decision tree data mining technique, analyzed the association rules about spams, and applied these rules to develop a systematized spam filtering method. Our method possessed the following three major superiorities: (i) checking only an e‐mail's header section to avoid the low‐operating efficiency in scanning an e‐mail's content. Moreover, the accuracy of filtering was enhanced simultaneously. (ii) In order that the probable misjudgment in identifying an unknown e‐mail could be “reversed”, we had constructed a reversing mechanism to help the classification of unknown e‐mails. Thus, the overall accuracy of our filtering method will be increased. (iii) Our method was equipped with a re‐learning mechanism, which utilized the supervised machine learning method to collect and analyze each misjudged e‐mail. Therefore, the revision information learned from the analysis of misjudged e‐mails incrementally gave feedback to our method, and its ability of identifying spams would be improved. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An enhanced and secure trust‐extended authentication mechanism for vehicular ad‐hoc networks
Authors: Kumari Saru , Karuppiah Marimuthu , Li Xiong , Wu Fan , Das Ashok Kumar , Odelu Vanga
Published: August 2016

Vehicular Ad‐hoc Networks (VANETs) are a move towards regulating safe traffic and intelligent transportation system. A VANETs is characterized by extremely dynamic topographical conditions owing to speedily moving vehicles. In VANETs, vehicles can transmit messages within a pre‐defined area to achieve safety and efficiency of the system. Then ensuring authenticity of origin of messages to the receiver in such a dynamic environment is a crucial challenge. Another concern in VANET is preservation of privacy of user/vehicle. Recently, Chuang and Lee proposed a trust‐extended authentication mechanism (TEAM) for vehicle‐to‐vehicle communications in VANETs. TEAM not only satisfies various security features but also enhances the performance of the authentication process using transitive trust relationship among vehicles. Nonetheless, our analysis shows that TEAM is vulnerable to insider attack, privacy breach, impersonation attacks and some other problems. In this paper, to eradicate the vulnerabilities found in Chuang‐Lee's scheme, an enhanced trust‐extended authentication scheme for VANET is proposed. We display the efficiency of our scheme through security analysis and comparison. Through simulation results using widely accepted NS‐2 simulator, we show that our scheme authenticates vehicles faster than Chuang‐Lee's scheme. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Source code analysis with LDA
Authors: Binkley David , Heinz Daniel , Lawrie Dawn , Overfelt Justin
Published: August 2016

Latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) has seen increasing use in the understanding of source code and its related artifacts in part because of its impressive modeling power. However, this expressive power comes at a cost: The technique includes several tuning parameters whose impact on the resulting LDA model must be carefully considered. The aim of this work is to provide insights into the tuning parameters' impact. Doing so improves the comprehension of both researchers who look to exploit the power of LDA in their research and those who interpret the output of LDA‐using tools. It is important to recognize that the goal of this work isnotto establish values for the tuning parameters because there is no universalbest setting. Rather, appropriate settings depend on the problem being solved, the input corpus (in this case, typically words from the source code and its supporting artifacts), and the needs of the engineer performing the analysis. This work's primary goal is to aid software engineers in their understanding of the LDA tuning parameters by demonstrating numerically and graphically the relationship between the tuning parameters and the LDA output. A secondary goal is to enable more informed setting of the parameters. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Allylic Alkylations with Enamine Nucleophiles
Authors: Butt Nicholas , Yang Guoqiang , Zhang Wanbin
Published: August 2016

Allylic alkylation reactions are some of the most important carbon‐carbon bond forming reactions in organic synthesis. In particular, the alkylation of carbonyl substrates provides an efficient pathway to structurally diverse molecules. Such reactions predominantly rely on the in situ generation of a nucleophilic enamine intermediate. This brief personal account describes research carried out in our group concerning the Pd‐catalyzed allylic alkylation of carbonyl compounds using these species. Our methodology combines Pd‐catalysis with metallocene ligands to carry out these transformations.

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Equity, barriers and cancer disparities: study of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology on the access to oncologic drugs in the Spanish Regions
Authors: Salvador J. , Urtasun J. A. , Duart F. J. B. , García-Campelo R. , Carbonero R. G. , Lianes P. , Llombart A. , Casado D. I. , Piera J. M. , Mateu M. M. , Puente J. , Rivera F. , Rodríguez C. A. , Virizuela J. A. , Martín M. , Garrido P.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) has conducted a study on the access to oncologic drugs across the 17 Spanish Regions with the aim of identifying potential heterogeneities and making proposals for eliminating the barriers identified at the different levels.

Methods

An Expert Panel made up of medical oncologists designed a survey on certain indications approved for 11 drugs in the approach of breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, prostate cancer and support treatment. This survey was sent to 144 National Health System (NHS) hospitals.

Results

77 hospitals answered the survey. The information modules analysed were: scope of the Commission that establishes binding decisions related to drug access; conditions, stages and periods of drug application, approval and administration processes; barriers to accessing drugs.

Conclusions

The study shows variability in drug access. The SEOM makes proposals addressed to reducing the differences identified and homogenizing drug access conditions.
Sexual Function is Correlated with Body Image and Partnership Quality in Female University Students
Authors: Wallwiener Stephanie , Strohmaier Jana , Wallwiener Lisa-Maria , Schönfisch Birgitt , Zipfel Stephan , Brucker Sara Y. , Rietschel Marcella , Wallwiener Christian W.
Published: August 2016

Introduction

According to the World Health Organization definition, sexual health is more than mere physical sexual function; it also encompasses emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality and is not merely the absence of dysfunction or disease. In line with this definition, various studies have reported that female sexual function is associated with partnership quality, body image, and body self-acceptance.

Aim

To investigate whether female sexual function is influenced by (i) body self-acceptance and (ii) partnership quality, as important factors in psychosocial well-being, and (iii) whether the effects of body self-acceptance are moderated by partnership quality.

Methods

In total, 2,685 female medical students no older than 35 years from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland completed an anonymous online questionnaire comprising the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Self-Acceptance of the Body Scale. Respondents were asked to state whether they had been in a steady partnership in the preceding 6 months. When present, the quality of the partnership status was rated (enamoredness, love, friendship, or conflicted). To determine correlations, group differences, and moderating effects among body self-acceptance, partnership quality, and sexual function, the data were analyzed using Spearman correlations, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and analyses of variance.

Main Outcome Measures

Female sexual function (FSFI total score).

Results

(i) In sexually active women, higher FSFI scores were significantly associated with greater body self-acceptance and a steady partnership during the preceding 6 months. (ii) Total FSFI scores were highest in women who described their partnership as enamored (29.45) or loving (28.55). Lower scores were observed in single women (26.71) and in women who described their partnerships as friendship (25.76) or as emotionally conflicted (23.41). (iii) Total FSFI score was affected by an interaction between body self-acceptance and partnership quality. Body self- acceptance was positively associated with FSFI total scores, particularly in single women and women in emotionally conflicted partnerships.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that in young women, body self-acceptance and partnership quality are positively associated with better sexual function, and that high body self-acceptance might buffer the negative impact on sexual function of partnership quality. The present data suggest that psychological interventions to improve the body image of younger women can positively affect sexual function and thereby improve sexual health.
Triangles in Cartesian Squares of Quasirandom Groups
Authors: BERGELSON V. , ROBERTSON D. , ZORIN-KRANICH P.
Published: August 2016

We prove that triangular configurations are plentiful in large subsets of Cartesian squares of finite quasirandom groups from classes having the quasirandom ultraproduct property, for example the class of finite simple groups. This is deduced from a strong double recurrence theorem for two commuting measure-preserving actions of a minimally almost periodic (not necessarily amenable or locally compact) group on a (not necessarily separable) probability space.
Unterschiede zwischen Jugendlichen mit pathologischem Internetgebrauch in ambulanter und stationärer kinder- und jugendpsychiatrischer Behandlung
Authors: Wartberg Lutz , Moll Bettina , Baldus Christiane , Thomsen Monika , Thomasius Rainer
Published: August 2016

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Für pathologischen Internetgebrauch im Jugendalter haben sich in epidemiologischen Studien hohe Prävalenzwerte ergeben. Allerdings liegen kaum Daten zu Jugendlichen vor, die sich deswegen in kinder- und jugendpsychiatrische Behandlung begeben haben. Ein Vergleich von Patienten in ambulanter und stationärer Behandlung fehlt bislang. Methodik: Insgesamt 74 Jugendliche, die sich wegen eines pathologischen Internetgebrauchs in Behandlung begeben hatten, wurden mit standardisierten Fragebögen zu problematischer Internetnutzung, psychopathologischer Belastung sowie Lebenszufriedenheit untersucht. Ambulant wurden 35 dieser Jugendlichen behandelt (JAB) und 39 weitere stationär (JSB). Ergebnisse: Für beide Gruppen zeigten sich in substanziellem Umfang psychische Komorbiditäten (am häufigsten Ängstlichkeit/Depressivität). Die JAB und die JSB unterschieden sich nicht hinsichtlich ihrer problematischen Internetnutzung. Im Vergleich zu den JAB berichteten die JSB höhere Internetnutzungszeiten, eine stärkere Ängstlichkeit/Depressivität, mehr Selbstwertprobleme und eine niedrigere Lebenszufriedenheit. Im multivariaten logistischen Regressionsmodell erwiesen sich Lebenszufriedenheit und Internetnutzungszeit als statistisch signifikante Faktoren für die Prognose der Zugehörigkeit zu einer der beiden Behandlungsgruppen. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Befunde beschreiben eine neue Patientengruppe näher und können bei der Entwicklung von Interventionen für Jugendliche mit pathologischem Internetgebrauch hilfreich sein.
Ultraschall in Entwicklungsländern
Authors: Gysel Walter , Villabruna Karin
Published: August 2016

Zusammenfassung. Zusammenfassung: Die Globalisierung und die verbesserte Vernetzung lässt die Ansprüche der Gesellschaft in den Entwicklungsländern in die Höhe schnellen – dies auch im Gesundheitswesen – und führt zu einer gesteigerten Nachfrage nach medizinischem Fachpersonal. Dabei stellt sich heraus, dass diese Länder im Ausbildungsbereich über viel zu wenig Ressourcen verfügen. Es fehlt neben Geld an Ärzten und sonst gut ausgebildetem Personal, an Bildungsinstituten und erprobten Konzepten zur Wissensvermittlung. Unsere Stiftung SmW unterstützt seit fünf Jahren Spitäler in Kenia und Tansania in der Einführung und im Betreiben der Ultraschalldiagnostik. In diesem Artikel wird anhand unserer Erfahrungen auf Probleme der Wissensvermittlung in einem kulturell völlig anderen Umfeld hingewiesen. Die überwiegend positiven Erfahrungen sollten möglichst viele sonographer motivieren, selbst Projekte zu generieren. Um dabei eine gewisse Nachhaltigkeit zu erzielen, haben wir einige Empfehlungen ausgearbeitet.
Immer wieder dieses Fieber …
Authors: Müller Jan , Oberlin Dominique , Nüesch Reto
Published: August 2016

Zusammenfassung. Zusammenfassung: Wir schildern den Fall einer 60-jährigen Süditalienerin mit rezidivierenden Fieberschüben bei erhaltenem Allgemeinzustand. Nach umfangreicher infektiologischer, hämatologischer und rheumatologischer Diagnostik ohne wegweisende Befunde erfolgte unter dem Verdacht auf eine atypische Form des familiären Mittelmeerfiebers aufgrund der ethnischen Herkunft der Patientin eine probatorische Colchicin-Therapie. Der schnell eingetretene, anhaltende Therapieerfolg sichert retrospektiv entsprechend den aktuell gültigen modifizierten Tel-Hashomer-Kriterien die Diagnose.
CME: Differenzialdiagnose von erhöhten Vitamin-B12-Plasmaspiegeln
Authors: Dias Saskia , Günther Viola , Suter Paolo M.
Published: August 2016

Zusammenfassung. Eine Erhöhung der Plasma-Vitamin-B12(=Cobalamin)-Spiegel findet sich unerwartet häufig als asymptomatischer Zufallsbefund in der Routinelaboruntersuchung. Eine diagnostisch zielführende Klinik fehlt in der Regel. Der Cobalamin-Stoffwechsel und der Metabolismus seiner Transportproteine ist komplex, jedoch für das Verständnis der verschiedenen Differenzialdiagnosen einer Hypervitaminämie B12 von entscheidender Bedeutung. Neben der übermässigen Cobalaminzufuhr von aussen kann eine Vitamin-B12-Erhöhung auch bei soliden Neoplasien, hämatologischen Grunderkrankungen, Leber- und Nierenfunktionsstörungen und rheumatologischen Erkrankungen auftreten. Eine gezielte Anamnese verhindert dabei die Überdiagnostik. In diesem Artikel möchten wir auf Abklärungsstrategien und Differenzialdiagnosen einer Hypervitaminämie B12 eingehen.
Urban Micrometeorites No Longer a Myth
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: August 2016

After sifting through urban debris for 6 years, one scientist unearthed cosmic dust—confirming a long-held myth about urban micrometeorites.
Closest Ever Terrestrial Exoplanet Found, Habitability Debated
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: August 2016

Researchers are excited about a new, potentially habitable exoplanet orbiting our closest stellar neighbor, Proxima Centauri.
MCL-1 is required throughout B-cell development and its loss sensitizes specific B-cell subsets to inhibition of BCL-2 or BCL-XL
Authors: Vikström Ingela B , Slomp Anne , Carrington Emma M , Moesbergen Laura M , Chang Catherine , Kelly Gemma L , Glaser Stefan P , Jansen J H Marco , Leusen Jeanette H W , Strasser Andreas , Huang David C S , Lew Andrew M , Peperzak Victor , Tarlinton David M
Published: August 2016

Pro-survival BCL-2 family members protect cells from programmed cell death that can be induced by multiple internal or external cues. Within the haematopoietic lineages, the BCL-2 family members BCL-2, BCL-XL and MCL-1 are known to support cell survival but the individual and overlapping roles of these pro-survival BCL-2 proteins for the persistence of individual leukocyte subsets in vivo has not yet been determined. By combining inducible knockout mouse models with the BH3-mimetic compound ABT-737, which inhibits BCL-2, BCL-XL and BCL-W, we found that dependency on MCL-1, BCL-XL or BCL-2 expression changes during B-cell development. We show that BCL-XL expression promotes survival of immature B cells, expression of BCL-2 is important for survival of mature B cells and long-lived plasma cells (PC), and expression of MCL-1 is important for survival throughout B-cell development. These data were confirmed with novel highly specific BH3-mimetic compounds that target either BCL-2, BCL-XL or MCL-1. In addition, we observed that combined inhibition of these pro-survival proteins acts in concert to delete specific B-cell subsets. Reduced expression of MCL-1 further sensitized immature as well as transitional B cells and splenic PC to loss of BCL-XL expression. More markedly, loss of MCL-1 greatly sensitizes PC populations to BCL-2 inhibition using ABT-737, even though the total wild-type PC pool in the spleen is not significantly affected by this drug and the bone marrow (BM) PC population only slightly. Combined loss or inhibition of MCL-1 and BCL-2 reduced the numbers of established PC >100-fold within days. Our data suggest that combination treatment targeting these pro-survival proteins could be advantageous for treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases and B-cell malignancies.