bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Hunting Stand Injuries Presenting to US Emergency Departments, 2008–2013
Authors: Loder Randall T.
Published: October 2014

Objective

To determine the epidemiology of injuries from hunting stands presenting to US emergency departments (EDs).

Methods

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was queried for ED visits for the period 2008 through 2013 for hunting stand injuries and analyzed for age, diagnosis, sex, race, anatomic location of the injury, the use of alcohol, and association with a gunshot wound.

Results

There were an estimated 38,308 visits with an average age of 40.0 years (range, 1–83 years). The patients were predominantly male (93.3%), white (99.1%), and seen at small- or medium-size hospitals (80.6%). Disposition from the ED was admission in 20.1% and released in 79.9%. A fall occurred in 80.3%, a gunshot wound in 0.4%, and alcohol was involved in 0.6%. The most common diagnoses were a fracture (34.7%), contusion or abrasion (24.0%), strain or sprain (16.8%), laceration (7.7%), and internal organ injury (5.4%). Those injured in a fall were more frequently admitted (23.0% vs. 8.7%) and more likely to have a fracture (37.9% vs. 9.1%). Those with a fracture were older (44.6% vs. 37.9%). Those with internal organ injuries were more frequently admitted (44.8% vs 18.6%).

Conclusions

This study has characterized the epidemiology of hunting stand injuries with most occurring from falls. A fracture was the most common injury with a very low alcohol intoxication rate. These baseline data can now be used to compare other studies of hunting stand injuries and guide prevention strategies, such as education regarding the need for safety measures to prevent falls.
Review: psychiatric and medical consequences of disordered sleep
Authors: Stores G.
Published: October 2014

Objectives:

The aim of this article is to draw attention to the clinical importance of disordered sleep in psychiatry and to demonstrate the growing awareness of medical illness as a complication of disordered sleep. As background to these main objectives, some general points are made to illustrate present-day approaches to the common and often serious problem of sleep disturbance.

Methods:

The review is based on a literature search from which key publications were selected to illustrate, in turn, main connections between disordered sleep and psychiatric and medical conditions.

Results:

Many such connections are described. Throughout psychiatry, regarding patients whatever their age, these connections have implications for clinical assessment and management. Emphasis is placed on the risk of misdiagnosis of sleep disorders as psychiatric or medical conditions. Examples of this are provided. The growing evidence that disordered sleep can predispose to medical illness is discussed.

Conclusion:

As the subject of sleep and its disorders is particular relevant in psychiatry, a working knowledge of modern sleep medicine is important in all branches of psychiatric and other medical practice as well as in clinical research.
Freezing colloidal suspensions: periodic ice lenses and compaction
Authors: Anderson Anthony M. , Grae Worster M.
Published: October 2014

Recent directional solidification experiments with aqueous suspensions of alumina particles (Anderson & Worster, Langmuir, vol. 28 (48), 2012, pp. 16512–16523) motivate a model for freezing colloidal suspensions that builds upon a theoretical framework developed by Rempel et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 498, 2004, pp. 227–244) in the context of freezing soils. Ice segregates from the suspension at slow freezing rates into discrete horizontal layers of particle-free ice, known as ice lenses. A portion of the particles is trapped between ice lenses, while the remainder are pushed ahead, forming a layer of fully compacted particles separated from the bulk suspension by a sharp compaction front. By dynamically modelling the compaction front, the growth kinetics of the ice lenses are fully coupled to the viscous flow through the evolving compacted layer. We examine the periodic states that develop at fixed freezing rates in a constant, uniform temperature gradient, and compare the results against experimental observations. Congruent with the experiments, three periodic regimes are identified. At low freezing rates, a regular periodic sequence of ice lenses is obtained; predictions for the compacted layer thickness and ice-lens characteristics as a function of freezing rate are consistent with experiments. At intermediate freezing rates, multiple modes of periodic ice lenses occur with a significantly diminished compacted layer. When the cohesion between the compacted particles is sufficiently strong, a sequence of mode-doubling bifurcations lead to chaos, which may explain the disordered ice lenses observed experimentally. Finally, beyond a critical freezing rate, the regime for sustained ice-lens growth breaks down. This breakdown is consistent with the emergence of a distinct regime of ice segregation found experimentally, which exhibits a periodic, banded structure that is qualitatively distinct from ice lenses.
ON EXPONENTIAL DIOPHANTINE EQUATIONS CONTAINING THE EULER QUOTIENT
Authors: TERAI NOBUHIRO
Published: October 2014

Let $a$ and $m$ be relatively prime positive integers with $a>1$ and $m>2$. Let ${\it\phi}(m)$ be Euler’s totient function. The quotient $E_{m}(a)=(a^{{\it\phi}(m)}-1)/m$ is called the Euler quotient of $m$ with base $a$. By Euler’s theorem, $E_{m}(a)$ is an integer. In this paper, we consider the Diophantine equation $E_{m}(a)=x^{l}$ in integers $x>1,l>1$. We conjecture that this equation has exactly five solutions $(a,m,x,l)$ except for $(l,m)=(2,3),(2,6)$, and show that if the equation has solutions, then $m=p^{s}$ or $m=2p^{s}$ with $p$ an odd prime and $s\geq 1$.
ON SETS OF PP-GENERATORS OF FINITE GROUPS
Authors: KREMPA JAN , STOCKA AGNIESZKA
Published: October 2014

The classes of finite groups with minimal sets of generators of fixed cardinalities, named ${\mathcal{B}}$-groups, and groups with the basis property, in which every subgroup is a ${\mathcal{B}}$-group, contain only $p$-groups and some $\{p,q\}$-groups. Moreover, abelian ${\mathcal{B}}$-groups are exactly $p$-groups. If only generators of prime power orders are considered, then an analogue of property ${\mathcal{B}}$ is denoted by ${\mathcal{B}}_{pp}$ and an analogue of the basis property is called the pp-basis property. These classes are larger and contain all nilpotent groups and some cyclic $q$-extensions of $p$-groups. In this paper we characterise all finite groups with the pp-basis property as products of $p$-groups and precisely described $\{p,q\}$-groups.
Identity Statements and Conversationally Salient Content
Authors: ALWARD PETER
Published: October 2014

In this paper, I argue that viewing Frege’s puzzle through a semantic lens results in the rejection of solutions to it on irrelevant grounds. As a result, I develop a solution to it that rests on a non-semantic sense of context-sensitivity. And I apply this picture to Frege’s puzzle when it arises through the use of identity statements designed to establish that distinct speakers are talking about the same thing.
A CASE FOR HARMONIZING LAWS ON MARITIME INTERCEPTIONS OF IRREGULAR MIGRANTS
Authors: Klein Natalie
Published: October 2014

Maritime interceptions continue as a fundamental dimension to external border controls against irregular migration, as seen most recently in Australia's institution of Operation Sovereign Borders in late 2013. The practice of developed States has highlighted the varied application and interpretation of four bodies of international law: the law of the sea, search and rescue obligations, refugee obligations and international human rights law. This article assesses this practice and the use of laws, highlighting the fragmentation of international law that has resulted. A proposal is presented to harmonize these laws and reconcile the divergent policy perspectives of different stakeholders.
Let's not forget about language proficiency and cultural variations while linking bilingualism to executive control
Authors: KUMAR MISHRA RAMESH
Published: October 2014

Valian (2014) argues that current approaches in the study of bilingualism's beneficial effects on executive functions and cognition are at best methodologically weak. There is no unanimity on what constitutes executive function and which tasks measure it. I agree with her view that executive function is not a single phenomenon but a collection of processes. Different tasks measure different aspects of them. Performance on different executive function tasks is related to the particular cognitive demands of the tasks as well as the participants’ profile. It does not follow necessarily that negotiating two languages should lead to an enhancement of ability on that task. Therefore, no single task can capture the cognitive benefits of bilingualism. Valian proposes that factors such as education, socio-economic status, and even extracurricular skills involving sports and exercise could boost executive functioning independent of bilingualism.
Does bilingualism improve cognitive aging? Commentary on Virginia Valian's target article: Bilingualism and cognition
Authors: ZAHODNE LAURA B. , MANLY JENNIFER J.
Published: October 2014

We applaud Valian's (2014) thoughtful analysis of the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that have thus far contributed to our knowledge about the role of bilingualism in cognitive aging. In evaluating the literature as summarized by Valian, we think it is useful to distinguish between the following four research questions and representative analytic approaches: (1) cross-sectional associations between bilingualism and executive function (e.g., regression), (2) longitudinal associations between bilingualism and change in executive function (e.g., growth curve modeling), (3) bilingualism as a predictor of dementia incidence (e.g., time-to-event analysis), and (4) bilingualism as a source of cognitive reserve (e.g., comparisons of brain pathology between bilinguals and monolinguals matched on cognitive performance).
Bisphenol A exposure and associations with obesity among adults: a critical review
Authors: Oppeneer Sarah J , Robien Kim
Published: October 2014

Objective

To review the literature on bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and obesity in human populations.

Design

Systematic review of the literature via searches of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and reference lists for articles published to 1 August 2014.

Setting

China, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Sweden, UK, USA.

Subjects

Adults (≥18 years).

Results

Eighteen articles were identified and included in the review. Twelve studies included secondary evaluations of BPA exposure and BMI, and six studies evaluated body composition as the primary outcome. All analyses were cross-sectional and no study included in the review received a positive quality rating (twelve negative, six neutral). Eight studies observed a statistically significant positive association between urinary or serum BPA levels and BMI, and ten studies observed no association. Studies where BMI was a primary outcome and studies of neutral quality were more likely to observe an association.

Conclusions

Study results are conflicting and significant methodological issues limit the ability to draw conclusions from these studies. Prospective studies that measure BPA exposure and changes in body weight and composition are needed to establish temporality, causality and the direction of any observed associations.
GLOBAL WELL-POSEDNESS AND INSTABILITY OF A NONLINEAR SCHRÖDINGER EQUATION WITH HARMONIC POTENTIAL
Authors: SAANOUNI T.
Published: October 2014

This paper is concerned with the Cauchy problem for a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a harmonic potential and exponential growth nonlinearity in two space dimensions. In the defocusing case, global well-posedness is obtained. In the focusing case, existence of nonglobal solutions is discussed via potential-well arguments.
HIGHER ORDER CONGRUENCES AMONGST HASSE–WEIL -VALUES
Authors: DELBOURGO DANIEL , PETERS LLOYD
Published: October 2014

For the $(d+1)$-dimensional Lie group $G=\mathbb{Z}_{p}^{\times }\ltimes \mathbb{Z}_{p}^{\oplus d}$, we determine through the use of $p$-power congruences a necessary and sufficient set of conditions whereby a collection of abelian $L$-functions arises from an element in $K_{1}(\mathbb{Z}_{p}\unicode[STIX]{x27E6}G\unicode[STIX]{x27E7})$. If $E$ is a semistable elliptic curve over $\mathbb{Q}$, these abelian $L$-functions already exist; therefore, one can obtain many new families of higher order $p$-adic congruences. The first layer congruences are then verified computationally in a variety of cases.
Emotional Intelligence and Attitudes Toward HIV/AIDS Patients Among Healthcare Professionals in the State of Qatar
Authors: Dafeeah Elnour E. , Eltohami Ali Ahmed , Ghuloum Suhaila
Published: October 2014

The attitudes of health care professionals at medical centers in the State of Qatar toward HIV/AIDS patients and the relation of those attitudes to emotional intelligence (EI) were the focus of this study. Nine hundred seventy-nine health care professionals (nurses, physicians, and laboratory technicians) from 4 hospitals completed 2 self-report questionnaires, the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal and the KHWAR Hospitals’ Scale, and provided demographic data. The majority of health care professionals held mostly positive attitudes toward HIV/AIDS patients. Health care professionals with more years of work experience and more contact with HIV/AIDS patients held more favorable attitudes. The correlation between health care professionals’ attitudes and their EI was significant, but modest, .29. The discussion evaluates the findings in light of the available literature and stresses the need to address discriminatory practices and promote positive attitudes toward HIV/AIDS patients.
Silicon-substituted xanthene dyes and their applications in bioimaging
Authors: Kushida Yu , Nagano Tetsuo , Hanaoka Kenjiro
Published: October 2014

Silicon-substituted xanthene structures are excellent platforms for far-red to near-infrared fluorophores. Fluorescent probes based on these xanthene dyes are reviewed with some illustrative applications.
Biguanide and squaric acid as pH-dependent building blocks in crystal engineering
Authors: Şerb Mihaela-Diana , Kalf Irmgard , Englert Ulli
Published: October 2014

Biguanides and squaric acid are attractive partners for crystal engineering: they incorporate multiple sites that can donate or accept hydrogen bonds. Protonation equilibria in their solutions and the outcome of crystallization experiments are pH dependent: 10 different salts have been obtained from N,N-dimethylbiguanide, N-phenylbiguanide and N-o-tolylbiguanide.
Construction of POMOFs with different degrees of interpenetration and the same topology
Authors: Li Liang , Sun Jing-Wen , Sha Jing-Quan , Li Guang-Ming , Yan Peng-Fei , Wang Cheng
Published: October 2014

Three POMOFs with different degrees of interpenetration are reported and the influence of the organic molecules on the degree of interpenetration of the compounds is discussed.
Relationships between the racemic structures of substituted mandelic acids containing 8- and 10-membered hydrogen bonded dimer rings
Authors: Coles S. J. , Ellis A. L. , Leung K. , Sarson J. , Threlfall T. L. , Tizzard G. J.
Published: October 2014

The structures of 27 monosubstituted mandelic acids, including several of their polymorphs, plus unsubstituted mandelic acid itself (two polymorphs) are investigated for structural similarity.
Electronic surface states and dielectric self-energy profiles in colloidal nanoscale platelets of CdSe
Authors: Even Jacky , Pedesseau Laurent , Kepenekian Mikaël
Published: October 2014

The electronic surface states and dielectric self-energy profiles in CdSe colloidal nanoscale platelets are explored by means of an original ab initio approach.
Influence of self-assembly on intercalative DNA binding interaction of double-chain surfactant Co(iii) complexes containing imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline and dipyrido[3,2-d:2′-3′-f]quinoxaline ligands: experimental and theoretical study
Authors: Nagaraj Karuppiah , Velmurugan Gunasekaran , Sakthinathan Subramanian , Venuvanalingam Ponnambalam , Arunachalam Sankaralingam
Published: October 2014

New Co(iii) complexes were synthesized.
Electron transfer quenching in light adapted and mutant forms of the AppA BLUF domain
Authors: Laptenok Sergey P. , Lukacs Andras , Brust Richard , Haigney Allison , Gil Agnieszka , Towrie Michael , Greetham Gregory M. , Tonge Peter J. , Meech Stephen R.
Published: October 2014

The Blue Light Using Flavin (BLUF) domain proteins are an important family of photoreceptors controlling a range of responses in a wide variety of organisms. The details of the primary photochemical mechanism, by which light absorption in the isoalloxazine ring of the flavin is converted into a structure change to form the signalling state of the protein, is unresolved. In this work we apply ultrafast time resolved infra-red (TRIR) spectroscopy to investigate the primary photophysics of the BLUF domain of the protein AppA (AppABLUF) a light activated antirepressor. Here a number of mutations at Y21 and W104 in AppABLUF are investigated. The Y21 mutants are known to be photoinactive, while W104 mutants show the characteristic spectral red-shift associated with BLUF domain activity. Using TRIR we observed separately the decay of the excited state and the recovery of the ground state. In both cases the kinetics are found to be non-single exponential for all the proteins studied, suggesting a range of ground state structures. In the Y21 mutants an intermediate state was also observed, assigned to formation of the radical of the isoalloxazine (flavin) ring. The electron donor is the W104 residue. In contrast, no radical intermediates were detected in the studies of the photoactive dark adapted proteins, dAppABLUF and the dW104 mutants, suggesting a structure change in the Y21 mutants which favours W104 to isoalloxazine electron transfer. In contrast, in the light adapted form of the proteins (lAppABLUF, lW104) a radical intermediate was detected and the kinetics were greatly accelerated. In this case the electron donor was Y21 and major structural changes are associated with the enhanced quenching. In AppABLUF and the seven mutants studied radical intermediates are readily observed by TRIR spectroscopy, but there is no correlation with photoactivity. This suggests that if a charge separated state has a role in the BLUF photocycle it is only as a very short lived intermediate.
Conversion of chitin derived N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) into polyols over transition metal catalysts and hydrogen in water
Authors: Bobbink Felix D. , Zhang Jiaguang , Pierson Yann , Chen Xi , Yan Ning
Published: October 2014

Chitin and its monomer, NAG, could be the alternative source of (N-containing) polyols.
Improving catalyst activity in secondary amine catalysed transformations
Authors: Brazier John B. , Gibbs Timothy J. K. , Rowley Julian H. , Samulis Leopold , Yau Sze Chak , Kennedy Alan R. , Platts James A. , Tomkinson Nicholas C. O.
Published: October 2014

Improved catalytic efficiency has been observed in the Diels–Alder cycloaddition by modification of the imidazolidinone architecture.
Synthesis and post-polymerization reaction of end-clickable stereoregular polymethacrylates via termination of stereospecific living anionic polymerization
Authors: Kohsaka Yasuhiro , Kurata Takashi , Yamamoto Kazuki , Ishihara Shoya , Kitayama Tatsuki
Published: October 2014

Poly(methyl methacrylate)s with high stereoregularity and clickable end-groups were synthesized via terminating reactions with α-(halomethyl)acrylates in stereospecific living anionic polymerization.
Dielectric studies of a nano-crystalline CaCu2.90Zn0.10Ti4O12 electro-ceramic by one pot glycine assisted synthesis from inexpensive TiO2 for energy storage capacitors
Authors: Singh Laxman , Kim Ill Won , Sin Byung Cheol , Mandal Kam Deo , Rai Uma Shanker , Ullah Amir , Chung Hoeil , Lee Youngil
Published: October 2014

Nanocrystalline CaCu2.90Zn0.10Ti4O12 electro-ceramic was synthesized for first time using inexpensive TiO2 for energy storage capacitor.
Guanidine modified polyethyleneimine-g-polyethylene glycol nanocarriers for long interfering RNA (liRNA) based advanced anticancer therapy
Authors: Sajeesh S. , Choe Jeong Yong , Lee Tae Yeon , Lee Dong-ki
Published: October 2014

Long interfering RNA mediated advanced anticancer therapy.
Osteopontin mediates mineralization and not osteogenic cell development in vitro
Authors: Holm Erik , Gleberzon Jared S. , Liao Yinyin , Sørensen Esben S. , Beier Frank , Hunter Graeme K. , Goldberg Harvey A.
Published: October 2014

Biomineralization is a complex process in the development of mineralized tissues such as bone and pathological calcifications such as atherosclerotic plaques, kidney stones and gout. Osteopontin (OPN), an anionic phosphoprotein, is expressed in mineralizing tissues and has previously been demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor of hydroxyapatite formation. The OPN-deficient (Opn−/−) mouse displays a hypermineralized bone phenotype starting at 12 weeks postnatally. By isolating and culturing Opn−/− and wild-type (WT) osteoblasts, we sought to determine the role of OPN and two of its functional peptides in osteoblast development and mineralization. Opn−/− osteoblasts had significantly increased mineral deposition relative to their WT counterparts, with no physiologically relevant change in gene expression of osteogenic markers. Supplementation with bovine milk OPN (mOPN) led to a dramatic reduction in mineral deposition by the Opn−/− osteoblasts. Treatment with OPN-derived peptides corresponding to phosphorylated OPN-(220–235) (P3) and non-phosphorylated OPN-(65–80) (OPAR) also rescued the hypermineralization phenotype of Opn−/− osteogenic cultures. Supplementation with mOPN or the OPN-derived peptides did not alter the expression of terminal osteogenic markers. These data suggest that OPN plays an important role in the regulation of biomineralization, but that OPN does not appear to affect osteoblast cell development in vitro.
A Fundamental Equation of State for Ethanol
Authors: Schroeder J. A. , Penoncello S. G. , Schroeder J. S.
Published: October 2014

The existing fundamental equation for ethanol demonstrates undesirable behavior in several areas and especially in the critical region. In addition, new experimental data have become available in the open literature since the publication of the current correlation. The development of a new fundamental equation for ethanol, in the form of Helmholtz energy as a function of temperature and density, is presented. New, nonlinear fitting techniques, along with the new experimental data, are shown to improve the behavior of the fundamental equation. Ancillary equations are developed, including equations for vapor pressure, saturated liquid density, saturated vapor density, and ideal gas heat capacity. Both the fundamental and ancillary equations are compared to experimental data. The fundamental equation can compute densities to within ±0.2%, heat capacities to within ±1%–2%, and speed of sound to within ±1%. Values of the vapor pressure and saturated vapor densities are represented to within ±1% at temperatures of 300 K and above, while saturated liquid densities are represented to within ±0.3% at temperatures of 200 K and above. The uncertainty of all properties is higher in the critical region and near the triple point. The equation is valid for pressures up to 280 MPa and temperatures from 160 to 650 K.
Fine-scale tribological performance of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) based polymer nanocomposite membranes
Authors: Khun Nay Win , Mahdi E. M. , Ying Siqi , Sui Tan , Korsunsky Alexander M. , Tan Jin-Chong
Published: October 2014

We combined zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoparticles (ZIF-8: ˜150 nm diameter) with Matrimid® 5218 polymer to form permeable mixed matrix membranes, featuring different weight fractions of nanoparticles (up to 30 wt. % loading). We used ball-on-disc micro-tribological method to measure the frictional coefficient of the nanocomposite membranes, as a function of nanoparticle loading and annealing heat treatment. The tribological results reveal that the friction and wear of the unannealed samples rise steadily with greater nanoparticle loading because ZIF-8 is relatively harder than the matrix, thus promoting abrasive wear mechanism. After annealing, however, we discover that the nanocomposites display an appreciably lower friction and wear damage compared with the unannealed counterparts. Evidence shows that the major improvement in tribological performance is associated with the greater amounts of wear debris derived from the annealed nanocomposite membranes. We propose that detached Matrimid-encapsulated ZIF-8 nanoparticles could function as “spacers,” which are capable of not only reducing direct contact between two rubbing surfaces but also enhancing free-rolling under the action of lateral forces.
Evolution of ferroelectric domain patterns in BaTiO3 at the orthorhombic ↔ tetragonal phase transition
Authors: Limboeck T. , Soergel E.
Published: October 2014

Domain patterns in barium titanate (BaTiO3) were investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) using a variable-temperature scanning force microscope. By analyzing the vertical and the lateral PFM images, the directions of polarization of the individual domains, i.e., 6 directions for the tetragonal and 12 directions for the orthorhombic phase, could be identified. The change of a domain pattern when submitting the crystal to a temperature ramp between +20° and −20° synchronized to the PFM scanning process was directly monitored. Finally, the possible conversions between specific domain orientations upon heating/cooling the crystal across the phase transition were experimentally confirmed.
Proposal of a gigawatt-class L/Ku dual-band magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator
Authors: Ju J.-C. , Fan Y.-W. , Shu T. , Zhong H.-H.
Published: October 2014

We present a gigawatt (GW)-class magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator (MILO) which is capable of generating dual-band high power microwaves (HPMs). The proposed device, deriving from previously studied complex MILO and dual-frequency MILO, is designed to produce two HPMs in L-band and Ku-band, respectively. It is found in particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation that when the diode voltage is 610 kV, HPMs with frequencies of 1.72 GHz and 14.6 GHz can be achieved with powers of 3.3 GW and 2.4 GW, respectively. The corresponding total power conversion efficiency is approximately 12.8%. Power difference of the two generated HPMs is approximately 1.4 dB, and frequency difference of them reaches a level as high as ∼10 dB.
Post-processing approach for tuning multi-layered metamaterials
Authors: Liu Liming , Chen Wen-chen , Powell David A. , Padilla Willie J. , Karouta Fouad , Hattori Haroldo T. , Neshev Dragomir N. , Shadrivov Ilya V.
Published: October 2014

We propose a post-processing approach to efficiently tune the resonance frequency in double-layered terahertz metamaterials separated by a bonding agent. By heating the bonding agent, it is possible to move one metamaterial layer laterally with respect to the other. This changes the coupling between adjacent layers, thereby shifting the resonance frequency. The resonance frequency of the stacked layers continuously shifts as a function of the lateral displacement, reaching a maximum shift of 92 GHz (31% of the center frequency). We discuss the effects of vertical separation on the tunability of the two-layered structure. The post-processing approach is rather general and can be applied to different paired metamaterials in various wavelength ranges, paving the way to efficiently assemble and fine tune metamaterial sensors and filters.
Optical characterizations of doped silicon nanocrystals grown by co-implantation of Si and dopants in SiO2
Authors: Frégnaux M. , Khelifi R. , Muller D. , Mathiot D.
Published: October 2014

Co-implantation, with overlapping implantation projected ranges, of Si and doping species (P, As, and B) followed by a thermal annealing step is a viable route to form doped Si nanocrystals (NCs) embedded in silica (SiO2). In this paper, we investigate optical characterizations of both doped and un-doped Si-NCs prepared by this method. The effective NC presence in the oxide layer and their crystallinity is verified by Raman spectrometry. Photoluminescence (PL) and PL excitation measurements reveal quantum confinement effects and a gradual PL quenching with increasing dopant concentrations. In un-doped NC, the measured Stokes shift remains constant and its value ∼0.2 eV is almost twice the Si–O vibration energy. This suggests that a possible radiative recombination path is a fundamental transition assisted by a local phonon. PL lifetime investigations show that PL time-decays follow a stretched exponential. Using a statistical model for luminescence quenching, a typical NC diameter close to 2 nm is obtained for As- and P-doped samples, consistent with our previous atomic probe tomography (APT) analyses. APT also demonstrated that n-type dopant (P and As) are efficiently introduced in the NC core, whereas p-type dopant (B) are located at the NC/SiO2 interface. This last observation could explain the failure of the luminescence-quenching model to determine NC size in B-doped samples. All together, these experimental observations question on possible different carrier recombination paths in P or As doped NC compared to B one's.
Controlling tokamak geometry with three-dimensional magnetic perturbations
Authors: Bird T. M. , Hegna C. C.
Published: October 2014

It is shown that small externally applied magnetic perturbations can significantly alter important geometric properties of magnetic flux surfaces in tokamaks. Through 3D shaping, experimentally relevant perturbation levels are large enough to influence turbulent transport and MHD stability in the pedestal region. It is shown that the dominant pitch-resonant flux surface deformations are primarily induced by non-resonant 3D fields, particularly in the presence of significant axisymmetric shaping. The spectral content of the applied 3D field can be used to control these effects.
Leptin and leptin receptor are detectable in equine spermatozoa but are not involved in in vitro fertilisation
Authors: Lange-Consiglio Anna , Corradetti Bruna , Perrini Claudia , Bizzaro Davide , Cremonesi Fausto
Published: October 2014

In human and swine, leptin (OB) has been identified in seminal plasma and leptin receptors (OB-R) on the cell surface of spermatozoa, indicating that spermatozoa are a target for OB. This hormone has also been detected in follicular fluid (FF) in women and mares, although its role requires further study. The aims of this study were to investigate the immunolocalisation and the expression of OB and OB-R in equine spermatozoa and to evaluate the involvement of OB in equine in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Since progesterone (P) and OB are both found in FF, the individual and combined effects of these two hormones were studied in equine IVF and compared with the results obtained from the use of FF for in vitro sperm preparation. For the first time, we were able to identify OB and OB-R mRNA and their corresponding proteins in equine spermatozoa. When spermatozoa were treated with OB, there was a decrease in the three motility parameters VSL, STR and LIN, commonly associated with hyperactivation, whilst the acrosome reaction rate increased (P < 0.05). The fertilisation rate was 51% with FF, 46.15% with P, 43.64% with P+OB and 0% with OB alone. The percentage of eight-cell stage embryos was 18.7% with FF, 17.1% with P and 16.7% with OB+P. OB alone did not permit oocyte fertilisation, indicating that, in the horse, OB is involved in capacitation and hyperactivation but not in sperm penetration.
Evolution of a morphological novelty occurred before genome compaction in a lineage of extreme parasites
Authors: Haag Karen L. , James Timothy Y. , Pombert Jean-François , Larsson Ronny , Schaer Tobias M. M. , Refardt Dominik , Ebert Dieter
Published: October 2014

Significance

Intracellular obligate parasitism results in extreme adaptations, whose evolutionary history is difficult to understand, because intermediate forms are hardly ever found. Microsporidia are highly derived intracellular parasites that are related to fungi. We describe the evolutionary history of a new microsporidian parasite found in the hindgut epithelium of the crustacean
Daphnia
and conclude that the new species has retained ancestral features that were lost in other microsporidia, whose hallmarks are the evolution of a unique infection apparatus, extreme genome reduction, and loss of mitochondrial respiration. The first evolutionary steps leading to the extreme metabolic and genomic simplification of microsporidia involved the adoption of a parasitic lifestyle, the development of a specialized infection apparatus, and the loss of diverse regulatory proteins.
Quantification of the transferability of a designed protein specificity switch reveals extensive epistasis in molecular recognition
Authors: Melero Cristina , Ollikainen Noah , Harwood Ian , Karpiak Joel , Kortemme Tanja
Published: October 2014

Significance

Specific interactions between proteins control the function of essentially all cellular processes. Despite the importance of interaction specificity, it is unclear how structurally similar proteins achieve their unique recognition preferences. Here, we redesign the specificity of a protein binding domain and quantify the extent to which the designed specificity switch can be transferred to homologous domains. We show that identical mutations in structurally similar domains have a wide range of effects on specificity. We apply a structure-based computational model that recapitulates this context dependence. Our findings show how subtle structural differences between homologous domains contribute to their unique specificities. The differential responses to similar mutation observed here could help explain how families of recognition domains have evolved diverse new interactions.
Obesity accelerates epigenetic aging of human liver
Authors: Horvath Steve , Erhart Wiebke , Brosch Mario , Ammerpohl Ole , von Schönfels Witigo , Ahrens Markus , Heits Nils , Bell Jordana T. , Tsai Pei-Chien , Spector Tim D. , Deloukas Panos , Siebert Reiner , Sipos Bence , Becker Thomas , Röcken Christoph , Schafmayer Clemens , Hampe Jochen
Published: October 2014

Significance

Because obese people are at an increased risk of many age-related diseases, it is a plausible hypothesis that obesity increases the biological age of some tissues and cell types. However, it has been difficult to detect such an accelerated aging effect because it is unclear how to measure tissue age. Here we use a recently developed biomarker of aging (known as “epigenetic clock”) to study the relationship between epigenetic age and obesity in several human tissues. We report an unexpectedly strong correlation between high body mass index and the epigenetic age of liver tissue. This finding may explain why obese people suffer from the early onset of many age-related pathologies, including liver cancer.
Reaction–diffusion model of hair-bundle morphogenesis
Authors: Jacobo Adrian , Hudspeth A. J.
Published: October 2014

Significance

Our senses of hearing and balance rest upon the activity of hair cells, the ear’s sensory receptors. Each hair cell detects mechanical stimuli with its hair bundle, an organelle comprising 10–300 cylindrical, actin-filled stereocilia. A bundle’s structure is highly stereotyped: the stereocilia stand erect in a regular, hexagonal array and display a monotonic gradient in length along one axis. This precise organization is key to the operation of the hair bundle: mutations that disturb the morphology of the bundle generally result in deafness. Here we provide a detailed mathematical model of hair-bundle morphogenesis that reproduces the essential features of bundles. The model also permits prediction of the effects of mutations, some of which have already been observed.
MAXI observations of gamma-ray bursts
Authors: Serino Motoko , Sakamoto Takanori , Kawai Nobuyuki , Yoshida Atsumasa , Ohno Masanori , Ogawa Yuji , Nishimura Yasunori , Fukushima Kosuke , Higa Masaya , Ishikawa Kazuto , Ishikawa Masaki , Kawamuro Taiki , Kimura Masashi , Matsuoka Masaru , Mihara Tatehiro , Morii Mikio , Nakagawa Yujin E. , Nakahira Satoshi , Nakajima Motoki , Nakano Yuki , Negoro Hitoshi , Onodera Takuya , Sasaki Masayuki , Shidatsu Megumi , Sugimoto Juri , Sugizaki Mutsumi , Suwa Fumitoshi , Suzuki Kazuhiko , Tachibana Yutaro , Takagi Toshihiro , Toizumi Takahiro , Tomida Hiroshi , Tsuboi Yohko , Tsunemi Hiroshi , Ueda Yoshihiro , Ueno Shiro , Usui Ryuichi , Yamada Hisaki , Yamamoto Takayuki , Yamaoka Kazutaka , Yamauchi Makoto , Yoshidome Koshiro , Yoshii Taketoshi
Published: October 2014

The Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) Gas Slit Camera (GSC) detects gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), including bursts with soft spectra, such as X-ray flashes (XRFs). MAXI/GSC is sensitive to the energy range from 2 to 30 keV. This energy range is lower than other currently operating instruments which are capable of detecting GRBs. Since the beginning of the MAXI operation on 2009 August 15, GSC observed 35 GRBs up to the middle of 2013. One third of them were also observed by other satellites. The rest of them show a trend to have soft spectra and low fluxes. Because of the contribution of those XRFs, the MAXI GRB rate is about three times higher than those expected from the BATSE log N–log P distribution. When we compare it to the observational results of the Wide-field X-ray Monitor on the High Energy Transient Explorer 2, which covers the the same energy range as that of MAXI/GSC, we find the possibility that many of the MAXI bursts are XRFs with Epeak lower than 20 keV. We discuss the source of soft GRBs observed only by MAXI. The MAXI log N–log S distribution suggests that the MAXI XRFs are distributed over a closer distance than hard GRBs. Since the distributions of the hardness of galactic stellar flares and X-ray bursts overlap with those of MAXI GRBs, we discuss the possibility of confusion of such galactic transients with the MAXI GRB samples.
Utility of the Surgical Apgar Score for Patients Who Undergo Surgery for Spinal Metastasis
Authors: Lau Darryl , Yee Timothy J. , La Marca Frank , Patel Rakesh , Park Paul
Published: October 2014

Study Design:

Retrospective review of patients who underwent surgery for spinal metastasis between 2005 and 2011.

Objective:

To assess the utility of the surgical Apgar score (SAS) in patients who underwent surgery for spinal metastasis.

Summary of Background Data:

Surgery for spinal metastasis can be associated with relatively high morbidity and mortality. Consequently, identifying patients at risk for major postoperative complications is important. Several studies have validated SAS for predicting 30-day complication risk.

Methods:

SASs were calculated and patients stratified into 5 groups: scores 0–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, 9–10 points. Multivariate logistic regression assessed whether SAS was an independent predictor of major complication 30 days after surgery. Multivariate analysis of covariance assessed whether SAS was independently associated with length of stay.

Results:

Ninety-seven patients with a variety of metastatic tumors were analyzed. There was no obvious trend in complication rates, or significant association between SAS and complication rate (P=0.413). Complication rates were 25.0% for SASs 0–2, 33.3% for 3–4, 18.4% for 5–6, 10.0% for 7–8, and 33.3% for 9–10 points. On multivariate analysis, SAS was not independently associated with complications; age above 65 years (odds ratio 4.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.31–52.27; P=0.028) and preoperative Karnofsky Performance Score of 10–40 (odds ratio 9.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.42–58.63; P=0.020) were associated with higher odds of complication. SASs 0–2 were an independent predictor of longer hospital stay (P=0.004).

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that SAS is not a significant predictor of major perioperative complications after spinal metastasis surgery; preoperative functional status and age are stronger predictors. The need continues for a preoperative scoring system to reliably predict risk for perioperative complications after spinal metastasis surgery.
A Change in Lumbar Sagittal Alignment After Single-level Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis With Normal Sagittal Balance
Authors: Kim Chi Heon , Chung Chun Kee , Park Sung Bae , Yang Seung Heon , Kim Jung-Hee
Published: October 2014

Study design:

Retrospective analysis.

Objective:

The object is to assess the correlation between whole lumbar lordosis (LL) and the segmental angle (SA) after single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Summary of Background Data:

The restoration of the SA at lower lumbar spine is meaningful, considering it contributes approximately 60% of LL, and revision surgery due to flat back or adjacent segment pathology was necessary decades after the initial surgery. However, little is known about the change of whole lumbar curvature after single-level lower lumbar fusion surgery, especially for balanced spine.

Materials and Methods:

We included 41 consecutive patients (M:F=9:32; mean age, 59.8±9.3 y) with a single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery for low-grade degenerative spinal spondylolisthesis, with C7 plumb line of <5 cm and ≥2-year follow-up period. The operated levels were L4–L5 in 34 patients and L5–S1 in 7 patients. Whole LL, SA, pelvic tilt, and sacral slope were compared.

Results:

According to the Macnab criteria, a favorable outcome (excellent, 21; good, 15) was achieved in 36/41 (88%; excellent, 21; good, 15) patients. LL and SA were significantly changed from −50.8±9.9 to −54.6±11.1 degrees and −15.6±6.1 to −18.7±5.1 degrees (P<0.01), and a positive correlation (r=0.43, P=0.01) was observed between LL and SA at postoperative month 24. The changes to the pelvic tilt and sacral slope were not significant.

Conclusions:

Whole lumbar sagittal alignment was influenced by single SA. Therefore, obtaining adequate segmental lordosis is desirable considering the effect on the whole spine for a long time.
Preoperative Nutritional Status as an Adjunct Predictor of Major Postoperative Complications Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Authors: Fu Michael C. , Buerba Rafael A. , Grauer Jonathan N.
Published: October 2014

Study Design:

Retrospective analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), a prospectively collected multicenter surgical outcomes database.

Objective:

To determine the effect of preoperative nutritional status, as measured by serum albumin concentration, on outcomes following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Summary of Background Data:

Nutritional status has been shown to be an important predictor of postoperative recovery and outcomes. Serum albumin concentration is an established marker of overall nutrition and systemic disease, however, its correlation to outcomes following ACDF is unknown.

Methods:

ACDF cases from 2005 to 2010 were identified in the NSQIP and categorized by preoperative serum albumin: normal (≥3.5 g/dL), hypoalbuminemic (<3.5 g/dL), or not measured. Independent demographic and comorbidity variables were assessed, including American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification. Risk factors for major postoperative complications were identified, including preoperative hypoalbuminemia, and incorporated into a multivariable logistic regression model to determine the strength of preoperative hypoalbuminemia as an adjusted predictor of major postoperative complications.

Results:

There were 3671 ACDF cases, of which 1382 (37.6%) had preoperative albumin measurements. Patients with albumin measurements were older and more likely to have higher ASA class, hypertension, and diabetes. Hypoalbuminemic patients had higher rates of having any major postoperative complication(s), specifically pulmonary complications, cardiac complications, and reoperation, relative to those with normal albumin (all P<0.01). These patients also had longer lengths of stay (5.0 vs. 1.9 d). With multivariable regression, preoperative hypoalbuminemia was a strong independent predictor of major postoperative complications, with an adjusted odds ratio of 3.37 (P=0.003).

Conclusions:

In this analysis of a prospective surgical outcomes database, preoperative serum hypoalbuminemia was an important adjunct predictor of major complications following ACDF. In high-risk patients with multiple medical comorbidities, we recommend that clinicians consider nutritional screening and optimization as part of preoperative risk assessment.
Is Total Disk Replacement a Cost-effective Treatment for Cervical Degenerative Disk Disease?
Authors: Wiedenhöfer Bernd , Nacke Joachim , Stephan Mike , Richter Wiltrud , Carstens Claus , Eichler Markus
Published: October 2014

Study Design:

A retrospective study.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome of motion-preserving versus fusion procedures in cervical spine surgery.

Summary of Background Data:

During the last decade there has been a huge growth in spine surgery with a concurrent increase in the economic burden. Currently, there appear to be no differences in clinical outcome between cervical total disk replacement (TDR) and spinal fusion (SF). For this reason it seems useful to know within the decision-making process whether there is a difference in actual cost between motion-preserving and fusion surgery. So far data that describe expenses involved in these procedures have not been available. This study offers a comparison of economic factors that should be considered in TDR and SF.

Materials and Methods:

The German statutory general healthcare insurance (GHI) provides anonymized patient-related data of their customers. A retrospective query using the codes of surgery of all TDR and SF surgery was performed from January 2003 to June 2008. A total of 467 cases with monosegmental or bisegmental surgery for degenerative disk pathologies were included.

Results:

Both groups showed significant differences in independent variables such as age and sex (P<0.0001), but not in revision rates. Cost weight of diagnosis-related groups and length of hospitalization had a significant effect on total costs. Both groups obtained less pain medication postoperatively than preoperatively without a significant difference between each group. Postoperative absenteeism from work was significantly higher in the TDR group;however, patients with TDR underwent less rehabilitation covered by the GHI. Both groups had the same amount of preoperative and postoperative physiotherapy covered by the GHI.

Conclusions:

According to the collected data, there are no differences between the medical outcomes of cervical TDR in comparison with cervical SF. At the same time, while generating clinical results comparable with spinal fusion, TDR incurred significantly lower costs. Therefore, both from the medical and from the financial point of view, TDR is a viable choice in the treatment of degenerative disk pathology.