bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of longitudinal changes in visceral fat area on incidence of metabolic risk factors: The hitachi health study
Authors: Matsushita Yumi , Nakagawa Toru , Yamamoto Shuichiro , Takahashi Yoshihiko , Yokoyama Tetsuji , Mizoue Tetsuya , Noda Mitsuhiko
Published: February 2013

Objective

To examine the incidences of metabolic risk factors according to changes in visceral fat area (VFA) in a large Japanese population.

Design and Methods

The subjects were 973 men who received a computed tomography (CT) examination in health checkups twice (2004‐2005 and 2007‐2008), and not having two or more of metabolic risk factors (except for the waist circumference) in 2004‐2005. VFA was measured using CT. To assess the potential influence of changes in VFA for the 3‐year incidences of each metabolic risk factor and clustering metabolic risk factors, logistic regression analyses were used.

Results

A significant association was observed between the change in VFA and the components of the metabolic risk factors. Incidences of the components of the metabolic risk factors were significantly higher among subjects with a larger increase in VFA and were significantly lower among subjects with a larger decrease in VFA (trend P < 0.001). Significant increases in the odds ratios for the incidences of high triglycerides and low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level were observed among subjects with ≥50 cm2 VFA increase.

Conclusions

The adoption of a lifestyle that does not increase the VFA is important for preventing metabolic syndrome.
Alternate day fasting and endurance exercise combine to reduce body weight and favorably alter plasma lipids in obese humans
Authors: Bhutani Surabhi , Klempel Monica C. , Kroeger Cynthia M. , Trepanowski John F. , Varady Krista A.
Published: February 2013

Objective

This study examined whether the combination of alternate day fasting (ADF) plus exercise produces superior changes in body composition and plasma lipid levels when compared to each intervention alone.

Design and Methods

Obese subjects (n = 64) were randomized to 1 of 4 groups for 12 weeks: 1) combination (ADF plus endurance exercise), 2) ADF, 3) exercise, or 4) control.

Results

Body weight was reduced (P < 0.05) by 6 ± 4 kg, 3 ± 1 kg, and 1 ± 0 kg in the combination, ADF, and exercise groups, respectively. Fat mass and waist circumference decreased (P < 0.001), while lean mass was retained in the combination group. Low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased (12 ± 5%, P < 0.05) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased (18 ± 9%, P < 0.05) in the combination group only. LDL particle size increased (P < 0.001) by 4 ± 1 Å and 5 ± 1 Å in the combination and ADF groups, respectively. The proportion of small HDL particles decreased (P < 0.01) in the combination group only.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the combination produces superior changes in body weight, body composition, and lipid indicators of heart disease risk, when compared to individual treatments.
DANGER ZONES OF CORRUPTION: HOW MANAGEMENT OF THE MINISTERIAL BUREAUCRACY AFFECTS CORRUPTION RISKS IN POLAND
Authors: Heywood Paul , Meyer‐Sahling Jan‐Hinrik
Published: February 2013

This article examines the relationship between management of the ministerial bureaucracy and the risk of high‐level corruption in Poland. Four danger zones of corruption in the ministerial bureaucracy are distinguished, comprising the personalisation of appointments, the emergence of multiple dependencies, the screening capacity of the personnel system and the incentive of bureaucrats to develop a reputation of honesty and competence. Empirically, the article investigates the case of Poland from 1997 until 2007 and sets the findings in a comparative East Central European perspective. The article shows that corruption risks in the ministerial bureaucracy increased in most but not all danger zones after 2001 and, in particular, during the period of the centre‐right governments that were in office between 2005 and 2007. The increase in corruption risks is reflected in Poland's deteriorating corruption record during the same period. The conclusion discusses the findings with regard to alternative causes of corruption and the relationship between civil service professionalisation and corruption in other East Central European countries. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
AID EFFECTIVENESS AND THE PARIS DECLARATION: A MISMATCH BETWEEN OWNERSHIP AND RESULTS‐BASED MANAGEMENT?
Authors: Sjöstedt Martin
Published: February 2013

Although recent years have witnessed substantial changes in the global aid architecture, less effort has been devoted to investigating the process of implementing those changes. By using the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) as an illustrative and critical case, this article shows how a donor development priority—gender—travels from Stockholm and headquarters to a Paris Declaration‐infused aid practice in three cases with different aid modalities: Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Cambodia. More specifically, the qualitative empirical investigation conducted here shows that the implementation of the new aid architecture puts severe and competing demands on development practitioners. At the core of this tension is the fact that although all donors are supposed to promote partner country ownership, harmonize their efforts with other donors, and align themselves with partner country priorities, results‐based management simultaneously implies not only a focus on continuously measuring and reporting results but also stricter prioritizations on behalf of donor governments. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High School Exit Exams and Dropout in an Era of Increased Accountability
Authors: Hemelt Steven W. , Marcotte Dave E.
Published: February 2013

A key form of student‐level accountability is the requirement for students to pass high school exit exams (HSEEs) in order to receive a diploma. In this paper, we examine the impact of HSEEs on dropout during a period when these exams became more common and rigorous. Further, we study whether offering alternate pathways to graduation for students who cannot pass HSEEs moderates any dropout effects. Using a district‐grade‐level panel assembled from the Common Core of Data, we exploit the fact that new exit exam policies first affect a particular graduating class, so we can isolate the impact of exposure to HSEEs for students in one grade in a district separate from other unaffected grades in the same district. We estimate dropout effects by grade for all students, and by race, sex, and urbanicity. We find that HSEEs increase dropout rates for students in the 12th grade, with especially large effects for African‐American students. Dropout effects are uniformly larger in states that do not provide alternate pathways to receive a diploma or alternative credentials for students that cannot pass exit exams. We estimate that 1.25 percent of 12th graders in these states do not graduate with their high school class, likely due to having a diploma withheld because of inability to pass the requisite HSEE. © 2013 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Crosslinked QA‐PEI nanoparticles: synthesis reproducibility, chemical modifications, and stability study
Authors: Farah Shady , Khan Wahid , Farber Ira , Kesler‐Shvero Dana , Beyth Nurit , Weiss Ervin I. , Domb Abraham J.
Published: February 2013

Quaternary ammonium polyethylenimine (QA‐PEI) nanoparticles were synthesized by PEI crosslinking and alkylation with octyliodide followed by quaternization by methyl iodide. The present study focuses on the reproducibility of particles formation with respect to particle size, positive charge, oxidative, thermal stability and antibacterial activity. The QA‐PEI‐based nanoparticles with particle size in the range of 160–190 nm were synthesized in high reproducibility and showed high chemical stability against environmental changes including exposure to different oxidizers and storage conditions. QA‐PEI nanoparticles incorporated in dental restorative resin composites at 2% w/w demonstrated strong antibacterial activity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Early pregnancy vaginal fluid phosphorylated insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐1 predicts preterm delivery
Authors: Kallioniemi Hanna , Rahkonen Leena , Heikinheimo Oskari , Paavonen Jorma
Published: February 2013

Objective

We aimed to study vaginal fluid phosphorylated insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐1 (phIGFBP‐1) testing in early pregnancy to predict spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD).

Methods

Vaginal and cervical swab samples were collected from 5180 unselected women during the first‐trimester (mean gestational age 13.1 weeks) ultrasound screening. PhIGFBP‐1 was measured in vaginal and cervical fluid by an immunoenzymometric assay. Concentrations of ≥10 µg/L were considered elevated. The outcome measure was spontaneous PTD at <32 or <37 weeks gestation.

Results

The median concentrations of first‐trimester vaginal and cervical phIGFBP‐1 were higher in women with spontaneous PTD at <32 and <37 weeks gestation. When 10 µg/L of phIGFBP‐1 was used as a cut‐off level, the OR in predicting PTD at <32 weeks gestation was 8.6 (95% CI 3.6–20.7) for vaginal samples and 3.6 (95% CI 1.7–7.9) for cervical samples. At <37 weeks gestation, the OR in predicting PTD was 3.0 (95% CI 1.9–3.9) for vaginal samples and 1.9 (95% CI 1.4–2.5) for cervical samples. In multiple logistic regression analysis, both elevated vaginal and cervical fluid phIGFBP‐1 levels were independent predictors of PTD both at <32 and <37 weeks gestation.

Conclusion

First‐trimester vaginal phIGFBP‐1 performed better than cervical phIGFBP‐1 in the prediction of spontaneous PTD. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Statistical visualization for assessing performance of methods for safety surveillance using electronic databases
Authors: Li Xiaochun , Hui Siu , Ryan Patrick , Rosenman Marc , Overhage Marc
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The success of an epidemiological study for drug safety surveillance or comparative effectiveness depends largely on design and analysis strategies besides data quality. The Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) methods community implemented a collection of statistical methods with extensive parameters allowing a wide variety of designs and analyses. Our objective was to develop a visualization tool to explore which parameter settings may enable better predictive properties for a given method in a database.

Methods

Performance measures were produced for each setting, including sensitivity (recall), specificity (1‐FPR), AUC, MAP, andPk. Multiple regressions with relevant parameters as main effects were run for performance measures on all test cases and subgroups. Heatmaps with sequential palettes to indicate the parameters' impacts on performance measures were generated based on matrices of the standardized coefficients (t‐statistics) by parameter settings and test case subgroups.

Results

Heatmaps help researchers to explore design and analysis options of methods for evaluating a variety of drug–outcome relationships and also to explore data issues.

Conclusions

Statistical visualization through heatmaps is a useful tool for summarizing and presenting method performance results and for the exploration of the parameter settings for method performance characteristics and data limitations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fear of cancer recurrence in young early‐stage breast cancer survivors: the role of metacognitive style and disease‐related factors
Authors: Thewes B. , Bell M. L. , Butow P.
Published: February 2013

Objective

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a common challenge of cancer survivorship, particularly in younger survivors. Maladaptive metacognitions have been shown to be important to the development of a range of emotional disorders but have not previously been explored in the context of FCR.

Aims

This study aimed to explore the relationship between FCR and a maladaptive metacognitions.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included young women diagnosed with early‐stage breast cancer at least 1 year prior to study entry. Participants completed a web‐based questionnaire, which included the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI) and the brief Metacognitions Questionnaire‐30 (MCQ‐30). Linear regression was used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted slope estimates of the association of FCR with six metacognition variables, the total score of the MCQ‐30 and the five subscales.

Results

Two‐hundred and eighteen women with a mean age of 39 years at diagnosis participated. All measures of metacognitive style were moderately correlated with FCRI scores (r = 0.31–0.49) and significantly associated with FCRI in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Overall metacognitive style explained 36% of the variance in FCR scores in combination with disease and demographic factors. Negative metacognitions (R2 = 0.32) and need for control over cognition (R2 = 0.26) were the MCQ‐30 subscales most associated with higher FCR.

Conclusions

Unhelpful metacognitions appear to play an important role in FCR in young women with early‐stage breast cancer. Treatments that focus on changing unhelpful metacognitions may prove a useful approach for treating clinical FCR in cancer survivors in the future. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
pH‐dependent molecular dynamics of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein G
Authors: Rücker Pia , Wieninger Silke A. , Ullmann G. Matthias , Sticht Heinrich
Published: February 2013

Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein G (VSV‐G) belongs to a new class of viral fusion proteins (Class III). The structure of VSV‐G has been solved in two different conformations and fusion is known to be triggered by low pH. To investigate Class III fusion mechanisms, molecular dynamics simulations were performed on the VSV‐G prefusion structure in two different protonation states: at physiological pH (pH 7) and low pH present in the endosome (pH 5). Domain IV containing the fusion loops, which need to interact with the target membrane, exhibits the highest mobility. Energetic analyses revealed weakened interaction between Domain IV and the protein core at pH 5, which can be attributed to two pairs of structurally neighboring conserved and differentially protonated residues in the Domain IV–core interface. Energetic calculations also demonstrated that the interaction between the subunits in the core of the trimeric VSV‐G is strengthened at pH 5, mainly due to newly formed interactions between the C‐terminal loop of Domain II and the N‐terminus of the adjacent subunit. A pair of interacting residues in this interface that is affected by differential protonation was shown to be the main effectors of this phenomenon. The results of this study thus enhance the mechanistic understanding of the effects of protonation changes in VSV‐G. Proteins 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Shape evolution with temperature of a thermotolerant protein (PeaT1) in solution detected by small angle X‐ray scattering
Authors: Xing Xueqing , Liu Quan , Wang Wei , Zhang Kunhao , Li Tang , Cai Quan , Mo Guang , Cheng Weidong , Wang Dehong , Gong Yu , Chen Zhongjun , Qiu Dewen , Wu Zhonghua
Published: February 2013

The protein elicitor from Alternaria tenuissima (PeaT1) presented excellent thermotolerance and potential application in agriculture as a pesticide. Previous synchrotron radiation circular dichroism study demonstrated that the secondary structures in PeaT1 protein are reversible with temperature change. To further clarify the mechanism of its thermotolerance, synchrotron radiation small angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS) technique was used to study the shape change of PeaT1 protein with temperature in this article. Ab initio structure restorations based on the SAXS data revealed that PeaT1 protein has a prolate shape with a P2 symmetry axis along the prolate anisometric direction. With temperature increase, a gooseneck vase‐like (25°C), to jug‐like (55°C), then to oval (85°C) shape change can be found, and these shape changes are also approximately reversible with temperature decrease. PeaT1 protein contains two homogenous molecules, and each of them consists of F, NAC, T, and UBA domains. The structures of the four domains were predicted. Simulated annealing algorithm was used to superimpose the domain structures onto the SAXS shapes. It was found that all the structural domains have position rotation and translation with temperature change, but the NAC domains are relatively stable, playing a role of frame. This shape change information provides clues for further exploring its biological function and application. Proteins 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structural, energetic, and dynamic responses of the native state ensemble of staphylococcal nuclease to cavity‐creating mutations
Authors: Roche Julien , Caro Jose A. , Dellarole Mariano , Guca Ewelina , Royer Catherine A. , García‐Moreno E. Bertrand , Garcia Angel E. , Roumestand Christian
Published: February 2013

The effects of cavity‐creating mutations on the structural flexibility, local and global stability, and dynamics of the folded state of staphylococcal nuclease (SNase) were examined with NMR spectroscopy, MD simulations, H/D exchange, and pressure perturbation. Effects on global thermodynamic stability correlated well with the number of heavy atoms in the vicinity of the mutated residue. Variants with substitutions in the C‐terminal domain and the interface between α and β subdomains showed large amide chemical shift variations relative to the parent protein, moderate, widespread, and compensatory perturbations of the H/D protection factors and increased local dynamics on a nanosecond time scale. The pressure sensitivity of the folded states of these variants was similar to that of the parent protein. Such observations point to the capacity of the folded proteins to adjust to packing defects in these regions. In contrast, cavity creation in the β‐barrel subdomain led to minimal perturbation of the structure of the folded state, However, significant pressure dependence of the native state amide resonances, along with strong effects on native state H/D exchange are consistent with increased probability of population of excited state(s) for these variants. Such contrasted responses to the creation of cavities could not be anticipated from global thermodynamic stability or crystal structures; they depend on the local structural and energetic context of the substitutions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High resolution crystal structure of dengue‐3 envelope protein domain III suggests possible molecular mechanisms for serospecific antibody recognition
Authors: Elahi Montasir , Islam Monirul M. , Noguchi Keiichi , Yohda Masafumi , Kuroda Yutaka
Published: February 2013

Dengue viruses are classified into four serotypes. Here, we report a 1.7 Å crystal structure of a recombinant dengue‐3 envelope protein domain III (ED3), which contains most of the putative epitopes. Although the fold was well conserved, we found that a local backbone deformation in the first β‐strand, which contains the putative epitope‐1, occurred upon domain isolation. Furthermore, a comparison with dengue‐2 ED3 indicated a large structural change by as much as 4.0 Å at Asp662, located in epitope‐2. These minute structural and surface properties changes observed in the high resolution ED3 structure represent potential determinants for serospecificity and epitope recognition by antibodies. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of a cation transport pathway in Neisseria meningitidis PorB
Authors: Kattner Christof , Zaucha Jan , Jaenecke Frank , Zachariae Ulrich , Tanabe Mikio
Published: February 2013

Neisseria meningitidis is the main causative agent of bacterial meningitis. In its outer membrane, the trimeric Neisserial porin PorB is responsible for the diffusive transport of essential hydrophilic solutes across the bilayer. Previous molecular dynamics simulations based on the recent crystal structure of PorB have suggested the presence of distinct solute translocation pathways through this channel. Although PorB has been electrophysiologically characterized as anion‐selective, cation translocation through nucleotide‐bound PorB during pathogenesis is thought to be instrumental for host cell death. As a result, we were particularly interested in further characterizing cation transport through the pore. We combined a structural approach with additional computational analysis. Here, we present two crystal structures of PorB at 2.1 and 2.65 Å resolution. The new structures display additional electron densities around the protruding loop 3 (L3) inside the pore. We show that these electron densities can be identified as monovalent cations, in our case Cs+, which are tightly bound to the inner channel. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal further ion interactions and the free energy landscape for ions inside PorB. Our results suggest that the crystallographically identified locations of Cs+ form a cation transport pathway inside the pore. This finding suggests how positively charged ions are translocated through PorB when the channel is inserted into mitochondrial membranes during Neisserial infection, a process which is considered to dissipate the mitochondrial transmembrane potential gradient and thereby induce apoptosis. Proteins 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ACA‐specific RNA sequence recognition is acquired via the loop 2 region of MazF mRNA interferase
Authors: Park Jung‐Ho , Yoshizumi Satoshi , Yamaguchi Yoshihiro , Wu Kuen‐Phon , Inouye Masayori
Published: February 2013

MazF is an mRNA interferase that cleaves mRNAs at a specific RNA sequence. MazF from E. coli (MazF‐ec) cleaves RNA at A and CA. To date, a large number of MazF homologs that cleave RNA at specific three‐ to seven‐base sequences have been identified from bacteria to archaea. MazF‐ec forms a dimer, in which the interface between the two subunits is known to be the RNA substrate‐binding site. Here, we investigated the role of the two loops in MazF‐ec, which are closely associated with the interface of the MazF‐ec dimer. We examined whether exchanging the loop regions of MazF‐ec with those from other MazF homologs, such as MazF from Myxococcus xanthus (MazF‐mx) and MazF from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MazF‐mt3), affects RNA cleavage specificity. We found that exchanging loop 2 of MazF‐ec with loop 2 regions from either MazF‐mx or MazF‐mt3 created a new cleavage sequence at (A/U)(A/U)AA and C in addition to the original cleavage site, A and CA, whereas exchanging loop 1 did not alter cleavage specificity. Intriguingly, exchange of loop 2 with 8 or 12 consecutive Gly residues also resulted in a new RNA cleavage site at (A/U)(A/U)AA and C. The present study suggests a method for expanding the RNA cleavage repertoire of mRNA interferases, which is crucial for potential use in the regulation of specific gene expression and for biotechnological applications. Proteins 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
First structural evidence of sequestration of mRNA cap structures by type 1 ribosome inactivating protein from Momordica balsamina
Authors: Kushwaha Gajraj Singh , Yamini Shavait , Kumar Mukesh , Sinha Mau , Kaur Punit , Sharma Sujata , Singh Tej P.
Published: February 2013

This is the first structural evidence of recognition of mRNA cap structures by a ribosome inactivating protein. It is well known that a unique cap structure is formed at the 5′ end of mRNA for carrying out various processes including mRNA maturation, translation initiation, and RNA turnover. The binding studies and crystal structure determinations of type 1 ribosome inactivating protein (RIP‐1) from Momordica balsamina (MbRIP‐1) were carried out with mRNA cap structures including (i) N7‐methyl guanine (m7G), (ii) N7‐methyl guanosine diphosphate (m7GDP), and (iii) N7‐methyl guanosine triphosphate (m7GTP). These compounds showed affinities to MbRIP‐1 at nanomolar concentrations. The structure determinations of the complexes of MbRIP‐1 with m7G, m7GDP, and m7GTP at 2.65, 1.77, and 1.75 Å resolutions revealed that all the three compounds bound to MbRIP‐1 in the substrate binding site at the positions which are slightly shifted towards Glu85 as compared to those of rRNA substrates. In this position, Glu85 forms several hydrogen bonds with guanine moiety while N‐7 methyl group forms van der Waals contacts. However, the guanine rings are poorly stacked in these complexes. Thus, the mode of binding by MbRIP‐1 to mRNA cap structures is different which results in the inhibition of depurination. Since some viruses are known to exploit the capping property of the host, this action of MbRIP‐1 may have implications for the antiviral activity of this protein in vivo. The understanding of the mode of binding of MbRIP‐1 to cap structures may also assist in the design of anti‐viral agents. Proteins 2012. Proteins 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multiple factor analysis: principal component analysis for multitable and multiblock data sets
Authors: Abdi Hervé , Williams Lynne J. , Valentin Domininique
Published: February 2013

Multiple factor analysis (MFA, also called multiple factorial analysis) is an extension of principal component analysis (PCA) tailored to handle multiple data tables that measure sets of variables collected on the same observations, or, alternatively, (in dual‐MFA) multiple data tables where the same variables are measured on different sets of observations. MFA proceeds in two steps: First it computes a PCA of each data table and ‘normalizes’ each data table by dividing all its elements by the first singular value obtained from its PCA. Second, all the normalized data tables are aggregated into a grand data table that is analyzed via a (non‐normalized) PCA that gives a set of factor scores for the observations and loadings for the variables. In addition, MFA provides for each data table a set of partial factor scores for the observations that reflects the specific ‘view‐point’ of this data table. Interestingly, the common factor scores could be obtained by replacing the original normalized data tables by the normalized factor scores obtained from the PCA of each of these tables. In this article, we present MFA, review recent extensions, and illustrate it with a detailed example. WIREs Comput Stat 2013, 5:149–179. doi: 10.1002/wics.1246

This article is categorized under:

Data: Types and Structure > Categorical Data

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Exploratory Data Analysis

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Multivariate Analysis
Can the 125 GeV Higgs be the Little Higgs?
Authors: Reuter J. , Tonini M.
Published: February 2013

Abstract

After the discovery of the Higgs-like boson by the LHC 2012 it is the most important task to check whether this new particle is the Standard Model Higgs boson or something else. In this paper, we study whether the 125 GeV boson could be the pseudo- Goldstone boson of Little Higgs models. We derive limits on the parameter space of several Little Higgs models (simple group and product group models, with and without T -parity), both from the experimental data from ATLAS and CMS about the different Higgs discovery channels and the electroweak precision observables. We perform a fit of several Little Higgs models to all electroweak parameters from measurements of SLC, LEP, Tevatron, and LHC. For the Higgs searches, we include all available data from the summer conferences in 2012 as well as the updates from December 2012. We show that there always exists a region in the parameter space of the models under consideration where the measured χ
2 is equal or lower than the SM χ
2: a closer look at the minimum χ
2 will however reveal that the agreement with the collected data is not significantly better as within the SM. While for the models without T -parity the Little Higgs scale f is forced to be of the order 2-4 TeV in order to be compatible with the collected data, in the models with T -parity the scale f is constrained to be only above
$\mathcal{O}$
(500) GeV, reducing the amount of fine-tuning. We also show that these results are still driven by the electroweak precision measurements due to the bigger LHC data uncertainties.
Gluon-induced Higgs-strahlung at next-to-leading order QCD
Authors: Altenkamp Lukas , Dittmaier Stefan , Harlander Robert V. , Rzehak Heidi , Zirke Tom J. E.
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Gluon-induced contributions to the associated production of a Higgs and a Z boson are calculated with NLO accuracy in QCD. They constitute a significant contribution to the cross section for this process. The perturbative correction factor (K-factor) is calculated in the limit of infinite top-quark and vanishing bottom-quark masses. The qualitative similarity of the results to the well-known ones for the gluon-fusion process gg → H allows to conclude that rescaling the LO prediction by this K-factor leads to a reliable NLO result and realistic error estimate due to missing higher-order perturbative effects. We consider the total inclusive cross section as well as a scenario with a boosted Higgs boson, where the Higgs boson’s transverse momentum is restricted to values p
T,H
> 200 GeV. In both cases, we find large correction factors K ≈ 2 in most of the parameter space.
Low-Grade Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Breast: Imaging and Histopathologic Characteristics of this Rare Disease
Authors: Scali Elena P. , Ali Rola H. , Hayes Malcolm , Tyldesley Scott , Hassell Patricia
Published: February 2013

Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare histologic subtype of breast carcinoma that has a variable mammographic and sonographic appearance, which overlaps with both benign and malignant neoplasms. Because of its lack of unique imaging features, a diagnosis of low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma is based on histopathology. The recognition of this entity is an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of breast masses and carries implications for prognosis, which is more favorable than other types of breast carcinoma.
Six million years of magnetic grain-size records reveal that temperature and precipitation were decoupled on the Chinese Loess Plateau during ~ 4.5–2.6 Ma
Authors: Nie Junsheng , Song Yougui , King John W. , Zhang Rui , Fang Xiaomin
Published: February 2013

Magnetic grain-size variations have been used as sensitive paleoclimate proxies to investigate the evolution of the East Asian summer monsoon, but their relationship with temperature and precipitation is not entirely clear. Here we find that two magnetic grain-size proxy records (χARM/χLF and χARM/SIRM, where χARM, χLF and SIRM are anhysteretic remanent magnetization susceptibility, magnetic susceptibility measured at 470 Hz and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization, respectively) of Chinese loess and red-clay sediments co-vary during the last 6 Ma, except between ~ 4.5 and 2.6 Ma, when these two records had opposite trends. We attribute this disparate behavior to the different responses of χARM/χLF and χARM/SIRM to temperature and precipitation during ~ 4.5–2.6 Ma, when temperature and precipitation on the Chinese Loess Plateau were decoupled. A comparison of the loess and red-clay χARM/χLF and χARM/SIRM records with the global ice-volume proxy records reveals that χARM/χLF is more sensitive to temperature variations than χARM/SIRM. The results suggest that temperature on the Chinese Loess Plateau had a cooling trend from ~ 4.5 to ~ 2.6 Ma, whereas rainfall tended to increase. Our studies demonstrate that joint analysis of loess χARM/χLF and χARM/SIRM records can reveal paleoclimatic information that cannot be revealed by a single parameter.
A comparison of charcoal measurements for reconstruction of Mediterranean paleo-fire frequency in the mountains of Corsica
Authors: Leys Bérangère , Carcaillet Christopher , Dezileau Laurent , Ali Adam A. , Bradshaw Richard H.W.
Published: February 2013

Fire-history reconstructions inferred from sedimentary charcoal records are based on measuring sieved charcoal fragment area, estimating fragment volume, or counting fragments. Similar fire histories are reconstructed from these three approaches for boreal lake sediment cores, using locally defined thresholds. Here, we test the same approach for a montane Mediterranean lake in which taphonomical processes might differ from boreal lakes through fragmentation of charcoal particles. The Mediterranean charcoal series are characterized by highly variable charcoal accumulation rates. Results there indicate that the three proxies do not provide comparable fire histories. The differences are attributable to charcoal fragmentation. This could be linked to fire type (crown or surface fires) or taphonomical processes, including charcoal transportation in the catchment area or in the sediment. The lack of correlation between the concentration of charcoal and of mineral matter suggests that fragmentation is not linked to erosion. Reconstructions based on charcoal area are more robust and stable than those based on fragment counts. Area-based reconstructions should therefore be used instead of the particle-counting method when fragmentation may influence the fragment abundance.
Augmenting cognitive behaviour therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder with emotion tolerance training: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bryant R. A. , Mastrodomenico J. , Hopwood S. , Kenny L. , Cahill C. , Kandris E. , Taylor K.
Published: February 2013

Background

Many patients do not adhere to or benefit from cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This randomized controlled trial evaluates the extent to which preparing patients with emotion regulation skills prior to CBT enhances treatment outcome.

Method

A total of 70 adult civilian patients with PTSD were randomized to 12 sessions of either supportive counselling followed by CBT (Support/CBT) or emotion regulation training followed by CBT (Skills/CBT).

Results

Skills/CBT resulted in fewer treatment drop-outs, less PTSD and anxiety, and fewer negative appraisals at 6 months follow-up than Support/CBT. Between-condition effect size was moderate for PTSD severity (0.43, 95% confidence interval −0.04 to 0.90). More Skills/CBT (31%) patients achieved high end-state functioning at follow-up than patients in Support/CBT (12%) [χ2(n = 70) = 3.67, p < 0.05].

Conclusions

This evidence suggests that response to CBT may be enhanced in PTSD patients by preparing them with emotion regulation skills. High attrition of participants during the study limits conclusions from this study.
Housing materials and construction
Authors: Allott D.
Published: February 2013

Innovations in pig housing which have been both successful and unsuccessful are discussed and the progress achieved is summarized. The possibilities for the future are contemplated where a more formal testing procedure to make information available for would-be users is considered as desirable.
Divisions within the Ranks? The Just War Tradition and the Use and Abuse of History
Authors: O'Driscoll Cian
Published: February 2013

Plato wrote in theRepublicthat quarrels between fellow countrymen are wont to be more virulent and nasty than those between external enemies. Sigmund Freud (and latterly Michael Ignatieff and Toni Erskine) have similarly cautioned of the malice and excess that can attend conflicts that are fuelled not by antithetical oppositions, but by the “narcissism of minor difference.” Bearing these warnings in mind, scholars of the ethics of war would be well advised to consider the implications of James Turner Johnson's acute observation in his contribution to this special section ofEthics & International Affairsthat their field of study is currently beset not so much by external opposition as by divisions within the ranks. The principal antagonism within the field, at least as I understand it, is the rift that has emerged between what I shall call historical and analytical approaches to the subject. Laying my cards on the table, the work that I have done in the past connects more clearly with the former than the latter. However, it has struck me, as it must have struck others, that the historical approach has in recent years come to assume a rather scuffed and unfashionable, evenoutré, appearance. It has been the subject of numerous curt dismissals, but has also, more interestingly, been tarnished by a few powerful critiques. This article will elucidate four of the most hard-hitting charges levied at the historical approach, and evaluate its continuing utility in light of them. The question then is: Have the critics of this approach landed it a knock-out blow, or can the historical approach withstand the bricks and bats that have been hurled its way?
Throwing the Baby Out With the Bathwater: Can the Military's Role in Global Health Crises be Redeemed?
Authors: Burkle Frederick M.
Published: February 2013

For decades, military humanitarian assistance programs have avoided empirical scrutiny, leaving researchers, the humanitarian community and decision makers without proof of outcome. This Editorial highlights the findings of three major studies that disclose deficits in the quality of the performance and reporting of humanitarian missions, and offer guidance for change. The author suggests that, contrary to current plans to limit the military's role in humanitarian assistance, emerging crises actually increase civilian security risks and that it is time for a new partnership of military and civilian humanitarian resources to evolve in the interest of human security.

BurkleFM. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater: can the military's role in global health crises be redeemed?. Prehosp Disaster Med.2013;28(3):1–3..
Can Risk-Taking Be an Endophenotype for Bipolar Disorder? A Study on Patients with Bipolar Disorder Type I and Their First-Degree Relatives
Authors: Hıdıroğlu Ceren , Demirci Esen Özlem , Tunca Zeliha , Neslihan Gűrz Yalçìn Şehnaz , Lombardo Lauren , Glahn David C. , Özerdem Ayşegül
Published: February 2013

Risk-taking behavior and impulsivity are core features of bipolar disorder. Whether they are part of the inherited aspect of the illness is not clear. We aimed to evaluate risk-taking behavior as a potential endophenotype for bipolar disorders, and its relationship with impulsivity and illness features. The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) were used to assess risk-taking behavior and impulsivity respectively in 30 euthymic bipolar I patients (BD), their 25 asymptomatic first-degree relatives (BD-R), and 30 healthy controls (HC). The primary BART outcome measure was the behavioral adjustment score (number of pumps after trials where the balloon did not pop minus the number of pumps after trials where the balloon popped). BD (p< .001) and BD-R (p= .001) had similar and significantly lower adjustment scores than HC. Only BD scored significantly higher on BIS-11 total (p= .01) and motor (p= .04) subscales than HC. Neither the BART, nor impulsivity scores associated with illness features. A limitation of this study is medicated patients and a heterogeneous BD-R were included. Riskiness may be a candidate endophenotype for bipolar disorder as it appears independently from illness features, presents similarly in BD and BD-R groups and differs from impulsivity. (JINS, 2013,19, 1–9)
Structure and function of a cyanophage-encoded peptide deformylase
Authors: Frank Jeremy A , Lorimer Don , Youle Merry , Witte Pam , Craig Tim , Abendroth Jan , Rohwer Forest , Edwards Robert A , Segall Anca M , Burgin Alex B
Published: February 2013

Bacteriophages encode auxiliary metabolic genes that support more efficient phage replication. For example, cyanophages carry several genes to maintain host photosynthesis throughout infection, shuttling the energy and reducing power generated away from carbon fixation and into anabolic pathways. Photodamage to the D1/D2 proteins at the core of photosystem II necessitates their continual replacement. Synthesis of functional proteins in bacteria requires co-translational removal of the N-terminal formyl group by a peptide deformylase (PDF). Analysis of marine metagenomes to identify phage-encoded homologs of known metabolic genes found that marine phages carry PDF genes, suggesting that their expression during infection might benefit phage replication. We identified a PDF homolog in the genome of Synechococcus cyanophage S-SSM7. Sequence analysis confirmed that it possesses the three absolutely conserved motifs that form the active site in PDF metalloproteases. Phylogenetic analysis placed it within the Type 1B subclass, most closely related to the Arabidopsis chloroplast PDF, but lacking the C-terminal α-helix characteristic of that group. PDF proteins from this phage and from Synechococcus elongatus were expressed and characterized. The phage PDF is the more active enzyme and deformylates the N-terminal tetrapeptides from D1 proteins more efficiently than those from ribosomal proteins. Solution of the X-ray/crystal structures of those two PDFs to 1.95 Å resolution revealed active sites identical to that of the Type 1B Arabidopsis chloroplast PDF. Taken together, these findings show that many cyanophages encode a PDF with a D1 substrate preference that adds to the repertoire of genes used by phages to maintain photosynthetic activities.
Conical air prism arrays as an embedded reflector for high efficient InGaN/GaN light emitting diodes
Authors: Lysak Volodymyr V. , Hye Kang Ji , Hong Chang-Hee
Published: February 2013

The effect of the combination of triangular prisms and cones as air-void structures arrays on the enhancement of light extraction efficiency of InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is investigated. The arrays embedded at the sapphire/GaN interface act as light reflectors and refractors, and thereby improve the light output power due to the redirection of light into escape cones on both the front and back sides of the LED. Enhancement in radiometric power as high as 74% and far-field angle as low as 125° is realized with a compact arrangement of arrays compared with that of a conventional LED.
Variable-temperature device for precision Casimir-force-gradient measurement
Authors: Castillo-Garza R. , Mohideen U.
Published: February 2013

We present the design and use of an instrument that is based on a microcantilever to perform precision force gradient measurements. We demonstrate its performance through measurements of the Casimir pressure at various temperatures. The instrument can operate in high vacuum environments and temperatures between 5 K and 300 K. It uses an all-fiber optical interferometer to detect the resonant-frequency shift of a customized microcantilever due to the presence of a force gradient. To measure this shift we use both, a technique of frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy and the direct recording of the thermomechanical resonant frequency.
Glass and liquid phase diagram of a polyamorphic monatomic system
Authors: Reisman Shaina , Giovambattista Nicolas
Published: February 2013

We perform out-of-equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a monatomic system with Fermi-Jagla (FJ) pair potential interactions. This model system exhibits polyamorphism both in the liquid and glass state. The two liquids, low-density (LDL) and high-density liquid (HDL), are accessible in equilibrium MD simulations and can form two glasses, low-density (LDA) and high-density amorphous (HDA) solid, upon isobaric cooling. The FJ model exhibits many of the anomalous properties observed in water and other polyamorphic liquids and thus, it is an excellent model system to explore qualitatively the thermodynamic properties of such substances. The liquid phase behavior of the FJ model system has been previously characterized. In this work, we focus on the glass behavior of the FJ system. Specifically, we perform systematic isothermal compression and decompression simulations of LDA and HDA at different temperatures and determine “phase diagrams” for the glass state; these phase diagrams varying with the compression/decompression rate used. We obtain the LDA-to-HDA and HDA-to-LDA transition pressure loci, PLDA−HDA(T) and PHDA−LDA(T), respectively. In addition, the compression-induced amorphization line, at which the low-pressure crystal (LPC) transforms to HDA, PLPC−HDA(T), is determined. As originally proposed by Poole et al. [Phys. Rev. E 48, 4605 (1993)]10.1103/PhysRevE.48.4605 simulations suggest that the PLDA−HDA(T) and PHDA−LDA(T) loci are extensions of the LDL-to-HDL and HDL-to-LDL spinodal lines into the glass domain. Interestingly, our simulations indicate that the PLPC−HDA(T) locus is an extension, into the glass domain, of the LPC metastability limit relative to the liquid. We discuss the effects of compression/decompression rates on the behavior of the PLDA−HDA(T), PHDA−LDA(T), PLPC−HDA(T) loci. The competition between glass polyamorphism and crystallization is also addressed. At our “fast rate,” crystallization can be partially suppressed and the glass phase diagram can be related directly with the liquid phase diagram. However, at our “slow rate,” crystallization cannot be prevented at intermediate temperatures, within the glass region. In these cases, multiple crystal-crystal transformations are found upon compression/decompression (polymorphism).
High-density correlation energy expansion of the one-dimensional uniform electron gas
Authors: Loos Pierre-François
Published: February 2013

We show that the expression of the high-density (i.e., small-rs) correlation energy per electron for the one-dimensional uniform electron gas can be obtained by conventional perturbation theory and is of the form εc(rs) = −π2/360 + 0.00845 rs + …, where rs is the average radius of an electron. Combining these new results with the low-density correlation energy expansion, we propose a local-density approximation correlation functional, which deviates by a maximum of 0.1 mhartree compared to the benchmark diffusion Monte Carlo calculations.
Resistive switching mechanisms relating to oxygen vacancies migration in both interfaces in Ti/HfOx/Pt memory devices
Authors: Lin Y. S. , Zeng F. , Tang S. G. , Liu H. Y. , Chen C. , Gao S. , Wang Y. G. , Pan F.
Published: February 2013

Resistive switching mechanism of Ti/HfOx/Pt memory devices was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy images. Spatial distributions of valence of Hf demonstrated that the fraction of Hf4+ increased from Ti/HfOx interface to HfOx/Pt interface in high resistance state (HRS), but it maintained a constant level in low resistance state (LRS). Rupture of oxygen vacancies formed conducting paths occurred near the HfOx/Pt interface. The cross sectional images of active switching region also varied with HRS and LRS. A dynamic model of interface processes was proposed to interpret interfaces migration of oxygen vacancies near both the top and bottom electrodes.
First principles study of the interface between silicone and undoped/doped BaTiO3
Authors: Pilania G. , Slenes K. , Ramprasad R.
Published: February 2013

We investigate the local electronic structure and the surface adhesion strength of a silicone-BaTiO3 (001) interface through first principles density functional theory (DFT) computations. A polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) chain was used as a representative siloxane, and the adsorption of PDMS on both undoped as well as n-type (La at Ba site) and p-type (Mn at Ti site) doped BaTiO3 (001) surfaces are considered. Our interface is modeled in a two dimensional periodical slab model framework and both the possible BaTiO3 (001) surface terminations (i.e., the BaO- and TiO2-terminations) are explicitly taken into account. Our calculations indicate that while both n-type and p-type dopants are expected to improve adhesion of silicone chains at the BaTiO3 surfaces, the n-type doping is expected to result in an interface with a clean band gap and superior effective dielectric properties. p-type doping could lead to a metallic behavior in the near-interface regions through introduction of mostly unoccupied mid-gap states. Finally, the silicone bonding induced electronic perturbation on both the doped (001) facets of BaTiO3 is analyzed using charge density redistribution analysis.