bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smart Design for Potentiometric Detection
Authors: Shishkanova Tatiana V. , Král Vladimir , Fitl Přemysl , Vrňata Martin , Matějka Pavel
Published: February 2015

This new design of potentiometric sensor involves 4‐mercaptophenylboronic acid (MPBA) evaporated onto a gold layer sputtered onto the surface of a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane based on a pH indicator. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the presence of the pH indicator in close contact with the sputtered gold layer, and the covalent fixing of MPBA molecules onto this gold layer. The changes in pH resulting from the interaction between MBPA and the model saccharide (glucose) are reflected in the changes in the membrane capacitance and the potentiometric signal. The potentiometric sensor responds over the concentration range from 0.3 to 29.7 mM glucose.
Responses of lakeshore wetlands landscape to water levels changes in Poyang Lake
Authors: Huang B.B. , Yan D.H. , Wang H.
Published: February 2015

Water level changes at Poyang Lake have great impact of the area of the lakeshore wetlands and landscape spatial pattern. Therefore, the research of the structure, rules, and driving forces for changes of the wetlands have great reference value to the management of Poyang Lake basin. This article first introduce the research methods and date source, including the definition of lakeshore hydro‐fluctuation belt, wetland classification method, interpretation method, and so on Based on remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) tools, it analyzes the yearly change rules of landscape spatial pattern and the composition characteristics of lakeshore wetlands. We analyzes the changes in landscape spatial pattern by process the RS images under equivalent water level over a long period from 1985 to 2005, and the natural, social, economic and policy driving forces were also analyzed on a basis of social economic statistics. Results indicate that there is a significant change of spatial pattern in the lakeshore wetlands landscape under an equivalent water level and human activities are the main driving forces for the changes. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 1129–1135, 2015
The Munich Eating and Feeding Disorder Questionnaire (Munich ED‐Quest) DSM‐5/ICD‐10: Validity, Reliability, Sensitivity to Change and Norms
Authors: Fichter Manfred Maximilian , Quadflieg Norbert , Gierk Benjamin , Voderholzer Ulrich , Heuser Jörg
Published: February 2015

Objective

The aim of the article is to report on the psychometric properties of a newly developed self‐rating scale (Munich Eating and Feeding Disorder Questionnaire) for the detailed assessment of eating and feeding disorders on the basis of the DSM‐5 criteria. The questionnaire aims at developing a comprehensive assessment of eating disorder symptoms suitable for severity ratings with regard to total scale and subscales, for deriving eating disorder diagnoses according to DSM‐5 and ICD‐10 and for measuring (intervention induced) changes over time.

Methods

Items were formulated by clinical experts and entered into factor analysis in two separate samples of eating‐disordered inpatients. Additionally, 47 clinical and 547 community control participants were assessed. Internal consistency and sensitivity to change over time are also reported.

Results

Three subscales were identified covering ‘preoccupation with figure and weight’, ‘bingeing and vomiting’ and ‘inappropriate compensatory behaviour’ for current and past state. Test–retest reliability for the three subscales ranged between .95 and .98 (current status). A high sensitivity to change during inpatient treatment from admission to discharge was expressed in high effect sizes; for the total score (current status) for all eating disorders, the effect size was 1.70. Effect sizes for anorexia nervosa were mostly lower than those for bulimia nervosa. Clinical and community controls obtained significantly lower scores compared with eating‐disordered patients.

Conclusion

This new DSM‐5 questionnaire shows satisfying psychometric properties and is well suited for the rating of eating disorder severity in clinical practice and research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Resuspended contaminated sediments cause sublethal stress to oysters: A biomarker differentiates total suspended solids and contaminant effects
Authors: Edge Katelyn J. , Dafforn Katherine A. , Simpson Stuart L. , Ringwood Amy H. , Johnston Emma L.
Published: February 2015

Resuspended contaminated sediments represent an important route of contaminant exposure for aquatic organisms. During resuspension events, filter-feeding organisms are exposed to contaminants, in both the dissolved form (at the gills) and the particulate form (in the digestive system). In addition, these organisms must manage the physical stress associated with an increase in total suspended solids (TSS). To date, few studies have experimentally compared the contributions to biological stress of contaminated and clean suspended solids. The authors mixed field-collected sediments (<63 μm) from clean and contaminated field sites to create 4 treatments of increasing metal concentrations. Sydney rock oysters were then exposed to sediment treatments at different TSS concentrations for 4 d, and cellular biomarkers (lysosomal membrane stability, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione) were measured to evaluate sublethal toxicity. Lysosomal membrane stability was the most sensitive biomarker for distinguishing effects from resuspended contaminated sediments, as increasing amounts of contaminated TSS increased lysosomal membrane destabilization. The authors' results illustrate the importance of considering contaminant exposures from resuspended sediments when assessing the toxicity of contaminants to aquatic organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1345–1353. © 2015 SETAC
On the ergodic secrecy capacity and secrecy outage probability of the MIMOME Rayleigh wiretap channel
Authors: Guerreiro Andre Saito , Fraidenraich Gustavo , Souza Richard Demo
Published: February 2015

In this paper, we study the multiple‐input multiple‐output multiple‐eavesdropper wiretap channel in the nonergodic and ergodic scenarios, both with stationary Rayleigh distributed fading channels. For the ergodic scenario, we derive a new closed‐form expression for the ergodic secrecy capacity with full channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT) of the main and the eavesdropper channels, allowing the covariance matrix to be time‐varying. A lower bound for the ergodic capacity with full CSIT, in which the covariance matrix is fixed for the entire transmission period is also derived. The first expression is restricted to the high signal‐to‐nose ratio (SNR) limit, with nt transmit antennas, nr receive antennas
and ne=nt eavesdropper antennas (nt×nr×nt setup). The second expression is restricted to the nt×nt×nt antenna setup. For the nonergodic scenario, we derive a new closed‐form expression for the secrecy outage probability in the high SNR limit, in a 2 × nr×2 setup with
. We are also able to calculate an upper bound for the secrecy outage probability in other antenna setups. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A simple hybrid finite volume solver for compressible turbulence
Authors: Chakravarthy V. Kalyana , Arora K. , Chakraborty D.
Published: February 2015

A simple, explicit, hybrid finite volume method for simulating compressible turbulence is developed by combining a fourth‐order central scheme and a shock‐capturing simple low‐dissipation advection upstream splitting method. The total flux on each of the cell faces is computed as a weighted average of central/nondissipative and upwind/dissipative fluxes. The weights are determined using an unphysical oscillation sensor in addition to a more traditional discontinuity sensor used in earlier studies. Shocks are well captured, but overshoots in density are predicted around contact discontinuities that are normal to the flow. The use of the latter sensor effectively prevents these overshoots from generating spurious oscillations that travel away from the contact lines. The efficacy of the proposed method for direct or large‐eddy simulations of supersonic turbulence is established using several canonical test problems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An improved near‐wall modeling for large‐eddy simulation using immersed boundary methods
Authors: Kang Seokkoo
Published: February 2015

An improved near‐wall modeling for large‐eddy simulation using the immersed boundary method is proposed. It is shown in this study that the existing near‐wall modeling for the immersed boundary (IB) methods that imposes the velocity boundary condition at the IB node is not sufficient to enforce a correct wall shear stress at the IB node. A new method that imposes a shear stress condition through the modification of the subgrid scale‐eddy viscosity at the IB node is proposed. In this method, the subgrid eddy viscosity at the IB node is modified such that the viscous flux at the face adjacent to the IB node correctly approximates the total shear stress. The method is applied to simulate the fully developed turbulent flows in a plane channel and a circular pipe. It is demonstrated that the new method improves the prediction of the mean velocity and turbulence stresses in comparison with the existing wall modeling based solely on the velocity boundary condition. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Fabrication Conditions on the Crystallinity, Barium Deficiency, and Conductivity of BaZr0.8Y0.2O3–δ Films Grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition
Authors: Bae H. , Lee Y. , Kim K. J. , Choi G. M.
Published: February 2015

Yttrium‐doped barium zirconate (BZY) thin films were deposited on MgO and sapphire substrates using a pulsed‐laser deposition (PLD) method with varying deposition rates. The films deposited with a low deposition rate exhibited highly oriented microstructures with little grain boundaries. The electrical conductivities of these films were higher than those of the films, deposited with high deposition rates, which showed little‐oriented polycrystalline microstructure. While the films deposited on the MgO substrates had a stoichiometric composition, those deposited on the sapphire substrates had a high barium deficiency, which was possibly due to the differences in the crystal structure and large lattice mismatch between the sapphire substrate and the BZY film. The electrical conductivity of the highly oriented BZY film, grown on MgO substrate with a low deposition rate, showed little barium deficiency and the highest conductivity value that is higher than the typical conductivity of sintered pellets.
Humidity and Temperature Cycling Effects on Cracks and Delaminations in PEMFCs
Authors: Banan R. , Zu J. , Bazylak A.
Published: February 2015

Temperature and relative humidity (hygrothermal) cycles during PEM fuel cell operation can lead to the introduction and exacerbation of micro‐scale mechanical defects. We developed a two‐dimensional finite element model based on cohesive zone theory to describe the delamination propagation at the cathodic membrane/catalyst layer interface due to temperature and hygrothermal duty cycles. Particularly, the effects of hygrothermal cycle amplitudes, relative humidity (RH) distribution profiles, and gas flow channel position were studied. It was found that doubling the hygrothermal cycle amplitude resulted in a 6‐fold increase in fatigue stresses, and a defect length growth to 0,1 mm before reaching the end of the fuel cell life (40,000 cycles). A counter intuitive result was also observed, whereby a crack located within the membrane was found to grow faster than a delamination located at the catalyst layer/membrane interface. When introducing an anode/cathode channel offset, a 2‐fold increase in the rate of delamination propagation was found compared to the case with the aligned anode and cathode channels.
LEAP: Biomarker Inference Through Learning and Evaluating Association Patterns
Authors: Jiang Xia , Neapolitan Richard E.
Published: February 2015

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) high‐dimensional datasets are available from Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Such data provide researchers opportunities to investigate the complex genetic basis of diseases. Much of genetic risk might be due to undiscovered epistatic interactions, which are interactions in which combination of several genes affect disease. Research aimed at discovering interacting SNPs from GWAS datasets proceeded in two directions. First, tools were developed to evaluate candidate interactions. Second, algorithms were developed to search over the space of candidate interactions. Another problem when learning interacting SNPs, which has not received much attention, is evaluating how likely it is that the learned SNPs are associated with the disease. A complete system should provide this information as well. We develop such a system. Our system, called LEAP, includes a new heuristic search algorithm for learning interacting SNPs, and a Bayesian network based algorithm for computing the probability of their association. We evaluated the performance of LEAP using 100 1,000‐SNP simulated datasets, each of which contains 15 SNPs involved in interactions. When learning interacting SNPs from these datasets, LEAP outperformed seven others methods. Furthermore, only SNPs involved in interactions were found to be probable. We also used LEAP to analyze real Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer GWAS datasets. We obtained interesting and new results from the Alzheimer's dataset, but limited results from the breast cancer dataset. We conclude that our results support that LEAP is a useful tool for extracting candidate interacting SNPs from high‐dimensional datasets and determining their probability.
Do High Consumers of Sugar‐Sweetened Beverages Respond Differently to Price Changes? A Finite Mixture IV‐Tobit Approach
Authors: Etilé Fabrice , Sharma Anurag
Published: February 2015

This study compares the impact of sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSBs) tax between moderate and high consumers in Australia. The key methodological contribution is that price response heterogeneity is identified while controlling for censoring of consumption at zero and endogeneity of expenditure by using a finite mixture instrumental variable Tobit model. The SSB price elasticity estimates show a decreasing trend across increasing consumption quantiles, from −2.3 at the median to −0.2 at the 95th quantile. Although high consumers of SSBs have a less elastic demand for SSBs, their very high consumption levels imply that a tax would achieve higher reduction in consumption and higher health gains. Our results also suggest that an SSB tax would represent a small fiscal burden for consumers whatever their pre‐policy level of consumption, and that an excise tax should be preferred to an ad valorem tax. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cost‐effectiveness of hepatitis C treatment for patients in early stages of liver disease
Authors: Leidner Andrew J. , Chesson Harrell W. , Xu Fujie , Ward John W. , Spradling Philip R. , Holmberg Scott D.
Published: February 2015

New treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV) may be highly effective but are associated with substantial costs that may compel clinicians and patients to consider delaying treatment. This study investigated the cost‐effectiveness of these treatments with a focus on patients in early stages of liver disease. We developed a state‐transition (or Markov) model to calculate costs incurred and quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs) gained following HCV treatment, and we computed incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (cost per QALY gained, in 2012 US dollars) for treatment at different stages of liver disease versus delaying treatment until the subsequent liver disease stage. Our analysis did not include the potential treatment benefits associated with reduced non–liver‐related mortality or preventing HCV transmission. All parameter values, particularly treatment cost, were varied in sensitivity analyses. The base case scenario represented a 55‐year‐old patient with genotype 1 HCV infection with a treatment cost of $100,000 and treatment effectiveness of 90%. In this scenario, for a 55‐year‐old patient with moderate liver fibrosis (Metavir stage F2), the cost‐effectiveness of immediately initiating treatment at F2 (versus delaying treatment until F3) was $37,300/QALY. For patients immediately treated at F0 (versus delaying treatment until F1), the threshold of treatment costs that yielded $50,000/QALY and $100,000/QALY cost‐effectiveness ratios were $22,200 and $42,400, respectively. Conclusion: Immediate treatment of HCV‐infected patients with moderate and advanced fibrosis appears to be cost‐effective, and immediate treatment of patients with minimal or no fibrosis can be cost‐effective as well, particularly when lower treatment costs are assumed. (Hepatology 2015;61:1860–1869)
Complications and competing risks of death in compensated viral cirrhosis (ANRS CO12 CirVir prospective cohort)
Authors: Trinchet Jean‐Claude , Bourcier Valérie , Chaffaut Cendrine , Ait Ahmed Mohand , Allam Setty , Marcellin Patrick , Guyader Dominique , Pol Stanislas , Larrey Dominique , De Lédinghen Victor , Ouzan Denis , Zoulim Fabien , Roulot Dominique , Tran Albert , Bronowicki Jean‐Pierre , Zarski Jean‐Pierre , Goria Odile , Calès Paul , Péron Jean‐Marie , Alric Laurent , Bourlière Marc , Mathurin Philippe , Blanc Jean‐Frédéric , Abergel Armand , Serfaty Lawrence , Mallat Ariane , Grangé Jean‐Didier , Buffet Catherine , Bacq Yannick , Wartelle Claire , Dao Thông , Benhamou Yves , Pilette Christophe , Silvain Christine , Christidis Christos , Capron Dominique , Thiefin Gérard , Hillaire Sophie , Di Martino Vincent , Nahon Pierre , Chevret Sylvie ,   and the ANRS CO12 CirVir Group
Published: February 2015

Various critical events, liver related or not, occur in patients with compensated cirrhosis, but their respective burden remains to be prospectively assessed. The aim of this prospective cohort study involving 35 French centers was to capture the whole spectrum of complications occurring in compensated viral cirrhosis (VC) using competing risks analyses. Inclusion criteria were: histologically proven cirrhosis resulting from hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV); Child‐Pugh A; and no previous hepatic complications. The cohort was considered as a multistate disease model, cumulative incidences (CumIs) of events were estimated in a competing risks framework. A total of 1,654 patients were enrolled from 2006 to 2012 (HCV, 1,308; HBV, 315; HCV‐HBV, 31). During a median follow‐up of 34 months, at least one liver nodule was detected in 271 patients, confirmed as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 128 (4‐year cumI: 10.5%) and cholangiocarcinoma in 3. HCC incidence was higher in HCV (4‐year cumI: 11.4% vs. 7.4%; P = 0.05). HCC fulfilled Milan criteria in 79.3%, leading to curative treatment in 70.4%. Liver decompensation occurred more frequently in HCV patients (4‐year cumI: 10.8% vs. 3.6%; P = 0.0004). Virological eradication/control was achieved in 34.1% of HCV and 88.6% of HBV patients and was associated with a marked decrease in HCC, decompensation, and bacterial infection incidences. Survival was shorter in HCV patients (4‐year cumI: 91.6% vs. 97.2%; P = 0.0002). Death (n = 102; missing data: 6) was attributed to liver disease in 48 (47%; liver cancer: n = 18; miscellaneous, n = 30) and extrahepatic causes in 48 (47%; bacterial infection: n = 13; extrahepatic cancers: n = 10; cardiovascular events: n = 5; miscellaneous, n = 20). Conclusion: After 3 years of follow‐up, extrahepatic events still explained half of deaths in patients with compensated VC. A strong decrease in complications was linked to virological eradication/control. (Hepatology 2015;62:737–750)
The role of hepatic resection in the treatment of hepatocellular cancer
Authors: Roayaie Sasan , Jibara Ghalib , Tabrizian Parissa , Park Joong‐Won , Yang Jijin , Yan Lunan , Schwartz Myron , Han Guohong , Izzo Francesco , Chen Mishan , Blanc Jean‐Frédéric , Johnson Philip , Kudo Masatoshi , Roberts Lewis R. , Sherman Morris
Published: February 2015

Current guidelines recommend surgical resection as the primary treatment for a single hepatocellular cancer (HCC) with Child's A cirrhosis, normal serum bilirubin, and no clinically significant portal hypertension. We determined how frequently guidelines were followed and whether straying from them impacted survival. BRIDGE is a multiregional cohort study including HCC patients diagnosed between January 1, 2005 and June 30, 2011. A total of 8,656 patients from 20 sites were classified into four groups: (A) 718 ideal resection candidates who were resected; (B) 144 ideal resection candidates who were not resected; (C) 1,624 nonideal resection candidates who were resected; and (D) 6,170 nonideal resection candidates who were not resected. Median follow‐up was 27 months. Log‐rank and Cox's regression analyses were conducted to determine differences between groups and variables associated with survival. Multivariate analysis of all ideal candidates for resection (A+B) revealed a higher risk of mortality with treatments other than resection. For all resected patients (A+C), portal hypertension and bilirubin >1 mg/dL were not associated with mortality. For all patients who were not ideal candidates for resection (C+D), resection was associated with better survival, compared to embolization and “other” treatments, but was inferior to ablation and transplantation. Conclusions: The majority of patients undergoing resection would not be considered ideal candidates based on current guidelines. Not resecting ideal candidates was associated with higher mortality. The study suggests that selection criteria for resection may be modestly expanded without compromising outcomes, and that some nonideal candidates may still potentially benefit from resection over other treatment modalities. (Hepatology 2015;62:440–451
The significance of nonobstructive sinusoidal dilatation of the liver: Impaired portal perfusion or inflammatory reaction syndrome
Authors: Marzano Chiara , Cazals‐Hatem Dominique , Rautou Pierre‐Emmanuel , Valla Dominique‐Charles
Published: February 2015

Sinusoidal dilatation found in the absence of an impaired sinusoidal blood outflow has been so far of unclear significance. Sinusoidal dilatation may actually be a nonspecific feature of impaired portal venous blood inflow, whatever the cause, or a feature of severe systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome, whatever the cause. Sinusoidal dilatation is mainly located in the centrilobular area even in the absence of an outflow block. A predominantly periportal location is specifically found in oral contraceptive users, associated with an inflammatory condition. There is strong evidence for the association of sinusoidal dilatation and oxaliplatin‐based chemotherapy but not for estroprogestative steroids or thiopurine derivatives. Exposure to anabolic androgen steroids appears to cause sinusoidal changes different from a mere sinusoidal dilatation. Conclusion: There is evidence of activation of the interleukin‐6 and vascular endothelial growth factor pathways in sinusoidal dilatation, but the mechanisms linking the activation of these pathways with the microvascular changes must be identified. (Hepatology 2015;62:956–963)
Improvement of predictive models of risk of disease progression in chronic hepatitis C by incorporating longitudinal data
Authors: Konerman Monica A. , Zhang Yiwei , Zhu Ji , Higgins Peter D.R. , Lok Anna S.F. , Waljee Akbar K.
Published: February 2015

Existing predictive models of risk of disease progression in chronic hepatitis C have limited accuracy. The aim of this study was to improve upon existing models by applying novel statistical methods that incorporate longitudinal data. Patients in the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long‐term Treatment Against Cirrhosis trial were analyzed. Outcomes of interest were (1) fibrosis progression (increase of two or more Ishak stages) and (2) liver‐related clinical outcomes (liver‐related death, hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplant, or increase in Child‐Turcotte‐Pugh score to ≥7). Predictors included longitudinal clinical, laboratory, and histologic data. Models were constructed using logistic regression and two machine learning methods (random forest and boosting) to predict an outcome in the next 12 months. The control arm was used as the training data set (n = 349 clinical, n = 184 fibrosis) and the interferon arm, for internal validation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for longitudinal models of fibrosis progression was 0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74‐0.83) using logistic regression, 0.79 (95% CI 0.77‐0.81) using random forest, and 0.79 (95% CI 0.77‐0.82) using boosting. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for longitudinal models of clinical progression was 0.79 (95% CI 0.77‐0.82) using logistic regression, 0.86 (95% CI 0.85‐0.87) using random forest, and 0.84 (95% CI 0.82‐0.86) using boosting. Longitudinal models outperformed baseline models for both outcomes (P < 0.0001). Longitudinal machine learning models had negative predictive values of 94% for both outcomes. Conclusions: Prediction models that incorporate longitudinal data can capture nonlinear disease progression in chronic hepatitis C and thus outperform baseline models. Machine learning methods can capture complex relationships between predictors and outcomes, yielding more accurate predictions; our models can help target costly therapies to patients with the most urgent need, guide the intensity of clinical monitoring required, and provide prognostic information to patients. (Hepatology 2015;61:1832–1841)
Two New Triterpenoid Saponins from Stauntonia obovatifoliolaHayata ssp. intermedia
Authors: Lu Xu‐Ran , Wang Xiao‐Min , Wang Zhi‐Min , Chen Xiao‐Qing , Wang Man‐Yuan , Gong Mu‐Xin
Published: February 2015

Two new hederagenin‐type saponins, staunoside G (1) and staunoside H (2), along with twelve known triterpenoid saponins, were isolated from stems of Stauntonia obovatifoliola Hayata ssp. intermedia. Their structures were determined by analysis of HR‐EI‐MS, and 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR data, and comparison with those in literature. The two new compounds showed moderate cytotoxicities against three tumor cells, i.e., A549 (lung carcinoma), 4T1 (mammary carcinoma), and HeLa (cervical carcinoma).
Synthesis of Aib‐ and Phe(2Me)‐Containing Cyclopentapeptides
Authors: Arnhold Franziska S. , Linden Anthony , Heimgartner Heinz
Published: February 2015

Some recently described pentapeptides containing the α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids Aib and Phe(2Me) have been cyclized in DMF solution using diphenyl phosphorazidate (DPPA), O‐(1H‐benzotriazol‐1‐yl)‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetamethyluronium tetrafluoroborate/1‐hydroxybenzotriazole (TBTU/HOBt), and diethyl phosphorocyanidate (DEPC), respectively, to give the corresponding cyclopentapeptides in fair‐to‐good yields. In the case of peptides with L‐amino acids, and (R)‐ and (S)‐Phe(2Me), the yields differed significantly in favor of the L/(R) combination. The conformations in the crystals of cyclo(Gly‐Aib‐(R,S)‐Phe(2Me)‐Aib‐Gly) and cyclo(Gly‐(R)‐Phe(2Me)‐Pro‐Aib‐Gly) have been determined by X‐ray crystallography, leading to quite different results. In the latter case, the conformation in solution has been elucidated by NMR studies.
Bedload yields for sand‐bed streams in the Ngarradj Creek catchment, Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Erskine Wayne D. , Saynor Mike J.
Published: February 2015

Bedload yields were calculated by 39 methods at the East Tributary gauge, nine methods at Upper Swift Creek gauge and 11 methods at Swift Creek gauge in the Ngarradj Creek catchment in northern Australia. These methods involved combining various significant bedload rating curves determined for a measured bedload data set for a 4‐year period with either the hourly or daily hydrographs or flow duration curves for the same period, 1 September 1998 to 31 August 2002. Bedload ratings were both statistically significant (ρ ≤ 0.05) and explained at least 60% of the variance in bedload flux. Bias corrections were used with all methods based on log10‐transformed ratings. Estimated mean annual bedload yields varied by three orders of magnitude at the East Tributary gauge and by two orders of magnitude at Upper Swift Creek and Swift Creek gauges. Hourly discharges usually produced higher estimated yields than daily discharges. The bedload rating‐flow duration curve technique overestimates yields and bias correction methods always produce even higher yields. Ratings using both immersed bedload weight and adjusted immersed bedload weight always under‐predicted yields because they contain an implicit threshold of motion condition that is at least four times greater than that predicted by Bagnold's threshold equation. Such a result questions the applicability of Bagnold's threshold equation to the Ngarradj Creek catchment. The best estimates of mean annual bedload yield at East Tributary, Upper Swift Creek and Swift Creek gauges are 600 ± 170 (SE), 1065 ± 150 and 1795 ± 270 t/year, respectively. © 2015 Commonwealth of Australia. Hydrological Processes © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Serglycin is part of the secretory repertoire of LPS‐activated monocytes
Authors: Kolseth Ingrid Benedicte M. , Reine Trine Marita , Vuong Tram Thu , Meen Astri Jeanette , Fan Qiong , Jenssen Trond Geir , Grønning‐Wang Line Mariann , Kolset Svein Olav
Published: February 2015

Monocytes play multiple roles in the immune system, and are active in both acute and chronic diseases. Patients exposed to bacterial infections depend on monocytes in defense reactions, but excessive immune reactions may also cause morbidity through systemic inflammatory responses. Few studies have addressed the importance of proteoglycans, and in particular, the hematopoietic serglycin, in such monocyte immune reactions. Adherent primary monocytes were cultured in absence and presence of LPS. Media were analyzed by ELISA for detection of serglycin. Lysed cell fractions were used to determine the mRNA level of serglycin. Monocytes were also cultured on chamber slides to investigate if serglycin could be detected intracellularly by immunocytochemistry. Monocytes secreted serglycin, and LPS‐stimulation increased the secretion. Secretion of inflammatory cytokines increased to a larger extent than serglycin. mRNA levels of serglycin were also increased, suggesting both increased expression and secretion. Immunocytochemistry revealed the presence of serglycin in intracellular vesicles, many destined for secretion. Serglycin containing vesicles increased in number and size when the cells were exposed to LPS. Intracellular vesicle localization and secretion of the proteoglycan serglycin is shown for the first time in primary human monocytes. Monocyte activation by LPS increased the expression and secretion of serglycin, suggesting roles for serglycin in inflammatory processes.
Comparative study of RSV rescue from RSV‐transformed mammalian cells
Authors: Svoboda J. , Machala O. , Donner L. , Sovová V.
Published: February 2015

All individual heterokaryons obtained by fusion of cells of the five different mammalian RSV‐transformed virogenic cells with indicator chicken fibroblasts produced infectious RSV. In contrast, non‐virogenic mammalian cells derived from tumours which arose in mice injected with RSV did not give rise to infectious RSV, even when fused with chicken fibroblasts preinfected with three different “helper viruses”.

Fusion of four lines of virogenic cells with mammalian fibroblasts as well as of virogenic Chinese hamster cells with chicken liver, mesonephros, thymus and macrophage cells did not lead to the formation of detectable RSV or RSV coat antigen. Similarly, experiments on complementation by mutual fusion of virogenic cells in five different crosses were negative. The presence of a “natural” Gs antigen in the indicator cells is not necessary for RSV rescue because the fusion of cells derived from Gs negative chicken and duck embryos with virogenic cells leads to the formation of infectious RSV.

The results are discussed in relation to the specificity of the cells participating in the induction of RSV formation by cell fusion.
Cellular immunity to renal carcinomas in man
Authors: Bubeník J. , Jakoubková J. , Krákora P. , Barešová M. , Helbich P. , Viklický V. , Malasková V.
Published: February 2015

A microassay in disposable tissue‐culture plates was used to demonstrate a cell‐mediated immune response against human renal adenocarcinomas. Leukocytes from 12 of the 19 patients with renal carcinoma were cytotoxic for autochthonous and allogeneic renal carcinoma cells in vitro. No reproducible cytotoxic effects were produced by leukocyte suspensions from patients with pulmonary or mammary carcinoma, or by leukocytes from healthy and non‐neoplastic control subjects. No cytotoxicity was observed when cells of unrelated tumours, mesothelioma and urinary bladder carcinoma were used as target cells for leukocytes from a patient who reacted positively against autochthonous renal carcinoma cells. The results indicate that human renal adenocarcinomas possess tumour‐associated antigens which cross‐react with each other. Cytological and electron microscopic characteristics of cultivated renal carcinoma cells are described.
CD4+T cells in chronic autoantigenic stimulation in MGUS, multiple myeloma and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia
Authors: Neumann Frank , Pfreundschuh Michael , Preuss Klaus D. , Schormann Claudia , Zwick Carsten , Murawski Niels , Kubuschok Boris
Published: February 2015

Hyperphosphorylated paratarg‐7 (pP‐7) carrier state is the strongest and most frequent molecular risk factor for MGUS, multiple myeloma (MM) and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), inherited autosomal‐dominantly and, depending on the ethnic background, found in up to one third of patients with MGUS/MM. Since P‐7 is the antigenic target of paraproteins that do not distinguish between wtP‐7 and pP‐7, we investigated CD4+ T‐cell responses in pP‐7+ patients and controls. Peptides spanning amino acids 1–35 or 4–31 containing phosphorylated or nonphosphorylated serine17 were used for stimulation. CD4+ cells from 9/14 patients (65%) showed a pP‐7 specific HLA‐DR restricted response. These results demonstrate that pP‐7 specific CD4+ cells can mediate help for pP‐7 specific chronic antigenic stimulation of P‐7 specific B cells, which might ultimately result in the clonal evolution of a B cell into MGUS/MM/WM producing a P‐7 specific paraprotein. Prerequisites for pP‐7 specific stimulation of CD4+ cells appear to be both a pP‐7 carrier state and an HLA‐DR subtype able to present and recognize pP‐7. Our results serve as an explanation for the exclusive autoimmunogenicity of the hyperphosphorylated variant of P‐7 and for the different hazard ratios of pP‐7 carriers from different ethnic origins to develop MGUS/MM/WM.
Dietary and biomarker estimates of fatty acids and risk of colorectal cancer
Authors: Hodge Allison M. , Williamson Elizabeth J. , Bassett Julie K. , MacInnis Robert J. , Giles Graham G. , English Dallas R.
Published: February 2015

The associations between intake of or circulating fatty acids and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear. We examined prospectively the associations between dietary or biomarker fatty acids and CRC. For 41,514 men and women, aged 40–69 years, baseline (1990–94) dietary intakes of fatty acids were estimated using a food frequency questionnaire and plasma phospholipid (PPL) fatty acids were measured for 4,205 participants including 395 CRC cases, according to a case‐cohort design. Hazard ratios were computed using Cox regression adjusting for education, alcohol intake, smoking status, physical activity and total energy intake; and stratified for gender, ethnicity and family history of cancer, with age as the time scale. We assessed the heterogeneity of associations with colon and rectal cancers. PPL saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were positively associated with CRC risk, while total n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and long chain marine n‐3 PUFAs showed inverse associations, significant only for 22:5 n‐3. No significant associations were observed for dietary fatty acid intakes but positive associations with CRC of borderline significance were seen for both dietary and PPL linoleic acid. Positive associations with dietary palmitic acid (16:0), MUFAs and n‐6 PUFAs were seen for rectal but not colon cancers. PPL 22:6 n‐3 was inversely associated with rectal cancer. Limiting intakes of SFAs and MUFAs could be assisted by following existing guidelines to limit red and processed meats which are important sources in the Australian diet. Our observations regarding linoleic acid should be examined further.
The influence of family context on life, educational and occupational ideal among middle school students in China
Authors: Yao Benxian , Zhang Ling , Zhen Rui , Zhou Xiao
Published: February 2015

This study examined the relationship between family context of middle school students on their educational and occupational ideals. Middle school students (N = 2000) responded to questions assessing family location, family structure, parental educational level and family economic status, as well as to the Middle School Students' Ideals Questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated that life, educational and occupational ideals of female students and students in lower grades were higher than that of male students and students in higher grades. Regression analysis indicated that paternal education level have a positive association with educational and occupational ideals, but not life ideals, and family economic status have a positive relation to life ideals, but not educational and occupational ideals. Moreover, the interaction between family economic status and family location has a negative association with students' life, educational and occupational ideals. These results suggest that different factors predicted different ideals of adolescents, and that family economic status had a negative moderating effect on the relationship between family location and ideals of students.
Positive weighing of the other's collective narrative among Jewish and Bedouin‐Palestinian teachers in Israel and its correlates
Authors: Lazar Alon , Braun‐Lewensohn Orna , Litvak Hirsch Tal
Published: February 2015

Teachers play a pivotal role in the educational discourse around collective narratives, and especially the other's narrative. The study assumed that members of groups entangled in a conflict approach the different modules of the other's narrative distinctively. Jewish and Palestinian teachers, Israeli citizens, answered questionnaires dealing with the narrative of the other, readiness for interethnic contact, negative between‐group emotions and preferences for resolutions of the Israeli–Palestinian (I–P) conflict. Positive weighing of the other's narrative among Jewish teachers correlated with high levels of readiness for interethnic contact and low levels of negative between‐group emotions, across the various modules of the Palestinian narrative. Preferences for a peaceful resolution of the I–P conflict and rejection of a violent one were noted in two of the modules. Among Palestinian teachers, positive weighing of the other's collective narrative was exclusively noted for the Israeli narrative of the Holocaust, and this stance negatively related to negative between‐group emotions and preference for a violent solution of the I–P conflict, and positively related to readiness for interethnic contact and preference of a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Practical implications of these findings for peace education are discussed.
Parameterization and Field Validation of Saltmed Model for Grain Amaranth Tested in South Italy
Authors: Pulvento C. , Riccardi M. , Lavini A. , D'Andria R. , Ragab R.
Published: February 2015

Grain amaranth is an underutilized Andean crop characterized by interesting agronomic and qualitative traits and could represent an important food source in areas with salinity and drought problems like the Mediterranean region. Knowledge of crop growth parameters allows us to parameterize simulation models that are useful tools to study the adaptability of a crop to different environmental and management conditions. In this study, the SALTMED model has been parameterized, calibrated and evaluated for grain amaranth under Mediterranean conditions, with data from a field trial conducted during 2009–2010 in South Italy. The model evaluation was made using seed yield, dry matter and soil moisture data of amaranth irrigated with saline and fresh water. The simulation results showed a high degree of precision of SALTMED in the simulation of the hydrological processes at different soil depths, crop yield and dry matter under different agricultural practices. SALTMED can be used as a useful tool to optimize grain amaranth production in the Mediterranean region. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing Amaranth Adaptability in a Mediterranean Area of South Italy under Different Climatic Scenarios
Authors: Pulvento C. , Lavini A. , Riccardi M. , d'Andria R. , Ragab R.
Published: February 2015

The aim of the present work was to study the adaptability of amaranth in a typical Mediterranean environment of South Italy under changing climate scenarios. In a first stage, experimental data from a field trial conducted during 2009–2010 on the Volturno River Plain (Italy) with grain amaranth grown under different irrigation strategies, were used to define the thermal requirements and the yield response function to soil water availability of amaranth. The observed soil moisture data were used to calculate the relative soil water deficit (RSWD) index and seed yield data were expressed as relative yield (Yr). Yr and RSWD calculated data were then graphically correlated to obtain the amaranth yield response function to soil water availability. In a second stage the SALTMED model was used to simulate impacts of present, past and future climate scenarios on amaranth growth cycle and yield. Climate‐change scenarios (Special Report on Emission Scenarios A1B, A2 and B1) data, used as input in the model, were derived from six global circulation models using a weather generator.

The results showed that in a changing climate, temperature affects the relative duration of the growth cycle and could be a critical determinant of grain yield. The use of supplemental irrigations could allow the amaranth to guarantee a high seed yield under Mediterranean conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Do mirrors facilitate acquisition of motor imitation in children diagnosed with autism?
Authors: Miller Scott A. , Rodriguez Nicole M. , Rourke Ami J.
Published: February 2015

We evaluated the efficacy of a procedure that incorporated a mirror to teach gross motor imitation with a 2‐year‐old boy who had been diagnosed with autistic disorder. Responses taught with a mirror were acquired more quickly than responses taught without the mirror and were maintained after the mirror was removed. These data indicate that a mirror can facilitate acquisition of motor imitation.
Bayesian Graphical Models for STructural Vector Autoregressive Processes
Authors: Ahelegbey Daniel Felix , Billio Monica , Casarin Roberto
Published: February 2015

This paper proposes a Bayesian, graph‐based approach to identification in vector autoregressive (VAR) models. In our Bayesian graphical VAR (BGVAR) model, the contemporaneous and temporal causal structures of the structural VAR model are represented by two different graphs. We also provide an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to estimate jointly the two causal structures and the parameters of the reduced‐form VAR model. The BGVAR approach is shown to be quite effective in dealing with model identification and selection in multivariate time series of moderate dimension, as those considered in the economic literature. In the macroeconomic application the BGVAR identifies the relevant structural relationships among 20 US economic variables, thus providing a useful tool for policy analysis. The financial application contributes to the recent econometric literature on financial interconnectedness. The BGVAR approach provides evidence of a strong unidirectional linkage from financial to non‐financial super‐sectors during the 2007–2009 financial crisis and a strong bidirectional linkage between the two sectors during the 2010–2013 European sovereign debt crisis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bone formation by human umbilical cord perivascular cells
Authors: Kajiyama Sohtaro , Ujiie Yuko , Nishikawa Sumio , Inoue Kohji , Shirakawa Satoshi , Hanada Nobuhiro , Liddell Robert , Davies John E. , Gomi Kasuhiro
Published: February 2015

We investigated the possibility of employing human umbilical perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) within the context of finding an alternative source of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) for bone tissue engineering. Since it has previously been reported that conditioned medium (CM) from osteogenic bone marrow (BM) MSCs can potentiate osteogenic differentiation in a secondary cell population, we also employed BM‐MSCs to generate CM to stimulate osteogenesis in the HUCPVCs. The BM‐MSCs were a commercially available immortalized human cell line. In vitro assays showed negligible levels of osteogenic gene expression in HUCPVCs compared to BM‐MSC, but alkaline phosphatase was detected when HUCPVC were cultured in osteogenic medium in the presence of CM from BM‐MSC. An in vivo assay employing a rat calvarial osteotomy defect, together with a collagen sponge scaffold, showed that HUCPVCs provided statistically significant bony repair compared to controls. BM‐MSC loaded scaffolds were not statistically different from either controls or HUCPVCs. The addition of BM‐MSC CM to HUCPVCs also produced no statistically significant difference to the bone formed by HUCPVCs alone. Our results demonstrate that the in vitro assays employed did not predict in vivo outcomes, and that the BM‐MSC cell line employed, or CM from such cells, provided no osteogenic advantage over the use of HUCPVCs alone. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 2807–2814, 2015.
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a polylactic acid‐bioactive glass composite for bone fixation devices
Authors: Vergnol Gwenaelle , Ginsac Nathalie , Rivory Pascaline , Meille Sylvain , Chenal Jean‐Marc , Balvay Sandra , Chevalier Jérôme , Hartmann Daniel J.
Published: February 2015

Poly(lactic acid) is nowadays among the most used bioabsorbable materials for medical devices. To promote bone growth on the material surface and increase the degradation rate of the polymer, research is currently focused on organic–inorganic composites by adding a bioactive mineral to the polymer matrix. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of a poly(l,dl‐lactide)‐Bioglass® (P(l,dl)LA‐Bioglass® 45S5) composite to be used as a bone fixation device. In vitro cell viability testing of P(l,dl)LA based composites containing different amounts of Bioglass® 45S5 particles was investigated. According to the degradation rate of the P(l,dl)LA matrix and the cytocompatibility experiments, the composite with 30 wt % of Bioglass® particles seemed to be the best candidate for further investigation. To study its behavior after immersion in simulated physiological conditions, the degradation of the composite was analyzed by measuring its weight loss and mechanical properties and by proceeding with X‐ray tomography. We demonstrated that the presence of the bioactive glass significantly accelerated the in vitro degradation of the polymer. A preliminary in vivo investigation on rabbits shows that the addition of 30 wt % of Bioglass® in the P(L,DL)LA matrix seems to trigger bone osseointegration especially during the first month of implantation. This composite has thus strong potential interest for health applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 180–191, 2016.