bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metal–Organic Frameworks M‐MOF‐74 and M‐MIL‐100: Comparison of Textural, Acidic, and Catalytic Properties
Authors: Palomino Cabello Carlos , Gómez‐Pozuelo Gema , Opanasenko Maksym , Nachtigall Petr , Čejka Jiří
Published: May 2016

The impact of the metal nature and framework type on the textural, acidic, and catalytic properties of M‐MOF‐74 (M=Co, Cu, Mg, Ni) and M‐MIL‐100 (M=Al, Cr, Sc, V) materials was evaluated. Both metal–organic framework (MOF) families showed 100 % selectivity to the tetrahydropyranyl ether for all alcohols (methanol, 1‐propanol, 1‐octanol, 2‐adamantanol, 1‐octadecanol) applied. Independently of the metal employed in the synthesis of M‐MOF‐74, the conversions were lower than those obtained with M‐MIL‐100. This result can be attributed to the combination of superior textural properties, accessibility, and strength of open metal sites in M‐MIL‐100 that improve the accessibility/diffusion of reactant and products. The variation of the size and shape of the alcohols on the activity and selectivity showed that the yield of tetrahydropyranyl ether decreased with increase of the alcohol size (methanol<1‐propanol<1‐octanol<2‐adamantanol<1‐octadecanol). The best catalytic results were achieved with V‐MIL‐100, and were even maintained after several cycles; this could be related to the superior polarizing power of V‐containing units, which enhanced the activation of 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran and, consequently, the yield of the target ether.
Titania Composites with 2 D Transition Metal Carbides as Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production under Visible‐Light Irradiation
Authors: Wang Hui , Peng Rui , Hood Zachary D. , Naguib Michael , Adhikari Shiba P. , Wu Zili
Published: May 2016

MXenes, a family of two‐dimensional transition‐metal carbides, were successfully demonstrated as co‐catalysts with rutile TiO2 for visible‐light‐induced solar hydrogen production from water splitting. The physicochemical properties of Ti3C2Tx MXene coupled with TiO2 were investigated by a variety of characterization techniques. The effect of the Ti3C2Tx loading on the photocatalytic performance of the TiO2/Ti3C2Tx composites was elucidated. With an optimized Ti3C2Tx content of 5 wt %, the TiO2/Ti3C2Tx composite shows a 400 % enhancement in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction compared with that of pure rutile TiO2. We also expanded our exploration to other MXenes (Nb2CTx and Ti2CTx) as co‐catalysts coupled with TiO2, and these materials also exhibited enhanced hydrogen production. These results manifest the generality of MXenes as effective co‐catalysts for solar hydrogen production.
Hierarchically‐Porous Carbon Derived from a Large‐Scale Iron‐based Organometallic Complex for Versatile Energy Storage
Authors: Fan Chao‐Ying , Li Huan‐Huan , Wang Hai‐Feng , Sun Hai‐Zhu , Wu Xing‐Long , Zhang Jing‐Ping
Published: May 2016

Inspired by the preparation of the hierarchically‐porous carbon (HPC) derived from metal organic frameworks (MOFs) for energy storage, in this work, a simple iron‐based metal– organic complex (MOC), which was simpler and cheaper compared with the MOF, was selected to achieve versatile energy storage. The intertwined 1 D nanospindles and enriched‐oxygen doping of the HPC was obtained after one‐step carbonization of the MOC. When employed in lithium‐ion batteries, the HPC exhibited reversible capacity of 778 mA h g−1 after 60 cycles at 50 mA g−1. Moreover, the HPC maintained a capacity of 188 mA h g−1 after 400 cycles at 100 mA g−1 as the anode material in a sodium‐ion battery. In addition, the HPC served as the cathode matrix for evaluation of a lithium–sulfur battery. The general preparation process of the HPC is commercial, which is responsible for the large‐scale production for its practical application.
Modeling and Simulations in Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation: From Single Level to Multiscale Modeling
Authors: Zhang Xueqing , Bieberle‐Hütter Anja
Published: May 2016

This review summarizes recent developments, challenges, and strategies in the field of modeling and simulations of photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. We focus on water splitting by metal‐oxide semiconductors and discuss topics such as theoretical calculations of light absorption, band gap/band edge, charge transport, and electrochemical reactions at the electrode–electrolyte interface. In particular, we review the mechanisms of the oxygen evolution reaction, strategies to lower overpotential, and computational methods applied to PEC systems with particular focus on multiscale modeling. The current challenges in modeling PEC interfaces and their processes are summarized. At the end, we propose a new multiscale modeling approach to simulate the PEC interface under conditions most similar to those of experiments. This approach will contribute to identifying the limitations at PEC interfaces. Its generic nature allows its application to a number of electrochemical systems.
Increased expression of brother of the regulator of imprinted sites in peripheral blood neutrophils is associated with both benign and malignant breast lesions
Authors: El‐Sharkawy Nahla M. , Radwan Wafaa M. , Essa Enas S. , Kandeel Eman Z. , Abd El‐Fattah Eman K. , Kandil Samia H. , Kamel Azza M.
Published: May 2016

Background

BORIS, a paralog of the multifunctional CCCTC‐binding factor (CTCF) gene is restricted to testis and normally not present in females. It is aberrantly activated in various human cancers including cancer breast. Using immunohistochemistry, western blot and/or RT‐PCR, significantly higher levels of BORIS expression were reported in the neutrophils of cancer breast patients. We hypothesized that Flow Cytometry might be a better technique for objective quantitative evaluation of BORIS in neutrophils and we wanted to investigate if BORIS would discriminate between benign and malignant breast lesions.

Methods

The study included 85 females; 52 breast cancer, 13 benign breast lesions and 20 age‐matched healthy controls. BORIS expression in the neutrophils was detected by Flow Cytometry.

Results

High level of BORIS was detected in all malignant (64.4 ± 16.6%) and benign cases (67 ± 12.3), mean florescent intensity ratio (MFIR) of 7.2 ± 4.1 and 7 ± 3.5, median 5.8 and 6.6%; and staining index (SI) 8.3 ± 3.9 and 8.2 ± 3.4, median 7.6 and 7.9 respectively vs.13.4 ± 11.5% MFI 1.8 ± 0.7, median1.6 and SI 2.6 ± 0.69, median 2.5 for the control. BORIS level was comparable in the malignant and benign group (P = 0.934) and significantly higher than control (P = 0.0001). There was no correlation between neutrophil BORIS expression and ER/PR status, HER‐2/neu expression or tumor stage or size.

Conclusions

Increased BORIS expression in peripheral blood neutrophils is associated with both benign and malignant breast lesions; apparently, increased proliferation of breast tissue is the determining factor. This excludes BORIS as a tumor marker but it does not jeopardize its value as a potential therapeutic target. © 2016 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Ecohydrological changes in semiarid ecosystems transformed from shrubland to buffelgrass savanna
Authors: Castellanos Alejandro E. , Celaya‐Michel Hernán , Rodríguez Julio C. , Wilcox Bradford P.
Published: May 2016

In arid and semiarid lands worldwide, vegetation cover is being transformed to savannas dominated by exotic grasses. However, the ecohydrological and biogeochemical changes associated with this process remain little understood. For more than 3 years, we studied soil moisture dynamics in natural semiarid shrubland patches and compared those with changes in an adjacent site that had been transformed to an exotic buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) savanna. We found that volumetric soil moisture was higher in patches with some kind of cover. For both tree and bare patches, volumetric soil moisture and plant‐available water in the 60‐ to 100‐cm depth interval were significantly lower in the savanna than in the natural site. In buffelgrass patches, volumetric soil moisture and plant‐available water were higher at almost all depths and in wet years and increased significantly during the summer monsoon season, suggesting rapid infiltration mechanisms under buffelgrass. During years with wet winters, these mechanisms also led to brief accumulations of water in the soil profile (0–200 cm). Such changes in soil profile water dynamics brought about adaptive responses in perennial plant species. The ability of species to change their patterns of soil water use in the profile may be an important mechanism enabling them to compete when novel tree–grass interactions are established by invasion of grasses. Our results provide new insights for understanding the changes caused by grass invasion in arid and semiarid lands, as well as how these changes may impact ecohydrological dynamics in global change scenarios. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leptin directly promotes T‐cell glycolytic metabolism to drive effector T‐cell differentiation in a mouse model of autoimmunity
Authors: Gerriets Valerie A. , Danzaki Keiko , Kishton Rigel J. , Eisner William , Nichols Amanda G. , Saucillo Donte C. , Shinohara Mari L. , MacIver Nancie J.
Published: May 2016

Upon activation, T cells require energy for growth, proliferation, and function. Effector T (Teff) cells, such as Th1 and Th17 cells, utilize high levels of glycolytic metabolism to fuel proliferation and function. In contrast, Treg cells require oxidative metabolism to fuel suppressive function. It remains unknown how Teff/Treg‐cell metabolism is altered when nutrients are limited and leptin levels are low. We therefore examined the role of malnutrition and associated hypoleptinemia on Teff versus Treg cells. We found that both malnutrition‐associated hypoleptinemia and T cell‐specific leptin receptor knockout suppressed Teff‐cell number, function, and glucose metabolism, but did not alter Treg‐cell metabolism or suppressive function. Using the autoimmune mouse model EAE, we confirmed that fasting‐induced hypoleptinemia altered Teff‐cell, but not Treg‐cell, glucose metabolism, and function in vivo, leading to decreased disease severity. To explore potential mechanisms, we examined HIF‐1α, a key regulator of Th17 differentiation and Teff‐cell glucose metabolism, and found HIF‐1α expression was decreased in T cell‐specific leptin receptor knockout Th17 cells, and in Teff cells from fasted EAE mice, but was unchanged in Treg cells. Altogether, these data demonstrate a selective, cell‐intrinsic requirement for leptin to upregulate glucose metabolism and maintain function in Teff, but not Treg cells.
Representing object categories by connections: Evidence from a mutivariate connectivity pattern classification approach
Authors: Wang Xiaosha , Fang Yuxing , Cui Zaixu , Xu Yangwen , He Yong , Guo Qihao , Bi Yanchao
Published: May 2016

The representation of object categories is a classical question in cognitive neuroscience and compelling evidence has identified specific brain regions showing preferential activation to categories of evolutionary significance. However, the potential contributions to category processing by tuning the connectivity patterns are largely unknown. Adopting a continuous multicategory paradigm, we obtained whole‐brain functional connectivity (FC) patterns of each of four categories (faces, scenes, animals and tools) in healthy human adults and applied multivariate connectivity pattern classification analyses. We found that the whole‐brain FC patterns made high‐accuracy predictions of which category was being viewed. The decoding was successful even after the contributions of regions showing classical category‐selective activations were excluded. We further identified the discriminative network for each category, which span way beyond the classical category‐selective regions. Together, these results reveal novel mechanisms about how categorical information is represented in large‐scale FC patterns, with general implications for the interactive nature of distributed brain areas underlying high‐level cognition. Hum Brain Mapp 37:3685–3697, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison between Focus Harmonic scalpel and other hemostatic techniques in open thyroidectomy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cannizzaro Matteo Angelo , Borzì Laura , Lo Bianco Salvatore , Okatyeva Valeriya , Cavallaro Andrea , Buffone Antonino
Published: May 2016

Background

The purpose of this review was to compare the efficacy and surgical outcomes of total thyroidectomy between the Focus Harmonic scalpel (Ethicon, Cincinnati, OH) and other hemostatic procedures.

Methods

An extensive search was conducted using the PubMed and Cochrane databases from January 2008 to October 2014. Operating time, blood loss, pain, complications, and hospital stay were evaluated.

Results

When compared with conventional techniques or LigaSure Precise Vessel Sealing System (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN), the use of the Focus Harmonic scalpel reduced operative time by 22,428 minutes and blood loss by 13,914 mL. Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the Focus Harmonic scalpel group with a mean reduction of 0.410 days.

Conclusion

According to our meta‐analysis, when comparing the Focus Harmonic scalpel versus conventional techniques, it seems evident that the use of this device in thyroid surgery is associated with a mean reduction in operating time, blood loss, and hospital stay, without any increase in pain and complications. There was no appreciable difference between the Focus Harmonic scalpel and the LigaSure Precise Vessel Sealing System. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: First–1578, 2016
New Compounds from the Roots and Stems of Trigonostemon lii and Their Cytotoxic Activities
Authors: Liu Yong‐Qin , Di Ying‐Tong , Wang Yue‐Hu , Hao Xiao‐Jiang , Hu Xu‐Jia
Published: May 2016

A new carboline alkaloid, Trifiline D (1) and a new degraded diterpenoid, Trigoxyphin X (4) were isolated from the roots and stems of Trigonostemon lii. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR techniques. Compound 1 exhibited weak inhibitory activity against MCF‐7, A‐549, MGC‐803, and COLO‐205 with IC50 values ranging from 27.4 to 35.4 μm.
Effect of edible coatings with essential oils on the quality of red raspberries over shelf‐life
Authors: Gomes Marcos de Souza , Cardoso Maria das Graças , Guimarães Ana Clara Garcia , Guerreiro Adriana Cavaco , Gago Custódia Maria Luís , Vilas Boas Eduardo Valério de Barros , Dias Cristina Maria Barrocas , Manhita Ana Cristina Cabaça , Faleiro Maria Leonor , Miguel Maria Graça Costa , Antunes Maria Dulce Carlos
Published: May 2016

BACKGROUND

The objective of the present work was to develop strategies for increasing the shelf‐life of red raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.), by preventing microorganism growth.

RESULTS

Fruits coated with alginate plus lemon essential oil (0.2%) or orange essential oil (0.1%) after 15 days of storage had less red skin than the remaining samples. The less red color verified in these samples was also coincident with the lower concentration of anthocyanins at the end of the experiment as well as the lower capacity for scavenging ABTS free radicals or quenching singlet oxygen. Cyanidin and pelargonidin glucosides were found in raspberries fruits. The edible coatings supplemented with the essential oil of orange either at 0.1% or 0.2% were very efficient for controlling yeast and mold growth after 15 days of storage. To control the development of aerobic mesophilic bacteria the use of essential oil of lemon 0.2% and essential oil of orange 0.1% were the most efficient.

CONCLUSION

The application of the film improved post‐harvest quality of raspberry, since the addition of essential oils of citrus films promoted to the inhibitory effect of fungi and bacteria growth after 15 days of storage, without changing quality parameters. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Echo time‐dependent quantitative susceptibility mapping contains information on tissue properties
Authors: Sood Surabhi , Urriola Javier , Reutens David , O’Brien Kieran , Bollmann Steffen , Barth Markus , Vegh Viktor
Published: May 2016

Purpose

Magnetic susceptibility is a physical property of matter that varies depending on chemical composition and abundance of different molecular species. Interest is growing in mapping of magnetic susceptibility in the human brain using magnetic resonance imaging techniques, but the influences affecting the mapped values are not fully understood.

Methods

We performed quantitative susceptibility mapping on 7 Tesla (T) multiple echo time gradient recalled echo data and evaluated the trend in 10 regions of the human brain. Temporal plots of susceptibility were performed in the caudate, pallidum, putamen, thalamus, insula, red nucleus, substantia nigra, internal capsule, corpus callosum, and fornix. We implemented an existing three compartment signal model and used optimization to fit the experimental result to assess the influences that could be responsible for our findings.

Results

The temporal trend in susceptibility is different for different brain regions, and subsegmentation of specific regions suggests that differences are likely to be attributable to variations in tissue structure and composition. Using a signal model, we verified that a nonlinear temporal behavior in experimentally computed susceptibility within imaging voxels may be the result of the heterogeneous composition of tissue properties.

Conclusions

Decomposition of voxel constituents into meaningful parameters may lead to informative measures that reflect changes in tissue microstructure. Magn Reson Med 77:1946–1958, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Thermoplasticity and strain localization in transversely isotropic materials based on anisotropic critical state plasticity
Authors: Semnani Shabnam J. , White Joshua A. , Borja Ronaldo I.
Published: May 2016

Geomaterials such as soils and rocks are inherently anisotropic and sensitive to temperature changes caused by various internal and external processes. They are also susceptible to strain localization in the form of shear bands when subjected to critical loads. We present a thermoplastic framework for modeling coupled thermomechanical response and for predicting the inception of a shear band in a transversely isotropic material using the general framework of critical state plasticity and the specific framework of an anisotropic modified Cam–Clay model. The formulation incorporates anisotropy in both elastic and plastic responses under the assumption of infinitesimal deformation. The model is first calibrated using experimental data from triaxial tests to demonstrate its capability in capturing anisotropy in the mechanical response. Subsequently, stress‐point simulations of strain localization are carried out under two different conditions, namely, isothermal localization and adiabatic localization. The adiabatic formulation investigates the effect of temperature on localization via thermomechanical coupling. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the important role of anisotropy, hardening, and thermal softening on strain localization inception and orientation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Seeking the State: Appropriating Bureaucratic Symbolism and Wealth in the Margins of Southeast Asia
Authors: Herriman Nicholas , Winarnita Monika
Published: May 2016

Anthropological research on Southeast Asian states has contributed to understanding how local communities engage with states in their everyday lives. Two approaches drawing out the complexities of state‐society entanglement stand out. First is Foucault's idea that states possess the art‐of‐government. Through techniques such as mapping, census data, biometrics and so on, states are believed to achieve new levels of control over people, who are thus rendered as individual citizens. Second is Scott's idea that societies possess the art‐of‐not‐being‐governed. People, particularly in peripheral areas, seek to escape state control, for instance by sheltering in the hills and forests of Asia. In this article, we seek to identify and expand upon a literature which we see as emerging from the space opened between Foucault and Scott's work, to demonstrate the many creative and diverse ways that peripheral societies seek out states. In doing this we present a synthesis of diverse forms of entanglement to provide new insights into understanding relations between societies and states.
The acoustic property study of polyurethane foam with addition of bamboo leaves particles
Authors: Chen Shuming , Jiang Yang
Published: May 2016

In this study, the acoustic properties of polyurethane (PU) foams produced with the biodegradable, easily disposable natural bamboo leaves particles (bamboo chips and bamboo stems) were investigated. Acoustical properties of PU foam composites as normal sound absorption coefficient and sound transmission loss were measured using a two‐microphone impedance tube and a four‐microphone impedance tube, respectively. The microstructures of PU foam composites were examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and air‐flow resistivity was also measured. The results illustrate that suitable constituents of bamboo chips and stems have significantly enhanced the sound absorption and insulation properties of the PU foam composites over the entire frequency range, especially giving rise to a considerable improvement of low‐frequency sound absorption and sound insulation characteristics. PU foam composites with 6% of bamboo stems obtain the highest NRC (noise reduction coefficient) value with 0.714 and the maximum value of the sound absorption coefficient is 0.971, achieved at 6,300 Hz. Besides, PU foam composites with 8% of 2–3 mm bamboo chips exhibit the best sound insulation with high transmission loss around 18.9 dB over the entire frequency range (100–6,300 Hz). POLYM. COMPOS., 39:1370–1381, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Enhanced InGaN/GaN photoelectrodes for visible‐light‐driven hydrogen generation by surface roughening
Authors: Zhi Ting , Tao Tao , Liu Bin , Li Mingxue , Zhuang Zhe , Dai Jiangping , Li Yi , Zhang Guogang , Luo Wenjun , Xie Zili , Chen Peng , Chen Dunjun , Li Zhaosheng , Han Ping , Zou Zhigang , Zhang Rong , Zheng Youdou
Published: May 2016

III‐Nitride semiconductor materials are considered as promising candidates for photoelectrodes (PEs) due to their adjustable direct band gap covering a very broad spectral range. In this study, InGaN/GaN based p–i–n photoelectrodes have been fabricated and nano‐sized surface roughening process has been applied. The photocurrent gets 2.5 times enhancement and the incident photon conversion efficiency (IPCE) is improved to be ∼30% at the wavelength of 400 nm. In addition, the turn‐on voltages of InGaN/GaN‐based PEs have been effectively reduced from +0.8 V down to about −0.4 V (vs. reversible hydrogen potential, RHE). Such improvements are mainly attributed to reduced dislocation density, increased surface area, and optimized build‐in electrical field. These findings give innovative insight to improve photoelectrochemical devices for hydrogen generation.
Global output feedback stabilization for a class of nonlinear systems with quantized input and output
Authors: Li Guangqi , Lin Yan , Zhang Xu
Published: May 2016

In this paper, we aim at addressing the problem of global output feedback stabilization for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with quantized input and output. The nonlinear functions of the system are assumed to satisfy high‐order growth condition on the unmeasurable states. Based on the homogeneous domination approach and sector bound approach, a homogeneous quantized controller computed from quantized output is constructed, and a guideline is derived to select the parameters of the quantizers. Further, it is proved that, with the proposed scheme, the closed‐loop system is globally asymptotically stable. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preterm delivery after fetoscopic laser surgery for twin–twin transfusion syndrome: etiology and risk factors
Authors: Malshe A. , Snowise S. , Mann L. K. , Boring N. , Johnson A. , Bebbington M. W. , Moise K. J. , Papanna R.
Published: May 2016

Objective

Preterm delivery after fetoscopic laser surgery (FLS) for twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a major complication. The causative factors leading to preterm delivery continue to be elusive and a better understanding of the risk factors could reduce complications. The objective of this study was to determine the etiology of preterm delivery after FLS for TTTS and its associated risk factors.

Methods

This was a secondary analysis of a prospective study of 203 patients with TTTS who underwent FLS at a single center between September 2011 and December 2014. Preoperative, operative, postoperative, delivery and neonatal data were reviewed. Preterm delivery was categorized according to etiology into three groups: spontaneous (SPT), indicated (IND) and elective (ELC). Comparisons between groups were performed by ANOVA. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to compare the procedure‐to‐delivery interval between groups. To identify risk factors for preterm delivery, logistic regression, with calculation of relative risks (RR), was performed, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results

Mean gestational age at time of FLS was 20.6 ± 2.4 weeks and mean gestational age at delivery was 30.9 ± 4.7 weeks. Iatrogenic preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (iPPROM) occurred in 39% of cases. SPT preterm delivery occurred in 97 (48%) patients, IND preterm delivery in 65 (32%) and ELC preterm delivery in 41 (20%). In the IND group, 30 (46%) patients delivered for fetal indications, 31 (48%) for maternal indications and four (6%) for combined fetal and maternal indications. The overall chorioamnionitis rate was 6.4%; of these, nine (9%) were in the SPT group and four (6%) were in the IND group, with no case occurring in the ELC group. There was a significant difference in procedure‐to‐delivery interval between groups (P < 0.0001). Using variables from the ELC group as a baseline, significant risk factors for SPT preterm delivery were iPPROM (RR, 16.2 (95% CI, 4.5–57.7)), preoperative cervical length (RR, 0.96 (95% CI, 0.92–0.998)) and number of anastomoses (RR, 1.14 (95% CI, 1.02–1.27)). Significant risk factors for IND preterm delivery were iPPROM (RR, 9.6 (95% CI, 2.6–35.0)) and number of ablated anastomoses (RR, 1.13 (95% CI, 1.02–1.30)).

Conclusion

iPPROM and an increased number of ablated placental anastomoses were associated independently with SPT and IND preterm deliveries. A shorter preoperative cervical length was associated with SPT preterm delivery. Strategies to prevent iPPROM and for management of cervical length shortening are needed urgently in these pregnancies. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
M‐X‐ray satellite lines of heavy elements due to multiple ionization
Authors: Mukoyama Takeshi
Published: May 2016

The relative intensities of M‐X‐ray satellites for heavy elements have been calculated. These satellite lines arise from X‐ray emission with multiple vacancy states in M and N shells. The origin of multiple vacancies is considered as the Coster–Kronig transition as well as the shake process. The calculated intensities are compared with the experimental results and other theoretical calculations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimizing production and evaluating biosynthesis in situ of a herbicidal compound, mevalocidin, from Coniolariella sp.
Authors: Sica Vincent P , Figueroa Mario , Raja Huzefa A , El-Elimat Tamam , Darveaux Blaise A , Pearce Cedric J , Oberlies Nicholas H
Published: May 2016

Mevalocidin is a fungal secondary metabolite produced by Coniolariella sp. It is a unique phytotoxin that demonstrates broad spectrum post-emergent herbicidal properties. With limited options for weed control, the commercialization of a natural product pesticide would be beneficial to organic farming. In this study, two mevalocidin-producing fungal strains, coded MSX56446 and MSX92917, were explored under a variety of growth conditions, including time, temperature, and media. The concentration of mevalocidin was quantitatively measured via LC–MS to determine the optimal setting for each condition. Maximum production was achieved for each condition at 20 days, at 30 °C, with YESD + agar, and with a media containing 2.5 % dextrose. Furthermore, an advanced surface sampling technique was incorporated to gain a better understanding of the fungal culture’s natural ability to biosynthesize and distribute this herbicide into its environment. It was shown that both fungi actively exude mevalocidin into their environment via liquid droplet formations known as guttates.

Graphical abstract
Caring for Surgical Patients With Piercings
Authors: Smith Francis Duval
Published: May 2016

Body piercing, a type of body modification that is practiced in many cultures, creates an unnatural tract through tissue that is then held open by artificial means. Today, professional body piercing is often performed in piercing establishments that are subject to dissimilar forms of regulation. The most frequently reported medical complication of body piercing and similar body modifications, such as dermal implantation, is infection. Patients with piercings who undergo surgery may have additional risks for infection, electrical burns, trauma, or airway obstruction. The published research literature on piercing prevalence, complications, regulations, education, and nursing care is outdated. The purpose of this article is to educate nurses on topics related to nursing care for patients with piercings and similar body modifications, including the history, prevalence, motivations for, and perceptions of body piercings as well as possible complications, devices used, locations, healing times, regulations, patient education, and other health concerns.
The effect of social exclusion on consumer preference for anthropomorphized brands
Authors: Chen Rocky Peng , Wan Echo Wen , Levy Eric
Published: May 2016

Prior research has mainly examined the effect of social exclusion on individuals' interactions with other people or on their product choices as an instrument to facilitate interpersonal connection. The current research takes a novel perspective by proposing that socially excluded consumers would be more motivated to establish a relationship with a brand (rather than using the brand to socially connect with other people) when the brand exhibits human‐like features. Based on this premise, we predict and find support in three studies that socially excluded consumers, compared with non‐excluded consumers, exhibit greater preference for anthropomorphized brands (studies 1–3). This effect is mediated by consumers' need for social affiliation and is moderated by the opportunity for social connection with other people (study 2). Furthermore, socially excluded consumers differ in the types of relationships they would like to build with anthropomorphized brands, depending on their attributions about the exclusion. Specifically, consumers who blame themselves (others) for being socially excluded show greater preference for anthropomorphized partner (fling) brands (study 3).
Testosterone and Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
Authors: Lee Jun Ho , Lee Sung Won
Published: May 2016

Introduction

A recent study investigated the role of testosterone (T) in chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). However, only a small amount of data is available to date, and the results are inconsistent.

Aims

To evaluate the relation between total T (TT) and CP/CPPS.

Methods

We conducted a propensity-matched study by identifying men with a TT level lower than 3.5 ng/mL among 8,336 men in their 40s and 50s. A control group of men with a TT level of at least 3.5 ng/mL matched for age, metabolic syndrome, and body mass index at a 5:1 ratio was selected for comparison. Using the same cohort and methods, another case group (TT < 3.0 ng/mL) and control group (TT ≥ 3.0 ng/mL) were selected. The National Institutes of Health—Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) was administered. A χ2 test, a t-test and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the relation between TT and prostatitis-like symptoms.

Main Outcome Measures

Association of TT with NIH-CPSI score.

Results

After propensity score matching, 948 cases (TT < 3.5 ng/mL) and 4,740 controls (TT ≥ 3.5 ng/mL) were included. The ratio of mild and moderate to severe prostatitis-like symptoms was higher in the case group than in the control group (24.0% vs 27.4%, P = .001). The ratio of moderate to severe prostatitis-like symptoms also was higher in the case group than in the control group (6.2% vs 9.2%, P = .028). The pain domain of the NIH-CPSI, quality of life, and total NIH-CPSI scores also were higher in the case group. Ratios of severe lower urinary tract symptoms (12.6% vs 15.1%, P = .044) to maximal flow rate no higher than 10 mL/sec (3.8% vs 5.3%, P = .044) and postvoid residual urine volume of at least 100 mL (4.0% vs 5.6%, P = .035), which suggest high pressure in the prostate urethra, were higher in the case group. After adjusting for voided volume during uroflowmetry and total prostate volume, the relations of a TT level lower than 3.5 ng/mL to a maximal flow rate no higher than 10 mL/sec (odds ratio = 1.402, 95% CI = 1.017–1.934, P = .039) and to a postvoid residual urine volume of at least 100 mL (odds ratio = 1.410, 95% CI = 1.031–1.927, P = .031) were maintained. Using the cutoff TT value of 3.0 ng/mL, 437 cases (TT < 3.0 ng/mL) and 2,185 controls (TT ≥ 3.0 ng/mL) were included. The result of the 3.0-ng/mL cutoff value for TT showed a higher incidence of prostatitis-like symptoms in the group with a TT level lower than 3.0 ng/mL, but this was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Low TT level (<3.5 ng/mL) was significantly correlated with prostatitis-like symptoms in this study.
Contexts, networks, and voting behavior: the social flow of political communication in Italy
Authors: Mancosu Moreno
Published: May 2016

Previous research demonstrated that different contextual sources can affect voting behavior. Homogeneous familiar networks affect individual behavior of people embedded in these networks toward voting for certain parties. Moreover, being exposed to higher levels of homogeneity in the geographical place where one lives contributes to developing higher propensities to vote for a certain political object. By means of 2006 National Italian Elections data (and by employing new measures of network political homogeneity), this paper tests, with multilevel models, the hypothesis according to which networks and geographical context interact while affecting individuals’ voting behavior. Results confirm such a hypothesis, showing that familiar networks represent a ‘social bubble’, which limits the likelihood of being affected by the broader context.
Are Medieval Mya arenaria (Mollusca; Bivalvia) in the Netherlands also clams before Columbus?
Authors: Essink K. , Oost A.P. , Streurman H.J. , Van der Plicht J.
Published: May 2016

During the Pleistocene, the coastal marine bivalve mollusc Mya arenaria became extinct in northwest Europe. The species remained present in North America. Datings of Mya shells found in northern Denmark and the southern Baltic Sea suggest that repopulation of northwest European coasts already occurred before Columbus’ discovery of America (1492), possibly facilitated by Viking (Norse) settlers at Greenland and northeast North America. In this paper we report on findings of M. arenaria at five locations in the coastal landscape of the Netherlands: polders reclaimed from the Wadden Sea and the former estuaries of Oer-IJ and Old Rhine. The shells from four of these locations also date before 1492 AD.
Ediacaran distributions in space and time: testing assemblage concepts of earliest macroscopic body fossils
Authors: Boag Thomas H. , Darroch Simon A. F. , Laflamme Marc
Published: May 2016

The mid-late Ediacaran Period (~579–541 Ma) is characterized by globally distributed marine soft-bodied organisms of unclear phylogenetic affinities colloquially called the “Ediacara biota.” Despite an absence of systematic agreement, previous workers have tested for underlying factors that may control the occurrence of Ediacaran macrofossils in space and time. Three taxonomically distinct “assemblages,” termed the Avalon, White Sea, and Nama, were identified and informally incorporated into Ediacaran biostratigraphy. After ~15 years of new fossil discoveries and taxonomic revision, we retest the validity of these assemblages using a comprehensive database of Ediacaran macrofossil occurrences. Using multivariate analysis, we also test the degree to which taphonomy, time, and paleoenvironment explain the taxonomic composition of these assemblages. We find that: (1) the three assemblages remain distinct taxonomic groupings; (2) there is little support for a large-scale litho-taphonomic bias present in the Ediacaran; and (3) there is significant chronostratigraphic overlap between the taxonomically and geographically distinct Avalonian and White Sea assemblages ca. 560–557 Ma. Furthermore, both assemblages show narrow bathymetric ranges, reinforcing that they were paleoenvironmental–ecological biotopes and spatially restricted in marine settings. Meanwhile, the Nama assemblage appears to be a unique faunal stage, defined by a global loss of diversity, coincident with a noted expansion of bathymetrically unrestricted, long-ranging Ediacara taxa. These data reinforce that Ediacaran biodiversity and stratigraphic ranges of its representative taxa must first statistically account for varying likelihood of preservation at a local scale to ultimately aggregate the Ediacaran macrofossil record into a global biostratigraphic context.
Nutrition and the circadian system
Authors: Potter Gregory D. M. , Cade Janet E. , Grant Peter J. , Hardie Laura J.
Published: May 2016

The human circadian system anticipates and adapts to daily environmental changes to optimise behaviour according to time of day and temporally partitions incompatible physiological processes. At the helm of this system is a master clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus. The SCN are primarily synchronised to the 24-h day by the light/dark cycle; however, feeding/fasting cycles are the primary time cues for clocks in peripheral tissues. Aligning feeding/fasting cycles with clock-regulated metabolic changes optimises metabolism, and studies of other animals suggest that feeding at inappropriate times disrupts circadian system organisation, and thereby contributes to adverse metabolic consequences and chronic disease development. ‘High-fat diets’ (HFD) produce particularly deleterious effects on circadian system organisation in rodents by blunting feeding/fasting cycles. Time-of-day-restricted feeding, where food availability is restricted to a period of several hours, offsets many adverse consequences of HFD in these animals; however, further evidence is required to assess whether the same is true in humans. Several nutritional compounds have robust effects on the circadian system. Caffeine, for example, can speed synchronisation to new time zones after jetlag. An appreciation of the circadian system has many implications for nutritional science and may ultimately help reduce the burden of chronic diseases.
Metabolomics as a tool in the identification of dietary biomarkers
Authors: Gibbons Helena , Brennan Lorraine
Published: May 2016

Current dietary assessment methods including FFQ, 24-h recalls and weighed food diaries are associated with many measurement errors. In an attempt to overcome some of these errors, dietary biomarkers have emerged as a complementary approach to these traditional methods. Metabolomics has developed as a key technology for the identification of new dietary biomarkers and to date, metabolomic-based approaches have led to the identification of a number of putative biomarkers. The three approaches generally employed when using metabolomics in dietary biomarker discovery are: (i) acute interventions where participants consume specific amounts of a test food, (ii) cohort studies where metabolic profiles are compared between consumers and non-consumers of a specific food and (iii) the analysis of dietary patterns and metabolic profiles to identify nutritypes and biomarkers. The present review critiques the current literature in terms of the approaches used for dietary biomarker discovery and gives a detailed overview of the currently proposed biomarkers, highlighting steps needed for their full validation. Furthermore, the present review also evaluates areas such as current databases and software tools, which are needed to advance the interpretation of results and therefore enhance the utility of dietary biomarkers in nutrition research.
Social values and species conservation: the case of Baudin's and Carnaby's black-cockatoos
Authors: AINSWORTH GILLIAN B. , ASLIN HEATHER J. , WESTON MICHAEL A. , GARNETT STEPHEN T.
Published: May 2016

We investigated how the socio–political and ecological environment are associated with the conservation management strategies for two rare, endemic and almost identical Australian white-tailed black-cockatoos: Baudin's (Calyptorhynchus baudinii) and Carnaby's black-cockatoo (C. latirostris). Substantially less investment and action has occurred for Baudin's black-cockatoo. Interviews with key informants revealed that this disparity has probably arisen because Baudin's black-cockatoo has long been considered a pest to the apple industry, lives primarily in tall forests and has had little research undertaken on its biology and threats. By contrast, Carnaby's black-cockatoo has been the subject of one of the longest running research projects in Australia, is highly visible within the urban environment and does not appear to affect the livelihoods of any strong stakeholder group. We suggest the social context within which recovery efforts occur could be an important determinant in species persistence. We argue that social research is fundamental to a better understanding of the nature of efforts to conserve particular species, the factors associated with these efforts and their likelihood of success.
My Philosophy of Education and How it Might Relate to Classical Subjects
Authors: Pring Richard
Published: May 2016

The following speech was given at the annual Summer School of the Association for Latin Teaching, held at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls in July 2015.
Rome's Walking Dead: Resurrecting a Roman Funeral at the Ashmolean Museum
Authors: Masséglia Jane
Published: May 2016

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project (AshLI) is a three-year collaboration between the universities of Warwick and Oxford, and the Ashmolean Museum. Its remit comprises, aside from photographing, cataloguing and translating the Museum's collection of more than 350 Latin-inscribed objects, a wide-ranging programme of public- and schools-engagement: as well as the epigraphers (inscriptions specialists), imaging experts and digital encoders, Professor Alison Cooley's team also includes a PGCE-qualified Classics teacher and blogger, and a trained podcast producer. Their aim is to tell stories of Roman life, using inscriptions as a starting point, through INSET days, free teaching resources, short films and regular podcasts made available through the project's blog ‘Reading, Writing, Romans’. In 2015, the team organised the first in a series of large-scale, direct public engagement events, when it staged a Roman funeral procession in the Ashmolean Museum.
“This Isn’t a Promise, It’s a	Threat”
Authors: Wood Jeffrey S. , Haigh Matthew , Stewart Andrew J.
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Participants had their eye movements recorded as they read vignettes containing implied promises and threats. We observed a reading time penalty when participants read the word “threat” when it anaphorically referred to an implied promise. There was no such penalty when the word “promise” was used to refer to an implied threat. On a later measure of processing we again found a reading time penalty when the word “threat” was used to refer to a promise, but also when the word “promise” was used to refer to a threat. These results suggest that anaphoric processing of such expressions is driven initially by sensitivity to the semantic scope differences of “threats” versus “promises.” A threat can be understood as a type of promise, but a promise cannot be understood as a type of threat. However, this effect was short lived; readers were ultimately sensitive to mismatched meaning, regardless of speech act performed.
Molecular evidence of functional progesterone withdrawal in human myometrium
Authors: Nadeem Lubna , Shynlova Oksana , Matysiak-Zablocki Elzbieta , Mesiano Sam , Dong Xuesen , Lye Stephen
Published: May 2016

Progesterone suppresses uterine contractility acting through its receptors (PRA/B). The mechanism by which human labour is initiated in the presence of elevated circulating progesterone has remained an enigma since Csapo first theorized of a functional withdrawal of progesterone in 1965. Here we report that in vitro progesterone-liganded nuclear PRB forms a complex including JUN/JUN homodimers and P54nrb/Sin3A/HDAC to repress transcription of the key labour gene, Cx43. In contrast, unliganded PRA paradoxically activates Cx43 transcription by interacting with FRA2/JUND heterodimers. Furthermore, we find that while nuclear progesterone receptor (PR) is liganded during human pregnancy, it becomes unliganded during both term and preterm labour as a result of increased expression of the progesterone-metabolizing enzyme 20α HSD and reduced nuclear progesterone levels. Our data provide a mechanism by which human labour can occur in the presence of elevated circulating progesterone and suggests non-metabolizable progestogen might represent an alternative new therapeutic approach to preterm birth prevention.
Cox process representation and inference for stochastic reaction–diffusion processes
Authors: Schnoerr David , Grima Ramon , Sanguinetti Guido
Published: May 2016

Complex behaviour in many systems arises from the stochastic interactions of spatially distributed particles or agents. Stochastic reaction–diffusion processes are widely used to model such behaviour in disciplines ranging from biology to the social sciences, yet they are notoriously difficult to simulate and calibrate to observational data. Here we use ideas from statistical physics and machine learning to provide a solution to the inverse problem of learning a stochastic reaction–diffusion process from data. Our solution relies on a non-trivial connection between stochastic reaction–diffusion processes and spatio-temporal Cox processes, a well-studied class of models from computational statistics. This connection leads to an efficient and flexible algorithm for parameter inference and model selection. Our approach shows excellent accuracy on numeric and real data examples from systems biology and epidemiology. Our work provides both insights into spatio-temporal stochastic systems, and a practical solution to a long-standing problem in computational modelling.