bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retrospective Testing of Mortality Forecasting Methods for the Projection of Very Elderly Populations in Australia
Authors: Terblanche Wilma
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of retrospective tests of various extrapolative methods to forecast adult mortality and very elderly populations for Australia. Direct extrapolation methods tested include the Geometric method, Ediev variant, Lee‐Carter method, BMS variant and a relational model. Indirect methods include the extrapolation of parameters of models fitted to the age profile of death rates and a new method involving the extrapolation of features of death frequency distributions namely the modal age and concentration. The geometric, Ediev and Lee‐ Carter BMS methods were very successful in projecting death rates and very elderly populations. Differences between these methods were small. The extrapolation of parametric functions proved successful for males but less so for females. Very elderly populations can be viably projected by directly extrapolating death rates by age when rates of decline in death rates show consistent relationships between ages and are stable over time. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimization of the Perturbation Amplitude for Impedance Measurements in a Commercial PEM Fuel Cell Using Total Harmonic Distortion
Authors: Giner‐Sanz J. J. , Ortega E. M. , Pérez‐Herranz V.
Published: February 2016

One of the most important measurement parameters in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is the perturbation amplitude. The optimum perturbation amplitude value corresponds with a balance between the signal‐to‐noise ratio improvement and the reduction of the harmonic generation due to nonlinear effects. Therefore, the optimum perturbation amplitude is the maximum amplitude that ensures a linear response of the system. Two strategies were considered in this work, i.e., a constant amplitude strategy and a frequency dependent amplitude strategy. On the one hand, for the constant amplitude strategy, the optimum perturbation amplitude for EIS measurements of an individual cell of a commercial PEM fuel cell stack was determined. In order to fulfill this aim, the impedance spectra (at different DC currents) of the individual cell of the commercial PEM fuel cell stack were measured using different perturbation amplitudes. The total harmonic distortion of the recorded voltage signal was determined in each case, applying a FFT based method. The optimum amplitude for each DC current corresponds to the amplitude that minimizes the critical total harmonic distortion value. On the other hand, for the frequency dependent amplitude strategy, the optimum amplitude at each frequency for EIS measurements of an individual cell of a commercial PEM fuel cell stack was determined.
Hippocampal gray matter volume in bilateral vestibular failure
Authors: Göttlich Martin , Jandl Nico M. , Sprenger Andreas , Wojak Jann F. , Münte Thomas F. , Krämer Ulrike M. , Helmchen Christoph
Published: February 2016

Bilateral vestibular failure (BVF) is a severe chronic disorder of the labyrinth or the eighth cranial nerve characterized by unsteadiness of gait and disabling oscillopsia during head movements. According to animal data, vestibular input to the hippocampus is proposed to contribute to spatial memory and spatial navigation. Except for one seminal study showing the association of impaired spatial navigation and hippocampal atrophy, patient data in BVF are lacking. Therefore, we performed a voxel‐wise comparison of the hippocampal gray matter volume (GMV) in a clinically representative sample of 27 patients with incomplete BVF and 29 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls to test the hypothesis of hippocampal atrophy in BVF. Although the two groups did not generally differ in their hippocampal GMV, a reduction of GMV in the bilateral hippocampal CA3 region was significantly correlated with increased vestibulopathy‐related clinical impairment. We propose that GMV reduction in the hippocampus of BVF patients is related to the severity of vestibular‐induced disability which is in line with combined hippocampal atrophy and disorders of spatial navigation in complete vestibular deafferentation due to bilateral nerve section. Clinically, however, the most frequent etiologies of BVF cause incomplete lesions. Accordingly, hippocampus atrophy and deficits in spatial navigation occur possibly less frequently than previously suspected. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1998–2006, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Efficacy of and preference for reinforcement and response cost in token economies
Authors: Jowett Hirst Erica S. , Dozier Claudia L. , Payne Steven W.
Published: February 2016

Researchers have shown that both differential reinforcement and response cost within token economies are similarly effective for changing the behavior of individuals in a group context (e.g., Donaldson, DeLeon, Fisher, & Kahng, 2014; Iwata & Bailey, 1974). In addition, these researchers have empirically evaluated preference for these procedures. However, few previous studies have evaluated the individual effects of these procedures both in group contexts and in the absence of peers. Therefore, we replicated and extended previous research by determining the individual effects and preferences of differential reinforcement and response cost under both group and individualized conditions. Results demonstrated that the procedures were equally effective for increasing on‐task behavior during group and individual instruction for most children, and preference varied across participants. In addition, results were consistent across participants who experienced the procedures in group and individualized settings.
Pleurotus ostreatus spent mushroom substrate for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: the case study of a pilot dynamic biopile for the decontamination of a historically contaminated soil
Authors: Di Gregorio Simona , Becarelli Simone , Siracusa Giovanna , Ruffini Castiglione Monica , Petroni Giulio , Masini Gualtiero , Gentini Alessandro , de Lima e Silva Mara Rúbia , Lorenzi Roberto
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUND

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hazardous contaminants. Bio‐based technology is among recommended practices for the recovery of PAH contaminated matrices. The objective of the study was to validate the exploitation of spent mushroom substrate (SMS), an organic waste deriving from the industrial production of Pleurotus ostreatus, as bulking agent in a dynamic biopile pilot plant, because of the SMS potential oxidative capacity towards aromatic recalcitrant compounds. The dynamic biopile pilot plant treated 7 tons of a historically PAH contaminated soil (6469 ± 423 mg PAHs kg−1), classified as dangerous waste.

RESULTS

The mixing of SMS with soil was mandatory for the depletion of PAHs, which after 8 months, were at significantly lower concentrations (112 ± 5 mg PAHs kg−1). The treated soil was capable of reintroduction to the industrial site of origin. However, a residual genotoxicity of soil elutriates at the end of the process was measured on root tips of Vicia faba L.

CONLUSIONS

The SMS derived from the industrial production of P. ostreatus is exploitable as a versatile low cost organic substrate with oxidative capacity towards PAHs and its exploitation as a bulking agent in biopiles is advantageous for the disposal of the organic waste. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Association between days to complete inpatient discharge summaries with all‐payer hospital readmissions in Maryland
Authors: Hoyer Erik H. , Odonkor Charles A. , Bhatia Sumit N. , Leung Curtis , Deutschendorf Amy , Brotman Daniel J.
Published: February 2016

OBJECTIVE

Hospital discharge summaries can provide valuable information to future providers and may help to prevent hospital readmissions. We sought to examine whether the number of days to complete hospital discharge summaries is associated with 30‐day readmission rate.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study conducted on 87,994 consecutive discharges between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014, in a large urban academic hospital. We used multivariable logistic regression models to examine the association between days to complete the discharge summary and hospital readmissions while controlling for age, gender, race, payer, hospital service (gynecology–obstetrics, medicine, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics, and surgical sciences), discharge location, length of stay, expected readmission rate in Maryland based on diagnosis and illness severity, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Comorbidity Index. Days to complete the hospital discharge summary—the primary exposure variable—was assessed using the 20th percentile (>3 vs ≤3 days) and as a continuous variable (odds ratio expressed per 3‐day increase). The main outcome was all‐cause readmission to any acute care hospital in Maryland within 30 days.

RESULTS

Among the 87,994 patients, there were 14,248 (16.2%) total readmissions. Discharge summary completion >3 days was significantly associated with readmission, with adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 1.09 (1.04 to 1.13, P = 0.001). We also found that every additional 3 days to complete the discharge summary was associated with an increased adjusted odds of readmission by 1% (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.01, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Longer days to complete discharge summaries were associated with higher rates of all‐cause hospital readmissions. Timely discharge summary completion time may be a quality indicator to evaluate current practice and as a potential strategy to improve patient outcomes. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:393–400. 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine
Biexponential diffusion alterations in the normal‐appearing white matter of glioma patients might indicate the presence of global vasogenic edema
Authors: Horváth Andrea , Perlaki Gábor , Tóth Arnold , Orsi Gergely , Nagy Szilvia , Dóczi Tamás , Horváth Zsolt , Bogner Péter
Published: February 2016

Purpose

To investigate normal‐appearing white matter (NAWM) microstructure of glioma patients with biexponential diffusion analysis in order to reveal the nature of diffusion abnormalities and to assess whether they are region‐specific or global.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐four newly diagnosed glioma patients (grade II–IV) and 24 matched control subjects underwent diffusion‐weighted imaging at 3T. Diffusion parameters were calculated using monoexponential and biexponential models. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured in the entire NAWM of the hemisphere contralateral and ipsilateral to the tumor. In the contralateral NAWM, regional ADC values were assessed in the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal NAWM.

Results

ADCmono and ADCfast were significantly higher than control values in all investigated regions except the temporal NAWM (P < 0.04). ADCslow was significantly increased in the total contralateral, frontal, and parietal NAWM (P < 0.03), while pslow was decreased in both total hemispheric NAWM and the parietal NAWM of glioma patients compared to controls (P < 0.04). ADCmono, ADCfast, ADCslow, and pslow were significantly different among the NAWM of the four lobes of the contralateral hemisphere in both groups (P < 0.0001), and these regional differences were similar in patients and controls (P > 0.05). Hemispheric ADCmono and pslow differences were different between groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Globally altered diffusion parameters suggest the presence of global vasogenic edema in the NAWM of glioma patients, which is further supported by the finding that regional differences in patients follow those found in controls. Alternatively, some tumor infiltration might contribute to diffusion abnormalities in the NAWM, especially in the tumor‐affected hemisphere. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:633–641.
Meat batter production in an extended vane pump–grinder injecting curing salt solutions to reduce energy requirements: variation of curing salt amount injected with the solution
Authors: Irmscher Stefan B , Terjung Eva‐Maria , Gibis Monika , Herrmann Kurt , Kohlus Reinhard , Weiss Jochen
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUND

The integration of a nozzle in an extended vane pump–grinder system may enable the continuous injection of curing salt solutions during meat batter production. The purpose of this work was to examine the influence of the curing salt amount injected with the solution (0–100%) on protein solubilisation, water‐binding, structure, colour and texture of emulsion‐type sausages.

RESULTS

The amount of myofibrillar protein solubilised during homogenisation varied slightly from 33 to 36 g kg−1. Reddening was not noticeably impacted by the later addition of nitrite. L* ranged from 66.9 ± 0.3 to 67.8 ± 0.3, a* from 10.9 ± 0.1 to 11.2 ± 0.1 and b* from 7.7 ± 0.1 to 8.0 ± 0.1. Although softer sausages were produced when only water was injected, firmness increased with increasing curing salt amount injected and was similar to the control when the full amount of salt was used. The substitution of two‐thirds of ice with a liquid brine may enable energy savings due to reduced power consumptions of the extended vane pump–grinder system by up to 23%.

CONCLUSION

The injection of curing salt solutions is feasible without affecting structure and colour negatively. This constitutes a first step towards of an ‘ice‐free’ meat batter production allowing for substantial energy savings due to lower comminution work. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Longitudinal Associations Among Pain, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, and Stress Appraisals
Authors: Vaughan Christine A. , Miles Jeremy N.V. , Eisenman David P. , Meredith Lisa S.
Published: February 2016

Comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and pain is well documented, but the mechanisms underlying their comorbidity are not well understood. Cross‐lagged regression models were estimated with 3 waves of longitudinal data to examine the reciprocal associations between PTSD symptom severity, as measured by the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and pain, as measured by a brief self‐report measure of pain called the PEG (pain intensity [P], interference with enjoyment of life [E], and interference with general activity [G]). We evaluated stress appraisals as a mediator of these associations in a sample of low‐income, underserved patients with PTSD (N = 355) at federally qualified health centers in a northeastern metropolitan area. Increases in PTSD symptom severity between baseline and 6‐month and 6‐ and 12‐month assessments were independently predicted by higher levels of pain (β = .14 for both lags) and appraisals of life stress as uncontrollable (β = .15 for both lags). Stress appraisals, however, did not mediate these associations, and PTSD symptom severity did not predict change in pain. Thus, the results did not support the role of stress appraisals as a mechanism underlying the associations between pain and PTSD.
Coupled nitrification–denitrification leads to extensive N loss in subtidal permeable sediments
Authors: Marchant Hannah K. , Holtappels Moritz , Lavik Gaute , Ahmerkamp Soeren , Winter Christian , Kuypers Marcel M. M.
Published: February 2016

We investigated microbial pathways of nitrogen transformation in highly permeable sediments from the German Bight (South‐East North Sea) by incubating sediment cores percolated with 15N‐labeled substrates under near in situ conditions. In incubations with added
, production of
occurred while the sediment was oxic, indicating ammonia oxidation. Similarly,
production during
incubations indicated nitrite oxidation. Taken together these findings provide direct evidence of high nitrification rates within German Bight sands. The production of 15N‐N2 on addition of
revealed high denitrification rates within the sediment under oxic and anoxic conditions. Denitrification rates were strongly and positively correlated with oxygen consumption rates, suggesting that denitrification is controlled by organic matter availability. Nitrification and denitrification rates were of the same magnitude and the rapid production of 15N‐N2 in incubations with added
confirmed close coupling of the two processes. Areal rates of N‐transformation were estimated taking advective transport of substrates into account and integrating volumetric rates over modeled oxygen and nitrate penetration depths, these ranged between 22 μmol N m−2 h−1 and 94 μmol N m−2 h−1. Furthermore, results from the 15N‐labeling experiments show that these subtidal permeable sediments are, in sharp contrast to common belief, a substantial source of N2O. Our combined results show that nitrification fuels denitrification by providing an additional source of nitrate, and as such masks true N‐losses from these highly eutrophic sediments. Given the widespread occurrence of anthropogenically influenced permeable sediments, coupled benthic nitrification–denitrification might have an important but so far neglected role in N‐loss from shelf sediments.
In‐tube derivatization for determination of absolute configuration and enantiomeric purity of chiral compounds by NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Gao Jinhai , Rajan Srinivasan , Wang Bing
Published: February 2016

We have developed an in‐tube derivatization method using commercially available polymer‐supported coupling agents to prepare derivatives of chiral compounds directly in NMR tube with high yield and purity. Because the method does not require any workup or purification, the configuration and enatiopurity can be quickly determined by NMR analysis for a small amount of chiral compounds, which is critical for today's fast‐paced medicinal chemistry efforts in drug discovery. The application of the method was demonstrated for the derivatization of chiral amines, alcohols, diols, amino alcohols, thiols, and carboxylic acids using various chiral derivatizing agents and coupling agents. This article also serves as a practical guide for in‐tube derivatization and selection of suitable chiral derivatizing agents and coupling agents for various types of chiral compounds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chronic hypoxia in pregnancy affects thymus development in Balb/c mouse offspring via IL2 Signaling
Authors: Zhang Xiaopeng , Zhou Xiuwen , Li Lingjun , Sun Miao , Gao Qingqing , Zhang Pengjie , Tang Jiaqi , He Yu , Zhu Di , Xu Zhice
Published: February 2016

Hypoxia during pregnancy can adversely affect development. This study, addressed the impact of prenatal hypoxia on thymus development in the rodent offspring. Pregnant Balb/c mice were exposed to hypoxia or normoxia during pregnancy, and the thymuses of their offspring were tested. Chronic hypoxia during pregnancy resulted in significantly decreased fetal body weight, with an increased thymus‐to‐body weight ratio. Histological analysis revealed a smaller cortical zone in the thymus of the offspring exposed to hypoxia. A reduction in the cortical T lymphocyte population corresponded to increased mRNA abundance of caspase 3 (Casp3) and decreased expression of the proliferation marker Ki‐67 (Mki67). Differences in T lymphocyte sub‐populations in the thymus further indicate that thymus development in offspring was retarded or stagnated by prenatal hypoxia. The abundance of IL2 and its receptor was reduced in the thymus following prenatal hypoxia. This was accompanied by an increase in thymus HIF1A and IKKβ and a decrease in phosphorylated NFKB, MAP2K1, and MAPK1/3 compared to control pregnancies. Together, these results implicate deficiencies in IL2‐mediated signaling as one source of prenatal‐hypoxia‐impaired thymus development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 83: 337–346, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reflection–transmission matrix method for the consolidation of a multilayered saturated soil
Authors: Lu Jian‐Fei , Shen Rong‐Feng , Shi Meng‐Qin
Published: February 2016

The consolidation of the layered saturated soil is an important issue in civil engineering and has been investigated extensively during the past decades. In this study, based on the Biot's theory, the reflection–transmission matrix (RTM) method for treating the layered saturated soil under axisymmetric consolidation is developed. To decouple the governing equations of the Biot's theory, the McNamee displacement functions are introduced, and the general solution for the saturated soil is obtained using the Laplace and Hankel transforms. In order to develop the RTM method for the layered saturated soil, based on the obtained general solution, the static wave vector corresponding to the state vector of the saturated soil and the transform matrix relating the aforementioned two vectors are defined. Also, the transfer matrices corresponding to the two vectors are introduced, and the representations of the RTMs for the static wave vector of the saturated soil are presented. As the state vector, static wave vector, and the transform matrix relating the two vectors are all defined in the global coordinate system, the RTMs obtained in this study thus have a reasonable physical meaning. By using the RTMs for the layered saturated soil, the solutions for the layered saturated soil subjected to external sources are derived. Comparison of results due to the proposed RTM method with some existing results and results due to the transfer matrix method validates the developed RTM method. Some numerical results are obtained based on the proposed RTM method for the layered saturated soil. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A two‐scale generalized finite element approach for modeling localized thermoplasticity
Authors: Plews J. A. , Duarte C. A.
Published: February 2016

Predicting localized, nonlinear, thermoplastic behavior and residual stresses and deformations in structures subjected to intense heating is a prevalent challenge in a range of modern engineering applications. The authors present a generalized finite element method targeted at this class of problems, involving the solution of intrinsically parallelizable local boundary value problems to capture localized, time‐dependent thermo‐elasto‐plastic behavior, which is embedded in the coarse, structural‐scale approximation via enrichment functions. The method accommodates approximation spaces that evolve in between time or load steps while maintaining a fixed global mesh, which avoids the need to map solutions and state variables on changing meshes typical of traditional adaptive approaches. Representative three‐dimensional examples exhibiting localized, transient, nonlinear thermal and thermomechanical effects are presented to demonstrate the advantages of the method with respect to available approaches, especially in terms of its flexibility and potential for realistic future applications in this area. Parallelism of the approach is also discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Error analysis for full discretizations of quasilinear parabolic problems on evolving surfaces
Authors: Kovács Balázs , Power Guerra Christian Andreas
Published: February 2016

Convergence results are shown for full discretizations of quasilinear parabolic partial differential equations on evolving surfaces. As a semidiscretization in space the evolving surface finite element method is considered, using a regularity result of a generalized Ritz map, optimal order error estimates for the spatial discretization is shown. Combining this with the stability results for Runge–Kutta and backward differentiation formulae time integrators, we obtain convergence results for the fully discrete problems. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 32: 1200–1231, 2016
Several Infra‐cranial Non‐metric Variations in a Single Neolithic individual: A Common Genetic Underlying Predisposition?
Authors: Verna E. , Villotte S.
Published: February 2016

Non‐metric variations have been the subject of anatomical and anthropological studies for more than a century. In this study, we present an individual from Sion (Canton of Valais, Southern Switzerland) dated from the Middle Neolithic who shows evidence for four non‐metric variations. This young adult male presents an os acromiale, spondylolysis, a bipartite patella, and bilateral calcaneus secundarius. These non‐metric variations have a low frequency in most populations (less than 10%), and for each of them the origin is usually considered to be genetic, environmental, or a combination of both. This case is of interest for understanding the potential genetic origin of these non‐metric variations as well as for demonstrating their usefulness in bioarcheological analysis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
H∞ state‐feedback controller design for continuous‐time nonhomogeneous Markov jump systems
Authors: Ding Yucai , Liu Hui , Shi Kaibo
Published: February 2016

This paper studies the problem of H∞ state‐feedback controller design for continuous‐time nonhomogeneous Markov jump systems. The time‐varying transition rate matrix in continuous‐time domain is considered to lie in a convex bounded domain of polytopic type. By constructing a parameter‐dependent Lyapunov function and fully considering the information about the rate of change of time‐varying parameters, a new sufficient condition on the existence of an H∞ state‐feedback controller is provided in the form of a parameter‐dependent matrix inequality. Moreover, based on the structure characteristics of Lyapunov matrix and transition matrix, the parameter‐dependent matrix inequality is converted into a finite set of linear matrix inequalities, which can be readily solved. Two numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Silver nanoparticles incorporated within intercalated clay/polymer nanocomposite hydrogels for antibacterial studies
Authors: Bandla Manjula , Abbavaram Babul Reddy , Kokkarachedu Varaprasad , Sadiku Rotimi E.
Published: February 2016

In this study, we present a new process of developing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), using intercalated clay (saponite)/poly acrylamide (PAAm) nanocomposite (NC) hydrogels, via the reduction of silver ions with NaBH4 in aqueous solutions. The –NPs obtained are very stable at room temperature due to the extended coil conformation of the PAAm chain. Size and morphology of AgNPs formed within the silicate layers depended on the surface property of clay minerals, which was confirmed by XRD and TEM measurements. The parameters concerning to the diffusion (D) and swelling (Q) of water for the PAAm/saponite NC hydrogels were estimated. In vitro antibacterial assay showed that pristine saponite could not inhibit the growth of bacteria. However, the saponite/poly PAAm NC hydrogels had strong antibacterial activity, particularly against Gram‐positive bacteria. With increasing amount (and the interlayer distance) of the layered silicates in the NC hydrogels, the nanocomposites showed a strong antibacterial effect. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:E16–E23, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Coordinated induction of cell survival signaling in the inflamed microenvironment of the prostate
Authors: McIlwain David W. , Zoetemelk Marloes , Myers Jason D. , Edwards Marshé T. , Snider Brandy M. , Jerde Travis J.
Published: February 2016

PURPOSE

Both prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia are associated with inflammatory microenvironments. Inflammation is damaging to tissues, but it is unclear how the inflammatory microenvironment protects specialized epithelial cells that function to proliferate and repair the tissue. The objective of this study is to characterize the cell death and cell survival response of the prostatic epithelium in response to inflammation.

METHODS

We assessed induction of cell death (TNF, TRAIL, TWEAK, FasL) and cell survival factors (IGFs, hedgehogs, IL−6, FGFs, and TGFs) in inflamed and control mouse prostates by ELISA. Cell death mechanisms were determined by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence for cleavage of caspases and TUNEL. Survival pathway activation was assessed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence for Mcl−1, Bcl−2, Bcl−XL, and survivin. Autophagy was determined by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence for free and membrane associated light chain 3 (LC−3).

RESULTS

Cleavage of all four caspases was significantly increased during the first 2 days of inflammation, and survival protein expression was substantially increased subsequently, maximizing at 3 days. By 5 days of inflammation, 50% of prostatic epithelial cells expressed survivin. Autophagy was also evident during the recovery phase (3 days). Finally, immunofluorescent staining of human specimens indicates strong activation of survival proteins juxtaposed to inflammation in inflamed prostate specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

The prostate responds to deleterious inflammation with induction of cell survival mechanisms, most notably survivin and autophagy, demonstrating a coordinated induction of survival factors that protects and expands a specialized set of prostatic epithelial cells as part of the repair and recovery process during inflammation. Prostate 76:722–734, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Crystal structures of OprN and OprJ, outer membrane factors of multidrug tripartite efflux pumps of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Yonehara Ryo , Yamashita Eiki , Nakagawa Atsushi
Published: February 2016

The genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa encodes tripartite efflux pumps that extrude functionally and structurally dissimilar antibiotics from the bacterial cell. MexAB‐OprM, MexCD‐OprJ, MexEF‐OprN, and MexXY‐OprM are the main tripartite efflux pumps responsible for multidrug resistance in P. aeruginosa. The outer membrane factors OprN, OprJ, and OprM are essential components of functional tripartite efflux pumps. To elucidate the structural basis of multidrug resistance, we determined the crystal structures of OprN and OprJ. These structures revealed several features, including tri‐acylation of the N‐terminal cysteine, a small pore in the β‐barrel domain, and a tightly sealed gate in the α‐barrel domain. Despite the overall similarity of OprN, OprJ, and OprM, a comparison of their structures and electrostatic distributions revealed subtle differences at the periplasmic end of the α‐barrel domain. These results suggested that the overall structures of these outer membrane factors are specifically optimized for particular tripartite efflux pumps. Proteins 2016; 84:759–769. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Role of a‐Si:H in lateral growth of crystalline silicon nanowires using Pb and In catalysts
Authors: Kočka Jan , Müller Martin , Stuchlík Jiří , Stuchlíková Ha , Červenka Jiří , Fejfar Antonín
Published: February 2016

Growth of crystalline silicon nanowires at low temperatures by chemical vapour deposition is an important technological challenge for electronic and sensor nanodevices. Here we present a comparative study of crystalline silicon nanowire growth by plasma‐enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) using lead and indium. We compare two different growth methods that produce either in‐plane or out‐of‐plane crystalline Si nanowires (SiNWs) at temperatures below 400 °C depending on the growth conditions and the catalyst used. The first growth method is based on the deposition of a thin film of amorphous silicon on a substrate at 150 °C and subsequent thermal annealing at 400 °C. The second method uses direct SiNWs growth at 400 °C in PECVD. While the first method produces in‐plane Si nanowires with In and no nanowire growth for Pb, the second method gives rise to out‐of‐plane Si nanowires for In and in‐plane nanowires for Pb. We show that one of the reasons for the difference between these two methods is the properties of amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a‐Si:H), which acts as the source material for in‐plane growth of Si nanowires.
Monitoring the phase evolution of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 by different Se flux via in‐situ XRD
Authors: Zahedi‐Azad Setareh , Jarzembowski Enrico , Hartnauer Stefan , Wägele Leonard , Greiner Dieter , Scheer Roland
Published: February 2016

Through in‐situ X‐ray diffraction, we examined the phase evolution of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 films deposited by three stage co‐evaporation with regard to Se flux and substrate temperature. The deposition method is based on the sequence of Cu‐poor/Cu‐rich/Cu‐poor, which is beneficial for improving the crystal quality as well as the conversi‐on efficiency. We find that while the Se flux during the first stage determines the final orientation, the substrate temperature moderates the degree of the preferred orientation. The orientation of the intermediate Cu2Se phase follows the preferred orientation of the CIGSe film, indicating an epitaxial relationship between the two phases.
Direct evidence for phase transition in thin Ge1Sb4Te7 films using in situ UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy and Raman scattering studies
Authors: Sahu Smriti , Pandey Shivendra Kumar , Manivannan Anbarasu , Deshpande Uday Prabhakarrao , Sathe Vasant G. , Reddy Varimalla Raghavendra , Sevi Murugavel
Published: February 2016

Phase‐change materials (PCM) show remarkable property‐contrast from amorphous to crystalline phase that forms the basis for high‐speed non‐volatile memory device applications. Despite understanding the local structure and physical properties of these phases, a systematic study on the phase‐change behavior is essential. Here, we used in situ UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopic measurements to study a systematic evolution of optical band gap (Eg) and the local disorder described by Tauc parameter (B), for the temperatures from 90 to 480 K on amorphous and cubic phases of Ge1Sb4Te7 thin films. It has been found that the Eg of amorphous phase decreases with increasing temperature from 90 to 400 K, while the disorder as exemplified by B, increases owing to thermal vibrations. At 420 K, a rapid decrease in the Eg from 0.47 to 0.33 eV and also a sharp reduction of ∼13% in the value of B1/2 is observed evidencing the signature of amorphous‐to‐cubic phase transition. Furthermore, the hexagonal phase is more disordered compared to cubic phase. The Raman results are consistent with optical measurements, which indicate that the degree of disorder reduces from amorphous to cubic phase, while hexagonal phase with an increased disorder is attributed to elongated bonds.
Observation of topological phase transition by terahertz photoconductivity in HgTe‐based transistors
Authors: Kadykov A. M. , Consejo C. , Marcinkiewicz M. , Viti L. , Vitiello M. S. , Krishtopenko S. S. , Ruffenach S. , Morozov S. V. , Desrat W. , Dyakonova N. , Knap W. , Gavrilenko V. I. , Mikhailov N. N. , Dvoretsky S. A. , Teppe F.
Published: February 2016

We have found the possibility to probe the magnetic field‐driven topological phase transition in HgTe‐based transistors by measuring their Terahertz photoconductivity response. At the critical magnetic field to which zero‐mode Landau levels cross, we have observed a pronounced photoconductivity peak independent on incident frequency and carrier concentration. Our results pave the way towards terahertz topological field effect transistors. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Sustainable Consumption of Groceries: the Importance of Believing that One Can Contribute to Sustainable Development
Authors: Hanss Daniel , Böhm Gisela , Doran Rouven , Homburg Andreas
Published: February 2016

This study investigated relations between consumers’ sustainable development self‐efficacy, attitudes, norms and intentions to purchase sustainable groceries such as ecological and fair trade foods. Demographic variables were also investigated. Attitudes and norms were positively associated with intentions to purchase sustainable products. The importance of different types of attitudes and norms for explaining sustainable consumption depended on the facet of purchasing intentions that was investigated. Self‐efficacy explained variance in purchasing intentions over and above attitudes, norms and demographic characteristics. Of the self‐efficacy components, people's perceptions of their indirect impact gained by encouraging others to contribute to sustainable development showed the strongest association with purchasing intentions. This could mean that believing that one can have an impact on other consumers is a strong motivator for buying sustainable products. Implications of these findings for practitioners and environmental policy are discussed. © 2016 The Authors Sustainable Development published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Points of Equilibrium: Religious Beliefs and Economic Development Policy
Authors: Clarke Matthew
Published: February 2016

Eighty per cent of the world's population professes religious belief. Such beliefs provide precepts on how individuals should conduct their private lives and (often) how society should be organized. Given there are 2.1 billion Christians worldwide and 1.3 billion Muslims, understanding the religious approach to social life based on sacred texts and social teachings of Christianity and Islam has a strong relevance to those interested in implementing international economic development policies. This paper argues that religion can thus play a positive role in development and specifically support development economic policies at the international level. The purpose of this paper is not to present a fully formed development economic policy, but rather to identify teachings of the world's two largest religions – such as preferencing the poor, minimizing inequality and having the economy serve wider realms of society – that directly speak to how sustainable economic development is understood within these faith traditions and how these teachings could scaffold and support and international policy frameworks aimed to achieve sustainable economic development. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
The Influence of Plastic Deformation on the Corrosion Behavior of a Cast High‐Alloy CrMnNi TRIP Steel
Authors: Mandel Marcel , Böhme Fabian , Hauser Michael , Wendler Marco , Tuchscheerer Friedrich , Krüger Lutz
Published: February 2016

The influence of plastic deformation on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of a meta‐stable high‐alloy CrMnNi steel is investigated in a 5 wt% sodium chloride solution by cyclic voltammetry. Interrupted tensile tests are performed to attain two defined states of plastic deformation. The formation of straight slip bands and deformation‐induced α′‐martensite is observed in the austenite of the tensile samples which are deformed up to fracture. The deformation‐induced α′‐martensite fraction is evaluated by an in situ magnetic measurement method simultaneously to the tensile test. Microscopic observations after the potentiodynamic polarization revealed pitting corrosion at all surfaces. Furthermore, a strong dependency between applied anodic potential and degree of plastic deformation at forward polarization is found, whereas the reverse scan exhibits a significant influence of the pitting corrosion attack. Consequently, the forward polarization behavior is dictated by the previously applied mechanical stress, whereas the influence disappears when pits have been formed.
Antidepressive‐like effect of volatile components of kososan in a mouse model of stress‐induced depression
Authors: Ito Naoki , Nagai Takayuki , Hirose Eiji , Kiyohara Hiroaki , Oikawa Tetsuro , Yamada Haruki , Hanawa Toshihiko
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT

Aim

Kososan (Xiang‐Su‐San in Chinese), a kampo (traditional Japanese herbal) medicine, contains large amounts of unique volatile components (termed KSv). This study evaluated the antidepressive‐like effects of KSv alone or in combination with the water‐soluble extracts of kososan (termed KSw), neither of which is fully known, in a mouse model of stress‐induced depression.

Methods

KSv, KSw + KSv (in toto or with a specific component herb removed), or KSw + perillaldehyde (a major volatile component of perillae herba) was given to stress‐induced depression‐like model mice for 9 days, followed by measurement of immobility time in forced swimming test (FST). KSv was also analyzed on gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy.

Results

KSv (100%, inhaled) significantly reduced FST immobility time. KSw (0.5 g/kg, oral) + KSv (50%, inhaled) reduced immobility time to a significantly greater extent than did either alone, whereas KSw + KSv with perillae herba removed (50%, inhaled) did not. Likewise, KSw + 0.5% (v/v) perillaldehyde significantly had less immobility time than did either alone.

Conclusion

Inhaled KSv has antidepressive‐like activity in a mouse model of stress‐induced depression and enhances the antidepressive‐like activity of KSw. Perillaldehyde in perillae herba may account in part for the enhancing effects of KSv. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of some biologically active pyridopyrimidine derivatives on photostability and bioactivity of rigid poly(vinyl chloride)
Authors: Rabie Samira T. , Abdel Monem Reham A.
Published: February 2016

Some pyridopyrimidine derivatives with high biological activity have been investigated as photostabilizers for rigid Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Their stabilizing efficiencies were evaluated by determining the percentage of weight loss, the amount of formed gel, as well as the intrinsic viscosities, of the photodegraded PVC. The extent of discoloration of the photodegraded polymer was also evaluated. The antimicrobial activities of PVC was evaluated in absence and in presence of the investigated materials. The applied materials reduced the loss in weight that resulted from HCl evolution during photodegradation. Both viscosity and gel content measurements showed also a decrease in their values during the degradation process. The extent of discoloration was also improved. The results have proved a greater stabilizing efficiencies of the antimicrobial pyridopyrimidine derivatives than that of the industrial UV absorber, phenyl salicylate. Photostabilized samples of PVC exhibited good antimicrobial activities against some types of bacteria and fungi. A radical mechanism was proposed to account for the stabilizing action of the investigated products. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:208–216, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Phenotypic plasticity of lianas in response to altered light environment
Authors: Yuan Chun‐ming , Wu Tao , Geng Yun‐fen , Chai Yong , Hao Jia‐bo
Published: February 2016

The growth, morphology and biomass allocation of 11 liana species (six light‐demanding and five shade‐tolerant) were investigated by growing plants in three contrasting light environments (i.e., field, forest edge and forest interior). Our objectives were to determine: (1) changes in plant traits at the species level; and (2) differences in light‐demanding and shade‐tolerant species in response to altered light environment. We found that all seedlings of liana species increased in total biomass, total leaf area, relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), height, basal diameter, root length, leaf number, root mass/total plant mass (RMR) and root‐to‐shoot dry biomass (R/S ratio), and decreased in leaf area ratio (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf size, stem mass‐to‐total plant mass ratio (SMR) and leaf mass‐to‐total plant mass ratio (LMR) with increasing light availability. Under the three light environments, the two types of species differed significantly in total biomass, total leaf area, RGR, NAR, LAR, SLA and leaf number, and not in leaf area. Only light‐demanding species differed significantly in height, root length, basal diameter, RMR, SMR, LMR and R/S ratio. The mean plasticity index of growth and biomass allocation were relatively higher than the morphological variables, with significant differences between the two groups. Our results showed that liana species respond differently to changing light environments and that light‐demanding species exhibit higher plasticity. Such differences may affect the relative success of liana species in forest dynamics.
Efficacy of Analgesic Treatments to Manage Children's Postoperative Pain After Laparoscopic Appendectomy: Retrospective Medical Record Review
Authors: Manworren Renee C.B. , McElligott Connor D. , Deraska Peter V. , Santanelli James , Blair Sherry , Ruscher Kimberly A. , Weiss Richard , Rader Christine , Finck Christine , Bourque Michael , Campbell Brendan
Published: February 2016

Knowledge of the effectiveness of multimodal analgesic treatments to manage children's postoperative pain during hospital stays is limited. Our retrospective chart review of a convenience sample of 200 pediatric surgical patients’ pain experiences during the first 24 hours after laparoscopic appendectomy demonstrates the benefits of a multimodal analgesic approach. We found that pediatric patients who received perioperative IV ketorolac in addition to opioids reported statistically significantly lower mean pain intensity (n = 134, mean [M] = 2.9, standard deviation [SD] = 1.7) during the first 24 hours after surgery when compared with the pain intensity of patients who did not receive perioperative IV ketorolac (n = 66, M = 3.7, SD = 1.7,t= 3.14,P= .002). Patients who received perioperative IV ketorolac (M = 0.94, SD = 0.71) also received significantly fewer morphine equivalents of postoperative opioids during the first 24 hours after surgery than those who did not (M = 1.21, SD = 0.78,t= 2.41,P= .02). We will use data from these patients to introduce the potential for a personalized medicine approach to postoperative pain.
On the wing density and the inflation factor of aircraft
Authors: Huyssen R. J. , Mathews E. H. , Liebenberg L. , Spedding G. R.
Published: February 2016

The aviation industry is dominated by the domain of heavier-than-air, fixed-wing, subsonic flight, and central to any design in this domain is the wing itself. One of the earliest debates in aviation still centres around the usefulness of the wing volume. On the one hand it is held that the wing, as an inevitable necessity, should provide the volume also for the payload. On the other, it is argued that more efficient wings do not even have sufficient volume for the entire wing structure. This work proposes precise definitions of theWing Densityand theInflation Factor, two parameters that can quantitatively reflect the economic and technological trends in aviation. The wing volume of a hypotheticalIdeal Wingis derived from theOperational Parametersof any givenFlight Objectiveand compared to the volume requirement of that flight objective. We conclude that the dominant aircraft configuration of the future is likely to remain within the same family of the current dominant configuration, in conflict with some older predictions.
The Feasibility of an Infection Control “Safe Zone” in a Spinal Cord Injury Unit
Authors: Lones Keshonna , Ramanathan Swetha , Fitzpatrick Margaret , Hill Jennifer N. , Guihan Marylou , Richardson Michael S. A. , Evans Charlesnika T.
Published: February 2016

We report on healthcare worker use of a safe zone (outside a 3-foot perimeter around the patient’s bed) and personal protective equipment in 2 inpatient spinal cord injury/disorder units. Workers remained within the safe zone during 22% of observations but were less compliant with personal protective equipment inside the zone.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:714–716