bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determining the effects of freshwater inflow on benthic macrofauna in the Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida
Authors: Palmer Terence A , Montagna Paul A , Chamberlain Robert H , Doering Peter H , Wan Yongshan , Haunert Kathleen M , Crean Daniel J
Published: August 2015

Florida legislation requires determining and implementing an appropriate range and frequency of freshwater inflows that will sustain a fully functional estuary. Changes in inflow dynamics to the Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida have altered salinity regimes that, in turn, have altered the ecological integrity of the estuary. The purpose of this current project is to determine how changes in freshwater inflows affect water quality, and in turn, benthic macrofauna, spatially within the Caloosahatchee Estuary and between multiyear wet and dry periods. Thirty-four benthic species were identified as being indicator species for salinity zones, and the estuary was divided into 4 zones based on differences in community structure within the estuary. Community structure had the highest correlations with water quality parameters that were common indicators of freshwater conditions resulting from inflows. A significant relationship between salinity and diversity occurs both spatially and temporally because of increased numbers of marine species as salinities increase. A salinity-based model was used to estimate inflow during wet and dry periods for each of the macrofauna community zones. The approach used here (identifying bioindicators and community zones with corresponding inflow ranges) is generic and will be useful for developing targets for managing inflow in estuaries worldwide. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:529–539. © 2015 SETAC

Key Points

A generic approach is developed to identify bioindicators of salinity zones with corresponding inflow ranges. The Caloosahatchee Estuary is divided into 4 macrobenthic community zones. Macrofauna communities are correlated with freshwater indicators, that is, salinity. Dry periods and high salinities correlate with increases in macrobenthic diversity.
How Does Fiscal Policy Affect Investment? Evidence from a Large Panel
Authors: Afonso António , Jalles João Tovar
Published: August 2015

We assess the relevance of fiscal components for private and public investment using data for a large panel of 95 countries for the period 1970–2008. Accounting for the usual econometric pitfalls, our results suggest a negative effect of government expenditure and of government consumption spending on private investment. Interest payments and subsidies have a negative effect on both types of investment (particularly in emerging economies). Social security spending has a negative effect on private investment for the full and OECD samples, whereas government health spending has a positive and significant impact on private investment. Moreover, stronger fiscal numerical rules decrease public investment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative evaluation of the depletion‐red cell exchange program with the Spectra Optia and the isovolemic hemodilution‐red cell exchange method with the COBE Spectra in sickle cell disease patients
Authors: Poullin Pascale , Sanderson Frederick , Bernit Emmanuelle , Brun Marion , Berdah Yael , Badens Catherine
Published: August 2015

Background

This study aims to compare in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), the technical performance and packed red blood cell unit consumption between the automated depletion/Red Blood Cell exchange (RBCx) program (Spectra Optia Apheresis System) with the isovolemic hemodilution (IHD)/RBCx procedure (COBE Spectra Apheresis System) in a routine clinical setting.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 23 patients treated between October 2010 and August 2013 who underwent repeated RBCx on both apheresis systems for preventive indications. Each patient was their own control and had undergone two procedures on each system, totaling 46 sessions per group. On Spectra Optia, we performed the automated depletion/RBCx program. For COBE Spectra, we used a modified IHD/RBCx protocol. All patients had an initial 250 mL depletion offset by a 5% albumin prior to the exchange procedure, for the respective device, with leucodepleted Rh/Kell compatible and cross‐matched RBC packs.

Results

All procedures were well tolerated except three mild febrile nonhemolytic reactions. Postprocedure hemoglobin S (HbS), fraction of cells remaining (FCR), procedure duration and processed blood and anticoagulant volumes were comparable in the two groups. However, the RBCx volume was significantly higher for the Spectra Optia group (+71 mL, P = 0.01), with no significant difference in the number of RBC units used.

Conclusions

Technical performance and packed RBC unit consumption were not compromised when switching from the COBE Spectra IHD/RBCx protocol to the depletion/RBCx protocol on the Spectra Optia. Tolerability was equal for both protocols. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:429–433, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
G Protein‐Coupled Receptor 120 Signaling Negatively Regulates Osteoclast Differentiation, Survival, and Function
Authors: Kim Hyun‐Ju , Yoon Hye‐Jin , Kim Bo Kyung , Kang Woo Youl , Seong Sook Jin , Lim Mi‐Sun , Kim Shin‐Yoon , Yoon Young‐Ran
Published: August 2015

G protein‐coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation and lipid metabolism. In this study, we investigated the role of GPR120 in osteoclast development and found that GPR120 regulates osteoclast differentiation, survival and function. We observed that GPR120 was highly expressed in osteoclasts compared to their precursors, bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMMs). Activation of GPR120 by its ligand GW9508 suppressed receptor activator of NF‐ κB ligand (RANKL)‐induced osteoclast differentiation and the expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1), a key modulator of osteoclastogenesis. GPR120 activation further inhibited the RANKL‐stimulated phosphorylation of IκBα and JNK. In addition to osteoclast differentiation, GPR120 activation increased the apoptosis of mature osteoclasts by inducing caspase‐3 and Bim expression. Activation of GPR120 also interfered with cell spreading and actin cytoskeletal organization mediated by M‐CSF but not by RANKL. Coincident with the impaired cytoskeletal organization, GPR120 activation blocked osteoclast bone resorbing activity. Furthermore, knockdown of GPR120 using small hairpin RNA abrogated all these inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation, survival, and function. Together, our findings identify GPR120 as a negative modulator of osteoclast development that may be an attractive therapeutic target for bone‐destructive diseases. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 844–851, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enhanced elimination of dabigatran: Identifying the appropriate patient for the use of continuous venovenous hemodialysis instead of intermittent hemodialysis—A simulation analysis
Authors: Liesenfeld Karl‐Heinz , Gruenenfelder Fredrik , Clemens Andreas
Published: August 2015

There are clinical situations where rapid elimination of dabigatran is beneficial. Intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) removes dabigatran effectively but is not always available and requires a hemodynamically stable patient. We therefore investigated the continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD) technique for its potency in the elimination of dabigatran. Based on pharmacometric characterization of dabigatran in IHD, we simulated a broad range of dialysis settings for CVVHD and then applied the model to specific clinical situations. Dialysis of 3 hours' duration with typical clinical settings (dialysate flow rate 50 mL/min; blood flow rate 150 mL/min) reduced dabigatran plasma concentration by 14–17% in addition to the patient body clearance. Extending dialysis duration to 8 or 16 hours for patients with severe renal dysfunction resulted in additional reductions from 26% up to 40%. When comparing with IHD for different endpoints (reaching 50% of initial dabigatran concentration, or nondetectability of dabigatran by the Hemoclot test), CVVHD did not reach comparable elimination rates. CVVHD is not fast enough to prepare for urgent interventions in patients with high bleeding risks. However, in situations where less hemodynamically stressful modalities seem indicated, CVVHD might be useful in moderately to severely renally impaired patients to accelerate dabigatran elimination.
Hepatitis C virus increases the risk of kidney disease among HIV‐positive patients: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Fabrizi Fabrizio , Dixit Vivek , Martin Paul , Messa Piergiorgio
Published: August 2015

Kidney disease has become an important co‐morbidity among human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients as they live longer in the era of highly effective antiretroviral therapy. It remains unclear how co‐infection with hepatitis C virus impacts on the trajectory of kidney disease among HIV‐infected patients. To evaluate the effect of co‐infection with HCV on the risk of kidney disease in HIV‐infected populations. We conducted a systematic review of the published medical literature to determine if hepatitis C co‐infection is associated with increased likelihood of chronic kidney disease in HIV‐positive adults. We used the random effects model of DerSimonian and Laird to generate a summary estimate of the relative risk for chronic kidney disease (defined by reduced glomerular filtration rate and/or detectable proteinuria) with hepatitis C virus across the published studies. Meta‐regression and stratified analysis were also conducted. We identified 19 studies (146,151 unique patients with HIV) and separate meta‐analyses were performed according to the outcome. Aggregation of longitudinal studies (n = 8, 105,462 unique patients) showed a relationship between HCV infection and increased risk of reduced glomerular filtration rate among HIV‐infected individuals, the summary estimate for adjusted hazard ratio was 1.64 (95%CI, 1.28; 2.0, P < 0.001) in HIV‐HCV co‐infected individuals compared with those having HIV mono‐infection. No between‐studies heterogeneity was noted (P‐value by Q test = 0.08). HCV positive serology was an independent risk factor for proteinuria; adjusted effect estimate, 1.23 (95% confidence interval, 1.18; 1.28, P = 0.001) (n = 6 studies; 26,835 unique patients). In meta‐regression, we noted the impact of ageing (P = 0.0001) upon the adjusted hazard ratio of incidence of reduced glomerular filtration rate among HCV‐HIV co‐infected patients; a negative association between frequency of males (P = 0.001) and the adjusted hazard ratio of prevalence of low glomerular filtration rate was found. Hepatitis C co‐infection is associated with a significant increase in the risk of reduced glomerular filtration rate and/or detectable proteinuria among HIV‐infected individuals. J. Med. Virol. 88:487–497, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermus anatoliensis sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium from geothermal waters of Buharkent, Turkey
Authors: Kacagan Murat , Inan Kadriye , Canakci Sabriye , Guler Halil Ibrahim , Belduz Ali Osman
Published: August 2015

A Gram‐stain‐negative, lack of motility, catalase‐ and oxidase‐ positive bacterium (strain MT1T) was isolated from Buharkent hot spring in Aydin, Turkey. Its taxonomy was investigated using a polyphasic approach. The strain was able to grow at 45–80 °C, pH 5.5–10.5 and with a NaCI tolerance up to 2.0% (w/v). Strain MT1T was able to utilize d‐mannitol and l‐arabinose, not able to utilize d‐cellobiose as sole carbon source. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the strain belonged to the genus Thermus; strain MT1T detected low‐level similarities of 16S rRNA gene sequences (below 97%) compared with all other species in this genus. The predominant fatty acids of strain MT1T were iso‐C15:0 (43.0%) and iso‐C17:0 (27.4%). Polar lipid analysis revealed a major phospholipid, one major glycolipid, one major aminophospholipid, two minor aminolipids, one minor phospholipid, and several minor glycolipids. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK‐8. The DNA G+C content of MT1T was 69.6 mol%. On the basis of a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, strain MT1T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Thermus, for which the name Thermus anatoliensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MT1T (=NCCB 100425T =LMG 26880T).
Toward a Raman/FORS discrimination between Art Nouveau and contemporary stained glasses from CdSxSe1 − x nanoparticles signatures
Authors: Fornacelli Cristina , Colomban Philippe , Turbanti Memmi Isabella
Published: August 2015

CdSxSe1 − x quantum dots received considerable attention in academic studies and as cut‐off filters and indirect‐gap semiconductors. These later compounds have also been used for artistic purposes to produce colored glass since the 1920s thanks to their bright colors. Because non‐invasive conditions are now mandatory when considering objects belonging to the cultural heritage, the use of Raman and fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy has been identified as potential ones to obtain information about the nanostructure of six samples of historical glass produced between the late 1920s and modern days. The average elemental composition of the nanocrystals has been deduced processing both optical and vibrational data, and the result arising has been compared taking into account the several factors affecting the experimental results. The diffusion of zinc inside the nanocrystals has also been questioned by the shift caused on the CdS‐ and CdSe‐like phonon band wavenumber and on the absorption edge wavelength. An investigation of the size distribution and crystallinity of CdSxSe1 − x nanoparticles has been also performed considering those parameters that are mainly influenced by the disorder of the system, such as the extent of the Urbach tail and the Raman bandwidth. Thanks to the results obtained, discrimination between the more recent glass and the older Art Nouveau ones has been verified, leading to the identification of a useful analytical protocol for conservation purposes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robotic trans‐axillary and retro‐auricular thyroid surgery
Authors: Mohamed Hossam Eldin , Kandil Emad
Published: August 2015

Remote access approaches for thyroid surgery using surgical incisions placed outside the neck, including the axillary, chest and the retro‐auricular region have gained interest due to the social stigmatization of young females with a visible neck scar. These novel approaches have been reported to be safe and feasible approaches for thyroid surgery in a select group of patients. Herein, we will discuss different aspects of the current robotic approaches. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015; 112:243–249. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High‐quality results of cytoreductive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy perfusion for carcinomatosis at a low volume institution
Authors: Bommareddi Swaroop R. , Simianu Vlad V. , Mann Lisa V. , Mann Gary N.
Published: August 2015

Background and Objectives

Maximal cytoreductive surgery (CS) with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy perfusion (HIPEC) for peritoneal carcinomatosis can improve oncologic outcomes, but is associated with significant morbidity. Whether low‐volume experience with CS/HIPEC results in acceptable outcomes is unknown.

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients undergoing CS/HIPEC by a single surgeon. Experience was divided into first versus second 50 cases, and patient characteristics, operative details, and outcomes were compared.

Results

Ninety patients underwent 100 CS/HIPEC procedures (mean age 57 years, 68% female). ­Compared to the initial experience, the second 50 cases included more high grade tumors (68 vs. 52%) and greater disease burden (PCI 14.2 vs. 12.4). Operative times remained unchanged and mean blood loss decreased (978 vs. 684 ml). Hospital stay (mean 18.1 vs. 12.6 days), major complications (24 vs. 16%), and perioperative mortality (8 vs. 2%) declined. Overall median survival was 18 months and was longer with low grade tumors (26 vs. 16 months, P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Patients experienced reduced EBL, fewer major complications, and shorter hospital stay, despite having higher disease burden and higher grade tumors. This suggests that even low‐volume experience with CS/HIPEC can lead to a trend in reduction of adverse perioperative events with acceptable oncologic outcomes. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:219–224. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Renewable Polymers Prepared from Vanillin and Its Derivatives
Authors: Zhang Chaoqun , Madbouly Samy A. , Kessler Michael R.
Published: August 2015

Vanillin and vanillyl alcohol are modified into methacrylated derivatives, which are subsequently polymerized by a free‐radical process. The rheokinetics of the polymerization are investigated to determine the cure behavior and optimize the polymerization conditions for these two monomers. The effects of both structure and functionalities of the vanillin‐based monomers on the thermomechanical properties of the resulting polymers are investigated and discussed. The high cross‐linking density of the polymers from methacrylated vanillyl alcohol results in higher storage modulus and glass transition temperature, as well as better thermal resistance, than seen in polymers from methacrylated vanillin. These properties, combined with methacrylated vanillyl alcohol's low viscosity at room temperature, make it a promising bio‐based reactive diluent for unsaturated polyester resins and vinyl esters.

image
Lower bounds for the logarithmic Sobolev constant avoiding uniform lower bounds on the Ricci curvature
Authors: Gonzalez B. J. , Negrin E. R.
Published: August 2015

In this paper we obtain a lower bound for the logarithmic Sobolev constant of the operator on C∞(M) given by LU f = Δ f ‐ (▿U|▿f), where U ϵ C∞(M), M being a finite dimensional compact Riemannian manifold without boundary, in terms of the spectral gap of LU and the lowest eigenvalue of the operator ‐LU + V, where V is a function related to U and the Ricci curvature of M. Under suitable conditions and being U ≡ 0, this result improves a previous one by J.‐D. DEUSCHEL and D.W. STROOCK (J. Funct. Anal. 92 (1990), 30–48).
An invariant trace formula for rank one lattices
Authors: Hoffmann Werner
Published: August 2015

We prove a non—adelic invariant trace formula for rank one lattices. Unlike Arthur's adelic invariant trace formula for groups of general rank, our formula applies to non—congruence lattices, too, and the geometric terms are made explicit. The contribution of the continuous spectrum to the trace is given in terms of certain generalized Hecke operators, and the convergence problem with this contribution is resolved.
A Near‐Infrared Photothermal Effect‐Responsive Drug Delivery System Based on Indocyanine Green and Doxorubicin‐Loaded Polymeric Micelles Mediated by Reversible Diels–Alder Reaction
Authors: Li Hui , Li Junjie , Ke Wendong , Ge Zhishen
Published: August 2015

Near‐infrared light (NIR) possesses great advantages for light‐responsive controllable drug release, such as deep tissue penetration and low damage to healthy tissues. Herein, a NIR‐responsive drug delivery system is developed based on a NIR dye, indocyanine green (ICG), and anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX)‐loaded thermoresponsive block copolymer micelles, in which the drug release can be controlled via NIR irradiation. First, block copolymers, poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)‐block‐poly(furfuryl methacrylate) (POEGMA‐b‐PFMA), are synthesized by sequential reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization, followed by modification with N‐octyl maleimide through Diels–Alder (DA) reaction to produce POEGMA‐b‐POMFMA. The self‐assembly of POEGMA‐b‐POMFMA by nano­precipitation in aqueous solution affords the polymeric micelles which are used to simultaneously encapsulate ICG and DOX. Upon irradiation by NIR light (805 nm), the loaded DOX is released rapidly from the micelles due to partial retro DA reaction and local temperature increase‐induced faster drug diffusion by the photothermal effect. Cytotoxicity evaluation and intracellular distribution observation demonstrate significant synergistic effects of NIR‐triggered drug release, photothermal, and chemotherapy toward cancer cells under NIR irradiation.

image
Elektrisch leitfähige kohlenstofffaserverstärkte Kunststoffe (CFK) mit freiliegender Funktionsschicht
Authors: Böttger‐Hiller F. , Jahn P. , Trautmann M. , Lindner T. , Nickel D. , Lampke T.
Published: August 2015

Effizienter Leichtbau erfordert intelligente Werkstoffe, die vielseitige Funktionen erfüllen. Ein Lösungsansatz besteht darin, das Eigenschaftsspektrum kohlenstofffaserverstärkter Kunststoffe (CFK) durch das Metallisieren der Faserkomponente zu erweitern. Auf diesem Weg werden Funktionen, wie thermische sowie elektrische Leitfähigkeit, Kontaktierbarkeit, Fügbarkeit und Haftvermittlung im integriert. Beim Verarbeiten der metallisierten Kohlenstofffaserhalbzeuge zu kohlenstofffaserverstärkte Verbunde wird die Funktionalität vom Matrixpolymer bedeckt und ist nicht mehr zugänglich.

In dieser Arbeit werden verschiedene Strategien zur Herstellung von kohlenstofffaserverstärkte Verbunde mit freiliegenden Funktionsschichten systematisch untersucht. Neben der erfolgreichen, selektiven Freilegung ist die Unversehrtheit von Fasern und Funktionsschicht sowie des Gesamtverbundes ein wichtiges Kriterium. Eine Bewertung der Prozesse erfolgt anhand mikrostruktureller Untersuchungen und anschließenden Haftzugversuchen. Anhand von elektrischen Leitfähigkeitsmessungen, Benetzungs‐ und darauf aufbauenden Fügeversuchen, können Zusammenhänge zwischen Oberflächenbearbeitung und Lötbarkeit abgeleitet werden.
Nontarget analysis of Murchison soluble organic matter by high‐field NMR spectroscopy and FTICR mass spectrometry
Authors: Hertkorn N. , Harir M. , Schmitt‐Kopplin Ph.
Published: August 2015

High‐field NMR spectra of Murchison meteorite methanolic extracts revealed primarily aliphatic extraterrestrial organic matter (EOM) with near statistical branching of commonly C3–5 units separated by heteroatoms and aromatic units. The ratios of CCH, OCH and Csp2H units were 89 : 8 : 3, whereas carbon‐based aliphatic chain termination was in the order methyl > COOH > CH(CH3)COOH. Aliphatic methine carbon was abundant, but its weak NMR signatures were primarily deduced from JRES (J‐resolved) NMR spectra. Carbon NMR spectra were dominated by methylene and methyl carbon; strong apodization revealed methine carbon, of which about 20% was aromatic. Extrapolation provided 5–7% aromatic carbon present in Murchison soluble EOM.

Compositional heterogeneity in Murchison methanolic extracts was visible in NMR and Fourier transform ion cyclotron (FTICR) mass spectra obtained from a few cubic millimeters of solid Murchison meteorite; increasing sample size enhanced uniformity of NMR spectra. Intrinsic chemical diversity and pH‐dependent chemical shift variance contributed to the disparity of NMR spectra. FTICR mass spectra provided distinct clustering of CHO/CHOS and CHNO/CHNOS molecular series and confirmed the prevalence of aliphatic/alicyclic (73%) over single aromatic (21%) and polyaromatic (6%) molecular compositions, suggesting extensive aliphatic substitution of aromatic units as proposed by NMR.

Murchison soluble EOM molecules feature a center with enhanced aromatic and heteroatom content, which provides rather diffuse and weak NMR signatures resulting from a huge overall chemical diversity. The periphery of Murchison EOM molecules comprises flexible branched aliphatic chains and aliphatic carboxylic acids. These project on narrow ranges of chemical shift, facilitating observation in one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional NMR spectra. The conformational entropy provided by these flexible surface moieties facilitates the solubility of EOM. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Respiration artifact correction in three‐dimensional proton resonance frequency MR thermometry using phase navigators
Authors: Svedin Bryant T. , Payne Allison , Parker Dennis L.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

To develop reliable three‐dimensional (3D) segmented echo planar imaging (seg‐EPI) proton resonance frequency (PRF) temperature monitoring in the presence of respiration‐induced B0 variation.

Methods

A free induction decay (FID) phase navigator was inserted into a 3D seg‐EPI sequence before and after EPI readout to monitor B0 field variations. Using the field change estimates, the phase of each k‐space line was adjusted to remove the additional phase from the respiratory induced off‐resonance. This correction technique was evaluated while heating with MR‐guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) in phantoms with simulated breathing and during nonheating conditions in healthy in vivo breasts.

Results

With k‐space phase correction, the standard deviation of magnitude images and PRF temperature measurements in breast from five volunteers improved by an average factor of 1.5 and 2.1, respectively. Improved accuracy of temperature estimates was observed after correction while heating with MRgFUS in phantoms.

Conclusion

Phase correction based on two FID navigators placed before and after the echo train provides promising results for implementing 3D monitoring of thermal therapy treatments in the presence of field variations due to respiration. Magn Reson Med 76:206–213, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Computational homogenization of elasticity on a staggered grid
Authors: Schneider Matti , Ospald Felix , Kabel Matthias
Published: August 2015

In this article, we propose to discretize the problem of linear elastic homogenization by finite differences on a staggered grid and introduce fast and robust solvers. Our method shares some properties with the FFT‐based homogenization technique of Moulinec and Suquet, which has received widespread attention recently because of its robustness and computational speed. These similarities include the use of FFT and the resulting performing solvers. The staggered grid discretization, however, offers three crucial improvements. Firstly, solutions obtained by our method are completely devoid of the spurious oscillations characterizing solutions obtained by Moulinec–Suquet's discretization. Secondly, the iteration numbers of our solvers are bounded independently of the grid size and the contrast. In particular, our solvers converge for three‐dimensional porous structures, which cannot be handled by Moulinec–Suquet's method. Thirdly, the finite difference discretization allows for algorithmic variants with lower memory consumption. More precisely, it is possible to reduce the memory consumption of the Moulinec–Suquet algorithms by 50%. We underline the effectiveness and the applicability of our methods by several numerical experiments of industrial scale. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure of chemically deposited Zn(S,O,OH) buffer layer and the effects on the performance of Cu(in,Ga)Se2 solar cell
Authors: Izaki Masanobu , Sugiyama Shinya , Okamoto Tetsuhito , Kusano Yuya , Maki Takeshi , Komaki Hironori , Shibata Hajime , Niki Shigeru
Published: August 2015

The effects of the immersion into a NH3 aqueous solution on the structural characteristics of the chemically deposited Zn(S,O,OH) layer and photovoltaic performance of the CIGS/Zn(S,O,OH) solar cells were investigated with structural and electrical characterizations. The as‐deposited‐Zn(S,O,OH) layer possessed a layered structure of upper Zn(OH)2 and Zn(S,O) layers, and the upper Zn(OH)2 layer was removed by the immersion. The conversion efficiency for the CIGS solar cell was improved from 6.8% to 13.7% by removing the upper Zn(OH)2 layer during the immersion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationship between antidepressant prescription and breast cancer: a population based study in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Vincent Chin‐Hung , Liao Yin‐To , Yeh Dah‐Cherng , Tseng Hsien‐Chun , Stewart Robert , Lee Charles Tzu‐Chi
Published: August 2015

Objective

To investigate the association between antidepressant prescription and breast cancer.

Methods

The National Health Research Institute in Taiwan provided a database of 1 000 000 random subjects for this study. We identified 14 737 new antidepressant female users who were more than 15 years old during 1999–2005 with at least 10 prescriptions and one year exposure to an antidepressant. These were matched 1:1 by age and residence to non‐antidepressant users from the same database to compare the risk of breast cancer.

Results

In a model adjusted by age, residence, insurance amount, and depressive disorder, antidepressant prescription was not associated with breast cancer risk. This held true for both selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants.

Conclusions

There was no evidence for an association between antidepressant prescription and the risk of breast cancer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functional analysis and quantum mechanics: an introduction for physicists
Authors: Ranade Kedar S.
Published: August 2015

We give an introduction to certain topics from functional analysis which are relevant for physics in general and in particular for quantum mechanics. Starting from some examples, we discuss the theory of Hilbert spaces, spectral theory of unbounded operators, distributions and their applications and present some facts from operator algebras. We do not give proofs, but present examples and analogies from physics which should be useful to get a feeling for the topics considered.
Can a native rodent species limit the invasive potential of a non‐native rodent species in tropical agroforest habitats?
Authors: Stuart Alexander M , Prescott Colin V , Singleton Grant R
Published: August 2015

BACKGROUND

Little is known about native and non‐native rodent species interactions in complex tropical agroecosystems. We hypothesised that the native non‐pest rodentRattus everettimay be competitively dominant over the invasive pest rodentRattus tanezumiwithin agroforests. We tested this experimentally by using pulse removal for three consecutive months to reduce populations ofR. everettiin agroforest habitat, and assessed over 6 months the response ofR. tanezumiand other rodent species.

RESULTS

Following removal,R. everettiindividuals rapidly immigrated into removal sites. At the end of the study period,R. tanezumiwere larger and there was a significant shift in their microhabitat use with respect to the use of ground vegetation cover following the perturbation ofR. everetti. Irrespective of treatment,R. tanezumiselected microhabitat with less tree canopy cover, indicative of severely disturbed habitat, whereasR. everettiselected microhabitat with a dense canopy.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that sustained habitat disturbance in agroforests favoursR. tanezumi, while the regeneration of agroforests towards a more natural state would favour native species and may reduce pest pressure in adjacent crops. In addition, the rapid recolonisation ofR. everettisuggests this species would be able to recover from non‐target impacts of short‐term rodent pest control. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Simulating the fate and transport of nursery‐box‐applied pesticide in rice paddy fields
Authors: Boulange Julien , Thuyet Dang Quoc , Jaikaew Piyanuch , Watanabe Hirozumi
Published: August 2015

BACKGROUND

The Pesticide Concentration in a Paddy Field model (PCPF‐1) was modified by adding a root zone compartment to simulate nursery‐box‐applied (NB‐applied) pesticide. The PCPF‐NB model was validated for predicting the concentrations of NB‐applied fipronil and imidacloprid in rice paddy fields using two treatment methods: before transplanting (BT) and at sowing (AS). Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate the robustness of the concentrations predicted by the model.

RESULTS

The hourly predicted concentrations of imidacloprid and fipronil were accurate in both paddy water and 1 cm deep paddy soil. The coefficient of determination and Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency were greater than 0.87 and 0.60 respectively. The 95th percentiles of the predicted concentrations of fipronil and imidacloprid indicated that the influence of input uncertainty was minor in paddy water but important in paddy soil. The pesticide deposition rate and the desorption rate from the root zone were identified to be the major contributors to the variation in the predicted concentrations in paddy water and soil.

CONCLUSION

The PCPF‐NB model was validated for predicting the fate and transport of NB‐applied fipronil and imidacloprid using the BT and AS treatment methods. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Incorporation of nitrogen into polycrystalline diamond surfaces by RF plasma nitridation process at different temperatures: Bonding configuration and thermal stabilty studies by in situ XPS and HREELS
Authors: Chandran Maneesh , Shasha Michal , Michaelson Shaul , Akhvlediani Rozalia , Hoffman Alon
Published: August 2015

In situ studies of low energy nitrogen species incorporated into diamond films are significant as they could lead to a better understanding of bonding configuration and defects formation of the modified surface. In this report, we investigate the interaction of radio frequency (RF) nitrogen plasma onto a polycrystalline diamond surface at different temperatures (RT, 250, 500, and 750 °C). The influence of RF nitridation temperature on the bonding configuration, thermal stability, and concentrations of incorporated species were systematically investigated by in situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). Our results showed that local bonding configurations were influenced by the temperature of the RF nitridation process. The amount of nitrogen incorporated into the diamond surface decreased as the nitridation process temperature increases. RF nitridation performed at 750 °C showed the absence of reorganization in the local bonding configurations upon annealing to 1000 °C and their thermal stability was also found to be better. HREELS results displayed partial retrieval of the characteristic optical phonon overtone of diamond, after annealing to 500 °C, which indicates that the RF nitridation process was successful in incorporating nitrogen into diamond surface without inducing a graphitic near surface region.
Radiative and nonradiative recombination mechanisms in nonpolar and semipolar GaInN/GaN quantum wells
Authors: Langer Torsten , Klisch Manuela , Alexej Ketzer Fedor , Jönen Holger , Bremers Heiko , Rossow Uwe , Meisch Tobias , Scholz Ferdinand , Hangleiter Andreas
Published: August 2015

Via temperature‐dependent time‐resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, we investigate the radiative and nonradiative recombination processes in thin (quantum well widths of about 1.5 nm) a‐plane, m‐plane, () and () GaInN/GaN fivefold quantum well structures of varying indium content grown on low defect density GaN substrates and GaN templates. At room temperature, we observe surprisingly short radiative lifetimes in the range from 100 ps to 1 ns for these structures, being about one to two orders of magnitude shorter than for similar c‐plane quantum wells. This large difference cannot solely be explained by the larger overlap matrix element in non‐ and semipolar wells. Higher exciton binding energies and lower effective density of states masses may contribute to an enhanced radiative probability. The nonradiative recombination exhibits a thermally activated behavior with activation energies of about 10 meV for () and around 25 meV for nonpolar quantum wells. These values are lower than the quantum well barrier height and the exciton binding energy, but in a similar range as the localization energies estimated from the radiative recombination.
Bayesian restricted spatial regression for examining session features and patient outcomes in open‐enrollment group therapy studies
Authors: Paddock Susan M. , Leininger Thomas J. , Hunter Sarah B.
Published: August 2015

Group‐based interventions have been developed for treating patients across a range of health conditions. Enrollment into such groups often occurs on an open (or rolling) basis. Conditional autoregression modeling of random session effects has been proposed to account for the expected correlation in session effects associated with the overlap in patient participation session to session. However, when the analytic objective is to examine the relationship between a fixed‐effect session feature and a patient outcome using conditional autoregression, confounding might arise if the fixed session feature of interest and the random session effects vary across sessions in similar ways, resulting in bias and inflated standard errors of a fixed‐effect session feature of interest. Motivated by the goal of examining the relationships between outcomes and the session features of leader and session module theme, we applied restricted spatial regression to the analysis of patient outcomes collected from 132 participants in an open‐enrollment group for treating depression among patients of a residential alcohol and other drug treatment program, adapting the approach to the multilevel data structure of open‐enrollment group data. As compared with standard conditional autoregression, the restricted regression approach resulted in more precise estimates of regression coefficients of the module theme and leader predictor variables. The restricted regression approach provides an important analytic tool for group therapy researchers who are investigating the relationship between key components of open‐enrollment group therapy interventions and patient outcomes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sentiment analysis and opinion mining: on optimal parameters and performances
Authors: Schuller Björn , Mousa Amr El‐Desoky , Vryniotis Vasileios
Published: August 2015

Sentiment analysis is the task of identifying the polarity and subjectivity of documents using a combination of machine learning, information retrieval, and natural language processing techniques. The problem is studied within the scope of statistical machine learning. Different feature selection methods, dimensionality reduction algorithms and classification techniques are investigated and compared. The main focus of this work is on finding the factors that affect the accuracy of learnt models. Extensive statistical analysis is performed to identify the best algorithmic configurations. Moreover, a novel approach is introduced based on long short‐term memory recurrent neural network language models that do not require any special preprocessing or feature selection. Finally, benchmark results are presented on seven well‐known datasets from different domains. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2015, 5:255–263. doi: 10.1002/widm.1159

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Text Mining
Sentiment–topic modeling in text mining
Authors: Lin Chenghua , Ibeke Ebuka , Wyner Adam , Guerin Frank
Published: August 2015

In recent years, there has been a rapid growth of research interest in natural language processing that seeks to better understand sentiment or opinion expressed in text. There are several notable issues in most previous work in sentiment analysis, among them: the trained classifiers are domain‐dependent; the labeled corpora required for training can be difficult to acquire from real‐world text; and dependencies between sentiments and topics are not taken into consideration. In response to these limitations, a new family of probabilistic topic models, namely joint sentiment–topic models, have been developed, which are capable of detecting sentiment in connection with topic from text without using any labeled data for training. In addition, the sentiment‐bearing topics extracted by the joint sentiment–topic models provide means for automatically discovering and summarizing opinions from a vast amount of user‐generated data. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2015, 5:246–254. doi: 10.1002/widm.1161

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Text Mining

Technologies > Machine Learning

Technologies > Structure Discovery and Clustering
A method to assess relative preference for training and environmental enrichment in captive wolves (Canis lupus and Canis lupus arctos)
Authors: Dorey Nicole R. , Mehrkam Lindsay R. , Tacey Jay
Published: August 2015

It is currently debated as to whether or not positive reinforcement training is enriching to captive animals. Although both husbandry training and environmental enrichment (EE) have been found to benefit animal welfare in captivity, to date, no systematic investigation has compared an animal's preference for performing a trained behavior to engaging freely with a stimuli provided as EE. In the current paper, we used four captive wolves to (1) test the efficacy of a paired‐stimulus preference assessment to determine preference for engaging in a trained behavior as a choice; and to (2) use a paired‐stimulus preference assessment to determine whether or not individuals prefer to engage in a previously trained behavior versus a previously encountered EE stimuli. Of the four subjects tested, visual inspection of the graphs revealed that two of the subjects preferred trained behavior stimuli and two of the subjects preferred EE stimuli; only one of the wolves had a statically higher preference for an EE stimulus over a trained behavior. We believe that letting the animals choose between these two events is the first step in answering the question of whether or not is training enriching, however more research needs to be done and suggestions for future research is discussed. Zoo Biol. 34:513–517, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MAP Kinase Cascades in Antigen Receptor Signaling and Physiology
Authors: Yasuda Tomoharu
Published: August 2015

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play roles in a cell type and context-dependent manner to convert extracellular stimuli to a variety of cellular responses, thereby directing cells to proliferation, differentiation, survival, apoptosis, and migration. Studies of genetically engineered mice or chemical inhibitors specific to each MAPK signaling pathway revealed that MAPKs have various, but non-redundant physiologically important roles among different families. MAPK cascades are obviously integrated in the B cell receptor signaling pathways as critical components to drive B cell-mediated immunity.
Working with Rural Communities
Authors: Francis David , Henderson Paul
Published: August 2015

Rural communities are facing increasing and contrasting problems, with high levels of unemployment or conflict arising from suburbanisation and the arrival of newcomers. This book provides a strategic framework for dealing with these issues, with an innovative model for planning and practising rural community work. It is relevant to work in all types of areas, and for a wide range of agencies, identifying key management and evaluating tasks. Important connections are made between existing knowledge and the worker's own experiences. Concluding with a review of policies, this is an invaluable guide for rural community work students and professionals.
Enhanced production of (R,R)-2,3-butanediol by metabolically engineered Klebsiella oxytoca
Authors: Park Jong Myoung , Rathnasingh Chelladurai , Song Hyohak
Published: August 2015

Microbial fermentation produces a racemic mixture of 2,3-butanediol ((R,R)-BD, (S,S)-BD, and meso-BD), and the compositions and physiochemical properties vary from microorganism to microorganism. Although the meso form is much more difficult to transport and store because of its higher freezing point than those of the optically active forms, most microorganisms capable of producing 2,3-BD mainly yield meso-2,3-BD. Thus, we developed a metabolically engineered (R,R)-2,3-BD overproducing strain using a Klebsiella oxytoca ΔldhA ΔpflB strain, which shows an outstanding 2,3-BD production performance with more than 90 % of the meso form. A budC gene encoding 2,3-BD dehydrogenase in the K. oxytoca ΔldhA ΔpflB strain was replaced with an exogenous gene encoding (R,R)-2,3-BD dehydrogenase from Paenibacillus polymyxa (K. oxytoca ΔldhA ΔpflB ΔbudC::PBDH strain), and then its expression level was further amplified with using a pBBR1MCS plasmid. The fed-batch fermentation of the K. oxytoca ΔldhA ΔpflB ΔbudC::PBDH (pBBR-PBDH) strain with intermittent glucose feeding allowed the production of 106.7 g/L of (R,R)-2,3-BD [meso-2,3-BD, 9.3 g/L], with a yield of 0.40 g/g and a productivity of 3.1 g/L/h, which should be useful for the industrial application of 2,3-BD.
Homogeneous Tubular‐Flow Process for Monoolein Preparation
Authors: Herskowitz Moti , Landau Miron V. , Koukouliev Slava , Zarchin Ruby , Nehemya Roxana Vidruk , Wee Lik H. , Martens Johan A.
Published: August 2015

Esterification of fatty acids with glycerol is characterized by negligible solubility of the two liquid phases. The reactions to mono‐, di‐ and triglycerides taking place in the fatty acid phase, are limited by chemical equilibrium. The scope of this study is to investigate in a tubular reactor the conversion of a homogeneous mixture of oleic acid and glycerol in tert‐butanol. The liquid composition in this study was 1 mol of oleic acid, 6 mol of glycerol and 14 mol of tert‐butanol. Experiments were conducted in a tubular reactor at 35 atm over a temperature range of 200–240 °C and residence times of 0.7–17.6 h to determine the kinetics and the chemical equilibrium. The selectivity to monoolein was >95 mol %. A reversible second order reaction fits the data well.
Multiple functional linear model for association analysis of RNA‐seq with imaging
Authors: Jiang Junhai , Lin Nan , Guo Shicheng , Chen Jinyun , Xiong Momiao
Published: August 2015

Emerging integrative analysis of genomic and anatomical imaging data which has not been well developed, provides invaluable information for the holistic discovery of the genomic structure of disease and has the potential to open a new avenue for discovering novel disease susceptibility genes which cannot be identified if they are analyzed separately. A key issue to the success of imaging and genomic data analysis is how to reduce their dimensions. Most previous methods for imaging information extraction and RNA‐seq data reduction do not explore imaging spatial information and often ignore gene expression variation at the genomic positional level. To overcome these limitations, we extend functional principle component analysis from one dimension to two dimensions (2DFPCA) for representing imaging data and develop a multiple functional linear model (MFLM) in which functional principal scores of images are taken as multiple quantitative traits and RNA‐seq profile across a gene is taken as a function predictor for assessing the association of gene expression with images. The developed method has been applied to image and RNA‐seq data of ovarian cancer and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) studies. We identified 24 and 84 genes whose expressions were associated with imaging variations in ovarian cancer and KIRC studies, respectively. Our results showed that many significantly associated genes with images were not differentially expressed, but revealed their morphological and metabolic functions. The results also demonstrated that the peaks of the estimated regression coefficient function in the MFLM often allowed the discovery of splicing sites and multiple isoforms of gene expressions.