bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-exposure treatment of Ebola virus disease in guinea pigs using EBOTAb, an ovine antibody-based therapeutic
Authors: Dowall Stuart D. , Bosworth Andrew , Rayner Emma , Taylor Irene , Landon John , Cameron Ian , Coxon Ruth , Al Abdulla Ibrahim , Graham Victoria A. , Hall Graham , Kobinger Gary , Hewson Roger , Carroll Miles W.
Published: July 2016

Ebola virus (EBOV) is highly pathogenic, with a predisposition to cause outbreaks in human populations accompanied by significant mortality. An ovine polyclonal antibody therapy has been developed against EBOV, named EBOTAb. When tested in the stringent guinea pig model of EBOV disease, EBOTAb has been shown to confer protection at levels of 83.3%, 50% and 33.3% when treatment was first started on days 3, 4 and 5 post-challenge, respectively. These timepoints of when EBOTAb treatment was initiated correspond to when levels of EBOV are detectable in the circulation and thus mimic when treatment would likely be initiated in human infection. The effects of EBOTAb were compared with those of a monoclonal antibody cocktail, ZMapp, when delivered on day 3 post-challenge. Results showed ZMapp to confer complete protection against lethal EBOV challenge in the guinea pig model at this timepoint. The data reported demonstrate that EBOTAb is an effective treatment against EBOV disease, even when delivered late after infection.
Gaussian-Schell analysis of the transverse spatial properties of high-harmonic beams
Authors: Lloyd David T. , O’Keeffe Kevin , Anderson Patrick N. , Hooker Simon M.
Published: July 2016

High harmonic generation (HHG) is an established means of producing coherent, short wavelength, ultrafast pulses from a compact set-up. Table-top high-harmonic sources are increasingly being used to image physical and biological systems using emerging techniques such as coherent diffraction imaging and ptychography. These novel imaging methods require coherent illumination and it is therefore important to both characterize the spatial coherence of high-harmonic beams and understand the processes which limit this property. Here we investigate the near- and far-field spatial properties of high-harmonic radiation generated in a gas cell. The variation with harmonic order of the intensity profile, wavefront curvature and complex coherence factor is measured in the far-field by the SCIMITAR technique. Using the Gaussian-Schell model, the properties of the harmonic beam in the plane of generation are deduced. Our results show that the order-dependence of the harmonic spatial coherence is consistent with partial coherence induced by both variation of the intensity-dependent dipole phase as well as finite spatial coherence of the driving radiation. These findings are used to suggest ways in which the coherence of harmonic beams could be increased further, which would have direct benefits to imaging with high-harmonic radiation.
Integrating Epigenomic Elements and GWASs Identifies BDNF Gene Affecting Bone Mineral Density and Osteoporotic Fracture Risk
Authors: Guo Yan , Dong Shan-Shan , Chen Xiao-Feng , Jing Ying-Aisha , Yang Man , Yan Han , Shen Hui , Chen Xiang-Ding , Tan Li-Jun , Tian Qing , Deng Hong-Wen , Yang Tie-Lin
Published: July 2016

To identify susceptibility genes for osteoporosis, we conducted an integrative analysis that combined epigenomic elements and previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) data, followed by validation at population and functional levels, which could identify common regulatory elements and predict new susceptibility genes that are biologically meaningful to osteoporosis. By this approach, we found a set of distinct epigenomic elements significantly enriched or depleted in the promoters of osteoporosis-associated genes, including 4 transcription factor binding sites, 27 histone marks, and 21 chromatin states segmentation types. Using these epigenomic marks, we performed reverse prediction analysis to prioritize the discovery of new candidate genes. Functional enrichment analysis of all the prioritized genes revealed several key osteoporosis related pathways, including Wnt signaling. Genes with high priority were further subjected to validation using available GWASs datasets. Three genes were significantly associated with spine bone mineral density, including BDNF, PDE4D, and SATB2, which all closely related to bone metabolism. The most significant gene BDNF was also associated with osteoporotic fractures. RNA interference revealed that BDNF knockdown can suppress osteoblast differentiation. Our results demonstrated that epigenomic data could be used to indicate common epigenomic marks to discover additional loci with biological functions for osteoporosis.
Enhanced biglycan gene expression in the adipose tissues of obese women and its association with obesity-related genes and metabolic parameters
Authors: Kim Jimin , Lee Seul Ki , Shin Ji-min , Jeoun Un-woo , Jang Yeon Jin , Park Hye Soon , Kim Jong-Hyeok , Gong Gyung-Yub , Lee Taik Jong , Hong Joon Pio , Lee Yeon Ji , Heo Yoon-Suk
Published: July 2016

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling dynamically occurs to accommodate adipose tissue expansion during obesity. One non-fibrillar component of ECM, biglycan, is released from the matrix in response to tissue stress; the soluble form of biglycan binds to toll-like receptor 2/4 on macrophages, causing proinflammatory cytokine secretion. To investigate the pattern and regulatory properties of biglycan expression in human adipose tissues in the context of obesity and its related diseases, we recruited 21 non-diabetic obese women, 11 type 2 diabetic obese women, and 59 normal-weight women. Regardless of the presence of diabetes, obese patients had significantly higher biglycan mRNA in both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Biglycan mRNA was noticeably higher in non-adipocytes than adipocytes and significantly decreased during adipogenesis. Adipose tissue biglycan mRNA positively correlated with adiposity indices and insulin resistance parameters; however, this relationship disappeared after adjusting for BMI. In both fat depots, biglycan mRNA strongly correlated with the expression of genes related to inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress. In addition, culture of human preadipocytes and differentiated adipocytes under conditions mimicking the local microenvironments of obese adipose tissues significantly increased biglycan mRNA expression. Our data indicate that biglycan gene expression is increased in obese adipose tissues by altered local conditions.
Associations between depressive symptoms and fronto-temporal activities during a verbal fluency task in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Pu Shenghong , Nakagome Kazuyuki , Miura Akihiko , Iwata Masaaki , Nagata Izumi , Kaneko Koichi
Published: July 2016

Though depressive symptoms are common in patients with schizophrenia, they are often left untreated and are associated with a high relapse rate, suicidal ideation, increased mortality, reduced social adjustment, and poor quality of life. The present study aims to elucidate the association between depressive symptoms and fronto-temporal activities during a cognitive task in patients with schizophrenia. The fronto-temporal activities of 41 Japanese patients with schizophrenia was evaluated during a verbal fluency task using 52-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the depression/anxiety component of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) five-factor model. The depression/anxiety component of the PANSS five-factor model was negatively correlated with activities of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), right dorsolateral PFC, and left temporal regions. Our findings suggest that reduced fronto-temporal activities on NIRS during a verbal fluency task is related to depressive symptom severity in patients with schizophrenia.
Sensory hypo-excitability in a rat model of fetal development in Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: Berzhanskaya Julia , Phillips Marnie A. , Shen Jing , Colonnese Matthew T.
Published: July 2016

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is characterized by sensory hyper-sensitivity, and animal models suggest that neuronal hyper-excitability contributes to this phenotype. To understand how sensory dysfunction develops in FXS, we used the rat model (FMR-KO) to quantify the maturation of cortical visual responses from the onset of responsiveness prior to eye-opening, through age equivalents of human juveniles. Rather than hyper-excitability, visual responses before eye-opening had reduced spike rates and an absence of early gamma oscillations, a marker for normal thalamic function at this age. Despite early hypo-excitability, the developmental trajectory of visual responses in FMR-KO rats was normal, and showed the expected loss of visually evoked bursting at the same age as wild-type, two days before eye-opening. At later ages, during the third and fourth post-natal weeks, signs of mild hyper-excitability emerged. These included an increase in the visually-evoked firing of regular spiking, presumptive excitatory, neurons, and a reduced firing of fast-spiking, presumptive inhibitory, neurons. Our results show that early network changes in the FMR-KO rat arise at ages equivalent to fetal humans and have consequences for excitability that are opposite those found in adults. This suggests identification and treatment should begin early, and be tailored in an age-appropriate manner.
Identification of polymer surface adsorbed proteins implicated in pluripotent human embryonic stem cell expansion
Authors: Hammad Moamen , Rao Wei , Smith James G. W. , Anderson Daniel G. , Langer Robert , Young Lorraine E. , Barrett David A. , Davies Martyn C. , Denning Chris , Alexander Morgan R.
Published: July 2016

The discovery of heat shock proteins as candidates for human pluripotent stem cell culture using high throughput screening.
A N-heterocyclic tetracarbene Pd(ii) moiety containing a Pd(ii)–Pb(ii) bimetallic MOF for three-component cyclotrimerization via benzyne
Authors: Dong Ying , Li Yue , Wei Yong-Liang , Wang Jian-Cheng , Ma Jian-Ping , Ji Jun , Yao Bing-Jian , Dong Yu-Bin
Published: July 2016

A N-heterocyclic tetracarbene Pd(ii) moiety containing a bimetallic metal–organic framework Pd(ii)–Pb(ii)–MOF, which can be a highly active heterogeneous catalyst for three-component cyclotrimerization, is reported.
Entrapment of a pyridine derivative within a copper–palladium alloy: a bifunctional catalyst for electrochemical reduction of CO2 to alcohols with excellent selectivity and reusability
Authors: Yang Heng-Pan , Qin Sen , Yue Ying-Na , Liu Li , Wang Huan , Lu Jia-Xing
Published: July 2016

A highly stable and recyclable catalyst, [PYD]@Cu–Pd, was demonstrated to have dual activity for electro-reduction of CO2 in aqueous solution.
Polymer-based photocathodes with a solution-processable cuprous iodide anode layer and a polyethyleneimine protective coating
Authors: Rojas Hansel Comas , Bellani Sebastiano , Fumagalli Francesco , Tullii Gabriele , Leonardi Silvia , Mayer Matthew T. , Schreier Marcel , Grätzel Michael , Lanzani Guglielmo , Di Fonzo Fabio , Antognazza Maria Rosa
Published: July 2016

Organic semiconductors are proven to efficiently drive photoelectrochemical water splitting.
Kinetics of bread crumb hydration as related to porous microstructure
Authors: Mathieu Vincent , Monnet Anne-Flore , Jourdren Solenne , Panouillé Maud , Chappard Christine , Souchon Isabelle
Published: July 2016

An in vitro approach enabled to investigate the relationship between bread crumb porous micro structure and kinetics of hydration.
Catalytic activity of mesoporous Ni/CNT, Ni/SBA-15 and (Cu, Ca, Mg, Mn, Co)–Ni/SBA-15 catalysts for CO2 reforming of CH4
Authors: Dai Yong-Ming , Lu Chi-Yuan , Chang Chi-Jen
Published: July 2016

The CO2 reforming of CH4 to H2 over a Ni/SBA-15 catalyst is an effective method for renewable energy generation.
A comparative study of a fluorene-based non-fullerene electron acceptor and PC61BM in an organic solar cell at a quantum chemical level
Authors: Pan Qing-Qing , Li Shuang-Bao , Wu Yong , Sun Guang-Yan , Geng Yun , Su Zhong-Min
Published: July 2016

A comparison of the OSC efficiency between PC61BM and non-fullerene small molecule acceptor-FENIDT was studied by microscopic analysis based on the DFT/TDDFT calculation.
UV photo-mediated size-focusing synthesis of silver nanoclusters
Authors: Tominaga C. , Hasegawa H. , Yamashita K. , Arakawa R. , Kawasaki H.
Published: July 2016

In this work, we first report the photo-mediated size-focusing synthesis of glutathione (SG)-protected atomically precise Ag nanoclusters (Ag NCs).
Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of a new 1D polymeric nitrogen-rich energetic complex {TAG[Li(BTO)(H2O)]}n based on 1H,1′H-5,5′-bitetrazole-1,1′-diolate
Authors: Zhang Zhi-Bin , Xu Cai-Xia , Yin Lei , Wang Zhen , Yin Xin , Zhang Jian-Guo
Published: July 2016

The novel polymer {TAG[Li(BTO)(H2O)]}n, based on 1H,1′H-5,5′-bitetrazole-1,1′-diolate, opened up a new field on BTO-based energetic materials and anionic metal–organic frameworks.
Studies of molecular structure, hydrogen bonding and chemical activity of a nitrofurantoin-l-proline cocrystal: a combined spectroscopic and quantum chemical approach
Authors: Pandey Jaya , Prajapati Preeti , Shimpi Manishkumar R. , Tandon Poonam , Velaga Sitaram P. , Srivastava Anubha , Sinha Kirti
Published: July 2016

Nitrofurantoin (NTF) as an API and l-proline (LP) as a co-former being used as components to form a model of cocrystal NTF-LP to predict its crystal structure.
Stereoselective Z-halosulfonylation of terminal alkynes using sulfonohydrazides and CuX (X = Cl, Br, I)
Authors: Wan Jie-Ping , Hu Deqing , Bai Feicheng , Wei Li , Liu Yunyun
Published: July 2016

The unconventional Z-selective halosulfonylation of terminal alkynes has been achieved by using CuX (X = Cl, Br, I)/sulfonohydrazides at rt, providing a practical and new route for the synthesis of diverse halogenated vinyl sulfones.
The value-added utilization of glycerol for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate catalyzed with a novel porous ZnO catalyst
Authors: Zhang Pingbo , Liu Lihua , Fan Mingming , Dong Yuming , Jiang Pingping
Published: July 2016

In the carbonylation reaction, a novel porous ZnO was prepared by a calcination method, and the raw material Zn glycerolate platelets were prepared via the glycerol approach, which could make use of a by-product of glycerol.
Construction of superhydrophilic and under-water superoleophobic carbon-based membranes for water purification
Authors: Gu Jincui , Xiao Peng , Zhang Lei , Lu Wei , Zhang Ganggang , Huang Youju , Zhang Jiawei , Chen Tao
Published: July 2016

A novel hybrid Ag/PAA-CNTs membrane with oil/water separation performance and antibacterial functions is presented, which may open a new window to achieve multifunctional materials for water treatment.
Preparation of black phosphorus-PEDOT:PSS hybrid semiconductor composites with good film-forming properties and environmental stability in water containing oxygen
Authors: Zhang Jie , Ding Wanchuan , Zhang Zhouxiang , Xu Jingkun , Wen Yangping
Published: July 2016

Preparation of BP-PEDOT:PSS composites and their stabilities in water containing oxygen.
Steering protein adsorption at charged surfaces: electric fields and ionic screening
Authors: Mulheran Paul A. , Connell David J. , Kubiak-Ossowska Karina
Published: July 2016

Protein adsorption at charged surfaces is a common process in the development of functional technological devices.
Flame retardation behavior of polybenzoxazine/α-ZrP nanocomposites
Authors: Zhao Chunxia , Li Peng , He Da , Li Yuntao , Lei Fan , Sue Hung-Jue
Published: July 2016

Flame retardation behaviors of polybenzoxazine (PBa) nanocomposites containing various levels of exfoliated α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) nanoplatelets were prepared and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy.
Phosphorus doped single wall carbon nanotubes loaded with nanoparticles of iron phosphide and iron carbide for efficient hydrogen evolution
Authors: Lv Cuncai , Yang Qianpeng , Huang Qingli , Huang Zhipeng , Xia Han , Zhang Chi
Published: July 2016

Phosphorus doped SWNTs loaded with nanoparticles of iron carbide and iron phosphide are synthesized cost-effectively and time-efficiently using a one-pot and one-step chemical vapor deposition method, and exhibit superb catalytic activity in the HER.
Low-intensity exercise training maintains adipokines in obese children
Authors: Kang Sunghwun , Woo Jinhee , Yeo Nam-Hwoeh , Ok Duckpil , Yoo Jaeho , Shin Ki Ok
Published: July 2016

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of a 12 weeks low-intensity exercise training on body composition, adipokines, and growth factors in normal (NG) and obese (OG) children. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max); body composition; adipokines consisting of adiponectin, retinol binding protein-4 (RBP4), and interleukin-6 (IL-6); and growth factors including insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGF-BP3) were measured before and after low-intensity exercise training program. Body composition parameters such as body weight, body mass index, body fat (%) and VO2 max were significantly different between NG and OG. Adiponectin levels in NG were increased after 12 weeks exercise training. In addition, our results showed that the concentrations of adiponectin, RBP4, IGF-1, and IGF-BP3 in OG were higher than those of NG. Adiponectin levels were significantly correlated with body fat (r = −0.545, p = 0.001) and VO2max (r = 0.368, p = 0.032) and RBP4 levels were significantly correlated with body fat (r = 0.371, p = 0.031) in all subjects. Exercise training improved adiponectin levels in NG subjects and maintained the levels of body fat, adipokines (adiponectin, RBP4), and growth factors (IGF-1, IGF-BP3) in OG subjects. The present study revealed that regular low-intensity exercise training is strongly associated with high adiponectin levels in healthy children. However, obese children did not exhibit any changes in the levels of adipokines and maintained body composition and growth factors.
A molecular dynamics study of dislocation density generation and plastic relaxation during shock of single crystal Cu
Authors: Sichani Mehrdad M. , Spearot Douglas E.
Published: July 2016

The molecular dynamics simulation method is used to investigate the dependence of crystal orientation and shock wave strength on dislocation density evolution in single crystal Cu. Four different shock directions 〈100〉, 〈110〉, 〈111〉, and 〈321〉 are selected to study the role of crystal orientation on dislocation generation immediately behind the shock front and plastic relaxation as the system reaches the hydrostatic state. Dislocation density evolution is analyzed for particle velocities between the Hugoniot elastic limit (upHEL) for each orientation up to a maximum of 1.5 km/s. Generally, dislocation density increases with increasing particle velocity for all shock orientations. Plastic relaxation for shock in the 〈110〉, 〈111〉, and 〈321〉 directions is primarily due to a reduction in the Shockley partial dislocation density. In addition, plastic anisotropy between these orientations is less apparent at particle velocities above 1.1 km/s. In contrast, plastic relaxation is limited for shock in the 〈100〉 orientation. This is partially due to the emergence of sessile stair-rod dislocations with Burgers vectors of 1/3〈100〉 and 1/6〈110〉. The nucleation of 1/6〈110〉 dislocations at lower particle velocities is mainly due to the reaction between Shockley partial dislocations and twin boundaries. On the other hand, for the particle velocities above 1.1 km/s, the nucleation of 1/3〈100〉 dislocations is predominantly due to reaction between Shockley partial dislocations at stacking fault intersections. Both mechanisms promote greater dislocation densities after relaxation for shock pressures above 34 GPa compared to the other three shock orientations.
Stokes–Einstein relation and excess entropy in Al-rich Al-Cu melts
Authors: Pasturel A. , Jakse N.
Published: July 2016

We investigate the conditions for the validity of the Stokes-Einstein relation that connects diffusivity to viscosity in melts using entropy-scaling relationships developed by Rosenfeld. Employing ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to determine transport and structural properties of liquid Al1−xCux alloys (with composition x ≤ 0.4), we first show that reduced self-diffusion coefficients and viscosities, according to Rosenfeld's formulation, scale with the two-body approximation of the excess entropy except the reduced viscosity for x = 0.4. Then, we use our findings to evidence that the Stokes-Einstein relation using effective atomic radii is not valid in these alloys while its validity can be related to the temperature dependence of the partial pair-excess entropies of both components. Finally, we derive a relation between the ratio of the self-diffusivities of the components and the ratio of their pair excess entropies.
Optical contrast spectra studies for determining thickness of stage-1 graphene-FeCl3 intercalation compounds
Authors: Han Wen-Peng , Li Qiao-Qiao , Lu Yan , Yan Xu , Zhao Hui , Long Yun-Ze
Published: July 2016

Because of novel features in their structural, electronic, magnetic and optical properties, especially potential applications in nanoelectronics, the few-layer graphene intercalation compounds (FLGICs) have been intensively studied recently. In this work, the dielectric constant of the doped graphene of stage-1 FeCl3-GIC is obtained by fitting the optical contrast spectra. And fully intercalated stage-1 FeCl3-FLGICs were prepared by micromechanical cleavage method from graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) for the first time. Finally, we demonstrated that the thickness of stage-1 FeCl3-GICs by micromechanical cleavage can be determined by optical contrast spectra. This method also can be used to other FLGICs, such as SbCl5-FLGICs and AuCl5-FLGICs, etc.
Sensitivity enhancement of piezoelectric force sensors by using multiple piezoelectric effects
Authors: Zhang Z. H. , Kan J. W. , Yu X. C. , Wang S. Y. , Ma J. J. , Cao Z. X.
Published: July 2016

The sensitivity enhancement of piezoelectric force sensors is investigated based on multiple piezoelectric effects in this paper. At first, theoretical analysis showed that multiple piezoelectric effects had an influence on the piezoelectric force sensors. Secondly, a practicable method was adopted to perform the experimental validation and quantify the influence of multiple piezoelectric effects. In the method, different capacitors whose capacitances became much larger than that of the piezoelectric quartz sensor were in parallel with the quartz sensor. With the method, the details of the sensitivity enhancement of piezoelectric sensors were obtained. Experimental results showed that the sensor sensitivity increased from 4.00 pC/N to 4.07 pC/N when the capacitance of parallel capacitors was increased from 500 to 1000 and then 5000 times of that of the sensor. The force sensor sensitivity was improved by 1.75%. However, the nonlinearity and repeatability error of the force sensor were markedly increased with increasing the capacitance of the parallel capacitor. The method demonstrated that the piezoelectric force sensor sensitivity could be enhanced to a certain extent in the practical engineering, but it also brought some negative effects. Finally, further analysis indicated that multiple piezoelectric effects influenced the sensitivity by changing the piezoelectric coefficient. The well-known piezoelectric coefficient d11 of the quartz could actually reach 2.35 pC/N.
Effects of dietary supplementation of cinnamaldehyde and formic acid on growth performance, intestinal microbiota and immune response in broiler chickens
Authors: Pathak M. , Mandal G. P. , Patra A. K. , Samanta I. , Pradhan S. , Haldar S.
Published: July 2016

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of replacing antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) with a combination of essential oil and organic acids (EO + OA) on growth performance, gut microbiota and immune response in broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, 320 day-old broiler chicks were randomly distributed to 32 pens with 10 birds in each pen and the pens were equally allotted to four treatment groups. In Experiment 2, 120 day-old chicks were divided into the same four treatment groups, each group containing three replicated pens with 10 birds in each pen. The groups were (1) Negative Control (NC) without AGP or other growth-promoting feed additives; (2) AGP (NC + enramycin; 125 mg/kg feed; (3) OA (NC + OA; 500 mg/kg feed); and (4) EO + OA (NC + a combination of cinnamaldehyde and calcium formate; 500 mg/kg feed). Experiment 1 lasted for 40 days, whereas Experiment 2 continued for 28 days. In Experiment 2, all birds were orally challenged with Escherichia coli (108 bacteria/bird) on Day 14. Overall intake, growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR) on Day 40 had no difference (P > 0.05) among the groups in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, growth, feed intake and FCR were not affected by any dietary treatments until Day 14, but after being challenged with E. coli, bodyweight gain and FCR improved (P < 0.05) for AGP and EO + OA compared with NC. Mortality rate was also lower (P < 0.05) for AGP and EO + OA than NC in Experiment 2. Villi height was higher (P < 0.001) in OA and EO + OA groups compared with NC and AGP groups. Any treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) the counts of total bacteria, E. coli and Lactobacillus in the contents of ileum and caecum. However, Salmonella counts in the ileal and caecal contents decreased (P < 0.001) for AGP, OA and EO + OA compared with NC group. Clostridium counts were lower for EO + OA group than for NC and AGP groups in the ileum, and for AGP, OA and EO + OA groups than for NC in the caeca (P < 0.05). Antibody titer on Day 35 against Newcastle disease vaccine was higher in EO + OA group than in NC, AGP and OA groups (P < 0.001). In conclusion, EO + OA did not affect growth and FCR in broilers. However, AGP and EO + AO improved growth performance and FCR after being challenged with E. coli. Moreover, EO + OA was effective in reducing the Clostridium count in the small intestine and caecum and increasing the villus height and antibody titer against Newcastle disease vaccine.
Association between sexual mixing and genital warts in heterosexual men in Australia: the herd protection from the female human papillomavirus vaccination program
Authors: Chow Eric P. F. , Fairley Christopher K.
Published: July 2016

Australian-born women aged ≤32 years were eligible for the free female human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program introduced in 2007. A total of 1165 heterosexual couples attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between 2011 and 2014 were included in this analysis. Findings showed the odds of having penile warts was 0.52-fold lower among men who had a female partner aged ≤32 years compared with men who had a female partners aged >32 years. This suggests men would have received herd protection from their female partners and hence they are at lower risk of acquiring genital warts.
Mechanism of grain refining in AZ91 Mg welds by arc oscillation
Authors: Yuan T. , Luo Z. , Kou S.
Published: July 2016

Grain refining can improve the solidification-cracking resistance and mechanical properties of welds. Mg alloys are increasingly used for vehicle weight reduction, AZ91 Mg being the most widely used Mg casting alloy. The present study was conducted to study grain refining in gas–tungsten arc welding of AZ91 Mg, focusing on identifying the mechanism of grain refining. Significant grain refining was obtained by transverse arc oscillation. Dendrite fragmentation was identified as the grain refining mechanism, instead of heterogeneous nucleation or grain detachment. This was done by using an overlap welding procedure in which the weld made with transverse arc oscillation (test weld) overlapped with another weld made previously without arc oscillation (preweld). It was found that repeated prewelding followed by welding with transverse arc oscillation resulted in very fine grains.
Sir protein–independent repair of dicentric chromosomes inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: McCleary David F. , Steakley David Lee , Rine Jasper
Published: July 2016

Sir2 protein has been reported to be recruited to dicentric chromosomes under tension, and such chromosomes are reported to be especially vulnerable to breakage in sir2Δ mutants. We found that the loss of viability in such mutants was an indirect effect of the repression of nonhomologous end joining in Sir−mutants and that the apparent recruitment of Sir2 protein to chromosomes under tension was likely due to methodological weakness in early chromatin immunoprecipitation studies.
The American Presidency
Authors: Jones Charles O.
Published: July 2016

The Founding Fathers were dedicated to the project of creating an American government both functional and incapable of devolving into tyranny. To do this, they intentionally decentralized decision making among the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches. The American Presidency: A Very Short Introduction delves into the constitutional roots of the American presidency to show how presidents face the challenges of governing within a system of separation of powers. It reviews crucial themes, including democratization of presidential elections, transitioning into and organizing a presidency, challenges in leading the permanent government, making law and executing policy, and reforming and changing the institution, before considering future prospects for the US presidency.
Biblical literature and the Western literary tradition
Authors: Linafelt Tod
Published: July 2016

Biblical literature displays a rigorous economy of style. It is, especially, in its narrative mode, extraordinarily understated. Readers are given a bare minimum of information, and linguistic ornamentation for its own sake is noticeably lacking. “Biblical literature and the Western literary tradition” compares extracts from the Bible with Homer’s Iliad and considers what it is that makes biblical poetry “poetry”. It would be a mistake to take the Bible’s economy of style as an indicator of its simplicity or primitiveness as a work of literature. In fact, it is in no small part this terseness that lends biblical narrative its distinctive complexity as literature.
Reading biblical narrative
Authors: Linafelt Tod
Published: July 2016

“Reading biblical narrative” explores the workings of biblical narrative, using as examples the characters of Jacob and David and the books of Esther and Ruth, to bring into focus those elements that make us feel that we are reading literature. It shows how biblical narrative counts on and exploits exactly that which defines the treatment of character in novelistic fiction: a genuine inner life and a private, complex subjectivity. The distinctively terse mode of biblical narration leads to obscure character motivation, but it is this that gives the literature its profound complexity as it forces the reader to negotiate the many possible ways of imagining the characters’ inner lives.
GPS tracking of non-breeding ravens reveals the importance of anthropogenic food sources during their dispersal in the Eastern Alps
Authors: Loretto Matthias-Claudio , Schuster Richard , Bugnyar Thomas
Published: July 2016

In many songbirds, the space use of breeders is well studied but poorly understood for non-breeders. In common ravens, some studies of non-breeders indicate high vagrancy with large individual differences in home range size, whereas others show that up to 40% of marked non-breeders can be regularly observed at the same anthropogenic food source over months to years. The aim of this study was to provide new insights on ravens’ behavior during dispersal in the Eastern Alps. We deployed Global Positioning System (GPS) loggers on 10 individuals to gather accurate spatial and temporal information on their movements to quantify: 1) the dimension of the birds’ space use (home range size with seasonal effects and daily/long-term travel distances), 2) how long they stayed in a dispersal stage of wandering as opposed to settling temporarily, and 3) their destination of movements. We recorded movements of up to 40 km per hour, more than 160 km within 1 day and more than 11,000 km within 20 months, indicating high vagrancy. Switching frequently between temporarily settling and travelling large distances in short time intervals leads to extensive home ranges, which also explains and combines the different findings in the literature. The destinations are rich anthropogenic food sources, where the birds spent on average 75% of their time. We discuss how ravens may find these “feeding hot spots” and which factors may influence their decision to stay/leave a site. The strong dependence on anthropogenic resources found in this population may have implications for site management and conservation issues.
SHARP – II. Mass structure in strong lenses is not necessarily dark matter substructure: a flux ratio anomaly from an edge-on disc in B1555+375
Authors: Hsueh J.-W. , Fassnacht C. D. , Vegetti S. , McKean J. P. , Spingola C. , Auger M. W. , Koopmans L. V. E. , Lagattuta D. J.
Published: July 2016

Gravitational lens flux-ratio anomalies provide a powerful technique for measuring dark matter substructure in distant galaxies. However, before using these flux-ratio anomalies to test galaxy formation models, it is imperative to ascertain that the given anomalies are indeed due to the presence of dark matter substructure and not due to some other component of the lensing galaxy halo or to propagation effects. Here we present the case of CLASS B1555+375, which has a strong radio-wavelength flux-ratio anomaly. Our high-resolution near-infrared Keck II adaptive optics imaging and archival Hubble Space Telescope data reveal the lensing galaxy in this system to have a clear edge-on disc component that crosses directly over the pair of images that exhibit the flux-ratio anomaly. We find that simple models that include the disc can reproduce the cm-wavelength flux-ratio anomaly without requiring additional dark matter substructure. Although further studies are required, our results suggest the assumption that all flux-ratio anomalies are due to a population of dark matter sub-haloes may be incorrect, and analyses that do not account for the full complexity of the lens macro-model may overestimate the substructure mass fraction in massive lensing galaxies.
Continued Elevation of Interleukin-18 and Interferon-γ After Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy and Clinical Failure in a Diverse Multicountry Human Immunodeficiency Virus Cohort
Authors: Balagopal Ashwin , Gupte Nikhil , Shivakoti Rupak , Cox Andrea L. , Yang Wei-Teng , Berendes Sima , Mwelase Noluthando , Kanyama Cecilia , Pillay Sandy , Samaneka Wadzanai , Santos Breno , Poongulali Selvamuthu , Tripathy Srikanth , Riviere Cynthia , Lama Javier R. , Cardoso Sandra W. , Sugandhavesa Patcharaphan , Semba Richard D. , Hakim James , Hosseinipour Mina C. , Kumarasamy Nagalingeswaran , Sanne Ian , Asmuth David , Campbell Thomas , Bollinger Robert C. , Gupta Amita
Published: July 2016

Background.  We assessed immune activation after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation to understand clinical failure in diverse settings.

Methods.  We performed a case-control study in ACTG Prospective Evaluation of Antiretrovirals in Resource-Limited Settings (PEARLS). Cases were defined as incident World Health Organization Stage 3 or 4 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease or death, analyzed from ART weeks 24 (ART24) to 96. Controls were randomly selected. Interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-γ-inducible protein-10, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-α, IFN-γ, and soluble CD14 (sCD14) were measured pre-ART and at ART24 in plasma. Continued elevation was defined by thresholds set by highest pre-ART quartiles (>Q3). Incident risk ratios (IRRs) for clinical progression were estimated by Poisson regression, adjusting for age, sex, treatment, country, time-updated CD4+ T-cell count, HIV ribonucleic acid (RNA), and prevalent tuberculosis.

Results.  Among 99 cases and 234 controls, median baseline CD4+ T-cell count was 181 cells/µL, and HIV RNA was 5.05 log10 cp/mL. Clinical failure was independently associated with continued elevations of IL-18 (IRR, 3.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27–7.20), sCD14 (IRR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.02–4.62), and IFN-γ (IRR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01–0.61). Among 276 of 333 (83%) who were virologically suppressed at ART24, IFN-γ was associated with protection from failure, but the association with sCD14 was attenuated.

Conclusions.  Continued IL-18 and sCD14 elevations were associated with clinical ART failure. Interferon-γ levels may reflect preserved immune function.
Effect of Elevated Intracranial Pressure on Amplitudes and Frequency Tuning of Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials Elicited by Bone-Conducted Vibration
Authors: Gürkov Robert , Speierer Guillaume , Wittwer Luis , Kalla Roger
Published: July 2016

Objective:

Recently, it could be demonstrated that an increased intracranial pressure causes a modulation of the air conducted sound evoked ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP). The mechanism for this modulation is not resolved and may depend on a change of either receptor excitability or sound energy transmission.

Design:

oVEMPs were elicited in 18 healthy subjects with a minishaker delivering 500 and 1000 Hz tone bursts, in supine and tilted positions.

Results:

The study could confirm the frequency tuning of oVEMP. However, at neither stimulus frequency could a modulating effect of increased intracranial pressure be observed.

Conclusion:

These data suggest that the observed modulation of the oVEMP response by an increased intracranial pressure is primarily due to the effect of an increased intralabyrinthine pressure onto the stiffness of the inner ear contents and the middle ear–inner ear junction. Future studies on the effect of intracranial pressure on oVEMP should use air-conducted sound and not bone-conducted vibration.
The Detection of Prominent Hardware in Volar Locked Plating of Distal Radius Fractures: Intraoperative Fluoroscopy Versus Computed Tomography
Authors: Ganesh Devin , Service Ben , Zirgibel Brian , Koval Kenneth
Published: July 2016

Objectives:

To assess the utility of the dorsal tangential view (DTV) in detecting intraoperative dorsal screw penetration in distal radius fractures treated with volar locked plating.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Academic level 1 trauma center.

Patients/Participants:

Skeletally mature patients where open reduction internal fixation with volar locked plating was the definitive treatment. A total of twenty-six patients were evaluated.

Intervention:

Intraoperative anteroposterior, lateral, 20 degree tilted lateral, and DTVs were obtained through fluoroscopy in all wrists. Screw exchange and position by fluoroscopic view was recorded. A computed tomography (CT) was taken postoperatively to identify residual prominent screws.

Main Outcome Measures:

Data points included frequency of screw exchange by standard fluoroscopic views, the DTV, and residual prominent screws detected by CT.

Results:

Eight constructs of thirty (27%) had prominent screws evident on the DTV but not seen on standard fluoroscopic analysis. CT identified 5 additional screws with ≥1 mm dorsal penetration not identified by the DTV. All except 1 screw was in the second dorsal wrist compartment. The DTV was 67% sensitive with a negative predictive value of 97%.

Conclusion:

It is risky and unnecessary to place bicortical screws in the distal part of a volar plate. Given that the DTV view was not sufficient to avoid dorsal screw prominence, distal screws should be intentionally 2–4 mm shorter than measured. Recent studies propose bicortical distal locking screws are not needed for sufficient construct stiffness in volar locked plating. We suggest caution when using this view to verify acceptable placement of screws in proximity to the second dorsal compartment.

Level of Evidence:

Diagnostic level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Assessing the Efficacy of Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in Multiply Injured Patients With High-Energy Pelvic and Extremity Fractures
Authors: Joseph Bellal , Khalil Mazhar , Harrison Caitlyn , Swartz Tianyi , Kulvatunyou Narong , Haider Ansab A. , Jokar Tahereh O. , Burk David , Mahmoud Ali , Latifi Rifat , Rhee Peter
Published: July 2016

Objectives:

Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) is being increasingly used for reversing induced coagulopathy of trauma. However, the use of PCC for reversing coagulopathy in multiply injured patients with pelvic and/or lower extremity fractures remains unclear. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of PCC for reversing coagulopathy in this group of patients.

Design:

Two-year retrospective analysis.

Setting:

Our level I trauma center.

Patients/Participants:

All coagulopathic [International normalized ratio (INR) ≥1.5] trauma patients. Patients with femur, tibia, or pelvic fracture were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: PCC (single dose) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Patients in the 2 groups were matched using propensity score matching.

Main Outcome Measurements:

Time to correction of INR, time to intervention, development of thromboembolic complications, mortality, and cost of therapy.

Results:

A total of 81 patients (PCC: 27, FFP: 54) were included. Patients who received PCC had faster correction of INR and shorter time to surgical intervention in comparison to patients who received FFP. PCC therapy was also associated with lower overall blood product requirement (P = 0.02) and lower transfusion costs (P = 0.0001).

Conclusions:

In a matched cohort of multiply injured patients with pelvic and/or lower extremity fractures, administration of a single dose of PCC significantly reduced the time to correction of INR and time to intervention compared with patients who received FFP therapy. This may allow orthopaedic surgeons to more safely proceed with early, definitive fixation strategies.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Epinephrine Vasoconstriction Effect Time in the Scalp Differs According to Injection Site and Concentration
Authors: Na Young-Cheon , Park Raekil , Jeong Hii-Sun , Park Jae Hyun
Published: July 2016

BACKGROUND

There have been few studies of the action of epinephrine injected into scalp tissue, or whether the action of epinephrine differs according to vascular anatomy within the same surgical field. Effective perioperative control of bleeding is critical during hair transplantation due to its time-consuming nature.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the vasoconstriction time of epinephrine by concentration and injection site in the scalp tissue.

METHODS

Twenty-five volunteers were injected with epinephrine at concentrations of 1:400,000, 1:200,000, 1:100,000, and 1:50,000 in the path of the supraorbital artery on the anterior hairline in the midfrontal area (Point A) and at the frontotemporal junction of the frontal hairline (Point B). Laser Doppler was used to measure scalp blood flow, and vasoconstriction time at Points A and B with each concentration of epinephrine was recorded.

RESULTS

The duration of action of epinephrine increased in direct proportion with the concentration of epinephrine. The duration of vasoconstriction was shorter at Point A than at Point B, but this difference was only statistically significant at an epinephrine concentration of 1:50,000.

CONCLUSION

The vasoconstriction time of epinephrine in the scalp correlated positively with concentration, and the duration of vasoconstriction was longer at Point B than at Point A.
Debriefing and Feedback in the Current Healthcare Environment
Authors: Hunter Linda A.
Published: July 2016

Over the past several decades, simulation-based learning and postsimulation debriefing have become a mainstay of clinical education in healthcare. With origins in both the military and aviation industries, debriefing in particular has been used across multiple nursing and medicine disciplines to promote team training and reflective learning. Self-reflection and improvement in practice are at the core of effective debriefing. Feedback and simulation experts have continued to develop more effective debriefing strategies. Several models are described in the literature, and healthcare educators now have a variety of resources at their disposal. Many of these debriefing techniques offer thoughtful guidance for providing constructive, real-time clinical feedback to students. Incorporating reflective feedback strategies in clinical learning promotes meaningful learning. This, in turn, will only strengthen the capabilities of students and better prepare them for the complexities they will face in clinical practice.
Women's Voices in Maternity Care
Authors: Moore Jennifer E.
Published: July 2016

The United States is the only industrialized nation that has experienced dramatic increases in the use of maternity interventions resulting in poor birth outcomes. It is speculated that the increased rates of maternal mortality and other outcomes are attributed to the current maternity model of care focused on the overuse of interventions, such as induction of labor, in otherwise healthy pregnant women. The overuse of induction of labor to artificially speed up the birth process has been linked to an increase in preterm and cesarean births. The cost of these interventions and poor outcomes has been substantial. The purpose of this article is to present concepts that demonstrate the challenges and value of informed, shared decision making, informed consent, and women's use of evidence within the context of maternity care. To highlight these important concepts, this article presents original findings from a secondary analysis of data on induction of labor. Findings from this analysis further highlight the importance of including women as part of informed, shared decision making in models of maternity care.
Cesarean Birth
Authors: Cypher Rebecca L.
Published: July 2016

Thirty years ago seems like yesterday: a time of immense socioeconomic changes, explosion of an “Internet” computer concept, and identification of human immunodeficiency virus. Like all events of the past, transformations in obstetrics developed over time. Cesarean birth can be better understood in a broader context when one considers how the art of obstetric practice has evolved. Cesarean birth progressed from delivering a fetus perimortem or postmortem to a time of operative births that simultaneously juggle a woman's safety, satisfaction, and freedom of choice concerning birth options. Thirty years of increasing cesarean birth rates have prompted government agencies, national organizations, state-level perinatal collaborative groups, and experts to address these rates and the impact on maternal-child health and healthcare systems. The purpose of this article is to explain cesarean birth's remarkable impact on obstetrics by reviewing key historical periods, current advances, and upcoming trends.
Shared Decision Making in Neonatal Quality Improvement
Authors: Warren Jamie B. , Wiggins Nikki
Published: July 2016

Since the Institute of Medicine published Crossing the Quality Chasm in 2001, healthcare systems have become more focused on improving the quality of healthcare delivery. At Oregon Health & Science University and Doernbecher Children's Hospital, we recognize the need to take an interprofessional, team-based approach to improving the care we provide to our current and future patients. We describe here an ongoing quality improvement project in the Doernbecher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), with specific attention to the factors we believe have contributed to the implementation and early success of the project. These factors include the history of quality improvement work in our NICU and in the field of neonatology, the “dyad leadership” structure under which we operate in our NICU, and our developing understanding of the concept of “team intelligence.” These elements have led to the formation of a team that can practice shared decision making and work as one to realize a shared goal.