bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Absence of NMDA receptor antibodies in the rare association between Type 1 Narcolepsy and Psychosis
Authors: Dauvilliers Y. , Gaig C. , Barateau L. , Graus F. , Iranzo A. , Lopez R. , Santamaria J.
Published: May 2016

Frequency and mechanisms underlying the association between narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) and psychosis remain unclear with potential role for a common immune pathway. We estimated the frequency of psychosis and its characteristics in NT1 at two European sleep centers (France, n = 381; Spain, n = 161) and measured IgG autoantibodies that recognize the GluN1 subunit of the NMDAR in 9 patients with NT1 with psychosis and 25 NT1 patients without psychosis. Ten NT1 patients (6 in France, 4 in Spain) were diagnosed with comorbid psychosis, a frequency of 1.8%. One patient reported psychotic symptoms few months before narcolepsy onset, two patients few months after onset and one patient one year after onset but after modafinil introduction. The six remaining patients reported long delays between NT1 and psychosis onset. Half the patients, mostly male adults, reported onset or worsening of psychotic symptoms after medication. We found no IgG antibodies to NR1/NR2B heteromers of the NMDARs in patients with NT1 with or without psychosis. To conclude, psychosis is rare in NT1, with limited evidence for a key impact of stimulants and no association with anti-NMDAR antibodies. However, dramatic NT1 and schizophrenia exists especially in early onset NT1, which may lead to inappropriate diagnosis and management.
Novel chemical synthesis and characterization of copper pyrovanadate nanoparticles and its influence on the flame retardancy of polymeric nanocomposites
Authors: Ghiyasiyan-Arani Maryam , Masjedi-Arani Maryam , Ghanbari Davood , Bagheri Samira , Salavati-Niasari Masoud
Published: May 2016

In this work, copper pyrovanadate (Cu3V2O7(OH)2(H2O)2) nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple and rapid chemical precipitation method. Different copper-organic complexes were used to control the size and morphology of products. The morphology and structure of the as-synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum, electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The influence of copper pyrovanadate nanostructures on the flame retardancy of the polystyrene, poly vinyl alcohol and cellulose acetate was studied. Dispersed nanoparticles play the role of a magnetic barrier layer, which slows down product volatilization and prevents the flame and oxygen from the sample during decomposition of the polymer. Cu3V2O7(OH)2(H2O)2 is converted to Cu3V2O8 with an endothermic reaction which simultaneously releases water and decrease the temperature of the flame region.
Using Drosophila as an integrated model to study mild repetitive traumatic brain injury
Authors: Barekat Ayeh , Gonzalez Arysa , Mauntz Ruth E. , Kotzebue Roxanne W. , Molina Brandon , El-Mecharrafie Nadja , Conner Catherine J. , Garza Shannon , Melkani Girish C. , Joiner William J. , Lipinski Marta M. , Finley Kim D. , Ratliff Eric P.
Published: May 2016

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In addition, there has been a growing appreciation that even repetitive, milder forms of TBI (mTBI) can have long-term deleterious consequences to neural tissues. Hampering our understanding of genetic and environmental factors that influence the cellular and molecular responses to injury has been the limited availability of effective genetic model systems that could be used to identify the key genes and pathways that modulate both the acute and long-term responses to TBI. Here we report the development of a severe and mild-repetitive TBI model using Drosophila. Using this system, key features that are typically found in mammalian TBI models were also identified in flies, including the activation of inflammatory and autophagy responses, increased Tau phosphorylation and neuronal defects that impair sleep-related behaviors. This novel injury paradigm demonstrates the utility of Drosophila as an effective tool to validate genetic and environmental factors that influence the whole animal response to trauma and to identify prospective therapies needed for the treatment of TBI.
Thickness-dependent transport channels in topological insulator Bi2Se3 thin films grown by magnetron sputtering
Authors: Wang Wen Jie , Gao Kuang Hong , Li Zhi Qing
Published: May 2016

We study the low-temperature transport properties of Bi2Se3 thin films grown by magnetron sputtering. A positive magnetoresistance resulting from the weak antilocalization (WAL) effect is observed at low temperatures. The observed WAL effect is two dimensional in nature. Applying the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka theory, we have obtained the dephasing length. It is found that the temperature dependence of the dephasing length cannot be described only by the Nyquist electron-electron dephasing, in conflict with prevailing experimental results. From the WAL effect, we extract the number of the transport channels, which is found to increase with increasing the thickness of the films, reflecting the thickness-dependent coupling between the top and bottom surface states in topological insulator. On the other hand, the electron-electron interaction (EEI) effect is observed in temperature-dependent conductivity. From the EEI effect, we also extract the number of the transport channel, which shows similar thickness dependence with that obtained from the analysis of the WAL effect. The EEI effect, therefore, can be used to analyze the coupling effect between the top and bottom surface states in topological insulator like the WAL effect.
Extraordinary wavelength reduction in terahertz graphene-cladded photonic crystal slabs
Authors: Williamson Ian A. D. , Mousavi S. Hossein , Wang Zheng
Published: May 2016

Photonic crystal slabs have been widely used in nanophotonics for light confinement, dispersion engineering, nonlinearity enhancement and other unusual effects arising from their structural periodicity. Sub-micron device sizes and mode volumes are routine for silicon-based photonic crystal slabs, however spectrally they are limited to operate in the near infrared. Here, we show that two single-layer graphene sheets allow silicon photonic crystal slabs with submicron periodicity to operate in the terahertz regime, with an extreme 100× wavelength reduction from graphene’s large kinetic inductance. The atomically thin graphene further leads to excellent out-of-plane confinement and consequently photonic-crystal-slab band structures that closely resemble those of ideal two-dimensional photonic crystals, with broad band gaps even when the slab thickness approaches zero. The overall photonic band structure not only scales with the graphene Fermi level, but more importantly scales to lower frequencies with reduced slab thickness. Just like ideal 2D photonic crystals, graphene-cladded photonic crystal slabs confine light along line defects, forming waveguides with the propagation lengths on the order of tens of lattice constants. The proposed structure opens up the possibility to dramatically reduce the size of terahertz photonic systems by orders of magnitude.
MiR-125b regulates endometrial receptivity by targeting MMP26 in women undergoing IVF-ET with elevated progesterone on HCG priming day
Authors: Chen Cheng , Zhao Yue , Yu Yang , Li Rong , Qiao Jie
Published: May 2016

On the women undergoing IVF-ET with elevated progesterone on human chorionic gonadotrophin priming, the assisted reproductive technology outcome is poor. But, due to the unknown mechanism of this process, no effective method has been found to overcome this difficulty. Here, we investigated the roles of miR-125b and its target gene, MMP26, in endometrial receptivity (ER) in these women. The expression of miR-125b was significantly up-regulated in EECs in women with elevated progesterone during the window of implantation and it showed a progesterone-dependent effect in vitro. Similarly, the expression of miR-125b was significantly up-regulated in the preimplantation period and was down-regulated in the implantation period and the post-implantation period in mouse EECs. In addition, miR-125b showed a greater decrease at implantation sites than it did at interimplantation sites. The luciferase report assay demonstrated that MMP26 is a target gene of miR-125b. And the expression profile of MMP26 showed an inverse relationship with miR-125b in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of miR-125b in human EECs inhibited cell migration and invasion. Gain-of-function of miR-125b induced a significant decrease in the number of implantation sites. In conclusion, these data shed new light on how miR-125b triggers ER decline through the regulation of MMP26 function.
Highly Sensitive and Selective In-Situ SERS Detection of Pb2+, Hg2+, and Cd2+ Using Nanoporous Membrane Functionalized with CNTs
Authors: Shaban Mohamed , Galaly A. R.
Published: May 2016

Porous Anodic Alumina (PAA) membrane was functionalized with CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and used as a substrate for the growing of very long helical-structured Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) with a diameter less than 20 nm. The structures and morphologies of the fabricated nanostructures were characterized by field emission- scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Raman spectroscopy. By uploading the CNTs on PAA, the characteristic Raman peaks of CNTs and PAA showed 4 and 3 times enhancement, respectively, which leads to more sensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrates. For comparison, PAA and CNTs/PAA arrays were used as SERS substrates for the detection of Hg2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+. The proposed sensor demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity between these heavy metal ions. CNTs/PAA sensor showed excellent selectivity toward Pb2+ over other metal ions, where the enhancement factor is decreased from ~17 for Pb2+ to ~12 for Hg2+ and to ~4 for Cd2+. Therefore, the proposed CNTs/PAA sensor can be used as a powerful tool for the determination of heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions.
Isolation and co-culture of rat parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells to evaluate cellular interactions and response
Authors: Bale Shyam Sundhar , Geerts Sharon , Jindal Rohit , Yarmush Martin L.
Published: May 2016

The liver is a central organ in the human body and first line of defense between host and external environment. Liver response to any external perturbation is a collective reaction of resident liver cells. Most of the current in vitro liver models focus on hepatocytes, the primary metabolic component, omitting interactions and cues from surrounding environment and non-parenchymal cells (NPCs). Recent studies suggest that contributions of NPCs are vital, particularly in disease conditions and outcomes of drugs and their metabolites. Along with hepatocytes, NPCs–Kupffer (KC), sinusoidal endothelial (LSEC) and stellate cells (SC) are major cellular components of the liver. Incorporation of primary cells in in vitro liver platforms is essential to emulate the functions of the liver and its overall response. Herein, we isolate individual NPC cell fractions from rat livers and co-culture them in a transwell format incorporating primary rat hepatocytes with LSECs, SCs and KCs. Our results indicate that the presence and contributions of multiple cells within the co-culture capture the interactions between hepatocytes and NPC and modulates the responses to inflammatory stimulus such as LPS. The isolation and co-culture methods could provide a stable platform for creating in vitro liver models that provide defined functionality beyond hepatocytes alone.
High water content in primitive continental flood basalts
Authors: Xia Qun-Ke , Bi Yao , Li Pei , Tian Wei , Wei Xun , Chen Han-Lin
Published: May 2016

As the main constituent of large igneous provinces, the generation of continental flood basalts (CFB) that are characterized by huge eruption volume (>105 km3) within short time span (<1–3 Ma) is in principle caused by an abnormally high temperature, extended decompression, a certain amount of mafic source rocks (e.g., pyroxenite), or an elevated H2O content in the mantle source. These four factors are not mutually exclusive. There are growing evidences for high temperature, decompression and mafic source rocks, albeit with hot debate. However, there is currently no convincing evidence of high water content in the source of CFB. We retrieved the initial H2O content of the primitive CFB in the early Permian Tarim large igneous province (NW China), using the H2O content of ten early-formed clinopyroxene (cpx) crystals that recorded the composition of the primitive Tarim basaltic melts and the partition coefficient of H2O between cpx and basaltic melt. The arc-like H2O content (4.82 ± 1.00 wt.%) provides the first clear evidence that H2O plays an important role in the generation of CFB.
Detection of free hemoglobin in blood products using transmission spectra and fluorescence spectra for quality assurance
Authors: Lin Ling , Li Zeyun , Zhang Linna , Ren Jing , Fu Zhigang , Guan Yang , Li Gang
Published: May 2016

A non-destructive method for measurement of fHb concentration using transmission spectra and fluorescence spectra has been verified.
Determination of chloramphenicol in milk by ten chemiluminescent immunoassays: influence of assay format applied
Authors: Tao Xiaoqi , Zhou Song , Yuan Xiameng , Li Hongjun
Published: May 2016

Development of 10 chemiluminescent immunoassays for the detection of CAP for a comparison study. First systematic assessment in sensitivity and robustness of different immunoassay formats based on diverse combinations of coating, reverse reaction and antibody source.
Design and synthesis of model and practical palladium catalysts using atomic layer deposition
Authors: Lu Zheng , Kizilkaya Orhan , Kropf A. Jeremy , Piernavieja-Hermida Mar , Miller Jeffrey T. , Kurtz Richard L. , Elam Jeffrey W. , Lei Yu
Published: May 2016

We investigated the “one-batch” synthesis of model and practical palladium catalysts using atomic layer deposition (ALD).
Titanium oxo-clusters derivatized from the Ti10O12(cat)8(py)8 complex: structural investigation and spectroscopic studies of light absorption
Authors: Chaumont Clément , Chaumont Alain , Kyritsakas Nathalie , Mobian Pierre , Henry Marc
Published: May 2016

Three deep-red catecholato-based titanium oxo-clusters are obtained from the Ti10O12(cat)8(py)8 (py = pyridine) complex. Calculations enable us to assign the electronic transitions responsible for the visible light absorption and highlight that pyridine ligands influence the density of states plot.
A novel strategy to enhance the luminescence performance of NaGdF4:Ln3+ nanocrystals
Authors: Song Yan , Shao Baiqi , Feng Yang , Lü Wei , Liu Guixia , You Hongpeng
Published: May 2016

The emission intensity of the lanthanide doped ions in the NaGdF4:Ln3+ nanoparticles modified with BA and Phen ligands can be effective enhanced by the energy transfer from the Gd3+ ions and surface modified ligands.
Pt catalysts for efficient aerobic oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid in water
Authors: Lee Jechan , Saha Basudeb , Vlachos Dionisios G.
Published: May 2016

Glucaric acid, a promising bio-based chemical for the production of adipic acid, is produced on a commercial Pt/C catalyst via aerobic oxidation of glucose in water.
Efficient analysis of a small number of cancer cells at the single-cell level using an electroactive double-well array
Authors: Kim Soo Hyeon , Fujii Teruo
Published: May 2016

The electroactive double well-array consists of trap-wells for highly efficient single-cell trapping using dielectrophoresis (cell capture efficiency of 96 ± 3%) and reaction-wells that confine cell lysates for analysis of intracellular materials from single cells.
Structure–activity relationships of radioiodinated diphenyl derivatives with different conjugated double bonds as ligands for α-synuclein aggregates
Authors: Ono Masahiro , Doi Yuki , Watanabe Hiroyuki , Ihara Masafumi , Ozaki Akihiko , Saji Hideo
Published: May 2016

We investigated the structure–activity relationships of radioiodinated diphenyl (IDP) derivatives with different conjugated double bonds as ligands for α-syn aggregates.
Effect of plasma treatment on multilayer graphene: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface morphology investigations and work function measurements
Authors: Patil Urmila V. , Pawbake Amit S. , Machuno Luis G. B. , Gelamo Rogerio V. , Jadkar Sandesh R. , Rout Chandra Sekhar , Late Dattatray J.
Published: May 2016

We report here the effect of plasma treatment on multilayer graphene sheets as determined by X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface morphology studies using AFM, SEM and TEM along with work function measurements using Kelvin probe technique.
Tuning the morphology of Co3O4 on Ni foam for supercapacitor application
Authors: Yu Zheyin , Cheng Zhenxiang , Tai Zhixin , Wang Xiaolin , Subramaniyam Chandrasekar Mayandi , Fang Chunsheng , Al-Rubaye Shaymaa , Wang Xiaotian , Dou Shixue
Published: May 2016

NH4F was used as a vital additive to control the morphology of Co3O4 precursors through hydrothermal reaction, some novel growth mechanisms are proposed. Co3O4 materials were obtained via thermal decomposition for supercapacitor application.
From rice husk to high performance shape stabilized phase change materials for thermal energy storage
Authors: Mehrali Mohammad , Tahan Latibari Sara , Rosen Marc A. , Akhiani Amir Reza , Naghavi Mohammad Sajad , Sadeghinezhad Emad , Metselaar Hendrik Simon Cornelis , Mohammadi Nejad Majeed , Mehrali Mehdi
Published: May 2016

A novel shape-stabilized phase change material (SSPCM) was fabricated by using a vacuum impregnation technique for solar-thermal energy storage applications.
Lewis acid-catalyzed tandem synthesis of 9-sulfonylamino- and 9-arylfluorenes
Authors: Huang Dayun , Yang Weiguang , Zhang Jianlan , Wang Xuesong , Wang Xinyan , Hu Yuefei
Published: May 2016

A Lewis acid-catalyzed three-step tandem synthesis of 9-arylfluorene was developed by simply heating a mixture of 2-formyl biphenyl, TsNCO and an arene.
Enhancement of the tribological properties of carbon fiber/epoxy composite by grafting carbon nanotubes onto fibers
Authors: Chen Beibei , Li Xiaofang , Yang Jin , Huang Hong , Peng Weixiang , Li Changsheng , Zhang Zhaozhu
Published: May 2016

Morphology of CF before and after grafting CNT; wear resistance of CF/EP composite.
Improving the cyclability of lithium–sulfur batteries by coating PPy onto the graphene aerogel-supported sulfur
Authors: Tan Xiaowen , Lv Peng , Yu Kehan , Ni Yiwen , Tao Yunxiang , Zhang Weitao , Wei Wei
Published: May 2016

Polypyrrole uniformly encapsulated the sulfur loaded on the graphene cell walls to restrict the polysulfides diffusion.
Synthesis, crystal structure, DNA-binding and magnetism of copper 15-metallacrown-5 complexes based on glycinehydroxamic acid ligand
Authors: Meng Yanxia , Yang Hua , Li Dacheng , Zeng Suyuan , Chen Guifang , Li Shengli , Dou Jianmin
Published: May 2016

Six lanthanide 15-MC-5 complexes based on glycinehydroxamic acid were synthesized. DNA-binding properties of the six complexes with calf thymus DNA were investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism studies.
Doping sp2 carbon to boost the activity for oxygen reduction in an acidic medium: a theoretical exploration
Authors: Jiang Yufei , Yang Lijun , Wang Xizhang , Wu Qiang , Ma Jing , Hu Zheng
Published: May 2016

Mono- or multi-doping carbon nanotubes with N, B, O, and P creates potential active structures for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an acidic medium.
Uncatalyzed reactions of 4,4′-diphenylmethane-diisocyanate with polymer polyols as revealed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Nagy Tibor , Antal Borbála , Dékány-Adamoczky Anita , Karger-Kocsis József , Zsuga Miklós , Kéki Sándor
Published: May 2016

The reactivities of various polymer polyols towards MDI were evaluated using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
Root-like glass fiber with branched fiber prepared via molecular self-assembly
Authors: He Xuewei , Li Yijun , Nie Min , Wang Qi
Published: May 2016

In situ build root-like glass fiber (GF) via molecular self-assemble in polypropylene melts.
New design of highly homogeneous photopolymer networks for shape memory materials
Authors: Retailleau Matthieu , Ibrahim Ahmad , Croutxé-Barghorn Céline , Allonas Xavier
Published: May 2016

A shape memory polymer (SMP) based on diacrylates and primary diamines was designed by ingeniously sequencing double click aza-Michael addition and radical photopolymerization.
pH- and concentration-controlled self-assembly of spherical micelles with cavity, necklace and cylindrical micelles
Authors: Qi Rui , Jin Yong
Published: May 2016

A novel diblock copolymer with one block composed of hydrophobic motifs, hydrogen-bonding carbamates and pH-triggered carboxy groups was developed, which could self-assemble into spherical micelles with cavity, necklaces and cylindrical micelles.
A sepiolite-based united cross-linked network in a soybean meal-based wood adhesive and its performance
Authors: Li Xiaona , Luo Jianlin , Gao Qiang , Li Jianzhang
Published: May 2016

In this study, the sepiolite was initially treated with KH-560 and then introduced into the soybean meal/triglycidylamine adhesive system to form a united cross-linked network to improve the water resistance of the resultant adhesive.
A molecular recognition assisted colorimetric aptasensor for tetracycline
Authors: Wang Sai , Gao Song , Sun Shuai , Yang Yan , Zhang Yang , Liu Jiahui , Dong Yiyang , Su Haijia , Tan Tianwei
Published: May 2016

Based on the study of intrinsic conformational structure-dependent molecular recognition between tetracycline (TC) and anti-TC aptamers, herein, we focus on the classic gold nanoparticle (AuNPs)-based colorimetric aptasensor.
Nano-sized Ag inserted into ITO films prepared by continuous roll-to-roll sputtering for high-performance, flexible, transparent film heaters
Authors: Ko Eun-Hye , Kim Hyo-Joong , Lee Sang-Jin , Lee Jae-Heung , Kim Han-Ki
Published: May 2016

We demonstrate high-performance, flexible, transparent film heaters fabricated on a conductive Ag layer inserted into ITO films prepared by pilot-scale roll-to-roll (RTR) sputtering.
Effect of hydrogen bonds on the polymerization of benzoxazines: influence and control
Authors: Bai Yun , Yang Po , Song Yan , Zhu Rongqi , Gu Yi
Published: May 2016

Type I –OH⋯N hydrogen bonds blocked high-degree polymerization of benzoxazines and controlling them by introducing additional hydrogen-bonds acceptors can afford high-degree polymerization.
Targeted multimodal theranostics via biorecognition controlled aggregation of metallic nanoparticle composites
Authors: Hu Xi-Le , Zang Yi , Li Jia , Chen Guo-Rong , James Tony D. , He Xiao-Peng , Tian He
Published: May 2016

We show that two distinct mechanisms, FRET and MEF, of metallic nanoparticles can be finely tuned by a ligand–receptor interaction, producing a nanocomposite with an enhanced ROS production for targeted imaging and multimodal therapy.
Graphene-based nitrogen-doped carbon sandwich nanosheets: a new capacitive process controlled anode material for high-performance sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Li Dongdong , Zhang Lei , Chen Hongbin , Wang Jun , Ding Liang-Xin , Wang Suqing , Ashman Peter J. , Wang Haihui
Published: May 2016

A new capacitive process controlled anode material of graphene-based nitrogen-doped carbon sandwich nanosheets for sodium-ion batteries is reported.
The electronic and optical properties of novel germanene and antimonene heterostructures
Authors: Chen Xianping , Yang Qun , Meng Ruishen , Jiang Junke , Liang Qiuhua , Tan Chunjian , Sun Xiang
Published: May 2016

In this work, the structural, electronic and optical properties of novel atomically thin systems based on germanene and antimonene nanocomposites have been investigated by means of density functional theory.
Highly-integrated, laser manipulable aqueous metal carbonyl vesicles (MCsomes) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and aggregation-enhanced IR absorption (AEIRA)
Authors: Murshid Nimer , Yuyama Ken-ichi , Wu San-Lien , Wu Kuan-Yi , Masuhara Hiroshi , Wang Chien-Lung , Wang Xiaosong
Published: May 2016

Stable and laser manipulable iron-carbonyl aqueous vesicles with aggregation-enhanced IR absorption and emission are reported.
Use of Crowdsourcing to Assess the Ecological Validity of Perceptual-Training Paradigms in Dysarthria
Authors: Lansford Kaitlin L. , Borrie Stephanie A. , Bystricky Lukas
Published: May 2016

Purpose

It has been documented in laboratory settings that familiarizing listeners with dysarthric speech improves intelligibility of that speech. If these findings can be replicated in real-world settings, the ability to improve communicative function by focusing on communication partners has major implications for extending clinical practice in dysarthria rehabilitation. An important step toward development of a listener-targeted treatment approach requires establishment of its ecological validity. To this end, the present study leveraged the mechanism of crowdsourcing to determine whether perceptual-training benefits achieved by listeners in the laboratory could be elicited in an at-home computer-based scenario.

Method

Perceptual-training data (i.e., intelligibility scores from a posttraining transcription task) were collected from listeners in 2 settings—the laboratory and the crowdsourcing website Amazon Mechanical Turk.

Results

Consistent with previous findings, results revealed a main effect of training condition (training vs. control) on intelligibility scores. There was, however, no effect of training setting (Mechanical Turk vs. laboratory). Thus, the perceptual benefit achieved via Mechanical Turk was comparable to that achieved in the laboratory.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence regarding the ecological validity of perceptual-training paradigms designed to improve intelligibility of dysarthric speech, thereby supporting their continued advancement as a listener-targeted treatment option.
Knowing What We're Doing: Why Specification of Treatment Methods Is Critical for Evidence-Based Practice in Speech-Language Pathology
Authors: Turkstra Lyn S. , Norman Rocío , Whyte John , Dijkers Marcel P. , Hart Tessa
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this clinical focus article is to describe the conceptual framework of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment taxonomy (RTT) and illustrate its potential use in speech-language pathology (SLP) clinical practice and research.

Method

The method used was a critical discussion.

Results

Current methods of defining and classifying SLP and other rehabilitation interventions maintain the “black box” of rehabilitation by referring to hours or days of therapy or using problem-oriented labels (e.g.,
naming treatment
) to describe treatments, none of which reveal what is actually done to effect desired changes in patient functioning. The RTT framework uses treatment targets, ingredients, and mechanisms of action defined by treatment theory to specify SLP and other rehabilitation interventions with greater precision than current methods of treatment labeling and classification. It also makes a distinction between the target of treatment at which ingredients are directed and broader aims of treatment, which may be downstream effects explained instead by enablement/disablement theory.

Conclusion

Future application of the RTT conceptual scheme to SLP intervention may enhance clinical practice, research, and knowledge translation as well as training and program evaluation efforts.
Improved solution for node location multilateration algorithms in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Müller C. , Alves D.I. , Uchôa‐Filho B.F. , Machado R. , de Oliveira L.L. , Martins J.B.S.
Published: May 2016

A modification of the gradient descent method that can be used in multilateration algorithms for node location in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is proposed. Through computer simulations, the proposed solution compares favourably in terms of computational complexity and convergence performance with respect to a multilateration method based on the Gauss–Newton algorithm is shown, which is commonly used for this purpose. The contribution can be useful for multilateration tasks in real applications based on WSN that have hardware and/or power constraints.
Highly selective wideband bandpass filter using combined microstrip/coplanar waveguide structure
Authors: Gholipour V. , Moshiri S.M.M. , Alighanbari A. , Yahaghi A.
Published: May 2016

A highly selective wideband bandpass filter using a combined coplanar waveguide (CPW) and microstrip structure is proposed. The CPW section is responsible for creating a 4–8 GHz bandwidth. The microstrip split ring resonators and shorted coupled lines are used to sharpen the transitions between the passband and the stopband at lower and upper edges. The CPW section is fed by a microstrip host line and consists of two symmetrical coupled stepped‐impedance resonators to limit the bandwidth of the desired filter. A lumped element circuit model is presented and comparisons with experimental and simulation results confirm great compatibility and performance. The measurement results confirm a return loss larger than 15.3 dB in the passband, an out‐of‐band rejection greater than 15 dB.
Temperature-dependent dielectric and energy-storage properties of Pb(Zr,Sn,Ti)O3 antiferroelectric bulk ceramics
Authors: Chen Xuefeng , Liu Zhen , Xu Chenhong , Cao Fei , Wang Genshui , Dong Xianlin
Published: May 2016

The dielectric and energy-storage properties of Pb0.99Nb0.02[(Zr0.60Sn0.40)0.95Ti0.05]0.98O3 (PNZST) bulk ceramics near the antiferroelectric (AFE)-ferroelectric (FE) phase boundary are investigated as a function of temperature. Three characteristic temperatures T0, TC, T2 are obtained from the dielectric temperature spectrum. At different temperature regions (below T0, between T0 and TC, and above TC), three types of hysteresis loops are observed as square double loop, slim loop and linear loop, respectively. The switching fields and recoverable energy density all first increase and then decrease with increasing temperature, and reach their peak values at ∼T0. These results provide a convenient method to optimize the working temperature of antiferroelectric electronic devices through testing the temperature dependent dielectric properties of antiferroelectric ceramics.
Nuclear receptor REV-ERBα mediates circadian sensitivity to mortality in murine vesicular stomatitis virus-induced encephalitis
Authors: Gagnidze Khatuna , Hajdarovic Kaitlyn H. , Moskalenko Marina , Karatsoreos Ilia N. , McEwen Bruce S. , Bulloch Karen
Published: May 2016

Significance

Immune parameters exhibit circadian periodicity. We show that disease progression and survival following intranasal infection with a neurotropic virus depends on the circadian time of infection. Infection occurring at the start of the rest period leads to higher mortality than infection at the start of the active period and is associated with increased numbers of inflammatory cells and higher levels of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2). The highest expression of REV-ERBα, a component of the molecular circadian clock, coincides with the start of the active cycle, when vesicular stomatitis virus infection leads to lower mortality. Inhibiting REV-ERBα–mediated suppression of CCL2 at the start of the active cycle abolishes protection in these animals, thus providing insight into circadian regulation of immune response.
OrfM: a fast open reading frame predictor for metagenomic data
Authors: Woodcroft Ben J. , Boyd Joel A. , Tyson Gene W.
Published: May 2016

Summary: Finding and translating stretches of DNA lacking stop codons is a task common in the analysis of sequence data. However, the computational tools for finding open reading frames are sufficiently slow that they are becoming a bottleneck as the volume of sequence data grows. This computational bottleneck is especially problematic in metagenomics when searching unassembled reads, or screening assembled contigs for genes of interest. Here, we present OrfM, a tool to rapidly identify open reading frames (ORFs) in sequence data by applying the Aho–Corasick algorithm to find regions uninterrupted by stop codons. Benchmarking revealed that OrfM finds identical ORFs to similar tools (‘GetOrf’ and ‘Translate’) but is four-five times faster. While OrfM is sequencing platform-agnostic, it is best suited to large, high quality datasets such as those produced by Illumina sequencers.

Availability and Implementation: Source code and binaries are freely available for download at http://github.com/wwood/OrfM or through GNU Guix under the LGPL 3+ license. OrfM is implemented in C and supported on GNU/Linux and OSX.

Contacts:  b.woodcroft@uq.edu.au

Supplementary information :  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Early Buddhist Philosophy (Abhidharma/Abhidhamma)
Authors: Skorupski Tadeusz
Published: May 2016

During the centuries after the Buddha’s demise, the activities of the Saṅgha in India are sparsely documented. It is, however, evident that the Buddha’s followers made efforts to gather and systematize his teaching. The efforts to gather his teaching resulted in due course in the collection of the Vinaya and Sūtra Piṭakas. The efforts to systematize his teachings induced controversies, and resulted in the fragmentation of the Saṅgha into schools, and the composition of sectarian Abhidharma texts. Generally, the Tripiṭaka (Vinaya, Sūtra, Abhidharma) is treated as the Buddha Word. However, particularly in the case of the Abhidharma texts, historical and textual studies indicate that their crystallization into the Abhidharma Piṭaka took several centuries after the Buddha. Conventionally, the Abhidharma is said to provide a systematization of the Dharma taught by the Buddha, but in effect it offers more than that. As such the term Abhidharma encompasses a body of literature and doctrine. In terms of literature, the roots of the Abhidharma Piṭaka are often traced to mnemonic lists called mātṛkā in Sanskrit, and mātikā in Pāli. Basic lists are already present in the Sūtra Piṭaka, for instance, in the Saṅgīti and Dasuttara suttas of the Dīghanikāya. Starting with such lists, Buddhist masters produced more lists, which they grouped and collated to form the foundation of Buddhist doctrine and practice. The phases that culminated in the compilation of the mature Abhidharma Piṭakas, as we have them, remain enigmatic. In terms of doctrine, the Abhidharma does not represent a mere systematization of the Buddha’s legacy. In addition to safeguarding his teaching, the Abhidharma casts new horizons for classifying and analyzing the phenomena of existence. One of its seminal aspects is its focus on taxonomy of the entire spectrum of existence in terms of the ultimate realities called dharmas (factors, phenomena). The dharmas are differentiated into conditioned and unconditioned, and correlated with the threefold stratification of the cosmos. The conditioned dharmas are analyzed in terms of their ethical and other qualities, and arranged into taxonomic groups. A clear distinction is made between dharmas that perpetuate existence or suffering, and dharmas that are conducive to the soteriological progress and attainment of the unconditioned state, nirvāṇa. The Abhidharma adepts also produced innovative theories and pragmatic stages of the path leading to emancipation. Thus the Abhidharma adepts formulated an innovative scenario of Buddhist doctrines, which they placed under the Buddha’s authority, and at the same time proclaimed them as the ultimate teaching.
Gender Differences in Publication Productivity, Academic Rank, and Career Duration Among U.S. Academic Gastroenterology Faculty
Authors: Diamond Sarah J. , Thomas Charles R. , Desai Sima , Holliday Emma B. , Jagsi Reshma , Schmitt Colleen , Enestvedt Brintha K.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

Female representation in academic medicine is increasing without proportional increases in female representation at senior ranks. The purpose of this study is to describe the gender representation in academic gastroenterology (GI) and compare publication productivity, academic rank, and career duration between male and female gastroenterologists.

Method

In 2014, the authors collected data including number of publications, career duration, h-index, and m-index for faculty members at 114 U.S. academic GI programs.

Results

Of 2,440 academic faculty, 1,859 (76%) were men and 581 (24%) were women. Half (50%) of men held senior faculty position compared with 29% of women (P < .001). Compared with female faculty, male faculty had significantly (P < .001) longer careers (20 vs. 11 years), more publications (median 24 [0–949] vs. 9 [0–438]), and higher h-indices (8 vs. 4). Higher h-index correlated with higher academic rank (P < .001). The authors detected no difference in the h-index between men and women at the same rank for professor, associate professor, and instructor, nor any difference in the m-index between men and women (0.5 vs. 0.46, respectively, P = .214).

Conclusions

A gender gap exists in the number and proportion of women in academic GI; however, after correcting for career duration, productivity measures that consider quantity and impact are similar for male and female faculty. Women holding senior faculty positions are equally productive as their male counterparts. Early and continued career mentorship will likely lead to continued increases in the rise of women in academic rank.
Symptomatic Treatment for Uncomplicated Acute Diverticulitis: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Mali Juha P. , Mentula Panu J. , Leppäniemi Ari K. , Sallinen Ville J.
Published: May 2016

BACKGROUND:

Even though evidence for nonantibiotic treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis exists, it has not gained widespread adoption.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this prospective single-arm study was to analyze the safety and efficacy of symptomatic (nonantibiotic) treatment for uncomplicated diverticulitis during a 30-day follow-up period.

DESIGN:

This study is a single-arm prospective trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT02219698).

SETTINGS:

This study was performed at an academic teaching hospital functioning as both a tertiary and secondary care referral center.

PATIENTS:

Patients, who had CT-verified uncomplicated acute colonic diverticulitis (including diverticulitis with pericolic air), were evaluated for the study. Patients with ongoing antibiotic therapy, immunosuppression, suspicion of peritonitis, organ dysfunction, pregnancy, or other infections requiring antibiotics were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS:

Symptomatic in- or outpatient treatment consisted of mild analgesics (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or paracetamol).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

The incidence of complicated diverticulitis was the primary outcome.

RESULTS:

Overall, 161 patients were included in the study, and 153 (95%) completed the 30-day follow-up. Four (3%) of these patients were misdiagnosed (abscess in the initial CT scan). A total of 14 (9%) patients had pericolic air. Altogether, 140 (87%) patients were treated as outpatients, and 4 (3%) of them were admitted to the hospital during the follow-up. None of the patients developed complicated diverticulitis or required surgery, but, 2 days (median) after inclusion, antibiotics were given to 14 (9%, 6 orally, 8 intravenously) patients.

LIMITATIONS:

This study is limited by the lack of a comparison group and by the relatively short follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS:

Symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis without antibiotics is safe and effective.
Comparison of Open, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Colectomies Using a Large National Database: Outcomes and Trends Related to Surgery Center Volume
Authors: Yeo Heather L. , Isaacs Abby J. , Abelson Jonathan S. , Milsom Jeffrey W. , Sedrakyan Art
Published: May 2016

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies have shown that high-volume centers and laparoscopic techniques improve outcomes of colectomy. These evidence-based measures have been slow to be accepted, and current trends are unknown. In addition, the current rates and outcomes of robotic surgery are unknown.

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to examine current national trends in the use of minimally invasive surgery and to evaluate hospital volume trends over time.

DESIGN:

This was a retrospective study.

SETTINGS:

This study was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital.

PATIENTS:

Using the National Inpatient Sample, we evaluated trends in patients undergoing elective open, laparoscopic, and robotic colectomies from 2009 to 2012. Patient and institutional characteristics were evaluated and outcomes compared between groups using multivariate hierarchical-logistic regression and nonparametric tests. The National Inpatient Sample includes patient and hospital demographics, admission and treating diagnoses, inpatient procedures, in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, hospital charges, and discharge status.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

In-hospital mortality and postoperative complications of surgery were measured.

RESULTS:

A total of 509,029 patients underwent elective colectomy from 2009 to 2012. Of those 266,263 (52.3%) were open, 235,080 (46.2%) laparoscopic, and 7686 (1.5%) robotic colectomies. The majority of minimal access surgery is still being performed at high-volume compared with low-volume centers (37.5% vs 28.0% and 44.0% vs 23.0%; p < 0.001). A total of 36% of colectomies were for cancer. The number of robotic colectomies has quadrupled from 702 in 2009 to 3390 (1.1%) in 2012. After adjustment, the rate of iatrogenic complications was higher for robotic surgery (OR = 1.73 (95% CI, 1.20–2.47)), and the median cost of robotic surgery was higher, at $15,649 (interquartile range, $11,840–$20,183) vs $12,071 (interquartile range, $9338–$16,203; p < 0.001 for laparoscopic).

LIMITATIONS:

This study may be limited by selection bias by surgeons regarding the choice of patient management. In addition, there are limitations in the measures of disease severity and, because the database relies on billing codes, there may be inaccuracies such as underreporting.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results show that the majority of colectomies in the United States are still performed open, although rates of laparoscopy continue to increase. There is a trend toward increased volume of laparoscopic procedures at specialty centers. The role of robotics is still being defined, in light of higher cost, lack of clinical benefit, and increased iatrogenic complications, albeit comparable overall complications, as compared with laparoscopic colectomy.
Integrating Early Intervention for Borderline Personality Disorder and Mood Disorders
Authors: Chanen Andrew M. , Berk Michael , Thompson Katherine
Published: May 2016

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been demonstrated to be a reliable and valid construct in young people (adolescents and young adults). Both borderline- and mood-related psychopathology become clinically apparent from puberty through to young adulthood, frequently co-occur, can reinforce one another, and can be difficult to differentiate clinically. This Gordian knot of overlapping clinical features, common risk factors, and precursors to both BPD and mood disorders complicates clinical assessment, prevention, and treatment. Regardless of whether an individual crosses an arbitrary diagnostic threshold, a considerable proportion of young people with borderline- and mood-related psychopathology will develop significant and persistent functional, vocational, and interpersonal impairment and disability during this critical risk and developmental period. There is a clear need for early intervention, but spurious diagnostic certainty risks stigma, misapplication of diagnostic labels, inappropriate treatment, and unfavorable outcomes. This article aims to integrate early intervention for BPD and mood disorders in the clinical context of developmental and phenomenological change and evolution. “Clinical staging,” similar to disease staging in general medicine, is presented as a pragmatic, heuristic, and trans-diagnostic framework to guide prevention and intervention. It acknowledges that the early stages of these disorders cannot be disentangled sufficiently to allow for disorder-specific preventive measures and early interventions. Clinical staging defines an individual’s location along the continuum of the evolving temporal course of a disorder. Such staging aids differentiation of early or milder clinical phenomena from those that accompany illness progression and chronicity, and suggests the application of appropriate and proportionate intervention strategies.
Nursing and Theater
Authors: Coleman Jennifer J. , Dick Tracey K.
Published: May 2016

Prelicensure nursing education needs to prepare students for their future roles as professional nurses with ethical and moral decision-making skills. This article describes the use of theater as one approach to teaching nursing ethics at the prelicensure level. Students perform as actors, directors, and discussion leaders in a series of simulated ethical scenarios designed to encourage individual accountability and responsibility for action.
BRAF and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: Lessons From Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma and Primary Cutaneous Melanoma
Authors: Mitchell Brendon , Dhingra Jagdish K. , Mahalingam Meera
Published: May 2016

The increased prevalence ofBRAFmutations in thyroid carcinoma and primary cutaneous melanoma (PCM) hint that dysregulation ofBRAFmight contribute to the noted association between PCM and thyroid carcinoma. A recent study evaluating the rate ofBRAFV600Emutations among patients who had been diagnosed with primary papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and PCM showed that patients with either PCM or PTC were at an increased risk of developing the other as a second primary malignant neoplasm. Furthermore, the authors noted that samples from patients suffering from both malignancies exhibited a higher rate of incidence of theBRAFV600Emutation, compared with patients not suffering from both malignancies. These studies support the hypothesis that the pathogenesis of these 2 malignancies might share a conserved molecular pattern associated with dysregulation of the BRAF protein. One mechanism through whichBRAFmight contribute to PCM and thyroid carcinoma progression is through induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Specifically, the Snail/E-cadherin axis has been demonstrated as a pathway dysregulated by BRAF, leading to EMT in both malignancies. Our analysis focuses on the results of these recent investigations, and through a review of select molecules relevant to EMT, looks to provide a context by which to better understand the relevance and role of stromal-parenchymal signaling and theBRAFmutation in the pathogenesis of PTC and PCM.