bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding Lapita as History
Authors: Terrell John Edward
Published: December 2014

Although often seen as a singular historical phenomenon, it is likely that the prehistory witnessed archaeologically by Lapita pottery and other associated artifacts differed significantly in Near Oceania from the tale told about this pottery in Remote Oceania. There is a high baseline probability that Lapita evolved in the Bismarck Archipelago as part of an ancient, broadly distributed community of practice among diverse local residential communities. In contrast, around 3,000 years ago and after a number of generations in Near Oceania, some of the bearers of Lapita pottery sailed away to colonize what had hitherto been the uninhabited islands to the south and east. Thereafter, due perhaps to the greater distances among the major Remote Oceanic archipelagoes, Lapita as an archaeological complex bears witness mostly to the shared ancestry of these pioneers rather than to their continuing mutual engagement in a newly founded, more expansive regional community of practice.
Kiso Supernova Survey (KISS): Survey strategy
Authors: Morokuma Tomoki , Tominaga Nozomu , Tanaka Masaomi , Mori Kensho , Matsumoto Emiko , Kikuchi Yuki , Shibata Takumi , Sako Shigeyuki , Aoki Tsutomu , Doi Mamoru , Kobayashi Naoto , Maehara Hiroyuki , Matsunaga Noriyuki , Mito Hiroyuki , Miyata Takashi , Nakada Yoshikazu , Soyano Takao , Tarusawa Ken'ichi , Miyazaki Satoshi , Nakata Fumiaki , Okada Norio , Sarugaku Yuki , Richmond Michael W. , Akitaya Hiroshi , Aldering Greg , Arimatsu Ko , Contreras Carlos , Horiuchi Takashi , Hsiao Eric Y. , Itoh Ryosuke , Iwata Ikuru , Kawabata Koji S. , Kawai Nobuyuki , Kitagawa Yutaro , Kokubo Mitsuru , Kuroda Daisuke , Mazzali Paolo , Misawa Toru , Moritani Yuki , Morrell Nidia , Okamoto Rina , Pavlyuk Nikolay , Phillips Mark M. , Pian Elena , Sahu Devendra , Saito Yoshihiko , Sano Kei , Stritzinger Maximilian D. , Tachibana Yutaro , Taddia Francesco , Takaki Katsutoshi , Tateuchi Ken , Tomita Akihiko , Tsvetkov Dmitry , Ui Takahiro , Ukita Nobuharu , Urata Yuji , Walker Emma S. , Yoshii Taketoshi
Published: December 2014

The Kiso Supernova Survey (KISS) is a high-cadence optical wide-field supernova (SN) survey. The primary goal of the survey is to catch the very early light of a SN, during the shock breakout phase. Detection of SN shock breakouts combined with multi-band photometry obtained with other facilities would provide detailed physical information on the progenitor stars of SNe. The survey is performed using a 2 $_{.}^{\circ}$2 × 2 $_{.}^{\circ}$2 field-of-view instrument on the 1.05-m Kiso Schmidt telescope, the Kiso Wide Field Camera (KWFC). We take a 3-min exposure in g-band once every hour in our survey, reaching magnitude g ∼ 20–21. About 100 nights of telescope time per year have been spent on the survey since 2012 April. The number of the shock breakout detections is estimated to be of the order of 1 during our three-year project. This paper summarizes the KISS project including the KWFC observing setup, the survey strategy, the data reduction system, and CBET-reported SNe discovered so far by KISS.
X-ray filament with a strong 6.7-keV line in the Galactic center region
Authors: Yamauchi Shigeo , Shimizu Miku , Nakashima Shinya , Nobukawa Masayoshi , Tsuru Takeshi Go , Koyama Katsuji
Published: December 2014

An elongated X-ray source with a strong K-shell line from He-like iron (Fe xxvi) is found at (RA, Dec)J2000.0 = (17h44m00${^{s}_{.}}$0, − 29°13′40${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$9) in the Galactic center region. The position coincides with the X-ray thread, G359.55+0.16, which is aligned with the radio non-thermal filament. The X-ray spectrum is well fitted with an absorbed thin thermal plasma (apec) model. The best-fitting temperature, metal abundance, and column density are $4.1^{+2.7}_{-1.8}$ keV, $0.58^{+0.41}_{-0.32}$ solar, and $6.1^{+2.5}_{-1.3} \times 10^{22}$ cm−2, respectively. These values are similar to those of the largely extended Galactic center X-ray emission.
Searching and Indexing Genomic Databases via Kernelization
Authors: Gagie Travis , Puglisi Simon J.
Published: December 2014

The rapid advance of DNA sequencing technologies has yielded databases of thousands of genomes. To search and index these databases effectively, it is important that we take advantage of the similarity between those genomes. Several authors have recently suggested searching or indexing only one reference genome and the parts of the other genomes where they differ. In this paper we survey the twenty-year history of this idea and discuss its relation to kernelization in parameterized complexity.
Rochelle salt – a structural reinvestigation with improved tools. I. The high-temperature paraelectric phase at 308 K
Authors: Mo Frode , Mathiesen Ragnvald H. , Beukes Jon Are , Vu Khanh Minh
Published: December 2014

The crystal structure of the high-temperature paraelectric phase of Rochelle salt (K+·Na+·C4H4O62−·4H2O) at 308 K has been reinvestigated using synchrotron X-ray diffraction with refinement parametersR(int) = 0.0123, final (shift/e.s.d.)max= 0.019,R1(all) = 0.0371 andwR2(all) = 0.0608. The application of a new gas-flow sample cell designed to control both temperature and relative humidity permitted collection of data of excellent quality and enabled unrestrained refinement of all parameters, including those of the isotropic hydrogen atoms. A precise description of the structure has ensued. One K atom is disordered between two symmetry-equivalent sites; three O atoms in three of the four water molecules exhibit very strong anisotropy. Refining one O atom as a split atom was successful, yielding small improvements in the bonding parameters of several H atoms. The H atoms of all water molecules behave as single pairs. Their finalUvalues are of moderate magnitude indicating that these atoms do not participate in the anisotropy of the parent O atoms. It is suggested that the three water O atoms are in part statically disordered, while the bonded H atoms are not. Except for the split K atom and the three water O atoms there is no evidence of general disorder in the structure.
Crystal structure ofN′-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)benzenecarboximidamide tetrahydrofuran monosolvate
Authors: Zhao Jian-Ping , Liu Rui-Qin , Jiang Zhi-Hao , Bai Sheng-Di
Published: December 2014

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C15H16N2·C4H8O, contains two amidine molecules (AandB) with slightly different conformations and two tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent molecules. In the amidine molecules, the dimethylphenyl ring and the NH2group lie to the same side of the N=C bond and the dihedral angles between the aromatic rings are 54.25 (7) (moleculeA) and 58.88 (6) ° (moleculeB). In the crystal, N—H...N hydrogen bonds link the amidine molecules into [100]C(4) chains of alternatingAandBmolecules. Both amidine molecules form an N—H...O hydrogen bond to an adjacent THF solvent molecule.
Crystal structure of (E)-2-{[(4-anilinophenyl)imino]methyl}phenol
Authors: Faizi Md. Serajul Haque , Iskenderov Turganbay S. , Sharkina Natalia O.
Published: December 2014

The title compound, C19H16N2O, crystallized with two independent molecules (AandB) in the asymmetric unit. There is an intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond in each molecule with the phenol ring being inclined to the central benzene ring by 4.93 (14) and 7.12 (14)° in moleculesAandB, respectively. The conformation of the two molecules differs essentially in the orientation of the terminal aminophenyl ring with respect to the central benzene ring; this dihedral angle is 50.51 (4)° in moleculeAand 54.61 (14)° in moleculeB. The two outer aromatic rings are inclined to one another by 51.39 (14) and 49.88 (14)° in moleculesAandB, respectively. In the crystal, molecules are connected by N—H...O hydrogen bonds generating –A-B–A–B– zigzag chains extending along [010]. The chains are linkedviaC—H...π interactions involving neighbouringAmolecules, forming slabs lying parallel to (100).
Crystal structure of (E)-2-[1-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)ethylidene]-N-methylhydrazine-1-carbothioamide
Authors: Oliveira Adriano Bof de , Näther Christian , Jess Inke , Farias Renan Lira de , Ribeiro Iasmin Alves
Published: December 2014

In the title compound, C11H13N3O2S, there is a short intramolecular N—H...N contact. The benzo[d][1,3]dioxole ring system is approximately planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.025 Å) and makes a dihedral angle of 56.83 (6)° with the mean plane of the methylthiosemicarbazone fragment [–N—N—C(=S)—N—C; maximum deviation = 0.1111 (14) Å for the imino N atom]. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviapairs of N—H...S hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers. The dimers are connected by N—H...S hydrogen bonds into layers parallel to (100). The H atoms of both methyl groups are disordered over two sets of sites and were refined with occupancy ratios of 0.5:0.5 and 0.75:0.25.
Key respiratory genes elucidate bacterial community respiration in a seasonally anoxic estuary
Authors: Eggleston Erin M. , Lee Dong Y. , Owens Michael S. , Cornwell Jeffrey C. , Crump Byron C. , Hewson Ian
Published: December 2014

Intense annual spring phytoplankton blooms and thermohaline stratification lead to anoxia in Chesapeake Bay bottom waters. Once oxygen becomes depleted in the system, microbial communities use energetically favourable alternative electron acceptors for respiration. The extent to which changes in respiration are reflected in community gene expression have only recently been investigated. Metatranscriptomes prepared from near‐bottom water plankton over a 4‐month time series in central Chesapeake Bay demonstrated changes consistent with terminal electron acceptor availability. The frequency of respiration‐related genes in metatranscriptomes was examined by BLASTx against curated databases of genes intimately and exclusively involved in specific electron acceptor utilization pathways. The relative expression of genes involved in denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium were coincident with changes in nitrate, nitrite and ammonium concentrations. Dissimilatory iron and manganese reduction transcript ratios increase during anoxic conditions and corresponded with the highest soluble reactive phosphate and manganese concentrations. The sulfide concentration peaked in late July and early August and also matched dissimilatory sulfate reduction transcript ratios. We show that rather than abrupt transitions between terminal electron acceptors, there is substantial overlap in time and space of these various anaerobic respiratory processes in Chesapeake Bay.
Adaptation of anaerobic cultures of Escherichia coli K‐12 in response to environmental trimethylamine‐N‐oxide
Authors: Denby Katie J. , Rolfe Matthew D. , Crick Ellen , Sanguinetti Guido , Poole Robert K. , Green Jeffrey
Published: December 2014

Systematic analyses of transcriptional and metabolic changes occurring when Escherichia coli K‐12 switches from fermentative growth to anaerobic respiratory growth with trimethylamine‐N‐oxide (TMAO) as the terminal electron acceptor revealed: (i) the induction of torCAD, but not genes encoding alternative TMAO reductases; (ii) transient expression of frmRAB, encoding formaldehyde dehydrogenase; and (iii) downregulation of copper resistance genes. Simultaneous inference of 167 transcription factor (TF) activities implied that transcriptional re‐programming was mediated by 20 TFs, including the transient inactivation of the two‐component system ArcBA; a prediction validated by direct measurement of phosphorylated ArcA. Induction of frmRAB, detection of dimethylamine in culture medium and formaldehyde production when cell‐free extracts were incubated with TMAO suggested the presence of TMAO demethylase activity. Accordingly, the viability of an frmRAB mutant was compromised upon exposure to TMAO. Downregulation of genes involved in copper resistance could be accounted for by TMAO inhibition of Cu(II) reduction. The simplest interpretation of the data is that during adaptation to the presence of environmental TMAO, anaerobic fermentative cultures of E. coli respond by activating the TorTSR regulatory system with consequent induction of TMAO reductase activity, resulting in net oxidation of menaquinone and inhibition of Cu(II) reduction, responses that are sensed by ArcBA and CusRS respectively.
Response of intertidal benthic microalgal biofilms to a coupled light–temperature stress: evidence for latitudinal adaptation along the Atlantic coast of Southern Europe
Authors: Laviale Martin , Barnett Alexandre , Ezequiel João , Lepetit Bernard , Frankenbach Silja , Méléder Vona , Serôdio João , Lavaud Johann
Published: December 2014

Although estuarine microphytobenthos (MPB) is frequently exposed to excessive light and temperature conditions, little is known on their interactive effects on MPB primary productivity. Laboratory and in situ experiments were combined to investigate the short‐term joint effects of high light (HL) and high temperature (37°C versus 27°C) on the operating efficiency of photoprotective processes [vertical migration versus non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ)] exhibited by natural benthic diatom communities from two intertidal flats in France (FR) and Portugal (PT). A clear latitudinal pattern was observed, with PT biofilms being more resistant to HL stress, regardless the effect of temperature, and displaying a lower relative contribution of vertical migration to photoprotection and a stronger NPQ in situ. However, higher temperature leads to comparable effects, with photoinhibition increasing to about three times (i.e. from 3% to 10% and from 8% to 22% in PT and FR sites respectively). By using a number of methodological novelties in MPB research (lipid peroxidation quantification, Lhcx proteins immunodetection), this study brings a physiological basis to the previously reported depression of MPB photosynthetic productivity in summer. They emphasize the joint role of temperature and light in limiting, at least transiently (i.e. during emersion), MPB photosynthetic activity in situ.
Changes in microbial communities in coastal sediments along natural CO2 gradients at a volcanic vent in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Raulf Felix F. , Fabricius Katharina , Uthicke Sven , de Beer Dirk , Abed Raeid M. M. , Ramette Alban
Published: December 2014

Natural CO2 venting systems can mimic conditions that resemble intermediate to high pCO2 levels as predicted for our future oceans. They represent ideal sites to investigate potential long‐term effects of ocean acidification on marine life. To test whether microbes are affected by prolonged exposure to pCO2 levels, we examined the composition and diversity of microbial communities in oxic sandy sediments along a natural CO2 gradient. Increasing pCO2 was accompanied by higher bacterial richness and by a strong increase in rare members in both bacterial and archaeal communities. Microbial communities from sites with CO2 concentrations close to today's conditions had different structures than those of sites with elevated CO2 levels. We also observed increasing sequence abundance of several organic matter degrading types of Flavobacteriaceae and Rhodobacteraceae, which paralleled concurrent shifts in benthic cover and enhanced primary productivity. With increasing pCO2, sequences related to bacterial nitrifying organisms such as Nitrosococcus and Nitrospirales decreased, and sequences affiliated to the archaeal ammonia‐oxidizing Thaumarchaeota Nitrosopumilus maritimus increased. Our study suggests that microbial community structure and diversity, and likely key ecosystem functions, may be altered in coastal sediments by long‐term CO2 exposure to levels predicted for the end of the century.
Genomic and proteomic characterization of two novel siphovirus infecting the sedentary facultative epibiont cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina
Authors: Chan Yi‐Wah , Millard Andrew D. , Wheatley Peter J. , Holmes Antony B. , Mohr Remus , Whitworth Anna L. , Mann Nicholas H. , Larkum Anthony W. D. , Hess Wolfgang R. , Scanlan David J. , Clokie Martha R. J.
Published: December 2014

Acaryochloris marina is a symbiotic species of cyanobacteria that is capable of utilizing far‐red light. We report the characterization of the phages A‐HIS1 and A‐HIS2, capable of infecting Acaryochloris. Morphological characterization of these phages places them in the family Siphoviridae. However, molecular characterization reveals that they do not show genetic similarity with any known siphoviruses. While the phages do show synteny between each other, the nucleotide identity between the phages is low at 45–67%, suggesting they diverged from each other some time ago. The greatest number of genes shared with another phage (a myovirus infecting marine Synechococcus) was four. Unlike most other cyanophages and in common with the Siphoviridae infecting Synechococcus, no photosynthesis‐related genes were found in the genome. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) spacers from the host Acaryochloris had partial matches to sequences found within the phages, which is the first time CRISPRs have been reported in a cyanobacterial/cyanophage system. The phages also encode a homologue of the proteobacterial RNase T. The potential function of RNase T in the mark‐up or digestion of crRNA hints at a novel mechanism for evading the host CRISPR system.
Modelling non‐Euclidean movement and landscape connectivity in highly structured ecological networks
Authors: Sutherland Chris , Fuller Angela K. , Royle J. Andrew
Published: December 2014

Movement is influenced by landscape structure, configuration and geometry, but measuring distance as perceived by animals poses technical and logistical challenges. Instead, movement is typically measured using Euclidean distance, irrespective of location or landscape structure, or is based on arbitrary cost surfaces. A recently proposed extension of spatial capture‐recapture (SCR) models resolves this issue using spatial encounter histories of individuals to calculate least‐cost paths (ecological distance: Ecology, 94, 2013, 287) thereby relaxing the Euclidean assumption. We evaluate the consequences of not accounting for movement heterogeneity when estimating abundance in highly structured landscapes, and demonstrate the value of this approach for estimating biologically realistic space‐use patterns and landscape connectivity.

We simulated SCR data in a riparian habitat network, using the ecological distance model under a range of scenarios where space‐use in and around the landscape was increasingly associated with water (i.e. increasingly less Euclidean). To assess the influence of miscalculating distance on estimates of population size, we compared the results from the ecological and Euclidean distance based models. We then demonstrate that the ecological distance model can be used to estimate home range geometry when space use is not symmetrical. Finally, we provide a method for calculating landscape connectivity based on modelled species‐landscape interactions generated from capture‐recapture data.

Using ecological distance always produced unbiased estimates of abundance. Explicitly modelling the strength of the species‐landscape interaction provided a direct measure of landscape connectivity and better characterised true home range geometry. Abundance under the Euclidean distance model was increasingly (negatively) biased as space use was more strongly associated with water and, because home ranges are assumed to be symmetrical, produced poor characterisations of home range geometry and no information about landscape connectivity.

The ecological distance SCR model uses spatially indexed capture‐recapture data to estimate how activity patterns are influenced by landscape structure. As well as reducing bias in estimates of abundance, this approach provides biologically realistic representations of home range geometry, and direct information about species‐landscape interactions. The incorporation of both structural (landscape) and functional (movement) components of connectivity provides a direct measure of species‐specific landscape connectivity.
T cell participation in autoreactivity to NC16a epitopes in bullous pemphigoid
Authors: Pickford W J , Gudi V , Haggart A M , Lewis B J , Herriot R , Barker R N , Ormerod A D
Published: December 2014

Bullous pemphigoid is a blistering skin disease characterized by autoantibodies against the NC16a domain of bullous pemphigoid 180. This study was performed to characterize and map the fine specificity of T cell responses to NC16a. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a total of 28 bullous pemphigoid patients and 14 matched controls were tested for proliferative and cytokine responses to recombinant NC16a and a complete panel of 21 overlapping peptides spanning this region of BP180. Proliferative responses to NC16A and the peptide panel in the patients with active disease were similar in frequency and magnitude to those in healthy donors, and included late responses typical of naive cells in approximately 60% of each group. Interleukin (IL)-4 responses were slightly stronger for six peptides, and significantly stronger for Nc16a, in patients than in controls. Factor analysis identified factors that separate responses to the peptide panel discretely into IL-4, T helper type 2 (Th2) pattern, interferon (IFN)-γ, Th1 pattern and IL-10 or transforming growth factor [TGF-β, regulatory T cell (Treg)] pattern. Factors segregating IL-10 versus IFN-γ were predicted by active blistering or remission, and TGF-β or IL-10 versus IFN-γ by age. Finally, we confirmed a significant up-regulation of IgE responses to BP180 in the patients with pemphigoid. This shows the complexity of T cell phenotype and fine autoreactive specificity in responses to NC16A, in patients and in normal controls. Important disease-associated factors determine the balance of cytokine responses. Of these, specific IL-4 and IgE responses show the strongest associations with pemphigoid, pointing to an important contribution by Th2 cytokines to pathogenesis.
Interface of Linguistic and Visual Information During Audience Design
Authors: Fukumura Kumiko
Published: December 2014

Evidence suggests that speakers can take account of the addressee's needs when referring. However, what representations drive the speaker's audience design has been less clear. This study aims to go beyond previous studies by investigating the interplay between the visual and linguistic context during audience design. Speakers repeated subordinate descriptions (e.g., firefighter) given in the prior linguistic context less and used basic‐level descriptions (e.g., man) more when the addressee did not hear the linguistic context than when s/he did. But crucially, this effect happened only when the referent lacked the visual attributes associated with the expressions (e.g., the referent was in plain clothes rather than in a firefighter uniform), so there was no other contextual cue available for the identification of the referent. This suggests that speakers flexibly use different contextual cues to help their addressee map the referring expression onto the intended referent. In addition, speakers used fewer pronouns when the addressee did not hear the linguistic antecedent than when s/he did. This suggests that although speakers may be egocentric during anaphoric reference (Fukumura & Van Gompel, 2012), they can cooperatively avoid pronouns when the linguistic antecedents were not shared with their addressee during initial reference.
Key autophagic targets and relevant small‐molecule compounds in cancer therapy
Authors: Tong X.‐P , Chen Y. , Zhang S.‐Y. , Xie T. , Tian M. , Guo M.‐R. , Kasimu R. , Ouyang L. , Wang J.‐H.
Published: December 2014

Autophagy is a highly conserved lysosomal degradation process which can recycle unnecessary or dysfunctional cell organelles and proteins, thereby playing a crucial regulatory role in cell survival and maintenance. It has been widely accepted that autophagy regulates various pathological processes, among which cancer attracts much attention. Autophagy may either promote cancer cell survival by providing energy during unfavourable metabolic circumstance or can induce individual cancer cell death by preventing necrosis and increasing genetic instability. Thus, dual roles of autophagy may determine the destiny of cancer cells and make it an attractive target for small‐molecule drug discovery. Collectively, key autophagy‐related elements as potential targets, oncogenes mTORC1, class I PI3K and AKT, as well as tumour suppressor class III PI3K, Beclin‐1 and p53, have been discussed. In addition, some small molecule drugs, such as rapamycin and its derivatives, rottlerin, PP242 and AZD8055 (targeting PI3K/AKT/mTORC1), spautin‐1, and tamoxifen, as well as oridonin and metformin (targeting p53), can modulate autophagic pathways in different types of cancer. All these data will shed new light on targeting the autophagic process for cancer therapy, using small‐molecule compounds, to fight cancer in the near future.
Rethinking peer support for diabetes in Vancouver's South‐Asian community: a feasibility study
Authors: Tang T. S. , Sohal P. S. , Garg A. K.
Published: December 2014

Aim

To examine the feasibility and potential health impact of a diabetes self‐management education and support intervention involving peer support on glycaemic control and diabetes distress.

Methods

A total of 41 South‐Asian adults with Type 2 diabetes were recruited for a 24‐week diabetes self‐management education and support pilot intervention involving peer support. The intervention consisted of six weekly education sessions co‐facilitated by a certified diabetes educator and two peer leaders, followed by 18 weekly support sessions facilitated by two peer leaders. Education sessions were guided entirely by participants' self‐management questions and also emphasized goal setting and action planning. Support sessions were based on empowerment principles and participants discussed self‐management challenges, shared emotions, asked self‐management questions, problem‐solved in a group, set goals, and developed and evaluated action plans. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and retention. Primary health‐related outcomes included HbA1c levels and diabetes distress (measured at baseline, 6 and 24 weeks). Programme satisfaction was also assessed.

Results

Pre‐established criteria for recruitment and retention were met. Paired t‐tests showed no changes in HbA1c and diabetes distress at 6 weeks. At 24 weeks, HbA1c levels deteriorated [54 mmol/mol (7.1%) vs 61 mmol/mol (7.7%)] while diabetes distress scores improved (2.0 vs 1.7).

Conclusions

Although feasible, findings suggest this peer‐support model may have a positive impact on diabetes distress, but not on HbA1c levels. Culturally responsive modifications (e.g. intervention location) to the pilot model are needed and could lead to more favourable health outcomes for this community. Such a re‐designed peer‐support model will require further investigation.
Comparison of maternal morbidity and medical costs during pregnancy and delivery between patients with gestational diabetes and patients with pre‐existing diabetes
Authors: Son K. H. , Lim N.‐K. , Lee J.‐W. , Cho M.‐C. , Park H.‐Y.
Published: December 2014

Aims

To evaluate the effects of gestational diabetes and pre‐existing diabetes on maternal morbidity and medical costs, using data from the Korea National Health Insurance Claims Database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

Methods

Delivery cases in 2010, 2011 and 2012 (459 842, 442 225 and 380 431 deliveries) were extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. The complications and medical costs were compared among the following three pregnancy groups: normal, gestational diabetes and pre‐existing diabetes.

Results

Although, the rates of pre‐existing diabetes did not fluctuate (2.5, 2.4 and 2.7%) throughout the study, the rate of gestational diabetes steadily increased (4.6, 6.2 and 8.0%). Furthermore, the rates of pre‐existing diabetes and gestational diabetes increased in conjunction with maternal age, pre‐existing hypertension and cases of multiple pregnancy. The risk of pregnancy‐induced hypertension, urinary tract infections, premature delivery, liver disease and chronic renal disease were greater in the gestational diabetes and pre‐existing diabetes groups than in the normal group. The risk of venous thromboembolism, antepartum haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia and placenta disorder were greater in the pre‐existing diabetes group, but not the gestational diabetes group, compared with the normal group. The medical costs associated with delivery, the costs during pregnancy and the number of in‐hospital days for the subjects in the pre‐existing diabetes group were the highest among the three groups.

Conclusions

The study showed that the rates of pre‐existing diabetes and gestational diabetes increased with maternal age at pregnancy and were associated with increases in medical costs and pregnancy‐related complications.
Successful pregnancy outcomes in a patient with type A insulin resistance syndrome
Authors: Enkhtuvshin B. , Nagashima S. , Saito N. , Wakabayashi T. , Ando A. , Takahashi M. , Sakai K. , Yamamuro D. , Nagasaka S. , Tamemoto H. , Ishibashi S.
Published: December 2014

Background

The management of severe insulin resistance during pregnancy is challenging because of the increased risk of perinatal complications for both mother and fetus. We describe two consecutive pregnancies in a patient with severe insulin resistance caused by a mutation in the β subunit of the insulin receptor.

Case report

A non‐obese Japanese woman was diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus during her first pregnancy at age 31 years. She presented at 6 weeks' gestation with a fasting plasma glucose concentration of 15.1 mmol/l and an HbA1c level of 95 mmol/mol (10.8%). Fasting insulin concentration was high at 68.8 μU/ml, suggesting severe insulin resistance. Anti‐insulin and insulin‐receptor antibodies were both negative. Genetic analysis revealed an in‐frame heterozygous deletion mutation (∆Leu999) in the insulin receptor gene. Despite large daily doses (up to 480 units per day) of insulin aspart and isophane, the patient's postprandial plasma glucose level exceeded 11.1 mmol/l. In the patient's second pregnancy, the addition of metformin at a dose of 2250 mg per day achieved tighter glycaemic control, with lower doses of insulin lispro and isophane (up to 174 units/day). Both newborns, who were found to carry the same mutation, were small for gestational age and developed transient hypoglycaemia after birth.

Conclusion

Adding metformin to the conventional insulin regimen effectively achieved tight glycaemic control with a lower dose of insulin. The mutation of the insulin receptor gene might underlie the intrauterine growth retardation of the newborns. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful management of diabetes mellitus in a pregnant woman with type A insulin resistance syndrome.
Pelagic larval traits of the amphidromous gobySicyopterus lagocephalusdisplay seasonal variations related to temperature in La Réunion Island
Authors: Teichert Nils , Valade Pierre , Grondin Henri , Trichet Emma , Sardenne Fany , Gaudin Philippe
Published: December 2014

Amphidromous gobies represent a substantial part of freshwater fish diversity throughout islands of the Indo‐Pacific region. They display a marine pelagic phase during several months before recruiting in rivers. Understanding the relationship between larval traits and environmental conditions is a major challenge for the evaluation of a spatial scale of connectivity and populations’ dynamics, especially in a climate change context. In this study, the larval traits ofSicyopterus lagocephaluswere examined and related to the sea surface temperature (SST), over three consecutive years in La Réunion Island (Mascarene archipelago). The pelagic larval duration (PLD, range from 96 to 293 days), the size‐at‐recruitment (range from 26.5 to 37 mmTL) and the larval growth rate (range from 0.112 to 0.293 mm·day−1TL) varied seasonally depending on hatching date. The larval growth rate was inversely correlated to the fluctuations ofPLDand size. Larvae living in high sea water temperatures exhibited a faster growth, shorterPLDs and smaller sizes‐at‐recruitment than those living in cool water temperatures. The instantaneous daily growth was assessed by the study of otolith increment widths. The daily growth was not linear throughout larval life and was positively correlated to SST. We showed high amplitude ofPLDperiodic fluctuations (170.39 ± 43.75 days) related to temperature (12.8%PLDdrop per degree), which could affect dispersal and induce intermittent connectivity between distant populations. This high plasticity of larval traits is likely to be advantageous to respond to the wide range of environmental conditions encountered throughout the species distribution range.
Competitive effects between rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon in natural and artificial streams
Authors: S. Houde Aimee Lee , Smith Andrew D. , Wilson Chris C. , Peres‐Neto Pedro R. , Neff Bryan D.
Published: December 2014

Competition with non‐native species may impede the restoration of native species, but differences in competitive abilities among intraspecific native populations may make some populations more suitable for reintroduction than others. Here, juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from two allopatric populations (LaHave and Sebago) being used for reintroduction into Lake Ontario were placed into two natural stream sites differing in the presence of ecologically similar rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). We assessed the effects of competition in the natural streams on fitness‐related traits and habitat use of the Atlantic salmon. We then compared these effects to those observed in artificial streams from a previous study. Atlantic salmon in natural streams had reduced fitness‐related traits that were associated with suboptimal microhabitats in the presence of rainbow trout, but utilised optimal microhabitats in their absence. In the presence of rainbow trout, the two Atlantic salmon populations exhibited comparable recapture proportions to each other, but the individuals from the Sebago population had better performance (body size and condition) than those from the LaHave population. Responses of both Atlantic salmon populations to competition with rainbow trout were generally similar in both direction and magnitude when compared to results from the artificial stream study. The combined results suggest that native species restoration efforts should be focused on candidate populations that are ecologically suitable to reintroduction environments, as well as on suitable habitats that do not contain exotic competitors. Moreover, this study highlights the value of controlled experiments in artificial environments for predicting fitness‐related performance in natural environments.
Neurosteroids differentially modulate fast and slow interictal discharges in the hippocampal CA3 area
Authors: Herrington Rochelle , Lévesque Maxime , Avoli Massimo
Published: December 2014

Two types of spontaneous interictal discharge, identified as fast and slow events, can be recorded from the hippocampal CA3 area in rat brain slices during application of 4‐aminopyridine (4AP) (50 μm). Here, we addressed how neurosteroids modulate the occurrence of these interictal events and of the associated high‐frequency oscillations (HFOs) (ripples, 80–200 Hz; fast ripples, 250–500 Hz). Under control conditions (i.e. during 4AP application), ripples and fast ripples were detected in 12.3 and 17.5% of fast events, respectively; in contrast, the majority of slow events (> 98%) did not co‐occur with HFOs. Application of 0.1, 1 or 5 μm allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) to 4AP‐treated slices caused a dose‐dependent decrease in the duration of the fast events and an increase in the occurrence of ripples, but not fast ripples; in contrast, the duration of slow events increased. THDOC potentiated the slow events that were recorded during pharmacological blockade of glutamatergic transmission, but had no effect on interictal discharges occurring during GABAA receptor antagonism. These results demonstrate that potentiation of GABAA receptor‐mediated signaling by THDOC differentially affects slow and fast interictal discharges; these differences may provide insights into how hyperexcitable activity is influenced by neurosteroids.
Overcoming Technical Challenges and Moving into the Future with Laser Glass
Authors: Hayden Joseph S.
Published: December 2014

The long‐term commercial potential for solid‐state laser gain materials based on glass has only been possible by constant technological developments that have overcome otherwise “market lethal” performance and cost issues. We will discuss a few examples that resulted in the development of completely new manufacturing processes that expanded the laser glass operation window and made possible the construction of large laser systems such as the National Ignition Facility in the United States and the French Laser Mégajoule. In parallel, through compositional modifications and identification of special postprocessing treatments, new active glasses with tailored properties have been continuously developed for specific laser architectures. We will also discuss current research activity directed at finding customized laser glass compositions for the next generation of high‐peak‐power (e.g., Exawatt class) laser systems.
Removal of Numerous Vesical Magnetic Beads with a Self-Made Magnetic Sheath
Authors: Zeng Shu-Xiong , Li Hui-Zhen , Zhang Zhen-Sheng , Lu Xin , Yu Xiao-Wen , Yang Qing-Song , Ma Chong , Xu Chuan-Liang , Sun Ying-Hao
Published: December 2014

Introduction

Sexual curiosity and the quest for sexual excitement are the most frequent reasons for patients to introduce foreign bodies into the urethra or the bladder. Imagination and surgical skill are essential for urologists to retrieve such vesical foreign bodies.

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe a novel method for retrieving vesical magnetic beads, which were inserted for autoeroticism by a male adolescent, with a self-made “magnetic sheath.”

Methods

A 21-year-old young man inserted more than one hundred small magnetic beads into his urethra for sexual excitement, which lately caused symptoms of gross hematuria, frequent urination, and acute lower abdominal pain when walking or urinating. We invented a magnetic sheath by fixing a magnetic bead on the tip of an F9.5 ureteral access sheath to remove the foreign bodies in a minimally invasive way.

Main Outcome Measure

The feasibility of using magnetic sheath to remove vesical foreign bodies; and operation duration.

Results

Under direct visualization of an F8/9.8 ureteroscope, the magnetic sheath could firmly attach to the magnetic bead inside the bladder and could easily pull out 5 to 15 beads each time. It took about 5 minutes to remove all of the 125 magnetic beads by utilizing our magnetic sheath.

Conclusions

The self-made magnetic sheath can make the task of removal of magnetic foreign bodies easy to urologists, requiring less time and surgical skills. The new equipment provides a new method for urologists to deal with the challenging task of removing metal vesical foreign bodies which were self-inserted for masturbation.
The German Dunkelfeld Project: A Pilot Study to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and the Use of Child Abusive Images
Authors: Beier Klaus M. , Grundmann Dorit , Kuhle Laura F. , Scherner Gerold , Konrad Anna , Amelung Till
Published: December 2014

Introduction

Sexual interest toward prepubescents and pubescents (pedophilia and hebephilia) constitutes a major risk factor for child sexual abuse (CSA) and viewing of child abusive images, i.e., child pornography offenses (CPO). Most child sexual exploitation involving CSA and CPO are undetected and unprosecuted in the “Dunkelfeld” (German: “dark field”).

Aim

This study assesses a treatment program to enhance behavioral control and reduce associated dynamic risk factors (DRF) in self-motivated pedophiles/hebephiles in the Dunkelfeld.

Methods

Between 2005 and 2011, 319 undetected help-seeking pedophiles and hebephiles expressed interest in taking part in an anonymous and confidential 1-year-treatment program using broad cognitive behavioral methodology in the Prevention Project Dunkelfeld. Therapy was assessed using nonrandomized waiting list control design (n = 53 treated group [TG]; n = 22 untreated control group [CG]).

Main Outcome Measures

Self-reported pre-/posttreatment DRF changes were assessed and compared with CG. Offending behavior characteristics were also assessed via self-reporting.

Results

No pre-/postassessment changes occurred in the control group. Emotional deficits and offense-supportive cognitions decreased in the TG; posttherapy sexual self-regulation increased. Treatment-related changes were distributed unequally across offender groups. None of the offending behavior reported for the TG was identified as such by the legal authorities. However, five of 25 CSA offenders and 29 of 32 CPO offenders reported ongoing behaviors under therapy.

Conclusions

Therapy for pedophiles/hebephiles in the Dunkelfeld can alter child sexual offending DRF and reduce-related behaviors. Unidentified, unlawful child sexual exploitative behaviors are more prevalent in this population than in officially reported recidivism. Further research into factors predictive of problematic sexual behaviors in the Dunkelfeld is warranted.
Efficient use of energy in anoxia‐tolerant plants with focus on germinating rice seedlings
Authors: Atwell Brian J. , Greenway Hank , Colmer Timothy D.
Published: December 2014

Anoxia tolerance in plants is distinguished by direction of the sparse supply of energy to processes crucial to cell maintenance and sometimes to growth, as in rice seedlings. In anoxic rice coleoptiles energy is used to synthesise proteins, take up K+, synthesise cell walls and lipids, and in cell maintenance. Maintenance of electrochemical H+ gradients across the tonoplast and plasma membrane is crucial for solute compartmentation and thus survival. These gradients sustain some H+‐solute cotransport and regulate cytoplasmic pH. Pyrophosphate (PPi), the alternative energy donor to ATP, allows direction of energy to the vacuolar H+‐PPiase, sustaining H+ gradients across the tonoplast. When energy production is critically low, operation of a biochemical pHstat allows H+‐solute cotransport across plasma membranes to continue for at least for 18 h. In active (e.g. growing) cells, PPi produced during substantial polymer synthesis allows conversion of PPi to ATP by PPi‐phosphofructokinase (PFK). In quiescent cells with little polymer synthesis and associated PPi formation, the PPi required by the vacuolar H+‐PPiase and UDPG pyrophosphorylase involved in sucrose mobilisation via sucrose synthase might be produced by conversion of ATP to PPi through reversible glycolytic enzymes, presumably pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase. These hypotheses need testing with species characterised by contrasting anoxia tolerance.

Contents

Summary
36

I.
Introduction
36

II.
PPi‐dependent enzymes as a key adaptation to an energy crisis, enabling survival and growth in anoxia
37

III.
Mechanisms of survival during an energy crisis: that is, plant quiescence during anoxia with no growth and acclimated cells in anoxia
44

IV.
Energy expenditure during growth under anoxia
49

V.
Conclusions on mechanisms of anoxia tolerance
53

Acknowledgements
54

References
55
Feasibility of reducing the maximum shelf life of red blood cells stored in additive solution: a dynamic simulation study involving a large regional blood system
Authors: Grasas A. , Pereira A. , Bosch M.‐A. , Ortiz P. , Puig L.
Published: December 2014

Background and Objective

Recent studies suggest that transfusion of old red blood cell (RBC)s, mainly those close to the 42‐day maximum shelf life (MSL), is associated with increased morbi‐mortality. Although there is no formal proof supporting a causal relationship, the precautionary principle asks for corrective interventions whenever they do not bring about other risks or unjustified costs. Here, we investigated the feasibility of reducing the MSL.

Materials and Methods

A trace simulation model was used to analyse the repercussions of several MSLs on a large regional blood system. The baseline model was fed with real input and output data from years 2009 to 2010 and validated against real inventory data. Shortage and outdate rates and inventory levels for each blood group were derived assuming 42‐, 35‐, 28‐, 21‐ and 14‐day MSLs, as well as several distribution rules and supply shocks (periods without blood collections).

Results

The model shows that MSL could be reduced to 28–35 days without major increases in the shortage or outdate rates, even after supply shocks. At the 21‐day MSL, the inventory capability to compensate supply shocks was severely reduced and translated into large shortage rates. The later were higher for group O and Rh‐negative RBCs as compared to group A and Rh‐positive, respectively.

Conclusion

Reductions of MSL to 28–35 days seem feasible and riskless and do not require major changes in the inventory management policies. Consequently, and giving preponderance to the precautionary principle, the Catalan Blood Agency has decided to reduce the MSL of RBCs from 42 to 35 days.
Group schemes and local densities of quadratic lattices in residue characteristic 2
Authors: Cho Sungmun
Published: December 2014

The celebrated Smith–Minkowski–Siegel mass formula expresses the mass of a quadratic lattice $(L,Q)$ as a product of local factors, called the local densities of $(L,Q)$. This mass formula is an essential tool for the classification of integral quadratic lattices. In this paper, we will describe the local density formula explicitly by observing the existence of a smooth affine group scheme $\underline{G}$ over $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ with generic fiber $\text{Aut}_{\mathbb{Q}_{2}}(L,Q)$, which satisfies $\underline{G}(\mathbb{Z}_{2})=\text{Aut}_{\mathbb{Z}_{2}}(L,Q)$. Our method works for any unramified finite extension of $\mathbb{Q}_{2}$. Therefore, we give a long awaited proof for the local density formula of Conway and Sloane and discover its generalization to unramified finite extensions of $\mathbb{Q}_{2}$. As an example, we give the mass formula for the integral quadratic form $Q_{n}(x_{1},\dots ,x_{n})=x_{1}^{2}+\cdots +x_{n}^{2}$ associated to a number field $k$ which is totally real and such that the ideal $(2)$ is unramified over $k$.
A database of number fields
Authors: Jones John W. , Roberts David P.
Published: December 2014

We describe an online database of number fields which accompanies this paper. The database centers on complete lists of number fields with prescribed invariants. Our description here focuses on summarizing tables and connections to theoretical issues of current interest.
Numerical Investigation on the Time-Variant Flow Field and Dynamic Forces Acting in Steam Turbine Inlet Valves
Authors: Domnick Clemens Bernhard , Benra Friedrich-Karl , Brillert Dieter , Dohmen Hans Josef , Musch Christian
Published: December 2014

The unsteady flow in inlet valves for large steam turbines used in power stations was investigated using the method of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). As the topology of the flow depends on the stroke and the pressure ratio of the valve, the flow was investigated at several positions. Various turbulence models were applied to the valve to capture the unsteady flow field. Basic Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models, the scale adaptive simulation (SAS), and the scale adaptive simulation with zonal forcing (SAS-F, also called ZFLES) were evaluated. To clarify the cause of flow-induced valve vibrations, the investigation focused on the pressure field acting on the valve plug. It can be shown that acoustic modes are excited by the flow field. These modes cause unsteady forces that act on the valve plug. The influence of valve geometry on the acoustic eigenmodes was investigated to determine how to reduce the dynamic forces. Three major flow topologies that create different dynamic forces were identified.