bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A common‐sense approach to tropical peat swamp forest restoration in Southeast Asia
Authors: Graham Laura L. B. , Giesen Wim , Page Susan E.
Published: November 2016

Tropical peat swamp forests (TPSFs) are found mainly in Southeast Asia and especially Indonesia. A total of 61% were lost between 1990 and 2015 and 6% remained in a pristine condition by 2015. Tropical peat swamps store vast amounts of carbon in their peat, but peat degradation, through drainage and fire, leads to high greenhouse gas emissions. This is gaining much international attention and, with it, policy initiatives and funding for restoration from local to landscape scales are being promoted. Unfortunately, although there is a now strong desire and need for TPSF restoration, methods are lacking. Ecological understanding is still at an early stage, and, even more so, in its applied use. There is an imbalance between the activities of TPSF restoration and sound ecological application. Furthermore, while many activities are underway and knowledge is being gained, these techniques are yet to be published. This article has been written to provide a common‐sense, practical guide to tropical peatland forest restoration which summarizes what we know to date, while acknowledging the gaps in our understanding. Topics covered include species selection, land assessment, land selection, and appropriate nursery, transplanting, and monitoring methods. The authors make no apologies that in places this reads like a manual as, given the importance of tropical peatland recovery and the recent attention and funding opportunities available, it is essential we now provide techniques to restoration practitioners working on the ground, and a basic common‐sense approach must be the starting point.
The Effect of Benefit Reductions on the Retirement Age: The Heterogeneous Response of Manual and Non‐Manual Workers
Authors: Giesecke Matthias
Published: November 2016

I estimate the effect of benefit reductions on the timing of retirement. The introduction of actuarial adjustments in the German public pension system serves as a source of exogenous variation to estimate discrete time transition rates into retirement for individuals of age 60–66. Responses to benefit reductions are elaborated separately for manual and non‐manual workers. On average, individuals postpone retirement by 13.2 months if pension benefits are reduced by 3.6 percent for each year of early retirement. This result is in line with the previous quasi‐experimental literature and suggests that people respond to the incentive of reducing the implicit tax on further periods of work. However, among men the response is about 50 percent lower for manual workers compared to non‐manual workers. Surprisingly, this does not necessarily indicate that retirement incomes of manual workers deteriorate. The explanation is that disability pensions are available at age 63—without benefit reductions.
Modelling the effect of hydration on skin conductivity
Authors: Davies L. , Chappell P. , Melvin T.
Published: November 2016

Background

Electrical signals are recorded from and sent into the body via the skin in a number of applications. In practice, skin is often hydrated with liquids having different conductivities so a model was produced in order to determine the relationship between skin impedance and conductivity.

Methods

A model representing the skin was subjected to a variety of electrical signals. The parts of the model representing the stratum corneum were given different conductivities to represent different levels of hydration.

Results

The overall impedance and conductivity of the cells did not vary at frequencies below 40 kHz. Above 40 kHz, levels of increased conductivity caused the overall impedance to decrease.

Conclusion

The variation in impedance with conductivity between 5 and 50 mSm−1 can be modelled quadratically while variation in impedance with conductivity between 5 and 5000 mSm−1 can be modelled with a double exponential decay.
Engineering the expression level of cytosolic nucleoside diphosphate kinase in transgenic Solanum tuberosum roots alters growth, respiration and carbon metabolism
Authors: Dorion Sonia , Clendenning Audrey , Rivoal Jean
Published: November 2016

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) is a ubiquitous enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of the γ‐phosphate from a donor nucleoside triphosphate to an acceptor nucleoside diphosphate. In this study we used a targeted metabolomic approach and measurement of physiological parameters to report the effects of the genetic manipulation of cytosolic NDPK (NDPK1) expression on physiology and carbon metabolism in potato (Solanum tuberosum) roots. Sense and antisense NDPK1 constructs were introduced in potato using Agrobacterium rhizogenes to generate a population of root clones displaying a 40‐fold difference in NDPK activity. Root growth, O2 uptake, flux of carbon between sucrose and CO2, levels of reactive oxygen species and some tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates were positively correlated with levels of NDPK1 expression. In addition, NDPK1 levels positively affected UDP‐glucose and cellulose contents. The activation state of ADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase, a key enzyme in starch synthesis, was higher in antisense roots than in roots overexpressing NDPK1. Further analyses demonstrated that ADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase was more oxidized, and therefore less active, in sense clones than antisense clones. Consequently, antisense NDPK1 roots accumulated more starch and the starch to cellulose ratio was negatively affected by the level of NDPK1. These data support the idea that modulation of NDPK1 affects the distribution of carbon between starch and cellulose biosynthetic pathways.
Effect of maternal position on fetal behavioural state and heart rate variability in healthy late gestation pregnancy
Authors: Stone Peter R. , Burgess Wendy , McIntyre Jordan P. R. , Gunn Alistair J. , Lear Christopher A. , Bennet Laura , Mitchell Edwin A. , Thompson John M. D. ,   the Maternal Sleep In Pregnancy Research Group, The University of Auckland
Published: November 2016

Key points

Fetal behavioural state in healthy late gestation pregnancy is affected by maternal position.

Fetal state 1F is more likely to occur in maternal supine or right lateral positions.

Fetal state 4F is less likely to occur when the woman lies supine or semi‐recumbent.

Fetal state change is more likely when the woman is supine or semi‐recumbent.

Fetal heart rate variability is affected by maternal position with variability reduced in supine and semi‐recumbent positions.

Fetal behavioural states (FBS) are measures of fetal wellbeing. In acute hypoxaemia, the human fetus adapts to a lower oxygen consuming state with changes in the cardiotocograph and reduced fetal activity. Recent studies of late gestation stillbirth described the importance of sleep position in the risk of intrauterine death. We designed this study to assess the effects of different maternal positions on FBS in healthy late gestation pregnancies under controlled conditions. Twenty‐nine healthy women had continuous fetal ECG recordings under standardized conditions in four randomly allocated positions, left lateral, right lateral, supine and semi‐recumbent. Two blinded observers, assigned fetal states in 5 min blocks. Measures of fetal heart rate variability were calculated from ECG beat to beat data. Compared to state 2F, state 4F was less likely to occur when women were semi‐recumbent [odds ratio (OR) = 0.11, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.02, 0.55], and supine (OR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.07, 1.10). State 1F was more likely on the right (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.11, 5.04) or supine (OR = 4.99, 95% CI 2.41, 10.43) compared to the left. State change was more likely when the mother was semi‐recumbent (OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.19, 3.95) or supine (OR = 2.67, 95% CI 1.46, 4.85). There was a significant association of maternal position to mean fetal heart rate. The measures of heart rate variability (SDNN and RMSSD) were reduced in both semi‐recumbent and supine positions. In healthy late gestation pregnancy, maternal position affects FBS and heart rate variability. These effects are likely fetal adaptations to positions which may produce a mild hypoxic stress.
La investigación sobre la administración en Colombia (1965-2015): balance y perspectivas
Authors: Malaver Rodríguez Florentino , López Gallego Francisco
Published: November 2016

Tras cinco décadas y media de creación de las facultades colombianas
de administración (FCA) y luego de un tardío y lento desarrollo de la
investigación, en los últimos 15 años se han registrado profundos cambios
que produjeron su institucionalización y despegue y, otros, como
la internacionalización de la publicación de sus resultados y la creación
de una oleada de doctorados, están en ciernes. Apoyado en los estudios
colombianos y la discusión internacional sobre el tema, este artículo
propone una periodización de su trayectoria y una interpretación de las
fuerzas y factores que definieron su ritmo y orientación en cada periodo,
para brindar elementos que contribuyan a una mejor comprensión del
pasado y presente de la investigación, y a mostrar los desafíos y alternativas
que enfrentan las FCA para consolidar los procesos en curso.
The Christchurch Hospital Social Work Service response in the first hours after the Christchurch earthquake of 22nd February 2011
Authors: Corin Christine
Published: November 2016

At 12.51pm on February 22nd 2011 a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Christchurch. Over 180 people were killed and hundreds more were injured. Christchurch was still in the process of recovering from a 7.1 magnitude pre-dawn earthquake which had struck on Saturday 4th September 2010. In the first earthquake there was significant damage to buildings and the city’s infrastructure, but fortunately no loss of life. In contrast the earthquake of the 22nd February, although lower in magnitude, was shallower, centred closer to the city and struck at lunchtime on a working day, with devastating effect.
‘Fit and proper’ and fieldwork: A dilemma for social work educators?
Authors: Apaitia-Vague Tiffany , Pitt Lesley , Younger David
Published: November 2016

This article will focus on the four major issues that we have identified relating to ‘fit and proper’ policies and fieldwork. The first is the different levels of information that are held and shared by different entities. The second is the potential for such policies to directly contradict the principles of social work, and in particular social justice. Thirdly, it looks at the implications of being in a ‘contracting’ environment, and fourthly the position that social work educators are placed in as the ‘expert’ assessors of risk. Finally, we present some ideas that we hope will instigate a discussion amongst our profession and stakeholders. Throughout the article vignettes show practical applications of the issues that the article raises. While the vignettes are directly based on experiences that we have had while coordinating fieldwork, they do not correspond to specific cases.
Acknowledging the struggle: Policy changes for state care leaving provisions
Authors: Cleaver Kerri
Published: November 2016

Neoliberalism is not kind to vulnerable populations. Care leavers as a vulnerable population have faired particularly poorly under successive governments. Policy and practice have maintained a position for decades in New Zealand where care leavers are responsible entirely for their own lives at the age of seventeen. This article reviews current literature, locally and internationally, in order to identify the needs of care leavers in the New Zealand context. It will question what is working already, what works elsewhere and how we might change the outcomes for these young people who have not chosen this path and yet appear to be punished through the government turning a blind eye
Glossary of Literary Terms - O to P
Authors: Obermayer August
Published: November 2016

Glossary of Literary Terms - O to P
Investigation of feature orientation and consequences of ion tilting during plasma etching with a three-dimensional feature profile simulator
Authors: Zhang Yiting , Huard Chad , Sriraman Saravanapriyan , Belen Jun , Paterson Alex , Kushner Mark J.
Published: November 2016

Pattern transfer in microelectronics fabrication using plasma-assisted etching processes is being challenged by the three-dimensional (3d) structures of devices such as fin field effect transistors. Etching of 3d structures typically requires a longer over-etch time to clear material in corners, introducing additional selectivity challenges to maintain feature scale critical dimensions. Feature open area, orientation, aspect ratio, and proximity to other nearby structures can influence the outcome of the etch process. In this paper, the authors report on the development and application of a 3d profile simulator, the Monte Carlo feature profile model in the investigation of aspect ratio, and feature orientation dependent etching. In these studies, energy and angularly resolved reactant fluxes were provided by the hybrid plasma equipment model. Results from the model were validated with trends from experimental data. Using reactant fluxes from He/Cl2 and Ar/Cl2 inductively coupled plasmas, etching of two dimensional (2d) and 3d structures in the context of ion tilting and orientation of the feature was investigated.
Influences of noise-interruption and information-bearing acoustic changes on understanding simulated electric-acoustic speech
Authors: Stilp Christian , Donaldson Gail , Oh Soohee , Kong Ying-Yee
Published: November 2016

In simulations of electrical-acoustic stimulation (EAS), vocoded speech intelligibility is aided by preservation of low-frequency acoustic cues. However, the speech signal is often interrupted in everyday listening conditions, and effects of interruption on hybrid speech intelligibility are poorly understood. Additionally, listeners rely on information-bearing acoustic changes to understand full-spectrum speech (as measured by cochlea-scaled entropy [CSE]) and vocoded speech (CSECI), but how listeners utilize these informational changes to understand EAS speech is unclear. Here, normal-hearing participants heard noise-vocoded sentences with three to six spectral channels in two conditions: vocoder-only (80–8000 Hz) and simulated hybrid EAS (vocoded above 500 Hz; original acoustic signal below 500 Hz). In each sentence, four 80-ms intervals containing high-CSECI or low-CSECI acoustic changes were replaced with speech-shaped noise. As expected, performance improved with the preservation of low-frequency fine-structure cues (EAS). This improvement decreased for continuous EAS sentences as more spectral channels were added, but increased as more channels were added to noise-interrupted EAS sentences. Performance was impaired more when high-CSECI intervals were replaced by noise than when low-CSECI intervals were replaced, but this pattern did not differ across listening modes. Utilizing information-bearing acoustic changes to understand speech is predicted to generalize to cochlear implant users who receive EAS inputs.
Perceptual thresholds for non-ideal diffuse field reverberation
Authors: Romblom David , Guastavino Catherine , Depalle Philippe
Published: November 2016

The objective of this study is to understand listeners' sensitivity to directional variations in non-ideal diffuse field reverberation. An ABX discrimination test was conducted using a semi-spherical 28-loudspeaker array; perceptual thresholds were estimated by systematically varying the level of a segment of loudspeakers for lateral, height, and frontal conditions. The overall energy was held constant using a gain compensation scheme. When compared to an ideal diffuse field, the perceptual threshold for detection is −2.5 dB for the lateral condition, −6.8 dB for the height condition, and −3.2 dB for the frontal condition. Measurements of the experimental stimuli were analyzed using a Head and Torso Simulator as well as with opposing cardioid microphones aligned on the three Cartesian axes. Additionally, opposing cardioid measurements made in an acoustic space demonstrate that level differences corresponding to the perceptual thresholds can be found in practice. These results suggest that non-ideal diffuse field reverberation may be a previously unrecognized component of spatial impression.
Sprint Performance of Elite Wheelchair Basketball Players: Applicability of a Laser System for Describing the Velocity Curve
Authors: Ferro Amelia , Villacieros Jorge , Pérez-Tejero Javier
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology to accurately analyze sprint performance of elite wheelchair basketball (WB) players in their own training context using a laser system and to analyze the velocity curve performed by the players regarding their functional classification and their playing position. Twelve WB players, from the Spanish men’s national team, took part in an oncourt 20-m-sprint test. BioLaserSport® was used to obtain time, mean velocities (Vm), maximum velocities (Vmax), and distances at 90%, 95%, and 98% of their Vmax. Vm and Vmax reached high values in Classes II and III and in the guard playing position. The protocol developed with the laser system makes it possible to obtain a precise velocity curve in short sprints and allows easy analysis of decisive kinematic performance variables in WB players, showing immediate feedback to coaches and players. The normalized data allow an interpretation of how much, where, and when Vmax occurs along the test.
Phase 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of RG7667, a Combination Monoclonal Antibody, for Prevention of Cytomegalovirus Infection in High-Risk Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Ishida Julie H. , Patel Anita , Mehta Aneesh K. , Gatault Philippe , McBride Jacqueline M. , Burgess Tracy , Derby Michael A. , Snydman David R. , Emu Brinda , Feierbach Becket , Fouts Ashley E. , Maia Mauricio , Deng Rong , Rosenberger Carrie M. , Gennaro Lynn A. , Striano Natalee S. , Liao X. Charlene , Tavel Jorge A.
Published: November 2016

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a significant complication after kidney transplantation. We examined the ability of RG7667, a combination of two monoclonal antibodies, to prevent CMV infection in high-risk kidney transplant recipients in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. CMV-seronegative recipients of a kidney transplant from a CMV-seropositive donor (D+R−) were randomized to receive RG7667 (n= 60) or placebo (n= 60) at the time of transplant and 1, 4, and 8 weeks posttransplant. Patients were monitored for CMV viremia every 1 to 2 weeks posttransplant for 24 weeks. Patients who had seroconverted (D+R+) or withdrawn before dosing were excluded from the analysis (n= 4). CMV viremia occurred in 27 of 59 (45.8%) patients receiving RG7667 and 35 of 57 (61.4%) patients receiving placebo (stratum-adjusted difference, 15.3%;P= 0.100) within 12 weeks posttransplant and in 30 of 59 (50.8%) patients receiving RG7667 and 40 of 57 (70.2%) patients receiving placebo (stratum-adjusted difference, 19.3%;P= 0.040) within 24 weeks posttransplant. Median time to CMV viremia was 139 days in patients receiving RG7667 compared to 46 days in patients receiving placebo (hazard ratio, 0.53;P= 0.009). CMV disease was less common in the RG7667 than placebo group (3.4% versus 15.8%;P= 0.030). Adverse events were generally balanced between treatment groups. In high-risk kidney transplant recipients, RG7667 was well tolerated, numerically reduced the incidence of CMV infection within 12 and 24 weeks posttransplant, delayed time to CMV viremia, and was associated with less CMV disease than the placebo. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01753167.)
Experimental Infection of Pig-Tailed Macaques (Macaca nemestrina) with Mycoplasma genitalium
Authors: Wood Gwendolyn E. , Patton Dorothy L. , Cummings Peter K. , Iverson-Cabral Stefanie L. , Totten Patricia A.
Published: November 2016

Mycoplasma genitalium
is an underappreciated cause of human reproductive tract disease, characterized by persistent, often asymptomatic, infection. Building on our previous experiments using a single female pig-tailed macaque as a model for
M. genitalium
infection (G. E. Wood, S. L. Iverson-Cabral, D. L. Patton, P. K. Cummings, Y. T. Cosgrove Sweeney, and P. A. Totten, Infect Immun 81:2938–2951, 2013,
https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.01322-12
), we cervically inoculated eight additional animals, two of which were simultaneously inoculated in salpingeal tissue autotransplanted into abdominal pockets. Viable
M. genitalium
persisted in the lower genital tract for 8 weeks in three animals, 4 weeks in two, and 1 week in one; two primates resisted infection. In both animals inoculated in salpingeal pockets, viable
M. genitalium
was recovered for 2 weeks. Recovery of viable
M. genitalium
from lower genital tract specimens was improved by diluting the specimen in broth and by Vero cell coculture. Ascension to upper reproductive tract tissues was not detected, even among three persistently infected animals.
M. genitalium-
specific serum antibodies targeting the immunodominant MgpB and MgpC proteins appeared within 1 week in three animals inoculated both cervically and in salpingeal pockets and in one of three persistently infected animals inoculated only in the cervix.
M. genitalium
-specific IgG, but not IgA, was detected in cervical secretions of serum antibody-positive animals, predominantly against MgpB and MgpC, but was insufficient to clear
M. genitalium
lower tract infection. Our findings further support female pig-tailed macaques as a model of
M. genitalium
infection, persistence, and immune evasion.
Roles of the Essential Protein FtsA in Cell Growth and Division in Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Mura Andrea , Fadda Daniela , Perez Amilcar J. , Danforth Madeline L. , Musu Daniela , Rico Ana Isabel , Krupka Marcin , Denapaite Dalia , Tsui Ho-Ching T. , Winkler Malcolm E. , Branny Pavel , Vicente Miguel , Margolin William , Massidda Orietta
Published: November 2016

Streptococcus pneumoniae
is an ovoid-shaped Gram-positive bacterium that grows by carrying out peripheral and septal peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis, analogous to model bacilli, such as
Escherichia coli
and
Bacillus subtilis
. In the model bacilli, FtsZ and FtsA proteins assemble into a ring at midcell and are dedicated to septal PG synthesis but not peripheral PG synthesis; hence, inactivation of FtsZ or FtsA results in long filamentous cells unable to divide. Here, we demonstrate that FtsA and FtsZ colocalize at midcell in
S. pneumoniae
and that partial depletion of FtsA perturbs septum synthesis, resulting in elongated cells with multiple FtsZ rings that fail to complete septation. Unexpectedly, complete depletion of FtsA resulted in the delocalization of FtsZ rings and ultimately cell ballooning and lysis. In contrast, depletion or deletion of
gpsB
and
sepF
, which in
B. subtilis
are synthetically lethal with
ftsA
, resulted in enlarged and elongated cells with multiple FtsZ rings, with deletion of
sepF
mimicking partial depletion of FtsA. Notably, cell ballooning was not observed, consistent with later recruitment of these proteins to midcell after Z-ring assembly. The overproduction of FtsA stimulates septation and suppresses the cell division defects caused by the deletion of
sepF
and
gpsB
under some conditions, supporting the notion that FtsA shares overlapping functions with GpsB and SepF at later steps in the division process. Our results indicate that, in
S. pneumoniae
, both GpsB and SepF are involved in septal PG synthesis, whereas FtsA and FtsZ coordinate both peripheral and septal PG synthesis and are codependent for localization at midcell.

IMPORTANCE
Streptococcus pneumoniae
(pneumococcus) is a clinically important human pathogen for which more therapies against unexploited essential targets, like cell growth and division proteins, are needed. Pneumococcus is an ovoid-shaped Gram-positive bacterium with cell growth and division properties that have important distinctions from those of rod-shaped bacteria. Gaining insights into these processes can thus provide valuable information to develop novel antimicrobials. Whereas rods use distinctly localized protein machines at different cellular locations to synthesize peripheral and septal peptidoglycans, we present evidence that
S. pneumoniae
organizes these two machines at a single location in the middle of dividing cells. Here, we focus on the properties of the actin-like protein FtsA as an essential orchestrator of peripheral and septal growth in this bacterium.
Impact of a community-based package of interventions on child development in Zambia: a cluster-randomised controlled trial
Authors: Rockers Peter C , Fink Günther , Zanolini Arianna , Banda Bowen , Biemba Godfrey , Sullivan Cierra , Mutembo Simon , Silavwe Vichaels , Hamer Davidson H
Published: November 2016

Background

Community-based programmes are a critical platform for improving child health and development. We tested the impact of a community-based early childhood intervention package in rural Zambia.

Methods

We conducted a non-blinded cluster randomised controlled trial in Southern Province, Zambia. 30 clusters of villages were matched based on population density and distance from the nearest health centre, and randomly assigned to intervention (15 clusters and 268 caregiver–child dyads) or control (15 clusters and 258 caregiver–child dyads). Caregivers were eligible if they had a child aged 6–12 months at baseline. In intervention clusters, health workers screened children for infections and malnutrition, and invited caregivers to attend fortnightly group meetings covering a nutrition and child development curriculum. 220 intervention and 215 control dyads were evaluated after 1 year. The primary outcomes were stunting and INTERGROWTH-21st neurodevelopmental assessment (NDA) scores. Weight-for-age and height-for-age z-scores based on WHO growth standards were also analysed. Secondary outcomes were child illness symptoms, dietary intake and caregiver–child interactions based on self-report. Impact was estimated using intention-to-treat analysis.

Results

The intervention package was associated with a 0.12 SD increase in weight-for-age (95% CI −0.14 to 0.38), a 0.15 SD increase in height-for-age (95% CI −0.18 to 0.48) and a reduction in stunting (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.36 to 1.28), whereas there was no measurable impact on NDA score. Children receiving the intervention package had fewer symptoms, a more diverse diet and more caregiver interactions.

Conclusions

In settings like Zambia, community-based early childhood programmes appear to be feasible and appreciated by caregivers, as evidenced by high rates of uptake. The intervention package improved parenting behaviours and had a small positive, though statistically insignificant, impact on child development. Given the short time frame of the project, larger developmental impact is likely if differential parenting behaviours persist.

Trial registration number

NCT02234726; Results.
Independent association of glucocorticoids with damage accrual in SLE
Authors: Apostolopoulos Diane , Kandane-Rathnayake Rangi , Raghunath Sudha , Hoi Alberta , Nikpour Mandana , Morand Eric F
Published: November 2016

Objectives

To determine factors associated with damage accrual in a prospective cohort of patients with SLE.

Methods

Patients with SLE who attended the Lupus Clinic at Monash Health, Australia, between 2007 and 2013 were studied. Clinical variables included disease activity (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2K, SLEDAI-2K), time-adjusted mean SLEDAI, cumulative glucocorticoid dose and organ damage (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SDI)). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with damage accrual.

Results

A total of 162 patients were observed over a median (IQR) 3.6 (2.0–4.7) years. Seventy-five per cent (n=121) of patients received glucocorticoids. Damage accrual was significantly more frequent in glucocorticoid-exposed patients (42% vs 15%, p<0.01). Higher glucocorticoid exposure was independently associated with overall damage accrual after controlling for factors including ethnicity and disease activity and was significant at time-adjusted mean doses above 4.42 mg prednisolone/day; the OR of damage accrual in patients in the highest quartile of cumulative glucocorticoid exposure was over 10. Glucocorticoid exposure was independently associated with damage accrual in glucocorticoid-related and non-glucocorticoid related domains of the SDI.

Conclusions

Glucocorticoid use is independently associated with the accrual of damage in SLE, including in non-glucocorticoid related domains.
Interferon (IFN)-λ is a potential mediator in lupus nephritis
Authors: Zickert Agneta , Oke Vilija , Parodis Ioannis , Svenungsson Elisabet , Sundström Yvonne , Gunnarsson Iva
Published: November 2016

Objectives

Interferon (IFN)-α is thought to be central in the pathogenesis for lupus nephritis (LN) and recent studies also indicate a role for IFNλ. Little is known about these cytokines in the context of treatment response. We studied levels of IFNα and IFNλ in patients with LN in association with clinical and histological response (HR) to treatment.

Methods

Fifty-six patients with active LN were included. Renal biopsies were performed at baseline and after immunosuppressive therapy. Serum levels of IFNα and IFNλ were analysed at both biopsy occasions and in 163 controls. The biopsies were evaluated according to the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society classification. Clinical response was defined according to recent definitions. HR was defined as class I, II or III/IV-C on repeat biopsies. The expression of IFNλ in renal tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry.

Results

At baseline, serum levels of both IFNα and IFNλ were higher in patients versus controls (p=0.01 and p=0.03, respectively). There was no correlation between IFNα and IFNλ. Overall, IFNα decreased after treatment (p=0.003) but IFNλ remained unchanged. However in patients with HR, IFNλ decreased (p=0.01). The highest levels of IFNλ were seen in patients with poor HR. Immunostaining of renal tissue revealed expression of IFNλ, particularly in crescent formations, inflammatory infiltrates and tubular cells.

Conclusions

The study supports a role for IFNλ in LN, both in circulation and at a tissue level. Levels of IFNα and IFNλ did not correlate and were affected differently by immunosuppression, indicating that they are differently involved in subgroups of LN. Persistent increased levels of IFNλ were associated to an unfavourable HR to treatment.
Interactive effects of road salt and leaf litter on wood frog sex ratios and sexual size dimorphism
Authors: Lambert Max R. , Stoler Aaron B. , Smylie Meredith S. , Relyea Rick A. , Skelly David K.
Published: November 2016

Myriad natural and anthropogenic chemicals alter aquatic vertebrate sex ratios, with implications for population dynamics. Despite 22 million metric tons of salt applied to US roads annually, with much of it entering aquatic environments, it is unknown whether salt impacts sex ratios. Moreover, changes in forest composition co-occur with increased road salt application, dramatically changing ecosystems. We explore how road salt (sodium chloride) and two leaf litter types might influence amphibian development. By examining wood frog (Rana sylvatica = Lithobates sylvaticus) metamorphs reared with different combinations of salt (114 and 867 mg Cl·L−1) and litter species (none, maple (Acer rubrum), oak (Quercus spp.)), we show that salt masculinizes tadpole sex ratios, whereas oak, but not maple, litter feminizes populations. Road salt addition eliminates sexual dimorphism in oak-reared tadpoles, but enhances sexual size dimorphisms in maple-reared tadpoles, producing larger females. We are the first to show that road salt and native tree leaf litter manipulates vertebrate sex ratios and sex-specific development. Human land use might therefore influence vertebrate development through direct effects of contamination and indirect effects of altered botanical composition.
Development and evaluation of a biomass increment based index for site productivity
Authors: Hennigar Chris , Weiskittel Aaron , Allen H. Lee , MacLean David A.
Published: November 2016

Measures of forest productivity generally rely on site index, which can be problematic for multicohort and mixed-species stands. Using stand growth and dominant tree height–age (i.e., site tree) measurements from ∼10 900 plot locations from Maine, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, a forest productivity model for the Acadian Forest Region was developed as a function of climate, lithology, soils, and topographic metrics. Approximately 65% of variation in observed aboveground dry-biomass growth rate (BG) was explained by a Chapman–Richards function of temperature, bedrock, soil root space, slope, and depth to water in combination with stand structure and species predictors. Productivity was then defined in terms of the predicted asymptote of BG, holding structure and species constant, which was termed biomass growth index (BGI), i.e., the site-influenced component of the BG relationship. BGI was mapped on a 20 m grid throughout the region. BGI explained 0%–30% of the variability in spruce (Picea sp.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) site index and had similar site index predictive performance (±5%) when compared with existing land productivity classifications in each province. BGI provides a direct relationship between site variables and growth and can help guide forest management decisions and future research.
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF Al/p-Si STRUCTURE WITH Al2O3 THIN FILM FABRICATED BY ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION SYSTEM
Authors: YİLDİZ DILBER ESRA , CAVUŞ HATICE KANBUR
Published: November 2016

Al2O3 insulator layer was deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique on p-type Si [Formula: see text] and the Al/Al2O3/p-Si metal/insulator/semiconductor (MIS) structures were fabricated. The current–voltage ([Formula: see text]) characteristics of these structures were investigated in two different temperatures. The main electrical parameters such as the ideality factor ([Formula: see text]), zero bias barrier height ([Formula: see text]), and series resistance ([Formula: see text]) values were found for 300 and 400[Formula: see text]K. The energy density distribution profiles of the interface state density ([Formula: see text]) were determined from the [Formula: see text] characteristics. In addition, the capacitance–voltage ([Formula: see text]) and conductance–voltage ([Formula: see text]) characteristics of devices were investigated in the frequency range 50–1000[Formula: see text]kHz at room temperature. Frequency-dependent electrical characteristics such as doping acceptor concentration ([Formula: see text]), energy difference between the valance band edge and bulk Fermi level ([Formula: see text]), diffusion potential ([Formula: see text]), barrier height ([Formula: see text]), the image force barrier lowering ([Formula: see text]), maximum electric field ([Formula: see text]), and [Formula: see text] values were determined using [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] plots. In addition, the [Formula: see text] values were performed using Hill–Coleman method. According to experimental results, the locations of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] have an important effect on [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] plots of MIS structure.
Nash Bargaining Solution Allocation is Not Suitable for Datacenter Jobs
Authors: Nikolaevskiy Ilya , Lukyanenko Andrey , Gurtov Andrei
Published: November 2016

The Nash Bargaining Solution (NBS) has been broadly suggested as an effective solution for the problem of fair allocation of multiple resources, namely bandwidth allocation in datacenters. In spite of being thoroughly studied, and provably strategy-proof for most scenarios, NBS-based allocation methods lack research on the strategic behavior of tenants in the case of proportionality of resource demands, which is common in datacenter workloads. We found that misbehavior is beneficial: by lying about bandwidth demands tenants can improve their allocations. We show that a sequence of selfish improvements leads to trivial demand vectors for all tenants. It essentially removes sharing incentives which are very important for datacenter networks. In this paper, we analytically prove that tenants can misbehave in 2- and 3- tenants cases. We show that misbehavior is possible in one recently proposed NBS-based allocation system if proportionality of demands is taken into account. Monte Carlo simulations were done for 2–15 tenants to show a misbehavior possibility and its impact on aggregated bandwidth. We propose to use another game-theoretic approach, namely Dominant Resource Fairness (DRF) to allocate bandwidth in the case of proportional demands. We show that this method performs significantly better than NBS after misbehavior.
Arc-transitive cubic graphs of order four times an odd square-free integer
Authors: Ling Bo , Lou Ben Gong
Published: November 2016

Xu, Zhang and Zhou [Chin. Ann. Math. 25B(4) (2004) 545–554] classified all arc-transitive cubic graphs of order [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] a prime. In this paper, we shall generalize this result by classifying all connected arc-transitive cubic graphs of order four times an odd square-free integer. It is shown that, for each of such graphs [Formula: see text], either the full automorphism group [Formula: see text] is isomorphic to [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text], or [Formula: see text] is isomorphic to one of 5 graphs.
Multiple Criteria Inventory Classification in an Electronics Firm
Authors: Arikan Feyzan , Citak Senay
Published: November 2016

Efficient inventory classification is a vital activity for electronics firms that work with a large amount of inventory items. Although one of the most widely used techniques in inventory classification is ABC analysis, this technique considers only a single criterion as the annual sales volume of each item. In practice, inhomogeneity and the differences among the inventory items necessitate considering multiple criteria to obtain a reliable classification. In this study, an integrated process of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-The technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS)-ABC approach is proposed and performed to solve the multiple criteria inventory classification problem in an electronics firm. The steps of the interactive approach are programmed using MATLAB. The results of the integrated interactive approach and of the traditional ABC analysis are presented. The proposed approach gives effective and implementable results for the firm.
Relations Between Common Understanding and Experience: Case Study of an International Information Technology Project
Authors: Nishinaka Miwa
Published: November 2016

This study examines the process of building common understanding in a case study of an international information technology (IT) project. A literature review situates the subject of common understanding among fields of research and identifies issues that are insufficiently explored. Our quantitative and qualitative surveys in the case study reveal that common understanding relates to experience. It also establishes that there are situational variations in common understanding. The theoretical implications are presented about the acquisition of common understanding in diverse organisations and the relations to employee experience. It shows that the nature of common understanding shifts from inductive to deductive knowledge as employees accumulate experience in international IT projects.
TO STANDARDISE OR TO PATENT? DEVELOPMENT OF A DECISION MAKING TOOL AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUNG COMPANIES
Authors: ABDELKAFI NIZAR , MAKHOTIN SERGIY , THUNS MARINA , POHLE ANNA , BLIND KNUT
Published: November 2016

Young companies need support concerning decisions related to intellectual properties. Entrepreneurs can resort to a menu of strategies, not only patenting. First, we explore the literature on standardisation and patenting and relate it to entrepreneurship to identify the internal and external influencing factors as well as the motives and risks related to decision making. Then, we conduct five case studies to explore these influencing factors, while trying to reconstruct the decision making process. We find five main factors: technology, resources, knowledge protection vs. knowledge diffusion, need for partnerships, and pace of innovation. Companies should use patents when their technology is patentable and knowledge protection is perceived essential. Standardisation is suitable when knowledge diffusion is more important than protection, and companies look for establishing new partnerships. These insights are integrated into a decision tree that provides guidance to young entrepreneurs to make an informed decision regarding intellectual properties.
Co4I3O24H15⋅3H2O: A new amorphous semiconductor with intrinsical photocatalytic performance in organic dye degradation driven by visible light
Authors: Li Jiayin , Ma Xinping , Zhao Caixian , Li Datang , Tang Jianting
Published: November 2016

Amorphous semiconductor photocatalysts are highly desirable because they are facile and low-cost to prepare in comparison with the crystalline ones. The amorphous semiconductor with photocatalytic activity has been rarely reported. In this work, a new amorphous semiconductor photocatalyst, Co4I3O[Formula: see text]H[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]3H2O, was successfully developed. Its microstructure is composed of irregular particles with size of 2–20[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m. In photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), or methylene blue (MB) dyes driven by visible light, the Co4I3O[Formula: see text]H[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]3H2O sample exhibited pronounced activity. Its activity is higher than Degussa P25 (commercial TiO[Formula: see text] in RhB degradation. It was testified that the degradation of RhB is due to the intrinsical photocatalytic role of Co4I3O[Formula: see text]H[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]3H2O. The reusability of the Co4I3O[Formula: see text]H[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]3H2O photocatalyst was also investigated.
Switching and energy-storage characteristics in PLZT 2/95/5 antiferroelectric ceramic system
Authors: Peláiz-Barranco A. , Mendez-González Y. , Guerra J. D. S. , Wang Xiucai , Yang Tongqing
Published: November 2016

Switching mechanisms and energy-storage properties have been investigated in (Pb[Formula: see text]La[Formula: see text](Zr[Formula: see text]Ti[Formula: see text]O3 antiferroelectric ceramics. The electric field dependence of polarization ([Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] hysteresis loops) indicates that both the ferroelectric (FE) and antiferroelectric (AFE) phases coexist, being the AFE more stable above 100[Formula: see text]C. It has been observed that the temperature has an important influence on the switching parameters. On the other hand, the energy-storage density, which has been calculated from the [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] hysteresis loops, shows values higher than 1[Formula: see text]J/cm3 for temperatures above 100[Formula: see text]C with around 73% of efficiency as average. These properties indicate that the studied ceramic system reveals as a promising AFE material for energy-storage devices application.
Effective radium-226 concentration in rocks, soils, plants and bones
Authors: Perrier Frédéric , Girault Frédéric , Bouquerel Hélène
Published: November 2016

Effective radium-226 concentration,
EC
Ra
, is the product of radium activity concentration,
C
Ra
, multiplied by the emanation coefficient,
E
, which is probability of producing a radon-222 atom in the pore spaces. It is measured by accumulation experiments in the laboratory, achieved routinely for a sample mass >50 g using scintillation flasks to measure the radon concentration. We report on 3370
EC
Ra
values obtained from more than 11 800 such experiments. Rocks (
n
=1351) have a mean
EC
Ra
value of 1.9±0.1 Bq kg
−1
(90% of data in the range 0.11–35 Bq kg
−1
), while soils (
n
=1524) have a mean
EC
Ra
value of 7.5±0.2 Bq kg
−1
(90% of data between 1.4 and 28 Bq kg
−1
). Using this large dataset, we establish that the spatial structure of
EC
Ra
is meaningful in geology or sedimentology. For plants (
n
=85),
EC
Ra
is generally <1 Bq kg
−1
, but values of larger than 10 Bq kg
−1
are also observed. Dedicated experiments were performed to measure emanation,
E
, in plants, and we obtained values of 0.86±0.04 compared with 0.24±0.04 for sands, which leads to estimates of the radium-226 soil-to-plant transfer ratio. For most measured animal bones (
n
=26),
EC
Ra
is >1 Bq kg
−1
. Therefore,
EC
Ra
appears essential for radon modelling, health hazard assessment and also in evaluating the transfer of radium-226 to the biosphere.
Intradermal administration of endothelin-1 attenuates endothelium-dependent and -independent cutaneous vasodilation via Rho kinase in young adults
Authors: Fujii Naoto , Amano Tatsuro , Halili Lyra , Louie Jeffrey C. , Zhang Sarah Y. , McNeely Brendan D. , Kenny Glen P.
Published: November 2016

We recently showed that intradermal administration of endothelin-1 diminished endothelium-dependent and -independent cutaneous vasodilation. We evaluated the hypothesis that Rho kinase may be a mediator of this response. We also sought to evaluate if endothelin-1 increases sweating. In 12 adults (25 ± 6 yr), we measured cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) and sweating during 1) endothelium-dependent vasodilation induced via administration of incremental doses of methacholine (0.25, 5, 100, and 2,000 mM each for 25 min) and 2) endothelium-independent vasodilation induced via administration of 50 mM sodium nitroprusside (20–25 min). Responses were evaluated at four skin sites treated with either 1) lactated Ringer solution (Control), 2) 400 nM endothelin-1, 3) 3 mM HA-1077 (Rho kinase inhibitor), or 4) endothelin-1+HA-1077. Pharmacological agents were intradermally administered via microdialysis. Relative to the Control site, endothelin-1 attenuated endothelium-dependent vasodilation (CVC at 2,000 mM methacholine, 80 ± 10 vs. 56 ± 15%max, P < 0.01); however, this response was not detected when the Rho kinase inhibitor was simultaneously administered (CVC at 2,000 mM methacholine for Rho kinase inhibitor vs. endothelin-1 + Rho kinase inhibitor sites: 73 ± 9 vs. 72 ± 11%max, P > 0.05). Endothelium-independent vasodilation was attenuated by endothelin-1 compared with the Control site (CVC, 92 ± 13 vs. 70 ± 14%max, P < 0.01). However, in the presence of Rho kinase inhibition, endothelin-1 did not affect endothelium-independent vasodilation (CVC at Rho kinase inhibitor vs. endothelin-1+Rho kinase inhibitor sites: 81 ± 9 vs. 86 ± 10%max, P > 0.05). There was no between-site difference in sweating throughout ( P > 0.05). We show that in young adults, Rho kinase is an important mediator of the endothelin-1-mediated attenuation of endothelium-dependent and -independent cutaneous vasodilation, and that endothelin-1 does not increase sweating.