bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing teacher stress: improving humanized management of Chinese teachers
Authors: Yu Guoliang , Dong Yan , Wang Qi , An Ran
Published: December 2016

Purpose

To improve humanized management of Chinese teachers, the aim of this study is to, first, investigate the stress of Chinese teachers, and, second, to examine the relationship of teacher stress with coping strategies and social support. Moreover, an attempt is made to examine the moderating role of coping strategies in the relationship between social support and teacher stress.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants consisted of 363 teachers from 6 public primary and secondary schools (both regular and vocational schools), who completed 3 self-report questionnaires examining teacher stress, coping strategies and social support. The methodology used was t-test, correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

Findings

There are more than 50 per cent of primary and secondary school teachers suffering from mild to extremely severe stress. Working environment (regular or vocational schools), gender and age affect teacher stress. Social support and passive strategies have significant relationships with teacher stress, and passive strategies moderate the relationship between social support and teacher stress.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on a sample taken from public primary and secondary schools, and the character of the research was cross-sectional. Therefore, we must be cautious in generalizing the findings. An important implication for management of the findings of this study is the importance of humanized management for teachers. To reduce teacher stress, more social support should be provided by educational administrators, and teachers should be trained to avoid using passive strategies.

Originality/value

Through the investigation into the teacher stress in both regular and vocational schools, this study provides a new point of view for human resource managers to control and reduce teacher stress in China by improved humanized management.
Kundalini yoga as mutual recovery: a feasibility study including children in care and their carers
Authors: Vallejos Elvira Perez , Ball Mark John , Brown Poppy , Crepaz-Keay David , Haslam-Jones Emily , Crawford Paul
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test whether incorporating a 20-week Kundalini yoga programme into a residential home for children improves well-being outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a mixed methods feasibility study. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment and retention rates as well as participants’ self-report perceptions on social inclusion, mental health and well-being and through semi-structured interviews on the benefits of the study. Mutual recovery entailed that children in care (CIC), youth practitioners and management participated together in the Kundalini yoga sessions.

Findings

The study initially enrolled 100 per cent of CIC and 97 per cent (29/30) of eligible staff. Attendance was low with an average rate of four sessions per participant (SD=3.7, range 0-13). All the participants reported that the study was personally meaningful and experienced both individual (e.g. feeling more relaxed) and social benefits (e.g. feeling more open and positive). Pre- and post-yoga questionnaires did not show any significant effects. Low attendance was associated with the challenges faced by the children’s workforce (e.g. high levels of stress, low status, profile and pay) and insufficient consultation and early involvement of stakeholders on the study implementation process.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach (i.e. feasibility study) and low attendance rate, the research results may lack generalisability. Therefore, further research with larger samples including a control or comparison group to pilot similar research questions is mandatory.

Practical implications

This study has generated a number of valuable guiding principles and recommendations that might underpin the development of any future intervention for CIC and staff working in children’s homes.

Social implications

The concept of togetherness and mutuality within residential spaces is discussed in the paper.

Originality/value

The effects of Kundalini yoga have not been reported before in any peer-review publications. This paper fulfils an identified need (i.e. poor outcomes among CIC and residential staff) and shows how movement and creative practices can support the concept of mutual recovery.
Trichobezoar in Vagina: Assessment for Child Sexual Abuse and Diagnostic Result of Forensic Science
Authors: Bağ Özlem , Acar Buğra Han , Öztürk Şenol , Alşen Sevay , Ecevit Çiğdem
Published: December 2016

Vaginal discharge and bleeding in children require a through and thoughtful evaluation to diagnose the underlying problem including infections, sexual abuse, and vaginal foreign bodies. We report a 6‐year‐old girl presenting with bloody vaginal discharge, carefully evaluated for sexual abuse, and finally diagnosed as a vaginal foreign body after vaginoscopy. A rolling hair ball was extracted from the vagina and was diagnosed as trichobezoar pathologically without any endo–ecto‐mesodermal residual tissue. The hair ball was genetically detected and diagnosed to belong herself by containing no foreign structure. Child sexual abuse was ruled out by forensic interview at CAC and report of forensic science that reported genetic structure belonging to the child. Medicolegal assessment helped in final diagnosis to exclude child sexual abuse.
A Bayesian Approach to Age‐at‐Death Estimation from Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder in Modern North Americans
Authors: Brennaman Ashley L. , Love Kim R. , Bethard Jonathan D. , Pokines James T.
Published: December 2016

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a marker of degeneration within the skeleton, frequently associated with age. This study quantifies the correlation betweenOAand age‐at‐death and investigates the utility of shoulderOAas a forensic age indicator using a modern North American sample of 206 individuals. Lipping, surface porosity, osteophyte formation, eburnation, and percentage of joint surface affected were recorded on an ordinal scale and summed to create composite scores that were assigned a specific phase. Spearman's correlation indicated a positive relationship between each composite score and age (right shoulder = 0.752; left shoulder = 0.734). Transition analysis revealed a tendency toward earlier degeneration of the right shoulder. Bayesian statistics generated phase‐related age estimates based on highest posterior density regions. Best age estimates were into the seventh decade at the 90th and 50th percentile. The proposed method supplements traditional techniques by providing age estimates beyond a homogenous 50+ age cohort.
Evaluating beneficial drug effects in a non‐interventional setting: a review of effectiveness studies based on Swedish Prescribed Drug Register data
Authors: Wallerstedt Susanna M. , Hoffmann Mikael
Published: December 2016

Aims

To describe and assess current effectiveness studies published up to 2014 using Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (SPDR) data.

Methods

Study characteristics were extracted. Each study was assessed concerning the clinical relevance of the research question, the risk of bias according to a structured checklist, and as to whether its findings contributed to new knowledge. The biases encountered and ways of handling these were retrieved.

Results

A total of 24 effectiveness studies were included in the review, the majority on cardiovascular or psychiatric disease (n = 17; 71%). The articles linked data from four (interquartile range: three to four) registers, and were published in 21 different journals with an impact factor ranging from 1.58 to 51.66. All articles had a clinically relevant research question. According to the systematic quality assessments, the overall risk of bias was low in one (4%), moderate in eight (33%) and high in 15 (62%) studies. Overall, two (8%) studies were assessed as contributing to new knowledge. Frequently occurring problems were selection bias making the comparison groups incomparable, treatment bias with suboptimal handling of drug exposure and an intention‐to‐treat approach, and assessment bias including immortal time bias. Good examples of how to handle bias problems included propensity score matching and sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

Although this review illustrates that effectiveness studies based on dispensed drug register data can contribute to new evidence of intended effects of drug treatment in clinical practice, the expectations of such data to provide valuable information need to be tempered due to methodological issues.
Increased levels of alphaB‐crystallin in vitreous fluid of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor
Authors: Chen Wei , Lu Qianyi , Lu Li , Guan Huaijin
Published: December 2016

Background

AlphaB‐crystallin has been shown to have angiogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of alphaB‐crystallin in the vitreous fluid of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and to confirm the association between the expression level of alphaB‐crystallin and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Methods

Vitreous samples were collected before vitrectomy from 46 eyes of 46 consecutive patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and 19 patients without diabetes mellitus had vitrectomy for idiopathic macular hole. The concentrations of alphaB‐crystallin and vascular endothelial growth factor were measured via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The vitreous level (mean ± SD) of alphaB‐crystallin was significantly higher in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (317.3 ± 151.7 ng/mL) than in control patients (idiopathic macular hole, 8.3 ± 6.1 ng/mL) (P < 0.0001). The vitreous concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor was also significantly higher in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (860.1 ± 566.4 pg/mL) than in control patients (9 pg/mL) (P < 0.0001). Meanwhile, both the expression levels of alphaB‐crystallin and vascular endothelial growth factor were significantly higher in eyes with active proliferative diabetic retinopathy than in those with inactive proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Also, the vitreous concentration of alphaB‐crystallin correlated significantly with that of vascular endothelial growth factor in vitreous fluid of proliferative diabetic retinopathy ([correlation coefficient], R = 0.78, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

These results suggest a significant increase of alphaB‐crystallin in the vitreous fluid of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and present a crucial association between alphaB‐crystallin and vascular endothelial growth factor with angiogenic activity in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Temperament and character traits in patients with tinnitus: a prospective case series with comparisons
Authors: Chung J.H. , Byun H. , Lee S.H. , Park C.W. , Jang E.Y.
Published: December 2016

Objective

To describe the personality traits of temperament and character in patients with tinnitus and to identify differences in these traits associated with the severity of tinnitus.

Study design

Case series with comparisons.

Setting

Tertiary referral centre.

Participants

From January to December 2014, one hundred and thirty‐four adult patients with chronic subjective tinnitus completed psychoacoustic measurements of tinnitus and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).

Measurements

Personality traits were assessed by the TCI. The TCI assesses seven dimensions of personality traits and four temperaments ‘novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, persistence’, as well as three characters ‘self‐directedness, cooperativeness, self‐transcendence’.

Main outcome measures

The values of the TCI parameters in the tinnitus patients were compared with reference data from a non‐institutional adult population, and associations between TCI parameter values and tinnitus severity were evaluated.

Results

In terms of temperament, tinnitus patients had higher scores for ‘harm avoidance’, whereas scores for ‘novelty seeking’, ‘reward dependence’ and ‘persistence’ were significantly lower than the reference. In terms of character, lower ‘cooperativeness’ and ‘self‐transcendence’ were identified in the subjects with tinnitus. The ‘novelty seeking’ score was inversely related to tinnitus severity (r = −0.285, P = 0.001), while other temperament and character traits did not show significant correlations.

Conclusions

There may be a connection between tinnitus and personality traits, especially in the case of ‘novelty seeking’, which is relatively constant over a lifetime. The TCI questionnaire may be useful in facilitating the application of personality traits to tailored counselling for tinnitus.
Atrial septal defect repair gone wrong
Authors: Bloomingdale Richard , Ashraf Said , Cardozo Shaun
Published: December 2016

Isolated atrial septal defect (ASD) accounts for 13% of congenital heart disorders. The anatomic location, size, and coexistence of other cardiac anomalies determine outcomes of repair. Surgical closure was the first‐choice treatment until the 1990s and remains the only treatment for large defects. We describe a case of a 64‐year‐old woman who underwent surgical repair for an ASD as a child in 1959. She presented with dyspnea to the hospital almost 53 years after the surgery. Diagnostic cardiac imaging revealed interesting anatomy of the repair surgery. Transthoracic echocardiography showed areas of flow signal across the patch consistent with surgical perforation of the patch to reduce symptoms of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. Despite intervention, severe dilation of the SVC along with a thrombus is seen. CT angiography of the heart showed the ASD patch occluding the ostium of the SVC instead of patching the ASD. Transesophageal echocardiography showed malpositioned patch allowing the sinus venosus ASD to remain patent.
Determining the health‐related quality of life in individuals with haemophilia in developing economies: results from the Brazilian population
Authors: Salomon T. , Chaves D. G. , Brener S. , Martins P. R. J. , Mambrini J. V. M. , Peixoto S. V.
Published: December 2016

Introduction

Several studies show the negative impact of haemophilia in health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). This issue is not well explored in developing countries.

Objectives

This cross‐sectional study aimed to evaluate the HRQOL and its associated factors in patients with haemophilia A/B in Brazil. Data were collected by questionnaire and in medical records, including a Portuguese version of Haem‐A‐Qol.

Results

Brazilian patients were invited to the study and 175 participants (147 haemophilics A and 28 haemophilics B) were included. The total score of the Haem‐A‐QoL had a median of 36.96 (range of 0–100), with worse performance in ‘sport and leisure’ and best on ‘relationships’ fields. HRQOL was worst among the older participants, the less educated, non‐white, non‐working, who were hospitalized in the last year, who did not have a single medical consultation and among those with the highest number of affected joints. Moreover, patients with hepatitis B had a significantly worse HRQOL in the domain ‘sports and leisure’, also observed in married patients. Otherwise, married individuals reported better HRQOL on ‘dealing with the disease’ domain. Patients with haemophilia B reported worse HRQOL in the domain ‘self‐perception’.

Conclusion

The results obtained could be helpful in guidance of haemophilia treatment which is determinant to improve HRQoL of the most vulnerable groups of patients. This work also reinforced the relevance of joint bleeds in all aspects of HRQoL in haemophilic patients. The use of prophylactic factor concentrates and multidisciplinary treatments could contribute to improve the quality of life in haemophilia.
Soft silicone foam dressing is more effective than polyurethane film dressing for preventing intraoperatively acquired pressure ulcers in spinal surgery patients: the Border Operating room Spinal Surgery (BOSS) trial in Japan
Authors: Yoshimura Mine , Ohura Norihiko , Tanaka Junko , Ichimura Shoichi , Kasuya Yusuke , Hotta Oruto , Kagaya Yu , Sekiyama Takuya , Tannba Mitsuko , Suzuki Nao
Published: December 2016

Preventing intraoperatively acquired pressure ulcers (IAPUs) in patients undergoing spinal surgery in the prone position using a Relton‐Hall frame is challenging. We investigated the efficacy of soft silicone foam dressings in preventing IAPUs. A prospective dual‐center sham study was conducted among patients undergoing elective spinal surgery in a general hospital and a university hospital in Japan. The incidence of IAPUs that developed when soft silicone foam dressings and polyurethane film dressings were used was compared on two sides in the same patient. IAPUs developed on the chest in 11 of 100 patients (11%). Polyurethane film dressings were associated with a significantly higher rate of IAPUs than soft silicone foam dressings (11 versus 3, P = 0·027). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a diastolic blood pressure of <50 mmHg (P = 0·025, OR 3·74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1·18–13·08) and the length of surgery (by 1 hour: P = 0·038, OR 1·61, 95% CI 1·03–2·64) were independently associated with the development of IAPUs. The use of soft silicone foam dressings reduced the risk of IAPUs (P = 0·019, OR 0·23, 95% CI 0·05–0·79) and was more effective than film dressings for preventing IAPUs in spinal surgery patients.
Chronic hepatitis B virus infection status is more prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Lu Jun , Hou Xuhong , Tu Hong , Tang Zhenghao , Xiang Yongbing , Bao Yuqian , Gu Jianren , Jia Weiping
Published: December 2016

Aims/Introduction

It has not been reported whether chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB) is associated with a specific type of diabetes. We sought to investigate the prevalence of CHB status in different diabetes subtypes among a Chinese population.

Materials and Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study. A total of 381 patients with adult‐onset autoimmune diabetes, 1,365 patients with type 2 diabetes and 1,365 non‐diabetic controls were recruited from June 2005 to February 2014. The exclusion criteria included: (i) hepatitis C virus antibody positive; (ii) hepatic cirrhosis; and (iii) malignant neoplasm and severe renal dysfunction (serum creatinine >450 μmol/L). Patients were grouped as hepatitis B virus‐negative and CHB status.

Results

Patients with type 2 diabetes had a higher prevalence of CHB than the controls in the overall population (13.5 vs 10.0%, P = 0.004) and among patients with normal hepatic function (13.3 vs 8.8%, P = 0.002). There was no difference in the prevalence of CHB status between patients with adult‐onset autoimmune diabetes and the controls. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of CHB increased by ~1.5‐fold in patients with type 2 diabetes than in the control group after adjustment for age, sex and body mass index, regardless of hepatic function status.

Conclusions

CHB status was more prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes than in individuals with adult‐onset autoimmune diabetes and the controls among the Chinese population. Further research is required to ascertain whether CHB status increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, or whether type 2 diabetes, but not adult‐onset autoimmune diabetes, increases the risk of CHB.
Zinc protection in fetal rats for maternal mercury exposure‐induced growth retardation is probably associated with S100B expression
Authors: Weng Zhanping , Liu Zonghua , Zhang Shuping , Tao Hong , Ji Xianghong
Published: December 2016

Aim

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of maternal mercury exposure on fetal rat development and zinc protection in mercury‐exposed rats.

Methods

Pregnant rats were subjected to zinc sulfate pre‐feeding, mercury exposure and zinc sulfate co‐feeding. The control rats were administered distilled water. On day 19, the placental weight, overall weight, size and tail length of fetal rats, mercury content and S100B level in the placenta were determined using Western blot analysis.

Results

Compared with the control, mercury exposure at 2.0 mg/kg.d significantly reduced placental weight and fetal development, resulting in reduced fetal weight, size and tail length, while zinc pre‐feeding increased placental weight and other fetal developmental parameters. Compared with mercury exposure, co‐feeding with zinc significantly reduced mercury‐induced injury in the fetal rats. S100B and mercury content levels were significantly elevated in rats maternally exposed to methylmercury chloride, compared with the unexposed control, while co‐feeding with methylmercury chloride and zinc sulfate significantly reduced S100B and mercury levels in the placenta.

Conclusion

Maternal exposure to mercury results in increased S100B in the placenta. Zinc sulfate feeding could reduce S100B and mercury levels, thereby protecting the rats from mercury damage. S100B level may be used to measure the antagonism between zinc and mercury during pregnancy.
Sonographic evaluation of uterine volume and its clinical importance
Authors: Sheth Shirish S. , Hajari Anju R. , Lulla Chander P. , Kshirsagar Darshana
Published: December 2016

Aim

The study was conducted to: (i) measure uterine volume in adolescent and perimenopausal age groups with normal pelvic findings and in women with pathological uteri scheduled for surgery, and (ii) utilize uterine volume as a parameter for the management of perimenopausal women scheduled for vaginal hysterectomy.

Methods

Data of 800 clinically non‐gravid uteri of 16 weeks or smaller size with benign pathology scheduled for vaginal hysterectomy, and 150 adolescent women and 150 perimenopausal aged women with clinically and sonographically normal pelvic findings with normal uteri from the authors private practices were studied to find related sonographic uterine volume. Cases clinically more than 16 weeks size were not included in the study. Normal and pathological hysterectomized uteri were weighed postoperatively to compare their weight with preoperatively estimated uterine volume. Additionally, 200 pregnant women clinically diagnosed as 12 weeks pregnant and without pathology also underwent sonography to estimate their uterine volume.

Results

Uterine volume varied from 15 to 56 cm3 in women with a normal uterus. In 12 week sized non‐pregnant benign pathological uteri, as well as pregnant uteri, uterine volume averaged 240 cm3. Uterine weight was higher when compared with preoperatively estimated uterine volume.

Conclusions

The study results emphasize uterine volume as an important parameter for the management of young and elderly women, particularly with menorrhagia. The uterus is anticipated to weigh more than the uterine volume, which can assist with diagnosis and management.
New diagnostic criteria of colposcopy for uterine cervix neoplasia
Authors: Kashimura Masamichi , Matsuura Yusuke , Kawagoe Toshinori , Toki Naoyuki , Hachisuga Toru
Published: December 2016

Aim

The purpose of this study is to present alternative diagnostic criteria of colposcopy using new parameters.

Methods

Colposcopic photographs were reviewed in 1649 patients from the past 23 years, including 283 benign lesions, 327 low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1), 549 high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3), 78 microinvasive cancers, and 412 invasive cancers. Abnormal colposcopic findings were divided into: minor or major; single, or a combination of two or three findings; and under half or over half circumferential size. Histopathological backgrounds were investigated according to these new parameters of colposcopic findings.

Results

Minor abnormal colposcopic findings were observed in 21% of LSIL, and major abnormal findings were seen in 52% of LSIL, 86% of HSIL, and 86% of microinvasions. A single major abnormal finding was observed in 64% of the cases with LSIL, while two abnormal findings were observed in 43% of HSIL, and three abnormal findings were observed in 44% of microinvasions. In qualifying major abnormal colposcopic findings, under half size was detected in 91% of LSIL and 74% of HSIL, and over half size was observed in 58% of microinvasions. From these results, the following diagnostic criteria were instituted: (i) LSIL – single, minor or major findings and under half size; (ii) HSIL – two or three major findings and under half size; (iii) microinvasion – three major findings and over half size; and (iv) invasive cancer – irregular surface with atypical vessels.

Conclusion

Our new diagnostic criteria of colposcopy are fully acceptable, based on their similar level of accuracy to cytology.
Island floras as model systems for studies of plant speciation: Prospects and challenges
Authors: Crawford Daniel J. , Archibald Jenny K.
Published: December 2016

Oceanic islands have long been called natural laboratories for studying evolution because they are geologically young, isolated, dynamic areas with diverse habitats over small spatial scales. Volcanic substrates of different ages permit the study of different stages of divergence and speciation within plant lineages. In addition to divergence, the dynamic island setting is conducive to hybridization. Discussion will focus on the potential of systematic/ecological studies, in combination with genomic data from high throughput sequencing and an ever‐increasing array of analytical techniques, for studying evolution in island plants. These studies may include: generation of highly resolved phylogenies to clarify the biogeography of speciation and whether divergence has occurred with or without gene flow; identification of the barriers to gene flow (extrinsic vs. intrinsic) of importance during divergence; documentation of historical and current hybridization events within island lineages; and elucidation of the genomic composition and ecology of hybrid populations in order to infer the evolutionary consequences of hybridization, such as the origin of stabilized homoploid hybrid species.
Heterozygosity decrease in wild boar mating system ‐ a case of outbreeding avoidance?
Authors: Pérez‐González J. , Costa V. , Santos P. , Carranza J. , Zsolnai A. , Fernández‐Llario P. , Monteiro N. M. , Anton I. , Beja‐Pereira A.
Published: December 2016

In sexually reproducing organisms, the specific combinations of parental alleles can have important consequences on offspring viability and fitness. Accordingly, genetic relationship between mates can be used as a criterion for mate choice. Here, we used microsatellite genetic markers to estimate the genetic relationship between mating pairs in the wild boar, Sus scrofa. Males, females and foetuses proceeding from Portugal, Spain and Hungary were genotyped using 14 microsatellite markers. The genetic relationship between mates was estimated using different measures of foetus heterozygosity. We found that the observed heterozygosity of foetuses was lower than that expected under random mating. This result occurred mainly when Sd2 (relatedness of parental genomes) was used as the heterozygosity measure. After simulations, we concluded that the observed low heterozygosity was possibly due to outbreeding avoidance. Outbreeding avoidance based on genetically different genomes might play an important role in species evolution and its genetic conservation.
Pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase PntAB is essential for optimal growth and photosynthetic integrity under low‐light mixotrophic conditions in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Kämäräinen Jari , Huokko Tuomas , Kreula Sanna , Jones Patrik R. , Aro Eva‐Mari , Kallio Pauli
Published: December 2016

Pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase (PntAB) is an integral membrane protein complex participating in the regulation of NAD(P)+:NAD(P)H redox homeostasis in various prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In the present study we addressed the function and biological role of PntAB in oxygenic photosynthetic cyanobacteria capable of both autotrophic and heterotrophic growth, with support from structural three‐dimensional (3D)‐modeling.

The pntA gene encoding the α subunit of heteromultimeric PntAB in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was inactivated, followed by phenotypic and biophysical characterization of the ΔpntA mutant under autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions.

Disruption of pntA resulted in phenotypic growth defects observed under low light intensities in the presence of glucose, whereas under autotrophic conditions the mutant did not differ from the wild‐type strain. Biophysical characterization and protein‐level analysis of the ΔpntA mutant revealed that the phenotypic defects were accompanied by significant malfunction and damage of the photosynthetic machinery.

Our observations link the activity of PntAB in Synechocystis directly to mixotrophic growth, implicating that under these conditions PntAB functions to balance the NADH: NADPH equilibrium specifically in the direction of NADPH. The results also emphasize the importance of NAD(P)+:NAD(P)H redox homeostasis and associated ATP:ADP equilibrium for maintaining the integrity of the photosynthetic apparatus under low‐light glycolytic metabolism.
What causes flag smut of wheat?
Authors: Savchenko K. G. , Carris L. M. , Demers J. , Manamgoda D. S. , Castlebury L. A.
Published: December 2016

The causal agent of flag smut of wheat is currently subject to strict quarantine regulations in many countries and is believed to have a wide host range on wild and cultivated grasses. This fungus has been classified as both Urocystis agropyri and Urocystis tritici. Urocystis agropyri was first described from Elymus repens in Germany and U. tritici was first described from Triticum vulgare (=T. aestivum). In 1953, G. W. Fischer placed U. tritici and a large number of other Urocystis species in synonymy with U. agropyri. The present study is the first attempt to clarify the taxonomy and phylogeny of flag smut pathogens of grasses using molecular analyses. Three loci, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA, the RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (RPB2), and translation elongation factor (TEF) protein‐coding regions were used for phylogenetic reconstruction to determine the species boundaries of 24 Urocystis specimens from triticoid hosts. Results indicate that there are several distinct lineages of flag smut pathogens, including the causal agent of flag smut of wheat, which is supported as a separate species, U. tritici. Sequences from specimens on E. repens, which are retained as U. agropyri, grouped in a clade distinct from those on wheat and rye. The closest relatives of U. tritici were found to be U. hispanica from Aegilops and Urocystis sp. from Thinopyrum junceiforme and Elymus trachycaulis. Recognition that U. tritici is genetically distinct from U. agropyri sensu stricto will impact regulatory policy and facilitate the development of diagnostic tests.
Who's on the Bench? The Impact of Latino Descriptive Representation on U.S. Supreme Court Approval Among Latinos and Anglos*
Authors: Evans Diana , Franco Ana , Polinard J. L. , Wenzel James P. , Wrinkle Robert D.
Published: December 2016

Objectives

Few studies have examined the impact of the descriptive representation of Latinos on evaluations of the judiciary. This study helps to fill that gap by examining the effect of the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor on Latinos’ and Anglos’ evaluations of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Methods

Using repeated measures from surveys conducted in Texas in 2006 and 2011, we use ordered logit analysis to estimate the impact of the Sotomayor appointment on approval of the U.S. Supreme Court among Latinos and Anglos.

Results

At all levels of political knowledge, Latinos were more aware of the Sotomayor appointment than Anglos. Moreover, Latinos’ approval of the Court increased dramatically after the appointment, while Anglos’ approval was unchanged.

Conclusions

We find a political empowerment effect among Latinos, but find no evidence that Anglos considered the appointment a threat. Additionally, given that the Latinos in our sample are overwhelmingly of Mexican origin and Justice Sotomayor is Puerto Rican, we find evidence of pan‐ethnic effects.
Fatigue Crack Growth at Electrical Resistance Welding Seam of API 5L X-70 Steel Line Pipe at Varied Orientations
Authors: Taylor Craig , Das Sreekanta , Collins Laurie , Rashid Muhammad
Published: December 2016

Very few studies have been conducted concerning fatigue in steel line pipe and fewer using full-scale testing. Further, at the time of this study, no research on full-scale testing was available in open literature regarding fatigue behavior of line pipe with longitudinal cracks, despite being considered more critical than the line pipe with cracks oriented in the circumferential direction. In the current research work, fatigue crack growth was investigated in NPS 20, API 5L X-70 grade, electrical resistance welding (ERW) straight-seam steel line pipes in the base metal and at the weld seam for various orientations. It was found that there was no significant difference between fatigue crack growth in the base metal and at the weld seam for the tested stress ratio. Increasing the angle of inclination of the crack with respect to the weld line was found to decrease the rate of fatigue crack growth due to a decrease in the mode I stress component. Finally, it was observed that despite the difference in fatigue crack growth rates, the crack aspect ratios were nearly identical for all cracks at the same crack depth.
Transient Data Processing of Flow Boiling Local Heat Transfer in a Multi-Microchannel Evaporator Under a Heat Flux Disturbance
Authors: Huang Houxue , Lamaison Nicolas , Thome John R.
Published: December 2016

Multi-microchannel evaporators are often used to cool down electronic devices subjected to continuous heat load variations. However, so far, rare studies have addressed the transient flow boiling local heat transfer data occurring in such applications. The present paper introduces and compares two different data reduction methods for transient flow boiling data in a multi-microchannel evaporator. A transient test of heat disturbance from 20 to 30 W cm−2 was conducted in a multi-microchannel evaporator using R236fa as the test fluid. The test section was 1 × 1 cm2 in size and had 67 channels, each having a cross-sectional area of 100 × 100 μm2. The micro-evaporator backside temperature was obtained with a fine-resolution infrared (IR) camera. The first data reduction method (referred to three-dimensional (3D)-TDMA) consists in solving a transient 3D inverse heat conduction problem by using a tridiagonal matrix algorithm (TDMA), a Newton–Raphson iteration, and a local energy balance method. The second method (referred to two-dimensional (2D)-controlled) considers only 2D conduction in the substrate of the micro-evaporator and solves at each time step the well-posed 2D conduction problem using a semi-implicit solver. It is shown that the first method is more accurate, while the second one reduces significantly the computational time but led to an approximated solution. This is mainly due to the 2D assumption used in the second method without considering heat conduction in the widthwise direction of the micro-evaporator.
Fast Generation of Planar Microstructured Surfaces by Elliptical Vibration Texturing
Authors: Yang Yang , Guo Ping
Published: December 2016

Microstructured surfaces have extensive applications in a wide array of fields due to their improved functional performance. Existing manufacturing methods for these surfaces fall short of efficiency for volume production or are only applicable to a specific class of materials. In this paper, an innovative and highly efficient machining method, elliptical vibration texturing (EVT), is proposed for rapid generation of microdimples on planar engineered surfaces. The cutting tool of the EVT process vibrates along an elliptical trajectory. The elliptical vibrations, when coupled with a high cutting velocity, impose microdimples onto workpiece surfaces while machining. The high productivity is achieved by adopting a newly designed tertiary motion generator, which is able to deliver required elliptical vibrations at an ultrasonic frequency. The shape and distribution of the generated dimple patterns have been theoretically analyzed and predicted by a proposed simulation model. Preliminary texturing results using aluminum and brass as workpieces are given to validate the process principle and simulation model.
WSGG Model Correlations to Compute Nongray Radiation From Carbon Monoxide in Combustion Applications
Authors: Brittes Rogério , Roman Centeno Felipe , Ziemniczak Aline , França Francis. H. R.
Published: December 2016

This paper presents correlations for the weighted-sum-of-gray-gases (WSGG) model for carbon monoxide based on HITEMP2010. The correlations are valid for pressure path lengths from 0.0001 atm·m up to 10 atm·m, total pressure in the order of 1.0 atm, and for temperatures ranging from 400 K up to 2500 K. Some test cases embodying nonhomogeneous, nonisothermal conditions are presented, and the results for the WSGG model are compared with the line-by-line (LBL) solutions for CO.
Linear Matrix Inequality Robust Tracking Control Conditions for Nonlinear Disturbed Interconnected Systems
Authors: Sghaier Tlili Ali
Published: December 2016

The objective of this paper is to develop a robust decentralized observer-based feedback model reference tracking control approach for a class of nonlinear disturbed interconnected systems. The proposed H∞ control and observation design method is formulated within an optimization problem involving linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), efficiently solved by a one-step LMI procedure, to compute the decentralized observation and control gain matrices of each subsystem, and to attenuate the external disturbances affecting the subsystems by minimizing a H∞ performance criterion. A numerical simulation is highlighted on a power system with three-interconnected machines to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed control approach despite the interconnections between different generators, nonlinearities in the system, and external disturbances.
Room temperature atomic layer deposition of TiO2 on gold nanoparticles
Authors: Kikuchi Ko , Miura Masanori , Kanomata Kensaku , Ahmmad Bashir , Kubota Shigeru , Hirose Fumihiko
Published: December 2016

The authors developed a room temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) system that can deposit TiO2 on gold nanoparticles by using tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium and plasma-excited humidified argon. The growth per cycle of TiO2 was measured to be 0.25 nm/cycle on a monitored Si sample. For applying the nanoparticle coating, the source material, i.e., gold particles, is electrostatically attached to the susceptor in the ALD system to avoid their gas transport. These particles are then mixed by a rotating scraper during the ALD process. This system allows a conformal deposition of TiO2 without the aggregation of nanoparticles. The thickness of TiO2 for shell coating is controlled by counting the number of ALD cycles. The deposition of TiO2 coating with a nanometer scale thickness on the gold nanoparticle is demonstrated in this paper.
Examination of the reflection properties of sloping terminations to organ pipes
Authors: Rucz Péter , Dolde Kai , Kuang Wei , Angster Judit , Miklós András
Published: December 2016

The sound characteristics of both labial and lingual organ pipes are affected to a great extent by the reflection properties of the resonators. In this paper, the reflection properties of sloped pipe terminations are examined and the possible applications in organ building practice are investigated. Sloped shallots of reed organ pipes with different termination angles are of particular interest in this study. For the examination of the reflection properties two different approaches are applied. Sound pulse reflection measurements on model geometries provide experimental data in the time domain, while finite element simulations yield reflection coefficients in the frequency domain. These two remarkably different approaches are shown to provide consistent results for all examined geometries. Laboratory measurements performed on experimental labial pipes and “Trompete” (trumpet) shallots demonstrate some of the effects of sloped terminations on the sound of organ pipes and validate the applicability of the results obtained by the model measurements and simulations.
Interference effects in phased beam tracing using exact half-space solutions
Authors: Boucher Matthew A. , Pluymers Bert , Desmet Wim
Published: December 2016

Geometrical acoustics provides a correct solution to the wave equation for rectangular rooms with rigid boundaries and is an accurate approximation at high frequencies with nearly hard walls. When interference effects are important, phased geometrical acoustics is employed in order to account for phase shifts due to propagation and reflection. Error increases, however, with more absorption, complex impedance values, grazing incidence, smaller volumes and lower frequencies. Replacing the plane wave reflection coefficient with a spherical one reduces the error but results in slower convergence. Frequency-dependent stopping criteria are then applied to avoid calculating higher order reflections for frequencies that have already converged. Exact half-space solutions are used to derive two additional spherical wave reflection coefficients: (i) the Sommerfeld integral, consisting of a plane wave decomposition of a point source and (ii) a line of image sources located at complex coordinates. Phased beam tracing using exact half-space solutions agrees well with the finite element method for rectangular rooms with absorbing boundaries, at low frequencies and for rooms with different aspect ratios. Results are accurate even for long source-to-receiver distances. Finally, the crossover frequency between the plane and spherical wave reflection coefficients is discussed.
Three-dimensional Majorana fermions in chiral superconductors
Authors: Kozii Vladyslav , Venderbos Jörn W. F. , Fu Liang
Published: December 2016

A novel quasiparticle in spin-orbit–coupled chiral superconductors, which is its own antiparticle, as famously predicted in 1937.
Corals tie stronger El Niños to climate change
Authors: Pala Christopher
Published: December 2016

Much-debated link gains support from long record of ocean temperatures.
Perovskite solar cells gear up to go commercial
Authors: Service Robert F.
Published: December 2016

In tandem with silicon, low-cost photovoltaic crystals make electricity more efficiently.
Curator resigns after sexual misconduct investigations
Authors: Gibbons Ann
Published: December 2016

Long-running case sparks debate about collaboration.
Qatar's genome effort slowly gears up
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: December 2016

This small, wealthy country hopes to use genetics to personalize health care for its 300,000 citizens.
What life scientists should know about security threats
Authors: Berger Kavita M.
Published: December 2016

Considerable information is publicly available to help research institutions understand and counter potential threats
Transient compartmentalization of RNA replicators prevents extinction due to parasites
Authors: Matsumura Shigeyoshi , Kun Ádám , Ryckelynck Michael , Coldren Faith , Szilágyi András , Jossinet Fabrice , Rick Christian , Nghe Philippe , Szathmáry Eörs , Griffiths Andrew D.
Published: December 2016

Beating the curse of the parasite

The evolution of molecular replicators was a critical step in the origin of life. Such replicators would have suffered from faster-replicating “molecular parasites” outcompeting the parental replicator. Compartmentalization of replicators inside protocells would have helped ameliorate the effect of parasites. Matsumura
et al.
show that transient compartmentalization in nonbiological materials is sufficient to tame the problem of parasite takeover. They analyzed viral replication in a droplet-based microfluidic system, which revealed that as long as there is selection for a functional replicator, the population is not overwhelmed by the faster-replicating parasite genomes.

Science
, this issue p.
1293
Sensitive electromechanical sensors using viscoelastic graphene-polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Boland Conor S. , Khan Umar , Ryan Gavin , Barwich Sebastian , Charifou Romina , Harvey Andrew , Backes Claudia , Li Zheling , Ferreira Mauro S. , Möbius Matthias E. , Young Robert J. , Coleman Jonathan N.
Published: December 2016

Super sensitive, not so silly, putty

Many composites blend stiff materials, such as glass or carbon fibers, into a softer elastic polymer matrix to generate a material with better overall mechanical toughness. Boland
et al.
added graphene to a lightly cross-linked silicone polymer (also known as Silly Putty). The resulting composite has unusual mechanical properties, allowing the manufacture of strain sensors that can detect respiration and the footsteps of spiders.

Science
, this issue p.
1257
The genomic landscape of rapid repeated evolutionary adaptation to toxic pollution in wild fish
Authors: Reid Noah M. , Proestou Dina A. , Clark Bryan W. , Warren Wesley C. , Colbourne John K. , Shaw Joseph R. , Karchner Sibel I. , Hahn Mark E. , Nacci Diane , Oleksiak Marjorie F. , Crawford Douglas L. , Whitehead Andrew
Published: December 2016

Mapping genetic adaptations to pollution

Many organisms have evolved tolerance to natural and human-generated toxins. Reid
et al.
performed a genomic analysis of killifish, geographically separate and independent populations of which have adapted recently to severe pollution (see the Perspective by Tobler and Culumber). Sequencing multiple sensitive and resistant populations revealed signals of selective sweeps for variants that may confer tolerance to toxins, some of which were shared between resistant populations. Thus, high genetic diversity in killifish seems to allow selection to act on existing variation, driving rapid adaptation to selective forces such as pollution.

Science
, this issue p.
1305
; see also p.
1232
A general, modular method for the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of alkylboronate esters
Authors: Schmidt Jens , Choi Junwon , Liu Albert Tianxiang , Slusarczyk Martin , Fu Gregory C.
Published: December 2016

Crafting chiral boron building blocks

Carbon-boron bonds are easily transformed into a wide variety of C–C, C–N, and C–O bonds. With that flexibility in mind, Schmidt
et al.
show that nickel complexes can catalyze asymmetric alkylation of carbon centers adjacent to boron. This protocol creates chiral alkylboronates that function as stable precursors to numerous complex molecules. The reaction proceeds in stereo-convergent fashion—forming a single product from either mirror image of the α-haloboronate reagent. Successive reactions can also create chains of adjacent chiral alkyl centers with stereochemistry set by the configuration of the ligand bound to nickel.

Science
, this issue p.
1265
Swimming in polluted waters
Authors: Tobler Michael , Culumber Zachary W.
Published: December 2016

Genomic data provide insights into the molecular basis for pollution tolerance of Atlantic killifish
Lifeline for refugee scholars
Authors: Goodman Allan
Published: December 2016

The global refugee crisis now stands at 65 million forcibly displaced people, according to the United Nations. Could the world ever have imagined a number exceeding that produced by the Nazis and World War II? The conflict over Syria alone, raging since 2011, has so far resulted in more than 11 million refugees and internally displaced persons. Over the past year, international summits have convened to address this global crisis, including the United Nations Summit in September. There is a growing view that the world must recognize these individuals not as part of a temporary emergency, but as a long-term challenge, and one where higher education can play a major role.