bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CFD‐DEM Study of Heat Transfer in the Reduction Shaft of Corex
Authors: Hou Qinfu , Li Jian , Yu Aibing
Published: May 2015

Corex has a great potential to produce hot metal economically and environmentally friendly. Reduction shaft (RS) for the direct reduction of iron ore is one of the two major reactors in Corex. This work uses a two‐dimensional slot model to investigate the thermal behavior of the gas–solid flow in the RS by a combined computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method approach.The general heat transfer characteristics are firstly examined. The complicated transient gas–solid and heat transfer phenomena are demonstrated in the RS process. Then, the effects of discharge rate and two common burden profiles are investigated qualitatively. The results show a linear relation between the steady state bed temperature and discharge rate, which could be helpful for the construction of a reliable scaled down discrete particle model of the RS. The difference between the temperature distributions for two burden profiles is illustrated, which indicates that the control of burden profile could be an effective method to improve energy efficiency. These findings should be useful for the control and optimization of the RS operation.
Wrinkling during Cup Drawing with NUMISHEET2014 Benchmark Test
Authors: Dick Robert E. , Yoon Jeong Whan
Published: May 2015

Wrinkling occurs when a blank is subjected to compressive stresses during the forming process as in the flange of a cup during drawing. Although the failure limit due to plastic flow localization can be simply defined by the FLC at each point of a continuum, the wrinkling limit cannot be defined with simple variables such as strain, stress, and thickness. Wrinkling is strongly affected by the mechanical properties of the sheet material, the geometry of the tools and blank, and contact conditions. The analysis of wrinkling initiation and growth is, therefore, difficult to perform due to the complex synergistic effects of the controlling parameters. Because of these difficulties, the study of wrinkling has generally been conducted case by case. A unique wrinkling criterion, which could be used effectively for various sheet forming processes, has not yet been proposed. There were many investigations on the effect of process parameters (BHF and friction) and geometry on wrinkling. However, there are few reported results on the influence of the material model on wrinkling. This paper shows how strain hardening and r‐values affect wrinkle formation in its magnitude, initiation, and direction through the NUMISHEET2014 benchmark test for wrinkling during cup drawing.
Hhex is Required at Multiple Stages of Adult Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Differentiation
Authors: Goodings Charnise , Smith Elizabeth , Mathias Elizabeth , Elliott Natalina , Cleveland Susan M. , Tripathi Rati M. , Layer Justin H. , Chen Xi , Guo Yan , Shyr Yu , Hamid Rizwan , Du Yang , Davé Utpal P.
Published: May 2015

Hhex encodes a homeodomain transcription factor that is widely expressed in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell populations. Its enforced expression induces T-cell leukemia and we have implicated it as an important oncogene in early T-cell precursor leukemias where it is immediately downstream of an LMO2-associated protein complex. Conventional Hhex knockouts cause embryonic lethality precluding analysis of adult hematopoiesis. Thus, we induced highly efficient conditional knockout (cKO) using vav-Cre transgenic mice. Hhex cKO mice were viable and born at normal litter sizes. At steady state, we observed a defect in B-cell development that we localized to the earliest B-cell precursor, the pro-B-cell stage. Most remarkably, bone marrow transplantation using Hhex cKO donor cells revealed a more profound defect in all hematopoietic lineages. In contrast, sublethal irradiation resulted in normal myeloid cell repopulation of the bone marrow but markedly impaired repopulation of T- and B-cell compartments. We noted that Hhex cKO stem and progenitor cell populations were skewed in their distribution and showed enhanced proliferation compared to WT cells. Our results implicate Hhex in the maintenance of LT-HSCs and in lineage allocation from multipotent progenitors especially in stress hematopoiesis. Stem Cells  2015;33:2628—2641
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Isolated From Human Gliomas Increase Proliferation and Maintain Stemness of Glioma Stem Cells Through the IL-6/gp130/STAT3 Pathway
Authors: Hossain Anwar , Gumin Joy , Gao Feng , Figueroa Javier , Shinojima Naoki , Takezaki Tatsuya , Priebe Waldemar , Villarreal Diana , Kang Seok-Gu , Joyce Celine , Sulman Erik , Wang Qianghu , Marini Frank C. , Andreeff Michael , Colman Howard , Lang Frederick F.
Published: May 2015

Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been implicated as stromal components of several cancers, their ultimate contribution to tumorigenesis and their potential to drive cancer stem cells, particularly in the unique microenvironment of human brain tumors, remain largely undefined. Consequently, using established criteria, we isolated glioma-associated-human MSCs (GA-hMSCs) from fresh human glioma surgical specimens for the first time. We show that these GA-hMSCs are nontumorigenic stromal cells that are phenotypically similar to prototypical bone marrow-MSCs. Low-passage genomic sequencing analyses comparing GA-hMSCs with matched tumor-initiating glioma stem cells (GSCs) suggest that most GA-hMSCs (60%) are normal cells recruited to the tumor (group 1 GA-hMSCs), although, rarely (10%), GA-hMSCs may differentiate directly from GSCs (group 2 GA-hMSCs) or display genetic patterns intermediate between these groups (group 3 GA-hMSCs). Importantly, GA-hMSCs increase proliferation and self-renewal of GSCs in vitro and enhance GSC tumorigenicity and mesenchymal features in vivo, confirming their functional significance within the GSC niche. These effects are mediated by GA-hMSC-secreted interleukin-6, which activates STAT3 in GSCs. Our results establish GA-hMSCs as a potentially new stromal component of gliomas that drives the aggressiveness of GSCs, and point to GA-hMSCs as a novel therapeutic target within gliomas. Stem Cells  2015;33:2400–2415
Frequency memory based gradient descent bit flipping algorithm
Authors: Asatani Jun , Kawanishi Hiroaki , Tokushige Hitoshi , Katayama Kengo
Published: May 2015

An escape method for the local optima of the gradient descent bit‐flipping (GDBF) algorithm for decoding low‐density parity‐check codes is proposed. In the GDBF algorithm, a search point is likely to be trapped in a local optimum, which causes performance degradation of the algorithm. To address this issue, we introduce a list to store the frequency of visits to each local optimum and devise a strategy to increase the distance of a search point from a local optimum with respect to the frequency. © 2015 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Clinical Benefit of Gastric Staple Line Reinforcement (SLR) in Gastrointestinal Surgery: a Meta-analysis
Authors: Shikora Scott A. , Mahoney Christine B.
Published: May 2015

Background

The objective of this study was to assess whether the use of staple line reinforcement (SLR) reduces staple line complications (SLC). Mechanical staple lines are essential for gastrointestinal surgery such as bariatric surgery. However, SLC, such as bleeding and leakage, still occur. The purposes of this study were to provide quantitative evidence on the relative efficacy of gastric SLR and to compare the rates of effectiveness of three commonly used methods.

Methods

A search of the medical literature in English language journals identified studies from Jan 1, 2000, to Dec 31, 2013, using the following reinforcement types: (1) no reinforcement, (2) oversewing, (3) a biocompatible glycolide copolymer, and (4) bovine pericardium after gastric bypasses and sleeve gastrectomies. Types of reinforcement were compared using a random-effects model.

Results

This meta-analysis reviewed 16,967 articles, extracting data on 56,309 patients concerning leak and 41,864 patients concerning bleeding. Over 40 % of patients had no reinforcement, resulting in the highest leak rate (2.75 %) and bleed rate (3.45 %). Overall, reinforcing with bovine pericardium had the lowest leak (1.28 %) and bleed (1.23 %) rates. Suture oversewing was better than no reinforcement but not as effective as bovine pericardium for leak (2.45 %) and bleed (2.69 %) rates. Buttressing with a biocompatible glycolide copolymer resulted in the second highest leak rate (2.61 %) and a bleed rate of 2.48 % but had significantly lower bleed rates than no reinforcement.

Conclusions

SLR provided superior results for patients compared to no reinforcement for reducing SLC. Buttressing with bovine pericardium resulted in the most favorable outcomes. The effectiveness of different methods used to reinforce the staple line in gastric surgery does not appear to be equal.
The relevance of EMT in breast cancer metastasis: Correlation or causality?
Authors: Bill Ruben , Christofori Gerhard
Published: May 2015

Although major progress has been achieved in treating breast cancer patients, metastatic breast cancer still remains a deadly disease. A full understanding of the process of systemic cancer cell dissemination is therefore critical to develop next generation therapies. A plethora of experimental data points toward a central role of an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the multistep cascade of metastasis formation. However, in patients the data are based on correlative studies which often, but not always, tie the expression of EMT markers to cancer invasion, metastasis and poor clinical outcome. Moreover, the notion that cancer cells are able to switch between different modes of migration asks for a thorough review of the actual relevance of EMT in cancer metastasis.
Identification and functional analysis of 2‐hydroxyflavanone C‐glucosyltransferase in soybean (Glycine max)
Authors: Hirade Yoshihiro , Kotoku Naoyuki , Terasaka Kazuyoshi , Saijo-Hamano Yumiko , Fukumoto Akemi , Mizukami Hajime
Published: May 2015

C‐Glucosyltransferase is an enzyme that mediates carbon–carbon bond formation to generate C‐glucoside metabolites. Although it has been identified in several plant species, the catalytic amino acid residues required for C‐glucosylation activity remain obscure. Here, we identified a 2‐hydroxyflavanone C‐glucosyltransferase (UGT708D1) in soybean. We found that three residues, His20, Asp85, and Arg292, of UGT708D1 were located at the predicted active site and evolutionarily conserved. The substitution of Asp85 or Arg292 with alanine destroyed C‐glucosyltransferase activity, whereas the substitution of His20 with alanine abolished C‐glucosyltransferase activity but enabled O‐glucosyltransferase activity. The catalytic mechanism is discussed on the basis of the findings.
Relationship Between the Kinematics of the Trunk and Lower Extremity and Performance on the Y‐Balance Test
Authors: Kang Min‐Hyeok , Kim Gyoung‐Mo , Kwon Oh‐Yun , Weon Jong‐Hyuk , Oh Jae‐Seop , An Duk‐Hyun
Published: May 2015

Background

The lower quarter Y‐balance test (YBT‐LQ) has been recommended as a measure of dynamic postural control in the clinical setting; however, information about the relationship between performance on the YBT‐LQ and joint kinematics is limited. Thus, the kinematic predictors responsible for performance on the YBT‐LQ need to be identified for accurate evaluation of dynamic postural control.

Objectives

To identify the kinematic predictors that best explain variance in performance on the YBT‐LQ.

Design

Cross‐sectional design.

Setting

University motion analysis laboratory.

Participants

Thirty physically active participants.

Methods

All participants performed the YBT‐LQ. The kinematics of the trunk and lower extremity at maximal reach in each direction of the YBT‐LQ were monitored using a 3‐dimensional motion analysis system.

Main Outcome Measurements

The correlations between reach distance and joint kinematics were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the best predictors of performance on the YBT‐LQ were determined using a stepwise multiple regression analysis.

Results

Ankle dorsiflexion was the best single predictor of normalized reach in the anterior direction of the YBT‐LQ (r2 = 0.50), and the combination of ankle dorsiflexion and trunk extension explained 65% of the variance in the anterior normalized reach. Hip flexion was the best single predictor of posteromedial (r2 = 0.60) and posterolateral (r2 = 0.71) normalized reaches of the YBT‐LQ. The combination of hip flexion and ipsilateral trunk bending and the combination of hip flexion and contralateral trunk bending accounted for 69% and 80% of the variance in the posteromedial and posterolateral normalized reaches of the YBT‐LQ, respectively.

Conclusions

These findings provide useful information on the relative contribution of joint kinematics to performance on the YBT‐LQ when evaluating dynamic postural control.
Men With Late Effects of Polio Decline More Than Women in Lower Limb Muscle Strength: A 4‐Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Flansbjer Ulla‐Britt , Brogårdh Christina , Horstmann Vibeke , Lexell Jan
Published: May 2015

Background

In persons with prior paralytic poliomyelitis, progressive muscle weakness can occur after a stable period of at least 15 years. Knowledge is limited about which factors influence changes in lower limb muscle strength in these persons.

Objective

To assess changes in lower limb muscle strength annually over 4 years in persons with late effects of polio and to identify prognostic factors for changes in muscle strength.

Design

A prospective, longitudinal study.

Setting

University hospital outpatient program.

Participants

Fifty‐two ambulant persons (mean age ± standard deviation: 64 ± 6 years) with verified late effects of polio.

Methods

Mixed linear models were used to analyze changes in muscle strength and to identify determinants among the following covariates: gender, age, age at acute polio infection, time with late effects of polio, body mass index, and estimated baseline muscle weakness.

Main Outcome Measurements

Knee extensor and flexor and ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength were measured annually with a Biodex dynamometer.

Results

The men (n = 28) had significant linear change over time for all knee muscle strength measurements, from −1.4% (P < .05) per year for isokinetic knee flexion in the less‐affected lower limb to −4.2% (P < .001) for isokinetic knee extension in the more‐affected lower limb, and for 2 ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength measurements (−3.3%‐1.4% per year [P < .05]). The women (n = 24) had a significant linear change over time only for ankle dorsiflexor measurements (4.0%‐5.5% per year [P < .01]). Gender was the strongest factor that predicted a change in muscle strength over time.

Conclusions

Over 4 years, men had a greater decline in muscle strength than did women, but the rate of decline did not accelerate. This finding indicates that gender could be a contributing factor to the progressive decline in muscle strength in persons with late effects of polio.
Functional Outcomes After the Prosthetic Training Phase of Rehabilitation After Dysvascular Lower Extremity Amputation
Authors: Christiansen Cory L. , Fields Thomas , Lev Guy , Stephenson Ryan O. , Stevens‐Lapsley Jennifer E.
Published: May 2015

Objective

To describe physical function outcomes and modes of physical therapy intervention for a cohort of patients with dysvascular lower extremity amputation (LEA) during the prosthetic training phase of rehabilitation.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Physical rehabilitation clinics at a Veterans Affairs medical center and a university hospital.

Patients

Forty‐two patients (38 men, 4 women, age 60.2 ± 8.4 years) who completed outpatient physical therapy rehabilitation with prosthetic training after dysvascular LEA.

Methods

All patients underwent a prosthetic training phase of rehabilitation, with standardized outcome measures performed at initiation and discharge.

Main Outcome Measures

Performance‐based physical function measures included Two‐Minute Walk (2MW), Timed‐Up and Go (TUG), and 5‐meter gait speed. Self‐report physical function measures included the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire–Mobility Section (PEQ‐MS) and the Patient‐Specific Functional Scale. Rehabilitation dose was tracked as total number of clinic visits, rehabilitation duration, and specific intervention modes.

Results

There were significant improvements between initial and discharge values (mean ± SD) for the Two‐Minute Walk (67.5 ± 29.9 m and 103.3 ± 45.8 m, respectively, P < .001), gait speed (0.58 ± 0.27 m/s and 0.88 ± 0.39 m/s, respectively, P < .001), TUG (34.8 ± 21.3 seconds and 18.6 ± 13.9 seconds, respectively, P < .001), PEQ‐MS (2.2 ± 0.9 and 2.8 ± 0.8, respectively, P < .001), and Patient‐Specific Functional Scale (3.2 ± 2.0 and 5.9 ± 2.3, respectively, P < .001). Performance‐based (TUG) and self‐report (PEQ‐MS) changes in functional mobility from initial exam to discharge had low or no correlations with rehabilitation dose measures. The number of clinic visits was 12.7 ± 13.1 and rehabilitation duration was 13.7 ± 16.8 weeks.

Conclusions

Significant improvements in performance‐based and self‐report measures of physical function occurred during the prosthetic training phase of physical rehabilitation after dysvascular major LEA. Despite improvements in function, gait speed, and TUG outcomes remained below clinically important thresholds, indicating patients were limited in community ambulation and at risk for falls. Lack of moderate or greater correlation between rehabilitation dose and outcome measures may indicate the need for more specific rehabilitation dose measures.
RELIABILITY AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF TESTIMONY
Authors: Lackey Jennifer
Published: May 2015

What is at the center of the epistemology of testimony: reliability or knowledge? This is the key question that Elizabeth Fricker takes up in her “How to Make Invidious Distinctions Amongst Reliable Testifiers.” In particular, Fricker argues that there are several important reasons to favor understanding testimonial knowledge in terms of the speaker being a knower rather than merely a reliable source of information. In this short response, I raise problems for Fricker’s view and the arguments put forth to support it. I conclude that contrary to Fricker’s thesis, the epistemology of testimony should focus on speaker reliability rather than knowledge.
Case history and persistence of the non-indigenous diatom Coscinodiscus wailesii in the north-east Atlantic
Authors: Edwards M. , John A.W.G. , Johns D.G. , Reid P.C.
Published: May 2015

The introduction of non-indigenous marine plankton species can have a considerable ecological and economic effect on regional systems. Their presence, however, can go unnoticed until they reach nuisance status and as a consequence few case histories exist containing information on their initial appearance and their spatio–temporal patterns. Here we report on the occurrence of the non-indigenous diatom Coscinodiscus wailesii in 1977 in the English Channel, its subsequent geographical spread into European shelf seas, and its persistence as a significant member of the diatom community in the north-east Atlantic from 1977–1995.
Octomagelona bizkaiensis (Polychaeta: Magelonidae) a new genus and species from the Capbreton Canyon (Bay of Biscay, north-east Atlantic)
Authors: Aguirrezabalaga Florencio , Ceberio Argiloa , Fiege Dieter
Published: May 2015

Octomagelona bizkaiensis (Annelida: Polychaeta), a new genus and species of the family Magelonidae is described from the north-eastern Atlantic. The specimens were collected from the Capbreton Canyon, Bay of Biscay, at a depth of 1000–1040 m. The new genus and species differs from all known genera and species of the family Magelonidae by the presence of eight instead of nine thoracic chaetigers.
Detailed comparative morphology of the peri-oral structures of the Mysidacea and Euphausiacea (Crustacea): an indication for the food preference
Authors: De Jong-Moreau L. , Casanova B. , Casanova J.-P.
Published: May 2015

Scanning microscope investigations were carried out on mandibles, labrum and paragnaths of several species of Mysidacea and Euphausiacea. Gut content analyses were in agreement with morphological observations. It appears that the morphology of the peri-oral structures and especially of the mandibles reflect the feeding habits, and that the well known relationships between the size of the molar process and the incisor one, i.e. a large molar process is associated with herbivorous feeding, is not always verified. Bacescomysis abyssalis and Bentheuphausia amblyops are believed to be mostly saprophagous, Boreomysis inermis and Meganyctiphanes norvegica are mostly phytophagous, Hemimysis speluncola is omnivorous, while Siriella armata and Thysanopoda orientalis are carnivorous species.
Fecundity, egg masses and hatchlings of Benthoctopus spp. (Octopodidae) in Falkland waters
Authors: Laptikhovsky Vladimir
Published: May 2015

Four Benthoctopus species are recognized in the waters of the Falkland Islands: B. eureka, B. magellanicus, Benthoctopus sp. A, and Benthoctopus sp. B. Initial oocyte reserve of B. eureka is 250–535 eggs, the actual fecundity is 75–234 eggs while the rest of the oocytes degenerate at maturation. Larger females have higher fecundity. Gonad maturation of Benthoctopus sp. A and Benthoctopus sp. B follows a similar pattern. The Benthoctopus egg masses contained 170–190 eggs. The hatchlings possess arms that are much longer than mantle length with a large number of suckers, and do not have discernible chromatophores.
Autoecology of the heart urchin, Echinocardium cordatum, in the muddy sediment of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan
Authors: Nakamura Yasuo
Published: May 2015

Population density, biomass, seasonal growth and gonad index of the heart urchin Echinocardium cordatum were monitored in muddy sediments of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, from July 1998 to July 2000. Rates of sediment ingestion by the urchin were also measured. Juveniles settled in winter and their growth in the first year was rapid. Individual somatic mass in terms of ash-free dry weight (AFDW) increased from about 0·1 to 40 mg while the test length increased from about 2 to 20 mm. At the end of the second and third year (early December), somatic mass averaged 90 and 120 mg AFDW (test length=30 and 33 mm), respectively. The gonads of both year-classes matured during this period and spawning followed within two months. Individual E. cordatum (test length=29–34 mm) ingested sediments at rates of 14–43 mg wet weight per hour. Population density (28 m−2) and AFDW biomass (2·8 g m−2) of E. cordatum (test length [ges ]15 mm) were high at the start of monitoring (July 1998), remained relatively constant through the next spring and rapidly decreased to <2 m−2 and <0·2 g AFDW m−2, respectively, by December 1999. When abundant, E. cordatum comprised about 60% of the macrobenthic biomass in the study area and its annual production in AFDW reached about 1·5 g m−2 y−1, suggesting substantial contributions of the urchin in material cycling through the sediments.
Taxonomic sufficiency in lagoonal ecosystems
Authors: Mistri M. , Rossi R.
Published: May 2015

With this note we contribute to the discussion on the appropriate level of taxonomic resolution required in benthic monitoring studies. In a set of multivariate analyses using data from different taxonomic levels and various data transformations we show that similar results are obtained on the levels of species to families, almost irrespective of the transformation used. For taxonomic levels above that of orders, transformation results in different plots and especially presence/absence transformation reduces the discrimination of sites. We recommend guiding the choice of transformation by biological considerations and adjusting the taxonomic sufficiency to the objective of each study.
Respiration rates in Littorina littorea infected with three species of digenean parasite
Authors: Huxham M. , Maitland D. , Mocogni M.
Published: May 2015

The gastropod Littorina littorea shows increased mortality in the summer months when infected with digenean parasites. One possible cause of this mortality is impaired respiration in infected hosts. Respiration rates of L. littorea infected with three species of digenea of varying pathogenicity were measured: Cryptocotyle lingua, Himasthla elongata and Renicola roscovita. No evidence of altered respiration rates in infected snails was found.
Are young sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L. (Teleostei: Pisces), adapted to mussel cultures?
Authors: Laffaille P. , Lefeuvre J.-C. , Thorin S. , Feunteun E.
Published: May 2015

In Mont Saint-Michel Bay, one of the most abundant food items in young sea bass diets was Mytilus edulis. This invertebrate is an abundant cultured bivalve in many coastal systems and it is known to be in direct trophic competition with the natural food items of sea bass. This study shows that mussel culture can play the role of a nursery area, providing food for young opportunistic fish. Quantification of these interactions appears to be of a major importance in order to enable sustainable management of coastal areas.
Dispersion analysis of the solid helical pulse-forming line
Authors: Wang Langning , Liu Jinliang
Published: May 2015

In this paper, a solid helical pulse-forming line (HPFL) is described. The electromagnetic (EM) dispersion theory is used to calculate the important parameters of the HPFL based on tape helix model. Dispersion effects on the important EM parameters of HPFL, such as electric length and characteristic impedances, are analyzed. When Al2O3 ceramic is applied to be the dielectric in the HPFL, the pulse width of the HPFL is calculated nearly 50 ns only with the length of 305 mm. EM field simulation can draw the dispersion curve of the HPFL directly, which can describe the dispersion effect on the electric length of HPFL. Furthermore, the EM field simulation and experiments are carried out to verify the theoretical calculations of the pulse wide and characteristic impedances. Both simulation and experimental results can prove the EM analyses and calculations in this paper.
ITERATIVE SIFTING IN THE SELECTION OF RESEARCH EVIDENCE: IMPLICATIONS FOR REVIEWS AND OTHER DECISION PROBLEMS
Authors: Archer Rachel , Paisley Suzy , Essat Munira , Preston Louise , Thornhill Martin
Published: May 2015

Objectives: A rapid scoping review was performed to support the development of a new clinical technology platform. An iterative sifting approach was adopted to address the challenges posed by the nature of the review question and the extremely large volume of search results to be sifted within the timescales of the review.

Methods: This study describes the iterative sifting approach applied in the scoping review and a preliminary validation of the methods applied.

Results: The searches performed for the rapid scoping review retrieved 27,198 records. This was the full set of records subjected to the staged, iterative sifting approach and the subsequent validation process. The iterative sifting approach involved the screening for relevance of 17,354 (i.e., 63.8 percent) of the 27,198 records. A list of fifty-three potential biomarker names was generated as a result of this iterative sifting method, of which nineteen were selected by clinical specialists for further scrutiny. The preliminary validation involved the exhaustive sifting of the remaining 9,844 previously unsifted records. The validation process identified sixteen additional potential biomarker names not identified by the iterative sifting process. The clinical specialists subsequently concluded that none were of further clinical interest.

Conclusions: This study describes an approach to the screening of search records that can be successfully applied in appropriate review and decision problems to allow the prioritization of the most relevant search records and achieve time savings. Following further refinement and standardization, this iterative sifting method may have potential for further applications in reviews and other decision problems.
A New Vision of Jewish History: The Early Historical Writings of Salo Baron
Authors: Chazan Robert
Published: May 2015

While rejecting the traditional belief that Jewish fate was controlled by God, nineteenth- and early twentieth-century historians of the Jews maintained prior perceptions of post-70 Jewish history as a sequence of unmitigated disasters. Beginning in 1928, the young Salo Baron combatted this perspective on the Jewish past, which he dubbed “the lachrymose conception of Jewish history.” In his well-known 1928 essay “Ghetto and Emancipation” and more substantially in the 1937 edition of his Social and Religious History of the Jews, Baron vigorously rejected this view. In the process, he formulated a new periodization of the Jewish past and moved beyond the ideologically grounded and programmatic reconstruction of Jewish history to a rigorously descriptive portrayal of the multi-faceted Jewish historical experience. In so doing, Baron laid the foundations of the flourishing contemporary Jewish historiographic enterprise.
“Amoraic Baraitot” Reconsidered: The Case ofTannei Tanna Kameh
Authors: Cohen Barak S.
Published: May 2015

Earlier scholars typically considered the tannaitic traditions transmitted by Amoraim in the two Talmuds to be later amoraic (largely Babylonian) creations. This supposition was based on a range of formalistic considerations: the introductory terms, the attitude of the Amoraim to their halakhic content, and the lack of parallels in tannaitic literature. A study of the approximately 140 baraitot introduced by the term “a Tanna taught in front of so-and-so” offers substantial critique of this supposition, which was often based on incorrect a priori assumptions or on faulty interpretations of sources. Assessment of the nature and origins of the halakhic content of these so-called “amoraic baraitot” requires thorough analysis of the halakhic traditions found in this collection and their comparison with parallels in Palestinian tannaitic literature.
Behind Auerbach's “Background”: Five Ways to Read What Biblical Narratives Don't Say
Authors: Redfield James Adam
Published: May 2015

The Hebrew Bible's narrative style has impressed interpreters of many periods and perspectives with its powerful tension between fragmentary speech and meaningful silence, summed up in Erich Auerbach's famous thesis that the Akedah is “fraught with background.” But is it possible to give a coherent account of what the Bible does not say? This article offers a comparative critical analysis of attempts to do just that, starting with Auerbach's Mimesis (1946) and continuing through the contemporary work of James Kugel, Robert Alter, Meir Sternberg, Avivah Zornberg, and others. It claims that, rather than the text itself, the Bible's “background” serves as a metaphor by which the biblical critic navigates a complex relationship with her own normative construct of the reader's mind. This comparison concludes with practical considerations about its potential for research and teaching in biblical poetics, understood as rigorous intersubjective communication, rather than as either method or ideology.
שלילתה של ההצלחה הפוליטית בהגותו של ר' יצחק פולקר
Authors: צדיק שלום
Published: May 2015

בוויכוח שבין היהודים לנוצרים בימי הביניים, אחת הטענות המרכזיות שעלו מן הצד הנוצרי הייתה כי חורבנה הפוליטי של המדינה היהודית מהווה הוכחה ברורה לכך שהאל עזב את היהדות ומאס בה. התשובות היהודיות השונות לביקורת זו ולהתמודדות עם הגלות היו בדרך כלל נתינת הצדקה דתית כל שהיא לגלות (בחלק ניכר מן המקרים כפרה על חטאי העבר), ולצדה ציפייה לישועה פוליטית בעידן המשיחי.
Crystal orientation measurements using SEM–EBSD under unconventional conditions
Authors: Kunze Karsten
Published: May 2015

Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is a micro-analytical technique typically attached to a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The vast majority of EBSD measurements is applied to planar and polished surfaces of polycrystalline bulk specimen. In this paper, we present examples of using EBSD and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to analyze specimens that are not flat, not planar, or not bulk – but pillars, needles, and rods. The benefits of low vacuum SEM operation to reduced drift problems are displayed. It is further demonstrated that small and thin specimens enhance the attainable spatial resolution for orientation mapping (by EBSD or transmission Kikuchi diffraction) as well as for element mapping (by EDX).
Stones to Build a World: Circulation and Value of Materials in Pre-Columbian Northwestern Argentina
Authors: Lazzari Marisa
Published: May 2015

This article presents a contextual analysis of stone materials from northwestern Argentina, produced at a time when sedentary life was unfolding throughout the region. It examines the circulation and use practices of everyday obsidian tools, as well as the technical and semantic relationships they established within the wider field of materials and artefacts that characterized the period. Arguing for a sensitive approach to the classificatory logic of past societies, it is proposed here that a particular hierarchy of stone artefacts of regional significance emerged during this period. After discussing anthropological value perspectives and their relevance to Andean archaeology, the article explores Andean conceptualizations of stone that can provide a culturally specific framework for understanding ancient stone materials. The final sections examine the technical and contextual practices involving with domestic stone tools, as well as how these were embedded in a wider landscape of physical and semantic relationships. It is hoped that this article will contribute to ongoing discussions on non-Western models of value and their relevance for understanding social interaction and complexity, both in the south-central Andes and beyond.
Mouse tracking reveals that bilinguals behave like experts
Authors: INCERA SARA , McLENNAN CONOR T.
Published: May 2015

We used mouse tracking to compare the performance of bilinguals and monolinguals in a Stroop task. Participants were instructed to respond to the color of the words (e.g., blue in yellow font) by clicking on response options on the screen. We recorded participants’ movements of a computer mouse: when participants started moving (initiation times), and how fast they moved towards the correct response (x-coordinates over time). Interestingly, initiation times were longer for bilinguals than monolinguals. Nevertheless, when comparing mouse trajectories, bilinguals moved faster towards the correct response. Taken together, these results indicate that bilinguals behave qualitatively differently from monolinguals; bilinguals are “experts” at managing conflicting information. Experts across many different domains take longer to initiate a response, but then they outperform novices. These qualitative differences in performance could be at the root of apparently contradictory findings in the bilingual literature.
Risky business: political risk insurance and the law and governance of natural resources
Authors: Tan Celine
Published: May 2015

This paper explores the implications of political risk insurance (PRI) in the regulation and governance of natural resources sectors in developing countries. Operating in a hybrid public–private sphere, PRI arrangements involve a more complex web of contractual and non-contractual relations than commercial insurance products, and parties to such arrangements are inserted into a much more intricate framework of legal and political governance, with correspondingly broader international and domestic implications. The paper argues that PRI represents a form of government rationality that provides a framework for organising and regulating the behaviour of actors involved in natural resource investments in developing countries. In natural resources projects where tensions regularly exist between the interests of the foreign investor, the host state and local communities, PRI arrangements can reframe the terms of engagement between these various stakeholders and redefine the host state's engagement with the broader international community.
Regulating environmental responsibility for the multinational oil industry: continuing challenges for international law
Authors: Ong David M.
Published: May 2015

States utilise international law to create opportunities within global markets for private transnational economic actors, such as multinational oil companies, to invest and/or operate within foreign jurisdictions. However, there is a lack of directly enforceable international mechanisms against these private actors when they cause environmental damage abroad. International law responses to this problem range from the establishment of international compulsory compensation schemes, the proposed expansion of the doctrine of state responsibility to include liability for private actors, and more recently through litigation in the home states of multinational oil companies. However, both international jurisprudence and US, Dutch and British domestic case-law reveal an ambivalence towards holding such private transnational economic actors legally accountable in their home state jurisdictions for violations committed abroad. Certain states (the US and France) that have suffered environmental damage from the activities of multinational oil companies have responded by reasserting their domestic regulatory powers to require immediate clean up and compensation, prior to domestic judicial litigation. Other states (Nigeria) are unable to achieve the same level of effective enforcement due to their weaker political and economic bargaining positions.
When the Sun Goes Quiet, Titan Gets Gassy
Authors: Zastrow Mark
Published: May 2015

Observations from NASA's Cassini probe show that the level of methane in Titan's atmosphere depends on the Sun's 11-year cycle of magnetic activity.
What Causes Extreme Hail, Tornadoes, and Floods in South America?
Authors: Palus Shannon
Published: May 2015

A study of extreme weather in South America shows seasonal and spatial patterns, which, if better understood, could help save lives and minimize damage to property.
The structure of FMNL2–Cdc42 yields insights into the mechanism of lamellipodia and filopodia formation
Authors: Kühn Sonja , Erdmann Constanze , Kage Frieda , Block Jennifer , Schwenkmezger Lisa , Steffen Anika , Rottner Klemens , Geyer Matthias
Published: May 2015

Formins are actin polymerization factors that elongate unbranched actin filaments at the barbed end. Rho family GTPases activate Diaphanous-related formins through the relief of an autoregulatory interaction. The crystal structures of the N-terminal domains of human FMNL1 and FMNL2 in complex with active Cdc42 show that Cdc42 mediates contacts with all five armadillo repeats of the formin with specific interactions formed by the Rho-GTPase insert helix. Mutation of three residues within Rac1 results in a gain-of-function mutation for FMNL2 binding and reconstitution of the Cdc42 phenotype in vivo. Dimerization of FMNL1 through a parallel coiled coil segment leads to formation of an umbrella-shaped structure that—together with Cdc42—spans more than 15 nm in diameter. The two interacting FMNL–Cdc42 heterodimers expose six membrane interaction motifs on a convex protein surface, the assembly of which may facilitate actin filament elongation at the leading edge of lamellipodia and filopodia.
Chirality transfer from gold nanocluster to adsorbate evidenced by vibrational circular dichroism
Authors: Dolamic Igor , Varnholt Birte , Bürgi Thomas
Published: May 2015

The transfer of chirality from one set of molecules to another is fundamental for applications in chiral technology and has likely played a crucial role for establishing homochirality on earth. Here we show that an intrinsically chiral gold cluster can transfer its handedness to an achiral molecule adsorbed on its surface. Solutions of chiral Au38(2-PET)24 (2-PET=2-phenylethylthiolate) cluster enantiomers show strong vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) signals in vibrations of the achiral adsorbate. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that 2-PET molecules adopt a chiral conformation. Chirality transfer from the cluster to the achiral adsorbate is responsible for the preference of one of the two mirror images. Intermolecular interactions between the adsorbed molecules on the crowded cluster surface seem to play a dominant role for the phenomena. Such chirality transfer from metals to adsorbates likely plays an important role in heterogeneous enantioselective catalysis.
Toll-like receptor 4 contributes to the inhibitory effect of morphine on colonic motility in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Farzi Aitak , Halicka Juraj , Mayerhofer Raphaela , Fröhlich Esther E. , Tatzl Eva , Holzer Peter
Published: May 2015

Opioids rank among the most potent analgesic drugs but gastrointestinal side effects, especially constipation, limit their therapeutic utility. The adverse effects of opioids have been attributed to stimulation of opioid receptors, but emerging evidence suggests that opioids interact with the innate immune receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and its signalling pathway. As TLR4 signalling affects gastrointestinal motility, we examined the involvement of TLR4 in morphine-induced depression of peristaltic motility in the guinea-pig intestine in vitro and male C57BL/6N mice in vivo. While the TLR4 antagonist TAK-242 (0.1 μM and 1 μM) did not alter the morphine-induced inhibition of peristalsis in the isolated guinea-pig small intestine, the morphine-induced decrease in pellet propulsion velocity in colonic segments was attenuated by TAK-242 (0.1 μM). The ability of TAK-242 (4 mg/kg) to mitigate the morphine-induced suppression of colonic motility was replicated in mice in vivo by measuring the expulsion time of beads inserted in the distal colon. The inhibition of upper gastrointestinal transit of mice by morphine was not affected by pre-treatment with TAK-242 (4 mg/kg) in vivo. This is the first report that morphine-induced inhibition of colonic peristalsis is alleviated by TLR4 antagonism. We therefore conclude that TLR4 may contribute to opioid-induced constipation.
Polymer immobilized Cu(I) formation and azide-alkyne cycloaddition: A one potreaction
Authors: Islam Rafique Ul , Taher Abu , Choudhary Meenakshi , Siwal Samarjeet , Mallick Kaushik
Published: May 2015

During the polymerization of aniline using copper sulphate, act as an oxidizingagent, the in-situ synthesized Cu(I) ion catalyzed the cyclo-addition betweenazides and alkynes. This work represents the merging of two steps, synthesis of thecatalyst and application of the catalyst, in a one pot reaction. The elimination ofthe separate catalyst synthesis step is economic in terms of cost and time. Asaniline was used as one of the reactant components so there is no requirement to useadditional base for this reaction that further eliminates the cost of the process.Again, the catalyst can be readily recovered by filtration and efficiently used forthe several sets of reactions without any significant loss of catalyticactivity.
Low-temperature direct copper-to-copper bonding enabled by creep on (111) surfaces of nanotwinned Cu
Authors: Liu Chien-Min , Lin Han-Wen , Huang Yi-Sa , Chu Yi-Cheng , Chen Chih , Lyu Dian-Rong , Chen Kuan-Neng , Tu King-Ning
Published: May 2015

Direct Cu-to-Cu bonding was achieved at temperatures of 150–250 °C using a compressive stress of 100 psi (0.69 MPa) held for 10–60 min at 10−3 torr. The key controlling parameter for direct bonding is rapid surface diffusion on (111) surface of Cu. Instead of using (111) oriented single crystal of Cu, oriented (111) texture of extremely high degree, exceeding 90%, was fabricated using the oriented nano-twin Cu. The bonded interface between two (111) surfaces forms a twist-type grain boundary. If the grain boundary has a low angle, it has a hexagonal network of screw dislocations. Such network image was obtained by plan-view transmission electron microscopy. A simple kinetic model of surface creep is presented; and the calculated and measured time of bonding is in reasonable agreement.
Nanoconfinement induced crystal orientation and large piezoelectric coefficient in vertically aligned P(VDF-TrFE) nanotube array
Authors: Liew Weng Heng , Mirshekarloo Meysam Sharifzadeh , Chen Shuting , Yao Kui , Tay Francis Eng Hock
Published: May 2015

Vertically aligned piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) nanotube array comprising nanotubes embedded in anodized alumina membrane matrix without entanglement has been fabricated. It is found that the crystallographic polar axes of the P(VDF-TrFE) nanotubes are oriented along the nanotubes long axes. Such a desired crystal orientation is due to the kinetic selection mechanism for lamellae growth confined in the nanopores. The preferred crystal orientation in nanotubes leads to huge piezoelectric coefficients of the P(VDF-TrFE). The piezoelectric strain and voltage coefficients of P(VDF-TrFE) nanotube array are observed to be 1.97 and 3.40 times of those for conventional spin coated film. Such a significant performance enhancement is attributed to the well-controlled polarization orientation, the elimination of the substrate constraint and the low dielectric constant of the nanotube array. The P(VDF-TrFE) nanotube array exhibiting the unique structure and outstanding piezoelectric performance is promising for wide applications, including various electrical devices and electromechanical sensors and transducers.
Avoiding drying-artifacts in transmission electron microscopy: Characterizing the size and colloidal state of nanoparticles
Authors: Michen Benjamin , Geers Christoph , Vanhecke Dimitri , Endes Carola , Rothen-Rutishauser Barbara , Balog Sandor , Petri-Fink Alke
Published: May 2015

Standard transmission electron microscopy nanoparticle sample preparation generally requires the complete removal of the suspending liquid. Drying often introduces artifacts, which can obscure the state of the dispersion prior to drying and preclude automated image analysis typically used to obtain number-weighted particle size distribution. Here we present a straightforward protocol for prevention of the onset of drying artifacts, thereby allowing the preservation of in-situ colloidal features of nanoparticles during TEM sample preparation. This is achieved by adding a suitable macromolecular agent to the suspension. Both research- and economically-relevant particles with high polydispersity and/or shape anisotropy are easily characterized following our approach (http://bsa.bionanomaterials.ch), which allows for rapid and quantitative classification in terms of dimensionality and size: features that are major targets of European Union recommendations and legislation.
Citric Acid Enhanced Copper Removal by a Novel Multi-amines Decorated Resin
Authors: Ling Chen , Liu Fuqiang , Pei Zhiguo , Zhang Xiaopeng , Wei Mengmeng , Zhang Yanhong , Zheng Lirong , Zhang Jing , Li Aimin , Xing Baoshan
Published: May 2015

Cu removal by a novel multi-amines decorated resin (PAMD) from wastewater in the absence or presence of citric acid (CA) was examined. Adsorption capacity of Cu onto PAMD markedly increased by 186% to 5.07 mmol/g in the presence of CA, up to 7 times of that onto four commercial resins under the same conditions. Preloaded and kinetic studies demonstrated adsorption of [Cu-CA] complex instead of CA site-bridging and variations of adsorbate species were qualitatively illustrated. The interaction configuration was further studied with ESI-MS, FTIR, XPS and XANES characterizations. The large enhancement of Cu adsorption in Cu-CA bi-solutes systems was attributed to mechanism change from single-site to dual-sites interaction in which cationic or neutral Cu species (Cu2+ and CuHL0) coordinated with neutral amine sites and anionic complex species (CuL− and Cu2L22−) directly interacted with protonated amine sites via electrostatic attraction and the ratio of the two interactions was approximately 0.5 for the equimolar bi-solutes system. Moreover, commonly coexisting ions in wastewaters had no obvious effect on the superior performance of PAMD. Also, Cu and CA could be recovered completely with HCl. Therefore, PAMD has a great potential to efficiently remove heavy metal ions from wastewaters in the presence of organic acids.