bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visual deprivation selectively reshapes the intrinsic functional architecture of the anterior insula subregions
Authors: Liu Lihua , Yuan Congcong , Ding Hao , Xu Yongjie , Long Miaomiao , Li YanJun , Liu Yong , Jiang Tianzi , Qin Wen , Shen Wen , Yu Chunshui
Published: March 2017

The anterior insula (AI) is the core hub of salience network that serves to identify the most relevant stimuli among vast sensory inputs and forward them to higher cognitive regions to guide behaviour. As blind subjects were usually reported with changed perceptive abilities for salient non-visual stimuli, we hypothesized that the resting-state functional network of the AI is selectively reorganized after visual deprivation. The resting-state functional connectivity (FC) of the bilateral dorsal and ventral AI was calculated for twenty congenitally blind (CB), 27 early blind (EB), 44 late blind (LB) individuals and 50 sighted controls (SCs). The FCs of the dorsal AI were strengthened with the dorsal visual stream, while weakened with the ventral visual stream in the blind than the SCs; in contrast, the FCs of the ventral AI of the blind was strengthened with the ventral visual stream. Furthermore, these strengthened FCs of both the dorsal and ventral AI were partially negatively associated with the onset age of blindness. Our result indicates two parallel pathways that selectively transfer non-visual salient information between the deprived “visual” cortex and salience network in blind subjects.
Crinoids: ancient organisms, modern chemistry
Authors: Feng Yunjiang , Khokhar Shahan , Davis Rohan A.
Published: March 2017

This review summarises known crinoid chemistry from 1877 to the present day, and discusses some of the problems (and potential solutions) with establishing crinoid natural product structures, as well as future directions for crinoid research.
Crystal structure dependent in vitro antioxidant activity of biocompatible calcium gallate MOFs
Authors: Hidalgo Tania , Cooper Lucy , Gorman Martin , Lozano-Fernández Tamara , Simón-Vázquez Rosana , Mouchaham Georges , Marrot Jérome , Guillou Nathalie , Serre Christian , Fertey Pierre , González-Fernández África , Devic Thomas , Horcajada Patricia
Published: March 2017

Novel biocompatible Ca-gallate MOFs with progressive release of gallic acid associated with a significantin vitroantioxidant effect.
Directed adenine functionalization for creating complex architectures for material and biological applications
Authors: Mohapatra Balaram , Pratibha Pratibha , Verma Sandeep
Published: March 2017

This feature article outlines design strategies for modified adenine derivatives to construct discrete metal complexes, ring-expanded skeletons, coordination polymers, MOFs, and capped nanoparticles, for applications in gas adsorption, as bioimaging agents and as bioactive molecules.
Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular reductive olefin hydrocarbonation: benzylic hydrogen serving as a new hydrogen donor
Authors: Dong Xu , Cui Jie , Song Jian , Han Ying , Liu Qing , Dong Yunhui , Liu Hui
Published: March 2017

Benzylic hydrogen was employed as a new hydrogen donor, providing a novel and promising perspective in Pd-catalyzed reductive reactions.
Electronic characterization of Geobacter sulfurreducens pilins in self-assembled monolayers unmasks tunnelling and hopping conduction pathways
Authors: Cosert Krista M. , Steidl Rebecca J. , Castro-Forero Angelines , Worden Robert M. , Reguera Gemma
Published: March 2017

The peptide subunit of Geobacter nanowires (pili) metal-reducing bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens was self-assembled as a conductive monolayer. Its electronic characterized revealed tunneling and hopping regimes.
Ab initio modelling of oxygen vacancy arrangement in highly defective HfO2 resistive layers
Authors: Sementa Luca , Larcher Luca , Barcaro Giovanni , Montorsi Monia
Published: March 2017

We report ab initio results for sub-stoichiometric HfOx with different oxygen vacancy densities, useful in exploring microscopic mechanisms that govern the operation of RRAM devices.
Bubble-based acoustic micropropulsors: active surfaces and mixers
Authors: Bertin Nicolas , Spelman Tamsin A. , Combriat Thomas , Hue Hervé , Stéphan Olivier , Lauga Eric , Marmottant Philippe
Published: March 2017

Bubble-based acoustic propulsors are fabricated with 3D micro-printing. They generate collective flows used for fast and efficient mixing in microchannels.
Structural modeling of the AhR:ARNT complex in the bHLH–PASA–PASB region elucidates the key determinants of dimerization
Authors: Corrada Dario , Denison Michael S. , Bonati Laura
Published: March 2017

Characterization of the protein–protein interface in the first structural model of the full length AhR:ARNT complex.
Palladium-catalyzed tandem addition/cyclization in aqueous medium: synthesis of 2-arylindoles
Authors: Yu Shuling , Hu Kun , Gong Julin , Qi Linjun , Zhu Jianghe , Zhang Yetong , Cheng Tianxing , Chen Jiuxi
Published: March 2017

Pd-catalyzed tandem reaction of potassium aryltrifluoroborates with nitriles for the synthesis of 2-arylindoles in aqueous medium.
Nitrogen-doped activated carbon/graphene composites as high-performance supercapacitor electrodes
Authors: Li Yue , Shang Tong-Xin , Gao Jian-Min , Jin Xiao-Juan
Published: March 2017

Nitrogen-doped activated carbon/reduced graphene oxide composites are prepared by pre-carbonization of the precursors (mixture of graphene oxide and nitrogen-doped activated carbons) and KOH activation of the pyrolysis products.
Hexagonal β-Na(Y,Yb)F4 based core/shell nanorods: epitaxial growth, enhanced and tailored up-conversion emission
Authors: Yan Jing , Yao Honghu , Li Junhao , He Shiman , Wu Qili , Yang Xianfeng , Khan Wasim Ullah , Shi Jianxin , Wu Mingmei
Published: March 2017

Rare earth ions-doped hexagonal β-Na(Y,Yb)F4 nanorods can be coated perfectly with either optically active or inert shells to improve and/or tailor the upconversion emission through a one-step epitaxial growth method from α-phased nanoparticles.
The novel compound dimethylamine-5,5′-bistetrazole-1,1′-diolate: crystal structure, thermal investigation, safety evaluation and theoretical studies
Authors: Yu Yuehai , Chen Shusen , Li Xin , Jin Shaohua , Li Lijie , Zhang Guangyuan , Ma Xiao , Shu Qinghai
Published: March 2017

The crystal of DMA-BTO, one unknown intermediate in the production of famous high energy insensitive explosive TKX-50, was easily prepared and characterized. Its thermal behaviors, safety parameters and theoretical studies were performed.
The synergetic effect of dual co-catalysts on the photocatalytic activity of square-like WO3with different exposed facets
Authors: Gong Huihua , Cao Yue , Zhang Yifeng , Zhang Yu , Liu Kewei , Cao Hongmei , Yan Hongjian
Published: March 2017

The controlled, selective deposition of Pt and PbOxdual-cocatalysts on the edged (200) and (020) facets and the main (002) facets of square-like WO3nanoplates, respectively, resulted in a remarkable synergetic effect in the photocatalytic performance.
Nano-mechanical in-process monitoring of antimicrobial poration in model phospholipid bilayers
Authors: Valsesia Andrea , Iavicoli Patrizia , Lewis Helen , Desmet Cloé , Mehn Dora , Calzolai Luigi , Colpo Pascal , Rossi François , Ryadnov Maxim G.
Published: March 2017

Nanomechanical monitoring of known mechanisms of membrane poration mediated by host defense peptides is reported.
Iptycene-functionalized silica gel for the purification of fullerenes using flash chromatography
Authors: Selmani Serxho , Yue Shen M. , Schipper Derek J.
Published: March 2017

A stationary phase containing bent aromatic molecules interacts strongly with fullerenes, allowing for their purification on a relatively large scale.
Evaporation controlled particle patterns in a polymer droplet
Authors: Zhang Chongfeng , Akcora Pinar
Published: March 2017

The unusual formation of particle stripes is observed in evaporating polymer drops containing mixtures of microspheres and nanoparticles. Concentric rings are obtained when capillary shear and Marangoni flows are balanced at low evaporation rates.
High-performance, ultra-flexible and transparent embedded metallic mesh electrodes by selective electrodeposition for all-solid-state supercapacitor applications
Authors: Liu Yan-Hua , Xu Jian-Long , Shen Su , Cai Xin-Lei , Chen Lin-Sen , Wang Sui-Dong
Published: March 2017

High-performance, ultra-flexible and transparent embedded metallic mesh electrodes were fabricatedvialow-cost selective electrodeposition process combined with inverted film-processing methods for the first time. Flexible and transparent all-solid-state supercapacitors were thus successfully constructed.
Hybrid supramolecular gels of Fmoc-F/halloysite nanotubes: systems for sustained release of camptothecin
Authors: Rizzo C. , Arrigo R. , D'Anna F. , Di Blasi F. , Dintcheva N. T. , Lazzara G. , Parisi F. , Riela S. , Spinelli G. , Massaro M.
Published: March 2017

Novel supramolecular gel hybrids were prepared by self-assembly of Fmoc-l-phenylalanine in the presence of functionalized halloysite nanotubes and employed as carriers for the delivery of camptothecin molecules.
Investigation of the physical properties of Fe:TiO2-diluted magnetic semiconductor nanoparticles
Authors: Prajapati Brijmohan , Kumar Shiv , Kumar Manish , Chatterjee S. , Ghosh Anup K.
Published: March 2017

Room temperature M–H plots of some selective samples. Upper inset shows the variation of PL intensities and lower inset shows the variation of band gap with doping concentration.
High‐sensitivity structure for the measurement of complex permittivity based on SIW
Authors: Yang Xiaoqing , Xin Lei , Jiao Xingmin , Zhou Peiping , Wu Shiyue , Huang Kama
Published: March 2017

In this study, a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) combined with complementary split‐ring resonator (CSRR) structure is proposed for high‐sensitivity measurement of complex permittivity of low loss material at 2.45 GHz. The simulated results demonstrated that the small changes can be sensed through loading the CSRR structure on both sides of SIW. Then, the experiments are performed on various dielectric samples to validate the proposed structure by measuring the particulate samples with different moisture contents and solution samples in different mixed volume ratio. The measured results show that the sensitivity of the proposed SIW with CSRR structure is always higher than the structure without CSRR. Furthermore, neural network based on actual experimental scattering parameters is used for obtaining the permittivity of samples under test. The experimental values agree well with the theoretical values, and the relative errors of and are <5 and 10%.
Trophic ecology of commercial-size meagre, Argyrosomus regius, in the Bay of Biscay (NE Atlantic)★
Authors: Hubans Barbara , Chouvelon Tiphaine , Begout Marie-Laure , Biais Gerard , Bustamante Paco , Ducci Lillian , Mornet Françoise , Boiron Anne , Coupeau Yann , Spitz Jerome
Published: March 2017

In the north-eastern Atlantic, meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is one of the largest fish living on the shelf and this species has important commercial interest. Over the past two decades, large variations in meagre abundance have been observed with pluri-annual cycles but the factors involved in such variations are still unclear. Trophic interactions between meagre and other species (both prey and competitors) might be one explanatory variable of the observed variations in meagre recruitment and abundance. In the present study, we described the diet of commercial-size meagre in the Bay of Biscay from stomach content and stable isotope analyses, and explored its dietary ontogeny. We found that commercial-size meagres were mostly piscivorous with a diet dominated by clupeiform fish (mainly anchovy and sardine) completed by demersal fish (mainly pout and whiting). Cannibalism also accounted for a non-negligible part of the diet. Interestingly, stable isotope and stomach content analyses showed only a very slight increase in prey length and trophic level during the ontogeny of large meagre after 50 cm of total length and despite a 3 fold-change of the individual length in our sampling. Our results suggested that specific trophic interactions (i.e. bottom-up control by clupeiform fish on meagre population, competitive effects on piscivorous populations or top-down control by meagre on clupeiform fish populations) may occur in the Bay of Biscay and can impact meagre abundance dynamics. Our study underlined the interest to enhance ecological knowledge of prey-predator relationships in the development of ecosystem-based approach to understand trophic controls impacting aquatic living resources and fishery economy.
Point-of-Care Coagulation Testing in Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Tanaka Kenichi , Bolliger Daniel
Published: March 2017

Bleeding complications after cardiac surgery are common and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Their etiology is multifactorial, and treatment decisions are time sensitive. Point-of-care (POC) testing has an advantage over standard laboratory tests for faster turn-around times, and timely decision on coagulation intervention(s). The most common POC coagulation testing is the activated clotting time (ACT), used to monitor heparin therapy while on cardiopulmonary bypass. Viscoelastic coagulation tests including thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and thromboelastography (TEG) have been recommended for the treatment of postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery because the ROTEM/TEG-guided treatment algorithms reduced the use of blood products. Other POC tests are commercially available, but there is sparse evidence for their routine use in cardiac surgery. These devices include heparin management systems, POC prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, POC fibrinogen assay, and whole blood platelet function tests. There are multiple confounding elements and conditions associated with cardiac surgery, which can significantly alter test results. Anemia and thrombocytopenia are regularly associated with deviations in many POC devices. In summary, POC coagulation testing allows for rapid clinical decisions in hematological interventions, and, when used in conjunction with a proper transfusion algorithm, may reduce blood product usage, and potentially complications associated with blood transfusion.
Percutaneous Management of Malignant Biliary Strictures: Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Attaya Mohammed , Attaya Hosam , Thabet Ashraf
Published: March 2017

Various minimally invasive percutaneous interventions may be performed for the treatment and management of malignant biliary obstruction. The types of percutaneous interventions include percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, percutaneous cholecystostomy, and biliary stent placement. Biliary stents have undergone continued evolution in design to prolong patency, increase cost-effectiveness, improve patient survival, and quality of life. Furthermore, investigational techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation, intraluminal brachytherapy, and photodynamic therapy promise new technologies in the field of biliary intervention. This review focuses on the current status of percutaneous therapies for malignant biliary strictures and obstruction.
Experimental evidences of charge transition levels in ZrO2 and at the Si: ZrO2 interface by deep level transient spectroscopy
Authors: Kumar Arvind , Mondal Sandip , Koteswara Rao K. S. R.
Published: March 2017

The native defects in zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and defects at the ZrO2/Si interface lead to threshold voltage shifts, Fermi level pinning, and various other reliability concerns. It is necessary to recognize the origin of these defects and to quantify them. A large number of theoretical reports deal with oxygen vacancy related defect states in the ZrO2 films; however, the large band gap limits the experimental assessments. In this study, we have deployed Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy to study the deep level defects present in high-κ ZrO2 gate dielectrics and at the Si:ZrO2 interface. The band alignment of the Al/ZrO2/Si stack was derived from Ultraviolet Photo electron Spectroscopy measurement to find the exact locations of trap levels. Five deep levels were observed in the band gap of ZrO2; these are related to different charge states of oxygen vacancies. The activation energies of these trap states are in the range of 1.16–1.84 eV from the ZrO2 conduction band. The capture cross-section of these states was also measured and found to be quite low (10−21 cm2). The small value of capture cross-sections is attributed to tunneling events occurring between the energy levels of the bulk and interface. This study would aid in the understanding of numerous fascinating facts witnessed in ZrO2, such as resistive switching, threshold voltage instabilities, and leakage current problems associated with oxygen vacancy related traps.
Enhancement in (BH)max of PLD-made isotropic Nd-Fe-B thick film magnets deposited on Si substrates
Authors: Nakano M. , Chikuba Y. , Shimizu D. , Yamashita A. , Yanai T. , Fukunaga H.
Published: March 2017

Increase in Nd contents of a PLD-made isotropic Nd-Fe-B thick-film magnet enabled us to enhance the thickness of the film magnet deposited on a Si substrate because the linear expansion coefficient of Nd is an intermediate value between Nd2Fe14B and Si. The large amount of Nd, however, degraded the residual magnetic polarization and (BH)max. In the study, we reduced the Nd contents of each Nd-Fe-B film by inserting a Nd or a Nd-rich Nd-Fe-B buffer layer between a Nd-Fe-B film and a Si substrate in order to suppress the mechanical destruction together with the improvement in magnetic properties. It was found that the mechanical property of a Nd-Fe-B film comprising the Nd-Fe-B buffer layer in the thickness range from 10 to 60 μm was superior than that of a sample with the Nd buffer layer. Resultantly, an average (BH)max value of Nd-Fe-B films with each Nd-Fe-B buffer layer deposited on Si substrates could be enhanced by approximately 15 kJ/m3 compared to that of non-buffer-layered films.
Selection principles of other-initiated repair turn formats
Authors: Egbert Maria
Published: March 2017

A previously undocumented type of other-initiated repair (“OIR”) termed “positioned question” (“PQ”) is unique in turn-design, sequential remoteness to the trouble-source turn and its occurrence in non-dyadic interaction. Its characteristics provide insights into the interconnectedness of different OIR selection principles. For the intersection of grammar and interaction the analysis shows how syntax and word class are interrelated with aspects of sequence and action. With reference to the discussion of how the sociocultural, the linguistic and the interactional system are related in a theory of social order (Levinson 2005; Schegloff 2005), the results on PQ sindicate that the interactional system is central, and that the organization of language used in interaction is primarily based on interactional principles of action.
Approximate solutions for the nonlinear duffing oscillator with an external force
Authors: Kirinin Jutamas , Mahithithummath Kanokwan , Kongsawasdi Narisara , Kasemsuwan Jaipong
Published: March 2017

This paper is concerned with a finding of an approximate solution to the Duffing oscillator with a linear external force using a modified differential transform method (MDTM) and Runge-Kutta-Nystrom (RKN) method. The results obtained from the two methods are then numerically and graphically compared. We found that both results are close to one another when an amplitude and frequency of external forces are very small. However, both results are quite different when the amplitude and frequency of external forces are large. Their results are in agreement with the phase plane diagram which demonstrates a stable equilibrium point for both methods in case of small amplitude and frequency of external force. However, for large amplitude and frequency of external forces, only MDTM shows the stable equilibrium point.
Letter to His Mother, Elizabeth
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

In this letter to his mother, from around 2 September 1911-13, Winnicott sends her wishes for Mother’s day and asks her to locate his ‘surprise gift’ left at home for her.
Letter to His Sister, Violet
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

In this letter to his sister Violet, Winnicott describes his discovery of psychoanalysis: ‘Psychotherapy means the treatment of disorders of the mind apart from those depending on disease of the brain’. He tells her that psychoanalysis denotes a method developed by Freud by which mind disorders can be cured without the aid of hypnosis. He describes seeing a man suffering from shell shock put under hypnosis in St Bart’s Hospital. Winnicott acknowledges that hypnosis only treats one or two of the symptoms, but claims that psychoanalysis cuts right at the root of the matter.
Case for Diagnosis (? Infantile Hemiplegia)
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

In this case, Winnicott looks at a two-year-old with a possible diagnosis of infantile hemiplegia.
The Only Child
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

In this paper, Winnicott discusses the emotional and physiological impact of being an only child and suggests various approaches to the child’s care. He seeks to answer the question of whether an only child suffers from illness more than other children and concludes that it is possible as a result of loneliness and its emotional effects. He recommends that parents of an only child should see that, from the very beginning, their child as often as possible meets and plays with other children. The play of a child with other children (or alone) is of the very greatest importance with regard to future health.
Facial Nerve Paralysis
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

In this case, Winnicott presents the history of facial nerve paralysis in a very young child. In this case, the symptoms gradually fade and appear not to return.
Facial Nerve Paralysis, Associated with Fits
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

In this case, Winnicott presents the family history of a seven-year-old, one of twins suffering from facial nerve paralysis associated with fits.
Active Heart Disease
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

Chapter 8 of Clinical Notes on Disorders of Childhood. In this chapter, Winnicott discusses the exclusion of the diagnosis of active heart disease. He states that a child with a normal life and a normal level of health enjoyment does not have active heart disease. Such children would, however, be badly treated by the misdiagnosis of active heart disease and a long treatment of rest and without play.
A Note on Normality and Anxiety
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

Chapter 12 of Clinical Notes on Disorders of Childhood. In this chapter, Winnicott notes that normal development often leads to periods of ill health, and abnormal levels of emotional conflict can exaggerate physical disturbances. Giving cases, Winnicott shows the spectrum of the manifestations of anxiety in children, including physical symptoms and physical changes, focusing on the eyes, nose and throat. He also touches on the physical causes of nervousness and the phenomenon of anxiety masking a physical disease.
Micturition Disturbances
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

Chapter 18 of Clinical Notes on Disorders of Childhood. In this chapter, Winnicott relates difficulties of interpreting parent’s false modesty when interviewed about micturition and defecation. Winnicott discusses the microscopic examination of urine, albuminaria, the presence of pus, red blood corpuscles and threadworm. He also discusses enuresis as a likely and even normal consequence of the great emotional strains and stresses of infantile development. He describes possible treatment for enuresis, distinguishing between the child’s point of view, the parent’s point of view, and the doctor’s point of view.
Abstract: A Contribution to the Problem of Psycho-physical Relations with Special Reference to Dermatology
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

Winnicott’s abstract of Barinbaum’s book A Contribution to the Problem of Psycho-Physical Relations with Special Reference to Dermatology.
The Manic Defence
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

In his membership paper to the BPAS, Winnicott presents certain aspects of the manic defence and of its relations to the depressive position. The term ‘manic defence’ is intended to cover a person’s capacity to deny the depressive anxiety that is inherent in emotional development, anxiety that belongs to the capacity of the individual to feel guilt and also to acknowledge responsibility for instinctual experiences, and for the aggression in the fantasy that goes with such instinctual experiences.
Report on Q Camps
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

This is a report of Dr Winnicott’s work at Bicester, in special camps set up during the war to deal with difficult and anti-social children. Winnicott stresses that anti-social boys are not to be treated other than morally or legally, and that the British public, once aware of the suffering of these children, would wish to see them treated medically, not punished legally.
The Unconscious
Authors: Winnicott Donald W.
Published: March 2017

This essay discusses ‘the unconscious’ historically in respect of Freud’s usage and in ways of looking at the developing personality. Winnicott describes the various ways of considering ‘the unconscious’ as repressed and as the deepest aspects of the personality, including instincts, which Freud asserted are pre-eminently unconscious. He also describes its relationship to the depressive position and the phenomenon of the unconscious in respect of an unintegrated personality.
Quality Improvement in Pediatric Endoscopy
Authors: Kramer Robert E. , Walsh Catharine M. , Lerner Diana G. , Fishman Douglas S.
Published: March 2017

The current era of healthcare reform emphasizes the provision of effective, safe, equitable, high‐quality, and cost‐effective care. Within the realm of gastrointestinal endoscopy in adults, renewed efforts are in place to accurately define and measure quality indicators across the spectrum of endoscopic care. In pediatrics, however, this movement has been less‐defined and lacks much of the evidence‐base that supports these initiatives in adult care. A need, therefore, exists to help define quality metrics tailored to pediatric practice and provide a toolbox for the development of robust quality improvement (QI) programs within pediatric endoscopy units. Use of uniform standards of quality reporting across centers will ensure that data can be compared and compiled on an international level to help guide QI initiatives and inform patients and their caregivers of the true risks and benefits of endoscopy. This report is intended to provide pediatric gastroenterologists with a framework for the development and implementation of endoscopy QI programs within their own centers, based on available evidence and expert opinion from the members of the NASPGHAN Endoscopy Committee. This clinical report will require expansion as further research pertaining to endoscopic quality in pediatrics is published.
A Perspective
Authors: Achterberg Cheryl
Published: March 2017

This perspective builds on the full collection of articles in this supplement to explore the influences that may impact a young child's sweet taste perception and dietary intake of sugar, as well as sugar's impact on lifelong dietary patterns and longer-term health status. The article acknowledges the current scientific and public interest in and concerns about sugar and the challenges in appropriate research designs for the age group of birth to 24 months. Sugar consumption, the mother-child feeding relationship, and the various social meanings given to sugar are discussed. Research gaps are highlighted. Recommendations are made to address the overall lack of pediatric data, social science insights, theory, and selected content issues, as well as the criteria by which studies are selected for inclusion in dietary guidelines formation. Examples of content gaps include the influence of portion size, dietary variety and balance, and the effect of sugar and nonnutritive sweeteners on the development of the gut microbiota. A call is made to increase funding for pediatric nutrition research.
Fenugreek
Authors: Singletary Keith W.
Published: March 2017

The objectives of this article are to provide a brief overview of the scientific literature regarding the use of fenugreek in the management of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia and suggest recommendations for additional research. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L., family Fabaceae) is an annual herb with triangular yellow flowers and seed-containing pods that grows in countries of the Mediterranean, Middle East, India, China, and, more recently, Canada. Fenugreek seed or its extracts are found in food products such as frozen dairy products, gelatin puddings, candy, and gravy sauces and in alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. An extract of fenugreek also is used as a flavoring ingredient in imitation maple syrup. Fenugreek has a history of use in traditional medicine in India and China. Its uses include as a treatment of weakness and leg edema, as a lactation and appetite stimulant, and as a remedy for indigestion, baldness, and fever. Some have used it topically for myalgia, wound treatment, and cellulitis. One potential benefit of fenugreek is improving elevated blood glucose and lipid levels associated with chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Human investigations suggest that fenugreek can be beneficial as an adjunct in controlling high blood glucose and lipid levels in people with diabetes. However, larger, adequately powered, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials examining multiple measures of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and insulin homeostasis are needed.
Evidence of evolutionary selection for co-translational folding
Authors: Jacobs William M. , Shakhnovich Eugene I.
Published: March 2017

Recent experiments and simulations have demonstrated that proteins can fold on the ribosome. However, the extent and generality of fitness effects resulting from co-translational folding remain open questions. Here we report a genome-wide analysis that uncovers evidence of evolutionary selection for co-translational folding. We describe a robust statistical approach to identify loci within genes that are both significantly enriched in slowly translated codons and evolutionarily conserved. Surprisingly, we find that domain boundaries can explain only a small fraction of these conserved loci. Instead, we propose that regions enriched in slowly translated codons are associated with co-translational folding intermediates, which may be smaller than a single domain. We show that the intermediates predicted by a native-centric model of co-translational folding account for the majority of these loci across more than 500E. coliproteins. By making a direct connection to protein folding, this analysis provides strong evidence that many synonymous substitutions have been selected to optimize translation rates at specific locations within genes. More generally, our results indicate that kinetics, and not just thermodynamics, can significantly alter the efficiency of self-assembly in a biological context.
Multiplexed sgRNA Expression Allows Versatile Single Non-repetitive DNA Labeling and Endogenous Gene Regulation
Authors: Shao Shipeng , Chang Lei , Sun Yuao , Hou Yingping , Fan Xiaoying , Sun Yujie
Published: March 2017

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has made significant contribution to genome editing, gene regulation and chromatin studies in recent years. High-throughput and systematic investigations into the multiplexed biological systems and disease conditions require simultaneous expression and coordinated functioning of multiple sgRNAs. However, current co-transfection based sgRNA co-expression systems remain poorly efficient and virus-based transfection approaches are relatively costly and labor intensive. Here we established a vector-independent method allowing multiple sgRNA expression cassettes to be assembled in series into a single plasmid. This synthetic biology-based strategy excels in its efficiency, controllability and scalability. Taking the flexibility advantage of this all-in-one sgRNA expressing system, we further explored its applications in single non-repetitive genomic locus imaging as well as coordinated gene regulation in live cells. With its strong potency, our method will greatly facilitate the understandings in genome structure, function and dynamics, and will contribute to the systemic investigations into complex physiological and pathological conditions.
Squeakr: An Exact and Approximatek-mer Counting System
Authors: Pandey Prashant , Bender Michael A. , Johnson Rob , Patro Rob
Published: March 2017

Motivation

k-mer-based algorithms have become increasingly popular in the processing of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data. These algorithms span the gamut of the analysis pipeline fromk-mer counting (e.g., for estimating assembly parameters), to error correction, genome and transcriptome assembly, and even transcript quantification. Yet, these tasks often use very differentk-mer representations and data structures. In this paper, we set forth the fundamental operations for maintaining multisets ofk-mers and classify existing systems from a data-structural perspective. We then show how to build ak-mer-counting and multiset-representation system using the counting quotient filter (CQF), a feature-rich approximate membership query (AMQ) data structure. We introduce thek-mer-counting/querying system Squeakr (Simple Quotient filter-based Exact and Approximate Kmer Representation), which is based on the CQF. This off-the-shelf data structure turns out to be an efficient (approximate or exact) representation for sets or multisets ofk-mers.

Results

Squeakr takes 2×−3;4.3× less time than the state-of-the-art to count and perform a random-point-query workload. Squeakr is memory-efficient, consuming 1.5X–4.3X less memory than the state-of-the-art. It offers competitive counting performance, and answers point queries (i.e. queries for the abundance of a particulark-mer) over an order-of-magnitude faster than other systems. The Squeakr representation of thek-mer multiset turns out to be immediately useful for downstream processing (e.g., de Bruijn graph traversal) because it supports fast queries and dynamick-mer insertion, deletion, and modification.

Availability

https://github.com/splatlab/squeakr

Contactppandey@cs.stonybrook.edu
Plasmodium simiumcausing human malaria: a zoonosis with outbreak potential in the Rio de Janeiro Brazilian Atlantic forest
Authors: Brasil Patrícia , Zalis Mariano Gustavo , de Pina-Costa Anielle , Siqueira Andre Machado , Júnior Cesare Bianco , Silva Sidnei , Lisboa Areas André Luiz , Pelajo-Machado Marcelo , de Alvarenga Denise Anete Madureira , da Silva Santelli Ana Carolina Faria , Albuquerque Hermano Gomes , Cravo Pedro , de Abreu Filipe Vieira Santos , Peterka Cassio Leonel , Zanini Graziela Maria , Suárez Mutis Martha Cecilia , Pissinatti Alcides , Lourenço-de-Oliveira Ricardo , de Brito Cristiana Ferreira Alves , Ferreira-da-Cruz Maria de Fátima , Culleton Richard , Daniel-Ribeiro Cláudio Tadeu
Published: March 2017

Background

Malaria was eliminated from Southern and Southeastern Brazil over 50 years ago. However, an increasing number of autochthonous episodes attributed toPlasmodium vivaxhave been recently reported in the Atlantic forest region of Rio de Janeiro State.As P. vivax-like non-human primate malaria parasite speciesPlasmodium simiumis locally enzootic, we performed a molecular epidemiological investigation in order to determine whether zoonotic malaria transmission is occurring.

Methods

Blood samples of humans presenting signs and/or symptoms suggestive of malaria as well as from local howler-monkeys were examined by microscopy and PCR. Additionally, a molecular assay based on sequencing of the parasite mitochondrial genome was developed to distinguish betweenP. vivaxandP. simium, and applied to 33 cases from outbreaks occurred in 2015 and 2016.

Results

Of 28 samples for which the assay was successfully performed, all were shown to beP. simium, indicating the zoonotic transmission of this species to humans in this region. Sequencing of the whole mitochondrial genome of three of these cases showed thatP. simiumis most closely related toP. vivaxparasites from South American.

Findings

The explored malaria outbreaks were caused byP. simium, previously considered a monkey-specific malaria parasite, related to but distinct fromP. vivax, and which has never conclusively been shown to infect humans before.

Interpretation

This unequivocal demonstration of zoonotic transmission, 50 years after the only previous report ofP. simiumin man, leads to the possibility that this parasite has always infected humans in this region, but that it has been consistently misdiagnosed asP. vivaxdue to a lack of molecular typing techniques. Thorough screening of the local non-human primate and anophelines is required to evaluate the extent of this newly recognized zoonotic threat to public health and malaria eradication in Brazil.

Funding

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Rio de Janeiro (Faperj), The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), JSPS Grant-in-Aid for scientific research, Secretary for Health Surveillance (SVS) of the Ministry of Health, Global Fund, and PRONEX Program of the CNPq.
Theoretical insights into the π-hole interactions in the complexes containing triphosphorus hydride (P3H3) and its derivatives
Authors: Wang Yuehong , Li Xiaoyan , Zeng Yanli , Meng Lingpeng , Zhang Xueying
Published: March 2017

The π-hole of triphosphorus hydride (P3H3) and its derivativesZ3X3(Z= P, As;X= H, F, Cl, Br) was discovered and analyzed. MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations were performed on the π-hole interactions in the HCN...Z3X3complexes and the mutual influence between π-hole interactions and the hydrogen bond in the HCN...HCN...Z3X3and HCN...Z3X3...HCN complexes studied. The π-hole interaction belongs to the typical closed-shell noncovalent interaction. The linear relationship was found between the most positive electrostatic potential of the π-hole (VS,max) and the interaction energy. Moreover, theVS,maxof the π-hole was also found to be linearly correlated to the electrostatic energy term, indicating the important contribution of the electrostatic energy term to the π-hole interaction. There is positive cooperativity between the π-hole interaction and the hydrogen bond in the termolecular complexes. The π-hole interaction has a greater influence on the hydrogen bond thanvice versa. The mutual enhancing effect between the π-hole interaction and the hydrogen bond in the HCN...HCN...Z3X3complexes is greater than that in the HCN...Z3X3...HCN complexes.
Triclinic crystal structure distortion of multiferroic BiMn7O12
Authors: Sławiński Wojciech A. , Okamoto Hiroshi , Fjellvåg Helmer
Published: March 2017

The quadruple perovskite BiMn7O12obtainedviahigh-pressure synthesis was investigated by high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction over a temperature range of 10 to 295 K. Careful Rietveld analysis reveals triclinic lattice distortion of BiMn7O12at 295 K, which increases upon cooling to 10 K. Alsohkl-dependent anisotropic Bragg reflection shape was introduced to give a precise description of the diffracted intensities. Importantly BiMn7O12crystal structure was described in the non-centrosymmetricI1 triclinic space group. We also demonstrate the use of irreducible representations analysis (ISODISTORTprogram) for crystal structure distortion fromImtoI1 space group. The irreducible representation which describes crystal structure distortion points towards possible ferroelectricity. Finally anisotropic thermal lattice expansion was observed.
Color-tunable phosphorescence of 1,10-phenanthrolines by 4,7-methyl/-diphenyl/-dichloro substituents in cocrystals assembledviabifurcated C—I...N halogen bonds using 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene as a bonding donor
Authors: Liu Rui , Gao Yuan Jun , Jin Wei Jun
Published: March 2017

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals a series of phosphorescent cocrystals which were assembled by 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (1,4-DITFB) and either 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (DMPhe), 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (DPPhe) or 4,7-dichloro-1,10-phenanthroline (DClPhe)viaC—I...N halogen bonding. These cocrystals, labeled (1), (2) and (3), respectively, are phosphorescent and a distinct change in phosphorescent color can be observed from orange–yellow, green to yellow–green, with well defined vibrational band maxima at 587, 520 and 611 nm for (1), (2) and (3). Based on the dependence of halogen bonding in sites and strength, we discussed the impact of substituents with different electron-withdrawing effects and steric hindrance on intermolecular noncovalent interactions and phosphorescence. The method of inducing and modulating phosphorescence by halogen bonding and other weak non-covalent interactions through changing the substituent groups of molecules should be significant in both theory and the application of optical function materials with predictable and modulated luminescent properties.
Validating the relationship between trust, commitment, economic and non-economic satisfaction in South African buyer-supplier relationships
Authors: Mpinganjira Mercy , Roberts-Lombard Mornay , Svensson Göran
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The paper aims to validate the relationship between satisfaction, trust and commitment in South African business buyer–supplier relationships. Satisfaction was looked at from the dual perspective of economic and non-economic satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model showing hypothesised relationships between the constructs was tested using data collected from 250 large companies in South Africa. Structural equation modelling using AMOS software was used to analyse the data. The results provide support for the distinctiveness of both economic and non-economic satisfaction and the mediating effect of trust.

Findings

The findings show that economic satisfaction exerts a direct influence on trust, which, in turn, has a direct influence on commitment. Trust and commitment were both found to have a positive influence on non-economic satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The tested nomological network of business relationship quality dimensions validates some of the recent findings by Ferro et al. (2016) in the South African context of buyer–supplier relationships.

Originality/value

The study contributes to a better understanding of satisfaction and its relationship with other relationship quality constructs, especially in the context of large companies in South Africa.
Significant decrease in local butterfly community during the last 15 years in a calcareous hill of the middle Korea
Authors: Choi Sei‐Woong , Kim Sung‐Soo , Kwon Tae‐Sung , Park Haechul
Published: March 2017

Recently the significant decreases of species richness and abundance among terrestrial animals including butterflies are reported due to habitat change, overexploitation, and global warming. We compared the butterfly species composition and abundance from 1999 and 2014–2015 in a calcareous hill site of the middle part of Korea using a line transect method. There was a significant decrease in the number of individuals (abundance) and the number of species (richness) from 1999 to 2014–2015. This decrease was more prevalent among northern species than southern species, and the local extinct species were more prevalent among northern species, showing the influence of global warming on butterfly assemblages. However, no impact of habitat change was observed because of maintenance of the grasslands, which is caused by the dry soils of the calcareous region.
Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized for ocular trauma in South‐Central China
Authors: Wang Wanpeng , Zhou Yalan , Zeng Jun , Shi Meng , Chen Baihua
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Ocular trauma is a major cause of visual loss, but little is known about its epidemiology and clinical characteristics in China. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of ocular trauma and assess prognostic factors in Changsha, Hunan, located in South‐Central China.

Methods

A retrospective case series (ICD codes: S05) study of ocular trauma in patients was performed at the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014. Demographic information, injury causes, ocular trauma types and initial and final visual acuity (VA) were recorded and analysed. The ocular trauma score (OTS) was calculated to assess the extent of the eye injury, prognosis and factors associated with visual impairment. All patient data were collected from the medical records system.

Results

Of the 2009 patients presenting during this 5‐year period, 1695 (84.4%) were males and 314 (15.6%) were females. The average age of all patients was 37.0 ± 19.3 years (range from 1 to 87 years). The age distribution showed a peak in the ocular trauma population in the 41‐ to 50‐year age group (24%, n = 482), followed by the 51‐ to 60‐year age group (16.9%, n = 339). Overall, open‐globe injuries had a higher frequency (70.7%, n = 1420) than closed‐globe injuries (28.6%, n = 575) and thermal/chemical injuries (0.7%, n = 14). Of the open‐globe injuries, corneal penetration was the most common injury (32.2%, n = 646) followed by rupture (21.5%, n = 432) and an intraocular foreign body (16.2%, n = 325). Overall, the most frequent ocular trauma setting was the workplace (39.6%, n = 795), followed by the home (28.4%, n = 570), and the most frequent activity was ironwork. Firecracker‐ and firework‐associated ocular trauma was significantly higher during the months of January and February than during other months (50.0%, n = 112, p < 0.001). In patients under 18 years, the most frequently occurring injury was open globe (84.5%, n = 349) with corneal penetration (59.3%, n = 245). Overall, an operation was performed in 1865 (92.8%) cases, and 144 cases (7.2%) were treated conservatively with medication. The average OTS score was 47.1 ± 19.5. The visual prognosis was closely correlated with the initial VA (r = 0.570, p = 0.000) and the OTS score (r = 0.603, p = 0.000).

Conclusion

This study describes the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized for ocular trauma in South‐Central China. Notably, a high rate of firework‐related ocular trauma occurred during the months adjacent to the Chinese New Year festival. Specific injury prevention strategies, such as the use of protective eyewear, need to target the workplace to reduce the incidence and severity of ocular trauma.