bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Obesity, diet quality and absenteeism in a working population
Authors: Fitzgerald Sarah , Kirby Ann , Murphy Aileen , Geaney Fiona
Published: May 2016

Objective

The relationship between workplace absenteeism and adverse lifestyle factors (smoking, physical inactivity and poor dietary patterns) remains ambiguous. Reliance on self-reported absenteeism and obesity measures may contribute to this uncertainty. Using objective absenteeism and health status measures, the present study aimed to investigate what health status outcomes and lifestyle factors influence workplace absenteeism.

Design

Cross-sectional data were obtained from a complex workplace dietary intervention trial, the Food Choice at Work Study.

Setting

Four multinational manufacturing workplaces in Cork, Republic of Ireland.

Subjects

Participants included 540 randomly selected employees from the four workplaces. Annual count absenteeism data were collected. Physical assessments included objective health status measures (BMI, midway waist circumference and blood pressure). FFQ measured diet quality from which DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) scores were constructed. A zero-inflated negative binomial (zinb) regression model examined associations between health status outcomes, lifestyle characteristics and absenteeism.

Results

The mean number of absences was 2·5 (sd4·5) d. After controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, the zinb model indicated that absenteeism was positively associated with central obesity, increasing expected absence rate by 72 %. Consuming a high-quality diet and engaging in moderate levels of physical activity were negatively associated with absenteeism and reduced expected frequency by 50 % and 36 %, respectively. Being in a managerial/supervisory position also reduced expected frequency by 50 %.

Conclusions

To reduce absenteeism, workplace health promotion policies should incorporate recommendations designed to prevent and manage excess weight, improve diet quality and increase physical activity levels of employees.
Economic and Political Inclusion in Human Development Conditional Income Transfer Programmes in Latin America
Authors: Barrientos Armando , Villa Juan M.
Published: May 2016

Most countries in Latin America have implemented human development conditional income transfer programmes to address intergenerational persistence of poverty. Typically, these programmes provide income transfers to households in poverty, conditional on children attending school and on household members attending health clinics. Evaluations have established that programmes reach their explicit short- and medium-term objectives, especially as regards nutrition, children's schooling and improved health care utilisation. It is too early to say whether they will be successful in reducing the intergenerational persistence of poverty. Crucially, this will depend on whether they contribute to the economic and political inclusion of groups in poverty. This article reviews the available literature and finds that participation in human development conditional income transfer programmes leads to improvements in productive capacity, but that favourable labour market conditions will be needed to guarantee economic inclusion. Improved political participation associated with programme participation raises the prospects for greater political inclusion.
CCTs for Female Heads of Households and Market Citizenship at State-Level in Mexico
Authors: Medrano Anahely
Published: May 2016

Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) have become key anti-poverty reduction strategies in Latin America. There are different types of CCTs implemented at the national and subnational level in this region. This paper analyses the design of CCT programmes directed to assist female heads of households at the state level in Mexico. To do so, the study applies an analytical framework to make a comparative study of the key features of the design, looking specifically at the way the target population is constructed as welfare recipients and citizens. The results of this qualitative study suggest that, irrespective of the purposes of these social programmes, the design reflects certain values and normative beliefs related to the notion of market citizenship, which also seem to intersect with certain ideas about motherhood and the poor in Mexico.
CCTs through a wellbeing lens: The importance of the relationship between front-line officers and participants in the Oportunidades/Prospera programme in Mexico
Authors: Ramírez Viviana
Published: May 2016

This article explores the social relationships created in the delivery of conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes using a wellbeing lens. Most CCTs influence people's lives in overarching terms, including income, health and education. Their implementation process, however, also places policy participants in new and constant interactions with the front-line officers that implement the programmes. Wellbeing scholarship brings to our attention the centrality of social relationships in people's lives. This literature widely agrees that the quality of our relationships with others is possibly the most essential element of a good life. Therefore, given the recent entrance of wellbeing to the realm of policy, an exploration of the relationships created in policy contexts using a wellbeing lens is a necessary next step. This article examines this in the context of the Oportunidades/Prospera programme in Mexico, one of the most successfully regarded CCTs in Latin America. It presents primary qualitative data about the officer–recipient relationship during the delivery of the health conditionalities and explores its implications on the wellbeing of recipients. The article concludes that the relationships created during policy implementation have far-reaching effects on wellbeing and need to be better acknowledged in policy design and evaluation.
Is Retest Bias Biased?
Authors: Randall Jason G. , Villado Anton J. , Zimmer Christina U.
Published: May 2016

Abstract. The purpose of this study was to test for race and sex differences in general mental ability (GMA) retest performance and to identify the psychological mechanisms underlying these differences. An initial and retest administration of a GMA assessment separated by a six-week span was completed by 318 participants. Contrary to our predictions, we found that race, sex, and emotional stability failed to moderate GMA retest performance. However, GMA assessed via another ability test and conscientiousness both partially explained retest performance. Additionally, we found that retesting may reduce adverse impact ratios by lowering the hiring threshold. Ultimately, our findings reinforce the need for organizations to consider race, sex, ability, and personality when implementing retesting procedures.
Increased circulating VCAM-1 correlates with advanced disease and poor survival in patients with multiple myeloma: reduction by post-bortezomib and lenalidomide treatment
Authors: Terpos E , Migkou M , Christoulas D , Gavriatopoulou M , Eleutherakis-Papaiakovou E , Kanellias N , Iakovaki M , Panagiotidis I , Ziogas D C , Fotiou D , Kastritis E , Dimopoulos M A
Published: May 2016

Circulating vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and selectins were prospectively measured in 145 newly-diagnosed patients with symptomatic myeloma (NDMM), 61 patients with asymptomatic/smoldering myeloma (SMM), 47 with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and 87 multiple myeloma (MM) patients at first relapse who received lenalidomide- or bortezomib-based treatment (RD, n=47; or VD, n=40). Patients with NDMM had increased VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 compared with MGUS and SMM patients. Elevated VCAM-1 correlated with ISS-3 and was independently associated with inferior overall survival (OS) (45 months for patients with VCAM-1 >median vs 75 months, P=0.001). MM patients at first relapse had increased levels of ICAM-1 and L-selectin, even compared with NDMM patients and had increased levels of VCAM-1 compared with MGUS and SMM. Both VD and RD reduced dramatically serum VCAM-1 after four cycles of therapy, but only VD reduced serum ICAM-1, irrespective of response to therapy. The reduction of VCAM-1 was more pronounced after RD than after VD. Our study provides evidence for the prognostic value of VCAM-1 in myeloma patients, suggesting that VCAM-1 could be a suitable target for the development of anti-myeloma therapies. Furthermore, the reduction of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 by RD and VD supports the inhibitory effect of these drugs on the adhesion of MM cells to stromal cells.
The CsrA-FliW network controls polar localization of the dual-function flagellin mRNA in Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Dugar Gaurav , Svensson Sarah L. , Bischler Thorsten , Wäldchen Sina , Reinhardt Richard , Sauer Markus , Sharma Cynthia M.
Published: May 2016

The widespread CsrA/RsmA protein regulators repress translation by binding GGA motifs in bacterial mRNAs. CsrA activity is primarily controlled through sequestration by multiple small regulatory RNAs. Here we investigate CsrA activity control in the absence of antagonizing small RNAs by examining the CsrA regulon in the human pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. We use genome-wide co-immunoprecipitation combined with RNA sequencing to show that CsrA primarily binds flagellar mRNAs and identify the major flagellin mRNA (flaA) as the main CsrA target. The flaA mRNA is translationally repressed by CsrA, but it can also titrate CsrA activity. Together with the main C. jejuni CsrA antagonist, the FliW protein, flaA mRNA controls CsrA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of other flagellar genes. RNA-FISH reveals that flaA mRNA is expressed and localized at the poles of elongating cells. Polar flaA mRNA localization is translation dependent and is post-transcriptionally regulated by the CsrA-FliW network. Overall, our results suggest a role for CsrA-FliW in spatiotemporal control of flagella assembly and localization of a dual-function mRNA.
Insight into the evolution of the Solanaceae from the parental genomes of Petunia hybrida
Authors: Bombarely Aureliano , Moser Michel , Amrad Avichai , Bao Manzhu , Bapaume Laure , Barry Cornelius S. , Bliek Mattijs , Boersma Maaike R. , Borghi Lorenzo , Bruggmann Rémy , Bucher Marcel , D'Agostino Nunzio , Davies Kevin , Druege Uwe , Dudareva Natalia , Egea-Cortines Marcos , Delledonne Massimo , Fernandez-Pozo Noe , Franken Philipp , Grandont Laurie , Heslop-Harrison J. S. , Hintzsche Jennifer , Johns Mitrick , Koes Ronald , Lv Xiaodan , Lyons Eric , Malla Diwa , Martinoia Enrico , Mattson Neil S. , Morel Patrice , Mueller Lukas A. , Muhlemann Joëlle , Nouri Eva , Passeri Valentina , Pezzotti Mario , Qi Qinzhou , Reinhardt Didier , Rich Melanie , Richert-Pöggeler Katja R. , Robbins Tim P. , Schatz Michael C. , Schranz M. Eric , Schuurink Robert C. , Schwarzacher Trude , Spelt Kees , Tang Haibao , Urbanus Susan L. , Vandenbussche Michiel , Vijverberg Kitty , Villarino Gonzalo H. , Warner Ryan M. , Weiss Julia , Yue Zhen , Zethof Jan , Quattrocchio Francesca , Sims Thomas L. , Kuhlemeier Cris
Published: May 2016

Petunia hybridais a popular bedding plant that has a long history as a genetic model system. We report the whole-genome sequencing and assembly of inbred derivatives of its two wild parents,P. axillarisN andP. inflataS6. The assemblies include 91.3% and 90.2% coverage of their diploid genomes (1.4 Gb; 2n = 14) containing 32,928 and 36,697 protein-coding genes, respectively. The genomes reveal that thePetunialineage has experienced at least two rounds of hexaploidization: the older gamma event, which is shared with most Eudicots, and a more recent Solanaceae event that is shared with tomato and other solanaceous species. Transcription factors involved in the shift from bee to moth pollination reside in particularly dynamic regions of the genome, which may have been key to the remarkable diversity of floral colour patterns and pollination systems. The high-quality genome sequences will enhance the value ofPetuniaas a model system for research on unique biological phenomena such as small RNAs, symbiosis, self-incompatibility and circadian rhythms.
Negative Oxygen Ions Production by Superamphiphobic and Antibacterial TiO2/Cu2O Composite Film Anchored on Wooden Substrates
Authors: Gao Likun , Qiu Zhe , Gan Wentao , Zhan Xianxu , Li Jian , Qiang Tiangang
Published: May 2016

According to statistics, early in the 20th century, the proportion of positive and negative air ions on the earth is 1 : 1.2. However, after more than one century, the equilibrium state of the proportion had an obvious change, which the proportion of positive and negative air ions became 1.2 : 1, leading to a surrounding of positive air ions in human living environment. Therefore, it is urgent to adopt effective methods to improve the proportion of negative oxygen ions, which are known as “air vitamin”. In this study, negative oxygen ions production by the TiO2/Cu2O-treated wood under UV irradiation was first reported. Anatase TiO2 particles with Cu2O particles were doped on wooden substrates through a two-step method and further modification is employed to create remarkable superamphiphobic surface. The effect of Cu2O particles dopant on the negative oxygen ions production of the TiO2-treated wood was investigated. The results showed that the production of negative oxygen ions was drastically improved by doping with Cu2O particles under UV irradiation. The wood modified with TiO2/Cu2O composite film after hydrophobization is imparted with superamphiphobicity, antibacterial actions against Escherichia coli, and negative oxygen ions production under UV irradiation.
Interphase tuning for stronger and tougher composites
Authors: Livanov Konstantin , Yang Lin , Nissenbaum Asaf , Wagner H. Daniel
Published: May 2016

The development of composite materials that are simultaneously strong and tough is one of the most active topics of current material science. Observations of biological structural materials show that adequate introduction of reinforcements and interfaces, or interphases, at different scales usually improves toughness, without reduction in strength. The prospect of interphase properties tuning may lead to further increases in material toughness. Here we use evaporation-driven self-assembly (EDSA) to deposit a thin network of multi-wall carbon nanotubes on ceramic surfaces, thereby generating an interphase reinforcing layer in a multiscale laminated ceramic composite. Both strength and toughness are improved by up to 90%, while keeping the overall volume fraction of nanotubes in a composite below 0.012%, making it a most effective toughening and reinforcement technique.
Animal Hairs as Water-stimulated Shape Memory Materials: Mechanism and Structural Networks in Molecular Assemblies
Authors: Xiao Xueliang , Hu Jinlian
Published: May 2016

Animal hairs consisting of α-keratin biopolymers existing broadly in nature may be responsive to water for recovery to the innate shape from their fixed deformation, thus possess smart behavior, namely shape memory effect (SME). In this article, three typical animal hair fibers were first time investigated for their water-stimulated SME, and therefrom to identify the corresponding net-points and switches in their molecular and morphological structures. Experimentally, the SME manifested a good stability of high shape fixation ratio and reasonable recovery rate after many cycles of deformation programming under water stimulation. The effects of hydration on hair lateral size, recovery kinetics, dynamic mechanical behaviors and structural components (crystal, disulfide and hydrogen bonds) were then systematically studied. SME mechanisms were explored based on the variations of structural components in molecular assemblies of such smart fibers. A hybrid structural network model with single-switch and twin-net-points was thereafter proposed to interpret the water-stimulated shape memory mechanism of animal hairs. This original work is expected to provide inspiration for exploring other natural materials to reveal their smart functions and natural laws in animals including human as well as making more remarkable synthetic smart materials.
Evaluating the Survival Benefit Following Ovarian Function Suppression in Premenopausal Patients with Hormone Receptor Positive Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Qiu Lin , Fu Fangmeng , Huang Meng , Lin Yuxiang , chen Yazhen , Chen Minyan , Wang Chuan
Published: May 2016

There are divergent opinions regarding the use of ovarian function suppression or ablation (hereafter, OFS) in hormone receptor positive early breast cancer patients. In order to clarify the survival benefit of OFS, a meta-analysis was performed. The result is that use of OFS was more effective than no OFS on DFS (the pooled relative risk (pRR) = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.75–0.96) and on OS (pRR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.70–0.89). In subgroup analysis, we found that increased DFS was positively associated with patients who had received chemotherapy (pRR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74–0.96), who were lymph node negative (pRR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.61–0.91) and were less than 40 years old (pRR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.59–0.83). There was a significant difference in OS between the groups receiving chemotherapy (pRR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.58–0.89) or for patients less than 40 years old (pRR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.18–0.87). The use of OFS also produces statistical differences in the occurrence of the side-effects; severe hot flashes (pRR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.36–3.97) and hypertension (pRR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.12–2.12). In general, OFS should be considered as one treatment for hormone receptor positive premenopausal early breast cancer patients who have received chemotherapy and are less than 40 years old. We also should pay attention to the side-effects and weigh the advantages and disadvantages before deciding on using OFS.
Same pattern, different mechanism: Locking onto the role of key species in seafloor ecosystem process
Authors: Woodin Sarah Ann , Volkenborn Nils , Pilditch Conrad A. , Lohrer Andrew M. , Wethey David S. , Hewitt Judi E. , Thrush Simon F.
Published: May 2016

Seafloor biodiversity is a key mediator of ecosystem functioning, but its role is often excluded from global budgets or simplified to black boxes in models. New techniques allow quantification of the behavior of animals living below the sediment surface and assessment of the ecosystem consequences of complex interactions, yielding a better understanding of the role of seafloor animals in affecting key processes like primary productivity. Combining predictions based on natural history, behavior of key benthic species and environmental context allow assessment of differences in functioning and process, even when the measured ecosystem property in different systems is similar. Data from three sedimentary systems in New Zealand illustrate this. Analysis of the behaviors of the infaunal ecosystem engineers in each system revealed three very different mechanisms driving ecosystem function: density and excretion, sediment turnover and surface rugosity and hydraulic activities and porewater bioadvection. Integrative metrics of ecosystem function in some cases differentiate among the systems (gross primary production) and in others do not (photosynthetic efficiency). Analyses based on behaviors and activities revealed important ecosystem functional differences and can dramatically improve our ability to model the impact of stressors on ecosystem and global processes.
Topological triple-vortex lattice stabilized by mixed frustration in expanded honeycomb Kitaev-Heisenberg model
Authors: Yao Xiaoyan , Dong Shuai
Published: May 2016

The expanded classical Kitaev-Heisenberg model on a honeycomb lattice is investigated with the next-nearest-neighboring Heisenberg interaction considered. The simulation shows a rich phase diagram with periodic behavior in a wide parameter range. Beside the double 120° ordered phase, an inhomogeneous phase is uncovered to exhibit a topological triple-vortex lattice, corresponding to the hexagonal domain structure of vector chirality, which is stabilized by the mixed frustration of two sources: the geometrical frustration arising from the lattice structure as well as the frustration from the Kitaev couplings.
Ciguatoxin reduces regenerative capacity of axotomized peripheral neurons and delays functional recovery in pre-exposed mice after peripheral nerve injury
Authors: Au Ngan Pan Bennett , Kumar Gajendra , Asthana Pallavi , Tin Chung , Mak Yim Ling , Chan Leo Lai , Lam Paul Kwan Sing , Ma Chi Him Eddie
Published: May 2016

Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) results from consumption of tropical reef fish containing ciguatoxins (CTXs). Pacific (P)-CTX-1 is among the most potent known CTXs and the predominant source of CFP in the endemic region responsible for the majority of neurological symptoms in patients. Chronic and persistent neurological symptoms occur in some CFP patients, which often result in incomplete functional recovery for years. However, the direct effects of exposure to CTXs remain largely unknown. In present study, we exposed mice to CTX purified from ciguatera fish sourced from the Pacific region. P-CTX-1 was detected in peripheral nerves within hours and persisted for two months after exposure. P-CTX-1 inhibited axonal regrowth from axotomized peripheral neurons in culture. P-CTX-1 exposure reduced motor function in mice within the first two weeks of exposure before returning to baseline levels. These pre-exposed animals exhibited delayed sensory and motor functional recovery and irreversible motor deficits after peripheral nerve injury in which formation of functional synapses was impaired. These findings are consistent with reduced muscle function, as assessed by electromyography recordings. Our study provides strong evidence that the persistence of P-CTX-1 in peripheral nerves reduces the intrinsic growth capacity of peripheral neurons, resulting in delayed functional recovery after injury.
Innate immune responses in human hepatocyte-derived cell lines alter genotype 1 hepatitis E virus replication efficiencies
Authors: Devhare Pradip B. , Desai Swapnil , Lole Kavita S.
Published: May 2016

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a significant health problem in developing countries causing sporadic and epidemic forms of acute viral hepatitis. Hepatitis E is a self-limiting disease; however, chronic HEV infections are being reported in immunocompromised individuals. The disease severity is more during pregnancy with high mortality (20–25%), especially in third trimester. Early cellular responses after HEV infection are not completely understood. We analyzed innate immune responses associated with genotype-I HEV replication in human hepatoma cell lines (Huh7, Huh7.5 and HepG2/C3A) using HEV replicon system. These cells supported HEV replication with different efficiencies due to the cell type specific innate immune responses. HepG2/C3A cells were less supportive to HEV replication as compared to Huh7.5 and S10-3 cells. Reconstitution of the defective RIG-I and TLR3 signaling in Huh7.5 cells enabled them to induce higher level antiviral responses and restrict HEV replication, suggesting the involvement of both RIG-I and TLR3 in sensing HEV RNA and downstream activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) to generate antiviral responses. Inhibition of IRF3 mediated downstream responses in HepG2/C3A cells by pharmacological inhibitor BX795 significantly improved HEV replication efficiency implying the importance of this study in establishing a better cell culture system for future HEV studies.
Subluminal group velocity and dispersion of Laguerre Gauss beams in free space
Authors: Bareza Nestor D. , Hermosa Nathaniel
Published: May 2016

That the speed of light in free space c is constant has been a pillar of modern physics since the derivation of Maxwell and in Einstein’s postulate in special relativity. This has been a basic assumption in light’s various applications. However, a physical beam of light has a finite extent such that even in free space it is by nature dispersive. The field confinement changes its wavevector, hence, altering the light’s group velocity vg. Here, we report the subluminal vg and consequently the dispersion in free space of Laguerre-Gauss (LG) beam, a beam known to carry orbital angular momentum. The vg of LG beam, calculated in the paraxial regime, is observed to be inversely proportional to the beam’s divergence θ0, the orbital order ℓ and the radial order p. LG beams of higher orders travel relatively slower than that of lower orders. As a consequence, LG beams of different orders separate in the temporal domain along propagation. This is an added effect to the dispersion due to field confinement. Our results are useful for treating information embedded in LG beams from astronomical sources and/or data transmission in free space.
Protein rethreading: A novel approach to protein design
Authors: Agah Sayeh , Poulos Sandra , Yu Austin , Kucharska Iga , Faham Salem
Published: May 2016

Protein engineering is an important tool for the design of proteins with novel and desirable features. Templates from the protein databank (PDB) are often used as initial models that can be modified to introduce new properties. We examine whether it is possible to reconnect a protein in a manner that generates a new topology yet preserves its structural integrity. Here, we describe the rethreading of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from E. coli (wtDHFR). The rethreading process involved the removal of three native loops and the introduction of three new loops with alternate connections. The structure of the rethreaded DHFR (rDHFR-1) was determined to 1.6 Å, demonstrating the success of the rethreading process. Both wtDHFR and rDHFR-1 exhibited similar affinities towards methotrexate. However, rDHFR-1 showed no reducing activity towards dihydrofolate and exhibited about ~6-fold lower affinity towards NADPH than wtDHFR. This work demonstrates that protein rethreading can be a powerful tool for the design of a large array of proteins with novel structures and topologies and that by careful rearrangement of a protein sequence, the sequence to structure relationship can be expanded substantially.
Diagnostic test accuracy of D-dimer for acute aortic syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 studies with 5000 subjects
Authors: Watanabe Hiroki , Horita Nobuyuki , Shibata Yuji , Minegishi Shintaro , Ota Erika , Kaneko Takeshi
Published: May 2016

Diagnostic test accuracy of D-dimer for acute aortic dissection (AAD) has not been evaluated by meta-analysis with the bivariate model methodology. Four databases were electrically searched. We included both case-control and cohort studies that could provide sufficient data concerning both sensitivity and specificity of D-dimer for AAD. Non-English language articles and conference abstract were allowed. Intramural hematoma and penetrating aortic ulcer were regarded as AAD. Based on 22 eligible articles consisting of 1140 AAD subjects and 3860 non-AAD subjects, the diagnostic odds ratio was 28.5 (95% CI 17.6–46.3, I2 = 17.4%) and the area under curve was 0.946 (95% CI 0.903–0.994). Based on 833 AAD subjects and 1994 non-AAD subjects constituting 12 studies that used the cutoff value of 500 ng/ml, the sensitivity was 0.952 (95% CI 0.901–0.978), the specificity was 0.604 (95% CI 0.485–0.712), positive likelihood ratio was 2.4 (95% CI 1.8–3.3) and negative likelihood ratio was 0.079 (95% CI 0.036–0.172). Sensitivity analysis using data of three high-quality studies almost replicated these results. In conclusion, D-dimer has very good overall accuracy. D-dimer <500 ng/ml largely decreases the possibility of AAD. D-dimer >500 ng/ml moderately increases the possibility of AAD.
Increased Risk for Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder following Cervical Disc Surgery
Authors: Kang Jiunn-Horng , Lin Herng-Ching , Tsai Ming-Chieh , Chung Shiu-Dong
Published: May 2016

Shoulder problems are common in patients with a cervical herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD). This study aimed to explore the incidence and risk of shoulder capsulitis/tendonitis following cervical HIVD surgery. We used data from the Taiwan “Longitudinal Health Insurance Database”. We identified all patients who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of displacement of a cervical HIVD and who underwent cervical surgery (n = 1625). We selected 8125 patients who received cervical HIVD conservative therapy only as the comparison group matched with study patients. We individually tracked these sampled patients for 6 months to identify all patients who received a diagnosis of shoulder tendonitis/capsulitis. We found that incidence rates of shoulder tendonitis/capsulitis during the 6-month follow-up period were 3.69 (95% CI: 2.49~5.27) per 100 person-years for the study group and 2.33 (95% CI: 1.89~2.86) per 100 person-years for the comparison group. Cox proportional hazard regressions showed that the adjusted hazard ratio for shoulder tendonitis/capsulitis among patients who underwent cervical disc surgery was 1.66 (95% CI = 1.09~2.53) when compared to comparison group. We concluded that patients who underwent surgery for a cervical HIVD had a significantly higher risk of developing shoulder capsulitis/tendonitis in 6 months follow-up compared to patients who received cervical HIVD conservative therapy only.
Visual processing during natural reading
Authors: Weiss Béla , Knakker Balázs , Vidnyánszky Zoltán
Published: May 2016

Reading is a unique human ability that plays a pivotal role in the development and functioning of our modern society. However, its neural basis remains poorly understood since previous research was focused on reading words with fixed gaze. Here we developed a methodological framework for single-trial analysis of fixation onset-related EEG activity (FOREA) that enabled us to investigate visual information processing during natural reading. To reveal the effect of reading skills on orthographic processing during natural reading, we measured how altering the configural properties of the written text by modifying inter-letter spacing affects FOREA. We found that orthographic processing is reflected in FOREA in three consecutive time windows (120–175 ms, 230–265 ms, 345–380 ms after fixation onset) and the magnitude of FOREA effects in the two later time intervals showed a close association with the participants’ reading speed: FOREA effects were larger in fast than in slow readers. Furthermore, these expertise-driven configural effects were clearly dissociable from the FOREA signatures of visual perceptual processes engaged to handle the increased crowding (155–220 ms) as a result of decreasing letter spacing. Our findings revealed that with increased reading skills orthographic processing becomes more sensitive to the configural properties of the written text.
TaMCA1, a regulator of cell death, is important for the interaction between wheat and Puccinia striiformis
Authors: Hao Yingbin , Wang Xiaojie , Wang Kang , Li Huayi , Duan Xiaoyuan , Tang Chunlei , Kang Zhensheng
Published: May 2016

Metacaspase orthologs are conserved in fungi, protozoa and plants, however, their roles in plant disease resistance are largely unknown. In this study, we identified a Triticum aestivum metacaspase gene, TaMCA1, with three copies located on chromosomes 1A, 1B and 1D. The TaMCA1 protein contained typical structural features of type I metacaspases domains, including an N-terminal pro-domain. Transient expression analyses indicated that TaMCA1 was localized in cytosol and mitochondria. TaMCA1 exhibited no caspase-1 activity in vitro, but was able to inhibit cell death in tobacco and wheat leaves induced by the mouse Bax gene. In addition, the expression level of TaMCA1 was up-regulated following challenge with the Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst). Knockdown of TaMCA1 via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) enhanced plant disease resistance to Pst and the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Further study showed that TaMCA1 decreased yeast cell resistance similar to the function of yeast metacaspase and there was no interaction between TaMCA1 and TaLSD1. Based on these combined results, we speculate that TaMCA1, a regulator of cell death, is important during the compatible interaction of wheat and Pst.
Characterizing dynamic local functional connectivity in the human brain
Authors: Deng Lifu , Sun Junfeng , Cheng Lin , Tong Shanbao
Published: May 2016

Functional connectivity (FC), obtained from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), brings insights into the functional organization of the brain. Recently, rich and complex behaviour of brain has been revealed by the dynamic fluctuation of FC, which had previously been regarded as confounding ‘noise’. While the dynamics of long-distance, inter-regional FC has been extensively studied, the dynamics of local FC within a few millimetres in space remains largely unexplored. In this study, the local FC was depicted by regional homogeneity (ReHo), and the dynamics of local FC was obtained using sliding windows method. We observed a robust positive correlation between ReHo and its temporal variability, which was shown to be an intrinsic feature of the brain rather than a pure stochastic effect. Furthermore, fluctuation of ReHo was associated with global functional organization: (i) brain regions with higher centrality of inter-regional FC tended to possess higher ReHo variability; (ii) coherence of ReHo fluctuation was higher within brain’s functional modules. Finally, we observed alteration of ReHo variability during a motor task compared with resting-state. Our findings associated the temporal fluctuation of ReHo with brain function, opening up the possibility of dynamic local FC study in the future.
Rapid green assembly of antimicrobial nanobunches
Authors: Byeon Jeong Hoon
Published: May 2016

Antimicrobial nanobunches with different amounts of chitosan-capped Ag were prepared by continuous gas-liquid green route under ultrasound irradiation. Spark-produced aerosol Cu nanoparticles were directly injected into an ultrasound Ag(I)-chitosan reaction cell for efficient hydrosolization of the Cu particles and the subsequent incorporation of Ag and chitosan on Cu. Subsequently, electrospraying was used to form of chitosan-capped Cu-Ag nanobunch coatings. The time required for reducing the bacterial proliferation to 50% dropped to ~1 h at a nanobunch concentration of 10 μg mL−1 from the 2.0 min Ag(I) reaction time, and was further decreased to ~0.5 h by increasing the concentration of the nanobunches to 90 μg mL−1. The nanobunches were directly coated onto the substrate using an electrospray device to fabricate transparent films and composite fibers. The antimicrobial activity of the composite carbon fibers was then evaluated via the disc diffusion method.
Hydrothermal synthesis of a 3D double-sided comb-like ZnO nanostructure and its growth mechanism analysis
Authors: Li Wenqiang , Gao Shiyong , Li Lin , Jiao Shujie , Li Hongtao , Wang Jinzhong , Yu Qingjiang , Zhang Yong , Wang Dongbo , Zhao Liancheng
Published: May 2016

Self-assembly of two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets and one-dimensional (1D) nanorods into three-dimensional (3D) double-sided comb-like ZnO nanostructures has been successfully performed on Si and ITO substrates.
Surface reaction dynamics
Authors: Yang Xueming , Wodtke Alec M.
Published: May 2016

Guest editors Xueming Yang and Alec Wodtke introduce the Surface Reaction Dynamics issue of Chemical Society Reviews
HCl chemisorption-induced drastic magneto-structural transformation in a layered cobalt–phosphonotriazolate coordination polymer
Authors: Zhang Weiquan , Wang Dianpeng , Zhu Lin , Zhai Fupeng , Weng Linhong , Sun Jinyu , Ling Yun , Chen Zhenxia , Zhou Yaming
Published: May 2016

A stimuli-responsive magnetic coordination polymer was synthesized, which shows an antiferro- to ferromagnetic response to HCl vapour in a crystal-to-crystal transformation.
Structure characterization of the non-crystalline complexes of copper salts with native cyclodextrins
Authors: Velasco Manuel I. , Krapacher Claudio R. , de Rossi Rita H. , Rossi Laura I.
Published: May 2016

The characterization of non-crystalline complexes is very difficult when techniques like X-ray diffraction or NMR are not available. We propose a simple procedure to characterize the physicochemical properties of amorphous new coordination compounds between cyclodextrins (CD) and Cu2+ salts, by several techniques as TGA, FT-IR, EPR.
Towards large scale preparation of graphene in molten salts and its use in the fabrication of highly toughened alumina ceramics
Authors: Kamali Ali Reza , Feighan John , Fray Derek J.
Published: May 2016

Highly crystalline graphene nanosheets were reproducibly generated by the electrochemical exfoliation of graphite electrodes in molten LiCl containing protons. The graphene product has been successfully applied in several applications. This paper discusses the effect of molten salt produced graphene on the microstructures and mechanical properties of alumina articles produced by slip casting and pressureless sintering, which is one of the most convenient methods for the commercial production of alumina ceramics. In addition to graphene, graphite powder and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were also used to prepare alumina articles for comparative purposes. A graphene strengthening effect was realized through microstructural refinement and by influencing the formation of alumina nanorods during the sintering of α-Al2O3 articles. The fracture toughness of the sintered alumina articles increased to an impressive value of 6.98 MPa m1/2 by adding 0.5 wt% graphene nanosheets. This was attributed to the unique microstructure obtained, comprised of micrometer sized alumina grains separated by alumina nanorods.
Biosynthesis of isoxazolin-5-one and 3-nitropropanoic acid containing glucosides in juvenile Chrysomelina
Authors: Becker Tobias , Ploss Kerstin , Boland Wilhelm
Published: May 2016

Biosynthesis of isoxazolin-5-one glucoside and 3-nitropropanoate esters as hemolymph defenses in leaf beetle larvae.
Synthesis and in vitro bone cell activity of analogues of the cyclohexapeptide dianthin G
Authors: Amso Zaid , Kowalczyk Renata , Park Young-Eun , Watson Maureen , Lin Jian-ming , Musson David S. , Cornish Jillian , Brimble Margaret A.
Published: May 2016

Dianthin G and its dicarba analogue were both shown to increase the number of human osteoblasts without affecting bone resorption.
Low-voltage electro-optical memory device based on NiO nanorods dispersed in a ferroelectric liquid crystal
Authors: Chandran Achu , Prakash Jai , Gangwar Jitendra , Joshi Tilak , Srivastava Avanish Kumar , Haranath D. , Biradar Ashok M.
Published: May 2016

A low-power nonvolatile memory device is fabricated by dispersing nickel oxide nanorods (nNiO) into a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) host. The dipolar nNiO adsorbed ions in the FLC and thereby reduced the screening effect, which resulted in the enhanced memory behavior.
Recent developments in the synthesis of nanostructured chalcopyrite materials and their applications: a review
Authors: Thomas Stuart R. , Chen Chia-Wei , Date Manisha , Wang Yi-Chung , Tsai Hung-Wei , Wang Zhiming M. , Chueh Yu-Lun
Published: May 2016

Nanostructured chalcopyrites: synthesis and applications.
The ‘CαNN’ motif: an intrinsic lover of sulfate and phosphate ions
Authors: Sheet Tridip , Banerjee Raja
Published: May 2016

The ‘CαNN’ motif has an intrinsic affinity for the anions and can recognize anion through local interactions along with augmentation of the helical conformation at the motif segment.
Controlled synthesis, bioimaging and toxicity assessments in strong red emitting Mn2+ doped NaYF4:Yb3+/Ho3+ nanophosphors
Authors: Reddy K. L. , Rai M. , Prabhakar N. , Arppe R. , Rai S. B. , Singh S. K. , Rosenholm J. M. , Krishnan V.
Published: May 2016

Rare earth, Yb3+/Ho3+ doped NaYF4 nanophosphors co-doped with Mn2+ showed enhanced red emission under NIR irradiation and were successfully used for cancer cell imaging.
Surface modification of InVO4 nanoparticles on WO3 plate array films for improved photoelectrochemical performance
Authors: Jin GuanHua , Liu Suqin , Ding Zhiying
Published: May 2016

Surface modification of InVO4 nanoparticles on WO3 plates array films using a dipping–annealing method.
Towards the development of uniform closed cell nanocomposite foams using natural rubber containing pristine and organo-modified nanoclays
Authors: Vahidifar Ali , Khorasani Saied Nouri , Park Chul B. , Khonakdar Hossein Ali , Reuter Uta , Naguib Hani E. , Esmizadeh Elnaz
Published: May 2016

A closed cell rubber foam, based on a natural rubber (NR)/nanoclay nanocomposite, was produced using a one-step foaming process with compression molding.
Synthesis of ordered meso/macroporous H3PW12O40/SiO2 and its catalytic performance in oxidative desulfurization
Authors: Yang Peng , Zhou Shiyu , Du Yue , Li Junsheng , Lei Jiaheng
Published: May 2016

Ordered meso/macroporous phosphotungstic acid/SiO2 (m/M-HPW/SiO2) was first fabricated via the dual-templating method and exhibited superior catalytic performance in oxidative desulfurization.
A new catalyst for the production of furfural from bagasse
Authors: Yazdizadeh M. , Jafari Nasr M. R. , Safekordi A.
Published: May 2016

Furfural is a poisonous, flammable compound that is widely used in the chemical industry.
Broadband-sensitive Ni2+–Er3+ based upconverters for crystalline silicon solar cells
Authors: Luitel Hom N. , Mizuno Shintaro , Tani Toshihiko , Takeda Yasuhiko
Published: May 2016

The newly developed CaZrO3:Er3+,Ni2+ broadband-sensitive upconverter utilizes 1060–1600 nm solar irradiation and can surpass the limiting efficiency of c-Si solar cells.
Monovalent cation selective crown ether containing poly(arylene ether ketone)/SPEEK blend membranes
Authors: Tas Sinem , Zoetebier Bram , Hempenius Mark A. , Vancso G. Julius , Nijmeijer Kitty
Published: May 2016

Crown ether units incorporated in the poly(arylene ether ketone) (PAEK) main chain enhance the miscibility of PAEK with sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK). The resulting blend membranes enable the separation of monovalent ions.
Selective hydrogenation of α-pinene to cis-pinane over Ru nanocatalysts in aqueous micellar nanoreactors
Authors: Hou Shengli , Xie Congxia , Yu Fengli , Yuan Bing , Yu Shitao
Published: May 2016

Hydrogenation of α-pinene took place in the lipophilic core between the metal and the hydrogen-containing micelles.
A highly stable rhenium organosol on a DNA scaffold for catalytic and SERS applications
Authors: Sakthikumar K. , Anantharaj S. , Ede Sivasankara Rao , Karthick K. , Kundu Subrata
Published: May 2016

A highly stable Re0 organosol on a DNA scaffold has been synthesized for the first time and tested for two different potential applications such as in the catalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium ions and in SERS studies.
Improving the electroluminescence performance of donor–acceptor molecules by fine-tuning the torsion angle and distance between donor and acceptor moieties
Authors: Qiu Xu , Xue Shanfeng , Wu Yongjin , Chen Mingshuai , Sun Qikun , Yang Wenjun
Published: May 2016

Two new compounds were designed and synthesized to tune the torsion angle and distance between the donor (D) and the acceptor (A), and their photophysics and EL properties were investigated.
Microscopic interactions governing phase matchability in nonlinear optical materials
Authors: Cammarata Antonio , Rondinelli James
Published: May 2016

Phase matchability depends on orbital splitting and can be tuned through structural distortions and chemical composition.
Multifunctional near-infrared emitting Cr3+-doped Mg4Ga8Ge2O20particles with long persistent and photostimulated persistent luminescence, and photochromic properties
Authors: Jin Yahong , Hu Yihua , Yuan Lifang , Chen Li , Wu Haoyi , Ju Guifang , Duan He , Mu Zhongfei
Published: May 2016

Multifunctional near-infrared emitting Cr3+-doped Mg4Ga8Ge2O20particles with long persistent and photostimulated persistent luminescence, and photochromic properties.
The Effect of Auditory Information on Patterns of Intrusions and Reductions
Authors: Slis Anneke , van Lieshout Pascal
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The study investigates whether auditory information affects the nature of intrusion and reduction errors in reiterated speech. These errors are hypothesized to arise as a consequence of autonomous mechanisms to stabilize movement coordination. The specific question addressed is whether this process is affected by auditory information so that it will influence the occurrence of intrusions and reductions.

Methods

Fifteen speakers produced word pairs with alternating onset consonants and identical rhymes repetitively at a normal and fast speaking rate, in masked and unmasked speech. Movement ranges of the tongue tip, tongue dorsum, and lower lip during onset consonants were retrieved from kinematic data collected with electromagnetic articulography. Reductions and intrusions were defined as statistical outliers from movement range distributions of target and nontarget articulators, respectively.

Results

Regardless of masking condition, the number of intrusions and reductions increased during the course of a trial, suggesting movement stabilization. However, compared with unmasked speech, speakers made fewer intrusions in masked speech. The number of reductions was not significantly affected.

Conclusions

Masking of auditory information resulted in fewer intrusions, suggesting that speakers were able to pay closer attention to their articulatory movements. This highlights a possible stabilizing role for proprioceptive information in speech movement coordination.
Adaptive stochastic radio access selection scheme for cellular‐WLAN heterogeneous communication systems
Authors: Navaratnarajah Shobanraj , Han Chong , Dianati Mehrdad , Imran Muhammad Ali
Published: May 2016

This study proposes a novel adaptive stochastic radio access selection scheme for mobile users in heterogeneous cellular‐wireless local area network (WLAN) systems. In this scheme, a mobile user located in dual coverage area randomly selects WLAN with probability of ω when there is a need for downloading a chunk of data. The value of ω is optimised according to the status of both networks in terms of network load and signal quality of both cellular and WLAN networks. An analytical model based on continuous time Markov chain is proposed to optimise the value of ω and compute the performance of proposed scheme in terms of energy efficiency, throughput, and call blocking probability. Both analytical and simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed scheme compared with the mainstream network selection schemes: namely, WLAN‐first and load balancing.
Identify signature regulatory network for glioblastoma prognosis by integrative mRNA and miRNA co‐expression analysis
Authors: Bing Zhi‐Tong , Yang Guang‐Hui , Xiong Jie , Guo Ling , Yang Lei
Published: May 2016

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor in adults. Patients with this disease have a poor prognosis. The objective of this study is to identify survival‐related individual genes (or miRNAs) and miRNA ‐mRNA pairs in GBM using a multi‐step approach. First, the weighted gene co‐expression network analysis and survival analysis are applied to identify survival‐related modules from mRNA and miRNA expression profiles, respectively. Subsequently, the role of individual genes (or miRNAs) within these modules in GBM prognosis are highlighted using survival analysis. Finally, the integration analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression as well as miRNA target prediction is used to identify survival‐related miRNA ‐mRNA regulatory network. In this study, five genes and two miRNA modules that significantly correlated to patient's survival. In addition, many individual genes (or miRNAs) assigned to these modules were found to be closely linked with survival. For instance, increased expression of neuropilin‐1 gene (a member of module turquoise) indicated poor prognosis for patients and a group of miRNA ‐mRNA regulatory networks that comprised 38 survival‐related miRNA ‐mRNA pairs. These findings provide a new insight into the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms of GBM.