bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decision‐making in the referral process of sonographers in primary care screening centers
Authors: Oosterhuis Jolande J. , Gillissen Ada , Snijder Claudia A. , Stiggelbout Anne , Haak Monique C.
Published: April 2016

Objectives

To explore the decision‐making process (whether or not to refer) of sonographers performing the 20 weeks standard anomaly scan (SAS) in the screening setting.

Methods

A survey was sent to SAS‐sonographers; it assessed experience, training, volume, type of practice, perceived difficulty per organ system, feelings after missing anomalies and reasons for uncertainty and doubt concerning referral.

Results

The response rate was 50%. Sonographers tend to seek reasons for uncertainty in patient factors and not in their skills or difficulty of the scan. Most mentioned reasons to refer in case of doubt were repeated visualization of a possible abnormality (98%). We hypothesize that the need of repeated imaging of an abnormality might partly explain why some fetal anomalies are still being missed. Sonographers with limited experience and low volume SAS more often revised, referred and asked colleagues for help than experienced sonographers with high volume SAS. In cases of a missed diagnosis, sonographers frequently blamed internal factors (personal failure 71%).

Conclusion

Level of experience and volume of SAS influence revision and referral rates. Personal factors seem to play a role in the decision‐making process of screening sonographers. Future research should focus on these personal factors, to optimize screening ultrasound programs. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ALX4 related parietal foramina mimicking encephalocele in prenatal period
Authors: Saraç Sivrikoz Tugba , Altunoglu Umut , Kalelioglu İbrahim Halil , Yüksel Atıl , Uyguner Oya Zehra , Has Recep , Kayserili Hülya
Published: April 2016

What's Already Known About This Topic?

PFM is an autosomal dominantly inherited genetic condition, caused by mutations in ALX4 and MSX2 genes.

Reports on prenatally diagnosed cases are rare, and encephalocele remains the most leading differential diagnosis.

What Does This Study Add?

The full clinical spectrum of autosomal dominant ALX4‐related PFM in affected family members can be demonstrated through identification of a prenatal case, by close collaboration of perinatologists and clinical geneticists, as in the four generation family reported herein.
A numerical investigation of the use of novel melt processed PET‐hemp fiber composites for thermoforming applications
Authors: Erchiqui F. , Fotso Talla A.S. , Kaddami H.
Published: April 2016

The mechanical and structural properties of five formulations of a novel melt processed poly‐ethylene terephthalate (PET)‐hemp fibers composite were determined, followed by a numerical investigation of their thermoformability using the ThermoForm® code. The composites' linear viscoelastic properties were determined by small amplitude oscillatory shear tests and their viscoelastic behavior characterized by the Christensen's model. The forming pressure load required by the numerical analysis was derived from the Redlich–Kwong's real gas equation of state. The air flow's influence on the thickness of the thermoformed part, as well as the stress and the energy required for the process were analyzed. Our observations indicate little influence of the constitutive equations of the investigated formulations on the final thickness distribution of the thermoformed part; moreover, the time and energy required for the process showed no clear variation with the fiber load. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 56:1021–1030, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Using full‐factorial design analysis and response surface methodology to better understand the production of cationized chitosan from epoxides
Authors: Senra Tonimar DA , Desbrières Jacques
Published: April 2016

The production of cationized chitosan derivatives via reaction between chitosan and quaternary epoxides has the advantage of producing substances with a better regioselectivity and with structures that do not change as a function of pH, unlike N,N,N‐trimethylchitosan. Moreover, this reaction allows the production of cationized derivatives having different hydrophobic/hydrophilic balances because quaternary epoxides with different alkyl chains can be used in this reaction. The effects of reaction parameters, namely time, temperature and glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC)/chitosan (Ch) molar ratio, on the structural and hydrodynamic characteristics of N‐(2‐hydroxy)propyl‐3‐trimethylammoniumchitosan chloride (ChCat) and on reaction yield were evaluated using chemometrics and response surface methodology (RSM). Structural characterization and determination of intrinsic viscosity were realized using spectroscopic techniques (Fourier transform infrared and 1H NMR) and capillary viscometry, respectively. The polynomial functions and RSM developed from 23 full‐factorial analysis show the influence of the reaction parameters on the characteristics and properties of the ChCat produced, permitting the choice of appropriate reaction conditions to suit its desired application. Results show, as an example, that when the N‐substitution is carried out for 6 h at 50 °C employing excess of GTMAC (GTMAC/Ch = 4:1), water‐soluble moderately substituted ( = 33.0%) ChCat ([η] = 293.4 mL g−1) can be produced with moderate reaction yield (30.9%). Furthermore, as GTMAC is the simplest quaternary epoxide, the study of its reaction with chitosan serves as a template for more complex quaternary epoxides as they may be used for the production of new cationized chitosan derivatives possessing alkyl chains with various chain lengths. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Assessment of refinement of template‐based models in CASP11
Authors: Modi Vivek , Dunbrack Roland L.
Published: April 2016

CASP11 (the 11th Meeting on the Critical Assessment of Protein Structure Prediction) ran a blind experiment in the refinement of protein structure predictions, the fourth such experiment since CASP8. As with the previous experiments, the predictors were provided with one starting structure from the server models of each of a selected set of template‐based modeling targets and asked to refine the coordinates of the starting structure toward native. We assessed the refined structures with the Z‐scores of the standard CASP measures, which compare the model‐target similarities of the models from all the predictors. Furthermore, we assessed the refined structures with “relative measures,” which compare the improvement in accuracy of each model with respect to the starting structure. The latter provides an assessment of the extent to which each predictor group is able to improve the starting structures toward native. We utilized heat maps to display improvements in the Calpha–Calpha distance matrix for each model. The heat maps labeled with each element of secondary structure helped us to identify regions of refinement toward native in each model. Most positively scoring models show modest improvements in multiple regions of the structure, while in some models we were able to identify significant repositioning of N/C‐terminal segments and internal elements of secondary structure. The best groups were able to improve more than 70% of the targets from the starting models, and by an average of 3–5% in the standard CASP measures. Proteins 2016; 84(Suppl 1):260–281. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assessment of template‐based modeling of protein structure in CASP11
Authors: Modi Vivek , Xu Qifang , Adhikari Sam , Dunbrack Roland L.
Published: April 2016

We present the assessment of predictions submitted in the template‐based modeling (TBM) category of CASP11 (Critical Assessment of Protein Structure Prediction). Model quality was judged on the basis of global and local measures of accuracy on all atoms including side chains. The top groups on 39 human‐server targets based on model 1 predictions were LEER, Zhang, LEE, MULTICOM, and Zhang‐Server. The top groups on 81 targets by server groups based on model 1 predictions were Zhang‐Server, nns, BAKER‐ROSETTASERVER, QUARK, and myprotein‐me. In CASP11, the best models for most targets were equal to or better than the best template available in the Protein Data Bank, even for targets with poor templates. The overall performance in CASP11 is similar to the performance of predictors in CASP10 with slightly better performance on the hardest targets. For most targets, assessment measures exhibited bimodal probability density distributions. Multi‐dimensional scaling of an RMSD matrix for each target typically revealed a single cluster with models similar to the target structure, with a mode in the GDT‐TS density between 40 and 90, and a wide distribution of models highly divergent from each other and from the experimental structure, with density mode at a GDT‐TS value of ∼20. The models in this peak in the density were either compact models with entirely the wrong fold, or highly non‐compact models. The results argue for a density‐driven approach in future CASP TBM assessments that accounts for the bimodal nature of these distributions instead of Z scores, which assume a unimodal, Gaussian distribution. Proteins 2016; 84(Suppl 1):200–220. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of growth conditions on stress and quality of aluminum nitride (AlN) thin buffer layers
Authors: Severino Andrea , Iucolano Ferdinando
Published: April 2016

In this study, we report about an analysis of the crystal quality and stress conditions of aluminum nitride (AlN) buffer layers by changing several process conditions during the growth at a metal‐organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) reactor. A two‐steps process has been implemented for AlN growth on Si, consisting of a low‐temperature AlN (LT‐AlN) nucleation step followed by a high‐temperature AlN (HT‐AlN) growth step. An improvement of the crystal quality has been observed for lower V/III ratio used in the LT‐AlN step. Growth temperature of HT‐AlN was also examined showing a weak variation of AlN growth rates. Crystal quality and residual stress conditions as a function of the AlN layer thickness were studied. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) rocking curves and Raman spectroscopy suggest a better crystal quality when AlN thickness is increased, due to enlargement of islands and reduction of extended defects. After a certain thickness, namely 300 nm, slip lines occurs in epitaxial layers leading to reduction of the residual biaxial stress perpendicular to growth direction. Electrical measurements have been carried out with a critical electric field of 2.1 MV cm−1 achieved.
Observation bias correction schemes in data assimilation systems: a theoretical study of some of their properties
Authors: Eyre J. R.
Published: April 2016

Observation bias correction schemes are important components of the data assimilation (DA) systems used in operational numerical weather prediction (NWP). They are used at present mainly to correct for biases in satellite radiance observations and their observation operators. These schemes attempt to remove biases in observations relative to the NWP model background or analysis field. The presence of bias in the NWP model itself can substantially complicate this process. Using a very simple scalar forecast model and DA system, this study explores the extent to which model bias leads to biases in the background and analysis states. Theory is presented for systems that attempt to remove observation bias relative to the background or relative to the analysis. It is shown that background and analysis biases are functions of three parameters: the weights given within the DA system to the observations to be bias‐corrected and to the other ‘anchoring’ observations, and the rate at which the NWP model state relaxes towards its own climatology. These effects are quantified for ‘baseline’ values of these three parameters intended to be representative of the current Met Office global NWP system, and for large variations around these baseline values. If the baseline values are indeed representative, then background and analysis biases in the range 0.21–0.33 of the model bias are expected. However, substantial variations are expected within the model domain, depending on variations in observation density, in the balance between bias‐corrected and anchoring observations, and in the rate at which the NWP model state relaxes towards its own climatology. Moreover, the effect of model bias on background and analysis biases will increase as more observations are bias‐corrected and a smaller proportion are used as ‘anchor’ observations. This has important implications for observation bias correction strategies used in NWP and in reanalyses.
A Multicenter Pilot Study of Burden Among Caregivers of Geriatric Rehabilitation Patients With Neuromusculoskeletal Diseases
Authors: Borman Pinar , Gökçe-Kutsal Yeşim , Terzioğlu Füsun , Okumuş Muyesser , Ceceli Esma , Karahan Sevilay , Şenel Kazim , Gökkaya Kutay Ordu , Doğan Asuman , Eskiyurt Nurten , Günaydin Rezan , Eyigör Sibel , Şahin Nilay , Şahin Mehtap
Published: April 2016

Purpose:

In this study, we aimed to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers of patients in a geriatric unit and to clarify the relationship between caregiver burden and specific clinical variables in the patients and the characteristics of the caregivers.

Design:

Cross-sectional multicenter study.

Methods:

One hundred twenty-three patients and 123 caregiver dyads, with mean ages of 72.5 ± 7.7 years and 51 ± 14.7 years, respectively, were included. The functional, psychological, and cognitive statuses of the patients were determined, and the sociodemographic characteristics of the caregivers as well as the type and duration of caregiving were recorded. Caregivers completed the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) to measure the perceived burden of care. Most patients were female and generally lived with their family.

Findings:

Most of the caregivers were family members (90%), female (73.2%), primary school graduates (52.8%), and first-degree relatives (73.1%). The average CBI score was 33, and the highest CBI subscores were for time, developmental, and physical burdens. Caregiver burden correlated with the patient’s ambulatory, psychological, and cognitive status and with the caregiver’s age, gender, income level, and duration of caregiving.

Conclusions:

We have highlighted the relationship between caregiver and patient characteristics in a cohort of elderly Turkish patients with neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. In particular, we have highlighted the heavy caregiver burden in a developing country.

Clinical Relevance:

Our results may guide the nurses to understand the requirements of caregivers and to help them find suitable resources that would meet their needs to cope with their burden.
Cover Image, Volume 6, Issue 3
Authors: Karton Amir
Published: April 2016

The cover image, by Amir Karton, is based on the Advanced Review A computational chemist's guide to accurate thermochemistry for organic molecules, DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1249.

image
Zn0@ZnS Core‐Shell Nanoparticles via Oxidation of Intermediate Zn0 Nanoparticles
Authors: Schöttle Christian , Feldmann Claus
Published: April 2016

Zn0@ZnS core‐shell nanoparticles were prepared via reduction of ZnCl2 to Zn0 nanoparticles and subsequent partial oxidation with elemental sulfur. The intermediate, highly reactive Zn0 nanoparticles were obtained by sodium naphthalenide ([NaNaph]) reduction of ZnCl2 in tetrahydrofuran (THF). After centrifugation, the Zn0 nanoparticles were redispersed in a solution of sulfur in toluene and oxidized by subsequent heating to reflux. According to electron microscopy (HRTEM, HAADF‐STEM), the Zn0@ZnS core‐shell nanoparticles exhibit a mean outer diameter of 12 ± 4 nm, consisting of an inner Zn0 core (8 nm in diameter) and a ZnS shell (2 nm in diameter). HRTEM and XRD confirm the crystallinity of both core and shell. The Zn0@ZnS nanostructure shows synergistic properties of core and shell: the ZnS layer efficiently passivates the reactive Zn0 metal core against oxidation, whereas the optical properties point to dominating metallic behavior of the Zn0 metal core despite of the ZnS shell.
Palaeochannel Controlled Cretaceous Sandstone-type Uranium Deposit of Lostoin Area, Mahadek Basin, Meghalaya
Authors: Kumar Pramod , Panigrahi B. , Joshi G. B.
Published: April 2016

Sandstone–type uranium deposit hosted by reduced feldspathic sandstone sequence of lower part of Cretaceous Mahadek Formation occurs at Lostoin area of Mahadek basin and is confined within a prominent palaeochannel of NNE-SSW trend with flow towards SSW. The channel-fill comprises of about 10 m to 55 m grey to dark grey coloured, reduced, coarse to medium grained feldspathic sandstone along with abundant carbonaceous matter (5 to 15% by visual estimation) and is overlain by 5 m to 80 m of oxidized sub-feldspathic sandstone. Correlatable medium grade (∼ 0.1% U3O8) uranium mineralization is intercepted in the boreholes aligned along the palaeochannel. Uraniferous solutions generated from the fertile provenance of south Khasi batholith flow through the channel and precipitated uranium at suitable reduction traps. Gentle slope of 2° to 3° of the basement channel facilitated prolonged interaction of uraniferous solution with reductants causing ore grade concentration. It has been envisaged that the control of palaeochannel and palaeobasement topography of the ore body would continue towards the SSW beyond Wahblei river.
Geochemical Constraints on Cumulate Textured Ti-rich Al-depleted Komatiites from Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex, Eastern India
Authors: Prasad Jugnu , Bhattacharya D. K.
Published: April 2016

For the first time occurrence of Ti rich Al depleted ultramafic cumulates having komatiitic signature in the northwestern fringe of Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex is presented. These rocks exhibit intrusive relationship with metasedimentary rocks and metaultramafites. Geochemically they are characterized by Mg# 79.1-91.60, high TiO2 (1.29-1.54 wt%), significantly low Al2O3/TiO2 and (Gd/Yb)n >1. Major oxides, trace and REE content suggest low degree of fractional crystallization and lesser degree of partial melting. These Al depleted komatiites are characterized by high concentration of incompatible elements than most suites of Barberton type komatiites. High Ti content suggests less degree of majorite garnet melting, leaving behind garnet in the restite. The rock shows higher Ti/Sc (190), Ti/V (22), Zr/Y (3), Zr/Sc (4), V/Sc (8), Zr/Sm (28) and Zr/Hf (47) ratios than primitive mantle and REE distribution pattern shows gentle slope from LREE to HREE in most samples pointing towards mantle metasomatism and crustal contamination during emplacement. The observed chemical characteristics indicate derivation of komatiite from an enriched mantle source and represent plume activity in an extensional tectonic regime of intracratonic setting.
Rock Mass Rating and Kinematic Analysis for Slope Stability Investigation of Utari Dam, Lalitpur District, Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Mondal M. E. A. , Siddique Tariq , Alam Mohammad , Alam M. Masroor
Published: April 2016

Rock mass characterization of Utari dam in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh was done to identify different stability classes of rock mass. For better stability of Utari dam, foundation conditions were carefully studied by detailed field investigations of the site supplemented by laboratory tests. During feasibility and preliminary stages, rock mass characterization of slopes was conducted to identify the vulnerable zones of failure. Rock mass characterization was done by compilation of information obtained from intact rock as well as from rock mass to determine its grade and long term slope stability of the site. On the basis of Rock Mass Rating (RMR) and Geological Strength Index (GSI) slope stability is identified which lies under good quality rock mass. Kinematic analysis was conducted to find out the probability for different types of structurally controlled slope failure. Microscopic analyses were conducted to identify the degree of chemical alteration of feldspar. Clay formation by sericitization along joint planes is harmful for the stability of dam structure. Remedial measures must be taken to reduce the extent of chemical alteration. Granitoids at dam site forms a compact and stable foundation consisting of four sets of joints in which two sets were prominent which are dipping on the upstream side of the dam which reveals good condition on the dam site as leakage from reservoir will be minimum and least up-thrust on the dam structure.
Analysis of Mineral Compositions and Crater Morphology on the Moon surface using Moon Orbital Satellite Data
Authors: Sivakumar V. , Neelakantan R. , Biju C.
Published: April 2016

Analysing vertical and lateral distribution of minerals within an impact crater on lunar surface would aid in understanding the crustal compositions to a larger extent and provides clue about geological evolution of the Moon. The Chandrayaan-1 Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) data have high spectral and spatial resolutions, which help in identifying the mineral compositions and morphological features of impact crater. Here we analyse mineral compositions and their correlations with crater morphology using M3 and LROC satellite data of Eijkman impact cater in SouthPole Atiken (SPA) basin. The result shows that low-Ca pyroxene (LCP) dominant rocks are identified on Central Peak (CP), Crater Floor (CF), Crater Wall (CW) and Crater Rim (CR). An olivine dominant rock is detected on the CW. Fe-Mg-spinel lithological unit is observed on the CF. The results implicate that, (i) Low-Ca pyroxene minerals could be from the lower crust during SPA main event; (ii) Presence of olivine and Fe-Mg-spinel lithology on the surface could be a later stage mafic intrusions or the lower-crustal material exposed on the surface due to major impacts.
An individual with human immunodeficiency virus, dementia, and central nervous system amyloid deposition
Authors: Turner Raymond Scott , Chadwick Melanie , Horton Wesley A. , Simon Gary L. , Jiang Xiong , Esposito Giuseppe
Published: April 2016

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is found in 30%–50% of individuals with HIV infection. To date, no HIV+ individual has been reported to have a positive amyloid PET scan. We report a 71‐year‐old HIV+ individual with HAND. Clinical and neuropsychologic evaluations confirmed a progressive mild dementia. A routine brain MRI was normal for age. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose–PET revealed mild hypermetabolism in bilateral basal ganglia and hypometabolism of bilateral parietal cortex including the posterior cingulate/precuneus. Resting state functional MRI revealed altered connectivity as found with individuals with mild AD. CSF examination revealed a low Aβ42/tau index but a low phospho‐tau. An amyloid PET/CT with [18F]florbetaben revealed pronounced cortical radiotracer deposition. This case report suggests that progressive dementia in older HIV+ individuals may be due to HAND, AD, or both. HIV infection does not preclude CNS Aβ/amyloid deposition. Amyloid PET imaging may be of value in distinguishing HAND from AD pathologies.
Measuring the impact of a quality improvement collaboration to decrease maternal mortality in a Ghanaian regional hospital
Authors: Srofenyoh Emmanuel K. , Kassebaum Nicholas J. , Goodman David M. , Olufolabi Adeyemi J. , Owen Medge D.
Published: April 2016

Objective

To evaluate the performance of a continuous quality improvement collaboration at Ridge Regional Hospital, Accra, Ghana, that aimed to halve maternal and neonatal deaths.

Methods

In a quasi‐experimental, pre‐ and post‐intervention analysis, system deficiencies were analyzed and 97 improvement activities were implemented from January 2007 to December 2011. Data were collected on outcomes and implementation rates of improvement activities. Severity‐adjustment models were used to calculate counterfactual mortality ratios. Regression analysis was used to determine the association between improvement activities, staffing, and maternal mortality.

Results

Maternal mortality decreased by 22.4% between 2007 and 2011, from 496 to 385 per 100 000 deliveries, despite a 50% increase in deliveries and five‐ and three‐fold increases in the proportion of pregnancies complicated by obstetric hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, respectively. Case fatality rates for obstetric hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy decreased from 14.8% to 1.6% and 3.1% to 1.1%, respectively. The mean implementation score was 68% for the 97 improvement processes. Overall, 43 maternal deaths were prevented by the intervention; however, risk severity‐adjustment models indicated that an even greater number of deaths was averted. Mortality reduction was correlated with 26 continuous quality improvement activities, and with the number of anesthesia nurses and labor midwives.

Conclusion

The implementation of quality improvement activities was closely correlated with improved maternal mortality.
Network structure of two-dimensional decaying isotropic turbulence
Authors: Taira Kunihiko , Nair Aditya G. , Brunton Steven L.
Published: April 2016

The present paper reports on our effort to characterize vortical interactions in complex fluid flows through the use of network analysis. In particular, we examine the vortex interactions in two-dimensional decaying isotropic turbulence and find that the vortical-interaction network can be characterized by a weighted scale-free network. It is found that the turbulent flow network retains its scale-free behaviour until the characteristic value of circulation reaches a critical value. Furthermore, we show that the two-dimensional turbulence network is resilient against random perturbations, but can be greatly influenced when forcing is focused towards the vortical structures, which are categorized as network hubs. These findings can serve as a network-analytic foundation to examine complex geophysical and thin-film flows and take advantage of the rapidly growing field of network theory, which complements ongoing turbulence research based on vortex dynamics, hydrodynamic stability, and statistics. While additional work is essential to extend the mathematical tools from network analysis to extract deeper physical insights of turbulence, an understanding of turbulence based on the interaction-based network-theoretic framework presents a promising alternative in turbulence modelling and control efforts.
Two-Dimensional FE Simulation of Impact Loading on Alumina Matrix Nanocomposite Reinforced by Dyneema® HB25 Laminates
Authors: Alebooyeh M. , Baharvandi H. R. , Aghanajafi C.
Published: April 2016

Perforation process of a novel ceramic/composite panel including alumina-silicon carbide (Al2O3-SiC) nanocomposite as the front plate and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene laminated composite (Dyneema® HB25) as the back-up impacted by a tip tapered penetrator has been analyzed based on LS-Dyna and HyperMesh codes. In order to balance the competing requirements posed by thickness, weight, cost and performance, a finite element (FE) simulation has been developed with well-developed material models. A two-dimensional, dynamic-explicit and Lagrangian model has been considered. The perforation process has been investigated for three different thicknesses of the ceramic plate. The Johnson-Cook, Johnson-Holmquist and Orthotropic-Elastic material models have been used for the penetrator, ceramic, and composite, respectively. The FE results, which have a good agreement with available experimental data, show that with the increase in the ceramic thickness, ceramic's fracture conoid as well as elasto-plastic deformation of fibers increase while fiber breakage and dishing of the composite layers diminish. In addition to saving cost and time, the FE simulation results can be useful as a fairly accurate prediction tool for the designing of lightweight body protective panels with desired impact resistance performance and eligible blunt trauma of the back-up.
Nutritional status of pre-pregnant and pregnant women residing in Bogor district, Indonesia: a cross-sectional dietary and nutrient intake study
Authors: Madanijah Siti , Briawan Dodik , Rimbawan Rimbawan , Zulaikhah Zulaikhah , Andarwulan Nuri , Nuraida Lilis , Sundjaya Tonny , Murti Laksmi , Shah Priyali , Bindels Jacques
Published: April 2016

The diet of Indonesian women of childbearing age is relatively poor, posing increased risk for suboptimal pregnancy outcome. In a cross-sectional study including 403 women in three economic quintiles (Q), we investigated differences in dietary intake and nutrition sufficiency according to economic status and whether regular dietary intakes of pregnant women (PW,n203) differ from that of pre-pregnant women (PPW,n200). Dietary intake data were collected using 2×24 h dietary recall and FFQ. Energy, protein, Fe, Ca, Zn, vitamin A and vitamin C intakes were calculated utilising Food Composition Tables and compared with Indonesian recommendations for adequacy. Energy and protein intakes <70 % and Fe, Ca, Zn, vitamin A and vitamin C intakes <77 % of the local recommendation were considered insufficient. A higher intake of milk/dairy products (Q3, Q4), fruits and vegetables (Q2) and snacks (Q3) in PW was observed compared with PPW, but insufficient to meet nutrient requirements. Nutrient intake calculations showed insufficiency in 26 % of PPW for protein and up to 70 % for Fe. Deficient nutrient intakes in PW were found in 49 % of the subjects for energy and up to 85 % for Fe. Energy and protein intakes decreased with decreasing economic quintiles in PPW and PW. Ca and vitamin A intakes were lower in Q2 compared with Q4. The proportion of animal protein in Q2-PW was low (31 %). Biochemical status parameters in a subset showed that anaemia and Fe and Zn deficiencies were prevalent among PPW and PW. Habitual diets in the study area did not meet the nutrient requirements for both PPW and PW across the investigated economic groups.
The Failure of Legal Pluralism
Authors: Sandberg Russell
Published: April 2016

Concerns about legal pluralism, the co-existence of more than one legal system within a state, have become pronounced in recent years, owing to fears about the operation of sharia law in Western societies. At the same time, the concept of legal pluralism has become ubiquitous within legal literature. Paradoxically, the concept is both politically controversial and academically banal. This article contends that a major failing of the concept of legal pluralism has been the inability to distinguish legal norms from other forms of social control. It is suggested that this failure can be overcome by developing the concept of a ‘legal order’ as found in the work of Maleiha Malik and the understanding of law as discourse in the work of the German theorists Niklas Luhmann and Robert Alexy. It is argued that developing these approaches provides a means by which legal norms can be distinguished without adopting either a wholly objective or a completely subjective approach and without focusing exclusively upon the legal norms generated by the state.
Neutral Citation in the Ecclesiastical Courts
Authors: George Charles
Published: April 2016

Neutral citation – the practice of giving each judgment of a court a
reference number or citation – has been in use in the senior courts
of England and Wales since 2001. The beginning of January 2016 saw the
introduction of a new system of neutral citation for English ecclesiastical
courts. The practice direction bringing this practice into force is reproduced
below and is preceded by an introductory essay by the Dean of Arches and
Auditor.
The Educational Work of the Ecclesiastical Law Society
Authors: Parrott David
Published: April 2016

The Ecclesiastical Law Society (ELS) is a charity whose object is ‘to promote education in ecclesiastical law for the benefit of the public, including in particular the clergy and laity of the Church of England’. The ELS Committee has recently begun a review of this part of the society's work and this piece is a part of that review. This article seeks to set out what is currently happening and to solicit views on how our education work could be developed. The current education function may be described under three headings.
Parliamentary Report
Authors: Cranmer Frank
Published: April 2016

In October 2015 the Secretary of State for Scotland announced that the Government would bring forward an amendment to the Scotland Bill at consideration stage in the Commons to devolve responsibility for abortion law to the Scottish Parliament. It duly did so: see clause 50 of the Lords Bill as brought from the Commons. At the time of writing the Bill was being considered in the Lords.
Time-frequency tomographic imaging of a rotating object in a narrow-band radar
Authors: Swiercz Ewa
Published: April 2016

The backscatter from radar object carries Doppler information of scatterers on the object determined by the radial velocity of scattering points and the radar transmitted frequency. For a rotating object this information is contained in the frequency characteristics over varying aspect angle. Frequency characteristics are used to create projections for Doppler radar tomographic imaging. This paper presents a method for high resolution imaging of a rotating target using a time-frequency transform of a returned signal as tomographic projections. The resolution of a tomographic image depends not only on radar system parameters but also depends on the resolution of input projections. The reassigned spectrogram is proposed for building of tomographic projections, due to its possibility of squeezing of frequency spread. The reassigned spectrogram is sensitive to noise so the denoising procedure in the time-frequency domain must be performed before the reassignment procedure. The denoising is performed by removing Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT) noise coefficients below the appropriate threshold. The STFT is a linear time-frequency transform and coefficients, which belong to the signal and coefficients which belong to noise can be analyzed separately. The efficiency of the proposed idea of imaging is supported by results of numerical experiments.
Bugging inflammation: role of the gut microbiota
Authors: Shen Sj , Wong Connie HY
Published: April 2016

The advent of vaccination and improved hygiene have eliminated many of the deadly infectious pathogens in developed nations. However, the incidences of inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, obesity and diabetes are increasing dramatically. Research in the recent decades revealed that it is indeed the lack of early childhood microbial exposure, increase use of antibiotics, as well as increase consumption of processed foods high in carbohydrates and fats, and lacking fibre, which wreak havoc on the proper development of immunity and predispose the host to elevated inflammatory conditions. Although largely unexplored and under‐appreciated until recent years, these factors impact significantly on the composition of the gut microbiota (a collection of microorganisms that live within the host mucosal tissue) and inadvertently play intricate and pivotal roles in modulating an appropriate host immune response. The suggestion that shifts in the composition of host microbiota is a risk factor for inflammatory disease raises an exciting opportunity whereby the microbiota may also present as a potential modifiable component or therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. This review provides insights into the interactions between the microbiota and the immune system, how these affect disease phenotypes, and explore current and emerging therapies that target the gut microbiota as potential treatment for inflammatory diseases.
ZBTB20 is required for anterior pituitary development and lactotrope specification
Authors: Cao Dongmei , Ma Xianhua , Cai Jiao , Luan Jing , Liu An-Jun , Yang Rui , Cao Yi , Zhu Xiaotong , Zhang Hai , Chen Yu-Xia , Shi Yuguang , Shi Guang-Xia , Zou Dajin , Cao Xuetao , Grusby Michael J. , Xie Zhifang , Zhang Weiping J.
Published: April 2016

The anterior pituitary harbours five distinct hormone-producing cell types, and their cellular differentiation is a highly regulated and coordinated process. Here we show that ZBTB20 is essential for anterior pituitary development and lactotrope specification in mice. In anterior pituitary, ZBTB20 is highly expressed by all the mature endocrine cell types, and to some less extent by somatolactotropes, the precursors of prolactin (PRL)-producing lactotropes. Disruption of Zbtb20 leads to anterior pituitary hypoplasia, hypopituitary dwarfism and a complete loss of mature lactotropes. In ZBTB20-null mice, although lactotrope lineage commitment is normally initiated, somatolactotropes exhibit profound defects in lineage specification and expansion. Furthermore, endogenous ZBTB20 protein binds to Prl promoter, and its knockdown decreases PRL expression and secretion in a lactotrope cell line MMQ. In addition, ZBTB20 overexpression enhances the transcriptional activity of Prl promoter in vitro. In conclusion, our findings point to ZBTB20 as a critical regulator of anterior pituitary development and lactotrope specification.
Quadrupolar and anisotropy effects on dephasing in two-electron spin qubits in GaAs
Authors: Botzem Tim , McNeil Robert P. G. , Mol Jan-Michael , Schuh Dieter , Bougeard Dominique , Bluhm Hendrik
Published: April 2016

Understanding the decoherence of electron spins in semiconductors due to their interaction with nuclear spins is of fundamental interest as they realize the central spin model and of practical importance for using them as qubits. Interesting effects arise from the quadrupolar interaction of nuclear spins with electric field gradients, which have been shown to suppress diffusive nuclear spin dynamics and might thus enhance electron spin coherence. Here we show experimentally that for gate-defined GaAs quantum dots, quadrupolar broadening of the nuclear Larmor precession reduces electron spin coherence by causing faster decorrelation of transverse nuclear fields. However, this effect disappears for appropriate field directions. Furthermore, we observe an additional modulation of coherence attributed to an anisotropic electronic g-tensor. These results complete our understanding of dephasing in gated quantum dots and point to mitigation strategies. They may also help to unravel unexplained behaviour in self-assembled quantum dots and III–V nanowires.
Femtosecond electron imaging of defect-modulated phonon dynamics
Authors: Cremons Daniel R. , Plemmons Dayne A. , Flannigan David J.
Published: April 2016

Precise manipulation and control of coherent lattice oscillations via nanostructuring and phonon-wave interference has the potential to significantly impact a broad array of technologies and research areas. Resolving the dynamics of individual phonons in defect-laden materials presents an enormous challenge, however, owing to the interdependent nanoscale and ultrafast spatiotemporal scales. Here we report direct, real-space imaging of the emergence and evolution of acoustic phonons at individual defects in crystalline WSe2 and Ge. Via bright-field imaging with an ultrafast electron microscope, we are able to image the sub-picosecond nucleation and the launch of wavefronts at step edges and resolve dispersion behaviours during propagation and scattering. We discover that the appearance of speed-of-sound (for example, 6 nm ps−1) wavefronts are influenced by spatially varying nanoscale strain fields, taking on the appearance of static bend contours during propagation. These observations provide unprecedented insight into the roles played by individual atomic and nanoscale features on acoustic-phonon dynamics.
Plasmonic piezoelectric nanomechanical resonator for spectrally selective infrared sensing
Authors: Hui Yu , Gomez-Diaz Juan Sebastian , Qian Zhenyun , Alù Andrea , Rinaldi Matteo
Published: April 2016

Ultrathin plasmonic metasurfaces have proven their ability to control and manipulate light at unprecedented levels, leading to exciting optical functionalities and applications. Although to date metasurfaces have mainly been investigated from an electromagnetic perspective, their ultrathin nature may also provide novel and useful mechanical properties. Here we propose a thin piezoelectric plasmonic metasurface forming the resonant body of a nanomechanical resonator with simultaneously tailored optical and electromechanical properties. We experimentally demonstrate that it is possible to achieve high thermomechanical coupling between electromagnetic and mechanical resonances in a single ultrathin piezoelectric nanoplate. The combination of nanoplasmonic and piezoelectric resonances allows the proposed device to selectively detect long-wavelength infrared radiation with unprecedented electromechanical performance and thermal capabilities. These attributes lead to the demonstration of a fast, high-resolution, uncooled infrared detector with ∼80% absorption for an optimized spectral bandwidth centered around 8.8 μm.
Impact of gut microbiota on the fly’s germ line
Authors: Elgart Michael , Stern Shay , Salton Orit , Gnainsky Yulia , Heifetz Yael , Soen Yoav
Published: April 2016

Unlike vertically transmitted endosymbionts, which have broad effects on their host’s germ line, the extracellular gut microbiota is transmitted horizontally and is not known to influence the germ line. Here we provide evidence supporting the influence of these gut bacteria on the germ line of Drosophila melanogaster. Removal of the gut bacteria represses oogenesis, expedites maternal-to-zygotic-transition in the offspring and unmasks hidden phenotypic variation in mutants. We further show that the main impact on oogenesis is linked to the lack of gut Acetobacter species, and we identify the Drosophila Aldehyde dehydrogenase (Aldh) gene as an apparent mediator of repressed oogenesis in Acetobacter-depleted flies. The finding of interactions between the gut microbiota and the germ line has implications for reproduction, developmental robustness and adaptation.
Thermoelectric effect and its dependence on molecular length and sequence in single DNA molecules
Authors: Li Yueqi , Xiang Limin , Palma Julio L. , Asai Yoshihiro , Tao Nongjian
Published: April 2016

Studying the thermoelectric effect in DNA is important for unravelling charge transport mechanisms and for developing relevant applications of DNA molecules. Here we report a study of the thermoelectric effect in single DNA molecules. By varying the molecular length and sequence, we tune the charge transport in DNA to either a hopping- or tunnelling-dominated regimes. The thermoelectric effect is small and insensitive to the molecular length in the hopping regime. In contrast, the thermoelectric effect is large and sensitive to the length in the tunnelling regime. These findings indicate that one may control the thermoelectric effect in DNA by varying its sequence and length. We describe the experimental results in terms of hopping and tunnelling charge transport models.
Enantioselective acyl transfer catalysis by a combination of common catalytic motifs and electrostatic interactions
Authors: Mandai Hiroki , Fujii Kazuki , Yasuhara Hiroshi , Abe Kenko , Mitsudo Koichi , Korenaga Toshinobu , Suga Seiji
Published: April 2016

Catalysts that can promote acyl transfer processes are important to enantioselective synthesis and their development has received significant attention in recent years. Despite noteworthy advances, discovery of small-molecule catalysts that are robust, efficient, recyclable and promote reactions with high enantioselectivity can be easily and cost-effectively prepared in significant quantities (that is, >10 g) has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that by attaching a binaphthyl moiety, appropriately modified to establish H-bonding interactions within the key intermediates in the catalytic cycle, and a 4-aminopyridyl unit, exceptionally efficient organic molecules can be prepared that facilitate enantioselective acyl transfer reactions. As little as 0.5 mol% of a member of the new catalyst class is sufficient to generate acyl-substituted all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centres in quantitative yield and in up to 98:2 enantiomeric ratio (er) in 5 h. Kinetic resolution or desymmetrization of 1,2-diol can be performed with high efficiency and enantioselectivity as well.
Free-carrier-induced soliton fission unveiled by in situ measurements in nanophotonic waveguides
Authors: Husko Chad , Wulf Matthias , Lefrancois Simon , Combrié Sylvain , Lehoucq Gaëlle , De Rossi Alfredo , Eggleton Benjamin J. , Kuipers L.
Published: April 2016

Solitons are localized waves formed by a balance of focusing and defocusing effects. These nonlinear waves exist in diverse forms of matter yet exhibit similar properties including stability, periodic recurrence and particle-like trajectories. One important property is soliton fission, a process by which an energetic higher-order soliton breaks apart due to dispersive or nonlinear perturbations. Here we demonstrate through both experiment and theory that nonlinear photocarrier generation can induce soliton fission. Using near-field measurements, we directly observe the nonlinear spatial and temporal evolution of optical pulses in situ in a nanophotonic semiconductor waveguide. We develop an analytic formalism describing the free-carrier dispersion (FCD) perturbation and show the experiment exceeds the minimum threshold by an order of magnitude. We confirm these observations with a numerical nonlinear Schrödinger equation model. These results provide a fundamental explanation and physical scaling of optical pulse evolution in free-carrier media and could enable improved supercontinuum sources in gas based and integrated semiconductor waveguides.
Bacterial communities of the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii associated with Bt cotton in northern China
Authors: Zhao Yao , Zhang Shuai , Luo Jun-Yu , Wang Chun-Yi , Lv Li-Min , Cui Jin-Jie
Published: April 2016

Aphids are infected with a wide variety of endosymbionts that can confer ecologically relevant traits. However, the bacterial communities of most aphid species are still poorly characterized. This study investigated the bacterial diversity of the cotton aphidAphis gossypiiassociated withBtcotton in northern China by targeting the V4 region of the 16S rDNA using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Our sequencing data revealed that bacterial communities ofA. gossypiiwere generally dominated by the primary symbiontBuchnera, together with the facultative symbiontsArsenophonusandHamiltonella. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the facultative symbiontHamiltonellainA. gossypii. Moreover, the bacterial community structure was similar within aphids from the same province, but distinct among those from different provinces. The taxonomic diversity of the bacterial community is greater in Hebei Province compared with in samples from Henan and Shandong Provinces. The selection pressure exerted by the different geographical locations could explain the differences found among the various provinces. These findings broaden our understanding of the interactions among aphids, endosymbionts and their environments and provide clues to develop potential biocontrol techniques against this cotton aphid.