bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in sugar content and related enzyme activities in table grape (Vitis vinifera L.) in response to foliar selenium fertilizer
Authors: Zhu Shuaimeng , Liang Yinli , An Xiaojuan , Kong Fanchao , Gao Dekai , Yin Hongfei
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUND

Spraying selenium (Se) fertilizer is an effective method for Se‐enriched fruit production. Sugar content in fruit is the major factor determining berry quality. However, changes in sugar metabolism in response to Se fertilizer are unclear. Hence, this study was conducted to identify the effects of Se fertilizer on sugar metabolism and related enzyme activities of grape berries. Additionally, production of leaves with and without Se fertilizer was also investigated.

RESULTS

Acid invertase (AI) activity, total soluble sugar and Se content in berries, and photosynthetic rate in leaves produced under Se fertilizer treatments were higher than that of control. Glucose and fructose were the primary sugars in berries, with a trace of sucrose. In both berries and leaves, neutral invertase activity was lower than AI, there was no significant difference in neutral invertase, sucrose synthase and sucrose phosphate synthase between Se fertilizer‐treated and control. In berries, AI showed a significant positive correlation with glucose and fructose; also Se content was significantly correlated with sugar content.

CONCLUSION

AI played an important role in the process of sugar accumulation in berries; high AI activity in berries and photosynthetic rate in leaves could explain the mechanism by which Se fertilizer affected sugar accumulation in berries. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Capillary electrophoresis fingerprints combined with chemometric methods to evaluate the quality consistency and predict the antioxidant activity of Yinqiaojiedu tablet
Authors: Ma Didi , Yang Lanping , Yan Bo , Sun Guoxiang
Published: February 2017

The quality consistency of Yinqiaojiedu tablets (YQJDTs) was monitored by extracting their electrophoretic fingerprint and marker compound data that were obtained using capillary electrophoresis. To select the suitable background electrolyte, wing‐shape method was proposed. A background electrolyte composed of 103.1 mM boric acid, 51.6 mM sodium borate, 9.8 mM disodium hydrogen phosphate, and 15.6 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate was used to separate compounds. Under the optimized conditions, the content of three marker compounds was determined in 25 YQJDT samples. The capillary electrophoresis fingerprints were developed simultaneously, then 25 samples from two manufacturers were clearly divided into two clusters based on the principal component analysis. In fingerprint assessments, systematic quantified fingerprint method was adopted for integrative quality discrimination of YQJDTs from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives, by which the qualities of 25 samples were well differentiated. In addition, partial least squares model was established to explore fingerprint–efficacy relationship between the fingerprints and the antioxidant activities in vitro, providing clinically useful information for quality control. The proposed method was reliable and comprehensive, which could be used for a valuable reference to monitor the quality consistency of traditional Chinese medicines.
Data quality assurance and control in cognitive research: Lessons learned from the PREDICT‐HD study
Authors: Westervelt Holly James , Bernier Rachel A. , Faust Melanie , Gover Mary , Bockholt H. Jeremy , Zschiegner Roland , Long Jeffrey D. , Paulsen Jane S. ,   The PREDICT‐HD Investigators,   Coordinators of the Huntington Study Group
Published: February 2017

We discuss the strategies employed in data quality control and quality assurance for the cognitive core of Neurobiological Predictors of Huntington's Disease (PREDICT‐HD), a long‐term observational study of over 1,000 participants with prodromal Huntington disease. In particular, we provide details regarding the training and continual evaluation of cognitive examiners, methods for error corrections, and strategies to minimize errors in the data. We present five important lessons learned to help other researchers avoid certain assumptions that could potentially lead to inaccuracies in their cognitive data.
The structure of adult ADHD
Authors: Adler Lenard A. , Faraone Stephen V. , Spencer Thomas J. , Berglund Patricia , Alperin Samuel , Kessler Ronald C.
Published: February 2017

Although DSM‐5 stipulates that symptoms of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the same for adults as children, clinical observations suggest that adults have more diverse deficits than children in higher‐level executive functioning and emotional control. Previous psychometric analyses to evaluate these observations have been limited in ways addressed in the current study, which analyzes the structure of an expanded set of adult ADHD symptoms in three pooled US samples: a national household sample, a sample of health plan members, and a sample of adults referred for evaluation at an adult ADHD clinic. Exploratory factor analysis found four factors representing executive dysfunction/inattention (including, but not limited to, all the DSM‐5 inattentive symptoms, with non‐DSM symptoms having factor loadings comparable to those of DSM symptoms), hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional dyscontrol. Empirically‐derived multivariate symptom profiles were broadly consistent with the DSM‐5 inattentive‐only, hyperactive/impulsive‐only, and combined presentations, but with inattention including executive dysfunction/inattention and hyperactivity‐only limited to hyperactivity without high symptoms of impulsivity. These results show that executive dysfunction is as central as DSM‐5 symptoms to adult ADHD, while emotional dyscontrol is more distinct but nonetheless part of the combined presentation of adult ADHD.
Proper orthogonal decomposition‐based reduced basis element thermal modeling of integrated circuits
Authors: Meyer Daniel S. , Helenbrook Brian T. , Cheng Ming‐C.
Published: February 2017

Various reduced basis element methods are compared for performing transient thermal simulations of integrated circuits. The reduced basis element method is a type of reduced order modeling that takes advantage of repeated geometrical features. It uses a reduced set of basis functions to approximate the solution of a PDE on subdomains (blocks); then these blocks are coupled together to perform a simulation on an entire domain. As the simulations are transient, a proper orthogonal decomposition basis is used, and the proper orthogonal decomposition eigenvalues from each block are used to derive error bounds for the entire simulation. These bounds are used to examine choices of block decompositions for a simplified integrated circuit structure. A decomposition that uses a single block for each transistor device is compared with a decomposition that uses one block for multiple devices. It was found that larger blocks are more computationally efficient; however, the advantage decreases if the devices within a block receive independent signals. Continuous and discontinuous methods of coupling the blocks were also compared. The coupling methods lend themselves to different solution approaches such as static condensation (continuous coupling) and block‐based inversion (discontinuous). Static condensation yielded the best convergence rate, accuracy, and operation count. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Topology optimization of energy absorbing structures with maximum damage constraint
Authors: Li Lei , Zhang Guodong , Khandelwal Kapil
Published: February 2017

A novel density‐based topology optimization framework for plastic energy absorbing structural designs with maximum damage constraint is proposed. This framework enables topologies to absorb large amount of energy via plastic work before failure occurs. To account for the plasticity and damage during the energy absorption, a coupled elastoplastic ductile damage model is incorporated with topology optimization. Appropriate material interpolation schemes are proposed to relax the damage in the low‐density regions while still ensuring the convergence of Newton‐Raphson solution process in the nonlinear finite element analyses. An effective method for obtaining path‐dependent sensitivities of the plastic work and maximum damage via adjoint method is presented, and the sensitivities are verified by the central difference method. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through a series of numerical examples. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decoupled schemes for unsteady MHD equations. I. time discretization
Authors: Zhang Guo‐Dong , He Yinnian
Published: February 2017

In this article, a time discretization decoupled scheme for two‐dimensional magnetohydrodynamics equations is proposed. The almost unconditional stability and convergence of this scheme are provided. The optimal error estimates for velocity and magnet are provided, and the optimal error estimate for pressure are deduced as well. Finite element spatial discretization and numerical implementation are considered in our article (Zhang and He, Comput Math Appl 69 (2015), 1390–1406). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 956–973, 2017
Nonuniform Crank‐Nicolson scheme for solving the stochastic Kawarada equation via arbitrary grids
Authors: Padgett Joshua L. , Sheng Qin
Published: February 2017

This article studies a nonuniform finite difference method for solving the degenerate Kawarada quenching‐combustion equation with a vibrant stochastic source. Arbitrary grids are introduced in both space and time via adaptive principals to accommodate the uncertainty and singularities involved. It is shown that, under proper constraints on mesh step sizes, the positivity, monotonicity of the solution, and numerical stability of the scheme developed are well preserved. Numerical experiments are given to illustrate our conclusions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 1305–1328, 2017
THE EFFECT OF FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT ON SCHOOL‐BASED INTERVENTIONS: A META‐ANALYSIS OF SINGLE‐CASE RESEARCH
Authors: Bruni Teryn P. , Drevon Daniel , Hixson Michael , Wyse Robert , Corcoran Samantha , Fursa Sophie
Published: February 2017

The effectiveness of behavior reduction strategies is likely affected by any number of ancillary variables. The purpose of this study was to provide a quantitative review of school‐based behavior reduction interventions and some ancillary variables that may modulate the effectiveness of those interventions. Tau‐U, an effect size statistic for single‐case designs that takes into account level and trend, was calculated across studies, allowing for examination of several moderator variables including type of functional behavior assessment method used. Moderate intervention effects were found across all studies with a small yet insignificant difference between function‐ and nonfunction‐based interventions. The largest difference in a moderator variable was intervention setting, with studies conducted in the natural environment producing larger effects than those in pull‐out settings. Possible explanations for these findings, limitations of the study, and areas of future research are discussed.
Very Large Cryoturbation Structures of Last Permafrost Maximum Age at the Foot of Qilian Mountains (NE Tibet Plateau, China): a Discussion
Authors: Harris Stuart A. , Jin Huijun , He Ruixia
Published: February 2017

Intensely cold conditions occurred during part of the last major glaciation of the mountains and Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in northeast China but their chronology is constrained by few limiting ages. At the Mengyuan section, on the northeastern margin of the Qilian Mountains, sandy silt provided three OSL ages that suggest deposition during a very cold, dry period in northeastern China between c. 29 and 19 ka (early part of marine isotope stage (MIS) 2). Load‐casting into the underlying outwash gravel occurred during climate amelioration. In some cases, the sandy silt infilled the spaces left by underlying thawing blocks of ice without collapse of the surrounding gravel. The gravel must therefore be older than c. 30 ka and was probably deposited by outwash from glaciers on the higher parts of the Qilian Mountains during MIS 3. Included in them were buried contemporaneous or remnant blocks of glacial ice. Subsequently the surface became flat by unknown processes and was finally covered by a thin loess dating from 2.7 ka, indicating it was deposited in the first warmer period in the Neoglacial sequence of events. Thus, the last major cold event spanned the period through isotope stages 2 and 3 in this area (57 to c. 19 ka), during which the dominant effects of glaciation of the mountain tops were replaced by intensely dry, cold permafrost conditions for c. 10 ka. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The detailed balance limit of perovskite/silicon and perovskite/CdTe tandem solar cells
Authors: Rühle Sven
Published: February 2017

Here, the detailed balance limit of the light to electric power conversion efficiency η of the tandem solar cells with a solution processible perovskite top cell is presented, investigating a bandgap range from 1.4 to 2.6 eV for the top cell. As the bottom cell, Si and CdTe are considered. On the one hand, Si is attractive due to its ability to convert photons down to the near infrared into excited charger carriers. On the other hand, it is shown that CdTe is a more suitable bottom cell for wide band perovskite top cells, when both cells are connected in series. Here, a four terminal (4T) tandem device is compared to several two terminal (2T) tandem configurations: (i) a tandem cell that is optimized for maximum efficiency under current matching conditions; (ii) a tandem where emitted photons from the top cell are reabsorbed in the bottom cell (photon recycling); and (iii) a tandem cell with current matching over a broad spectral range due to an incomplete light absorption in the top cell.
Photoluminescence properties of Er‐doped Ge–In(Ga)–S glasses modified by caesium halides
Authors: Ivanova Zoya G. , Zavadil Jiri , Kostka Petr , Djouama Torkia , Reinfelde Mara
Published: February 2017

Chalcohalide Ge–In–S and Ge–Ga–S glasses modified by CsX (X = Cl, Br, and I), and doped with Er in the range from 0.1 to 0.5 at.%, have been prepared and investigated. The influence of CsX addition on their optical properties has been studied by transmission and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Nominal compositions of [Ge25In(Ga)10S65]90(CsX)10 have been selected as host materials. The shift of the absorption edge as a function of caesium halides is observed in GeInS (CsX) system with maximum band gap observed for CsI. The low‐temperature photoluminescence reveals the broad band luminescence of the host glass centered at around the half of the band gap energy with superimposed 4f–4f radiative transitions of Er3+ ions. The position of the broad luminescence band is considerably shifted to higher energy in the case of CsI as compared to CsCl and CsBr. In the case of Er‐doped chalcohalide (Ge25Ga10S65)90(CsBr)10 system, a considerable narrowing of 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 radiative transitions of Er3+ ions accompanied by the pronounced splitting of the emission sub‐bands clearly documents the increasing ceramics‐like nature in the host material due to the admixture of CsBr. The influence of CsBr concentration on the shape of the broad‐band luminescence of Ge–Ga–S–CsBr host is also reported.
New application of partitioning methodology: identity‐based dual receiver encryption
Authors: Zhang Kai , Chen Wen , Li Xiangxue , Chen Jie , Qian Haifeng
Published: February 2017

Dual receiver encryption (DRE), a notion of public key encryption (PKE) introduced at CCS'04, allows two independent receivers to decrypt a ciphertext into a same plaintext. This crypto primitive is quite useful in designing denial of service attack‐resilient protocols. To our knowledge, prior DRE constructions are considered in the traditional PKE settings, which may face the difficulty of certificate management. This paper aiming at solving this dilemma of DRE in the traditional PKE settings, and gives an identity‐based variant version of DRE: identity‐based dual receiver encryption (ID‐DRE) that combines the notion of DRE and identity‐based encryption (IBE). Based on Waters' IBE (Crypto'05), two ID‐DRE schemes are constructed in the standard model and by partitioning methodology, provable security of our ID‐DRE schemes are obtained under the decisional bilinear Diffie‐Hellman. Furthermore, we achieve a tighter reduction by adopting a random walk‐like methodology of analysis on the lower bound of simulators' artificial abort, which also results in better security tightness for Waters IBE. This improved result
for Waters' IBE, where n is the bitlength of messages and q is the number of adversarial key queries, is consistent with Hofheinz and Kiltz's result (Crypto'08). Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimization of the Metal Front Contact Design for Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube‐Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells
Authors: Yu LePing , Grace Tom , Jazi Mahnaz Dadkhah , Shearer Cameron , Shapter Joseph
Published: February 2017

Single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) transparent conducting films have been combined with silicon (Si) to fabricate solar cells which operate due to the heterojunction formed between the SWCNTs and the Si. Until now, these solar cells have been prepared in proof‐of‐concept devices with typically very small active areas. However, it is difficult to simply increase the working area of the devices required for commercial application because of the limited conductivity of the transparent SWCNT films. Here, we determine the optimal metal front contact grid design, which can readily to be applied over a much larger area to meet industrial demands. Gold grids, which act as current collecting electrodes with 12 different patterns, are defined on top of an n‐type silicon wafer. The deposition of p‐type SWCNT films forms the SWCNT‐Si heterojunction solar cell. Three different SWCNT films with different thickness, transparency, and conductivity were prepared. The effect of the active area and the porosity of the grid designs on the performance of the solar cells have been explored for each SWCNT film thickness. It was found that by employing a grid‐patterned electrode, performance was improved for all films with particular improvement occurring in the fill factor of the devices. The greatest performance improvement (over 100%) was obtained for thinner, more transparent, and less conductive SWCNT films. Our results suggest that employing a patterned metal electrode is a scalable method to achieve solar cells with efficiency above 10%.
A Historical Glance at the Arabo‐Islamic Surgical Instruments During the Ages
Authors: Tsoucalas Gregory , Sgantzos Markos
Published: February 2017

Arabo‐Islamic physicians demonstrated exceptional skill and innovation in surgery, by having used the instruments introduced by ancient Greeks and Greco‐Roman surgeons. In many cases they have manufactured their own innovative designs promoting further the success of the difficult surgical operations of their era. The surgical instruments and the surgeon’s boxes, used to regularise the plethora of the metallic items, were decorated with fine designs, in order to depict the Arab civilisation. For the first time surgery became a separate medical art, while Arabo‐Islamic medicine re‐introduced ancient Greek and Byzantine surgery to the world.
Swedish prospective multicenter trial on the accuracy and clinical relevance of sentinel lymph node biopsy before neoadjuvant systemic therapy in breast cancer
Authors: Zetterlund Linda , Celebioglu Fuat , Axelsson Rimma , de Boniface Jana , Frisell Jan
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The timing of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the context of neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST) in breast cancer is still controversial. SLNB before NAST has been evaluated in few single-institution studies in which axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), however, was commonly not performed in case of a negative SLNB. We investigated the potential clinical relevance of SLNB before NAST by performing ALND in all patients after NAST.

Methods

This national multicenter trial prospectively enrolled clinically node-negative breast cancer patients planned for NAST at 13 recruiting Swedish hospitals between October 2010 and December 2015. SLNB before NAST was followed by ALND after NAST in all individuals. Repeat SLNB after NAST was encouraged but not mandatory.

Results

SLNB before NAST was performed in 224 patients. The identification rate was 100% (224/224). The proportion of patients with a negative SLNB before NAST but positive axillary lymph nodes after NAST was 7.4% (nine of 121 patients, 95% CI 4.0–13.5). Among those with a positive SLNB before NAST, 23.2% (86/112) had further positive lymph nodes after NAST.

Conclusions

In clinically node-negative patients, SLNB before NAST is highly reliable. With this sequence, ALND and regional radiotherapy can be safely omitted in patients with a negative SLNB provided good clinical response to NAST. Additionally, SLNB-positive patients upfront will receive correct nodal staging unaffected by NAST and be consequently offered adjuvant locoregional treatment according to current guidelines pending the results of ongoing randomized trials.
Local versus volume-integrated turbulence and mixing in breaking internal waves on slopes
Authors: Arthur Robert S. , Koseff Jeffrey R. , Fringer Oliver B.
Published: February 2017

Using direct numerical simulations (DNS), we explore local and volume-integrated measures of turbulence and mixing in breaking internal waves on slopes. We consider eight breaking wave cases with a range of normalized pycnocline thicknesses $k\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$, where $k$ is the horizontal wavenumber and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$ is the pycnocline thickness, but with similar incoming wave properties. The energetics of wave breaking is quantified in terms of local turbulent dissipation and irreversible mixing using the method of Scotti & White (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 740, 2014, pp. 114–135). Local turbulent mixing efficiencies are calculated using the irreversible flux Richardson number $R_{f}^{\ast }$ and are found to be a function of the turbulent Froude number $Fr_{k}$. Volume-integrated measures of the turbulent mixing efficiency during wave breaking are also made, and are found to be functions of $k\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$. The bulk turbulent mixing efficiency ranges from 0.25 to 0.37 and is maximized when $k\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}\approx 1$. In order to connect local and bulk mixing efficiency measures, the variation in the bulk turbulent mixing efficiency with $k\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$ is related to the turbulent Froude number at which the maximum total mixing occurs over the course of the breaking event, $Fr_{k}^{max}$. We find that physically, $Fr_{k}^{max}$ is controlled by the vertical length scale of billows at the interface during wave breaking.
Political Ideals, Financial Interests and Intergovernmental Relations: New Aspects of Swiss Federalism
Authors: Klöti Ulrich
Published: February 2017

WHEN SWISS CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS SPECIAL ISSUE LIMIT themselves to the presentation of a picture of modern Switzerland and leave it to the public to decide whether they want to learn something from the Swiss experience, two problems remain unsolved. First, in Switzerland we have neglected to some extent the analysis of the structures and the processes of the political system. We know more about the history of our political institutions than we do about their actual functioning. Normative theory is better developed than empirical research. This leads to the second problem: as many questions concerning the mechanics of the system are not answered in a sufficiently clear way, interpretations of theConfederatia Helveticadiffer considerably between various analysts.
Travelling Through the Rock to the Otherworld: The Shamanic ‘Grammar of Mind’ Within the Rock Art of Siberia
Authors: Rozwadowski Andrzej
Published: February 2017

One of the aspects of the relationship between rock art and shamanism, which has been supposed to be of a universal nature, inspired by trance experience, concerns the intentional integration of the images with rock. Rock surface therefore has been interpreted, in numerous shamanic rock-art contexts, as a veil beyond which the otherworld could be encountered. Such an idea was originally proposed in southern Africa, then within Upper Palaeolithic cave art and also other rock-art traditions in diverse parts of the world. This paper for the first time discusses the relevance of this observation from the perspective of unquestionable shamanic culture in Siberia. It shows that the idea of the otherworld to be found on the other side of the rock actually is a widespread motif of shamanic beliefs in Siberia, and that variants of this belief provide a new mode of insight into understanding the semantics of Siberian rock art. Siberian data therefore support previous hypotheses of the shamanic nature of associating rock images with rock surface.
Evaluation and development of an image-guided radiotherapy protocol for prostate and nodes
Authors: Hutton Nicky , Baker Angela , Naismith Olivia , Carver Antony , Jessop Anne
Published: February 2017

Purpose

To evaluate and develop an image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) protocol for the effective treatment of prostate and pelvic lymph nodes.

Methods and materials

This study comprised of nine patients receiving radiotherapy for node negative prostate cancer, who had a pair of planar kV images taken for 37 treatment fractions. The positioning accuracy for both implanted fiducial markers and pelvic bony anatomy (surrogate for pelvic node position) was calculated using random and systematic errors. Appropriate margins were also determined. All patients followed a strict bladder and bowel protocol before computed tomography planning and treatment.

Results

In total, 292 sets of images were used for fiducial marker and pelvic bone registration. A discrepancy of >5 mm between the fiducial markers and the anatomical pelvic bone was seen in 4% of treatment sessions. The maximum displacement observed between the fiducial match and the bone match was 7, 10 and 4 mm in the A/P (anterior/posterior), S/I (superior/inferior) and R/L (right/left) directions, respectively.

Conclusion

The margins used in combination with an online IGRT strategy ensure both the fiducial match and the bone match correlate within 5 mm thus allows good coverage of both prostate and nodal target volumes. It is essential that this is combined with a strict bladder and rectal preparation protocol to ensure accuracy and reproducibility.
Das fiebrige Kind mit Atemnot
Authors: Ramser Michel
Published: February 2017

Zusammenfassung. Die Beurteilung des Kindes mit Fieber und Atemnot erfordert sowohl das Abschätzen des Schweregrades des zugrundeliegenden Infektes wie auch der respiratorischen Symptome, um zeitgerecht adäquate Massnahmen einzuleiten. Hand zur allgemeinen Einschätzung bietet das sogenannte pädiatrische Beurteilungsdreieck und Kenntnis über die Besonderheiten des kindlichen Respirationstraktes. Einziehungen, Nasenflügeln, head bobbing und Hoover-Zeichen sind Zeichen vermehrter Atemarbeit. Die Toleranz für Atemmehrarbeit ist beim Säugling und Kleinkind klein. Daher muss auf Zeichen der respiratorischen Erschöpfung (Atemfrequenzabfall, Atempausen, Veränderung der Vigilanz) unbedingt geachtet werden. Der Entscheid zur Hospitalisierung ist immer von klinischen Faktoren abhängig. Radiologische oder laborchemische Untersuchungen sind für die Primärversorgung nur bedingt ausschlaggebend.
The Resilient Personality Prototype
Authors: Roth Marcus , Herzberg Philipp Yorck
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Typologies based on Big Five questionnaire data always include the resilient prototype, which is defined by low scores on neuroticism and above-average scores on extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. When measurement of the criterion domains is based on self-reports, this type evidences superior psychological adjustment and well-being in nearly all domains. In the present study, we tested whether the personality profile constituting the resilient prototype is an artifact of self-deceptive enhancement in answering questionnaires. Therefore, we contrasted self-reports of resilients with objective data that we collected during an actual stressful event. A total of 112 pupils (15–19 years) were examined via questionnaires and asked to complete a speech task in front of a video camera. Stress reactions were measured by self-reports as well as by nonverbal behavior, achievement, and physiological responding. Results showed that resilients differed from the other personality prototypes only when self-reports (coping, affectivity) were used. By contrast, no differences between personality prototypes emerged when the three objective stress indicators (speech performance, behavior, and physiological arousal) were used. These findings call into question the superior psychological adjustment attributed to the resilient prototype and stress the necessity of multimethod assessment in personality prototype research.
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 mRNA levels strongly correlate with the prognosis of myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Diamantopoulos P , Zervakis K , Zervakis P , Sofotasiou M , Vassilakopoulos T , Kotsianidis I , Symeonidis A , Pappa V , Galanopoulos A , Solomou E , Kodandreopoulou E , Papadopoulou V , Korkolopoulou P , Mantzourani M , Kyriakakis G , Viniou N-A ,   On behalf of the Hellenic MDS study Group
Published: February 2017

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) has a central role in the repair of DNA breaks and is a promising treatment target in malignancy. We measured PARP1 mRNA levels by a SYBR-green-based PCR in the bone marrow of 74 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and correlated them to their demographic, hematologic and prognostic characteristics. The median PARP1 mRNA levels were correlated to the type of MDS (2008/2016 WHO classification, P=0.005) and to the IPSS score (P=0.002). A correlation was also found with the IPSS-R score (P=0.011) and the cytogenetic risk (P=0.008). In all cases, higher PARP1 levels were correlated with a higher risk category. Moreover, we found a significant survival disadvantage for patients with high PARP1 levels (median survival of 37.4 months versus ‘not reached’ for low PARP1 levels, P=0.0001, and a 5-year survival rate of 29.8 versus 88.9%, respectively). PARP1 mRNA levels were found to be the stronger predictor of survival in multivariate analysis. These correlations have never been reported in the past and may render PARP1 a prognostic factor to be incorporated in the current prognostic systems for MDS, also laying the basis for clinical trials evaluating PARP1 inhibitors in higher-risk MDS.
The effect of body mass index at diagnosis on clinical outcome in children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Eissa H M , Zhou Y , Panetta J C , Browne E K , Jeha S , Cheng C , Relling M V , Campana D , Pui C-H , Inaba H
Published: February 2017

The impact of body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis on treatment outcome in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is controversial. We studied 373 children with ALL enrolled on the Total XV study, which prospectively used minimal residual disease (MRD) for risk assignment. MRD on day 19 and at the end of remission induction (day 46), cumulative incidence of relapse/refractory disease (CIR), event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using sets of four, three and two subgroups based on BMI at diagnosis, along with BMI percentile change during remission induction. Higher BMI was associated with older age and higher treatment risk. There was no association between MRD on days 19 or 46 and BMI for four, three or two BMI subgroups (P>0.1 in all cases), nor was BMI associated with CIR or EFS. Obese patients had worse OS compared with non-obese (P=0.031) due to treatment-related mortality and less salvage after refractory disease or bone marrow relapse. No association between BMI change during remission induction and MRD, CIR, EFS or OS was seen. BMI at diagnosis does not predict poorer response or relapse in a contemporary MRD-directed ALL regimen. Improvements in supportive care and innovative, less-toxic frontline/salvage therapies are needed, especially for obese patients.
Syntrophic linkage between predatory Carpediemonas and specific prokaryotic populations
Authors: Hamann Emmo , Tegetmeyer Halina E , Riedel Dietmar , Littmann Sten , Ahmerkamp Soeren , Chen Jianwei , Hach Philipp F , Strous Marc
Published: February 2017

Most anoxic environments are populated by small (<10 μm) heterotrophic eukaryotes that prey on different microbial community members. How predatory eukaryotes engage in beneficial interactions with other microbes has rarely been investigated so far. Here, we studied an example of such an interaction by cultivating the anerobic marine flagellate, Carpediemonas frisia sp. nov. (supergroup Excavata), with parts of its naturally associated microbiome. This microbiome consisted of so far uncultivated members of the Deltaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia and Nanoarchaeota. Using genome and transcriptome informed metabolic network modeling, we showed that Carpediemonas stimulated prokaryotic growth through the release of predigested biomolecules such as proteins, sugars, organic acids and hydrogen. Transcriptional gene activities suggested niche separation between biopolymer degrading Bacteroidetes, monomer utilizing Firmicutes and Nanoarchaeota and hydrogen oxidizing Deltaproteobacteria. An efficient metabolite exchange between the different community members appeared to be promoted by the formation of multispecies aggregates. Physiological experiments showed that Carpediemonas could also benefit from an association to these aggregates, as it facilitated the removal of inhibiting metabolites and increased the availability of prey bacteria. Taken together, our results provide a framework to understand how predatory microbial eukaryotes engage, across trophic levels, in beneficial interactions with specific prokaryotic populations.
Harnessing catalytic pumps for directional delivery of microparticles in microchambers
Authors: Das Sambeeta , Shklyaev Oleg E. , Altemose Alicia , Shum Henry , Ortiz-Rivera Isamar , Valdez Lyanne , Mallouk Thomas E. , Balazs Anna C. , Sen Ayusman
Published: February 2017

The directed transport of microparticles in microfluidic devices is vital for efficient bioassays and fabrication of complex microstructures. There remains, however, a need for methods to propel and steer microscopic cargo that do not require modifying these particles. Using theory and experiments, we show that catalytic surface reactions can be used to deliver microparticle cargo to specified regions in microchambers. Here reagents diffuse from a gel reservoir and react with the catalyst-coated surface. Fluid density gradients due to the spatially varying reagent concentration induce a convective flow, which carries the suspended particles until the reagents are consumed. Consequently, the cargo is deposited around a specific position on the surface. The velocity and final peak location of the cargo can be tuned independently. By increasing the local particle concentration, highly sensitive assays can be performed efficiently and rapidly. Moreover, the process can be repeated by introducing fresh reagent into the microchamber.
Transient auditory nerve demyelination as a new mechanism for hidden hearing loss
Authors: Wan Guoqiang , Corfas Gabriel
Published: February 2017

Hidden hearing loss (HHL) is a recently described auditory neuropathy believed to contribute to speech discrimination and intelligibility deficits in people with normal audiological tests. Animals and humans with HHL have normal auditory thresholds but defective cochlear neurotransmission, that is, reduced suprathreshold amplitude of the sound-evoked auditory nerve compound action potential. Currently, the only cellular mechanism known for HHL is loss of inner hair cell synapses (synaptopathy). Here we report that transient loss of cochlear Schwann cells results in permanent auditory deficits characteristic of HHL. This auditory neuropathy is not associated with synaptic loss, but rather with disruption of the first heminodes at the auditory nerve peripheral terminal. Thus, this study identifies a new mechanism for HHL, highlights the long-term consequences of transient Schwann cell loss on hearing and might provide insights into the causes of the auditory deficits reported in patients that recover from acute demyelinating diseases such as Guillain–Barré syndrome.
Decoupling absorption and emission processes in super-resolution localization of emitters in a plasmonic hotspot
Authors: Mack David L. , Cortés Emiliano , Giannini Vincenzo , Török Peter , Roschuk Tyler , Maier Stefan A.
Published: February 2017

The absorption process of an emitter close to a plasmonic antenna is enhanced due to strong local electromagnetic (EM) fields. The emission, if resonant with the plasmonic system, re-radiates to the far-field by coupling with the antenna via plasmonic states, whose presence increases the local density of states. Far-field collection of the emission of single molecules close to plasmonic antennas, therefore, provides mixed information of both the local EM field strength and the local density of states. Moreover, super-resolution localizations from these emission-coupled events do not report the real position of the molecules. Here we propose using a fluorescent molecule with a large Stokes shift in order to spectrally decouple the emission from the plasmonic system, leaving the absorption strongly resonant with the antenna’s enhanced EM fields. We demonstrate that this technique provides an effective way of mapping the EM field or the local density of states with nanometre spatial resolution.
Edge currents shunt the insulating bulk in gapped graphene
Authors: Zhu M. J. , Kretinin A. V. , Thompson M. D. , Bandurin D. A. , Hu S. , Yu G. L. , Birkbeck J. , Mishchenko A. , Vera-Marun I. J. , Watanabe K. , Taniguchi T. , Polini M. , Prance J. R. , Novoselov K. S. , Geim A. K. , Ben Shalom M.
Published: February 2017

An energy gap can be opened in the spectrum of graphene reaching values as large as 0.2 eV in the case of bilayers. However, such gaps rarely lead to the highly insulating state expected at low temperatures. This long-standing puzzle is usually explained by charge inhomogeneity. Here we revisit the issue by investigating proximity-induced superconductivity in gapped graphene and comparing normal-state measurements in the Hall bar and Corbino geometries. We find that the supercurrent at the charge neutrality point in gapped graphene propagates along narrow channels near the edges. This observation is corroborated by using the edgeless Corbino geometry in which case resistivity at the neutrality point increases exponentially with increasing the gap, as expected for an ordinary semiconductor. In contrast, resistivity in the Hall bar geometry saturates to values of about a few resistance quanta. We attribute the metallic-like edge conductance to a nontrivial topology of gapped Dirac spectra.
Constitutional variants are not associated with HER2-positive breast cancer: results from the SIGNAL/PHARE clinical cohort
Authors: Pivot Xavier , Romieu Gilles , Fumoleau Pierre , Rios Maria , Bonnefoi Hervé , Bachelot Thomas , Soulié Patrick , Jouannaud Christelle , Bourgeois Hugues , Petit Thierry , Tennevet Isabelle , Assouline David , Mathieu Marie-Christine , Jacquin Jean-Philippe , Lavau-Denes Sandrine , Darut-Jouve Ariane , Ferrero Jean-Marc , Tarpin Carole , Lévy Christelle , Delecroix Valérie , Trillet-Lenoir Véronique , Cojocarasu Oana , Meunier Jérôme , Pierga Jean-Yves , Agostini Cécile , Kerbrat Pierre , Faure-Mercier Céline , Blanché Hélène , Sahbatou Mourad , Boland Anne , Bacq Delphine , Besse Céline , Calvo Fabien , Renaud Alexia , Deleuze Jean-François , Pauporté Iris , Thomas Gilles , Cox David G.
Published: February 2017

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer is a subtype of interest regarding its outcome and the impressive impact of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 targeted therapy. Constitutional variants may be involved in the aetiology of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer, and we propose a case–case study to test the hypothesis that single nucleotide polymorphisms may be associated with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status. A Genome-Wide Association Study was used in a cohort of 9836 patients from the SIGNAL/PHARE study (NCT00381901-RECF1098). The main goal was to identify variants specifically related to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer. A two-staged genotyping strategy was carried out to cover as large a proportion of the genome as possible. All subjects were genotyped using the Illumina HumanCore Exome chip set. Principal Components Analysis andk-means were then used to characterize the ancestry of the participants. A random sample of subjects from the main “European” cluster was genotyped with the Omni5 chip set. These data were then used to impute missing genotypes from the remaining subjects genotyped only using the HumanCore Exome array. From the 9836 patients, a total of 8703 cases including 3230 patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer were analyzed. Despite having 80% power to detect an odds ratio of 1.23 in this population, no variant achieved genome-wide significance for association with the occurrence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive breast cancer vs. any other subtype of breast tumour. Our study was unable to identify constitutional polymorphisms that are strongly associated with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive status among breast cancer patients.
Alpha-D-glucan nanoparticulate adjuvant induces a transient inflammatory response at the injection site and targets antigen to migratory dendritic cells
Authors: Lu Fangjia , Mosley Yung-Yi C. , Rodriguez Rosales Randol J. , Carmichael Brooke E. , Elesela Srikanth , Yao Yuan , HogenEsch Harm
Published: February 2017

Biodegradable nanoparticles with functionalized surfaces are attractive candidates as vaccine adjuvants. Nano-11 are cationic dendrimer-like α-D-glucan nanoparticles with a diameter of 70–80 nm. Mice injected with antigen formulated with Nano-11 developed antibody titers that were similar or greater than antigen with aluminum adjuvant. Utilizing an in vivo imaging system, Nano-11 was shown to remain at the injection site after administration and cleared gradually over the course of 3 weeks. Injection of Nano-11 induced a transient inflammatory response characterized by recruitment of a mixed population of inflammatory cells, predominantly monocytes and macrophages with relatively few neutrophils. Recruited Mac-2+macrophages efficiently phagocytized the majority of Nano-11 at the injection site. Fluorescently labeled Nano-11 was present in cells in the draining lymph nodes 1 day after injection, with the majority contained in migratory dendritic cells. Injection of ovalbumin adsorbed to Nano-11 resulted in an increase of ovalbumin-containing cells in draining lymph nodes. Nano-11 delivered more antigen to antigen-presenting cells on a per cell basis and demonstrated more specific targeting to highly immunopotentiating migratory dendritic cells compared with soluble or aluminum hydroxide adsorbed ovalbumin. These results support the efficacy of Nano-11 and its potential use as a next generation vaccine adjuvant.
DNA methylation map in circulating leukocytes mirrors subcutaneous adipose tissue methylation pattern: a genome-wide analysis from non-obese and obese patients
Authors: Crujeiras A. B. , Diaz-Lagares A. , Sandoval J. , Milagro F. I. , Navas-Carretero S. , Carreira M. C. , Gomez A. , Hervas D. , Monteiro M. P. , Casanueva F. F. , Esteller M. , Martinez J. A.
Published: February 2017

The characterization of the epigenetic changes within the obesity-related adipose tissue will provide new insights to understand this metabolic disorder, but adipose tissue is not easy to sample in population-based studies. We aimed to evaluate the capacity of circulating leukocytes to reflect the adipose tissue-specific DNA methylation status of obesity susceptibility. DNA samples isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue and circulating leukocytes were hybridized in the Infinium HumanMethylation 450 BeadChip. Data were compared between samples from obese (n = 45) and non-obese (n = 8–10) patients by Wilcoxon-rank test, unadjusted for cell type distributions. A global hypomethylation of the differentially methylated CpG sites (DMCpGs) was observed in the obese subcutaneous adipose tissue and leukocytes. The overlap analysis yielded a number of genes mapped by the common DMCpGs that were identified to reflect the obesity state in the leukocytes. Specifically, the methylation levels of FGFRL1, NCAPH2, PNKD and SMAD3 exhibited excellent and statistically significant efficiencies in the discrimination of obesity from non-obesity status (AUC > 0.80; p < 0.05) and a great correlation between both tissues. Therefore, the current study provided new and valuable DNA methylation biomarkers of obesity-related adipose tissue pathogenesis through peripheral blood analysis, an easily accessible and minimally invasive biological material instead of adipose tissue.
Palindromic amplification of the ERBB2 oncogene in primary HER2-positive breast tumors
Authors: Marotta Michael , Onodera Taku , Johnson Jeffrey , Budd G. Thomas , Watanabe Takaaki , Cui Xiaojiang , Giuliano Armando E. , Niida Atsushi , Tanaka Hisashi
Published: February 2017

Oncogene amplification confers a growth advantage to tumor cells for clonal expansion. There are several, recurrently amplified oncogenes throughout the human genome. However, it remains unclear whether this recurrent amplification is solely a manifestation of increased fitness resulting from random amplification mechanisms, or if a genomic locus-specific amplification mechanism plays a role. Here we show that the ERBB2 oncogene at 17q12 is susceptible to palindromic gene amplification, a mechanism characterized by the inverted (palindromic) duplication of genomic segments, in HER2-positive breast tumors. We applied two genomic approaches to investigate amplification mechanisms: sequencing of DNA libraries enriched with tumor-derived palindromic DNA (Genome-wide Analysis of Palindrome Formation) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). We observed significant enrichment of palindromic DNA within amplified ERBB2 genomic segments. Palindromic DNA was particularly enriched at amplification peaks and at boundaries between amplified and normal copy-number regions. Thus, palindromic gene amplification shaped the amplified ERBB2 locus. The enrichment of palindromic DNA throughout the amplified segments leads us to propose that the ERBB2 locus is amplified through the mechanism that repeatedly generates palindromic DNA, such as Breakage-Fusion-Bridge cycles. The genomic architecture surrounding ERBB2 in the normal genome, such as segmental duplications, could promote the locus-specific mechanism.