bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevention of Needle-Stick Injuries in Healthcare Facilities: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tarigan Lukman H. , Cifuentes Manuel , Quinn Margaret , Kriebel David
Published: March 2015

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the summary effectiveness of different needle-stick injury (NSI)-prevention interventions.

DESIGN

We conducted a meta-analysis of English-language articles evaluating methods for reducing needle stick, sharp, or percutaneous injuries published from 2002 to 2012 identified using PubMed and Medline EBSCO databases. Data were extracted using a standardized instrument. Random effects models were used to estimate the summary effectiveness of 3 interventions: training alone, safety-engineered devices (SEDs) alone, and the combination of training and SEDs.

SETTING

Healthcare facilities, mainly hospitals

PARTICIPANTS

Healthcare workers including physicians, midwives, and nurses

RESULTS

From an initial pool of 250 potentially relevant studies, 17 studies met our inclusion criteria. Six eligible studies evaluated the effectiveness of training interventions, and the summary effect of the training intervention was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.50–0.89). The summary effect across the 5 studies that assessed the efficacy of SEDs was 0.51 (95% CI, 0.40–0.64). A total of 8 studies evaluated the effectiveness of training plus SEDs, with a summary effect of 0.38 (95% CI, 0.28–0.50).

CONCLUSION

Training combined with SEDs can substantially reduce the risk of NSIs.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2015;36(7):823–829
POSITIONAL STRATEGIES IN LONG EHRENFEUCHT–FRAÏSSÉ GAMES
Authors: SHELAH S. , VÄÄNÄNEN J. , VELIČKOVIĆ B.
Published: March 2015

We prove that it is relatively consistent with ZF + CH that there exist two models of cardinality $\aleph _2 $ such that the second player has a winning strategy in the Ehrenfeucht–Fraïssé-game of length ω1 but there is no σ-closed back-and-forth set for the two models. If CH fails, no such pairs of models exist.
Unravelling the ‘Tangled Web’: Chemotherapy for Tuberculosis in Britain, 1940–70The William Bynum Prize Essay
Authors: Leeming-Latham Clare
Published: March 2015

The introduction and assimilation of chemotherapy to treat pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) during the mid-twentieth century appears at first sight to be a success story dominated by the use of streptomycin in a series of randomised clinical trials run under the auspices of the Medical Research Council (MRC). However, what this standard rhetoric overlooks is the complexity of TB chemotherapy, and the relationship between this and two other ways of treating the disease, bed rest and thoracic surgery. During the late 1940s and 1950s, these three treatment strands overlapped one another, and determining best practice from a plethora of prescribing choices was a difficult task. This article focuses on the clinical decision-making underpinning the evolution of successful treatment for TB using drugs alone. Fears over the risk of streptomycin-resistant organisms entering the community meant that, initially, the clinical application of streptomycin was limited. Combining it with other drugs lessened this risk, but even so the potential of chemotherapy as a curative option for TB was not immediately apparent. The MRC ran a series of clinical trials in the post-war period but not all of their recommendations were adopted by clinicians in the field. Rather, a range of different determinants, including the timing of trials, the time taken for results to emerge, and whether these results ‘fitted’ with individual experience all influenced the translation of trial results into clinical practice.
Forgotten Dreams: Recalling the Patient in British Psychotherapy, 1945–60
Authors: Poskett James
Published: March 2015

The forgotten dream proved central to the early development of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic technique inThe Interpretation of Dreams(1900). However, little attention has been paid to the shifting uses of forgotten dreams within psychotherapeutic practice over the course of the twentieth century. This paper argues that post-war psychotherapists in London, both Jungian and Freudian, developed a range of subtly different approaches to dealing with their patients’ forgotten dreams. Theoretical commitments and institutional cultures shaped the work of practitioners including Donald Winnicott, Melanie Klein, Anna Freud, and Edward Griffith. By drawing on diaries and case notes, this paper also identifies the active role played by patients in negotiating the mechanics of therapy, and the appropriate response to a forgotten dream. This suggests a broader need for a detailed social history of post-Freudian psychotherapeutic technique, one that recognises the demands of both patients and practitioners.
On the Neolithic transition in Europe: a comment on Zvelebil & Zvelebil (1988)
Authors: Ammerman A. J.
Published: March 2015

Ammerman & Cavalli-Sforza's ‘wave of advance’ model figured in the Indo-European Special Section in the September ANTIQUITY. One of its architects here comments on how his model was presented there, and makes some wider proposals.
How Did Britain Democratize? Views from the Sovereign Bond Market
Authors: Dasgupta Aditya , Ziblatt Daniel
Published: March 2015

To assess competing theories of democratization, we analyze British sovereign bond market responses to the 1832, 1867, and 1884 Reform Acts, and to two failed Chartist agitations for reform. Analyses of high-frequency 3 percent consol yield data and historical financial press suggest three conclusions. First, democratic reform episodes were preceded by increases in perceived political risk, comparable to democratizing episodes in other countries. Second, both democratic reform and repression were followed by yield declines. Third, the source of political risk in Britain was both social unrest and political deadlock. Together, the findings challenge the “Whig” characterization of British democratization as exceptionally risk-free.
Shell sculpture formation in bivalves of the genus Hiatella under different temperature conditions
Authors: Lezin Peter , Flyachinskaya Lyudmila
Published: March 2015

This study examines the effect of water temperature on the formation of shell sculpture in young molluscs of the genus Hiatella. The larvae of H. arctica and H. gallicana were maintained under laboratory conditions at different temperature regimes. The animals were reared from late veligers to juveniles with a shell length of 700 μm. The results of the experiment showed that the shell sculpture, which is a diagnostic species character, was developed to various degrees at different temperatures. The larvae of each species grew to juveniles with variously pronounced shell sculptures ranging from a complete absence of sculpturing to its maximum development. The individuals with smooth shells like those of H. gallicana were the most abundant among the molluscs reared at +5°С. At +12°С, all molluscs formed ridges and two rows of long spines in the posterior portion of the shell, which is typical for H. arctica. At +8°С, the molluscs developed various intermediate forms of shell sculpture. It was, therefore, demonstrated that the development and prominence of shell sculpture is determined by environmental temperature. These results are discussed with regards to the validity of using shell sculpture as a taxonomic character for species in the genus Hiatella.
Assessing second language speaking
Authors: Fulcher Glenn
Published: March 2015

While the viva voce (oral) examination has always been used in content-based educational assessment (Latham 1877: 132), the assessment of second language (L2) speaking in performance tests is relatively recent. The impetus for the growth in testing speaking during the 19th and 20th centuries is twofold. Firstly, in educational settings the development of rating scales was driven by the need to improve achievement in public schools, and to communicate that improvement to the outside world. Chadwick (1864, see timeline) implies that the rating scales first devised in the 1830s served two purposes: providing information to the classroom teacher on learner progress for formative use, and generating data for school accountability. From the earliest days, such data was used for parents to select schools for their children in order to ‘maximize the benefit of their investment’ (Chadwick 1858). Secondly, in military settings it was imperative to be able to predict which soldiers were able to undertake tasks in the field without risk to themselves or other personnel (Kaulfers 1944, see timeline). Many of the key developments in speaking test design and rating scales are linked to military needs.
The English Placement Test at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Authors: Chung Sun Joo , Haider Iftikhar , Boyd Ryan
Published: March 2015

At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), the English Placement Test (EPT) is the institutional placement test that is used to place students into appropriate English as a second language (ESL) writing and/or pronunciation service courses. The EPT is used to assess the English ability of newly admitted international undergraduate and graduate students as validated against the English language demands of our campus (UIUC English Placement Test 2013). According to Davidson & Cho (2001), the current format of the EPT has maintained its quality and displayed evidence of validity through the use of detailed test specifications that align with the goals of the UIUC ESL writing and pronunciation service courses. UIUC offers these courses to international students who are accepted on a limited status based on their scores on standardized English proficiency tests (TOEFL or IELTS) and/or other relevant information in each student's admission dossier. Students accepted on limited admission status are required to take the EPT before start of instruction.
Ethnic Identity and Second Language Learning
Authors: Trofimovich Pavel , Turuševa Larisa
Published: March 2015

Ethnic identity refers to the subjective experience embracing the feelings, experiences, and behaviors through which people position their membership in a single or multiple ethnic groups. The goal of this article is to integrate evidence from social psychology and applied linguistics, by focusing on the identity–language link from the perspective most relevant to second language (L2) development, namely, by considering how ethnic identity might be implicated in L2 learning. We first define and contextualize ethnic identity and its possible relationships to language. We then review recent empirical evidence for the link between ethnic identity and L2 measures, and we speculate on whether this link represents a bidirectional relationship whereby ethnic identity and language are interlocked through self-reinforcing processes and mediated through language users’ experience with language. We conclude by framing research on ethnic identity within sociocognitive views of L2 learning and describe several possible avenues for advancing this area of research.
Social Class in Applied Linguistics
Authors: Block David
Published: March 2015

Social class is a curious construct. In the discipline where it has traditionally been most at home, sociology, there has been a constant flow of commentary on its demise and, indeed, its death over the years. In applied linguistics, the situation is somewhat different in that there has been a degree of social classdenial, but more importantly, there has been social classerasurein that the construct has tended to receive little or no attention in publications that deal with language and identity and social life. Where social class is introduced into research, it is almost always done in a very cursory, partial, and superficial way. Still, there has been some research examining the interrelationship between social class and language over the years, and in this article, I provide a review of that research, focusing primarily on the period 2000–2014. First, however, I include a discussion of what social class means in 21st-century societies and a short review of class-based research carried out from the 1960s to the 1990s, the inclusion of the latter being necessary to an understanding of research after 2000. I conclude the article with some thoughts about future directions.
On the integral Tate conjecture over finite fields
Authors: KAMEKO MASAKI
Published: March 2015

We give non-torsion counterexamples to the integral Tate conjecture over finite fields. We extend the result due to Pirutka and Yagita for prime numbers 2, 3, 5 to all prime numbers.
Effect of Visual Cues on the Resolution of Perceptual Ambiguity in Parkinson’s Disease and Normal Aging
Authors: Díaz-Santos Mirella , Cao Bo , Mauro Samantha A. , Yazdanbakhsh Arash , Neargarder Sandy , Cronin-Golomb Alice
Published: March 2015

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and normal aging have been associated with changes in visual perception, including reliance on external cues to guide behavior. This raises the question of the extent to which these groups use visual cues when disambiguating information. Twenty-seven individuals with PD, 23 normal control adults (NC), and 20 younger adults (YA) were presented a Necker cube in which one face was highlighted by thickening the lines defining the face. The hypothesis was that the visual cues would help PD and NC to exert better control over bistable perception. There were three conditions, including passive viewing and two volitional-control conditions (hold one percept in front; and switch: speed up the alternation between the two). In the Hold condition, the cue was either consistent or inconsistent with task instructions. Mean dominance durations (time spent on each percept) under passive viewing were comparable in PD and NC, and shorter in YA. PD and YA increased dominance durations in the Hold cue-consistent condition relative to NC, meaning that appropriate cues helped PD but not NC hold one perceptual interpretation. By contrast, in the Switch condition, NC and YA decreased dominance durations relative to PD, meaning that the use of cues helped NC but not PD in expediting the switch between percepts. Provision of low-level cues has effects on volitional control in PD that are different from in normal aging, and only under task-specific conditions does the use of such cues facilitate the resolution of perceptual ambiguity. (JINS, 2015, 21, 146–155)
Explaining why, right or wrong, (Italian) households do not like reverse mortgages
Authors: FORNERO ELSA , ROSSI MARIACRISTINA , URZÍ BRANCATI MARIA CESIRA
Published: March 2015

We investigate the determinants of interest in reverse mortgages (RM) for a sample of Italian homeowners and find that the majority of individuals belonging to categories identified, on the basis of economic analysis, as the main potential beneficiaries (i.e., women, elderly and ‘house rich–cash poor’ individuals) are, in fact, less likely to express an interest. When allowing for individual characteristics, we find that most results remain robust and notice that risk aversion and negative expectations on one's standard of living after retirement predict higher interest in the product. These results suggest that RM is perceived not so much as an ordinary instrument to achieve a better standard of living, but rather as a remedy against poor consumption.
A benzimidazole derivative exhibiting antitumor activity blocks EGFR and HER2 activity and upregulates DR5 in breast cancer cells
Authors: Chu B , Liu F , Li L , Ding C , Chen K , Sun Q , Shen Z , Tan Y , Tan C , Jiang Y
Published: March 2015

Aberrant expression or function of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or the closely related human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) can promote cell proliferation and survival, thereby contributing to tumorigenesis. Specific antibodies and low-molecular-weight tyrosine kinase inhibitors of both proteins are currently in clinical trials for cancer treatment. Benzimidazole derivatives possess diverse biological activities, including antitumor activity. However, the anticancer mechanism of 5a (a 2-aryl benzimidazole compound; 2-chloro-N-(2-p-tolyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)acetamide, C16H14ClN3O, MW299), a novel 2-aryl benzimidazole derivative, toward breast cancer is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that 5a potently inhibited both EGFR and HER2 activity by reducing EGFR and HER2 tyrosine phosphorylation and preventing downstream activation of PI3K/Akt and MEK/Erk pathways in vitro and in vivo. We also show that 5a inhibited the phosphorylation of FOXO and promoted FOXO translocation from the cytoplasm into the nucleus, resulting in the G1-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, 5a potently induced apoptosis via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-mediated death receptor 5 upregulation in breast cancer cells. The antitumor activity of 5a was consistent with additional results demonstrating that 5a significantly reduced tumor volume in nude mice in vivo. Analysis of the primary breast cancer cell lines with HER2 overexpression further confirmed that 5a significantly inhibited Akt Ser473 and Bad Ser136 phosphorylation and reduced cyclin D3 expression. On the basis of our findings, further development of this 2-aryl benzimidazole derivative, a new class of multitarget anticancer agents, is warranted and represents a novel strategy for improving breast cancer treatment.
Plasma membrane poration by opioid neuropeptides: a possible mechanism of pathological signal transduction
Authors: Maximyuk O , Khmyz V , Lindskog C-J , Vukojević V , Ivanova T , Bazov I , Hauser K F , Bakalkin G , Krishtal O
Published: March 2015

Neuropeptides induce signal transduction across the plasma membrane by acting through cell-surface receptors. The dynorphins, endogenous ligands for opioid receptors, are an exception; they also produce non-receptor-mediated effects causing pain and neurodegeneration. To understand non-receptor mechanism(s), we examined interactions of dynorphins with plasma membrane. Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and patch-clamp electrophysiology, we demonstrate that dynorphins accumulate in the membrane and induce a continuum of transient increases in ionic conductance. This phenomenon is consistent with stochastic formation of giant (~2.7 nm estimated diameter) unstructured non-ion-selective membrane pores. The potency of dynorphins to porate the plasma membrane correlates with their pathogenic effects in cellular and animal models. Membrane poration by dynorphins may represent a mechanism of pathological signal transduction. Persistent neuronal excitation by this mechanism may lead to profound neuropathological alterations, including neurodegeneration and cell death.
MicroRNA-532-3p regulates mitochondrial fission through targeting apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain in doxorubicin cardiotoxicity
Authors: Wang J-X , Zhang X-J , Feng C , Sun T , Wang K , Wang Y , Zhou L-Y , Li P-F
Published: March 2015

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a wide-spectrum antitumor drug, but its clinical application is limited by its cardiotoxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying DOX-induced cardiomyopathy remain mostly unclear. Here we observed that apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) was downregulated in mouse heart and cardiomyocytes upon DOX treatment. Furthermore, enforced expression of ARC attenuated DOX-induced cardiomyocyte mitochondrial fission and apoptosis. ARC transgenic mice demonstrated reduced cardiotoxicity upon DOX administration. DOX-induced mitochondrial fission required the activity of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1). In elucidating the molecular mechanism by which ARC was downregulated upon DOX treatment, miR-532-3p was found to directly target ARC and participated in DOX-induced mitochondrial fission and apoptosis. MiR-532-3p was not involved in DOX-induced apoptosis in cancer cells. Taken together, these findings provide novel evidence that miR-532-3p and ARC constitute an antiapoptotic pathway that regulates DOX cardiotoxicity. Therefore, the development of new therapeutic strategies based on ARC and miR-532-3p is promising for overcoming the cardiotoxicity of chemotherapy for cancer therapy.
Endometrial cancer-associated mutants of SPOP are defective in regulating estrogen receptor-α protein turnover
Authors: Zhang P , Gao K , Jin X , Ma J , Peng J , Wumaier R , Tang Y , Zhang Y , An J , Yan Q , Dong Y , Huang H , Yu L , Wang C
Published: March 2015

Increasing amounts of evidence strongly suggests that dysregulation of ubiquitin-proteasome system is closely associated with cancer pathogenesis. Speckle-type POZ protein (SPOP) is an adapter protein of the CUL3-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes. It selectively recruits substrates for their ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. Recently, several exome-sequencing studies of endometrial cancer revealed high frequency somatic mutations in SPOP (5.7–10%). However, how SPOP mutations contribute to endometrial cancer remains unknown. Here, we identified estrogen receptor-α (ERα), a major endometrial cancer promoter, as a substrate for the SPOP-CUL3-RBX1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. SPOP specifically recognizes multiple Ser/Thr (S/T)-rich degrons located in the AF2 domain of ERα, and triggers ERα degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. SPOP depletion by siRNAs promotes endometrial cells growth. Strikingly, endometrial cancer-associated mutants of SPOP are defective in regulating ERα degradation and ubiquitination. Furthermore, we found that SPOP participates in estrogen-induced ERα degradation and transactivation. Our study revealed novel molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of ERα protein homeostasis in physiological and pathological conditions, and provided insights in understanding the relationship between SPOP mutations and the development of endometrial cancer.
PAK1 regulates RUFY3-mediated gastric cancer cell migration and invasion
Authors: Wang G , Zhang Q , Song Y , Wang X , Guo Q , Zhang J , Li J , Han Y , Miao Z , Li F
Published: March 2015

Actin protrusion at the cell periphery is central to the formation of invadopodia during tumor cell migration and invasion. Although RUFY3 (RUN and FYVE domain containing 3)/SINGAR1 (single axon-related1)/RIPX (Rap2 interacting protein X) has an important role in neuronal development, its pathophysiologic role and relevance to cancer are still largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which RUFY3 involves in gastric cancer cell migration and invasion. Here, our data show that overexpression of RUFY3 leads to the formation of F-actin-enriched protrusive structures at the cell periphery and induces gastric cancer cell migration. Furthermore, P21-activated kinase-1 (PAK1) interacts with RUFY3, and promotes RUFY3 expression and RUFY3-induced gastric cancer cell migration; inhibition of PAK1 attenuates RUFY3-induced SGC-7901 cell migration and invasion. Importantly, we found that the inhibitory effect of cell migration and invasion is significantly enhanced by knockdown of both PAK1 and RUFY3 compared with knockdown of RUFY3 alone or PAK1 alone. Strikingly, we found significant upregulation of RUFY3 in gastric cancer samples with invasive carcinoma at pathologic TNM III and TNM IV stages, compared with their non-tumor counterparts. Moreover, an obvious positive correlation was observed between the protein expression of RUFY3 and PAK1 in 40 pairs of gastric cancer samples. Therefore, these findings provide important evidence that PAK1 can positively regulate RUFY3 expression, which contribute to the metastatic potential of gastric cancer cells, maybe blocking PAK1-RUFY3 signaling would become a potential metastasis therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.
Variola virus F1L is a Bcl-2-like protein that unlike its vaccinia virus counterpart inhibits apoptosis independent of Bim
Authors: Marshall B , Puthalakath H , Caria S , Chugh S , Doerflinger M , Colman P M , Kvansakul M
Published: March 2015

Subversion of host cell apoptosis is an important survival strategy for viruses to ensure their own proliferation and survival. Certain viruses express proteins homologous in sequence, structure and function to mammalian pro-survival B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) proteins, which prevent rapid clearance of infected host cells. In vaccinia virus (VV), the virulence factor F1L was shown to be a potent inhibitor of apoptosis that functions primarily be engaging pro-apoptotic Bim. Variola virus (VAR), the causative agent of smallpox, harbors a homolog of F1L of unknown function. We show that VAR F1L is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis, and unlike all other characterized anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members lacks affinity for the Bim Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain. Instead, VAR F1L engages Bid BH3 as well as Bak and Bax BH3 domains. Unlike its VV homolog, variola F1L only protects against Bax-mediated apoptosis in cellular assays. Crystal structures of variola F1L bound to Bid and Bak BH3 domains reveal that variola F1L forms a domain-swapped Bcl-2 fold, which accommodates Bid and Bak BH3 in the canonical Bcl-2-binding groove, in a manner similar to VV F1L. Despite the observed conservation of structure and sequence, variola F1L inhibits apoptosis using a startlingly different mechanism compared with its VV counterpart. Our results suggest that unlike during VV infection, Bim neutralization may not be required during VAR infection. As molecular determinants for the human-specific tropism of VAR remain essentially unknown, identification of a different mechanism of action and utilization of host factors used by a VAR virulence factor compared with its VV homolog suggest that studying VAR directly may be essential to understand its unique tropism.
Life or death by NFκB, Losartan promotes survival in dy2J/dy2J mouse of MDC1A
Authors: Elbaz M , Yanay N , Laban S , Rabie M , Mitrani-Rosenbaum S , Nevo Y
Published: March 2015

Inflammation and fibrosis are well-defined mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the incurable Laminin α2-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy (MDC1A), while apoptosis mechanism is barely discussed. Our previous study showed treatment with Losartan, an angiotensin II type I receptor antagonist, improved muscle strength and reduced fibrosis through transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling inhibition in the dy2J/dy2J mouse model of MDC1A. Here we show for the first time that Losartan treatment up-regulates and shifts the nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) signaling pathway to favor survival versus apoptosis/damage in this animal model. Losartan treatment was associated with significantly increased serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level, p65 nuclei accumulation, and decreased muscle IκB-β protein level, indicating NFκB activation. Moreover, NFκB anti-apoptotic target genes TNF receptor-associated factor 1 (TRAF1), TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (cIAP2), and Ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) were increased following Losartan treatment. Losartan induced protein expression toward a pro-survival profile as BCL-2 expression levels were increased and Caspase-3 expression levels were decreased. Muscle apoptosis reduction was further confirmed using terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Thus, along with TGF-β and MAPK signaling, NFκB serves as an important regulatory pathway which following Losartan treatment promotes survival in the dy2J/dy2J mouse model of MDC1A.
α2u-globulins mediate manipulation of host attractiveness in Toxoplasma gondii–Rattus novergicus association
Authors: Vasudevan Anand , Kumar Vineet , Ning Chiang Yin , Yew Joanne Y , Cheemadan Sabna , Vyas Ajai
Published: March 2015

Uninfected female rats (Rattus novergicus) exhibit greater attraction to the males infected with protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This phenomenon is contrary to the aversion towards infected males observed in multitude of other host–parasite associations. In this report, we describe a proximate mechanism for this anomaly. We demonstrate that T. gondii infection enhances hepatic production and urinary excretion of α2u-globulins in rats. We further demonstrate that α2u-globulins are sufficient to recapitulate male sexual attractiveness akin to effects of the infection. This manipulation possibly results in greater horizontal transmission of this parasite between the infected male and the uninfected female. It supports the notion that in some evolutionary niches parasites can alter host sexual signaling, likely leading to an increased rate of sexual transmission.
The a.c. Josephson effect without superconductivity
Authors: Gaury Benoit , Weston Joseph , Waintal Xavier
Published: March 2015

Superconductivity derives its most salient features from the coherence of the associated macroscopic wave function. The related physical phenomena have now moved from exotic subjects to fundamental building blocks for quantum circuits such as qubits or single photonic modes. Here we predict that the a.c. Josephson effect—which transforms a d.c. voltageVbinto an oscillating signal cos (2eVbt/ħ)—has a mesoscopic counterpart in normal conductors. We show that when a d.c. voltageVbis applied to an electronic interferometer, there exists a universal transient regime where the current oscillates at frequencyeVb/h. This effect is not limited by a superconducting gap and could, in principle, be used to produce tunable a.c. signals in the elusive 0.1–10-THz ‘terahertz gap’.
Dynamic designing of microstructures by chemical gradient-mediated growth
Authors: Shim Tae Soup , Yang Seung-Man , Kim Shin-Hyun
Published: March 2015

Shape is one of the most important determinants of the properties of microstructures. Despite of a recent progress on microfabrication techniques, production of three-dimensional micro-objects are yet to be fully achieved. Nature uses reaction–diffusion process during bottom-up self-assembly to create functional shapes and patterns with high complexity. Here we report a method to produce polymeric microstructures by using a dynamic reaction–diffusion process during top-down photolithography, providing unprecedented control over shape and composition. In radical polymerization, oxygen inhibits reaction, and therefore diffusion of oxygen significantly alters spatial distribution of growth rate. Therefore, growth pathways of the microstructures can be controlled by engineering a concentration gradient of oxygen. Moreover, stepwise control of chemical gradients enables the creation of highly complex microstructures. The ease of use and high controllability of this technology provide new opportunities for microfabrication and for fundamental studies on the relationships between shape and function for the materials.
A Dynamical Systems Explanation of the Hurst Effect and Atmospheric Low-Frequency Variability
Authors: Franzke Christian L. E. , Osprey Scott M. , Davini Paolo , Watkins Nicholas W.
Published: March 2015

The Hurst effect plays an important role in many areas such as physics, climate and finance. It describes the anomalous growth of range and constrains the behavior and predictability of these systems. The Hurst effect is frequently taken to be synonymous with Long-Range Dependence (LRD) and is typically assumed to be produced by a stationary stochastic process which has infinite memory. However, infinite memory appears to be at odds with the Markovian nature of most physical laws while the stationarity assumption lacks robustness. Here we use Lorenz's paradigmatic chaotic model to show that regime behavior can also cause the Hurst effect. By giving an alternative, parsimonious, explanation using nonstationary Markovian dynamics, our results question the common belief that the Hurst effect necessarily implies a stationary infinite memory process. We also demonstrate that our results can explain atmospheric variability without the infinite memory previously thought necessary and are consistent with climate model simulations.
Morphology of human sweat ducts observed by optical coherence tomography and their frequency of resonance in the terahertz frequency region
Authors: Tripathi Saroj R. , Miyata Eisuke , Ishai Paul Ben , Kawase Kodo
Published: March 2015

It is crucial to understand the various biological effects induced by terahertz (THz) electromagnetic waves with the rapid development of electronic and photonic devices operating in the THz frequency region. The presence of sweat glands plays an important role in THz wave interactions with human skin. We investigated the morphological features of sweat ducts using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to further understand such phenomena. We observed remarkable features of the ducts, such as their clear helical structure. The intersubject and intrasubject variations in the diameter of sweat ducts were considerably smaller than the variations in other structural parameters, such as length and number of turns. Based on the sweat duct dimensions and THz dielectric properties of skin measured using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), we calculated the resonating frequency of the sweat duct under the assumption of it functioning as a helical antenna. Here, we show that the resonance frequency in the axial mode of operation lies in the THz wave region with a centre frequency of 0.44 ± 0.07 THz. We expect that these findings will further our understanding of the various health consequences of the interaction of THz waves with human beings.
Protective effect of botulinum toxin A after cutaneous ischemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: Uchiyama Akihiko , Yamada Kazuya , Perera Buddhini , Ogino Sachiko , Yokoyama Yoko , Takeuchi Yuko , Ishikawa Osamu , Motegi Sei-ichiro
Published: March 2015

Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) blocks the release of acetylcholine vesicles into the synaptic space and has been clinically used for aesthetic indications, neuromuscular disorders and hyperhidrosis. Several studies have demonstrated that BTX-A enhanced the blood flow and improved ischemia in animal models. Our objective was to assess the effects of BTX-A on cutaneous ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries, mimicking decubitus ulcers. The administration of BTX-A in I/R areas significantly inhibited the formation of decubitus-like ulcer in cutaneous I/R injury mouse model. The number of CD31+ vessels and αSMA+ pericytes or myofibroblasts in wounds were significantly increased in the I/R mice treated with BTX-A. The hypoxic area and the number of oxidative stress-associated DNA-damaged cells and apoptotic cells in the I/R sites were reduced by BTX-A administration. In an in vitro assay, BTX-A significantly prevented the oxidant-induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, the administration of BTX-A completely suppressed the ulcer formation in an intermittent short-time cutaneous I/R injury model. These results suggest that BTX-A might have protective effects against ulcer formation after cutaneous I/R injury by enhancing angiogenesis and inhibiting hypoxia-induced cellular damage. Exogenous application of BTX-A might have therapeutic potential for cutaneous I/R injuries.
Silicene nanomesh
Authors: Pan Feng , Wang Yangyang , Jiang Kaili , Ni Zeyuan , Ma Jianhua , Zheng Jiaxin , Quhe Ruge , Shi Junjie , Yang Jinbo , Chen Changle , Lu Jing
Published: March 2015

Similar to graphene, zero band gap limits the application of silicene in nanoelectronics despite of its high carrier mobility. By using first-principles calculations, we reveal that a band gap is opened in silicene nanomesh (SNM) when the width W of the wall between the neighboring holes is even. The size of the band gap increases with the reduced W and has a simple relation with the ratio of the removed Si atom and the total Si atom numbers of silicene. Quantum transport simulation reveals that the sub-10 nm single-gated SNM field effect transistors show excellent performance at zero temperature but such a performance is greatly degraded at room temperature.
Association of FPGS genetic polymorphisms with primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma
Authors: Miao Chengli , Liu Ding , Zhang Feng , Wang Youxin , Zhang Yanbin , Yu Junhui , Zhang Zhanzhi , Liu Gang , Li Bing , Liu Xing , Luo Chenghua
Published: March 2015

Primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma is generally regarded as a genetic disorder. We have retrospectively genotyped 8 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 6 candidate genes (MDM2, CDK4, CDC27, FPGS, IGFN1 and PRAMEF13) in 138 patients and 131 healthy control subjects to evaluate the effects of genetic factors on individual susceptibility to primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma in Chinese population. Three SNPs (rs2870820, rs1695147, rs3730536) of MDM2 showed significant differences in single-loci genotypes and allele frequencies between case and control groups (p < 0.05). The minor allele G of SNP rs10760502 in FPGS (folylpolyglutamate synthase) gene was significantly associated with increased risk for primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma, compared with major allele A. Our data suggest that FPGS variant in Chinese population may affect individual susceptibility to primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma.
Association between hyperglycemia and retinopathy of prematurity: a systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Au Sunny C. L. , Tang Shu-Min , Rong Shi-Song , Chen Li-Jia , Yam Jason C. S.
Published: March 2015

As the role of hyperglycemia in the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has not been well established, a meta-analysis of the association between hyperglycemia and ROP was conducted. Studies were identified through literature search in MEDLINE and EMBASE up to June 20, 2014 with keywords related to “hyperglycaemia” and “ROP”. Nine eligible studies involving 1939 neonates with 509 cases of ROP were included. Unadjusted analyses showed that hyperglycemia was significantly associated with ROP (Odds ratio [OR] = 4.16, P<0.0001). Comparing with the control, subjects in the ROP group had a significantly longer duration of hyperglycemia (Standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.21, P< 0.0001) and higher mean glucose level. (SMD = 0.88, P = 0.0004) However, when combining the adjusted OR (after adjustment for birth weight, gestational age and other factors) provided from individual studies, only borderline significant association were observed on duration of hyperglycemia with ROP (adjusted OR 1.08, P = 0.03); and no significant association on mean glucose level with ROP (adjusted OR = 1.08, P = 0.15). Hence, hyperglycemia cannot be definitely considered as a risk factor for ROP and further studies should adjust for potential confounding factors to clarify this association.
Magnetic interactions in BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3 films and BiFeO3/BiMnO3 superlattices
Authors: Xu Qingyu , Sheng Yan , Khalid M. , Cao Yanqiang , Wang Yutian , Qiu Xiangbiao , Zhang Wen , He Maocheng , Wang Shuangbao , Zhou Shengqiang , Li Qi , Wu Di , Zhai Ya , Liu Wenqing , Wang Peng , Xu Y. B. , Du Jun
Published: March 2015

The clear understanding of exchange interactions between magnetic ions in substituted BiFeO3 is the prerequisite for the comprehensive studies on magnetic properties. BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3 films and BiFeO3/BiMnO3 superlattices have been fabricated by pulsed laser deposition on (001) SrTiO3 substrates. Using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), the ferroelectricity at room temperature has been inferred from the observation of PFM hysteresis loops and electrical writing of ferroelectric domains for both samples. Spin glass behavior has been observed in both samples by temperature dependent magnetization curves and decay of thermo-remnant magnetization with time. The magnetic ordering has been studied by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements and Fe-O-Mn interaction has been confirmed to be antiferromagnetic (AF). The observed spin glass in BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3 films has been attributed to cluster spin glass due to Mn-rich ferromagnetic (FM) clusters in AF matrix, while spin glass in BiFeO3/BiMnO3 superlattices is due to competition between AF Fe-O-Fe, AF Fe-O-Mn and FM Mn-O-Mn interactions in the well ordered square lattice with two Fe ions in BiFeO3 layer and two Mn ions in BiMnO3 layer at interfaces.
Magnetic properties in α-MnO2 doped with alkaline elements
Authors: Tseng Li-Ting , Lu Yunhao , Fan Hai Ming , Wang Yiren , Luo Xi , Liu Tao , Munroe Paul , Li Sean , Yi Jiabao
Published: March 2015

α-MnO2 nanotubes were fabricated using a hydrothermal technique. Li, Na and K ions were introduced into MnO2 nanotubes to tailor their magnetic properties. It was found that with a doping concentration lower than 12 at%, the nanotubes showed ferromagnetic-like ordering at low temperature (<50 K), while antiferromagnetic coupling dominated their physical behavior with doping concentrations beyond 12 at%. Such experimental phenomenon was in very good agreement with associated first principle calculations. The ferromagnetic-like ordering originates from the breaking of equivalence between two different Mn-O octahedrals in α-MnO2 due to the filling of alkaline ions in the tunnels. Both small charge transfer and lattice distortion play important roles in the ferromagnetic ordering.
The relationship between grain boundary structure, defect mobility and grain boundary sink efficiency
Authors: Uberuaga Blas Pedro , Vernon Louis J. , Martinez Enrique , Voter Arthur F.
Published: March 2015

Nanocrystalline materials have received great attention due to their potential for improved functionality and have been proposed for extreme environments where the interfaces are expected to promote radiation tolerance. However, the precise role of the interfaces in modifying defect behavior is unclear. Using long-time simulations methods, we determine the mobility of defects and defect clusters at grain boundaries in Cu. We find that mobilities vary significantly with boundary structure and cluster size, with larger clusters exhibiting reduced mobility and that interface sink efficiency depends on the kinetics of defects within the interface via the in-boundary annihilation rate of defects. Thus, sink efficiency is a strong function of defect mobility, which depends on boundary structure, a property that evolves with time. Further, defect mobility at boundaries can be slower than in the bulk, which has general implications for the properties of polycrystalline materials. Finally, we correlate defect energetics with the volumes of atomic sites at the boundary.
How insurance affects altruistic provision in threshold public goods games
Authors: Zhang Jianlei , Zhang Chunyan , Cao Ming
Published: March 2015

The occurrence and maintenance of cooperative behaviors in public goods systems have attracted great research attention across multiple disciplines. A threshold public goods game requires a minimum amount of contributions to be collected from a group of individuals for provision to occur. Here we extend the common binary-strategy combination of cooperation and defection by adding a third strategy, called insured cooperation, which corresponds to buying an insurance covering the potential loss resulted from the unsuccessful public goods game. Particularly, only the contributing agents can opt to be insured, which is an effort decreasing the amount of the potential loss occurring. Theoretical computations suggest that when agents face the potential aggregate risk in threshold public goods games, more contributions occur with increasing compensation from insurance. Moreover, permitting the adoption of insurance significantly enhances individual contributions and facilitates provision, especially when the required threshold is high. This work also relates the strategy competition outcomes to different allocation rules once the resulted contributions exceed the threshold point in populations nested within a dilemma.
Transcatheter Embolization of Peripheral Renal Artery for Hemorrhagic Urological Emergencies using FuAiLe Medical Glue
Authors: An Tianzhi , Zhang Shasha , Xu Min , Zhou Shi , Wang Weiping
Published: March 2015

Our objective was to review the technical success and clinical outcomes of transcatheter embolization of peripheral renal artery with FuAiLe medical glue (FAL). All patients who underwent FAL embolization for peripheral renal artery bleeding were retrospectively analyzed for underlying pathologies, technical success and outcome of embolization procedure. 14 consecutive patients underwent FAL embolization between November 2009 and February 2013. The causes of bleeding were post biopsy (n = 5), blunt trauma (n = 5), percutaneous lithotripsy of kidney stones (n = 3) and complication of cardiac catheterization (n = 1). Bleeding was effectively controlled with a single injection of FAL. Mean volume of FAL mixture (FAL:Lipiodol, 1:1) was 0.5 mL (range, 0.2–0.8 mL). No reflux of the embolic agent was noted. Average cost of FAL for each procedure was $74. Postembolization clinical follow-up showed no evidence of recurrent hematuria, progression of hematoma, hypertension, or elevation of serum creatinine. Doppler ultrasound examinations in 13 patients demonstrated no abscess, renal parenchyma infarction, or renal artery abnormalities. Superselective FAL embolization may be used for the treatment of active bleeding from peripheral renal arteries. It has a high success rate and is quicker and less expensive than embolization with other agents.
Graphene oxide electrocatalyst on MnO2 air cathode as an efficient electron pump for enhanced oxygen reduction in alkaline solution
Authors: Basirun Wan Jeffrey , Sookhakian Mehran , Baradaran Saeid , Endut Zulkarnain , Mahmoudian Mohammad Reza , Ebadi Mehdi , Yousefi Ramin , Ghadimi Hanieh , Ahmed Sohail
Published: March 2015

Graphene oxide (GO) was deposited on the surface of a MnO2 air cathode by thermal evaporation at 50°C from a GO colloidal suspension. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of GO on the MnO2 air cathode (GO-MnO2). Voltammetry and chrono-amperometry showed increased currents for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in 6 M KOH solution for GO-MnO2 compared to the MnO2 cathode. The GO-MnO2 was used as an air cathode in an alkaline tin-air cell and produced a maximum power density of 13 mW cm−2, in contrast to MnO2, which produced a maximum power density of 9.2 mW cm−2. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results suggest that the chemical step for the ORR is the rate determining step, as proposed earlier by different researchers. It is suggested that the presence of GO and electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) on the MnO2 surface are responsible for the increased rate of this step, whereby GO and ERGO accelerate the process of electron donation to the MnO2 and to adsorbed oxygen atoms.
Asymmetric warming significantly affects net primary production, but not ecosystem carbon balances of forest and grassland ecosystems in northern China
Authors: Su Hongxin , Feng Jinchao , Axmacher Jan C. , Sang Weiguo
Published: March 2015

We combine the process-based ecosystem model (Biome-BGC) with climate change-scenarios based on both RegCM3 model outputs and historic observed trends to quantify differential effects of symmetric and asymmetric warming on ecosystem net primary productivity (NPP), heterotrophic respiration (Rh) and net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of six ecosystem types representing different climatic zones of northern China. Analysis of covariance shows that NPP is significant greater at most ecosystems under the various environmental change scenarios once temperature asymmetries are taken into consideration. However, these differences do not lead to significant differences in NEP, which indicates that asymmetry in climate change does not result in significant alterations of the overall carbon balance in the dominating forest or grassland ecosystems. Overall, NPP, Rh and NEP are regulated by highly interrelated effects of increases in temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentrations and precipitation changes, while the magnitude of these effects strongly varies across the six sites. Further studies underpinned by suitable experiments are nonetheless required to further improve the performance of ecosystem models and confirm the validity of these model predictions. This is crucial for a sound understanding of the mechanisms controlling the variability in asymmetric warming effects on ecosystem structure and functioning.