bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Career Length and Service of Female Policymakers in the US House of Representatives
Authors: Praino Rodrigo , Stockemer Daniel
Published: October 2016

Various studies have outlined the institutional (e.g. the existence of quota laws and the electoral system type of a country) and non-institutional factors (e.g. the political culture of a country) that account for variation in women’s representation, in general, and, in more detail, the low representation of women in the US Congress. However, no study has, so far, compared the Congressional career paths of men and women in order to understand whether this gender gap in representation stems from a difference in terms of the duration and importance of the careers of male and female policymakers. Using data on all US House elections between 1972 and 2012, we provide such an analysis, evaluating whether or not the political careers of women in the US House of Representatives are different from the political careers of their male counterparts. Our findings indicate that the congressional careers of men and women are alike and, if anything, women may even have a small edge over their male colleagues.
Shock wave–boundary layer interaction in supersonic flow over a forward-facing step
Authors: Murugan Jayaprakash N. , Govardhan Raghuraman N.
Published: October 2016

We study in the present work a Mach 2.5 flow over a forward-facing step. The focus of the work is the flow ahead of the step, in particular, the unsteady interactions between the shock, the boundary layer and the separation bubble. The primary geometrical parameter in the problem is the ratio of the step height to the incoming boundary layer thickness,$h/\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$, which is kept fixed at 2. Results are presented from detailed particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements in two orthogonal planes to obtain a reasonable picture of the whole flow field. The mean velocity field in the central cross-stream or wall-normal ($x$–$y$) plane shows that the incoming boundary layer separates upstream of the step forming a large separation bubble ahead of the step, which can be relatively well resolved in PIV measurements compared to the compression ramp cases. Wall pressure fluctuation spectra close to the separation location show a dominant frequency ($f$) that is two orders of magnitude smaller than the characteristic frequency of the incoming boundary layer ($U_{\infty }/\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$), consistent with low-frequency motions of the shock that have received a lot of recent attention ($U_{\infty }$ $=$ free-stream velocity,$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$ $=$ boundary layer thickness). PIV measurements in the wall-normal plane show large variations in shock position with time. The shock position measured from velocity data outside the boundary layer is found to be well correlated with the reverse flow area ahead of the step, and weakly correlated to structures in the incoming boundary layer. In contrast, the shock foot, determined from velocity data within the boundary layer, is found to be well correlated to the low- and high-speed streaks in the incoming boundary layer, in addition to the reverse flow area ahead of the step. Instantaneous velocity fields in the spanwise ($x$–$z$) plane parallel to the lower wall show that the shock is broadly two-dimensional with small spanwise ripples, while the recirculation region has very large spanwise variations. The spanwise-averaged shock location is found to be well correlated to the most upstream location of the recirculation region over a spanwise length ($x_{r,min}^{sp}$). Instantaneous velocity fields show that when some part of the recirculation region is far upstream, the corresponding nearly two-dimensional shock is also far upstream. On the other hand, when$x_{r,min}^{sp}$is relatively downstream, the resulting shock is also found to be downstream. Hence, the present results suggest that for the forward-facing step configuration, the large-scale streamwise motions of the shock are mainly correlated to the most upstream point of the recirculation region, which has large spanwise variations.
Mechanical error estimators for shallow ice flow models
Authors: Jouvet G.
Published: October 2016

We develop a posteriori ‘mechanical’ error estimators that are able to evaluate the solution discrepancy between two ice flow models. We first reformulate the classical shallow ice flow models by applying simplifications to the weak formulation of the Glen–Stokes model. This approach leads to a unified hierarchical formulation which relates the Glen–Stokes model, the Blatter model, the shallow ice approximation and the shallow shelf approximation. Based on this formulation and on residual techniques commonly used to estimate numerical errors, we derive three a posteriori estimators, each of which compares a pair of models using measures of the velocity field from the simpler (shallower) model. Numerical experiments confirm that these estimators can be used to assess the validity of the shallow ice models that are commonly used in glacier and ice sheet modelling.
Steady detonation propagation in a circular arc: a Detonation Shock Dynamics model
Authors: Short Mark , Quirk James J. , Meyer Chad D. , Chiquete Carlos
Published: October 2016

We study the physics of steady detonation wave propagation in a two-dimensional circular arc via a Detonation Shock Dynamics (DSD) surface evolution model. The dependence of the surface angular speed and surface spatial structure on the inner arc radius ($R_{i}$), the arc thickness ($R_{e}-R_{i}$, where $R_{e}$ is the outer arc radius) and the degree of confinement on the inner and outer arc is examined. We first analyse the results for a linear $D_{n}$–$\unicode[STIX]{x1D705}$ model, in which the normal surface velocity $D_{n}=D_{CJ}(1-B\unicode[STIX]{x1D705})$, where $D_{CJ}$ is the planar Chapman–Jouguet velocity, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D705}$ is the total surface curvature and $B$ is a length scale representative of a reaction zone thickness. An asymptotic analysis assuming the ratio $B/R_{i}\ll 1$ is conducted for this model and reveals a complex surface structure as a function of the radial variation from the inner to the outer arc. For sufficiently thin arcs, where $(R_{e}-R_{i})/R_{i}=O(B/R_{i})$, the angular speed of the surface depends on the inner arc radius, the arc thickness and the inner and outer arc confinement. For thicker arcs, where $(R_{e}-R_{i})/R_{i}=O(1)$, the angular speed does not depend on the outer arc radius or the outer arc confinement to the order calculated. It is found that the leading-order angular speed depends only on $D_{CJ}$ and $R_{i}$, and corresponds to a Huygens limit (zero curvature) propagation model where $D_{n}=D_{CJ}$, assuming a constant angular speed and perfect confinement on the inner arc surface. Having the normal surface speed depend on curvature requires the insertion of a boundary layer structure near the inner arc surface. This is driven by an increase in the magnitude of the surface wave curvature as the inner arc surface is approached that is needed to meet the confinement condition on the inner arc surface. For weak inner arc confinement, the surface wave spatial variation with the radial coordinate is described by a triple-deck structure. The first-order correction to the angular speed brings in a dependence on the surface curvature through the parameter $B$, while the influence of the inner arc confinement on the angular velocity only appears in the second-order correction. For stronger inner arc confinement, the surface wave structure is described by a two-layer solution, where the effect of the confinement on the angular speed is promoted to the first-order correction. We also compare the steady-state arc solution for a PBX 9502 DSD model to an experimental two-dimensional arc geometry validation test.
Scaling laws for segregation forces in dense sheared granular flows
Authors: Guillard François , Forterre Yoël , Pouliquen Olivier
Published: October 2016

In order to better understand the mechanism governing segregation in dense granular flows, the force experienced by a large particle embedded in a granular flow made of small particles is studied using discrete numerical simulations. Accurate force measurements have been obtained in a large range of flow parameters by trapping the large particle in a harmonic potential well to mimic an optical tweezer. Results show that positive or negative segregation lift forces (perpendicular to the shear) exist depending on the stress inhomogeneity. An empirical expression of the segregation force is proposed as a sum of a term proportional to the gradient of pressure and a term proportional to the gradient of shear stress, which both depend on the local friction and particle size ratio.
Flow of power-law liquids in a Hele-Shaw cell driven by non-uniform electro-osmotic slip in the case of strong depletion
Authors: Boyko Evgeniy , Bercovici Moran , Gat Amir D.
Published: October 2016

We analyse flow of non-Newtonian fluids in a Hele-Shaw cell, subjected to spatially non-uniform electro-osmotic slip. Motivated by their potential use for increasing the characteristic pressure fields, we specifically focus on power-law fluids with wall depletion properties. We derive a $p$-Poisson equation governing the pressure field, as well as a set of linearized equations representing its asymptotic approximation for weakly non-Newtonian behaviour. To investigate the effect of non-Newtonian properties on the resulting fluidic pressure and velocity, we consider several configurations in one and two dimensions, and calculate both exact and approximate solutions. We show that the asymptotic approximation is in good agreement with exact solutions even for fluids with significant non-Newtonian behaviour, allowing its use in the analysis and design of microfluidic systems involving electrokinetic transport of such fluids.
The Million Optical—Radio/X-ray Associations (MORX) Catalogue
Authors: Flesch Eric W.
Published: October 2016

This automated catalogue combines all the largest published optical, radio, and X-ray sky catalogues to find probable radio/X-ray associations to optical objects, plus double radio lobes, using uniform processing against all input data. The total count is 1 002 855 optical objects so presented. Each object is displayed with J2000 astrometry, optical and radio/X-ray identifiers, red and blue photometry, and calculated probabilities and optical field solutions of the associations. This is the third and final edition of this method.
The relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in early pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes in a large, prospective cohort
Authors: Boyle Veronica T. , Thorstensen Eric B. , Mourath David , Jones M. Beatrix , McCowan Lesley M. E. , Kenny Louise C. , Baker Philip N.
Published: October 2016

Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency have been associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Controversy remains as findings have been inconsistent between disparate populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between vitamin D status and pregnancy outcomes in a large, prospective pregnancy cohort. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D concentration was analysed in serum samples collected at 15 weeks of gestation from 1710 New Zealand women participating in a large, observational study. Associations between vitamin D status and pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA) and gestational diabetes were investigated. The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 72·9 nmol/l. In all, 23 % had 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations <50 nmol/l, and 5 % of participants had concentrations <25 nmol/l. Women with 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations <75 nmol/l at 15 weeks of gestation were more likely to develop gestational diabetes mellitus than those with concentrations >75 nmol/l (OR 2·3; 95 % CI 1·1, 5·1). However, this effect was not significant when adjustments were made for BMI and ethnicity (OR 1·8; 95 % CI 0·8, 4·2). 25-Hydroxyvitamin D concentration at 15 weeks was not associated with development of pre-eclampsia, spontaneous preterm birth or SGA infants. Pregnancy complications were low in this largely vitamin D-replete population.
Developing Green Cities: Explaining Variation in Canadian Green Building Policies
Authors: Schwartz Elizabeth
Published: October 2016

Buildings produce a large proportion of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and municipalities control a number of policy levers that can help to reduce those emissions. This article explains variation among Canadian cities regarding policies adopted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a particular focus on green building standards. By applying insights from the study of the politics of public policy to urban politics, this article finds that while electoral disincentives prevent most cities from enacting high impact green building policies, the success of some cities can be attributed to the influence of independent municipal environment departments. These departments facilitate policy learning by providing information and resources. The findings suggest that policy makers could improve the effectiveness of local climate change policy by creating municipal environment departments that have organizational capacity—funding, staff, and a cross-cutting mandate—and are insulated from interference from politicians and line departments.
If biodiversity offsets are a dead end for conservation, what is the live wire? A response to Apostolopoulou & Adams
Authors: Dempsey Jessica , Collard Rosemary-Claire
Published: October 2016

Ecofeminist Maria Mies describes capitalist social relations as an iceberg. The visible tip represents the formal economy, where capitalist value emerges from exploited waged labourers and the circulation of monetized goods and assets. Underneath the waterline lurks the rest of the iceberg, and its size dwarfs the tip. Here, Mies points to a much larger world of exploitation on which commodity production and profit-making depend: women, colonies and, at the very base, nature. The bodies, places and materials of the submerged, invisible iceberg supply unwaged labour and unpriced inputs and energies that are productive; capitalism depends on this deeply undervalued work. Let us restate: capitalism exploits, yes, but strangely, it is a mode of organizing society that also relies on this exploitation. As Mies ([1986]1998, p. 200) writes, ‘the exploitation of colonies, as well as that of women and other non-wage workers, is absolutely crucial to the capitalist accumulation process’; this exploitation ‘constitutes the eternal basis for capitalist accumulation’ (Mies, 2007, p. 269).
Mathematical objects and the object of theology
Authors: HARRISON VICTORIA S.
Published: October 2016

This article brings mathematical realism and theological realism into conversation. It outlines a realist ontology that characterizes abstract mathematical objects as inaccessible to the senses, non-spatiotemporal, and acausal. Mathematical realists are challenged to explain how we can know such objects. The article reviews some promising responses to this challenge before considering the view that the object of theology also possesses the three characteristic features of abstract objects, and consequently may be known through the same methods that yield knowledge of mathematical objects.
TREATMENT AFTER ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME: ANALYSIS OF PATIENT'S PRIORITIES WITH ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS
Authors: Mühlbacher Axel C. , Bethge Susanne , Kaczynski Anika
Published: October 2016

Background: Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common causes of death worldwide, with many individuals having experienced acute coronary syndrome (ACS). How patients with a history of ACS value aspects of their medical treatment have been evaluated rarely. The aim of this study was to determine patient priorities for long-term drug therapy after experiencing ACS.

Methods: To identify patient-relevant treatment characteristics, a systematic literature review and qualitative patient interviews were conducted. A questionnaire was developed to elicit patient's priorities for different characteristics of ACS treatment using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). To evaluate the patient-relevant outcomes, the eigenvector method was applied.

Results: Six-hundred twenty-three patients participated in the computer-assisted personal interviews and were included in the final analysis. Patients showed a clear priority for the attribute “reduction of mortality risk” (weight: 0.402). The second most preferred attribute was the “prevention of a new myocardial infarction” (weight: 0.272), followed by “side effect: dyspnea” (weight: 0.165) and “side effect: bleeding” (weight: 0.117). The “frequency of intake” was the least important attribute (weight: 0.044).

Conclusion: In conclusion, this study shows that patients strongly value a reduction of the mortality risk in post-ACS treatment. Formal consideration of patient preferences and priorities can help to inform a patient-centered approach, clinical practice, development of future effective therapies, and health policy for decision makers that best represents the needs and goals of the patient.
USING THE AMSTAR CHECKLIST FOR RAPID REVIEWS: IS IT FEASIBLE?
Authors: Mattivi Jessica Tajana , Buchberger Barbara
Published: October 2016

Objectives: Rapid reviews can be conducted in a narrower time frame, as compared to systematic reviews, by featuring restrictions. To estimate the validity of the results, assessment of methodological quality is required. Our aim was to analyze the methodological restrictions of rapid reviews compared with systematic reviews using the AMSTAR checklist and assess its feasibility for rapid reviews.

Methods: A systematic search for literature on rapid reviews of surgical interventions was conducted in three databases: Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library. Additionally, health technology assessment (HTA) databases were searched. We analyzed reviews using AMSTAR and additionally compared the results with those of an overview of reviews on the same topic.

Results: Items found more frequently in rapid reviews were search for gray literature (65 percent versus 33 percent), listing of excluded studies (59 percent versus 37 percent), and provision of study characteristics (77 percent versus 44 percent), whereas consideration of study quality in formulating conclusions, conduct of meta-analysis, and statement of conflicts of interest were less frequent. Median time between search and publication was 8 months, with a range between 1 and 27.

Conclusions: With some adjustments, AMSTAR can be used as a checklist for rapid reviews to describe methodological restrictions in comparison to systematic reviews and to roughly estimate the validity of the results. Strikingly, only 14.3 percent of rapid reviews were published within 3 months.
The Functioning of Indigenous Cultural Protocols in Australia’s Contemporary Art World
Authors: Riphagen Marianne , Stolte Gretchen M.
Published: October 2016

In recent decades, cultural protocols have emerged as a non-judicial alternative to the inadequate legal protection of Indigenous cultural heritage. They are meant to protect Indigenous peoples from the misappropriation of their heritage by outsiders and enhance Indigenous peoples’ control over their own domain. This article examines the functioning of Indigenous cultural protocols within Australia’s contemporary art world. As we will demonstrate, cultural protocols have clear practical utility. They can raise awareness, instigate changes in behaviour, and operate as a conduit for correcting the unauthorized use of Indigenous cultural materials. Yet, a disjunction exists between codified ideals and a messy reality. Our analysis of two protocol transgressions shows that protocols do not automatically protect Indigenous individuals equally. Furthermore, although discussions about compliance are infused with rhetoric about the authority of “the Indigenous community,” Indigenous people with cultural connections to contested heritage objects do not always have a clear voice in decisions made about their use.
Do toxic metals and trace elements have a role in the pathogenesis of conotruncal heart malformations?
Authors: Kundak Afsin A. , Pektas Ayhan , Zenciroglu Aysegul , Ozdemir Semra , Barutcu Umit B. , Orun Utku A. , Okumus Nurullah
Published: October 2016

Objective

The aim of the present study was to determine the role of toxic elements and trace elements in the pathogenesis of conotruncal heart defects by measuring their concentrations in the first meconium specimens of the affected newborns.

Methods

Concentrations of lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, and copper were measured in 1st-day meconium specimens that were collected from 60 newborns with conotruncal heart defects (Group I) and 72 healthy newborns (Group II).

Results

The newborns with conotruncal defects and the healthy newborns had statistically similar demographic and clinical characteristics. When compared with healthy newborns, mean concentrations of lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, and copper were significantly higher in newborns with conotruncal heart defects (p=0.001 for each). In total, 51 newborns with conotruncal heart defects had normal karyotype. These newborns had significantly higher concentrations of lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, and copper when compared with healthy newborns. There were significant and positive correlations between the concentrations of lead and cadmium (r=0.618, p=0.001), lead and iron (r=0.368, p=0.001), lead and zinc (r=0.245, p=0.005), lead and copper (r=0.291, p=0.001), cadmium and iron (r=0.485, p=0.001), cadmium and zinc (r=0.386, p=0.001), and cadmium and copper (r=0.329, p=0.001).

Conclusion

Toxic metals and trace elements may disturb DNA repair mechanisms by impairing DNA methylation profiles, and thus have a role in the pathogenesis of conotruncal heart defects.
Cognitive dysfunction in adult CHD with different structural complexity
Authors: Tyagi Manavi , Fteropoulli Theodora , Hurt Catherine S. , Hirani Shashivadan P. , Rixon Lorna , Davies Anna , Picaut Nathalie , Kennedy Fiona , Deanfield John , Cullen Shay , Newman Stanton P.
Published: October 2016

Objective

We carried out a cross-sectional study to assess cognitive function in a sample of adult CHD patients, within the Functioning in Adult Congenital Heart Disease study London. The association between cognitive functioning and disease complexity was examined.

Methods

A total of 310 patients participated in this study. Patients were classified into four structural complexity groups – tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, single ventricle, and simple conditions. Each patient underwent neuropsychological assessment to evaluate cognitive function, including memory and executive function, and completed questionnaires to assess depression and anxiety.

Results

Among all, 41% of the sample showed impaired performance (>1.5 SD below the normative mean) on at least three tests of cognitive function compared with established normative data. This was higher than the 8% that was expected in a normal population. The sample exhibited significant deficits in divided attention, motor function, and executive functioning. There was a significant group difference in divided attention (F=5.01, p=0.002) and the mean total composite score (F=5.19, p=0.002) between different structural complexity groups, with the simple group displaying better cognitive function.

Conclusion

The results indicate that many adult CHD patients display impaired cognitive function relative to a healthy population, which differs in relation to disease complexity. These findings may have implications for clinical decision making in this group of patients during childhood. Possible mechanisms underlying these deficits and how they may be reduced or prevented are discussed; however, further work is needed to draw conclusive judgements.
Long-term outcome after gamma knife radiosurgery of advanced jugulotympanic glomus tumour: a case report
Authors: Ampil Federico , Nanda Anil , Gonzalez-Toledo Eduardo , Vora Moiz
Published: October 2016

Aim

Jugulotympanic glomus tumours (JTGT) are highly vascular neoplasms composed of paraganglionic tissue of neural crest origin. Because of the neoplasm’s slow growth potential, any claimed efficacy associated with applied treatment must be supported by long-term effects observed in patients.

Methodology

This report presents a case of advanced stage JTGT in a 66-year-old woman treated by γ knife radiosurgery (GKRS).

Results

Sustained tumour control with preservation of lower cranial nerve function was observed for more than 10 years after completion of treatment.

Conclusion

GKRS even with large intracranial extension of JTGT in patients may help to achieve long-term disease control with minimal morbidity.
Ovarian preservation techniques for female pelvic radiotherapy techniques: a critical review
Authors: Durrant A , Bridge P
Published: October 2016

Introduction

Advances in treatment over recent years have increased the long-term survival of young, female cancer patients; unfortunately these treatments bring a significant risk of ovarian failure and infertility. This literature review aimed to determine the optimal technique for ovarian preservation in pre-menopausal women receiving pelvic radiotherapy (IMRT). The traditional method comprises surgical transposition; IMRT and other emerging techniques may offer alternative non-invasive means of sparing ovaries and minimising dose.

Methods

A critical review of the evidence pertaining to pelvic radiotherapy and ovarian sparing was performed. Evidence was subjected to critical appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool and thematic analysis of the findings identified key issues.

Results

Surgical transposition appears to be a successful method of preserving ovarian function depending on the position of the ovaries outside of the radiation field, the age of the patient and the total dose received by the ovaries. There is limited modern evidence concerning its usage in relation to emerging techniques and technology. The use of IMRT is certainly widespread in the treatment of female pelvic cancers, however, there is no evidence supporting its use for reduction of ovarian dose. Several other studies have attempted to demonstrate new techniques to preserve ovarian function, but no functional outcome measures have reinforced their results.

Conclusions

Ovarian transposition has a proven track record for preservation of ovarian function, but the potential value of IMRT as a viable alternative to date remains unexplored. New work should be encouraged to determine the potential value of IMRT as a non-surgical alternative.
Why Won't Lola Run? An Experiment Examining Stereotype Threat and Political Ambition
Authors: Pruysers Scott , Blais Julie
Published: October 2016

Among the most well-documented and long-standing gender gaps in political behavior are those relating to political ambition, as men have consistently been shown to express a significantly higher level of political ambition than women. Although this gap is well established, the reasons for the differences between men and women remain largely unknown. One possible explanation is that negative stereotypes about women's political ability are responsible. Stereotype threat, as it is referred to in the psychology literature, is a phenomenon where individuals of a social group suffer cognitive burdens and anxiety after being exposed to negative stereotypes that relate to their identity. These disruptions have been shown to alter attitudes and behavior. In order to test this possibility, we employed an experimental design whereby we randomly assigned 501 undergraduate students into threat and nonthreat conditions. While men exhibited higher levels of political ambition in both conditions, women in the nonthreat condition expressed significantly higher levels of political ambition than those women who were exposed to negative stereotypes. The results of this study therefore suggest that the gender gap in political ambition may be partly explained by negative stereotypes about women in politics.
An Investigation of the Reliability and Self-Regulatory Correlates of	Conflict Adaptation
Authors: Feldman Julia L. , Freitas Antonio L.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. The study of the conflict-adaptation effect, in which encountering information-processing conflict attenuates the disruptive influence of information-processing conflicts encountered subsequently, is a burgeoning area of research. The present study investigated associations among performance measures on a Stroop-trajectory task (measuring Stroop interference and conflict adaptation), on a Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST; measuring cognitive flexibility), and on self-reported measures of self-regulation (including impulsivity and tenacity). We found significant reliability of the conflict-adaptation effects across a two-week period, for response-time and accuracy. Variability in conflict adaptation was not associated significantly with any indicators of performance on the WCST or with most of the self-reported self-regulation measures. There was substantial covariance between Stroop interference for accuracy and conflict adaptation for accuracy. The lack of evidence of covariance across distinct aspects of cognitive control (conflict adaptation, WCST performance, self-reported self-control) may reflect the operation of relatively independent component processes.
Vitamin D, calcium homeostasis and aging
Authors: Veldurthy Vaishali , Wei Ran , Oz Leyla , Dhawan Puneet , Jeon Yong Heui , Christakos Sylvia
Published: October 2016

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and microarchitecture deterioration of bone tissue, leading to enhanced bone fragility and consequent increase in fracture risk. Evidence is accumulating for an important role of calcium deficiency as the process of aging is associated with disturbed calcium balance. Vitamin D is the principal factor that maintains calcium homeostasis. Increasing evidence indicates that the reason for disturbed calcium balance with age is inadequate vitamin D levels in the elderly. In this article, an overview of our current understanding of vitamin D, its metabolism, and mechanisms involved in vitamin D-mediated maintenance of calcium homeostasis is presented. In addition, mechanisms involved in age-related dysregulation of 1,25(OH)2D3 action, recommended daily doses of vitamin D and calcium, and the use of vitamin D analogs for the treatment of osteoporosis (which remains controversial) are reviewed. Elucidation of the molecular pathways of vitamin D action and modifications that occur with aging will be an active area of future research that has the potential to reveal new therapeutic strategies to maintain calcium balance.
Peripheral administration of lactate produces antidepressant-like effects
Authors: Carrard A , Elsayed M , Margineanu M , Boury-Jamot B , Fragnière L , Meylan E M , Petit J-M , Fiumelli H , Magistretti P J , Martin J-L
Published: October 2016

In addition to its role as metabolic substrate that can sustain neuronal function and viability, emerging evidence supports a role forl-lactate as an intercellular signaling molecule involved in synaptic plasticity. Clinical and basic research studies have shown that major depression and chronic stress are associated with alterations in structural and functional plasticity. These findings led us to investigate the role ofl-lactate as a potential novel antidepressant. Here we show that peripheral administration ofl-lactate produces antidepressant-like effects in different animal models of depression that respond to acute and chronic antidepressant treatment. The antidepressant-like effects ofl-lactate are associated with increases in hippocampal lactate levels and with changes in the expression of target genes involved in serotonin receptor trafficking, astrocyte functions, neurogenesis, nitric oxide synthesis and cAMP signaling. Further elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects ofl-lactate may help to identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of depression.
Engineering prokaryotic channels for control of mammalian tissue excitability
Authors: Nguyen Hung X. , Kirkton Robert D. , Bursac Nenad
Published: October 2016

The ability to directly enhance electrical excitability of human cells is hampered by the lack of methods to efficiently overexpress large mammalian voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC). Here we describe the use of small prokaryotic sodium channels (BacNav) to create de novo excitable human tissues and augment impaired action potential conduction in vitro. Lentiviral co-expression of specific BacNav orthologues, an inward-rectifying potassium channel, and connexin-43 in primary human fibroblasts from the heart, skin or brain yields actively conducting cells with customizable electrophysiological phenotypes. Engineered fibroblasts (‘E-Fibs’) retain stable functional properties following extensive subculture or differentiation into myofibroblasts and rescue conduction slowing in an in vitro model of cardiac interstitial fibrosis. Co-expression of engineered BacNav with endogenous mammalian VGSCs enhances action potential conduction and prevents conduction failure during depolarization by elevated extracellular K+, decoupling or ischaemia. These studies establish the utility of engineered BacNav channels for induction, control and recovery of mammalian tissue excitability.
Structures and stabilization of kinetoplastid-specific split rRNAs revealed by comparing leishmanial and human ribosomes
Authors: Zhang Xing , Lai Mason , Chang Winston , Yu Iris , Ding Ke , Mrazek Jan , Ng Hwee L. , Yang Otto O. , Maslov Dmitri A. , Zhou Z. Hong
Published: October 2016

The recent success in ribosome structure determination by cryoEM has opened the door to defining structural differences between ribosomes of pathogenic organisms and humans and to understand ribosome-targeting antibiotics. Here, by direct electron-counting cryoEM, we have determined the structures of the Leishmania donovani and human ribosomes at 2.9 Å and 3.6 Å, respectively. Our structure of the leishmanial ribosome elucidates the organization of the six fragments of its large subunit rRNA (as opposed to a single 28S rRNA in most eukaryotes, including humans) and reveals atomic details of a unique 20 amino acid extension of the uL13 protein that pins down the ends of three of the rRNA fragments. The structure also fashions many large rRNA expansion segments. Direct comparison of our human and leishmanial ribosome structures at the decoding A-site sheds light on how the bacterial ribosome-targeting drug paromomycin selectively inhibits the eukaryotic L. donovani, but not human, ribosome.
Accessible quantification of multiparticle entanglement
Authors: Cianciaruso Marco , Bromley Thomas R , Adesso Gerardo
Published: October 2016

Entanglement is a key ingredient for quantum technologies and a fundamental signature of quantumness in a broad range of phenomena encompassing many-body physics, thermodynamics, cosmology and life sciences. For arbitrary multiparticle systems, entanglement quantification typically involves nontrivial optimisation problems, and it may require demanding tomographical techniques. Here, we develop an experimentally feasible approach to the evaluation of geometric measures of multiparticle entanglement. Our framework provides analytical results for particular classes of mixed states of N qubits, and computable lower bounds to global, partial, or genuine multiparticle entanglement of any general state. For global and partial entanglement, useful bounds are obtained with minimum effort, requiring local measurements in just three settings for any N. For genuine entanglement, a number of measurements scaling linearly with N are required. We demonstrate the power of our approach to estimate and quantify different types of multiparticle entanglement in a variety of N-qubit states useful for quantum information processing and recently engineered in laboratories with quantum optics and trapped ion setups.
State-conditional coherent charge qubit oscillations in a Si/SiGe quadruple quantum dot
Authors: Ward Daniel R , Kim Dohun , Savage Donald E , Lagally Max G , Foote Ryan H , Friesen Mark , Coppersmith Susan N , Eriksson Mark A
Published: October 2016

Universal quantum computation requires high-fidelity single-qubit rotations and controlled two-qubit gates. Along with high-fidelity single-qubit gates, strong efforts have been made in developing robust two-qubit logic gates in electrically gated quantum dot systems to realise a compact and nanofabrication-compatible architecture. Here we perform measurements of state-conditional coherent oscillations of a charge qubit. Using a quadruple quantum dot formed in a Si/SiGe heterostructure, we show the first demonstration of coherent two-axis control of a double quantum dot charge qubit in undoped Si/SiGe, performing Larmor and Ramsey oscillation measurements. We extract the strength of the capacitive coupling between a pair of double quantum dots by measuring the detuning energy shift (≈75 μeV) of one double dot depending on the excess charge configuration of the other double dot. We further demonstrate that the strong capacitive coupling allows fast, state-conditional Landau–Zener–Stückelberg oscillations with a conditional π phase flip time of about 80 ps, showing a promising pathway towards multi-qubit entanglement and control in semiconductor quantum dots.
Unsupervised data-driven stratification of mentalizing heterogeneity in autism
Authors: Lombardo Michael V. , Lai Meng-Chuan , Auyeung Bonnie , Holt Rosemary J. , Allison Carrie , Smith Paula , Chakrabarti Bhismadev , Ruigrok Amber N. V. , Suckling John , Bullmore Edward T. ,   MRC AIMS Consortium, Bailey Anthony J. , Baron-Cohen Simon , Bolton Patrick F. , Bullmore Edward T. , Carrington Sarah , Catani Marco , Chakrabarti Bhismadev , Craig Michael C. , Daly Eileen M. , Deoni Sean C. L. , Ecker Christine , Happé Francesca , Henty Julian , Jezzard Peter , Johnston Patrick , Jones Derek K. , Lai Meng-Chuan , Lombardo Michael V. , Madden Anya , Mullins Diane , Murphy Clodagh M. , Murphy Declan G. M. , Pasco Greg , Ruigrok Amber N. V. , Sadek Susan A. , Spain Debbie , Stewart Rose , Suckling John , Wheelwright Sally J. , Williams Steven C. , Ellie Wilson C. , Ecker Christine , Craig Michael C. , Murphy Declan G. M. , Happé Francesca , Baron-Cohen Simon
Published: October 2016

Individuals affected by autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are considerably heterogeneous. Novel approaches are needed to parse this heterogeneity to enhance precision in clinical and translational research. Applying a clustering approach taken from genomics and systems biology on two large independent cognitive datasets of adults with and without ASC (n = 694; n = 249), we find replicable evidence for 5 discrete ASC subgroups that are highly differentiated in item-level performance on an explicit mentalizing task tapping ability to read complex emotion and mental states from the eye region of the face (Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test; RMET). Three subgroups comprising 45–62% of ASC adults show evidence for large impairments (Cohen’s d = −1.03 to −11.21), while other subgroups are effectively unimpaired. These findings delineate robust natural subdivisions within the ASC population that may allow for more individualized inferences and accelerate research towards precision medicine goals.
Massive release of extracellular vesicles from cancer cells after photodynamic treatment or chemotherapy
Authors: Aubertin Kelly , Silva Amanda K. A. , Luciani Nathalie , Espinosa Ana , Djemat Aurélie , Charue Dominique , Gallet François , Blanc-Brude Olivier , Wilhelm Claire
Published: October 2016

Photodynamic therapy is an emerging cancer treatment that is particularly adapted for localized malignant tumor. The phototherapeutic agent is generally injected in the bloodstream and circulates in the whole organism as a chemotherapeutic agent, but needs light triggering to induce localized therapeutic effects. We found that one of the responses of in vitro and in vivo cancer cells to photodynamic therapy was a massive production and emission of extracellular vesicles (EVs): only 1 hour after the photo-activation, thousands of vesicles per cell were emitted in the extracellular medium. A similar effect has been found after treatment with Doxorubicin (chemotherapy), but far less EVs were produced, even 24 hours after the treatment. Furthermore, we found that the released EVs could transfer extracellular membrane components, drugs and even large intracellular objects to naive target cells. In vivo, photodynamic treatment and chemotherapy increased the levels of circulating EVs several fold, confirming the vast induction of cancer cell vesiculation triggered by anti-cancer therapies.
Influence of magnetoplasmonic γ-Fe2O3/Au core/shell nanoparticles on low-field nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Chen Kuen-Lin , Yeh Yao-Wei , Chen Jian-Ming , Hong Yu-Jie , Huang Tsung-Lin , Deng Zu-Yin , Wu Chiu-Hsien , Liao Su-Hsien , Wang Li-Min
Published: October 2016

Magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles, composed of a plasmonic layer and a magnetic core, have been widely shown as promising contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. However, their application in low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LFNMR) research remains scarce. Here we synthesised γ-Fe2O3/Au core/shell (γ-Fe2O3@Au) nanoparticles and subsequently used them in a homemade, high-Tc, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) LFNMR system. Remarkably, we found that both the proton spin–lattice relaxation time (T1) and proton spin–spin relaxation time (T2) were influenced by the presence of γ-Fe2O3@Au nanoparticles. Unlike the spin–spin relaxation rate (1/T2), the spin–lattice relaxation rate (1/T1) was found to be further enhanced upon exposing the γ-Fe2O3@Au nanoparticles to 532 nm light during NMR measurements. We showed that the photothermal effect of the plasmonic gold layer after absorbing light energy was responsible for the observed change in T1. This result reveals a promising method to actively control the contrast of T1 and T2 in low-field (LF) MRI applications.
Effects of five hindfoot arthrodeses on foot and ankle motion: Measurements in cadaver specimens
Authors: Zhang Kun , Chen Yanxi , Qiang Minfei , Hao Yini
Published: October 2016

Single, double, and triple hindfoot arthrodeses are used to correct hindfoot deformities and relieve chronic pain. However, joint fusion may lead to dysfunction in adjacent articular surfaces. We compared range of motion in adjacent joints before and after arthrodesis to determine the effects of each procedure on joint motion. The theory of moment of couple, bending moment and balanced loading was applied to each of 16 fresh cadaver feet to induce dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, internal rotation, external rotation, inversion, and eversion. Range of motion was measured with a 3-axis coordinate measuring machine in a control foot and in feet after subtalar, talonavicular, calcaneocuboid, double, or triple arthrodesis. All arthrodeses restricted mainly internal-external rotation and inversion-eversion. The restriction in a double arthrodesis was more than that in a single arthrodesis, but that in a calcaneocuboid arthrodesis was relatively low. After triple arthrodeses, the restriction on dorsiflexion and plantarflexion movements was substantial, and internal-external rotation and inversion-eversion were almost lost. Considering that different arthrodesis procedures cause complex, three-dimensional hindfoot motion reductions, we recommend talonavicular or calcaneocuboid arthrodesis for patients with well-preserved functions of plantarflexion/dorsiflexion before operation, subtalar or calcaneocuboid arthrodesis for patients with well-preserved abduction/adduction, and talonavicular arthrodesis for patients with well-preserved eversion/inversion.
Atypical Time Course of Object Recognition in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Caplette Laurent , Wicker Bruno , Gosselin Frédéric
Published: October 2016

In neurotypical observers, it is widely believed that the visual system samples the world in a coarse-to-fine fashion. Past studies on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have identified atypical responses to fine visual information but did not investigate the time course of the sampling of information at different levels of granularity (i.e. Spatial Frequencies, SF). Here, we examined this question during an object recognition task in ASD and neurotypical observers using a novel experimental paradigm. Our results confirm and characterize with unprecedented precision a coarse-to-fine sampling of SF information in neurotypical observers. In ASD observers, we discovered a different pattern of SF sampling across time: in the first 80 ms, high SFs lead ASD observers to a higher accuracy than neurotypical observers, and these SFs are sampled differently across time in the two subject groups. Our results might be related to the absence of a mandatory precedence of global information, and to top-down processing abnormalities in ASD.
Layered double hydroxide-oxidized carbon nanotube hybrids as highly efficient flame retardant nanofillers for polypropylene
Authors: Gao Yanshan , Zhang Yu , Williams Gareth R. , O’Hare Dermot , Wang Qiang
Published: October 2016

Aqueous miscible organic layered double hydroxides (AMO-LDHs) can act as organophilic inorganic flame retardant nanofillers for unmodified non-polar polymers. In this contribution, AMO [Mg3Al(OH)8](CO3)0.5·yH2O LDH–oxidized carbon nanotube (AMO-LDH–OCNT) hybrids are shown to perform better than the equivalent pure AMO-LDH. A synergistic effect between the AMO-LDH and OCNT was observed; this endows the hybrid material with enhanced flame retardancy, thermal stability, and mechanical properties. The thermal stability of polypropylene (PP) was significantly enhanced by adding AMO-LDH–OCNT hybrids. For PP mixed with AMO-LDH–OCNT hybrids to produce a composite with 10 wt% LDH and 2 wt% OCNT, the 50% weight loss temperature was increased by 43 °C. Further, a system with 10 wt% of AMO-LDH and 1 wt% OCNT showed a peak heat release rate (PHRR) reduction of 40%, greater than the PHRR reduction with PP/20 wt% AMO-LDH (31%). The degree of dispersion (mixability) between AMO-LDH and OCNT has a significant effect on the flame retardant performance of the hybrids. In addition, the incorporation of AMO-LDH–OCNT hybrids led to better mechanical properties, such as higher tensile strength (27.5 MPa) and elongation at break (17.9%), than those composites containing only AMO-LDH (25.6 MPa and 7.5%, respectively).
Scanning micro-resonator direct-comb absolute spectroscopy
Authors: Gambetta Alessio , Cassinerio Marco , Gatti Davide , Laporta Paolo , Galzerano Gianluca
Published: October 2016

Direct optical Frequency Comb Spectroscopy (DFCS) is proving to be a fundamental tool in many areas of science and technology thanks to its unique performance in terms of ultra-broadband, high-speed detection and frequency accuracy, allowing for high-fidelity mapping of atomic and molecular energy structure. Here we present a novel DFCS approach based on a scanning Fabry-Pérot micro-cavity resonator (SMART) providing a simple, compact and accurate method to resolve the mode structure of an optical frequency comb. The SMART approach, while drastically reducing system complexity, allows for a straightforward absolute calibration of the optical-frequency axis with an ultimate resolution limited by the micro-resonator resonance linewidth and can be used in any spectral region from UV to THz. We present an application to high-precision spectroscopy of acetylene at 1.54 μm, demonstrating performances comparable or even better than current state-of-the-art DFCS systems in terms of sensitivity, optical bandwidth and frequency-resolution.