bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Site specificity analysis of Piccolo NuA4-mediated acetylation for different histone complexes
Authors: Kuo Yin-Ming , Henry Ryan A. , Tan Song , Côté Jacques , Andrews Andrew J.
Published: September 2015

We have a limited understanding of the site specificity of multi-subunit lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) complexes for histone-based substrates, especially in regards to the different complexes formed during nucleosome assembly. Histone complexes could be a major factor in determining the acetylation specificity of KATs. In the present study, we utilized a label-free quantitative MS-based method to determine the site specificity of acetylation catalysed by Piccolo NuA4 on (H3/H4)2 tetramer, tetramer bound DNA (tetrasome) and nucleosome core particle (NCP). Our results show that Piccolo NuA4 can acetylate multiple lysine residues on these three histone complexes, of which NCP is the most favourable, (H3/H4)2 tetramer is the second and tetrasome is the least favourable substrate for Piccolo NuA4 acetylation. Although Piccolo NuA4 preferentially acetylates histone H4 (H4K12), the site specificity of the enzyme is altered with different histone complex substrates. Our results show that before nucleosome assembly is complete, H3K14 specificity is almost equal to that of H4K12 and DNA–histone interactions suppress the acetylation ability of Piccolo NuA4. These data suggest that the H2A/H2B dimer could play a critical role in the increase in acetylation specificity of Piccolo NuA4 for NCP. This demonstrates that histone complex formation can alter the acetylation preference of Piccolo NuA4. Such findings provide valuable insight into regulating Piccolo NuA4 specificity by modulating chromatin dynamics and in turn manipulating gene expression.
Biological insights into the expression of translation initiation factors from recombinant CHOK1SV cell lines and their relationship to enhanced productivity
Authors: Mead Emma J. , Masterton Rosalyn J. , Feary Marc , Obrezanova Olga , Zhang Lin , Young Robert , Smales C. Mark
Published: September 2015

Translation initiation is on the critical pathway for the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by mammalian cells. Formation of a closed loop structure comprised of mRNA, a number of eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) and ribosomal proteins has been proposed to aid re-initiation of translation and therefore increase global translational efficiency. We have determined mRNA and protein levels of the key components of the closed loop, eIFs (eIF3a, eIF3b, eIF3c, eIF3h, eIF3i and eIF4G1), poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) 1 and PABP-interacting protein 1 (PAIP1), across a panel of 30 recombinant mAb-producing GS-CHOK1SV cell lines with a broad range of growth characteristics and production levels of a model recombinant mAb. We have used a multi-level statistical approach to investigate the relationship between key performance indicators (cell growth and recombinant antibody productivity) and the intracellular amounts of target translation initiation factor proteins and the mRNAs encoding them. We show that high-producing cell lines maintain amounts of the translation initiation factors involved in the formation of the closed loop mRNA, maintaining these proteins at appropriate levels to deliver enhanced recombinant protein production. We then utilize knowledge of the amounts of these factors to build predictive models for and use cluster analysis to identify, high-producing cell lines. The present study therefore defines the translation initiation factor amounts that are associated with highly productive recombinant GS-CHOK1SV cell lines that may be targets for screening highly productive cell lines or to engineer new host cell lines with the potential for enhanced recombinant antibody productivity.
Performance of feedback multiple‐input–multiple‐output system aided by polarisation multiplexing and pre‐processing
Authors: Nagaradjane Prabagarane , Muthu Tamilarasi
Published: September 2015

In this study, the authors investigate the performance of a multi‐user downlink (DL) multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) system aided by polarisation multiplexing (PM) and multi‐user transmitter pre‐processing (MUTP). Dual‐ and triply‐polarised antennas that are called on to establish PM offer the advantage of replacing uni‐polarised antennas that impose space constraints. In a multi‐user scenario, users conflict multi‐user interference (MUI). In this contribution, the DL‐MUI is suppressed with the aid of pre‐processing operated at the base station. To be specific, two pre‐processing approaches are considered in their study which are based on singular value decomposition. Both the approaches exploit the channel impulse responses (CIRs) of all the users to formulate the pre‐processing matrix and that the second approach which is a joint multi‐user transmission and detection technique exploits only user specific CIRs to formulate the post‐processing matrix. In their contribution, the required CIRs for formulating the pre‐processing matrix are acquired via noisy feedback channels that endure fading as well as delay. Simulation results demonstrate that noise and fading tainted CIRs based MUTP results in performance degradation in terms of the attainable symbol‐error‐rate (SER) and sum‐capacity. Moreover, it is inferred that further degradation results when the feedback channels experience delay. However, their study shows that the application of dual or triply‐polarised antennas in conjunction with MUTP can serve as an efficient approach for the DL of the feedback MIMO system, as the achievable sum‐capacity and SER under ideal feedback remain close to that attained with the perfect CIRs hypothesis. Furthermore, it is observed that the considered MUTP techniques result in superior SER performance compared with their multi‐user detection counterpart and other widely known pre‐processing techniques.
Approximate closed‐form power allocation scheme for multiple‐input–multiple‐output hybrid automatic repeat request protocols over Rayleigh block fading channels
Authors: Ge Songhu , Xi Yong , Huang Shengchun , Ma Yue , Wei Jibo
Published: September 2015

In this study, the outage‐limited optimal power allocation problem for hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol over multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) block Rayleigh fading channels is addressed. Considering three typical HARQ protocols, the authors first derive the approximate outage probabilities of the MIMO HARQ protocols at the high signal‐to‐noise ratio region. On the basis of the approximations, they then formulate an optimisation problem of minimising the average total power usage with the constraints of the targeted outage probability and the maximum number of transmission rounds. A closed‐form optimal power sequence is obtained by solving the outage‐limited optimisation problem. Applying the solutions, the monotonicity of the optimal power sequence is further investigated. It is found that the optimal power sequence is monotonically increasing when the targeted outage probability is smaller than a threshold. They also study the impacts of the system parameters on the optimal power sequence and the power allocation gain under various conditions. Finally, the numerical and simulation results are presented to verify the theoretical derivation.
Scale‐photo‐electro‐thermal model for organic light‐emitting diodes
Authors: Bender Vitor C. , Barth Nórton D. , Pinto Rafael A. , Marcos Alonso J. , Marchesan Tiago B.
Published: September 2015

Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) with large area have a great potential for lighting applications. The knowledge about scale, photometrical, electrical and thermal (SPET) domains of OLEDs is essential to achieve a good performance in lighting systems. This study presents an OLED model based on datasheet information and experimental tests to approach the interaction among SPET domains in OLED devices. The model is based on an equivalent electrical circuit that merges the electrical, thermal and photometrical behaviour of the OLED and that can easily be implemented in any computer‐based simulation program. A detailed procedure for obtaining the different parameters of the proposed model is also presented in this study. The model has been verified for two different OLED geometries, with favourable agreement among theoretical, finite element analysis and experimental results. The results show the influence of scale factor on heat transfer mechanism and the temperature effect on electrical and photometrical OLED performance. This model is useful for predicting OLED behaviour and for simulating OLED drivers during the design of the lighting system.
Single‐stage ac–dc buck–boost converter for medium‐voltage high‐power applications
Authors: Abdelsalam Ibrahim , Adam Grain Philip , Holliday Derrick , Williams Barry W.
Published: September 2015

This study proposes three topologies based on single‐stage three‐phase ac–dc buck‐boost converters suitable for medium‐voltage high‐power applications. The first two topologies are based on a dual three‐phase buck–boost converter, with a three‐winding phase‐shifted transformer to achieve sinusoidal input currents, with relatively small ac filters. The limitation of these two topologies is the switching devices are exposed either to a high voltage beyond that tolerable by a single device. The third topology is based on three single‐phase buck–boost converters; with their dc output terminals connected in series to generate high voltage. By using this approach, voltage stresses on the switching devices are greatly reduced, and sinusoidal input currents with nearly unity power factor is achieved over the entire operating range when using small ac filters. Analysis, PSCAD/EMTDC simulations and experimentation are used to assess the feasibility of the proposed topologies during normal operation. Major findings of this study are discussed and summarised as a comparison between the three topologies.
Sensorless fuzzy‐logic‐based maximum power point tracking control for a small‐scale wind power generation systems with a switched‐mode rectifier
Authors: Lee Joonmin , Kim Young‐Seok
Published: September 2015

This study proposes a sensorless maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control using an improved variable‐speed small‐scale wind power generation system (WPGS) with a permanent magnet synchronous generator. The passive elements of a small‐scale WPGS that use a conventional boost converter suffer from disadvantages that result in power losses, increased costs, and increased system size. Therefore, to eliminate the passive elements, the proposed system performs MPPT control to vary the duty ratio of a switched‐mode rectifier. To evaluate the MPPT algorithms, a comparison was made between a fuzzy‐logic‐based perturb‐and‐observe (P&O) control with variable step size and a conventional P&O control with fixed‐step size. A wind turbine model is investigated using a squirrel‐cage induction motor, and the variable torque is controlled by varying the generator speed. The presented system and algorithm are verified by the simulations and experiments.
Three new species of Gingidia (Apiaceae: Apioideae) from Australia and New Zealand segregated from G. montana
Authors: Heenan Peter B. , Telford Ian R. H. , Bruhl Jeremy J.
Published: September 2015

Three new species of Gingidia (Apiaceae: Apioideae) segregated from the G. montana (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) J.W.Dawson complex are named, with G. montana now regarded as a New Zealand endemic. The new Australian endemic, G. rupicola I.Telford & J.J.Bruhl, is restricted to the eastern escarpment of the New England Tableland, New South Wales. With few populations and limited numbers of plants, the conservation assessment of G. rupicola is Endangered. G. haematitica Heenan is described as a new species from North-West Nelson, South Island, New Zealand, where it is restricted to base-rich substrates in the Burnett Range. Because of its restricted distribution and the continued mining for dolomite at the site of the largest population, G. haematitica is considered to have a conservation assessment of Nationally Critical. The second New Zealand endemic, G. amphistoma Heenan, is known from alpine habitats in the Southern Alps, South Island. Distributions of the three new species are mapped, habitats noted, and a table compares attributes of these species and G. montana.
Estimation of solid–liquid interfacial tension using curved surface of a soft solid
Authors: Mondal Subrata , Phukan Monmee , Ghatak Animangsu
Published: September 2015

Significance

Unlike liquids, for most solids, surface-tension-induced deformation is insignificantly small and practically negligible. It is unclear if, similar to liquids, the surface tension and surface energy of solids, e.g. cross-linked rubber-like materials, are numerically identical. Previous methods involving such materials allowed only indirect and somewhat inaccurate estimation of the surface tension and therefore could not unambiguously resolve the above question. Here we have attempted to address it by using a solid having an intrinsic curvature. When such a surface is contacted, a liquid curvature of the interface, coupled with the interfacial tension, causes large bulging deflection, analysis of which yields direct and accurate estimation of the interfacial tension, even for relatively stiffer solids.
Extinction reverses olfactory fear-conditioned increases in neuron number and glomerular size
Authors: Morrison Filomene G. , Dias Brian G. , Ressler Kerry J.
Published: September 2015

Significance

Olfactory cues may be paired with traumatic experiences in humans (e.g., the smell of a physical abuser), and subsequent exposure to the environmental odor cue may serve as a reminder of the traumatic event and trigger posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Very few studies have investigated the mechanisms accompanying the processing of emotional learning at the level of specific sensory modalities. The present study demonstrates that extinction specific to the conditioned odor acetophenone (which activates the M71 receptor) reverses conditioning-associated increases in freezing behavior and M71-specific olfactory sensory neuron number and glomerular area in adult mice. These data highlight the potential to exploit sensory system plasticity as a means of ameliorating negative emotional memories that may be tied to peripheral sensory systems.
Regulation of calreticulin–major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I interactions by ATP
Authors: Wijeyesakere Sanjeeva Joseph , Gagnon Jessica K. , Arora Karunesh , Brooks Charles L. , Raghavan Malini
Published: September 2015

Significance

Calreticulin mutants that disrupt ATP binding are shown to prolong cellular MHC class I interactions with calreticulin and with the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). To our knowledge, no previous studies have implicated a role for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) luminal ATP as a determinant of MHC class I assembly complex dynamics. These studies also reveal a role for the ATP–calreticulin interaction in broadly regulating the binding of calreticulin to cellular substrates. Because a large number of cell surface and secreted glycoproteins are calreticulin/calnexin substrates, these studies have broad significance toward understanding the cellular mechanisms of protein quality control.
Neurotransmission plays contrasting roles in the maturation of inhibitory synapses on axons and dendrites of retinal bipolar cells
Authors: Hoon Mrinalini , Sinha Raunak , Okawa Haruhisa , Suzuki Sachihiro C. , Hirano Arlene A. , Brecha Nicholas , Rieke Fred , Wong Rachel O. L.
Published: September 2015

Significance

Neuronal output is modulated by inhibition onto axons and dendrites by diverse inhibitory synapses comprising distinct receptor subunits. Factors that regulate the in vivo maturation of these synapses across cell-compartments are not well understood. We discovered that axonal GABA
A
receptors are down-regulated whereas dendritic GABA
A
receptors are up-regulated on retinal bipolar cells in the absence of vesicular GABA release. Deleting the γ2 subunit of GABA
A
receptors specifically in bipolar cells only alters axonal GABA
A
receptor expression, suggesting that axonal and dendritic GABA
A
receptors have distinct subunit compositions that are regulated independently. Moreover, vesicular GABA release from presynaptic amacrine but not horizontal interneurons is important. Thus, regulation of inhibitory synapse maturation across the bipolar cell is input-type, receptor-type, and cell-compartment-type specific.
Chemically tunable mucin chimeras assembled on living cells
Authors: Kramer Jessica R. , Onoa Bibiana , Bustamante Carlos , Bertozzi Carolyn R.
Published: September 2015

Significance

Mucins are a diverse and heterogeneous family of glycoproteins that have been implicated in immunity and cancer. This work establishes a rapid and scalable route to synthetic mucin constructs with precisely defined glycan densities and chain lengths. Physical characterization indicates that the constructs both chemically and structurally emulate biological mucins and that dense mucin-type O-glycosylation imparts a remarkable degree of rigidity to the peptide backbone. Dual end-functionalized mucins were covalently conjugated to an engineered membrane protein on live mammalian cells. This strategy allows systematic variation in display of cell surface mucins with numerous applications in understanding the many biological roles of this unusual glycoprotein family.
Prevalence and determinants of symptoms of common mental disorders in retired professional Rugby Union players
Authors: Gouttebarge Vincent , Kerkhoffs Gino , Lambert Mike
Published: September 2015

The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms of common mental disorders (CMD) (distress, anxiety/depression, sleeping disturbance, adverse nutrition behaviour, adverse alcohol behaviour and smoking) among retired professional Rugby Union players. The secondary aim was to explore the associations between stressors (life events, Rugby Union career dissatisfaction) and the health conditions under study. Therefore, cross‐sectional analyses were conducted on baseline questionnaires from an ongoing prospective cohort study of retired professional Rugby Union players. An electronic questionnaire was established using validated questionnaires to assess symptoms of CMD and stressors. The electronic questionnaire was subsequently distributed to retired players by the national Rugby Union players’ associations in France, Ireland and South Africa. Among 295 retired professional Rugby Union players (mean age of 38 years), prevalence rates were 25% for distress, 28% for anxiety/depression, 29% for sleeping disturbance, 62% for adverse nutrition behaviour, 15% for smoking and 24% for adverse alcohol behaviour. A higher number of life events were associated with distress (OR = 1.2; 95% CI 1.1–1.4), anxiety/depression (OR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.2–2.1), sleeping disturbance (OR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.2–2.1) and adverse nutrition behaviour (OR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.3–2.5). A higher level of dissatisfaction of the player's Rugby Union career was associated with distress (OR = 0.9; 95% CI 0.8–1.0), sleeping disturbance (OR = 0.9; 95% CI 0.9–1.0), smoking (OR = 0.9; 95% CI 0.9–1.0) and adverse nutrition behaviour (OR = 0.9; 95% CI 0.8–0.9). In conclusion, our study suggests that prevalence of symptoms of CMD is high among retired professional Rugby Union players, being associated with both a higher number of life events and a higher level of Rugby Union career dissatisfaction.
In quest of the state in unrecognized states
Authors: Iskandaryan Alexander
Published: September 2015

Using examples from across the world, with an emphasis on the states that emerged after the disintegration of the USSR, this article looks at ways in which the study of unrecognized states can shed light on the understanding of statehood and state-building, of the criteria and the definitions of the state, and of the way external constraints affect the emergence and development of states. This analysis aims to shed light on the question of whether nonrecognition should be seen as a stage in the development of statehood, or just a temporary disruption of the legal order. Apart from purely academic interest, the issues raised in the article are significant for political rationality, given that new cases of non-recognition emerge all the time, and neither legal frameworks nor academic paradigms are keeping up with this phenomenon.
Journal publishing models in the Czech Republic
Authors: SUCHÁ Ladislava Zbiejczuk , STEINEROVÁ Jela
Published: September 2015

In 2014 we undertook a survey on the shifts in scholarly publishing in connection with the introduction of open access journals. The editors of more than half of the journals published in the Czech Republic participated in the first part of the study. An extensive questionnaire survey that addressed about 600 editorial boards of specialized journals was performed. We found the majority of journals to be published by smaller and non‐traditional publishers. One of the most remarkable results was the finding that if we focus on economic models and peer‐review models, open access journals do not differ considerably from other journals. Rather than according to the mode of access, much more significant differences may be observed between different types of publishers and between individual fields. It seems that on a local level the expectations associated with open access have not been fulfilled and the difference between subscription‐based journals and open access journals is not so sharp.
Hamiltonian tomography: the quantum (system) measurement problem
Authors: Cole Jared H
Published: September 2015

To harness the power of controllable quantum systems for information processing or quantum simulation, it is essential to be able to accurately characterise the system's Hamiltonian. Although in principle this requires determining less parameters than full quantum process tomography, a general and extendable method for reconstructing a general Hamiltonian has been elusive. In their recent paper, Wang et al (2015 New J. Phys.

17 093017) apply dynamical decoupling to the problem of Hamiltonian tomography and show how to reconstruct a general many-body Hamiltonian comprised of arbitrary interactions between qubits.
Interactions between apparently ‘primary’ weather-driven hazards and their cost
Authors: Hillier J K , Macdonald N , Leckebusch G C , Stavrinides A
Published: September 2015

A statistical analysis of the largest weather-driven hazards in the UK contradicts the typical view that each predominates in distinct events that do not interact with those of other hazard types (i.e., are ‘primary’); this potentially has implications for any multi-hazard environments globally where some types of severe event are still thought to occur independently. By a first co-investigation of long (1884–2008) meteorological time-series and nationwide insurance losses for UK domestic houses (averaging £1.1 billion/yr), new systematic interactions within a 1 year timeframe are identified between temporally-distinct floods, winter wind storms, and shrink–swell subsidence events (P < 0.03); this increases costs by up to £0.3 billion/yr (i.e., 26%), although impacts will be spatially variable depending upon the interplay of hazards. ‘Memory’ required in the environmental system to cause these intra-annual links between event types appears to reside in soil moisture and, tentatively, sea surface temperatures. Similar, unidentified interactions between non-synchronous events are likely worldwide, and the analytical methods we have developed to identify and quantify them are suitable for application to meteorological, geological (e.g., volcanic) and cryospheric (e.g., avalanches) hazards.
Postdialysis Hypertension: Associated Factors, Patient Profiles, and Cardiovascular Mortality
Authors: Losito Attilio , Del Vecchio Lucia , Del Rosso Goffredo , Locatelli Francesco
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A postdialytic increase in blood pressure (BP) is a recognized but often an overlooked complication. The epidemiology and predisposing factors are still not well defined. We studied a large sample of Italian dialysis patients to assess the prevalence of postdialysis hypertension (PDHYPER), defined as any increase of systolic BP (SBP) >10mm, Hg above the predialysis value, the associated factors and its role in cardiovascular (CV) mortality.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this observational study, we assessed dialysis associated changes in BP in 4,292 hemodialysis (HD) patients over 1 month (51,504 sessions). We compared the clinical characteristics of the patients with stable BP values during the HD session with those with PDHYPER. We also assessed the impact of PDHYPER on CV mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 994 (23.1%) patients had PDHYPER. Patients with PDHYPER were more likely to be hypertesive, older, have a shorter dialysis vintage, be male, have lower SBP, lower changes in weight during HD, and receive more antihypertensive medications. These predictive factors were shown to be associated with an interaction between weight loss and dialysis, suggesting a volume-related mechanism in its pathogenesis. PDHYPER was also associated with CV mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study on a large Italian cohort of dialysis patients, the prevalence of PDHYPER was higher than what was previously reported and is a significant risk factor for CV mortality in dialysis patients. The pathogenesis is multifactorial but hypertensive state, antihypertensive medications, and extracellular volume expansion appear to play a major role.
John Rawls: Moral and Political Philosophy
Authors: Mandle Jon
Published: September 2015

John Rawls (b. 1921–d. 2002) was the leading Anglo-American political philosopher of the second half of the 20th century. In his seminal 1971 book, A Theory of Justice (revised edition, Rawls 1999c, cited under Primary Texts), Rawls defends a liberal theory of social and political justice that he called “justice as fairness” as an alternative to utilitarianism, the then-dominant framework. By considering which principles of justice would be chosen from a hypothetical but fair initial choice situation called “the original position,” Rawls presents a variation on the traditional social contract doctrine. He argues that, deprived of specific knowledge of their own situation, the parties in the original position would be forced to reason impartially, and they would agree to principles of justice that required an equal scheme of basic rights and liberties, fair equality of opportunity, and an egalitarian (although not strictly equal) distribution of wealth and positions of authority. These principles are to be used to evaluate the basic structure of society—the system formed by a society’s basic social institutions. Rawls continues to defend these principles of justice and the argument from the original position, but in his second book, Political Liberalism (Rawls 2005, cited under Primary Texts), he presents justice as fairness as an example of a “political conception of justice” (pp. xxix, 11–15). Recognizing the diversity of reasonable comprehensive religious, philosophical, and moral doctrines, Rawls argues that a democratic society’s “public reason” should not be tied to any particular comprehensive doctrine, and its stability could be founded only on an overlapping consensus of reasonable comprehensive doctrines. Although Rawls intended his principles of justice to be used in evaluating the basic institutional structure of a society, some theorists argued that the same (or similar) principles should also be used to evaluate the justice of the global order. In The Law of Peoples (Rawls 1999b, cited under Primary Texts), however, Rawls rejects this direct extension. Instead he argues for a far less egalitarian standard of permissible economic inequality among societies and for toleration of certain non-liberal societies that reject the liberal rights he defends domestically (although toleration need not be extended to those who rejected basic human rights). In all three of these areas—defending a liberal conception of justice, modeled on the idea of a social contract, as an alternative to utilitarianism; developing the ideas of democratic justification contained in public reason and a political conception of justice; and introducing a distinction, grounded in a political liberalism itself, between the standards of domestic justice and those of international relations or global justice—Rawls was both controversial and agenda-setting for Anglo-American philosophy. In political philosophy today, his theories continue to represent a baseline against which other theories present themselves.
Apparent photosphere, thermalization surface and spectrum of black hole winds: Frequency-dependent case
Authors: Tomida Mizuho , Orihashi Masashi , Fukue Jun , Ogura Kazuyuki
Published: September 2015

We examine the apparent photosphere, thermalization surface and expected spectrum of a black hole wind, which is an optically thick, spherically symmetric outflow blown off from the very center of a black hole, taking into account the frequency dependence of opacities. In the case of the optically thick spherical wind, the apparent photosphere is generally aspherical, since the wind density gradually decreases with radius. In addition, if electron scattering is important, the thermalization surface decouples with the apparent photosphere, and is located deep inside it. Furthermore, since the free–free opacity depends on frequency, the location of the thermalization surface also depends on frequency. We find that the shape of the apparent photosphere is aspherical, but does not depend on frequency so much. On the other hand, in the low-frequency regime the thermalization surface is located somewhat closely to the apparent photosphere, and its shape is aspherical, since the free–free opacity dominates the electron scattering one at low frequencies. In the high-frequency regime, however, the thermalization surface is located deep inside the flow, and its shape is nearly spherical, since the electron-scattering opacity dominates the free–free one at high frequencies. As a result, the expected spectrum becomes a multi-temperature blackbody one; the spectrum has a Wien peak, but the spectral slope below the peak is shallower than the Rayleigh–Jeans slope. This is partly due to the non-spherical shapes of the apparent photosphere and thermalization surface in some cases, but mainly because we observe a different part for different frequencies; i.e., low-frequency photons come from larger thermalization radii with lower temperatures, while high-frequency ones come from smaller thermalization radii with higher temperatures.
Effects of Elevated CO2and Temperature on Pathogenicity Determinants and Virulence ofPotato virus X/Potyvirus-Associated Synergism
Authors: Aguilar Emmanuel , Allende Lucía , del Toro Francisco J. , Chung Bong-Nam , Canto Tomás , Tenllado Francisco
Published: September 2015

Infections of plants by multiple viruses are common in nature and may result in synergisms in pathologies. Several environmental factors influence plant-virus interactions and act on virulence and host defense responses. Mixed viral infections may be more frequent under environmental conditions associated with global warming. Here, we address how changes in the two main parameters behind global warming, carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO2]) and temperature, may affect virulence of Potato virus X (PVX)/potyvirus-associated synergism compared with single infections in Nicotiana benthamiana. Elevated [CO2] resulted in attenuated virulence of single infection by PVX, which correlated with a lower accumulation of virus. In contrast, virulence of PVX/potyvirus-associated synergism was maintained at elevated [CO2]. On the other hand, elevated temperature decreased markedly both virulence and virus titers in the synergistic infection. We also show that the HR-like response elicited by transient coexpression of PVX P25 together with the potyviral helper component-proteinase protein was significantly enhanced by elevated temperature, whereas it was reduced by elevated [CO2]. Both proteins are main pathogenicity determinants in PVX-associated synergisms. These findings indicate that, under environmental conditions associated with global warming, virulence of PVX/potyvirus-associated synergisms is expected to vary relative to single infections and, thus, may have pathological consequences in the future.
Risk Analysis of Pneumonitis in Taxane Therapy After Chemoradiotherapy for Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Kishida Yoshihiro , Tsushima Takahiro , Endo Masahiro , Hamauchi Satoshi , Todaka Akiko , Yokota Tomoya , Machida Nozomu , Yamazaki Kentaro , Fukutomi Akira , Onozawa Yusuke , Yasui Hirofumi
Published: September 2015

Objectives:

Taxane chemotherapy for esophageal cancer causes pneumonitis, not only by itself but also by radiation recall. This study aimed to clarify the risk of pneumonitis in patients with esophageal cancer who receive taxane therapy after chemoradiotherapy.

Methods:

The data of 129 patients with metastatic or recurrent esophageal cancer who initiated taxane therapy between September 2002 and June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Patient selection criteria were as follows: performance status ≤2, preserved organ functions, previous chemoradiotherapy with a radiation dose of ≥50 Gy, grade 0 or 1 pneumonitis at taxane initiation, and no concomitant malignancy. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for pneumonitis.

Results:

Patient characteristics were as follows: males/females, 116/13; median age, 63 years (range, 44 to 80 y); performance status of 0/1/2, 61/60/8; smoking history, 112 (88%); location of the primary tumor Ce/Ut/Mt/Lt/Ae 12/30/66/20/1; median radiation dose, 60 Gy; history of radiation pneumonitis, 39 (30%); history of other pulmonary disease, 4 (3%); and median duration between the last radiation therapy (RT) exposure and taxane initiation, 6.1 months (range, 1.0 to 71 mo). During the median observation period of 7.8 months from taxane initiation, the incidence of grade 2 and 3 pneumonitis was observed in 7 (5.4%) and 3 (2.3%) patients, respectively. No patient died of pneumonitis. The only independent risk factor for pneumonitis was a ≤4-month period between the last RT exposure and taxane initiation (P=0.03).

Conclusions:

A short period between the last RT exposure and taxane initiation is an independent risk factor for pneumonitis development.
Comorbidities and Psychosocial Characteristics as Determinants of Dropout in Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation
Authors: Pardaens Sofie , De Smedt Delphine , De Bacquer Dirk , Willems Anne-Marie , Verstreken Sofie , De Sutter Johan
Published: September 2015

Background:

Despite the clear benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), a considerable number of patients drop out early.

Objective:

Therefore, we wanted to evaluate dropout in CR with a special focus on comorbidities and psychosocial background.

Methods:

Patients who attended CR after acute coronary syndrome, cardiac surgery, or heart failure (N = 489) were prospectively included. Dropout was defined as attending 50% of the training sessions or less (n = 96 [20%]). Demographic and clinical characteristics, exercise parameters, and psychosocial factors were analyzed according to dropout, and those with a trend toward a significant difference (P < .10) were entered in a multivariate logistic model.

Results:

The presence of a cerebrovascular accident (4.18 [1.39–12.52]) involved a higher risk of dropout, and a comparable trend was seen for the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2.55 [0.99–6.54]). Attending the training program only twice per week also implicated a higher risk of an early withdrawal (3.76 [2.23–6.35]). In contrast, patients on β-blockers were less likely to withdraw prematurely (0.47 [0.22–0.98]). Singles were more likely to drop out (2.89 [1.56–5.35]), as well as those patients who were dependent on others to get to CR (2.01 [1.16–3.47]). Finally, the reporting of severe problems on the anxiety/depression subscale of the EuroQOL-5D questionnaire involved a higher odds for dropout (7.17 [1.46–35.29]).

Conclusions:

Neither demographic characteristics nor clinical status or exercise capacity could independently identify patients who were at risk of dropout. The presence of comorbidities and a vulnerable psychosocial background rather seem to play a key role in dropout.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Online Pilot
Authors: Higgins Rosemary O. , Rogerson Michelle , Murphy Barbara M. , Navaratnam Hema , Butler Michael V. , Barker Lauren , Turner Alyna , Lefkovits Jeffrey , Jackson Alun C.
Published: September 2015

Background:

While cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended for all patients after an acute cardiac event, limitations exist in reach.

Objective:

The purpose of the current study was to develop and pilot a flexible online CR program based on self-management principles “Help Yourself Online.”

Methods:

The program was designed as an alternative to group-based CR as well as to complement traditional CR. The program was based on existing self-management resources developed previously by the Heart Research Centre. Twenty-one patients admitted to Cabrini Health for an acute cardiac event were recruited to test the program. The program was evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Results:

Quantitative results demonstrated that patients believed the program would assist them in their self-management. Qualitative evaluation, using focus group and interview methods with 15 patients, showed that patients perceived the online CR approach to be a useful instrument for self-management.

Conclusions:

Broader implications of the data include the acceptability of the intervention, timing of intervention delivery, and patients’ desire for additional online community support.
Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia in 2015
Authors: Aronow Wilbert S.
Published: September 2015

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled secondary prevention and primary prevention studies and observational studies have documented that statins reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk patients with hypercholesterolemia. The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines on treatment of hypercholesterolemia support the use of statins in 4 major groups that will be discussed. The Expert Panel of these guidelines could find no data supporting the routine use of nonstatin drugs combined with statins to further reduce cardiovascular events. Since these guidelines were published, a double-blind randomized trial of 18,144 patients with an acute coronary syndrome demonstrated at a 7-year follow-up that the incidence of cardiovascular events was 34.7% in patients randomized to simvastatin plus placebo versus 32.7% in patients randomized to simvastatin plus ezetimibe (hazard ratio = 0.936; P = 0.016). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors further lower serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 50%–70% in patients treated with statins and 4 phase 3 trials including more than 70,000 patients are investigating whether these monoclonal antibodies to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 will lower cardiovascular events.
Nursing Assessment Tool for People With Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Gimenes Fernanda Raphael Escobar , Reis Renata Karina , da Silva Patrícia Costa dos Santos , Silva Ana Elisa Bauer de Camargo , Atila Elisabeth
Published: September 2015

The aim of this study was to describe the process of developing a nursing assessment tool for hospitalized adult patients with liver cirrhosis. A descriptive study was carried out in three stages. First, we conducted a literature review to develop a data collection tool on the basis of the Conceptual Model of Wanda Horta. Second, the data collection tool was assessed through an expert panel. Third, we conducted the pilot testing in hospitalized patients. Most of the comments offered by the panel members were accepted to improve the tool. The final version was in the form of a questionnaire with open-closed questions. The panel members concluded that the tool was useful for accurate nursing diagnosis. Horta's Conceptual Model assisted with the development of this data collection tool to help nurses identify accurate nursing diagnosis in hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis. We hope that the tool can be used by all nurses in clinical practice.
Adolescents' Lived Experiences While Hospitalized After Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Olsen Ida Østrup , Jensen Susanne , Larsen Lene , Sørensen Erik Elgaard
Published: September 2015

Adolescents are in a transitional phase of life characterized by major physical, emotional, and psychological challenges. Living with ulcerative colitis is experienced as a reduction of their life quality. Initial treatment of ulcerative colitis is medical, but surgery may be necessary when medical treatment ceases to have an effect. No research-based studies of adolescents' experience of the hospital period after surgery for ulcerative colitis exist. The objective of the study was to identify and describe adolescents' lived experiences while hospitalized after surgery for ulcerative colitis. This qualitative study was based on interviews with eight adolescents. Analysis and interpretation were based on a hermeneutic interpretation of meaning. Three themes were identified: Body: Out of order; Seen and understood; and Where are all the others? The adolescents experience a postoperative period characterized by physical and mental impairment. Being mentally unprepared for such challenges, they shun communication and interaction. The findings demonstrate the importance of individualized nursing care on the basis of the adolescent's age, maturity, and individual needs. Further study of adolescent patients' hospital stay, focusing on the implications of being young and ill at the same time, is needed.
Shared
Escovopsis
parasites between leaf-cutting and non-leaf-cutting ants in the higher attine fungus-growing ant symbiosis
Authors: Meirelles Lucas A. , Solomon Scott E. , Bacci Mauricio , Wright April M. , Mueller Ulrich G. , Rodrigues Andre
Published: September 2015

Fungus-gardening (attine) ants grow fungus for food in protected gardens, which contain beneficial, auxiliary microbes, but also microbes harmful to gardens. Among these potentially pathogenic microorganisms, the most consistently isolated are fungi in the genus
Escovopsis
, which are thought to co-evolve with ants and their cultivar in a tripartite model. To test clade-to-clade correspondence between
Escovopsis
and ants in the higher attine symbiosis (including leaf-cutting and non-leaf-cutting ants), we amassed a geographically comprehensive collection of
Escovopsis
from Mexico to southern Brazil, and reconstructed the corresponding
Escovopsis
phylogeny. Contrary to previous analyses reporting phylogenetic divergence between
Escovopsis
from leafcutters and
Trachymyrmex
ants (non-leafcutter), we found no evidence for such specialization; rather, gardens from leafcutters and non-leafcutters genera can sometimes be infected by closely related strains of
Escovopsis
, suggesting switches at higher phylogenetic levels than previously reported within the higher attine symbiosis. Analyses identified rare
Escovopsis
strains that might represent biogeographically restricted endemic species. Phylogenetic patterns correspond to morphological variation of vesicle type (hyphal structures supporting spore-bearing cells), separating
Escovopsis
with phylogenetically derived cylindrical vesicles from ancestral
Escovopsis
with globose vesicles. The new phylogenetic insights provide an improved basis for future taxonomic and ecological studies of
Escovopsis
.
Treatment of Parkinson's disease using cell transplantation
Authors: Lindvall Olle
Published: September 2015

The clinical trials with intrastriatal transplantation of human fetal mesencephalic tissue, rich in dopaminergic neurons, in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients show that cell replacement can work and in some cases induce major, long-lasting improvement. However, owing to poor tissue availability, this approach can only be applied in very few patients, and standardization is difficult, leading to wide variation in functional outcome. Stem cells and reprogrammed cells could potentially be used to produce dopaminergic neurons for transplantation. Importantly, dopaminergic neurons of the correct substantia nigra phenotype can now be generated from human embryonic stem cells in large numbers and standardized preparations, and will soon be ready for application in patients. Also, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons are being considered for clinical translation. Available data justify moving forward in a responsible way with these dopaminergic neurons, which should be tested, using optimal patient selection, cell preparation and transplantation procedures, in controlled clinical studies.
ATRX binds to atypical chromatin domains at the 3’ exons of ZNF genes to preserve H3K9me3 enrichment
Authors: Valle-García David , Qadeer Zulekha A. , McHugh Domhnall S. , Ghiraldini Flávia G. , Chowdhury Asif H. , Hasson Dan , Dyer Michael A. , Recillas-Targa Félix , Bernstein Emily
Published: September 2015

ATRX is a SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler proposed to govern genomic stability through the regulation of repetitive sequences such as rDNA, retrotransposons, and pericentromeric and telomeric repeats. However, few direct ATRX target genes have been identified and high-throughput genomic approaches are currently lacking for ATRX. Here we present a comprehensive ChIP-sequencing study of ATRX in multiple human cell lines, in which we identify the 3’ exons of zinc finger genes (ZNFs) as a new class of ATRX targets. These 3’ exonic regions encode the zinc finger motifs, which can range from 1-40 copies per ZNF gene and share large stretches of sequence similarity. These regions often contain an atypical chromatin signature: they are transcriptionally active, contain high levels of H3K36me3 and are paradoxically enriched in H3K9me3. We find that these ZNF 3’ exons are co-occupied by SETDB1, TRIM28 and ZNF274, which form a complex with ATRX. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loss-of-function studies demonstrate (i) a reduction of H3K9me3 at the ZNF 3’ exons in the absence of ATRX and ZNF274 and, (ii) H3K9me3 levels at atypical chromatin regions are particularly sensitive to ATRX loss compared to other H3K9me3-occupied regions. As a consequence of ATRX or ZNF274 depletion, cells with reduced levels of H3K9me3 show increased levels of DNA damage, suggesting that ATRX binds to the 3’ exons of ZNFs to maintain their genomic stability through preservation of H3K9me3.
A Lean Six Sigma program in higher education
Authors: Svensson Carsten , Antony Jiju , Ba-Essa Mohamed , Bakhsh Majed , Albliwi Saja
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the body of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) knowledge within the field of higher education institutions. The paper will review the initial phase of an implementation and highlight future challenges of applying the LSS method in a complex transactional environment.

Design/methodology/approach

– The observations presented in this paper originate from rolling out a large LSS implementation at a recently established university. The paper is supported with secondary data from literature.

Findings

– The implementation of LSS methodology at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has resulted in improvements in business processes and efficiency. This has been achieved through project execution and training programs. Approximately 350 staff members have completed awareness training, 50 yellow belts and 150 green belts have been trained, and the first round of seven black belts have completed training of which two have completed certification.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper is based on an empirical study of a single instance and the authors’ experiences as practitioners.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first description of what is believed to be one of the largest implementations of LSS in higher education.