bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical‐biological coupling of N2 fixation in the northwestern South China Sea coastal upwelling during summer
Authors: Zhang Run , Chen Min , Yang Qing , Lin Yuanshao , Mao Huabin , Qiu Yusheng , Tong Jinlu , Lv E. , Yang Zhi , Yang Weifeng , Cao Jianping
Published: May 2015

Here, we present the first combined results of N2 fixation rates (15N2 assay), dissolved iron (dFe, < 0.2 μm), and primary production (PP) (14C assay) in the northwestern South China Sea (NWSCS) coastal upwelling region during summer. Surface N2 fixation rate ranged between 0.1 nmol N L−1 d−1 and 5.6 nmol N L−1 d−1 (average 1.0 nmol N L−1 d−1, n = 50) under nonbloom conditions. At a Trichodesmium bloom station, N2 fixation rate was ∼ 3 orders of magnitude higher. Depth‐integrated N2 fixation rate ranged between 7.5 μmol N m−2 d−1and 163.1 μmol N m−2 d−1 (average 46.4 μmol N m−2 d−1). Our results indicate that N2 fixation is unlikely limited by Fe availability in the NWSCS continental waters, instead, the coastal upwelling‐induced combined effects of physical and biological processes may have played a decisive role. With the upwelled cold, dFe‐rich, nutrient‐replete waters, nondiazotrophic phytoplankton growth would be preferentially enhanced while N2 fixation was hindered due to relative deficiency of phosphate caused by massive phytoplankton utilization in the coastal upwelling. By comparison, N2 fixation was notably elevated along with decreased PP in the offshore waters, probably due to a shift from P‐deficiency to N‐deficiency. Consistently, the contribution of N2 fixation to PP (0.01–2.52%) also increased toward the open waters. As a significant external N source, summertime N2 fixation is estimated to contribute a flux of 1.4 Gmol N to this area under nonbloom conditions. This study adds to the knowledge of N2 fixation in the rarely studied subtropical coastal upwellings, and highlights the necessity of future comprehensive studies in such highly dynamic environments.
Reduced SP1‐mediated transcriptional activation decreases expression of intestinal folate transporters in response to ethanol exposure
Authors: Thakur Shilpa , Rahat Beenish , More Deepti , Kaur Jyotdeep
Published: May 2015

Scope

The study was designed to identify the regulatory mechanisms underlying the effects of ethanol exposure on intestinal folate transport and to investigate the reversibility of such effects.

Methods and results

Caco‐2 cells were grown in control and ethanol containing medium for 96 h. Thereafter, one subgroup of cells was shifted on ethanol free medium and grown for next 72 h. For in vivo studies, rats were given 1g ethanol/kg body weight/day either for 3 or 5 months and after 3 months of ethanol treatment, one group of rats received no ethanol for 2 months. A significant decrease in folic acid transport as well as expression of folate transporters was observed on ethanol treatment and the effects were reversible upon removal of ethanol. Ethanol exposure had no impact on CpG island methylation of the folate transporters however, an increase in their mRNA half‐life was observed that seems to be a homeostatic mechanism. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed a decrease in binding of SP1 transcription factor to the promoter regions of folate transporters.

Conclusion

Reduced binding of SP1 to the promoter region of folate transporters may be a part of the regulatory mechanism resulting in decreased expression of folate transporters on ethanol exposure.
Screening and identification of potential sex‐associated sequences in Danio rerio
Authors: Luzio Ana , Coimbra Ana M. , Benito César , Fontaínhas‐Fernandes António A. , Matos Manuela
Published: May 2015

Current knowledge on zebrafish (Danio rerio) suggests that sex determination has a polygenic genetic basis in this species, although environmental factors may also be involved. This study aimed to identify sex‐associated genomic regions using two different marker systems: inter‐simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) and random‐amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs). Two bulks were constructed: one with DNA from zebrafish females and the other from males; then, a total of 100 ISSR and 280 RAPD primers were tested. Three DNA fragments presenting sexual dimorphism (female‐linked: OPA17436 and OPQ191027; male‐linked: OPQ19951) were determined from sequential analysis of the bulks followed by assessment in individuals. These fragments were cloned and convert into the following sequenced characterized amplified regions (SCAR): DrSM_F1, DrSM_F2, and DrSM_M, which share identities with sequences located in chromosomes 2, 3, and 11 (Zv9), respectively. Using these potential markers in zebrafish samples it was possible to correctly identify 80% of the males (DrSM_M) and 100% of the females (DrSM_F1 + DrSM_F2) in the analyzed population. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 756–764, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Job Demand and Job Satisfaction in Latent Groups of Turnover Intention Among Licensed Nurses in Taiwan Nursing Homes
Authors: Chen I‐Hui , Brown Roger , Bowers Barbara J. , Chang Wen‐Yin
Published: May 2015

Nurses' turnover intention is not dichotomous; it may reflect intent to leave the profession, intent to leave a type of facility, or intent to leave a specific workplace. In a latent class analysis (LCA) of data from 186 licensed nurses (RNs and LPNs) recruited from 25 nursing homes (NHs) in Taiwan, we classified nurses into turnover intention subgroups based on seven questionnaire items and used a multilevel contrast analysis to characterize the subgroups according to demographic and facility factors, job demand, and job satisfaction. A multilevel probit model was used to examine how job demand and job satisfaction influenced subgroup membership. Three turnover subgroups were identified: high turnover intention (12%), middle turnover intention (57%), and low turnover intention (31%). The high turnover intention subgroup comprised the youngest nurses and had the lowest percentage of registered nurses (RNs); nurses in this subgroup had worked the longest at the current NH and had the greatest likelihood of working at a for‐profit facility. Nurses in the middle turnover intention subgroup had the lowest likelihood of working at a for‐profit facility. Nurses in the low turnover intention subgroup were primarily RNs and had the shortest work experience in the current facility. Nurses in the high and middle turnover intention subgroups reported lower intrinsic job satisfaction than those with low turnover intention. Extrinsic job satisfaction mediated the relationship between job demand and turnover intention subgroup assignment. The results of this LCA can help target interventions to address heterogeneity of turnover intention and ultimately lessen turnover. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Meta‐analysis of rate ratios with differential follow‐up by treatment arm: inferring comparative effectiveness of medical devices
Authors: Kunz Lauren M. , Normand Sharon‐Lise T. , Sedrakyan Art
Published: May 2015

Modeling events requires accounting for differential follow‐up duration, especially when combining randomized and observational studies. Although events occur at any point over a follow‐up period and censoring occurs throughout, most applied researchers use odds ratios as association measures, assuming follow‐up duration is similar across treatment groups. We derive the bias of the rate ratio when incorrectly assuming equal follow‐up duration in the single study binary treatment setting. Simulations illustrate bias, efficiency, and coverage and demonstrate that bias and coverage worsen rapidly as the ratio of follow‐up duration between arms moves away from one. Combining study rate ratios with hierarchical Poisson regression models, we examine bias and coverage for the overall rate ratio via simulation in three cases: when average arm‐specific follow‐up duration is available for all studies, some studies, and no study. In the null case, bias and coverage are poor when the study average follow‐up is used and improve even if some arm‐specific follow‐up information is available. As the rate ratio gets further from the null, bias and coverage remain poor. We investigate the effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy devices compared with those with cardioverter‐defibrillator capacity where three of eight studies report arm‐specific follow‐up duration. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vitamin E pretreatment prevents histopathological effects in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) acutely exposed to cylindrospermopsin
Authors: Guzmán‐Guillén Remedios , Prieto Ortega Ana I. , Gutiérrez‐Praena Daniel , Moreno Isabel M. , Moyano Rosario , Blanco Alfonso , Cameán Ana M.
Published: May 2015

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a cyanotoxin frequently involved in blooms with a predominantly extracellular availability, which makes it easily taken up by a variety of aquatic organisms. CYN is a potent protein and glutathione synthesis inhibitor, and also induces genotoxicity, oxidative stress and several histopathological lesions. The present study investigates the protective role of a vitamin E pretreatment (700 mg vit E/kg fish bw/day, for 7 days) on the histopathological alterations induced in different organs of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) acutely exposed to a single oral dose of 400 µg pure CYN/kg bw fish. The major histological changes observed were degenerative glucogenic process and loss of the hepatic structure in the liver, glomerulopathy and tubular tumefaction in the kidney, myofibrolysis and edema in the heart, catarrhal enteritis and necrosis in the gastrointestinal tract, hyperemic processes in the gill lamellae, and high basophilia, degeneration and tumefaction of granular neurons in the brain. Vitamin E pretreatment was effective in preventing or ameliorating the abovementioned alterations induced by CYN. In addition, a morphometric study indicated that the average nuclear diameter of hepatocytes, and cross‐sections of proximal and distal convoluted tubules, together with the cardiac fiber and capillaries diameters represent a useful tool to evaluate the damage induced by CYN. This is the first study reporting vitamin E prevention of histopathological damage in tissues (liver, kidney, heart, gastrointestinal tract, gills and brain) of fish intoxicated with CYN. Therefore, vitamin E can be considered a useful chemoprotectant in the treatment of histopathological changes induced in CYN‐intoxicated fish. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1469–1485, 2016.
Class Size Effects on Student Performance in a Hispanic-Serving Institution
Authors: Matta Benjamin N. , Guzman Joseph M. , Stockly Sue K. , Widner Benjamin
Published: May 2015

Overlooked in higher education student retention policies is the effect of class size on student achievement. Decreasing constant-dollar legislative appropriations and growing undergraduate enrollments will continue to strain instructional budgets. One obvious administrator response is to increase class sizes, which raises concerns of negative effects on minority student achievement. Reported are findings that class size does exercise negative effects on the academic performance of Hispanic students.
Strengths of character, orientations to happiness, life satisfaction and purpose in Singapore
Authors: Lee Janice Niann Tsyr , Foo Koong Hean , Adams Austin , Morgan Robert , Frewen Amie
Published: May 2015

Positive psychology has identified six virtues comprising 24 character strengths of humans. This study examines the relationships among these character strengths, including Happiness, Life Purpose and Life Satisfaction as valued by Singapore Chinese, Malays, Indians and Other Asians and Caucasians. A sample of Singapore adults (N = 304) completed an online survey in English comprising four measures, the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths, the Orientations to Happiness Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Life Engagement Test. Results show that Zest, Hope, Curiosity, Capacity to Love and Gratitude are the top five character strengths of the sampled Singaporeans. Happiness orientation through pursuing a Life of Meaning is preferred by all four ethnic groups. Ethnic differences are found for character strengths of Kindness, Humour, Gratitude, and Religiousness and Spirituality. Life of Meaning and Life of Engagement, Happiness orientations and character strengths of Curiosity and Perseverance are direct predictors of Life Purpose. In turn, Life Purpose and character strengths of Capacity to Love and Gratitude are found to be direct predictors of Life Satisfaction. Despite its other limitations, this study lays the groundwork for future studies using more robust sampling strategies and greater participation from the major ethnic groups in Singapore.
Iodine and pregnancy – a UK cross-sectional survey of dietary intake, knowledge and awareness
Authors: Combet E. , Bouga M. , Pan B. , Lean M. E. J. , Christopher C. O.
Published: May 2015

Iodine is a key component of the thyroid hormones, which are critical for healthy growth, development and metabolism. The UK population is now classified as mildly iodine-insufficient. Adequate levels of iodine during pregnancy are essential for fetal neurodevelopment, and mild iodine deficiency is linked to developmental impairments. In the absence of prophylaxis in the UK, awareness of nutritional recommendations during pregnancy would empower mothers to make the right dietary choices leading to adequate iodine intake. The present study aimed to: estimate mothers' dietary iodine intake in pregnancy (using a FFQ); assess awareness of the importance of iodine in pregnancy with an understanding of existing pregnancy dietary and lifestyle recommendations with relevance for iodine; examine the level of confidence in meeting adequate iodine intake. A cross-sectional survey was conducted and questionnaires were distributed between August 2011 and February 2012 on local (Glasgow) and national levels (online electronic questionnaire); 1026 women, UK-resident and pregnant or mother to a child aged up to 36 months participated in the study. While self-reported awareness about general nutritional recommendations during pregnancy was high (96 %), awareness of iodine-specific recommendations was very low (12 %), as well as the level of confidence of how to achieve adequate iodine intake (28 %). Median pregnancy iodine intake, without supplements, calculated from the FFQ, was 190 μg/d (interquartile range 144–256μg/d), which was lower than that of the WHO's recommended intake for pregnant women (250 μg/d). Current dietary recommendations in pregnancy, and their dissemination, are found not to equip women to meet the requirements for iodine intake.
Case report of a p16INK4A-positive branchial cleft cyst
Authors: McLean T , Iseli C , Amott D , Taylor M
Published: May 2015

Objective:

To report the occurrence of a concurrent oropharyngeal papilloma and branchial cleft cyst linked by p16INK4Aand human papillomavirus immunohistochemistry.

Case report:

A 42-year-old woman presented with a 1-month history of a left lateral neck mass. Contrast enhanced computed tomography showed a hypodense lesion 20 mm in diameter anteromedial to the left sternocleidomastoid muscle. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration suggested a branchial cleft cyst. Panendoscopy was performed at the time of neck mass removal, and a papillomatous lesion was removed from the left hypopharynx. Histopathological analysis showed the neck lesion to be a branchial cyst containing lymphoid tissue, and the oral lesion to be a squamous papilloma. Immunohistochemical analysis showed both the branchial cleft cyst and papilloma to be positive for p16INK4Aexpression and human papillomavirus DNA.

Conclusion:

Histological and immunohistochemical analyses support the cystic transformation of lymph nodes, or the ‘Inclusion Theory’, as the aetiology of branchial apparatus anomalies, and raise the possibility that human papillomavirus infection may play a much larger role in disease of the head and neck than previously supposed.
Evaluation of a nasal surgical questionnaire designed for monitoring surgical outcomes and comparing different techniques
Authors: Haye R , Døsen L K , Shiryaeva O , Amlie E
Published: May 2015

Objective:

This study evaluated a nasal surgical questionnaire designed for monitoring surgical outcomes and comparing different techniques.

Methods:

Eighty-three healthy volunteers answered the same questionnaire twice with a minimum interval of five weeks. Three visual analogue scale items were used to assess nasal obstruction during the day, at night and during exercise. Respondents rated nasal obstruction severity by marking on a 10 cm line, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 (measured in millimetres). Other nasal symptoms, considered secondary outcomes, were graded using four-point Likert scales.

Results:

Mean visual analogue scale scores for nasal obstruction severity experienced during the day, at night and during exercise at initial assessment were 9.99, 12.95 and 11.67, respectively. Thirty-eight per cent of scores indicated no obstruction (scores of 0), 47 per cent indicated mild obstruction (scores 1–30), 13 per cent indicated moderate obstruction (scores 31–70) and 2 per cent indicated severe obstruction (scores 71–100). Males had higher scores than females. The scores for the first and second assessment did not differ, except at night for obstruction in allergic individuals which was considered clinically unimportant.

Conclusion:

The questionnaire reliably assesses nasal symptoms and may be useful for prospective studies of nasal surgery.
Robotic thyroidectomy versus conventional open thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer: meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Y-C , Liu K , Xiong J-J , Zhu J-Q
Published: May 2015

Objective:

To conduct a meta-analysis to compare the short-term outcomes of robotic thyroidectomy and conventional open thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer.

Methods:

Medline, Embase, Science Citation Index Expanded and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant literature. The evaluated endpoints were intra-operative and post-operative outcomes.

Results:

Twelve eligible, non-randomised comparative studies involving 2513 patients were included, with 923 patients in the robotic thyroidectomy group and 1590 patients in the conventional open thyroidectomy group. Meta-analysis results revealed that robotic thyroidectomy was associated with significantly longer operative time and a lower number of retrieved central lymph nodes, as compared with conventional open thyroidectomy. No significant differences were found between robotic thyroidectomy and conventional open thyroidectomy in terms of post-operative outcomes.

Conclusion:

Robotic thyroidectomy appears to be a feasible and safe surgical procedure for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. However, more high-quality randomised clinical trials should be undertaken to confirm these findings.
Ageing well: a review of sarcopenia and frailty
Authors: Keevil Victoria L. , Romero-Ortuno Roman
Published: May 2015

‘Ageing well’ has been declared a global health priority by the World Health Organisation and the role of sarcopenia and frailty in late-life health is receiving increasing attention. Frailty is the decline in an individual's homeostatic function, strength and physiologic reserves leading to increased vulnerability, while sarcopenia describes the loss of muscle mass and function with age. The conceptual definitions of these conditions have been widely agreed but there is a lack of consensus on how to measure them. We review the different operational definitions described in the literature and the evidence that, whatever definition used, the prevalence and clinical impact of these conditions is high. We also consider the commonality of low physical function to both conditions, a feature which could provide a pragmatic way forward in terms of identifying those at risk. Objective measures of physical function such as usual walking speed are simple and feasible measures, extensively validated against health outcomes. Additionally, clinical applications of sarcopenia and frailty are reviewed with particular consideration to their potential role in the management of older people undergoing surgery. Frailty appears to outperform traditional anaesthetic and surgical risk scores in terms of its association with post-operative complications, length of hospital stay, institutionalisation and mortality. However, even within this sub-specialty area there is wide variation in the approaches used to measure frailty and there is an urgent need for studies to utilise established, validated and reproducible methods to identify sarcopenia and frailty in their study participants, in order to expedite scientific development.
The impact of phosphorus on the immune system and the intestinal microbiota with special focus on the pig
Authors: Heyer Charlotte M.E. , Weiss Eva , Schmucker Sonja , Rodehutscord Markus , Hoelzle Ludwig E. , Mosenthin Rainer , Stefanski Volker
Published: May 2015

There is increasing interest in dietary ingredients that are appropriate to support digestive and immune functions, but also maintain a stable microbial ecosystem in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), particularly in weaned pigs. P is an essential nutrient for both microbes and their host, as it is involved, for example, in bone formation, energy metabolism, cellular signalling and stabilisation of cell membranes. Non-ruminant animals have limited access to phytate, the main storage form of P in plant seeds. The release of P bound to phytate requires phytase activity of plant or microbial origin, resulting in the formation of variable phosphorylated inositol phosphates (InsPs). The present review focuses on interactions between variations in dietary P supply, the immune system of the host, and the intestinal microbial ecosystem. Although results on the interaction between P and the immune system are inconsistent, several studies in different species have shown a positive impact of dietary P and phytase addition on the adaptive immune response. Recent studies with pigs suggest that P supply may influence intestinal microbial composition and activity. Individual InsPs or phosphate may also affect properties of pathogenic micro-organisms, such as metabolism or virulence. In conclusion, P may be considered as part of an integrated approach to support immune functions and maintain a stable microbial ecosystem in the GIT, thereby providing a barrier against potential pathogens. Within this regard, differences in phytate-P content and intrinsic phytase activity of plant feedstuffs, as well as the formation of individual InsPs, have to be taken into account.
Diversity and trophic level of ichthyofauna associated with the trawl bycatches of Cuddalore and Parangipettai, south-east coast of India
Authors: Sambandamoorthy Purusothaman , Nagamuthu Jayaprabha , Arumugam Silambarasan , Perumal Murugesan
Published: May 2015

The present study was undertaken to obtain basic information on the diversity and trophic level of trawl bycatch fishes in Cuddalore and Parangipettai coastal waters, south-east coast of India. A total of 123 species of finfishes, belonging to 13 orders, 49 families and 82 genera were recorded in the trawl bycatch of Cuddalore and Parangipettai from January 2009 to December 2010. Among the orders, Perciformes dominated with 22 families, 40 genera and 66 species (53.6%), followed by Clupeiformes, of which there were four families, nine genera and 18 species (14.6%). Regarding the habitat-wise distribution, 50 species (40.6%) were reef associated, 43 (34.9%) were demersal, 19 (15.4%) were pelagic and 11 (8.9%) were benthopelagic. Considering the trophic levels, 5 (4.0%), 8 (6.5%), 41 (33.3%), 49 (39.8%) and 20 species (16.2%) were recorded in the trophic levels of 2.0–2.49, 2.5–2.99, 3.0–3.49, 3.5–3.99 and 4.0–4.5, respectively, in both the coastal waters.
Depositional environments, sediment characteristics, palaeoecological analysis and environmental assessment of an internationally protected shallow Mediterranean lagoon, Gialova Lagoon – Navarino Bay, Greece
Authors: Avramidis P. , Iliopoulos G. , Kontopoulos N. , Panagiotaras D. , Barouchas P. , Nikolaou K. , Papadopoulou P.
Published: May 2015

This study presents sedimentological, palaeoecological and geochemical data from a shallow Mediterranean coastal lagoon which has been severely influenced by human intervention over the last 70 years. The Gialova Lagoon is protected by international conventions and is listed in the Natura 2000 European Community Network as Special Protection Area (SPA) and Site of Community Importance (SCI). The spatial variability of sediment characteristics such as grain size, total organic carbon (TOC) and moment measures, mean, sorting, kurtosis and skewness were calculated. Moreover, micro- and macrofossil and sediment geochemical analyses were carried out on six gravity core samples. Study of the above parameters indicates that the anthropogenic impact and intervention are reflected in the micro- (ostracods, foraminifera, charophytes) and macrofossil (molluscs) taxa corresponding to different depositional environmental facies, representing a brackish lagoon with the influence of (a) fresh water inflow, (b) shallow marine environment and (c) hypoxic and dystrophic conditions. The geochemical characteristics and the calculation of the degree of sediment contamination using enrichment factors (EF), contamination factors (Cif) and the index of geo-accumulation (Igeo) indicate a recent relative improvement of the lagoon towards the upper layers of the gravity cores, rendering the lagoon as unpolluted to moderately polluted. This combinatorial study of sediment geochemical characteristics, as well as the downcore micro- and macrofossil assemblages, can be considered as a baseline for future monitoring in accordance with European Union directives, and for any future engineering interventions for the lagoon environmental maintenance and conservation; as this is the first time that geochemical and downcore palaeoecological data have been presented from this lagoon.
Social democratic parties and antitrust policy: evidence from Western Europe (2002–13)
Authors: Guidi Mattia , Karagiannis Yannis
Published: May 2015

This paper investigates the position of social democratic parties (SDPs) towards antitrust (competition) policy. Given their traditional state-interventionist attitude and their ties with organized labour, SDPs have long been considered as not supportive of antitrust policy. However, antitrust policy’s goal of granting consumers lower prices is beneficial to salary earners. Hence, it is not surprising that SDPs’ support for antitrust policy varies considerably. To account for such variation, this paper hypothesizes that SDPs’ support for antitrust policy depends on: (a) the influence of trade unions; (b) the electoral system; and (c) the degree of coordination of the economy. Analysing in depth 16 party manifestos of West European SDPs from 2002 to 2013, we check the plausibility of our hypotheses with seven paired comparisons. Our analysis supports the hypothesis that the influence of trade unions affects SDPs’ support for antitrust policy, while the impact of electoral system and economic coordination appears less evident.
The birth and future health of DOHaD
Authors: Hanson M.
Published: May 2015

Professor David Barker, CBE, FRS, made an enormous contribution to biomedical research, which helped to change its direction and assisted translation to clinical medicine in the area of non-communicable disease (NCD). In this paper, I briefly note some of the studies, which led to his work, and describe how the underlying mechanisms came to be investigated by fetal physiologists. This is a unique aspect of the change in scientific emphasis, from a gene-centric and adult lifestyle view of NCD to a more holistic perspective, which placed emphasis on the importance of development that took place in the late 20th century. Early this century, the DOHaD Society was formed: I discuss some aspects of the formation of the Society and note the important role it is now playing in addressing the need to find early-life interventions to reduce NCD. This forms part of the unique legacy that David Barker has left to science and medicine.
MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets obtained under a high magnetic field for lithium storage with stable and high capacity
Authors: Hu Lin , Feng Xuyong , Wei Lingzhi , Zhang Kejun , Dai Jianming , Wu Yucheng , Chen Qianwang
Published: May 2015

A new strategy, namely a high magnetic field-induced method, has been designed to enhance lithium storage properties of MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets.
Conductive polypyrrole hydrogels and carbon nanotubes composite as an anode for microbial fuel cells
Authors: Tang Xinhua , Li Haoran , Du Zhuwei , Wang Weida , Ng How Yong
Published: May 2015

Polypyrrole hydrogels/carbon nanotubes enhanced electrocatalytic activity, biocompatibility and power density in microbial fuel cells.
Enhanced photoluminescence of gallium phosphide by surface plasmon resonances of metallic nanoparticles
Authors: Lin Guanjun , Zhang Qian , Lin Xiaoyu , Zhao Dongfang , Jia Ran , Gao Naikun , Zuo Zhiyuan , Xu Xiangang , Liu Duo
Published: May 2015

The schematic diagram for enhanced PL of GaP by LSPRs of metallic nanoparticles.
Beyond non-integer Hill coefficients: A novel approach to analyzing binding data, applied to Na+-driven transporters
Authors: Ravera Silvia , Quick Matthias , Nicola Juan P. , Carrasco Nancy , Amzel L. Mario
Published: May 2015

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic Na+-driven transporters couple the movement of one or more Na+ ions down their electrochemical gradient to the active transport of a variety of solutes. When more than one Na+ is involved, Na+-binding data are usually analyzed using the Hill equation with a non-integer exponent n. The results of this analysis are an overall Kd-like constant equal to the concentration of ligand that produces half saturation and n, a measure of cooperativity. This information is usually insufficient to provide the basis for mechanistic models. In the case of transport using two Na+ ions, an n < 2 indicates that molecules with only one of the two sites occupied are present at low saturation. Here, we propose a new way of analyzing Na+-binding data for the case of two Na+ ions that, by taking into account binding to individual sites, provides far more information than can be obtained by using the Hill equation with a non-integer coefficient: it yields pairs of possible values for the Na+ affinities of the individual sites that can only vary within narrowly bounded ranges. To illustrate the advantages of the method, we present experimental scintillation proximity assay (SPA) data on binding of Na+ to the Na+/I− symporter (NIS). SPA is a method widely used to study the binding of Na+ to Na+-driven transporters. NIS is the key plasma membrane protein that mediates active I− transport in the thyroid gland, the first step in the biosynthesis of the thyroid hormones, of which iodine is an essential constituent. NIS activity is electrogenic, with a 2:1 Na+/I− transport stoichiometry. The formalism proposed here is general and can be used to analyze data on other proteins with two binding sites for the same substrate.
Tilting structures ininverseperovskites,M3TtO (M= Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu;Tt= Si, Ge, Sn, Pb)
Authors: Nuss Jürgen , Mühle Claus , Hayama Kyouhei , Abdolazimi Vahideh , Takagi Hidenori
Published: May 2015

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments were performed for a series ofinverseperovskites,M3TtO (M= Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu;Tt= tetrel element: Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) in the temperature range 500–50 K. ForTt= Sn, Pb, they crystallize as an `ideal' perovskite-type structure (Pm\bar 3m,cP5); however, all of them show distinct anisotropies of the displacement ellipsoids of theMatoms at room temperature. This behavior vanishes on cooling forM= Ca, Sr, Eu, and the structures can be regarded as `ideal' cubic perovskites at 50 K. The anisotropies of the displacement ellipsoids are much more enhanced in the case of the Ba compounds. Finally, their structures undergo a phase transition at ∼ 150 K. They change from cubic to orthorhombic (Ibmm,oI20) upon cooling, with slightly tilted OBa6octahedra, and bonding angles O—Ba—O ≃ 174° (100 K). For the larger Ba2+cations, the structural changes are in agreement with smaller tolerance factors (t) as defined by Goldschmidt. Similar structural behavior is observed for Ca3TtO. SmallerTt4−anions (Si, Ge) introduce reduced tolerance factors. Both compounds Ca3SiO and Ca3GeO with cubic structures at 500 K, change into orthorhombic (Ibmm) at room temperature. Whereby, Ca3SiO is the only representative within theM3TtO family where three polymorphs can be found within the temperature range 500–50 K: Pm\bar 3m–Ibmm–Pbnm. They show tiny differences in the tilting of the OCa6octahedra, expressed by O—Ca—O bond angles of 180° (500 K), ∼ 174° (295 K) and 170° (100 K). For largerM(Sr, Eu, Ba), together with smallerTt(Si, Ge) atoms, pronounced tilting of the OM6octahedra, and bonding angles of O—M—O ≃ 160° (295 K) are observed. They crystallize in theanti-GdFeO3type of structure (Pbnm,oP20), and no phase transitions occur between 500 and 50 K. The observed phase transitions are all accompanied by multiple twinning, in terms of pseudo-merohedry or reticular pseudo-merohedry.
Structure of magnesium selenate enneahydrate, MgSeO4·9H2O, from 5 to 250 K using neutron time-of-flight Laue diffraction
Authors: Fortes A. Dominic , Alfè Dario , Hernández Eduardo R. , Gutmann Matthias J.
Published: May 2015

The complete structure of MgSeO4·9H2O has been refined from neutron single-crystal diffraction data obtained at 5, 100, 175 and 250 K. It is monoclinic, space groupP21/c,Z= 4, with unit-cell parametersa= 7.222 (2),b= 10.484 (3),c= 17.327 (4) Å, β = 109.57 (2)°, andV= 1236.1 (6) Å3[ρcalc= 1770 (1) kg m−3] at 5 K. The structure consists of isolated [Mg(H2O)6]2+octahedra, [SeO4]2−tetrahedra and three interstitial lattice water molecules, all on sites of symmetry 1. The positions of the H atoms agree well with those inferred on the basis of geometrical considerations in the prior X-ray powder diffraction structure determination: no evidence of orientational disorder of the water molecules is apparent in the temperature range studied. Six of the nine water molecules are hydrogen bonded to one another to form a unique centrosymmetric dodecamer, (H2O)12. Raman spectra have been acquired in the range 170–4000 cm−1at 259 and 78 K;ab initiocalculations, using density functional theory, have been carried out in order to aid in the analysis of the Raman spectrum as well as providing additional insights into the geometry and thermodynamics of the hydrogen bonds. Complementary information concerning the thermal expansion, crystal morphology and the solubility are also presented.
Nonlinear costs of reproduction in a long‐lived plant
Authors: Sletvold Nina , Ågren Jon
Published: May 2015

A trade‐off between current reproduction and future performance is a key component of life‐history theory, but the shape of this trade‐off for any specific fitness component remains elusive.

We induced three to five levels of reproductive effort (RE) by manipulating fruit set of a long‐lived orchid in two populations that differed in the length of the growing season and local climate and examined survival, size and fecundity the following year.

Natural fruit set was 72% higher in the long‐season population, but was not associated with a significant survival cost in any population. Survival decreased linearly with experimentally increased RE in the short‐season population. In both populations, natural RE incurred growth and fecundity costs, and growth costs increased nonlinearly with diminishing costs at high RE. Fecundity costs increased linearly with RE in the long‐season population, but nonlinearly with diminishing costs at high RE in the other.

The results demonstrate that the shape of the cost function may be nonlinear with context‐dependent intercept, slope and curvature. They are consistent with the prediction that survival costs appear only when RE exceeds natural levels, while growth and fecundity costs are evident at natural RE.

Synthesis. We suggest that studies inducing multiple levels of RE are required to understand life‐history trade‐offs and their context dependence. This kind of information is fundamental for an understanding of the link between environmental heterogeneity, adaptive differentiation and life‐history evolution.
No Accounting for Tax Avoidance
Authors: Sikka Prem
Published: May 2015

In the 2010–15 Parliaments, the UK House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts held hearings and investigated some of the operations of the tax avoidance industry. Its reports have been highly critical of the role of big accountancy firms in designing, marketing and implementing tax avoidance schemes which have enabled their clients to avoid taxes. The Committee's recommendations set a reform agenda but drew a lukewarm response from the government. An examination of the Committee's reports provides an indication of the trajectories of future debates and policies.
Assessment of beverages made from milk, soya milk and whey using Iranian kefir starter culture
Authors: Abdolmaleki Farzaneh , Mazaheri Assadi Mahnaz , Akbarirad Hamid
Published: May 2015

Kefir starter culture was used for the production of beverages, and some chemical and microbiological parameter changes were determined during 24 h of fermentation and then after 2, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of storage at 4 °C. Three different substrates (milk, whey and soya milk) were used as fermentation media for the kefir starter culture. After the fermentation, the carbohydrate content and pH decreased, but the dry matter and fat content of the beverages were not significantly different from their substrates. During storage, lactic acid bacteria in the beverages decreased, while yeasts increased and carbohydrate, ethanol and pH changed significantly in the three beverages.
Fitness and physiology ofAdelges tsugae(Hemiptera: Adelgidae) in relation to the health of the eastern hemlock
Authors: Jones Anne C. , Mullins Donald E. , Brewster Carlyle , Rhea James P. , Salom Scott M.
Published: May 2015

The hemlock woolly adelgid,Adelges tsugaeAnnand is an invasive insect that frequently causes hemlock (Tsugaspp.) mortality in the eastern United States. Studies have shown that once healthy hemlocks become infested by the adelgid, nutrients are depleted from the tree, leading to both tree decline and a reduction of the adelgid population. SinceA. tsugaeis dependent on hemlock for nutrients, feeding on trees in poor health may affect the ability of the insect to obtain necessary nutrients and may consequently affect their physiological and population health. Trees were categorized as lightly or moderately impacted byA. tsugaebased on quantitative and qualitative tree health measurements. Population health ofA. tsugaeon each tree was determined by measuring insect density and peak mean fecundity;A. tsugaephysiological health was determined by measuring insect biomass, total carbon, carbohydrate, total nitrogen, and amino nitrogen levels.Adelges tsugaefrom moderately impacted trees exhibited significantly greater fecundity than from lightly impacted trees. However,A. tsugaefrom lightly impacted hemlocks contained significantly greater levels of carbohydrates, total nitrogen, and amino nitrogen. While the results of the physiological analysis generally support our hypothesis thatA. tsugaeon lightly impacted trees are healthier than those on moderately impacted trees, this was not reflected in the population health measurements.Adelges tsugaeegg health in response to tree health should be verified. This study provides the first examination ofA. tsugaephysiological health in relation to standardA. tsugaepopulation health measures on hemlocks of different health levels.
Beneficial Effects of Supplementation of the Rare Sugar “D‐allulose” Against Hepatic Steatosis and Severe Obesity inLepob/LepobMice
Authors: Itoh Kouichi , Mizuno Shodo , Hama Sayuri , Oshima Wataru , Kawamata Miku , Hossain Akram , Ishihara Yasuhiro , Tokuda Masaaki
Published: May 2015

A rare sugar, D‐allulose (also called D‐psicose), has recently been applied as a food supplement in view of controlling diabetes and obesity in Japan. D‐allulose has been proven to have unique effects against hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in a number of studies using several species of rats and mice. However, the antiobesity effects of D‐allulose have not yet been assessed inLepob/Lepob(ob/ob) mice. Therefore, this study explored the dietary supplemental effects of this sugar in leptin‐deficientob/obmice. Consequently, the subchronic ingestion of D‐allulose inob/obmice for 15 wk significantly decreased the body and liver weights, and the loss of body weight was involved in the reduction of the total fat mass, including abdominal visceral fat, and not fat‐free body mass, including muscle. Furthermore, D‐allulose improved hepatic steatosis, as evaluated using hepatic histological studies and MRI. In the normal mice, none of these parameters were influenced by the single or long‐term ingestion of D‐allulose. These results indicate that dietary supplementation of D‐allulose especially influences postprandial hyperglycemia and obesity‐related hepatic steatosis, without exercise therapy or dietary restriction. Therefore, D‐allulose may be useful as a supplement for preventing and improving obesity and obesity‐related disorders.
Calcium‐Channel Blockers Attenuate the Antiplatelet Effect of Clopidogrel
Authors: Gremmel Thomas , Durstberger Markus , Eichelberger Beate , Koppensteiner Renate , Panzer Simon
Published: May 2015

Aims

Dihydropyridine calcium‐channel blockers (CCBs) inhibit cytochrome 3A4 and could therefore interfere with the conversion of clopidogrel to its active form. The impact of CCBs on the antiplatelet effect of clopidogrel has not been studied with assays directly capturing platelet activation to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), so far. We therefore sought to investigate platelet activation in response to ADP by flow cytometry in clopidogrel‐treated patients without and with CCBs.

Methods

Platelet surface P‐selectin expression and activated glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa in response to ADP were determined by flow cytometry in 302 patients on dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel after successful angioplasty with stent implantation.

Results

Ninety‐two patients (30.5%) received CCBs. Patients with concomitant CCB therapy showed significantly higher platelet surface expressions of P‐selectin and activated GPIIb/IIIa in response to ADP than patients without CCBs (both P ≤ 0.03). Moreover, the fold increase of P‐selectin and activated GPIIb/IIIa in response to ADP was significantly more pronounced in patients taking CCBs (both P ≤ 0.03). The associations of ADP‐inducible activated GPIIb/IIIa and fold increase of activated GPIIb/IIIa after the addition of ADP with CCB therapy remained significant after adjustment for differences in patient characteristics and factors that were previously associated with clopidogrel response by multivariate regression analyses (both P < 0.05). High levels of ADP‐inducible P‐selectin and activated GPIIb/IIIa were seen significantly more frequent in patients with CCBs than in patients without CCB therapy (both P ≤ 0.01).

Conclusion

Dihydropyridine CCBs attenuate the effect of clopidogrel on ADP‐inducible platelet activation in patients undergoing angioplasty and stenting for cardiovascular disease.
The optimal number of offspring per gamete donor
Authors: Sydsjö Gunilla , Kvist Ulrik , Bladh Marie , Nordgaard Anders
Published: May 2015

Our aim was to create a mathematical basis to calculate the risks for unintended matings of consanguineous half‐siblings from a donor in a society with approximately 10 million inhabitants. The Curie–Cohen model for calculation of the risk for consanguineous mating was used. When the number of offspring per donor is limited to 10, then the model gives a yearly risk for consanguineous matings below 1%. Thus 10 offspring gives a risk for consanguineous matings of 0.9% per year, or approximately once in every 100 years. The risk increases exponentially: with 15 offspring it exceeds 2% and with 25 it reaches up above 5%.
13 Archaeological Positivism and Cultural Plurality: Working with Conflicting Views of Mesoamerican Legacies
Authors: Anderson David S.
Published: May 2015

The complicated cultural history of the modern nation of Mexico has created a lengthy list of people who have vested interests in the protection, promotion, and presentation of the pre‐Hispanic past. In this paper, I wrestle with my own attempts to understand the complexities of these competing narratives by examining who the stakeholders are in this situation and why they consider themselves to be stakeholders. Ultimately I attempt to address how we can approach conflicts between stakeholders when their interpretations of the pre‐Hispanic past do not agree. These problems unfortunately are not simple and do not have simple solutions, but they do form an important part of understanding the contemporary legacies of ancient Mesoamerica.
Stimulation of Suicidal Erythrocyte Death by Naphthazarin
Authors: Aljanadi Omar , Alzoubi Kousi , Bissinger Rosi , Lang Florian
Published: May 2015

The 1,4‐naphthoquinone derivative naphthazarin may trigger apoptosis and is thus considered for the treatment of malignancy. On the other hand, naphthazarin decreases neurotoxicity. In analogy to apoptosis of nucleated cells, erythrocytes may enter eryptosis, the suicidal erythrocyte death characterized by cell shrinkage and by cell membrane scrambling with translocation of phosphatidylserine to the erythrocyte surface. Signalling leading to triggering of eryptosis include increase in cytosolic Ca2+‐activity ([Ca2+]i), ceramide and oxidative stress. The present study explored whether naphthazarin impacts on eryptosis and, if so, to unravel underlying mechanisms. To this end, erythrocyte volume was estimated from forward scatter, phosphatidylserine abundance at the erythrocyte surface from FITC‐annexin‐V‐binding, [Ca2+]i from Fluo3 fluorescence, reactive oxidant species (ROS) from 2′,7′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) fluorescence and ceramide abundance at the erythrocyte surface from binding of fluorescent antibodies in flow cytometry. As a result, a 24‐hr exposure of human erythrocytes to naphthazarin (10 μm) significantly decreased erythrocyte forward scatter, significantly increased the percentage of annexin‐V‐binding cells, significantly increased ceramide abundance at the erythrocyte surface and significantly increased ROS. The effect of naphthazarin on annexin‐V‐binding was not significantly blunted by removal of extracellular Ca2+. In conclusion, naphthazarin stimulates eryptosis, an effect at least in part due to oxidative stress and enhanced ceramide abundance at the erythrocyte surface.