bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population-dependent effects of ocean acidification
Authors: Wood Hannah L. , Sundell Kristina , Almroth Bethanie Carney , Sköld Helén Nilsson , Eriksson Susanne P.
Published: April 2016

Elevated carbon dioxide levels and the resultant ocean acidification (OA) are changing the abiotic conditions of the oceans at a greater rate than ever before and placing pressure on marine species. Understanding the response of marine fauna to this change is critical for understanding the effects of OA. Population-level variation in OA tolerance is highly relevant and important in the determination of ecosystem resilience and persistence, but has received little focus to date. In this study, whether OA has the same biological consequences in high-salinity-acclimated population versus a low-salinity-acclimated population of the same species was investigated in the marine isopodIdotea balthica.The populations were found to have physiologically different responses to OA. While survival rate was similar between the two study populations at a future CO2level of 1000 ppm, and both populations showed increased oxidative stress, the metabolic rate and osmoregulatory activity differed significantly between the two populations. The results of this study demonstrate that the physiological response to OA of populations from different salinities can vary. Population-level variation and the environment provenance of individuals used in OA experiments should be taken into account for the evaluation and prediction of climate change effects.
Rates of morphological evolution are heterogeneous in Early Cretaceous birds
Authors: Wang Min , Lloyd Graeme T.
Published: April 2016

The Early Cretaceous is a critical interval in the early history of birds. Exceptional fossils indicate that important evolutionary novelties such as a pygostyle and a keeled sternum had already arisen in Early Cretaceous taxa, bridging much of the morphological gap betweenArchaeopteryxand crown birds. However, detailed features of basal bird evolution remain obscure because of both the small sample of fossil taxa previously considered and a lack of quantitative studies assessing rates of morphological evolution. Here we apply a recently available phylogenetic method and associated sensitivity tests to a large data matrix of morphological characters to quantify rates of morphological evolution in Early Cretaceous birds. Our results reveal that although rates were highly heterogeneous between different Early Cretaceous avian lineages, consistent patterns of significantly high or low rates were harder to pinpoint. Nevertheless, evidence for accelerated evolutionary rates is strongest at the point when Ornithuromorpha (the clade comprises all extant birds and descendants from their most recent common ancestors) split from Enantiornithes (a diverse clade that went extinct at the end-Cretaceous), consistent with the hypothesis that this key split opened up new niches and ultimately led to greater diversity for these two dominant clades of Mesozoic birds.
Chronic neonicotinoid pesticide exposure and parasite stress differentially affects learning in honeybees and bumblebees
Authors: Piiroinen Saija , Goulson Dave
Published: April 2016

Learning and memory are crucial functions which enable insect pollinators to efficiently locate and extract floral rewards. Exposure to pesticides or infection by parasites may cause subtle but ecologically important changes in cognitive functions of pollinators. The potential interactive effects of these stressors on learning and memory have not yet been explored. Furthermore, sensitivity to stressors may differ between species, but few studies have compared responses in different species. Here, we show that chronic exposure to field-realistic levels of the neonicotinoid clothianidin impaired olfactory learning acquisition in honeybees, leading to potential impacts on colony fitness, but not in bumblebees. Infection by the microsporidian parasite
Nosema ceranae
slightly impaired learning in honeybees, but no interactive effects were observed.
Nosema
did not infect bumblebees (3% infection success). Nevertheless,
Nosema
-treated bumblebees had a slightly lower rate of learning than controls, but faster learning in combination with neonicotinoid exposure. This highlights the potential for complex interactive effects of stressors on learning. Our results underline that one cannot readily extrapolate findings from one bee species to others. This has important implications for regulatory risk assessments which generally use honeybees as a model for all bees.
Zeno's paradox in decision-making
Authors: Yearsley James M. , Pothos Emmanuel M.
Published: April 2016

Classical probability theory has been influential in modelling decision processes, despite empirical findings that have been persistently paradoxical from classical perspectives. For such findings, some researchers have been successfully pursuing decision models based on quantum theory (QT). One unique feature of QT is the collapse postulate, which entails that measurements (or in decision-making, judgements) reset the state to be consistent with the measured outcome. If there is quantum structure in cognition, then there has to be evidence for the collapse postulate. A striking,a prioriprediction, is that opinion change will be slowed down (under idealized conditions frozen) by continuous judgements. In physics, this is the quantum Zeno effect. We demonstrate a quantum Zeno effect in decision-making in humans and so provide evidence that advocates the use of quantum principles in decision theory, at least in some cases.
SATORI: A System for Ontology-Guided Visual Exploration of Biomedical Data Repositories
Authors: Lekschas Fritz , Gehlenborg Nils
Published: April 2016

The ever-increasing number of biomedical data sets provides tremendous opportunities for re-use but current data repositories provide limited means of exploration apart from text-based search. Ontological metadata annotations provide context by semantically relating data sets. Visualizing this rich network of relationships can improve the explorability of large data repositories and help researchers find data sets of interest. We developed SATORI—an integrative search and visual exploration interface for the exploration of biomedical data repositories. The design is informed by a requirements analysis through a series of semi-structured interviews. We evaluated the implementation of SATORI in a field study on a real-world data collection.SATORI enables researchers to seamlessly search, browse, and semantically query data repositories via two visualizations that are highly interconnected with a powerful search interface. SATORI is an open-source web application,which is freely available athttp://satori.refinery-platform.organd integrated into the Refinery Platform.
Bias in community-weighted mean analysis of plant functional traits and species indicator values
Authors: Zeleny David
Published: April 2016

One way to analyze the relationship between species attributes and sample attributes via the matrix of species composition is to calculate the community-weighted mean of species attributes (CWM) and relate it to sample attributes by correlation, regression or ANOVA. This weighted-mean approach is frequently used by vegetation ecologists to relate species attributes like plant functional traits or Ellenberg-like species indicator values to sample attributes like measured environmental variables, biotic properties, species richness or sample scores in ordination analysis.
The problem with the weighted-mean approach is that, in certain cases, it yields biased results in terms of both effect size and P-values, and this bias is contingent upon the beta diversity of the species composition data. The reason is that CWM values calculated from samples of communities sharing some species are not independent of each other. This influences the number of effective degrees of freedom, which is usually lower than the actual number of samples, and the difference further increases with decreasing beta diversity of the data set. The discrepancy between the number of effective degrees of freedom and the number of samples in analysis turns into biased effect sizes and an inflated Type I error rate in those cases where the significance of the relationship is tested by standard tests, a problem which is analogous to analysis of two spatially autocorrelated variables. Consequently, results of studies using rather homogeneous (although not necessarily small) compositional data sets may be overly optimistic, and effect sizes of studies based on data sets differing by their beta diversity are not directly comparable.
Here, I introduce guidelines on how to decide in which situation the bias is actually a problem when interpreting results, recognizing that there are several types of species and sample attributes with different properties and that ecological hypotheses commonly tested by the weighted-mean approach fall into one of three broad categories. I also compare available analytical solutions accounting for the bias (modified permutation test and sequential permutation test using the fourth-corner statistic) and suggest rules for their use.
Effects of linked selective sweeps on demographic inference and model selection
Authors: Schrider Daniel R. , Shanku Alexander G. , Kern Andrew D.
Published: April 2016

The availability of large-scale population genomic sequence data has resulted in an explosion in efforts to infer the demographic histories of natural populations across a broad range of organisms. As demographic events alter coalescent genealogies they leave detectable signatures in patterns of genetic variation within and between populations. Accordingly, a variety of approaches have been designed to leverage population genetic data to uncover the footprints of demographic change in the genome. The vast majority of these methods make the simplifying assumption that the measures of genetic variation used as their input are unaffected by natural selection. However, natural selection can dramatically skew patterns of variation not only at selected sites, but at linked, neutral loci as well. Here we assess the impact of recent positive selection on demographic inference by characterizing the performance of three popular methods through extensive simulation of datasets with varying numbers of linked selective sweeps. In particular, we examined three different demographic models relevant to a number of species, finding that positive selection can bias parameter estimates of each of these models—often severely. Moreover, we find that selection can lead to incorrect inferences of population size changes when none have occurred. We argue that the amount of recent positive selection required to skew inferences may often be acting in natural populations. These results suggest that demographic studies conducted in many species to date may have exaggerated the extent and frequency of population size changes.
The healthy ageing gene expression signature for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis: a random sampling perspective
Authors: Jacob Laurent , Speed Terence P.
Published: April 2016

1

In a recent publication, Sood et al. [2015] presented a set of 150 probe-sets which could be used in a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) based on gene expression. We reproduce some of their experiments, and show that the performance of their particular set of 150 probe-sets does not stand out compared to that of randomly sampled sets of 150 probe-sets from the same array.
qpMerge: Merging different peptide isoforms using a motif centric strategy
Authors: Hindle Matthew M. , Le Bihan Thierry , Krahmer Johanna , Martin Sarah F. , Noordally Zeenat B. , Simpson T. Ian , Millar Andrew J.
Published: April 2016

Accurate quantification and enumeration of peptide motifs is hampered by redundancy in peptide identification. A single phosphorylation motif may be split across charge states, alternative modifications (e.g.acetylation and oxidation), and multiple miss-cleavage sites which render the biological interpretation of MS data a challenge. In addition motif redundancy can affect quantitative and statistical analysis and prevent a realistic comparison of peptide numbers between datasets. In this study, we present a merging tool set developed for the Galaxy workflow environment to achieve a non-redundant set of quantifications for phospho-motifs. We present a Galaxy workflow to merge three exemplar dataset, and observe reduced phospho-motif redundancy and decreased replicate variation. The qpMerge tools provide a straightforward and reusable approach to facilitating phospho-motif analysis.

The source-code and wiki documentation is publically available athttp://sourceforge.net/projects/ppmerge.The galaxy pipeline used in the exemplar analysis can be found athttp://www.myexperiment.org/workflows/4186.
Nucleosome dynamics and maintenance of epigenetic states of CpG islands
Authors: Dodd Ian B. , Sneppen Kim
Published: April 2016

Methylation in mammalian DNA occurs primarily at CpG sequences. The CpG sites are distributed in high density clusters (or islands) separated by extended regions of low density. Cluster methylation tends to be bimodal, being dominantly unmethylated or mostly methylated. For CpG clusters near promoters, low methylation is associated with transcriptional activity, while high methylation is associated with gene silencing. Alternative CpG methylation states are thought to be stable and heritable, conferring localized epigenetic memory that allows transient signals to create long-lived gene expression states. Positive feedback where methylated CpG sites recruit enzymes that methylate nearby CpGs, does not easily explain that as clusters increase in size or density they change from being primarily methylated to primarily unmethylated. Here, we show that an interaction between the methylation state of a cluster and its occupancy by nucleosomes provides a mechanism to reproduce epigenetic potential and the genome wide systematics of CpG islands.
AptaTRACE: Elucidating Sequence-Structure Binding Motifs by Uncovering Selection Trends in HT-SELEX Experiments
Authors: Phuong Dao , Hoinka Jan , Wang Yijie , Takahashi Mayumi , Zhou Jiehua , Costa Fabrizio , Rossi John , Burnett John , Backofen Rolf , Przytycka Teresa M.
Published: April 2016

Aptamers, short synthetic RNA/DNA molecules binding specific targets with high affinity and specificity, are utilized in an increasing spectrum of bio-medical applications. Aptamers are identifiedin vitrovia the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) protocol. SELEX selects binders through an iterative process that, starting from a pool of random ssDNA/RNA sequences, amplifies target-affine species through a series of selection cycles. HT-SELEX, which combines SELEX with high throughput sequencing, has recently transformed aptamer development and has opened the field to even more applications. HT-SELEX is capable of generating over half a billion data points, challenging computational scientists with the task of identifying aptamer properties such as sequence structure motifs that determine binding. While currently available motif finding approaches suggest partial solutions to this question, none possess the generality or scalability required for HT-SELEX data, and they do not take advantage of important properties of the experimental procedure.

We present AptaTRACE, a novel approach for the identification of sequence-structure binding motifs in HT-SELEX derived aptamers. Our approach leverages the experimental design of the SELEX protocol and identifies sequence-structure motifs that show a signature of selection. Because of its unique approach, AptaTRACE can uncover motifs even when these are present in only a minuscule fraction of the pool. Due to these features, our method can help to reduce the number of selection cycles required to produce aptamers with the desired properties, thus reducing cost and time of this rather expensive procedure. The performance of the method on simulated and real data indicates that AptaTRACE can detect sequence-structure motifs even in highly challenging data.
Developing a SEIL (Smart Enjoy Interact Light) bag utilizing LED display
Authors: Chun Jaehoon , Lee Myungsu
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Bicycles are not only an environmentally friendly means of transportation but are also easily accessible exercise equipment for health. Thus the number of bicycles is gradually increasing. This study aims to develop a ‘Smart Enjoy Interact Light (SEIL)’ bag utilizing LED display and smartphone apps. By transmitting desired information or images with LEDs, a SEIL bag can protect bicyclists, and also allow wearers to communicate with others.

Design/methodology/approach

A SEIL built-in bag was developed in the form of a backpack to support all outdoor activities. It can show traffic signals using a wireless controller. Features of design are: ordinary fabric for IT devices; thick and stiff canvas fabric for flexible LEDs; a thin and air-permeable mesh for the LED light; a flexible PCB dashboard for absorbing various shocks; a PVC hard case for the LED display devices; UV coating for waterproofing and durability.

Findings

A SEIL bag for bicyclists can be useful in a variety of outdoor sports and in commercial applications as well, such as advertising or displaying products. The detachable part can be utilized as a hip sack or a pouch.

Originality/value

A SEIL bag not only protects bicyclists from traffic accidents, but with which they can express information or images in real time. A SEIL bag is interactive fashion item that emphases communication, thus it will contribute to development of smart-wear.
Research on the seam performance of waterproof clothing based on continuous ultrasonic welding technology
Authors: Shi Hui , Wang Jianping , Chen Xiaona , Luo Shunhua , Zhang Lingxi
Published: April 2016

Purpose

An improved waterproof seam production technology (ultrasonic welding-thermo adhesive tape sealing (USW-TATS)) was developed in this study. The technology will improve the waterproof performance of seam which has problem resulted from needle holes and thread like seam leaking and excess shrinkage.

Design/methodology/approach

Threadless seams were produced by ultrasonic welding (USW) with coated and lamination fabric to replace the traditional sewing process in Sewing-thermo adhesive tape sealing (S-TATS). The process efficiency was evaluated by Methods-Time Measurement (MTM). Seam performance including hydrostatic pressure, shrinkage and tear force was compared among three technologies (USW, USW-TATS and S-TATS). The effect of ultrasonic welding parameters (amplitude, roller pressure and roller speed) on the USW-TATS seam performance was investigated.SEM analysis was carried out to examine the condition and morphology of the joints cross section.

Findings

It was found that waterproof performance and dimensional stability of USW-TATS seam were superior to that of S-TATS seam. Tear force and hydrostatic pressure increased firstly and then decreased with the increasing of USW parameters in UAW-TATS process. Binary regression relationships were found between the USW parameters and tear force or hydrostatic pressure. Shrinkage decreased with the increasing of roller pressure and speed.

Practical implications

Research results can be applied to predict seam performance of waterproof clothing, reduce equipment parameters setting time and enhance product quality in industry.

Originality/value

A threadless production technology (USW-TATS) was proposed to improve waterproof performance and dimensional stability of outdoor clothing seams.
Numerical simulation of top roller pressure and deformation in ring spinning with three draft zones using finite element method
Authors: Zhang Xiaojuan , Wu Juan , Xu Bojun , Liu Xinjin
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This paper presented a new kind of ring spinning frame with four pairs of rollers, and they are the front roller and the front top roller, the first middle roller (FMR) and the first middle top roller (FMTR), the second middle roller and the second middle top roller, the back roller and the back top roller. The FMR is the front roller of middle draft zone, and the back roller of the front draft zone. Therefore, the deformation of FMTR during spinning is an important factor for yarn quality, which was studied in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, by finite element method (FEM), the pressure and deformation of FMTR were studied. FMTR made from steel and sleeved carbon fiber were compared. 5.8tex, 4.9tex and 3.9tex cotton yarns were spun, and corresponding numerical simulations of FMTR pressure and deformation were presented in ANSYS software and comparatively analyzed. Then, corresponding yarn qualities were compared.

Findings

The results indicate that pressure and deformation of FMTR have little effects on yarn tenacity and hairiness, while have great effects on yarn evenness. For 5.8tex and 4.9tex cotton yarn, yarns spun by FMTR made from sleeved carbon fiber have larger pressure and deformation at the middle of nipper bites of FMR and FMTR, and yarn evenness is better. For 3.9tex cotton yarns, at the middle of nipper bites of FMR and FMTR, FMTR made from steel has smaller pressure. But deformation of FMTR made from steel is larger, and yarn evenness is better.

Originality/value

This paper studied pressure and deformation of FMTR by finite element method (FEM), which serve as a theoretical underpinning for yarn spinning in three draft zones ring spinning machine.
Belief systems enforcing female genital mutilation in Europe
Authors: Alhassan Yussif Nagumse , Barrett Hazel , Brown Katherine E , Kwah Kayleigh
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Despite numerous studies on FGM, little is known about belief systems that support FGM in the EU. The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamic nature of belief systems and enforcement mechanisms that perpetuate FGM among three African migrant communities in the EU.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is based on data collected through community-based participatory action research in three communities: Eritrean and Ethiopian community in Palermo, Italy; Guinea Bissauan community in Lisbon, Portugal; and Senegalese and Gambian community in Banyoles, Spain. A total of 24 FGDs and 70 in-depth narrative interviews were conducted for the research.

Findings

– The research finds that belief systems supporting the practice of FGM among African migrants in the European diaspora are similar to those in their home countries. Beliefs structured around religion, sexuality, decency, marriage and socialisation are particularly significant in perpetuating FGM in the study migrant communities. These are enforced through sanctions and social expectations from the migrants’ home and host communities.

Research limitations/implications

– Members of the migrant communities that were the focus of this research are ethnically diverse; therefore it is possible that differences in the practice of and views on FGM by various ethnicities may have been masked. Also, due to close linkages between the migrants and their home countries it was hard to delineate beliefs that are specific to the host countries. In addition, it was difficult to assess the level of education of the migrants and how this may have impacted on their beliefs due to their contrasting and inconsistent educational backgrounds.

Originality/value

– This paper provides evidence to show that the practice of FGM among migrants in the EU is driven by both social norms and individual (parent) behaviour and therefore there is a need for interventions to focus on individual behaviour change and social norm transformation techniques. It also suggests that beliefs around FGM have remained socially significant among migrants despite their exposure to European culture because such beliefs are used to promote the moral standards of girls, marriageability of women, respectability of families, and the assertion of cultural and religious identity in the migrants’ new environment. The paper further underscores the role of migrants’ European context as well as the home country in strengthening beliefs that perpetuate FGM in the EU.
Male perspectives on FGM among communities of African heritage in Italy
Authors: Catania Lucrezia , Mastrullo Rosaria , Caselli Angela , Cecere Rosa , Abdulcadir Omar , Abdulcadir Jasmine
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the attitudes, knowledge and beliefs regarding female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) of six groups of immigrant men from countries where FGM/C is practiced and to identify their role in the decision-making process of circumcising their daughters.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study took the form of qualitative action research with seven focus groups of 50 men coming from Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Benin, Egypt and Nigeria, living in Florence, Italy.

Findings

– Different conceptions, cultures and attitudes about FGM/C exist among men coming from different countries, but also within the same community. The participants expressed positions both in favor and against the maintenance of the practice. There were opposite beliefs about the religious motivations invoked.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is qualitative and the non-probability sample and the small number of participants are important limitations.

Practical implications

– The study improves current knowledge on men’s role and attitude in FGM/C and gives important information for the prevention of future activities that could include both men and women of the community.

Social implications

– The need to involve men in preventive actions against FGM/C has been underlined by the World Health Organization. The involvement of men and leaders of the communities could facilitate cultural changes toward the abandoning of these practices. FGM/C is often considered as a phenomenon concerning only women, who are frequently left alone to face the decision of whether to abandon the ritual.

Originality/value

– The great advantage of conducting such a study in a country of migration is the presence of different communities, with different cultural views, in the same area.
Speech rate effects on the processing of conversational speech across the adult life span
Authors: Koch Xaver , Janse Esther
Published: April 2016

This study investigates the effect of speech rate on spoken word recognition across the adult life span. Contrary to previous studies, conversational materials with a natural variation in speech rate were used rather than lab-recorded stimuli that are subsequently artificially time-compressed. It was investigated whether older adults' speech recognition is more adversely affected by increased speech rate compared to younger and middle-aged adults, and which individual listener characteristics (e.g., hearing, fluid cognitive processing ability) predict the size of the speech rate effect on recognition performance. In an eye-tracking experiment, participants indicated with a mouse-click which visually presented words they recognized in a conversational fragment. Click response times, gaze, and pupil size data were analyzed. As expected, click response times and gaze behavior were affected by speech rate, indicating that word recognition is more difficult if speech rate is faster. Contrary to earlier findings, increased speech rate affected the age groups to the same extent. Fluid cognitive processing ability predicted general recognition performance, but did not modulate the speech rate effect. These findings emphasize that earlier results of age by speech rate interactions mainly obtained with artificially speeded materials may not generalize to speech rate variation as encountered in conversational speech.
Androgen receptor antagonists compromise T cell response against prostate cancer leading to early tumor relapse
Authors: Pu Yang , Xu Meng , Liang Yong , Yang Kaiting , Guo Yajun , Yang Xuanming , Fu Yang-Xin
Published: April 2016

Chemical androgen deprivation therapy may suppress adaptive immune responses and block the efficacy of immunotherapy.
Chryseobacterium indologenes: an emerging infection in the USA
Authors: Mukerji Ridhwi , Kakarala Radhika , Smith Susan Jane , Kusz Halina G
Published: April 2016

Nursing home-associated infections and antibiotic resistant pathogens constitute common and serious problems in the geriatric population.Chryseobacterium indologenes, a non-motile Gram-negative rod, though widely distributed in nature, is an uncommon human pathogen. Typically thought of as an organism of low virulence, it may cause serious infections, particularly among the immunocompromised. The majority of reported cases are nosocomial, often associated with immunosuppression or indwelling catheters. It has been reported as the causative agent in bacteraemia, peritonitis, pneumonia, empyema, pyelonephritis, cystitis, meningitis and central venous catheter-associated infections. We report a rare case ofC. indologenesinfection affecting a nursing home resident in the USA and we provide a review of similar cases. This report emphasises the importance of individualised treatment and promotes awareness about this organism as one of several emerging pathogens in immunocompromised adults and in the frail elderly who are often nursing home residents, in the Western Hemisphere.
Time trends in educational inequalities in cancer mortality in Colombia, 1998–2012
Authors: de Vries Esther , Arroyave Ivan , Pardo Constanza
Published: April 2016

Objectives

To evaluate trends in premature cancer mortality in Colombia by educational level in three periods: 1998–2002 with low healthcare insurance coverage, 2003–2007 with rapidly increasing coverage and finally 2008–2012 with almost universal coverage (2008–2012).

Setting

Colombian population-based, national secondary mortality data.

Participants

We included all (n=188 091) cancer deaths occurring in the age group 20–64 years between 1998 and 2012, excluding only cases with low levels of quality of registration (n=2902, 1.5%).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

In this descriptive study, we linked mortality data of ages 20–64 years to census data to obtain age-standardised cancer mortality rates by educational level. Using Poisson regression, we modelled premature mortality by educational level estimating rate ratios (RR), relative index of inequality (RII) and the Slope Index of Inequality (SII).

Results

Relative measures showed increased risks of dying among the lower educated compared to the highest educated; this tendency was stronger in women (RRprimary1.49; RRsecondary1.22, both p<0.0001) than in men (RRprimary1.35; RRsecondary1.11, both p<0.0001). In absolute terms (SII), cancer caused a difference per 100 000 deaths between the highest and lowest educated of 20.5 in males and 28.5 in females. RII was significantly higher among women and the younger age categories. RII decreased between the first and second periods; afterwards (2008–2012), it increased significantly back to their previous levels. Among women, no significant increases or declines in cancer mortality over time were observed in recent periods in the lowest educated group, whereas strong recent declines were observed in those with secondary education or higher.

Conclusions

Educational inequalities in cancer mortality in Colombia are increasing in absolute and relative terms, and are concentrated in young age categories. This trend was not curbed by increases in healthcare insurance coverage. Policymakers should focus on improving equal access to prevention, early detection, diagnostic and treatment facilities.
Improving referrals for tilt table testing in patients with transient loss of consciousness
Authors: Thornton Luke , Rahunathan Nithusa , Verma Narain , Wong Kenneth
Published: April 2016

Tilt table testing has been used for over twenty years in the investigation of patients with transient loss of consciousness. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recently recommended new guidance regarding indications for tilt table testing. We conducted an educational intervention and produced a new referral proforma that referring clinicians are expected to fill in for all patients referred for tilt table testing. At baseline, 76% (n=84) of referrals for tilt table testing were made in accordance to ESC guidance.

Following a simple educational intervention, 100% (n=6) were in line with ESC guidance. After the introduction of the referral proforma, 92% (n=12) of referrals followed ESC guidance. At final data collection, 100% (n=11) of referrals followed ESC guidance. In conclusion, a simple educational intervention and the use of a referral proforma in this quality improvement project have made a sustained difference in improving the appropriateness of referrals for tilt table testing. This has the potential to optimise the efficient use of resources and improve patient care through avoiding unnecessary investigation.
Can faecal calprotectin predict relapse in inflammatory bowel disease: a mini review
Authors: Chew T S , Mansfield J C
Published: April 2016

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Faecal calprotectin is a protein complex of the S-100 family of calcium-binding proteins present in inflammatory cells that can be measured in stool samples, which act as a biomarker for bowel inflammation. Elevated faecal calprotectin has been shown to reflect the presence of ongoing mucosal inflammation, which improves with mucosal healing. The aim of this review was to evaluate the available evidence on the ability of faecal calprotectin to predict a relapse in inflammatory bowel disease. Multiple retrospective studies have shown that patients who relapse have significantly higher levels of calprotectin in their stool compared with non-relapsers, especially in ulcerative colitis. Elevated faecal calprotectin postoperatively in Crohn's disease was also shown to be indicative of a relapse. However, the association of a raised faecal calprotectin and relapse is not universal and may be explained by the different patterns of mucosal inflammatory activity that exist. In conclusion, we put forward our hypothesis that changes such as a rise in faecal calprotectin levels may be more predictive of a relapse than absolute values.
Three-dimensional image fusion of CTA and angiography for real-time guidance during neurointerventional procedures
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Sun Qi , Zhang Yiqi , Zhang Hao , Shan Tonghui , Han Jingfeng , Pan Wenlong , Gu Chuanqi , Xu Ruxiang
Published: April 2016

Aim

To evaluate the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) images from two modalities—CT angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Additionally, to explore the value of using preprocedural CTA for real-time guidance during neurointerventional procedures.

Materials and methods

25 patients with CTA-confirmed cerebral arterial lesions were enrolled. For 12 of these patients, 3D DSA images of the contrast medium-enhanced target vessel were acquired during the intervention and registered with the preprocedurally acquired CTA images for evaluation of the accuracy of image fusion, focusing on the target vessel and the lesion. For the other 13 patients, a low-dose non-contrast 3D angiographic scan was performed. The preprocedurally acquired CTA image was then registered with the coordinate of angiography and overlaid onto the live fluoroscopic image to provide interventional guidance.

Results

Based on visual inspection by two experienced physicians and quantitative evaluation, excellent accuracy in the 3D registration of the CTA and DSA was achieved for all 12 patients examined. Additionally, CTA could be used successfully to guide the interventional procedures, including both diagnostic DSA and stent treatment. The radiation dose and contrast medium use were compared with those used by conventional interventional procedures and both were found to be significantly reduced.

Conclusions

3D CTA and angiographic image fusion was approved as highly accurate for neurovasculature. Additionally, using the fusion technique to guide interventional procedures enhanced the workflow, and required much less radiation exposure and contrast medium use, thus helping to reduce potential risks and increase treatment safety.
Increased precipitation, rather than warming, exerts a strong influence on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community in a semiarid steppe ecosystem
Authors: Gao Cheng , Kim Yong-Chan , Zheng Yong , Yang Wei , Chen Liang , Ji Niu-Niu , Wan Shi-Qiang , Guo Liang-Dong
Published: April 2016

Knowing the responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to warming and increased precipitation are critical for understanding how biodiversity is maintained and how the ecosystem functions under global climate-change scenarios in natural ecosystems. In this study, AM fungal communities were examined in a 6 year experiment with warming and increased precipitation, in a semiarid steppe in northern China. Only the increased precipitation, regardless of warming, significantly increased AM fungal extra-radical hyphal density, compared with the control treatment. AM fungal spore density was significantly increased by the combination of warming and increased precipitation, and increased precipitation-only treatments, but not by warming alone. A total of 36 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of AM fungi were recovered by 454 pyrosequencing of 18S rDNA. Only increased precipitation, regardless of warming, significantly decreased AM fungal OTU richness and Shannon diversity index, and yet significantly increased AM fungal Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index, compared with the control treatment. AM fungal community composition was significantly affected by increased precipitation via water availability, but not by warming. Our findings demonstrated that the AM fungal community responded more strongly to water availability than to warming in the semiarid steppe ecosystem.
Relation of particle matter on roadside tree leaves with traffic density and road dust
Authors: Kitajima Ikumi , Matsui Toshihiko , Sakai Sho , Shigeyoshi Miwa , Kondo Akira , Saitoh Katsumi , Shimadera Hikari , Inoue Yoshio , Sera Koichiro
Published: April 2016

In Japan, air pollution due to atmospheric particulate matter has been a serious problem, especially at roadsides in megacity areas. However, it is difficult to widely cover roadside areas with a limited number of air pollution monitoring stations. Therefore we focused on a biomonitoring technique by using leaves of roadside trees. We sampled leaves of ginkgo (G. biloba) along major arteria roads in Osaka City, which is the third largest city in Japan. The particles retained on the surfaces of the sampled leaves were removed by ultrasonic cleaning in ethanol solution. The ethanol solution including particles was suctioned by an aspirator and particles were collected on a PTFE filter. Elements collected on the filter were quantified by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis. It was found that the mass of traffic-related elements on the surfaces of sampled leaves correlated with the traffic density of large vehicles and the distance from the end of roadside to the sampling point. The ratios of mass of road dust-related elements on sampled leaves were almost similar to those of the road dust profile data. These results suggest the biomonitoring technique is an effective method to assess roadside air pollution.
Evaluation of elemental quantitative values of atmospheric aerosol samples by PIXE method
Authors: Saitoh Katsumi , Fushimi Akihiro , Fujitani Yuji , Tanabe Kiyoshi , Sato Kei , Takami Akinori , Sera Koichiro
Published: April 2016

In order to evaluate the quantitative values of atmospheric aerosol samples collected on filters, we investigated the effects of filter collection conditions (non-uniformity of collected particles) on analytical values and compared the quantitative values by means of PIXE and ICP-MS, using as the analytical sample PM2.5 collected on filters in a monitoring survey of atmospheric fine aerosol over the Kanto area of Japan in summer 2013. The results were as follows: (i) With respect to the uniformity of filter collection, differences in concentrations were seen for S and Cl as well as elements thought to originate in soil (Al, Si, Ti and Fe) depending on the analysis point, suggesting that collection of sulfate particles, chloride particles, and soil particles on filters was not uniform. (ii) According to a comparison of quantitative values yielded by PIXE and ICP-MS, ICP-MS values were lower than PIXE values for Mg, Al, Si, Ti and Fe, with Mg and Si being markedly lower. On the other hand, ICP-MS values were higher than PIXE values for Na, K, Ca and Zn. (iii) According to the results of measurement of NIST reference material and PM2.5 samples by means of PIXE and ICP-MS, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Fe and Zn showed the same tendency. However, Na and K were opposite.
Elemental analysis of erythrocytes in patients with chronic liver diseases positive for hepatitis C virus
Authors: Nagamine Takeaki , Kasamatsu Tetsuhiro , Murakami Kazuhiro , Kohka Masashi , Satoh Takahiro , Tomihiro Takahiro , Goto Shoko , Sera Koichiro
Published: April 2016

The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between elemental changes in erythrocytes and hepatogenous anemia. Five chronic hepatitis C, five liver cirrhosis (HCV positive) and three healthy controls were enrolled in this study.

Using in-air micro-PIXE, we determined that K rods formed small nodule and Cl rods distributed diffusely in all over erythrocytes, resulting in disappearance of the donut-like pattern of erythrocytes. These findings may reect the alternation of ery- throcyte membrane structures. Fe dots were divided into two to four compartments in erythrocytes of control group, and the similar distribution of Fe rods was shown in those of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. Na concentrations analyzed by in-vacuum PIXE were significantly higher in liver cirrhosis than in chronic hepatitis and control, possibly because of the disturbance of Na–K pump. Present study suggests that the alternation of erythrocyte membrane and Na–K pump failure may participate in hepatogenous anemia accompanied with liver cirrhosis.
Continuous observation of ion beam induced luminescence spectra from organic standard targets
Authors: Kada Wataru , Yokoyama Akihito , Koka Masashi , Miura Kenta , Satoh Takahiro , Hanaizumi Osamu , Kamiya Tomihiro
Published: April 2016

Ion beam induced luminescence (IBIL) analysis was performed on organic targets are typical organic contaminants in aerosols. An external proton microbeam with an energy of 3 MeV was selected as the probe for the continuous IBIL measurement. Commercially available organic standards, including common amino acids (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, riboflavin and tryptophan) and a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene), were used to test the analysis. Differences in chemical composition were distinguished by the shape of the IBIL spectrum in the UV/visible/near-IR region (200–900 nm). The IBIL spectrum changed as the proton irradiation damage increased. These results suggest that qualitative characterization of organic materials might be possible through the continuous measurement of IBIL spectra.
Topological supersymmetry breaking: The definition and stochastic generalization of chaos and the limit of applicability of statistics
Authors: Ovchinnikov Igor V. , Schwartz Robert N. , Wang Kang L.
Published: April 2016

The concept of deterministic dynamical chaos has a long history and is well established by now. Nevertheless, its field theoretic essence and its stochastic generalization have been revealed only very recently. Within the newly found supersymmetric theory of stochastics (STS), all stochastic differential equations (SDEs) possess topological or de Rahm supersymmetry and stochastic chaos is the phenomenon of its spontaneous breakdown. Even though the STS is free of approximations and thus is technically solid, it is still missing a firm interpretational basis in order to be physically sound. Here, we make a few important steps toward the construction of the interpretational foundation for the STS. In particular, we discuss that one way to understand why the ground states of chaotic SDEs are conditional (not total) probability distributions, is that some of the variables have infinite memory of initial conditions and thus are not “thermalized”, i.e., cannot be described by the initial-conditions-independent probability distributions. As a result, the definitive assumption of physical statistics that the ground state is a steady-state total probability distribution is not valid for chaotic SDEs.
Traveling Waves Connecting Equilibrium and Periodic Orbit for a Delayed Population Model on a Two-Dimensional Spatial Lattice
Authors: Cheng Cui-Ping , Li Wan-Tong , Wang Zhi-Cheng , Zheng Shenzhou
Published: April 2016

This paper is concerned with the existence of fast traveling waves connecting an equilibrium and a periodic orbit in a delayed population model with stage structure on a two-dimensional spatial lattice, under the assumption that the corresponding ODEs have heteroclinic orbits connecting an equilibrium point and a periodic solution. In this work, we rewrite the mixed functional differential equation as an integral equation in a Banach space and analyze the corresponding linear operator. Our approach eventually reduces a singular perturbation problem to a regular perturbation problem. The existence of traveling wave solution therefore is obtained by using the Liapunov–Schmidt method and implicit function theorem.
Analytical-Algebraic Approach to Solving Chaotic System
Authors: Beran Zdeněk , Čelikovský Sergej
Published: April 2016

The aim of this paper is to present the application of the analytical series technique to study properties of the nonlinear chaotic dynamical systems. More specifically, Laplace–Adomian decomposition method is applied to Rössler system and the so-called generalized Lorenz system. Some advantages and possible applications of this approach are discussed. Results are illustrated by numerical computations.
Biomaterial-Derived Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles for Enteric Drug Delivery
Authors: Render Diane , Samuel Temesgen , King Howard , Vig Madan , Jeelani Shaik , Babu Ramapuram Jayachandra , Rangari Vijaya
Published: April 2016

Oral drug delivery systems provide the most convenient, noninvasive, readily acceptable alternatives to parenteral systems. In the current work, eggshell-derived calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles were used to develop enteric drug delivery system in the form of tablets. CaCO3nanoparticles were manufactured using top-down ball-milling method and characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and loaded with 5-fluorouracil as a model drug. Tablets with varying CaCO3core and binder compositions were fabricated and coated with Eudragit S100 or Eudragit L100. Suitability for enteric delivery of the tablets was tested by oral administration to rabbits and radiography. Radiograph images showed that the tablet remained in the stomach of the rabbit for up to 3 hours. Further modifications of these biomaterial-derived nanoparticles and the coatings will enable manufacturing of stable formulations for slow or controlled release of pharmaceuticals for enteric delivery.
A Case of Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Mehrtens Sarah , Veitch David , Kulakov Elizabeth , Perrett Conal M.
Published: April 2016

A 49-year-old lady presented with multiple recurring painful lesions over her thighs, arms, and back. Past medical history included a left sided nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma and a hysterectomy for multiple uterine fibroids (leiomyomas). Histopathological examination revealed changes consistent with pilar leiomyomas. Gene mutation analysis confirmed a diagnosis of hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma is an uncommon autosomal dominant condition characterised by the concurrent presentation of cutaneous and uterine leiomyomas. Renal cell carcinoma associated with this condition is more aggressive and a significant cause of mortality. Due to this association with potentially fatal renal cell carcinoma we felt that it was important to highlight this case with an update on pathophysiology and management.