bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imaging of Vascular Injuries of the Extremities
Authors: Kawakyu-O'Connor Don , Scalgione Mariano , Nicola Refky
Published: June 2017

Multidetector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) of the upper and lower extremities is the standard of care in the assessment of trauma patients with vascular trauma of the upper and lower extremities. A MDCTA of the extremities is typically integrated into multiphasic whole-body computed tomography trauma protocols in patients with suspected vascular injury. MDCTA has replaced catheter-directed digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the modality of choice for the initial detection and characterization of vascular injuries because it is readily available, noninvasive, and faster than DSA. Understanding the imaging findings and pitfalls of upper and lower extremity MDCTA is essential in the diagnosis of vascular injuries such as active hemorrhage, vasospasm and stenosis, hematoma, occlusion and thrombosis, posttraumatic arteriovenous fistula, pseudoaneurysm, and patterns of intimal injury including dissection. We discuss the diagnosis and characterization of vascular injuries of the upper and lower extremities using MDCTA including derived multiplanar reconstructions, maximum intensity projection, and three-dimensional volume rendering techniques.
The Intersection of Palliative Care and Interventional Radiology: Enhancing Understanding and Collaboration
Authors: Buss Mary
Published: June 2017

In the treatment of cancer patients, many interventional radiologic procedures are palliative in nature. The goal for these therapies is often something other than cure, such as prolonged survival or improved quality of life. The goals of therapy should be matched with the patient's wishes, and must include open communication between the health care provider and the patient. Hospice and palliative medicine is its own specialty, and a multidisciplinary approach to the care of cancer patients should include discussions with these health care specialists. This article will briefly define palliative care in general, describe the specialty of hospice and palliative medicine, and discuss how hospice differs from palliative care. Finally, it will highlight opportunities for interventional radiology specialists to incorporate more deliberately palliative care skills and competencies into their own practice and to collaborate with palliative care specialists.
Prenatal Brainstem Disruptions: Small Lesions–Big Problems
Authors: Bauder Florian , Giarrana Miriam , Hackenberg Anette , Lebon Sébastien , Roulet-Perez Eliane , Schmid Regula , Schmitt-Mechelke Thomas , Poretti Andrea , Boltshauser Eugen
Published: June 2017

Prenatal disruptive injuries within one or both cerebellar hemispheres, which are mostly caused by hemorrhages, are well known. Primary disruptive lesions of the brainstem, however, are exceptional. Here we report on clinical and neuroimaging findings, as well as outcome of four male infants with prenatal brainstem disruptions that have been seen between 2005 and 2015. Two infants with extensive brainstem defects (from the midbrain to the medulla) had respiratory insufficiency and died at the age of 12 weeks and 22 months, respectively. Two patients had smaller, unilateral/asymmetrical lesions in the pontomesencephalic and medullary regions, respectively, and presented with permanent multiple cranial nerve deficits and long-tract signs. Recognition of prenatal brainstem disruptions and distinction from malformations are essential for the management and the estimation of a recurrence risk.
Versorgungsforschung in der Physiotherapie: systematisch aufbauen und synergetisch (weiter)entwickeln
Authors: Kopkow Christian , Lange Toni , Schmitt Jochen , Petzold Thomas
Published: June 2017

Wir freuen uns, dass die von uns veröffentlichte Publikation Beachtung findet und möchten gerne die Gelegenheit nutzen, die aufgeworfenen Punkte des Leserbriefs von Dr. Claudia Kemper und Dr. Kristin Sauer zu diskutieren und so „Mehr Licht ins Dunkle bringen!“.
DNS investigation of the dynamical behaviour of trailing vortices in unbaffled stirred vessels at transitional Reynolds numbers
Authors: Başbuğ S. , Papadakis G. , Vassilicos J. C.
Published: June 2017

Flow in an unbaffled stirred vessel agitated by a four-bladed radial impeller is investigated by using direct numerical simulations at Re = 320 and 1600. We observe fluctuations in the power consumption with a peak frequency at ca. three times the impeller rotational speed for both Reynolds numbers. It is discovered that these fluctuations are associated with a periodic event in the wake of the blades, which involves alternating growth and decay of the upper and lower cores of the trailing vortex pair as well as up-and-down swinging motion of the radial jet. Moreover, the phase relation between the wakes of the different blades is examined in detail. Further studies using fractal-shaped blades show that the exact blade shape does not have a strong influence on this phenomenon. However, the wake interaction between the blades, hence the number of blades, has a direct influence on the unsteadiness of trailing vortices.
The effects of tether placement on antibody stability on surfaces
Authors: Grawe Rebecca W. , Knotts Thomas A.
Published: June 2017

Despite their potential benefits, antibody microarrays have fallen short of performing reliably and have not found widespread use outside of the research setting. Experimental techniques have been unable to determine what is occurring on the surface of an atomic level, so molecular simulation has emerged as the primary method of investigating protein/surface interactions. Simulations of small proteins have indicated that the stability of the protein is a function of the residue on the protein where a tether is placed. The purpose of this research is to see whether these findings also apply to antibodies, with their greater size and complexity. To determine this, 24 tethering locations were selected on the antibody Protein Data Bank (PDB) ID: 1IGT. Replica exchange simulations were run on two different surfaces, one hydrophobic and one hydrophilic, to determine the degree to which these tethering sites stabilize or destabilize the antibody. Results showed that antibodies tethered to hydrophobic surfaces were in general less stable than antibodies tethered to hydrophilic surfaces. Moreover, the stability of the antibody was a function of the tether location on hydrophobic surfaces but not hydrophilic surfaces.
Electron paramagnetic resonance study of MgO thin-film grown on silicon
Authors: Hayashi K. , Matsumura Y. , Kobayashi S. , Morishita H. , Koike H. , Miwa S. , Mizuochi N. , Suzuki Y.
Published: June 2017

The paramagnetic defects in the magnesium-oxide (MgO) thin-film grown on a silicon (Si) substrate (MgO|Si) by a molecular beam epitaxy method are reported. These thin films have been used as an MgO tunnel barrier material for the spin-injection to Si from Fe. According to the crystallinity evaluation, the MgO film possessed a (001) oriented structure. We investigated the paramagnetic defects and impurities of several MgO|Si samples by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The EPR spectra showed a strong isotropic signal with a g-value of 2.002 and six weak satellite peaks which were assigned to oxygen vacancies of highly oriented MgO(001) (F+ center) coupled with 25Mg nuclei (I = 5/2). The spin area density of MgO (thickness = 1.6 nm), which can be used as a tunnel barrier for spin injection, was determined to be 7 × 1013 cm−2. This value corresponds to 1% of O atoms replaced with vacancies. The identification of the paramagnetic centers and the quantitative estimation of their concentration in MgO films is important and may pave the way for highly efficient spin injection from Fe to Si via an MgO tunnel barrier.
Semiclassical evolution of quantum wave packets on the torus beyond the Ehrenfest time in terms of Husimi distributions
Authors: Trushechkin Anton
Published: June 2017

The semiclassical long-time limit of free evolution of quantum wave packets on the torus is under consideration. Despite the simplicity of this system, there are still open questions concerning the detailed description of the evolution on time scales beyond the Ehrenfest time. One of the approaches is based on the limiting Wigner or Husimi distributions of time-evolved wave packets as the Planck constant tends to zero and time tends to infinity. We derive explicit expressions for semiclassical measures corresponding to all time scales and the corresponding stages of evolution: classical-like motion, spreading of the wave packet, and its revivals.
Hybrid tandem quantum dot/organic photovoltaic cells with complementary near infrared absorption
Authors: Kim Taesoo , Palmiano Elenita , Liang Ru-Ze , Hu Hanlin , Murali Banavoth , Kirmani Ahmad R. , Firdaus Yuliar , Gao Yangqin , Sheikh Arif , Yuan Mingjian , Mohammed Omar F. , Hoogland Sjoerd , Beaujuge Pierre M. , Sargent Edward H. , Amassian Aram
Published: June 2017

Monolithically integrated hybrid tandem solar cells that effectively combine solution-processed colloidal quantum dot (CQD) and organic bulk heterojunction subcells to achieve tandem performance that surpasses the individual subcell efficiencies have not been demonstrated to date. In this work, we demonstrate hybrid tandem cells with a low bandgap PbS CQD subcell harvesting the visible and near-infrared photons and a polymer:fullerene—poly (diketopyrrolopyrrole-terthiophene) (PDPP3T):[6,6]-phenyl-C60-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM)—top cell absorbing effectively the red and near-infrared photons of the solar spectrum in a complementary fashion. The two subcells are connected in series via an interconnecting layer (ICL) composed of a metal oxide layer, a conjugated polyelectrolyte, and an ultrathin layer of Au. The ultrathin layer of Au forms nano-islands in the ICL, reducing the series resistance, increasing the shunt resistance, and enhancing the device fill-factor. The hybrid tandems reach a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.9%, significantly higher than the PCE of the corresponding individual single cells, representing one of the highest efficiencies reported to date for hybrid tandem solar cells based on CQD and polymer subcells.
Note: Setup for chemical atmospheric control during in situ grazing incidence X-ray scattering of printed thin films
Authors: Pröller Stephan , Moseguí González Daniel , Zhu Chenhuii , Schaible Eric , Wang Cheng , Müller-Buschbaum Peter , Hexemer Alexander , Herzig Eva M.
Published: June 2017

In order to tailor the assembling of polymers and organic molecules, a deeper understanding of the kinetics involved in thin film production is necessary. While post-production characterization only provides insight on the final film structure, more sophisticated experimental setups are needed to probe the structure formation processes in situ during deposition. The drying kinetics of a deposited organic thin film strongly influences the assembling process on the nanometer scale. This work presents an experimental setup that enables fine control of the atmosphere composition surrounding the sample during slot die coating, while simultaneously probing the film formation kinetics using in situ grazing incidence X-ray scattering and spectroscopy.
Electric field tuning of magnetocaloric effect in FeRh0.96Pd0.04/PMN-PT composite near room temperature
Authors: Hu Q. B. , Li J. , Wang C. C. , Zhou Z. J. , Cao Q. Q. , Zhou T. J. , Wang D. H. , Du Y. W.
Published: June 2017

The first-order magnetic phase transition alloy, FeRh, exhibits a large magnetocaloric effect well above room temperature and works in a limited refrigeration temperature region, which hinders its application to some extent. In the present work, we report a remarkable electric-control magnetocaloric effect in the FeRh0.96Pd0.04/PMN-PT composite near room temperature through strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling. By applying an electric field of 8 kV/cm, the metamagnetic phase transition temperature of the FeRh0.96Pd0.04 film shifts from 300 to 325 K. As a result, the refrigeration temperature region is broadened from 35 to 47 K. These results indicate that applying multiple driving fields is an effective method for tuning the magnetocaloric effect.
Enhancing circular dichroism by super chiral hot spots from a chiral metasurface with apexes
Authors: Wang Zeng , Teh Bing Hong , Wang Yue , Adamo Giorgio , Teng Jinghua , Sun Handong
Published: June 2017

Manipulating light spin (or circular polarization) is an important research field and may find broad applications from sensors, display technology, to quantum computing and communication. To this end, planar metasurfaces with larger circular dichroism are strongly demanded. However, current planar chiral metasurface structures suffer from either fabrication challenge, especially from near-infrared to visible spectrum, or insufficient circular dichroism. Here, we report a chiral metasurface composed of achiral nanoholes which allow for precisely creating apexes in the designed structure. Our investigation indicates that the apexes act as super chiral hot spots and enable the highly concentrated near-field optical chirality leading to a remarkable enhancement of circular dichroism in the far-field. A 4-fold enhancement of the circular dichroism and a strong optical activity of ∼15 degrees have been experimentally achieved. Besides the enhanced chirality, our design genuinely overcomes the nanofabrication challenge faced in existing planar chiral metasurfaces.
Simple experiment on the sputtering rate of solids in gas discharges
Authors: Hartmann Peter , Reyes Jorge C. , Korolov Ihor , Matthews Lorin S. , Hyde Truell W.
Published: June 2017

We present a very simple and sensitive method to measure the sputtering rate of solid materials in stationary low-pressure gas discharges. The method is based on the balance of the centrifugal force and the confinement electric force acting on a single electrically charged dust particle in a rotating environment. We demonstrate the use and sensitivity of this method in a capacitively coupled radio frequency argon discharge. We were able to detect a reduction of 10 nm in the diameter of a single dust particle.
Physician and Nurses’ Knowledge and Use of Natural Family Planning
Authors: Fehring Richard J.
Published: June 2017

Perinatal health professionals are in key positions to either promote or dissuade the use of Natural Family Planning (NFP). The purpose of this article is to describe a survey conducted with perinatal physicians and nurses on their knowledge and professional use of NFP. Four hundred and fifty physicians and nurses (150 MDs and 300 RNs) were sent a questionnaire on the use of and knowledge of NFP. One hundred sixty-six (or 37%) returned the completed questionnaires. Fifty-two percent of the nurses who returned the questionnaires and 48% of the physicians indicated they were taught about NFP in basic (generic) medical or nursing school. The average lecture time spent on the subject in either nursing or medical school was less than one hour. The majority learned about NFP through self-education or on-the-job training. Only four (1 RN and 3 MDs) are certified to teach NFP. Fifty-three percent of the nurses and 44% of physicians would not advise the use of NFP to avoid pregnancy. The most frequent reasons given for not promoting the use of NFP to either avoid or achieve pregnancy were that it is not effective, not natural, too difficult to learn, better methods are available, and it only works for highly motivated educated women.
Issues of Medical Ethics in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Authors: Nelson Andrew L.
Published: June 2017

Christ's preferential love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the very special attention of Christians toward those who suffer in body and soul It is the source of [their] tireless efforts to comfort them. (#1503)
Sex Education: A Weapon of Mass Destruction?
Authors: Asuzu M.C.
Published: June 2017

Education has rightly been understood as fundamentally good for man. In this regard, education is taken in the correct sense both of information and of formation of man, especially of the younger generations. It helps them to achieve the utmost good, individually and societally. Therefore, education concerns the proper nature and good of man. Once these are misunderstood, education will be ill-conceived and ill-delivered.

Man's sexuality as the sum total of what makes him male or female in each case is an important component of his nature – physical and metaphysical. It deserves study and education. That aspect of man's sexuality that has to do with physical genital intercourse constitutes a mere 10 to 15% of his sexuality. 1 It is, however, the most emotive, delicate, and educationally troublesome aspect of man's sexuality. There has, therefore, been continuing concern that education in this aspect of man requires the most careful and culturally correct environment, tools, and methods. Some societal value systems understanding of man is exclusively physical and organic (in other words, merely materialistic), denying the metaphysical and seeing the purpose of life as nothing more than pleasure. Secular humanism is one such. For this system to take hold of sex to “educate” on it is surely a prescription for disaster, that is, for man as a created “Homo sapient.”

Overcoming the problem of the current secular humanist sex education onslaught should be facilitated by a proper understanding of the value base and value indoctrination of secular humanism. With that, there can be healthy efforts to limit secular humanism to the circles where it rightly belongs, in a free and multicultural world.

But the other value systems, particularly Christianity, should make more meaningful progress by going beyond mere objection to secular humanism. Christianity should develop its own educational materials for both home and internal group education. Furthermore, it should also develop programs for an entire public education in these matters, with content that presents their own theistic ideal together with the secular humanist one in a factual and balanced manner.

Since the days of Marie Stoops. Bertrand Russell, Havelock Ellis, and Margaret Sanger, the secular humanists have imposed unethically on everyone through the media (and eventually the schools). Christians should find the resources and personnel to promote their ideals, much as the secular humanists have done for nearly a century. Without them doing so, it will be nearly impossible to overcome the secular humanists, in my humble opinion. The theists’ appropriate sexuality education will surely not be a weapon of mass destruction, as the secular humanist model has been, but indeed a most needed service in the present world.
Dynein is regulated by the stability of its microtubule track
Authors: Estrem Cassi , Fees Colby P. , Moore Jeffrey K.
Published: June 2017

How dynein motors accurately move cargoes is an important question. In budding yeast, dynein moves the mitotic spindle to the predetermined site of cytokinesis by pulling on astral microtubules. In this study, using high-resolution imaging in living cells, we discover that spindle movement is regulated by changes in microtubule plus-end dynamics that occur when dynein generates force. Mutants that increase plus-end stability increase the frequency and duration of spindle movements, causing positioning errors. We find that dynein plays a primary role in regulating microtubule dynamics by destabilizing microtubules. In contrast, the dynactin complex counteracts dynein and stabilizes microtubules through a mechanism involving the shoulder subcomplex and the cytoskeletal-associated protein glycine-rich domain of Nip100/p150glued. Our results support a model in which dynein destabilizes its microtubule substrate by using its motility to deplete dynactin from the plus end. We propose that interplay among dynein, dynactin, and the stability of the microtubule substrate creates a mechanism that regulates accurate spindle positioning.
The relationship of sociodemographic and psychological variables with chronic pain variables in a low-income population
Authors: Newman Andrea K. , Van Dyke Benjamin P. , Torres Calia A. , Baxter Jacob W. , Eyer Joshua C. , Kapoor Shweta , Thorn Beverly E.
Published: June 2017

Chronic pain is a pervasive condition that is complicated by economic, educational, and racial disparities. This study analyzes key factors associated with chronic pain within an understudied and underserved population. The sample is characterized by a triple disparity with respect to income, education/literacy, and racial barriers that substantially increase the vulnerability to the negative consequences of chronic pain. The study examined the pretreatment data of 290 participants enrolled in the Learning About My Pain trial, a randomized controlled comparative effectiveness trial of psychosocial interventions (B.E.T., Principal Investigator, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Contract No. 941; clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01967342) for chronic pain. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses evaluated the relationships among sociodemographic (sex, age, race, poverty status, literacy, and education level) and psychological (depressive symptoms and pain catastrophizing) variables and pain interference, pain severity, and disability. The indirect effects of depressive symptoms and pain catastrophizing on the sociodemographic and pain variables were investigated using bootstrap resampling. Reversed mediation models were also examined. Results suggested that the experience of chronic pain within this low-income sample is better accounted for by psychological factors than sex, age, race, poverty status, literacy, and education level. Depressive symptoms and pain catastrophizing mediated the relationships between age and pain variables, whereas pain catastrophizing mediated the effects of primary literacy and poverty status. Some reversed models were equivalent to the hypothesized models, suggesting the possibility of bidirectionality. Although cross-sectional findings cannot establish causality, our results highlight the critical role psychological factors play in individuals with chronic pain and multiple health disparities.
Crouch gait can be an effective form of forced-use/no constraint exercise for the paretic lower limb in stroke
Authors: Tesio Luigi , Rota Viviana , Malloggi Chiara , Brugliera Luigia , Catino Luigi
Published: June 2017

In hemiplegic gait the paretic lower limb provides less muscle power and shows a briefer stance compared with the unaffected limb. Yet, a longer stance and a higher power can be obtained from the paretic lower limb if gait speed is increased. This supports the existence of a ‘learned non-use’ phenomenon, similar to that underlying some asymmetric impairments of the motion of the eyes and of the upper limbs. Crouch gait (CG) (bent-hip bent-knee, about 30° minimum knee flexion) might be an effective form of ‘forced-use’ treatment of the paretic lower limb. It is not known whether it also stimulates a more symmetric muscle power output. Gait analysis on a force treadmill was carried out in 12 healthy adults and seven hemiplegic patients (1–127 months after stroke, median: 1.6). Speed was imposed at 0.3 m/s. Step length and single and double stance times, sagittal joint rotations, peak positive power, and work in extension of the hip, knee, and ankle (plantar flexion), and surface electromyography (sEMG) area from extensor muscles during the generation of power were measured on either side during both erect and crouch walking. Significance was set at P less than 0.05; corrections for multiplicity were applied. Patients, compared with healthy controls, adopted in both gait modalities and on both sides a shorter step length (61–84%) as well as a shorter stance (76–90%) and swing (63–83%) time. As a rule, they also provided a higher muscular work (median: 137%, range: 77–250%) paralleled by a greater sEMG area (median: 174%, range: 75–185%). In erect gait, the generation of peak extensor power across hip, knee, and ankle joints was in general lower (83–90%) from the paretic limb and higher (98–165%) from the unaffected limb compared with control values. In CG, peak power generation across the three lower limb joints was invariably higher in hemiparetic patients: 107–177% from the paretic limb and 114–231% from the unaffected limb. When gait shifted from erect to crouch, only for hemiplegic patients, at the hip, the paretic/unaffected ratio increased significantly. For peak power, work, sEMG area, and joint rotation, the paretic/unaffected ratio increased from 55 to 85%, 56 to 72%, 68 to 91%, and 67 to 93%, respectively. CG appears to be an effective form of forced-use exercise eliciting more power and work from the paretic lower limb muscles sustained by a greater neural drive. It also seems effective in forcing a more symmetric power and work from the hip extensor muscles, but neither from the knee nor the ankle.
Food and Nutrition Science Communications
Authors: Rowe Sylvia B. , Alexander Nick
Published: June 2017

The professionals charged with delivering important food and nutrition science information to a public ever more hungry for science-based guidance have faced increasing challenges in an increasingly complex communications environment. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, in December 2016, issued a report assembling what has been published about science communication, both of emerging and contentious scientific issues such as vaccine and global climate science. The report outlines “Science of Science Communication” research gaps and urges a systems approach toward understanding the many factors that influence how both communicators and their intended audiences perceive and process science information. Although the Academies' report deals with a broad range of scientific issues, the authors here focus on communication of health and nutrition science, in the context of the report. Discussed are such influences on perception and understanding as preexisting individual and group psychological, economic, political, social, cultural, and media- or value-related mind-sets. Noting the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report's repeated call for researchers to work more closely with communication practitioners, the authors of this article offer some insight into the effect that rapidly evolving social and other digital media may have on the various perceptual influences.
Dietary Patterns
Authors: Boushey Carol J. , Abed Berlinda , Corpuz Gerald , Spoden Melissa D.V.
Published: June 2017

The focus for quantifying dietary exposures has moved from single nutrients or foods to dietary patterns. These more comprehensive characterizations of the diet account for the synergistic effects of nutrients and allow for better translation to dietary recommendations for the broad public. Dietary patterns narrow down large amounts of nutrition information and usually apply a moniker, such as “Western diet” or “healthy diet.” This leads to the question, what is in those names?

Because of a missing standardized naming system for food patterns, not only individuals but also professionals have different definitions of single dietary patterns leading to confusion and ensuing erroneous assumptions. This article demonstrates the shortcomings regarding nomenclature with reference to 10 examples of the Western diet.
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Associated With Disease Progression in Primary HIV Infection: PD-L1 Blockade Attenuates Inhibition
Authors: Zhang Zi-Ning , Yi Nan , Zhang Tong-Wei , Zhang Le-Le , Wu Xian , Liu Mei , Fu Ya-Jing , He Si-Jia , Jiang Yong-Jun , Ding Hai-Bo , Chu Zhen-Xing , Shang Hong
Published: June 2017

Objective:

Events occurring during the initial phase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are intriguing because of their dramatic impact on the subsequent course of the disease. In particular, the relationship between myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and HIV pathogenesis in primary infection remains unknown and the mechanism of MDSCs in HIV infection are incompletely defined.

Methods:

The frequency of MDSC expression in patients with primary HIV infection (PHI) and chronic HIV infection was measured, and the association with disease progression was studied. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and galectin-9 (Gal-9) expression on MDSCs was measured and in vitro blocking experiments were performed to study the role of PD-L1 in MDSCs' inhibition.

Results:

We found increased levels of HLA-DR−/lowCD14−CD33+CD11b+ granulocytic(G)-MDSCs in PHI individuals compared with normal controls, which correlated with viral loads and was negatively related to CD4+ T-cell levels. When cocultured with purified G-MDSCs, both proliferation and interferon-γ secretion by T cell receptor (TCR)-stimulated CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected patients were significantly inhibited. We also demonstrated that PD-L1, but not Gal-9, expression on HLA-DR−/lowCD14−CD33+CD11b+ cells increased during HIV infection. The suppressive activity of G-MDSCs from HIV-infected patients was attenuated by PD-L1 blockade.

Conclusions:

We found a significant increase in G-MDSCs in PHI patients that was related to disease progression and PD-L1 was used by MDSCs to inhibit CD8+ T cells in HIV infection. Our data improve the understanding of HIV pathogenesis in PHI.
Structural and Raman spectroscopic characterization of pyroxene-type compounds in the CaCu1−xZnxGe2O6solid-solution series
Authors: Redhammer Günther J. , Tippelt Gerold , Reyer Andreas , Gratzl Reinhard , Hiederer Andreas
Published: June 2017

Pyroxene-type germanate compounds with the composition CaCuGe2O6–CaZnGe2O6have been synthesizedviaa solid-state ceramic sintering route. Phase-pure polycrystalline and small single-crystal material was obtained all over the series, representing a complete solid-solution series. Differential thermal analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize phase stability, phase changes and structural alterations induced by the substitution of Cu2+with Zn2+. Whereas pure CaCuGe2O6exhibitsP21/csymmetry with a strong distortion of theM1 octahedra and two different Ge sites, one of them with an unusual fivefold coordination, the replacement of Cu2+by Zn2+induces a chemically driven phase change to theC2/csymmetry. The phase change takes place around Zn2+contents of 0.12 formula units and is associated with large changes in the unit-cell parameters. Here, the increase ofcby as much as 3.2% is remarkable and it is mainly controlled by an expansion of the tetrahedral chains. Further differences between theP21/candC2/cstructures are a more regular chain of edge-sharingM1 octahedra as a consequence of more and more reduced Jahn–Teller distortion and a less kinked, symmetry-equivalent tetrahedral chain. The coordination of the Ca site increases from sevenfold to eightfold with large changes in the Ca—O bond lengths during the phase change. Raman spectroscopy was mainly used to monitor theP21/ctoC2/cphase change as a function of composition, but also as a function of temperature and to follow changes in specific Raman modes throughout the solid-solution series.
Current thinking on cluster theory and its translation in economic geography and strategic and operations management
Authors: Manzini Reinaldo Belickas , Di Serio Luiz Carlos
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper offers an approach for outlining the main dimensions surrounding clusters in three areas of knowledge: economic geography, strategic management and operations management, the first being considered its natural field of knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

The work was developed using the citation analysis technique as applied to a database of 627 articles and 22,980 citations, taken from 15 important journals in the areas selected.

Findings

The results proved that the theoretical and conceptual bases are unique to each of the areas studied and that they have few topics in common between them. They are complementary, however, and this facilitates their reconciliation.

Research limitations/implications

The sample base, despite considering fairly influential periodicals in the areas of knowledge selected, can be considered to be a limitation.

Originality/value

Common themes and different areas of knowledge surrounding the cluster concept were identified; despite being considered “common”, a more detailed examination of their content reveals very different, but certainly complementary emphases, which makes it possible to reconcile the areas of knowledge.
The dual effects of home country institutions on the internationalization of private firms in emerging markets
Authors: Li Fangrong , Ding Daniel
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This study aims to examine the dual effects of home country institutional forces (i.e. institutional support and institutional constraints) on the internationalization of private firms in emerging markets. By doing so, this study aims to examine the applicability of the two seemingly paradoxical views (i.e. the governmental promotion view and the institutional escapism view) in explaining private firms’ internationalization. Further, this study investigates how the effect of the home country institutional environment on firms’ internationalization is contingent upon firm characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of Chinese private firms is used to examine the effect of home country institutions on internationalization.

Findings

Empirical findings suggest that both institutional support and institutional constraints promote the internationalization of private firms in emerging markets. Moreover, it is found that firm resources strengthen the effect of government support on internationalization. It is also found that firms’ business ties strengthen the effect of institutional constraint on internationalization, whereas firms’ political ties weaken the effect of institutional constraints on internationalization.

Originality/value

By adopting an integrated and comprehensive investigation of the dual effects of home country institutional environment in emerging markets on internationalization, this study provides evidence to the applicability of the two competing views (i.e. the governmental promotion view and the institutional escapism view) in relation to home country institutional effects on internationalization. In addition, this study examines how institutional effects vary across firms with different resources and social ties, thus extends understandings of the boundary conditions of the two institutional effects.
To sell or not to sell: Exploring sellers' trust and risk of chargeback fraud in cross‐border electronic commerce
Authors: Guo Yue , Bao Yongchuan , Stuart Barnes J. , Le‐Nguyen Khuong
Published: June 2017

Over the past few decades, chargeback fraud from buyers has been identified as a major risk faced by online sellers, particularly small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises, in cross‐border electronic commerce. However, most previous studies have focused on trust and perceived risk from the buyers' perspective and in domestic online marketplaces, while neglecting the importance of sellers' trust and perceived risk in the success of online transactions and the significance of cross‐border transactions. To fill this gap in the literature, this study examines both the antecedents and the impacts of sellers' trust in buyers and their perceived risk of chargeback fraud on sellers' intention to trade with buyers in the context of cross‐border e‐commerce. To this end, we develop a conceptual model that identifies a set of institutional mechanisms to enhance sellers' trust and reduce their perceived risk. Hypotheses are tested via a survey of 443 sellers on DHgate.com, one of the major cross‐border e‐commerce websites connecting the small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises of mainland China with overseas buyers. Our research makes concrete contributions to e‐commerce research and generates useful insights for third‐party online transaction platforms and online trade policy makers.
Species‐specific environmental preferences associated with a hump‐shaped diversity/temperature relationship across tropical marine fish assemblages
Authors: Clauson‐Kaas Sofie , Richardson Katherine , Rahbek Carsten , Holt Ben G.
Published: June 2017

Aim

To identify key environmental factors associated with local fish species richness across a large tropical marine region.

Location

Wider Caribbean region.

Methods

Species richness estimates were based on a sightings database covering the wider Caribbean region. Environmental variables considered were distance to key habitats, habitat area, temperature, depth, salinity, nutrient concentration, as well as natural and anthropogenic disturbance. We test the significance of associations between these factors and species richness, establish the shape of these relationships and use spatial cross‐validation to test the generality of these results. Species‐specific environmental associations within these relationships were then tested.

Results

Five environmental variables showed significant associations with species richness, but only two, temperature and depth, proved robust to spatial cross‐validation. Temperature was the best performing environmental predictor, showing a unimodal relationship with species richness and optimum temperatures consistent across analytical choices and data sets. Relationships between species richness and other environmental factors were also typically unimodal. Variation in species‐specific temperature associations was significant within species richness gradients; with a higher number of species associated with optimal temperatures.

Main conclusions

Temperature represents the dominant environmental predictor of fish species richness identified by our study, showing a hump‐shaped curve, peaking at around 27.4°C. This meant that the warmest sites within our study were not necessarily the most species rich. Variation in species thermal niches may play a key role in driving species richness gradients, with significant general positive trend for fish species to occur in locations exhibiting optimum sea surface temperatures.
CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis of the white gene in the tephritid pest Bactrocera tryoni
Authors: Choo A. , Crisp P. , Saint R. , O'Keefe L. V. , Baxter S. W.
Published: June 2017

The Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), is a polyphagous horticultural pest in Australia that is capable of causing significant damage to more than 100 different host fruits and vegetables. Chemical applications and ecological control strategies, such as the sterile insect technique (SIT), are commonly used to suppress established populations and eradicate invasive outbreaks following migration. The recently published B. tryoni draft genome provides new opportunities to identify candidate genes for targeted genome modification in order to generate advanced genetic strains for management using sterile insect strategies. Here, we demonstrate CRISPR/Cas‐mediated mutagenesis in B. tryoni through generating a series of frame‐shift mutations in the ATP‐dependent binding cassette transporter, white, causing a classic white‐eye phenotype. This work establishes methods for CRISPR/Cas genome editing in tephritids and demonstrates its potential for developing genetic sexing strains which could be used for SIT‐based pest control.
Benchmarks in Search Markets
Authors: DUFFIE DARRELL , DWORCZAK PIOTR , ZHU HAOXIANG
Published: June 2017

We characterize the role of benchmarks in price transparency of over‐the‐counter markets. A benchmark can raise social surplus by increasing the volume of beneficial trade, facilitating more efficient matching between dealers and customers, and reducing search costs. Although the market transparency promoted by benchmarks reduces dealers' profit margins, dealers may nonetheless introduce a benchmark to encourage greater market participation by investors. Low‐cost dealers may also introduce a benchmark to increase their market share relative to high‐cost dealers. We construct a revelation mechanism that maximizes welfare subject to search frictions, and show conditions under which it coincides with announcing the benchmark.
Firm Investment and Stakeholder Choices: A Top‐Down Theory of Capital Budgeting
Authors: ALMAZAN ANDRES , CHEN ZHAOHUI , TITMAN SHERIDAN
Published: June 2017

This paper develops a top‐down model of capital budgeting in which privately informed executives make investment choices that convey information to the firm's stakeholders (e.g., employees). Favorable information in this setting encourages stakeholders to take actions that positively contribute to the firm's success (e.g., employees work harder). Within this framework we examine how firms may distort their investment choices to influence the information conveyed to stakeholders and show that investment rigidities and overinvestment can arise as optimal investment distortions. We also examine investment distortions in multi‐divisional firms and compare such distortions to those in single‐division firms.
Greater circadian disadvantage during evening games for the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL) and National Football League (NFL) teams travelling westward
Authors: Roy Jonathan , Forest Geneviève
Published: June 2017

We investigated the effects of a circadian disadvantage (i.e. playing in a different time zone) on the winning percentages in three major sport leagues in North America: the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and the National Football League. We reviewed 5 years of regular season games in the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and National Football League, and noted the winning percentage of the visiting team depending on the direction of travel (west, east, and same time zone) and game time (day and evening games). T‐tests and analysis of variance were performed to evaluate the effects of the circadian disadvantage, its direction, the number of time zones travelled, and the game time on winning percentages in each major league. The results showed an association between the winning percentages and the number of time zones traveled for the away evening games, with a clear disadvantage for the teams travelling westward. There was a significant difference in the teams' winning percentages depending on the travelling direction in the National Basketball Association (F2,5908 = 16.12, P < 0.0001) and the National Hockey League (F2,5639 = 4.48, P = 0.011), and a trend was found in the National Football League (F2,1279 = 2.86, P = 0.058). The effect of the circadian disadvantage transcends the type of sport and needs to be addressed for greater equity among the western and eastern teams in professional sports. These results also highlight the importance of circadian rhythms in sport performance and athletic competitions.
Plasticity contributes to a fine‐scale depth gradient in sticklebacks’ visual system
Authors: Veen Thor , Brock Chad , Rennison Diana , Bolnick Daniel
Published: June 2017

The light environment influences an animal's ability to forage, evade predators, and find mates, and consequently is known to drive local adaptation of visual systems. However, the light environment may also vary over fine spatial scales at which genetic adaptation is difficult. For instance, in aquatic systems, the available wavelengths of light change over a few metres depth. Do animals plastically adjust their visual system to such small‐scale environmental light variation? Here, we show that in three‐spine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), opsin gene expression (an important determinant of colour vision) changes over a 2‐m vertical gradient in nest depth. By experimentally altering the light environment using light filters to cover enclosures in a lake, we found that opsin expression can be adjusted on a short time frame (weeks) in response to the local light environment. This is to our knowledge the smallest spatial scale on which visual adjustments through opsin expression have been recorded in a natural setting along a continuously changing light environment.
The changing trends and profile of pneumocystosis mortality in the United States, 1999‐2014
Authors: Wickramasekaran Ranjana N. , Jewell Mirna Ponce , Sorvillo Frank , Kuo Tony
Published: June 2017

Pneumocystosis (PCP) mortality in the U.S. has received less attention in recent years. This study describes recent trends in mortality and the estimated burden ofPCPin the U.S., using the national multiple cause of death data during 1999‐2014.PCPmortality rates were calculated for age, sex, race and year. Demographic differences were presented for decedents with and without a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co‐diagnosis. Matched odds ratios (MOR) were generated to describe associations between non‐HIVconditions andPCPmortality. In total, 11 512PCPdeaths occurred during 1999‐2014. Annual age‐adjustedPCPmortality decreased over this time period, from 0.479 to 0.154 per 100 000 population (1999 vs 2014 respectively). Over two‐thirds of decedents were male and Blacks had the highest mortality as compared to Whites.HIVco‐diagnosis accounted for 48% of allPCPdeaths in 2014 vs 71% in 1999. Comorbid conditions such as connective tissue disorders (MOR=12.29; 95% confidence interval=[10.26, 14.71]) were associated with aPCPdiagnosis. Productivity losses amounted to >$12 billion during the study period. Although widespread use of antiretroviral therapy andPCPprophylaxis forHIVinfection likely contributed to the overall decline inPCPdeaths during 1999‐2014, a continual need exists to prevent and treat this fungal disease in immune‐compromised populations that are not infected withHIV.
A magnetic resonance imaging study of gastric motor function in patients with dyspepsia associated with Ehlers‐Danlos Syndrome‐Hypermobility Type: A feasibility study
Authors: Menys A. , Keszthelyi D. , Fitzke H. , Fikree A. , Atkinson D. , Aziz Q. , Taylor S. A.
Published: June 2017

Background

The clinical use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for investigating gastric motor function in dyspepsia is limited, largely due to protocol complexity, cost and limited availability. In this study, we explore the feasibility of a sub 60‐minute protocol using a water challenge to assess gastric emptying, motility and accommodation in a cohort of Ehlers‐Danlos Syndrome‐Hypermobility type (EDS‐HT) patients presenting with dyspepsia.

Methods

Nine EDS‐HT patients (mean age 33, range: 26‐50 all female) with a history of dyspepsia were recruited together with nine‐matched controls. Subjects fasted for 6 hours prior to MRI. A baseline anatomical and motility scan was performed after which the subjects ingested 300 mL water. The anatomical and motility scans were then repeated every 10 minutes to a total of 60 minutes. Gastric emptying time, motility, and accommodation were calculated based on the observations of two observers for each EDS‐HT subject and compared to their matched control using paired statistics.

Key Results

Median motility increase following the water challenge was lower in EDS‐HT subjects (11%, range: 0%‐22%) compared to controls (22%, range: 13%‐56%), P=.03. Median gastric emptying time was non‐significantly decreased in EDS‐HT subjects (12.5 minutes, range: 6‐27) compared to controls (20 minutes, range: 7‐30), P=.15. Accommodation was non‐significantly reduced in EDS‐HT subjects (56% increase, range: 32%‐78%) compared to healthy controls (67% increase, range: 52%‐78%), P=.19.

Conclusions & Inferences

This study demonstrates the feasibility of a water challenge MRI protocol to evaluate gastric physiology in the clinical setting. Motility differences between EDS‐HT and controls are worthy of further investigation.