bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological Diversity of Farmers’ and Improved Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Cultivars Growing in Eritrea
Authors: Ghebreslassie Biniam M. , Githiri S. M. , M. Tadesse , Kasili Remmy W.
Published: June 2016

Farmers’ and improved potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars growing in Eritrea are main sources of food and income to many growers. The current study was proposed to characterize 17 farmers’ and 4 imported cultivars of potato using 33 morphological descriptors. Planting was done in two geographically distinct locations, HAC and Asmara, Eritrea. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications having 18 plants per plot. Plants grown at HAC emerged early (24.52 days) and reach maturity (94.84 days) while at Asmara it took 43.77 and 123.59 days, respectively. However, yield was higher in Asmara (0.49 kg/plant) compared to HAC (0.37 kg/plant). An accession having many and longer stems was associated with more tuber production, but inversely related to yield. Similarly, accessions with higher stem thickness and tuber size were associated with high yields. The PCA analysis indicated that the first four components explained about 85% of the total variability among the studied materials. The PCA clustered the materials in to four main groups (GI, GII, GIII, GIV) mainly explained by flowering patterns and yield related descriptors. The work has provided useful information on morphological characteristics of the farmer’s potato to avoid duplication of resources and identify promising materials for future breeding program.
RISKS IN MANAGEMENT OF ENERGY
Authors: Pisniak Monika
Published: June 2016

Nowadays, it has become inherent risk with any type of business. The same situation is in the energy management market, in which there are different types of risks, starting from the moment the production of electricity passing through its distribution, and ending on sales to retail customers. This is due to the specificity of the product, which is electricity, the current structure and legal regulations. The notion of risk is known to mankind since the dawn of history, at the beginning concerned to ensure adequate conditions for survival, then together the growing economy has become inextricably linked to every sphere of human life and business. The aim of the study is the classification and breakdown risk inherent in energy management and decision-making processes that are tightly linked to the management. Related is therefore an unknown future, the lack of complete information, which are aimed at eliminating the risk or reducing it. During the next successive processes that take place as a consequence of the decision taken, there may be interference coming from the environment or social environment, causing uncertainty.
The Expansion of Activity-Based Costing/Management in the Czech Republic
Authors: Pokorná Jana
Published: June 2016

This paper aims to investigate the expansion of an advanced management tool - Activity-based costing/management (ABC/M) among Czech companies and to map the level of its utilization. The empirical survey was carried out among 548 Czech medium-sized and large companies from various economic sectors. The expansion of ABC/M has grown to 22% in 2013 which is comparable to neighbouring countries, but companies still use a relatively simple ABC/M model. They use only a limited extent of ABC/M and do not exploit all its possibilities.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF KEYWORDS IN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE CORPORATE PRESS RELEASES FROM EUROPEAN COMPANIES: INSIGHTS INTO DISCURSIVE PRACTICES
Authors: Skorczynska Sznajder Hanna Teresa
Published: June 2016

This study provides insights into discursive practices through a comparative study of keywords in English-language press releases from British, Spanish and Polish energy companies. Even though corporate press releases have been extensively researched, there is a lack of cross-cultural and corpus-based studies in this fi eld. In the present research three corpora of approximately 120,000 words each, containing English-language press releases from British, Spanish and Polish energy companies, were used. The keywords were identifi ed with the Wmatrix tool (Rayson 2009) and the reference corpus consisted of business periodical articles. The analysis of corpus keywords usually provides insights that would be diffi cult to gain by means of manual analyses of texts or qualitative approaches. The results obtained in this study show notable diff erences between the corpora with regard to the keywords identifi ed. The use of more general meaning keywords by British companies or more technical keywords by Polish companies suggest that lexical choices might be indicative of diff erent discursive practices used to reach stakeholders and the general public.
REPRESENTATIONS OF NATURE IN ECOTOURISM ADVERTISEMENTS
Authors: Trčková Dita
Published: June 2016

Employing the appraisal theory and the system of transitivity, the study explores representations of nature and the human-nature relationship in ecotourism advertisements on the website Responsible Travel. It is revealed that a number of empowering discursive devices with regard to nature are employed in the data, including the allocation of the agentive role in constructive processes to inanimate natural elements, the adoption of the activation of tokens and the activation of experiences, and celebratory portrayals of nature as an aesthetically pleasing artwork and a spectacle of supernatural qualities. Yet, it is argued that the celebration and the empowerment of nature in the ecotourism advertisements tend to take place at the expense of the reproduction of the human-nature dichotomy, portraying nature as the Other.
Strategic Planning for a Data-Driven, Shared-Access Research Enterprise: Virginia Tech Research Data Assessment and Landscape Study
Authors: Shen Yi
Published: June 2016

The data landscape study at Virginia Tech addresses the changing modes of faculty scholarship and supports the development of a user-centric data infrastructure, management, and curation system. The study investigates faculty researchers’ current practices in organizing, describing, and preserving data and the emerging needs for services and education. The results demonstrate the changing nature of faculty demands regarding data documentation, storage, and archiving and identify opportunities for libraries to develop a coherent service, research, and education system to address the evolving needs.
Heroes and Holidays: The Status of Diversity Initiatives at Liberal Arts College Libraries
Authors: Gilbert Julie
Published: June 2016

Studies about diversity initiatives in academic libraries have primarily focused on large research libraries. But what kinds of diversity work occur at smaller libraries? This study examines the status of diversity initiatives, especially those aimed at students, at national liberal arts college libraries. Results from a survey of library directors reveal that, while diversity programming happens informally at most libraries, and while diversity is valued by library directors, diversity work has not been prioritized at the organizational level in any systematic manner.
When the border educates: Malín Alegria’s Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico (2007)
Authors: Ibarraran-Bigalondo Amaia
Published: June 2016

The border between the United States and Mexico, since it was first conceived in 1848, has marked the lives of those who live on both of its sides, as well as of those who want to cross it. It has also become the source of a vast array of theoretical and artistic work. Chicano writers have written about it, and so have theorists dealt with its meaning and conceptual implications. The aim of this essay is to observe the way Malín Alegrías Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico (2007), a novel for young adults, serves as a way for young adults to “evolve a moral consciousness” (Scharf 1980), through a process of “critical witnessing” (López 2009) of what it means to be on one or the other side of la frontera.
‘Poems look like a mathematical equation’: Assessment in poetry education
Authors: Xerri Daniel
Published: June 2016

This article considers the influence that assessment exerts on poetry education. By means of research conducted in a post-16 educational context in Malta, it shows that teachers’ and students’ practices in the poetry lesson are determined by the kind of examinations that candidates sit for. When the mode of assessment is constituted solely by the traditional essay test that excludes students’ personal response, their engagement with poetry might be impaired and teachers’ role becomes highly pronounced. The article demonstrates how assessment plays a key role in governing teachers’ and students’ practices in the classroom. However, it is also argued that other factors are equally responsible for their approach to poetry.
How home HIV testing and counselling with follow‐up support achieves high testing coverage and linkage to treatment and prevention: a qualitative analysis from Uganda
Authors: Ware Norma C , Wyatt Monique A , Asiimwe Stephen , Turyamureeba Bosco , Tumwesigye Elioda , van Rooyen Heidi , Barnabas Ruanne V , Celum Connie L
Published: June 2016

Introduction

The successes of HIV treatment scale‐up and the availability of new prevention tools have raised hopes that the epidemic can finally be controlled and ended. Reduction in HIV incidence and control of the epidemic requires high testing rates at population levels, followed by linkage to treatment or prevention. As effective linkage strategies are identified, it becomes important to understand how these strategies work. We use qualitative data from The Linkages Study, a recent community intervention trial of community‐based testing with linkage interventions in sub‐Saharan Africa, to show how lay counsellor home HIV testing and counselling (home HTC) with follow‐up support leads to linkage to clinic‐based HIV treatment and medical male circumcision services.

Methods

We conducted 99 semi‐structured individual interviews with study participants and three focus groups with 16 lay counsellors in Kabwohe, Sheema District, Uganda. The participant sample included both HIV+ men and women (N=47) and HIV‐uncircumcised men (N=52). Interview and focus group audio‐recordings were translated and transcribed. Each transcript was summarized. The summaries were analyzed inductively to identify emergent themes. Thematic concepts were grouped to develop general constructs and framing propositional statements.

Results

Trial participants expressed interest in linking to clinic‐based services at testing, but faced obstacles that eroded their initial enthusiasm. Follow‐up support by lay counsellors intervened to restore interest and inspire action. Together, home HTC and follow‐up support improved morale, created a desire to reciprocate, and provided reassurance that services were trustworthy. In different ways, these functions built links to the health service system. They worked to strengthen individuals’ general sense of capability, while making the idea of accessing services more manageable and familiar, thus reducing linkage barriers.

Conclusions

Home HTC with follow‐up support leads to linkage by building “social bridges,” interpersonal connections established and developed through repeated face‐to‐face contact between counsellors and prospective users of HIV treatment and male circumcision services. Social bridges link communities to the service system, inspiring individuals to overcome obstacles and access care.
PROP1 triggers epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like process in pituitary stem cells
Authors: Pérez Millán María Inés , Brinkmeier Michelle L , Mortensen Amanda H , Camper Sally A
Published: June 2016

Mutations in PROP1 are the most common cause of hypopituitarism in humans; therefore, unraveling its mechanism of action is highly relevant from a therapeutic perspective. Our current understanding of the role of PROP1 in the pituitary gland is limited to the repression and activation of the pituitary transcription factor genes Hesx1 and Pou1f1, respectively. To elucidate the comprehensive PROP1-dependent gene regulatory network, we conducted genome-wide analysis of PROP1 DNA binding and effects on gene expression in mutant mice, mouse isolated stem cells and engineered mouse cell lines. We determined that PROP1 is essential for stimulating stem cells to undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition-like process necessary for cell migration and differentiation. Genomic profiling reveals that PROP1 binds to genes expressed in epithelial cells like Claudin 23, and to EMT inducer genes like Zeb2, Notch2 and Gli2. Zeb2 activation appears to be a key step in the EMT process. Our findings identify PROP1 as a central transcriptional component of pituitary stem cell differentiation.
Changes in expression of C2cd4c in pancreatic endocrine cells during pancreatic development
Authors: Omori Hisayoshi , Ogaki Soichiro , Sakano Daisuke , Sato Mutsumi , Umeda Kahoko , Takeda Naoki , Nakagata Naomi , Kume Shoen
Published: June 2016

C2cd4c, encoded by a gene belonging to the C2cd4 family, contains a C2 domain conserved across species and is localized to the cytoplasm. To examine the role of C2cd4c in the pancreas, we studied its localization and generated C2cd4c knockout (KO) mice. C2cd4c was expressed in pancreatic endocrine progenitors at early embryonic stages. When endocrine cells arise from their precursors, C2cd4c is gradually confined to the insulin‐ and pancreatic polypeptide‐expressing cells of the endocrine. In the adult pancreas, C2cd4c is restricted to the beta cells. C2cd4c KO mice showed normal embryonic pancreatic development and adult pancreatic function. Thus, our results suggest that C2cd4c is dispensable for pancreatic development.
Physicochemical properties of bottom ice from Dome Fuji, inland East Antarctica
Authors: Ohno Hiroshi , Iizuka Yoshinori , Hori Akira , Miyamoto Atsushi , Hirabayashi Motohiro , Miyake Takayuki , Kuramoto Takayuki , Fujita Shuji , Segawa Takahiro , Uemura Ryu , Sakurai Toshimitsu , Suzuki Toshitaka , Motoyama Hideaki
Published: June 2016

The deepest ice in inland Antarctica is expected to preserve the oldest ice records and to potentially contain microorganisms. However, little is known about the physicochemical conditions in the deepest part of ice sheets. This study investigates the physicochemical properties of the bottom section (3000–3035 m) of the Dome Fuji inland ice core, which is located immediately above unfrozen bedrock. The ubiquitous presence of air hydrates and the water isotope composition of ice comparable to the upper main ice core show that the bottom ice is meteoric. However, ion concentrations exhibit abnormal drops at the greatest depths (approximately below 3033 m). In the same depth range, microscopic investigations reveal that considerable relocation of air hydrates and microinclusions (water‐soluble impurities) occurs, suggesting that the observed reduction in ion concentration results from the segregation of inclusions to ice grain boundaries and the subsequent discharge of chemicals through liquid‐water veins. Principal component analysis of ion data supports the meteoric‐ice hypothesis, suggesting that the bottom ice had similar original chemistry through all depths. Statistical analyses of chemical data suggest that the water‐soluble impurities attached to hydrates or dust (water‐insoluble), the ice‐soluble chemical species (such as chlorine), and solid particles are less affected by this chemical displacement phenomenon. It is also noteworthy that in the bottom ice, impurity chemicals, which are limiting nutrients for ice‐dwelling microorganisms, are concentrated largely to ice‐hydrate interfaces, where oxygen, another vital matter for aerobic microorganisms, is also enriched.
Sea ice leads in the Arctic Ocean: Model assessment, interannual variability and trends
Authors: Wang Q. , Danilov S. , Jung T. , Kaleschke L. , Wernecke A.
Published: June 2016

Sea ice leads in the Arctic are important features that give rise to strong localized atmospheric heating; they provide the opportunity for vigorous biological primary production, and predicting leads may be of relevance for Arctic shipping. It is commonly believed that traditional sea ice models that employ elastic‐viscous‐plastic (EVP) rheologies are not capable of properly simulating sea ice deformation, including lead formation, and thus, new formulations for sea ice rheologies have been suggested. Here we show that classical sea ice models have skill in simulating the spatial and temporal variation of lead area fraction in the Arctic when horizontal resolution is increased (here 4.5 km in the Arctic) and when numerical convergence in sea ice solvers is considered, which is frequently neglected. The model results are consistent with satellite remote sensing data and discussed in terms of variability and trends of Arctic sea ice leads. It is found, for example, that wintertime lead area fraction during the last three decades has not undergone significant trends.
Resilience of coastal wetlands to extreme hydrologic events in Apalachicola Bay
Authors: Tahsin Subrina , Medeiros Stephen C. , Singh Arvind
Published: June 2016

Extreme hydrologic events such as hurricanes and droughts continuously threaten wetlands which provide key ecosystem services in coastal areas. The recovery time for vegetation after impact from these extreme events can be highly variable depending on the hazard type and intensity. Apalachicola Bay in Florida is home to a rich variety of saltwater and freshwater wetlands and is subject to a wide range of hydrologic hazards. Using spatiotemporal changes in Landsat‐based empirical vegetation indices, we investigate the impact of hurricane and drought on both freshwater and saltwater wetlands from year 2000 to 2015 in Apalachicola Bay. Our results indicate that saltwater wetlands are more resilient than freshwater wetlands and suggest that in response to hurricanes, the coastal wetlands took almost a year to recover, while recovery following a drought period was observed after only a month.
Waveform inversion of acoustic waves for explosion yield estimation
Authors: Kim K. , Rodgers A.
Published: June 2016

We present a new waveform inversion technique to estimate the energy of near‐surface explosions using atmospheric acoustic waves. Conventional methods often employ air blast models based on a homogeneous atmosphere, where the acoustic wave propagation effects (e.g., refraction and diffraction) are not taken into account, and therefore, their accuracy decreases with increasing source‐receiver distance. In this study, three‐dimensional acoustic simulations are performed with a finite difference method in realistic atmospheres and topography, and the modeled acoustic Green's functions are incorporated into the waveform inversion for the acoustic source time functions. The strength of the acoustic source is related to explosion yield based on a standard air blast model. The technique was applied to local explosions (<10 km) and provided reasonable yield estimates (<∼30% error) in the presence of realistic topography and atmospheric structure. The presented method can be extended to explosions recorded at far distance provided proper meteorological specifications.
Next‐generation solid‐state detectors for charged particle spectroscopy
Authors: Ogasawara K. , Livi S. A. , Allegrini F. , Broiles T. W. , Dayeh M. A. , Desai M. I. , Ebert R. W. , Llera K. , Vines S. K. , McComas D. J.
Published: June 2016

The performance of silicon avalanche photodiodes (APDs) and single crystal chemical vapor deposit diamond detectors (DDs) is reviewed in comparison with conventional silicon‐based solid‐state detectors (SSDs) from the perspective of space plasma applications. Although the low‐energy threshold and the energy resolution are equivalent to SSDs, DDs offer a high radiation tolerance and very low leakage currents due to a wider band gap than silicon. In addition, DDs can operate at higher temperatures, are insensitive to light (>226 nm), and are capable of timing analysis due to the higher intrinsic carrier mobility. APDs also offer several advantageous features. Specifically, APDs have a lower energy threshold (<0.9 keV) and a higher energy resolution (<0.7 keV full width at half maximum at room temperature), along with a linear response due to a strong electric field causing signal amplifications within the detector. Therefore, APDs can be used to detect lower energy particles, covering a larger portion of the energy spectrum than conventional SSDs. Further, the strong internal electric field gives them a subnanosecond response time by the charge mobility saturation, allowing them to make precise timing measurements of ions. These novel detector techniques can be potentially applied to improve the measurements of suprathermal particles, whose energies lie between typical ranges of conventional sensors for low‐energy plasmas and energetic particles. Although the origin and evolution of the suprathermal particles are the key to understanding the acceleration and heating processes in space plasma, they are not well understood due to the technical difficulties of making the measurement.
Horizontal variability of high‐frequency nonlinear internal waves in Massachusetts Bay detected by an array of seafloor pressure sensors
Authors: Thomas J. A. , Lerczak J. A. , Moum J. N.
Published: June 2016

A two‐dimensional array of 14 seafloor pressure sensors was deployed to measure properties of tidally generated, nonlinear, high‐frequency internal waves over a 14 km by 12 km area west of Stellwagen Bank in Massachusetts Bay during summer 2009. Thirteen high‐frequency internal wave packets propagated through the region over 6.5 days (one packet every semidiurnal cycle). Propagation speed and direction of wave packets were determined by triangulation, using arrival times and distances between triads of sensor locations. Wavefront curvature ranged from straight to radially spreading, with wave speeds generally faster to the south. Waves propagated to the southwest, rotating to more westward with shoreward propagation. Linear theory predicts a relationship between kinetic energy and bottom pressure variance of internal waves that is sensitive to sheared background currents, water depth, and stratification. By comparison to seafloor acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements, observations nonetheless show a strong relationship between kinetic energy and bottom pressure variance. This is presumably due to phase‐locking of the wave packets to the internal tide that dominates background currents and to horizontally uniform and relatively constant stratification throughout the study. This relationship was used to qualitatively describe variations in kinetic energy of the high‐frequency wave packets. In general, high‐frequency internal wave kinetic energy was greater near the southern extent of wavefronts and greatly decreased upon propagating shoreward of the 40 m isobath.
Confronting the “Indian summer monsoon response to black carbon aerosol” with the uncertainty in its radiative forcing and beyond
Authors: Kovilakam Mahesh , Mahajan Salil
Published: June 2016

While black carbon aerosols (BC) are believed to modulate the Indian monsoons, the radiative forcing estimate of BC suffers from large uncertainties globally. We analyze a suite of idealized experiments forced with a range of BC concentrations that span a large swath of the latest estimates of its global radiative forcing. Within those bounds of uncertainty, summer precipitation over the Indian region increases nearly linearly with the increase in BC burden. The linearity holds even as the BC concentration is increased to levels resembling those hypothesized in nuclear winter scenarios, despite large surface cooling over India and adjoining regions. The enhanced monsoonal circulation is associated with a linear increase in the large‐scale meridional tropospheric temperature gradient. The precipitable water over the region also increases linearly with an increase in BC burden, due to increased moisture transport from the Arabian sea to the land areas. The wide range of Indian monsoon response elicited in these experiments emphasizes the need to reduce the uncertainty in BC estimates to accurately quantify their role in modulating the Indian monsoons. The increase in monsoonal circulation in response to large BC concentrations contrasts earlier findings that the Indian summer monsoon may break down following a nuclear war.
Electrical stratigraphy of the WAIS Divide ice core: Identification of centimeter‐scale irregular layering
Authors: Fudge T. J. , Taylor Kendrick C. , Waddington Edwin D. , Fitzpatrick Joan J. , Conway Howard
Published: June 2016

Multitrack electrical conductivity measurements imaged a continuous record of the two‐dimensional electrical stratigraphy for the deepest 40% of the WAIS Divide ice core (1956 m to 3405 m, 11.5 to 68 ka). The electrical stratigraphy showed clear banding driven primarily by annual variations. Centimeter‐scale pinched layers and other irregularities were concentrated between 2700 m and 2900 m (27 ka to 33 ka); below 2900 m, decreasing amplitude of conductance variations likely due to diffusion prevented confident interpretation of both annual and irregular layering. The effective diffusivity at −30°C is 2.2 × 10−8 m2 yr−1, approximately 5 times greater than for self‐diffusion of water molecules, implying diffusion at grain boundaries. The irregular layering indicates that the centimeter‐scale layering was disturbed in sections even though other records, such as atmospheric methane, indicate meter and larger layering is not compromised. Preservation of irregular layering at deposition is unlikely to be the cause of the identified irregular layering; instead, the irregular layering likely arises from variations in the deformation of ice.
Effect of Tris, MOPS, and phosphate buffers on the hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate films by polyester hydrolases
Authors: Schmidt Juliane , Wei Ren , Oeser Thorsten , Belisário‐Ferrari Matheus Regis , Barth Markus , Then Johannes , Zimmermann Wolfgang
Published: June 2016

The enzymatic degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) occurs at mild reaction conditions and may find applications in environmentally friendly plastic waste recycling processes. The hydrolytic activity of the homologous polyester hydrolases LC cutinase (LCC) from a compost metagenome and TfCut2 from Thermobifida fusca KW3 against PET films was strongly influenced by the reaction medium buffers tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris), 3‐(N‐morpholino)propanesulfonic acid (MOPS), and sodium phosphate. LCC showed the highest initial hydrolysis rate of PET films in 0.2 m Tris, while the rate of TfCut2 was 2.1‐fold lower at this buffer concentration. At a Tris concentration of 1 m, the hydrolysis rate of LCC decreased by more than 90% and of TfCut2 by about 80%. In 0.2 m MOPS or sodium phosphate buffer, no significant differences in the maximum initial hydrolysis rates of PET films by both enzymes were detected. When the concentration of MOPS was increased to 1 m, the hydrolysis rate of LCC decreased by about 90%. The activity of TfCut2 remained low compared to the increasing hydrolysis rates observed at higher concentrations of sodium phosphate buffer. In contrast, the activity of LCC did not change at different concentrations of this buffer. An inhibition study suggested a competitive inhibition of TfCut2 and LCC by Tris and MOPS. Molecular docking showed that Tris and MOPS interfered with the binding of the polymeric substrate in a groove located at the protein surface. A comparison of the Ki values and the average binding energies indicated MOPS as the stronger inhibitor of the both enzymes.
Intravenous iron therapy in non‐anemic iron‐deficient menstruating adolescent females with fatigue
Authors: Sharma Ruchika , Stanek Joseph R. , Koch Terah L. , Grooms Linda , O'Brien Sarah H.
Published: June 2016

Menstruating women, with or without underlying bleeding disorders, are at increased risk for developing iron deficiency‐related fatigue, even in the absence of anemia. Oral iron therapy has limitations which include poor absorption and non‐adherence due to gastrointestinal side effects. We performed a prospective clinical trial of post‐menarchal adolescent females with iron‐deficiency with or without mild anemia and fatigue who received a standardized regimen of intravenous iron sucrose. The baseline mean (SD) hemoglobin was 11.96 g dl−1 (1.05) in 20 girls (ages 14–21 years); with a range of 10.3–14.1 g dl−1. In this cohort, intravenous iron was well tolerated and patients demonstrated a sustained increase in ferritin levels with means (SD) of 13.4 ng ml−1 (13.1) at baseline to 141.5 ng ml−1 (104.5) at 6 weeks and 85.2 ng ml−1 (128.4) at 6 months after the infusions. We used a standardized (Peds QLTM Multidimensional) fatigue scale to objectively measure fatigue and proxy scores by parents with mean screening scores (SD) of 35.2 (16.8) and 31.9 (19.6), respectively. We demonstrated a clinically significant improvement both in patient as well as parent fatigue scores (in 19 out of 20 subjects) at 6 weeks (Mean (SD) 58.3 (21.3) [P < 0.0001] and 57 (24.4) [P < 0.0001], respectively); as well as 3 and 6 months after the iron infusions. In nonanemic patients, iron administration did not significantly influence hemoglobin concentration. Therefore, the fatigue‐reducing effects of iron therapy reflect the nonhematological functions of iron. Am. J. Hematol. 91:973–977, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Health‐related quality of life and burden of fatigue in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia by phase of disease
Authors: Efficace Fabio , Mandelli Franco , Fazi Paola , Santoro Cristina , Gaidano Gianluca , Cottone Francesco , Borchiellini Alessandra , Carpenedo Monica , Simula Maria Pina , Di Giacomo Valeria , Bergamaschi Micaela , Vincelli Iolanda Donatella , Rodeghiero Francesco , Ruggeri Marco , Scaramucci Laura , Rambaldi Alessandro , Cascavilla Nicola , Forghieri Fabio , Petrungaro Annamaria , Ditonno Paolo , Caocci Giovanni , Cirrincione Sonia , Mazzucconi Maria Gabriella
Published: June 2016

The main objective of this study was to compare health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) of primary immune thrombocytopenia (pITP) patients with that of general population, overall, and by patient group (i.e., newly diagnosed, persistent, and chronic patients). Fatigue was also investigated as a secondary objective. Overall, 424 adult patients were enrolled in a multicenter observational study and the control group consisted of a representative sample from the general population. Propensity score matching plus further multivariate linear regression adjustment was used to compare HRQOL outcomes between pITP patients and general population. Mean age of patients was 54 years. Of those with HRQOL assessment, 99 patients (23.6%) were newly diagnosed, 53 (12.6%) were persistent, and 268 (63.8%) were chronic pITP patients. Comparison by patient group versus their respective peers in the general population revealed greater impairments in persistent pITP patients. Persistent pITP patients reported clinically meaningful impairments in physical functioning (−15; 95% CI −24.1 to −5.8; P = 0.002), social functioning (−15.3; 95% CI −25.5 to −5.1; P = 0.004), role physical (−28.4; 95% CI −43.1 to −13.7; P < 0.001), role emotional (−23.9; 95% CI −40.1 to −7.7; P = 0.004), and mental health scales (−11.3; 95% CI −21.2 to −1.4; P = 0.026) of the SF‐36 questionnaire. Higher fatigue severity was associated with lower physical and mental HRQOL outcomes. Our findings suggest that the burden of the disease and treatment might depend on the disease phase and that persistent pITP patients are the most vulnerable subgroup. Am. J. Hematol. 91:995–1001, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The pressure difference between eye and brain changes with posture
Authors: Eklund Anders , Jóhannesson Gauti , Johansson Elias , Holmlund Petter , Qvarlander Sara , Ambarki Khalid , Wåhlin Anders , Koskinen Lars‐Owe D. , Malm Jan
Published: June 2016

Objective

The discovery of a posture‐dependent effect on the difference between intraocular pressure (IOP) and intracranial pressure (ICP) at the level of lamina cribrosa could have important implications for understanding glaucoma and idiopathic intracranial hypertension and could help explain visual impairments in astronauts exposed to microgravity. The aim of this study was to determine the postural influence on the difference between simultaneously measured ICP and IOP.

Methods

Eleven healthy adult volunteers (age = 46 ± 10 years) were investigated with simultaneous ICP, assessed through lumbar puncture, and IOP measurements when supine, sitting, and in 9° head‐down tilt (HDT). The trans–lamina cribrosa pressure difference (TLCPD) was calculated as the difference between the IOP and ICP. To estimate the pressures at the lamina cribrosa, geometrical distances were estimated from magnetic resonance imaging and used to adjust for hydrostatic effects.

Results

The TLCPD (in millimeters of mercury) between IOP and ICP was 12.3 ± 2.2 for supine, 19.8 ± 4.6 for sitting, and 6.6 ± 2.5 for HDT. The expected 24‐hour average TLCPD on earth—assuming 8 hours supine and 16 hours upright—was estimated to be 17.3mmHg. By removing the hydrostatic effects on pressure, a corresponding 24‐hour average TLCPD in microgravity environment was simulated to be 6.7mmHg.

Interpretation

We provide a possible physiological explanation for how microgravity can cause symptoms similar to those seen in patients with elevated ICP. The observed posture dependency of TLCPD also implies that assessment of the difference between IOP and ICP in upright position may offer new understanding of the pathophysiology of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and glaucoma. Ann Neurol 2016;80:269–276
Too good to treat? ischemic stroke patients with small computed tomography perfusion lesions may not benefit from thrombolysis
Authors: Bivard Andrew , Lou Min , Levi Christopher R. , Krishnamurthy Venkatesh , Cheng Xin , Aviv Richard I. , McElduff Patrick , Lin Longting , Kleinig Tim , O'Brien Billy , Butcher Kenneth , Jingfen Zhang , Jannes Jim , Dong Qiang , Parsons Mark W.
Published: June 2016

Objective

Although commonly used in clinical practice, there remains much uncertainty about whether perfusion computed tomography (CTP) should be used to select stroke patients for acute reperfusion therapy. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a small acute perfusion lesion predicts good clinical outcome regardless of thrombolysis administration.

Methods

We used a prospectively collected cohort of acute ischemic stroke patients being assessed for treatment with IV‐alteplase, who had CTP before a treatment decision. Volumetric CTP was retrospectively analyded to identify patients with a small perfusion lesion (<15ml in volume). The primary analysis was excellent 3‐month outcome in patients with a small perfusion lesion who were treated with alteplase compared to those who were not treated.

Results

Of 1526 patients, 366 had a perfusion lesion <15ml and were clinically eligible for alteplase (212 being treated and 154 not treated). Median acute National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 8 in each group. Of the 366 patients with a small perfusion lesion, 227 (62%) were modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0 to 1 at day 90. Alteplase‐treated patients were less likely to achieve 90‐day mRS 0 to 1 (57%) than untreated patients (69%; relative risk [RR] = 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71–0.97; p = 0.022) and did not have different rates of mRS 0 to 2 (72% treated patients vs 77% untreated; RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.82–1.95; p = 0.23).

Interpretation

This large observational cohort suggests that a portion of ischemic stroke patients clinically eligible for alteplase therapy with a small perfusion lesion have a good natural history and may not benefit from treatment. Ann Neurol 2016;80:286–293
Seed‐competent high‐molecular‐weight tau species accumulates in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease mouse model and human patients
Authors: Takeda Shuko , Commins Caitlin , DeVos Sarah L. , Nobuhara Chloe K. , Wegmann Susanne , Roe Allyson D. , Costantino Isabel , Fan Zhanyun , Nicholls Samantha B. , Sherman Alexis E. , Trisini Lipsanopoulos Ana T. , Scherzer Clemens R. , Carlson George A. , Pitstick Rose , Peskind Elaine R. , Raskind Murray A. , Li Ge , Montine Thomas J. , Frosch Matthew P. , Hyman Bradley T.
Published: June 2016

Objective

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau is an excellent surrogate marker for assessing neuropathological changes that occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, whether the elevated tau in AD CSF is just a marker of neurodegeneration or, in fact, a part of the disease process is uncertain. Moreover, it is unknown how CSF tau relates to the recently described soluble high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) species that is found in the postmortem AD brain and can be taken up by neurons and seed aggregates.

Methods

We have examined seeding and uptake properties of brain extracellular tau from various sources, including interstitial fluid (ISF) and CSF from an AD transgenic mouse model and postmortem ventricular and antemortem lumbar CSF from AD patients.

Results

We found that brain ISF and CSF tau from the AD mouse model can be taken up by cells and induce intracellular aggregates. Ventricular CSF from AD patients contained a rare HMW tau species that exerted a higher seeding activity. Notably, the HMW tau species was also detected in lumbar CSF from AD patients, and its levels were significantly elevated compared to control subjects. HMW tau derived from CSF of AD patients was seed competent in vitro.

Interpretation

These findings suggest that CSF from an AD brain contains potentially bioactive HMW tau species, giving new insights into the role of CSF tau and biomarker development for AD. Ann Neurol 2016;80:355–367
Highly Efficient, Selective, and Stable CO2 Electroreduction on a Hexagonal Zn Catalyst
Authors: Won Da Hye , Shin Hyeyoung , Koh Jaekang , Chung Jaehoon , Lee Hee Sang , Kim Hyungjun , Woo Seong Ihl
Published: June 2016

Electrocatalytic CO2 conversion into fuel is a prospective strategy for the sustainable energy production. However, still many parts of the catalyst such as low catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability are challenging. Herein, a hierarchical hexagonal Zn catalyst showed highly efficient and, more importantly, stable performance as an electrocatalyst for selectively producing CO. Moreover, we found that its high selectivity for CO is attributed to morphology. In electrochemical analysis, Zn (101) facet is favorable to CO formation whereas Zn (002) facet favors the H2 evolution during CO2 electrolysis. Indeed, DFT calculations showed that (101) facet lowers a reduction potential for CO2 to CO by more effectively stabilizing a .COOH intermediate than (002) facet. This further suggests that tuning the crystal structure to control (101)/(002) facet ratio of Zn can be considered as a key design principle to achieve a desirable product from Zn catalyst.
Hydrogen‐Bond Cooperativity in Formamide2–Water: A Model for Water‐Mediated Interactions
Authors: Blanco Susana , Pinacho Pablo , López Juan Carlos
Published: June 2016

The rotational spectrum of formamide2–H2O formed in a supersonic jet has been characterized by Fourier‐transform microwave spectroscopy. This adduct provides a simple model of water‐mediated interaction involving the amide linkages, as occur in protein folding or amide‐association processes, showing the interplay between self‐association and solvation. Mono‐substituted 13C, 15N, 18O, and 2H isotopologues have been observed and their data used to investigate the structure. The adduct forms an almost planar three‐body sequential cycle. The two formamide molecules link on one side through an N−H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bond and on the other side through a water‐mediated interaction with the formation of C=O⋅⋅⋅H−O and O⋅⋅⋅H−N hydrogen bonds. The analysis of the quadrupole coupling effects of two 14N‐nuclei reveals the subtle inductive forces associated to cooperative hydrogen bonding. These forces are involved in the changes in the C=O and C−N bond lengths with respect to pure formamide.
Accelerating the Association of the Most Stable Protein–Ligand Complex by More than Two Orders of Magnitude
Authors: Giese Christoph , Eras Jonathan , Kern Anne , Schärer Martin A. , Capitani Guido , Glockshuber Rudi
Published: June 2016

The complex between the bacterial type 1 pilus subunit FimG and the peptide corresponding to the N‐terminal extension (termed donor strand, Ds) of the partner subunit FimF (DsF) shows the strongest reported noncovalent molecular interaction, with a dissociation constant (KD) of 1.5×10−20 m. However, the complex only exhibits a slow association rate of 330 m−1 s−1 that limits technical applications, such as its use in affinity purification. Herein, a structure‐based approach was used to design pairs of FimGt (a FimG variant lacking its own N‐terminal extension) and DsF variants with enhanced electrostatic surface complementarity. Association of the best mutant FimGt/DsF pairs was accelerated by more than two orders of magnitude, while the dissociation rates and 3D structures of the improved complexes remained essentially unperturbed. A KD value of 8.8×10−22 m was obtained for the best mutant complex, which is the lowest value reported to date for a protein/ligand complex.
Removal of Pb2+and Cd2+from drinking water using polysaccharide extract isolated from cactus pads (Opuntia ficus indica)
Authors: Onditi Mariah , Adelodun Adedeji A. , Changamu Evans O. , Ngila Jane C.
Published: June 2016

The use of a polysaccharide extract isolated from cactus pads (Opuntia ficus indica) as a low‐cost adsorbent for the removal of Pb2+and Cd2+from water was investigated. The Brunauer−Emmett−Teller study showed that the surface area of the extract powder was approximately 2.373 m2/g. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used to monitor changes in ion concentrations during the adsorption. The adsorption mechanism was studied as a function of physicochemical variables such as initial metal ion concentration, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and pH of the solution. The results indicated that the adsorption percentage of the two cations increased with contact time, attaining equilibrium at 150 and 120 min for Cd2+and Pb2+, respectively. At these optimal times, the adsorption capacity of Pb2+and Cd2+increased with increasing pH. Langmuir, Freundlich, Toth, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Sips, and Redlich–Peterson isotherm models were thereafter applied to understand the adsorption mechanism. Theqeplot againstCefor the Toth isotherm model had the best fit with low error values and the highest correlation coefficient (R2) values of 0.9973 and 0.9953 for Pb2+and Cd2+, respectively. Therefore, the isotherm study reveals that the adsorption mechanism involved is complex because of the presence of different interactions (such as ionic exchange and coagulation), yielding maximum adsorption capacities of 256 and 151 gm/L for Pb2+and Cd2+, respectively. Generally, the polysaccharide extract exhibited higher adsorption capacity of Pb2+than of Cd2+under similar conditions. Besides the removal capacities reported in this study, the adsorbent regeneration and its reusability was also investigated. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2016,133, 43913.
Poly(ethylene glycol) crosslinked sulfonated polysulfone composite membranes for forward osmosis
Authors: Ding Xiaoli , Liu Zhiguang , Hua Mingming , Kang Te , Li Xu , Zhang Yuzhong
Published: June 2016

Forward osmosis (FO) membranes were prepared by a coating method with poly(ethylene glycol) crosslinked sulfonated polysulfone (SPSf) as a selective layer. The poly(ether sulfone)/SPSf substrate was prepared by phase inversion. The composite membranes were characterized with respect to membrane chemistry (by attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy), hydrophilicity (by static contact angle measurement), and surface morphology (by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy). The FO performance was also characterized. The effects of the crosslinker concentration on the hydrophilicity and FO performance were investigated. The crosslinked membrane exhibited a high hydrophilicity with a lowest contact angle of 15.5°. Under FO tests, the membranes achieved a higher water flux of 15.2 L m−2 h−1 when used against deionized water as the feed solution and a 2 mol/L sodium chloride (NaCl) solution as the the draw solution. The membranes achieved a magnesium sulfate rejection of 96% and an NaCl rejection of 55% when used against a 1 g/L inorganic salt solution as the feed solution and a 2 mol/L glucose solution as the draw solution. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43941.
Statistics on Ethnic Diversity in the Land of Papua, Indonesia
Authors: Ananta Aris , Utami Dwi Retno Wilujeng Wahyu , Handayani Nur Budi
Published: June 2016

This paper aims to quantitatively uncover ethnic diversity in multi‐ethnic Land of Papua, an Indonesian region with a large inflow of migration and rising ethno‐based movement, consisting of the Provinces of Papua and West Papua. It produces statistics on ethnic diversity in the Land of Papua, utilizing the tabulation provided by Statistics‐Indonesia based on the raw, 100 per cent, data set of the 2010 population census. It uses three measurements of ethnic diversity. First is ethnic fractionalization index, showing the degree of ethnic heterogeneity. Second is ethnic polarization index, examining the existence of few relatively large ethnic groups of almost the same sizes. Third is a comparison of percentages between migrant and Papuan groups.

It finds that the Land of Papua is ethnically very heterogeneous, but not polarized. West Papua is more heterogeneous, but Papua is more polarized. However, seen from a dichotomy between migrants and Papuans, West Papua is very polarized.

In‐migration may have increased the probability of having ethnic conflicts in the region but does not change the probability of the intensity of the conflicts. Therefore, ethnic conflicts should be anticipated whenever making programmes that involve in‐migrants or entice people to migrate into the Land of Papua.
Multilateralism and Regionalism in the South Pacific: World Trade Organization and Regional Fora as Complementary Institutions for Trade Facilitation
Authors: Pomfret Richard
Published: June 2016

As World Trade Organization (WTO) membership becomes almost universal, the Pacific island countries stand out as the largest group of outsiders. As the islands seek to replace reliance on preferential trading arrangements by competitive exports, market access and trade facilitation have become key policy concerns. In this context, WTO membership and regional or bilateral trade agreements are complementary institutions for increasing the potential success of new exports. The WTO sets out agreed principles for market access, and membership includes a dispute resolution process that provides redress against unjustified obstacles to exports, whilst trade facilitation in the sense of overcoming particular cost‐raising obstacles to trade is better delivered by regional and bilateral agreements. The argument is supported by evidence from Pacific and other small island economies.
Cathodoluminescence Properties of Red‐Emitting Sr1−xCaxS:Eu Phosphors
Authors: Cho Young‐Sik , Huh Young‐Duk
Published: June 2016

Sr1−

x
Ca
x
S:Eu (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1) phosphors were prepared from CaS, SrS, and EuS via a solid‐state reaction in air. The cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra of the Sr1−

x
Ca
x
S:Eu phosphors for the moderate voltage ranging from 4 to 10 kV were obtained to test their usefulness in field emission displays (FEDs). The maximum wavelength of the CL spectra of the Sr1−

x
Ca
x
S:Eu phosphors increases from 629 to 668 nm as the mole fraction of calcium increases up to x = 0.8, and then decreases to 663 nm at x = 1. The relationship between the CL spectra and crystal structures of the Sr1−

x
Ca
x
S:Eu phosphors was determined.