bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating causality in the association between 25(OH)D and schizophrenia
Authors: Taylor Amy E. , Burgess Stephen , Ware Jennifer J. , Gage Suzanne H. , Richards J. Brent , Davey Smith George , Munafò Marcus R.
Published: May 2016

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of schizophrenia. However, it is not known whether this association is causal or what the direction of causality is. We performed two sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) robustly associated with serum 25(OH)D to investigate the causal effect of 25(OH)D on risk of schizophrenia and SNPs robustly associated with schizophrenia to investigate the causal effect of schizophrenia on 25(OH)D. We used summary data from genome-wide association studies and meta-analyses of schizophrenia and 25(OH)D to obtain betas and standard errors for the SNP-exposure and SNP-outcome associations. These were combined using inverse variance weighted fixed effects meta-analyses. In 34,241 schizophrenia cases and 45,604 controls, there was no clear evidence for a causal effect of 25(OH)D on schizophrenia risk. The odds ratio for schizophrenia per 10% increase in 25(OH)D conferred by the four 25(OH)D increasing SNPs was 0.992 (95% CI: 0.969 to 1.015). In up to 16,125 individuals with measured serum 25(OH)D, there was no clear evidence that genetic risk for schizophrenia causally lowers serum 25(OH)D. These findings suggest that associations between schizophrenia and serum 25(OH)D may not be causal. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation may not prevent schizophrenia.
The scanning electron microscope in microbiology and diagnosis of infectious disease
Authors: Golding Christine G. , Lamboo Lindsey L. , Beniac Daniel R. , Booth Timothy F.
Published: May 2016

Despite being an excellent tool for investigating ultrastructure, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is less frequently used than transmission electron microscopy for microbes such as viruses or bacteria. Here we describe rapid methods that allow SEM imaging of fully hydrated, unfixed microbes without using conventional sample preparation methods. We demonstrate improved ultrastructural preservation, with greatly reduced dehydration and shrinkage, for specimens including bacteria and viruses such as Ebola virus using infiltration with ionic liquid on conducting filter substrates for SEM.
MUC1-C Stabilizes MCL-1 in the Oxidative Stress Response of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells to BCL-2 Inhibitors
Authors: Hiraki Masayuki , Suzuki Yozo , Alam Maroof , Hinohara Kunihiko , Hasegawa Masanori , Jin Caining , Kharbanda Surender , Kufe Donald
Published: May 2016

Aberrant expression of myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) is a major cause of drug resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a heterodimeric oncoprotein that is aberrantly overexpressed in most TNBC. The present studies show that targeting the oncogenic MUC1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) in TNBC cells with silencing or pharmacologic inhibition with GO-203 is associated with downregulation of MCL-1 levels. Targeting MUC1-C suppresses the MEK → ERK and PI3K → AKT pathways, and in turn destabilizes MCL-1. The small molecules ABT-737 and ABT-263 target BCL-2, BCL-XL and BCL-w, but not MCL-1. We show that treatment with ABT-737 increases reactive oxygen species and thereby MUC1-C expression. In this way, MUC1-C is upregulated in TNBC cells resistant to ABT-737 or ABT-263. We also demonstrate that MUC1-C is necessary for the resistance-associated increases in MCL-1 levels. Significantly, combining GO-203 with ABT-737 is synergistic in inhibiting survival of parental and drug resistant TNBC cells. These findings indicate that targeting MUC1-C is a potential strategy for reversing MCL-1-mediated resistance in TNBC.
Pressure coefficients for direct optical transitions in MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2 crystals and semiconductor to metal transitions
Authors: Dybała F. , Polak M. P. , Kopaczek J. , Scharoch P. , Wu K. , Tongay S. , Kudrawiec R.
Published: May 2016

The electronic band structure of MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2, crystals has been studied at various hydrostatic pressures experimentally by photoreflectance (PR) spectroscopy and theoretically within the density functional theory (DFT). In the PR spectra direct optical transitions (A and B) have been clearly observed and pressure coefficients have been determined for these transitions to be: αA = 2.0 ± 0.1 and αB = 3.6 ± 0.1 meV/kbar for MoS2, αA = 2.3 ± 0.1 and αB = 4.0 ± 0.1 meV/kbar for MoSe2, αA = 2.6 ± 0.1 and αB = 4.1 ± 0.1 meV/kbar for WS2, αA = 3.4 ± 0.1 and αB = 5.0 ± 0.5 meV/kbar for WSe2. It has been found that these coefficients are in an excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. In addition, a comparative study of different computational DFT approaches has been performed and analyzed. For indirect gap the pressure coefficient have been determined theoretically to be −7.9, −5.51, −6.11, and −3.79, meV/kbar for MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2, respectively. The negative values of this coefficients imply a narrowing of the fundamental band gap with the increase in hydrostatic pressure and a semiconductor to metal transition for MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2, crystals at around 140, 180, 190, and 240 kbar, respectively.
Ectodomain Architecture Affects Sequence and Functional Evolution of Vertebrate Toll-like Receptors
Authors: Wang Jinlan , Zhang Zheng , Liu Jing , Zhao Jing , Yin Deling
Published: May 2016

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are crucial components of innate immunity that specifically recognize diverse pathogen-associated molecular patterns from pathogens. The continuous hydrogen-bond network (asparagine ladder) formed among the asparagine residues on the concave surfaces of neighboring leucine-rich repeat modules assists in stabilizing the overall shape of TLR ectodomains responsible for ligand recognition. Analysis of 28 types of vertebrate TLRs showed that their ectodomains possessed three types of architectures: a single-domain architecture with an intact asparagine ladder, a three-domain architecture with the ladder interrupted in the middle, and a trans-three-domain architecture with the ladder broken in both termini. Based on a phylogenetic analysis, the three vertebrate TLR architectures arose during early evolution. The 1428 vertebrate TLRs can be divided into eight families based on sequence and structural differences. TLRs ligand specificities are affected by their ectodomain architectures. Three-domain TLRs bind hydrophobic ligands, whereas single-domain and trans-three-domain TLRs mainly recognize hydrophilic ligands. Analysis of 39 vertebrate genomes suggested that the number of single-domain TLR genes in terrestrial vertebrate genomes decreased by half compared to aquatic vertebrate genomes. Single-domain TLR genes underwent stronger purifying selective pressures than three-domain TLR genes in mammals. Overall, ectodomain architecture influences the sequence and functional evolution of vertebrate TLRs.
Whole genome analysis of halotolerant and alkalotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Klebsiella sp. D5A
Authors: Liu Wuxing , Wang Qingling , Hou Jinyu , Tu Chen , Luo Yongming , Christie Peter
Published: May 2016

This research undertook the systematic analysis of the Klebsiella sp. D5A genome and identification of genes that contribute to plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, especially genes related to salt tolerance and wide pH adaptability. The genome sequence of isolate D5A was obtained using an Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing system with average coverages of 174.7× and 200.1× using the paired-end and mate-pair sequencing, respectively. Predicted and annotated gene sequences were analyzed for similarity with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enzyme database followed by assignment of each gene into the KEGG pathway charts. The results show that the Klebsiella sp. D5A genome has a total of 5,540,009 bp with 57.15% G + C content. PGP conferring genes such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, acetoin and 2,3-butanediol synthesis, and N2 fixation were determined. Moreover, genes putatively responsible for resistance to high salinity including glycine-betaine synthesis, trehalose synthesis and a number of osmoregulation receptors and transport systems were also observed in the D5A genome together with numerous genes that contribute to pH homeostasis. These genes reveal the genetic adaptation of D5A to versatile environmental conditions and the effectiveness of the isolate to serve as a plant growth stimulator.
Anisotropic metal growth on phospholipid nanodiscs via lipid bilayer expansion
Authors: Oertel Jana , Keller Adrian , Prinz Julia , Schreiber Benjamin , Hübner René , Kerbusch Jochen , Bald Ilko , Fahmy Karim
Published: May 2016

Self-assembling biomolecules provide attractive templates for the preparation of metallic nanostructures. However, the intuitive transfer of the “outer shape” of the assembled macromolecules to the final metallic particle depends on the intermolecular forces among the biomolecules which compete with interactions between template molecules and the metal during metallization. The shape of the bio-template may thus be more dynamic than generally assumed. Here, we have studied the metallization of phospholipid nanodiscs which are discoidal particles of ~10 nm diameter containing a lipid bilayer ~5 nm thick. Using negatively charged lipids, electrostatic adsorption of amine-coated Au nanoparticles was achieved and followed by electroless gold deposition. Whereas Au nanoparticle adsorption preserves the shape of the bio-template, metallization proceeds via invasion of Au into the hydrophobic core of the nanodisc. Thereby, the lipidic phase induces a lateral growth that increases the diameter but not the original thickness of the template. Infrared spectroscopy reveals lipid expansion and suggests the existence of internal gaps in the metallized nanodiscs, which is confirmed by surface-enhanced Raman scattering from the encapsulated lipids. Interference of metallic growth with non-covalent interactions can thus become itself a shape-determining factor in the metallization of particularly soft and structurally anisotropic biomaterials.
Dietary nucleotides protect against alcoholic liver injury by attenuating inflammation and regulating gut microbiota in rats
Authors: Cai Xiaxia , Bao Lei , Wang Nan , Ren Jinwei , Chen Qihe , Xu Meihong , Li Di , Mao Ruixue , Li Yong
Published: May 2016

The present study aims to investigate whether nucleotides ameliorate alcoholic liver injury and explores the possible mechanism.
In situ-forming click-crosslinked gelatin based hydrogels for 3D culture of thymic epithelial cells
Authors: Truong Vinh X. , Hun Michael L. , Li Fanyi , Chidgey Ann P. , Forsythe John S.
Published: May 2016

In situ-forming gelatin based hydrogels, which are crosslinked using an efficient nitrile oxide-norbornene click reaction, provide a suitable 3D culture environment for thymic epithelial cells.
A four-directional non-fullerene acceptor based on tetraphenylethylene and diketopyrrolopyrrole functionalities for efficient photovoltaic devices with a high open-circuit voltage of 1.18 V
Authors: Rananaware Anushri , Gupta Akhil , Li JingLiang , Bilic Ante , Jones Lathe , Bhargava Suresh , Bhosale Sheshanath V.
Published: May 2016

A four-directional non-fullerene electron acceptor provided a PCE of 3.86% with an excellent high Voc of 1.18 V with the archetypal donor P3HT.
Asn47 and Phe114 modulate the inner sphere reorganization energies of type zero copper proteins
Authors: Sadhu Biswajit , Sundararajan Mahesh
Published: May 2016

Density functional theory based calculations predict the inner sphere reorganization energies of type zero copper protein is largely modulated by Asn47 and Phe114 amino acid residues.
Screened exchange hybrid density functional for accurate and efficient structures and interaction energies
Authors: Brandenburg Jan Gerit , Caldeweyher Eike , Grimme Stefan
Published: May 2016

HSE-3c: a computationally efficient and numerically robust screened hybrid functional that can be applied to periodic small gap systems.
Solubility of alkali metal halides in the ionic liquid [C4C1im][OTf]
Authors: Kuzmina O. , Bordes E. , Schmauck J. , Hunt P. A. , Hallett J. P. , Welton T.
Published: May 2016

Experimental solubility data of alkali halides in [C4C1im][OTf] is fitted to a variety of models and explored using DFT calculations.
First demonstration of direct hydrocarbon fuel production from water and carbon dioxide by solar-driven thermochemical cycles using rhodium–ceria
Authors: Lin Fangjian , Rothensteiner Matthäus , Alxneit Ivo , van Bokhoven Jeroen A. , Wokaun Alexander
Published: May 2016

Sustained production of methane directly from water and carbon dioxide by solar-driven thermochemical cycles is achieved for the first time with rhodium on ceria.
Light-mediated curing of CO2-based unsaturated polyethercarbonates via thiol–ene click chemistry
Authors: Subhani M. A. , Köhler B. , Gürtler C. , Leitner W. , Müller T. E.
Published: May 2016

Facile cross-linking of CO2-based unsaturated polyethercarbonates with polymercaptanes via thiol–ene click chemistry makes them highly interesting sustainable pre-polymers for material applications.
A practical ethylene polymerization for vinyl-polyethylenes: synthesis, characterization and catalytic behavior of α,α′-bisimino-2,3:5,6-bis(pentamethylene)pyridyliron chlorides
Authors: Du Shizhen , Wang Xinxin , Zhang Wenjuan , Flisak Zygmunt , Sun Yang , Sun Wen-Hua
Published: May 2016

A series of α,α′-bis(arylimino)-2,3:5,6-bis(pentamethylene)pyridyliron chlorides exhibits high activities toward ethylene polymerization, yielding highly linear vinyl-polyethylenes.
An efficient alkynylation of 4-thiazolidinone with terminal alkyne under C–H functionalisation
Authors: Shaikh Mohammed Umar M. , Mudaliar Sulochana S. , Chikhalia Kishor H.
Published: May 2016

A method of palladium catalysed efficient alkynylation through the cross coupling reaction of terminal alkynes with the slightly more acidic C–H bonds of 4-thiazolidinone has been developed.
A study of nanostructured ZnS polymorphs by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and atomic pair distribution function
Authors: Gawai U. P. , Khawal H. A. , Bodke M. R. , Pandey K. K. , Deshpande U. P. , Lalla N. P. , Dole B. N.
Published: May 2016

The combination of SCXRD and atomic PDF is a potential tool for the standardization of atomic scale structures of nanomaterials. This article describes the essential approach and application to ZnS polymorphs.
A broad spectrum photon responsive, paramagnetic β-NaGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+– mesoporous anatase titania nanocomposite
Authors: Padhye Preeti , Sadhu Subha , Malik Monika , Poddar Pankaj
Published: May 2016

Herein, we report a novel single multifunctional platform based on broad-spectrum photoactiveβ-NaGdF4:18% Yb3+, 2% Er3+and mesoporous anatase TiO2for enhanced energy and simultaneous biomedical applications.
Hydrobromic acid assisted crystallization of MAPbI3−xClx for enhanced power conversion efficiency in perovskite solar cells
Authors: Huang Jin , Wang Minqiang , Ding Lei , Yang Zhi , Zhang Ke
Published: May 2016

Enhanced performance of perovskite solar cells based on the application of high quality MAPbI3−xClx films developed via a hydrobromic acid assisted fast crystallization process is reported.
The effect of gold nanoparticles on the diagnostic polymerase chain reaction technique for equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1)
Authors: El-Husseini Dalia M. , Helmy Nashwa M. , Tammam Reham H.
Published: May 2016

We experimented the effect of 15 nm unmodified citrate coated GNPs on the key PCR reactants to see if these would enhance the overall outcomes of the reaction. Thus, the optimized GNPs-assisted PCR could be used for more efficient diagnosis of EHV-1.
Controlling amphiphilic copolymer self-assembly morphologies based on macrocycle/anion recognition and nucleotide-induced payload release
Authors: Ji Xiaofan , Wang Hu , Li Yang , Xia Danyu , Li Hao , Tang Guping , Sessler Jonathan L. , Huang Feihe
Published: May 2016

We create polymeric self-assembly morphologies by exploiting the anion binding features of the so-called ‘Texas-sized’ molecular box.
Progress in nitrile-based polymer electrolytes for high performance lithium batteries
Authors: Hu Pu , Chai Jingchao , Duan Yulong , Liu Zhihong , Cui Guanglei , Chen Liquan
Published: May 2016

Nitrile-based polymer electrolytes have unique characteristics such as a high dielectric constant, high anodic oxidization potential and favorable interaction with lithium ions. Recent progress in nitrile-based polymer electrolytes has been reviewed in terms of their potential application in flexible, solid-state or high voltage lithium batteries in this paper.
Room temperature lithium superionic conductivity in high entropy oxides
Authors: Bérardan D. , Franger S. , Meena A. K. , Dragoe N.
Published: May 2016

Impedance spectroscopy measurements evidence superionic Li+ mobility (>10−3 S cm−1) at room temperature and fast ionic mobility for Na+ (5 × 10−6 S cm−1) in high entropy oxides, a new family of oxide-based materials with the general formula (MgCoNiCuZn)1−x−yGayAxO (with A = Li, Na, K).
An amphipathic lytic peptide for enhanced and selective delivery of ellipticine
Authors: Lu Sheng , Ding Yong , Wu Yan , Wang Rong , Pan Ran , Wan Zizhen , Xu Wen , Zhang Lei , Yuan Yong-fang , Chen P.
Published: May 2016

Cationic lytic peptides (CLPs) have shown promise in treating bacterial infection and cancer via selective membrane disruption but are seldom studied for drug delivery potential.
POSS-based organic–inorganic hybrid nanomaterials: aggregation-enhanced emission, and highly sensitive and selective detection of nitroaromatic explosives in aqueous media
Authors: Xiang Kai , Li Yanmin , Xu Caihong , Li Shuhong
Published: May 2016

Two organic–inorganic hybrid nanomaterials were prepared and were used as chemosensors for the selective detection of nitroaromatic explosives in aqueous media.
Retrospective Studies: A Fresh Look
Authors: Abbott Katherine Verdolini , Barton Franca Benedicty , Terhorst Lauren , Shembel Adrianna
Published: May 2016

Purpose

A first objective was to provide an overview of advantages and cautions around so-called
retrospective
clinical studies. A second objective was to provide guidelines for strong studies that can make a valid contribution to the clinical literature, whether these studies are prospective, retrospective, experimental, or observational.

Method

Invited commentaries were solicited from statistical and study design experts.

Results

The strength of a clinical study does not lie so much with its point in time relative to data generation, as it lies with study design. In fact, quite surprisingly, data collected in the past can be modeled to create a prospective study, if appropriate. One distinctive strength of observational studies—which are sometimes but not always retrospective—is the ability to obtain a large corpus of data from medical databases rapidly, as sometimes warranted by pressing health care policy and practice issues.

Conclusion

Retrospective studies, often considered inferior to prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical trials, can have strength and validity often not recognized in the hierarchy of clinical data.
Terahertz channel modelling of wireless ultra‐compact sensor networks using electromagnetic waves
Authors: Akkaş Mustafa Alper
Published: May 2016

Future technology requires small size wireless sensor networks to operate effectively in habitat monitoring, underground oil reservoirs, natural gas reservoirs, underground water environment, underground soil environment, military applications, weather forecast, earthquake forecast, etc. Small size sensor nodes with the antennas at the same scale have to be deployed in these confined environments. This necessitates the sensor nodes to be operating in the high frequency range. For this reason, in this paper, the propagation based on electromagnetic (EM) waves in the Terahertz band (0.1–1.0 THz) through the air, natural gas and water is analysed. The developed model evaluates the total absorption loss so that an EM wave can experience when propagating through the air, natural gas and water medium. Results show that millimeter Scale Wireless Sensor Networks (MS‐WSNs) can communicate through an air, natural gas and water environment. Among those, the frequency window, which provides best performance, has been determined as 0.4 to 0.42 THz for air and natural gas environment. Different path and absorption loss schemes considered, which suggests that the 0.1 to 1.0 THz band is suitable for millimeter scale sensor communications in a medium of air, natural gas and water.
Robust Burg estimation of radar scatter matrix for autoregressive structured SIRV based on Fréchet medians
Authors: Decurninge Alexis , Barbaresco Frédéric
Published: May 2016

The authors address the estimation of the scatter matrix of a scale mixture of Gaussian stationary autoregressive (AR) vectors. This is equivalent to consider the estimation of a structured scatter matrix of a spherically invariant random vector whose structure comes from an AR modelisation. The Toeplitz structure representative of stationary models is a particular case for the class of structures they consider. For Gaussian AR processes, Burg method is often used in case of stationarity for its efficiency when few samples are available. Unfortunately, if they directly apply these methods to estimate the common scatter matrix of N vectors coming from a non‐Gaussian distribution, their efficiency will strongly decrease. They propose then to adapt these methods to scale mixtures of AR vectors by changing the energy functional minimised in the Burg algorithm. Moreover, they study several approaches of robust modification of the introduced Burg algorithms, based on Fréchet medians defined for the Euclidean or the Poincaré metric, in presence of outliers or contaminating distributions. The considered structured modelisation is motivated by radar applications, the performances of their methods will then be compared with the very popular fixed point (FP) estimator and OS‐CFAR detector through radar simulated scenarios.
General signal model of MIMO radar for moving target detection
Authors: Yang Haifeng , Liu Weijian , Xie Wenchong , Wang Yongliang
Published: May 2016

In this study, the authors establish the general signal model for a moving target based on the multiple‐input–multiple‐output radar with arbitrary transmitting waveforms and arbitrary antenna configuration. It is shown that the existing signal models are special cases of the proposed one. According to the proposed general signal model, they devise several detectors, which are based on the criteria of the generalised likelihood ratio test, Rao test, and Wald test. Numerical examples show that the detection performance varies with different transmitting waveforms and different detectors. Hence, the general signal model is useful in choosing suitable transmitting waveforms and suitable detectors for different detection tasks.
Visible light absorbance enhanced by nitrogen embedded in the surface layer of Mn-doped sodium niobate crystals, detected by ultra violet - visible spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electric conductivity tests
Authors: Molak A. , Pilch M.
Published: May 2016

Sodium niobate crystals doped with manganese ions, Na(NbMn)O3, were annealed in a nitrogen N2 flow at 600, 670, and 930 K. It was verified that simultaneous doping with Mn ions and annealing in nitrogen enhanced the photocatalytic features of sodium niobate. The transmission in the ultraviolet-visible range was measured at room temperature. The absorbance edge is in the range from 3.4 to 2.3 eV. The optical band gap Egap = 1.2–1.3 eV was evaluated using the Tauc relation. Crystals annealed at 670 K and 930 K exhibited an additional shift of the absorption edge of ∼20–40 nm toward longer wavelengths. The optical energy gap narrowed as a result of the superimposed effect of Mn and N co-doping. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy test showed that N ions incorporated into the surface layer. The valence band consisted of O 2p states hybridized with Nb 4d, Mn 3d, and N 2s states. The disorder detected in the surroundings of Nb and O ions decreased due to annealing. The binding energy of oxygen ions situated within the surface layer was EB ≈ 531 eV. The other contributions were assigned to molecular contamination. The contribution centered at 535.5 eV vanished after annealing at 600 K and 670 K. The contribution centered at 534 eV vanished after annealing at 930 K. The N2 annealing partly removed carbonates from the surfaces of the samples. In the 480–950 K range, the electric conductivity activation energy, Ea = 0.7–1.2 eV, was comparable with the optical Egap. The electric permittivity showed dispersion in the 0.1–800 kHz range that corresponds to the occurrence of defects.
At-wavelength metrology facility for soft X-ray reflection optics
Authors: Sokolov A. , Bischoff P. , Eggenstein F. , Erko A. , Gaupp A. , Künstner S. , Mast M. , Schmidt J.-S. , Senf F. , Siewert F. , Zeschke Th. , Schäfers F.
Published: May 2016

A new Optics Beamline coupled to a versatile UHV reflectometer is successfully operating at BESSY-II. It is used to carry out at-wavelength characterization and calibration of in-house produced gratings and novel nano-optical devices as well as mirrors and multilayer systems in the UV and XUV spectral region. This paper presents most recent commissioning data of the beamline and shows their correlation with initial beamline design calculations. Special attention is paid to beamline key parameters which determine the quality of the measurements such as high-order suppression and stray light behavior. The facility is open to user operation.
Construction and characterization of a frequency-controlled, picometer-resolution, displacement encoder-actuator
Authors: Koulakis John P. , Stein Michael , Holczer Károly
Published: May 2016

We have constructed an actuator/encoder whose generated displacement is controlled through the resonance frequency of a microwave cavity. A compact, 10-μm-range, digitally controlled actuator executing frequency-coded displacement with picometer resolution is described. We consider this approach particularly suitable for metrologic-precision scanning probe microscopy.
Feed intake, liveweight gain and carcass traits of lambs offered pelleted annual pasture hay supplemented with flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) flakes or algae (Schizochytrium sp.)
Authors: Burnett V. F. , Jacobs J. L. , Norng S. , Ponnampalam E. N.
Published: May 2016

In southern Australia, pastures comprised of annual ryegrass may not meet the nutritional requirements of fast-growing (>250 g/day) lambs in summer–autumn (December–May). An animal house experiment was conducted from March to July 2010 to investigate the use of flaxseed and algae as two potential supplements to improve feed intake, liveweight gain and carcass traits in lambs. One hundred and twenty lambs (in two groups of 60) were fed one of four diets, pelleted annual pasture hay (subterranean clover and annual ryegrass) (T1); pelleted annual pasture hay + flaxseed flakes (T2); pelleted annual pasture hay + algae supplement (T3); pelleted annual pasture hay + flaxseed flakes + algae supplement (T4). All diets were provided on an ad libitum basis with individual feed intake measured daily and liveweight recorded weekly. Lambs offered the flaxseed flakes (T2) treatment grew faster (P < 0.05), had heavier (P < 0.05) carcass weights and greater (P < 0.05) GR fat depth (total tissue depth at 11th/12th rib, 110 mm away from midline) than lambs offered the T1 diet. Lambs offered algae supplement (T3) had lower dry matter intake but growth rate and carcass weight were not affected compared with lambs offered the T1 diet. Lambs offered both flaxseed flakes and algae supplement (T4) had greater (P < 0.05) GR fat than lambs offered the T1 diet. This experiment provides evidence that supplementing growing lambs with flaxseed flakes can increase dry matter intake, growth rate and GR fat depth. In contrast, supplementing with an algae supplement reduced dry matter intake but growth rate and carcass weight were similar to the control treatment.
The influence of water stress on grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) shoots in a cool, humid climate: growth, gas exchange and hydraulics
Authors: Pagay Vinay , Zufferey Vivian , Lakso Alan N.
Published: May 2016

Recent climatic trends of higher average temperatures and erratic precipitation patterns are resulting in decreased soil moisture availability and, consequently, periods of water stress. We studied the effects of seasonal water stress on grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Riesling grafted onto 101–14 (Vitis riparia Michx.×Vitis rupestris Scheele) rootstock) shoot growth, leaf gas exchange, xylem morphology and hydraulic performance in the cool-climate Finger Lakes region of New York. A plastic rain exclusion tarp was installed on the vineyard floor to create a soil moisture deficit and consequently induce vine water stress. Weekly measurements of predawn leaf and midday stem water potentials (Ψmd) were made, and two contrasting shoot length classes, long (length >2.0m) and short (length <1.0m), were monitored. Growth of both long and short shoots was positively correlated with Ψmd but no difference in water status was found between the two. Compared with rain-fed vines, water-stressed vines had lower photosynthesis and stomatal conductance later in the season when Ψmd dropped below –1.2MPa. Long shoots had three-fold higher xylem-specific hydraulic conductivity values than short shoots. Long shoots experiencing water stress were less vulnerable to xylem cavitation than shorter shoots even though they had more large-diameter vessels. The lower vulnerability to cavitation of long shoots may be attributed to less xylem intervessel pitting being found in long shoots, consistent with the air-seeding hypothesis, and suggests that a hydraulic advantage enables them to maintain superior growth and productivity under water stress.
‘I acted like a man’: exploring female ex-insurgents’ narratives on Nigeria’s oil insurgency
Authors: Oriola Temitope
Published: May 2016

This paper explores how a small sample of female ex-insurgents make sense of their engagement in Nigeria’s oil insurgency. The study is informed by three key questions: How did Delta women join the insurgency? Why did they join? How do they frame their participation? The paper analyses the prevalence of a masculinising rhetoric among participants. The majority of participants view their roles in the insurgency as antithetical to their gender. The implications of these findings are explored. Overall, the paper contributes to the growing body of work on women’s engagement in armed conflict as perpetrators rather than victims of violence.
Correlates of Immunity to Influenza as Determined by Challenge of Children with Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine
Authors: Wright Peter F. , Hoen Anne G. , Ilyushina Natalia A. , Brown Eric P. , Ackerman Margaret E. , Wieland-Alter Wendy , Connor Ruth I. , Jegaskanda Sinthujan , Rosenberg-Hasson Yael , Haynes Brenda C. , Luke Catherine J. , Subbarao Kanta , Treanor John J.
Published: May 2016

Background.  The efficacy of live, attenuated live attenuated influenza vaccine(LAIV) and inactivated influenza vaccine(IIV) is poorly explained by either single or composite immune responses to vaccination. Protective biomarkers were therefore studied in response to LAIV or IIV followed by LAIV challenge in children.

Methods.  Serum and mucosal responses to LAIV or IIV were analyzed using immunologic assays to assess both quantitative and functional responses. Cytokines and chemokines were measured in nasal washes collected before vaccination, on days 2, 4, and 7 after initial LAIV, and again after LAIV challenge using a 63-multiplex Luminex panel.

Results.  Patterns of immunity induced by LAIV and IIV were significantly different. Serum responses induced by IIV, including hemagglutination inhibition, did not correlate with detection or quantitation of LAIV on subsequent challenge. Modalities that induced sterilizing immunity seen after LAIV challenge could not be defined by any measurements of mucosal or serum antibodies induced by the initial LAIV immunization. No single cytokine or chemokine was predictive of protection.

Conclusions.  The mechanism of protective immunity observed after LAIV could not be defined, and traditional measurements of immunity to IIV did not correlate with protection against an LAIV challenge.
Suprapatellar Intramedullary Nail Technique Lowers Rate of Malalignment of Distal Tibia Fractures
Authors: Avilucea Frank R. , Triantafillou Kostas , Whiting Paul S. , Perez Edward A. , Mir Hassan R.
Published: May 2016

Objectives:

To report on the immediate postoperative alignment of distal tibia fractures (within 5 cm of the tibial plafond) treated with suprapatellar intramedullary nail (IMN) insertion compared with the infrapatellar technique. Primary outcomes include alignment on both the anteroposterior and lateral radiographic views.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Two urban level I trauma centers.

Patients:

A total of 266 skeletally mature patients with a distal tibia fracture were treated with an IMN. One hundred thirty-two patients underwent this procedure through a suprapatellar technique.

Intervention:

Intramedullary nail placement.

Main Outcome Measures:

Alignment.

Results:

The 2 treatment groups were evenly matched with respect to age, gender, fracture grade, and the presence of open fracture. Within the suprapatellar group, the fibula was intact, fixed, and remained fractured in 6 (4.5%), 22 (16.7%), and 104 (78.8%) cases, respectively. The fibula was intact, repaired, and remained fractured in 9 (6.7%), 32 (23.9%), and 93 (69.4%) cases, respectively, in the infrapatellar group. There was no difference in the rate of fibular fixation between the groups (P = 0.2). Primary angular malalignment of ≥5 degrees occurred in 35 (26.1%) patients with infrapatellar IMN insertion and in 5 (3.8%) patients who underwent suprapatellar IMN insertion (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

This is the largest patient series directly comparing the suprapatellar with infrapatellar IMN insertion technique in the treatment of distal tibia fractures. In the treatment of distal tibia fractures, suprapatellar IMN technique results in a significantly lower rate of malalignment compared with the infrapatellar IMN technique.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Radiation Therapy for the Management of Brain Metastases
Authors: Garrett Matthew D. , Wu Cheng-Chia , Yanagihara Ted K. , Jani Ashish , Wang Tony J. C.
Published: May 2016

Brain metastases are the most common malignant intracranial tumors and carry a poor prognosis. The management of brain metastases may include a variety of treatment modalities including surgical resection, radiation therapy, and/or systemic therapy. The traditional treatment for brain metastasis involved whole brain irradiation. However, improved systemic control of primary cancers has led to longer survival for some groups of patients and there is increasing need to consider the late effects of radiation to the entire brain. With advances in imaging and radiation treatment planning and delivery stereotactic radiosurgery has become more frequently utilized and may be delivered through Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery or linear accelerator-based systems. Furthermore, experience in treating thousands of patients on clinical trials has led to diagnosis-specific prognostic assessment systems that help guide our approach to the management of this common clinical scenario. This review provides an overview of the literature supporting radiotherapy for brain metastasis and an update on current radiotherapeutic options that is tailored for the nonradiation oncologist.
Drugs that lower the seizure threshold
Authors: Hitchings Andrew W.
Published: May 2016

Drugs with potential to lower the seizure threshold are numerous and diverse. Whether they contribute to clinically overt seizures depends on the dosage in which they are taken, the time-course of their effects and the susceptibility of the patient. Crucially, however, their contribution to seizure risk is potentially modifiable.
The relationship between phytoestrogens and speed of processing
Authors: Alwerdt Jessie , Valdés Elise G. , Chanti-Ketterl Marianne , Small Brent J. , Edwards Jerri D.
Published: May 2016

Objective:

This study examined the cross-sectional association between phytoestrogens and speed of processing. We hypothesized that higher levels of phytoestrogens would be related to better cognitive performance among older women.

Methods:

Participants were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and consisted of 200 older women (M = 74.4 y). Stepwise regressions examined indicators of speed of processing, measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Isoflavones, lignans, and individual phytoestrogens were added to the regression after including covariates of age, education, race, smoking, and creatinine. Isoflavones were further broken into quartiles among the sample to further evaluate the nature of the curvilinear association.

Results:

Results showed a relationship between cognition and lignans, explaining 3.8% of the variance after including the covariates, indicating fewer lignans were associated with better speed of processing (P < 0.001). A significant curvilinear relationship with isoflavones explained 1.3% additional variance (P < 0.001). The moderate-high, low-moderate, and the lowest quartile of isoflavones were associated with better cognition, whereas the highest amount was associated with worse speed of processing. Among the individual phytoestrogens, only enterodiol accounted for 4.4% additional variance after taking into account covariates and indicated a negative association with cognition (P = 0.03).

Conclusions:

Results suggest that moderate levels of isoflavones, but not lignans, may be associated with better speed of processing. Caution must remain for high isoflavone amounts due to the negative association with cognition. Given the results, phytoestrogens have the potential to be an intervention target for older females’ cognition. To become a viable intervention, further research is needed.
Malar Reconstruction Using Y-V Advancement Flaps after Tissue Expansion in Treacher Collins Syndrome
Authors: Ueda Koichi , Nuri Takashi , Shigemura Yuka
Published: May 2016

The Treacher Collins syndrome is characterized by both soft and hard tissue deficiencies. To reconstruct malar hypoplasia with both soft and hard tissues, we designed a new method using cartilage grafts, Y-V advancement flaps, and Z plasty with tissue expansion.
Speech‐language Pathology in Acute Pediatric Chemical or Button Battery Ingestion Injury
Authors: Follent Anna M. , Rumbach Anna F. , Ward Elizabeth C. , Dodrill Pamela , Lewindon Peter
Published: May 2016

Objectives:

Dysphagia is a common consequence of pediatric ingestion injury, yet there is a lack of data relating to recommencement of oral (per os; PO) intake or use of feeding therapy. We describe patterns of early PO intake, and referral to speech‐language pathology (SLP) for feeding therapy, during the acute admission of a pediatric cohort postchemical or button battery ingestion injury.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review of pediatric ingestion injuries admitted to a quaternary hospital from 2008 to 2013. Clinical parameters, PO intake progression, and nature of referrals for feeding therapy during the acute admission were examined.

Results:

Fifty‐one children (26 boys; mean age: 31.5, range 4–170 months) were identified (75% with grade II or III mucosal injuries), of whom 31 (60%) had impaired PO intake. Of these, 5 recommenced premorbid PO intake during admission. At discharge, 16 remained on modified PO intake, and 10 remained nil PO. Eight (26%) were referred to SLP for feeding therapy during acute admission, or within 4 months of discharge. Feeding therapy‐referred children were more likely to have pediatric intensive care admission (PICU) (100% vs 26%), and longer hospital admission (36.1 vs 9.3 days for those not referred).

Conclusions:

More than half of the cohort had impaired PO intake, and one‐third were nil PO at time of discharge. Referrals for feeding therapy were limited. Our findings may provide some guidance for clinicians, patients, and their families regarding possible PO intake recovery patterns, as well as provide background for evaluating the potential for feeding therapy and SLP involvement within this population.
Managing the human component of fire regimes: lessons from Africa
Authors: Archibald Sally
Published: May 2016

Human impacts on fire regimes accumulated slowly with the evolution of modern humans able to ignite fires and manipulate landscapes. Today, myriad voices aim to influence fire in grassy ecosystems to different ends, and this is complicated by a colonial past focused on suppressing fire and preventing human ignitions. Here, I review available evidence on the impacts of people on various fire characteristics such as the number and size of fires, fire intensity, fire frequency and seasonality of fire in African grassy ecosystems, with the intention of focusing the debate and identifying areas of uncertainty. Humans alter seasonal patterns of fire in grassy systems but tend to decrease total fire emissions: livestock have replaced fire as the dominant consumer in many parts of Africa, and fragmented landscapes reduce area burned. Humans alter the season and time of day when fires occur, with important implications for fire intensity, tree–grass dynamics and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Late season fires are more common when fire is banned or illegal: these later fires are far more intense but emit fewer GHGs. The types of fires which preserve human livelihoods and biodiversity are not always aligned with the goal of reducing GHG concentrations. Current fire management challenges therefore involve balancing the needs of a large rural population against national and global perspectives on the desirability of different types of fire, but this cannot happen unless the interests of all parties are equally represented. In the future, Africa is expected to urbanize and land use to intensify, which will imply different trajectories for the continent's fire regimes.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind.
Room-temperature macromolecular crystallography using a micro-patterned silicon chip with minimal background scattering
Authors: Roedig Philip , Duman Ramona , Sanchez-Weatherby Juan , Vartiainen Ismo , Burkhardt Anja , Warmer Martin , David Christian , Wagner Armin , Meents Alke
Published: May 2016

Recent success at X-ray free-electron lasers has led to serial crystallography experiments staging a comeback at synchrotron sources as well. With crystal lifetimes typically in the millisecond range and the latest-generation detector technologies with high framing rates up to 1 kHz, fast sample exchange has become the bottleneck for such experiments. A micro-patterned chip has been developed from single-crystalline silicon, which acts as a sample holder for up to several thousand microcrystals at a very low background level. The crystals can be easily loaded onto the chip and excess mother liquor can be efficiently removed. Dehydration of the crystals is prevented by keeping them in a stream of humidified air during data collection. Further sealing of the sample holder, for example with Kapton, is not required. Room-temperature data collection from insulin crystals loaded onto the chip proves the applicability of the chip for macromolecular crystallography. Subsequent structure refinements reveal no radiation-damage-induced structural changes for insulin crystals up to a dose of 565.6 kGy, even though the total diffraction power of the crystals has on average decreased to 19.1% of its initial value for the same dose. A decay of the diffracting power by half is observed for a dose ofD1/2= 147.5 ± 19.1 kGy, which is about 1/300 of the dose before crystals show a similar decay at cryogenic temperatures.
Compression deformation behavior of Zircaloy-4 alloy changing with activated twinning type at ambient temperature: experiment and modeling
Authors: Li Hongjia , Cai Wupeng , Fan Zhijian , Huang Xuefei , Wang Yandong , Gong Jian , Chen Bo , Sun Guangai , Wang Hong , Li Jian , Peng Shuming
Published: May 2016

It is widely accepted that twinning is important for the plastic deformation of zirconium alloys, although the corresponding roles of different types of twinning are rarely discussed. Here, the deformation behavior of Zircaloy-4 alloy at ambient temperature under compression along the rolling, transverse and normal directions of the rolled plate is studied by examination of macroscopic stress–strain curves, texture evolution andin situlattice strain, combined with elastic–plastic self-consistent simulation. It is concluded that tensile twinning {10\overline 12}〈10\overline 11〉, tensile twinning {11\overline 21}〈11\overline 26〉 and compressive twinning {11\overline 22}〈11\overline 2\overline 3〉 are the main deformation twinning types for compression along the three principal directions. A change in the activated twinning type induces differences in the plastic deformation mode and the stress/strain partitioning between parent and child grains. The work provides insight into the effects of deformation twinning on the plastic deformation behavior of Zircaloy-4 alloy.
SUNBIM: a package for X-ray imaging of nano- and biomaterials using SAXS, WAXS, GISAXS and GIWAXS techniques
Authors: Siliqi Dritan , De Caro Liberato , Ladisa Massimo , Scattarella Francesco , Mazzone Annamaria , Altamura Davide , Sibillano Teresa , Giannini Cinzia
Published: May 2016

SUNBIM(supramolecular and submolecular nano- and biomaterials X-ray imaging) is a suite of integrated programs which, through a user-friendly graphical user interface, are optimized to perform the following: (i)q-scale calibration and two-dimensional → one-dimensional folding on small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) and grazing-incidence SAXS/WAXS (GISAXS/GIWAXS) data, also including possible eccentricity corrections for WAXS/GIWAXS data; (ii) background evaluation and subtraction, denoising, and deconvolution of the primary beam angular divergence on SAXS/GISAXS profiles; (iii) indexing of two-dimensional GISAXS frames and extraction of one-dimensional GISAXS profiles along specific cuts; (iv) scanning microscopy in absorption and SAXS contrast. The latter includes collection of transmission and SAXS data, respectively, in a mesh across a mm2area, organization of the as-collected data into a single composite image of transmission values or two-dimensional SAXS frames, analysis of the composed data to derive the absorption map and/or the spatial distribution, and orientation of nanoscale structures over the scanned area.