bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One-dimensional time-dependent fluid model of a very high density low-pressure inductively coupled plasma
Authors: Chaplin Vernon H. , Bellan Paul M.
Published: December 2015

A time-dependent two-fluid model has been developed to understand axial variations in the plasma parameters in a very high density (peak ne≳5×1019 m−3) argon inductively coupled discharge in a long 1.1 cm radius tube. The model equations are written in 1D with radial losses to the tube walls accounted for by the inclusion of effective particle and energy sink terms. The ambipolar diffusion equation and electron energy equation are solved to find the electron density ne(z,t) and temperature Te(z,t), and the populations of the neutral argon 4s metastable, 4s resonant, and 4p excited state manifolds are calculated to determine the stepwise ionization rate and calculate radiative energy losses. The model has been validated through comparisons with Langmuir probe ion saturation current measurements; close agreement between the simulated and measured axial plasma density profiles and the initial density rise rate at each location was obtained at pAr=30−60 mTorr. We present detailed results from calculations at 60 mTorr, including the time-dependent electron temperature, excited state populations, and energy budget within and downstream of the radiofrequency antenna.
Liquid-vapor transition on patterned solid surfaces in a shear flow
Authors: Yao Wenqi , Ren Weiqing
Published: December 2015

Liquids on a solid surface patterned with microstructures can exhibit the Cassie-Baxter (Cassie) state and the wetted Wenzel state. The transitions between the two states and the effects of surface topography, surface chemistry as well as the geometry of the microstructures on the transitions have been extensively studied in earlier work. However, most of these work focused on the study of the free energy landscape and the energy barriers. In the current work, we consider the transitions in the presence of a shear flow. We compute the minimum action path between the Wenzel and Cassie states using the minimum action method [W. E, W. Ren, and E. Vanden-Eijnden, Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 57, 637 (2004)]. Numerical results are obtained for transitions on a surface patterned with straight pillars. It is found that the shear flow facilitates the transition from the Wenzel state to the Cassie state, while it inhibits the transition backwards. The Wenzel state becomes unstable when the shear rate reaches a certain critical value. Two different scenarios for the Wenzel-Cassie transition are observed. At low shear rate, the transition happens via nucleation of the vapor phase at the bottom of the groove followed by its growth. At high shear rate, in contrary, the nucleation of the vapor phase occurs at the top corner of a pillar. The vapor phase grows in the direction of the flow, and the system goes through an intermediate metastable state before reaching the Cassie state.
Dynamical transitions in large systems of mean field-coupled Landau-Stuart oscillators: Extensive chaos and cluster states
Authors: Ku Wai Lim , Girvan Michelle , Ott Edward
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we study dynamical systems in which a large number N of identical Landau-Stuart oscillators are globally coupled via a mean-field. Previously, it has been observed that this type of system can exhibit a variety of different dynamical behaviors. These behaviors include time periodic cluster states in which each oscillator is in one of a small number of groups for which all oscillators in each group have the same state which is different from group to group, as well as a behavior in which all oscillators have different states and the macroscopic dynamics of the mean field is chaotic. We argue that this second type of behavior is “extensive” in the sense that the chaotic attractor in the full phase space of the system has a fractal dimension that scales linearly with N and that the number of positive Lyapunov exponents of the attractor also scales linearly with N. An important focus of this paper is the transition between cluster states and extensive chaos as the system is subjected to slow adiabatic parameter change. We observe discontinuous transitions between the cluster states (which correspond to low dimensional dynamics) and the extensively chaotic states. Furthermore, examining the cluster state, as the system approaches the discontinuous transition to extensive chaos, we find that the oscillator population distribution between the clusters continually evolves so that the cluster state is always marginally stable. This behavior is used to reveal the mechanism of the discontinuous transition. We also apply the Kaplan-Yorke formula to study the fractal structure of the extensively chaotic attractors.
Limited-view light sheet fluorescence microscopy for three dimensional volume imaging
Authors: Rasmi C. K. , Mohan Kavya , Madhangi M. , Rajan K. , Nongthomba U. , Mondal Partha P.
Published: December 2015

We propose and demonstrate a limited-view light sheet microscopy (LV-LSM) for three dimensional (3D) volume imaging. Realizing that longer and frequent image acquisition results in significant photobleaching, we have taken limited angular views (18 views) of the macroscopic specimen and integrated with maximum likelihood (ML) technique for reconstructing high quality 3D volume images. Existing variants of light-sheet microscopy require both rotation and translation with a total of approximately 10-fold more views to render a 3D volume image. Comparatively, LV-LSM technique reduces data acquisition time and consequently minimizes light-exposure by many-folds. Since ML is a post-processing technique and highly parallelizable, this does not cost precious imaging time. Results show noise-free and high contrast volume images when compared to the state-of-the-art selective plane illumination microscopy.
Selective particle capture by asynchronously beating cilia
Authors: Ding Yang , Kanso Eva
Published: December 2015

Selective particle filtration is fundamental in many engineering and biological systems. For example, many aquatic microorganisms use filter feeding to capture food particles from the surrounding fluid, using motile cilia. One of the capture strategies is to use the same cilia to generate feeding currents and to intercept particles when the particles are on the downstream side of the cilia. Here, we develop a 3D computational model of ciliary bands interacting with flow suspended particles and calculate particle trajectories for a range of particle sizes. Consistent with experimental observations, we find optimal particle sizes that maximize capture rate. The optimal size depends nonlinearly on cilia spacing and cilia coordination, synchronous vs. asynchronous. These parameters affect the cilia-generated flow field, which in turn affects particle trajectories. The low capture rate of smaller particles is due to the particles’ inability to cross the flow streamlines of neighboring cilia. Meanwhile, large particles have difficulty entering the sub-ciliary region once advected downstream, also resulting in low capture rates. The optimal range of particle sizes is enhanced when cilia beat asynchronously. These findings have potentially important implications on the design and use of biomimetic cilia in processes such as particle sorting in microfluidic devices.
Characterization and modelling of the boron-oxygen defect activation in compensated n-type silicon
Authors: Schön J. , Niewelt T. , Broisch J. , Warta W. , Schubert M. C.
Published: December 2015

A study of the activation of the light-induced degradation in compensated n-type Czochralski grown silicon is presented. A kinetic model is established that verifies the existence of both the fast and the slow components known from p-type and proves the quadratic dependence of the defect generation rates of both defects on the hole concentration. The model allows for the description of lifetime degradation kinetics in compensated n-type silicon under various intensities and is in accordance with the findings for p-type silicon. We found that the final concentrations of the slow defect component in compensated n-type silicon only depend on the interstitial oxygen concentration and on neither the boron concentration nor the equilibrium electron concentration n0. The final concentrations of the fast defect component slightly increase with increasing boron concentration. The results on n-type silicon give new insight to the origin of the BO defect and question the existing models for the defect composition.
Fabrication of GeSn-multiple quantum wells by overgrowth of Sn on Ge by using molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Oliveira F. , Fischer I. A. , Benedetti A. , Zaumseil P. , Cerqueira M. F. , Vasilevskiy M. I. , Stefanov S. , Chiussi S. , Schulze J.
Published: December 2015

We report on the fabrication and structural characterization of epitaxially grown ultra-thin layers of Sn on Ge virtual substrates (Si buffer layer overgrown by a 50 nm thick Ge epilayer followed by an annealing step). Samples with 1 to 5 monolayers of Sn on Ge virtual substrates were grown using solid source molecular beam epitaxy and characterized by atomic force microscopy. We determined the critical thickness at which the transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional growth occurs. This transition is due to the large lattice mismatch between Ge and Sn (≈14.7%). By depositing Ge on top of Sn layers, which have thicknesses at or just below the critical thickness, we were able to fabricate ultra-narrow GeSn multi-quantum-well structures that are fully embedded in Ge. We report results on samples with one and ten GeSn wells separated by 5 and 10 nm thick Ge spacer layers that were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. We discuss the structure and material intermixing observed in the samples.
Direct and converse magneto-electric coupling in ferromagnetic shape memory alloys based thin film multiferroic heterostructures
Authors: Singh Kirandeep , Kaur Davinder
Published: December 2015

The ferromagnetic shape memory driven alterations in strain mediated direct and converse magnetoelectric coupling (DME & CME) was realized in sputtered deposited PZT/Ni-Mn-In multiferroic hetero-junctions. The ferroelectric (P-E loops), dielectric (ε vs frequency, ε-E), and voltage modulated magnetic anisotropy measurements (M-E curves) were executed in the plane (hard axis) and out of the plane (easy axis) of the functional magnetic material based PZT/Ni-Mn-In bilayer structure. A gain of ∼16 μC/cm2 in maximum polarization (Pmax) and ∼12% in tunability (nr) were observed along an easy magnetic axis of Ni-Mn-In. The butterfly shaped normalized magnetization (M/Ms) vs electric field (applied across the heterostructure) [M-E] plots evident the strain character of CME coupling. The co-action of (i) dissimilar carrier concentration between high symmetric austenitic cubic phase and low symmetry martensite phase of ferromagnetic shape memory alloys and (ii) martensitic transformation induced magnetization change in Ni-Mn-In cause an electrical field modulated hall resistivity; a change of ∼42% in hall resistivity was observed at 60 kV/cm electric field and 0.2 T magnetic field at 270 K. The reversible manipulation of remnant magnetization (Mr) with applied electric field was demonstrated as on/off switch using a square pulse of 60 kV/cm amplitude.
Plasmon-mediated energy relaxation in graphene
Authors: Ferry D. K. , Somphonsane R. , Ramamoorthy H. , Bird J. P.
Published: December 2015

Energy relaxation of hot carriers in graphene is studied at low temperatures, where the loss rate may differ significantly from that predicted for electron-phonon interactions. We show here that plasmons, important in the relaxation of energetic carriers in bulk semiconductors, can also provide a pathway for energy relaxation in transport experiments in graphene. We obtain a total loss rate to plasmons that results in energy relaxation times whose dependence on temperature and density closely matches that found experimentally.
Note: Cryogenic heat switch with stepper motor actuator
Authors: Melcher B. S. , Timbie P. T.
Published: December 2015

A mechanical cryogenic heat switch has been developed using a commercially available stepper motor and control electronics. The motor requires 4 leads, each carrying a maximum, pulsed current of 0.5 A. With slight modifications of the stepper motor, the switch functions reliably in vacuum at temperatures between 300 K and 4 K. The switch generates a clamping force of 262 N at room temperature. At 4 K it achieves an “on state” thermal conductance of 5.04 mW/K and no conductance in the “off state.” The switch is optimized for cycling an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator.
High membrane permeability for melatonin
Authors: Yu Haijie , Dickson Eamonn J. , Jung Seung-Ryoung , Koh Duk-Su , Hille Bertil
Published: December 2015

The pineal gland, an endocrine organ in the brain, synthesizes and secretes the circulating night hormone melatonin throughout the night. The literature states that this hormone is secreted by simple diffusion across the pinealocyte plasma membrane, but a direct quantitative measurement of membrane permeability has not been made. Experiments were designed to compare the cell membrane permeability to three indoleamines: melatonin and its precursors N-acetylserotonin (NAS) and serotonin (5-HT). The three experimental approaches were (1) to measure the concentration of effluxing indoleamines amperometrically in the bath while cells were being dialyzed internally by a patch pipette, (2) to measure the rise of intracellular indoleamine fluorescence as the compound was perfused in the bath, and (3) to measure the rate of quenching of intracellular fura-2 dye fluorescence as indoleamines were perfused in the bath. These measures showed that permeabilities of melatonin and NAS are high (both are uncharged molecules), whereas that for 5-HT (mostly charged) is much lower. Comparisons were made with predictions of solubility-diffusion theory and compounds of known permeability, and a diffusion model was made to simulate all of the measurements. In short, extracellular melatonin equilibrates with the cytoplasm in 3.5 s, has a membrane permeability of ∼1.7 µm/s, and could not be retained in secretory vesicles. Thus, it and NAS will be “secreted” from pineal cells by membrane diffusion. Circumstances are suggested when 5-HT and possibly catecholamines may also appear in the extracellular space passively by membrane diffusion.
Changes in assembly rules along a stress gradient from open dry grasslands to wetlands
Authors: Lhotsky Barbara , Kovács Bence , Ónodi Gábor , Csecserits Anikó , Rédei Tamás , Lengyel Attila , Kertész Miklós , Botta‐Dukát Zoltán
Published: December 2015

A central issue of community ecology is finding rules that explain the composition and abundance of coexisting species. Nowadays two main processes, environmental filtering and limiting similarity, are thought to play the main roles in structuring communities. Their relative importance under different environmental conditions, however, is still not properly clarified.

We studied the strength and the effect of environmental filtering (causing convergence) and limiting similarity (causing divergence) in 137 sample plots along an extremely long environmental gradient ranging from open sand grasslands to highly productive marshes, using a trait‐based approach. The main environmental gradient (i.e. productivity) was characterized by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, an indicator of above‐ground live biomass. Cover of the plant species was estimated visually. Values of 11 plant traits were collected from field measurements and data bases. Mean and dispersion of the trait values of the plots were quantified by community‐weighted means and Rao's quadratic entropy. Trait convergence and divergence were tested by randomization tests, followed by the study of changes in effect size along the productivity gradient by fitting generalized additive mixed models (GAMM).

For vegetative traits we found mainly convergence, indicating the filtering effect of environmental constraints, while traits related to regeneration showed divergence.

The strength of convergence in vegetative traits generally decreased as productivity grew, indicating that while under harsh conditions environmental constraints strongly limit the possible trait values, under more benign conditions various water and nutrient use strategies are adaptable. At high productivity, the strength of divergence in regenerative traits decreased. Since the larger diversity of vegetative traits found here reduces competition, the importance of diverse reproductive strategy is probably lower.

Synthesis. Our results partly support the stress‐dominance hypothesis, but reveal that assembly rules are more complex. The relative importance of environmental filtering and limiting similarity depends on the trait and on the environmental conditions of the habitat. Traits related to resource use are generally limited by environmental filtering, and this restriction is weakening as conditions become more favourable, while traits related to regeneration are constrained by limiting similarity and are more diverse under harsh conditions.
Retiree Welfare and the 2009 Pension Increase: Impacts from an Australian Experiment
Authors: Yu Serena
Published: December 2015

The welfare effects from the 2009 increase in the age pension are evaluated using a quasi‐experimental, difference‐in‐difference regression framework. Using microdata to exploit the exogenous and large increase in the single‐person pension rate, the research finds significant improvements in the material welfare of single age pensioners. In particular, non‐housing and total consumption rose by 7 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively. The effects were amplified among the poorest retirees. The study extends the literature on the welfare benefits of pension programs, and provides evidence that the policy changes were highly effective in lifting the material welfare of the targeted beneficiaries.
Sustaining Culture Change: Experiences in the Green House Model
Authors: Bowers Barbara , Nolet Kimberly , Jacobson Nora ,   the THRIVE Research Collaborative
Published: December 2015

Objective

To describe conditions that influence how Green House (GH) organizations are sustaining culture change principles and practices in a sample of GH skilled nursing homes.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Primary data were collected at 11 skilled nursing GH organizations from 2012 to 2014. These organizations have adopted the comprehensive and prescriptive GH model of culture change.

Study Design

To develop an understanding of sustainability from the perspective of staff who are immersed in GH daily work, grounded theory qualitative methods were used.

Data Collection Methods

Data were collected using semi‐structured interviews with 166 staff and observation of house meetings and daily operations. Data were analyzed using grounded dimensional analysis.

Principal Findings

Organizations varied in their ability to sustain GH principles and practices. An organization's approach to problem solving was central to sustaining the model. Key conditions influenced reinforcement or erosion of GH principles and practices.

Conclusions

Reinforcing the GH model requires a highly skilled team of staff with the ability to frequently and collaboratively solve both mundane and complex problems in ways that are consistent with the GH model. This raises questions about the type of human resources practices and policy supports that could assist organizations in sustaining culture change.
Volatility in Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Markets: Drivers and Spillovers
Authors: Brümmer Bernhard , Korn Olaf , Schlüßler Kristina , Jamali Jaghdani Tinoush
Published: December 2015

Food price volatility has re‐emerged as an important topic of political discussion since the food price crisis of 2007–2008. Different volatility drivers have been identified for different markets in the theoretical and empirical literature. However, there is no comprehensive analysis that considers a large number of potential drivers and investigates their joint effects in a dynamic model of interrelated markets. Our study provides such a volatility analysis for the oilseeds and vegetable oils markets. We use a common GARCH approach and a VAR model to identify volatility drivers and spillover effects. Our results show that exchange rate volatility is very important. However, the hotly debated financialisation of commodity markets is not found to be volatility increasing in our monthly data. Impulse response functions show strong spillover effects. Because many volatility drivers found to be important in other markets have no significant effect in our study, our results suggest that volatility drivers are market specific. This implies that any volatility‐reducing policies need to be designed for the market in question.
Genetically Modified (GM) Foods and Ethical Eating
Authors: Dizon Francis , Costa Sarah , Rock Cheryl , Harris Amanda , Husk Cierra , Mei Jenny
Published: December 2015

The ability to manipulate and customize the genetic code of living organisms has brought forth the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and consumption of genetically modified (GM) foods. The potential for GM foods to improve the efficiency of food production, increase customer satisfaction, and provide potential health benefits has contributed to the rapid incorporation of GM foods into the American diet. However, GM foods and GMOs are also a topic of ethical debate. The use of GM foods and GM technology is surrounded by ethical concerns and situational judgment, and should ideally adhere to the ethical standards placed upon food and nutrition professionals, such as: beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice and autonomy. The future of GM foods involves many aspects and trends, including enhanced nutritional value in foods, strict labeling laws, and potential beneficial economic conditions in developing nations. This paper briefly reviews the origin and background of GM foods, while delving thoroughly into 3 areas: (1) GMO labeling, (2) ethical concerns, and (3) health and industry applications. This paper also examines the relationship between the various applications of GM foods and their corresponding ethical issues. Ethical concerns were evaluated in the context of the code of ethics developed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) that govern the work of food and nutrition professionals. Overall, there is a need to stay vigilant about the many ethical implications of producing and consuming GM foods and GMOs.
Long‐term pattern of opioid prescriptions after femoral shaft fractures
Authors: Al Dabbagh Z. , Jansson K. Å. , Stiller C. O. , Montgomery S. , Weiss R. J.
Published: December 2015

Background

The use of opioids in non‐cancer‐related pain following skeletal trauma is controversial due to the presumed risk of dose escalation and dependence. We therefore examined the pattern of opioid prescriptions, that is, those actually dispensed, in patients with femoral shaft fractures.

Methods

We analysed data from the Swedish National Hospital Discharge Register and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register between 2005 and 2008.

Results

We identified 1471 patients with isolated femoral shaft fractures. The median age was 75 (16–102) years and 56% were female. In this cohort, 891 patients (61%) received dispensed opioid prescriptions during a median follow‐up of 20 months (interquartile range 11–32). In the age‐ and sex‐matched comparison cohort (7339 individuals) without fracture, 25% had opioid prescriptions dispensed during the same period. The proportions of patients receiving opioid analgesics at 6 and 12 months after the fracture were 45% (95% CI 42–49) and 36% (32–39), respectively. The median daily morphine equivalent dose (MED) was between 15 and 17 mg 1–12 months post‐fracture. After 3 months, less than 5% used prescription doses higher than 20 mg MED per day. Older age (≥ 70 compared with < 70 years) was a significant predictor of earlier discontinuation of opioid use (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.9).

Conclusion

A notable proportion of patients continued to receive dispensed prescriptions for opioids for over 6 months (45%) and more than a third of them (36%) continued treatment for at least 12 months. However, the risk of dose escalation seems to be small in opioid‐naïve patients.
Chronic pre‐operative opioid use and acute pain after fast‐track total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Aasvang E. K. , Lunn T. H. , Hansen T. B. , Kristensen P. W. , Solgaard S. , Kehlet H.
Published: December 2015

Background

Pre‐operative opioid use has been suggested to increase post‐operative pain and opioid consumption after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but previous studies are either retrospective or inhomogeneous with regard to surgical procedures or control of analgesic regimes, or with few opioid‐treated patients, hindering firm conclusions.

Methods

In a prospective observational study, we investigated the effect of > 4 weeks pre‐operative opioid use [none vs. low dose (< 30 mg morphine equivalents (eq.)) vs. high dose (> 30 mg morphine eq.] in patients scheduled for primary, unilateral TKA. All patients had well‐defined multimodal opioid‐sparring perioperative analgesic therapy, and continued any pre‐operative opioid medication. The primary outcome was differences between groups in pain at rest and during walk for the first 6 post‐operative days.

Results

Among 123 patients included, 115 were available for final analysis (93% follow‐up rate). Post‐operative pain during walk was significantly increased in both opioid‐treated groups vs. non‐opioid‐treated patients (P < 0.009). Secondary analysis of combining all pre‐operatively opioid‐treated patients vs. opioid‐free patients, showed significantly increased pain at rest and walk and increased post‐operative opioid requirement – excluding pre‐operative dosage – during the first post‐operative week in opioid‐treated patients (P = 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively).

Conclusion

Pre‐operative opioid use increases the risk for post‐operative pain at rest and walk, and increased opioid consumption after TKA.
End points for validating early warning scores in the context of rapid response systems: a Delphi consensus study
Authors: Pedersen N. E. , Oestergaard D. , Lippert A.
Published: December 2015

Introduction

When investigating early warning scores and similar physiology‐based risk stratification tools, death, cardiac arrest and intensive care unit admission are traditionally used as end points. A large proportion of the patients identified by these end points cannot be saved, even with optimal treatment. This could pose a limitation to studies using these end points. We studied current expert opinion on end points for validating tools for the identification of patients in hospital wards at risk of imminent critical illness.

Methods

The Delphi consensus methodology was used. We identified 22 experts based on objective criteria; 17 participated in the study. Each expert panel member's suggestions for end points were collected and distributed to the entire expert panel in anonymised form. The experts reviewed, rated and commented the suggested end points through the rounds in the Delphi process, and the experts' combined rating of the usefulness of each suggestion was established.

Results

A gross list of 86 suggestions for end points, relating to 13 themes, was produced. No items were uniformly recognised as ideal. The themes cardiac arrest, death, and level of care contained the items receiving highest ratings.

Conclusions

End points relating to death, cardiac arrest and intensive care unit admission currently comprise the most obvious compromises for investigating early warning scores and similar risk stratification tools. Additional end points from the gross list of suggested end points could become feasible with the increased availability of large data sets with a multitude of recorded parameters.
Longer term audit costs of IFRS and the differential impact of implied auditor cost structures
Authors: Higgins Stephen , Lont David , Scott Tom
Published: December 2015

Prior literature finds higher audit fees after the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). We add to this research by documenting that the post‐IFRS increase in audit fees is persistent, and not a short‐term effect driven by transitional costs. In addition, early adopters have higher audit fees and this difference continues after IFRS adoption. Next, we consider the effect of increased effort required under IFRS on marginal pricing. Our results find lower (higher) marginal pricing post‐IFRS for PwC and Deloitte (EY), suggesting that they have a relatively higher (lower) fixed and lower (higher) variable cost structure.
MicroRNA and Embryo Implantation
Authors: Liu Weimin , Niu Ziru , Li Qian , Pang Ronald T.K. , Chiu Philip C.N. , Yeung William Shu‐Biu
Published: December 2015

Problem

In mammals, implantation involves interactions between an activated blastocyst and a receptive endometrium. There are controversies on the role of microRNAs in preimplantation embryo development. The actions of endometrial microRNAs on implantation are beginning to be understood.

Method of Study

Review of literature on microRNAs in preimplantation embryos and endometrium.

Results

Emerging evidence suggests a role of microRNAs in blastocyst activation and implantation. Differential expression of microRNAs is found between receptive and non‐receptive endometria. Members of the let‐7, miR‐200, miR‐30 families, and the miR‐17‐92 clusters are more commonly found to be associated with endometrial receptivity. Experimental studies show that the targets of the differentially expressed microRNAs affect endometrial receptivity, decidualization, and embryo implantation. Free and exosome/microvesicle containing microRNAs have been detected in human and ovine uterine luminal fluid (ULF). They may serve as mediators of embryo–endometrium dialog. Some observations suggest that the microRNAs in ULF may be used as biomarkers in infertility treatment.

Conclusion

MicroRNAs in endometrium and blastocysts are involved in the implantation process.
Immunisation led to a major reduction in paediatric patients hospitalised because of the varicella infection in Israel
Authors: Elbaz Meital , Paret Gideon , Yohai Avihu Bar , Halutz Ora , Grisaru‐Soen Galia
Published: December 2015

Aim

The varicella‐zoster virus causes infections that are often mild but can cause substantial morbidity and mortality in otherwise healthy children. We examined trends in varicella‐related hospitalisations before and after the implementation of a national two‐dose varicella vaccination programme in Israel in September 2008.

Methods

This retrospective chart review, performed at three tertiary care paediatric hospitals in greater Tel Aviv, compared data from 2004 to 2008 and 2009 to 2012, before and after the varicella programme was launched. It included all children to the age of 18 who were hospitalised for conditions associated with the varicella infection.

Results

After the vaccination programme was introduced, the number of children hospitalised for varicella fell by 63% (p < 0.5), from 38.9 to 14.5 per 10 000, and there was a 75% reduction in children aged one to six. During the same period, the percentage of hospitalised children who were immunocompromised rose from 9.7% to 18.4% (p < 0.05). The most common complications were soft‐tissue infections (60%), and the most prevalent pathogens were Group A β‐haemolytic streptococcus (53%) and Staphylococcus aureus (32%).

Conclusion

The introduction of a two‐dose immunisation programme dramatically decreased the varicella burden in Israel, leading to a major reduction in hospitalisation admissions linked to the infection.
Major venous resection and reconstruction using a minimally invasive approach during laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy: One step forward
Authors: Palanisamy Senthilnathan , Deuri Biswajit , Naidu Subrahmaneswara Babu , Vaiyapurigoundar Palanisamy Nalankilli , Natesan Anand Vijay , Palanivelu Praveen Raj , Parthasarathy Ramakrishnan , Palanivelu Chinnusamy
Published: December 2015

In the current era of technological advancement, the feasibility of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy has been established. However, major venous resection and reconstruction along with laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy is still considered a complex procedure. A 47‐year‐old woman presented with obstructive jaundice secondary to carcinoma in the pancreatic head. Triphasic abdominal CT revealed a 2.7 × 3.0‐cm heterogenous mass in the pancreatic head with peripancreatic lymphadenopathy without vascular involvement. The patient was scheduled for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy. During mobilization, the tumor was found adherent to the superior mesenteric vein. Therefore, vascular resection and reconstruction was accomplished laparoscopically along with pancreaticoduodenectomy. The duration of superior mesenteric vein occlusion was 45 min. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on postoperative day 10. Major venous resection and reconstruction during laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy using a minimally invasive approach is feasible in selected patients. Adequate experience in complex laparoscopic pancreatic surgery is required before attempting this procedure.
Successful laparoscopic extirpation of peritoneal dissemination after hepatectomy for ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Hai Seikan , Okada Toshihiro , Iimuro Yuji , Hirano Tadamichi , Suzumura Kazuhiro , Fujimoto Jiro
Published: December 2015

Clinically, peritoneal dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rarely occurs. We herein report a case that had a good outcome following laparoscopic extirpation of peritoneal dissemination after hepatectomy for ruptured HCC. A 66‐year‐old man underwent central bisectionectomy 12 days after emergency transcatheter arterial embolization for a ruptured HCC. Thereafter, pulmonary resection was performed twice for lung metastasis. About 8 months after the second pulmonary resection, a mass lesion was detected at the left subphrenic space on CT and 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose PET scans. We made a diagnosis of peritoneal dissemination of HCC, and laparoscopic extirpation was performed. The patient is now doing well without any signs of recurrence 2 years after the last operation. Laparoscopic surgical resection for peritoneal dissemination that develops after hepatectomy for HCC may have a beneficial effect as a less‐invasive approach and may improve the prognosis in select patients.
Thoracoscopic reoperation for recurrent pneumothorax after single‐incision thoracoscopic surgery
Authors: Sano Atsushi , Kawashima Mitsuaki
Published: December 2015

An 18‐year‐old male patient who had undergone single‐incision thoracoscopic surgery for left spontaneous pneumothorax was diagnosed with bilateral recurrent pneumothorax. We performed thoracoscopic reoperation and observed adhesions between the previous incision and the left lung. A bulla that was thought to be the cause of the recurrent left pneumothorax was found on the mediastinal side of previously ligated lesions. Longer incisions during single‐incision thoracoscopic surgery may be more likely to cause adhesions. Despite the restricted view during surgery, care must be taken to identify all bullae. Use of reinforcement techniques is also important to prevent recurrence.
Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of paritaprevir, a direct acting antiviral agent for hepatitis C virus treatment, with and without ritonavir in healthy volunteers
Authors: Menon R. M. , Klein C. E. , Podsadecki T. J. , Chiu Y.‐L. , Dutta S. , Awni W. M.
Published: December 2015

Aims

Paritaprevir is a direct acting antiviral agent for use as part of a multidrug hepatitis C virus infection treatment regimen. To characterize the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of paritaprevir and determine an optimal dosing regimen for subsequent evaluations, clinical studies were conducted with paritaprevir alone or with ritonavir, a cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitor anticipated to increase paritaprevir exposure.

Methods

Two phase 1, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel group studies were conducted in healthy volunteers (NCT00850044 and NCT00931281). Single dose study participants (n = 87) were randomized to one time administration of either paritaprevir or placebo, or paritaprevir with ritonavir or placebo. Participants (n = 38) enrolled in the multiple dose study received paritaprevir with ritonavir or placebo once or twice daily for 14 days. Pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability were assessed throughout the study treatment periods.

Results

After single or multiple dose administration, paritaprevir displayed non‐linear pharmacokinetics, with maximum plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration–time curve increasing in a greater than dose proportional manner. Concomitant administration of 100 mg ritonavir increased paritaprevir exposure from a 300 mg dose approximately 30‐ to 50‐fold and extended paritaprevir half‐life. The tolerability of paritaprevir was similar with or without ritonavir. Asymptomatic, transient increases in bilirubin were observed but were not associated with abnormalities in other liver function tests.

Conclusions

Paritaprevir exhibits non‐linear pharmacokinetics with greater than dose proportional increases in exposure after single or multiple dosing. Co‐administration with ritonavir increases paritaprevir exposure and half‐life without adversely influencing tolerability.
Sensitive cytometry based system for enumeration, capture and analysis of gene mutations of circulating tumor cells
Authors: Sawada Takeshi , Watanabe Masaru , Fujimura Yuu , Yagishita Shigehiro , Shimoyama Tatsu , Maeda Yoshiharu , Kanda Shintaro , Yunokawa Mayu , Tamura Kenji , Tamura Tomohide , Minami Hironobu , Koh Yasuhiro , Koizumi Fumiaki
Published: December 2015

Methods for the enumeration and molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTC) have been actively investigated. However, such methods are still technically challenging. We have developed a novel epithelial cell adhesion molecule independent CTC enumeration system integrated with a sorting system using a microfluidics chip. We compared the number of CTC detected using our system with those detected using the CellSearch system in 46 patients with various cancers. We also evaluated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and PIK3CA mutations of captured CTC in a study of 4 lung cancer and 4 breast cancer patients. The percentage of samples with detected CTC was significantly higher with our system (65.2%) than with CellSearch (28.3%). The number of detected CTC per patient using our system was statistically higher than that using CellSearch (median 5, 0; P = 0.000172, Wilcoxon test). In the mutation analysis study, the number of detected CTC per patient was low (median for lung, 4.5; median for breast, 5.5); however, it was easy to detect EGFR and PIK3CA mutations in the CTC of 2 lung and 1 breast cancer patient, respectively, using a commercially available kit. Our system is more sensitive than CellSearch in CTC enumeration of various cancers and is also capable of detecting EGFR and PIK3CA mutations in the CTC of lung and breast cancer patients, respectively.
MicroRNA‐127‐5p targets the biliverdin reductase B/nuclear factor‐κB pathway to suppress cell growth in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Huan Lin , Bao Chunyang , Chen Di , Li Yan , Lian Junwei , Ding Jie , Huang Shenglin , Liang Linhui , He Xianghuo
Published: December 2015

Nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activation is one of the major mediators of inflammation‐induced cancer cell growth and progression. In previous studies, we screened a series of microRNAs (miRNAs) that targeted the NF‐κB signaling pathway. In this study, we showed that miR‐127‐5p suppressed NF‐κB activity through inhibition of p65 nuclear translocation. In addition, miR‐127‐5p also inhibited the transcription of downstream targets of the NF‐κB signaling pathway. While exploring the mechanism of the inhibition of NF‐κB activity by miR‐127‐5p, we found that miR‐127‐5p decreased the phosphorylation of p65. MicroRNA‐127‐5p inhibited the growth and colony formation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and decreased biliverdin reductase B (BLVRB) expression by directly binding to its 3′‐UTR. RNA interference of BLVRB suppressed HCC cell growth, whereas the overexpression of BLVRB promoted HCC cell growth. Furthermore, BLVRB blockade inhibited the phosphorylation of p65 protein and the expression of downstream targets of the NF‐κB signaling pathway, mimicking the function of miR‐127‐5p. The restoration of BLVRB in HCC cells overexpressing miR‐127‐5p impaired the suppression of HCC growth by miR‐127‐5p. Moreover, miR‐127‐5p was downregulated in 58% of HCC samples. In summary, we found that miR‐127‐5p suppressed NF‐κB activity by directly targeting BLVRB in HCC cells, and this finding improves our understanding of the molecular mechanism of inflammation‐induced HCC growth and proliferation and the successful inhibition of NF‐κB activity by cancer treatment.
FOXA1 expression affects the proliferation activity of luminal breast cancer stem cell populations
Authors: Tachi Kana , Shiraishi Akira , Bando Hiroko , Yamashita Toshiharu , Tsuboi Ikki , Kato Toshiki , Hara Hisato , Ohneda Osamu
Published: December 2015

The expression of estrogen receptor is the key in most breast cancers (BC) and binding of estrogen receptor to the genome correlates to Forkhead protein (FOXA1) expression. We herein assessed the correlation between the cancer stem cell (CSC) population and FOXA1 expression in luminal BC. We established luminal BC cells derived from metastatic pleural effusion and analyzed the potency of CSC and related factors with established luminal BC cell lines. We also confirmed that mammosphere cultures have an increased aldehyde dehydrogenase‐positive population, which is one of the CSC markers, compared with adherent culture cells. Using a quantitative PCR analysis, we found that mammosphere forming cells showed a higher expression ofFOXA1and stemness‐related genes compared with adherent culture cells. Furthermore, the growth activity and colony‐forming activity of 4‐hydroxytamoxifen‐treated BC cells were inhibited in a mammosphere assay. Interestingly, 4‐hydroxytamoxifen‐resistant cells had significantly increasedFOXA1gene expression levels. Finally, we established short hairpin RNA of FOXA1 (shFOXA1) MCF‐7 cells and investigated the relationship between self‐renewal potential and FOXA1 expression. As a result, we found no significant difference in the number of mammospheres but decreased colony formation in shFOXA1 MCF‐7 cells compared with control. These results suggest that the expression of FOXA1 appears to be involved in the proliferation of immature BC cells rather than the induction of stemness‐related genes and self‐renewal potency of CSCs.
Biological Sensitivity to Family Income: Differential Effects on Early Executive Functioning
Authors: Obradović Jelena , Portilla Ximena A. , Ballard Parissa J.
Published: December 2015

The study examined how the interplay between children's cortisol response and family income is related to executive function (EF) skills. The sample included one hundred and two 5‐ to 6‐year‐olds (64% minority). EF skills were measured using laboratory tasks and observer ratings. Physiological reactivity was assessed via cortisol response during a laboratory visit. A consistent, positive association between family income and EF skills emerged only for children who showed high cortisol response, a marker of biological sensitivity to context. In contrast, family income was not related to EF skills in children who displayed low cortisol response. Follow‐up analyses revealed a disordinal interaction, suggesting that differential susceptibility can be detected at the level of basic cognitive and self‐regulatory skills that support adaptive functioning.
Caries experience in 7‐, 12‐, and 15‐year‐old schoolchildren in the canton of Basel‐Landschaft, Switzerland, from 1992 to 2011
Authors: Waltimo Tuomas , Menghini Giorgio , Weber Catherine , Kulik Eva M. , Schild Samuel , Meyer Jürg
Published: December 2015

Objectives

To investigate the changes in caries experience and prevalence among schoolchildren of the canton of Basel‐Landschaft, Switzerland, over the course of 20 years.

Methods

A random sample of either schoolchildren aged 7, 12, and 15 years (in 1992) or aged 12 and 15 years (in 1997) or their respective school classes (2001, 2006 and 2011) was selected so that approximately 10% of schoolchildren could be examined. The children's dmft and DMFT scores were determined according to the WHO methodology and analyzed using cluster‐adjusted ordinary multiple linear regression modeling.

Results

For all age groups, the respective dmft/DMFT values decreased steadily from 1992 to 2006 but increased again in 2011. However, the observed differences were not statistically significant over the examination years from 2001 to 2011. Schoolchildren with a migrant background had approximately two‐ to threefold higher dmft/DMFT values.

Conclusions

In the years from 1992 to 2001, a steady decline in caries was observed in all age groups of schoolchildren examined in the canton of Basel‐Landschaft. However, in the subsequent 10 years, this decline has leveled off. The mean dmft/DMFT values are comparable to those in other parts of Switzerland. Migrants are a caries‐risk group; the mean dmft/DMFT values were higher in schoolchildren with a migrant background than in the comparable Swiss children.
A comparison of tooth retention and replacement across 15 countries in the over‐50s
Authors: Stock Christian , Jürges Hendrik , Shen Jing , Bozorgmehr Kayvan , Listl Stefan
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Oral diseases are still among the most common chronic diseases globally with substantial detrimental impact especially on elderly people's health and well‐being. However, limited evidence exists on international variation in the oral health status of the older population. We aimed to examine international variation in tooth loss and tooth replacement in the general population aged between 50 and 90 years.

Methods

A cross‐sectional analysis of data from the fifth wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) was conducted. The data cover 14 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) and Israel, and they were collected during the year 2013. Age‐specific percentages of the population having all natural teeth, the age‐specific numbers of natural (and artificial) teeth, and the age‐specific percentages of full, partial, or no replacement of missing teeth were assessed with stratification by country. It was further evaluated to which extent proposed oral health goals concerning tooth loss at higher ages had been achieved.

Results

In total, 62 763 individuals were included in the study. Age‐standardized mean numbers of natural teeth exhibited substantial variation, ranging from 14.3 (Estonia) to 24.5 (Sweden). The oral health goal of retaining at least 20 teeth at age 80 years was achieved by 25% of the population or less in most countries. A target concerning edentulism (≤15% in population aged 65–74 years) was reached in Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, France, and Germany. Tooth replacement practices varied especially for a number of up to five missing teeth which were more likely to be replaced in Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland than in Israel, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, and Sweden.

Conclusions

This study suggests that the age‐specific number of natural teeth and the practice of tooth replacement in the over 50s differ substantially among the included countries. The present results may be helpful in the formulation and evaluation of oral health goals in the older population.