bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cold physical plasma selects for specific T helper cell subsets with distinct cells surface markers in a caspase‐dependent and NF‐κB‐independent manner
Authors: Bekeschus Sander , Rödder Katrin , Schmidt Anke , Stope Matthias B. , von Woedtke Thomas , Miller Vandana , Fridman Alexander , Weltmann Klaus‐Dieter , Masur Kai , Metelmann Hans‐Robert , Wende Kristian , Hasse Sybille
Published: November 2016

Exposure to cold physical plasma has been proposed to be of therapeutical value in oncology via the generation of a number of biologically relevant redox‐active molecules. Cancer cells can be recognized and eliminated by cells of the immune system, and accordingly many tumors are populated with these cells, among them T helper cells (TH cells). These lymphocyte population is crucial for effector immune responses against tumor antigens, in response to immunogenic cell death in malignant cells. However, a number of TH populations exists, each having distinct phenotypical features. Using a cold atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet, its redox activity was tested in different TH cell subpopulations to better understand the immunological consequences of potential antitumor plasma treatments in vivo.
Cognitive approaches to enhance spectrum availability for satellite systems
Authors: Chatzinotas S. , Evans B. , Guidotti A. , Icolari V. , Lagunas E. , Maleki S. , Sharma S. K. , Tarchi D. , Thompson P. , Vanelli‐Coralli A.
Published: November 2016

Cognitive radio technologies have achieved in the recent years an increasing interest for the possible gain in terms of spectrum usage with respect to unshared approaches. While most of the attention has been devoted to the cognitive coexistence between terrestrial systems, the coexistence between terrestrial and satellite communications is also seen as a viable option. Cognitive radio for satellite communications (CoRaSat) has been a European Commission seventh Framework Program project funded under the ICT Call 8. CoRaSat aimed at investigating, developing, and demonstrating cognitive radio techniques in satellite communication systems for flexible and dynamic spectrum access. In this paper, the CoRaSat cognitive approaches and techniques, investigated, developed, and demonstrated as most relevant to satellite communications, are described. In particular, the focus is on spectrum awareness, that is, database and spectrum sensing approaches, and on spectrum exploitation algorithms, that is, resource allocation and beamforming algorithms, to enable the use of spectrum for satellite communications using shared bands. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
First Principles Study of the Interaction of Rare Gases in a U@C60 Fullerene
Authors: Lei Yanyu , Jiang Wanrun , Gao Yang , Xu Dexuan , Wang Bo , Wang Zhigang
Published: November 2016

To understand the interaction between rare gases and actinide endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs), we use first‐principles density functional theory calculations to analyze the UNg@C60 system encapsulating a heavy rare gas atom (Ng=Ne, Ar) in EMF U@C60. The results show that U and rare gase atoms lose electrons, while the carbon cage gain electrons, and the order of magnitude of charge transfer is about 0.1 e. With the increase of atomic number of rare gases, the polarization effect and electronic correlation between U@C60 and rare gases are gradually enhanced which results in the electron cloud overlap. Our work helps to form a deeper understanding of the embedment mechanism of rare gas in confined conditions.
Insight into Protein Conformation and Subcharging by DMSO from Native Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Chan Daniel Shiu‐Hin , Matak‐Vinković Dijana , Coyne Anthony G. , Abell Chris
Published: November 2016

Electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) interfaced with ion‐mobility (IM) spectrometry has enabled the study of protein structure and interactions under native‐like conditions. In biological assays, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is often included as a co‐solvent to dissolve organic molecules. While low levels of DMSO are known to reduce the charge of protein ions generated by ESI, the exact mechanism by which this occurs has been debated. In this study, we describe the first application of IM–MS to study the effect of DMSO subcharging on native protein conformation. We find that at low concentrations, DMSO induces modest (1‐2 %), but repeatable, reductions in protein collision‐cross sections (CCSs) of four different protein complexes, avidin, concanavalin A, alcohol dehydrogenase, and pyruvate kinase, as measured by traveling‐wave (TW) IM–MS. Individual protein charge states also experienced compaction in size, suggesting that this effect could not be attributed to the shift of charge state distribution by DMSO alone.
Reducing Hysteresis and Enhancing Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells Using Low‐Temperature Processed Y‐Doped SnO2 Nanosheets as Electron Selective Layers
Authors: Yang Guang , Lei Hongwei , Tao Hong , Zheng Xiaolu , Ma Junjie , Liu Qin , Ke Weijun , Chen Zhiliang , Xiong Liangbin , Qin Pingli , Chen Zhao , Qin Minchao , Lu Xinhui , Yan Yanfa , Fang Guojia
Published: November 2016

Despite the rapid increase of efficiency, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) still face some challenges, one of which is the current–voltage hysteresis. Herein, it is reported that yttrium‐doped tin dioxide (Y‐SnO2) electron selective layer (ESL) synthesized by an in situ hydrothermal growth process at 95 °C can significantly reduce the hysteresis and improve the performance of PSCs. Comparison studies reveal two main effects of Y doping of SnO2 ESLs: (1) it promotes the formation of well‐aligned and more homogeneous distribution of SnO2 nanosheet arrays (NSAs), which allows better perovskite infiltration, better contacts of perovskite with SnO2 nanosheets, and improves electron transfer from perovskite to ESL; (2) it enlarges the band gap and upshifts the band energy levels, resulting in better energy level alignment with perovskite and reduced charge recombination at NSA/perovskite interfaces. As a result, PSCs using Y‐SnO2 NSA ESLs exhibit much less hysteresis and better performance compared with the cells using pristine SnO2 NSA ESLs. The champion cell using Y‐SnO2 NSA ESL achieves a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 17.29% (16.97%) when measured under reverse (forward) voltage scanning and a steady‐state efficiency of 16.25%. The results suggest that low‐temperature hydrothermal‐synthesized Y‐SnO2 NSA is a promising ESL for fabricating efficient and hysteresis‐less PSC.
Near‐Infrared Fluorescent Ag2Se–Cetuximab Nanoprobes for Targeted Imaging and Therapy of Cancer
Authors: Zhu Chun‐Nan , Chen Gang , Tian Zhi‐Quan , Wang Wei , Zhong Wen‐Qun , Li Zheng , Zhang Zhi‐Ling , Pang Dai‐Wen
Published: November 2016

Theranostic nanoprobes integrated with diagnostic imaging and therapy capabilities have shown great potential for highly effective tumor therapy by realizing imaging‐guided drug delivery and tumor treatment. Developing novel high‐performance nanoprobes is an important basis for tumor theranostic application. Here, near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescent and low‐biotoxicity Ag2Se quantum dots (QDs) have been coupled with cetuximab, a clinical antiepidermal growth factor receptor antibody drug for tumor therapy, via a facile bioconjugation strategy to prepare multifunctional Ag2Se–cetuximab nanoprobes. Compared with the Ag2Se QDs alone, the Ag2Se–cetuximab nanoprobes display faster and more enrichment at the site of orthotopic tongue cancer, and thus present better NIR fluorescence contrast between the tumor and the surrounding regions. At 24 h postinjection, the NIR fluorescence of Ag2Se–cetuximab nanoprobes at the tumor site is still easily detectable, whereas no fluorescence is observed for the Ag2Se QDs. Moreover, the Ag2Se–cetuximab nanoprobes have also significantly inhibited the tumor growth and improved the survival rate of orthotopic tongue cancer‐bearing nude mice from 0% to 57.1%. Taken together, the constructed multifunctional Ag2Se–cetuximab nanoprobes have achieved combined targeted imaging and therapy of orthotopic tongue cancer, which may greatly contribute to the development of nanotheranostics.
Multifunctional Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles for Image‐Guided Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Feng Guangxue , Fang Yuan , Liu Jie , Geng Junlong , Ding Dan , Liu Bin
Published: November 2016

A multifunctional theranostic platform based on conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) with tumor targeting, fluorescence detection, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photothermal therapy (PTT) is developed for effective cancer imaging and therapy. Two conjugated polymers, poly[9,9‐bis(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)‐ethyl)fluorenyldivinylene]‐alt‐4,7‐(2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole) with bright red emission and photosensitizing ability and poly[(4,4,9,9‐tetrakis(4‐(octyloxy)phenyl)‐4,9‐dihydro‐s‐indacenol‐dithiophene‐2,7‐diyl)‐alt‐co‐4,9‐bis(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐6,7‐bis(4‐(hexyloxy)phenyl)‐thiadiazolo‐quinoxaline] with strong near‐infrared absorption and excellent photothermal conversion ability are co‐loaded into one single CPN via encapsulation approach using lipid‐polyethylene glycol as the matrix. The obtained co‐loaded CPNs show sizes of around 30 nm with a high singlet oxygen quantum yield of 60.4% and an effective photothermal conversion efficiency of 47.6%. The CPN surface is further decorated with anti‐HER2 affibody, which bestows the resultant anti‐HER2‐CPNs superior selectivity toward tumor cells with HER2 overexpression both in vitro and in vivo. Under light irradiation, the PDT and PTT show synergistic therapeutic efficacy, which provides new opportunities for the development of multifunctional biocompatible organic materials in cancer therapy.
1‐Step “Quenching and Partitioning” of the Press‐Hardening Steel 22MnB5
Authors: Wolf Lars O. , Nürnberger Florian , Rodman Dmytro , Maier Hans Jürgen
Published: November 2016

In recent years, high strength steels, particularly press‐hardening steel, have been more extensively employed for manufacturing safety‐relevant structural components in vehicle bodies. These applications require contrasting material properties such as extremely high strengths as well as high forming ductility. Owing to the purely martensitic microstructure, the residual ductility of the conventional press hardened steels is low. Quenching and partitioning heat treatments can fulfil the requirement of an increased residual ductility by stabilizing the retained austenite. Moreover, if the quenching and partitioning heat treatments are carried out after intercritical annealing treatment, then the steel's mechanical properties can be tailored by defining the volume fraction of ferrite in the microstructure. In order to determine the potential of an 1‐step quenching and partitioning heat treatment combined with intercritical annealing processes, elevated contents of retained austenite are produced in ferritic‐martensitic microstructures using the low‐alloyed 22MnB5 steel grade. In addition to a tempered martensitic microstructure, secondary martensite, and a low fraction of retained austenite, the microstructure consists of remaining fractions of ferrite; thus, providing an additional increase in ductility. For this optimized microstructure, a yield stress of 513 MPa and a tensile strength of 1045 MPa are measured with a total elongation of 10.8%.
Complexity in a Systems Engineering Organization: An Empirical Case Study
Authors: Gilbert Dawn , Yearworth Mike
Published: November 2016

Systems Engineering development projects often fail to meet delivery expectations in terms of timescales and cost. Project plans, which set cost and deadline expectations, are produced and monitored within a reductionist paradigm, incorporating a deterministic view of cause and effect. This assumes that the cumulative activities and their corresponding durations that comprise the developed solution can be known in advance, and that monitoring and management intervention can ensure satisfactory delivery of an adequate solution, through implementation of this plan.

This paper presents a case study that examines the Systems Engineering function within a Thales UK business line. The focus is the organization. The research is exploratory. It gathers evidence through participant‐observation, interviews, documentation, and archival records. It considers two perspectives, a ‘traditional’ predominantly reductionist perspective, and a novel Complex Adaptive System (CAS) perspective. Evidence is analyzed in light of both perspectives to consider how each is able to explain the observations.

Research that considers an organization as a CAS is predominately theoretical, rather than empirical. This paper contributes by viewing a systems engineering development organisation as a CAS, and considering the novel insights this perspective brings to the issue of satisfactory project delivery.
Implementation and analysis of spectral subtraction in deterministic wide‐band anti‐jamming scenarios
Authors: Collins Travis , Anderson Christopher , Wyglinski Alexander
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we propose an approach for mitigating deterministic and partially deterministic jamming signals from the received signal space, thus yielding recoverable signal vectors at a target receiver. Aimed at friendly or self‐jamming environments, where enemy communication jamming is paramount. The proposed approach employs a concept calledspectral subtraction, where one or more known signals can be removed from the received signal space via the subtraction of their spectral characteristics from the received composite signal. Although spectral subtraction is used in a variety of speech communication scenarios, it has not been extensively employed in wireless applications because of several practical challenges, such as achieving both sufficient time alignment and accurate waveform characterization of the signal to be removed. In order to assess these challenges, as well as analyze the potential benefits of the proposed approach, validation was performed using actual over‐the‐air experimentation using software‐defined radio technology. The feasibility study of the proposed approach for achieving sufficient signal removal was examined for a constrained operating scenario, and experimental results show that spectral subtraction can be achieved in a physical transmission environment. Although physical simulations were limited, they provide baseline results for a previously untested method of jammer suppression. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Challenges in large scale quantum mechanical calculations
Authors: Ratcliff Laura E. , Mohr Stephan , Huhs Georg , Deutsch Thierry , Masella Michel , Genovese Luigi
Published: November 2016

During the past decades, quantum mechanical methods have undergone an amazing transition from pioneering investigations of experts into a wide range of practical applications, made by a vast community of researchers. First principles calculations of systems containing up to a few hundred atoms have become a standard in many branches of science. The sizes of the systems which can be simulated have increased even further during recent years, and quantum‐mechanical calculations of systems up to many thousands of atoms are nowadays possible. This opens up new appealing possibilities, in particular for interdisciplinary work, bridging together communities of different needs and sensibilities. In this review we will present the current status of this topic, and will also give an outlook on the vast multitude of applications, challenges, and opportunities stimulated by electronic structure calculations, making this field an important working tool and bringing together researchers of many different domains. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2017, 7:e1290. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1290

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Materials Science

Electronic Structure Theory > Ab Initio Electronic Structure Methods

Electronic Structure Theory > Density Functional Theory
C1‐continuous space‐time discretization based on Hamilton's law of varying action
Authors: Mergel Janine C. , Sauer Roger A. , Ober‐Blöbaum Sina
Published: November 2016

We develop a class of C1‐continuous time integration methods that are applicable to conservative problems in elastodynamics. These methods are based on Hamilton's law of varying action. From the action of the continuous system we derive a spatially and temporally weak form of the governing equilibrium equations. This expression is first discretized in space, considering standard finite elements. The resulting system is then discretized in time, approximating the displacement by piecewise cubic Hermite shape functions. Within the time domain we thus achieve C1‐continuity for the displacement field and C0‐continuity for the velocity field. From the discrete virtual action we finally construct a class of one‐step schemes. These methods are examined both analytically and numerically. Here, we study both linear and nonlinear systems as well as inherently continuous and discrete structures. In the numerical examples we focus on one‐dimensional applications. The provided theory, however, is general and valid also for problems in 2D or 3D. We show that the most favorable candidate — denoted as p2‐scheme — converges with order four. Thus, especially if high accuracy of the numerical solution is required, this scheme can be more efficient than methods of lower order. It further exhibits, for linear simple problems, properties similar to variational integrators, such as symplecticity. While it remains to be investigated whether symplecticity holds for arbitrary systems, all our numerical results show an excellent long‐term energy behavior.
Media Discourse on the Refugee Crisis: On what have the Greek, German and British Press Focused?
Authors: Fotopoulos Stergios , Kaimaklioti Margarita
Published: November 2016

This article looks at how the Greek, German and British press have addressed the issue of the refugee crisis in Europe. Using a mixed research approach that combines corpus linguistics and discourse analysis, this article examines 1340 articles that were published online between 20 March and 31 May 2016 in Greece ( Kathimerini, To vima), Germany ( Die Welt, Süddeutsche Zeitung) and the UK ( The Guardian, The Telegraph). The results presented by this article suggest that the press in all three countries mostly presented the refugee crisis in numbers. Geographical qualifiers were also deployed in the effort to broach this thorny issue, while the managerial aspect of the refugee crisis, the critical issue of child refugees and the EU–Turkey agreement were all among the most frequent topics covered by the press.
Consolidating Pluralism under the Terrorist Threat: The Tunisian Case and the Algerian Experience
Authors: Cristiani Dario
Published: November 2016

As Tunisia continues to move forward on the path of democratisation and pluralism, the problems it may still face remain significant. A comparative analysis of the (failed) Algerian attempt to democratise and the current process underway in Tunisia could shed light on what Tunisia needs to do to avoid a setback in its democratisation process.
Do Not Trust People: Lessons from Political Economy on How to Counter Misinformation and Lies
Authors: Nurvala Juha-Pekka
Published: November 2016

This article argues that political economy can explain how and why information distribution and opinion formation are changing. Even more importantly, political economy offers us ways to fight the negative effects of misinformation. It is argued that asymmetry of information can explain recent developments and why poor-quality information is capable of competing with good-quality information. Subsequently, the article explains how poor-quality information influences peoples’ decisions through internal decision-making processes.
Integrated Geo-Microbial and Trace Metal Anomalies for Detection of Hydrocarbon Microseepage in Ahmedabad Block of Cambay Basin, India
Authors: Rasheed M. A. , Rao P. L. Srinivasa , Boruah Annapurna , Hasan Syed Zaheer , Seddik Bougi Mohamoud Mohamed , Pandey Disha , Harinarayana T.
Published: November 2016

The aim of the present work is to define the geo-microbial signatures along with trace metals, and to investigate whether the geo-microbial anomalies have correlation with trace metal anomalies in Ahmedabad block of Cambay basin. The surface geochemical techniques are based on seepage of light hydrocarbon gases from the oil and gas pools to the shallow surface and can bring up near-surface oxidation reduction zones that favor the development of a diverse array of chemical and mineralogical changes. The paper reports the role of hydrocarbon microseepage in surface alterations of trace metal concentrations and hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria and its interrelationship. For the purpose a total of 90 soil samples are collected in grid pattern of 2 x 2 km interval. The paper reports the chemical alterations associated with trace metals in soils that are related to hydrocarbon microseepages above some of the major oil and gas fields of this petroliferous region. The concentrations of V (0 to149 ppm), Cr (2 to 192 ppm), Cu (4 to 171 ppm), Se (98 to 440 ppm), Zn (56 to 1215 ppm) are obtained. It is observed that the concentrations of trace elements are tremendously increased when they are compared with their normal concentrations in soils. In this study the hydrocarbon oxidizing bacterial counts ranged between 1.0 x 103 and 1.59 x 106 cfu/g of soil sample respectively. The attempt has made for the first time, which revealed good correlation as both these anomalies are found as apical in relation. Integrated studies between trace elements and hydrocarbon oxidizing bacterial anomalies showed positive correlation with existing oil and gas wells in the study area.
Provenance and Weathering History of the Maastrichtian Shale Member of the Patti Formation, Southern Bida Basin, Nigeria
Authors: Ojo O. J. , Babatunde F. R. , Adepoju S. A. , Akande S. O. , Momoh A.
Published: November 2016

The present study is focused on the geochemical characterization and provenance of the shale member of the Maastrichtian Patti Formation which is well represented at the centre of the southern Bida Basin in Nigeria. The major element composition of the studied shales and clays compare favourably with the reference shales, however, the trace elements vary slightly. Application of binary plot of TiO2 versus Al2O3 and Al2O3/TiO2 ratios of the studied shale samples show mixed mafic to felsic igneous sources. The chemical composition (plot of SiO2 versus Log (K2O/Na2O) indicates active to passive continental margin province, however, a minor derivation from recycled provenance is probable. Intense chemical weathering based on the high values of Chemical Index Alteration (CIA), Chemical Index of Weathering (CIW) and Zr values obtained from the shale and clay samples a warm humid condition is suggested. The high values also probably suggest predominance of clay minerals and low feldspar. This is supported by the XRD (X-Ray Diffractometer) data which indicates predominance of kaolinite in the samples.
Regulatory Process, Regulatory Reform, and the Quality of Regulatory Impact Analysis
Authors: Ellig Jerry , Fike Rosemarie
Published: November 2016

Numerous regulatory reform proposals would require federal agencies to conduct more thorough economic analysis of proposed regulations or expand the resources and influence of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), which currently reviews executive branch regulations. Such reforms are intended to improve the quality of economic analysis agencies produce when they issue major regulations. We employ newly gathered data on variation in current administrative procedures to assess the likely effects of proposed regulatory process reforms on the quality of agencies’ regulatory impact analyses (RIAs). Our results suggest that greater use of advance notices of proposed rulemakings for major regulations, advance consultation with regulated entities, use of advisory committees, and expansion of OIRA’s resources and role would improve the quality of RIAs. They also suggest pre-proposal public meetings with stakeholders are associated with lower quality analysis.
Are Current U.S. Anti-Bullying Programs Net Beneficial to Parents? Inferences from School Switching
Authors: Agee Mark D. , Crocker Thomas D.
Published: November 2016

This paper applies a discrete choice version of the household production framework to assess parents’ ex ante willingness to pay to reduce their child’s victimization from bullying at school. Willingness to pay is estimated using a bivariate probit model and a unique panel of 595 families from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development for 2000 to 2003. Empirical results find a statistically significant positive association between an elementary school child’s bully victimization and parents’ choice to change their child’s school in the subsequent sample period. Parents’ annual willingness to pay for reduced child bully victimization averages $130 and ranges from $54 for parents whose child was not bullied to $633 for parents whose child was bullied. Given current literature estimates of U.S. bullying prevalence and the cost and effectiveness of currently available anti-bullying programs, parental willingness to pay estimates suggest that U.S. households’ net annual return on investments in elementary school bullying prevention programs could be substantial.
Novel insight into triple-negative breast cancers, the emerging role of angiogenesis, and antiangiogenic therapy
Authors: Braicu Cornelia , Chiorean Roxana , Irimie Alexandru , Chira Sergiu , Tomuleasa Ciprian , Neagoe Emilian , Paradiso Angelo , Achimas-Cadariu Patriciu , Lazar Vladimir , Berindan-Neagoe Ioana
Published: November 2016

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous group of tumours characterised by lack of expression of oestrogen-, progesterone- and human epidermal growth factor receptors. TNBC, which represents approximately 15% of all mammary tumours, has a poor prognosis because of an aggressive behaviour and the lack of specific treatment. Accordingly, TNBC has become a major focus of research into breast cancer and is now classified into several molecular subtypes, each with a different prognosis. Pathological angiogenesis occurs at a late stage in the proliferation of TNBC and is associated with invasion and metastasis; there is an association with metabolic syndrome. Semaphorins are a versatile family of proteins with multiple roles in angiogenesis, tumour growth and metastasis and may represent a clinically useful focus for therapeutic targeting in this type of breast cancer. Another important field of investigation into the control of pathological angiogenesis is related to the expression of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) – these molecules can be considered as a therapeutic target or as a biomarker. Several molecular agents for intervening in the activity of different signalling pathways are being explored in TNBC, but none has so far proved effective in clinical trials and the disease continues to pose a defining challenge for clinical management as well as innovative cancer research.
A Comprehensive Study of Costs Associated With Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection
Authors: Rodrigues Rodrigo , Barber Grant E. , Ananthakrishnan Ashwin N.
Published: November 2016

BACKGROUND

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the most common healthcare-associated infection and is associated with considerable morbidity. Recurrent CDI is a key contributing factor to this morbidity. Despite an estimated 83,000 recurrences annually in the United States, there are few accurate estimates of costs associated with recurrent CDI.

OBJECTIVE

We performed this study (1) to identify the health consequences of recurrent CDI including need for repeat hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and surgery; (2) to determine costs associated with recurrent CDI and identify determinants of such costs; and (3) to compare the outcomes and costs of recurrent CDI to those who develop reinfection.

METHODS

We identified all patients with confirmed recurrent CDI between January to December 2013 at a single referral center. Healthcare burden associated with recurrence including diagnostic testing, pharmacologic treatment, and inpatient and outpatient healthcare visits were identified in the 12 months following the first recurrence. Total healthcare costs were calculated, and the predictors of high healthcare utilization were identified.

RESULTS

Our study population included 98 patients with recurrent CDI. The median interval between the initial infection and recurrence was 37 days. The mean age of the cohort was 67 years, two-thirds were women (62%), and the mean Charlson index was 8.6. During the year following the first recurrence of CDI, each patient underwent a mean of 4.4 stool C. difficile toxin tests and received a mean of 2.5 prescriptions for oral vancomycin (range, 0–6). Most patients (84%) with recurrence had a CDI-related hospitalization, and 6% underwent colectomy. The mean total CDI-associated cost was $34,104 per patient, with hospitalization costs accounting for 68%, surgery 20%, and drug treatment 8% of this cost, respectively. Extrapolating to the United States overall, we estimate an annual cost of $2.8 billion related to recurrent CDI.

CONCLUSION

Recurrent CDI is associated with considerable morbidity and cost.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:196–202
The influence of knowledge networks on a firm’s innovative performance
Authors: Fang Shih-Chieh , Wang Ming-Chao , Chen Pei-Chen
Published: November 2016

This paper explores the concept of knowledge networks in order to disclose how firms are able to increase innovative performance as a result of network structure and network content, which concern how firms connect with network partners (network structure), what the essence of exchange is for firms to acquire knowledge in the network (knowledge heterogeneity), and why firms need to cooperate with others (knowledge cognition). By using a sample of 144 high-technology firms in Taiwan’s science parks to test the hypotheses, the results of this study show that, while network structures do impact on a firm’s innovative performance, access to heterogeneous knowledge and increasing a firm’s knowledge in terms of defining and recognizing novel knowledge should be considered, since both play critical roles in facilitating innovative performance. These findings suggest that knowledge flow through a firm’s relationships must be understood in terms of network structure and content.
GIS of thechoraof Cyrene: fortifications and Christian buildings in Late Antiquity
Authors: Abdalrahim Sheriff Saad A. , Farag Abdel Hati S. , Antonelli Sonia , Menozzi Oliva , Petraccia Veronica , Somma Maria Carla
Published: November 2016

The project of mapping thechoraof Cyrene, for the team of Chieti University, started between 1999 and 2001 as a layer of a ‘macro-GIS’ of the area to the east of Cyrene, that is, the transect between Cyrene and El-Gubba/Qubbah. Because of the large scale of the area and the monumentality of the sites, the team is composed of several research units based around a large number of scholars and technicians. The project employs a suite of traditional methodologies for the study of landscape archaeology (surveys, GIS mapping, differential GPS, excavations), in combination with technologies integrating the knowledge of the territory (remote sensing on HD satellite photos, geomorphological reconstruction, laser scanning, archaeometric analysis, non-invasive geophysical prospection and infrared diagnostic analysis). The large quantity of data coming from this wide approach has been organised into a flexible and multilayer GIS. A joint team of Libyan and Italian archaeologists and technicians is testing a common protocol for monitoring the monuments and sites in the territory, using surveys and remote sensing analysis, which has intensified during these problematic periods, and regularly analysing satellite sets over the past four years.

The project aims to map and document as much as possible in this territory, to identify the location of the region's so-called ‘minor sites’, which are numerous and almost unknown. They were, from the Late Classical to the Islamic periods, vital sites for the management of the local economy. This paper presents the main issues relating to settlements and sites in Late Antiquity, concentrating mainly on fortifications along thelimesand basilicas within the area of the transect. Moreover, in the presentation of the data, the GIS approach has been integrated here with data coming both from the remote sensing and from more traditional research approaches, such as planimetrical and typological analysis of the buildings, study of the sources and detailed mapping of the building techniques.
The Lepcitanian landscape across the ages: the survey between Ras el-Mergheb and Ras el-Hammam (2007, 2009, 2013)
Authors: Munzi Massimiliano , Felici Fabrizio , Matoug Jabar , Sjöström Isabella , Zocchi Andrea
Published: November 2016

Since 2007, the Archaeological Mission of Roma Tre University has conducted surveys in the territory of Lepcis Magna, in a peri-urban area between Ras el-Mergheb and Ras el-Hammam. To date, 168 sites have been surveyed. From the analysis of this data collection can be drawn a synthesis of the landscape's evolution from the Hellenistic to the end of the Ottoman period (including the analysis of battlefields and military structures related to the Italo-Turkish War and World War I). As elsewhere in Tripolitania, the Roman productive and settlement system was based on thevillaeand farms withtorculariafor olive (and wine) production. However, the ancient suburban landscape was here characterised by local limestone quarry activities and funerary monuments, the research on which has given significant new data. The Late Antique and medieval periods, with their conjunctures of growth and contraction, as well as the Karamanli/Ottoman phase have been analysed for their agricultural peculiarities and forms of settlement. The Late Antique and medieval defensive system (gsur, the Ras el-Hammam and Ras el-Mergheb castles) and the Ottoman religious landscape (marabouts or ‘shrines’, today almost completely demolished) have also been taken into consideration.
Long-term effects of pre-pubertal fluoxetine on behaviour and monoaminergic stress response in stress-sensitive rats
Authors: Badenhorst Nico Johan , Brand Linda , Harvey Brian Herbert , Ellis Susanna Maria , Brink Christiaan Beyers
Published: November 2016

Objective

Although prescription rates of antidepressants for children and adolescents have increased, concerns have been raised regarding effects on neurodevelopment and long-term outcome. Using a genetic animal model of depression, this study investigated the long-term effects of pre-pubertal administration of fluoxetine (FLX) on depressive-like behaviour in early adulthood, as well as on central monoaminergic response to an acute stressor. We postulated that pre-pubertal FLX will have lasting effects on animal behaviour and monoaminergic stress responses in early adulthood.

Methods

Flinders sensitive line (FSL) rats received 10 mg/kg/day FLX subcutaneously from postnatal day 21 (PnD21) to PnD34 (pre-pubertal). Thereafter, following normal housing, rats were either subjected to locomotor testing and the forced swim test (FST) on PnD60 (early adulthood), or underwent surgery for microdialysis, followed on PnD60 by exposure to acute swim stress and measurement of stressor-induced changes in plasma corticosterone and pre-frontal cortical monoamine concentrations.

Results

Pre-pubertal FLX did not induce a late emergent effect on immobility in FSL rats on PnD60, whereas locomotor activity was significantly decreased. Acute swim stress on PnD60 significantly increased plasma corticosterone levels, and increased pre-frontal cortical norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations. Pre-pubertal FLX significantly blunted the pre-frontal cortical NE and 5-HIAA response following swim stress on PnD60. Baseline dopamine levels were significantly enhanced by pre-pubertal FLX, but no further changes were induced by swim stress.

Conclusion

Pre-pubertal FLX did not have lasting antidepressant-like behavioural effects in genetically susceptible, stress-sensitive FSL rats. However, such treatment reduced locomotor activity, abrogated noradrenergic and serotonergic stressor responses and elevated dopaminergic baseline levels in adulthood.
The formulation of the essential oil ofPiper aduncumLinnaeus (Piperales: Piperaceae) increases its efficacy as an insect repellent
Authors: Mamood S.N.H. , Hidayatulfathi O. , Budin S.B. , Ahmad Rohi G. , Zulfakar M.H.
Published: November 2016

The essential oil (EO) ofPiper aduncumLinnaeus, known as ‘sireh lada’ to locals Malaysian, has the potential to be used as an alternative to synthetic insect repellents such as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide. However, the EO's efficacy as a repellent decreases after application due to the high volatility of its active ingredients. A number of studies have showed that optimizing the formulation of plant-based EOs can improve their efficacy as repellents. The present study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of 10%P. aduncumEO in ethanol and in three different semisolid formulations: ointment, cream and gel. These formulations were tested onAedes aegyptiunder laboratory conditions. Each formulation was applied to the subject's hands, which were then inserted into a cage containing 25 nulliparousA. aegypti.The number of mosquitoes landing on or biting each subject's hand was recorded, and the repellency percentage, landing/biting percentage and protection time for each of the formulations were compared. There were no statistically significant differences between the semisolid EO formulations with regards to the repellency percentage and the landing/biting percentage at 4 h post-application. All three semisolid EO formulations were able to repel >65% of theA. aegyptiat 4 h post-application. The EO ointment formulation provided a protection time (182.5 ± 16.01 min) that was statistically significantly longer than that associated with the EO gel formulation (97.5 ± 14.93 min). Meanwhile, the EO cream formulation provided a protection time of 162.5 ± 6.29 min. As the EO cream and ointment formulations displayed better repellent properties than the EO gel formulation, they appear to be the most promisingP. aduncumEO formulations to be developed and commercialized as alternatives to synthetic repellents.
Predator performance is impaired by the presence of a second prey species
Authors: Lima D.B. , Oliveira H.K.V. , Melo J.W.S. , Gondim M.G.C. , Sabelis M. , Pallini A. , Janssen A.
Published: November 2016

The simultaneous infestation of a plant by several species of herbivores may affect the attractiveness of plants to the natural enemies of one of the herbivores. We studied the effect of coconut fruits infested by the pestsAceria guerreronisandSteneotarsonemus concavuscutum, which are generally found together under the coconut perianth. The predatory miteNeoseiulus barakiproduced lower numbers of offspring on fruits infested withS. concavuscutumand on fruits infested with both prey than on fruits withA. guerreronisonly. The predators were attracted by odours emanating from coconuts withA. guerreronis, but not by odours from coconuts withS. concavuscutum, even whenA. guerreroniswere present on the same fruit. FewerN. barakiwere recaptured on fruits with both prey or withS. concavuscutumthan on fruits with onlyA. guerreronis. Furthermore, the quality ofA. guerreronisfrom singly and multiply infested coconuts as food forN. barakidid not differ. Concluding, our results suggest thatN. barakidoes not perform well whenS. concavuscutumis present on the coconuts, and the control ofA. guerreronisbyN. barakimay be negatively affected by the presence ofS. concavuscutum.
Novel microsatellite markers for the oriental fruit mothGrapholita molesta(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and effects of null alleles on population genetics analyses
Authors: Song W. , Cao L.-J. , Wang Y.-Z. , Li B.-Y. , Wei S.-J.
Published: November 2016

The oriental fruit moth (OFM)Grapholita molesta(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is an important economic pest of stone and pome fruits worldwide. We sequenced the OFM genome using next-generation sequencing and characterized the microsatellite distribution. In total, 56,674 microsatellites were identified, with 11,584 loci suitable for primer design. Twenty-seven polymorphic microsatellites, including 24 loci with trinucleotide repeat and three with pentanucleotide repeat, were validated in 95 individuals from four natural populations. The allele numbers ranged from 4 to 40, with an average value of 13.7 per locus. A high frequency of null alleles was observed in most loci developed for the OFM. Three marker panels, all of the loci, nine loci with the lowest null allele frequencies, and nine loci with the highest null allele frequencies, were established for population genetics analyses. The null allele influenced estimations of genetic diversity parameters but not the OFM's genetic structure. Both a STRUCTURE analysis and a discriminant analysis of principal components, using the three marker panels, divided the four natural populations into three groups. However, more individuals were incorrectly assigned by the STRUCTURE analysis when the marker panel with the highest null allele frequency was used compared with the other two panels. Our study provides empirical research on the effects of null alleles on population genetics analyses. The microsatellites developed will be valuable markers for genetic studies of the OFM.
‘THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TROUBLES’: THEPRO-ITALIAMOVEMENT'S CHALLENGE TO NATIONALISM IN BRITISH-OCCUPIED SOMALIA(1946–9)
Authors: URBANO ANNALISA
Published: November 2016

Postwar politics in British-occupied Somalia is usually reduced to the activities of the Somali Youth League, the foremost anticolonial nationalist movement. However, by 1947, smaller associations, pejoratively nicknamed thepro-Italia, came together in an effort to return Somalia to Italy under international mandate. Drawing upon new archival sources, the article argues that this movement did not stem from arguments supporting colonial rule, but rather from objections to the nationalist agenda and military occupation. Closer attention to these voices sheds light on the deeper meanings of political alignment during the change of regime and enhances our understanding of political developments in postwar Somalia.
POPPIES AND GOLD: OPIUM AND LAW-MAKING ON THE WITWATERSRAND, 1904–10
Authors: WAETJEN THEMBISA
Published: November 2016

In the wake of the South African war, the indenture and transport of over 63,000 Chinese men to gold mines in the Transvaal sparked a rush to supply smoking opium to a literally captive market. Embroiled in a growing political economy of mass intoxication, state lawmakers shifted official policy from prohibition to provision. Their innovation of an industrial drug maintenance bureaucracy, developed on behalf of mining capital in alliance with organized pharmacy and medicine, ran counter to local trends of policy reform and represents a unique episode for broader histories of modern narcotics regulation. This article considers the significance of this case and chronicles the contradictory interests and ideologies that informed political scrambles over legitimate opium uses, users, and profiteers. It shows how the state maintained its provision policy, for as long as it proved expedient, against varied and mounting public pressures – local and international – for renewed drug suppression. The argument here is that the state managed an epidemic of addiction on the Rand as an extraordinary problem of demography. It achieved this both through redefining smoking opium from intoxicant to mine medicine and through the legal construction of a ‘special biochemical zone’, which corresponded with the exceptional status and spatial segregation of a despised alien labour force.
SPEARMAN’S HYPOTHESIS TESTED COMPARING SAUDI ARABIAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH VARIOUS OTHER GROUPS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ON THE ITEMS OF THE STANDARD PROGRESSIVE MATRICES
Authors: Te NijenhuiS Jan , Batterjee Adel A. , Van Den Hoek Michael , Allik Jüri , Sukhanovskiy Vladimir
Published: November 2016

Spearman’s hypothesis tested at the level of items states that differences between ethnic groups on the items of an IQ test are a function of thegloadings of these items, such that there are small differences between ethnic groups on items with lowgloadings and large differences between ethnic groups on items with highgloadings; this has been confirmed in a limited number of studies. In this paper, Spearman’s hypothesis was tested, comparing a group of Saudi children and adolescents (N=3209) with other groups of children and adolescents from Denmark, Cyprus, Croatia, Bosnia, South Africa, Estonia, Ukraine, Ireland, Russia and Chile (totalN=9333). The analyses were carried out on twelve comparisons between the Saudi Arabian children and the other children. Spearman’s hypothesis was confirmed less strongly than in other large-scale studies with a mean weightedrvalue of 0.44. The relevance of these findings for the discussion on the causes of group differences is discussed.
Right aortic arch with isolation of the left subclavian artery: a rare association with airway obstruction
Authors: Yubbu Putri , Latiff Haifa A. , Adam Abbaker Abdel Moneim
Published: November 2016

We present two interesting cases of isolated left subclavian artery from the pulmonary artery with symptoms of upper airway obstruction. The first patient had tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary artery sling, bilateral superior caval veins, and left bronchial isomerism, suggesting heterotaxy syndrome. The second patient had a right aortic arch, isolated left subclavian artery, and bilateral arterial ducts. These two cases are interesting because of their rarity and uncommon presentation.
Operationalising the health aspects of sustainable diets: a review
Authors: Mertens Elly , van’t Veer Pieter , Hiddink Gerrit J , Steijns Jan MJM , Kuijsten Anneleen
Published: November 2016

Objective

Shifting towards a more sustainable food consumption pattern is an important strategy to mitigate climate change. In the past decade, various studies have optimised environmentally sustainable diets using different methodological approaches. The aim of the present review was to categorise and summarise the different approaches to operationalise the health aspects of environmentally sustainable diets.

Design

Conventional keyword and reference searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge and CAB Abstracts. Inclusion criteria were: (i) English-language publication; (ii) published between 2005 and October 2015; (iii) dietary data collected for the diet as a whole at the national, household or individual level; (iv) comparison of the current diet with dietary scenarios; and (v) for results to consider the health aspect in some way.

Setting

Consumer diets.

Subjects

Adult population.

Results

We reviewed forty-nine studies that combined the health and environmental aspects of consumer diets. Hereby, five approaches to operationalise the health aspect of the diet were identified: (i) food item replacements; (ii) dietary guidelines; (iii) dietary quality scores; (iv) diet modelling techniques; and (v) diet-related health impact analysis.

Conclusions

Although the sustainability concept is increasingly popular and widely advocated by nutritional and environmental scientists, the journey towards designing sustainable diets for consumers has only just begun. In the context of operationalising the health aspects, diet modelling might be considered the preferred approach since it captures the complexity of the diet as a whole. For the future, we propose SHARP diets: environmentally Sustainable (S), Healthy (H), Affordable (A), Reliable (R) and Preferred from the consumer’s perspective (P).