bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulation of CYBB Gene Expression in Human Phagocytes by a Distant Upstream NF‐κB Binding Site
Authors: Frazão Josias B. , Thain Alison , Zhu Zhiqing , Luengo Marcos , Condino‐Neto Antonio , Newburger Peter E.
Published: March 2015

The human CYBB gene encodes the gp91‐phox component of the phagocyte oxidase enzyme complex, which is responsible for generating superoxide and other downstream reactive oxygen species essential to microbial killing. In the present study, we have identified by sequence analysis a putative NF‐κB binding site in a DNase I hypersensitive site, termed HS‐II, located in the distant 5′ flanking region of the CYBB gene. Electrophoretic mobility assays showed binding of the sequence element by recombinant NF‐κB protein p50 and by proteins in nuclear extract from the HL‐60 myeloid leukemia cell line corresponding to p50 and to p50/p65 heterodimers. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated NF‐κB binding to the site in intact HL‐60 cells. Chromosome conformation capture (3C) assays demonstrated physical interaction between the NF‐κB binding site and the CYBB promoter region. Inhibition of NF‐κB activity by salicylate reduced CYBB expression in peripheral blood neutrophils and differentiated U937 monocytic leukemia cells. U937 cells transfected with a mutant inhibitor of κB “super‐repressor” showed markedly diminished CYBB expression. Luciferase reporter analysis of the NF‐κB site linked to the CYBB 5′ flanking promoter region revealed enhanced expression, augmented by treatment with interferon‐γ. These studies indicate a role for this distant, 15 kb upstream, binding site in NF‐κB regulation of the CYBB gene, an essential component of phagocyte‐mediated host defense. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2008–2017, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Protein Kinase C Is Involved in the Induction of ATP‐Binding Cassette Transporter A1 Expression by Liver X Receptor/Retinoid X Receptor Agonist in Human Macrophages
Authors: Huwait Etimad A. , Singh Nishi N. , Michael Daryn R. , Davies Thomas S. , Moss Joe W.E. , Ramji Dipak P.
Published: March 2015

The transcription of the ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene, which plays a key anti‐atherogenic role, is known to be induced by agonists of liver X receptors (LXRs). LXRs form obligate heterodimers with retinoid X receptors (RXRs) and interact with their recognition sequences in the regulatory regions of key genes implicated in the control of cholesterol, fatty acid and glucose homeostasis. We have previously shown a novel role for c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) and phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) in the LXRs‐mediated induction of macrophage gene expression. Protein kinase C (PKC) is often found to regulate the action of nuclear receptors and cross talk between this kinase family and JNK and/or PI3K has been shown in several settings. We have, therefore, investigated a potential role for PKC in the action of LXR/RXR agonist 22‐(R)‐hydroxycholesterol (22‐(R)‐HC)/9‐cis‐retinoic acid (9cRA) in THP‐1 macrophages, including the induction of ABCA1 expression. The pan PKC inhibitor bisindoylmaleimide was found to attenuate the induction of ABCA1 protein expression, the activation of the JNK signaling pathway and the stimulation of activator protein‐1 (AP‐1) DNA binding activity in macrophages treated with 22‐(R)‐HC and 9cRA. The role of PKC in the action of these ligands was confirmed further by the use of more isotype‐specific inhibitors. These studies, therefore, reveal a potentially important role for PKC in the action of 22‐(R)‐HC and 9cRA in human macrophages. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2032–2038, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
From experimental zoology to big data: Observation and integration in the study of animal development
Authors: Bolker Jessica , Brauckmann Sabine
Published: March 2015

The founding of the Journal of Experimental Zoology in 1904 was inspired by a widespread turn toward experimental biology in the 19th century. The founding editors sought to promote experimental, laboratory‐based approaches, particularly in developmental biology. This agenda raised key practical and epistemological questions about how and where to study development: Does the environment matter? How do we know that a cell or embryo isolated to facilitate observation reveals normal developmental processes? How can we integrate descriptive and experimental data? R.G. Harrison, the journal's first editor, grappled with these questions in justifying his use of cell culture to study neural patterning. Others confronted them in different contexts: for example, F.B. Sumner insisted on the primacy of fieldwork in his studies on adaptation, but also performed breeding experiments using wild‐collected animals. The work of Harrison, Sumner, and other early contributors exemplified both the power of new techniques, and the meticulous explanation of practice and epistemology that was marshaled to promote experimental approaches. A century later, experimentation is widely viewed as the standard way to study development; yet at the same time, cutting‐edge “big data” projects are essentially descriptive, closer to natural history than to the approaches championed by Harrison et al. Thus, the original questions about how and where we can best learn about development are still with us. Examining their history can inform current efforts to incorporate data from experiment and description, lab and field, and a broad range of organisms and disciplines, into an integrated understanding of animal development. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 277–291, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence and factors associated with late HIV diagnosis
Authors: Dai Se‐Ying , Liu Jin‐Ji , Fan Yin‐Guang , Shan Gui‐Su , Zhang Hong‐Bo , Li Ming‐Qiang , Ye Dong‐Qing
Published: March 2015

While highly active antiretroviral therapy has been successful in delaying progression into AIDS, late HIV diagnosis remains a major contributor to the mortality and morbidity of AIDS. An epidemiological study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and factors of late diagnosis and the characteristics of those individuals with late diagnosis in Liuzhou city. Patients with late diagnosis were defined as either those who were diagnosed with AIDS at the time of HIV diagnosis or as those who developed AIDS no more than 1 year after HIV diagnosis. Of 899 participants, 72.6% had a late diagnosis. Common characteristics of those who experienced late diagnosis included older participants, those who were unexpectedly diagnosed while seeking other medical attention, participants who believed they could not acquire HIV from their regular heterosexual partners, those who never considered getting tested for HIV, and patients with unexplained weight loss, angular cheilitis, or prolonged fever prior to HIV diagnosis. On the other hand, those participants who were diagnosed via testing at compulsory rehabilitation centers and those whose annual household income was greater than 30,000 Yuan were less likely to be diagnosed late. These results suggested that late HIV diagnosis is common in Liuzhou city, and it is essential to promote appropriate strategies to detect HIV infections earlier. Strategies that require HIV/AIDS patients to notify their spouse/sexual‐partners about their HIV‐positive results within one month and start provider‐initiated HIV testing and counseling in medical facilities are beneficial to earlier HIV diagnosis. J. Med. Virol. 87:970–977, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Long‐term variability of the East African ‘short rains’ and its links to large‐scale factors
Authors: Nicholson Sharon E.
Published: March 2015

This study utilizes a new 139‐year rainfall record for East Africa to evaluate the relationship between the ‘short rains’ of October–November and four tropical indices. These indices include the zonal winds at the surface and 200 mb over the central equatorial Indian Ocean, Niño 3.4 and the Indian Ocean Zonal Mode (IOZM). The relationships with these indices are time dependent, as are the relationships among the indices. These change markedly on a decadal timescale, consistent with regime changes indicated by other authors, and the links to El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the IOZM appear to be weaker than those suggested by previous studies. The zonal winds show the strongest and most consistent relationships with October–November rainfall. However, the relationships are very different for wet and dry years, and the zonal winds play a stronger role in producing wet conditions. Further, several factors appear to act in tandem to produce extremely wet years, but appear to act largely independently in producing drought. The links to drought have been markedly weaker since 1982. These links were also very weak roughly between 1920 and 1960, when apparently the Walker cell over the Indian Ocean was very weak and the Pacific Walker cell particularly strong. At that time, ENSO appeared to drive most of the variability of October–November rainfall, interannual variability was weak, and the rainfall was below average during most of that period. When the zonal circulation in the Indian Ocean sector became well‐developed c. 1961 and the Pacific cell weakened, both the rainfall and its interannual variability markedly increased. Overall, this study stresses the time dependence of the various relationships with East African October–November rainfall. This has strong implications for seasonal forecasting.
Communicating across cultures: proceedings of a workshop to assess health literacy and cross‐cultural communication skills
Authors: Patel Bhavini
Published: March 2015

Background

Described here are the design and proceedings of a workshop that was conducted as part of the 2014 Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia's Medicines Management Conference in Darwin in September 2014.

Aim

To pilot an on‐line self‐assessment tool to allow participants to gauge their cultural responsiveness and communication skills, and subsequently participate in interactive sessions to improve their knowledge and skills in these areas.

Methods

The assessment tool was developed by building on previous work undertaken to develop and trial a Cultural Competency self‐assessment tool. The tool is made of a total of 50 items. Items 1–14 focused on demographic details, details of the patient population the participant serves and any prior training undertaken in the areas of health literacy or cultural responsiveness. The remaining items focused on five specific areas: personal responsibility; valuing and understanding diversity; appreciating dynamics between diverse cultures; understanding organisational strategies to improve cultural and communication competence; and providing culturally and linguistically competent services. Participants were sent an e‐mail request to complete the on‐line tool 4 weeks before the workshop. Participants were asked to bring a copy of their self‐assessment to the workshop. The facilitators collated results and developed a feedback presentation. The workshop included group feedback from the self‐assessment process, followed by facilitated small group work where participants were asked to reflect on areas where they did not score highly and develop a learning plan. Groups were provided with copies of relevant pharmacy professional standards to assist in this process. The second session was facilitated by elders from an Aboriginal community who provided a presentation exploring the impact of different world‐views on people accessing and adhering to biomedical treatments including medicines. The last session involved the group developing plain English explanations of common scenarios they had difficulty with.

Results

Participants achieved a range of learning outcomes. These included assistance in assessing and understanding the impact of functional health literacy on the ability of patients and carers to make informed choices, an appreciation of the effect of different world‐views on participation and utilisation of healthcare services including medicines, and improved ability to convert health jargon into plain English to achieve better, shared understanding with patients and carers. Finally, participants were able to design a personal development plan to improve their cultural competence and communication skills.

Conclusions

Participants gained insights and practical skills in health literacy and cross‐cultural communication skills, and at the same time a model for future educational initiatives was explored and developed.
The MotherSafe experience: demystifying perceptions regarding treating pregnant or breastfeeding mothers
Authors: Hill Majella
Published: March 2015

MotherSafe is a state‐wide service operating in New South Wales, Australia. MotherSafe offers counselling services for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers regarding the potential effects of exposure to medications, radiation, possible environmental hazards, street drugs or household products, as well as the effects of occupation upon pregnancy and breastfeeding outcomes. Consumers call MotherSafe to check advice having been given by healthcare professionals, only to find that the advice has been unnecessarily alarming to the woman, and in many cases it is incorrect purely because the advice that has been provided is based upon a construct that has considered the pregnancy categorisation of the drug as an absolute fact, or upon an assumption that information relevant to pregnancy is also applicable to breastfeeding as well. Outlined here are a series of issues that should be considered in the provision of advice on these issues as they relate to pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as a summary of the resources available to inform evidence‐based advice.
Effect of Mesoscale Ordering on the Density of States of Polymeric Semiconductors
Authors: Gemünden Patrick , Poelking Carl , Kremer Kurt , Daoulas Kostas , Andrienko Denis
Published: March 2015

A multiscale simulation scheme, which incorporates both long‐range conformational disorder and local molecular ordering, is proposed for predicting large‐scale morphologies and charge transport properties of polymeric semiconductors. Using poly(3‐hexylthiophene) as an example, it is illustrated how the energy landscape and its spatial correlations evolve with increasing degree of structural order in mesophases with amorphous, uniaxial, and biaxial nematic ordering. It is shown that the formation of low‐lying energy states in more ordered systems is mostly due to larger (on average) conjugation lengths and not due to electrostatic interactions. The proposed scheme is general and can be applied to a wide range of polymeric organic materials.

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Cheminformatics Research at the Unilever Centre for Molecular Science Informatics Cambridge
Authors: Fuchs Julian E. , Bender Andreas , Glen Robert C.
Published: March 2015

The Centre for Molecular Informatics, formerly Unilever Centre for Molecular Science Informatics (UCMSI), at the University of Cambridge is a world‐leading driving force in the field of cheminformatics. Since its opening in 2000 more than 300 scientific articles have fundamentally changed the field of molecular informatics. The Centre has been a key player in promoting open chemical data and semantic access. Though mainly focussing on basic research, close collaborations with industrial partners ensured real world feedback and access to high quality molecular data. A variety of tools and standard protocols have been developed and are ubiquitous in the daily practice of cheminformatics. Here, we present a retrospective of cheminformatics research performed at the UCMSI, thereby highlighting historical and recent trends in the field as well as indicating future directions.
Separation of cellular and BOLD contributions to T2* signal relaxation
Authors: Ulrich Xialing , Yablonskiy Dmitriy A.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

The development of a reliable clinical technique for quantitative measurements of the parameters defining the BOLD effect, i.e., oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and deoxygenated cerebral blood volume, dCBV, is needed to study brain function in health and disease. Herein we propose such a technique that is based on a widely available gradient recalled echo (GRE) MRI.

Theory and Methods

Our method is based on GRE with multiple echoes and a model of signal decay (Yablonskiy, MRM 1998) that takes into account microscopic cellular (R2), mesoscopic (BOLD), and macroscopic (background field gradients) contributions to the GRE signal decay with additional accounting for physiologic fluctuations.

Results

Using 3 Tesla MRI, we generate high resolution quantitative maps of R2*, R2, R2′, and tissue concentration of deoxyhemoglobin, the latter providing a quantitative version of SWI. Our results for OEF and dCBV in gray matter are in a reasonable agreement with the literature data.

Conclusion

The proposed approach allows generating high resolution maps of hemodynamic parameters using clinical MRI. The technique can be applied to study such tissues as gray matter, tumors, etc.; however, it requires further development for use in tissues where extra‐ and intracellular compartments possess substantially different frequencies and relaxation properties (e.g., white matter). Magn Reson Med 75:606–615, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of boron clustering on the emitter quality of implanted silicon solar cells: an atom probe tomography study
Authors: Raghuwanshi Mohit , Lanterne Adeline , Le Perchec Jérôme , Pareige Philippe , Cadel Emmanuel , Gall Samuel , Duguay Sébastien
Published: March 2015

The use of ion implantation doping instead of the standard gaseous diffusion is a promising way to simplify the fabrication process of silicon solar cells. However, difficulties to form high‐quality boron (B) implanted emitters are encountered when implantation doses suitable for the emitter formation are used. This is due to a more or less complete activation of Boron after thermal annealing. To have a better insight into the actual state of the B distributions, we analyze three different B emitters prepared on textured Si wafers: (1) a BCl3 diffused emitter and two B implanted emitters (fixed dose) annealed at (2) 950°C and at (3) 1050°C (less than an hour). Our investigations are in particular based on atom probe tomography, a technique able to explore 3D atomic distribution inside a material at nanometer scale. Atom probe tomography is employed here to characterize B atomic distribution inside textured Si solar cell emitters and to quantify clustering of B atoms. Here, we show that implanted emitters annealed at 950 °C present maximum clusters due to poor solubility at lower temperature and also highest emitter saturation current density (J0e = 1000 fA/cm2). Increasing the annealing temperature results in greatly improved J0e (131 fA/cm2) due to higher solubility and a consequently lower number of clusters. BCl3 diffused emitters do not contain any B clusters and presented the best emitter quality. From our results, we conclude that clustering of B atoms is the main reason behind higher J0e in the implanted boron emitters and hence degraded emitter quality. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid, short‐term ensemble forecast adjustment through offline data assimilation
Authors: Madaus L. E. , Hakim G. J.
Published: March 2015

Rapid updates of short‐term numerical forecasts remain limited by the time it takes to assimilate observations and run a dynamical model to produce new forecasts. Here we use an ensemble‐based statistical method to adjust a user‐defined subspace of forecast grids rapidly as observations become available. Specifically, an ensemble Kalman filter is used to adjust forecast variables based on covariances between the ensemble estimate of the observation and the forecast variables. This approach allows rapid adjustment of forecast fields, or functions of those fields, ‘offline’, without the expense or time of running the full dynamical model. Furthermore, by updating an ensemble, forecast uncertainty is also adjusted. The technique is tested using operational ensemble forecasts from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts and Canadian Meteorological Centre. Results show that the method is effective at reducing forecast errors in surface pressure at least 18–24 h after the observation time, with a maximum impact of 9–15% for 12 h forecasts. Results for surface temperature show an error reduction 6–12 h after the observation time. Incorporating time‐lagged ensembles provides even greater reduction in error and a novel covariance localization technique that operates in space and time based on statistical significance is evaluated.
Capillary Force‐Driven, Hierarchical Co‐Assembly of Dandelion‐Like Peptide Microstructures
Authors: Wang Yuefei , Huang Renliang , Qi Wei , Xie Yanyan , Wang Mengfan , Su Rongxin , He Zhimin
Published: March 2015

The wetting and drying of drops on flexible fibers occurs ubiquitously in nature, and the capillary force underlying this phenomenon has motivated our great interest in learning how to direct supramolecular self‐assembly. Here, the hierarchical co‐assembly of two aromatic peptides, diphenylalanine (FF) and ferrocene‐diphenylalanine (Fc‐FF), is reported via sequential, combinatorial assembly. The resulting dandelion‐like microstructures have highly complex architectures, where FF microtube arrays serve as the scapes and the Fc‐FF nanofibers serve as the flower heads. Homogeneous FF microtubes with diameters tailored between 1 and 9 μm and wall thickness ranging from 70 to 950 nm are initially formed by controlling the degree of supersaturation of the FF and the water content. Once the FF microtubes are formed, the growth of the dandelion‐like microstructures is then driven by the capillary force, derived from the wetting and drying of the Fc‐FF solution on the FF microtubes. This simple and ingenious strategy offers many opportunities to develop new and creative methods for controlling the hierarchical self‐assembly of peptides and thus building highly complex nano and microstructures.
Comparison of Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Acid Hydrolysis of Sterol Glycosides from Foods Rich in Δ7‐Sterols
Authors: Münger Linda H. , Jutzi Sabrina , Lampi Anna‐Maija , Nyström Laura
Published: March 2015

In this study, we present the difference in sterol composition of extracted steryl glycosides (SG) hydrolyzed by either enzymatic or acid hydrolysis. SG were analyzed from foods belonging to the plant families Cucurbitaceae (melon and pumpkin seeds) and Amaranthaceae (amaranth and beetroot), both of which are dominated by Δ7‐sterols. Released sterols were quantified by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC‐FID) and identified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS). All Δ7‐sterols identified (Δ7‐stigmastenyl, spinasteryl, Δ7‐campesteryl, Δ7‐avenasteryl, poriferasta‐7,25‐dienyl and poriferasta‐7,22,25‐trienyl glucoside) underwent isomerization under acidic conditions and high temperature. Sterols with an ethylidene or methylidene side chain were found to form multiple artifacts. The artifact sterols coeluted with residues of incompletely isomerized Δ7‐sterols, or Δ5‐sterols if present, and could be identified as Δ8(14)‐sterols on the basis of relative retention time, and their MS spectra as trimethylsilyl (TMS) and acetate derivatives. For instance, SG from melon were composed of 66 % Δ7‐stigmastenol when enzymatic hydrolysis was performed, whereas with acid hydrolysis only 8 % of Δ7‐stigmastenol was determined. The artifact of Δ7‐stigmastenol coeluted with residual non‐isomerized spinasterol, demonstrating the high risk of misinterpretation of compositional data obtained after acid hydrolysis. Therefore, the accurate composition of SG from foods containing sterols with a double bond at C‐7 can only be obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis or by direct analysis of the intact SG.
Missense-Mutationen in Transkriptionsfaktoren
Authors: Ibrahim Daniel Murad
Published: March 2015

Transkriptionsfaktoren sind entscheidende Regulatoren der Embryonalentwicklung, da sie die Genexpression in jeder Zelle kontrollieren. Mutationen in Transkriptionsfaktoren liegen häufig angeborenen Entwicklungsdefekten zugrunde, jedoch ist die funktionelle Einschätzung der Pathogenität einzelner Transkriptionsfaktorvarianten anspruchsvoll, da die molekulare Funktionsweise von Transkriptionsfaktoren nicht vollkommen verstanden ist. Besonders Gain-of-Function-Mutationen führen häufig zu neuen, unerwarteten Phänotypen, deren funktionelle Charakterisierung eine Herausforderung darstellt. Die im letzten Jahrzehnt entwickelte ChIP-seq-Technologie ermöglicht es, die molekularen Mechanismen zu unterscheiden, welche Transkriptionsfaktor-assoziierten Krankheiten zugrunde liegen. Dieser Artikel fasst die molekularen Pathomechanismen diverser Transkriptionsfaktormutationen zusammen und versucht einen molekularbiologischen Rahmen für die Bewertung neuer Transkriptionsfaktormutationen zu geben.
Target fabrication for the POLAR experiment on the Orion laser facility
Authors: Spindloe C. , Wyatt D. , Haddock D. , East I. , Cross J.E. , Danson C.N. , Falize E. , Foster J.M. , Koenig M. , Gregori G.
Published: March 2015

This article describes the fabrication of a suite of laser targets by the Target Fabrication group in the Central Laser Facility (CLF), STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory for the first academic-access experiment on the Orion laser facility (Hopps et al., Appl. Opt. 52, 3597–3601 (2013)) at Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). This experiment, part of the POLAR project (Falize et al., Astrophys. Space Sci. 336, 81–85 (2011); Busschaert et al., New J. Phys. 15, 035020 (2013)), studied conditions relevant to the radiation-hydrodynamic processes occurring in a remarkable class of astrophysical star systems known as magnetic cataclysmic variables. A large number of complex fabrication technologies and research and development activities were required to field a total of 80 high-specification targets. Target design and fabrication procedures are described and initial alignment and characterization data are discussed.
Why are lions killing us? Human–wildlife conflict and social discontent in Mbire District, northern Zimbabwe
Authors: Matema Steven , Andersson Jens A.
Published: March 2015

An emerging perspective on Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) in Zimbabwe is that increased authoritarianism in governance has enabled elite capture of wildlife resources and silenced local people's voices. This paper qualifies this perspective, showing how ordinary people continue to raise their concerns about local governance. In the Mbire district, people's interpretations of an upsurge in lion attacks on livestock and people in early 2010 took on a dimension of social commentary on the evolving governance arrangements in the district and beyond. Beneath an apparent human–wildlife conflict lie complex human–human conflicts about access to, and governance of, wildlife resources. Interpretations of the lion attacks built on two distinct epistemologies – a local religious discourse on spirit lions and an ecological one – but invariably construed outsiders as the ones accountable for local problems. This construction of outsiders is also a salient feature of Zimbabwean political discourse. Local voices thus constitute a widely understood discourse of protest.
Introduction – from type theory and homotopy theory to univalent foundations
Authors: AWODEY STEVE , GAMBINO NICOLA , PALMGREN ERIK
Published: March 2015

We give an overview of the main ideas involved in the development of homotopy type theory and the univalent foundations of Mathematics programme. This serves as a background for the research papers published in the special issue.
Health-seeking behaviour and community perceptions of childhood undernutrition and a community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) programme in rural Bihar, India: a qualitative study
Authors: Burtscher Doris , Burza Sakib
Published: March 2015

Objective

Since 2009, Médecins Sans Frontières has implemented a community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) programme in rural Biraul block, Bihar State, India that has admitted over 10 000 severely malnourished children but has struggled with poor coverage and default rates. With the aim of improving programme outcomes we undertook a qualitative study to understand community perceptions of childhood undernutrition, the CMAM programme and how these affected health-seeking behaviour.

Design

Semi-structured and narrative interviews were undertaken with families of severely malnourished children, non-undernourished children and traditional and allopathic health-care workers. Analysis of transcripts was by qualitative content analysis.

Setting

Biraul, Bihar State, India, 2010.

Subjects

One hundred and fifty people were interviewed in individual or group discussions during fifty-eight interviews.

Results

Undernutrition was not viewed as a disease; instead, local disease concepts were identified that described the clinical spectrum of undernutrition. These concepts informed perception, so caregivers were unlikely to consult health workers if children were ‘only skinny’. Hindu and Muslim priests and other traditional health practitioners were more regularly consulted and perceived as easier to access than allopathic health facilities. Senior family members and village elders had significant influence on the health-seeking behaviour of parents of severely malnourished children.

Conclusions

The results reaffirm how health education and CMAM programmes should encompass local disease concepts, beliefs and motivations to improve awareness that undernutrition is a disease and one that can be treated. CMAM is well accepted by the community; however, programmes must do better to engage communities, including traditional healers, to enable development of a holistic approach within existing social structures.
An obesogenic island in the Mediterranean: mapping potential drivers of obesity in Malta
Authors: Cauchi Daniel , Rutter Harry , Knai Cecile
Published: March 2015

Objective

The prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in Malta is among the highest in the world. Although increasingly recognised as a public health problem with substantial future economic implications for the national health and social care systems, understanding the context underlying the burden of obesity is necessary for the development of appropriate counter-strategies.

Design

We conducted a contextual analysis to explore factors that may have potentially contributed to the establishment of an obesogenic environment in Malta. A search of the literature published between 1990 and 2013 was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE. Twenty-two full-text articles were retrieved. Additional publications were identified following recommendations by Maltese public health experts; a review of relevant websites; and thorough hand searching of back issues of theMalta Medical Journalsince 1990.

Setting

Malta.

Subjects

Whole population, with a focus on children.

Results

Results are organised and presented using the ANalysis Grid for Elements Linked to Obesity (ANGELO) framework. Physical, economic, policy and socio-cultural dimensions of the Maltese obesogenic environment are explored.

Conclusions

Malta’s obesity rates may be the result of an obesogenic environment characterised by limited infrastructure for active living combined with an energy-dense food supply. Further research is required to identify and quantify the strength of interactions between these potential environmental drivers of obesity in order to enable appropriate countermeasures to be developed.
Membrane antenna array based on substrate integrated waveguide technology for 94 GHz communication systems
Authors: Vettikalladi Hamsakutty , Saleem Muhammad Kamran , Alkanhal Majeed A.S.
Published: March 2015

The design and the results of a single slot coupled substrate integrated waveguide (SIW)-fed membrane antenna and a 1 × 4 array is presented for 94 GHz communication system. The membrane antenna is designed using Ansys high frequency structure simulator and consists of six layers. The microstrip patch antenna placed on the top pyralux substrate layer is excited by means of a longitudinal rectangular slot placed over the SIW structure in the bottom pyralux substrate. The simulated antenna impedance bandwidth is found to be 5 GHz (91.5–96.5 GHz) for both single element and 1 × 4 array. Furthermore, the gain is found to be 7 and 13 dBi for the single element and the 1 × 4 array elements, respectively. The results are verified using Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio and are found to be in good agreement.
How Do Tiny Ice Crystals Help Sea Ice Stay Thick?
Authors: Palus Shannon
Published: March 2015

Supercooled water contributes to sea ice growth in Antarctica.
Satellite Data Yield Detailed Picture of the Lunar Wake
Authors: Rosen Julia
Published: March 2015

Researchers use satellite data to characterize the physical properties of the lunar wake and the processes that govern it.
Increasing Diversity in the Geosciences
Authors: Huntoon Jacqueline E. , Tanenbaum Courtney , Hodges Jill
Published: March 2015

Studies show that increasing students' "sense of belonging" may help retain underrepresented minorities in geoscience fields. A few programs highlight successes.
Inflammation‐induced foam cell formation in chronic inflammatory disease
Authors: Angelovich Thomas A , Hearps Anna C , Jaworowski Anthony
Published: March 2015

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and is both a metabolic and inflammatory disease. Two models describe early events initiating atherosclerotic plaque formation, whereby foam cells form in response to hyperlipidaemia or inflammation‐associated stimuli. Although these models are inextricably linked and not mutually exclusive, identifying the unique contribution of each in different disease settings remains an important question. Circulating monocytes are key mediators of atherogenesis in both models as precursors to lipid‐laden foam cells formed in response to either excess lipid deposition in arteries, signalling via pattern‐associated molecular patterns or a combination of the two. In this review, we assess the role of monocytes in each model and discuss how key steps in atherogenesis may be targeted to enhance clinical outcomes in patients with chronic inflammatory disease.
Moving to the suburbs: T‐cell positioning within lymph nodes during activation and memory
Authors: Groom Joanna R
Published: March 2015

Lymph nodes are highly organized secondary lymphoid structures crucial for the initiation of immune responses. Naive T cells are strategically located within lymph nodes to optimize their encounter with antigen‐loaded dendritic cells. Recent advances in 3D lymph node imaging and tissue reconstruction along with methods for the detection of chemokine expression and gradients have highlighted how T cells position themselves during activation and memory responses. This article covers new insights into the guidance mechanisms that co‐ordinate T‐cell responses within draining lymph nodes. Furthering our understanding of how these pathways are regulated and promoted will lead to the exploitation of T‐cell positioning to further strategize vaccine design.
Quantifying the relative roles of selective and neutral processes in defining eukaryotic microbial communities
Authors: Morrison-Whittle Peter , Goddard Matthew R
Published: March 2015

We have a limited understanding of the relative contributions of different processes that regulate microbial communities, which are crucial components of both natural and agricultural ecosystems. The contributions of selective and neutral processes in defining community composition are often confounded in field studies because as one moves through space, environments also change. Managed ecosystems provide an excellent opportunity to control for this and evaluate the relative strength of these processes by minimising differences between comparable niches separated at different geographic scales. We use next-generation sequencing to characterize the variance in fungal communities inhabiting adjacent fruit, soil and bark in comparable vineyards across 1000 kms in New Zealand. By compartmentalizing community variation, we reveal that niche explains at least four times more community variance than geographic location. We go beyond merely demonstrating that different communities are found in both different niches and locations by quantifying the forces that define these patterns. Overall, selection unsurprisingly predominantly shapes these microbial communities, but we show the balance of neutral processes also have a significant role in defining community assemblage in eukaryotic microbes.
Photonic crystals cause active colour change in chameleons
Authors: Teyssier Jérémie , Saenko Suzanne V. , van der Marel Dirk , Milinkovitch Michel C.
Published: March 2015

Many chameleons, and panther chameleons in particular, have the remarkable ability to exhibit complex and rapid colour changes during social interactions such as male contests or courtship. It is generally interpreted that these changes are due to dispersion/aggregation of pigment-containing organelles within dermal chromatophores. Here, combining microscopy, photometric videography and photonic band-gap modelling, we show that chameleons shift colour through active tuning of a lattice of guanine nanocrystals within a superficial thick layer of dermal iridophores. In addition, we show that a deeper population of iridophores with larger crystals reflects a substantial proportion of sunlight especially in the near-infrared range. The organization of iridophores into two superposed layers constitutes an evolutionary novelty for chameleons, which allows some species to combine efficient camouflage with spectacular display, while potentially providing passive thermal protection.
Analog time-reversed ultrasonically encoded light focusing inside scattering media with a 33,000× optical power gain
Authors: Ma Cheng , Xu Xiao , Wang Lihong V.
Published: March 2015

Recent breakthrough in wavefront engineering shows great promises in controlling light propagation inside scattering media. At present, the digital approaches enjoy high gain, while their speeds are slow because of high data throughputs. In contrast, the analog approaches are intrinsically fast but suffer from poor efficiencies and small gains. Further improvements in both speed and gain are necessary to advance the existing technologies toward real-world applications. Here, we report analog time-reversal of acousto-optically tagged photons with a flux amplification of over 33,000 times (45 dB) at a target location inside scattering media. Such a substantial power gain enhancement is achieved when the temporal width of the time-reversed photon packet is squeezed below the carrier-recombination-limited hologram decay time in a photorefractive crystal. Despite a focusing energy gain below unity, the unprecedented power gain is expected to enable new optical imaging, sensing, manipulation and treatment applications.
Paliperidone and aripiprazole differentially affect the strength of calcium-secretion coupling in female pituitary lactotrophs
Authors: Kucka Marek , Tomić Melanija , Bjelobaba Ivana , Stojilkovic Stanko S. , Budimirovic Dejan B.
Published: March 2015

Hyperprolactinemia is a common adverse in vivo effect of antipsychotic medications that are used in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. Here, we compared the effects of two atypical antipsychotics, paliperidone and aripiprazole, on cAMP/calcium signaling and prolactin release in female rat pituitary lactotrophs in vitro. Dopamine inhibited spontaneous cAMP/calcium signaling and prolactin release. In the presence of dopamine, paliperidone rescued cAMP/calcium signaling and prolactin release in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas aripiprazole was only partially effective. In the absence of dopamine, paliperidone stimulated cAMP/calcium signaling and prolactin release, whereas aripiprazole inhibited signaling and secretion more potently but less effectively than dopamine. Forskolin-stimulated cAMP production was facilitated by paliperidone and inhibited by aripiprazole, although the latter was not as effective as dopamine. None of the compounds affected prolactin transcript activity, intracellular prolactin accumulation, or growth hormone secretion. These data indicate that paliperidone has dual hyperprolactinemic actions in lactotrophs i) by preserving the coupling of spontaneous electrical activity and prolactin secretion in the presence of dopamine and ii) by inhibiting intrinsic dopamine receptor activity in the absence of dopamine, leading to enhanced calcium signaling and secretion. In contrast, aripiprazole acts on prolactin secretion by attenuating, but not abolishing, calcium-secretion coupling.
Simultaneous imaging of the topography and electrochemical activity of a 2D carbon nanotube network using a dual functional L-shaped nanoprobe
Authors: Lee Eunjoo , Sung Jungwoo , An Taechang , Shin Heungjoo , Gil Nam Hong , Lim Geunbae
Published: March 2015

Simultaneous imaging of the topography and electrochemical activity using a dual functional L-shaped nanoprobe.
Giant magnetoresistance in zigzag MoS2 nanoribbons
Authors: Peng Li , Yao Kailun , Wu Ruqian , Wang Shuling , Zhu Sicong , Ni Yun , Zu Fengxia , Liu Zuli , Guo Bin
Published: March 2015

Zigzag MoS2 nanoribbons are expected to have giant magnetoresistance effect by altering the configuration from the parallel to the antiparallel spin junction.
Comment on “Decomposition mechanisms of trinitroalkyl compounds: a theoretical study from aliphatic to aromatic nitro compounds” by G. Fayet, P. Rotureau, B. Minisini, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 6614
Authors: Kiselev Vitaly G.
Published: March 2015

The approach proposed in the original paper yields spurious contributions to both enthalpy and entropy of activation of barrierless reactions. This renders reaction branching ratios intrinsically biased towards radical decomposition of nitro species.
Orbital entanglement and CASSCF analysis of the Ru–NO bond in a Ruthenium nitrosyl complex
Authors: Freitag Leon , Knecht Stefan , Keller Sebastian F. , Delcey Mickaël G. , Aquilante Francesco , Bondo Pedersen Thomas , Lindh Roland , Reiher Markus , González Leticia
Published: March 2015

Multiconfigurational wavefunction analysis and entanglement measures based on von Neumann entropy shed light on the electronic structure of a Ru nitrosyl complex, in particular on the Ru–NO bond.
Probing the morphological influence on solid electrolyte interphase and impedance response in intercalation electrodes
Authors: Chen Chien-Fan , Mukherjee Partha P.
Published: March 2015

The microstructure-aware impedance model allows for the impact of active material morphology on the SEI formation and corresponding impedance response.
NEXAFS and XPS studies of nitrosyl chloride
Authors: Schio Luca , Li Cui , Monti Susanna , Salén Peter , Yatsyna Vasyl , Feifel Raimund , Alagia Michele , Richter Robert , Falcinelli Stefano , Stranges Stefano , Zhaunerchyk Vitali , Carravetta Vincenzo
Published: March 2015

The electronic structure of nitrosyl chloride (ClNO) has been investigated in the gas phase by X-ray Photoelectron (XPS) and Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy at the Cl 2p, Cl 2s, N 1s and O 1s edges in a combined experimental and theoretical study.
Photochemical CO2-reduction catalyzed by mono- and dinuclear phenanthroline-extended tetramesityl porphyrin complexes
Authors: Matlachowski Corinna , Schwalbe Matthias
Published: March 2015

The conversion of CO2 into CO is catalyzed by mono- and dinuclear phenanthroline-extended porphyrin complexes. The influence of the central metal center in the porphyrin cavity as well as of an attached ruthenium fragment at the phenanthroline moiety was investigated in wavelength-dependent photolysis experiments.
Helical arylamide foldamers: structure prediction by molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Liu Zhiwei , Abramyan Ara M. , Pophristic Vojislava
Published: March 2015

Snapshots from molecular dynamics simulations showcase how substituent positions and linkage types affect the secondary structure properties of fluorobenzene based helical arylamides.
Synthesis and characterization of novel dumbbell shaped copolymers poly(ethylene oxide)x-b-polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide)x with tunable side arms by combination of efficient thiol-ene addition reaction with living polymerization mechanism
Authors: Chen Lingdi , Huang Jian , Wang Xuepu , Lu Chengjiao , Zhang Hongdong , Wang Guowei
Published: March 2015

A series of well-defined dumbbell shaped copolymers consisting of PEO and PS segments were successfully synthesized by LAP and ROP mechanisms and the efficient thiol-ene addition reaction. This versatile synthetic route might be used to synthesize other similar copolymers.
Ozonolysis of a series of C7–C9 unsaturated biogenic aldehydes: reactivity study at atmospheric pressure
Authors: Colmán Elizabeth Gaona , Blanco María B. , Barnes Ian , Teruel Mariano A.
Published: March 2015

Rate coefficients for the reactions of ozone with the biogenic aldehydestrans-2-heptenal,trans-2-octenal andtrans-2-nonenal have been determined in an environmental chamber at 298 K in 990 mbar air usingin situFTIR spectroscopy to monitor the reactants.
CO2 adsorption on single-walled boron nitride nanotubes containing vacancy defects
Authors: Costa Paura Edson Nunes , da Cunha Wiliam F. , Roncaratti Luiz Fernando , Martins João B. L. , e Silva Geraldo M. , Gargano Ricardo
Published: March 2015

The adsorption of a CO2 molecule on the vacancy defect type of armchair (5,5) and zigzag (10,0) single-walled boron nitride nanotubes was studied based on Density Functional Theory (DFT).
Ternary oxide nanostructured materials for supercapacitors: a review
Authors: Chen Di , Wang Qiufan , Wang Rongming , Shen Guozhen
Published: March 2015

Materials engineering plays a key role in the field of electrochemical energy storage, and considerable efforts have been made in recent years to fulfil the future requirements of electrochemical energy storage using novel functional electrode materials.
A Ti4+-immobilized phosphate polymer-patterned silicon substrate for on-plate selective enrichment and self-desalting of phosphopeptides
Authors: Xu Lei , Zhu Wei , Sun Rui , Ding Yin
Published: March 2015

A circular hydrophobic–hydrophilic-Ti4+ immobilized phosphate polymer is patterned as the sample support for selective enrichment, wash-free self-desalting and mass spectroscopy (MS) analysis of phosphopeptides.
Assignment of Colletotrichum coccodes isolates into vegetative compatibility groups using infrared spectroscopy: a step towards practical application
Authors: Salman A. , Shufan E. , Lapidot I. , Tsror L. , Moreh R. , Mordechai S. , Huleihel M.
Published: March 2015

FTIR spectroscopy may provide a specific, rapid, and inexpensive method for the successful classification of Colletotrichum coccodes isolates into vegetative compatibility groups.
Visible light photooxidation of nitrate: the dawn of a nocturnal radical
Authors: Hering T. , Slanina T. , Hancock A. , Wille U. , König B.
Published: March 2015

Highly oxidizing nitrate radicals (NO3˙) are easily accessed from readily available nitrate salts by visible light photoredox catalysis using a purely organic dye as the catalyst and oxygen as the terminal oxidant.
Ab initio modeling of single wall nanotubes folded from α- and γ-V2O5 monolayers: structural, electronic and vibrational properties
Authors: Porsev V. V. , Bandura A. V. , Evarestov R. A.
Published: March 2015

The atomic, electronic and vibration properties of single wall α- and γ-V2O5 nanotubes of possible chiralities have been computationally investigated.
A correlation study between hydrogen-bonded network and gelation ability of three galactose derivatives
Authors: Mukherjee Somnath , Rama Krishna G. , Mukhopadhyay Balaram , Malla Reddy C.
Published: March 2015

The hydrogen bonding network in the crystals of the three saccharides was correlated with their gelling ability or inability, and unexpectedly, a 2D hydrogen-bonded system was found to show efficient gelation, whereas a 1D hydrogen bonding system was a nongelator.