bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time to Chemotherapy After Abdominoperineal Resection: Comparison Between Primary Closure and Perineal Flap Reconstruction
Authors: Althumairi Azah A. , Canner Joseph K. , Ahuja Nita , Sacks Justin M. , Safar Bashar , Efron Jonathan E.
Published: September 2015

Background

Wound complications are frequent flowing abdominoperineal resection (APR); this can lengthen the time to chemotherapy. Flap reconstruction is being used in an attempt to improve wound healing.

Objectives

To assess the effect of flap reconstruction after APR on time to perineal wound healing and administration of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients who underwent APR for rectal adenocarcinoma between 2002 and 2012 was performed. Patients were divided into two groups based on type of perineal wound closure (primary vs. flap). Patients were compared for time to perineal wound healing, and time to adjuvant chemotherapy.

Results

115 patients were identified; of whom 67 received adjuvant chemotherapy. 56 (84 %) patients underwent primary closure while 11 (16 %) underwent flap reconstruction. There was no difference in time to perineal wound healing (6.8 vs. 6.3 weeks, p = 0.40) and time to receive adjuvant chemotherapy (9.3 vs. 10.7 weeks, p = 0.79) between the primary closure and flap reconstruction groups, respectively. 25 (45 %) of the primary closure group had a delay in receiving adjuvant chemotherapy versus 6 (55 %) of the flap reconstruction group (p = 0.55). Delay in receiving adjuvant chemotherapy because of perineal wound complications occurred in 18 (32 %) patients with primary closure versus 3 (28 %) patients with flap reconstruction (p = 0.14).

Conclusions

Flap reconstruction does not reduce the length of time to initiating chemotherapy; there was no difference in length of healing between the two groups. Therefore, flap reconstruction should be selectively used based on the size of the perineal defect.
A Rare Aggressive Fetal Intracranial Tumor
Authors: Kapoor Ravi , Bansal Ashutosh , Aggarwal Aakriti Kapoor , Aggarwal Abhinav , Chaddha Vandana , Kapoor Sunita
Published: September 2015

Congenital brain tumors, especially tumors diagnosed before birth, are very rare. This article describes a case of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) diagnosed by ultrasonography at 24 weeks of gestation. Follow-up ultrasound study and MRI at 27 weeks of gestation revealed aggressive growth and complications of tumor. The diagnosis was confirmed at autopsy. Prenatal diagnosis of PNET or other congenital brain tumors is important because the presence of tumors may alter the time and mode of delivery and planning of postnatal care.
Alzheimer's genetic risk intensifies neurocognitive slowing associated with diabetes in nondemented older adults
Authors: McFall G. Peggy , Wiebe Sandra A. , Vergote David , Anstey Kaarin J. , Dixon Roger A.
Published: September 2015

Introduction

We examine interactive and intensification effects of type 2 diabetes (T2D) with APOE and an Alzheimer's disease genetic risk score (GRS) on neurocognitive speed performance and change in nondemented older adults.

Methods

In an accelerated longitudinal design, we used latent growth modeling to test moderators of level and change in a neurocognitive speed latent variable for 628 adults (baseline median age = 69.0) followed over 9 years. The GRS was compiled using the cumulative risk of APOE, CLU, CR1, and PICALM.

Results

First, T2D predicted slower speed performance at centering age (75). Second, no predictive effects were associated with APOE or GRS. Third, a significant interaction showed that high risk from both T2D and GRS was selectively associated with steeper longitudinal slowing than all comparison cross‐domain risk groups.

Discussion

Higher AD‐related genetic risk intensified deleterious effects of diabetes on neurocognitive slowing in nondemented aging beyond the independent influence of APOE.
Wnts grasp the WIF domain of Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1 at two distinct binding sites
Authors: Kerekes Krisztina , Bányai László , Patthy László
Published: September 2015

Wnts have a structure resembling a hand with “thumb” and “index” fingers that grasp the cysteine rich domains of Frizzled receptors at two distinct binding sites. In the present work we show that the WIF domain of Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1 is also bound by Wnts at two sites. Using C‐terminal domains of Wnt5a and Wnt7a and arginine‐scanning mutagenesis of the WIF domain we demonstrate that, whereas the N‐terminal, lipid‐modified “thumb” of Wnts interacts with the alkyl‐binding site of the WIF domain, the C‐terminal domain of Wnts (Wnt‐CTD) binds to a surface on the opposite side of the WIF domain.
FHL1 activates myostatin signalling in skeletal muscle and promotes atrophy
Authors: Lee Jen Y. , Lori Dede , Wells Dominic J. , Kemp Paul R.
Published: September 2015

Myostatin is a TGFβ family ligand that reduces muscle mass. In cancer cells, TGFβ signalling is increased by the protein FHL1. Consequently, FHL1 may promote signalling by myostatin. We therefore tested the ability of FHL1 to regulate myostatin function. FHL1 increased the myostatin activity on a SMAD reporter and increased myostatin dependent myotube wasting. In mice, independent expression of myostatin reduced fibre diameter whereas FHL1 increased fibre diameter, both consistent with previously identified effects of these proteins. However, co‐expression of FHL1 and myostatin reduced fibre diameter to a greater extent than myostatin alone. Together, these data suggest that the expression of FHL1 may exacerbate muscle wasting under the appropriate conditions.
Rwanda and Ethiopia: Developmental Authoritarianism and the New Politics of African Strong Men
Authors: Matfess Hilary
Published: September 2015

Current classification systems create typologies of authoritarian regimes that may overlook the importance of national policies. Rwanda and Ethiopia in particular are perplexing case studies of post-1990s governance. Both nations are characterized by high growth economies with significant state involvement and the formal institutions of democracy, but deeply troubling patterns of domestic governance. This article proposes a new category of authoritarianism called “developmental authoritarianism,” which refers to nominally democratic governments that provide significant public works and services while exerting control over nearly every facet of society. The article then reflects upon the durability and implications of this form of governance.
Best interests and the raison d’être of health care
Authors: Riordan V.
Published: September 2015

The report of the expert group on the review of the Mental Health Act has recommended that the requirement to consider the best interests of the person be replaced by a list of guiding principles, which focus on the autonomy of the individual. The implied rationale for this is that acting in our patients’ best interests may be a violation of their human rights. Dignity is being proposed as an alternative way of capturing ‘the positive aspects associated with best interests’, but it is not clear how dignity is preferable to best interests. Both approaches may help protect the most vulnerable from exploitation. However, unlike best interests, dignity can be used as a synonym for autonomy. Valuing autonomy as a means to an end (instrumental value) should be distinguished from valuing autonomy as an end in itself (intrinsic value). As the ultimate end of instrumental autonomy is invariably the person’s best interests, abandoning that principle renders instrumental autonomy obsolete, leaving intrinsic autonomy as the supreme value. As best interest, dignity and autonomy rarely conflict, the proposed changes may appear minor, but they are not. When such values do conflict, acting against our patients’ interests may become inevitable.
An Analysis of the Role of Teachers’ Aides in a State Secondary School: Perceptions of Teaching Staff and Teachers’ Aides
Authors: Gibson Dianne , Paatsch Louise , Toe Dianne
Published: September 2015

In Victoria, Australia, one of the major roles of the teachers’ aide (TA) is to assist students with disabilities to access their education. Researchers have identified the inconsistencies in defining the roles of the TA, in a variety of settings, by TAs, teachers, parents, and other research participants. Four main themes that have been frequently reported in educational research related to the role of TAs formed the basis for this study: (a) inclusion in the school community, (b) curriculum, (c) classroom management, and (d) student support.

Drawing on the results of a questionnaire administered to teachers and TAs at a government nonselective secondary school in Victoria, Australia, data were collected to explore the differing perspectives on the role of the TAs by the teaching staff and the TAs. In all, 65 individuals participated in this study. The participants formed 3 groups: TAs (n= 10), teachers (n= 49), and T/TAs (n= 6; participants in this group had worked as both a teacher and TA). The results of the study showed a diversity of views across the 4 themes. In 3 of the 4 themes that included inclusion, classroom management, and student support, the 3 groups agreed on the role of the TA. In the remaining theme, curriculum, opinions varied significantly. The results of the study reveal that a concerted effort to clarify the role of TAs would be beneficial to all stakeholders.
Climate Change in a Multinomial World
Authors: Morgan Robert F.
Published: September 2015

“This is a new day, fresh and untouched. What will we do with it?” -Morning welcome, Native American Church.

These days my own mornings do not begin untouched. They come with finger prints.

On our planet's north and south hemispheres outside what we think of as the tropical zone, half the year is growing warmer in an accelerating manner. The other half of the year is marked with extreme changes: sometimes even colder with heavier snowfall. Climate change has put more moisture in the air, leading to a redistribution of water on a global scale. Millennial floods in some places, severe drought in others. Insect species should thrive under these new conditions while other species, note the current devastation in our oceans, may find the new conditions more than they can survive.
Dietary flavonoid intakes and CVD incidence in the Framingham Offspring Cohort
Authors: Jacques Paul F. , Cassidy Aedin , Rogers Gail , Peterson Julia J. , Dwyer Johanna T.
Published: September 2015

This study examines the relationship between long-term intake of six flavonoid classes and incidence of CVD and CHD, using a comprehensive flavonoid database and repeated measures of intake, while accounting for possible confounding by components of a healthy dietary pattern. Flavonoid intakes were assessed using a FFQ among the Framingham Offspring Cohort at baseline and three times during follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to characterise prospective associations between the natural logarithms of flavonoid intakes and CVD incidence using a time-dependent approach, in which intake data were updated at each examination to represent average intakes from previous examinations. Mean baseline age was 54 years, and 45 % of the population was male. Over an average 14·9 years of follow-up among 2880 participants, there were 518 CVD events and 261 CHD events. After multivariable adjustment, only flavonol intake was significantly associated with lower risk of CVD incidence (hazard ratios (HR) per 2·5-fold flavonol increase=0·86,Ptrend=0·05). Additional adjustment for total fruit and vegetable intake and overall diet quality attenuated this observation (HR=0·89,Ptrend=0·20 and HR=0·92,Ptrend=0·33, respectively). There were no significant associations between flavonoids and CHD incidence after multivariable adjustment. Our findings suggest that the observed association between flavonol intake and CVD risk may be a consequence of better overall diet. However, the strength of this non-significant association was also consistent with relative risks observed in previous meta-analyses, and therefore a modest benefit of flavonol intake on CVD risk cannot be ruled out.
Suppression of runaway electron generation by massive helium injection after induced disruptions on TEXTOR
Authors: Lvovskiy A. , Koslowski H. R. , Zeng L. ,   The TEXTOR Team
Published: September 2015

Disruptions with runaway electron generation have been deliberately induced by injection of argon using a disruption mitigation valve. A second disruption mitigation valve has been utilised to inject varying amounts of helium after a short time delay. No generation of runaway electrons has been observed when more than a critical amount of helium has been injected no later than 5 ms after the triggering of the first valve. The required amount of helium for suppression of runaway electron generation is up to one order of magnitude lower than the critical density according to Connor & Hastie (1975) and Rosenbluth & Putvinski (1997).
The challenges of forecasting resilience
Authors: Chang Luke J. , Reddan Marianne , Ashar Yoni K. , Eisenbarth Hedwig , Wager Tor D.
Published: September 2015

Developing prospective models of resilience using the translational and transdiagnostic framework proposed in the target article is a challenging endeavor and will require large-scale data sets with dense intraindividual temporal sampling and innovative analytic methods.
Phenotypic programming as a distal cause of resilience
Authors: Nederhof Esther
Published: September 2015

During early childhood, individuals with high sensitivity to early programming adjust their phenotype in a way that is expected to be adaptive in their later environment. These adaptations are hypothesized to result in resilience in environments that match the early environment. As appraisal style is a putative target of adaptive programming, early experiences could be a distal cause of resilience.
Optimal gait planning for humanoids with 3D structure walking on slippery surfaces
Authors: Khadiv Majid , Moosavian S. Ali A. , Yousefi-Koma Aghil , Sadedel Majid , Mansouri Saeed
Published: September 2015

In this study, a gait optimization routine is developed to generate walking patterns which demand the lowest friction forces for implementation. The aim of this research is to fully address the question “which walking pattern demands the lowest coefficient of friction amongst all feasible patterns?”. To this end, first, the kinematic structure of the considered 31 DOF (Degrees of Freedom) humanoid robot is investigated and a closed-form dynamics model for its lower-body is developed. Then, the medium through which the walking pattern generation is conducted is presented. In this medium, after designing trajectories for the feet and the pelvis, the joint space variables are obtained, using the inverse kinematics. Finally, by employing a genetic algorithm (GA), an optimization process is conducted to generate walking patterns with the minimum Required Coefficient Of Friction (RCOF). Six parameters are adopted to parameterize the pelvis trajectory and are exploited as the design variables in this optimization procedure. Also, a parametrical study is accomplished to address the effects of some other variables on RCOF. For comparison purposes, a tip-over Stability Margin (SM) is defined, and an optimization procedure is conducted to maximize this margin. Finally, the proposed gait planning procedure is implemented on SURENA III, a humanoid robot designed and fabricated in CAST, to validate the developed simulation procedure. The obtained results reveal merits of the proposed optimal gait planning procedure in terms of RCOF.
Comforted But Not Compensated? Mourners and Funeral Picketing in English Law
Authors: Shelbourn Carolyn
Published: September 2015

In recent years there have been protests at Armistice Day services and at the funeral of Margaret Thatcher, but these events seem insignificant compared to the impact of the ‘funeral picketing’ carried out in the United States by members of the Westboro Baptist Church, principally at the funerals of American forces personnel killed on active service. This has caused considerable distress to family members and wide public outrage. In 2011 the United States Supreme Court held in Snyder v Phelps that the right of freedom of speech of the WBC rendered them immune to claims for damages by mourners affected by their picketing. This article will first consider how English secular and canon law could be used to restrict the practice of funeral picketing and secondly discuss whether current law could provide a remedy for mourners distressed by funeral picketing and other forms of protest at funerals, were they to take place.
Marriage in the Church of England: The Immigration Act 2014 and Beyond?
Authors: Borton Stephen
Published: September 2015

The background to the passing of the Immigration Act is generally well known and it is recognised that the present Government has had concerns – either of its own or pressed upon it – about levels of immigration in this country. It is clear that all political parties are under some pressure to respond to public concerns over this area, which will clearly be one of the major issues in the campaigns leading up to the forthcoming general election.
Architecture and Law: Lawgivers of the US Supreme Court – So, Where is Jesus?
Authors: Savić Vanja-Ivan
Published: September 2015

Exactly 80 years has passed since the completion of the United States Supreme Court building. This comment is not another paper about the importance or historical influence of the greatest of all American institutions, nor about dramatic cases which shaped America, nor about justices and their approaches, nor about characters or world views. It is about architecture and the messages which are sent from the facade of this strong institution to which legal scholars and practitioners from around the world look.
Accuracy, Efficiency, and Inappropriate Actions Using JumpSTART Triage in MCI Simulations
Authors: Claudius Ilene , Kaji Amy H. , Santillanes Genevieve , Cicero Mark X. , Donofrio J. Joelle , Gausche-Hill Marianne , Srinivasan Saranya , Chang Todd P.
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Using the pediatric version of the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (JumpSTART) algorithm for the triage of pediatric patients in a mass-casualty incident (MCI) requires assessing the results of each step and determining whether to move to the next appropriate action. Inappropriate application can lead to performance of unnecessary actions or failure to perform necessary actions.

Hypothesis/Problem

To report overall accuracy and time required for triage, and to assess if the performance of unnecessary steps, or failure to perform required steps, in the triage algorithm was associated with inaccuracy of triage designation or increased time to reach a triage decision.

Methods

Medical students participated in an MCI drill in which they triaged both live actors portraying patients and computer-based simulated patients to the four triage levels: minor, delayed, immediate, and expectant. Their performance was timed and compared to intended triage designations and a priori determined critical actions.

Results

Thirty-three students completed 363 scenarios. The overall accuracy was 85.7% and overall mean time to assign a triage designation was 70.4 seconds, with decreasing times as triage acuity level decreased. In over one-half of cases, the student omitted at least one action and/or performed at least one action that was not required. Each unnecessary action increased time to triage by a mean of 8.4 seconds and each omitted action increased time to triage by a mean of 5.5 seconds.

Discussion

Increasing triage level, performance of inappropriate actions, and omission of recommended actions were all associated with increasing time to perform triage.

ClaudiusI, KajiAH, SantillanesG, CiceroMX, DonofrioJJ, Gausche-HillM, SrinivasanS, ChangTP. Accuracy, efficiency, and inappropriate actions using JumpSTART triage in MCI simulations. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(5):457–460.
Accuracy of Tympanic Temperature Measurement in Firefighters Completing a Simulated Structural Firefighting Task
Authors: Keene Toby , Brearley Matt , Bowen Beth , Walker Anthony
Published: September 2015

Introduction

In the course of their duties, firefighters risk heat stroke and other medical conditions due to exertion in high-temperature environments. Infrared tympanic temperature measurement (TTym)is often used by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to assess the core body temperature of firefighters. The accuracy of TTymin this setting has been called into question.

Hypothesis/Problem

This study aimed to examine the accuracy of TTymfor core body temperature assessment at emergency firefighting events compared with gastrointestinal temperature measurement (TGI) as measured by ingestible thermometers.

Methods

Forty-five (42 male, three female) professional urban firefighters from an Australian fire service completed two 20-minute work periods in a 100°C (± 5°C) heat chamber while wearing personal protective clothing (PPC) and breathing apparatus (weighing approximately 22 kg). Measurements were taken immediately before entering, and on exiting, the heat chamber. Tympanic temperature was assessed by an infrared tympanic thermometer and TGIwas measured by ingestible sensor and radio receiver.

Results

Complete data were available for 37 participants. Participant temperatures were higher on exiting the heat chamber than at baseline (TTym: 35.9°C (SD=0.7) vs 37.5°C (SD=0.8); TGI:37.2°C (SD=0.4) vs 38.6°C (SD=0.5)). Tympanic temperature underestimated TGIon average by 1.3°C (SD=0.5) before entering the chamber and by 1.0°C (SD=0.8) following the exercise. Using pooled data, the average underestimation was 1.2°C (SD=0.7).

Conclusion

Tympanic thermometers cause an unreliable measure of core body temperature for firefighters engaged in fire suppression activities. Accurate and practical measures of core body temperature are required urgently.

KeeneT,BrearleyM,BowenB,WalkerA.Accuracy of tympanic temperature measurement in firefighters completing a simulated structural firefighting task.Prehosp Disaster Med.2015;30(5):461–465.
The colonial origins of deforestation: an institutional analysis
Authors: Marchand Sébastien
Published: September 2015

This paper investigates whether inherited colonial legacies influence deforestation rates in 60 former colonized developing countries. It is hypothesized that differences in deforestation among countries can be attributed to their colonial legacies shaping the current impact of the institutional background on deforestation. Overall, the author finds that institutions defined as the extent of democracy, the quality of property rights and the quality of government functioning (e.g., corruption), have a differential impact on deforestation rates according to colonial legacies as defined by the identity of the colonizer. More precisely, it is found that: (1) in countries characterized by ‘bad’ governance, former French colonies deforest relatively less than former British and Spanish colonies; whereas (2) in countries characterized by ‘good’ governance, the result is reversed. These results are robust when geography features are controlled for since the process of colonization was not random and depended on initial geographic and climatic conditions.
Improved answer-set programming encodings for abstract argumentation
Authors: GAGGL SARAH A. , MANTHEY NORBERT , RONCA ALESSANDRO , WALLNER JOHANNES P. , WOLTRAN STEFAN
Published: September 2015

The design of efficient solutions for abstract argumentation problems is a crucial step towards advanced argumentation systems. One of the most prominent approaches in the literature is to use Answer-Set Programming (ASP) for this endeavor. In this paper, we present new encodings for three prominent argumentation semantics using the concept of conditional literals in disjunctions as provided by the ASP-system clingo. Our new encodings are not only more succinct than previous versions, but also outperform them on standard benchmarks.
Concolic testing in logic programming
Authors: MESNARD FRED , PAYET ÉTIENNE , VIDAL GERMÁN
Published: September 2015

Software testing is one of the most popular validation techniques in the software industry. Surprisingly, we can only find a few approaches to testing in the context of logic programming. In this paper, we introduce a systematic approach for dynamic testing that combines both concrete and symbolic execution. Our approach is fully automatic and guarantees full path coverage when it terminates. We prove some basic properties of our technique and illustrate its practical usefulness through a prototype implementation.
Practical run-time checking via unobtrusive property caching
Authors: STULOVA NATALIIA , MORALES JOSÉ F. , HERMENEGILDO MANUEL V.
Published: September 2015

The use of annotations, referred to as assertions or contracts, to describe program properties for which run-time tests are to be generated, has become frequent in dynamic programing languages. However, the frameworks proposed to support such run-time testing generally incur high time and/or space overheads over standard program execution. We present an approach for reducing this overhead that is based on the use of memoization to cache intermediate results of check evaluation, avoiding repeated checking of previously verified properties. Compared to approaches that reduce checking frequency, our proposal has the advantage of being exhaustive (i.e., all tests are checked at all points) while still being much more efficient than standard run-time checking. Compared to the limited previous work on memoization, it performs the task without requiring modifications to data structure representation or checking code. While the approach is general and system-independent, we present it for concreteness in the context of the Ciao run-time checking framework, which allows us to provide an operational semantics with checks and caching. We also report on a prototype implementation and provide some experimental results that support that using a relatively small cache leads to significant decreases in run-time checking overhead.
„Doc2Patient“ – 16 Jahre Erfahrung in Medizinischer Onlineberatung am Universitätsspital Zürich
Authors: Schmidt-Weitmann Sabine , Buser Jacqueline , Baumann Doris , Schmidt Christian , Brockes Christiane
Published: September 2015

Zusammenfassung. Die steigende Verfügbarkeit telemedizinischer Dienstleistungen sowie der Übergang zur Informationsgesellschaft ermöglichen den zunehmenden Einsatz der Telemedizin im medizinischen Alltag. Voraussetzung dafür ist die Akzeptanz der Telemedizin als leistungsfähiger, zusätzlicher Pfeiler in der Gesamtarchitektur des Gesundheitswesens. Die praktische Anwendung steht weiterhin im Spannungsfeld zwischen der Vielzahl möglicher telemedizinischer Anwendungen und deren Realisierung. Das UniversitätsSpital Zürich blickt bereits erfolgreich auf 16 Jahre Erfahrung im Bereich der Medizinischen Onlineberatung zurück. Die Qualität der Beratung wird kontinuierlich erfasst und evaluiert. Im Rahmen wissenschaftlichen Auswertungen wird das Profil der Fragesteller und deren Anfragen analysiert, um das Dienstleistungsangebot weiter zu optimieren. Ethisch korrekt durchgeführt kann sie somit die Gesundheitskompetenz verbessern und die Autonomie der medizinischen Laien erhöhen.
AAL: Ambient Assisted Living – Unterstützung für ein gesundes Altern und Chancen für Medizin und Pflege
Authors: Misoch Sabina
Published: September 2015

Zusammenfassung. Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) umfasst verschiedene Technologien, denen gemeinsam ist, dass sie versuchen, den Lebensalltag von alten und chronisch kranken Menschen durch digitale, vernetzte assistive Systeme zu unterstützen und somit deren Lebensqualität zu verbessern. Im Beitrag wird dargestellt, was AAL kennzeichnet und welche verschiedenen Einsatzgebiete vorzufinden sind. Es wird aufgezeigt, welche Rolle AAL vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen wie dem demografischen Wandel, dem Zuwachs an pflegebedürftigen Personen und dem Trend zur Singularisierung des Alters zukommen kann. Es werden die Einsatzbereiche und Chancen von AAL im medizinischen Bereich dargestellt und abschliessend darauf eingegangen, dass der entscheidende Faktor für die Zukunft von AAL in der Akzeptanz dieser assistiven Systeme durch die End-user liegt.
Telemedizin für Ältere – Chancen mehren, kritische Punkte angehen!
Authors: Otto Ulrich , Tarnutzer Silvan , Brettenhofer Marlene
Published: September 2015

Zusammenfassung. Der Nutzen von Telemedizinanwendungen für Ältere ist daran zu messen, inwieweit sie erhöhte Potenziale für eine selbstständige Lebensführung bei guter Lebensqualität ermöglichen können. Idealerweise ist dieser Nutzen am „Gesundheitsstandort Privathaushalt“ abrufbar, eingebettet in einem bedarfs- und bedürfnisgerechten Gesundheitssystem, in welchem sämtliche medizinischen und pflegerischen Prozesse integrativ miteinander vernetzt sind. Ergänzt werden muss dieses System durch verstärkte Koproduktion mit den PatientInnen selbst und deren Angehörigen. Um sich diesen Zielen zu nähern, braucht es ein Umdenken und die Bereitschaft aller AkteurInnen zu tiefgehenden Veränderungen. Medizinische Institutionen müssen sich als lernende Organisationen stärker an den PatientInnen und deren individuellen Bedarfen sowie an intersektoraler und interdisziplinärer Kooperation orientieren. In der Gesundheitspolitik ist es nötig, Verteilungs- und Gerechtigkeitsaspekte stärker zu gewichten. Dabei gilt es besonders, bildungsferneren Schichten und in ländlichen Regionen den Zugang zur Nutzung von Technologien zu erleichtern, um digital divide-Phänomene zu vermeiden. Der Einsatz neuer Gesundheitstechnologien muss deshalb durch flankierende Vorbereitungen und Begleitung durch schnell erreichbare AnsprechpartnerInnen beim Einsatz unterstützt werden. Hinzu kommen Anforderungen an Finanzierungsmodelle und erweiterte Krankenkassenleistungen.
The Psychometric Properties of a Brief Version of the Systemizing Quotient
Authors: Veale Jaimie F. , Williams Matt N.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. The construct of systemizing – the drive to construct or understand systems – has an important role in the Extreme Male Brain theory of autism. While a brief version of the Systemizing Quotient (SQ) has been proposed, there is a need to assess its psychometric properties. This study assessed factorial and construct validity of an 8-item version of the SQ on a sample of 627 participants. A single-factor latent variable model with a single correlated error term showed adequate fit in a confirmatory factor analysis. This model also demonstrated metric invariance across genders when controlling for an effect of age on item responses. Reliability was acceptable, α = .72. As further evidence for construct validity, SQ scores showed expected relationships with mental rotation performance, trait anxiety, childhood extroversion, childhood agreeableness, and gender. Overall, the results indicated good psychometric properties for the brief version of the SQ, suggesting that this scale could be useful when researchers require a systemizing measure that is minimally burdensome to complete.
Refining Solar Wind Models to Better Predict Space Weather
Authors: Betz Eric
Published: September 2015

Despite decades of space-based observations of the Sun, scientists still struggle to make precise predictions of the solar wind.
Africa Awards and William Kaula Award Join Ranks of AGU Union Honors
Authors: Mukasa Sam
Published: September 2015

A pair of new annual Union awards recognizes exceptional research by African early career scientists, and an established publications program award gets Union honor designation.
Balancing functions of annexin A6 maintain equilibrium between hypertrophy and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes
Authors: Banerjee P , Chander V , Bandyopadhyay A
Published: September 2015

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a major risk factor associated with heart failure, a state concomitant with increased cell death. However, the mechanism governing progression of hypertrophy to apoptosis at the single-cell level remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate annexin A6 (Anxa6), a calcium (Ca2+)-dependent phospholipid-binding protein critically regulates the transition of chronic hypertrophied cardiomyocytes to apoptosis. Treatment of the H9c2(2-1) cardiomyocytes with hypertrophic agonists upregulates and relocalizes Anxa6 with increased cytosolic punctate appearance. Live cell imaging revealed that chronic exposure to hypertrophic agonists such as phenylephrine (PE) compromises the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and morphological dynamics. Such chronic hypertrophic induction also activated the caspases 9 and 3 and induced cleavage of the poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (Parp1), which are the typical downstream events in the mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis. An increased rate of apoptosis was evident in the hypertrophied cardiomyocytes after 48–72 h of treatment with the hypertrophic agonists. Anxa6 was progressively associated with the mitochondrial fraction under chronic hypertrophic stimulation, and Anxa6 knockdown severely abrogated mitochondrial network and dynamics. Ectopically expressed Anxa6 protected the mitochondrial morphology and dynamics under PE treatment, and also increased the cellular susceptibility to apoptosis. Biochemical analysis showed that Anxa6 interacts with Parp1 and its 89 kDa cleaved product in a Ca2+-dependent manner through the N-terminal residues (1–28). Furthermore, expression of Anxa6S13E, a mutant dominant negative with respect to Parp1 binding, served as an enhancer of mitochondrial dynamics, even under chronic PE treatment. Chemical inhibition of Parp1 activity released the cellular vulnerability to apoptosis in Anxa6-expressing stable cell lines, thereby shifting the equilibrium away from cell death. Taken together, the present study depicts a dual regulatory function of Anxa6 that is crucial for balancing hypertrophy with apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.
mTORC2 controls cancer cell survival by modulating gluconeogenesis
Authors: Khan MW , Biswas D , Ghosh M , Mandloi S , Chakrabarti S , Chakrabarti P
Published: September 2015

For rapid tumor growth, cancer cells often reprogram the cellular metabolic processes to obtain enhanced anabolic precursors and energy. The molecular changes of such metabolic rewiring are far from established. Here we explored the role of mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin), which serves as a key regulator of cell growth, proliferation and survival, in the metabolic reprograming of cancer cells. When we inhibited mTOR in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells, using pharmacologic inhibitors or by RNA interference, we noticed shuttle of the glycolytic flux to gluconeogenesis pathway along with reduction in cellular proliferation and survival. Augmentation of gluconeogenesis was mechanistically linked to upregulation of the key gluconeogenic enzymes PCK1 and G6PC expressions, enhanced lactate dehydrogenase activity and glucose-derived lipogenesis without causing any attenuation in mitochondrial function. Interestingly, concomitant knocking down of PCK1 and not G6PC along with mTOR pathway could overcome the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and survival. These observations were validated by identifying distinctive diminution of PCK1 and G6PC expressions in human HCC and RCC transcriptome data. Significant correlation between mTOR-dependent upregulation of PCK1 and cell death in different cancer cell lines further emphasizes the physiological relevance of this pathway. We reveal for the first time that inhibition of mTORC2 and consequent redistribution of glycolytic flux can have a prosurvival role in HCC and RCC cancer cells only in the presence of downregulation of gluconeogenesis pathway genes, thus identifying novel pivots of cancer cell metabolic rewiring and targets for therapy.
Cytotoxic activity of the MK2 inhibitor CMPD1 in glioblastoma cells is independent of MK2
Authors: Gurgis FMS , Åkerfeldt MC , Heng B , Wong C , Adams S , Guillemin GJ , Johns TG , Chircop M , Munoz L
Published: September 2015

MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) is a checkpoint kinase involved in the DNA damage response. MK2 inhibition enhances the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents; however, whether MK2 inhibition alone, without concurrent chemotherapy, would attenuate survival of cancer cells has not been investigated. CMPD1 is a widely used non-ATP competitive inhibitor that prevents MK2 phosphorylation. We employed CMPD1 together with MK2 knock-down and ATP-competitive MK2 inhibitor III (MK2i) in a panel of glioblastoma cells to assess whether MK2 inhibition could induce cancer cell death. While CMPD1 was effective at selective killing of cancer cells, MK2i and MK2 knock-down had no effect on viability of glioblastoma cells. CMPD1 treatment induced a significant G2/M arrest but MK2i-treated cells were only minimally arrested at G1 phase. Intriguingly, at doses that were cytotoxic to glioblastoma cells, CMPD1 did not inhibit phosphorylation of MK2 and of its downstream substrate Hsp27. These results suggest that CMPD1 exhibits cytotoxic activity independently of MK2 inhibition. Indeed, we identified tubulin as a primary target of the CMPD1 cytotoxic activity. This study demonstrates how functional and mechanistic studies with appropriate selection of test compounds, combining genetic knock-down and pharmacological inhibition, coordinating timing and dose levels enabled us to uncover the primary target of an MK2 inhibitor commonly used in the research community. Tubulin is emerging as one of the most common non-kinase targets for kinase inhibitors and we propose that potential tubulin-targeting activity should be assessed in preclinical pharmacology studies of all novel kinase inhibitors.
Predator strike shapes antipredator phenotype through new genetic interactions in water striders
Authors: Armisén David , Nagui Refki Peter , Crumière Antonin Jean Johan , Viala Séverine , Toubiana William , Khila Abderrahman
Published: September 2015

How novel genetic interactions evolve, under what selective pressures, and how they shape adaptive traits is often unknown. Here we uncover behavioural and developmental genetic mechanisms that enable water striders to survive attacks by bottom-striking predators. Long midlegs, critical for antipredator strategy, are shaped through a lineage-specific interaction between the Hox protein Ultrabithorax (Ubx) and a new target gene calledgilt. The differences in leg morphologies are established through modulation ofgiltdifferential expression between mid and hindlegs under Ubx control. Furthermore, short-legged water striders, generated throughgiltRNAi knockdown, exhibit reduced performance in predation tests. Therefore, the evolution of the new Ubx–giltinteraction contributes to shaping the legs that enable water striders to dodge predator strikes. These data show how divergent selection, associated with novel prey–predator interactions, can favour the evolution of new genetic interactions and drive adaptive evolution.
Novel approach for label free super-resolution imaging in far field
Authors: Alexandrov Sergey A. , McGrath James , Subhash Hrebesh , Boccafoschi Francesca , Giannini Cinzia , Leahy Martin
Published: September 2015

Progress in the emerging areas of science and technology, such as bio- and nano-technologies, depends on development of corresponding techniques for imaging and probing the structures with high resolution. Recently, the far field diffraction resolution limit in the optical range has been circumvented and different methods of super-resolution optical microscopy have been developed. The importance of this breakthrough achievement has been recognized by Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2014. However, the fluorescence based super-resolution techniques only function with fluorescent molecules (most of which are toxic and can destroy or lead to artificial results in living biological objects) and suffer from photobleaching. Here we show a new way to break the diffraction resolution limit, which is based on nano-sensitivity to internal structure. Instead of conventional image formation as 2D intensity distribution, in our approach images are formed as a result of comparison of the axial spatial frequency profiles, reconstructed for each image point. The proposed approach dramatically increases the lateral resolution even in presence of noise and allows objects to be imaged in their natural state, without any labels.
Silver Nanowire Transparent Conductive Electrodes for High-Efficiency III-Nitride Light-Emitting Diodes
Authors: Oh Munsik , Jin Won-Yong , Jun Jeong Hyeon , Jeong Mun Seok , Kang Jae-Wook , Kim Hyunsoo
Published: September 2015

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) have been successfully demonstrated to function as next-generation transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) in organic semiconductor devices owing to their figures of merit, including high optical transmittance, low sheet resistance, flexibility and low-cost processing. In this article, high-quality, solution-processed AgNWs with an excellent optical transmittance of 96.5% at 450 nm and a low sheet resistance of 11.7 Ω/sq were demonstrated as TCEs in inorganic III-nitride LEDs. The transmission line model applied to the AgNW contact to p-GaN showed that near ohmic contact with a specific contact resistance of ~10−3 Ωcm2 was obtained. The contact resistance had a strong bias-voltage (or current-density) dependence: namely, field-enhanced ohmic contact. LEDs fabricated with AgNW electrodes exhibited a 56% reduction in series resistance, 56.5% brighter output power, a 67.5% reduction in efficiency droop and a approximately 30% longer current spreading length compared to LEDs fabricated with reference TCEs. In addition to the cost reduction, the observed improvements in device performance suggest that the AgNWs are promising for application as next-generation TCEs, to realise brighter, larger-area, cost-competitive inorganic III-nitride light emitters.
Light intensity modulation by coccoliths of Emiliania huxleyi as a micro-photo-regulator
Authors: Mizukawa Yuri , Miyashita Yuito , Satoh Manami , Shiraiwa Yoshihiro , Iwasaka Masakazu
Published: September 2015

In this study, we present experimental evidence showing that coccoliths have light-scattering anisotropy that contributes to a possible control of solar light exposure in the ocean. Changing the angle between the incident light and an applied magnetic field causes differences in the light-scattering intensities of a suspension of coccoliths isolated from Emiliania huxleyi. The magnetic field effect is induced by the diamagnetic torque force directing the coccolith radial plane perpendicular to the applied magnetic fields at 400 to 500 mT. The developed technique reveals the light-scattering anisotropies in the 3-μm-diameter floating coccoliths by orienting themselves in response to the magnetic fields. The detached coccolith scatters radially the light incident to its radial plane. The experimental results on magnetically oriented coccoliths show that an individual coccolith has a specific direction of light scattering, although the possible physiological effect of the coccolith remains for further study, focusing on the light-scattering anisotropies of coccoliths on living cells.
Layered Seed-Growth of AgGe Football-like Microspheres via Precursor-Free Picosecond Laser Synthesis in Water
Authors: Zhang Dongshi , Gökce Bilal , Notthoff Christian , Barcikowski Stephan
Published: September 2015

Hybrid particles are of great significance in terms of their adjustable optical, electronic, magnetic, thermal and mechanical properties. As a novel technique, laser ablation in liquids (LAL) is famous for its precursor-free, “clean” synthesis of hybrid particles with various materials. Till now, almost all the LAL-generated particles originate from the nucleation-growth mechanism. Seed-growth of particles similar to chemical methods seems difficult to be achieved by LAL. Here, we not only present novel patch-joint football-like AgGe microspheres with a diameter in the range of 1 ~ 7 μm achievable by laser ablation in distilled water but also find direct evidences of their layered seed growth mechanism. Many critical factors contribute to the formation of AgGe microspheres: fast laser-generated plasma process provide an excellent condition for generating large amount of Ge and Ag ions/atoms, their initial nucleation and galvanic replacement reaction, while cavitation bubble confinement plays an important role for the increase of AgGe nuclei and subsequent layered growth in water after bubble collapse. Driven by work function difference, Ge acts as nucleation agent for silver during alloy formation. This new seed-growth mechanism for LAL technique opens new opportunities to develop a large variety of novel hybrid materials with controllable properties.
Hidden biodiversity in an ancient lake: phylogenetic congruence between Lake Tanganyika tropheine cichlids and their monogenean flatworm parasites
Authors: Vanhove Maarten P. M. , Pariselle Antoine , Van Steenberge Maarten , Raeymaekers Joost A. M. , Hablützel Pascal I. , Gillardin Céline , Hellemans Bart , Breman Floris C. , Koblmüller Stephan , Sturmbauer Christian , Snoeks Jos , Volckaert Filip A. M. , Huyse Tine
Published: September 2015

The stunning diversity of cichlid fishes has greatly enhanced our understanding of speciation and radiation. Little is known about the evolution of cichlid parasites. Parasites are abundant components of biodiversity, whose diversity typically exceeds that of their hosts. In the first comprehensive phylogenetic parasitological analysis of a vertebrate radiation, we study monogenean parasites infecting tropheine cichlids from Lake Tanganyika. Monogeneans are flatworms usually infecting the body surface and gills of fishes. In contrast to many other parasites, they depend only on a single host species to complete their lifecycle. Our spatially comprehensive combined nuclear-mitochondrial DNA dataset of the parasites covering almost all tropheine host species (N = 18), reveals species-rich parasite assemblages and shows consistent host-specificity. Statistical comparisons of host and parasite phylogenies based on distance and topology-based tests demonstrate significant congruence and suggest that host-switching is rare. Molecular rate evaluation indicates that species ofCichlidogyrusprobably diverged synchronically with the initial radiation of the tropheines. They further diversified through within-host speciation into an overlooked species radiation. The unique life history and specialisation of certain parasite groups has profound evolutionary consequences. Hence, evolutionary parasitology adds a new dimension to the study of biodiversity hotspots like Lake Tanganyika.
Self-assembled large scale metal alloy grid patterns as flexible transparent conductive layers
Authors: Mohl Melinda , Dombovari Aron , Vajtai Robert , Ajayan Pulickel M. , Kordas Krisztian
Published: September 2015

The development of scalable synthesis techniques for optically transparent, electrically conductive coatings is in great demand due to the constantly increasing market price and limited resources of indium for indium tin oxide (ITO) materials currently applied in most of the optoelectronic devices. This work pioneers the scalable synthesis of transparent conductive films (TCFs) by exploiting the coffee-ring effect deposition coupled with reactive inkjet printing and subsequent chemical copper plating. Here we report two different promising alternatives to replace ITO, palladium-copper (PdCu) grid patterns and silver-copper (AgCu) fish scale like structures printed on flexible poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrates, achieving sheet resistance values as low as 8.1 and 4.9 Ω/sq, with corresponding optical transmittance of 79% and 65% at 500 nm, respectively. Both films show excellent adhesion and also preserve their structural integrity and good contact with the substrate for severe bending showing less than 4% decrease of conductivity even after 105 cycles. Transparent conductive films for capacitive touch screens and pixels of microscopic resistive electrodes are demonstrated.