bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Breast Cancer Mortality in the Presence of Competing Risks Using Smartphone Application Development Software
Authors: Liu Yuanyuan , McCarthy Ellen P. , Ngo Long H.
Published: November 2015

The widespread use of smartphone applications (apps) provides a promising new platform for medical research and healthcare decision making. Given the need to help guide clinical discussions about the appropriateness of breast cancer screening in the presence of competing risks among older women, we proposed to incorporate the Fine-Gray prediction model, which offers more intuitive clinical interpretation of risk in the presence of competing risks, into a smartphone-based decision aid application. Clinicians can input the woman’s characteristics and medical history, and the app will output prediction estimates of both types of events (i.e. death from breast cancer and competing risk events) given the presence or absence of breast cancer screening. This prototype was built using drag-and-drop visual programming tools provided by the free, cloud-based software “MIT App Inventor for Android.” It will be intended for clinicians to use in the context of patients’ values to decide whether screening is appropriate for an individual. Our analysis indicated that screening was beneficial to survival, and that older women benefited less from screening due to the increasing incidence of non-breast-cancer competing risk deaths as age increased. The algorithm we implemented for the app provides instant probability estimates that help quantify screening benefits as a function of age, and comorbidity burden.
A Natural Experiment for Inferring Causal Association between Smoking and Tooth Loss: A Study of a Workplace Contemporary Cohort
Authors: Hanioka Takashi , Haresaku Satoru , Suzuki Nao , Shimada Kaoru , Watanabe Takeshi , Ojima Miki , Fujiie Keiko , Watanabe Masako
Published: November 2015

Background: Natural experiments in former smokers are an important criterion for inferring causality between smoking and tooth loss. We examined how former smoking influenced risk estimate of tooth loss incidence.
Methods: Records of dental check-ups of the work cohort were examined. The sample consisted of data from 1,724 workers recorded at the ages of 40 years and 50 years, and this was analyzed for tooth loss incidence during a 10-year period. Former smokers were categorized into two groups based on whether they quit smoking before or during the observational period. Variables used for adjustment were age, sex, oral and overall health behavior, dental visit, and number of existing teeth immediately prior to observation.
Results: The prevalence of tooth loss incidence and number of teeth lost during the observational period were both higher in current smokers than in never smokers (33.7% vs. 23.9% and 0.83 vs. 0.42, respectively). Incident odds ratio of tooth loss in long-term quitters relative to never smokers was not significant and less than one (incident odds ratio 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.56–1.29). Incident odds ratios of short-term quitters and current smokers were both significant, though short-term quitters exhibited higher values (1.72, 1.15–2.55) than current smokers (1.48, 1.10–2.00).
Conclusions: The causal interpretation is strengthened by attenuation of the risk in long-term quitters. However, additional factors may influence the risk estimates of former smokers, suggesting potential limitations of a natural experiment for inferring causal association between smoking and tooth loss.
Un patrimonio oculto y recuperado. Los graffiti de la iglesia de Santiago de Peñalba (Peñalba de Santiago, León)
Authors: Jimeno Guerra Vanessa
Published: November 2015

Desde mediados del siglo pasado, han sido varios los investigadores que han recogido en publicaciones de diversa índole la existencia de algunos de los graffiti practicados en el interior de la iglesia altomedieval de Santiago de Peñalba (Peñalba de Santiago, León). A pesar de ello, los trabajos realizados sólo son visiones fragmentarias y selectivas del vasto conjunto de manifestaciones parietales que se han conservado. Por ello, el presente estudio realiza un análisis exhaustivo de la totalidad de graffiti practicados en dicho templo berciano. La mayor parte de ellos fueron incisos durante la Edad Media y las tipologías a las que pertenecen, así como las intenciones con las que fueron practicados, son muy variadas.
A forward genetic screen reveals novel independent regulators of ULBP1, an activating ligand for natural killer cells
Authors: Gowen Benjamin G , Chim Bryan , Marceau Caleb D , Greene Trever T , Burr Patrick , Gonzalez Jeanmarie R , Hesser Charles R , Dietzen Peter A , Russell Teal , Iannello Alexandre , Coscoy Laurent , Sentman Charles L , Carette Jan E , Muljo Stefan A , Raulet David H
Published: November 2015

Recognition and elimination of tumor cells by the immune system is crucial for limiting tumor growth. Natural killer (NK) cells become activated when the receptor NKG2D is engaged by ligands that are frequently upregulated in primary tumors and on cancer cell lines. However, the molecular mechanisms driving NKG2D ligand expression on tumor cells are not well defined. Using a forward genetic screen in a tumor-derived human cell line, we identified several novel factors supporting expression of the NKG2D ligand ULBP1. Our results show stepwise contributions of independent pathways working at multiple stages of ULBP1 biogenesis. Deeper investigation of selected hits from the screen showed that the transcription factor ATF4 drives ULBP1 gene expression in cancer cell lines, while the RNA-binding protein RBM4 supports ULBP1 expression by suppressing a novel alternatively spliced isoform of ULBP1 mRNA. These findings offer insight into the stress pathways that alert the immune system to danger.
Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1976-2014
Authors: Rosello Alicia , Mossoko Mathias , Flasche Stefan , Van Hoek Albert Jan , Mbala Placide , Camacho Anton , Funk Sebastian , Kucharski Adam , Ilunga Benoit Kebela , Edmunds W John , Piot Peter , Baguelin Marc , Muyembe Tamfum Jean-Jacques
Published: November 2015

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced the most outbreaks of Ebola virus disease since the virus' discovery in 1976. This article provides for the first time a description and a line list for all outbreaks in this country, comprising 996 cases. Compared to patients over 15 years old, the odds of dying were significantly lower in patients aged 5 to 15 and higher in children under five (with 100% mortality in those under 2 years old). The odds of dying increased by 11% per day that a patient was not hospitalised. Outbreaks with an initially high reproduction number, R (>3), were rapidly brought under control, whilst outbreaks with a lower initial R caused longer and generally larger outbreaks. These findings can inform the choice of target age groups for interventions and highlight the importance of both reducing the delay between symptom onset and hospitalisation and rapid national and international response.
A robust transcriptional program in newts undergoing multiple events of lens regeneration throughout their lifespan
Authors: Sousounis Konstantinos , Qi Feng , Yadav Manisha C , Millán José Luis , Toyama Fubito , Chiba Chikafumi , Eguchi Yukiko , Eguchi Goro , Tsonis Panagiotis A
Published: November 2015

Newts have the ability to repeatedly regenerate their lens even during ageing. However, it is unclear whether this regeneration reflects an undisturbed genetic activity. To answer this question, we compared the transcriptomes of lenses, irises and tails from aged newts that had undergone lens regeneration 19 times with the equivalent tissues from young newts that had never experienced lens regeneration. Our analysis indicates that repeatedly regenerated lenses showed a robust transcriptional program comparable to young never-regenerated lenses. In contrast, the tail, which was never regenerated, showed gene expression signatures of ageing. Our analysis strongly suggests that, with respect to gene expression, the regenerated lenses have not deviated from a robust transcriptional program even after multiple events of regeneration throughout the life of the newt. In addition, our study provides a new paradigm in biology, and establishes the newt as a key model for the study of regeneration in relation to ageing.
Contesting the presence of wheat in the British Isles 8,000 years ago by assessing ancient DNA authenticity from low-coverage data
Authors: Weiß Clemens L , Dannemann Michael , Prüfer Kay , Burbano Hernán A
Published: November 2015

Contamination with exogenous DNA is a constant hazard to ancient DNA studies, since their validity greatly depend on the ancient origin of the retrieved sequences. Since contamination occurs sporadically, it is fundamental to show positive evidence for the authenticity of ancient DNA sequences even when preventive measures to avoid contamination are implemented. Recently the presence of wheat in the United Kingdom 8000 years before the present has been reported based on an analysis of sedimentary ancient DNA (Smith et al. 2015). Smith et al. did not present any positive evidence for the authenticity of their results due to the small number of sequencing reads that were confidently assigned to wheat. We developed a computational method that compares postmortem damage patterns of a test dataset with bona fide ancient and modern DNA. We applied this test to the putative wheat DNA and find that these reads are most likely not of ancient origin.
Temporal transcriptomics suggest that twin-peaking genes reset the clock
Authors: Pembroke William G , Babbs Arran , Davies Kay E , Ponting Chris P , Oliver Peter L
Published: November 2015

The mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) drives daily rhythmic behavior and physiology, yet a detailed understanding of its coordinated transcriptional programmes is lacking. To reveal the finer details of circadian variation in the mammalian SCN transcriptome we combined laser-capture microdissection (LCM) and RNA-seq over a 24 hr light / dark cycle. We show that 7-times more genes exhibited a classic sinusoidal expression signature than previously observed in the SCN. Another group of 766 genes unexpectedly peaked twice, near both the start and end of the dark phase; this twin-peaking group is significantly enriched for synaptic transmission genes that are crucial for light-induced phase shifting of the circadian clock. 341 intergenic non-coding RNAs, together with novel exons of annotated protein-coding genes, including Cry1, also show specific circadian expression variation. Overall, our data provide an important chronobiological resource (www.wgpembroke.com/shiny/SCNseq/) and allow us to propose that transcriptional timing in the SCN is gating clock resetting mechanisms.
Translocation of interleukin-1β into a vesicle intermediate in autophagy-mediated secretion
Authors: Zhang Min , Kenny Samuel J , Ge Liang , Xu Ke , Schekman Randy
Published: November 2015

Recent evidence suggests that autophagy facilitates the unconventional secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Here, we reconstituted an autophagy-regulated secretion of mature IL-1β (m-IL-1β) in non-macrophage cells. We found that cytoplasmic IL-1β associates with the autophagosome and m-IL-1β enters into the lumen of a vesicle intermediate but not into the cytoplasmic interior formed by engulfment of the autophagic membrane. In advance of secretion, m-IL-1β appears to be translocated across a membrane in an event that may require m-IL-1β to be unfolded or remain conformationally flexible and is dependent on two KFERQ-like motifs essential for the association of IL-1β with HSP90. A vesicle, possibly a precursor of the phagophore, contains translocated m-IL-1β and later turns into an autophagosome in which m-IL-1β resides within the intermembrane space of the double-membrane structure. Completion of IL-1β secretion requires Golgi reassembly and stacking proteins (GRASPs) and multi-vesicular body (MVB) formation.
Den kulturelle skulesekken – Kvalitetsskule eller kulturarroganse?
Authors: Digranes Ingvild
Published: November 2015

I programmet Visuell kunst i Den kulturelle skulesekken (DKS), var målsetjinga i utgangspunktet eit likeverdig samarbeid mellom skulen og kulturverda. Ti år inn i satsinga ser vi framleis usemje rundt mål og innhald knytt til samarbeidsprosjekt i skulen. To ulike profesjonar, med ulikt ideologisk og fagleg utgangspunkt, skal saman ha ansvar for ei arbeidsoppgåve. Rammene og arbeidsdelinga vert uklår og dette gjev opphav til eit profesjonsdilemma knytt til både forankring av programmet, og ansvaret for kvardagen i skulefaget Kunst og handverk. Å sameine kunstverda sine karismatiske verdiar og skuleverda sine demokratiske prinsipp for opplæringa kan verke som ei vanskeleg øving. Det mystiske i kunsten og vektlegging av tydelege læringsmål i skulen kan verke vrient å sameine i ein inter-profesjonell kvalitetsdiskusjon som set ideologiar i spel. Ut frå denne media- og dokumentundersøkinga kan det verke som om media si framstilling av DKS-praksis i større grad har vore med på å gravleggje relevante spørsmål knytt til problematikken heller enn å skape eit klima for gode diskusjonar på tvers av samarbeidet.
Measuring p66Shc Signaling Pathway Activation and Mitochondrial Translocation in Cultured Cells
Authors: Wieckowski Mariusz R. , Deus Cláudia M. , Couto Renata , Oparka Monika , Lebiedzińska‐Arciszewska Magdalena , Duszyński Jerzy , Oliveira Paulo J.
Published: November 2015

The adaptor protein p66Shc links membrane receptors to intracellular signaling pathways, with downstream consequences on mitochondrial metabolism and reactive oxygen species production. Moreover, p66Shc has also been implicated in cancer development, progression, and metastasis. Increased phosphorylation of serine 36 residue of p66Shc very often correlates with oxidative stress–associated pathologies. The pro‐oxidative role of p66Shc also appears to be involved in chemical toxicity, being an important component of stress responses triggered by xenobiotics. Here, we present a protocol that can be used: (a) for isolation of mitochondrial, cytosolic, and mitochondrial‐associated membrane fractions from adherent cells lines; (b) to perform p66Shc detection with specific antibodies in order to monitor its translocation between different cellular compartments in response to the oxidative stress; and (c) to modulate the p66Shc pathway with the use of pharmacological approaches or gene‐silencing methods. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Mesoscale kinematics derived from X‐band Doppler radar observations of convective versus stratiform precipitation and comparison with GPS radiosonde profiles
Authors: Deshpande Sachin M. , Dhangar N. , Das S. K. , Kalapureddy M. C. R. , Chakravarty K. , Sonbawne S. , Konwar M.
Published: November 2015

Single Doppler analysis techniques known as velocity azimuth display (VAD) and volume velocity processing (VVP) are used to analyze kinematics of mesoscale flow such as horizontal wind and divergence using X‐band Doppler weather radar observations, for selected cases of convective, stratiform, and shallow cloud systems near tropical Indian sites Pune (18.58°N, 73.92°E, above sea level (asl) 560 m) and Mandhardev (18.51°N, 73.85°E, asl 1297 m). The vertical profiles of horizontal wind estimated from radar VVP/VAD methods agree well with GPS radiosonde profiles, with the low‐level jet at about 1.5 km during monsoon season well depicted in both. The vertical structure and temporal variability of divergence and reflectivity profiles are indicative of the dynamical and microphysical characteristics of shallow convective, deep convective, and stratiform cloud systems. In shallow convective systems, vertical development of reflectivity profiles is limited below 5 km. In deep convective systems, reflectivity values as large as 55 dBZ were observed above freezing level. The stratiform system shows the presence of a reflectivity bright band (~35 dBZ) near the melting level. The diagnosed vertical profiles of divergence in convective and stratiform systems are distinct. In shallow convective conditions, convergence was seen below 4 km with divergence above. Low‐level convergence and upper level divergence are observed in deep convective profiles, while stratiform precipitation has midlevel convergence present between lower level and upper level divergence. The divergence profiles in stratiform precipitation exhibit intense shallow layers of “melting convergence” at 0°C level, near 4.5 km altitude, with a steep gradient on the both sides of the peak. The level of nondivergence in stratiform situations is lower than that in convective situations. These observed vertical structures of divergence are largely indicative of latent heating profiles in the atmosphere, an important ingredient of monsoon dynamics.
Impact of oceanic circulation changes on atmospheric δ13CO2
Authors: Menviel L. , Mouchet A. , Meissner K. J. , Joos F. , England M. H.
Published: November 2015

δ13CO2 measured in Antarctic ice cores provides constraints on oceanic and terrestrial carbon cycle processes linked with millennial‐scale changes in atmospheric CO2. However, the interpretation of δ13CO2 is not straightforward. Using carbon isotope‐enabled versions of the LOVECLIM and Bern3D models, we perform a set of sensitivity experiments in which the formation rates of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW), North Pacific Deep Water (NPDW), Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) are varied. We study the impact of these circulation changes on atmospheric δ13CO2 as well as on the oceanic δ13C distribution. In general, we find that the formation rates of AABW, NADW, NPDW, and AAIW are negatively correlated with changes in δ13CO2: namely, strong oceanic ventilation decreases atmospheric δ13CO2. However, since large‐scale oceanic circulation reorganizations also impact nutrient utilization and the Earth's climate, the relationship between atmospheric
levels and ocean ventilation rate is not unequivocal. In both models atmospheric δ13CO2 is very sensitive to changes in AABW formation rates: increased AABW formation enhances the transport of low δ13C waters to the surface and decreases atmospheric δ13CO2. By contrast, the impact of NADW changes on atmospheric δ13CO2 is less robust and might be model dependent. This results from complex interplay between global climate, carbon cycle, and the formation rate of NADW, a water body characterized by relatively high δ13C.
Infrasound in the middle stratosphere measured with a free‐flying acoustic array
Authors: Bowman Daniel C. , Lees Jonathan M.
Published: November 2015

Infrasound recorded in the middle stratosphere suggests that the acoustic wavefield above the Earth's surface differs dramatically from the wavefield near the ground. In contrast to nearby surface stations, the balloon‐borne infrasound array detected signals from turbulence, nonlinear ocean wave interactions, building ventilation systems, and other sources that have not been identified yet. Infrasound power spectra also bore little resemblance to spectra recorded on the ground at the same time. Thus, sensors on the Earth's surface likely capture a fraction of the true diversity of acoustic waves in the atmosphere. Future studies building upon this experiment may quantify the acoustic energy flux from the surface to the upper atmosphere, extend the capability of the International Monitoring System to detect nuclear explosions, and lay the observational groundwork for a recently proposed mission to detect earthquakes on Venus using free‐flying microphones.
The interdecadal change of ENSO impact on wintertime East Asian climate
Authors: Jia XiaoJing , Lin Hai , Ge JingWen
Published: November 2015

The interdecadal change in the relationship between the winter mean surface air temperature (SAT) over East Asia (EA) and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is investigated using both observational data and a simple general circulation model. The positive phase of the first empirical orthogonal function (EOF) of SAT over EA is characterized by significant warming over midlatitude to high‐latitude EA and is linked to the Arctic Oscillation. The second EOF (SAT‐EOF2) is represented by significant cooling extending from 55°N to the tropics and abnormal warming over high‐latitude EA. Focus is given to SAT‐EOF2 which has a close relationship with the La Niña‐type sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies. A clear shift in SAT‐EOF2 is observed in the mid‐1980s. The relationships between SAT‐EOF2 and ENSO in two subperiods, i.e., 1957 to 1982 (P1) and 1986 to 2010 (P2), are discussed and compared. Results show that the relationship between SAT‐EOF2 and ENSO significantly strengthens after the mid‐1980s due to stronger SST and precipitation anomalies in P2 than in P1 associated with ENSO in the tropical western Pacific. In the midlatitudes, the Pacific‐North American teleconnection pattern is more closely related to ENSO in P2, whereas in P1, the ENSO‐related atmospheric circulation anomalies are more similar to a zonally orientated teleconnection pattern. Numerical experiments suggest that the difference in the ENSO‐related circulation anomaly in the midlatitudes is likely related to the difference in the climatological mean flows of these two subperiods.
Macrophysical and optical properties of clouds over East Asia measured by CALIPSO
Authors: Pan Zengxin , Gong Wei , Mao Feiyue , Li Jun , Wang Wei , Li Chen , Min Qilong
Published: November 2015

The macrophysical and optical properties of clouds over East Asia (18°N–54°N, 73°E–145°E) from 1 March 2007 to 28 February 2015 are investigated using Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization data. Data analysis determines the macrophysical properties, such as cloud fraction, cloud vertical structure, cloud top height (CTH), cloud base height, and cloud geometrical depth (CGD), as well as the optical properties of clouds. Statistical analysis shows that the annual cloud fractions of single‐layer (SL), multilayer (ML), and total clouds over East Asia are 41.4 ± 0.7%, 25.1 ± 0.9%, and 66.5 ± 1.6%, respectively, with a slight interannual variation. The maximum annual cloud fraction that appeared over the Sichuan Basin is mainly attributed to unique occlusive topographic features. Moreover, the annual vertical distribution of cloud occurrence frequency over East Asia presents a multipeak structure. Furthermore, at a height below 2 km, cloud frequency distribution exhibits a large peak over the south, north, northeast, eastern sea, and East Asia, a small peak over the northwest, and the smallest peak over Tibet, which is mainly ascribed to terrain topographies. For the average uppermost CTH and cloud fraction, the same seasonal characteristic is demonstrated; that is, CTH and cloud fraction are highest in summer and lowest in winter, except in the northwest. This seasonal characteristic mainly results from the East Asian summer monsoon circulation. Overall, the annual cloud optical depths (CODs) of SL, ML, and total cloud over East Asia are 0.98 ± 0.02, 0.83 ± 0.09, and 1.81 ± 0.12, respectively. Moreover, the COD of each layer is mainly below 0.5 (52.3%), and the second peak of probability (10.4%) exists from 2.5 to 3.0. The two crests of probability are caused by clouds of different types. Overall, the annual cloud layer over East Asia mainly consists of cirrus (44.4%), which indicates that cirrus clouds play a leading role. Most geometrically thick clouds (CGD > 2 km) are cirrus and deep convective clouds. In general, annual CGD decreases with the increase in the number of ML cloud system layers, and CGD increases with the increase in altitude, whereas the COD of each layer exhibits a reverse trend.
Narrow bipolar pulse locations compared to thunderstorm radar echo structure
Authors: Karunarathna Nadeeka , Marshall Thomas C. , Stolzenburg Maribeth , Karunarathne Sumedhe
Published: November 2015

The locations of 172 positive narrow bipolar pulses (NBPs) found on one day in Florida are superimposed on radar reflectivity data from that day. All 172 NBPs were found within the reflectivity of a thundercloud or at the edge of the reflectivity. The NBPs were classified into three groups: (I) in or above the high‐reflectivity core of the storm, (II) in the convective region but not Group I, or (III) in the anvil region. Groups I, II, and III had, respectively, 79%, 17%, and 4% of the NBPs. Of the 136 NBPs in Group I, 43% occurred within the reflectivity core and 57% occurred above the core. A sequence of 34 positive NBPs during 1 h of one thunderstorm suggests that the majority of NBPs occurred during the rapid growth of two thunderstorm cells. Positive NBPs seem to recur in some storm locations; 67 (39%) of the NBPs were part of a recurrent set. We found 28 cases of NBPs recurring in approximately the same location, including 22 doublets, 3 triplets, 2 quadruplets, and 1 sextuplet. Analyses of one quadruplet and one sextuplet showed that these 10 positive NBPs occurred just above and/or right beside the high‐reflectivity core on the downshear side of the core. Our data lead us to a hypothesis that NBPs occurring between the thunderstorm's upper positive charge and upper negative screening charge are initiated by small‐scale charge regions with positive charge above negative charge, or opposite the orientation of the large‐scale storm charges.
Spectrophotometry
Authors: Morris Rob
Published: November 2015

Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction of light with matter. By observing how light interacts with matter—through reflection, refraction, elastic scattering, absorbance, inelastic scattering, and emission—it is possible to (1) identify the wavelengths of light that interact with atoms and molecules, and (2) quantify the amount of light being absorbed, reflected, scattered, or emitted at a particular wavelength. This unit describes the background and basic principles of spectrophotometry (the study of the reflection or transmission properties of a substance as a function of wavelength), in particular, absorbance spectrophotometry. Also included is discussion of key spectrophotometer components and their functions, the relationship between absorbance and transmittance, experimental considerations, and the steps necessary in preparing a standard curve for determining absorbance concentration. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The mental health of male victims and their children affected by legal and administrative partner aggression
Authors: Berger Joshua L. , Douglas Emily M. , Hines Denise A.
Published: November 2015

The authors recently developed a psychometrically valid measure of legal and administrative (LA) intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization (Hines, Douglas, & Berger, 2014). The current article explores the impact of actual and threatened LA aggression on the mental health of male physical IPV victims and their children. In the current study, a sample of 611 men who sought help after experiencing physical IPV from their female partners completed a survey assessing the types and extent of IPV that occurred in their relationship, including LA aggression, their own mental health outcomes, and the mental health of their oldest child. A series of OLS regressions indicated that after controlling for covariates, actual LA aggression was associated with more symptoms of PTSD and depression in male victims, and that both threatened and actual LA aggression were associated with higher levels of affective and oppositional defiant symptoms in the men's school age children. The current findings suggest that it is important to screen couples for the presence of LA aggression and male partners and their children should be referred for mental health treatment if LA aggression is occurring in the relationship. Aggr. Behav. 42:346–361, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assembly Dependent Interfacial Property of Carbon Nanotube Fibers with Epoxy and Its Enhancement via Generalized Surface Sizing
Authors: Lei Chaoshuai , Zhao Jingna , Zou Jingyun , Jiang Chunyang , Li Min , Zhang Xiaohua , Zhang Zuoguang , Li Qingwen
Published: November 2015

The fiber‐to‐matrix interfacial shear strength (IFSS) plays a key role in building up composite structures using carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers. Originating from the assembly characteristics of CNT fiber, the IFSS strongly depends on the fiber's twisting level and densification level. Furthermore, there are rich ways to modify the fiber surface and thus enhance the IFSS, including the surface modification, the infiltration of matrix resin, and the introduction of silane coupling agent. As a new feature different from carbon fibers, these treatments either change the fiber's surface or form an interphase inside rather than around the fiber, and extend the common concept of surface sizing.
Highly Transparent and Flexible Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes with Structure Optimized for Anode/Cathode Multilayer Electrodes
Authors: Kim Dong‐Young , Han Yun Cheol , Kim Hyun Cheol , Jeong Eun Gyo , Choi Kyung Cheol
Published: November 2015

In this study, a dielectric layer/metal/dielectric layer (multilayer) electrode is proposed as both anode and cathode for use in the fabrication of transparent and flexible organic light‐emitting diodes (TFOLEDs). The structure of multilayer electrodes is optimized by systematic experiments and optical calculations considering the transmittance and efficiency of the device. The details of the multilayer electrode structure are [ZnS (24 nm)/Ag (7 nm)/MoO3 (5 nm)] and [ZnS (3 nm)/Cs2CO3 (1 nm)/Ag (8 nm)/ZnS (22 nm)], as anode and cathode, respectively. The optimized TFOLED design is fabricated on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, and the device shows high transmittance (74.22% around 550 nm) although the PET substrate has lower transmittance than glass. The TFOLEDs operate normally under compressive stress; degradation of electrical characteristics is not observed, comparable to conventional OLEDs with ITO and Al as electrodes. In addition, because the fabricated TFOLEDs show a nearly Lambertian emission pattern and a negligible shift of Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordination, it is concluded that the fabricated TFOLEDs are suitable for use in displays.
Latency attention deficit: Asbestos abatement workers need us to investigate
Authors: Roelofs Cora
Published: November 2015

Little is known of the impact of asbestos on the health of the workers in the United States who have removed or abated asbestos from buildings following recognition of its adverse effects on health. The United States does not have a national occupational health surveillance network to monitor asbestos‐related disease and, while the United States Occupational Health and Safety Administration has a strong and detailed asbestos standard, its enforcement resources are limited. A significant proportion of asbestos abatement workers are foreign‐born, and may face numerous challenges in achieving safe workplaces, including lack of union representation, economic vulnerability, and inadequate training. Public health surveillance and increased and coordinated enforcement is needed to monitor the health and exposure experiences of asbestos‐exposed workers. Alarming disease trends in asbestos removal workers in Great Britain suggest that, in the United States, increased public attention will be necessary to end the epidemic of asbestos‐related disease. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:1231–1234, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The long‐term burden of work‐related carpal tunnel syndrome relative to upper‐extremity fractures and dermatitis in Washington State
Authors: Foley Michael , Silverstein Barbara
Published: November 2015

Background

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is among the most burdensome of all musculoskeletal disorders as measured by workers’ compensation claims costs and lost earnings. But the burden of CTS extends beyond direct claim costs.

Methods

A survey covering health, social, economic and work‐related outcomes was administered to 1,255 injured workers whose Washington State Fund workers’ compensation claims had closed 6 years previously. Logistic and linear regression methods were used to model the outcomes of CTS claimants across four separate outcome domains.

Results

Workers diagnosed with CTS suffer substantial deficits across all four outcome domains as compared to the two comparison groups of claimants. Former CTS claimants were almost twice as likely not to be working as compared to the fractures cohort.

Conclusions

A comprehensive measurement of the burden of CTS shows losses extend beyond direct claims costs to include continuing pain, loss of function, adverse financial impacts and household disruption which extend long after claim closure. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:1255–1269, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Double Strain‐Promoted Macrocyclization for the Rapid Selection of Cell‐Active Stapled Peptides
Authors: Lau Yu Heng , Wu Yuteng , Rossmann Maxim , Tan Ban Xiong , de Andrade Peterson , Tan Yaw Sing , Verma Chandra , McKenzie Grahame J. , Venkitaraman Ashok R. , Hyvönen Marko , Spring David R.
Published: November 2015

Peptide stapling is a method for designing macrocyclic alpha‐helical inhibitors of protein–protein interactions. However, obtaining a cell‐active inhibitor can require significant optimization. We report a novel stapling technique based on a double strain‐promoted azide–alkyne reaction, and exploit its biocompatibility to accelerate the discovery of cell‐active stapled peptides. As a proof of concept, MDM2‐binding peptides were stapled in parallel, directly in cell culture medium in 96‐well plates, and simultaneously evaluated in a p53 reporter assay. This in situ stapling/screening process gave an optimal candidate that showed improved proteolytic stability and nanomolar binding to MDM2 in subsequent biophysical assays. α‐Helicity was confirmed by a crystal structure of the MDM2‐peptide complex. This work introduces in situ stapling as a versatile biocompatible technique with many other potential high‐throughput biological applications.
Structural Modifications of cis‐Glycofused Benzopyran Compounds and Their Influence on the Binding to Amyloid‐β Peptide
Authors: Airoldi Cristina , D'Orazio Giuseppe , Richichi Barbara , Guzzi Cinzia , Baldoneschi Veronica , Colombo Laura , Salmona Mario , Nativi Cristina , Nicotra Francesco , La Ferla Barbara
Published: November 2015

A small library of glycofused tricyclic compounds with a central pyran ring chemically modified in the position para to the ring oxygen has been synthesised. The influence of the chemical modification on the structural conformation of the compounds and on their ability to bind Aβ peptide has been evaluated respectively using molecular mechanics (MM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and STD NMR spectroscopy. The introduction of particularly polar/charged groups leads to the loss of binding ability, without a significant change in the conformation, whilst other substitutions does not significantly affect either the structural conformation or the binding.
Molecular cloning, bioinformatics analysis, and transcriptional profiling of JAZ1 and JAZ2 from Salvia miltiorrhiza
Authors: Zhou Yangyun , Zhou Xun , Li Qing , Chen Junfeng , Xiao Ying , Zhang Lei , Chen Wansheng
Published: November 2015

Production of major effective metabolites, tanshinones and lithospermic acid B (LAB), was dramatically enhanced by exogenous jasmonate (JA) treatment in Salvia miltiorrhiza. However, the molecular mechanism of such metabolic activation in S. miltiorrhiza has not been elucidated yet. Here, we focused on jasmonate ZIM‐domain (JAZ) proteins that act as repressors of JA signaling. Open reading frames of two novel genes, SmJAZ1 and SmJAZ2, from S. miltiorrhiza were amplified according to the annotation of S. miltiorrhiza transcriptome. Compared to plant JAZs, SmJAZ1 and SmJAZ2 were clustered into different groups by phylogenetic analysis. Organ expression pattern was studied by real‐time quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR), showing higher transcription level of both genes in stems than roots and leaves. The two SmJAZs responded to methyl jasmonate at early stage and the transcriptional level significantly increased at 4 H. Our experimental results indicate that SmJAZ1 and SmJAZ2 are JA responsive and presented similar expression trend in JA response. The whole research will certainly facilitate further characterization of JAs effect on effective metabolites and help to ultimately achieve high yield of target compounds (tanshinones and LAB).
In Plattenebene beanspruchte Biegeträger aus Brettsperrholz
Authors: Flaig Marcus
Published: November 2015

Bei der Bemessung von in Plattenebene beanspruchten Brettsperrholzträgern müssen Schubspannungen in den Brettlamellen und in den Kreuzungsflächen zwischen rechtwinklig miteinander verklebten Längs‐ und Querlagen berücksichtigt werden. Insgesamt werden dabei drei Versagensmechanismen unterschieden. Für den Nachweis der Tragfähigkeit müssen die Schubspannungen im Brutto‐ und im Nettoquerschnitt und in den Kreuzungsflächen berechnet und mit entsprechenden Festigkeiten verglichen werden. Zur Berechnung der Schubspannungen in Abhängigkeit des Trägeraufbaus werden analytische Lösungen vorgestellt und es wird eine vom Trägeraufbau abhängige effektive Schubfestigkeit unter Berücksichtigung der verschiedenen Versagensmechanismen angegeben. Zur Berechnung der Schubverformungen wird ein effektiver Schubmodul in Abhängigkeit des Trägeraufbaus vorgestellt, der Verformungsanteile in den Brettlamellen und in den Kreuzungsflächen berücksichtigt.

CLT‐beams loaded in‐plane direction – Part 1: Effective strength and stiffness properties for the shear design

In the design of CLT‐beams loaded in‐plane, shear stresses in the lamellae and in the crossing areas between orthogonally bonded boards of longitudinal and transversal layers need to be considered. A total of three different failure modes can be distinguished. For the design in the ultimate limit states, shear stresses in the gross and in the net cross section and shear stresses in the crossing areas need to be calculated and compared to respective strength properties. Analytical solutions for the calculation of shear stresses, taking into account the board width and the layup of CLT‐beams, are presented. The effective shear strength of CLT‐beams loaded in‐plane is derived from the load carrying capacities of the different failure modes. For the calculation of the shear deformation an effective shear modulus is specified in dependence of the cross‐sectional structure taking into account shear strain in the lamellae and in the crossing areas.
Scheibenschub von Brettsperrholz: Verifizierung einer Prüfkonfiguration und Parameterstudie
Authors: Brandner Reinhard , Dietsch Philipp , Dröscher Julia , Schulte‐Wrede Michael , Sieder Mike
Published: November 2015

Bei einer auf Schub beanspruchten Scheibe aus Brettsperrholz (BSP) werden, aufgrund der inneren Struktur aus orthogonal geschichteten und verklebten Brettlagen, drei mögliche Versagensmechanismen unterschieden: (i) Brutto‐Schub, (ii) Netto‐Schub und (iii) Torsion. Während der Widerstand gegen Torsion bereits umfangreich untersucht wurde, stellt sich die Bestimmung der Brutto‐ und Netto‐Schubfestigkeiten als Herausforderung dar. Gegenwärtige Nachweise für den Netto‐Schub beziehen sich daher auf Kenngrößen, welche an BSP‐Einzelknoten ermittelt wurden. Die Verifizierung dieses Ansatzes für ganze BSP‐Elemente ist allerdings noch ausständig. Im Rahmen dieses Beitrages wird die Anwendbarkeit der von Kreuzinger und Sieder [1] 2013 veröffentlichten Prüfkonfiguration zur Bestimmung der Scheibenschubkenngrößen verifiziert. Zu diesem Zweck und zur Ermittlung bemessungsrelevanter Schubkenngrößen wurden insgesamt 18 Serien mit unterschiedlichen Konfigurationen der Produktparameter geprüft. Dabei konnte die Effizienz der Prüfkonfiguration zusammen mit einem zuverlässigen Versagen auf Schub bei allen Serien festgestellt werden. Bezüglich der untersuchten Parameter wurden qualitativ übereinstimmende Ergebnisse mit Prüfungen an BSP‐Einzelknoten beobachtet. Die Parameter Fugenausführung und Lagenstärke wurden als wesentliche Einflussfaktoren auf die Schubkenngrößen bestätigt. Auf Grundlage der Erkenntnisse werden charakteristische Schubkenngrößen und ein Bemessungskonzept vorgeschlagen.

Shear properties of cross laminated timber diaphragms: verification of a test configuration and parameter study

In diaphragms of cross laminated timber (CLT) exposed to shear the internal structure of orthogonally layered side bonded layers leads to three possible failure mechanisms: (i) gross‐shear, (ii) net‐shear and (iii) torsion. While the resistance against torsion has been investigated comprehensively, the determination of gross‐ and net‐shear strength values remained a challenging task. Present design concepts for net‐shear are based on properties derived from testing single CLT‐nodes. The verification of this approach for CLT‐elements has yet to be confirmed. This article aims to verify the applicability of the test configuration published 2013 by Kreuzinger and Sieder [1]. Therefore and for evaluation of shear properties relevant for design, 18 series featuring different parameter settings were tested. In doing so, the operational efficiency of the new shear test configuration together with reliable shear failure of all tested CLT diaphragms was observed. With regard to the investigated parameters, results qualitatively correspond with tests on single CLT‐nodes. Gap execution and layer thickness are confirmed to be parameters significantly influencing shear properties. Based on gathered experiences, characteristic shear properties and a design concept are proposed.
Tracing Attitude Expressions: An Eye‐Tracking Study
Authors: van Giesen Roxanne I. , Fischer Arnout R. H. , van Dijk Heleen , van Trijp Hans C. M.
Published: November 2015

Attitudes represent object evaluations, comprising complex underlying cognitive and affective knowledge structures. When people are asked to judge an object, they can use their primary response (i.e., the immediate object‐evaluation linkage) or underlying affective and cognitive knowledge structures. In many situations, a primary response satisfices, but if not, more elaboration is required. Both processes are fundamentally different but may lead to the same attitude. For monitoring underlying processes during attitude expression, we developed an innovative eye‐tracking procedure using eye‐gaze on response scale options. This procedure was applied in three studies to identify the extent to which elaboration differs for attitude objects with weak or strong, univalent or mixed object evaluations (i.e., univalent, neutral and ambivalent). In Study 1, the overall judgment preceded processing of more specific affective and cognitive linkage evaluations. In Studies 2 and 3, the order was reversed, and affective and cognitive bases were assessed prior to overall attitude outcomes. For attitude objects with strong univalent or strong mixed object evaluations, we found similar outcomes on underlying processes. For weak object evaluations, cognition was found to be more predictive and easily accessible if an overall judgment was required first; affect for these objects was more predictive if people had to elaborate on affect and cognition first. We concluded that both affective and cognitive attitudes may require substantial elaboration, albeit in different situations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving expression of recombinant human IGF‐1 using IGF‐1R knockout CHO cell lines
Authors: Romand Sandrine , Jostock Thomas , Fornaro Mara , Schmidt Joerg , Ritter Anett , Wilms Burkhard , Laux Holger
Published: November 2015

Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells are widely used for the large‐scale production of recombinant biopharmaceuticals. However, attempts to express IGF‐1 (a mutated human Insulin‐like growth factor 1 Ea peptide (hIGF‐1Ea mut)) in CHO cells resulted in poor cell growth and low productivity (0.1–0.2 g/L). Human IGF‐1 variants negatively impacted CHO cell growth via the IGF‐1 receptor (IGF‐1R). Therefore knockout (KO) of the IGF‐1R gene in two different CHO cell lines as well as knockdown (KD) of IGF‐1R in one CHO cell line were performed. These cell line engineering approaches decreased significantly the hIGF‐1 mediated cell growth inhibition and increased productivity of both KO CHO cell lines as well as of the KD CHO cell line. A productivity increase of 10‐fold at pool level and sevenfold at clone level was achieved, resulting in a titer of 1.3 g/L. This data illustrate that cell line engineering approaches are powerful tools to improve the yields of recombinant proteins which are difficult to produce in CHO cells. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 1094–1101. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Equine eosinophilic keratitis in horses: 28 cases (2003–2013)
Authors: Edwards Sydney , Clode Alison B. , Gilger Brian C.
Published: November 2015

Key Clinical Message

This retrospective case series evaluates husbandry and environmental conditions in relation to eosinophilic keratitis in horses. While no associations were found between disease and husbandry practices or specific environmental factors such as humidity or temperature, an increased prevalence of presentation in summer months was identified in this population of horses.
Hydrological Properties of the Derme Karstic Springs by Using Hydrogeochemical Analyses and Environmental Isotope Techniques
Authors: Dursun Omer Faruk , Celiker Murat , Firat Mahmut
Published: November 2015

In this study, determination of recharging mechanism of the Derme karst spring by hydrogeochemical analysis and environmental isotope techniques are aimed. The Derme karst spring is an important karst spring that is located in the eastern part of Turkey, meets the domestic water need of Malatya province having a population of 750 000, and has an average flow rate of 2.7 m3/s. Water samples were taken from eight different springs from May to October 2011 for physicochemical and isotopic analyses (oxygen 18, deuterium, tritium) in order to determine the catchment mechanisms and the hydrodynamic structures of these karstic springs. The hydrogeochemical classification of spring waters was performed through a piper diagram. The results indicated that all of the springs were characterized by the calcium bicarbonate type. It was found that the deuterium excess value of the karstic springs was ranging from 13.42 to 18.84%, and that these springs were fed by both territorial and marine origin rainfalls. It was considered that the springs in the karstic region were under the influence of different karstic systems.