bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enkephalin‐Degrading Enzymes in Normal and Subfertile Human Semen
Authors: Irazusta Jon , Valdivia Asier , Fernández David , Agirregoitia Ekaitz , Ochoa Carmen , Casis Luis
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT: Opioid peptides have been reported to have important functions in human reproduction. Indeed, very high concentrations of enkephalins and their degrading enzymes have been reported in human semen. In the present paper, we compare the activity of two enkephalin‐degrading enzymes, aminopeptidase N and neutral endopeptidase 24.11, in different fractions of semen from normozoospermic, fertile men and from subfertile patients with different abnormalities revealed by spermiogram analysis (asthenozoospermia, necrozoospermia, and teratozoospermia). High levels of activity of aminopeptidase N were found in the soluble and particulate sperm fractions of semen from patients presenting asthenozoospermia with necrozoospermia. In contrast, lower aminopeptidase N activity was measured in the soluble sperm fraction of asthenozoospermic semen. The percentage of dead spermatozoa was positively correlated with aminopeptidase N activity in both soluble and particulate sperm fractions. In contrast, the percentage of immobile spermatozoa was negatively correlated with aminopeptidase activity in soluble and particulate sperm, and in prostasome fractions. Levels of activity of neutral endopeptidase were found to be unaltered among the different conditions. In summary, the results of the present study indicate that alterations in the activity of aminopeptidase N may be one of the molecular components that contribute to male human subfertility.
Identification and Characterization of an Antigen Recognized by Monoclonal Antibody TRA 54 in Mouse Epididymis and Vas Deferens
Authors: Arrotéia Kélen F. , Joazeiro Paulo P. , Yamada Áureo T. , Tanaka Hiromitsu , Nishimune Yoshitake , Pereira Luís. A. V.
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT: Spermatozoa in testicular fluid are known to have weak forward motility and cannot fertilize eggs. The epididymis is known to participate in sperm maturation leading fertilization, but little is known about the specific epididymal molecules involved in the modification of sperm. In this study, we characterized the new pattern of expression of an antigen previously identified in testicular germ cells by monoclonal antibody (mAb) TRA 54. This antigen is expressed in epididymal and vas deferens epithelial cells in mice older than 24 days but not during younger developmental stages. Evaluation by immunohistochemistry shows that antigen expression is limited to the cytoplasm of a specific cell population of epithelia along the epididymal regions and vas deferens of adult mice. The molecules synthesized and released by epididymal and vas deferens epithelia into their lumen seem to bind on spermatozoa moving down through the ducts. Immunoblot analysis showed that the molecules recognized by mAb TRA 54 in testis and epididymis were similar and share a common epitope involving carbohydrate domains. Interestingly, the antigens identified in epididymal and vas deferens epithelial cells were expressed independently of testicular germ cells and are produced in an androgen‐dependent manner. Finally, the molecules recognized by mAb TRA 54 seem to play an important role in spermatogenesis, as well as in epididymal function related to spermatozoa maturation and ability to fertilize.
Novel Development‐Related Alternative Splices in Human Testis Identified by cDNA Microarrays
Authors: Huang Xiaoyan , Li Jianmin , Lu Li , Xu Min , Xiao Junhua , Yin Lanlan , Zhu Hu , Zhou Zuomin , Sha Jiahao
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT: Alternative splicing of premessenger RNA is an important regulatory mechanism that increases the diversity of proteins transcribed from a single gene. This is particularly important in the testis because germ cell expansion and differentiation require many cellular changes and regulatory steps. To investigate novel development‐related alternative splicings in the human testis, complementary DNA microarray studies were conducted with the use of probes from human fetal testes, adult testes, and human spermatozoa. Of a total of 386 Unigene clusters found to be related to the development of the testis, 67 clusters showed a total of 74 novel alternative spliceoforms. Developmental stage‐dependent expression was also performed for a novel Unigene, NYD‐SP20 (Hs.351068), which had 4 possible novel spliceoforms and another Unigene, CRISP2 (cysteine‐rich secretory protein 2, Hs.2042), which had 3 possible novel spliceoforms. These results indicate that alternative splicing plays an important role in the complicated processes of testis development and spermatogenesis.
Pigeons’ demand and preference for specific and generalized conditioned reinforcers in a token economy
Authors: Tan Lavinia , Hackenberg Timothy D.
Published: December 2015

Pigeons’ demand and preference for specific and generalized tokens was examined in a token economy. Pigeons could produce and exchange different colored tokens for food, for water, or for food or water. Token production was measured across three phases, which examined: (1) across‐session price increases (typical demand curve method); (2) within‐session price increases (progressive‐ratio, PR, schedule); and (3) concurrent pairwise choices between the token types. Exponential demand curves were fitted to the response data and accounted for over 90% total variance. Demand curve parameter values, Pmax, Omax and α showed that demand was ordered in the following way: food tokens, generalized tokens, water tokens, both in Phase 1 and in Phase 3. This suggests that the preferences were predictable on the basis of elasticity and response output from the demand analysis. Pmax and Omax values failed to consistently predict breakpoints and peak response rates in the PR schedules in Phase 2, however, suggesting limits on a unitary conception of reinforcer efficacy. The patterns of generalized token production and exchange in Phase 3 suggest that the generalized tokens served as substitutes for the specific food and water tokens. Taken together, the present findings demonstrate the utility of behavioral economic concepts in the analysis of generalized reinforcement.
Evolution‐development congruence in pattern formation dynamics: Bifurcations in gene expression and regulation of networks structures
Authors: Kohsokabe Takahiro , Kaneko Kunihiko
Published: December 2015

Search for possible relationships between phylogeny and ontogeny is important in evolutionary‐developmental biology. Here we uncover such relationships by numerical evolution and unveil their origin in terms of dynamical systems theory. By representing developmental dynamics of spatially located cells with gene expression dynamics with cell‐to‐cell interaction under external morphogen gradient, gene regulation networks are evolved under mutation and selection with the fitness to approach a prescribed spatial pattern of expressed genes. For most numerical evolution experiments, evolution of pattern over generations and development of pattern by an evolved network exhibit remarkable congruence. Both in the evolution and development pattern changes consist of several epochs where stripes are formed in a short time, while for other temporal regimes, pattern hardly changes. In evolution, these quasi‐stationary regimes are generations needed to hit relevant mutations, while in development, they are due to some gene expression that varies slowly and controls the pattern change. The morphogenesis is regulated by combinations of feedback or feedforward regulations, where the upstream feedforward network reads the external morphogen gradient, and generates a pattern used as a boundary condition for the later patterns. The ordering from up to downstream is common in evolution and development, while the successive epochal changes in development and evolution are represented as common bifurcations in dynamical‐systems theory, which lead to the evolution‐development congruence. Mechanism of exceptional violation of the congruence is also unveiled. Our results provide a new look on developmental stages, punctuated equilibrium, developmental bottlenecks, and evolutionary acquisition of novelty in morphogenesis. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 326B:61–84, 2016. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enhanced Raman scattering based on fabry‐perot like resonance in a metal‐cladding waveguide
Authors: Yin Cheng , Lu Yan , Xu Tian , Wei Dan Z. , Jin Yong L. , Fang Jing H. , Wang Chao N. , Huang Mei Z.
Published: December 2015

A liquid‐core metal‐cladding waveguide structure of millimeter scale is designed to enhance Raman signal via the excitation of Fabry–Perot‐like resonance. Theoretically, an oscillating field distribution covering the whole guiding layer is generated by the multireflection at the two metal interfaces. The large detection area covers the whole sample chamber because of the oscillating nature of excited high order modes with concentrated intensity. By adding metal nanoparticles, the Fabry–Perot‐like resonance can be combined with local surface plasmons resonance to further enhance the light‐matter interaction with the target molecules, which is also confirmed by the experimental results. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Probing the interaction of ionic liquids with graphene using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Mahurin Shannon M. , Surwade Sumedh P. , Crespo Marcos , Dai Sheng
Published: December 2015

We report an in situ measurement of the interaction of an imidazolium‐based room temperature ionic liquid with both pure silver and a graphene‐over‐silver electrode under an applied electrochemical potential. At a negative applied potential, overall signal intensity increased indicating enhanced ionic liquid concentration at both silver and graphene electrodes. Vibrational modes associated with the imidazolium ring exhibited greater intensity enhancements and larger peak shifts compared with the anion indicating that the cation adsorbs with the ring and alkyl chain parallel to the electrode surface for both silver and graphene. In contrast to the silver, the surface enhanced Raman spectra of the ionic liquid near graphene showed shifts in the cation peaks even at no applied potential because of the strong π–π interaction between the ionic liquid and the graphene. Furthermore, the intensity of the graphene peak decreased in the presence of ionic liquid possibly due to the interaction between the ionic liquid and graphene. These results illustrate the effectiveness of surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy to investigate electrolyte interactions with graphene at the liquid/electrode interface. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beneficial health characteristics of native and hydrolysed konjac (Amorphophallus konjac) glucomannan
Authors: Tester Richard F , Al‐Ghazzewi Farage H
Published: December 2015

The impact of ingesting glucomannans on health is not limited to colonic‐focused fermentation into short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which might have some local health benefits; it also helps in treating disease states and enhancing the body's immune system, both within the gut and in/on other parts of the body. The local and systemic roles of hydrolysed glucomannans, especially konjac glucomannans, in the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, gut‐associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), skin and vagina, are highlighted. Therapeutic applications are discussed. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Solving inverse scattering problems in biological samples by quantitative phase imaging
Authors: Kim Taewoo , Zhou Renjie , Goddard Lynford L. , Popescu Gabriel
Published: December 2015

Quantitative phase imaging (QPI), a method that precisely recovers the wavefront of an electromagnetic field scattered by a transparent, weakly scattering object, is a rapidly growing field of study. By solving the inverse scattering problem, the structure of the scattering object can be reconstructed from QPI data. In the past decade, 3D optical tomographic reconstruction methods based on QPI techniques to solve inverse scattering problems have made significant progress. In this review, we highlight a number of these advances and developments. In particular, we cover in depth Fourier transform light scattering (FTLS), optical diffraction tomography (ODT), and white‐light diffraction tomography (WDT).

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New Ways to Generate Flat‐Top Profiles
Authors: Hracek Bronislav , Bäuerle Holger
Published: December 2015

Previously, flat‐top beam profiles were usually generated in laser technology through homogenizers. These beam shaping optics are, however, both expensive and diminish the laser output. Optical fibers with a rectangular core geometry offer an alternative, by being able to homogenize the intensity distribution of a laser beam without reducing its performance.
Detection and quantitation of chromosomal mosaicism in human blastocysts using copy number variation sequencing
Authors: Ruttanajit Tida , Chanchamroen Sujin , Cram David S. , Sawakwongpra Kritchakorn , Suksalak Wanwisa , Leng Xue , Fan Junmei , Wang Li , Yao Yuanqing , Quangkananurug Wiwat
Published: December 2015

Objective

Currently, our understanding of the nature and reproductive potential of blastocysts associated with trophectoderm (TE) lineage chromosomal mosaicism is limited. The objective of this study was to first validate copy number variation sequencing (CNV‐Seq) for measuring the level of mosaicism and second, examine the nature and level of mosaicism in TE biopsies of patient's blastocysts.

Method

TE biopy samples were analysed by array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and CNV‐Seq to discriminate between euploid, aneuploid and mosaic blastocysts.

Results

Using artificial models of TE mosaicism for five different chromosomes, CNV‐Seq accurately and reproducibly quantitated mosaicism at levels of 50% and 20%. In a comparative 24‐chromosome study of 49 blastocysts by array CGH and CNV‐Seq, 43 blastocysts (87.8%) had a concordant diagnosis and 6 blastocysts (12.2%) were discordant. The discordance was attributed to low to medium levels of chromosomal mosaicism (30–70%) not detected by array CGH. In an expanded study of 399 blastocysts using CNV‐Seq as the sole diagnostic method, the proportion of diploid‐aneuploid mosaics (34, 8.5%) was significantly higher than aneuploid mosaics (18, 4.5%) (p < 0.02).

Conclusion

Mosaicism is a significant chromosomal abnormality associated with the TE lineage of human blastocysts that can be reliably and accurately detected by CNV‐Seq. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MEASURING KINDNESS AT SCHOOL: PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF A SCHOOL KINDNESS SCALE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Authors: Binfet John Tyler , Gadermann Anne M. , Schonert‐Reichl Kimberly A.
Published: December 2015

In this study, we sought to create and validate a brief measure to assess students’ perceptions of kindness in school. Participants included 1,753 students in Grades 4 to 8 attending public schools in a large school district in southern British Columbia. The School Kindness Scale (SKS) demonstrated a unidimensional factor structure and adequate internal consistency. The pattern of associations of the SKS to a corpus of theoretically relevant constructs obtained via student self‐reports (classroom supportiveness, optimism, happiness, prosocial and social goals, satisfaction with life, and academic self‐efficacy) provided evidence for convergent and discriminant validity. Furthermore, the SKS was significantly and positively associated with teacher reports on students’ empathy, social skills, and peer acceptance. Analyses by gender and grade indicated that girls perceived significantly higher levels of kindness in school than did boys, and that students’ perceptions of kindness in school decreased from fourth to eighth grade, with fourth‐grade students reporting the highest levels of kindness in school and eighth‐grade students reporting the lowest levels. The theoretical importance of investigating students’ perceptions of kindness in the school context and the practical implications of this research for informing educational efforts to promote social and emotional competencies in school communities are discussed.
Psychometric properties of the Parenting Concerns Questionnaire in cancer survivors with minor and young adult children
Authors: Inhestern Laura , Bultmann Johanna C. , Beierlein Volker , Möller Birgit , Romer Georg , Muriel Anna C. , Moore Cynthia W. , Koch Uwe , Bergelt Corinna
Published: December 2015

Objective

Although cancer patients with minor children have become more of a focus of psycho‐oncological research, little is known about specific parenting concerns. Instruments to assess the concerns and worries of parents with cancer are rare. The Parenting Concerns Questionnaire (PCQ) addresses this issue. We analyzed parenting concerns in cancer survivors and evaluated the German version of the PCQ.

Methods

A total of 1416 cancer survivors with minor and young adult children (≤21 years) were recruited in a register‐based study. Descriptive analyses as well as reliability and validity analyses were conducted. We performed a confirmatory factorial analysis of the factor structure proposed by the authors of the original version on the PCQ.

Results

Seventy‐three percent of the cancer survivors were women, average age was 47.5 years (SD 5.9). Mean time since diagnosis was 44 months (SD 23.4). Between 18 and 31% of survivors reported that they were concerned about their children. The PCQ proved to be a reliable and valid instrument showing medium correlations with standardized measures in expected directions and discriminating between survivors with and without use of psychosocial support services. The factor structure was supported by the confirmatory factorial analysis.

Conclusions

Assessing parenting concerns gives an additional insight into the situation of parents with cancer. In our sample of cancer survivors, we identified one out of three survivors being concerned regarding the impact of their illness on their children. The PCQ can be considered as a valid and reliable instrument with regard to identifying concerned parents with cancer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Participation in pediatric oncology: views of child and adolescent patients
Authors: Ruhe Katharina M. , Badarau Domnita O. , Brazzola Pierluigi , Hengartner Heinz , Elger Bernice S. , Wangmo Tenzin ,   for the Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group (SPOG)
Published: December 2015

Objective

The aim of the present study is to explore patient's perspectives in pediatric oncology on participation in discussions and decision‐making surrounding their cancer diagnosis.

Methods

Seventeen patients between 9 and 17 years of age receiving treatment at centers of the Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group were interviewed for this study. Their interview data was analyzed qualitatively to identify themes with regard to participation in medical communication and/or decision‐making.

Results

Participants highlighted how their roles in health care discussions varied from direct participation to indirect involvement. Overall, there were fewer accounts of involvement in decision‐making than in overall health care discussions. Challenges with regard to completely understanding the information provided and making decisions were identified. Participants also discussed situations when they were not involved in medical communication or decision‐making. While they generally valued their participation, the preferred level of involvement oscillated between participants as well as within one and the same child across time.

Conclusions

The complex pattern of participation found in this study calls for a flexible model of involving children and adolescents in health care that accounts for the varying roles and preferences that they manifest. A patient may appreciate active involvement in some decisions while choosing to remain in the background for others. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ramalin‐Mediated Apoptosis Is Enhanced by Autophagy Inhibition in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Lee Eunyoung , Lee Chung Gi , Yim Joung‐Han , Lee Hong‐Kum , Pyo Suhkneung
Published: December 2015

Breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, is treated in various ways. Ramalin is a chemical compound derived from the Antarctic lichen Ramalina terebrata and is known to exhibit antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. However, its effect on breast cancer cells remains unknown. We examined the ability of ramalin to induce apoptosis and its mechanisms in MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 human breast cancer cell lines. Ramalin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in both cell lines in a concentration‐dependent manner. By upregulating Bax and downregulating Bcl‐2, ramalin caused cytochrome c and apoptosis‐inducing factor to be released from the mitochondria into the cytosol, thus activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In addition, activated caspase‐8 and caspase‐9 were detected in both types of cells exposed to ramalin, whereas ramalin activated caspase‐3 only in the MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Ramalin treatment also increased the levels of LC3‐II and p62. Moreover, the inhibition of autophagy by 3‐methyladenine or Atg5 siRNA significantly enhanced ramalin‐induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by a decrease in Bcl‐2 levels and an increase in Bax levels. Therefore, autophagy appears to be activated as a protective mechanism against apoptosis in cancer cells exposed to ramalin. These findings suggest that ramalin is a potential anticancer agent for the treatment of patients with non‐invasive or invasive breast cancer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Baicalin Reverses Depressive‐Like Behaviours and Regulates Apoptotic Signalling Induced by Olfactory Bulbectomy
Authors: Yu Hai‐Yang , Yin Zhu‐Jun , Yang Shui‐Jin , Ma Shi‐Ping , Qu Rong
Published: December 2015

Apoptosis is thought to be involved in neurological disorders including major depression. In this study, we examined whether the polyphenolic compound baicalin could decrease apoptosis in the olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) depression rat model. OBX rats exhibited decreased performance in depression‐like behavioural tests and showed evidence of increased oxidative stress, decreased synaptophysin expression, and hippocampal apoptosis. Treatment with baicalin (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly reversed all of these changes. Baicalin modulated the levels or activity of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase and prevented apoptotic protease‐activating factor‐1 expression, effectively suppressing caspase‐mediated apoptosis signalling cascades. Our results demonstrate that baicalin has potent antidepressant activity, likely because of its ability to suppress apoptosis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gaussian Process Model – An Exploratory Study in the Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Costa Nuno Ricardo , Lourenço João
Published: December 2015

This paper explores the benefits of Gaussian process model as an alternative modeling technique for problems developed in the Response Surface Methodology framework. Three case studies with different type and number of responses were investigated, and the compromise solutions obtained with three modeling techniques were evaluated. Results provide evidences of the Gaussian process model usefulness for stochastic responses, namely, when responses are correlated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrolyse D'halogéno‐Alcanes II
Authors: Olivier S. C. J.
Published: December 2015

Dans des recherches cinétiques relatives à un grand nombre de composés aromatiques, on a trouvé, il y a quelques années, qu'en solution neutre ou acide

L'ion H+ n'influe pas du tout sur la vitesse de ces réactions.

l'halogène de la chaîne latérale réagit d'autant plus vite avec de l'eau (avec remplacement de l'halogène par le groupe OH), que l'halogène est plus négatif par l'influence de substituants dans le noyau, mais que le quotient:

vitesse d'hydrolyse alcaline/vitesse d'hydrolyse en milieu acide diminue à mesure que l'halogène est plus négatif. On a expliqué ce dernier phénomène par l'action répulsive du chlore à l'égard des ions OH−3).

Actuellement on a examiné des halogéno‐alcanes (donc des composés aliphatiques), portant un groupe positif (le groupe méthyle) à diverses distances de l'halogène. Les règles susdites restent valables dans ce cas. Mais contrairement à ce qu'on a observé chez les composés aromatiques, l'influence du groupe méthyle ne se manifeste nettement ici que dans le cas où ce groupe se trouve tout près de l'halogène. Cela concorde avec ce que divers auteurs ont constaté pour l'influence d'un substituant dans une chaîne aliphatique saturée.

Lorsque, au lieu de comparer les constantes de vitesse, on se sert des énergies d'activation et des constantes d'action d'après Arrhenius‐Scheffer‐Hückel, on n'observe plus de régularités dans les chiffres, ni chez les composés aromatiques, ni chez les combinaisons aliphatiques.

A partir de l'oxyde de deutérium au lieu d'eau, la vitesse d'hydrolyse est diminuée de 16% environ.
Das system Acetamid‐Phenol
Authors: Boon S. D.
Published: December 2015

Das System Acetamid‐Phenol wurde thermisch untersucht, wobei zwei Verbindungen und zwei Eutektika gefunden wurden.
On the formation of 2,3,4,6‐tetrabromopyridine during the bromination of 2,6‐dibromopyridine at about 500°: (43th Communication on derivatives of pyridine and quinoline.)
Authors: Wibaut J. P. , Bickel A. F.
Published: December 2015

The bromination of 2,6‐dibromopyridine in the gaseous phase and in the presence of pumice as a contact substance has been reinvestigated in the temperature range of 500‐580°; besides 2,4,6‐tribromopyridine, which is the main product of the reaction as already found by den Hertog and Wibaut1), a tetrabromopyridine of melting point 105‐106° is formed; this compound is 2,3,4,6‐tetrabromopyridine. A very small quantity of pentabromopyridine is also formed.
Crystal structure and semiconductivity of tetraethylammonium bis(isotrithionedithiolato)nickelate(III)
Authors: Groeneveld L. R. , Schuller B. , Haasnoot J. G. , Reedijk J. , Kramer G. J.
Published: December 2015

The synthesis and crystal structure of ((C2H5)4N) {Ni (C3S5)2} is described. Space group P21/n with a=7. 333(1)Å, b=25.734(3)Å, c=12.798(4)Å, β=104.95(2)° and Z=4. The structure consists of a one‐dimensional zig‐zag chain with alternating Ni‐Ni distances of 4.163Å and 4.243Å, respectively. The temperature dependence of the conductivity shows an unusual behaviour. The relationship ln(σ) ∞ T1/2 is followed instead of the common semiconductor behaviour of ln(σ) ∞ l/T. The unexpectedly high value of the conductivity is related to the size of the counter cation in the crystal lattice.
Polycatechol Nanoparticle MRI Contrast Agents
Authors: Li Yiwen , Huang Yuran , Wang Zhao , Carniato Fabio , Xie Yijun , Patterson Joseph P. , Thompson Matthew P. , Andolina Christopher M. , Ditri Treffly B. , Millstone Jill E. , Figueroa Joshua S. , Rinehart Jeffrey D. , Scadeng Miriam , Botta Mauro , Gianneschi Nathan C.
Published: December 2015

Amphiphilic triblock copolymers containing FeIII‐catecholate complexes formulated as spherical‐ or cylindrical‐shaped micellar nanoparticles (SMN and CMN, respectively) are described as new T
1‐weighted agents with high relaxivity, low cytotoxicity, and long‐term stability in biological fluids. Relaxivities of both SMN and CMN exceed those of established gadolinium chelates across a wide range of magnetic field strengths. Interestingly, shape‐dependent behavior is observed in terms of the particles' interactions with HeLa cells, with CMN exhibiting enhanced uptake and contrast via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with SMN. These results suggest that control over soft nanoparticle shape will provide an avenue for optimization of particle‐based contrast agents as biodiagnostics. The polycatechol nanoparticles are proposed as suitable for preclinical investigations into their viability as gadolinium‐free, safe, and effective imaging agents for MRI contrast enhancement.
Sensitivity of composite scores to amyloid burden in preclinical Alzheimer's disease: Introducing the Z‐scores of Attention, Verbal fluency, and Episodic memory for Nondemented older adults composite score
Authors: Lim Yen Ying , Snyder Peter J. , Pietrzak Robert H. , Ukiqi Albulene , Villemagne Victor L. , Ames David , Salvado Olivier , Bourgeat Pierrick , Martins Ralph N. , Masters Colin L. , Rowe Christopher C. , Maruff Paul ,   AIBL Research Group
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Cognitive composite scores developed for preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) often consist of multiple cognitive domains as they may provide greater sensitivity to detect β‐amyloid (Aβ)–related cognitive decline than episodic memory (EM) composite scores alone. However, this has never been empirically tested. We compared the rate of cognitive decline associated with high Aβ (Aβ+) and very high Aβ (Aβ++) in cognitively normal (CN) older adults on three multidomain cognitive composite scores and one single‐domain (EM) composite score.

Methods

CN older adults (n = 423) underwent Aβ neuroimaging and completed neuropsychological assessments at baseline, and at 18‐, 36‐, 54‐, and 72‐month follow‐ups. Four cognitive composite scores were computed: the ADCS‐PACC (ADCS‐Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite), ADCS‐PACC without the inclusion of the mini‐mental state examination (MMSE), an EM composite, and the Z‐scores of Attention, Verbal fluency, and Episodic memory for Nondemented older adults (ZAVEN) composite.

Results

Compared with Aβ+ CN older adults, Aβ++ CN older adults showed faster rates of decline across all cognitive composites, with the largest decline observed for ZAVEN composite (d = 1.07). Similarly, compared with Aβ− CN older adults, Aβ+ CN older adults also showed faster rates of cognitive decline, but only for the ADCS‐PACC no MMSE (d = 0.43), EM (d = 0.53), and ZAVEN (d = 0.50) composites.

Discussion

Aβ‐related cognitive decline is best detected using validated neuropsychological instruments. Removal of the MMSE from the ADCS‐PACC and replacing it with a test of executive function (verbal fluency; i.e., the ZAVEN) rendered this composite more sensitive even in detecting Aβ‐related cognitive decline between Aβ+ and Aβ++ CN older adults.
Endogenous DNA Damage and Repair Enzymes
Authors: Klungland Arne , Yang Yun-Gui
Published: December 2015

Tomas Lindahl completed his medical studies at Karolinska Institute in 1970. Yet, his work has always been dedicated to unraveling fundamental mechanisms of DNA decay and DNA repair. His research is characterized with groundbreaking discoveries on the instability of our genome, the identification of novel DNA repair activities, the characterization of DNA repair pathways, and the association to diseases, throughout his 40 years of scientific career.
An Outbreak of Severe Group AStreptococcusInfections Associated with Podiatric Application of a Biologic Dermal Substitute
Authors: Ibrahim Lauren A. , Sellick John A. , Watson Elaine L. , McCabe Lisa M. , Schoenhals Karen A. , Martinello Richard A. , Lesse Alan J.
Published: December 2015

OBJECTIVE

To describe an outbreak of severe Group AStreptococcus(GAS) infections that appeared to be associated with use of a biologic dermal substitute on foot wounds

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of cases and similar uninfected patients

SETTING/PATIENTS

Patients attending the podiatry clinic at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center between July 2011 and November 2011

INTERVENTIONS

Microbiology laboratory data were reviewed for the calendar year, a case definition was established and use of the biologic dermal substitute was discontinued. Staff were cultured to identify potentially colonized employees. A case–cohort study was designed to investigate risk factors for disease.Emmtyping and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were performed to identify strain similarity.

RESULTS

In 10 months, 14 cases were identified, and 4 of these patients died. All strains wereemmtype 28 and were identical according to PFGE. Discontinuation of biologic dermal substitute use halted the outbreak. A prior stroke was more common in the case cohort vs uninfected patient cohorts. The number of patients attending the clinic on 13 probable transmission days was significantly higher than on nontransmission days. We identified 2 patients who were present in the clinic on all but 1 probable transmission day. Surveillance cultures of podiatry clinic staff and cultures of the same lot of retained graft material were negative.

CONCLUSIONS

A carrier was not identified, and we believe the outbreak was associated with inter-patient transmission likely due to lapses in infection control techniques. No additional cases have been identified in >3 years following the resumption of dermal substitute use in May 2012.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol.2016;37(3):306–312
Being Mindful of Work–Family Issues: Intervention to a Modern Stressor
Authors: Morganson Valerie J. , Rotch Michael A. , Christie Ashley R.
Published: December 2015

Recently, mindfulness research has grown quickly, particularly as an avenue to increase productivity and alleviate modern workers' growing stress levels (Hyland, Lee, & Mills, 2015). In a parallel but largely separate literature, work–family1conflict has received expansive research attention in the last several decades as an important modern stressor. Work–family researchers have repeatedly called for practical interventions and individual strategies such as coping (e.g., Eby, Casper, Lockwood, Bordeaux, & Brinley, 2005; Kossek, Baltes, & Matthews, 2011). As a potential remedy for modern stress with demonstrated utility in the workplace, mindfulness is ideally suited to facilitate workers' efforts to balance their work and personal life domains. The purpose of this commentary is to explore numerous ways through which bridging mindfulness and work–family literatures will advance organizational science and practice.
Big Data Recommendations for Industrial–Organizational Psychology
Authors: Guzzo Richard A. , Fink Alexis A. , King Eden , Tonidandel Scott , Landis Ronald S.
Published: December 2015

The world is awash in data. Data is being created and stored at ever-increasing rates through a variety of new methods and technologies. Data is accumulating in all sorts of accessible places. Much of that data is of great interest to industrial–organizational (I-O) psychologists, often in ways never anticipated by those who develop technologies and processes that generate and store that data. I-O psychologists also generate data in the course of research and practice in ways that, especially if joined with data originating from other sources, create giant datasets. This abundance of data—variables, measurements, observations, facts—can be used to inform a vast number of issues in research and practice. This is the new “big data” world, and beyond opportunities, this new world also presents challenges and potential hazards.
Conducting Ethical Research With Big and Small Data: Key Questions for Practitioners
Authors: Dekas Kathryn , McCune Elizabeth A.
Published: December 2015

The focal article (Guzzo, Fink, King, Tonidandel, & Landis, 2015) sought to “raise awareness and provide direction with regard to issues and complications uniquely associated with the advent of big data,” (p. 492), and we commend their success in offering Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) members a solid foundation and resources on which to draw. Our aim here is to extend their position, particularly to drive the conversation toward concrete recommendations for how industrial and organizational psychologists (I-Os) working in industry can apply the principles set forth in the focal article in our day-to-day work, specifically around the issue of avoiding ethical missteps in this new landscape.
The State-Like and Skillful Aspects of Mindfulness: The Roles of Working Memory and Self-Regulation
Authors: Merlo Kelsey L.
Published: December 2015

A common theme throughout the focal article (Hyland, Lee, & Mills, 2015) suggests that mindfulness is associated with a range of benefits, but the phenomenon itself is not well defined and conceptualized. Throughout the research area, mindfulness has been defined as a trait, as a skill, and, most commonly, as a state. In order to advance a productive research area, conceptual clarity is needed to further distinguish between these aspects of mindfulness. In this commentary, I will (a) provide a distinction between mindfulness as a state and the skill of entering a mindful state, (b) outline the implications of skillful mindfulness for working memory capacity (WMC) and job performance, and (c) discuss the conflicting hypotheses of state mindfulness and self-regulation.
Why Mindfulness Sustains Performance: The Role of Personal and Job Resources
Authors: Kroon Brigitte , Menting Charlotte , van Woerkom Marianne
Published: December 2015

Building on the focal article by Hyland, Lee, and Mills (2015), we propose conservation of resources (COR) theory (Hobfoll, 1989) as a framework that may explain why mindfulness contributes to work motivation and performance in an organizational context. We argue that mindfulness is especially beneficial in dynamic work contexts because it provides employees with a personal resource that makes them more resilient to the loss of job resources and more aware of alternative job resources in their changed work environment.
Direct numerical simulation of gas transfer across the air–water interface driven by buoyant convection
Authors: Wissink J. G. , Herlina H.
Published: December 2015

A series of direct numerical simulations of mass transfer across the air–water interface driven by buoyancy-induced convection have been carried out to elucidate the physical mechanisms that play a role in the transfer of heat and atmospheric gases. The buoyant instability is caused by the presence of a thin layer of cold water situated on top of a body of warm water. In time, heat and atmospheric gases diffuse into the uppermost part of the thermal boundary layer and are subsequently transported down into the bulk by falling sheets and plumes of cold water. Using a specifically designed numerical code for the discretization of scalar convection and diffusion, it was possible to accurately resolve this buoyant-instability-induced transport of atmospheric gases into the bulk at a realistic Prandtl number ($\mathit{Pr}=6$) and Schmidt numbers ranging from$\mathit{Sc}=20$to$\mathit{Sc}=500$. The simulations presented here provided a detailed insight into instantaneous gas transfer processes. The falling plumes with highly gas-saturated fluid in their core were found to penetrate deep inside the bulk. With an initial temperature difference between the water surface and the bulk of slightly above$2$ K, peaks in the instantaneous heat flux in excess of$1600~\text{W}~\text{m}^{-2}$were observed, proving the potential effectiveness of buoyant-convective heat and gas transfer. Furthermore, the validity of the scaling law for the ratio of gas and heat transfer velocities$K_{L}/H_{L}\propto (\mathit{Pr}/\mathit{Sc})^{0.5}$for the entire range of Schmidt numbers considered was confirmed. A good time-accurate approximation of$K_{L}$was found using surface information such as velocity fluctuations and convection cell size or surface divergence. A reasonable time accuracy for the$K_{L}$estimation was obtained using the horizontal integral length scale and the root mean square of the horizontal velocity fluctuations in the upper part of the bulk.
On locally graded groups with a word whose values are Engel
Authors: Shumyatsky Pavel , Tortora Antonio , Tota Maria
Published: December 2015

Let m, n be positive integers, let υ be a multilinear commutator word and let w = υm. We prove that if G is a locally graded group in which all w-values are n-Engel, then the verbal subgroup w(G) is locally nilpotent.
On mass concentration for the critical generalized Korteweg–de Vries equation
Authors: Pigott B.
Published: December 2015

We show that blow-up solutions of the critical generalized Korteweg–de Vries equation in H1() concentrate at least the mass of the ground state at the blow-up time. The I-method is used to prove a slightly weaker result in Hs() with 16/17 < s < 1. Under an assumption on the precise blow-up rate, we are able to use similar arguments to prove a more precise analogue of the H1() concentration result over the same range of s.
On the Cameron–Martin theorem and almost-sure global existence
Authors: Oh Tadahiro , Quastel Jeremy
Published: December 2015

In this paper we discuss various aspects of invariant measures for nonlinear Hamiltonian partial differential equations (PDEs). In particular, we show almost-sure global existence for some Hamiltonian PDEs with initial data of the form ‘a smooth deterministic function + a rough random perturbation’ as a corollary to the Cameron–Martin theorem and known almost-sure global existence results with respect to Gaussian measures on spaces of functions.
EUGENICS, POPULATION RESEARCH, AND SOCIAL MOBILITY STUDIES IN EARLY AND MID-TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRITAIN
Authors: RENWICK CHRIS
Published: December 2015

Eugenics and sociology are often considered polar opposites, with the former seen as a pseudo-science that reduces everything to genes and the other a progressive social science focused on the environment. However, the situation was not quite so straightforward in mid-twentieth-century Britain. As this article shows, eugenics had a number of important formative intellectual, institutional, and methodological impacts on ideas and practices that would find a home in the rapidly expanding and diversifying discipline of sociology after the Second World War. Taking in the careers of leading individuals, including Alexander Carr-Saunders, William Beveridge, Julian Huxley, and David Glass, and focusing on the relationship between eugenics, ‘population research’, and the emerging field of social mobility studies, the article highlights the significant but underappreciated influence interwar biosocial thinking had on intellectual, scientific, and political cultures in post-war Britain. In so doing, the article draws on recent scholarship on the ‘technical identity’ embedded in mid-century British social science, which, it is suggested, provided the link between the research under consideration and the progressive politics of those who carried it out.
The quest for legitimacy in world politics – international institutions’ legitimation strategies
Authors: Gronau Jennifer , Schmidtke Henning
Published: December 2015

The article presents a top-down approach to the study of the empirical legitimacy of international institutions. It starts from the observation that international institutions’ representatives are engaged in various strategies aimed at cultivating generalised support. The article asserts that such strategies should be taken into account to gain deeper insights into the legitimation process of international institutions. To systematise these legitimation efforts and facilitate their empirical analysis, the article introduces the concept of legitimation strategies, which are defined as goal-oriented activities employed to establish and maintain a reliable basis of diffuse support. An analytical differentiation between three types of legitimation strategies is introduced depending on the addressees of legitimation strategies, that is, member state governments, international institutions’ staff, and the wider public. The applicability of the concept and the relevance of legitimation strategies for international institutions’ communication, behaviour, and institutional design is demonstrated by an empirical analysis of the G8’s and the IMF’s reaction to legitimation crises in the recent past of both institutions. In addition, the case studies suggest that a balanced set of legitimation strategies that takes into account the legitimacy concerns of all three constituencies is more likely to be successful in improving legitimacy perceptions.
Protecting the Health and Well-being of Populations from Disasters: Health and Health Care in The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030
Authors: Aitsi-Selmi Amina , Murray Virginia
Published: December 2015

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030 is the first of three United Nations (UN) landmark agreements this year (the other two being the Sustainable Development Goals due in September 2015 and the climate change agreements due in December 2015). It represents a step in the direction of global policy coherence with explicit reference to health, economic development, and climate change. The multiple efforts of the health community in the policy development process, including campaigning for safe schools and hospitals, helped to put people’s mental and physical health, resilience, and well-being higher up the DRR agenda compared with its predecessor, the 2005 Hyogo Framework for Action. This report reflects on these policy developments and their implications and reviews the range of health impacts from disasters; summarizes the widened remit of DRR in the post-2015 world; and finally, presents the science and health calls of the Sendai Framework to be implemented over the next 15 years to reduce disaster losses in lives and livelihoods.

Aitsi-SelmiA, MurrayV. Protecting the health and well-being of populations from disasters: health and health care in The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(1):74–78.
Do bilingual advantages in attentional control influence memory encoding during a divided attention task?
Authors: BRITO NATALIE H. , MURPHY ERIC R. , VAIDYA CHANDAN , BARR RACHEL
Published: December 2015

The current study examined if bilingual advantages in cognitive control influence memory encoding during a divided attention task. Monolinguals, simultaneous bilinguals, and sequential bilinguals switched between classifying objects and words, then were tested for their recognition memory of stimuli previously seen during the classification task. Compared to bilingual groups, monolinguals made the most errors on the classification task and simultaneous bilinguals committed the fewest errors. On the memory task, however, no differences were found between the three language groups, but significant correlations were found between the number of errors during switch trials on the classification task and recognition memory for both target and non-target stimuli. For bilinguals, their age of second language acquisition partially accounted for the association between attentional control (number of switch errors) and subsequent memory for non-target stimuli only. These results contribute to our understanding of how individual differences in language acquisition influence interactions between cognitive domains.
NUMERICAL STABILITY AND ACCURACY OF THE SCALED BOUNDARY FINITE ELEMENT METHOD IN ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
Authors: LI MIAO , ZHANG YONG , ZHANG HONG , GUAN HONG
Published: December 2015

The scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM) is a semi-analytical computational method initially developed in the 1990s. It has been widely applied in the fields of solid mechanics, oceanic, geotechnical, hydraulic, electromagnetic and acoustic engineering problems. Most of the published work on SBFEM has focused on its theoretical development and practical applications, but, so far, no explicit discussion on the numerical stability and accuracy of its solution has been systematically documented. However, for a reliable engineering application, the inherent numerical problems associated with SBFEM solution procedures require thorough analysis in terms of its causes and the corresponding remedies. This study investigates the numerical performance of SBFEM with respect to matrix manipulation techniques and their properties. Some illustrative examples are given to identify reasons for possible numerical difficulties, and corresponding solution schemes are proposed to overcome these problems.