bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of CD28/CD86 co‐stimulatory molecules and surface properties of T and dendritic cells: An AFM study
Authors: Huang Xun , Guo He , Wang Chuang , Mu Jingjing , Zhang Hongxin , Liang Zhihong , Cai Jiye , Zhou Changren
Published: October 2015

Although the importance of B7/CD28 co‐stimulation has been widely studied, little is known about their nano‐spatial localization and their corresponding cells' biophysical and biomechanical properties. Here, we investigated the morphological, biophysical, and biomechanical properties of T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and force curves. The nano‐spatial distribution of CD28 and CD86 antigen on T cells and DCs was detected by CD86 or CD28 antibody‐functionalized AFM tip. Single‐molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS)‐based force volumes and quantum dots (QDs)‐based fluorescence imaging demonstrated that the co‐stimulatory molecules were not randomly distributed over the cells' surface, but more than 80% of CD28 and CD86 molecules appeared to be expressed as 100–200 nm nanoclusters and polarize dominantly in the peak of the cell membrane fluctuations. AFM imaging and quantitative analysis showed that the roughness of mature DCs (mDCs) was higher than that of immature DCs (iDCs). The adhesion force distribution of iDCs and mDCs was heterogeneous while the elasticity distribution was homogeneous locally. In addition, mDCs had a fourfold increase of Young's modulus of iDCs, indicating the contribution of the actin cytoskeleton to the elastic properties of the cells. Taken together, the nano‐cluster distribution of CD28 and CD86, the rough mDCs surface, the higher adhesion force and elasticity of mDCs may facilitate to the occurrence of B7/CD28 co‐stimulation signals and the formation of immune synapse. These nanoscale findings provide new insights into the antigen‐presenting function of DCs, the T cell activation and ultimate immune response. SCANNING 38:365–375, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using pilot data to size a two‐arm randomized trial to find a nearly optimal personalized treatment strategy
Authors: Laber Eric B. , Zhao Ying‐Qi , Regh Todd , Davidian Marie , Tsiatis Anastasios , Stanford Joseph B. , Zeng Donglin , Song Rui , Kosorok Michael R.
Published: October 2015

A personalized treatment strategy formalizes evidence‐based treatment selection by mapping patient information to a recommended treatment. Personalized treatment strategies can produce better patient outcomes while reducing cost and treatment burden. Thus, among clinical and intervention scientists, there is a growing interest in conducting randomized clinical trials when one of the primary aims is estimation of a personalized treatment strategy. However, at present, there are no appropriate sample size formulae to assist in the design of such a trial. Furthermore, because the sampling distribution of the estimated outcome under an estimated optimal treatment strategy can be highly sensitive to small perturbations in the underlying generative model, sample size calculations based on standard (uncorrected) asymptotic approximations or computer simulations may not be reliable. We offer a simple and robust method for powering a single stage, two‐armed randomized clinical trial when the primary aim is estimating the optimal single stage personalized treatment strategy. The proposed method is based on inverting a plugin projection confidence interval and is thereby regular and robust to small perturbations of the underlying generative model. The proposed method requires elicitation of two clinically meaningful parameters from clinical scientists and uses data from a small pilot study to estimate nuisance parameters, which are not easily elicited. The method performs well in simulated experiments and is illustrated using data from a pilot study of time to conception and fertility awareness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prevalence of Sexual Concerns and Sexual Dysfunction among Sexually Active and Inactive Men and Women with Screen-Detected Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Bjerggaard Mette , Charles Morten , Kristensen Ellids , Lauritzen Torsten , Sandbæk Annelli , Giraldi Annamaria
Published: October 2015

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes negatively impacts sexual health. Only limited information is available regarding sexual health among sexually inactive patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sexual concerns among sexually active and sexually inactive men and women with type 2 diabetes and of sexual dysfunction (SD) among sexually active.

Methods

Data from the Anglo–Danish–Dutch Study of Intensive Treatment in People with Screen-Detected Diabetes in Primary Care-Denmark study was used. A total of 1,170 Danish patients with screen-detected type 2 diabetes attended a health examination, including assessment of sexual concerns using self-report questionnaires and of SD using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-R) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) instruments.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcome measures used regarding sexual concerns are the following: prevalence of failure to fill sexual needs, of experiencing sexual distress, finding it important to have a good sexual life, and additionally, prevalence of SD.

Results

Data regarding sexual activity status during the last 12 months were available among 583 men and 377 women. Seventeen percent of men and 47% of women reported to be sexually inactive, among whom 57% of men and 42% of women reported failure to fill sexual needs; 31% of men and 10% of women that it was important to have a good sexual life, and 32% of men and 11% of women that they were experiencing sexual distress. Around half of men and women were excluded from the SD analysis, mainly because of reporting lack of sexual intercourse during the last 4 weeks. Among those included, 54% of men and 12% of women were found to have SD.

Conclusions

Sexual inactivity is highly prevalent among middle-aged and older men and women with early type 2 diabetes and these patients often have sexual concerns. The high exclusion rates when assessing SD using the FSFI-R and IIEF-5 instruments makes it difficult to draw conclusions regarding the prevalence. Sexual health should be broadly assessed in both sexually active and sexually inactive people with type 2 diabetes.
Weak Delocalization in Graphene on a Ferromagnetic Insulating Film
Authors: Pietrobon Luca , Fallarino Lorenzo , Berger Andreas , Chuvilin Andrey , Casanova Fèlix , Hueso Luis E.
Published: October 2015

Graphene has been predicted to develop a magnetic moment by proximity effect when placed on a ferromagnetic film, a promise that could open exciting possibilities in the fields of spintronics and magnetic data recording. In this work, the interplay between the magnetoresistance of graphene and the magnetization of an underlying ferromagnetic insulating film is studied in detail. A clear correlation between both magnitudes is observed but through a careful modeling of the magnetization and the weak localization measurements, that such correspondence can be explained by the effects of the magnetic stray fields arising from the ferromagnetic insulator is found. The results emphasize the complexity arising at the interface between magnetic and 2D materials.
The maternal cervix: Why, when and how?
Authors: O'Hara Sandra , Zelesco Marilyn , Sun Zhonghua , Lee Emmeline
Published: October 2015

Introduction

The incidence of preterm birth has continued to rise in most countries in the world during the last decade. There are many clinical risk factors that increase the risk of preterm birth. It has been shown that a sonographically shortened cervical length is a strong indicator of subsequent preterm birth in pregnancy.

Background

It has been established that women at an increased risk of preterm birth should have the cervical length recorded using a transvaginal approach. The sensitivity of a shortened cervical length to predict preterm birth is higher in women with a previous preterm birth, with reduced sensitivity in low risk women. The maternal cervix may be assessed using transabdominal, transperineal and transvaginal ultrasound approaches. This article discusses the available research into the use of these differing techniques and current guidelines for measuring maternal cervical length.

Measuring the maternal cervical length has become an important part of the mid trimester morphology examination. The appropriate technique to screen the cervical length in women at low risk of preterm birth is still debatable throughout the wider obstetric and ultrasound communities.
Does Lymphadenectomy Improve Survival in Patients with Adrenocortical Carcinoma? A Population‐Based Study
Authors: Nilubol Naris , Patel Dhaval , Kebebew Electron
Published: October 2015

Background

A recent study suggested a survival benefit in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) who had undergone lymphadenectomy. The objective of this study was to study the effect of lymphadenectomy on the survival rates of patients with ACC.

Methods

Data from adult patients with histology‐proven ACC from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 Registries (1973–2011) were analyzed to assess the impact of lymphadenectomy (≥4 lymph nodes removed) on disease‐specific survival (DSS).

Results

Of 1525 patients with ACC, 45 % were male. 36, 20, and 44 % of patients presented with localized, regional, and distant metastatic diseases, respectively. 8 % of patients (n= 67/802) underwent lymphadenectomy. We observed a higher rate of lymphadenectomy performed in patients with regional disease [locally advanced tumors (stage T3 and T4) and/or lymph node metastasis] and distant metastasis than in those with localized tumors (12.4 % and 12.0 vs. 5.1, respectively,p< 0.01) and in patients with primary tumor sizes >10 cm (12.4 vs. 4.2 %,p< 0.01). Lymph node metastasis was present in 12.8 % (19.2 % in locally advanced ACC). A lymphadenectomy was not associated with improved DSS on univariate analysis (p= 0.30), regardless of tumor size or staging. Independent prognostic factors included: ages ≥60 years (p< 0.01, HR 1.70), lymph node metastasis (p< 0.01, HR 1.7), distant metastasis (p< 0.01, HR 5.6), complete resection of tumor (p< 0.01, HR 0.47), and debulking surgery (p< 0.01, HR 0.49).

Conclusion

A lymphadenectomy is not commonly performed in patients with ACC in the U.S. Although we found no survival benefit in this cohort with a low rate of lymphadenectomy, a lymphadenectomy may be considered in patients with locally advanced tumors (T3 and T4) due to a higher rate of lymph node metastasis.
Do We Need to Distance Ourselves from the Distance Concept? Why Home and Host Country Context Might Matter More Than (Cultural) Distance
Authors: Harzing Anne-Wil , Pudelko Markus
Published: October 2015

We scrutinize the explanatory power of one of the key concepts in International Business: the concept of (cultural) distance. Here we focus on its effect on entry mode choice, one of the most researched fields in international business strategy. Our findings might, however, be equally be relevant for the field of International Business as a whole. Our analysis is based on a review of 92 prior studies on entry mode choice, as well as an empirical investigation in over 800 subsidiaries of MNCs, covering nine host and fifteen home countries across the world. We conclude that the explanatory power of distance is highly limited once home and host country context are accounted for, and that any significant effects of cultural distance on entry mode choice might simply be caused by inadequate sampling. Entry mode studies in particular, and International Business research in general, would do well to reconsider its fascination with distance measures, and instead, focus first and foremost on differences in home and host country context. We argue that serious engagement with deep contextualization is necessary in International Business research to pose new and relevant questions and develop new and innovative theories that explain empirical phenomena.
The Updated Bottom Up Solution Applied to Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Byrdwell William Craig
Published: October 2015

The Updated Bottom Up Solution (UBUS) was recently applied to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectrometry (MS) of triacylglycerols (TAG). This report demonstrates that the UBUS applies equally well to atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) MS and to electrospray ionization (ESI) MS. Critical Ratio 1 (CR1), the [MH]+/Σ[DAG]+ or [MNH4]+/Σ[DAG]+ ratio, does not exhibit the same strongly sigmoidal shape as it does by APCI‐MS. CR1 varies more widely for APPI‐MS than by APCI‐MS, having a maximum value of 11.8, indicating a much greater effect of unsaturation on ion ratios in APPI‐MS than APCI‐MS. Critical Ratio 2, the [AA]+/[AB]+ ratio for Type II TAG or [AC]+/([AB]++[BC]+) ratio for Type III TAG, allows quantification of regioisomers of TAG, and shows good agreement for APPI‐MS to regioisomer quantification determined by APCI‐MS. Critical Ratio 3, the [BC]+/[AB]+ ratio for Type III TAG, reveals new trends relating the degree of unsaturation by APPI‐MS, and shows that structural assignments made by ESI‐MS are in good agreement to APCI‐MS data. In addition to providing valuable structural information, the Critical Ratios also constitute a reduced data set that allows APPI‐MS or ESI‐MS mass spectra to be reconstructed when processed through the UBUS. Quantification by APPI‐MS of vitamin D in the gelcaps gave values of 42.90 ± 0.83 μg, or 1716 ± 33 international units, in good agreement with APCI‐MS.
Turbulent thermals with chemical reaction
Authors: Domingos Mariana G. , Cardoso Silvana S. S.
Published: October 2015

This study investigates the behaviour of a turbulent thermal undergoing a second-order chemical reaction with the fluid entrained from the environment. Environments with uniform and stratified density are considered. We show that the dynamics of such a reactive thermal is fully determined by three dimensionless groups, $N/E$, $G/R$ and $R/E$, where $N$ is the buoyancy frequency of the environment, $G$ measures the ability of the reaction to change buoyancy, $R$ reflects the rate of consumption of the chemical species and $E$ is the rate of entrainment of reactive species from the environment. Exact analytical solutions are found for the limiting cases of slow and instantaneous chemical reaction. The effect of each governing group on the time for neutral buoyancy and depletion of the source chemical is assessed numerically. Our theoretical predictions compare well with new experimental results for the limits of a moderately slow chemical reaction and an instantaneous reaction. It is shown that fast reactions, with $R/E\gg 1$, occur only in a fraction of the total volume of the thermal due to incomplete mixing. Finally, our model is applied to study the dynamics of a radioactive cloud formed after a nuclear accident.
COMMUNICATION IN THE CONTEXT OF FAMILY CAREGIVING: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF UGANDAN CHILDREN ON ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY
Authors: Kajubi P. , Katahoire Anne R. , Kyaddondo David , Whyte Susan R.
Published: October 2015

It is important to consider the complexities of family dynamics when deciding when and how to communicate with HIV-infected children about their illness and treatment. Previous research has focused on providers’ and caregivers’ perspectives on whether, when and how to disclose HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment to HIV-infected children. From the perspective of HIV-infected children, communication does not mean just giving information about illness and treatment, but also encompasses emotional and material care. This paper places communication within the broader framework of caregiving in family situations. This exploratory study was conducted in Jinja district, Uganda, between November 2011 and December 2012. Through participant observation and in-depth interviews, communication by, and with, HIV-infected children in the context of family situations was explored from the perspectives of 29 HIV-infected children aged 8–17 years on antiretroviral therapy (ART) using content thematic analysis. Children’s communication with caregivers about their illness and treatment varied depending on whom they were living with and the nature of caregiving. Although a mother’s care was considered best, children described others who cared ‘like a mother’. For some, caregiving was distributed among several relatives and non-relatives, while others felt they had hardly anyone to care for them. Caregiving from the children’s perspective involved emotional support, expressed verbally and explicitly in messages of concern, encouragement conveyed in reminders to take medicines, attention when sick and confidential conversations about the challenges of having HIV and taking ART. Caregiving was also communicated implicitly in acts of provision of food/drinks to take with medicines, counting pills to confirm they had taken the medicines and accompanying children to treatment centres. Children’s communication about their health and medicines and the care they received was to a large extent shaped by the nature of their relatedness to their caregivers, the extent to which caregiving was dispersed among several people and who else in the household was infected with HIV and on medication.
XVIII.—The Equation of Conduction of Heat
Authors: Gray Marion C.
Published: October 2015

The differential equation of the conduction of heat in ordinary three-dimensional space is generally written in the form

where v denotes the temperature of the medium at time t. For a medium in which the temperature varies only in one direction, e.g. an infinite cylinder with the temperature varying along the axis, the equation is
Psychological health and well-being among young Irish adults
Authors: Cleary Anne , Nixon Elizabeth , Fitzgerald Michael
Published: October 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine and describe levels of psychological health and well-being in a group of young people living in Dublin.

Method: A sample of 97 young people (50 males, 47 females) were assessed for psychological status, suicidal ideation, substance misuse, contact with the law, self-esteem and locus of control as well as various social indicators such as educational attainment and social connectedness. A screening version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis Diagnosis (SCID) was used to assess psychological functioning and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation was employed to ascertain suicidal ideation. Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and locus of control was measured using a scale devised by Pearlin, Menaghan, Lieberman and Mullan (1981).

Results: Symptom levels were high and approximately one fifth of respondents had a probable psychiatric condition (most commonly depression or anxiety). Yet, only a small percentage was receiving treatment for psychiatric difficulties. Over half of the participants had used nonprescription drugs at some time. Alcohol consumption was high, especially amongst male respondents. Over half of those interviewed were categorised as misusing alcohol and/or drugs and participants greatly underestimated their level of alcohol use. Approximately one-quarter had had some contact with the law which was related to deficits in educational attainment and the latter variable was associated with childhood economic disadvantage.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that among a sample of 97 young Irish people, a high level of psychiatric symptomatology and excessive use of alcohol is evident. This remains largely untreated as only a small percentage of the group had sought help for psychological difficulties which suggests a need to address the issues of mental health awareness, alcohol use and the accessibility of services. The paper also underlines the association between economic disadvantage and lack of educational attainment with associated linkages to offending.
Breaking the Dichotomy Habit: The Adversary System and the Ethics of Professionalism
Authors: MacKenzie Gavin
Published: October 2015

Litigation lawyers learn early in their practices that although the adversary system functions tolerably well in many civil cases, its defects are nevertheless extensive and profound. Tactics calculated to delay, distort, obfuscate, obstruct and wear down opponents through frustration and cost are common. Questionable conduct is justified by appeals to the ethics of the adversary system. The consequences are often born by clients—through increased cost, delay and conflict—and even by lawyers themselves—through stress, fatigue and dissatisfaction with the quality of life that the practice of litigation in our adversary system brings with it.
The Seal of the Confessional
Authors: Bursell Rupert D. H.
Published: October 2015

The seal of the confessional was part of the canon law applied in England before the Reformation. It was also part of that law which was continued in force at the Reformation, as is confirmed by the proviso to canon 113 of the 1603 Canons. This proviso is still in force and proprio vigore binds the clergy of the Church of England. By the Act of Uniformity, 1662, the hearing of confessions was enjoined upon those clergy in certain circumstances; the law places no limit upon the frequency of their being heard. It is unsurprising that there are infrequent references to the seal of the confessional since the Reformation; such cases as there are are inconclusive. Nevertheless, although the seal of the confessional may be waived by the penitent, the refusal by an Anglican clergyman to disclose what was said within sacramental confession is based upon a duty imposed on him by the ecclesiastical law rather than upon an evidential privilege. An Anglican clergyman in breach of that duty would be in grave danger of censure by the ecclesiastical courts and such censure might well lead to his deprivation and possible deposition from Holy Orders. The ecclesiastical law is part of the general law of the land and must be applied in both the ecclesiastical and secular courts. Both courts must therefore enforce that clerical duty and uphold any refusal by an Anglican clergyman to answer questions in breach of the seal of the confessional.
Association of IL-4 (intron 3) and IL-10 (-1082) gene polymorphisms with risk of mitral valve disease in children with rheumatic heart disease
Authors: Yousry Sherif M. , Sedky Yasser , Sobieh Alaa
Published: October 2015

Aim

Rheumatic heart disease is an inflammatory disease of cardiac tissue. The underlying pathogenic mechanisms highlight a complex interplay of immunological, genetic, and environmental factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether IL-4 (intron 3) and IL-10 (-1082) gene polymorphisms could be associated with susceptibility and/or severity of rheumatic heart disease among patients from the Egyptian population.

Materials and methods

A cohort of 140 Egyptian children with rheumatic heart disease and 100 healthy controls were enrolled in this case–control study. Genotyping for IL-4 (intron 3) and IL-10 (-1082) gene polymorphisms was carried out for all patients using a polymerase chain reaction-based analysis.

Results

No significant difference in the distribution of genotypes and allelic frequencies between rheumatic heart disease cases and controls for IL-4 (intron 3) (p=0.17; OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.82–3.74) and IL-10 (-1082) (p=0.49; OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.65–2.71) gene polymorphisms was observed. Further categorisation of patients into mitral valve disease and combined valve disease subgroups showed that cases with mitral valve disease have significantly higher frequency of the RP2 allele of IL-4 (intron 3) (p=0.03; OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.93–6.15) and the G allele of IL-10 (-1082) (p=0.04; OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.62–4.95) when compared with controls.

Discussion

Our study shows that IL-4 (intron 3) and IL-10 (-1082) gene polymorphisms are not significantly associated with susceptibility to rheumatic heart disease, but they might play a role in the pathogenesis of patients with mitral valve disease.
Use of three-dimensional mapping in young patients decreases radiation exposure even without a goal of zero fluoroscopy
Authors: Beach Cheyenne , Beerman Lee , Mazzocco Sharon , Brooks Maria M. , Arora Gaurav
Published: October 2015

At present, three-dimensional mapping is often used during cardiac ablations with an explicit goal of decreasing radiation exposure; three-dimensional mapping was introduced in our institution in 2007, but not specifically to decrease fluoroscopy time. We document fluoroscopy use and catheterisation times in this setting. Data were obtained retrospectively from patients who underwent ablation for atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia from January, 2004 to December, 2011. A total of 93 patients were included in the study. Among them, 18 patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation without three-dimensional mapping were included in Group 1, 13 patients who underwent cryoablation without three-dimensional mapping were included in Group 2, and 62 patients who underwent cryoablation with three-dimensional mapping were included in Group 3. Mean fluoroscopy times differed significantly (34.3, 23.4, and 20.3 minutes, p<0.001) when all the groups were compared. Group 3 had a shorter average fluoroscopy time that did not reach significance when compared directly with Group 2 (p=0.29). An unadjusted linear regression model showed a progressive decrease in fluoroscopy time (p=0.002). Mean total catheterisation times differed significantly (180, 211, and 210 minutes, p=0.02) and were related to increased ablation times inherent to cryoablation techniques. Acute success was achieved in 89, 100, and 97% of patients (p=0.25), and chronic success was achieved in 80, 92, and 93% of patients (p=0.38). Complication rates were similar (17, 23, and 7%, p=0.14). In conclusion, three-dimensional mapping systems decrease fluoroscopy times even without an explicit goal of zero fluoroscopy. Efficacy and safety of the procedure have not changed.
Hospital Application of the Incident Management System
Authors: Londorf Donald
Published: October 2015

The organization of hospitals during an external or internal disaster frequently is defined in the required disaster plan. However, the organizational structure is not uniform. This article describes the incident management system (IMS) established for the organization of out-of-hospital disaster responses and suggest a similar system for use in disaster management tvithin hospitals. Adoption of the Hospital Incident Management System (HIMS) not only would provide a powerful framework for all hospital emergency responses, but it also would provide a necessary link to outside agencies.
Factors Contributing to Earnings Success of Cash Grain Farms
Authors: Mishra Ashok K. , El-Osta Hisham S. , Johnson James D.
Published: October 2015

The objective of this study was to identify factors which contribute to the earnings' success of cash grain farms in the United States. The study analyzes three measures of success including net farm income per dollar of asset, operators' returns to labor and management, and operators' management income. Logit regression analysis shows that controlling variable costs, ownership, management ability, technology adoption, and diversification are important factors that influence success.
Long-term experience with a tonal language shapes the perception of intonation in English words: How Chinese–English bilinguals perceive “Rose?” vs. “Rose”
Authors: ORTEGA-LLEBARIA MARTA , NEMOGÁ MARITZA , PRESSON NORA
Published: October 2015

Long-term experience with a tonal language shapes pitch perception in specific ways, and consequently Chinese speakers may not process pitch in English words – e.g., “Rose?” spoken as a question versus “Rose” spoken as a statement – in the same way as native speakers of non-tonal languages do. If so, what are those pitch processing differences and how do they affect Chinese recognition of English words? We investigated these questions by administering a primed lexical-decision task in English to proficient Chinese–English bilinguals and two control groups, namely, Spanish–English and native English speakers. Prime-target pairs differed in one sound and/or in pitch. Results showed specific cross-language differences in pitch processing between the Chinese speakers and the control groups, confirming that experience with a tonal language shaped the perception of English words' intonation. Moreover, such experience helps to incorporate pitch into models of word-recognition for bilinguals of tonal and non-tonal languages.
The Blind Men, the Elephant, and Regional Order in Northeast Asia: Towards a New Conceptualization
Authors: JO SAM-SANG
Published: October 2015

No theory seems to describe accurately and explain competently the new, unusual, and idiosyncratic Northeast Asian regional order phenomenon. It is because Northeast Asian specialists like the blind men have seen only one of the parts of the ‘Elephant’ or a part of what is taking place in Northeast Asia. This paper attempts to employ a new, more appropriate, more productive analytical tool to understand and navigate efficiently the Northeast Asian regional order. The main objective of this paper is ‘the rise of China and Northeast Asian regional order’, what it is and what is taking place in the empirical world when we say that something we call ‘the rise of China and Northeast Asian regional order’ is taking place.
Did Democracy Give the United States an Edge in Primary Schooling?
Authors: Shammas Carole
Published: October 2015

Did the United States circa 1850 provide more primary education to its youth than other European countries, especially Britain? And was its more decentralized and democratic polity an important reason why? Analyzing census data, parliamentary reports, and election results, I find the perceived American advantage in regard to enrollments is due to an underestimation of the population at risk, a confusion of enrollments with attendance, and a lack of attention to differences in the length of school terms. In neither northern or southern counties in the United States did the extension of the franchise correlate with more tax dollars for elementary schools; rather it materialized in counties with more Whig and moral reform partisans whom institutional and social historians have identified as being motivated by external benefits/ social control objectives. More similarities in educational status may exist between the two nations than is often acknowledged and a North Atlantic perspective might be fruitful. Agricultural employments and racial/ ethnic differences surfaced as deterrents to 3R competency in both places, though the spread of a high-fertility population into low-density areas presented the United States with a special challenge. These results suggest that the effects of late-nineteenth-century compulsory attendance and other education legislation merit a reevaluation.
Introduction: Public and Private Provision of Urban Public Goods
Authors: Heim Carol E.
Published: October 2015

What is public, what is private, and what is the relationship between them? Can the public interest be clearly identified and protected? What role should government play in the lives of ordinary citizens? These are questions currently engaging policy makers and the general public as well as scholars in a range of disciplines. The provision and financing of urban public goods is one arena in which such questions have arisen. Historically, governments, private entities, and mixed forms such as public-private partnerships have undertaken these activities in the United States and other countries (Beito et al. 1989; Dyble 2010; Goodrich 1960; Hodge et al. 2010; Jacobson and Tarr 1995). In the late-twentieth- and early-twenty-first-century United States, tax revolts and concerns about “big government” led to increased scrutiny of the appropriate role of government. Contracting out of government activities and privatization both assumed increased importance (Dyble 2012; Light 1999).
Public Interest and the Financing of Local Water Control in Qing China, 1750–1850
Authors: He Wenkai
Published: October 2015

River works constituted the largest civil expenditure of the Qing state. In theory, the fiscal responsibility of the Qing state only stretched to major conservancy efforts of the Yellow River and Grand Canal, as well as the construction and maintenance of major river banks and irrigation initiatives. Smaller projects were funded and managed by local communities. Nonetheless, this division of funding between the state and local society was blurred in practice. Since the early eighteenth century, the Qing state routinely advanced the monies to pay for major repair and reconstruction of nonstate water-control projects; the communities who benefited from the finished project returned the investment to the state through extra duties on land taxes. This special method for financing hydraulic projects was frequently used in the first half of the nineteenth century when the Qing state experienced increasing fiscal difficulties. By examining the application of this financing method in different places and under varying circumstances between 1750 and 1850, this paper argues that the legitimation of state power through public good provision was the major justification of this policy.
Die Beckenringfraktur des älteren Menschen
Authors: Osterhoff Georg , Werner Clément M. L.
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung. Die Beckenfraktur des älteren Menschen ist in der Regel Folge eines Niedrigenergietraumas. Das kann über das Ausmass der knöchernen Verletzung mit häufiger Beteiligung des hinteren Beckenrings und eine mögliche Instabilität mit daraus resultierender schmerzhafter Einschränkung der Mobilität hinwegtäuschen. Gerade in der geriatrischen Population ist die Beckenfraktur mit einer hohen Morbidität und Mortalität assoziiert. Die Behandlung sollte interdisziplinär erfolgen und die schnellstmögliche Wiederherstellung von Mobilität und Unabhängigkeit ebenso wie die Verhinderung zukünftiger Frakturen zum Ziel haben. Dieser Übersichtsartikel soll einen Einblick verschaffen in die Eigenarten dieser an Bedeutung zunehmenden Verletzungen, ihre Diagnose und mögliche Therapie mit den zu erwartenden Behandlungsergebnissen.
Everybody Follows the Crowd?
Authors: Obermaier Magdalena , Koch Thomas , Baden Christian
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Opinion polls are a well-established part of political news coverage, especially during election campaigns. At the same time, there has been controversial debate over the possible influences of such polls on voters’ electoral choices. The most prominent influence discussed is the bandwagon effect: It states that voters tend to support the expected winner of an upcoming election, and use polls to determine who the likely winner will be. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying the effect. In addition, we inquired into the role of past electoral performances of a candidate and analyzed how these (as well as polls) are used as heuristic cues for the assessment of a candidate’s personal characteristics. Using an experimental design, we found that both polls and past election results influence participants’ expectations regarding which candidate will succeed. Moreover, higher competence was attributed to a candidate, if recipients believe that the majority of voters favor that candidate. Through this attribution of competence, both information about prior elections and current polls shaped voters’ electoral preferences.
Students with Disabilities Not Just Welcome but Expected
Authors: Kelleher Shannon
Published: October 2015

A geoscience study-abroad program breaks new ground in the United States by planning the course's curriculum from the get-go to include students with disabilities.
Influence of chemical disorder on energy dissipation and defect evolution in concentrated solid solution alloys
Authors: Zhang Yanwen , Stocks G. Malcolm , Jin Ke , Lu Chenyang , Bei Hongbin , Sales Brian C. , Wang Lumin , Béland Laurent K. , Stoller Roger E. , Samolyuk German D. , Caro Magdalena , Caro Alfredo , Weber William J.
Published: October 2015

A grand challenge in materials research is to understand complex electronic correlation and non-equilibrium atomic interactions, and how such intrinsic properties and dynamic processes affect energy transfer and defect evolution in irradiated materials. Here we report that chemical disorder, with an increasing number of principal elements and/or altered concentrations of specific elements, in single-phase concentrated solid solution alloys can lead to substantial reduction in electron mean free path and orders of magnitude decrease in electrical and thermal conductivity. The subsequently slow energy dissipation affects defect dynamics at the early stages, and consequentially may result in less deleterious defects. Suppressed damage accumulation with increasing chemical disorder from pure nickel to binary and to more complex quaternary solid solutions is observed. Understanding and controlling energy dissipation and defect dynamics by altering alloy complexity may pave the way for new design principles of radiation-tolerant structural alloys for energy applications.
Classification of symptom-side predominance in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Feis Delia-Lisa , Pelzer Esther A , Timmermann Lars , Tittgemeyer Marc
Published: October 2015

Asymmetry of symptom onset in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is strongly linked to differential diagnosis, progression of disease, and clinical manifestation, suggesting its importance in terms of specifying a therapeutic strategy for each individual patient. To scrutinize the predictive value of this consequential clinical phenomenon as a neuromarker supporting a personalized therapeutic approach, we modeled symptom-side predominance at disease onset based on brain morphology assessed with magnetic resonance (MR) images by utilizing machine learning classification. The integration of multimodal MR imaging data into a multivariate statistical model led to predict left- and right-sided symptom onset with an above-chance accuracy of 96%. By absolute numbers, all but one patient were correctly classified. Interestingly, mainly hippocampal morphology supports this prediction. Considering a different disease formation of this single outlier and the strikingly high classification, this approach proves a reliable predictive model for symptom-side diagnostics in PD. In brief, this work hints toward individualized disease-modifying therapies rather than symptom-alleviating treatments.
Metabolic profiling reveals potential metabolic markers associated with Hypoxia Inducible Factor-mediated signalling in hypoxic cancer cells
Authors: Armitage Emily G. , Kotze Helen L. , Allwood J. William , Dunn Warwick B. , Goodacre Royston , Williams Kaye J.
Published: October 2015

Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) plays an important role in oxygen compromised environments and therefore in tumour survival. In this research, metabolomics has been applied to study HIFs metabolic function in two cell models: mouse hepatocellular carcinoma and human colon carcinoma, whereby the metabolism has been profiled for a range of oxygen potentials. Wild type cells have been compared to cells deficient in HIF signalling to reveal its effect on cellular metabolism under normal oxygen conditions as well as low oxygen, hypoxic and anoxic environments. Characteristic responses to hypoxia that were conserved across both cell models involved the anti-correlation between 2-hydroxyglutarate, 2-oxoglutarate, fructose, hexadecanoic acid, hypotaurine, pyruvate and octadecenoic acid with 4-hydroxyproline, aspartate, cysteine, glutamine, lysine, malate and pyroglutamate. Further to this, network-based correlation analysis revealed HIF specific pathway responses to each oxygen condition that were also conserved between cell models. From this, 4-hydroxyproline was revealed as a regulating hub in low oxygen survival of WT cells while fructose appeared to be in HIF deficient cells. Pathways surrounding these hubs were built from the direct connections of correlated metabolites that look beyond traditional pathways in order to understand the mechanism of HIF response to low oxygen environments.
Correction: Corrigendum: Direct Correlation Between Ligand-Induced α-Synuclein Oligomers and Amyloid-like Fibril Growth
Authors: Nors Pedersen Martin , Foderà Vito , Horvath Istvan , van Maarschalkerweerd Andreas , Nørgaard Toft Katrine , Weise Christoph , Almqvist Fredrik , Wolf-Watz Magnus , Wittung-Stafshede Pernilla , Vestergaard Bente
Published: October 2015

Aggregation of proteins into amyloid deposits is the hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The suggestion that intermediate oligomeric species may be cytotoxic has led to intensified investigations of pre-fibrillar oligomers, which are complicated by their transient nature and low population. Here we investigate alpha-synuclein oligomers, enriched by a 2-pyridone molecule (FN075), and the conversion of oligomers into fibrils. As probed by leakage assays, the FN075 induced oligomers potently disrupt vesicles in vitro, suggesting a potential link to disease related degenerative activity. Fibrils formed in the presence and absence of FN075 are indistinguishable on microscopic and macroscopic levels. Using small angle X-ray scattering, we reveal that FN075 induced oligomers are similar, but not identical, to oligomers previously observed during alpha-synuclein fibrillation. Since the levels of FN075 induced oligomers correlate with the amounts of fibrils among different FN075:protein ratios, the oligomers appear to be on-pathway and modeling supports an ‘oligomer stacking model’ for alpha-synuclein fibril elongation.
Sources of plutonium in the atmosphere and stratosphere-troposphere mixing
Authors: Hirose Katsumi , Povinec Pavel P.
Published: October 2015

Plutonium isotopes have primarily been injected to the stratosphere by the atmospheric nuclear weapon tests and the burn-up of the SNAP-9A satellite. Here we show by using published data that the stratospheric plutonium exponentially decreased with apparent residence time of 1.5 ± 0.5 years and that the temporal variations of plutonium in surface air followed the stratospheric trends until the early 1980s. In the 2000s, plutonium and its isotope ratios in the atmosphere varied dynamically and sporadic high concentrations of239,240Pu reported for the lower stratospheric and upper tropospheric aerosols may be due to environmental events such as the global dust outbreaks and biomass burning.
Density dependent composition of InAs quantum dots extracted from grazing incidence x-ray diffraction measurements
Authors: Sharma Manjula , Sanyal Milan K. , Farrer Ian , Ritchie David A. , Dey Arka B. , Bhattacharyya Arpan , Seeck Oliver H. , Skiba-Szymanska Joanna , Felle Martin , Bennett Anthony J. , Shields Andrew J.
Published: October 2015

Epitaxial InAs quantum dots grown on GaAs substrate are being used in several applications ranging from quantum communications to solar cells. The growth mechanism of these dots also helps us to explore fundamental aspects of self-organized processes. Here we show that composition and strain profile of the quantum dots can be tuned by controlling in-plane density of the dots over the substrate with the help of substrate-temperature profile. The compositional profile extracted from grazing incidence x-ray measurements show substantial amount of inter-diffusion of Ga and In within the QD as a function of height in the low-density region giving rise to higher variation of lattice parameters. The QDs grown with high in-plane density show much less spread in lattice parameter giving almost flat density of In over the entire height of an average QD and much narrower photoluminescence (PL) line. The results have been verified with three different amounts of In deposition giving systematic variation of the In composition as a function of average quantum dot height and average energy of PL emission.
Interface control of electronic transport across the magnetic phase transition in SrRuO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface
Authors: Roy S. , Autieri C. , Sanyal B. , Banerjee T.
Published: October 2015

The emerging material class of complex-oxides, where manipulation of physical properties lead to new functionalities at their heterointerfaces, is expected to open new frontiers in Spintronics. For example, SrRuO3 is a promising material where external stimuli like strain, temperature and structural distortions control the stability of electronic and magnetic states, across its magnetic phase transition, useful for Spintronics. Despite this, not much has been studied to understand such correlations in SrRuO3. Here we explore the influence of electron-lattice correlation to electron-transport, at interfaces between SrRuO3 and Nb:SrTiO3 across its ferromagnetic transition, using a nanoscale transport probe and first-principles calculations. We find that the geometrical reconstructions at the interface and hence modifications in electronic structures dominate the transmission across its ferromagnetic transition, eventually flipping the charge-transport length-scale in SrRuO3. This approach can be easily extended to other devices where competing ground states can lead to different functional properties across their heterointerfaces.
Running and tumbling with E. coli in polymeric solutions
Authors: Patteson A. E. , Gopinath A. , Goulian M. , Arratia P. E.
Published: October 2015

Run-and-tumble motility is widely used by swimming microorganisms including numerous prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Here, we experimentally investigate the run-and-tumble dynamics of the bacterium E. coli in polymeric solutions. We find that even small amounts of polymer in solution can drastically change E. coli dynamics: cells tumble less and their velocity increases, leading to an enhancement in cell translational diffusion and a sharp decline in rotational diffusion. We show that suppression of tumbling is due to fluid viscosity while the enhancement in swimming speed is mainly due to fluid elasticity. Visualization of single fluorescently labeled DNA polymers reveals that the flow generated by individual E. coli is sufficiently strong to stretch polymer molecules and induce elastic stresses in the fluid, which in turn can act on the cell in such a way to enhance its transport. Our results show that the transport and spread of chemotactic cells can be independently modified and controlled by the fluid material properties.
a-SiNx:H-based ultra-low power resistive random access memory with tunable Si dangling bond conduction paths
Authors: Jiang Xiaofan , Ma Zhongyuan , Xu Jun , Chen Kunji , Xu Ling , Li Wei , Huang Xinfan , Feng Duan
Published: October 2015

The realization of ultra-low power Si-based resistive switching memory technology will be a milestone in the development of next generation non-volatile memory. Here we show that a high performance and ultra-low power resistive random access memory (RRAM) based on an Al/a-SiNx:H/p+-Si structure can be achieved by tuning the Si dangling bond conduction paths. We reveal the intrinsic relationship between the Si dangling bonds and the N/Si ratio x for the a-SiNx:H films, which ensures that the programming current can be reduced to less than 1 μA by increasing the value of x. Theoretically calculated current-voltage (I–V ) curves combined with the temperature dependence of the I–V characteristics confirm that, for the low-resistance state (LRS), the Si dangling bond conduction paths obey the trap-assisted tunneling model. In the high-resistance state (HRS), conduction is dominated by either hopping or Poole–Frenkel (P–F) processes. Our introduction of hydrogen in the a-SiNx:H layer provides a new way to control the Si dangling bond conduction paths and thus opens up a research field for ultra-low power Si-based RRAM.