bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coccidioidomycosis in infants: A retrospective case series
Authors: Lee Jessica M. , Graciano Ana Lia , Dabrowski Lukasz , Kuzmic Brenik , Tablizo Mary Anne 
Published: February 2016

SummaryIntroductionIn contrast to adults, coccidioidomycosis is a rare disease in infants and the mechanisms of disease acquisition are not well described in infants. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in infants in an endemic area.MethodsWe performed a retrospective observational study of all patients less than 12 months of age admitted to a tertiary free standing children's hospital from 2003–2012 diagnosed with coccidioidomycosis.ResultsThirteen infants were hospitalized during the study period. The majority of the patients presented with upper and/or lower respiratory tract infection. The most common presenting symptoms included fever (77%), cough (61%), and respiratory distress (38%). Disseminated disease, included pericardial effusion, neck abscess, and lesions in the cerebellum, basal ganglia and left temporoparietal skull. Fluconazole was the initial, antifungal agent used. Amphotericin B was reserved for significant lung disease and disseminated cases. Failed response to fluconazole and amphotericin B were treated with a combination of voriconazole and caspofungin. Average length of treatment was 4 years. All patients survived to hospital discharge. The majority of the patients had resolution of chest radiograph and coccidiodal complement fixing antibody titers.DiscussionInfant coccidioidomycosis has a non‐specific presentation and can mimic common infant respiratory illnesses. In endemic areas, coccidioidomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants with pulmonary symptoms unresponsive to conventional treatment. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:858–862. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigation of breakdown properties in the carbon doped GaN by photoluminescence analysis
Authors: Zhou Deqiu , Ni Yiqiang , He Zhiyuan , Yang Fan , Yao Yao , Shen Zhen , Zhong Jian , Zhou Guilin , Zheng Yue , He Liang , Wu Zhisheng , Zhang Baijun , Liu Yang 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe electrical and optical properties of the carbon doped GaN grown on Si substrate by metal‐organic chemical‐vapor deposition are investigated. Carbon impurity doping can improve the breakdown voltage effectively. However excess carbon in contrast depresses the breakdown voltage. This result is correlated with the carbon dopant behaviour in GaN which can be observed by analyzing the photoluminescence (PL) spectra. It is explained that the carbon impurity favours the formation of CN (carbon substitution of nitrogen) which acts as a deep level acceptor. The acceptor compensates the n‐type background impurities, which may resulting in suppressing the leakage current at high electric field, and leads to the improvement of the breakdown voltage. However, with excess carbon doping level, a significant amount of CGa (carbon substitution of gallium) form in GaN. The CGa, acting as the donor, compensates the CN and hence impairs the concentration of the deep level acceptor. In a result, the compensation of the n‐type background impurities by the deep level acceptor is curbed by the CGa‐CN self‐compensation effect, which leads to the decrease of the breakdown voltage. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Version of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Heart Failure in Chinese Cancer Patients With Concurrent Heart Failure
Authors: Chair Sek Ying , Wang Qun , Yu Mingming , Kwok Wei So Winnie , Tian Chang , Wing Hung Sit Janet , Mi Ling Wong Eliza , Wing Han Chan Carmen , Fadol Anecita 
Published: February 2016

Abstract

Purpose:
The purpose of the study was to translate the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Heart Failure (MDASI-HF), a specific instrument to assess symptoms in cancer patients with concurrent heart failure (HF), into Mandarin Chinese and to examine its psychometric properties in Chinese cancer patients.

Design:
A translation and psychometric evaluation design was used.

Methods:
The translation of the MDASI-HF into Mandarin Chinese followed Brislin’s model with the four steps: translation, monolingual assessment, backward translation, and comparison. The Chinese version MDASI-HF was tested among 135 cancer patients with concurrent HF from a cancer hospital in Tianjin, China. Psychometric properties of content validity, internal consistency, test– retest reliability, concurrent validity, and sensitivity of the instrument were evaluated.

Findings:
The Cronbach’s α was .913 for the core items, .835 for the HF items, and .897 for the interference items. The test–retest reliability was satisfactory with intraclass coefficients > .9 and content validity index was .94. The Chinese version MDASI-HF was significantly correlated with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance grade (correlation coefficients .456–.600) and the New York Heart Association classification (correlation coefficients .477–.631), indicating the established concurrent validity of the translated instrument.

Conclusions:
The Chinese version MDASI-HF is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the symptoms of Chinese cancer patients with concurrent HF.

Clinical Relevance:
Symptom assessment and management play important roles in cancer rehabilitation. The Chinese version MDASI-HF can assist appropriate and timely symptom assessment in cancer patients with concurrent HF and can promote communication between healthcare professionals and patients. On the basis of the assessment, the rehabilitation team could provide effective symptom management, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and improve patients’ quality of life.
One‐Pot Synthesis of Indoles from Alkynes and Anilines through Palladium‐Catalyzed Double C‐H Activation using O2 as the oxidant
Authors: Shi Dunfa , Guan Zhipeng , Yao Xiuwen , Shi Wei , Chen Hao 
Published: February 2016

AbstractA simple and efficient Pd‐catalyzed tandem procedure for the synthesis of β‐cyanoindoles was achieved. Unactivated anilines and cyanoalkynes were employed as the starting materials to go through nucleophilic additions to form the N‐aryl enamine intermediate, and then followed by Pd‐catalyzed double C−H activation to yield the product in one pot. Moderate to good yields were achieved for 19 examples. LiBr was used as the additive to promote the process. Oxygen was used as the sole oxidant, thus high atom efficiency could be achieved.
New Unionida (Bivalvia) from the Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) of Asturias, Spain, and their palaeobiogeographical implications
Authors: Delvene Graciela , Munt Martin C. , Piñuela Laura , García‐Ramos José C. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis study focuses on new records of freshwater bivalves from the Late Jurassic Vega, Tereñes and Lastres formations of Asturias, northern Spain. Five new taxa Mujanaia abeuensis gen. et sp. nov., ‘Unio’ asturianus sp. nov., Margaritifera? lagriega sp. nov., Asturianaia colunghensis gen. et sp. nov. and Asturianaia lastrensis gen. et sp. nov. are described and included in the families Unionidae and Margaritiferidae (Unionida); they are compared and contrasted with other European, Asiatic and North American species. Their discovery constitutes the oldest records of Unionida in Spain, and they provide new palaeogeographical data on the distribution and origin of this group in Europe. These taxa are also an effective tool for the environmental reconstruction of the Jurassic ecosystems of Spain's Dinosaur Coast.
Structural performance of continuous RC slabs strengthened in negative moment regions with a mineral‐based composite
Authors: Atta Ahmad , Zaher Fahmy , Etman Emad 
Published: February 2016

AbstractAn experimental programme was proposed and carried out to assess the effectiveness of the mineral‐based composite (MBC) technique for the flexural strengthening of negative moment regions in continuous reinforced concrete slabs. In addition to the testing of the two reference specimens, the experimental programme included the testing of nine continuous RC slab specimens with different strengthening techniques, namely, using ordinary steel bars and MBC material. This experimental programme was conducted to study the failure modes, the load‐deflection behaviour and the failure loads.Furthermore, we present and describe a comparative study between the two strengthening techniques, namely, steel reinforcing bars with MBC or steel bars with epoxy mortar. Based on the experimental results presented, both strengthening techniques for continuous slabs are evidently efficient. In this study the measured results for the average crack spacing were compared with the limits stipulated in CEB‐FIP code 1990 and the failure load calculations were extended with an analytical approach based on the ultimate theory for the failure load calculation. In conclusion, the results obtained from the analytical model are in agreement with the experimental results.
Mechanics‐based closed‐form solutions for moment redistribution in RC beams
Authors: Visintin Phillip , Oehlers Deric J. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWhen it comes to the efficient design of reinforced concrete beams and frames, moment redistribution is used to: reduce the absolute maximum magnitude of the moment in the critical region, equalize the critical moments on either side of interior columns and fully utilize the capacity of the non‐critical regions of a member. Although important, historically, moment redistribution has proved to be difficult to quantify due to the complexity of quantifying hinge rotations. Although numerous empirical expressions exist for plastic hinge lengths, i.e. the length over which the ultimate curvature can be integrated in order to give hinge rotations, a comparison with a global dataset yields poor results. Using a recently developed mechanics‐based moment‐rotation approach, it is possible to quantify the moment‐rotation characteristics of reinforced concrete hinges. In the tension region, the approach applies partial interaction theory directly to simulate the mechanisms associated with slip of the reinforcement relative to the surrounding concrete as cracks widen, whereas in the compression region, partial interaction shear‐friction theory is used to describe the formation and failure of concrete softening wedges. It is shown how the moment‐rotation approach explicitly allows for the size dependency. Furthermore, mechanics‐based solutions for moment redistribution are then derived and it is shown how these can be simplified at the ultimate limit state for use in the design office.
Video‐Assisted Thoracoscopic Pulmonary Metastasectomy in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Recent 10‐Year Single‐Institution Experience
Authors: Maeda Ryo , Suda Takashi , Hachimaru Ayumi , Tochii Daisuke , Tochii Sachiko , Takagi Yasushi 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIntroductionThe purpose of this study was to identify independent unfavorable prognostic factors for patients who underwent video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery for resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC).MethodsBetween January 2004 and December 2013, 131 patients with pulmonary metastases from CRC underwent the aforementioned procedure for the first time at our institution. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and log‐rank tests were used to analyze the survival rates. Multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model.ResultsThe 5‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) rate of these 131 patients was 34 %. Multivariate analyses showed two variables to be independent significant unfavorable prognostic factors for DFS: preoperative high serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and a greater number of pulmonary metastases. According to subgroup analyses that combined these two risk factors, the 5‐year DFS rates were 58, 25, and 12 % for patients with 0, 1, or 2 risk factors, respectively.ConclusionIn patients who underwent video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary metastases from CRC, we identified two independent unfavorable prognostic factors for DFS: a high CEA level before metastasectomy and a greater number of pulmonary metastases. These factors can be used to identify higher‐ and lower‐risk subgroups, which may help with selecting patients who would benefit the most from video‐assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary metastasectomy.
Evolution or Revolution in EE/SE Research? A Collaborative Dialogue From First-Year PhD Students
Authors: Beasy Kim , Page Leah , Emery Sherridan , Ayre Ian 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe AAEE 2014 research symposium in Hobart provided a privileged space for researchers and practitioners within environmental education and sustainability education (EE/SE) to come together and create dialogues about education for sustainability research. This essay is a critical reflection from postgraduate researchers about the symposium and the EE/SE research landscape more broadly. The authors interrogate contemporary research frameworks and practices, and deliberate on how current perceptions enable and inhibit performance within EE/SE research. The authors ask provocative questions and encourage readers to imagine for themselves what a new research landscape, freed of calcified frameworks and entrenched systems, might look like. The essay then draws on an ecological systems perspective as a means of reimagining EE/SE research within a more emergent landscape that values inclusivity, democracy, collaborative inquiry and curiosity.
Correlation of the Cambrian Evolutionary Radiation: geochronology, evolutionary stasis of earliest Cambrian (Terreneuvian) small shelly fossil (SSF) taxa, and chronostratigraphic significance
Authors: LANDING ED , KOUCHINSKY ARTEM 
Published: February 2016

AbstractEarly faunas withWatsonella crosbyiwith or withoutAldanellaspp. have been equated with the Siberian Tommotian Stage (uppermost Terreneuvian) and used to define a proposed Cambrian Stage 2 base. Much earlier Terreneuvian occurrences are now shown by recovery of these micromolluscs below the I’ carbon excursion in the Siberian ‘Nemakit-Daldynian’ Stage and comparable δ13C excursions in the middle Meishucunian (China) and middle Chapel Island Formation (Avalonia). This δ13C excursion, a reliable Stage 2 marker, lies in ac. 10 Ma interval in the Cambrian Radiation in which long-ranged small shelly fossil taxa provide limited biostratigraphic resolution.
Modeling and simulation of protein–surface interactions: achievements and challenges
Authors: Ozboyaci Musa , Kokh Daria B. , Corni Stefano , Wade Rebecca C. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractUnderstanding protein–inorganic surface interactions is central to the rational design of new tools in biomaterial sciences, nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine. Although a significant amount of experimental research on protein adsorption onto solid substrates has been reported, many aspects of the recognition and interaction mechanisms of biomolecules and inorganic surfaces are still unclear. Theoretical modeling and simulations provide complementary approaches for experimental studies, and they have been applied for exploring protein–surface binding mechanisms, the determinants of binding specificity towards different surfaces, as well as the thermodynamics and kinetics of adsorption. Although the general computational approaches employed to study the dynamics of proteins and materials are similar, the models and force-fields (FFs) used for describing the physical properties and interactions of material surfaces and biological molecules differ. In particular, FF and water models designed for use in biomolecular simulations are often not directly transferable to surface simulations and vice versa. The adsorption events span a wide range of time- and length-scales that vary from nanoseconds to days, and from nanometers to micrometers, respectively, rendering the use of multi-scale approaches unavoidable. Further, changes in the atomic structure of material surfaces that can lead to surface reconstruction, and in the structure of proteins that can result in complete denaturation of the adsorbed molecules, can create many intermediate structural and energetic states that complicate sampling. In this review, we address the challenges posed to theoretical and computational methods in achieving accurate descriptions of the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of protein-surface systems. In this context, we discuss the applicability of different modeling and simulation techniques ranging from quantum mechanics through all-atom molecular mechanics to coarse-grained approaches. We examine uses of different sampling methods, as well as free energy calculations. Furthermore, we review computational studies of protein–surface interactions and discuss the successes and limitations of current approaches.
No Need to Beg China? Taiwan's Membership of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation as a Contested State
Authors: Chu Ming-chin Monique 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis article examines the process, causes and repercussions of the accession of Taiwan, as a contested state, together with China, to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 1991, the first intergovernmental organization that Taipei has joined since 1971. Based on an analysis of elite interviews, primary and secondary data, the paper traces the under-explored diplomatic history of the accession. It argues that changes in Taiwan's domestic and external environments, as well as changes in the diplomatic process, account for Taipei's admission, rather than the China factor alone. The paper examines four positive effects of accession on Taiwan's international space and the implications for Taiwan's continuous survival as a contested state. By undertaking a nuanced analysis of an important yet little explored milestone in the contested state's struggle to mitigate its international isolation, the article sheds light on Taiwan's external ties against the backdrop of the sovereignty dispute between Taipei and Beijing.
Treatment goals and their attainment: a structured approach to assessment and evaluation
Authors: Ramnerö Jonas , Jansson Billy 
Published: February 2016

AbstractTreatment goals are considered a vital part of therapeutic work, and their role is often emphasized in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). However, the attainment of goals is rarely accounted for in terms of treatment outcome. In this study, we set out to investigate a structured format for goal assessment and goal attainment in CBT delivered as routine care. We were especially interested in the sensitivity to change in perceived goal attainment. Patients completed a self-administered version of the Bern Inventory of Treatment Goals (BIT-C) and rated their perceived attainment on a maximum of five prioritized goals before and after 12 weeks of treatment, along with measures on anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life. The results indicated that the prioritized goals only partially correspond to disorder-specific concerns, and that perceived proximity to treatment goals is clearly associated with improvements following treatment. The results are discussed in terms of the BIT-C being a promising tool for use in clinical settings in assessing treatment goals as well as in evaluating the attainment of these goals.
Mimicking Cdk2 phosphorylation of Bcl-xL at Ser73 results in caspase activation and Bcl-xL cleavage
Authors: Seng NS , Megyesi J , Tarcsafalvi A , Price PM 
Published: February 2016

AbstractCisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, yet its efficacy is limited by nephrotoxicity. The severity of nephrotoxicity is associated with the extent of kidney cell death. Previously, we found that cisplatin-induced kidney cell death was dependent on Cdk2 activation, and inhibition of Cdk2 protected cells from cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Using an in vitro kination assay, we showed that Cdk2 phosphorylated Bcl-xL, an anti-apoptotic member of Bcl-2 family proteins, at serine 73. We also found that this phosphorylated Bcl-xL participated in cell death, as a phosphomimetic mutant of Bcl-xL at the serine 73 site (S73D-Bcl-xL) activated caspases. We now find that S73D-Bcl-xL was cleaved at D61 and D76, which are putative caspase cleavage sites, to generate 15-kDa and 12-kDa fragments. Unlike full-length Bcl-xL, these cleavage products of Bcl-xL were previously reported to be pro-apoptotic. We sought to determine whether these Bcl-xL fragments were necessary for the induction of cell death by S73D-Bcl-xL. Mutation of these caspase cleavage sites prevented the formation of the 15-kDa and 12-kDa Bcl-xL cleavage products, but apoptosis still persisted in a S73D modified Bcl-xL. Our findings show that Cdk2 phosphorylation of Bcl-xL at Ser73, but not the Bcl-xL cleavage products, is necessary and sufficient to induce cell death.
Genomic reconstruction of a novel, deeply branched sediment archaeal phylum with pathways for acetogenesis and sulfur reduction
Authors: Seitz Kiley W , Lazar Cassandre S , Hinrichs Kai-Uwe , Teske Andreas P , Baker Brett J 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Marine and estuary sediments contain a variety of uncultured archaea whose metabolic and ecological roles are unknown. De novo assembly and binning of high-throughput metagenomic sequences from the sulfate–methane transition zone in estuary sediments resulted in the reconstruction of three partial to near-complete (2.4–3.9 Mb) genomes belonging to a previously unrecognized archaeal group. Phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal RNA genes and ribosomal proteins revealed that this group is distinct from any previously characterized archaea. For this group, found in the White Oak River estuary, and previously registered in sedimentary samples, we propose the name ‘Thorarchaeota’. The Thorarchaeota appear to be capable of acetate production from the degradation of proteins. Interestingly, they also have elemental sulfur and thiosulfate reduction genes suggesting they have an important role in intermediate sulfur cycling. The reconstruction of these genomes from a deeply branched, widespread group expands our understanding of sediment biogeochemistry and the evolutionary history of Archaea.
Live-cell protein labelling with nanometre precision by cell squeezing
Authors: Kollmannsperger Alina , Sharei Armon , Raulf Anika , Heilemann Mike , Langer Robert , Jensen Klavs F. , Wieneke Ralph , Tampé Robert 
Published: January 2016

AbstractLive-cell labelling techniques to visualize proteins with minimal disturbance are important; however, the currently available methods are limited in their labelling efficiency, specificity and cell permeability. We describe high-throughput protein labelling facilitated by minimalistic probes delivered to mammalian cells by microfluidic cell squeezing. High-affinity and target-specific tracing of proteins in various subcellular compartments is demonstrated, culminating in photoinduced labelling within live cells. Both the fine-tuned delivery of subnanomolar concentrations and the minimal size of the probe allow for live-cell super-resolution imaging with very low background and nanometre precision. This method is fast in probe delivery (∼1,000,000 cells per second), versatile across cell types and can be readily transferred to a multitude of proteins. Moreover, the technique succeeds in combination with well-established methods to gain multiplexed labelling and has demonstrated potential to precisely trace target proteins, in live mammalian cells, by super-resolution microscopy.