bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microstructure and optical properties of nanocrystalline Cu2O thin films prepared by electrodeposition
Authors: Jiang Xishun , Zhang Miao , Shi Shiwei , He Gang , Song Xueping , Sun Zhaoqi 
Published: May 2014

AbstractCuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin films were prepared by using electrodeposition technique at different applied potentials (−0.1, −0.3, −0.5, −0.7, and −0.9 V) and were annealed in vacuum at a temperature of 100°C for 1 h. Microstructure and optical properties of these films have been investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV-visible (vis) spectrophotometer, and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The morphology of these films varies obviously at different applied potentials. Analyses from these characterizations have confirmed that these films are composed of regular, well-faceted, polyhedral crystallites. UV–vis absorption spectra measurements have shown apparent shift in optical band gap from 1.69 to 2.03 eV as the applied potential becomes more cathodic. The emission of FL spectra at 603 nm may be assigned as the near band-edge emission.
International migration desires related to subjective well-being
Authors: Cai Ruohong , Esipova Neli , Oppenheimer Michael , Feng Shuaizhang 
Published: May 2014

AbstractPrevious research on the determinants of international migration has largely focused on objective factors, such as income. We instead use subjective well-being (SWB) to explain international migration desires, an expressed willingness to migrate. We find that individuals with higher SWB have lower international migration desires. At the individual level, the SWB-migration relationship appears to be more robust than the income-migration relationship. At the country level, national average SWB better indicates international migration desires for rich countries, while income performs better for poor countries. We thus demonstrate the feasibility of employing subjective measures to study at least one aspect of an important social outcome, migration.JEL codesF22, O15, I31
A theoretical formalism for analyzing agent-based models
Authors: North Michael J 
Published: May 2014

AbstractPurposeFollowing Holland, complex adaptive systems (CASs) are collections of interacting, autonomous, learning decision makers embedded in an interactive environment. Modeling CASs is challenging for a variety of reasons including the presence of heterogeneity, spatial relationships, nonlinearity, and, of course, adaptation. The challenges of modeling CASs can largely be overcome by using the individual-level focus of agent-based modeling. Agent-based modeling has been used successfully to model CASs in many disciplines. Many of these models were implemented using agent-based modeling software such as Swarm, Repast 3, Repast Simphony, Repast for High-Performance Computing, MASON, NetLogo, or StarLogo. All of these options use modular imperative architectures with factored agents, spaces, a scheduler, logs, and an interface. Many custom agent-based models also use this kind of architecture. This paper’s contribution is to introduce and apply a theoretical formalism for analyzing modular imperative agent-based models of CASs. This paper includes an analysis of three example models to show how the formalism is useful for predicting the execution time and space requirements for representations of common CASs.MethodThe paper details the formalism and then uses it to prove several new findings about modular imperative agent-based models.ResultsIt is proven that the asymptotic time and space performance of modular imperative agent-based modeling studies is computationally optimal for a common class of problems. Here ‘optimal’ means that no other technique can solve the same problem computationally using less asymptotic time or space. Modular imperative agent-based models are shown to be universal models, subject to the correctness of the Church-Turing thesis. Several other results are also proven about the time and space performance of modular imperative agent-based models. The formalism is then used to predict the performance of three models and the results are found to compare closely to the measured performance.ConclusionsThis paper’s contribution is to introduce, analyze, and apply a theoretical formalism for proving findings about agent-based models with modular agent scheduler architectures. Given that this kind of modeling is both computationally optimal and a natural structural match for many modeling problems, it follows that it is the best modeling method for such problems.
Retinoblastoma tumor suppressor pathway in breast cancer: prognosis, precision medicine, and therapeutic interventions
Authors: Witkiewicz Agnieszka K , Knudsen Erik S 
Published: May 2014

AbstractA series of recent studies have demonstrated that the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (RB) pathway plays a critical role in multiple clinically relevant aspects of breast cancer biology, spanning early stage lesions to targeted treatment of metastatic disease. In ductal carcinoma in situ, multiple groups have shown that dysregulation of the RB pathway is critically associated with recurrence and disease progression. Functional models have similarly illustrated key roles for RB in regulating epithelial–mesenchymal transition and other features contributing to aggressive disease. Invasive breast cancers are treated in distinct fashions, and heterogeneity within the RB pathway relates to prognosis and response to commonly used therapeutics. Luminal B breast cancers that have a poor prognosis amongst estrogen receptor-positive disease are defined based on the expression of RB-regulated genes. Such findings have led to clinical interventions that directly target the RB pathway through CDK4/6 inhibition which have promise in both estrogen receptor-positive and Her2-positive disease. In contrast, RB loss results in improved response to chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer, where ongoing research is attempting to define intrinsic vulnerabilities for targeted intervention. These findings support a wide-reaching impact of the RB pathway on disease that could be harnessed for improved clinical interventions.
Multitasking in an eye: How the unusual organization of the principal larval eyes of Thermonectus marmoratus allows for far and near vision and might aid in depth perception
Authors: Stowasser Annette , Buschbeck Elke K. 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Very few visual systems diverge fundamentally from the basic plans of well-studied animal eyes. However, investigating those that do can provide novel insights into visual system function. A particularly unusual system exists in the principal larval eyes of a visually guided aquatic predator, the Sunburst Diving Beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus (Coleoptera: Dystiscidae). These eyes are characterized by complex layered distal and proximal retinas. We previously reported that their principal eye E2 has a bifocal lens, and previous behavioral experiments suggested that these larvae have a unilateral range finding mechanism that may involve their bizarre eye organization. In our present study, we expanded our optical measurements and found that: 1) E1 also has a bifocal lens, 2) E1 is best suited for far vision while E2 is best suited for near vision and 3) throughout their typical hunting range, the positions of focused images shift across specific retinal layers. This anatomical and optical organization in principal could support unilateral range finding. Taken together, our findings outline an unusual visual mechanism that probably is essential for the extraordinary hunting ability of these larvae.
The spectral transmission of non-salticid spider corneas
Authors: Zhiyong Hu , Xu Xin , Chen Zhanqi , Li Hongze , Wang Xiaoyan , Wu Lingbing , Liu Fengxiang , Chen Jian , Li Daiqin 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Although many salticid spiders have been shown to have corneas that transmit ultraviolet light (UV). Whether the corneas of non-salticid spiders transmit UV has not been previously investigated. In this study, we determined the spectral corneal transmission properties of 38 species belonging to 13 non-salticid families. We used these data to estimate the T50 transmission cut-off value, the wavelength corresponding to 50% maximal transmission for each species. The corneas of almost all species from the families Deinopidae, Lycosidae, Oxyopidae, Pisauridae, Sparassidae and Thomisidae, all of which have been reported to rely to a substantial extent on vision, transmitted short wavelengths below 400 nm, ranging from 306 to 381 nm. However, species from the families Atypidae and Ctenizidae are not known to rely substantially on vision, and the corneas of these species tended to absorb light of wavelengths below 380 nm, which may not allow UV sensitivity in these spiders. Liphistiidae, the family widely regarded as most basal among spiders, is of particular interest. The species in this family are not known to make substantial use of vision, and yet we found that liphistiid corneas transmitted UV light with a low T50 value (359 nm). T50 values of non-salticid spider corneas also varied with light habitat. Species living in dim environments tended to have UV-opaque corneas, but species inhabiting open areas had UV-transmitting corneas. However, there was no evidence of corneal transmission properties being related to whether a species is diurnal or nocturnal.
Effects of load magnitude, muscle length and velocity during eccentric chronic loading on the longitudinal growth of vastus lateralis muscle
Authors: Sharifnezhad Ali , Marzilger Robert , Arampatzis Adamantios 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
The present study investigated the longitudinal growth of the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle using four eccentric exercise protocols with different mechanical stimuli by modifying the load magnitude, lengthening velocity and muscle length at which the load is applied. Thirty-one participants voluntarily participated in this study in two experimental (EG) and one control group (CG). The first EG (n=10) exercised the knee extensors of one leg at 65% (low load magnitude) of the maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) and the second leg at 100% MVC (high load magnitude) with 90°/s angular velocity, from 25° to 100° knee angle. The second EG (n=10) exercised one leg at 100% MVC, 90°/s, from 25° to 65° knee angle (short muscle length). The other leg was exercised at 100% MVC, 240°/s angular velocity (high muscle lengthening velocity) from 25° to 100°. In the pre-post measurements we examined the fascicle length of the VL at rest and the moment-angle relationship of the knee extensors. After 10 weeks of intervention we found a significant increase (~14%) of VL fascicle length compared to the CG, yet only in the leg that was exercised with high lengthening velocity. The findings provide evidence that not every eccentric loading causes an increase in fascicle length and that the lengthening velocity of the fascicles during the eccentric loading and particularly in the phase where the knee joint moment decreases (i.e. deactivation of the muscle) seems to be an important factor for longitudinal muscle growth.
Circadian rhythms are not involved in the regulation of circannual reproductive cycles in a sub-tropical bird, the spotted munia
Authors: Budki Puja , Malik Shalie , Rani Sangeeta , Kumar Vinod 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Circannual rhythms regulate seasonal reproduction in many vertebrates. The present study investigated if circannual reproductive phenotypes (rhythms in growth of gonads and molt) were generated independently of the circadian clocks in the subtropical non-photoperiodic spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata). Birds were subjected to light-dark (LD) cycles with identical light but varying dark hours, such that the period of LD cycle (T) equaled to 16-(12L:4D), 21-(12L:9D), 24-(12L:12D) and 27-(12L:15D) hours, or to continuous light (LL, 24L:0D) at ~18°C. During ~21-month exposure, munia underwent at least two cycles of gonadal development and molt; changes in body mass were not rhythmic. This was similar to the occurrence of annual cycles in reproduction and molt observed in wild birds. A greater asynchrony between circannual cycles of gonad and molt indicated their independent regulation. Females showed reproductive rhythms with similar circannual periods, whilst in males circannual periods measured between peak gonadal size was longer in T21 and T24 than in the T16 or T27. This suggested a sex-dependent timing of annual reproduction in the spotted munia. Also, food availability periods may not influence the circannual timing of reproduction, as shown by the results on the rhythm in gonadal growth and regression in munia under T-photocycles and LL that provided differential light (feeding) hours. Further, a short-term experiment revealed that activity-rest pattern in munia were synchronized with T-photocycles, but were arrhythmic under LL. We conclude that circadian rhythms are not involved in the timing of the annual reproductive cycle in the spotted munia.
Brightness discrimination in the day- and night-adapted hunting spider Cupiennius salei
Authors: Campione Etienne , Schmid Axel 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Cupiennius salei is a nocturnal spider with eight eyes which undergo a remarkable circadian cycle: the rhabdomeric membrane of the photoreceptor cells is dismantled during the day and rebuilt at the beginning of the night. Such drastic changes might influence the brightness discrimination ability. We tested this hypothesis by presenting square-shaped flickering stimuli with certain luminances on stationary backgrounds with other luminances, to spiders with day- or night-adapted eyes. When the spider, through its three pairs of so-called secondary eyes, perceives a visible contrast between the stimulus and the background, its principal eye muscle activity should increase. We therefore recorded this activity in vivo to assess the brightness discrimination ability of Cupiennius salei. Our results show that this spider has good brightness discrimination ability, which is significantly better with dark-adapted eyes. A Michelson contrast of 0.1 to 0.2 at night, and of 0.2 to 0.3 for day-adapted eyes, is sufficient to elicit a significant response, except below a critical value of luminance (≈ 16 cd/m2), where the minimal perceivable contrast needs to be higher. In the discussion we compare these performances with other animals, in particular with jumping spiders.
Molecular Wiring Method Based on Polymerization or Copolymerization of an Insulated π-Conjugated Monomer
Authors: Terao Jun , Homma Kyohei , Konoshima Yohei , Taniguchi Masateru , Kiguchi Manabu , Komoto Yuuki , Horikawa Masayo , Naito Yasuhisa , Fujihara Tetsuaki , Tsuji Yasushi 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
A new type of molecular wiring method was developed based on the polymerization or copolymerization of an insulated π-conjugated monomer between nanosized electrodes.
Symmetry analysis of talus bone
Authors: Islam K. , Dobbe A. , Komeili A. , Duke K. , El-Rich M. , Dhillon S. , Adeeb S. , Jomha N. M. 
Published: May 2014

Objective The main object of this study was to use a geometric morphometric approach to quantify the left-right symmetry of talus bones. Methods Analysis was carried out using CT scan images of 11 pairs of intact tali. Two important geometric parameters, volume and surface area, were quantified for left and right talus bones. The geometric shape variations between the right and left talus bones were also measured using deviation analysis. Furthermore, location of asymmetry in the geometric shapes were identified. Results Numerical results showed that talus bones are bilaterally symmetrical in nature, and the difference between the surface area of the left and right talus bones was less than 7.5%. Similarly, the difference in the volume of both bones was less than 7.5%. Results of the three-dimensional (3D) deviation analyses demonstrated the mean deviation between left and right talus bones were in the range of -0.74 mm to 0.62 mm. It was observed that in eight of 11 subjects, the deviation in symmetry occurred in regions that are clinically less important during talus surgery. Conclusions We conclude that left and right talus bones of intact human ankle joints show a strong degree of symmetry. The results of this study may have significance with respect to talus surgery, and in investigating traumatic talus injury where the geometric shape of the contralateral talus can be used as control. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:139–45.
Surgical remission of Cushing's syndrome reduces cardiovascular risk
Authors: Terzolo M , Allasino B , Pia A , Peraga G , Daffara F , Laino F , Ardito A , Termine A , Paccotti P , Berchialla P , Migliaretti G , Reimondo G 
Published: May 2014

ObjectiveRecent studies have questioned the reversibility of complications of Cushing's syndrome (CS) after successful surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of patients with CS who achieved disease remission compared with those patients with persistent hypercortisolism and matched controls.DesignA retrospective study of 75 patients with CS followed at an academic center.MethodsCardiovascular risk profile was evaluated in 51 patients with CS in remission (group 1) and 24 patients with persistent disease (group 2) and compared with 60 controls. Mortality of patients with CS was compared with the background population.ResultsIn group 1, the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors dropped after disease remission even if it remained higher at the last follow-up than in the control group. In group 2, the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors remained unchanged during follow-up. The rate of cardiovascular and thromboembolic events was higher in group 2 than in group 1, as was the mortality rate (two deaths in group 1 and nine in group 2; ratio of two SMRs, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.011–0.512). Survival was significantly longer in group 1 than in group 2 (87 months, 80–98 vs 48 months, 38–62;P<0.0001).ConclusionsSuccessful surgical treatment of hypercortisolism significantly improves cardiovascular risk and may reduce the mortality rate. Patients with persistent disease have increased morbidity and mortality when compared with patients in remission.
Associations between thyroid function and mortality: the influence of age
Authors: van de Ven Annenienke C , Netea-Maier Romana T , de Vegt Femmie , Ross H Alec , Sweep Fred C G J , Kiemeney Lambertus A , Smit Johannes W , Hermus Ad R , den Heijer Martin 
Published: May 2014

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the influence of age on the association between thyroid function and mortality.DesignThe Nijmegen Biomedical Study is a population-based study, comprising 5816 randomly selected adults of all age groups without previously known thyroid disease.MethodsTSH, free thyroxine (FT4) and peroxidase antibodies were measured in 2002–2003. The number of deaths were established in 2012 (median follow-up time 9.4 years).ResultsSubclinical thyrotoxicosis was associated with mortality in subjects aged <65 years (hazard ratio (HR) 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.7), but not in subjects aged >65 years. As for thyroid function within the normal range: in the 493 participants aged 80 years or older, an FT4 level in the high-normal range (18.5–22 pmol/l) was associated with a higher mortality in comparison with FT4 levels in the middle range (11.5–15.0 pmol/l): HR 1.7 (95% CI 1.0–2.9). In these elderly, TSH levels within the high-normal range (3.0–4.0 mIU/l) were also associated with a higher mortality in comparison with TSH levels within the middle range (1.0–2.0 mIU/l): HR 1.8 (95% CI 1.0–3.1).ConclusionsThe relationship between thyroid function and mortality differs according to age. This finding might (partially) explain the discrepant results of previous studies examining the relationship between thyroid function and mortality in different age groups.
Psychological morbidity and impaired quality of life in patients with stable treatment for primary adrenal insufficiency: cross-sectional study and review of the literature
Authors: Tiemensma Jitske , Andela Cornelie D , Kaptein Ad A , Romijn Johannes A , van der Mast Roos C , Biermasz Nienke R , Pereira Alberto M 
Published: May 2014

ContextA high prevalence of psychological morbidity and maladaptive personality as well as impaired quality of life (QoL) is observed in patients with and without hydrocortisone dependency following (cured) Cushing's syndrome. However, it is currently unclear whether a similar pattern is present in patients with chronic glucocorticoid replacement for primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI).ObjectiveTo evaluate psychological functioning, personality traits, and QoL in patients with PAI.Design and subjectsA cross-sectional study including 54 patients with stable treatment for PAI and 54 healthy matched controls. Both patients and controls completed questionnaires on psychological functioning (Apathy Scale, Irritability Scale, Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire short form, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), personality traits (Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology short form), and QoL (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, Short Form 36, EuroQoL-5D, Nottingham Health Profile, and Physical Symptom Checklist).ResultsPatients with PAI suffered from more psychological morbidity (i.e. irritability and somatic arousal) and QoL impairments compared with controls (allP<0.01). There were no differences regarding maladaptive personality traits between patients and controls. However, there was a strong and consistent positive association between the daily hydrocortisone dose and prevalence of maladaptive personality traits (i.e. identity problems, cognitive distortion, compulsivity, restricted expression, callousness, oppositionality, rejection, conduct problems, social avoidance, narcissism, and insecure attachment, allP<0.05). There was also a strong relation between the mean daily hydrocortisone dose and both psychological morbidity (i.e. depression,P<0.05) and QoL impairments (i.e. general health perception, several measures of physical functioning, and vitality, allP<0.05).ConclusionPatients on stable glucocorticoid replacement therapy for PAI report psychological morbidity and impaired QoL. Psychological morbidity, impaired QoL, and maladaptive personality traits were all associated with higher dosages of hydrocortisone.