Diagnostic accuracy of the Geriatric Depression Scale-30, Geriatric Depression Scale-15, Geriatric Depression Scale-5 and Geriatric Depression Scale-4 for detecting major depression: protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Introduction: The 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30) and the shorter GDS-15, GDS-5 and GDS-4 are recommended as depression screening tools for elderly individuals. Existing meta-analyses on the diagnostic accuracy of the GDS have not been able to conduct subgroup analyses, have included patients already identified as depressed who would not be screened in practice and have not accounted for possible bias due to selective reporting of results from only better-performing cut-offs in primary studies. Individual participant data meta-analysis (IPDMA), which involves a standard systematic review, then a synthesis of individual participant data, rather than summary results, could address these limitations.

Do care plans and annual reviews of physical health influence unplanned hospital utilisation for people with serious mental illness? Analysis of linked longitudinal primary and secondary healthcare records in England.

Objective: To investigate whether two primary care activities that are framed as indicators of primary care quality (comprehensive care plans and annual reviews of physical health) influence unplanned utilisation of hospital services for people with serious mental illness (SMI).

Design, Setting, Participants: Retrospective observational cohort study using linked primary care and hospital records (Hospital Episode Statistics) for 5158 patients diagnosed with SMI between April 2006 and March 2014, who attended 213 primary care practices in England that contribute to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD database.

Outcomes And Analysis: Cox survival models were used to estimate the associations between two primary care quality indicators (care plans and annual reviews of physical health) and the hazards of three types of unplanned hospital utilisation: presentation to accident and emergency departments (A&E), admission for SMI and admission for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC).

Removal of phenol and chlorine from wastewater using steam activated biomass soot and tire carbon black.

This study aims to demonstrate a novel method for removing toxic chemicals using soot produced from wood and herbaceous biomass pyrolyzed in a drop tube reactor and tire pyrolytic carbon black. The influence of ash content, nanostructure, particle size, and porosity on the filter efficiency of steam activated carbon materials was studied. It has been shown for the first time that steam activated soot and carbon black can remove phenol and chloride with filter efficiencies as high as 95%.

A Mathematical Model of How People Solve Most Variants of the Number-Line Task.

Current understanding of the development of quantity representations is based primarily on performance in the number-line task. We posit that the data from number-line tasks reflect the observer's underlying representation of quantity, together with the cognitive strategies and skills required to equate line length and quantity. Here, we specify a unified theory linking the underlying psychological representation of quantity and the associated strategies in four variations of the number-line task: the production and estimation variations of the bounded and unbounded number-line tasks.

Magnetic Interaction of Multifunctional Core-Shell Nanoparticles for Highly Effective Theranostics.

The controlled size and surface treatment of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) make one-stage combination feasible for enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast and effective hyperthermia. However, superparamagnetic behavior, essential for avoiding the aggregation of magnetic NPs, substantially limits their performance. Here, a superparamagnetic core-shell structure is developed, which promotes the formation of vortex-like intraparticle magnetization structures in the remanent state, leading to reduced dipolar interactions between two neighboring NPs, while during an MRI scan, the presence of a DC magnetic field induces the formation of NP chains, introducing increased local inhomogeneous dipole fields that enhance relaxivity.

Structure and function of a glycoside hydrolase family 8 endoxylanase from Teredinibacter turnerae.

The biological conversion of lignocellulosic matter into high-value chemicals or biofuels is of increasing industrial importance as the sector slowly transitions away from nonrenewable sources. Many industrial processes involve the use of cellulolytic enzyme cocktails - a selection of glycoside hydrolases and, increasingly, polysaccharide oxygenases - to break down recalcitrant plant polysaccharides. ORFs from the genome of Teredinibacter turnerae, a symbiont hosted within the gills of marine shipworms, were identified in order to search for enzymes with desirable traits.

CIZ1-F, an alternatively spliced variant of the DNA replication protein CIZ1 with distinct expression and localisation, is overrepresented in early stage common solid tumours.

CIZ1 promotes cyclin-dependent DNA replication and resides in sub-nuclear foci that are part of the protein nuclear matrix (NM), and in RNA assemblies that are enriched at the inactive X chromosome (Xi) in female cells. It is subjected to alternative splicing, with specific variants implicated in adult and pediatric cancers. CIZ1-F is characterized by a frame shift that results from splicing exons 8-12 leading to inclusion of a short alternative reading frame (ARF), excluding the previously characterized C-terminal NM anchor domain.

Eccentricity-dependent temporal contrast tuning in human visual cortex measured with fMRI.

Cells in the peripheral retina tend to have higher contrast sensitivity and respond at higher flicker frequencies than those closer to the fovea. Although this predicts increased behavioural temporal contrast sensitivity in the peripheral visual field, this effect is rarely observed in psychophysical experiments. It is unknown how temporal contrast sensitivity is represented across eccentricity within cortical visual field maps and whether such sensitivities reflect the response properties of retinal cells or psychophysical sensitivities.

Structures of insect Imp-L2 suggest an alternative strategy for regulating the bioavailability of insulin-like hormones.

The insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling axis is an evolutionary ancient and highly conserved hormonal system involved in the regulation of metabolism, growth and lifespan in animals. Human insulin is stored in the pancreas, while insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is maintained in blood in complexes with IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP1-6). Insect insulin-like polypeptide binding proteins (IBPs) have been considered as IGFBP-like structural and functional homologues.

Sensitivity to Velocity- and Disparity-Based Cues to Motion-In-Depth With and Without Spared Stereopsis in Binocular Visual Impairment.

Purpose: Two binocular sources of information serve motion-in-depth (MID) perception: changes in disparity over time (CD), and interocular velocity differences (IOVD). While CD requires the computation of small spatial disparities, IOVD could be computed from a much lower-resolution signal. IOVD signals therefore might still be available under conditions of binocular vision impairment (BVI) with limited or no stereopsis, for example, amblyopia.

Can Arginine Inhibit Insulin Aggregation? A Combined Protein Crystallography, Capillary Electrophoresis, and Molecular Simulation Study.

The oligomeric state of the storage form of human insulin in the pancreas, which may be affected by several endogenous components of β-cell storage granules such as arginine, is not known. Here, the effect of arginine on insulin oligomerization is investigated independently by protein crystallography, molecular dynamics simulations, and capillary electrophoresis. The combined results point to a strong effect of ionic strength on insulin assembly.

Changes in Self-Reported Well-Being: A Follow-Up Study of Children Aged 12-14 in Algeria.

This article reports on a 2-year follow-up study (443 Algerian children). Using a variety of satisfaction measures, along with detailed questions relating to family, school, local area, material deprivation, and daily activities, we aim to explore changes in the self-reported well-being of children from age 12 to 14. Satisfaction with health and friends remained stable, meanwhile satisfaction with school decreased more for boys than for girls, but satisfaction with family, time use, and material possessions decreased for girls.

Structure of the GH9 glucosidase/glucosaminidase from Vibrio cholerae.

Glycoside hydrolase family 9 (GH9) of carbohydrate-processing enzymes primarily consists of inverting endoglucanases. A subgroup of GH9 enzymes are believed to act as exo-glucosidases or exo-glucosaminidases, with many being found in organisms of the family Vibrionaceae, where they are proposed to function within the chitin-catabolism pathway. Here, it is shown that the GH9 enzyme from the pathogen Vibrio cholerae (hereafter referred to as VC0615) is active on both chitosan-derived and β-glucoside substrates.

Structure of a Talaromyces pinophilus GH62 arabinofuranosidase in complex with AraDNJ at 1.25 Å resolution.

The enzymatic hydrolysis of complex plant biomass is a major societal goal of the 21st century in order to deliver renewable energy from nonpetroleum and nonfood sources. One of the major problems in many industrial processes, including the production of second-generation biofuels from lignocellulose, is the presence of `hemicelluloses' such as xylans which block access to the cellulosic biomass. Xylans, with a polymeric β-1,4-xylose backbone, are frequently decorated with acetyl, glucuronyl and arabinofuranosyl `side-chain' substituents, all of which need to be removed for complete degradation of the xylan.

Genetic Programming Proof Search Automatic Improvement.

Search Based Software Engineering techniques are emerging as important tools for software maintenance. Foremost among these is Genetic Improvement, which has historically applied the stochastic techniques of Genetic Programming to optimize pre-existing program code. Previous work in this area has not generally preserved program semantics and this article describes an alternative to the traditional mutation operators used, employing deterministic proof search in the sequent calculus to yield semantics-preserving transformations on algebraic data types.

Beyond the blocking model to fit nanoparticle ZFC/FC magnetisation curves.

We consider the probability of a magnetic nanoparticle to flip its magnetisation near the blocking temperature, and use this to develop quasi-analytic expressions for the zero-field-cooled and field-cooled magnetisation, which go beyond the usual critical energy barrier approach to the superparamagnetic transition. The particles in the assembly are assumed to have random alignment of easy axes, and to not interact. We consider all particles to be of the same size and then extend the theory to treat polydisperse systems of particles.

The nature of shape constancy mechanisms as revealed by shape priming.

Five shape priming experiments are reported in which the target was either a five- or six-sided line-drawn figure and participants made a speeded two-alternative forced-choice judgment about the target's number of sides. On priming trials, the target was preceded by a briefly presented smaller line figure (the prime) and performance on these trials was gauged relative to a no-prime condition. In the first two experiments, primes were rendered invisible by the presentation of a backwards visual noise mask, respectively for a short (∼40 ms) or long duration (∼93 ms).

CBMNet: the 'Crossing Biological Membranes' network in industrial biotechnology and bioenergy.

The ∼1300 academic and industry members of the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) Network in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) Crossing Biological Membranes Network (CBMNet) are motivated to explore how knowledge of the roles of biological membranes can be exploited to enhance the productivity of cell factories. Improving existing, and developing new, cell factories requires a deep understanding of the mechanisms by which substances are transported into, within, and out of the cells. Embedding consideration of membrane function into the design of cell factories is crucial for the future of almost all cell-based Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (IBBE) applications.

Intention, attention and long-term memory for visual scenes: It all depends on the scenes.

Humans have an ability to remember up to 10,000 previously viewed scenes with apparently robust memory for visual detail, a phenomenon that has been interpreted as suggesting a visual memory system of massive capacity. Attempts at explanation have largely focused on the nature of the stimuli and been influenced by theoretical accounts of object recognition. Our own study aims to supplement this by considering two observer-based aspects of visual long-term memory, one strategic, whether the observers are aware or not that their memory will subsequently be tested and the other executive, based on the amount of attentional capacity available during encoding.

Development of an occupational advice intervention for patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasty (the OPAL study).

Background: There are an increasing number of patients of working age undergoing hip and knee replacements. Currently there is variation in the advice and support given about sickness absence, recovery to usual activities and return to work after these procedures. Earlier, sustainable, return to work improves the health of patients and benefits their employers and society.

Controls on accumulation and soil solution partitioning of heavy metals across upland sites in United Kingdom (UK).

A significant body of knowledge suggests that soil solution pH and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) strongly influence metal concentrations and speciation in porewater, however, these effects vary between different metals. This study investigated the factors influencing soil and soil solution concentrations of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) under field conditions in upland soils from UK having a wide range of pH, DOC and organic matter contents. The study primarily focussed on predicting soil and soil solution metal concentrations from the data on total soil metal concentrations (HNO extracts) and soil and soil solution properties (pH, DOC and organic matter content).

Direct observation of high spin polarization in CoFeAl thin films.

We have studied the CoFeAl thin films with different thicknesses epitaxially grown on GaAs (001) by molecular beam epitaxy. The magnetic properties and spin polarization of the films were investigated by in-situ magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) measurement and spin-resolved angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (spin-ARPES) at 300 K, respectively. High spin polarization of 58% (±7%) was observed for the film with thickness of 21 unit cells (uc), for the first time.

Addressing Criticisms of Large-Scale Marine Protected Areas.

Designated large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs, 100,000 or more square kilometers) constitute over two-thirds of the approximately 6.6% of the ocean and approximately 14.5% of the exclusive economic zones within marine protected areas.