bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Effects of Penicillin Binding Protein Deletion on the Susceptibility of Enterococcus faecium to Cationic Peptide Antibiotics
Authors: Sakoulas George , Kumaraswamy Monika , Nonejuie Poochit , Werth Brian J. , Rybak Micahel J. , Pogliano Joseph , Rice Louis B. , Nizet Victor
Published: July 2015

Beta-lactam antibiotics sensitize
Enterococcus faecium
to killing by endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of the innate immune system and daptomycin through mechanisms yet to be elucidated. It has been speculated that beta-lactam inactivation of select
E. faecium
penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) may play a pivotal role in this sensitization process. To characterize the specific PBP inactivation that may be responsible for these phenotypes, we utilized a previously characterized set of
E. faecium
PBP knockout mutants to determine the effects of such mutations on the activity of daptomycin and the AMP human cathelicidin (LL-37). Enhanced susceptibility to daptomycin was dependent more on a cumulative effect of multiple PBP deletions than on inactivation of any single specific PBP. Selective knockout of PBPZ rendered
E. faecium
more vulnerable to killing by both recombinant LL-37 and human neutrophils, which produce the antimicrobial peptide in high quantities. Pharmacotherapy targeting multiple PBPs may be used as adjunctive therapy with daptomycin to treat difficult
E. faecium
infections.
Delicate Metabolic Control and Coordinated Stress Response Critically Determine Antifungal Tolerance of Candida albicans Biofilm Persisters
Authors: Li Peng , Seneviratne Chaminda J. , Alpi Emanuele , Vizcaino Juan A. , Jin Lijian
Published: July 2015

Candida
infection has emerged as a critical health care burden worldwide, owing to the formation of robust biofilms against common antifungals. Recent evidence shows that multidrug-tolerant persisters critically account for biofilm recalcitrance, but their underlying biological mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we first investigated the phenotypic characteristics of
Candida
biofilm persisters under consecutive harsh treatments of amphotericin B. The prolonged treatments effectively killed the majority of the cells of biofilms derived from representative strains of
Candida albicans
,
Candida glabrata
, and
Candida tropicalis
but failed to eradicate a small fraction of persisters. Next, we explored the tolerance mechanisms of the persisters through an investigation of the proteomic profiles of
C. albicans
biofilm persister fractions by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The
C. albicans
biofilm persisters displayed a specific proteomic signature, with an array of 205 differentially expressed proteins. The crucial enzymes involved in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and protein synthesis were markedly downregulated, indicating that major metabolic activities are subdued in the persisters. It is noteworthy that certain metabolic pathways, such as the glyoxylate cycle, were able to be activated with significantly increased levels of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase. Moreover, a number of important proteins responsible for
Candida
growth, virulence, and the stress response were greatly upregulated. Interestingly, the persisters were tolerant to oxidative stress, despite highly induced intracellular superoxide. The current findings suggest that delicate metabolic control and a coordinated stress response may play a crucial role in mediating the survival and antifungal tolerance of
Candida
biofilm persisters.
Epidemiologic Correlates of Pyrazinamide-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in New York City
Authors: Verdugo Dawn , Fallows Dorothy , Ahuja Shama , Schluger Neil , Kreiswirth Barry , Mathema Barun
Published: July 2015

Pyrazinamide (PZA) has important sterilizing activity in tuberculosis (TB) chemotherapy. We describe trends, risk factors, and molecular epidemiology associated with PZA-resistant (PZA
r
)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
in New York City (NYC). From 2001 to 2008, all incident culture-positive TB cases reported by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) were genotyped by IS
6110
-based restriction fragment length polymorphism and spoligotype. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates underwent DNA sequencing of resistance-determining regions of
pncA
,
rpoB
,
katG
, and
fabG1
. Demographic and clinical information were extracted from the NYC DOHMH TB registry. During this period, PZA
r
doubled (1.6% to 3.6%) overall, accounting for 44% (70/159) of the MDR population and 1.4% (75/5511) of the non-MDR population. Molecular genotyping revealed strong microbial phylogenetic associations with PZA
r
. Clustered isolates and those from acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear-positive cases had 2.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.71 to 4.36) and 2.0 (95% CI = 1.19 to 3.43) times higher odds of being PZA
r
, respectively, indicating a strong likelihood of recent transmission. Among the MDR population, PZA
r
was acquired somewhat more frequently via primary transmission than by independent pathways. Our molecular analysis also revealed that several historic
M. tuberculosis
strains responsible for MDR TB outbreaks in the early 1990s were continuing to circulate in NYC. We conclude that the increasing incidence of PZA
r
, with clear microbial risk factors, underscores the importance of routine PZA drug susceptibility testing and
M. tuberculosis
genotyping for the identification, control, and prevention of increasingly resistant organisms.
Age-Stratified Treatment Response Rates in Hospitalized Patients with Clostridium difficile Infection Treated with Metronidazole
Authors: Pham Vy P. , Luce Andrea M. , Ruppelt Sara C. , Wei Wenjing , Aitken Samuel L. , Musick William L. , Roux Ryan K. , Garey Kevin W.
Published: July 2015

Consensus on the optimal treatment of
Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI) is rapidly changing. Treatment with metronidazole has been associated with increased clinical failure rates; however, the reasons for this are unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess age-related treatment response rates in hospitalized patients with CDI treated with metronidazole. This was a retrospective, multicenter cohort study of hospitalized patients with CDI. Patients were assessed for refractory CDI, defined as persistent diarrhea after 7 days of metronidazole therapy, and stratified by age and clinical characteristics. A total of 242 individuals, aged 60 ± 18 years (Charlson comorbidity index, 3.8 ± 2.4; Horn's index, 1.7 ± 1.0) were included. One hundred twenty-eight patients (53%) had severe CDI. Seventy patients (29%) had refractory CDI, a percentage that increased from 22% to 28% and to 37% for patients aged less than 50 years, for patients from 50 to 70 years, and for patients aged >70 years, respectively (
P
= 0.05). In multivariate analysis, Horn's index (odds ratio [OR], 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50 to 2.77;
P
< 0.001), severe CDI (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.15 to 4.41;
P
= 0.018), and continued use of antibiotics (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.30 to 5.39;
P
= 0.0072) were identified as significant predictors of refractory CDI. Age was not identified as an independent risk factor for refractory CDI. Therefore, hospitalized elderly patients with CDI treated with metronidazole had increased refractory CDI rates likely due to increased underlying severity of illness, severity of CDI, and concomitant antibiotic use. These results may help identify patients that may benefit from alternative
C. difficile
treatments other than metronidazole.
Garcinia xanthochymus Benzophenones Promote Hyphal Apoptosis and Potentiate Activity of Fluconazole against Candida albicans Biofilms
Authors: Jackson Desmond N. , Yang Lin , Wu ShiBiao , Kennelly Edward J. , Lipke Peter N.
Published: July 2015

Xanthochymol and garcinol, isoprenylated benzophenones purified from
Garcinia xanthochymus
fruits, showed multiple activities against
Candida albicans
biofilms. Both compounds effectively prevented emergence of fungal germ tubes and were also cytostatic, with MICs of 1 to 3 μM. The compounds therefore inhibited development of hyphae and subsequent biofilm maturation. Xanthochymol treatment of developing and mature biofilms induced cell death. In early biofilm development, killing had the characteristics of apoptosis, including externalization of phosphatidyl serine and DNA fragmentation, as evidenced by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) fluorescence. These activities resulted in failure of biofilm maturation and hyphal death in mature biofilms. In mature biofilms, xanthochymol and garcinol caused the death of biofilm hyphae, with 50% effective concentrations (EC
50
s) of 30 to 50 μM. Additionally, xanthochymol-mediated killing was complementary with fluconazole against mature biofilms, reducing the fluconazole EC
50
from >1,024 μg/ml to 13 μg/ml. Therefore, xanthochymol has potential as an adjuvant for antifungal treatments as well as in studies of fungal apoptosis.
The Oral Antimalarial Drug Tafenoquine Shows Activity against Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Carvalho Luis , Martínez-García Marta , Pérez-Victoria Ignacio , Manzano José Ignacio , Yardley Vanessa , Gamarro Francisco , Pérez-Victoria José M.
Published: July 2015

The protozoan parasite
Trypanosoma brucei
causes human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, a neglected tropical disease that requires new, safer, and more effective treatments. Repurposing oral drugs could reduce both the time and cost involved in sleeping sickness drug discovery. Tafenoquine (TFQ) is an oral antimalarial drug belonging to the 8-aminoquinoline family which is currently in clinical phase III. We show here that TFQ efficiently kills different
T. brucei
spp. in the submicromolar concentration range. Our results suggest that TFQ accumulates into acidic compartments and induces a necrotic process involving cell membrane disintegration and loss of cytoplasmic content, leading to parasite death. Cell lysis is preceded by a wide and multitarget drug action, affecting the lysosome, mitochondria, and acidocalcisomes and inducing a depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, elevation of intracellular Ca
2+
, and production of reactive oxygen species. This is the first report of an 8-aminoquinoline demonstrating significant
in vitro
activity against
T. brucei
.
A Toll-Like Receptor 5 Agonist Improves the Efficacy of Antibiotics in Treatment of Primary and Influenza Virus-Associated Pneumococcal Mouse Infections
Authors: Porte Rémi , Fougeron Delphine , Muñoz-Wolf Natalia , Tabareau Julien , Georgel Anne-France , Wallet Fréderic , Paget Christophe , Trottein François , Chabalgoity José A. , Carnoy Christophe , Sirard Jean-Claude
Published: July 2015

Prophylactic intranasal administration of the Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) agonist flagellin protects mice against respiratory pathogenic bacteria. We hypothesized that TLR5-mediated stimulation of lung immunity might improve the therapeutic index of antibiotics for the treatment of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
respiratory infections in mice. Intranasal administration of flagellin was combined with either oral administration of amoxicillin or intraperitoneal injection of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to treat
S. pneumoniae
-infected animals. Compared with standalone treatments, the combination of antibiotic and flagellin resulted in a lower bacterial load in the lungs and greater protection against
S. pneumoniae
dissemination and was associated with an early increase in neutrophil infiltration in the airways. The antibiotic-flagellin combination treatment was, however, not associated with any exacerbation of inflammation. Moreover, combination treatment was more efficacious than standalone antibiotic treatments in the context of post-influenza virus pneumococcal infection. Lastly, TLR5 signaling was shown to be mandatory for the efficacy of the combined antibacterial therapy. This report is the first to show that combining antibiotic treatment with the stimulation of mucosal innate immunity is a potent antibacterial strategy against pneumonia.
Trends and sex differences in prescription opioid deaths in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Gladstone Emilie J , Smolina Kate , Morgan Steven G
Published: July 2015

Increasing rates of prescription opioid-related death are well documented in Ontario (ON) but little is known about prescription opioid-related harms in other Canadian provinces. Using administrative mortality data from 2004 to 2013, we found that rates of prescription opioid-related death in British Columbia (BC) were higher but more stable than published rates for ON over the same period. Methadone was involved in approximately 25% of the prescription opioid-related deaths in BC. The majority of prescription opioid-related deaths among men and women were unintentional. Men had higher overall rates of prescription opioid-related deaths in BC; women had lower rates of prescription opioid-related deaths but a larger proportion of them were suicides. Efforts to reduce prescription opioid-related deaths must consider sex differences in patterns of prescription opioid use and associated harms.
Mapping a surgeon's becoming with Deleuze
Authors: Cristancho Sayra , Fenwick Tara
Published: July 2015

The process of ‘becoming’ shapes professionals’ capability, confidence and identity. In contrast to notions of rugged individuals who achieve definitive status as experts, ‘becoming’ is a continuous emergent condition. It is often a process of struggle, and is always interminably linked to its environs and relationships. ‘Becoming’ is a way of understanding the tensions of everyday practice and knowledge of professionals. In this paper, we explore the notion of ‘becoming’ from the perspective of surgeons. We suggest that ‘becoming’, as theorised by Deleuze, offers a more nuanced understanding than is often represented using conventional vocabularies of competence, error, quality and improvement. We develop this conception by drawing from our Deleuze-inspired study of mapping experience in surgery. We argue for Deleuzian mapping as a method to research health professionals’ practice and experience, and suggest the utility of this approach as a pedagogical tool for medical education.
Sharing of chloroplast haplotypes among red oak species suggests interspecific gene flow between neighboring populations
Authors: Zhang Ruhua , Hipp Andrew L. , Gailing Oliver
Published: July 2015

The North American red oak species Quercus rubra L., Quercus ellipsoidalis E. J. Hill, Quercus velutina Lam., and Quercus coccinea Münchh. are morphologically similar and showed very low interspecific differentiation at most nuclear genetic markers in our earlier analyses (<10%). However, a few genetic markers showed interspecific differentiation values (up to 84%) above neutral expectations, a pattern of genomic divergence consistent with models of ecological speciation in the face of gene flow and strong divergent selection. Accordingly, these interfertile species are predicted to maintain differential adaptations to drought, while neutral regions of the genome appear to be homogenized by interspecific gene flow. According to this model of maintenance of species integrity by divergent selection with gene flow, we expect a sharing of chloroplast haplotypes between interspecific population pairs. We analyzed maternally inherited chloroplast DNA markers for the first time in interspecific populations of the red oaks (section Lobatae) to provide additional evidence for contemporary gene flow between Q. rubra and Q. ellipsoidalis and between Q. velutina and Q. ellipsoidalis. Very low interspecific differentiation (GST= 0.023), but pronounced genetic differentiation among populations from different regions (GST= 0.277) across species, and sharing of regional chloroplast haplotypes between species in sympatric and neighboring populations provided strong evidence for contemporary interspecific gene flow. The pattern of divergence at chloroplast DNA markers in red oaks suggests interspecific gene flow that resulted in a sharing of chloroplast types while the ecological and morphological distinctness of species was maintained.
Preserved recovery of cardiac function following ischemia–reperfusion in mice lacking SIRT3
Authors: Koentges Christoph , Pfeil Katharina , Meyer-Steenbuck Maximilian , Lother Achim , Hoffmann Michael M. , Odening Katja E. , Hein Lutz , Bode Christoph , Bugger Heiko
Published: July 2015

Lack of the mitochondrial deacetylase sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) impairs mitochondrial function and increases the susceptibility to induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Because these alterations contribute to myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury, we hypothesized that SIRT3 deficiency may increase cardiac injury following myocardial IR. Hearts of 10-week-old mice were perfused in the isolated working mode and subjected to 17.5 min of global no-flow ischemia, followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Measurements before ischemia revealed a decrease in cardiac power (–20%) and rate pressure product (–15%) in SIRT3−/− mice. Mitochondrial state 3 respiration (–15%), ATP synthesis (–39%), and ATP/O ratios (–29%) were decreased in hearts of SIRT3−/− mice. However, percent recovery of cardiac power (WT 94% ± 9%; SIRT3−/− 89% ± 9%) and rate pressure product (WT 89% ± 16%; SIRT3−/− 96% ± 3%) following IR was similar in both groups. Myocardial infarct size was not increased in SIRT3−/− mice following permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Left ventricular pressure and dP/dtmax, and mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis were not different between groups following LAD ligation. Thus, despite pre-existing defects in cardiac function and mitochondrial respiratory capacity in SIRT3−/− mice, SIRT3 deficiency does not additionally impair cardiac function following IR or following myocardial infarction.
Enhancing traffic capacity of scale-free networks by link-directed strategy
Authors: Ma Jinlong , Han Weizhan , Guo Qing , Zhang Shuai
Published: July 2015

The transport efficiency of a network is strongly related to the underlying structure. In this paper, we propose an efficient strategy named high-betweenness-first (HBF) for the purpose of improving the traffic handling capacity of scale-free networks by limiting a fraction of undirected links to be unidirectional ones based on the links’ betweenness. Compared with the high-degree-first (HDF) strategy, the traffic capacity can be more significantly enhanced under the proposed link-directed strategy with the shortest path (SP) routing protocol. Simulation results in the Barabási–Albert (BA) model for scale-free networks show that the critical generating rate [Formula: see text] which can evaluate the overall traffic capacity of a network system is larger after applying the HBF strategy, especially with nonrandom direction-determining rules. Because of the strongly improved traffic capacity, this work is helpful to design and optimize modern communication networks such as the software defined network.
MONETARY POLICY AND FINANCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
Authors: WILSON PETER
Published: July 2015

This paper reviews Singapore's monetary policy and financial development since independence, including the immediate challenges in the 1960s, the turbulent years of the 1970s with the collapse of the Bretton Woods fixed exchange rate system and the global oil shocks of 1973 and 1979, the introduction of a unique exchange rate-centered monetary policy in 1981, the Asian financial crisis of 1997–1998 and the global financial crisis of 2007–2009. Despite being a late starter (1971) and given a number of obstacles, not least the high degree of openness of the Singapore economy to trade and capital flows, the Monetary Authority of Singapore has built up a high degree of credibility within a relatively short space of time and delivered low and stable inflation. Although financial development has been "government made" rather than market-driven, proactive and sensible policies have built on Singapore's long history as a regional trading hub to turn Singapore into a premier financial center in terms of foreign exchange trading, offshore money market intermediation and asset management. Nonetheless, some challenges remain: How monetary policy can deal with asset price bubbles and deflationary pressures and steer a careful course to maintain price stability without jeopardizing Singapore's transitory restructuring process to achieve sustainable economic growth.
Synthesis and investigating the magnetic properties of magnetite nanocrystallites for drug delivery
Authors: Ansar Muhammad Zaka , Atiq Shahid , Riaz Saira , Naseem Shahzad , Ramay Shahid M. , Mahmood Asif
Published: July 2015

In recent years, use of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedical applications has increased tremendously. In particular, magnetite [Formula: see text] nanoparticles being highly biocompatible are rated very high due to their potential applications in biomedicines, for instance in anticancer drug delivery. In this work, the [Formula: see text] nanoparticles have been synthesized using a novel sol–gel based autocombustion technique. The crystal structure of the [Formula: see text] phase was confirmed by the data obtained from X-ray diffraction. Scherrer’s formula was employed to estimate the crystallite size of the [Formula: see text] nanoparticles. The structural morphology, investigated by using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealed well-dispersed and uniform sized grains in the sample prepared using enhanced fuel concentration. A vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) was employed to investigate the magnetic characteristics of the samples which confirmed the superparamagnetic nature of the [Formula: see text] samples, essentially required for cancer treatment. These nanoparticles could further be modified and functionalized by suitable polymers to achieve better biocompatibility before being injected into the diseased cells.
A Leapfrog Strategy for Pursuit-Evasion in a Polygonal Environment
Authors: Ames Brendan , Beveridge Andrew , Carlson Rosalie , Djang Claire , Isler Volkan , Ragain Stephen , Savage Maxray
Published: July 2015

We study pursuit-evasion in a polygonal environment with polygonal obstacles. In this turn based game, an evader [Formula: see text] is chased by pursuers [Formula: see text]. The players have full information about the environment and the location of the other players. The pursuers are allowed to coordinate their actions. On the pursuer turn, each [Formula: see text] can move to any point at distance at most 1 from his current location. On the evader turn, he moves similarly. The pursuers win if some pursuer becomes co-located with the evader in finite time. The evader wins if he can evade capture forever.

It is known that one pursuer can capture the evader in any simply-connected polygonal environment, and that three pursuers are always sufficient in any polygonal environment [Formula: see text] (possibly with polygonal obstacles). We contribute two new results to this field. First, we fully characterize when an environment with a single obstacle is one-pursuerwin or two-pursuer-win. Second, we give sufficient (but not necessary) conditions for an environment to have a winning strategy for two pursuers. Such environments can be swept by a leapfrog strategy in which the two cops alternately guard/increase the currently controlled area. The running time of this algorithm is [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is the number of vertices, [Formula: see text] is the number of obstacles and [Formula: see text] is the diameter of the polygonal environment [Formula: see text].

More concretely, for an environment with [Formula: see text] vertices, we describe an [Formula: see text] algorithm that (1) determines whether the obstacles are well-separated, and if so, (2) constructs the required partition for a leapfrog strategy.
Improved Grid Map Layout by Point Set Matching
Authors: Eppstein David , van Kreveld Marc , Speckmann Bettina , Staals Frank
Published: July 2015

Associating the regions of a geographic subdivision with the cells of a grid is a basic operation that is used in various types of maps, like spatially ordered treemaps and Origin-Destination maps (OD maps). In these cases the regular shapes of the grid cells allow easy representation of extra information about the regions. The main challenge is to find an association that allows a user to find a region in the grid quickly. We call the representation of a set of regions as a grid a grid map.

We introduce a new approach to solve the association problem for grid maps by formulating it as a point set matching problem: Given two sets [Formula: see text] (the centroids of the regions) and [Formula: see text] (the grid centres) of [Formula: see text] points in the plane, compute an optimal one-to-one matching between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We identify three optimisation criteria that are important for grid map layout: maximise the number of adjacencies in the grid that are also adjacencies of the regions, minimise the sum of the distances between matched points, and maximise the number of pairs of points in [Formula: see text] for which the matching preserves the directional relation (SW, NW, etc.). We consider matchings that minimise the [Formula: see text]-distance (Manhattan-distance), the ranked [Formula: see text]-distance, and the [Formula: see text]-distance, since one can expect that minimising distances implicitly helps to fulfill the other criteria.

We present algorithms to compute such matchings and perform an experimental comparison that also includes a previous method to compute a grid map. The experiments show that our more global, matching-based algorithm outperforms previous, more local approaches with respect to all three optimisation criteria.
A phase field approach for optimal boundary control of damage processes in two-dimensional viscoelastic media
Authors: Farshbaf-Shaker M. Hassan , Heinemann Christian
Published: July 2015

In this work we investigate a phase field model for damage processes in two-dimensional viscoelastic media with non-homogeneous Neumann data describing external boundary forces. In the first part we establish global-in-time existence, uniqueness, a priori estimates and continuous dependence of strong solutions on the data. The main difficulty is caused by the irreversibility of the phase field variable which results in a constrained PDE system. In the last part we consider an optimal control problem where a cost functional penalizes maximal deviations from prescribed damage profiles. The goal is to minimize the cost functional with respect to exterior forces acting on the boundary which play the role of the control variable in the considered model. To this end, we prove existence of minimizers and study a family of "local" approximations via adapted cost functionals.
An approach to the quantization of black hole quasi-normal modes
Authors: Pal Soham , Rajeev Karthik , Shankaranarayanan S.
Published: July 2015

In this work, we derive the asymptotic quasi-normal modes of a Banados–Teitelboim–Zanelli (BTZ) black hole using a quantum field theoretic Lagrangian. The BTZ black hole is a very popular system in the context of 2 + 1-dimensional quantum gravity. However, to our knowledge the quasi-normal modes of the BTZ black hole have been studied only in the classical domain. Here we show a way to quantize the quasi-normal modes of the BTZ black hole by mapping it to the Bateman–Feschbach–Tikochinsky oscillator and the Caldirola–Kanai oscillator. We have also discussed a couple of other black hole potentials to which this method can be applied.
Coupled tachyonic dark energy: A dynamical analysis
Authors: Landim Ricardo C. G.
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we present a dynamical analysis for a coupled tachyonic dark energy with dark matter. The tachyonic field ϕ is considered in the presence of barotropic fluids (matter and radiation) and the autonomous system due to the evolution equations is studied. The three cosmological eras (radiation, matter and dark energy) are described through the critical points, for a generic potential V(ϕ).
DYNAMICAL SYSTEM MODEL OF DECISION MAKING AND PROPAGATION
Authors: DEMONGEOT J. , VOLPERT V.
Published: July 2015

Individual decision making is described as a bistable dynamical system. It can be influenced by the environment represented by other individuals, public opinion, all kinds of visual, oral and other information. We will study how the interaction of the individual decision making with the environment results in various patterns of decision making in the society.
AVERAGE WEIGHTED RECEIVING TIME OF WEIGHTED TETRAHEDRON KOCH NETWORKS
Authors: DAI MEIFENG , ZHANG DANPING , YE DANDAN , ZHANG CHENG , LI LEI
Published: July 2015

We introduce weighted tetrahedron Koch networks with infinite weight factors, which are generalization of finite ones. The term of weighted time is firstly defined in this literature. The mean weighted first-passing time (MWFPT) and the average weighted receiving time (AWRT) are defined by weighted time accordingly. We study the AWRT with weight-dependent walk. Results show that the AWRT for a nontrivial weight factor sequence grows sublinearly with the network order. To investigate the reason of sublinearity, the average receiving time (ART) for four cases are discussed.
FRACTIONAL ORNSTEIN–UHLENBECK PROCESSES MIXED WITH A GAMMA DISTRIBUTION
Authors: ES-SEBAIY KHALIFA , TUDOR CIPRIAN A.
Published: July 2015

We study the asymptotic behavior of the aggregated fractional Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes with random coefficients that follows a Gamma-type distribution. We also analyze the properties of the limit process.
The orbit set and the orthogonal quotient
Authors: Rao Ravi A. , Jose Selby
Published: July 2015

We study the injectivity of the map (of pointed sets) [Formula: see text], which we had constructed in [12]. We obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for the kernel to be non-trivial under some additional assumptions on [Formula: see text].
On LN rings and topological properties of prime spectra
Authors: Hong Chan Yong , Kim Nam Kyun , Lee Yang
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we first introduce the new class of LN rings, motivated by 2-primal rings and NI rings. We then deal with elementary properties of LN rings, observing relations between this and other known classes of rings. Finally, we study topological conditions, such as connectedness and normality, of several prime spectra that can be naturally associated to a given ring.
High-Throughput Assessment of Cellular Mechanical Properties
Authors: Darling Eric M. , Di Carlo Dino
Published: July 2015

Traditionally, cell analysis has focused on using molecular biomarkers for basic research, cell preparation, and clinical diagnostics; however, new microtechnologies are enabling evaluation of the mechanical properties of cells at throughputs that make them amenable to widespread use. We review the current understanding of how the mechanical characteristics of cells relate to underlying molecular and architectural changes, describe how these changes evolve with cell-state and disease processes, and propose promising biomedical applications that will be facilitated by the increased throughput of mechanical testing: from diagnosing cancer and monitoring immune states to preparing cells for regenerative medicine. We provide background about techniques that laid the groundwork for the quantitative understanding of cell mechanics and discuss current efforts to develop robust techniques for rapid analysis that aim to implement mechanophenotyping as a routine tool in biomedicine. Looking forward, we describe additional milestones that will facilitate broad adoption, as well as new directions not only in mechanically assessing cells but also in perturbing them to passively engineer cell state.
Daily Oxygen/O3Treatment Reduces Muscular Fatigue and Improves Cardiac Performance in Rats Subjected to Prolonged High Intensity Physical Exercise
Authors: Di Filippo C. , Trotta M. C. , Maisto R. , Siniscalco D. , Luongo M. , Mascolo L. , Alfano R. , Accardo M. , Rossi C. , Ferraraccio F. , D’Amico M.
Published: July 2015

Rats receiving daily intraperitoneal administration of O2and running on a treadmill covered an average distance of 482.8 ± 21.8 m/week as calculated during 5-week observation. This distance was increased in rats receiving daily intraperitoneal administration of an oxygen/O3mixture at a dose of 100; 150; and 300 μg/kg with the maximum increase being +34.5% at 300 μg/kg and still present after stopping the administration of oxygen/O3. Oxygen/O3decreased the mean arterial blood pressure (−13%), the heart rate (−6%), the gastrocnemius and cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis and reduced by 49% the left ventricular mass and relative wall thickness measurements. Systolic and diastolic functions were improved in exercised oxygen/O3rats compared to O2rats. Oxygen/O3treatment led to higher MPI index starting from the dose of 150 μg/kg (p<0.05) and more effective (+14%) at a dose of 300 μg/kg oxygen/O3. Oxygen/O3dose-dependently increased the expression of the antioxidant enzymes Mn-SOD and GPx1 and of eNOS compared to the exercised O2rats. The same doses resulted in decrease of LDH levels, CPK, TnI, and nitrotyrosine concentration in the heart and gastrocnemius tissues, arguing a beneficial effect of the ozone molecule against the fatigue induced by a prolonged high intensity exercise.
Mesalazine-Induced Myopericarditis in a Patient with a Recent Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease: Apropos of a Case
Authors: Sorleto Michele , Dürrwald Stefanie , Wiemer Marcus
Published: July 2015

Mesalazine- (5-aminosalicylic acid-) containing products are a well-known treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, often as first line. Myocarditis is recognized as a very rare possible side effect of this drug treatment. We present a case of mesalazine-induced myopericarditis that was successfully improved by immediate cessation of the medication.
Animal Models for the Study of Rodent-Borne Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses: Arenaviruses and Hantaviruses
Authors: Golden Joseph W. , Hammerbeck Christopher D. , Mucker Eric M. , Brocato Rebecca L.
Published: July 2015

Human pathogenic hantaviruses and arenaviruses are maintained in nature by persistent infection of rodent carrier populations. Several members of these virus groups can cause significant disease in humans that is generically termed viral hemorrhagic fever (HF) and is characterized as a febrile illness with an increased propensity to cause acute inflammation. Human interaction with rodent carrier populations leads to infection. Arenaviruses are also viewed as potential biological weapons threat agents. There is an increased interest in studying these viruses in animal models to gain a deeper understating not only of viral pathogenesis, but also for the evaluation of medical countermeasures (MCM) to mitigate disease threats. In this review, we examine current knowledge regarding animal models employed in the study of these viruses. We include analysis of infection models in natural reservoirs and also discuss the impact of strain heterogeneity on the susceptibility of animals to infection. This information should provide a comprehensive reference for those interested in the study of arenaviruses and hantaviruses not only for MCM development but also in the study of viral pathogenesis and the biology of these viruses in their natural reservoirs.
Six-Degree-of-Freedom Digital Simulations for Missile Guidance and Control
Authors: Xu Yongjie , Wang Zhijun , Gao Benbing
Published: July 2015

Six-degree-of-freedom ballistic trajectory model can be used to verify design indicators, performance parameters, and correctness so they have been put forward in the missile argumentation and design process. Mathematical simulation is the basis of late semiphysical simulation and field firing testing, and it can greatly reduce the field shooting test time, which shortens the missile test cycle and so reduces costs.
Evolutionary Determinants of Cancer
Authors: Greaves Mel
Published: July 2015

Our understanding of cancer is being transformed by exploring clonal diversity, drug resistance, and causation within an evolutionary framework. The therapeutic resilience of advanced cancer is a consequence of its character as a complex, dynamic, and adaptive ecosystem engendering robustness, underpinned by genetic diversity and epigenetic plasticity. The risk of mutation-driven escape by self-renewing cells is intrinsic to multicellularity but is countered by multiple restraints, facilitating increasing complexity and longevity of species. But our own species has disrupted this historical narrative by rapidly escalating intrinsic risk. Evolutionary principles illuminate these challenges and provide new avenues to explore for more effective control.

Significance: Lifetime risk of cancer now approximates to 50% in Western societies. And, despite many advances, the outcome for patients with disseminated disease remains poor, with drug resistance the norm. An evolutionary perspective may provide a clearer understanding of how cancer clones develop robustness and why, for us as a species, risk is now off the scale. And, perhaps, of what we might best do to achieve more effective control. Cancer Discov; 5(8); 806–20. ©2015 AACR.
IRF2BP2 Reduces Macrophage Inflammation and Susceptibility to Atherosclerosis
Authors: Chen Hsiao-Huei , Keyhanian Kianoosh , Zhou Xun , Vilmundarson Ragnar O. , Almontashiri Naif A.M. , Cruz Shelly A. , Pandey Nihar R. , Lerma Yap Nida , Ho Tiffany , Stewart Chloe A. , Huang Hua , Hari Aswin , Geoffrion Michele , McPherson Ruth , Rayner Katey J. , Stewart Alexandre F.R.
Published: July 2015

Rationale:

Inflammation impairs macrophage cholesterol clearance from vascular tissues and promotes atherosclerosis. Inflammatory macrophages suppress expression of the transcription cofactor interferon regulatory factor 2–binding protein 2 (IRF2BP2), and genetic variants near IRF2BP2 associate with ischemic heart disease progression in humans.

Objectives:

To test whether IRF2BP2 in macrophages affects atherosclerosis in mice and humans.

Methods and Results:

We generated mice that delete IRF2BP2 in macrophages. IRF2BP2-deficient macrophages worsened atherosclerosis in irradiated low-density lipoprotein receptor null-recipient mice and in apolipoprotein E null mice. IRF2BP2-deficient macrophages were inflammatory and had impaired cholesterol efflux because of their inability to activate the cholesterol transporter ABCA1 in response to cholesterol loading. Their expression of the anti-inflammatory transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 2 was markedly reduced. Promoter studies revealed that IRF2BP2 is required for MEF2-dependent activation of Krüppel-like factor 2. Importantly, restoring Krüppel-like factor 2 in IRF2BP2-deficient macrophages attenuated M1 inflammatory and rescued M2 anti-inflammatory gene activation and improved the cholesterol efflux deficit by restoring ABCA1 activation in response to cholesterol loading. In a cohort of 1066 angiographic cases and 1011 controls, homozygous carriers of a deletion polymorphism (rs3045215) in the 3′ untranslated region sequence of human IRF2BP2 mRNA had a higher risk of coronary artery disease (recessive model, odds ratio [95% confidence interval]=1.560 [1.179–2.065],
P
=1.73E-03) and had lower IRF2BP2 (and Krüppel-like factor 2) protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The effect of this deletion polymorphism to suppress protein expression was confirmed in luciferase reporter studies.

Conclusion:

Ablation of IRF2BP2 in macrophages worsens atherosclerosis in mice, and a deletion variant that lowers IRF2BP2 expression predisposes to coronary artery disease in humans.
Aldosterone and Salt Loading Independently Exacerbate the Exercise Pressor Reflex in Rats
Authors: Mizuno Masaki , Downey Ryan M. , Mitchell Jere H. , Auchus Richard J. , Smith Scott A. , Vongpatanasin Wanpen
Published: July 2015

The sympathetic and pressor responses to exercise are exaggerated in hypertension. Evidence suggests that an overactive exercise pressor reflex (EPR) contributes to this abnormal responsiveness. The mechanisms underlying this EPR overactivity are poorly understood. An increasing body of evidence suggests that aldosterone and excessive salt intake play a role in regulating resting sympathetic activity and blood pressure in hypertension. Therefore, each is a good candidate for the generation of EPR dysfunction in this disease. The purpose of this study was to examine whether excessive salt intake and chronic administration of aldosterone potentiate EPR function. Changes in mean arterial pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity induced by EPR stimulation were examined in vehicle and aldosterone-treated (4 weeks via osmotic mini-pump) Sprague-Dawley rats given either water or saline (elevated salt load) to drink. When compared with vehicle/water-treated rats, stimulation of the EPR by muscle contraction evoked significantly greater increases in mean arterial pressure in vehicle/saline, aldosterone/water, and aldosterone/saline-treated animals (14±3, 29±3, 37±6, and 44±7 mm Hg/kg, respectively;
P
<0.01). A similar renal sympathetic nerve activity response profile was likewise produced (39±11%, 87±15%, 110±20%, and 151±25%/kg, respectively;
P
<0.01). The pressor and sympathetic responses to the individual activation of the mechanically and chemically sensitive components of the EPR were also augmented by both saline and aldosterone. These data provide the first direct evidence that both aldosterone and high salt intake elicit EPR overactivity. As such, each represents a potential mechanism by which sympathetic activity and blood pressure are augmented during exercise in hypertension.
Taxonomic revision of the Dichotomius speciosus (Waterhouse, 1891) species group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)
Authors: MALDANER MARIA E. , NUNES RAFAEL V. , VAZ-DE-MELLO FERNANDO Z.
Published: July 2015

The Dichotomius speciosus species group, endemic to the highlands of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and included in the subgenus Luederwaldtinia is taxonomically revised. Dichotomius alvarengai new species and D. malyi new species are described. Dichotomius bucki is here considered to be a new synonym of D. opalescens, for which a lectotype is designated. The group, as well as its species, is diagnosed. A taxonomic key, illustrations and discussions on systematics and conservation of the group are provided.
A new species of Aspidoras Ihering (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae: Corydoradinae) from the Rio Xingu Basin, Pará, Brazil
Authors: LEÃO MANUELA D. V. , BRITTO MARCELO R. , WOSIACKI WOLMAR B.
Published: July 2015

A new species of Aspidoras is described from an unnamed stream in the Rio Xingu Basin, Castelo de Sonhos municipality, Pará State, representing the northernmost record of the genus along the edge of the Brazilian Shield in the Amazon Basin. Aspidoras marianae is easily distinguished from all congeners in having minute odontode-bearing platelets scattered over the surface of the snout region, minute platelets between the parieto-supraoccipital process and the nuchal plate, and other shared features related to color pattern, morphometrics, meristics and morphological data. Comments about exclusive and shared features are presented.
Tropical Cyclogenesis due to ITCZ Breakdown: Idealized Numerical Experiments and a Case Study of the Event in July 1988
Authors: Yokota Sho , Niino Hiroshi , Yanase Wataru
Published: July 2015

The mechanism of tropical cyclogenesis due to the breakdown of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ breakdown) and the structure of associated vortices are studied by numerical experiments using a nonhydrostatic mesoscale model. First, an idealized numerical experiment, in which a simple initial state without external disturbances is assumed, is performed without cumulus parameterization. A zonally uniform forcing of high sea surface temperature (SST) is imposed to generate an ITCZ-like structure. This “ITCZ” starts to undulate and eventually breaks down to form several tropical cyclones (TCs). These TCs merge and end up with a single TC. The energy budget analysis shows that barotropic instability of the low-level flow associated with the ITCZ is responsible for the genesis of vortices, and TC-scale buoyancy production soon takes over to contribute to the intensification of TCs. Conversion from the cumulus-scale kinetic energy into the TC-scale kinetic energy is found to be insignificant during ITCZ breakdown.

Additional experiments show that the presence of the warm SST belt and an inclusion of the β effect are not essential for the occurrence of ITCZ breakdown. A numerical simulation of ITCZ breakdown over the Pacific Ocean in July 1988 shows that the mechanism of the tropical cyclogenesis is similar to that in the idealized numerical experiments from the viewpoint of the energy budget. Therefore, horizontal shear instability of the low-level flow and TC-scale buoyancy production are generally more essential than mergers of cumulus-scale vortices for the tropical cyclogenesis due to ITCZ breakdown.
Formation of digital yarn black board using sequence images
Authors: Li Zhongjian , Pan Ruru , Gao Weidong
Published: July 2015

This paper presents a new method for building a digital yarn black board (DYBB) with the yarn diameter data obtained from processing sequential yarn images. An image acquisition and processing system, mainly consisting of a video camera, a single-chip micro-computer and a stepper motor, was set up to capture sequence images of a moving yarn and extract yarn diameter data after the image threshold and morphological opening operation. Then, the diameter data of the yarn was used to construct the DYBB by redrawing all the scans in white on a black plane once they were aligned at the centers. The DYBB provides functions, such as local data amplification, fast focusing, phase adjustment and space adjustment, for more intuitive and convenient evaluation of yarn evenness.
Influence of the non-linearity of fabric tensile behavior for preforming modeling of a woven flax fabric
Authors: Tephany Christophe , Soulat Damien , Gillibert Jean , Ouagne Pierre
Published: July 2015

The preforming step, which is the first stage of the RESIN Transfer Molding process, has been analyzed by many experimental or numerical approaches in the literature for reinforcements made of synthetic fibers. The complex mechanical behavior of a flax-based plain weave fabric was studied with the view to investigate its formability. Non-linearities in the fabric tensile behavior were observed. A preforming numerical finite element tool was used and validated by performing comparisons between experimental and numerical results. Different tensile behavior models (linear and strongly non-linear) were implemented to investigate their effect on the final shape characteristics. The tool was also used to investigate the effect of the process parameters on the computed preform shape (shear angles and draw-in) for both implemented tensile behaviors. Results show that better correlations take place when using the non-linear tensile behavior. This therefore demonstrates the importance of taking into account non-linearities in the tensile reinforcement behavior while simulating the forming of woven textile reinforcements.