bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A genome‐wide association analysis for carcass traits in a commercial Duroc pig population
Authors: Eusebi P. G. , González‐Prendes R. , Quintanilla R. , Tibau J. , Cardoso T. F. , Clop A. , Amills M.
Published: February 2017

We performed a genome‐wide association study to map the genetic determinants of carcass traits in 350 Duroc pigs typed with the Porcine SNP60 BeadChip. Association analyses were carried out using the gemma software. The proportion of phenotypic variance explained by the SNPs ranged between negligible to moderate (= 0.01–0.30) depending on the trait under consideration. At the genome‐wide level, we detected one significant association between backfat thickness between the 3rd and 4th ribs and six SNPs mapping to SSC12 (37–40 Mb). We also identified several chromosome‐wide significant associations for ham weight (SSC11: 51–53 Mb, three SNPs; 67–68 Mb, two SNPs), carcass weight (SSC11: 66–68 Mb, two SNPs), backfat thickness between the 3rd and 4th ribs (SSC12: 21 Mb, one SNP; 33–40 Mb, 17 SNPs; 51–58 Mb, two SNPs), backfat thickness in the last rib (SSC12: 37 Mb, one SNP; 40–41 Mb, nine SNPs) and lean meat content (SSC13: 34 Mb, three SNPs and SSC16: 45.1 Mb, one SNP; 62–63 Mb, 10 SNPs; 71–75 Mb, nine SNPs). The ham weight trait‐associated region on SSC11 contains two genes (UCHL3 and LMO7) related to muscle development. In addition, the ACACA gene, which encodes an enzyme for the catalysis of fatty acid synthesis, maps to the SSC12 (37–41 Mb) region harbouring trait‐associated regions for backfat thickness traits. Sequencing of these candidate genes may help to uncover the causal mutations responsible for the associations found in the present study.
Sokolow‐Lyon voltage is suitable for monitoring improvement in cardiac function and prognosis of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Fukaya Kenji , Takeshita Kyosuke , Okumura Takahiro , Hiraiwa Hiroaki , Aoki Soichiro , Ichii Takeo , Sugiura Yuki , Kitagawa Katsuhide , Kondo Toru , Watanabe Naoki , Kano Naoaki , Furusawa Kenji , Sawamura Akinori , Morimoto Ryota , Bando Yasuko , Murohara Toyoaki
Published: February 2017

Background

The clinical significance of electrocardiogram in the assessment of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of recording serial changes in Sokolow–Lyon voltage (∆%QRS‐voltage) in one year to estimate left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) and predict a prognosis of IDCM patients under tailored medical therapy.

Methods

Sixty‐eight consecutive patients with mild symptoms (52.1 ± 13 years old; 69% men; NYHA I/II/III/IV; 33/29/6/0) underwent electrocardiography and echocardiography at baseline and 12 month follow‐up (follow‐up period: 3.9 years).

Results

LVRR was observed in 30 patients (44.1%). The ∆%QRS‐voltage was significantly lower in the LVRR group (LVRR; −26.9%, non‐LVRR: −9.2%, p < .001). Univariate analysis showed that ∆%QRS‐voltage correlated with ∆%LV end‐diastolic diameter (r = .634, p < .001), and with ∆%LV ejection fraction and ∆%LV mass index (r = −.412, p < .001; r = .429, p < .001 respectively). Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the estimation of LVRR, ∆%QRS of −14.7% showed optimal sensitivity (63.2%) and specificity (83.3%) (AUC = 0.775, p < .001). The composite endpoints of cardiac death (n = 0), hospitalization for advanced heart failure (n = 11) and fatal arrhythmia (n = 2) were observed in 13 patients during the follow‐up period. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significantly higher event‐free rate in patients of the low ∆%QRS‐voltage group (<−14.7%) (83%) than those of the high group (66%, p = .022).

Conclusions

The present study showed that decrease in Sokolow–Lyon voltage is associated with improvement in cardiac function and favorable prognosis in IDCM patients on medical therapy, suggesting that this index is a feasible marker for response to treatment of IDCM.
Downregulation of delta‐aminolevulinate dehydratase is associated with poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Ge Jie , Yu Yue , Xin Fei , Yang Zheng‐Jun , Zhao Hong‐Meng , Wang Xin , Tong Zhong‐Sheng , Cao Xu‐Chen
Published: February 2017

Delta‐aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALAD) catalyzes the second step in the biosynthesis of heme and is also an endogenous inhibitor of the 26S proteasome. The role of ALAD in breast cancer progression is still unclear. In this study, we found that the expression of ALAD was downregulated in breast cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal breast tissues. Enhanced ALAD expression was associated with a favorable outcome in patients with breast cancer. Overexpression of ALAD suppresses breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion and inhibits the epithelial–mesenchymal transition phenotype. Furthermore, we found that ALAD regulates transforming growth factor‐β‐mediated breast cancer progression. This finding suggests that ALAD might be a potential biomarker for breast cancer that suppresses breast cancer progression by regulating transforming growth factor‐β‐mediated epithelial–mesenchymal transition.
Evidence‐Based Interventions for Depressed Mothers and Their Young Children
Authors: Goodman Sherryl H. , Garber Judy
Published: February 2017

Depression in mothers is a significant risk factor for the development of maladjustment in children. This article focuses on modifiable risk processes linking depression in mothers and adaptation in their young children (i.e., infancy through preschool age). First, the authors present evidence of the efficacy of interventions for reducing the primary source of risk: maternal depression. Second, they describe a central mechanism—parenting behaviors—underlying the relation between maternal depression and children's adjustment. Third, the authors recommend two different integrated interventions that successfully treat mothers’ depression and enhance parenting skills with infants and young children. Finally, the authors note the possible need for supplementary interventions to address severity and comorbidity of mothers’ depression, barriers to engaging in treatment, and the sustainability of program benefits.
Commentary: New Directions in Developmentally Informed Intervention Research for Vulnerable Populations
Authors: Yoshikawa Hirokazu , Whipps Mackenzie D. M. , Rojas Natalia M.
Published: February 2017

This special section of Child Development brings together experts in developmental science and intervention research to incorporate current evidence on resilience for vulnerable populations and give concrete suggestions for action and research. This commentary synthesizes the contributions of the articles, noting themes such as simultaneous attention to multiple risk, protective, and promotive processes; integrating new principles from clinical and therapeutic interventions; and adapting intervention approaches for new populations. It then describes additional directions for interventions to maximize resilience, including approaches that address social psychological processes, issues related to demographic and other forms of diversity, policy‐related individual behaviors, and sequenced interventions across the life span. It also gives suggestions for integrating implementation science on expansion and scale with behavioral intervention science.
Long‐term outcomes and risk factors of biliary stent dysfunction after endoscopic double stenting for malignant biliary and duodenal obstructions
Authors: Matsumoto Kazuyuki , Kato Hironari , Tsutsumi Koichiro , Mizukawa Sho , Yabe Syuntaro , Seki Hiroyuki , Akimoto Yutaka , Uchida Daisuke , Tomoda Takeshi , Yamamoto Naoki , Horiguchi Shigeru , Kuwaki Kenji , Okada Hiroyuki
Published: February 2017

Background and Aim

Few reports describe the endoscopic double‐stenting procedure for malignant biliary and duodenal obstructions. We evaluated the clinical outcomes from double stenting, and analyzed the risk factors for biliary stent dysfunction following double stenting.

Methods

Eighty‐one patients who underwent endoscopic double stenting for malignant biliary and duodenal obstructions were retrospectively analyzed. We determined the stent dysfunction rate and the biliary stent dysfunction risk factors, and analyzed the endoscopic reintervention results.

Results

Overall survival time and survival time following double stenting were 365 (38–1673) days and 73 (20–954) days, respectively. After double stenting, the 3‐month and 6‐month duodenal stent dysfunction rates were 14% and 41%, respectively. Reintervention technical success rate was 100% (10/10), and mean gastric outlet obstruction scoring system scores improved from 0.7 to 2.4 points (P < 0.001). The 3‐month and 6‐month biliary stent dysfunction rates were 26% and 41%, respectively. The reintervention technical and clinical success rates were 95% (20/21) and 81% (17/21), respectively. Risk factors for biliary stent dysfunction following double stenting were events associated with duodenal stent dysfunction (odds ratio [OR], 11.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.09–87.4; P = 0.0044) and the biliary stent end's location (OR, 6.93; 95% CI, 1.37–40.2; P = 0.0019).

Conclusions

Some patients had stent dysfunction irrespective of the survival period after double stenting. Endoscopic reintervention was technically feasible and clinically effective even after double stenting. Duodenal stent dysfunction and biliary stent end's location were risk factors for biliary stent dysfunction.
Artificial selection on mating competitiveness ofAnastrepha ludensfor sterile insect technique application
Authors: Sánchez‐Rosario Mayren , Pérez‐Staples Diana , Toledo Jorge , Valle‐Mora Javier , Liedo Pablo
Published: February 2017

The sterile insect technique (SIT) has been applied successfully for the control of several fruit fly species of economic importance. In species with lek mating systems, as in theMexican fruit fly,Anastrepha ludens(Loew) (Diptera:Tephritidae) – where the variance in male mating success is high, males have to compete with other males, and where wild females are highly selective – the success ofSITdepends on the sexual competitiveness of mass‐reared sterile males. However, mass‐rearing conditions result in selection of sexual behavioral traits that differ from wild flies, reducing mating competitiveness of sterile flies andSITefficiency. Artificial selection in mass‐rearing colonies, based on male mating success, represents an alternative to improve the sexual performance of sterile males. Here, we evaluated the effect of selection ofA. ludensmass‐reared males based on their mating competitiveness. Two modes of selection were compared, one single selection event on parental flies, and continuous selection along four consecutive generations. For the offspring of each treatment in each generation, we evaluated male mating success, its association with post‐copulatory behavior through female remating inhibition, and life‐history traits that are key for mass‐rearing, such as immature survival and reproduction. Field cage mating tests revealed that wild males were more competitive than mass‐reared males (selected and unselected). Although no significant differences were found between mass‐reared selected and non‐selected males, in the fourth generation males from the selected colonies performed better than males from the non‐selected colonies and their mating competitiveness was similar to that of wild males. No consistent differences were observed in mating latency, copulation duration, or ability to inhibit female remating. Survival and fecundity decreased with increasing rearing generations, except in the colony with continuous selection where fecundity and fertility increased.
Validation of quantitative light‐induced fluorescence‐digital in the quantification of demarcated hypomineralized lesions of enamel
Authors: Gambetta‐Tessini Karla , Mariño Rodrigo , Ghanim Aghareed , Adams Geoffrey G. , Manton David J.
Published: February 2017

Aim

The aim of the present study was to determine the validity of quantitative light‐induced fluorescence‐digital (QLF‐D) in regard to the detection and quantification of developmental demarcated hypomineralized lesions of enamel in vitro when compared to micro‐computed tomography (CT) determination of lesion characteristics. A secondary aim was to develop a protocol for 3‐D analysis using micro‐CT.

Methods

Twenty‐four hypomineralized defects were classified as cream/white (CW), yellow/brown (YB), and post‐eruptive breakdown. Teeth were scanned using micro‐CT. Grayscale and chromatic vertical sections were constructed. Mineral density and porosity percentage were calculated. Fluorescence loss and red fluorescence were determined from images. Linear mixed models were computed.

Results

Mineral density and porosity mean values by lesion type were statistically different (P<.001). CW lesions had lower fluorescence loss than YB and broken lesions. Red fluorescence was emitted by the majority of the defects, and the means between lesion types were statistically different (P<.001). The mixed model indicated that mineral density was not correlated with fluorescence loss and lesion type.

Conclusion

The present findings support QLF‐D as a method to detect hypomineralized lesions of different clinical presentation, with red fluorescence putatively related to the severity of the defects. The micro‐CT 3‐D approach is a reliable method to analyze structural changes in hypomineralized enamel.
Do Plain Packaging and Pictorial Warnings Affect Smokers' and Non‐Smokers' Behavioral Intentions?
Authors: Gallopel‐Morvan Karine , Hoek Janet , Rieunier Sophie
Published: February 2017

This research considers how tobacco warnings, plain packaging, and interactions between these measures affect behavioral intentions. While existing literature shows the superiority of pictorial warning labels (PWLs) vs. text‐only tobacco warnings, few studies have examined the interaction effects of warnings and plain packaging on smoking intentions. Nor has earlier work examined the influence of smoking status (smoker vs. non‐smoker) on both warning and plain packaging effectiveness. Our experimental study addressed this gap by surveying 338 individuals using a factorial design with two manipulated factors (PWLs vs. text‐only warnings; plain pack vs. current branded tobacco pack). Results show that the plain pack and warnings work independently and in unison to influence smokers' and non‐smokers' behavioral intentions. The findings are particularly relevant to the many countries currently considering plain packaging and facing opposition from tobacco companies.
Hair loss at injection sites of mesotherapy for alopecia
Authors: EL‐Komy Mohamed , Hassan Akmal , Tawdy Amira , Solimon Mohamed , Hady Mohamed Abdel
Published: February 2017

Background

The side effects of mesotherapy for treatment of various forms of alopecia are often underreported, while scientific data for its efficacy are severely lacking.

Objective

To demonstrate the late onset side effects of mesotherapy for alopecia.

Methods

Three patients with androgenetic alopecia showed hair loss after previously uneventful mesotherapy sessions up to 1 year.

Results

Clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathological findings suggested an inflammatory scaring process at sites of mesotherapy injections.

Conclusion

Mesotherapy for androgenetic alopecia may paradoxically induce hair loss and scarring. Proper regulation and monitoring of the use of mesotherapy products for treating hair loss in women, needs to be addressed.
Biopharmaceutical Informatics: supporting biologic drug development via molecular modelling and informatics
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Plotnikov Nikolay V , Rouse Jason C , Singh Satish K
Published: February 2017

Objectives

The purpose of this article is to introduce an emerging field called ‘Biopharmaceutical Informatics’. It describes how tools from Information technology and Molecular Biophysics can be adapted, developed and gainfully employed in discovery and development of biologic drugs.

Key Findings

The findings described here are based on literature surveys and the authors’ collective experiences in the field of biologic drug product development. A strategic framework to forecast early the hurdles faced during drug product development is weaved together and elucidated using chemical degradation as an example. Efficiency of translating biologic drug discoveries into drug products can be significantly improved by combining learnings from experimental biophysical and analytical data on the drug candidates with molecular properties computed from their sequences and structures via molecular modeling and simulations.

Biopharmaceutical Informatics seeks to promote applications of computational tools towards discovery and development of biologic drugs. When fully implemented, industry-wide, it will enable rapid materials-free developability assessments of biologic drug candidates at early stages as well as streamline drug product development activities such as commercial scale production, purification, formulation, analytical characterization, safety and in vivo performance.
A Device Histogram‐Based Simple Predictor of Mortality Risk in ICD and CRT‐D Patients: The Heart Rate Score
Authors: WILKOFF BRUCE L. , RICHARDS MARK , SHARMA ARJUN , WOLD NICHOLAS , JONES PAUL , PERSCHBACHER DAVID , OLSHANSKY BRIAN
Published: February 2017

Background

We hypothesized that survival in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT‐D) patients is predicted by baseline Heart Rate Score.

Methods

Heart Rate Score is determined from the atrial paced and sensed histogram of a DDD ICD or CRT‐D, and defined as percent of beats in the histogram in the tallest 10 beats/min range bin. It was calculated at initial remote monitoring for patients enrolled in LATITUDE® without persistent atrial fibrillation, and with pulse generators implanted in 2006–2011. Univariate, multivariate, and Kaplan‐Meier analyses determined the impact of Heart Rate Score on survival.

Results

Of 57,893 ICDs and 67,929 CRT‐Ds followed for 2.4 ± 1.5 years, each 10% increase in Heart Rate Score was associated with decreased survival (CRT‐D hazard ratio [HR] 1.07 95%, confidence interval 1.06–1.07, P < 0.0001; ICD HR 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.06, P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed survival decreased with increasing age, atrial fibrillation, presence of a shock in first‐year follow‐up, and increasing programmed lower pacing rate in ICD and CRT‐D patients. Increased percent right ventricular pacing predicted mortality in ICD patients, while male gender and lower percent left ventricular pacing predicted mortality in CRT patients. Heart Rate Score predicted survival independent of those variables. Heart Rate Score correlates with heart rate variability (standard deviation of average R‐R intervals [SDANN]) when both are obtainable, but SDANN was only present in 6% of patients with Heart Rate Score >70%.

Conclusion

A simple device histogram measure, Heart Rate Score, predicts survival in ICD and CRT‐D patients independent of the available variables, and even when SDANN is unavailable.
Does Economic Insecurity Cause Weight Gain Among Canadian Labor Force Participants?
Authors: Watson Barry
Published: February 2017

The National Population Health Survey (NPHS) suggests that for labor force participants age 25 to 64, the prevalence of self‐reported obesity in Canada has increased from 16 percent in 1998 to 23 percent in 2008. Using six cycles of NPHS data (1998–2009), I explore Canada's obesity dilemma by considering the effect of economic insecurity—measured as the probability of an individual experiencing a severe negative economic shock. As an identification strategy, a fixed effects model is employed to control for unobserved time‐invariant heterogeneity and a set of instruments based on an individual's economic environment are specified in order to isolate causality. Results suggest that for males age 25 to 64, a 1 percent increase in economic insecurity is predicted to increase their body mass index (BMI) by 0.10 points. For females age 25 to 64, the association between economic insecurity and BMI is statistically insignificant at conventional confidence levels.
The importance of person‐centred care and co‐creation of care for the well‐being and job satisfaction of professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: van der Meer Leontine , Nieboer Anna Petra , Finkenflügel Harry , Cramm Jane Murray
Published: February 2017

Background

Person‐centred care and co‐creation of care (productive interactions between clients and professionals) are expected to lead to better outcomes for clients. Professionals play a prominent role in the care of people with intellectual disabilities at residential care facilities. Thus, person‐centred care and co‐creation of care may be argued to lead to better outcomes for professionals as well. This study aimed to identify relationships of person‐centred care and co‐creation of care with the well‐being and job satisfaction of professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities (PWID).

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in 2015 among professionals working at a disability care organisation in the Netherlands. All 1146 professionals involved in the care of people with intellectual disabilities who required 24‐hours care were invited to participate. The response rate was 41% (n = 466).

Results

Most respondents (87%) were female, and the mean age was 42.8 ± 11.5 years (22–65). The majority of respondents (70%) worked ≥22 hours per week and had worked for the organisation for ≥5 years (88%). Most of the respondents (76.8%) were direct care workers either in residential homes (59.3%) or in day activities (17.5%). After controlling for background variables, person‐centred care and co‐creation of care were associated positively with job satisfaction and well‐being of professionals.

Conclusions

The provision of person‐centred care and co‐creation of care may lead to better well‐being and job satisfaction among professionals working with PWID. This finding is important, as such professionals often experience significant levels of work stress and burnout.
A Changing Labour Market under the Intensification of Dualization. The Experience of a Southern European Society
Authors: Valadas Carla
Published: February 2017

Fifty years ago, a Portuguese sociologist, Adérito Sedas Nunes (1964), used the image of a ‘dual society under evolution’ to refer to Portugal. Since then, the image of Portugal as a country simultaneously old and new, (post) modern and traditional was used by several social scientists in various fields of research (migration, urban studies, social policy, education, culture). In spite of the remarkable process of modernization the country has experienced during this period of time, inequalities and dualisms continue to be deeply embedded in the economic and social system and were even intensified by recent austerity measures in the context of massive unemployment and economic distress.

In the article, I examine two specific domains where signs of dualism(s) persist, the labour market and the system of welfare, and investigate how the interconnectedness between the two is generating new forms of social and economic inequalities. Reforms in the labour market have been under constant reform within the last decades, representing, for a large and increasing number of individuals, more precarious working conditions, low paid jobs, unstable lives with intermittent careers. At the same time, governmental policies have contributed to diminish the level of social protection for labour market participants in precarious employment as well as for people without jobs.

This article aims at providing a contribution to the literature on dualization focusing on the link between changing forms of integration in the labour market and transformations in the social protection system, examining its specific configuration in one of the countries belonging to the Southern European welfare regime.
Mediating Policy Competition Through Campus Development in Dutch Limburg
Authors: Kooij Henk‐Jan
Published: February 2017

Over the past decades, governments have switched from a managerial to an entrepreneurial style of governance in the strengthening of certain places at the expense of others. This coevolved with an increase in inter‐urban and inter‐regional competition for resources, also called ‘policy competition’. The issue for regional governments is how they balance their wish to strengthen their economic structure, without creating conflicts of unfair competition in the designation of ‘winners’ and ‘losers’. This paper addresses this balancing act in the Dutch Province of Limburg, where a multinational threatened to leave the region. The case is analysed with the help of actor‐network‐theory and follows the translations through which an innovative policy tool was constructed that allowed the Province to invest in real estate. Through the innovative ‘campus’ concept, the Province could comfort the vested interests of the multinational, while balancing out the interests of other economic cores in the region.
History Repeating! Spatial Dynamics in Dutch Start‐Up Rates (1996–2013)
Authors: Koster Sierdjan , Hans Lianne
Published: February 2017

The number of start‐ups has skyrocketed in the Netherlands in the past ten years. Has this growth been accompanied by a shift in the spatial patterns of start‐ups? This Windows on the Netherlands puts this question to the test and maps the dynamics in the spatial patterns of start‐ups for the period 1996–2013. This is done at the disaggregated spatial level of the municipality. Even though we observe a slight shift of entrepreneurship to the east of the country, the overall spatial patterns in start‐up intensity are highly stable: start‐up rates are highest in the most urbanised municipalities. As the small spatial scale of analysis potentially allows for much variability, the found stability in the spatial patterns lends additional empirical support to the idea that patterns in start‐up rates are highly persistent.
Computational Modeling of the Mechanical Performance of a Magnesium Stent Undergoing Uniform and Pitting Corrosion in a Remodeling Artery
Authors: Boland Enda L. , Grogan James A. , McHugh Peter E.
Published: February 2017

Coronary stents made from degradable biomaterials such as magnesium alloy are an emerging technology in the treatment of coronary artery disease. Biodegradable stents provide mechanical support to the artery during the initial scaffolding period after which the artery will have remodeled. The subsequent resorption of the stent biomaterial by the body has potential to reduce the risk associated with long-term placement of these devices, such as in-stent restenosis, late stent thrombosis, and fatigue fracture. Computational modeling such as finite-element analysis has proven to be an extremely useful tool in the continued design and development of these medical devices. What is lacking in computational modeling literature is the representation of the active response of the arterial tissue in the weeks and months following stent implantation, i.e., neointimal remodeling. The phenomenon of neointimal remodeling is particularly interesting and significant in the case of biodegradable stents, when both stent degradation and neointimal remodeling can occur simultaneously, presenting the possibility of a mechanical interaction and transfer of load between the degrading stent and the remodeling artery. In this paper, a computational modeling framework is developed that combines magnesium alloy degradation and neointimal remodeling, which is capable of simulating both uniform (best case) and localized pitting (realistic) stent corrosion in a remodeling artery. The framework is used to evaluate the effects of the neointima on the mechanics of the stent, when the stent is undergoing uniform or pitting corrosion, and to assess the effects of the neointimal formation rate relative to the overall stent degradation rate (for both uniform and pitting conditions).
Reconstruction of Lamb wave dispersion curves by sparse representation with continuity constraints
Authors: Zhao Wenbo , Li Ming , Harley Joel B. , Jin Yuanwei , Moura José M. F. , Zhu Jimmy
Published: February 2017

Ultrasonic Lamb waves are a widely used research tool for nondestructive structural health monitoring. They travel long distances with little attenuation, enabling the interrogation of large areas. To analyze Lamb wave propagation data, it is often important to know precisely how they propagate. Yet, since wave propagation is influenced by many factors, including material properties, temperature, and other varying conditions, acquiring this knowledge is a significant challenge. In prior work, this information has been recovered by reconstructing Lamb wave dispersion curves with sparse wavenumber analysis. While effective, sparse wavenumber analysis requires a large number of sensors and is sensitive to noise in the data. In this paper, it extended and significantly improved by constraining the reconstructed dispersion curves to be continuous across frequencies. To enforce this constraint, it is included explicitly in a sparse optimization formulation, and by including in the reconstruction an edge detection step to remove outliers, and by using variational Bayesian Gaussian mixture models to predict missing values. The method is validated with simulation and experimental data. Significant improved performance is demonstrated over the original sparse wavenumber analysis approach in reconstructing the dispersion curves, in synthesizing noise-removed signals, in reducing the number of measurements, and in localizing damage.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas hussainii Strain MB3, a Denitrifying Aerobic Bacterium Isolated from the Rhizospheric Region of Mangrove Trees in the Andaman Islands, India
Authors: Jaiswal Shubham K. , Saxena Rituja , Mittal Parul , Gupta Ankit , Sharma Vineet K.
Published: February 2017

The genome sequence of
Pseudomonas hussainii
MB3, isolated from the rhizospheric region of mangroves in the Andaman Islands, is comprised of 3,644,788 bp and 3,159 protein coding genes. Draft genome analysis indicates that MB3 is an aerobic bacterium capable of performing assimilatory sulfate reduction, dissimilatory nitrate reduction, and denitrification.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudonocardia autotrophica Strain DSM 43083, an Efficient Producer of Peroxidases for Lignin Modification
Authors: Grumaz Christian , Rais Dominik , Kirstahler Philipp , Vainshtein Yevhen , Rupp Steffen , Zibek Susanne , Sohn Kai
Published: February 2017

Pseudonocardia autotrophica
strain DSM 43083 is a filamentous actinobacterium and was described to degrade or modify lignin. Here, we present its draft genome sequence, with a size of 5.8 Mb, to unravel the gene set coding for promising monooxygenases, dioxygenases, and DyP-type peroxidases associated with aromatic metabolism and lignin modification.
Complete Genome Sequence of Thermus thermophilus TMY, Isolated from a Geothermal Power Plant
Authors: Fujino Yasuhiro , Nagayoshi Yuko , Ohshima Toshihisa , Ogata Seiya , Doi Katsumi
Published: February 2017

Thermus thermophilus
TMY (JCM 10668) was isolated from silica scale formed at a geothermal power plant in Japan. Here, we report the complete genome sequence for this strain, which contains a chromosomal DNA of 2,121,526 bp with 2,500 predicted genes and a pTMY plasmid of 19,139 bp, with 28 predicted genes.
Crisis-Affected Populations and Tuberculosis
Authors: Zenner Dominik
Published: February 2017

By definition, humanitarian crises can severely affect human health, directly through violence or indirectly through breakdown of infrastructure or lack of provision for basic human needs, such as safe shelter, food, clean water, and suitable clothing. After the initial phase, these indirect effects are the most important determinants of morbidity and mortality in humanitarian emergencies, and infectious diseases are among the most significant causes of ill health. Tuberculosis (TB) incidence in humanitarian emergencies varies depending on a number of factors, including the country background epidemiology, but will be elevated compared with precrisis levels. TB morbidity and mortality are associated with access to appropriate care and medications, and will also be elevated due to barriers to access to diagnosis and appropriate treatment, including robust TB drug supplies. While reestablishment of TB control is challenging in the early phases, successful treatment programs have been previously established, and the WHO has issued guidance on establishing such successful programs. Such programs should be closely linked to other health programs and established in close collaboration with the country’s national treatment program. Individuals who flee the emergency also have a higher TB risk and can face difficulties accessing care en route to or upon arrival in host countries. These barriers, often associated with treatment delays and worse outcomes, can be the result of uncertainties around legal status, other practical challenges, or lack of health care worker awareness. It is important to recognize and mitigate these barriers with an increasing number of tools now available and described.
The use of rituximab in newly diagnosed patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: long-term steroid saving capacity and clinical effectiveness
Authors: Gracia-Tello Borja , Ezeonyeji Amara , Isenberg David
Published: February 2017

Background

Previous reports indicate that treating patients with lupus (SLE) at or close to the time of diagnosis successfully without using any, or minimal, corticosteroids by using B-cell depletion (BCD) is possible in the short-term. It is not however known whether using BCD is as effective or reduces corticosteroid use in the long-term. We report the long-term (up to 7 years) use of BCD with respect to its steroid-saving capacity and clinical effectiveness in newly diagnosed SLE.

Methods

Sixteen female patients with SLE were treated at, or shortly after diagnosis, with BCD therapy (BCDT) minimising the routine use of oral steroids. Post-treatment, most patients were given hydroxychloroquine (n=14) and azathioprine (n=10). The British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) disease activity index was used for clinical assessment. Serum antidouble-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies, complement (C3), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), circulating B lymphocytes (CD19+) and total inmmunoglobulins were tested every 2–6 months (average of 4.5 years) (SD 2) post-treatment. Disease activity and steroid requirement were compared with three patients with SLE treated conventionally, each matched for ethnicity, sex, age, clinical features, disease duration at diagnosis and follow-up period.

Results

All patients given rituximab achieved BCD. The mean number of flares during follow-up (new BILAG A or B) was 2.63 (SD 3) in the BCDT group and 4 (SD 3.6) in the controls (NS, p=0.14). Post-BCDT, mean anti-dsDNA antibody level fell from 1114 U/mL (SD 1699.3) to 194 (SD 346.7) at 18 months (p=0.043), mean serum ESR fell by >70% at 6 months maintained during follow-up and serum C3 level normalised in 8 patients. The mean cumulative prednisolone dose at 60 months for the patients who underwent BCDT (n=11) was 4745.67 mg (SD 6090 mg) vs 12 553.92 mg (SD 12 672 mg) for the controls (p=0.01).

Conclusions

Early treatment of patients with SLE with BCDT is safe, effective and enables a reduction in steroid use.
A large onychodontiform (Osteichthyes: Sarcopterygii) apex predator from the Eifelian-aged Dundee Formation of Ontario, Canada
Authors: Mann Arjan , Rudkin David , Evans David C. , Laflamme Marc
Published: February 2017

The Devonian marine strata of southwestern Ontario, Canada, have been well documented geologically, but their vertebrate fossils are poorly studied. Here we report a new onychodontiform (Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii) Onychodus eriensis n. sp. from the Dundee Formation (Eifelian–Givetian boundary, 390–387 Ma) of southwestern Ontario represented by two well-preserved onychodontiform lower jaws. The most complete specimen consists of a large (28 cm), well-preserved right jaw with most of the dentition present. The dentary has 50 teeth, not including the parasymphysial tusk whorl, which is poorly preserved but consists of at least three tusks. The anteriormost teeth of the dentary are also not complete, but the second dentary tooth is notably procurved. The posterior teeth are conical and approximately equal in size for much of the length of the tooth row. Onychodus eriensis n. sp. differs from the closely related contemporary species Onychodus sigmoides and all other onychodonts in that it has a strong dorsal curvature of the anterior dentary ramus and marked anterior expansion of the dentary. An expanded phylogenetic analysis of Devonian onychodontiforms suggests that O. eriensis is closely related to Onychodus jandamarrai. The new material indicates that Onychodontiformes is more diverse than previously recognized, and that further analysis of vertebrate remains from southwestern Ontario will lead to additional insights into the diversity of Devonian sarcopterygians.
Esculetin induces apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells through IGF-1/PI3K/Akt-mediated mitochondrial pathways
Authors: Li Juan , Li Shuang , Wang Xiuli , Wang Hongxin
Published: February 2017

Esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin) is a coumarin derivative extracted from natural plants and has been reported to have anticancer activity. However, the mechanism by which esculetin prevents human hepatic cancer cell growth is still largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of esculetin on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) SMMC-7721 cells and explored the cell signal mechanism. Our data indicated that esculetin induced apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells, which were supported by DAPI staining and Annexin V/PI staining. Meanwhile, esculetin increased the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9, promoted bax expression, decreased bcl-2 expression, and triggered collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased cytochrome c release from mitochondria. In addition, the inactivation of IGF-1, PI3K, and Akt was observed after esculetin administration. Furthermore, pretreatment with IGF-1 before esculetin administration abrogated the pro-apoptotic effects of esculetin, while PI3K inhibitor increased the pro-apoptotic effects of esculetin. These results indicated that esculetin induced the apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells through IGF-1/PI3K/Akt-regulated mitochondrial dysfunction.
Straight from the caribou’s (Rangifer tarandus) mouth: detailed observations of tame caribou reveal new insights into summer–autumn diets
Authors: Denryter Kristin A. , Cook Rachel C. , Cook John G. , Parker Katherine L.
Published: February 2017

High-quality habitats for caribou (Rangifer tarandus (L., 1758)) are associated primarily with lichens, but lichens alone fail to satisfy summer nutritional requirements. To evaluate the summer forage value of plant communities across northeastern British Columbia (BC), where populations of northern and boreal ecotypes of caribou are declining, we observed foraging by tame, female caribou. We compared diet composition with forage abundance to determine forage selection and to quantify forage availability. Deciduous shrubs, not lichens, largely dominated summer diets. Caribou were highly selective foragers, with 28 species comprising 78% of diets. Caribou avoided ≥50% of understory vegetation in all communities, especially conifers, evergreen shrubs, mosses, and two genera of terrestrial lichens. Availability of accepted forage (species not avoided) was strongly heterogeneous across landscapes. Alpine shrub areas and mid-elevation spruce–fir stands in the mountains, as well as treed rich fens and white spruce communities in the boreal forests, provided the greatest quantities of accepted forage for caribou. Dry alpine sites and unproductive black spruce communities provided the least accepted forage. Our work has direct implications to caribou conservation by contributing to a greater understanding of the forage value of summer habitats, with implications to habitat selection, seasonal movements, and distribution ecology.
Reissner–Nordstrom metric in unimodular theory of gravity
Authors: Chaturvedi Pankaj , Singh Naveen K. , Singh Dharm Veer
Published: February 2017

We study the modified Reissner–Nordstrom (RN) metric in the unimodular gravity. So far the spherical symmetric Einstein field equation in unimodular gravity has been studied in the absence of any source. We consider static electric and magnetic charge as source. We solve for Maxwell equations in unimodular gravitational background. We show that in unimodular gravity, the electromagnetic field strength tensor is modified. We also show that the solution in unimodular gravity differs from the usual RN metric in Einstein gravity with some corrections. We further study the thermodynamical properties of the RN black hole solution in this theory.
Design and Realization of WInternet
Authors: Wu Jianjia , Zhao Wei
Published: February 2017

In recent years, Internet of Things (IoT) has attracted great attention from academia, industry, and government. IoT is considered to be a networking infrastructure that can connect enormous physical objects and has great potential to extend mankind's capabilities in monitoring, analyzing, and controlling the physical space using cyber technologies. Extensive studies on IoT have been carried out and many IoT prototype systems have been built. However, most of these systems are usually suitable for domain-specific applications and operate in a local region. They are really “Nets of Things (NoT)” as they miss mechanisms for large-scale interconnection. As such, how to build a globally interconnected IoT is still an open problem. In this article, by reviewing the development of the Internet, we derive a pathway that may lead to successful development and deployment of a global IoT. We propose and examine a novel IoT architecture, namely, WInternet, which aims at interconnecting small-scale domain-specific NoTs into a globally connected IoT.
One-Step Sneak-Path Free Read Scheme for Resistive Crossbar Memory
Authors: Wang Yao , Rong Liang , Wang Haibo , Wen Guangjun
Published: February 2017

A one-step sneak-path free read scheme for resistive crossbar memory is proposed in this article. During read operation, it configures the crossbar array into a four-terminal resistance network, which is composed of the selected cell and three other resistors corresponding to unselected cells that contribute to the sneak-path. Two sensing voltages with equal potential are applied to three terminals of the network. One is for sensing the resistance of the selected cell; the other is for creating zero-voltage drop across one of the three resistors, which connects the sneak-path to the selected cell. This effectively suppresses the current injected by the sneak-path to the selected cell-sensing loop. This work also proposes a cost-effective data-encoding circuit that guarantees that at least half of the memory cells are in a high-resistance state, which further minimizes sneak-path current. The impact of key design parameters, such as sensing voltage, switch on-resistance, and the ratio of memory cell resistances in different states, as well as nonideal effects are investigated. Equations for estimating the maximum array size to share a single read circuit are derived. The effectiveness of the proposed design has been validated via circuit simulations. Impacts of the word-/bit-line resistance are also analyzed.
Mark Bernstein interviews HT'16 creative track chair Stacey Mason
Authors: Bernstein Mark
Published: February 2017

Stacey Mason was chair of the Creative Track at Hypertext'16. She is the Eugene Cota-Robles Fellow in Computer Science at the University of California Santa Cruz.
Supervised broad-coverage statistical MG parsers John Torr with Prateek Jain as coordinator
Authors: Torr John
Published: February 2017

I have a BA in Linguistics from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Artificial Intelligence (specialising in Natural Language Processing) from the University of Edinburgh. Since April 2015 I have been enrolled as a PhD student at Edinburgh where I am supervised by Mark Steedman and Shay Cohen; I am also advised by Edward Stabler. In 2014/15 I spent four months at Apple working on British English Siri in their localization departments in both Paris and Cupertino, and this summer I was an intern at the R&D department of Nuance Communications in Sunnyvale California, where they work on next generation personal assistants.
Principles for Designing Large-Format Refreshable Haptic Graphics Using Touchscreen Devices
Authors: Palani Hari Prasath , Giudice Nicholas A.
Published: February 2017

Touchscreen devices, such as smartphones and tablets, represent a modern solution for providing graphical access to people with blindness and visual impairment (BVI). However, a significant problem with these solutions is their limited screen real estate, which necessitates panning or zooming operations for accessing large-format graphical materials such as maps. Non-visual interfaces cannot directly employ traditional panning or zooming techniques due to various perceptual and cognitive limitations (e.g., constraints of the haptic field of view and disorientation due to loss of one's reference point after performing these operations). This article describes the development of four novel non-visual panning methods designed from the onset with consideration of these perceptual and cognitive constraints. Two studies evaluated the usability of these panning methods in comparison with a non-panning control condition. Results demonstrated that the exploration, learning, and subsequent spatial behaviors were similar between panning and non-panning conditions, with one panning mode, based on a two-finger drag technique, revealing the overall best performance. Findings provide compelling evidence that incorporating panning operations on touchscreen devices -- the fastest growing computational platform among the BVI demographic -- is a viable, low-cost, and immediate solution for providing BVI people with access to a broad range of large-format digital graphical information.