bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepcidin mediated iron homoeostasis as immune regulator in visceral leishmaniasis patients
Authors: Singh Bhawana , Singh Siddharth Sankar , Sundar Shyam
Published: November 2018

Aim

Iron is key ingredient for immunosurveillance and host‐pathogen interaction. Intracellular pathogen steals the iron from the host, but how parasite orchestrates iron acquisition and affects immune responses remains controversial. We aimed to study the iron homoeostasis in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and its influence on immune machinery.

Methods and Results

This study was performed on purified monocytes and T cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and splenic aspirates for transcriptional analyses of iron homoeostasis (hepcidin, DMT1, transferrin receptor, ferroportin) and immune modulations (IFN‐γ, HLA‐DR, IL‐10, iNOS, IL‐6). Serum/plasma was used for determination of iron, total/transferrin iron‐binding capacity and anti‐leishmania antibody titres in cases. We report that VL‐induced perturbation in iron homoeostasis may cause immune dysfunctions. VL cases had decreased iron uptake by transferrin‐dependent and transferrin‐independent routes while elevated hepcidin, degraded sole iron exporter ferroportin. Therefore, it appears that perturbation in iron homoeostasis has essential role in HLA‐DR mediated antigen presentation and innate armoury by downregulating iNOS as well as altering IFN‐γ, IL‐6 and IL‐10 profiles.

Conclusion

The iron homoeostasis by hepcidin can serve as one of the crucial determinants for regulating immune cell signalling; therefore, targeting iron metabolism, specifically hepcidin alone or in combination with agonists, can serve to clear infection.
Effect of spraying of fine water particles on facial skin moisture and viscoelasticity in adult women
Authors: Nishimura Naoki , Inoue Shinsuke , Yokoyama Keiko , Iwase Satoshi
Published: November 2018

Background/purpose

It is known that the elderly and adult women with reduction in sebum secretion have reduced skin barrier function, drying of the skin in a low humidity environment is accompanied by physiological distress. As our hypothesis, when fine water particles are sprayed on the skin, the water content of the corneal layer is significantly increased. In the present study, we examined the ability of fine water particles to improve facial skin moisture levels in adult women.

Methods

We examined skin conductance, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and skin elasticity as an index of skin barrier function at the cheek in 17 healthy adult women in the spraying of fine water particles, in the environment temperature at 24°C and 34.5% relative humidity.

Results

The skin conductance of stratum corneum after 120 minute of spraying, A condition (peak particle size below 0.5 μm) was 119.7 ± 25.1%, B condition (peak particle size 1.8 μm) was 100.4 ± 31.7%, C condition (peak particle size 5.4 μm) was 110.1 ± 25.0%, and the A condition was significantly higher than the B condition. Also, skin elasticity in the A condition tended to be higher value than in the other conditions. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) after 120 minute of spraying showed a lower value in the A condition than in the other conditions. In the A condition, the skin conductance steadily maintained their initial levels up to 360 minute after spraying.

Conclusion

Especially, by spraying smallest fine water particles, skin barrier function at the cheek was improved. These data indicated that non‐charged fine water particles played an important role on moisten skin in a low humidity environment.
Successful treatment of Ureaplasma‐induced hyperammonemia syndrome post‐lung transplant
Authors: Matson Kristine M. , Sonetti David A.
Published: November 2018

Hyperammonemia, in the absence of significant liver dysfunction, is an uncommon but often fatal occurrence following orthotopic lung transplant. Prior reports have provided evidence to support Ureaplasma species as an etiology for this syndrome. This case report describes an individual post‐lung transplant, treated emperically with doxycycline along with other measures to lower ammonia levels, at the time hyperammonemia with encephalopathy was recognized. The patient clinically improved. Ureaplasma species were subsequently identified using 16S ribosomal RNA gene PCR/sequencing of pleural fluid, and by culture of bronchoalveolar (BAL) fluid. This case provides further support for empiric treatment of Ureaplasma species upon recognition of hyperammonemia syndrome post‐lung transplant.
A systematic knowledge synthesis on the spatial dimensions of Q fever epidemics
Authors: De Rooij Myrna M. T. , Van Leuken Jeroen P. G. , Swart Arno , Kretzschmar Mirjam E. E. , Nielen Mirjam , De Koeijer Aline A. , Janse Ingmar , Wouters Inge M. , Heederik Dick J. J.
Published: November 2018

From 2007 through 2010, the Netherlands experienced the largest Q fever epidemic ever reported. This study integrates the outcomes of a multidisciplinary research programme on spatial airborne transmission of Coxiella burnetii and reflects these outcomes in relation to other scientific Q fever studies worldwide. We have identified lessons learned and remaining knowledge gaps. This synthesis was structured according to the four steps of quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA): (a) Rapid source identification was improved by newly developed techniques using mathematical disease modelling; (b) source characterization efforts improved knowledge but did not provide accurate C. burnetii emission patterns; (c) ambient air sampling, dispersion and spatial modelling promoted exposure assessment; and (d) risk characterization was enabled by applying refined dose–response analyses. The results may support proper and timely risk assessment and risk management during future outbreaks, provided that accurate and structured data are available and exchanged readily between responsible actors.
THE INFLUENCE OF ABBASID EMPIRE AND COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ḤADĪTH LITERATURE AND ISLAMIC PROPHETOLOGY
Authors: Azmi Ahmad Sanusi
Published: November 2018

AbstractAt the time of Abbasid Empire, the Caliph’s court seems to give serious attention in safeguarding the prophethood of Muḥammad and supporting the development of ḥadīth literature. Not only had the Muslims scholar, his own Caliph also produced a work on Islamic Prophetology. Caliph al-Ma’mūn (d. 218/833) has been documented as one of the Abbasid Caliph that produced a work known as Risāla fī Aʿlām al-Nubuwwa. In fact, the Abbasid ruler were also identified as participating in ḥadīth discourse and praising for the ḥadīth colloquy. This actions clearly exhibit the court’s patronage of ḥadīth discourse. In his account, Ibn al-Samʿānī records that al-Manṣūr (d. 158/775), al-Rashīd (d. 193/809) and al-Ma’mūn (d. 218/833) were among the Abbasid Caliphate’s supporters who extolled the ḥadīth colloquium. This study aims to explore the Abbasid’s court and community influence on the development of ḥadīth discourse and Islamic Prophetology. The study is qualitative in nature, in which the researcher employed both critical and analytical analysis on Islamic sources related to the subject. It is indeed an arduous task to sift the enormous amount of Islamic sources, thus, this study is focuses on works produced within the ninth century as its parameter of study. The study in its finding confirms that the Abbasid court appears as playing significant role to safeguarding the prophethood of Muḥammad and expanding ḥadīth literature. The study also ascertains salient evidences bearing witnesses to Muslim and non-Muslim encounters concerning the prophethood of Muḥammad that contribute to the development of Islamic discourse on the subject.
ANALISIS ELEMEN AL-HAJAH DALAM PEMBIAYAAN PERIBADI (ANALYSIS OF ELEMENT AL-HAJAH IN PERSONAL FINANCING)
Authors: Rosele Muhammad Ikhlas
Published: November 2018

Personal financing is a one of the society’s needs nowadays. However, in Islamic banking context, underlying contract of personal financing namely bay’ al-‘nah and al-tawarruq has raised issues and polemic. The main cause of this polemic is due to the differences in juridical opinions from ulama’ on these contracts, which in fact, the majority of them has prohibited bay’ al-‘inah and al-tawarruq al-munazzam contract. Thus, this study employed qualitative approach and library sources to explain the alternative argument in accepting and allowing these contracts to be use in personal financing instrument. The result of this study shows that personal financing has become a necessity (al-hajah) and also able to take place up to al-darurah (compulsion) level in certain condition. Therefore, it is sensible to take the element of al-hajah as a consideration in determining the juridical opinion on personal financing contract in Malaysia.
Pembinaan Konstruk Instrumen Penilaian Kendiri Akhlak Guru Pendidikan Islam Menurut Pandangan Pakar
Authors: Mohamed Salleh @ Salleh Salbiah
Published: November 2018

This paper discusses the construction of the constructs for Instrumen Penilaian Kendiri Akhlak Guru Pendidikan Islam in the view of experts. These interviews were conducted on a purposive sample of 3 experts and an expert in the field of practice. The interview data were analyzed thematically using ATLAS.ti software. Base on the interview, the constructs for the instruments should include morals with God, human and environment. The moral construct with God consists of three sub - constructs of piety, sincerity and trust. Meanwhile, the construct with human is divided into seven sub – constructs; being fair, patient, loving, caring, forgiving, caring and gentle. Lastly, the moral construct with nature is divided into two sub - constructs that preserve and conserve nature. Based on the results obtained, the instrument ‘Instrumen Penilaian Kendiri Akhlak Guru Pendidikan Islam’ must include all the sub-constructs identified.
Sound field reconstruction using multipole equivalent source model with un-fixed source locations
Authors: Liu Yangfan , Bolton J. Stuart
Published: November 2018

The equivalent source methods (ESM) that have been developed to this point can generally be classified into two categories: one in which a relatively large number of lower order sources are fixed at various locations, and one in which a series of higher order sources are fixed at one location. The present work started with a model in the latter category, but the individual sources were then allowed to move separately to locations which were determined by using a nonlinear optimization procedure based on the measured sound field data. To test this approach, experiments were conducted using a small loudspeaker cabinet; measurements were made using an array of microphones on all sides of the loudspeaker. It was found that by allowing the source components to move, the sound field representation in both the near and far fields was improved, particularly at high frequencies, compared to the model with fixed source locations. By comparison with results obtained from boundary element calculations based on laser vibrometer measurements of the loudspeaker's diaphragm and tweeter velocities, it was found that the proposed ESM can also be used to accurately predict the sound pressure distribution on the source surface.
Engineering human megakaryocytic microparticles for targeted delivery of nucleic acids to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
Authors: Kao Chen-Yuan , Papoutsakis Eleftherios T.
Published: November 2018

Cell-derived microparticles, with their native recognition abilities, can be used as novel carriers for targeted cargo delivery to stem cells.
68
Ga-DOTA-GGNle-CycMSH
hex
targets the melanocortin-1 receptor for melanoma imaging
Authors: Yang Jianquan , Xu Jingli , Gonzalez Rene , Lindner Thomas , Kratochwil Clemens , Miao Yubin
Published: November 2018

68
Ga-DOTA-GGNle-CycMSH
hex
, a radiolabeled melanocortin-1 receptor–targeting imaging probe, detects melanoma in first-in-human testing.
Wnt1 is an Lrp5-independent bone-anabolic Wnt ligand
Authors: Luther Julia , Yorgan Timur Alexander , Rolvien Tim , Ulsamer Lorenz , Koehne Till , Liao Nannan , Keller Daniela , Vollersen Nele , Teufel Stefan , Neven Mona , Peters Stephanie , Schweizer Michaela , Trumpp Andreas , Rosigkeit Sebastian , Bockamp Ernesto , Mundlos Stefan , Kornak Uwe , Oheim Ralf , Amling Michael , Schinke Thorsten , David Jean-Pierre
Published: November 2018

Wnt1 is a physiologically relevant bone-anabolic molecule that does not require the expression of the bone-anabolic Wnt co-receptor Lrp5.
Sex differences in risk factors for myocardial infarction: cohort study of UK Biobank participants
Authors: Millett Elizabeth R C , Peters Sanne A E , Woodward Mark
Published: November 2018

Objectives

To investigate sex differences in risk factors for incident myocardial infarction (MI) and whether they vary with age.

Design

Prospective population based study.

Setting

UK Biobank.

Participants

471 998 participants (56% women; mean age 56.2) with no history of cardiovascular disease.

Main outcome measure

Incident (fatal and non-fatal) MI.

Results

5081 participants (1463 (28.8%) of whom were women) had MI over seven years’ mean follow-up, resulting in an incidence per 10 000 person years of 7.76 (95% confidence interval 7.37 to 8.16) for women and 24.35 (23.57 to 25.16) for men. Higher blood pressure indices, smoking intensity, body mass index, and the presence of diabetes were associated with an increased risk of MI in men and women, but associations were attenuated with age. In women, systolic blood pressure and hypertension, smoking status and intensity, and diabetes were associated with higher hazard ratios for MI compared with men: ratio of hazard ratios 1.09 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.16) for systolic blood pressure, 1.55 (1.32 to 1.83) for current smoking, 2.91 (1.56 to 5.45) for type 1 diabetes, and 1.47 (1.16 to 1.87) for type 2 diabetes. There was no evidence that any of these ratios of hazard ratios decreased with age (P>0.2). With the exception of type 1 diabetes, the incidence of MI was higher in men than in women for all risk factors.

Conclusions

Although the incidence of MI was higher in men than in women, several risk factors were more strongly associated with MI in women compared with men. Sex specific associations between risk factors and MI declined with age, but, where it occurred, the higher relative risk in women remained. As the population ages and the prevalence of lifestyle associated risk factors increase, the incidence of MI in women will likely become more similar to that in men.
Replacing sulfonate by carboxylate: application of pyridyliminocarboxylato copper(II) complexes in rac-lactide polymerization and Chan–Evans–Lam coupling
Authors: Hardouin Duparc Valérie , Dimeck Clémentine , Schaper Frank
Published: November 2018

Copper(II) complexes carrying pyridylmethyleneaminobenzoate or –propanoate ligands, LCuX, were prepared in one-pot reactions from pyridinecarboxaldehyde, aminobenzoic acid or β-alanine, and CuX2 (X = Cl, NO3, OAc, or OTf). All complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and formed either dimers, tetramers, or coordination polymers. Attempted preparation of the respective alkoxide complexes, LCu(OR), was unsuccessful, but use of LCuX/NaOMe mixtures in rac-lactide polymerization indicated under some conditions coordination–insertion polymerization via a copper alkoxide as the mechanism. The complexes performed poorly in rac-lactide polymerization, showing low activities (12 h to completion at 140 °C), low to moderate heterotacticity (Pr = 0.6–0.8), and poor polymer molecular weight control (intramolecular transesterification). They were competent catalysts for Chan–Evans–Lam couplings with phenylboronic acid, without any indication of side reactions such as deboration or aryl homocoupling. The complexes were active in undried methanol, without addition of base, ligand, or molecular sieves. Aniline, n-octylamine, and cyclohexylamine were coupled quantitatively under identical reaction conditions. There is only little influence of the anion on activities (less than a factor of 2) but a strong influence on induction periods. The complexes were not active in CEL coupling with alcohols, phenols, or alkylboronic acids.
A revised stratigraphic framework for Cretaceous sedimentary and igneous rocks at Mokka Fiord, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, with implications for the Cretaceous Normal Superchron
Authors: Evenchick Carol A. , Galloway Jennifer M. , Saumur Benoit M. , Davis William J.
Published: November 2018

New data and interpretations on geological relationships of igneous rocks at Mokka Fiord, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, provide insight into the timing and nature of magmatism associated with the Sverdrup Basin and High Arctic Large Igneous Province (HALIP). Field relationships indicate that the igneous rocks, previously interpreted to be volcanic flows, are most likely an intrusive unit discordant to regional bedding. An intrusive origin helps resolve chronostratigraphic inconsistencies in previous work. The host rocks are palynologically constrained to be late Barremian to late Aptian in age and are interpreted to be Paterson Island or Walker Island member of the Isachsen Formation. If the igneous body is intrusive, it’s previously reported Ar–Ar age (102.5 ± 2.6 Ma) is no longer in conflict with accepted stratigraphic interpretations and probably reflects the emplacement age of the intrusion. Lingering uncertainties in interpreting the normal and reverse magnetic polarities determined in the previous work remain, and both are considered viable. Although this uncertainty precludes definitive conclusions on the significance of paleomagnetic data at Mokka Fiord, examination of the stratigraphic, paleomagnetic, and geochronologic relationships there highlight potential for the study of excursions, or reversed magnetic polarity subchrons, in the Cretaceous Normal Superchron elsewhere in the HALIP.
Lifetime Reliability Enhancement in Multiprocessor Systems Through a Fine-Grained System-Level Approach
Authors: Abdi Athena , Karami Masoomeh , Zarandi Hamid R.
Published: November 2018

In this paper, a fine-grained scheduling approach to enhance lifetime reliability of multiprocessor systems is presented. Lifetime reliability is an important and emerging concern arising with advances in technology due to the increase in power density. As a result, temperature variation accelerates wear-out, leading to system failures. The antagonistic relation of lifetime reliability with other design parameters of multiprocessor systems, such as power consumption and temperature, makes its improvement more challenging. Lifetime reliability enhancement approaches are considered at different levels of abstractions and for various system components. Our proposed scheduling method extracts the precise low-level information of lifetime reliability from determined blocks of processing cores and utilizes them at system-level to study the system state criticality at a low-performance cost. Based on the online periodic monitoring, our proposed scheduling approach applies control actions to improve lifetime reliability of the system according to its effective parameters. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed scheduling approach in improving lifetime reliability and compare it to the previous related research, several experiments are considered. To simulate the target multiprocessor system and the proposed approach, the Enhanced Super ESCalar (ESESC) simulator for computer architecture tool is utilized. The experimental results show that employing our proposed scheduling method improves lifetime reliability at about 54[Formula: see text]. Moreover, it causes 14% and 12% enhancement in temperature and power consumption. Furthermore, we perform a Monte Carlo-based simulation to validate the proposed scheduling approach and generalize it to other applications at very low-performance overhead. Experimental results show that Monte Carlo simulation extremely decreases the execution time rather than ESESC which makes utilizing our scheduling approach reasonable in large applications.
The role of redundancy in blind signal estimation for multiple gravitational wave detectors
Authors: Liu Hao , Creswell James , von Hausegger Sebastian , Naselsky Pavel , Jackson Andrew D.
Published: November 2018

In this work, we extend our previous blind GW signal estimation method [H. Liu, J. Creswell, S. von Hausegger, A. D. Jackson and P. Naselsky, J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 2 (2018) 013] to the case of multiple detectors and show that, with a full use of redundancy, it gives promising results, e.g. a faster decay of fluctuations than that expected from the central limit theorem. This method, whose design explicitly accounts for redundancy in multiple measurements, considerably improves the efficiency of signal extraction in a multi-detector network.
Exact Lorentz-violating q-deformed O(N) universality class
Authors: Carvalho P. R. S. , Sena-Junior M. I.
Published: November 2018

We examine the influence of exact Lorentz-violating symmetry mechanism on the radiative quantum corrections to the critical exponents for massless [Formula: see text]-deformed O([Formula: see text]) [Formula: see text] scalar field theories. For that, we employ three different and independent field-theoretic renormalization group methods for computing analytically the [Formula: see text]-deformed critical exponents up to next-to-leading order. Then, we generalize the former finite loop level results for any loop order. We show that the Lorentz-violating [Formula: see text]-deformed critical exponents, obtained through the three methods, turn out to be identical and furthermore the same as their Lorentz-invariant [Formula: see text]-deformed ones. We argue that this result is in accordance with the universality hypothesis.
Reconstructing modified gravity with holographic vacuum energy density
Authors: Granda L. N.
Published: November 2018

A reconstruction of modified gravity is proposed by establishing a correspondence between the effective density of the modified gravity and the holographic density. The nonhomogeneous term in the modified Friedmann equation, generated by the vacuum (holographic) energy density, lead to reconstructed models that contain explicitly, as part of the solution, the Einstein–Hilbert (EH) term. It was shown that the [Formula: see text]CDM-type cosmic histories allow the general relativity Lagrangian with cosmological constant as a particular reconstructed solution. The Starobinsky term appears in some reconstructed solutions, and an approximate reconstruction of the Chaplygin gas cosmology was performed in terms of elementary functions of curvature.
The classical-quantum duality of nature including gravity
Authors: Sanchez Norma G.
Published: November 2018

The classical-quantum duality at the basis of quantum theory is here extended to the Planck scale domain. The classical/semiclassical gravity (G) domain is dual (in the precise sense of the classical-quantum duality) to the quantum (Q) elementary particle domain: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] being the Planck scale. This duality is universal. From the gravity (G) and quantum (Q) variables [Formula: see text], we define new quantum gravity (QG) variables [Formula: see text] which include all (classical, semiclassical and QG) domains passing through the Planck scale and the elementary particle domain. The QG variables are more complete than the usual ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) ones which cover only one domain (Q or G). Two [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] values [Formula: see text] are needed for each value of [Formula: see text] (reflecting the two dual ways of reaching the Planck scale). We perform the complete analytic extension of the QG variables through analytic (holomorphic) mappings which preserve the light-cone structure. This allows us to reveal the classical-quantum duality of the Schwarzschild–Kruskal spacetime: exterior regions are classical or semiclassical while the interior is totally quantum: its boundaries being the Planck scale. Exterior and interior lose their difference near the horizon: four Planck scale hyperbolae border the horizons as a quantum dressing or width: “l’horizon habillé”. QG variables are naturally invariant under [Formula: see text]. Spacetime reflections, antipodal symmetry and PT or CPT symmetry are contained in the QG symmetry, which also shed insight on the global properties of the Kruskal manifold and its present renewed interest.
Thermodynamics of apparent horizon in mimetic cosmology
Authors: Sheykhi Ahmad
Published: November 2018

A new perspective toward Einstein’s theory of general relativity, called mimetic gravity, was suggested in [A. H. Chamseddine and V. Mukhanov, J. High Energy Phys. 1311 (2013) 135] by isolating the conformal degree of freedom in a covariant fashion through a re-parametrization of the physical metric in terms of an auxiliary metric and a mimetic field. In this paper, we first derive the Friedmann equations of the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) universe with any spatial curvature in mimetic gravity. Then, we disclose that one can always rewrite the Friedmann equations of mimetic cosmology in the form of the first law of thermodynamics, [Formula: see text], on the apparent horizon. We confirm that the entropy associated with the apparent horizon in mimetic cosmology still obeys the area law of entropy which is useful in studying the thermodynamical properties of the black holes in mimetic gravity. We also examine the time evolution of the total entropy in mimetic cosmology and show that, with the local equilibrium assumption, the generalized second law of thermodynamics is fulfilled in a region enclosed by the apparent horizon. Our study further supports the viability of the mimetic gravity from a thermodynamic viewpoint and provides a strong consistency check of this model.
Institutional Investors’ Monitoring and Stock Price Crash Risk: Evidence from Politically Connected Firms
Authors: Tee Chwee Ming , Yee Angelina Seow Voon , Chong Aik Lee
Published: November 2018

Motivated by recent studies on political connections and stock price crash risk, this study investigates whether there is an association between politically connected (POLCON) firms and stock price crash risk. Further, we examine whether institutional investors’ ownership can moderate this association. Using a dataset of Malaysian firms for the period 2002–2012, we show that POLCON firms are associated with higher risk of stock price crashes. However, the positive association between POLCON and stock crashes is attenuated by higher institutional ownership, implying effective monitoring. Finally, we find that only local institutional investors can significantly mitigate the positive association between POLCON firms and stock price crash risk. This suggests that different types of institutional investors can produce different monitoring outcomes in POLCON firms.
TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT THERMOMECHANICAL MODELING OF SOFT TISSUE DEFORMATION
Authors: ZHANG JINAO , HILLS JEREMY , ZHONG YONGMIN , SHIRINZADEH BIJAN , SMITH JULIAN , GU CHENGFAN
Published: November 2018

Modeling of thermomechanical behavior of soft tissues is vitally important for the development of surgical simulation of hyperthermia procedures. Currently, most literature considers only temperature-independent thermal parameters, such as the temperature-independent tissue specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity and stress–strain relationships for soft tissue thermomechanical modeling; however, these thermal parameters vary with temperatures as shown in the literature. This paper investigates the effect of temperature-dependent thermal parameters for soft tissue thermomechanical modeling. It establishes formulations for specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity and stress–strain relationships of soft tissues, all of which are temperature-dependent parameters. Simulations and comparison analyses are conducted, showing a different thermal-induced stress distribution of lower magnitudes when considering temperature-dependent thermal parameters of soft tissues.
Dynamic analysis of conversion from a drug-sensitivity strain to a drug-resistant strain
Authors: Zhao Zhong , Tao Fengmei , Li Qiuying
Published: November 2018

In this paper, a mathematical model of conversion from a drug-sensitivity strain to a drug-resistant strain is given to investigate how antibiotic usage may be optimized to preserve or restore antibiotic effectiveness. This novel theoretical framework could result in an optimal criterion on how to reduce the drug resistance to a reasonable range by using the antibiotic dressing strategy. The sufficient conditions of existence of order-1 periodic solution are obtained in view of the geometrical theory of the semi-continuous dynamical system and the qualitative properties of the corresponding continuous system. The stability of the order-1 periodic solution is proved by means of [H. J. Guo, L. S. Chen and X. Y. Song, Qualitative analysis of impulsive state feedback control to an algae-fish system with bistable property, Appl. Math. Comput. 271 (2015) 905–922]. Finally, our results are confirmed by means of numerical simulations.
USING A CARBON TAX TO MEET US INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE PLEDGES
Authors: CHEN YUNGUANG , HAFSTEAD MARC A. C.
Published: November 2018

The United States is currently on pace to fall well short of its promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26–28%, relative to 2005, by 2025, under the UN Framework and Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement, even if President Trump did not eliminate most Obama-era climate regulations. However, there still exists interest in reducing emissions, especially from some members of Congress, and there are a number of federal policy options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if Congress (or a new administration in 2021) so chooses. In this paper, we show that a federal economy-wide carbon tax on US carbon dioxide emissions could significantly contribute to the reductions necessary to fulfill the US international climate commitments. Using a detailed multi-sector computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, we predict the carbon price paths that would be necessary to meet the 28% emissions target and show the economic costs of such carbon-pricing policies. We then demonstrate how both the price paths and associated costs change if action is delayed.
Keeping Score: Predictive Analytics in Policing
Authors: Fitzpatrick Dylan J. , Gorr Wilpen L. , Neill Daniel B.
Published: November 2018

Predictive analytics in policing is a data-driven approach to ( a) characterizing crime patterns across time and space and ( b) leveraging this knowledge for the prevention of crime and disorder. This article outlines the current state of the field, providing a review of forecasting tools that have been successfully applied by police to the task of crime prediction. We then discuss options for structured design and evaluation of a predictive policing program so that the benefits of proactive intervention efforts are maximized given fixed resource constraints. We highlight examples of predictive policing programs that have been implemented and evaluated by police agencies in the field. Finally, we discuss ethical issues related to predictive analytics in policing and suggest approaches for minimizing potential harm to vulnerable communities while providing an equitable distribution of the benefits of crime prevention across populations within police jurisdiction.
Sex and individual differences in meal patterns mediate the persistency of running-associated high-fat diet avoidance in rats
Authors: Yang Tiffany Y. , Gardner Jennie C. , Gentile Juliet D. , Liang Nu-Chu
Published: November 2018

The modern environment is characterized by convenient access to a variety of high-fat (HF) foods and encourages excess energy intake, which leads to weight gain. While healthier diets and exercise are common interventions that facilitate energy balance, meal patterns also influence body weight and energy metabolism. The current study characterized the association among exercise, diet choice, and meal patterns in rats. Unlike sedentary rats, which prefer a HF to a chow diet, wheel-running rats initially avoid the HF diet. Subsequently, the running-induced HF diet avoidance persists longer in males than in females. We hypothesized that differences in meal patterns contribute to sex differences in the prevalence and persistency of HF diet avoidance. During two-diet choice, rats did not mix chow and HF diet within a meal and consumed discrete meals of each diet. Exercise decreased chow meal size in both sexes (4.5 vs. 5.7 kcal) but decreased total meal frequency only in male rats. Analyses of individual differences revealed WR rats that maintained HF diet avoidance (HF avoiders) had larger chow than HF meals (5.2 vs. 1.3 kcal) upon initial 3 days of diet choice. When compared with rats that reversed HF avoidance (HF eaters), HF avoiders had shorter latency to consume their first meal of HF diet (2.6 vs. 98.9 min) upon initial running and diet choice. Taken together, these results suggest that both sex and individual differences in meal patterns contribute to differences in the persistency of exercise-associated HF diet avoidance.
Renal release ofN-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline is part of an antifibrotic peptidergic system in the kidney
Authors: Romero Cesar A. , Kumar Nitin , Nakagawa Pablo , Worou Morel E. , Liao Tang-Dong , Peterson Edward L. , Carretero Oscar A.
Published: November 2018

The antifibrotic peptide N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is released from thymosin-β4 (Tβ4) by the meprin-α and prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) enzymes and is hydrolyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Ac-SDKP is present in urine; however, it is not clear whether de novo tubular release occurs or if glomerular filtration is the main source. We hypothesized that Ac-SDKP is released into the lumen of the nephrons and that it exerts an antifibrotic effect. We determined the presence of Tβ4, meprin-α, and POP in the kidneys of Sprague-Dawley rats. The stop-flow technique was used to evaluate Ac-SDKP formation in different nephron segments. Finally, we decreased Ac-SDKP formation by inhibiting the POP enzyme and evaluated the long-term effect in renal fibrosis. The Tβ4 precursor and the releasing enzymes meprin-α and POP were expressed in the kidneys. POP enzyme activity was almost double that in the renal medulla compared with the renal cortex. With the use of the stop-flow technique, we detected the highest Ac-SDKP concentrations in the distal nephron. The infusion of a POP inhibitor into the kidney decreased the amount of Ac-SDKP in distal nephron segments and in the proximal nephron to a minor extent. An ACE inhibitor increased the Ac-SDKP content in all nephron segments, but the increase was highest in the distal portion. The chronic infusion of a POP inhibitor increased kidney medullary fibrosis, which was prevented by Ac-SDKP. We conclude that Ac-SDKP is released by the nephron and is part of an important antifibrotic system in the kidney.
Learning to shape virtual patient locomotor patterns: internal representations adapt to exploit interactive dynamics
Authors: Hasson Christopher J. , Goodman Sarah E.
Published: November 2018

This work aimed to understand the sensorimotor processes used by humans when learning how to manipulate a virtual model of locomotor dynamics. Prior research shows that when interacting with novel dynamics humans develop internal models that map neural commands to limb motion and vice versa. Whether this can be extrapolated to locomotor rehabilitation, a continuous and rhythmic activity that involves dynamically complex interactions, is unknown. In this case, humans could default to model-free strategies. These competing hypotheses were tested with a novel interactive locomotor simulator that reproduced the dynamics of hemiparetic gait. A group of 16 healthy subjects practiced using a small robotic manipulandum to alter the gait of a virtual patient (VP) that had an asymmetric locomotor pattern modeled after stroke survivors. The point of interaction was the ankle of the VP’s affected leg, and the goal was to make the VP’s gait symmetric. Internal model formation was probed with unexpected force channels and null force fields. Generalization was assessed by changing the target locomotor pattern and comparing outcomes with a second group of 10 naive subjects who did not practice the initial symmetric target pattern. Results supported the internal model hypothesis with aftereffects and generalization of manipulation skill. Internal models demonstrated refinements that capitalized on the natural pendular dynamics of human locomotion. This work shows that despite the complex interactive dynamics involved in shaping locomotor patterns, humans nevertheless develop and use internal models that are refined with experience.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study aimed to understand how humans manipulate the physics of locomotion, a common task for physical therapists during locomotor rehabilitation. To achieve this aim, a novel locomotor simulator was developed that allowed participants to feel like they were manipulating the leg of a miniature virtual stroke survivor walking on a treadmill. As participants practiced improving the simulated patient’s gait, they developed generalizable internal models that capitalized on the natural pendular dynamics of locomotion.
Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 5 Correlates with the Progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Huiling , Bao Jingjing , Zhu Xiaowei , Dai Guihong , Jiang Xiaoqin , Jiao Xia , Sheng Haihui , Huang Junxing , Yu Hong
Published: November 2018

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancy tumors with insidious onset, rapid development and metastasis, and poor prognosis. Therefore, it is necessary to understand molecular mechanisms of HCC and identify clinically useful biomarkers for it. This study aimed to investigate the role of retinoblastoma binding protein 5 (RBBP5) in HCC. The expression level of RBBP5 was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blot. The effect of RBBP5 on cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, and drug sensitivity was analyzed. RBBP5 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cells. High RBBP5 expression was significantly associated with elevated level of AFP, advanced TNM stage, high Ki-67 expression, larger tumor size, and poor prognosis. Knockdown of RBBP5 significantly inhibited proliferation of HCC cells through cell cycle arrest. In addition, inhibition of RBBP5 increased the sensitivity of HCC cells to doxorubicin. In conclusion, our findings suggest that RBBP5 plays an important role in the progression of HCC and may serve as a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for HCC.
Relationship between the Necessary Support Level for Oral Hygiene and Performance of Physical, Daily Activity, and Cognitive Functions
Authors: Tamaki Yoh , Hiratsuka Yoshimune , Kumakawa Toshiro , Miura Hiroko
Published: November 2018

To maintain good oral hygiene on their own, elderly adults need comprehensive abilities, such as physical, daily activity, and cognitive functions. In the long-term care certification, care support specialists conduct surveys that include a total of 74 items about physical function, daily activity function, living functions, cognitive function, mental/behavioral disorders, and adaption to social life. The data of the long-term care certification survey contain three items related to oral health: the necessary support level for oral hygiene, ability to swallow, and assistance with food intake. The aims of this study were to identify which functions are absent in elderly individuals who cannot maintain proper oral hygiene and to clarify at which stage it is necessary to assist elderly individuals with their oral hygiene and provide professional oral care. In this study, an analysis was conducted to identify the relationship between the necessary support level for oral hygiene and the performance of physical, daily activity, and cognitive functions. The results of the long-term care certification surveys were analyzed for 23,423 cases that involved 9,571 individuals who submitted a claim using long-term care statements between January 2009 and March 2018. The results of a multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the following items had high odds ratios: “walk” and “stand up” in the physical and daily activity functions and the ability to “understand the everyday routine” and “make daily decisions” in the cognitive functions. The results of a decision tree analysis revealed that in order for elderly individuals to maintain good oral hygiene on their own, they must have adequate physical functioning as well as adequate performance of cognitive functions. Our study’s findings suggest that comprehensive ability in both physical and cognitive functions is required for elderly adults to maintain their oral hygiene.
Evaluation of the Use of the Yeoh and Mooney-Rivlin Functions as Strain Energy Density Functions for the Ground Substance Material of the Annulus Fibrosus
Authors: Jaramillo Héctor E.
Published: November 2018

Due to the importance of the intervertebral disc in the mechanical behavior of the human spine, special attention has been paid to it during the development of finite element models of the human spine. The mechanical behavior of the intervertebral disc is nonlinear, heterogeneous, and anisotropic and, due to the low permeability, is usually represented as a hyperelastic model. The intervertebral disc is composed of the nucleus pulposus, the endplates, and the annulus fibrosus. The annulus fibrosus is modeled as a hyperelastic matrix reinforced with several fiber families, and researchers have used different strain energy density functions to represent it. This paper presents a comparative study between the strain energy density functions most frequently used to represent the mechanical behavior of the annulus fibrosus: the Yeoh and Mooney-Rivlin functions. A finite element model of the annulus fibrosus of the L4-L5 segment under the action of three independent and orthogonal moments of 8 N-m was used, employing Abaqus software. A structured mesh with eight divisions along the height and the radial direction of annulus fibrosus and tetrahedron elements for the endplates were used, and an exponential energy function was employed to represent the mechanical behavior of the fibers. A total of 16 families were used; the fiber orientation varied with the radial coordinate from 25° on the outer boundary to 46° on the inner boundary, measuring it with respect to the transverse plane. The mechanical constants were taken from the reported literature. The range of motion was obtained by finite element analysis using different values of the mechanical constants and these results were compared with the reported experimental data. It was found that the Yeoh function showed a better fit to the experimental range of motion than the Mooney-Rivlin function, especially in the nonlinear region.
Chemical Composition and Antifungal In Vitro and In Silico, Antioxidant, and Anticholinesterase Activities of Extracts and Constituents of Ouratea fieldingiana (DC.) Baill
Authors: Nascimento José Eranildo Teles do , Rodrigues Ana Livya Moreira , Lisboa Daniele Silva de , Liberato Hortência Ribeiro , Falcão Maria José Cajazeiras , da Silva Cecília Rocha , Nobre Júnior Hélio Vitoriano , Braz Filho Raimundo , Paula Junior Valdir Ferreira de , Alves Daniela Ribeiro , de Morais Selene Maia
Published: November 2018

Ouratea fieldingiana (Gardner) Engl is popularly used for wound healing. This study describes the main chemical compounds present in extracts of O. fieldingiana and evaluates their biological potential by investigating antifungal, antioxidant, and anticholinesterase activities. The action mechanism of main antifungal compound was investigated by molecular docking using the enzyme sterol 14‐α demethylase, CYP51, required for ergosterol biosynthesis. The seeds and leaves were extracted with ethanol in a Soxhlet apparatus and by maceration, respectively. Both extracts were subjected to silica gel column chromatography for isolation of main constituents, followed by purification in sephadex. The structures of compounds were established by 1H and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy and identified by comparison with literature data as amentoflavone and kaempferol 3‐O‐rutinoside, respectively. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were determined by the DPPH and ABTS free radical inhibition methods. In general, the extracts with the highest antioxidant activity corresponded to those with higher content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The ethanol extracts and two isolated compounds presented relevant antifungal activity against several Candida strains. The in silico findings revealed that the compound amentoflavone coupled with the CYP450 protein due to the low energy stabilization (‐9.39 kcal/mol), indicating a possible mechanism of action by inhibition of the ergosterol biosynthesis of Candida fungi.
Porphyromonas asaccharolytica as a Rare Causative Agent for Lemierre’s Syndrome
Authors: Gupta Mridul , Annam Radhika , Bahgat Joseph , Eng Margaret
Published: November 2018

Lemierre’s syndrome is a rare disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It begins with an oropharyngeal infection, which spreads locally to involve the internal jugular vein causing thrombophlebitis, followed by distant spread and metastatic infections. Affected individuals are commonly young adults. Causative organisms are usually oropharyngeal flora, most commonly being the anaerobe Fusobacterium necrophorum. Porphyromonas asaccharolytica is a rare etiological agent with only three cases being reported in the literature. This case report describes a previously healthy 22-year-old man who initially presented with acute tonsillitis and was later found to have left internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis along with bilateral septic emboli to the lungs. The patient was treated with a five-week course of ampicillin-sulbactam and metronidazole. Subsequent imaging also showed progression of internal jugular vein thrombus, for which warfarin was given for three months for anticoagulation.
Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome Caused by a Novel Mutation in the FLCL Gene
Authors: Volk Charles , Matwiyoff Gregory
Published: November 2018

Background. Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by skin fibrofolliculomas, cystic lung disease, and bilateral renal tumors. It has also been implicated in the formation of tumors in other organs, particularly thyroid and colon. This case presents a young female presenting with only cystic lung disease and kidney tumors, identified as having a never before identified heterozygous mutation in the folliculin (FLCN) gene which is the likely cause of her syndrome. Case Presentation. A 34-year-old female was found to have bilateral renal masses, 2.4 cm on the right and 7.6 cm on the left, as well as multiple, small cysts in the lungs. Chest imaging further characterized the lung cysts as being basilar predominant with the largest measuring 1.6cm. The left kidney mass was resected with a partial nephrectomy with final pathologic diagnosis of an oncocytoma. Genetic testing was undertaken as she did not have characteristic skin findings. A previously undescribed mutation in the FLCN gene (c.780-2A>G) was identified with no matches in the human genetic mutation database (HGMD). Review of that database identified over 160 separate mutations in the FLCN gene. Extensive history did not identify any family members who had similar disease processes suggesting that this could be a spontaneous mutation in the proband. Conclusions. This case highlights that the traditional view of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome as having a strong familial component may be incorrect and that spontaneous mutation may be more common than previously thought. Also notable is the fact that this patient had no characteristically described fibrofolliculomas that traditionally are the hallmark of the condition. This case suggests that genetic testing should be obtained in all suspected cases of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome as the patient may not present with the typical skin findings and may also present with no family history consistent with this disorder.