bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urinary Concentrations of Colistimethate and Formed Colistin after Intravenous Administration in Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections
Authors: Luque Sonia , Escaño Carol , Sorli Luisa , Li Jian , Campillo Nuria , Horcajada Juan Pablo , Salas Esther , Grau Santiago
Published: May 2017

Limited information is available on the urinary excretion of colistin in infected patients. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of colistimethate sodium (CMS) and formed colistin in urine in patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections. A pharmacokinetic study was conducted on 12 patients diagnosed with an infection caused by an extremely drug-resistant (XDR)
P. aeruginosa
strain and treated with intravenous CMS. Fresh urine samples were collected at 2-h intervals, and blood samples were collected predose (
C
min ss
) and at the end of the CMS infusion (
C
max ss
) for measurement of concentrations of CMS and formed colistin using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). CMS urinary recovery was determined as the summed amount of CMS and formed colistin recovered in urine for each 2-h interval divided by the CMS dose. There were 12 enrolled patients, 9 of whom were male (75%). Data [median (range)] were as follows: age, 65.5 (37 to 86) years; colistimethate urinary recovery 0 to 6 h, 42.6% (2.9% to 72.8%); range of concentrations of colistin in urine, <0.1 to 95.4 mg/liter;
C
min ss
and
C
max ss
of colistin in plasma, 0.9 (<0.2 to 1.4) and 0.9 (<0.2 to 1.4) mg/liter, respectively. In 6/12 (50%) patients, more than 40% of the CMS dose was recovered in the urine within the first 6 h after CMS administration. This study demonstrated rapid urinary excretion of CMS in patients within the first 6 h after intravenous administration. In all but one patient, the concentrations of formed colistin in urine were above the MIC for the most predominant isolate of
P. aeruginosa
in our hospital. Future studies are warranted for optimizing CMS dosage regimens in urinary tract infection (UTI) patients.
Plasmodium berghei PIMMS2 Promotes Ookinete Invasion of the Anopheles gambiae Mosquito Midgut
Authors: Ukegbu Chiamaka V. , Akinosoglou Karolina A. , Christophides George K. , Vlachou Dina
Published: May 2017

Mosquito midgut stages of the malaria parasite present an attractive biological system to study host-parasite interactions and develop interventions to block disease transmission. Mosquito infection ensues upon oocyst development that follows ookinete invasion and traversal of the mosquito midgut epithelium. Here, we report the characterization of PIMMS2 (
Plasmodium
invasion of mosquito midgut screen candidate 2), a
Plasmodium berghei
protein with structural similarities to subtilisin-like proteins.
PIMMS2
orthologs are present in the genomes of all plasmodia and are mapped between the subtilisin-encoding genes
SUB1
and
SUB3
.
P. berghei
PIMMS2 is specifically expressed in zygotes and ookinetes and is localized on the ookinete surface. Loss of PIMMS2 function through gene disruption by homologous recombination leads to normal development of motile ookinetes that exhibit a severely impaired capacity to traverse the mosquito midgut and transform to oocysts. Genetic complementation of the disrupted locus with a mutated
PIMMS2
allele reveals that amino acid residues corresponding to the putative subtilisin-like catalytic triad are important but not essential for protein function. Our data demonstrate that PIMMS2 is a novel ookinete-specific protein that promotes parasite traversal of the mosquito midgut epithelium and establishment of mosquito infection.
Neutrophil Elastase and Interleukin 17 Expressed in the Pig Colon during Brachyspira hyodysenteriae Infection Synergistically with the Pathogen Induce Increased Mucus Transport Speed and Production via Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
Authors: Quintana-Hayashi Macarena P. , Navabi Nazanin , Mahu Maxime , Venkatakrishnan Vignesh , Fernandez Harvey R. , Haesebrouck Freddy , Pasmans Frank , Lindén Sara K.
Published: May 2017

Brachyspira hyodysenteriaecolonizes the pig colon, resulting in mucoid hemorrhagic diarrhea and mucus layer changes. These changes are characterized by a disorganized mucus structure and massive mucus induction withde novoexpression of MUC5AC and increased production of MUC2. To investigate the mechanisms behind this altered mucin environment, we quantified the mRNA levels of mucin pathway genes and factors from the immune system in the colons of infected and control pigs and observed upregulation ofneutrophil elastase,SPDEF,FOXA3,MAPK3/ERK1,IL-17A,IL-1β,IL-6, andIL-8expression.In vitro, colonic mucus-producing mucosal surfaces were treated with these factors along withB. hyodysenteriaeinfection and analyzed for their effect on mucin production. Neutrophil elastase and infection synergistically induced mucus production and transport speed, and interleukin 17A (IL-17A) also had similar effects, in both the presence and absence of infection. A mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) inhibitor suppressed these effects. Therefore, we suggest that the SPDEF, FOXA3, and MAPK3/ERK1 signaling pathways are behind the transcriptional program regulating mucin biosynthesis in the colon duringB. hyodysenteriaeinfection. In addition to furthering the knowledge on this economically important disease, this mechanism may be useful for the development of therapies aimed at conditions where enhancing mucus production may be beneficial, such as chronic inflammatory disorders of the colon.
Rv3852 (H-NS) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Is Not Involved in Nucleoid Compaction and Virulence Regulation
Authors: Odermatt Nina T. , Sala Claudia , Benjak Andrej , Kolly Gaëlle S. , Vocat Anthony , Lupien Andréanne , Cole Stewart T.
Published: May 2017

A handful of nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) regulate the vast majority of genes in a bacterial cell. H-NS, the
h
istone-like
n
ucleoid-
s
tructuring protein, is one of these NAPs and protects
Escherichia coli
from foreign gene expression. Though lacking any sequence similarity with
E. coli
H-NS, Rv3852 was annotated as the H-NS ortholog in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, as it resembles human histone H1. The role of Rv3852 was thoroughly investigated by immunoblotting, subcellular localization, construction of an unmarked
rv3852
deletion in the
M. tuberculosis
genome, and subsequent analysis of the resulting Δ
rv3852
strain. We found that Rv3852 was predominantly present in the logarithmic growth phase with a decrease in protein abundance in stationary phase. Furthermore, it was strongly associated with the cell membrane and not detected in the cytosolic fraction, nor was it secreted. The Δ
rv3852
strain displayed no growth defect or morphological abnormalities. Quantitative measurement of nucleoid localization in the Δ
rv3852
mutant strain compared to that in the parental H37Rv strain showed no difference in nucleoid position or spread. Infection of macrophages as well as severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice demonstrated that loss of Rv3852 had no detected influence on the virulence of
M. tuberculosis
. We thus conclude that
M. tuberculosis
Rv3852 is not involved in pathogenesis and is not a typical NAP. The existence of an as yet undiscovered Rv3852 ortholog cannot be excluded, although this role is likely played by the well-characterized Lsr2 protein.

IMPORTANCE
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
is the causative agent of the lung infection tuberculosis, claiming more than 1.5 million lives each year. To understand the mechanisms of latent infection, where
M. tuberculosis
can stay dormant inside the human host, we require deeper knowledge of the basic biology and of the regulatory networks. In our work, we show that Rv3852, previously annotated as H-NS, is not a typical nucleoid-associated protein (NAP) as expected from its initial annotation. Rv3852 from
M. tuberculosis
has neither influence on nucleoid shape or compaction nor a role in virulence. Our findings reduce the repertoire of identified nucleoid-associated proteins in
M. tuberculosis
to four transcription regulators and underline the importance of genetic studies to assign a function to bacterial genes.
Characterization of a Novel
cis
-3-Hydroxy-
l
-Proline Dehydratase and a
trans
-3-Hydroxy-
l
-Proline Dehydratase from Bacteria
Authors: Watanabe Seiya , Fukumori Fumiyasu , Miyazaki Mao , Tagami Shinya , Watanabe Yasuo
Published: May 2017

Hydroxyprolines, such as
trans
-4-hydroxy-
l
-proline (T4LHyp),
trans
-3-hydroxy-
l
-proline (T3LHyp), and
cis
-3-hydroxy-
l
-proline (C3LHyp), are present in some proteins including collagen, plant cell wall, and several peptide antibiotics. In bacteria, genes involved in the degradation of hydroxyproline are often clustered on the genome (
l
-Hyp gene cluster). We recently reported that an aconitase X (AcnX)-like
hypI
gene from an
l
-Hyp gene cluster functions as a monomeric C3LHyp dehydratase (AcnX
Type I
). However, the physiological role of C3LHyp dehydratase remained unclear. We here demonstrate that
Azospirillum brasilense
NBRC 102289, an aerobic nitrogen-fixing bacterium, robustly grows using not only T4LHyp and T3LHyp but also C3LHyp as the sole carbon source. The small and large subunits of the
hypI
gene (
hypI
S
and
hypI
L
, respectively) from
A. brasilense
NBRC 102289 are located separately from the
l
-Hyp gene cluster and encode a C3LHyp dehydratase with a novel heterodimeric structure (AcnX
Type IIa
). A strain disrupted in the
hypI
S
gene did not grow on C3LHyp, suggesting its involvement in C3LHyp metabolism. Furthermore, C3LHyp induced transcription of not only the
hypI
genes but also the
hypK
gene encoding Δ
1
-pyrroline-2-carboxylate reductase, which is involved in T3LHyp,
d
-proline, and
d
-lysine metabolism. On the other hand, the
l
-Hyp gene cluster of some other bacteria contained not only the AcnX
Type IIa
gene but also two putative proline racemase-like genes (
hypA1
and
hypA2
). Despite having the same active sites (a pair of Cys/Cys) as hydroxyproline 2-epimerase, which is involved in the metabolism of T4LHyp, the dominant reaction by HypA2 was clearly the dehydration of T3LHyp, a novel type of T3LHyp dehydratase that differed from the known enzyme (Cys/Thr).

IMPORTANCE
More than 50 years after the discovery of
trans
-4-hydroxy-
l
-proline (generally called
l
-hydroxyproline) degradation in aerobic bacteria, its genetic and molecular information has only recently been elucidated.
l
-Hydroxyproline metabolic genes are often clustered on bacterial genomes. These loci frequently contain a hypothetical gene(s), whose novel enzyme functions are related to the metabolism of
trans
-3-hydroxy
l
-proline and/or
cis
-3-hydroxy
l
-proline, a relatively rare
l
-hydroxyproline in nature. Several
l
-hydroxyproline metabolic enzymes show no sequential similarities, suggesting their emergence by convergent evolution. Furthermore, transcriptional regulation by
trans
-4-hydroxy-
l
-proline,
trans
-3-hydroxy-
l
-proline, and/or
cis
-3-hydroxy-
l
-proline significantly differs between bacteria. The results of the present study show that several
l
-hydroxyprolines are available for bacteria as carbon and energy sources and may contribute to the discovery of potential metabolic pathways of another hydroxyproline(s).
Viral DNA Replication Orientation and hnRNPs Regulate Transcription of the Human Papillomavirus 18 Late Promoter
Authors: Wang Xiaohong , Liu Haibin , Ge Hui , Ajiro Masahiko , Sharma Nishi R. , Meyers Craig , Morozov Pavel , Tuschl Thomas , Klar Amar , Court Donald , Zheng Zhi-Ming
Published: May 2017

The life cycle of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is tightly linked to keratinocyte differentiation. Although expression of viral early genes is initiated immediately upon virus infection of undifferentiated basal cells, viral DNA amplification and late gene expression occur only in the mid to upper strata of the keratinocytes undergoing terminal differentiation. In this report, we show that the relative activity of HPV18 TATA-less late promoter P
811
depends on its orientation relative to that of the origin (Ori) of viral DNA replication and is sensitive to the eukaryotic DNA polymerase inhibitor aphidicolin. Additionally, transfected 70-nucleotide (nt)-long single-strand DNA oligonucleotides that are homologous to the region near Ori induce late promoter activity. We also found that promoter activation in raft cultures leads to production of the late promoter-associated, sense-strand transcription initiation RNAs (tiRNAs) and splice-site small RNAs (spliRNAs). Finally, a
cis
-acting AAGTATGCA core element that functions as a repressor to the promoter was identified. This element interacts with hnRNP D0B and hnRNP A/B factors. Point mutations in the core prevented binding of hnRNPs and increased the promoter activity. Confirming this result, knocking down the expression of both hnRNPs in keratinocytes led to increased promoter activity. Taking the data together, our study revealed the mechanism of how the HPV18 late promoter is regulated by DNA replication and host factors.

IMPORTANCE
It has been known for decades that the activity of viral late promoters is associated with viral DNA replication among almost all DNA viruses. However, the mechanism of how DNA replication activates the viral late promoter and what components of the replication machinery are involved remain largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the P
811
promoter region of HPV18 and demonstrated that its activation depends on the orientation of DNA replication. Using single-stranded oligonucleotides targeting the replication fork on either leading or lagging strands, we showed that viral lagging-strand replication activates the promoter. We also identified a transcriptional repressor element located upstream of the promoter transcription start site which interacts with cellular proteins hnRNP D0B and hnRNP A/B and modulates the late promoter activity. This is the first report on how DNA replication activates a viral late promoter.
In Vivo
Imaging of Influenza Virus Infection in Immunized Mice
Authors: Czakó Rita , Vogel Leatrice , Lamirande Elaine W. , Bock Kevin W. , Moore Ian N. , Ellebedy Ali H. , Ahmed Rafi , Mehle Andrew , Subbarao Kanta
Published: May 2017

Immunization is the cornerstone of seasonal influenza control and represents an important component of pandemic preparedness strategies. Using a bioluminescent reporter virus, we demonstrate the application of noninvasive
in vivo
imaging system (IVIS) technology to evaluate the preclinical efficacy of candidate vaccines and immunotherapy in a mouse model of influenza. Sequential imaging revealed distinct spatiotemporal kinetics of bioluminescence in groups of mice passively or actively immunized by various strategies that accelerated the clearance of the challenge virus at different rates and by distinct mechanisms. Imaging findings were consistent with conclusions derived from virus titers in the lungs and, notably, were more informative than conventional efficacy endpoints in some cases. Our findings demonstrate the reliability of IVIS as a qualitative approach to support preclinical evaluation of candidate medical countermeasures for influenza in mice.

IMPORTANCE
Influenza A viruses remain a persistent threat to public health. Vaccination and immunotherapy are effective countermeasures for the control of influenza but must contend with antigenic drift and the risk of resistance to antivirals. Traditional preclinical efficacy studies for novel vaccine and pharmaceutical candidates can be time-consuming and expensive and are inherently limited in scope.
In vivo
imaging approaches offer the potential to noninvasively track virus replication in real time in animal models. In this study, we demonstrate the utility of bioluminescent imaging for tracking influenza virus replication in the lungs of immunized mice and also identify important factors that may influence the accurate interpretation of imaging results. Our findings support the potential of IVIS approaches to enhance traditional preclinical efficacy evaluation of candidate vaccines and human monoclonal antibodies for the prevention and treatment of influenza.
Developing a framework for community-based sexual health interventions for youth in the rural setting: protocol for a participatory action research study
Authors: Heslop Carl William , Burns Sharyn , Lobo Roanna , McConigley Ruth
Published: May 2017

Introduction

There is limited research examining community-based or multilevel interventions that address the sexual health of young people in the rural Australian context. This paper describes the Participatory Action Research (PAR) project that will develop and validate a framework that is effective for planning, implementing and evaluating multilevel community-based sexual health interventions for young people aged 16–24 years in the Australian rural setting.

Methods and analysis

To develop a framework for sexual health interventions with stakeholders, PAR will be used. Three PAR cycles will be conducted, using semistructured one-on-one interviews, focus groups, community mapping and photovoice to inform the development of a draft framework. Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 will use targeted Delphi studies to gather evaluation and feedback on the developed draft framework. All data collected will be reviewed and analysed in detail and coded as concepts become apparent at each stage of the process.

Ethics and dissemination

This protocol describes a supervised doctoral research project. This project seeks to contribute to the literature regarding PAR in the rural setting and the use of the Delphi technique within PAR projects. The developed framework as a result of the project will provide a foundation for further research testing the application of the framework in other settings and health areas. This research has received ethics approval from the Curtin University Human Research and Ethics Committee (HR96/2015).
Patient-reported safety incidents in older patients with long-term conditions: a large cross-sectional study
Authors: Panagioti Maria , Blakeman Thomas , Hann Mark , Bower Peter
Published: May 2017

Background

Increasing evidence suggests that patient safety is a serious concern for older patients with long-term conditions. Despite this, there is a lack of research on safety incidents encountered by this patient group. In this study, we sought to examine patient reports of safety incidents and factors associated with reports of safety incidents in older patients with long-term conditions.

Methods

The baseline cross-sectional data from a longitudinal cohort study were analysed. Older patients (n=3378 aged 65 years and over) with a long-term condition registered in general practices were included in the study. The main outcome was patient-reported safety incidents including availability and appropriateness of medical tests and prescription of wrong types or doses of medication. Binary univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were undertaken to examine factors associated with patient-reported safety incidents.

Results

Safety incidents were reported by 11% of the patients. Four factors were significantly associated with patient-reported safety incidents in multivariate analyses. The experience of multiple long-term conditions (OR=1.09, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.13), a probable diagnosis of depression (OR=1.36, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.74) and greater relational continuity of care (OR=1.28, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.52) were associated with increased odds for patient-reported safety incidents. Perceived greater support and involvement in self-management was associated with lower odds for patient-reported safety incidents (OR=0.95, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.97).

Conclusions

We found that older patients with multimorbidity and depression are more likely to report experiences of patient safety incidents. Improving perceived support and involvement of patients in their care may help prevent patient-reported safety incidents.
Violent injury predicts poor psychological outcomes after traumatic injury in a hard-to-reach population: an observational cohort study
Authors: Rahtz Emmylou , Bhui Kamaldeep , Smuk Melanie , Hutchison Iain , Korszun Ania
Published: May 2017

Background

People who experience physical trauma face a range of psychosocial outcomes. These may be overlooked by busy clinicians. While some risk factors are understood, understanding of the psychological effects of violent injury remains limited, particularly in UK settings. This study compared psychological outcomes following interpersonal violence and accidental injury, including the persistence of psychological distress.

Methods

A questionnaire survey was carried out at two time points of patients admitted to a large teaching hospital in London between July 2012 and April 2014. Participants were consecutive adult patients admitted to the Royal London Hospital with traumatic injuries, with 219 participants at baseline. Follow-up survey was 8  months later (n=109). Standardised measures assessed post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) (Acute Stress Disorder Scale and PTSD Checklist) and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale).

Results

PTSS and depressive symptoms affected 27% and 33%, respectively, at baseline. At 8  months, 27% and 31% reported these symptoms for PTSS and depressive symptoms, respectively. The repeated measures were assessed with multilevel models: after adjusting for demographic factors, patients with violent injury showed more PTSS (OR 6.27, 95% CI 1.90 to 20.66) and depressive symptoms (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.08 to 8.99).

Conclusions

There were high levels of psychological distress among traumatic injury patients. Violent injuries were associated with an increased risk of both post-traumatic and depressive symptoms. People vulnerable to distress would benefit from psychological support, and hospital admission provides a unique opportunity to engage hard-to-reach groups in interventions.
Calculation of population-level fishing mortality for single- versus multi-area models: application to models with spatial structure
Authors: Langseth Brian J. , Schueller Amy M.
Published: May 2017

Spatial considerations in stock assessment models can be used to account for differences in fish population dynamics and fleet distributions, which, if otherwise unaccounted for, could result in model misspecification leading to bias in model results. Calculating an overall fishing mortality rate (F) across spatial components is not straightforward but is often required for harvest management. We examined effects of spatial assumptions on model results under different approaches for calculating F. We show that (i) F can differ by as much as 50% depending on the spatial structure of the model; (ii) for multi-area models, F changes with size of area for all but one approach; and (iii) results are sensitive to model assumptions about catchability between areas and the spatial distribution of effort and abundance. Findings suggest caution be taken when interpreting results between models with different spatial structures. When comparing single- with multi-area models, we recommend adding F across areas when catchability is the same between areas and either effort or abundance is proportional to area. Otherwise no single approach can be expected to be superior in all cases. We suggest simulation be used to evaluate the best approach to meet particular management objectives.
HOME APPLIANCES AND GENDER GAP OF TIME SPENT ON UNPAID HOUSEWORK: EVIDENCE USING HOUSEHOLD DATA FROM VIETNAM
Authors: VU TIEN MANH
Published: May 2017

We examined the gender gap between wives and husbands with regard to time spent on unpaid housework and the interaction terms between home appliance ownership and gender among 36,480 Vietnamese households. We found the gender gap was persistent regardless of number of co-residing children, age cohorts, household size and income, working status of the couples, and whether a wife had a higher wage rate (education) than her husband. The gender gap of time increased with the appearance of home appliances such as gas cookers. A lower probability of husbands doing housework and changes in gender values could be important explanations.
ARE THE JAPANESE UNIQUE? EVIDENCE FROM SAVING AND BEQUEST BEHAVIOR
Authors: HORIOKA CHARLES YUJI
Published: May 2017

In this paper, we attempt to shed light on whether Japanese households are rational or if their behavior is influenced by culture and social norms by examining their saving and bequest behavior. To summarize our main findings, we find that Japan’s household saving rate showed great volatility, was often low and even negative and was high only during the 25-year period from around 1960 until the mid-1980s (if we exclude the war years) and that we can explain the high level of, and trends over time in, Japan’s household saving rate via various socioeconomic and policy variables. This seems to suggest that the Japanese are not a saving-loving people and that their saving behavior is not governed by culture and social norms. Moreover, the bequest behavior of the Japanese suggests that they are less altruistic toward their children and less reliant on their children than other peoples, suggesting that the alleged social norm of strong family ties in Japan is largely a myth, and that the Japanese do not appear to be appreciably more concerned about the continuation of the family line or the family business than other peoples, suggesting that the influence of the “ie” (family) system is apparently not so pervasive either. However, we argue that these findings do not necessarily mean that culture and social norms do not matter.
Epidemic spreading on networks based on stress response
Authors: Nian Fuzhong , Yao Shuanglong
Published: May 2017

Based on the stress responses of individuals, the susceptible-infected-susceptible epidemic model was improved on the small-world networks and BA scale-free networks and the simulations were implemented and analyzed. Results indicate that the behaviors of individual’s stress responses could induce the epidemic spreading resistance and adaptation at the network level. This phenomenon showed that networks were learning how to adapt to the disease and the evolution process could improve their immunization to future infectious diseases and would effectively prevent the spreading of infectious diseases.
A New Structure of Quasi Z-Source-Based Cascaded Multilevel Inverter
Authors: Babaei Ebrahim , Zarbil Mohammad Shadnam , Sabahi Mehran
Published: May 2017

In this paper, a new topology for cascaded multilevel inverters based on quasi Z-source converter is proposed. In the proposed topology, the magnitude of output voltage is not limited to dc voltage source, while the magnitude of output voltage of conventional cascaded multilevel inverters is limited to dc voltage source. In the proposed topology, the magnitude of output voltage can be increased by controlling the duty cycle of shoot-through (ST) state, transformer turn ratio, and the number of switched inductors in the Z-source network. As a result, there is no need for extra dc–dc converter. In the proposed topology, the total harmonic distortion (THD) is decreased in comparison with the conventional Z-source inverters. The proposed topology directly delivers power from a power source to load. In addition, in the proposed basic unit, higher voltage gain is achieved in higher modulation index which is an advantage for the proposed base unit. The performance of the proposed topology is verified by the experimental results of five-level single-phase inverter.
Moderate deviations for stochastic models of two-dimensional second grade fluids
Authors: Zhai Jianliang , Zhang Tusheng , Zheng Wuting
Published: May 2017

In this paper, we prove a central limit theorem and establish a moderate deviation principle for stochastic models of incompressible second grade fluids. The weak convergence method introduced by [6] plays an important role.
HR PRACTICES, KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND PROTECTION ACTIVITIES, AND PERFORMANCE — A MODERATION MODEL
Authors: GOMES JORGE F. S. , HURMELINNA PIA , OLANDER HEIDI
Published: May 2017

Innovation and HRM practices are connected, but the nature of these linkages may not be completely understood. Practical examples where knowledge securing practices limit efficiency of creative work, and where rewarding established ways of work prevent new approaches from being tried, suggest that there are challenges. In this study, we examine the relationships between different forms of HRM practices, knowledge sharing and protection (i.e., knowledge activities), and performance outcomes. Our findings from empirical analysis among 150 firms suggest that HRM practices are positively related to subjective overall performance and innovation performance, and that knowledge sharing likewise has such a relationship with performance outcomes. Furthermore, when knowledge sharing is accompanied with HR practices targeted to securing knowledge, innovation performance can be improved. Knowledge securing also comes in play when it is combined with HR practices of personnel compensation and appraisal; in this case subjective performance is diminished. This leads us to suggest that companies might benefit from smart HRM systems.
Sino-Swiss Strategic Partnership: A Model for China-Europe Relations
Authors: Wang Shichen
Published: May 2017

After signing a bilateral free trade agreement with China and joining in the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Switzerland has become one of China’s best partners in Europe. The bilateral relationship has been upgraded from “strategic partnership” to “innovative strategic partnership,” and is regarded by the Chinese as “a model relationship for China-European countries.” Two fundamental reasons explain why Switzerland has achieved such harmonious relations with the world’s second largest economy: first, there is no historical conflict between the two countries; second, Switzerland is more pragmatic than other European countries in strengthening bilateral cooperation with China. So far, the two countries have institutionalized dialogues and other exchanges involving both elites and the public; sensitive issues have been properly handled without obstructing the development of their bilateral relations. As ever closer ties are being built between China and Europe as a whole, the Beijing-Bern relationship can serve as a model for other European countries.
How to Predict the Consequences of a Tick Value Change? Evidence from the Tokyo Stock Exchange Pilot Program
Authors: Huang Weibing , Lehalle Charles-Albert , Rosenbaum Mathieu
Published: May 2017

The tick value is a crucial component of market design and is often considered the most suitable tool to mitigate the effects of high frequency trading. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate that the approach introduced in [Dayri, K., and M. Rosenbaum, 2015, Large Tick Assets: Implicit Spread and Optimal Tick Size, Market Microstructure and Liquidity, 1, 1550003.] allows for an ex ante assessment of the consequences of a tick value change on the microstructure of an asset. To that purpose, we analyze the pilot program on tick value modifications started in 2014 by the Tokyo Stock Exchange in light of this methodology. We focus on forecasting the future cost of market and limit orders after a tick value change and show that our predictions are very accurate. Furthermore, for each asset involved in the pilot program, we are able to define (ex ante) an optimal tick value. This enables us to classify the stocks according to the relevance of their tick value, before and after its modification.
Improved Reliability of FPGA-Based PUF Identification Generator Design
Authors: Gu Chongyan , Hanley Neil , O'neill Máire
Published: May 2017

Physical unclonable functions (PUFs), a form of physical security primitive, enable digital identifiers to be extracted from devices, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Many PUF implementations have been proposed to generate these unique
n
-bit binary strings. However, they often offer insufficient uniqueness and reliability when implemented on FPGAs and can consume excessive resources. To address these problems, in this article we present an efficient, lightweight, and scalable PUF identification (ID) generator circuit that offers a compact design with good uniqueness and reliability properties and is specifically designed for FPGAs. A novel post-characterisation methodology is also proposed that improves the reliability of a PUF without the need for any additional hardware resources. Moreover, the proposed post-characterisation method can be generally used for any FPGA-based PUF designs. The PUF ID generator consumes 8.95% of the hardware resources of a low-cost Xilinx Spartan-6 LX9 FPGA and 0.81% of a Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA. Experimental results show good uniqueness, reliability, and uniformity with no occurrence of bit-aliasing. In particular, the reliability of the PUF is close to 100% over an environmental temperature range of 25°C to 70°C with ± 10% variation in the supply voltage.
Scratchpad Sharing in GPUs
Authors: Jatala Vishwesh , Anantpur Jayvant , Karkare Amey
Published: May 2017

General-Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU) applications exploit on-chip scratchpad memory available in the Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to improve performance. The amount of thread level parallelism (TLP) present in the GPU is limited by the number of resident threads, which in turn depends on the availability of scratchpad memory in its streaming multiprocessor (SM). Since the scratchpad memory is allocated at thread block granularity, part of the memory may remain unutilized. In this article, we propose architectural and compiler optimizations to improve the scratchpad memory utilization. Our approach, called
Scratchpad Sharing
, addresses scratchpad under-utilization by launching additional thread blocks in each SM. These thread blocks use unutilized scratchpad memory and also share scratchpad memory with other resident blocks. To improve the performance of scratchpad sharing, we propose
Owner Warp First (OWF)
scheduling that schedules warps from the additional thread blocks effectively. The performance of this approach, however, is limited by the availability of the part of scratchpad memory that is shared among thread blocks.

We propose compiler optimizations to improve the availability of shared scratchpad memory. We describe an allocation scheme that helps in allocating scratchpad variables such that shared scratchpad is accessed for short duration. We introduce a new hardware instruction,
relssp
, that when executed releases the shared scratchpad memory. Finally, we describe an analysis for optimal placement of
relssp
instructions, such that shared scratchpad memory is released as early as possible, but only after its last use, along every execution path.

We implemented the hardware changes required for scratchpad sharing and the
relssp
instruction using the GPGPU-Sim simulator and implemented the compiler optimizations in Ocelot framework. We evaluated the effectiveness of our approach on 19 kernels from 3 benchmarks suites: CUDA-SDK, GPGPU-Sim, and Rodinia. The kernels that under-utilize scratchpad memory show an average improvement of 19% and maximum improvement of 92.17% in terms of the number of instruction executed per cycle when compared to the baseline approach, without affecting the performance of the kernels that are not limited by scratchpad memory.
An Elevator Pitch on Deep Learning
Authors: Hu Yuan-Ting , Schwing Alexander G.
Published: May 2017

Machine learning improves all aspects of our life and very few days pass where we don't interact with a machine learning driven application. For example, we may use fitness trackers that monitor the quality of our sleep. Before leaving to work, we may check the weather forecast. To get to work, we use a navigation system that predicts the fastest route to our first meeting. On the road, we use voice commands to interact with our phone. Web searches and e-commerce recommendations are based on machine learning. Cameras detect faces when we take a picture and our email inboxes are protected by spam filters, which are designed using machine learning tools.
Back-Projection Imaging of Earthquakes
Authors: Kiser Eric , Ishii Miaki
Published: May 2017

Back-projection analysis of earthquakes is a type of array processing that images the source of seismic waves coherently recorded at stations throughout the seismic network. The method was developed following the magnitude 9.2 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake in 2004. Although properties of earthquakes have been investigated using array data prior to the introduction of the back-projection method, this technique differs from other approaches because it makes limited assumptions and allows detailed and complex rupture propagation to be examined. These advantages have led several researchers to apply the method to many of the largest earthquakes to occur this century. The method has also been effective for the detection of smaller events. A critical component of the success of back-projection has been the development of large-scale, dense seismic arrays. Further improvements and future applications of the method will depend greatly on the continued maintenance and development of these networks.
Processing-Efficient Distributed Adaptive RLS Filtering for Computationally Constrained Platforms
Authors: Khan Noor M. , Raza Hasan
Published: May 2017

In this paper, a novel processing-efficient architecture of a group of inexpensive and computationally incapable small platforms is proposed for a parallely distributed adaptive signal processing (PDASP) operation. The proposed architecture runs computationally expensive procedures like complex adaptive recursive least square (RLS) algorithm cooperatively. The proposed PDASP architecture operates properly even if perfect time alignment among the participating platforms is not available. An RLS algorithm with the application of MIMO channel estimation is deployed on the proposed architecture. Complexity and processing time of the PDASP scheme with MIMO RLS algorithm are compared with sequentially operated MIMO RLS algorithm and liner Kalman filter. It is observed that PDASP scheme exhibits much lesser computational complexity parallely than the sequential MIMO RLS algorithm as well as Kalman filter. Moreover, the proposed architecture provides an improvement of 95.83% and 82.29% decreased processing time parallely compared to the sequentially operated Kalman filter and MIMO RLS algorithm for low doppler rate, respectively. Likewise, for high doppler rate, the proposed architecture entails an improvement of 94.12% and 77.28% decreased processing time compared to the Kalman and RLS algorithms, respectively.
Small Engines as Bottoming Cycle Steam Expanders for Internal Combustion Engines
Authors: Weerasinghe Rohitha , Hounsham Sandra
Published: May 2017

Heat recovery bottoming cycles for internal combustion engines have opened new avenues for research into small steam expanders (Stobart and Weerasinghe, 2006). Dependable data for small steam expanders will allow us to predict their suitability as bottoming cycle engines and the fuel economy achieved by using them as bottoming cycles. Present paper is based on results of experiments carried out on small scale Wankel and two-stroke reciprocating engines as air expanders and as steam expanders. A test facility developed at Sussex used for measurements is comprised of a torque, power and speed measurements, electronic actuation of valves, synchronized data acquisition of pressure, and temperatures of steam and inside of the engines for steam and internal combustion cycles. Results are presented for four engine modes, namely, reciprocating engine in uniflow steam expansion mode and air expansion mode and rotary Wankel engine in steam expansion mode and air expansion mode. The air tests will provide base data for friction and motoring effects whereas steam tests will tell how effective the engines will be in this mode. Results for power, torque, and p-V diagrams are compared to determine the change in performance from air expansion mode to steam expansion mode.
MCL Plays an Anti-Inflammatory Role inMycobacterium tuberculosis-Induced Immune Response by Inhibiting NF-κB and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation
Authors: Zhang Qingwen , Jiang Xinru , He Weigang , Wei Kailin , Sun Jinxia , Qin Xiangyang , Zheng Yuejuan , Jiang Xin
Published: May 2017

Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) remains a significant menace to global health as it induces granulomatous lung lesions and systemic inflammatory responses during active tuberculosis (TB). Micheliolide (MCL), a sesquiterpene lactone, was recently reported to have a function of relieving LPS-induced inflammatory response, but the regulative role of MCL on the immunopathology of TB still remains unknown. In this experiment, we examined the inhibitory effect of MCL on Mtb-induced inflammatory response in mouse macrophage-like cell line Raw264.7 by downregulating the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and NLRP3 inflammasome. Evidences showed that MCL decreased the secretion of Mtb-induced inflammatory cytokines (IL-1βand TNF-α) in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, MCL dramatically suppressed Mtb-induced activation of iNOS and COX2 as well as subsequent production of NO. Furthermore, MCL inhibited Mtb-induced phosphorylation of Akt (Ser 473) in Raw264.7. According to our results, MCL plays an important role in modulating Mtb-induced inflammatory response through PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway and subsequently downregulating the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Therefore, MCL may represent as a potential drug candidate in the adjuvant treatment of TB by regulating host immune response.
Promoting Mental Health in Italian Middle and High School: A Pilot Study
Authors: Veltro Franco , Ialenti Valentina , Morales García Manuel Alejandro , Bonanni Emiliana , Iannone Claudia , D’Innocenzo Marinella , Gigantesco Antonella
Published: May 2017

Aim. In Italy, a handbook has been developed based on the principles of cooperative learning, life skills, self-effectiveness, and problem-solving at high school level. Early studies have shown the handbook’s effectiveness. It has been hypothesized that the revised handbook could be more effective in middle schools. Method. The study design is a “pre- and posttest” that compares the results obtained from 91 students of the high schools with those of the 38 students from middle schools. The assessment was made through “self-reporting” questionnaires of (a) learning skills including problem-solving and (b) perceived self-efficacy in managing emotions, dysfunctional beliefs, and unhealthy behaviours (i.e., drinking/smoking). Results. Significant improvements were observed in both groups with the exceptions of perceived self-efficacy in managing emotions. The improvement of dysfunctional beliefs and the learning of problem-solving skills were better in middle schools. Conclusion. The results confirm the authors’ hypothesis that the use of this approach is much more promising in middle school.
Transition Process from Diffuser Stall to Stage Stall in a Centrifugal Compressor with a Vaned Diffuser
Authors: Fujisawa Nobumichi , Ohta Yutaka
Published: May 2017

The transition process from a diffuser rotating stall to a stage stall in a centrifugal compressor with a vaned diffuser was investigated by experimental and numerical analyses. From the velocity measurements, it was found that the rotating stall existed on the shroud side of the diffuser passage in the off-design flow condition. The numerical results revealed the typical vortical structure of the diffuser stall. The diffuser stall cell was caused by the systematic vortical structure which consisted of the tornado-type vortex, the longitudinal vortex at the shroud/suction surface corner (i.e., leading edge vortex (LEV)), and the vortex in the throat area of the diffuser passages. Furthermore, the stage stall, which rotated within both the impeller and diffuser passages, occurred instead of the diffuser stall as the mass flow rate was decreased. According to the velocity measurements at the diffuser inlet, the diffuser stall which rotated on the shroud side was shifted to the hub side. Then, the diffuser stall moved into the impeller passages and formed the stage stall. Therefore, the stage stall was caused by the development of the diffuser stall, which transferred from the shroud side to the hub side in the vaneless space and expanded to the impeller passages.
Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci That Determine Plasma Total-Cholesterol and Triglyceride Concentrations in DDD/Sgn and C57BL/6J Inbred Mice
Authors: Suto Jun-ichi , Kojima Misaki
Published: May 2017

DDD/Sgn mice have significantly higher plasma lipid concentrations than C57BL/6J mice. In the present study, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for plasma total-cholesterol (CHO) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations in reciprocal F2male intercross populations between the two strains. By single-QTL scans, we identified four significant QTL on chromosomes (Chrs) 1, 5, 17, and 19 for CHO and two significant QTL on Chrs 1 and 12 for TG. By including cross direction as an interactive covariate, we identified separate significant QTL on Chr 17 for CHO but none for TG. When the large phenotypic effect of QTL on Chr 1 was controlled by composite interval mapping, we identified three additional significant QTL on Chrs 3, 4, and 9 for CHO but none for TG. QTL on Chr 19 was a novel QTL for CHO and the allelic effect of this QTL significantly differed between males and females. Whole-exome sequence analysis in DDD/Sgn mice suggested thatApoa2andAcadswere the plausible candidate genes underlying CHO QTL on Chrs 1 and 5, respectively. Thus, we identified a multifactorial basis for plasma lipid concentrations in male mice. These findings will provide insight into the genetic mechanisms of plasma lipid metabolism.
Quantum Chemical Investigation on the Antioxidant Activity of Neutral and Anionic Forms of Juglone: Metal Chelation and Its Effect on Radical Scavenging Activity
Authors: Fouegue Tamafo Aymard Didier , Ghogomu Julius Numbonui , Nkungli Nyiang Kennet , Bikélé Mama Désiré , Younang Elie
Published: May 2017

The chelation ability of divalent Mg, Ca, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and monovalent Cu ions by neutral and anionic forms of juglone has been investigated at DFT/B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory in gas and aqueous phases. It is noteworthy that only the 1 : 1 stoichiometry was considered herein. The effects of these metals on the radical scavenging activity of neutral juglone were evaluated via the usual descriptors of hydrogen atom transfer. According to our results, metal chelation by the two forms of juglone was spontaneous and exothermic in both media. Based on the binding energies, Cu(II) ion showed the highest affinity for the ligands. QTAIM analyses identified the metal-ligand bonds as intermediate type interactions in all the chelates, except those of Ca and Mg. It was also found that the chelates were better radical scavengers than the ligands. In the gas phase, the scavenging activity of the compounds was found to be governed by direct hydrogen atom transfer, the Co(II) chelate being the most reactive. In the aqueous phase also, the sequential proton loss electron transfer was preferred by all the molecules, while the Cu(II) chelates were the most reactive.