bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental gradients and micro‐heterogeneity shape fine‐scale plant community assembly on coastal dunes
Authors: Conti Luisa , de Bello Francesco , Lepš Jan , Acosta Alicia Teresa Rosario , Carboni Marta
Published: April 2017

Questions

How do fine scale community assembly processes (e.g., environmental filtering, symmetric competition, hierarchical competition, facilitation) vary along a natural stress gradient on coastal sand dunes? How does local environmental heterogeneity affect these processes?

Location

Mediterranean coastal sand dunes, central Italy (Montalto Marina, Lazio region).

Methods

We quantified spatial (co‐occurrence) and functional patterns (degree of divergence in the traits of co‐occurring species) at a fine scale (0.5 m × 0.5 m subplots) in herbaceous communities (2 m × 2 m plots) of coastal habitats along the sea–inland vegetation zonation. We then studied how the fine‐scale co‐occurrence patterns (aggregation vs segregation) varied across habitats of the zonation. Finally, we fitted linear models assessing the relationship of the fine‐scale functional patterns (convergence vs divergence) with (1) the average environmental conditions along the sea–inland environmental stress gradient, and (2) the environmental heterogeneity within plots.

Results

Spatial and functional patterns conveyed complementary information. Within‐community spatial segregation was more common further from the sea, which suggests the dominance of competitive processes in the least stressed communities. Fine‐scale convergence or divergence depended, for all functional traits, on the average environmental conditions of the community along the gradient, suggesting an effect of environmental stress on the prevailing assembly processes. However, it also depended on the environmental heterogeneity within the community, suggesting that micro‐abiotic filtering might play a more important role than previously anticipated in determining fine‐scale community assembly.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that contrasting assembly processes act simultaneously on community assembly along environmental gradients, both as a function of average environmental conditions and of local heterogeneity. Future studies assessing community assembly should therefore avoid neglecting the role of micro‐abiotic filtering in shaping functional patterns. Moreover, only by integrating multiple sources of information (trait patterns, spatial patterns and environmental variation) were we able to disentangle fine‐scale community assembly processes and reinforce our interpretation of community patterns.
Meteor shower detection with density‐based clustering
Authors: Sugar Glenn , Moorhead Althea , Brown Peter , Cooke William
Published: April 2017

We present a new method to detect meteor showers using the density‐based spatial clustering of applications with noise algorithm (DBSCAN; Ester et al. ). The DBSCAN algorithm is a modern cluster detection algorithm that is well suited to the problem of extracting meteor showers from all‐sky camera data because of its ability to efficiently extract clusters of different shapes and sizes from large data sets. We apply this shower detection algorithm on a data set that contains 25,885 meteor trajectories and orbits obtained from the NASA All‐Sky Fireball Network and the Southern Ontario Meteor Network (SOMN). Using a distance metric based on solar longitude, geocentric velocity, and Sun‐centered ecliptic radiant, we find 25 strong cluster detections and six weak detections in the data, all of which are good matches to known showers. We include measurement errors in our analysis to quantify the reliability of cluster occurrence and the probability that each meteor belongs to a given cluster. We validate our method through false‐positive/negative analysis and with a comparison to an established shower detection algorithm.
Microscopic evidence of stishovite generated in low‐pressure shock experiments on porous sandstone: Constraints on its genesis
Authors: Mansfeld Ulrich , Langenhorst Falko , Ebert Matthias , Kowitz Astrid , Schmitt Ralf Thomas
Published: April 2017

It has been almost exactly half a century since the first synthesis of stishovite in shock experiments on quartz was reported, but its formation conditions during shock is still under debate. Here, we present direct transmission electron microscopic observation of stishovite within material recovered from high‐explosive shock experiments on porous sandstone shocked at 7.5 and 12.5 GPa. Our observations allow for new conclusions on the genesis of stishovite in a close‐to‐nature environment. The formation of stishovite in short‐time shock experiments proves that its crystallization is ultrafast (<1 μs). Crystals were found only embedded in amorphous veins indicating homogeneous nucleation. Crystallization from melt rather than from glass can be concluded from the observation of roundish, defect‐free crystals up to 150 nm in diameter embedded in nondensified glass. The formation of stishovite at 7.5 GPa is in accordance with the phase diagram of silica, if rapid undercooling is present that becomes only possible by the existence of small hot spots in an otherwise cold material, which is supported by transient heat calculation. The absence of coesite at 7.5 GPa suggests kinetic hindrance of its crystallization from melt and, thus, smaller critical cooling rates compared to stishovite where critical cooling rates are estimated to be as large as 1011 K s−1. While the amorphous veins containing stishovite represent unambiguously hot spots, no associated pressure amplification could be verified within these veins. The rapid liquidus crystallization of stishovite only in hot spots generated in porous material is an alternative formation mechanism to the widely accepted theory of solid–solid transition from quartz to stishovite and might represent the more general mechanism occurring in nature for low shock pressure events.
Quality of care for treatment of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition delivered by community health workers in a rural area of Mali
Authors: Alvarez Morán Jose Luis , Alé Franck G. B. , Rogers Eleanor , Guerrero Saul
Published: April 2017

An alternative Community‐based Management of Acute Malnutrition model with community health workers (CHWs) delivering treatment for uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) was piloted in Mali. The capacity of the CHWs to evaluate, classify, and treat cases of uncomplicated SAM, to provide nutritional counselling to caretakers of children receiving treatment for SAM, malaria, pneumonia or diarrhoea and to correctly refer cases of complicated SAM, was assessed. This was done using direct observation by trained enumerators of the management of SAM cases using checklists, re‐diagnosing the cases admitted for treatment and reviewing admissions cards and registers. One hundred twenty‐five cases, assessed and treated by the CHWs, were observed. The majority of children were correctly assessed for the presence of major clinical signs (cough, diarrhoea, fever, and vomiting; 97.6%), and similarly most children were checked for the presence of danger signs (95.2%). Mid‐upper arm circumference was correctly assessed in 96.8% of children and oedema was correctly assessed in 78.4% (The composite indicator, which includes all essential tasks to provide high‐quality treatment, was achieved in 79.5% of cases. This paper concludes that well‐trained and supervised CHWs are capable of managing cases of uncomplicated SAM. This suggests that such a strategy is an opportunity to increase access to quality treatment in Mali for SAM cases. However, further evidence is required to ensure that this level of care can be achieved at scale.
Rce1, a novel transcriptional repressor, regulates cellulase gene expression by antagonizing the transactivator Xyr1 in Trichoderma reesei
Authors: Cao Yanli , Zheng Fanglin , Wang Lei , Zhao Guolei , Chen Guanjun , Zhang Weixin , Liu Weifeng
Published: April 2017

Cellulase gene expression in the model cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma reesei is supposed to be controlled by an intricate regulatory network involving multiple transcription factors. Here, we identified a novel transcriptional repressor of cellulase gene expression, Rce1. Disruption of the rce1 gene not only facilitated the induced expression of cellulase genes but also led to a significant delay in terminating the induction process. However, Rce1 did not participate in Cre1‐mediated catabolite repression. Electrophoretic mobility shift (EMSA) and DNase I footprinting assays in combination with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) demonstrated that Rce1 could bind directly to a cbh1 (cellobiohydrolase 1‐encoding) gene promoter region containing a cluster of Xyr1 binding sites. Furthermore, competitive binding assays revealed that Rce1 antagonized Xyr1 from binding to the cbh1 promoter. These results indicate that intricate interactions exist between a variety of transcription factors to ensure tight and energy‐efficient regulation of cellulase gene expression in T. reesei. This study also provides important clues regarding increased cellulase production in T. reesei.
Disruption of actin motor function due to MoMyo5 mutation impairs host penetration and pathogenicity in Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Tang Wei , Gao Chuyun , Wang Jingzhen , Yin Ziyi , Zhang Jinlong , Ji Jun , Zhang Haifeng , Zheng Xiaobo , Zhang Zhengguang , Wang Ping
Published: April 2017

Actin motor myosin proteins are the driving forces behind the active transport of vesicles, and more than 20 classes of myosin have been found to contribute to a wide range of cellular processes, including endocytosis and exocytosis, autophagy, cytokinesis and the actin cytoskeleton. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, class V myosin Myo2 (ScMyo2p) is important for the transport of distinct sets of cargo to regions of the cell along the cytoskeleton for polarized growth. To study whether myosins play a role in the formation or function of the appressorium (infectious structure) of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, we identified MoMyo5 as an orthologue of ScMyo2p and characterized its function. Targeted gene disruption revealed that MoMyo5 is required for intracellular transport and is essential for hyphal growth and asexual reproduction. Although the ΔMomyo5 mutant could form appressorium‐like structures, the structures were unable to penetrate host cells and were therefore non‐pathogenic. We further found that MoMyo5 moves dynamically from the cytoplasm to the hyphal tip, where it interacts with MoSec4, a Rab GTPase involved in secretory transport, hyphal growth and fungal pathogenicity. Our studies indicate that class V myosin and its translocation are tightly coupled with hyphal growth, asexual reproduction, appressorium function and pathogenicity in the rice blast fungus.
Tryptase potentiates enteric nerve activation by histamine and serotonin: Relevance for the effects of mucosal biopsy supernatants from irritable bowel syndrome patients
Authors: Ostertag D. , Annahazi A. , Krueger D. , Michel K. , Demir I. E. , Ceyhan G. O. , Zeller F. , Schemann M.
Published: April 2017

Background

We previously showed that mucosal biopsy supernatants from irritable bowel syndrome patients activated neurons despite low concentrations of tryptase, histamine, and serotonin which individually would not cause spike discharge. We studied the potentiating responses between these mediators on excitability of enteric neurons.

Methods

Calcium‐imaging was performed using the calcium‐sensitive dye Fluo‐4 AM in human submucous plexus preparations from 45 individuals. Histamine, serotonin, and tryptase were applied alone and in combinations to evaluate nerve activation which was assessed by analyzing increase in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), the proportion of responding neurons and the product of both defined as Ca‐neuroindex (NI). Protease activated receptor (PAR) 2 activating peptide, PAR2 antagonist and the serine protease‐inhibitor FUT‐175 were used to particularly investigate the role of proteases.

Key Results

Histamine or serotonin (1 μmol/L each) evoked only few small responses (median NI [25%/75%]: 0 [0/148]; 85 [0/705] respectively). Their combined application evoked statistically similar responses (216 [21/651]). Addition of the PAR2 activator tryptase induced a significantly higher Ca‐NI (1401 [867/4075]) compared to individual application of tryptase or to coapplied histamine and serotonin. This synergistic potentiation was neither mimicked by PAR2 activating peptide nor reversed by the PAR2 antagonist GB83, but abolished by FUT‐175.

Conclusions & Inferences

We observed synergistic potentiation between histamine, serotonin, and tryptase in enteric neurons, which is mediated by proteolytic activity rather than PAR2 activation. This explained neuronal activation by a cocktail of these mediators despite their low concentrations and despite a relatively small PAR2‐mediated response in human submucous neurons.
Ancient plant DNA in lake sediments
Authors: Parducci Laura , Bennett Keith D. , Ficetola Gentile Francesco , Alsos Inger Greve , Suyama Yoshihisa , Wood Jamie R. , Pedersen Mikkel Winther
Published: April 2017

Contents

Summary
924

I.
Introduction
925

II.
Environmental and temporal limits for survival of aDNA
925

III.
Lake sediments
927

IV.
Perspective for plant aDNA research
929

V.
Perspective for plant aDNA research
930

VI.
Pollen DNA
930

VII.
Sedimentary aDNA
931

VIII.
Recent key findings and future methods using HTS techniques
933

IX.
Challenges when studying aDNA from lake sediments
935

X.
Bioinformatic processing
936

XI.
Conclusions and directions for future research
938

Acknowledgements
938

References
938

Recent advances in sequencing technologies now permit the analyses of plant DNA from fossil samples (ancient plant DNA, plant aDNA), and thus enable the molecular reconstruction of palaeofloras. Hitherto, ancient frozen soils have proved excellent in preserving DNA molecules, and have thus been the most commonly used source of plant aDNA. However, DNA from soil mainly represents taxa growing a few metres from the sampling point. Lakes have larger catchment areas and recent studies have suggested that plant aDNA from lake sediments is a more powerful tool for palaeofloristic reconstruction. Furthermore, lakes can be found globally in nearly all environments, and are therefore not limited to perennially frozen areas. Here, we review the latest approaches and methods for the study of plant aDNA from lake sediments and discuss the progress made up to the present. We argue that aDNA analyses add new and additional perspectives for the study of ancient plant populations and, in time, will provide higher taxonomic resolution and more precise estimation of abundance. Despite this, key questions and challenges remain for such plant aDNA studies. Finally, we provide guidelines on technical issues, including lake selection, and we suggest directions for future research on plant aDNA studies in lake sediments.
Grass inflorescence architecture and evolution: the origin of novel signaling centers
Authors: Whipple Clinton J.
Published: April 2017

A central goal of evo‐devo is to understand how morphological diversity arises from existing developmental mechanisms, requiring a clear, predictive explanatory framework of the underlying developmental mechanisms. Despite an ever‐increasing literature on genes regulating grass inflorescence development, an effective model of inflorescence patterning is lacking. I argue that the existing framework for grass inflorescence development, which invokes homeotic shifts in multiple distinct meristem identities, obscures a recurring theme emerging from developmental genetic studies in grass models, that is that inflorescence branching is regulated by novel localized signaling centers. Understanding the origin and function of these novel signaling centers will be key to future evo‐devo work on the grass inflorescence.

Contents

Summary
367

I.
Introduction
367

II.
Modeling inflorescence development
368

III.
Novel grass inflorescence structures associated with novel signaling centers
370

IV.
Conclusions
371

Acknowledgements
371

References
371
RNA‐guided Cas9 as an in vivo desired‐target mutator in maize
Authors: Li Chuxi , Liu Changlin , Qi Xiantao , Wu Yongchun , Fei Xiaohong , Mao Long , Cheng Beijiu , Li Xinhai , Xie Chuanxiao
Published: April 2017

The RNA‐guided Cas9 system is a versatile tool for genome editing. Here, we established a RNA‐guided endonuclease (RGEN) system as an in vivo desired‐target mutator (DTM) in maize to reduce the linkage drag during breeding procedure, using the LIGULELESS1 (LG1) locus as a proof‐of‐concept. Our system showed 51.5%–91.2% mutation frequency in T0 transgenic plants. We then crossed the T1 plants stably expressing DTM with six diverse recipient maize lines and found that 11.79%–28.71% of the plants tested were mutants induced by the DTM effect. Analysis of successive F2 plants indicated that the mutations induced by the DTM effect were largely heritable. Moreover, DTM‐generated hybrids had significantly smaller leaf angles that were reduced more than 50% when compared with that of the wild type. Planting experiments showed that DTM‐generated maize plants can be grown with significantly higher density and hence greater yield potential. Our work demonstrate that stably expressed RGEN could be implemented as an in vivoDTM to rapidly generate and spread desired mutations in maize through hybridization and subsequent backcrossing, and hence bypassing the linkage drag effect in convention introgression methodology. This proof‐of‐concept experiment can be a potentially much more efficient breeding strategy in crops employing the RNA‐guided Cas9 genome editing.
Central line‐associated bloodstream infection in childhood malignancy: Single‐center experience
Authors: Miliaraki Marianna , Katzilakis Nikolaos , Chranioti Ioanna , Stratigaki Maria , Koutsaki Maria , Psarrou Maria , Athanasopoulos Emmanouil , Stiakaki Eftichia
Published: April 2017

Background

Central line‐associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is a common complication in children with malignancy, often leading to prolonged hospitalization, delay in chemotherapy or catheter removal. This retrospective epidemiological study reviewed 91 children with malignancy over a 5 year period between 2011 and 2015 and analyzed potential risk factors for CLABSI.

Methods

Symptoms, laboratory and microbiology characteristics, subsequent treatment and outcome were recorded and analyzed. All the collected data were processed through SPSS for statistical analysis.

Results

Among 40 episodes of CLABSI recorded in 30 patients, the rate of CLABSI was estimated as 2.62 episodes per 1,000 days of central venous catheter (CVC) carriage. Most of the bacterial pathogens isolated in CLABSI episodes were Gram positive, including different strains of staphylococci, while Gram‐negative bacteria were involved in 30% of episodes. Invasive mycosis was isolated in 7.5% of episodes, accounting for the highest catheter removal rate. Intensive chemotherapy and prolonged hospitalization proved to be independent risk factors for CVC infection. In children with neutropenia, the risk for CLABSI was also fourfold greater (P = 0.001). Children with leukemia had a fivefold greater risk for CLABSI (P = 0.005). Finally, although 36% of patients received antibiotic lock therapy, in 15% of these patients catheter replacement could not be avoided due to persistent serious infection.

Conclusions

Younger age, neutropenia, hematologic malignancy and longer catheterization are important risk factors for CLABSI, but further research is required for the prevention of catheter‐related infection in children with malignancy.
Outcome of early discharge protocol after appendectomy for pediatric acute appendicitis
Authors: Jimbo Takahiro , Masumoto Kouji , Takayasu Hajime , Shinkai Toko , Urita Yasuhisa , Uesugi Toru , Gotoh Chikashi , Ono Kentaro , Sasaki Takato
Published: April 2017

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of an early discharge protocol for pediatric acute appendicitis.

Methods

The present new early discharge protocol for appendicitis consisted of both postoperative early feeding and reduced‐port laparoscopic surgery, to reduce surgical stress. The outcome was studied in patients with acute appendicitis treated at the present institution from 2012 to 2013.

Results

Data on 36 acute appendicitis patients (mean age, 10.3 years) were collected. Operation time was 95 ± 27 min. Preoperatively, mean white blood cell (WBC) count was 13 850 ± 3644/μL; mean C‐reactive protein (CRP), 2.7 ± 2.9 mg/dL; and mean procalcitonin, 0.25 ± 0.37 ng/mL. After surgery there was a significant decrease in WBC count, which fell to within the normal range; CRP peaked at 4.9 ± 3.2 mg/dL on postoperative day (POD) 1. On POD 7, all of the hematological markers were within the normal range. There were no postoperative complications. Mean hospital stay was 2.1 ± 1.1 days. Mean frequency of oral painkiller use was 3.2 ± 3.3 times per person.

Conclusions

The present early discharge protocol is safe and effective for the management of acute non‐perforated appendicitis.
Clinical and pathological significance of myeloid differentiation factor 88 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues
Authors: Kinowaki Keiichi , Soejima Yurie , Kumagai Arisa , Kondo Fukuo , Sano Keiji , Fujii Takeshi , Kitagawa Masanobu , Fukusato Toshio
Published: April 2017

The innate immune system, which includes toll‐like receptor (TLR) signaling, plays an important role in inflammation and oncogenesis. Although TLR common adaptor myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) is known to have multiple effects on carcinogenesis, the role of MyD88 in hepatocarcinogenesis remains unknown. In this study, MyD88 expression was examined in 105 samples of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction methods. The relationships between MyD88 expression and clinical and pathological parameters were analyzed. The results showed that attenuated expression of MyD88 in HCC tissue tumor cells was significantly related to hepatitis B virus infection, large tumor size, positive vascular invasion, and intrahepatic metastasis (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis of MyD88 protein in nine normal livers and 28 HCCs showed gender disparity (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and attenuated expression in cirrhotic livers (P < 0.05). Low expression of MyD88 mRNA was evident in HCCs with vascular invasion (P < 0.01). In contrast to previous reports, these results suggest that attenuated expression of MyD88 in HCC is associated with tumor progression.
Do understorey or overstorey traits drive tree encroachment on a drained raised bog?
Authors: Jagodziński A. M. , Horodecki P. , Rawlik K. , Dyderski M. K.
Published: April 2017

One of the most important threats to peatland ecosystems is drainage, resulting in encroachment of woody species. Our main aim was to check which features – overstorey or understorey vegetation – are more important for shaping the seedling bank of pioneer trees colonising peatlands (Pinus sylvestris and Betula pubescens). We hypothesised that tree stand parameters will be more important predictors of natural regeneration density than understorey vegetation parameters, and the former will be negatively correlated with species diversity and richness and also with functional richness and functional dispersion, which indicate a high level of habitat filtering.

The study was conducted in the ‘Zielone Bagna’ nature reserve (NW Poland). We assessed the structure of tree stands and natural regeneration (of B. pubescens and P. sylvestris) and vegetation species composition. Random forest and DCA were applied to assess relationships between variables studied.

Understorey vegetation traits affected tree seedling density (up to 0.5‐m height) more than tree stand traits. Density of older seedlings depended more on tree stand traits. We did not find statistically significant relationships between natural regeneration densities and functional diversity components, except for functional richness, which was positively correlated with density of the youngest tree seedlings.

Seedling densities were higher in plots with lower functional dispersion and functional divergence, which indicated that habitat filtering is more important than competition. Presence of an abundant seedling bank is crucial for the process of woody species encroachment on drained peatlands, thus its dynamics should be monitored in protected areas.
Why do people with dementia pretend to know the correct answer? A qualitative study on the behaviour of toritsukuroi to keep up appearances
Authors: Matsushita Masateru , Yatabe Yusuke , Koyama Asuka , Ueno Yukiko , Ijichi Daisuke , Ikezaki Hiroto , Hashimoto Mamoru , Furukawa Noboru , Ikeda Manabu
Published: April 2017

Background

Toritsukuroi is a particular type of behaviour intended to save face or preserve appearances. Clinicians often observe toritsukuroi in people with dementia, but current knowledge about this behaviour is based on clinicians’ empirical knowledge rather than on observational studies. This study was designed to clarify which behaviours are related to toritsukuroi based on neuropsychological examinations.

Methods

The subjects were 91 outpatients with dementia. Verbal responses, with the exceptions of ‘I don't know’ and erroneous answers, were recorded by certificated clinical psychologists and analyzed by qualitative study procedures. A qualitative study was separately conducted by two researchers to identify themes and types of reactions. The themes found through content analysis were organized and labelled by a senior psychiatrist.

Results

Among the patients, 41.8% verbally responded in way to ‘keep up appearances’. Six distinct thematic categories were identified through conventional content analysis: (i) refuting sudden questions; (ii) disclosing trait; (iii) disclosing experience; (iv) demonstrating slight hesitation; (v) appealing to indifference; and (vi) other.

Conclusions

All the responses that we defined as being toritsukuroi reflect a denial of acquired cognitive impairment. Further study is needed to clarify the association between toritsukuroi and either cognitive function or disease specificity.
Left ventricular biomechanics in professional football players
Authors: von Lueder T. G. , Hodt A. , Gjerdalen G. F. , Steine K.
Published: April 2017

Chronic exercise induces adaptive changes of left ventricular (LV) ejection and filling capacities which may be detected by novel speckle‐tracking echocardiography (STE) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)‐based techniques. A total of 103 consecutive male elite Norwegian soccer players and 46 age‐matched healthy controls underwent echocardiography at rest. STE was used to assess LV torsional mechanics and LV systolic longitudinal strain (LS). Diastolic function was evaluated by trans‐mitral blood flow, mitral annular velocities by TDI, and LV inflow propagation velocity by color M‐mode. Despite similar global LS, players displayed lower basal wall and higher apical wall LS values vs controls, resulting in an incremental base‐to‐apex gradient of LS. Color M‐mode and TDI‐derived data were similar in both groups. Peak systolic twist rate (TWR) was significantly lower in players (86.4±2.8 vs controls 101.9±5.2 deg/s, P<.01). Diastolic untwisting rate (UTWR) was higher in players (−124.5±4.2 vs −106.9±6.7 deg/s) and peaked earlier during the cardiac cycle (112.7±0.8 vs 117.4±2.4% of systole duration, both P<.05). Untwisting/twisting ratio (−1.48±0.05 vs −1.11±0.08; P<.001) and untwisting performance (=UTR/TW; −9.25±0.34 vs −7.38±0.40 s−1, P<.01) were increased in players. Augmented diastolic wall strain (DWS), a novel measure of LV compliance in players, was associated with improved myocardial mechanical efficiency. The described myocardial biomechanics may underlie augmented exertional cardiac function in athletes and may have a potential role to characterize athlete′s heart by itself or to distinguish it from hypertensive or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction does not induce further gamma loop abnormalities on the intact side of the quadriceps femoris: A longitudinal study
Authors: Konishi Y.
Published: April 2017

This study aimed to investigate the effect of surgery on the gamma loop of the quadriceps on the side with an intact knee in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. We compared longitudinally the response of alpha motor neurons to vibration stimulation of the quadriceps on the side with an intact knee before and after ACL reconstruction. To evaluate alpha motor neuron response, we measured the maximal knee extension strength and integrated electromyography of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris. After obtaining pre‐vibration data from each subject, vibration stimulation was applied to the infrapatellar tendon, and the same measurements were performed immediately after stimulation. The results of this study showed that the response to prolonged vibration stimulation on the intact side of the quadriceps did not differ pre‐ and post‐surgery. As vibration stimuli normally elicit a decrease in alpha motor neuron activity in normal individuals, abnormal responses to prolonged vibration stimulation of the quadriceps on the side with an intact knee might be observed in patients with ACL injuries. The abnormality of the gamma loop of the quadriceps on the side with an intact knee was probably induced by the rupture. Based on these results, we conclude that surgery does not induce further gamma loop abnormalities on the intact side of the quadriceps.
Hepatitis B virus sequencing and liver fibrosis evaluation in HIV/HBV co‐infected Nigerians
Authors: Grant Jennifer , Agbaji Oche , Kramvis Anna , Yousif Mukhlid , Auwal Mu'azu , Penugonda Sudhir , Ugoagwu Placid , Murphy Robert , Hawkins Claudia
Published: April 2017

Objectives

Molecular characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV), such as genotype and genomic mutations, may contribute to liver‐related morbidity and mortality. The association of these characteristics with liver fibrosis severity in sub‐Saharan Africa is uncertain. We aimed to characterise molecular HBV features in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HBV co‐infected Nigerians and evaluate associations between these characteristics and liver fibrosis severity before and after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation.

Methods

HIV/HBV co‐infected Nigerians underwent liver fibrosis estimation by transient elastography (TE) prior to and 36 months after ART initiation. Basal core promoter/precore (BCP/PC) and preS1/preS2/S regions of HBV were sequenced from baseline plasma samples. We evaluated associations between HBV mutations and liver fibrosis severity by univariate and multivariable regression.

Results

At baseline, 94 patients underwent TE with median liver stiffness of 6.4 (IQR 4.7–8.7) kPa. Patients were predominantly infected with HBV genotype E (45/46) and HBe‐antigen negative (75/94, 79.8%). We identified BCP A1762T/G1764A in 15/35 (43%), PC G1896A in 20/35 (57%), ‘a’ determinant mutations in 12/45 (26.7%) and preS2 deletions in 6/16 (37.5%). PreS2 mutations were associated with advanced fibrosis in multivariable analysis. At follow‐up, median liver stiffness was 5.2 (IQR 4.1–6.6) kPa. No HBV molecular characteristics were associated with lack of fibrosis regression, although HIV virologic control, body mass index (BMI) and baseline CD4+ T‐cell count were associated with a decline in fibrosis stage.

Conclusion

Frequent BCP/PC and preS1/preS2/S mutations were found in ART‐naïve HIV/HBV co‐infected Nigerians. Median liver stiffness declined after initiation of ART, regardless of pre‐ART HBV mutational pattern or virologic characteristics.
Recommendations for designing and conducting veterinary clinical pathology biologic variation studies
Authors: Freeman Kathleen P. , Baral Randolph M. , Dhand Navneet K. , Nielsen Søren Saxmose , Jensen Asger L.
Published: April 2017

The recent creation of a veterinary clinical pathology biologic variation website has highlighted the need to provide recommendations for future studies of biologic variation in animals in order to help standardize and improve the quality of published information and to facilitate review and selection of publications as standard references. The following recommendations are provided in the format and order commonly found in veterinary publications. A checklist is provided to aid in planning, implementing, and evaluating veterinary studies on biologic variation (Appendix S1). These recommendations provide a valuable resource for clinicians, laboratorians, and researchers interested in conducting studies of biologic variation and in determining the quality of studies of biologic variation in veterinary laboratory testing.
Development of an Industrially Sponsored Senior Design Capstone Program: A University and Sponsor Perspective
Authors: Moreno Vito , Cutiongco Eric , Patel Vinay
Published: April 2017

The University of Connecticut Department of Mechanical Engineering Senior Design (Capstone) Course utilizes projects that are sponsored by local companies. While this approach offers many immediate benefits to near-graduating seniors, it introduces many unique problems to the academic community. Developing and sustaining an industrially-sponsored capstone design program requires an understanding of the synergies and differences between academia and industry.[1] Key issues that are addressed in this paper are project identification, oversight, mentorship and critical feedback. This paper is a collaboration between the Program Manager and 2 of the industry Sponsors from the 2015 2016 academic year. Following a brief discussion of several projects, sponsor comments on the value and areas of continued improvement are provided.
A Virtual Laboratory Combined With Biometric Authentication and 3D Reconstruction
Authors: Zhang Zhou , Zhang Mingshao , Chang Yizhe , Esche Sven K. , Chassapis Constantin
Published: April 2017

Virtual laboratories are used in professional skill development, online education, and corporate training. There are several aspects that determine the effectiveness and popularity of virtual laboratories: (i) the benefits brought to the users compared with those provided by traditional physical hands-on laboratories, (ii) the cost of adopting a virtual laboratory which includes the costs of creating the virtual environment and developing virtual experiments, and (iii) the operation which includes the communication between trainers and trainees, the authentication and remote proctoring of the trainees, etc. At present, the procedures of building and operating a virtual laboratory are still tedious, time-consuming and resource-intense, thus considerably limiting the potential applications and popularization of virtual laboratories.

In this paper, a virtual laboratory built and operated with 3D reconstruction and biometric authentication is introduced and an evaluation of the feasibility of the proposed approaches is presented.

3D reconstruction techniques are used to create the virtual environment of this virtual laboratory. The traditional tools used to survey the real world are replaced by a hand-held camera. Then, all of the information acquired by this hand-held camera is processed. Finally, the virtual environment of the virtual laboratory is generated automatically in real-time.

The biometric authentication techniques (here facial recognition techniques) are used to create a remote proctor. The general logic and basic algorithms used to enable biometric authentication and remote proctoring are described. When using this virtual laboratory, the students log in by capturing their face with a camera. While performing a laboratory exercise, they sit in front of the camera and the virtual laboratory system monitors their facial expressions and the motion of their head in order to identify suspicious behaviors. Upon detection of such suspicious behaviors, the system records a video for further analysis by the laboratory administrator.
Robust source localization from wavefield separation including prior information
Authors: Nowakowski Thibault , de Rosny Julien , Daudet Laurent
Published: April 2017

Strong reverberation is a challenge for narrowband source localization, as most of the existing methods are based on times-of-arrival measurements, that is affected by boundaries. Amongst the methods that explicitly take into account the reverberation, wavefield separation projector processing (WSPP) splits the acoustic wave field into the direct path of the sources and the reverberation. However, WSPP requires a very large number of microphones, making this method impractical. This article studies three ways of alleviating this constraint, extending WSPP by adding different prior information on the wavefield. The first method is based on using the knowledge of the critical distance of the room to decrease the selectivity of the field separation. The second method adds constraints called “virtual measurements” when the room geometry is partially known. Finally, the last method requires a simple calibration step to estimate the Green's functions between each pair of microphones; this also extends the model to weakly inhomogeneous propagation media. It is shown numerically and experimentally that these methods allow a precise source localization, with a reduced number of microphones.
The brain’s immune system hibernates in response to systemic injury
Authors: Choi Huimahn Alex
Published: April 2017

In a small cohort of prostatectomy patients, systemic inflammation influenced the brain’s immune response and cognition.
Listeriolysin S Is a Streptolysin S-Like Virulence Factor That Targets Exclusively Prokaryotic CellsIn Vivo
Authors: Quereda Juan J. , Nahori Marie A. , Meza-Torres Jazmín , Sachse Martin , Titos-Jiménez Patricia , Gomez-Laguna Jaime , Dussurget Olivier , Cossart Pascale , Pizarro-Cerdá Javier
Published: April 2017

Streptolysin S (SLS)-like virulence factors from clinically relevant Gram-positive pathogens have been proposed to behave as potent cytotoxins, playing key roles in tissue infection. Listeriolysin S (LLS) is an SLS-like hemolysin/bacteriocin present amongListeria monocytogenesstrains responsible for human listeriosis outbreaks. As LLS cytotoxic activity has been associated with virulence, we investigated the LLS-specific contribution to host tissue infection. Surprisingly, we first show that LLS causes only weak red blood cell (RBC) hemolysisin vitroand neither confers resistance to phagocytic killing nor favors survival ofL. monocytogeneswithin the blood cells or in the extracellular space (in the plasma). We reveal that LLS does not elicit specific immune responses, is not cytotoxic for eukaryotic cells, and does not impact cell infection byL. monocytogenes. Usingin vitrocell infection systems and a murine intravenous infection model, we actually demonstrate that LLS expression is undetectable during infection of cells and murine inner organs. Importantly, upon intravenous animal inoculation,L. monocytogenesis found in the gastrointestinal system, and only in this environment LLS expression is detectedin vivo. Finally, we confirm that LLS production is associated with destruction of target bacteria. Our results demonstrate therefore that LLS does not contribute toL. monocytogenestissue injury and virulence in inner host organs as previously reported. Moreover, we describe that LlsB, a putative posttranslational modification enzyme encoded in the LLS operon, is necessary for murine inner organ colonization. Overall, we demonstrate that LLS is the first SLS-like virulence factor targeting exclusively prokaryotic cells duringin vivoinfections.

IMPORTANCEThe most severe human listeriosis outbreaks are caused byL. monocytogenesstrains harboring listeriolysin S (LLS), previously described as a cytotoxin that plays a critical role in host inner tissue infection. Cytotoxic activities have been proposed as a general mode of action for streptolysin S (SLS)-like toxins, including clostridiolysin S and LLS. We now challenge this dogma by demonstrating that LLS does not contribute to virulencein vivoonce the intestinal barrier has been crossed. Importantly, we show that intravenousL. monocytogenesinoculation leads to bacterial translocation to the gastrointestinal system, where LLS is specifically expressed, targeting the host gut microbiota. Our study highlights the heterogeneous modes of action of SLS-like toxins, and we demonstrate for the first time a further level of complexity for SLS-like biosynthetic clusters as we reveal that the putative posttranslational modification enzyme LlsB is actually required for inner organ colonization, independently of the LLS activity.
Catabolism of the Last Two Steroid Rings in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
and Other Bacteria
Authors: Crowe Adam M. , Casabon Israël , Brown Kirstin L. , Liu Jie , Lian Jennifer , Rogalski Jason C. , Hurst Timothy E. , Snieckus Victor , Foster Leonard J. , Eltis Lindsay D.
Published: April 2017

Most mycolic acid-containing actinobacteria and some proteobacteria use steroids as growth substrates, but the catabolism of the last two steroid rings has yet to be elucidated. In
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, this pathway includes virulence determinants and has been proposed to be encoded by the KstR2-regulated genes, which include a predicted coenzyme A (CoA) transferase gene (
ipdAB
) and an acyl-CoA reductase gene (
ipdC
). In the presence of cholesterol, Δ
ipdC
and Δ
ipdAB
mutants of either
M. tuberculosis
or
Rhodococcus jostii
strain RHA1 accumulated previously undescribed metabolites: 3aα-
H
-4α(carboxyl-CoA)-5-hydroxy-7aβ-methylhexahydro-1-indanone (5-OH HIC-CoA) and (
R
)-2-(2-carboxyethyl)-3-methyl-6-oxocyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxyl-CoA (COCHEA-CoA), respectively. A Δ
fadE32
mutant of
Mycobacterium smegmatis
accumulated 4-methyl-5-oxo-octanedioic acid (MOODA). Incubation of synthetic 5-OH HIC-CoA with purified IpdF, IpdC, and enoyl-CoA hydratase 20 (EchA20), a crotonase superfamily member, yielded COCHEA-CoA and, upon further incubation with IpdAB and a CoA thiolase, yielded MOODA-CoA. Based on these studies, we propose a pathway for the final steps of steroid catabolism in which the 5-member ring is hydrolyzed by EchA20, followed by hydrolysis of the 6-member ring by IpdAB. Metabolites accumulated by Δ
ipdF
and Δ
echA20
mutants support the model. The conservation of these genes in known steroid-degrading bacteria suggests that the pathway is shared. This pathway further predicts that cholesterol catabolism yields four propionyl-CoAs, four acetyl-CoAs, one pyruvate, and one succinyl-CoA. Finally, a Δ
ipdAB M. tuberculosis
mutant did not survive in macrophages and displayed severely depleted CoASH levels that correlated with a cholesterol-dependent toxicity. Our results together with the developed tools provide a basis for further elucidating bacterial steroid catabolism and virulence determinants in
M. tuberculosis.

IMPORTANCE
Bacteria are the only known steroid degraders, but the pathway responsible for degrading the last two steroid rings has yet to be elucidated. In
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, this pathway includes virulence determinants. Using a series of mutants in
M. tuberculosis
and related bacteria, we identified a number of novel CoA thioesters as pathway intermediates. Analysis of the metabolites combined with enzymological studies establishes how the last two steroid rings are hydrolytically opened by enzymes encoded by the KstR2 regulon. Our results provide experimental evidence for novel ring-degrading enzymes, significantly advance our understanding of bacterial steroid catabolism, and identify a previously uncharacterized cholesterol-dependent toxicity that may facilitate the development of novel tuberculosis therapeutics.
Topoisomerase II Inhibitors Induce DNA Damage-Dependent Interferon Responses Circumventing Ebola Virus Immune Evasion
Authors: Luthra Priya , Aguirre Sebastian , Yen Benjamin C. , Pietzsch Colette A. , Sanchez-Aparicio Maria T. , Tigabu Bersabeh , Morlock Lorraine K. , García-Sastre Adolfo , Leung Daisy W. , Williams Noelle S. , Fernandez-Sesma Ana , Bukreyev Alexander , Basler Christopher F.
Published: April 2017

Ebola virus (EBOV) protein VP35 inhibits production of interferon alpha/beta (IFN) by blocking RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathways, thereby promoting virus replication and pathogenesis. A high-throughput screening assay, developed to identify compounds that either inhibit or bypass VP35 IFN-antagonist function, identified five DNA intercalators as reproducible hits from a library of bioactive compounds. Four, including doxorubicin and daunorubicin, are anthracycline antibiotics that inhibit topoisomerase II and are used clinically as chemotherapeutic drugs. These compounds were demonstrated to induce IFN responses in an ATM kinase-dependent manner and to also trigger the DNA-sensing cGAS-STING pathway of IFN induction. These compounds also suppress EBOV replication
in vitro
and induce IFN in the presence of IFN-antagonist proteins from multiple negative-sense RNA viruses. These findings provide new insights into signaling pathways activated by important chemotherapy drugs and identify a novel therapeutic approach for IFN induction that may be exploited to inhibit RNA virus replication.

IMPORTANCE
Ebola virus and other emerging RNA viruses are significant but unpredictable public health threats. Therapeutic approaches with broad-spectrum activity could provide an attractive response to such infections. We describe a novel assay that can identify small molecules that overcome Ebola virus-encoded innate immune evasion mechanisms. This assay identified as hits cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, including doxorubicin. Follow-up studies provide new insight into how doxorubicin induces interferon (IFN) responses, revealing activation of both the DNA damage response kinase ATM and the DNA sensor cGAS and its partner signaling protein STING. The studies further demonstrate that the ATM and cGAS-STING pathways of IFN induction are a point of vulnerability not only for Ebola virus but for other RNA viruses as well, because viral innate immune antagonists consistently fail to block these signals. These studies thereby define a novel avenue for therapeutic intervention against emerging RNA viruses.
Translating the WHO 25×25 goals into a UK context: the PROMISE modelling study
Authors: Cobiac Linda J , Scarborough Peter
Published: April 2017

Objective

Model the impact of targets for obesity, diabetes, raised blood pressure, tobacco use, salt intake, physical inactivity and harmful alcohol use, as outlined in the Global Non-Communicable Disease Action Plan 2013–2020, on mortality and morbidity in the UK population.

Design

Dynamic population modelling study.

Setting

UK population.

Participants

Not available.

Main outcome measures

Mortality and morbidity (years lived with disability) from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that are averted or delayed. Probability of achieving a 25% reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025 (current WHO target) and a 33% reduction by 2030 (proposed target).

Results

The largest improvements in mortality would be achieved by meeting the obesity target and the largest improvements in morbidity would be achieved by meeting the diabetes target. The UK could achieve the 2025 and 2030 targets for reducing premature mortality with only a little additional preventive effort compared with current practice. Achieving all 7 risk targets could avert a total of 300 000 deaths (95% uncertainty interval 250 000 to 350 000) and 1.3 million years lived with disability (1.2–1.4 million) from NCDs by 2025, with the majority of health gains due to reduced mortality and morbidity from heart disease and stroke, and reduced morbidity from diabetes. Potential reductions in morbidity from depression and in morbidity and mortality from dementia at older ages are also substantial.

Conclusions

The global premature mortality targets are a potentially achievable goal for countries such as the UK that can capitalise on many decades of effort in prevention and treatment. High morbidity diseases and diseases in later life are not addressed in the Global NCD Action Plan and targets, but must also be considered a priority for prevention in the UK where the population is ageing and the costs of health and social care are rising.