bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A conceptual model of the risk of elder abuse posed by incontinence and care dependence
Authors: Ostaszkiewicz Joan
Published: December 2017

Aims and objectives

To describe and critically analyse the thinking that led to the concept of an association between incontinence, care dependence and elder abuse.

Background

Coercive or abusive continence care practices include chastising a person for their incontinence and overriding their attempts to resist continence care. Neglect in continence care is characterised by withholding or delaying responding to requests for help to maintain continence or to manage incontinence, and restricting a person's access to toileting assistance, incontinence aids or hygiene care.

Methods

Contemporary biomedical understandings about incontinence and influencing concepts from the fields of sociology, psychology and nursing were analysed to inform the design of a conceptual model that elucidates possible associations between incontinence, care dependence and elder abuse.

Results

Ideas generated from an analysis of the concepts led to the development of a model termed the “Model of Attributes to Abuse of Dependent Elders in Continence Care” (MADE‐CC). The MADE‐CC theorises factors that cause and contribute to abuse in continence care. Carer factors include physical and emotional exhaustion, frustration related to the inability to control or predict incontinence, resentment associated with constraints imposed by care dependence, disgust associated with physical contact with urine/faeces, limited knowledge and skills about incontinence and ethical conflicts concerning care. Care recipient factors include frequent and severe incontinence, cognitive impairment and a history of physical or psychological trauma. Social factors that are theorised include the stigmatised nature of incontinence, social taboos and cultural norms and the private nature of continence care.

Conclusions

The MADE‐CC illuminates the potential risk of elder abuse posed by incontinence and care dependence. It should be used to improve ethical care of older people and stimulate debate about everyday ethics in the care of older people who are care dependent and to optimise their participation in decisions about their health and well‐being.

Implications for practice

Nurses and carers should be aware of the multiple interrelated factors that contribute to the risk of elder abuse in the caregiving encounter, including the role of emotions.
Time to Worry, Mate? The Construction of Maritime Security Perceptions Down Under
Authors: Rublee Maria Rost
Published: December 2017

Maritime security challenges in the Asia–Pacific are increasingly at the forefront of both academic and policy concerns, both inside and outside of the region. The intense geostrategic competition in the South China Sea partially explains the growing interest, but the attention goes deeper than that. The rise of new maritime powers in the Pacific, as well as increasing concerns over a clash between the United States and China, underscore the burgeoning importance of the maritime Asia–Pacific. While much of the research on Asian–Pacific maritime security focuses heavily on the experiences and strategies of the major powers, it is also important to understand the perspectives and policies of other actors in the region. This article focuses specifically on the maritime security perceptions of Australia and New Zealand: Using interviews with and publications by trans‐Tasman experts, I sketch the dominant threats perceived by the countries in their maritime environments. Important policy conclusions can be drawn from this analysis of perceptions of maritime security challenges Down Under. Perhaps the timeliest policy insight is that as the United States considers whether or not to confront China over its behavior in the South China Sea, it is unlikely to receive full support from all of its mates in the region. The paper also argues that understanding key maritime security challenges – from the pragmatic to great powers relations – requires an openness to understanding how maritime security threat perceptions are constructed by identity and other ideational factors.
Multisensory processing and perceptual consciousness: Part II
Authors: Briscoe Robert Eamon
Published: December 2017

The first part of this survey article offered a cartography of some of the more extensively studied forms of multisensory processing. In this second part, I turn to examining some of the different possible ways in which the structure of conscious perceptual experience might also be characterized as multisensory. In addition, I discuss the significance of research on multisensory processing and multisensory consciousness for philosophical debates concerning the modularity of perception, cognitive penetration, and the individuation of the senses.
A phylogenetic study of the worldwide tribe Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) based on morphological data
Authors: LÓPEZ‐PÉREZ SARA , ZARAGOZA‐CABALLERO SANTIAGO , OCHOTERENA HELGA , MORRONE JUAN J.
Published: December 2017

Cassidini Gyllenhal is the most diverse tribe in Cassidinae and the only one with worldwide distribution. Aspidimorphini have shown a close relationship with Cassidini in different studies, but phylogenetic studies to date have not clarified the relationship between these tribes. A cladistic analysis based on morphological characters was conducted to test the monophyly of Cassidini. Genera distributed in the New and Old World were sampled. The parsimony analysis includes 56 ingroup species, 37 outgroup species and 97 morphological characters. The results show no support for the monophyly of Cassidini, and Aspidimorphini is synonymized with Cassidinisyn.n.Moreover, Ischyrosonychini should be also included in Cassidini. Most of the genera represented in the analysis by more than one species were not recovered as monophyletic. Thus, the current internal classification of Cassidini s.l. needs a profound revision before taxonomy reflects natural groupings. The inclusion of evidence from immature stages, bionomics and molecular data should provide a better resolution of the relationships in Cassidini s.l.
Identification of the novel HLA‐DQB1*03:181 allele in a Chinese leukemia patient
Authors: Han Z. D. , Dong L.‐N. , Zhao S.‐X. , Dai B. , Zhu F.‐M.
Published: December 2017

HLA‐DQB1*03:181 has one nucleotide change from HLA‐DQB1*03:05:01 at position 470C>G.
Looking for new approaches for the use of serology in the context of control programmes against pig salmonellosis
Authors: Mainar‐Jaime R. C. , Casanova‐Higes A. , Andrés‐Barranco S. , Vico J. P.
Published: December 2017

Most swine Salmonella national control programmes in Europe have been based on the categorization of herds according to risk levels based on serological results. However, none of the non‐Scandinavian countries have reported of any significant success on Salmonella infection reduction in fattening pigs or the number of human cases attributable to pigs or pork. The limited accuracy of the tests used, the small number of animals sampled and the likely lack of herd representativeness of the samples used could be major factors affecting the suitability of these programmes. Focusing on minimizing Salmonella shedding at slaughter appears more important to prevent human infections than focusing on detection of seropositive pigs/herds at this stage. This study assessed whether performing on‐farm serology may help to predict shedding at slaughter. Between 2010 and 2016, pigs from six cohorts from a Salmonella‐positive herd were bled at 30, 60 and 90 days on fattening and before slaughter, and faecal samples collected at slaughter. Serology on days 60, 90 and before slaughter predicted somewhat shedding at slaughter with no significant differences among them. Pigs with higher OD% values at these point times would have higher risk of shedding when arriving to slaughter. The probability of shedding for a pig sampled on day 90 and showing an OD% value of 10 was 43%, and the risk increased up to 65% if the OD% was 40. Concluding, on‐farm serology may help to determine to some extent the risk of Salmonella shedding at slaughter from seropositive fattening units, which would allow for prompt on‐farm and slaughter interventions to reduce the likelihood of slaughter contamination with Salmonella.
Genome Sequences of Mycobacteriophages Amgine, Amohnition, Bella96, Cain, DarthP, Hammy, Krueger, LastHope, Peanam, PhelpsODU, Phrank, SirPhilip, Slimphazie, and Unicorn
Authors: Anders Kirk R. , Barekzi Nazir , Best Aaron A. , Frederick Gregory D. , Mavrodi Dmitri V. , Vazquez Edwin ,   SEA-PHAGES, Amoh Nana Yaa A. , Baliraine Frederick N. , Buchser William J. , Cast Thomas P. , Chamberlain Carmen E. , Chung Hui-Min , D’Angelo William A. , Farris Christian T. , Fernandez-Martinez Mariceli , Fischman Haley D. , Forsyth Mark H. , Fortier Anna G. , Gallo Kara F. , Held Greta J. , Lomas Miguel A. , Maldonado-Vazquez Natalia Y. , Moonsammy Claudia H. , Namboote Peace , Paudel Sudip , Polley Sarah-Elizabeth M. , Reyes Gabriella M. , Rubin Michael R. , Saha Margaret S. , Stukey Joseph , Tobias Tristan D. , Garlena Rebecca A. , Stoner Ty H. , Cresawn Steven G. , Jacobs-Sera Deborah , Pope Welkin H. , Russell Daniel A. , Hatfull Graham F.
Published: December 2017

We report the genome sequences of 14 cluster K mycobacteriophages isolated using
Mycobacterium smegmatis
mc²155 as host. Four are closely related to subcluster K1 phages, and 10 are members of subcluster K6. The phage genomes span considerable sequence diversity, including multiple types of integrases and integration sites.
The Completed PacBio Single-Molecule Real-Time Sequence of Methylosinus trichosporium Strain OB3b Reveals the Presence of a Third Large Plasmid
Authors: Heil John R. , Lynch Michael D. J. , Cheng Jiujun , Matysiakiewicz Ola , D’Alessio Maya , Charles Trevor C.
Published: December 2017

Presented here is the complete genome sequence of the well-studied
Rhizobiales
methanotroph
Methylosinus trichosporium
strain OB3b. The assembly contains 5,183,433 bp, corresponding to a chromosome of 4,508,832 bp and three circular plasmids of 285,280 bp, 209,102 bp, and 180,219 bp.
Illicit cigarette sales in Indian cities: findings from a retail survey
Authors: John Rijo M , Ross Hana
Published: December 2017

Objective

To estimate illicit cigarette consumption in India using a modified and replicable method and compare it with estimates generated by the tobacco industry and by a commercial entity.

Methods

The study employed a modified approach to cigarette pack analysis suitable for countries with prevalent single-cigarette sales. Empty cigarette packs generated by 1 day’s single-cigarette sales were collected directly from cigarette vendors in four large and four small cities covering the length and breadth of India. Ten areas were randomly selected in each city/town, and all shops selling cigarettes within 1 km of the central point were surveyed. A cigarette pack was classified as illicit if it had at least one of the following attributes: (a) a duty-free sign; (b) no graphic health warnings; (c) no textual health warnings; or (d) no mention of ‘price inclusive of all taxes’ or similar text.

Findings

We collected 11 063 empty cigarette packs from 1727 retailers, and 2.73% of them were classified as illicit. The estimates varied substantially across locations with the highest prevalence of illicit packs in the town of Aizawl near the Bangladesh and Myanmar border (35.87%). The share of illicit cigarettes was found to be much higher (13.77%) among the cheapest cigarette brands. Illicit cigarettes are primarily distributed via formal stores rather than informal tea/pan shops.

Conclusion

Our estimate of the illicit cigarette market share of 2.73% casts serious doubt on the tobacco industry estimate of 20% and Euromonitor’s estimate of 21.3%.
Looking out for avian influenza in backyard and small poultry flocks
Authors: Welchman David , Brzozowska Anna
Published: December 2017

This article has been prepared by David Welchman, veterinary lead of the Avian Expert Group, and Anna Brzozowska, surveillance data scientist, of the APHA's Surveillance Intelligence Unit.
Different loci and mRNA copy number of the increased serum survival gene of Escherichia coli
Authors: Xu Wang-ye , Li Yi-jing , Fan Chen
Published: December 2017

The increased serum survival gene (iss) has been identified as a virulence trait associated with the virulence of Escherichia coli, causing colibacillosis in poultry. However, it remains unclear as to whether iss mRNA copy number and sequence affect virulence. To examine these influences, we assessed the presence of iss, sequence analysis, iss mRNA copy number, and serum resistance. The iss gene was detected in 88 (all) E. coli isolates from different sources, and sequencing identified 16 alleles (32 different loci) and 10 amino acid sequences (10 different loci). Nested polymerase chain reaction improved iss detection. The isolates from sick chickens had >68% livability in serum resistance tests and higher iss mRNA copy number. The iss mRNA copy number highly correlated with mortality and E. coli livability. Student’s t tests confirmed the relationship between the different loci to iss transcription, serum resistance, and virulence. These data suggest that iss mRNA copy number and different loci affect the virulence and serum resistance. These findings could be useful in further studies on the prevalence of iss among E. coli isolates and other virulence factors.
Cholinergic and cytoprotective signaling cascades mediate the mitigative effect of erythropoietin on acute radiation syndrome
Authors: Galal Shereen Mohamed , Abdel-Rafei Mohamed Khairy , Hasan Hesham Farouk
Published: December 2017

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the radiomitigative efficacy of the recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) against acute radiation syndrome (ARS) in a rat model. Rats were irradiated with a single sublethal dose of γ-radiation (7 Gy; total body irradiation; TBI) on the 1st day of experimental course, then received EPO (5000 IU/kg; i.p.) 24 h after irradiation, and rats were observed for 30 days of survival analysis. Administration of EPO improved 30-day survival, alleviated TBI-induced myelosuppression and pancytopenia, by augmenting lymphocytes and other white blood cells in the peripheral blood of rats, while bone marrow and spleen cellularity were restored. EPO post-exposure treatment alleviated hepatotoxicity biomarkers and restored splenic function. EPO abrogated radiation-induced oxidative stress through the upregulation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α-7-nAChR) and the pro-survival Janus kinase-2 and signal transducers and activators of transcription JAK-2/STAT-3 signaling mediated via enhancing nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor-2 (Nrf-2) cytoprotective machinery in liver and spleen of irradiated rats. Moreover, EPO treatment prevented hepatic and splenic apoptosis. The present study establishes the implication of α-7-nAChR–JAK-2/STAT-3–Nrf-2 signaling cascade in the radiomitigative potential of EPO against ARS.
Transformation thermotics: Thermal metamaterials and their applications
Authors: Ji Qin , Shen Xiang-Ying , Huang Ji-Ping
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we review some recent achievements in thermal metamaterials, including novel thermal devices, simplified experimental method, macroscopic thermal diode based on temperature-dependent transformation thermotics, and the important role that soft matters play in the experimental confirmations of thermal metamaterials. These works pave the developments in transformation mapping theory and can surely inspire more designs of thermal metamaterials. What is more, some approaches provide more flexibility in controlling heat flow, and they may also be useful in other fields that are closely related to temperature gradient, such as the Seebeck effect and many other domains where transformation theory is valid.
Removal of Impulse Noise from Gray Images Using Fuzzy SVM Based Histogram Fuzzy Filter
Authors: Roy Amarjit , Singha Joyeeta , Laskar Rabul Hussain
Published: December 2017

Impulse noise is an image noise that degrades the quality of the image drastically. In this paper, k-means clustering has been incorporated with fuzzy-support vector machine (FSVM) classifier for classification of noisy and non-noisy pixels in removal of impulse noise from gray images. Here, local binary pattern (LBP) has been incorporated with previously used feature vector prediction error of the processing pixel, absolute difference between median value and processing pixel, median pixel, pixel under operation and mean value around the processing kernel. In this work, [Formula: see text]-means clustering has been used for reducing the feature vector set, where features have been extracted from the images corrupted with 10%, 50%, and 90% impulse noise. If the pixel is depicted as noisy in testing phase, histogram adaptive fuzzy filter is processed over the noisy pixel under operation. It is seen that the proposed filter offers improved performance over some of the state-of-the-art filter in terms of different image quality measures likely PSNR, SSIM, MSE, FSIM, etc. It is observed that performance is increased by [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]2–5[Formula: see text]dB than baseline filters likely SVM fuzzy filter, and artificial neural network based adaptive sized mean filter (ANNASMF) especially at high density noise.
Pulse optimization for all-optical switching engineered in photonic crystal waveguide with micro-resonator
Authors: Vujic Dragan
Published: December 2017

We have investigated switching properties and especially pulse shape preservation in the process of all-optical switching. To this end, we made two different designs of all-optical switches based on two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal (PC) waveguides with different dispersive properties and micro-resonators with different quality factors. We realized numerically that all-optical switching without or with marginal temporal pulse distortion can be obtained under precisely chosen conditions on pulse duration and detuning. In particular, the former has to be approximately 2.5 times longer than cavity buildup time and the latter has to be equal to one full width at half maximum of the cavity transmission spectrum.
A Novel Triangular Prism Element Based on Smoothed Finite Element Method
Authors: Pei Yongjie , Cui Xiangyang
Published: December 2017

In this paper, a novel triangular prism element based on smoothed finite element method (SFEM) is proposed for three-dimensional static and dynamic mechanics problems. The accuracy of the proposed element is comparable to that of the hexahedral element while keeping good adaptability as the tetrahedral element on a surface dimension. In the process of constructing the proposed element, one triangular prism element is further divided into two smoothing cells. Very simple shape functions and a constant smoothing function are used in the construction of the smoothed strains and the smoothed nominal stresses. The divergence theorem is applied to convert the volume integral to the integrals of all the surrounding surfaces of a smoothing cell. Thus, no gradient of shape function and no mapping or coordinate transformation are involved in the process of creating the discretized system equations. Afterwards, several numerical examples include elastic-static and free vibration problems are provided to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed element. Meanwhile, an explicit scheme of the proposed element is given for dynamic large-deformation analysis of elastic-plastic materials, and the numerical results show good agreement with the experimental data.
Immigrants Based Adaptive Genetic Algorithms for Task Allocation in Multi-Robot Systems
Authors: Muhuri Pranab K , Rauniyar Amit
Published: December 2017

Optimal task allocation among the suitably formed robot groups is one of the key issues to be investigated for the smooth operations of multi-robot systems. Considering the complete execution of available tasks, the problem of assigning available resources (robot features) to the tasks is computationally complex, which may further increase if the number of tasks increases. Popularly this problem is known as multi-robot coalition formation (MRCF) problem. Genetic algorithms (GAs) have been found to be quite efficient in solving such complex computational problems. There are several GA-based approaches to solve MRCF problems but none of them have considered the dynamic GA variants. This paper considers immigrants-based GAs viz. random immigrants genetic algorithm (RIGA) and elitism based immigrants genetic algorithm (EIGA) for optimal task allocation in MRCF problem. Further, it reports a novel use of these algorithms making them adaptive with certain modifications in their traditional attributes by adaptively choosing the parameters of genetic operators and terms them as adaptive RIGA (aRIGA) and adaptive EIGA (aEIGA). Extensive simulation experiments are conducted for a comparative performance evaluation with respect to standard genetic algorithm (SGA) using three popular performance metrics. A statistical analysis with the analysis of variance has also been performed. It is demonstrated that RIGA and EIGA produce better solutions than SGA for both fixed and adaptive genetic operators. Among them, EIGA and aEIGA outperform RIGA and aRIGA, respectively.
Nonlinear Analysis of Microswitches Considering Nonclassical Theory
Authors: Hakamiha S. , Mojahedi M.
Published: December 2017

This paper introduces a new nonlinear model for microswitches based on the modified couple stress theory. The microswitch includes a microbeam which is connected to the clamped support from one side and attached to an electrostatically driven proof mass with a large gap from the other side. The microswitch operates in the pull-in instability with large deformation. The effects of fringing field and large curvature as well as size dependency are considered in the modeling. With regard to the size-dependent model, the equations of motion are obtained using Hamilton’s principle and solved by both numerical and analytical approaches. Consequently, dynamic pull-in instability is investigated based on the analytical and numerical solutions for dynamic conditions. The results depict that the dynamic deflection predicted by the modified couple stress theory is smaller than that obtained by the classical theory. The classical theory underestimates the pull-in instability voltage of the microswitches especially when the beam’s thickness is in the order of material length scale parameter. Furthermore, it is shown that neglecting nonlinearity due to large deflection leads to significant errors in the pull-in instability of the microstructures and these errors are calculated. The novelty of this paper is to provide a nonlinear size-dependent model for microswitches and to investigate the nonlinearity and instability of microswitches based on this model using the analytical and numerical methods.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Controversy, Developmental Mechanisms, and Multiple Levels of Analysis
Authors: Hinshaw Stephen P.
Published: December 2017

Controversy abounds regarding the symptom dimensions of attention problems, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, developmentally extreme and impairing levels of which compose the diagnostic category of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I highlight causal factors, underlying mechanisms, developmental trajectories, and female manifestations of ADHD, integrating the psychobiological underpinnings of this syndrome with contextual factors related to its clinical presentation, impairments, and soaring increases in diagnosed prevalence. Indeed, despite strong heritability, ADHD is expressed via transactional patterns of influence linked to family-, school-, peer-, neighborhood-, and policy-related factors. Moreover, intervention strategies must take into account both pharmacologic and behavioral modalities if the goal is to enhance competencies, rather than symptom reduction per se. A comprehensive understanding of ADHD mandates multiple levels of analysis—spanning genes, neurotransmission, brain pathways, individual skill levels, family socialization, peer relationships, and educational and cultural forces—which must be integrated and synthesized to surpass reductionist accounts, reduce stigma, and maximize the impact of prevention- and intervention-related efforts.
Adaptation in Living Systems
Authors: Tu Yuhai , Rappel Wouter-Jan
Published: December 2017

Adaptation refers to the biological phenomenon where living systems change their internal states in response to changes in their environments in order to maintain certain key functions critical for their survival and fitness. Adaptation is one of the most ubiquitous and arguably one of the most fundamental properties of living systems. It occurs throughout all biological scales, from adaptation of populations of species over evolutionary time to adaptation of a single cell to different environmental stresses during its life span. In this article, we review some of the recent progress made in understanding molecular mechanisms of cellular-level adaptation. We take the minimalist (or the physicist) approach and study the simplest systems that exhibit generic adaptive behaviors, namely chemotaxis in bacterium cells (Escherichia coli) and eukaryotic cells (Dictyostelium). We focus on understanding the basic biochemical interaction networks that are responsible for adaptation dynamics. By combining theoretical modeling with quantitative experimentation, we demonstrate universal features in adaptation as well as important differences in different cellular systems. Future work in extending the modeling framework to study adaptation in more complex systems such as sensory neurons is also discussed.
Dual Inhibition of PIK3C3 and FGFR as a New Therapeutic Approach to Treat Bladder Cancer
Authors: Chen Chun-Han , Changou Chun A. , Hsieh Tsung-Han , Lee Yu-Ching , Chu Cheng-Ying , Hsu Kai-Cheng , Wang Hao-Ching , Lin Yu-Chen , Lo Yan-Ni , Liu Yun-Ru , Liou Jing-Ping , Yen Yun
Published: December 2017

Purpose: MPT0L145 has been developed as a FGFR inhibitor exhibiting significant anti-bladder cancer activity in vitro and in vivo via promoting autophagy-dependent cell death. Here, we aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Experimental Design: Autophagy flux, morphology, and intracellular organelles were evaluated by Western blotting, transmission electron microscope, and fluorescence microscope. Molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance assay were performed to identify drug–protein interaction. Lentiviral delivery of cDNA or shRNA and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing was used to modulate gene expression. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate was measured by a Seahorse XFe24 extracellular flux analyzer, and ROS level was measured by flow cytometry.

Results: MPT0L145 persistently increased incomplete autophagy and phase-lucent vacuoles at the perinuclear region, which were identified as enlarged and alkalinized late-endosomes. Screening of a panel of lipid kinases revealed that MPT0L145 strongly inhibits PIK3C3 with a Kd value of 0.53 nmol/L. Ectopic expression of PIK3C3 reversed MPT0L145-increased cell death and incomplete autophagy. Four residues (Y670, F684, I760, D761) at the ATP-binding site of PIK3C3 are important for the binding of MPT0L145. In addition, MPT0L145 promotes mitochondrial dysfunction, ROS production, and DNA damage, which may in part, contribute to cell death. ATG5-knockout rescued MPT0L145-induced cell death, suggesting simultaneous induction of autophagy is crucial to its anticancer activity. Finally, our data demonstrated that MPT0L145 is able to overcome cisplatin resistance in bladder cancer cells.

Conclusions: MPT0L145 is a first-in-class PIK3C3/FGFR inhibitor, providing an innovative strategy to design new compounds that increase autophagy, but simultaneously perturb its process to promote bladder cancer cell death. Clin Cancer Res; 24(5); 1176–89. ©2017 AACR.
The IL-2/Anti-IL-2 Complex Attenuates Cardiac Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury Through Expansion of Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Xiao Junhui , Yu Kunwu , Li Ming , Xiong Chuanyin , Wei Yuzhen , Zeng Qiutang
Published: December 2017

Background/Aims: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) can suppress immunologic damage in myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI), however, the isolation and ex vivo expansion of these cells for clinical application remains challenging. Here, we investigated whether the IL-2/anti-IL-2 complex (IL-2C), a mediator of Treg expansion, can attenuate MIRI in mice. Methods: Myocardial I/R was surgically induced in male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8-10 weeks, that were randomly assigned to 1) sham group (Sham), 2) Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), 3) IL-2-anti-IL-2 Ab complex (IL-2C), or 4) sham group, 5) PBS, 6) IL-2C after MIRI, or 7) IL-2C, 8) IL-2C+anti-CD25 mAbs, or 9) IL-2C; 10) IL-2C+anti-TGF-β1 mAbs, 11) IL-2C+anti-IL-10 mAbs. The following parameters were measured at different time points: infarct area, myocardial apoptosis, splenocytes, the inhibitory function of Tregs, and presence of inflammatory factors. In addition, immunohistochemistry analysis was performed. Results: We observed that Tregs were activated in response to MIRI. IL-2C administered before MIRI induced Treg expansion in both spleen and heart, attenuated Th1 and Th17 cell numbers, improved myocardial function, and attenuated both infiltration of inflammatory cells and apoptosis after MIRI. Furthermore, IL-2C administration reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines in the heart and attenuated proliferation of splenic cells. Depletion of Tregs with anti-CD25 mAb abrogated the beneficial effects of IL-2C. However, IL-2C–mediated myocardial protection was not dependent on either IL-10 or TGF-β. In addition, IL-2C administration after MIRI did not reduce infarct area, but did improve myocardial function slightly and reduced myocardial fibrosis. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that IL-2C–induced Treg expansion attenuates MIRI and improves myocardial recovery in vivo, suggesting that IL-2C is a promising therapeutic target for myocardial IRI.
Sulforaphane Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence Via the Nrf2-ARE Pathway in a Rat Model
Authors: Wan Xiang , Liu Chong , Chen Yan-Bo , Gu Meng , Cai Zhi-Kang , Chen Qi , Wang Zhong
Published: December 2017

Background/Aims: To explore the effect of sulforaphane (SFN) treatment in rats through the induction of Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) via the Nrf2-ARE pathway. Methods: A total of 18 female rats (Sprague-Dawley) were assigned to three groups: a control group, an SUI group, and an SUI+SFN group (six rats per group). Rats in the treatment groups were induced via postpartum vaginal balloon dilation and bilateral ovariectomy. Rats in the SUI+SFN group were treated via intraperitoneal injection once per day for a total of one month. Urethral sphincter muscle histological was observed by HE and Masson staining. Peak voiding pressure and interval of micturition were measured by cystometry. Oxidative stress markers and protein expression in the Nrf2-ARE pathway were examined by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. Results: Prolonged micturition interval and higher peak voiding pressure were observed in the SUI+SFN group. Disturbance of muscle morphology was ameliorated, muscle content was elevated, and collagen content was restrained in response to SFN treatment. The SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities were elevated in the SUI+SFN group compared to those in the control group. The level of cell apoptosis was decreased in SUI rats after SFN treatment; however, apoptosis was mainly located in the urethral mucosa instead of the muscle layer. SFN reduced the Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio. Nrf2 and Nrf2 target antioxidant proteins were elevated in the SFN group. Conclusions: SFN was effective for SUI treatment via decreasing oxidative stress and activating the Nrf2-ARE pathway.
ITRAQ-Based Proteomics Analysis of Acute Lung Injury Induced by Oleic Acid in Mice
Authors: Xu Xiaotao , Zhu Qingwei , Zhang Rong , Wang Yan , Niu Fangfang , Wang Wenying , Sun Dawei , Wang Aizhong
Published: December 2017

Background/Aims: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and the pathogenesis of oleic acid (OA)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were injected with OA through the tail vein and sacrificed 6 hours after OA administration to identify protein expression levels in lung tissue using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology. Then, DEPs such as antithrombin III (AT III), 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO), dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2), polycystin-2 and plasminogen were identified by western blotting. Subsequently, we focused on investigating the effect of AT III on endothelial integrity using siRNA interference technology. The levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and TGF-β expression were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Alterations in the tight junction component ZO-1 and the phosphorylation of myosin light chain (pMLC) were determined by western blotting. The stress fiber F-actin were also detected by immunofluorescence staining. In addition, endothelial permeability was determined via a transwell permeability assay. Results: A total of 5152 proteins were found to be expressed in lung tissues from the OA-treated and saline-treated mice. Among these proteins, 849 were differentially expressed between the two groups, including 545 upregulated and 304 downregulated proteins. After AT III knockdown, the levels of inflammatory factors and endothelial permeability were elevated, the expression of ZO-1 was decreased, and the expression of F-actin and pMLC was increased. All these results illustrated that AT III knockdown exaggerated the disruption of endothelial integrity mediated by OA. Conclusion: These findings using iTRAQ technology demonstrate, for the first time, differences in the lung tissue expression levels of proteins between OA-treated mice and saline-treated mice. This study reveals that 12-LO, DOCK2 and especially AT III may be candidate biomarkers for OA-induced acute lung injury.
The Protective Effects of Κ-Opioid Receptor Stimulation in Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension Involve Inhibition of Autophagy Through the AMPK-MTOR Pathway
Authors: Zhou Yaguang , Wang Yuanbo , Wang Xu , Tian Xin , Zhang Shumiao , Yang Fan , Guo Haitao , Fan Rong , Feng Na , Jia Min , Gu Xiaoming , Wang Yuemin , Li Juan , Pei Jianming
Published: December 2017

Background/Aims: In a previous study, we showed that κ-opioid receptor stimulation with the selective agonist U50,488H ameliorated hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH). However, the roles that pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy play in κ-opioid receptor-mediated protection against HPH are still unknown. The goal of the present study was to investigate the role of autophagy in U50,488H-induced HPH protection and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Rats were exposed to 10% oxygen for three weeks to induce HPH. After hypoxia, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and the right ventricular pressure (RVP) were measured. Cell viability was monitored using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and Western blot. Autophagy was assessed by means of the mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus transfection assay and by Western blot. Results: Inhibition of autophagy by the administration of chloroquine prevented the development of HPH in the rat model, as evidenced by significantly reduced mPAP and RVP, as well as decreased autophagy. U50,488H mimicked the effects of chloroquine, and the effects of U50,488H were blocked by nor-BNI, a selective κ-opioid receptor antagonist. In vitro experiments showed that the inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine was associated with decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of PASMCs. Under hypoxia, U50,488H also significantly inhibited autophagy, reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis of PASMCs. These effects of U50,488H were blocked by nor-BNI. Moreover, exposure to hypoxic conditions significantly increased AMPK phosphorylation and reduced mTOR phosphorylation, and these effects were abrogated by U50,488H. The effects of U50,488H on PASMC autophagy were inhibited by AICAR, a selective AMPK agonist, or by rapamycin, a selective mTOR inhibitor. Conclusion: Our data provide evidence for the first time that κ-opioid receptor stimulation protects against HPH by inhibiting PASMCs autophagy via the AMPK-mTOR pathway.
Improving Spiking Dynamical Networks: Accurate Delays, Higher-Order Synapses, and Time Cells
Authors: Voelker Aaron R. , Eliasmith Chris
Published: December 2017

Researchers building spiking neural networks face the challenge of improving the biological plausibility of their model networks while maintaining the ability to quantitatively characterize network behavior. In this work, we extend the theory behind the neural engineering framework (NEF), a method of building spiking dynamical networks, to permit the use of a broad class of synapse models while maintaining prescribed dynamics up to a given order. This theory improves our understanding of how low-level synaptic properties alter the accuracy of high-level computations in spiking dynamical networks. For completeness, we provide characterizations for both continuous-time (i.e., analog) and discrete-time (i.e., digital) simulations. We demonstrate the utility of these extensions by mapping an optimal delay line onto various spiking dynamical networks using higher-order models of the synapse. We show that these networks nonlinearly encode rolling windows of input history, using a scale invariant representation, with accuracy depending on the frequency content of the input signal. Finally, we reveal that these methods provide a novel explanation of time cell responses during a delay task, which have been observed throughout hippocampus, striatum, and cortex.
From Winner-Takes-All to Winners-Share-All: Exploiting the Information Capacity in Temporal Codes
Authors: Payvand Melika , Theogarajan Luke
Published: December 2017

In this letter, we have implemented and compared two neural coding algorithms in the networks of spiking neurons: Winner-takes-all (WTA) and winners-share-all (WSA). Winners-Share-All exploits the code space provided by the temporal code by training a different combination of [Formula: see text] out of [Formula: see text] neurons to fire together in response to different patterns, while WTA uses a one-hot-coding to respond to distinguished patterns. Using WSA, the maximum value of [Formula: see text] in order to maximize information capacity using [Formula: see text] output neurons was theoretically determined and utilized. A small proof-of-concept classification problem was applied to a spiking neural network using both algorithms to classify 14 letters of English alphabet with an image size of 15 [Formula: see text] 15 pixels. For both schemes, a modified spike-timing-dependent-plasticity (STDP) learning rule has been used to train the spiking neurons in an unsupervised fashion. The performance and the number of neurons required to perform this computation are compared between the two algorithms. We show that by tolerating a small drop in performance accuracy (84% in WSA versus 91% in WTA), we are able to reduce the number of output neurons by more than a factor of two. We show how the reduction in the number of neurons will increase as the number of patterns increases. The reduction in the number of output neurons would then proportionally reduce the number of training parameters, which requires less memory and hence speeds up the computation, and in the case of neuromorphic implementation on silicon, would take up much less area.
Four new species of Arthothelium (Arthoniales, Ascomycetes) from Africa and Socotra
Authors: VAN DEN BROECK DRIES , TEHLER ANDERS , RAZAFINDRAHAJA TAHINA , ERTZ DAMIEN
Published: December 2017

Four species of Arthothelium from Africa and Socotra are described as new to science: Arthothelium atrorubrum from Madagascar, characterized by irregularly rounded blackish ascomata with a deeply red hypothecium and submuriform ascospores; Arthothelium aurantiacopruinosum from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, characterized by black, irregularly rounded to stellate, orange pruinose ascomata and muriform ascospores with two larger terminal cells; Arthothelium frischianum from Madagascar, characterized by brownish-black minute irregular ascomata with remnants of thallus and muriform ascospores with one larger terminal cell; Arthothelium miesii from Socotra (Yemen), characterized by a thick thallus, immersed, stellate to cerebriform, brownish, greyish pruinose ascomata and submuriform ascospores. A key to all reported species of Arthothelium from tropical Africa (South Africa excluded) and Socotra is provided.
A new species of Trichromothrips (Thysanoptera) from India with four new records
Authors: TYAGI KAOMUD , CHAKRABORTY RAJASREE , SINGHA DEVKANT , KUMAR VIKAS
Published: December 2017

Globally 6100 species of the Order Thysanoptera are reported, of which 739 are known from India (Tyagi & Kumar 2016). The purpose here is to describe from India one new species and record for the first time from this country four other species, representing three different families, and full nomenclatural details are available at ThripsWiki (2017). From three of the species, including the holotype of the new species, DNA was isolated and amplification of partial fragment of mtCOI gene was performed (Tyagi et al. 2017) with the sequences submitted to the Barcode of Life Database. Photographs and illustrations were taken through a Leica Trinocular Microscope (Leica DM-1000) using Leica software application suite (LAS EZ 2.1.0). Voucher specimens, also the new holotype, are deposited in the National Zoological Collections (NZC), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.
Deploying Street Outreach Workers to Reduce Failure to Appear in Juvenile Court for Youth of Color: A Randomized Study
Authors: Walker Sarah Cusworth , Bishop Asia Sarah , Catena Jovi , Haumann Elizabeth
Published: December 2017

This study is a randomized controlled trial of a failure to appear (FTA) prevention program involving street outreach workers. Over 2 years, 560 youth were randomized to receive street outreach services or no services based on an FTA risk score. The program was found to significantly and modestly reduce the likelihood of an FTA at the first court hearing following a summons (arraignment) but not subsequent hearings (case setting). No interactions were found for differential effects by race/ethnicity or gender. Although the program prioritized youth of color, the effects were not sufficient to substantially reduce disparities given the dispersed benefits to all youth. Implications of these findings for reducing race and ethnic disparities are discussed.
Postcolonial and Post-Soviet Experiences of Constitution-making
Authors: Suthar Sudhir Kumar
Published: December 2017

There has largely been a consensus among comparative political scientists regarding the relevance of a participatory and transparent democratic constitution-making process in democratic transition and consolidation. However, there are fewer attempts to see any linkage between postcolonial India and post-Soviet processes of democracy-building. Questions related to the differences or similarities between the two contexts have not received much attention, especially from the scholars of the Global South. This article attempts to explain such interlinkages between the Russian and Indian case. Though the process of democracy-building started much earlier in the case of India, certain parallels or complexities can be identified through a comparative analysis of the two cases. The study draws on secondary literature to substantiate the arguments. It attempts to argue that in case of India, the idea of constitution-making was largely driven by the logic of an alternative collective rationality through deliberation and accommodation, whereas in case of Russia it was a symbol of implementing the already dominant socio-economic model without following a process of deliberations among various sociopolitical groups.
Indians in Southeast Asia
Authors: Pande Amba
Published: December 2017

The Indian presence in Southeast Asia is set deep down in history. There are innumerable accounts of traders, preachers and adventurers who ventured into the high seas and influenced the eastern part of the world, to the extent of ‘Indianizing’ it socially, culturally, religiously and in many other ways. However, it was during the colonial period that government sponsored migrations in the form of labourers, officials and service providers started, which later resulted into permanent settlements. The diasporic consciousness emerged as the settlers became integral part of economic and political lives of the receiving societies, while continuing to be connected with the motherland. This article aims to trace the presence of Indians in Southeast Asia from the early to the present times. The article also makes an attempt to critically analyze the impact of India’s diaspora and the Look East policies on ethnic Indians in Southeast Asia.1
Post-millennial “Indian Fantasy” fiction in English and the question of mythology: Writing beyond the “usual suspects”
Authors: Varughese E Dawson
Published: December 2017

Focusing on two novels published in 2016, one by HarperCollins India and the other by Hachette India, this paper argues that Savage Blue by Balagopal and Dark Things by Venkatraghavan carve out a new space in post-millennial Indian speculative fiction in English, namely one that does not privilege ‘Hindu Indian mythology’ tropes. Such tropes have been espoused by a growing number of authors whose novels are anchored in Hindu Indian mythology and narratives of itihasa since the early 2000s. Banker, Tripathi, and Sanghi are generally recognized as the authors who first published in this post-millennial genre of Indian fiction in English. This discussion of the novels by Balagopal and Venkatraghavan, alongside ideas of how ‘fantasy’ as a genre has been, and continues to be defined, raises questions about how we might think about ‘Indian fantasy’ as a genre term within the domestic Indian book market and how it intersects with post-millennial Indian living, Indianness, and the popular imaginary.
Adler and Maslow in Collaboration: Applied Therapeutic Creativity
Authors: Mansager Erik , Bluvshtein Marina
Published: December 2017

In this article, the authors revisit the professional relationship, mutual influence, and enduring legacy of two major inspirations on the humanistic psychotherapy movement, Alfred Adler and Abraham Maslow. Starting with their meeting and early relationship and then looking at the characteristic constructs of each man’s theory, the authors expose the basis for a therapeutic collaboration between the two in a current psychotherapy. As both theoreticians held creativity as vital to the well-being of the individual, the final section of the article illustrates the importance of going beyond theoretical extrapolation and applying creativity within the therapeutic setting.
Separability of Tones and Rhymes in Chinese Speech Perception: Evidence from Perceptual Migrations
Authors: Zeng Biao , Mattys Sven L.
Published: December 2017

This study used the perceptual-migration paradigm to explore whether Mandarin tones and syllable rhymes are processed separately during Mandarin speech perception. Following the logic of illusory conjunctions, we calculated the cross-ear migration of tones, rhymes, and their combination in Chinese and English listeners. For Chinese listeners, tones migrated more than rhymes. For English listeners, the opposite pattern was found. The results lend empirical support to autosegmental theory, which claims separability and mobility between tonal and segmental representations. They also provide evidence that such representations and their involvement in perception are deeply shaped by a listener’s linguistic experience.