bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biosurfactant production maintains viability in anoxic conditions by depolarizing the membrane inBacillus subtilis
Authors: Arjes Heidi A. , Vo Lam , Dunn Caroline Marie , Willis Lisa , DeRosa Christopher A. , Fraser Cassandra L. , Kearns Daniel B. , Huang Kerwyn Casey
Published: July 2019

The presence or absence of oxygen in the environment is a strong effector of cellular metabolism and physiology. Like many eukaryotes and some bacteria,Bacillus subtilisis an obligate aerobe that primarily utilizes oxygen during respiration to generate ATP. Despite the importance of oxygen forB. subtilissurvival, we know little about how oxygen is consumed during growth and how populations respond to shifts in oxygen availability. Here, we find that when oxygen was depleted from stationary phase cultures ∼90% ofB. subtilis3610 cells died and lysed due to autolysin activity; the remaining cells maintained colony-forming ability. Interestingly, the domesticated 168 strain maintained a higher optical density than 3610 during oxygen depletion due to the formation of cell-wall-less protoplasts, but the remaining, rod-shaped cells were >100-fold less viable than 3610. We discovered that the higher viability in 3610 was due to its ability to produce the antibacterial compound surfactin, as surfactin addition rescued 168 viability and also increased yield in aerobic growth. We further demonstrate that surfactin strongly depolarizes theB. subtilismembrane, and that other known membrane-potential disruptors restore viability to 168. These findings highlight the importance of surfactin for survival during oxygen-depleted conditions and demonstrate that antimicrobials normally considered harmful can instead benefit cells in stressful conditions when the terminal electron acceptor in respiration is limiting.
DeLTA: Automated cell segmentation, tracking, and lineage reconstruction using deep learning
Authors: Lugagne Jean-Baptiste , Lin Haonan , Dunlop Mary J.
Published: July 2019

Microscopy image analysis is a major bottleneck in quantification of single-cell microscopy data, typically requiring human supervision and curation, which limit both accuracy and throughput. To address this, we developed a deep learning-based image analysis pipeline that performs segmentation, tracking, and lineage reconstruction. Our analysis focuses on time-lapse movies of Escherichia coli cells trapped in a “mother machine” microfluidic device, a scalable platform for long-term single-cell analysis that is widely used in the field. While deep learning has been applied to cell segmentation problems before, our approach is fundamentally innovative in that it also uses machine learning to perform cell tracking and lineage reconstruction. With this framework we are able to get high fidelity results (1% error rate), without human supervision. Further, the algorithm is fast, with complete analysis of a typical frame containing ∼150 cells taking <700msec. The framework is not constrained to a particular experimental set up and has the potential to generalize to time-lapse images of other organisms or different experimental configurations. These advances open the door to a myriad of applications including real-time tracking of gene expression and high throughput analysis of strain libraries at single-cell resolution.

Author Summary

Automated microscopy experiments can generate massive data sets, allowing for detailed analysis of cell physiology and properties such as gene expression. In particular, dynamic measurements of gene expression with time-lapse microscopy have proved invaluable for understanding how gene regulatory networks operate. However, image analysis remains a key bottleneck in the analysis pipeline, typically requiring human supervision and a posteriori processing. Recently, machine learning-based approaches have ushered in a new era of rapid, unsupervised image analysis. In this work, we use and repurpose the U-Net deep learning algorithm to develop an image processing pipeline that can not only accurately identify the location of cells in an image, but also track them over time as they grow and divide. As an application, we focus on multi-hour time-lapse movies of bacteria growing in a microfluidic device. Our algorithm is accurate and fast, with error rates near 1% and requiring less than a second to analyze a typical movie frame. This increase in speed and fidelity has the potential to open new experimental avenues, e.g. where images are analyzed on-the-fly so that experimental conditions can be updated in real time.
The Insulin Receptor in Astrocytes is Involved in the Entrance of Circulating Insulin into the Brain
Authors: Fernandez Ana M. , Navarrete M. , Davila Jose Carlos , Garcia-Caceres Cristina , Palenzuela Rocio , de Martin Esteban Samuel Ruiz , Mostany Ricardo , Tschöp Matthias , Gutierrez Antonia , Aleman Ignacio Torres
Published: July 2019

Circulating insulin enters into the brain through mechanisms that are not yet entirely understood. We now report that mice lacking insulin receptors (IR) in astrocytes show reduced uptake of circulating insulin and blunted brain responses to this circulating hormone, suggesting that astrocytes form part of the cellular pathway in the entrance of circulating insulin into the brain. Since we previously showed that ablation of IR in astrocytes decreases brain glucose uptake, we conclude that astrocytic IRs regulate uptake of circulating glucose and insulin.
Microcystis aeruginosagrown in different defined media leads to different cultivable heterotrophic bacteria composition that could influence cyanobacterial morphological characteristics and growth properties
Authors: Khong Nicholas M.H. , Khaw Yam Sim , Nazarudin Muhammad Farhan , Yusoff Fatimah Md.
Published: July 2019

Cyanobacterial blooms involvingMicrocystisspp. often pose severe problems to the environment and general community due to their persistent presence in eutrophic water bodies and potential to form blooms. Bacterial associations are known to alter microenvironment ofMicrocystisand potentially influence their development. This study aimed to study cultivable heterotrophic bacteria composition that developed symbiotically withMicrocystis aeruginosanaturally as well as those cultured under defined media and their possible effects on the morphology and growth properties of the cyanobacterium.M. aeruginosa(UPMC-A0051) was isolated during a bloom from Putrajaya Lake, Malaysia and characterized as a non microcystin-producing cyanobacterium using PCR and chromatographic methods. Associated heterotrophic bacteria were then isolated and identified from the culture media as well as the lake where the cyanobacterium was originally isolated. A total of 16 bacterial species were isolated from the lake and none of them were similar to the bacteria associated withM. aeruginosacultured in artificial media. Cultivable heterotrophic bacteria composition associated withM. aeruginosawere also distinct in different culture media, despite the same inoculum. These bacteria were classified underActinobacteria, α.-Proteobacteriaandβ-Proteobacteria. Under different bacterial associations,M. aeruginosacultivated in defined media showed different colony morphology and growth properties. The present study demonstrated that distinct bacterial composition observed in different culture media could be responsible for dissimilar cyanobacterium morphology and growth rate, particularly on the clustering pattern. In the axenic culture, the growth ofM. aeruginosawas significantly reduced indicating the influence of associated bacteria on the development of cyanobacterial colonies.
Experimental and theoretical charge-density analysis of hippuric acid: insight into its binding with human serum albumin
Authors: Hasil Asma , Mehmood Arshad , Ahmed Maqsood
Published: July 2019

In order to comprehend the binding of an important metabolite, hippuric acid, with human serum albumin and to understand its chemical and electronic nature, an experimental charge-density analysis has been carried out using high-resolution diffraction data collected under cryogenic conditions, and all the results have been compared with theoretical findings using the B3LYP/6-311++g(2d,2p) level of theory. The structure displays very strong classical hydrogen bonds as well as other noncovalent interactions, which have been fully characterized using Hirshfeld surface analysis and Bader's quantum theory of atoms in molecules. Contact analysis on the Hirshfeld surfaces shows that the O...H, C...H and C...N intermolecular interactions are enriched and gives their relative strengths. Topological analysis of the electron density shows the charge concentration/depletion of hippuric acid bonds in the crystal structure. Electrostatic parameters such as atomic charges and dipole moments were calculated. The mapping of atomic basins and the calculation of respective charges show the atomic volumes of each atom as well as their charge contributions in the hippuric acid crystal structure. The dipole-moment calculations show that the molecule is very polar in nature. Calculations of the electrostatic potential show that the chain part of the molecule has a higher concentration of negative charge than the ring, which might be instrumental in its strong binding with the polar residues of site II of human serum albumin.
Combination classification method for customer relationship management
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Dai Yue
Published: July 2019

Purpose

For classification problems of customer relationship management (CRM), the purpose of this paper is to propose a method with interpretability of the classification results that combines multiple decision trees based on a genetic algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed method, multiple decision trees are combined in parallel. Subsequently, a genetic algorithm is used to optimize the weight matrix in the combination algorithm.

Findings

The method is applied to customer credit rating assessment and customer response behavior pattern recognition. The results demonstrate that compared to a single decision tree, the proposed combination method improves the predictive accuracy and optimizes the classification rules, while maintaining interpretability of the classification results.

Originality/value

The findings of this study contribute to research methodologies in CRM. It specifically focuses on a new method with interpretability by combining multiple decision trees based on genetic algorithms for customer classification.
Understanding the impacts of issue types and employee–organization relationships on employees’ problem perceptions and communicative behaviors
Authors: Lee Yeunjae , Kim Katie Haejung , Kim Jeong-Nam
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of different types of corporate issues and employee–organization relationships (EORs) on employees’ perceptions of the issues and on their communicative actions. Specifically, this study investigates how employees who have experienced an internal or an external issue within their organizations differently perceive the organizational issue and engage in positive and/or negative communicative behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted with 363 full-time employees in large-sized companies in the USA who have experienced any internal or external issues within the past six months.

Findings

Employees are more cognitively aware of and feel more involved and less constrained in solving an internal company issue than an external one. Experiencing internal issues has led employees to share negative information about their organization externally. The quality of EORs pre-issue significantly increases employees’ involvement and positive communication behavior and decreases constraint levels and negative communication behaviors regarding an issue.

Practical implications

Corporate communication and public relations practitioners should incorporate strategic internal communication strategies to preemptively manage internal issues and to avoid them from evolving into internal crises.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to distinguish internal and external issues perceived by internal stakeholders and to examine their impacts on employees’ issue-specific perceptions and communicative behaviors. This study also provides significant practical guidelines for corporate communication practitioners and leaders by explicating the strategic role of issue type and employee behaviors in issue management.
Numerical simulation and experiment for study on internal flow pattern of vortex pump
Authors: Quan Hui , Chai Yi , Li Rennian , Guo Jianhui
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The special structure of the vortex pump contributes to its complex internal flow pattern. A type of horizontal 150WX-200-20 vortex pump is taken as a research subject to deeply study the progression and distribution of flow pattern in its channel. To explain the mechanism of flow in this pump, numerical analysis of the whole flow and experiment have been conducted.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors studied and analyzed the distribution and evolution of flow pattern under different flow, such as circulating-flow, through-flow and other forms. Finally, a model of flow pattern in the vortex pump has been built, which has more perfectly fit the reality.

Findings

They are through-flow affected by circulating-flow, main and subsidiary circulating-flow, vortices between vanes and other vortices (or liquid impingement) in volute. Entering the pump, part of the flow stays in vanes and turn into vortices while the other goes into the front chamber. The flow that runs into the front chamber will be divided into two parts. One part will be collected by viscosity into a vortex rope when it passing through the interface between the impeller and the vaneless chamber, which closely relates to the circulating-flow, and the rest directly goes out of the field through the diffuser. Besides, a fraction of circulating-flow joins the through-flow when it goes through the section V and leaves the pump.

Originality/value

The research results build a theoretical foundation for working out the flow mechanism of the vortex pump, improving its efficiency and optimizing its hydraulic design.
The challenges of adopting new engineering contract: a Hong Kong study
Authors: Lau Chung Him , Mesthrige Jayantha Wadu , Lam Patrick T.I. , Javed Arshad Ali
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Project delays and cost over-runs are few common major problems arising from conventional contracts. To overcome these issues, the Hong Kong Government has been practicing the use of the New Engineering Contract (NEC) forms in several public works projects. However, despite the successful outcomes and the positive signs of adopting NEC, it appears that NEC forms of contracts are not widely adopted in the Hong Kong construction industry even after 25 years of their first introduction. The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges and barriers for not implementing NEC widely in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a questionnaire survey data collected from 45 senior industry professionals, and six semi-structured interviews, the study evaluated the perceptions of construction professionals as to why NEC is still not popular in the industry and reported the relative importance of challenges in the implementation of NEC in Hong Kong.

Findings

The results reveal that “People are not willing to change,” “Limited number of trained professionals” and “Insufficient case law and adjudication experience” are the most significant challenges and barriers in adopting NEC. These findings are also supported by the opinions of construction professionals through semi-structured interviews.

Practical implications

The findings are relevant and would benefit to the industry stakeholders for adopting NEC contracts by informing them of the most significant challenges so that proper strategies may be devised to overcoming them for early contractors’ involvement, controlling cost and time overruns in infrastructure projects.

Originality/value

The empirical evidence of the study provides an insight into the challenges faced by the construction industry of Hong Kong. NEC form of contract is the way forward in order to create a better working environment conducive for all the parties that would result in better construction project performance and productivity.
The importance of BIM capability assessment
Authors: Mahamadu Abdul-Majeed , Manu Patrick , Mahdjoubi Lamine , Booth Colin , Aigbavboa Clinton , Abanda F.H.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The emergence of building information modelling (BIM) has led to the need for pre-qualification and selection of organisations capable of working within a BIM environment. Several criteria have been proposed for the assessment of an organisation’s BIM capability during the pre-qualification and selection phase of projects. However, no studies have sought to empirically establish whether organisations selected on the basis of such criteria have actually been the most successful at delivering BIM on projects. The purpose of this paper is to address the aforementioned gap through a comparison of predicted BIM capability and post-selection performance.

Design/methodology/approach

BIM capability of firms in a case study was predicted using 28 BIM pre-qualification and selection criteria, prioritised based on their perceived contribution to BIM delivery success from a survey of practitioners on BIM-enabled projects. The comparison of predicted BIM capability and post-selection performance was, on the other hand, achieved through the application of the Technique to Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution and fuzzy sets theory (Fuzzy-TOPSIS).

Findings

Findings underscore the reliability of the 28 BIM pre-qualification and selection criteria as well as the priority weightings proposed for their use in predicting BIM capability and likelihood of performance. The findings have highlighted the importance of criteria related as previous BIM use experience as well as information processing maturity as critical indicators of the capability of organisations, particularly design firms.

Originality/value

Overall, the findings highlight the need for prioritisation of BIM pre-qualification and selection criteria on the basis of their actual contribution to delivery success from post-selection evaluation of performance.
Convergence and error analysis of an automatically differentiated finite volume based heat conduction code
Authors: DeGroot Christopher
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the convergence and error properties of a finite volume-based heat conduction code that uses automatic differentiation to evaluate derivatives of solutions outputs with respect to arbitrary solution input(s). A problem involving conduction in a plane wall with convection at its surfaces is used as a test problem, as it has an analytical solution, and the error can be evaluated directly.

Design/methodology/approach

The finite volume method is used to discretize the transient heat diffusion equation with constant thermophysical properties. The discretized problem is then linearized, which results in two linear systems; one for the primary solution field and one for the secondary field, representing the derivative of the primary field with respect to the selected input(s). Derivatives required in the formation of the secondary linear system are obtained by automatic differentiation using an operator overloading and templating approach in C++.

Findings

The temporal and spatial discretization error for the derivative solution follows the same order of accuracy as the primary solution. Second-order accuracy of the spatial and temporal discretization schemes is confirmed for both primary and secondary problems using both orthogonal and non-orthogonal grids. However, it has been found that for non-orthogonal cases, there is a limit to the error reduction, which is concluded to be a result of errors in the Gauss-based gradient reconstruction method.

Originality/value

The convergence and error properties of derivative solutions obtained by forward mode automatic differentiation of finite volume-based codes have not been previously investigated.
The numerical modeling of cell freezing in binary solution under subcooling conditions
Authors: Smakulski Przemysław , Pietrowicz Sławomir , Ishimoto Jun
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to describe and investigate the mathematical models and numerical modeling of how a cell membrane is affected by a transient ice freezing front combined with the influence of thermal fluctuations and anisotropy.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consists of mathematical modeling, validation with an analytical solution, and shows the influence of thermal noises on phase front dynamics and how it influences the freezing process of a single red blood cell. The numerical calculation has been modeled in the framework of the phase field method with a Cahn–Hilliard formulation of a free energy functional.

Findings

The results show an influence scale on directional phase front propagation dynamics and how significant are stochastic thermal noises in micro-scale freezing.

Originality/value

The numerical calculation has modeled in the framework of the phase field method with a Cahn–Hilliard formulation of a free energy functional.
Critical events in the tourism industry: factors affecting the future intention to take a cruise
Authors: Penco Lara , Profumo Giorgia , Remondino Marco , Bruzzi Carolina
Published: July 2019

Purpose

In recent years, critical events have heavily affected the cruise industry. Such events may variously influence customers’ intention to take a cruise in the future depending on different factors. This paper aims to study such factors, in particular the emotions related to the event, the prior corporate reputation and the use of social media in the corporate communication strategies followed during the crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the development of a structured questionnaire submitted online via blogs and other social media. Overall, 572 cruiser opinions were used to test five research hypotheses by performing logistic regression analysis.

Findings

The degree of anger increases the likelihood of a critical event influencing the intention to take a cruise in the future. On the contrary, a former excellent corporate reputation reduces that likelihood and the high importance placed by potential customers on information about the critical event transmitted via social media does not have any influence.

Practical implications

The study has several managerial implications, as it identifies and analyses the variables cruise company managers should consider when dealing with critical events.

Originality/value

Despite the relevance of this topic, no studies have yet focused on how (and by which factors) a critical event may influence customers’ intention to take a cruise in the future.
Making good suggestions in analytics-based early alert systems
Authors: Foung Dennis
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to answer the following questions: On which early alert system suggestions are students more likely to act? What factors drive students’ decisions to act on early alert system recommendations?

Design/methodology/approach

This study examined whether students’ behaviour changed after receiving the results of an early alert system (CDR). In the middle of a semester, 423 students with varying levels of English proficiency were invited to try the CDR and complete a questionnaire that asked about their perception of the tool and whether they planned to act on the recommendations they received.

Findings

Results suggested that students mainly planned to take the assessment-related recommendations provided through the CDR to improve their assessment performance. Results also suggested that student anxiety and student ability affected the likelihood that students would act on the recommendations.

Practical implications

These findings provide useful insights for early alert system designers to establish a system that generates useful recommendations for students.

Originality/value

The findings of this study contribute to the development of early alert systems. Designers can now realise what suggestions can be effectively offered to students.
Authoritarian leadership, organizational citizenship behavior, and organizational deviance
Authors: Ahmad Bodla Ali , Tang Ningyu , Van Dick Rolf , Mir Usman Riaz
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between authoritarian leadership, organizational citizenship behavior toward one’s supervisor (OCBS) and organizational deviance. The authors hypothesized curvilinear relationships between authoritarian leadership and OCBS, and between authoritarian leadership and organizational deviance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyzed two-source survey data of 240 employee–supervisor dyads collected from seven organizations in Pakistan.

Findings

Employees exhibited most OCBS and least organizational deviance at intermediate levels of authoritarian leadership. Employees’ perception of a benevolent climate at work moderated the curvilinear relations.

Research limitations/implications

The authors cannot draw causal inferences because of cross-sectional data. Furthermore, the authors’ results may be limited to cultures with high collectivism and high power distance.

Practical implications

This study envisions and illuminates a new avenue of curvilinear relationships among authoritarian leadership, OCBS and organizational deviance.

Originality/value

The two sources (employee–supervisor dyads) data collected from seven organizations supported a unique curvilinear relationship between authoritarian leadership, OCBS and organizational deviance.
Dietary habits in Japanese patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: Low intake of meat in psoriasis and high intake of vitamin A in psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Yamashita Hiroko , Morita Takashi , Ito Michiko , Okazaki Shizuka , Koto Mototaka , Ichikawa Yuri , Takayama Ryoko , Hoashi Toshihiko , Saeki Hidehisa , Kanda Naoko
Published: July 2019

Psoriasis is characterized by T‐helper 17 cell‐dominant abnormal immunity, and hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes. Some patients are associated with arthritis. Dietary habits can modulate the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Previous studies in Western countries showed higher body mass indices, higher intake of fat and lower intake of fish or vegetables in psoriatic patients compared with the reference groups. We evaluated dietary habits in adult Japanese psoriatic patients, using a validated brief‐type self‐administered dietary history questionnaire, and compared the results to those of age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. The results in psoriatic patients with arthritis were compared with those in the patients without. Japanese psoriatic patients showed higher body mass indices, higher intake of fish/shellfish, pulses, sugar/sweeteners, vitamin B12 and vitamin D, and lower intake of meat, compared with those of healthy controls. The logistic regression analysis showed that psoriasis was associated with high body mass index and low intake of meat. The intake of confection in patients with high Psoriasis Area and Severity Index was higher than that in those with low index. The intake of β‐carotene, vitamin A and green/yellow vegetables in psoriatic patients with arthritis were higher than those in the patients without. The dietary habits in Japanese psoriatic patients are rather different from those in Western patients. This is the first study showing the differences in dietary habits between psoriatic patients with arthritis and those without. Further studies should elucidate the relationships of these results with skin and joint lesions in psoriatic patients.
S‐wave in 2D acoustic transversely isotropic media with a tilted symmetry axis
Authors: Jin S. , Stovas A.
Published: July 2019

In an acoustic transversely isotropic medium, there are two waves that propagate. One is the P‐wave and another one is the S‐wave (also known as S‐wave artefact). This paper is devoted to analyse the S‐wave in two‐dimensional acoustic transversely isotropic media with a tilted symmetry axis. We derive the S‐wave slowness surface and traveltime function in a homogeneous acoustic transversely isotropic medium with a tilted symmetry axis. The S‐wave traveltime approximations in acoustic transversely isotropic media with a tilted symmetry axis can be mapped from the counterparts for acoustic transversely isotropic media with a vertical symmetry axis. We consider a layered two‐dimensional acoustic transversely isotropic medium with a tilted symmetry axis to analyse the S‐wave moveout. We also illustrate the behaviour of the moveout for reflected S‐wave and converted waves.
Nitrogen deposition magnifies the sensitivity of desert steppe plant communities to large changes in precipitation
Authors: Ma Quanhui , Liu Xiaodi , Li Yibo , Li Lang , Yu Hongying , Qi Miao , Zhou Guangsheng , Xu Zhenzhu
Published: July 2019

Precipitation alteration and nitrogen (N) deposition caused by anthropogenic activities could profoundly affect the structure and functioning of plant communities in arid ecosystems. However, the plant community impacts conferred by large temporal changes in precipitation, especially with a concurrent increase in N deposition, remain unclear.

To address this uncertainty, from 2016 to 2017, an in situ field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of five precipitation levels, two N levels and their interaction on the plant community function and composition in a desert steppe in northern China.

Above‐ground net primary production (ANPP) and plant community‐weighted mean (CWM) height significantly increased with increasing precipitation, and both were well fitted with a positive linear model, but with a higher slope under N addition. The ANPP increase was primarily driven by the increase in Artemisia capillaris, a companion forb sensitive to precipitation variation. The plant community composition shifted with precipitation enhancement—from a community dominated by Stipa tianschanica, a perennial grass, to a community dominated by Artemisia capillaris.

Synthesis. The findings imply that the ecosystem sensitivity to future changes in precipitation variability will be mediated by two potential mechanisms: concurrent N deposition and plant community‐level change. It is suggested that we should consider the vegetation compositional shift and multiple resource colimitation in assessing the sensitivity of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change.
Implications of contrasted above‐ and below‐ground biomass responses in a diversity experiment with trees
Authors: Martin‐Guay Marc‐Olivier , Paquette Alain , Reich Peter B. , Messier Christian
Published: July 2019

While tree diversity has been proven to enhance above‐ground forest biomass in many instances, the effect on below‐ground biomass has often been neutral, or even negative. This raises the questions of whether above‐ground results are the product of a reduced allocation below‐ground in more diverse forests, which could imply a more efficient acquisition of below‐ground resources per unit root, and whether the effects of diversity have been correctly quantified and interpreted in the past.

We addressed these issues using data from a tree‐based functional diversity experiment where 24 mixtures and their respective monocultures were analysed in a fully replicated design. We used species‐level measurements of above‐ and below‐ground biomass to assess how adding below‐ground biomass changes our interpretations regarding the roles of complementarity effects (niche partitioning or facilitation between species) and selection effects (dominance of high‐yielding species within mixtures).

Mixtures showed overyielding of above‐ground biomass but not below‐ground. Although remaining significantly positive, this translated into diversity effects of a lesser magnitude when adding below‐ground biomass. However, species did not reduce their allocation to below‐ground biomass within mixtures compared to monocultures. Rather, this combination of above‐ground overyielding and below‐ground neutral effect was caused by the dominance in mixtures of species with a low below‐ground allocation strategy. Another consequence of these species dominance is that their actual contribution to total productivity within mixtures was overestimated when using only above‐ground biomass, due to their relatively small below‐ground biomass. This caused an overestimation of the selection or dominance effects, thereby causing an underestimation of the relative importance of complementarity effects.

Synthesis. This study emphasizes the need to consider both above‐ and below‐ground biomass components when determining the origin and strength of diversity effects, or when attempting to link tree diversity to ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration. The statistical partitioning of net effects is a widely used method, but one which can lead to an overestimation of the role of individual dominant species when below‐ground biomass is not taken into account, hence diminishing the role of positive interactions between species.
Clinical predictors for oropharyngeal dysphagia and laryngeal dysfunction after lung and heart transplantation
Authors: Black Rebecca J. , Bogaardt Hans , McCabe Patricia , Glanville Allan R. , MacDonald Peter , Madill Catherine
Published: July 2019

Background

Oropharyngeal dysphagia and laryngeal dysfunction are two lesser known complications after lung and heart transplantation. The presence of these features places this immunocompromised population at high risk of pulmonary complications and subsequent medical deterioration. Early identification of swallowing and voice dysfunction would be beneficial to optimize management.

Aims

To examine the association between patient risk factors and postoperative outcomes with referral to speech pathology (SP) following signs of swallowing and voice dysfunction.

Methods & Procedures

A retrospective review was conducted on demographic data, patient risk factors and postoperative course in 284 patients following lung and/or heart transplantation between 2010 and 2013. Variables were analysed for any association between pre‐ and postoperative factors and SP referral.

Outcomes & Results

A total of 24% were referred to SP with a mean age of 47 years. Binary logistic regression identified a statistically significant association between the number of intubations (odds ratio (OR) = 2.066, p = 0.028), intubation duration (OR = 1.004, p < 0.01), length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) (OR = 1.068, p < 0.01), and number of ICU admissions (OR = 1.384, p = 0.046) and SP referral. Intubation time and the total days in ICU were greater for patients referred to SP. Mortality also increased for these variables and for the numbers of reintubations and readmissions. Analysis of pre‐operative risk factors revealed cerebrovascular disease to be a significant predictor of SP referral (OR = 6.747, p = 0.032).

Conclusions & Implications

This study demonstrates significant clinical indicators for referral to SP for the management of oropharyngeal dysphagia and laryngeal dysfunction in patients after lung or heart transplantation. Further studies are needed to investigate the most efficacious intervention approaches to manage swallowing and voice dysfunction in these patients.
Characterization of seminal plasma proteomic alterations associated with the IVF and rescue‐ICSI pregnancy in assisted reproduction
Authors: Liu X. , Liu G. , Zhu P. , Wang Y. , Wang J. , Zhang W. , Wang W. , Li N. , Wang X. , Zhang C. , Liu J. , Shen X. , Liu F.
Published: July 2019

Background

Seminal plasma is a promising diagnostic fluid for male infertility. In assisted reproduction, the seminal plasma‐based characteristics of normozoospermic men achieving successful clinical pregnancy through rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection after in vitro fertilization failure remain unclear.

Objective

To identify potential seminal plasma proteins to contribute to a new understanding of unexplained male factor infertility.

Materials and Methods

An approach with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification labeling coupled with liquid chromatography matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry was applied to investigate differentially expressed proteins in the seminal plasma of a rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection pregnancy group versus an in vitro fertilization pregnancy group of normozoospermic men.

Result(s)

The present work revealed seventy‐three differentially expressed seminal plasma proteins between the in vitro fertilization and rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection groups. Forty‐five proteins were upregulated, and 28 proteins were downregulated in the rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection group compared with the in vitro fertilization group. Bioinformatics analyses showed that these altered proteins were involved in various functions, including the kallikrein‐related proteolytic cascade, immune response, and heparin binding. Furthermore, the validity of the proteomic results was verified by Western blot analysis of the proteins (lactoferrin [LTF], fibronectin [FN1], creatine kinase B type [CKB], kallikrein‐2 [KLK2], aminopeptidase N [ANPEP], extracellular matrix protein 1 [ECM1], glycodelin [PAEP], alpha‐1‐antitrypsin [SERPINA1], and semenogelin‐1 [SEMG1]) and immunofluorescence. Moreover, 16% of the seminal plasma proteins identified in the present work have not been reported in previous studies.

Discussion

This panel of altered seminal plasma proteins associated with unexplained male factor infertility might have clinical relevance and may be useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of idiopathic infertility in in vitro fertilization.

Conclusions

Our work not only provides a new complementary high‐confidence dataset of seminal plasma proteins but also shines new light onto the molecular characteristics of seminal plasma from normozoospermic men with different assisted reproductive outcomes.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis suggest that varying prevalence of non‐acute pain in critically ill infants may be due to different definitions
Authors: Ilhan Emre , Pacey Verity , Brown Laura , Spence Kaye , Trivedi Amit , Hush Julia M.
Published: July 2019

Aim

Our aim was to quantify the prevalence of non‐acute pain in critically ill infants and to identify how non‐acute pain was described, defined and assessed.

Methods

This systematic review and meta‐analysis used multiple electronic databases to search for papers published in any language to March 2018: 2029 papers were identified, and 68 full texts were screened. Studies reporting the prevalence of non‐acute pain in infants younger than 2 years and admitted to critical care units were included. The extracted data included the use of non‐acute pain descriptions, definitions and pain assessment tools.

Results

We included 11 studies published between 2002 and 2018 that comprised 1204 infants from Europe, the USA, Canada and India. They were prospective observational (n = 7) and retrospective observational (n = 1) studies and randomised controlled trials (n = 3). The prevalence of non‐acute pain was 0%‐76% (median 11%). Various pain assessment tools were used, and only two could be pooled. This gave a pooled prevalence of 3.7%‐39.8%. A number of different descriptors were used for non‐acute pain, and all of these were poorly defined.

Conclusion

The prevalence of non‐acute pain in infants admitted to critical care units varied considerably. This could have been because all the studies used different definitions of non‐acute pain.
Potent anti‐angiogenesis and anti‐tumour activity of pegaptanib‐loaded tetrahedral DNA nanostructure
Authors: Xie Xueping , Zhang Yuxin , Ma Wenjuan , Shao Xiaoru , Zhan Yuxi , Mao Chenchen , Zhu Bofeng , Zhou Yi , Zhao Hu , Cai Xiaoxiao
Published: July 2019

Objectives

Pegaptanib might be a promising anti‐tumour drug targeting VEGF to inhibit tumour vascular endothelial cell proliferation. However, the poor biostability limited its application. In this study, we took tetrahedron DNA nanostructures (TDNs) as drug nanocarrier for pegaptanib to explore the potent anti‐angiogenesis and anti‐tumour activity of this drug delivery system.

Materials and methods

The successful synthesis of TDNs and pegaptanib‐TDNs was determined by 8% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), capillary electrophoresis and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The cytotoxicity of pegaptanib alone and pegaptanib‐TDNs on HUVECs and Cal27 was evaluated by the cell count kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay. The effect of pegaptanib and pegaptanib‐TDNs on proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs induced by VEGF was examined by CCK‐8 assay, wound healing assay and tubule formation experiment. The cell binding capacity and serum stability were detected by flow cytometry and PAGE, respectively.

Results

Pegaptanib‐TDNs had stronger killing ability than pegaptanib alone, and the inhibiting effect was in a concentration‐dependent manner. What's more, pegaptanib‐loaded TDNs could effectively enhance the ability of pegaptanib to inhibit proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs induced by VEGF. These might attribute to the stronger binding affinity to the cell membrane and greater serum stability of pegaptanib‐TDNs.

Conclusions

These results suggested that pegaptanib‐TDNs might be a novel strategy to improve anti‐angiogenesis and anti‐tumour ability of pegaptanib.
Analyse des Status quo der perioperativen Antibiotikaprophylaxe in der Dermatochirurgie in Deutschland: Ergebnisse der DESSI‐Studie
Authors: Balakirski Galina , Felcht Moritz , Bayer Hans , Schmitt Laurenz
Published: July 2019

Hintergrund

Die perioperative Antibiotikaprophylaxe (PAP) wird von der Kommission für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektionsprävention (KRINKO) beim Robert Koch‐Institut zur Prävention einer postoperativen Infektion empfohlen. In welchem Umfang die PAP in der Dermatochirurgie in Deutschland eingesetzt wird, ist unklar.

Methoden

Alle Mitglieder der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Dermatochirurgie (DGDC) wurden gebeten, einen standardisierten Fragebogen zu beantworten, in dem eruiert werden sollte, in welcher Form und in welchem Umfang es in der Dermatochirurgie zu einer perioperativen Antibiotikaprophylaxe kommt.

Ergebnisse

78 DGDC‐Mitglieder füllten den Fragebogen aus. Von diesen waren 89,7 % (70/78) auf dem Gebiet der Dermatochirurgie tätige Fachärzte mit einer medianen Berufserfahrung von 15 Jahren. 53,8 % (42/78) der Umfrageteilnehmer berichteten, die PAP regelmäßig bei dermatochirurgischen Eingriffen einzusetzen. Davon gaben 35,7 % (15/42) an, oft eine Indikation für PAP bei immunsupprimierten Patienten zu stellen. Nur ein kleiner Anteil berichtete die PAP parenteral zu verabreichen (5,9 %, 4/67). Der dabei am häufigsten eingesetzte Wirkstoff war das Cephalosporin Cefuroxim. Die Dauer der PAP variierte stark zwischen einer Einmalgabe bis hin zu einer Dauer von über fünf Tagen.

Schlussfolgerungen

Eine PAP wird bei dermatochirurgischen Eingriffen in Deutschland aktuell nicht standardisiert durchgeführt. Es sind prospektive, randomisierte dermatochirurgische Studien notwendig, die klären müssen, ob die PAP‐Empfehlungen der KRINKO auch für die Dermatochirurgie gelten.
Substrate composition determines emergence success and development of European nase larvae (Chondrostoma nasus L.)
Authors: Nagel Christoffer , Pander Joachim , Mueller Melanie , Geist Juergen
Published: July 2019

European nase (Chondrostoma nasus) is a specialist riverine fish, characterised by a complex life cycle making it vulnerable to habitat degradation. Recent findings indicate that, analogously to salmonids, the interstitial zone quality may pose a serious bottleneck for successful recruitment of this species. In this study, nase eggs were exposed to different substrate qualities. First, standardised substrate mixtures with differing fine sediment additions were used. Second, we tested different homogenous gravel fractions for their influence on egg development and emergence success. In both setups, substrate composition significantly affected emergence success, timing of emergence and larvae size at emergence. In the substrate mixtures, emergence was most successful in substratum with no fine sediment addition (98%) and decreased to 55% in substratum with 20% fine sediment addition. Emergence was most successful in the coarsest fraction (93%) and decreased to 47% in the finest fraction. Over all treatments, the time between hatching and emergence from substrate differed by up to 156 degree days, thereby indicating that free embryos of nase use the shelter of the interstitial zone for early ontogeny. These results suggest that a loose and porous stream bed can positively contribute to the development success of eggs and larvae and thereby potentially improve the recruitment of nase populations. It is thus important to consider the substrate and interstitial conditions in the conservation and restoration management of this rheophilic cyprinid.
Aspartic peptidases of the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus: Molecular characterization and in silico structural analysis
Authors: Cardoso Joana M. S. , Fonseca Luís , Abrantes Isabel
Published: July 2019

Aspartic peptidases, a family of proteinases with catalytic aspartate residues in the active site, have been reported in a large variety of organisms associated with different functions in animal parasitism. However, scarce studies have been performed on plant‐parasitic nematode aspartic peptidases and their possible role in parasitism. The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is an important plant‐parasitic nematode responsible for the pine wilt disease and recognized as a major forest pest. In the present study, the cDNA coding sequence of three aspartic peptidases secreted by B. xylophilus (BxASP101, BxASP102 and BxASP103) was cloned and sequenced to predict complete amino acid sequences. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the three peptidases clearly differ from other nematode aspartic peptidases, forming a separate branch. In silico three‐dimensional structure analysis predicted monomers with bilobal configuration and an extended active site cleft localized between the two lobes, with each N‐and C‐terminal lobe contributing with one active aspartic acid residue. The gene transcript levels for these three proteins were higher in B. xylophilus stimulated with Pinus pinaster extract, a high‐susceptible tree, than when stimulated with P. pinea extract, a low‐susceptible tree. These results revealed that BxASP101, BxASP102 and BxASP103 are aspartic peptidases, which might be related to B. xylophilus pathogenicity and can be further explored to develop new target‐specific strategies for the management of this nematode.
Interaction of peripheral nerves and mast cells, eosinophils, and basophils in the development of pruritus
Authors: Nakashima Chisa , Ishida Yoshihiro , Kitoh Akihiko , Otsuka Atsushi , Kabashima Kenji
Published: July 2019

Mast cells, eosinophils and basophils are central effector immune cells in allergic skin inflammation including atopic dermatitis (AD). Recent studies revealed that the bidirectional interaction between these three immune cell types (mast cells, eosinophils and basophils) and the nervous system is involved in the pathogenesis of neurogenic inflammation, pain and pruritus. Emerging evidence shows that these cells are the main source of pruritogens such as histamine, neuropeptides and cytokines, which are potential new therapeutic targets for drug development in chronic pruritus. For instance, many Th2 cytokines including interleukin (IL)‐4, 13 and 31 have been recognized as some of the most promising targets for the treatment of chronic pruritus in AD. In this review, we highlight the link between these three immune cell subsets and peripheral nerves, with emphasis on the development of chronic pruritus such as AD. We present cytokines and receptors of these three immune cells and peripheral nerves, and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting these neuro‐immunological processes.