bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Results of a Multinational Study Suggest the Need for Rapid Diagnosis and Early Antiviral Treatment at the Onset of Herpetic Meningoencephalitis
Authors: Erdem Hakan , Cag Yasemin , Ozturk-Engin Derya , Defres Sylviane , Kaya Selcuk , Larsen Lykke , Poljak Mario , Barsic Bruno , Argemi Xavier , Sørensen Signe Maj , Bohr Anne Lisbeth , Tattevin Pierre , Gunst Jesper Damsgaard , Baštáková Lenka , Jereb Matjaž , Johansen Isik Somuncu , Karabay Oguz , Pekok Abdullah Umut , Sipahi Oguz Resat , Chehri Mahtab , Beraud Guillaume , Shehata Ghaydaa , Del Vecchio Rosa Fontana , Maresca Mauro , Karsen Hasan , Sengoz Gonul , Sunbul Mustafa , Yilmaz Gulden , Yilmaz Hava , Sharif-Yakan Ahmad , Kanj Souha Shararah , Parlak Emine , Pehlivanoglu Filiz , Korkmaz Fatime , Komur Suheyla , Kose Sukran , Ulug Mehmet , Bolukcu Sibel , Coskuner Seher Ayten , Ince Nevin , Akkoyunlu Yasemin , Halac Gulistan , Sahin-Horasan Elif , Tireli Hulya , Kilicoglu Gamze , Al-Mahdawi Akram , Nemli Salih Atakan , Inan Asuman , Senbayrak Seniha , Stahl Jean Paul , Vahaboglu Haluk
Published: March 2015

Data in the literature regarding the factors that predict unfavorable outcomes in adult herpetic meningoencephalitis (HME) cases are scarce. We conducted a multicenter study in order to provide insights into the predictors of HME outcomes, with special emphasis on the use and timing of antiviral treatment. Samples from 501 patients with molecular confirmation from cerebrospinal fluid were included from 35 referral centers in 10 countries. Four hundred thirty-eight patients were found to be eligible for the analysis. Overall, 232 (52.9%) patients experienced unfavorable outcomes, 44 died, and 188 survived, with sequelae. Age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.05), Glasgow Coma Scale score (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.93), and symptomatic periods of 2 to 7 days (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.79) and >7 days (OR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.72 to 8.15) until the commencement of treatment predicted unfavorable outcomes. The outcome in HME patients is related to a combination of therapeutic and host factors. This study suggests that rapid diagnosis and early administration of antiviral treatment in HME patients are keys to a favorable outcome.
The Omentum Is a Site of Protective IgM Production during Intracellular Bacterial Infection
Authors: Jones Derek D. , Racine Rachael , Wittmer Susan T. , Harston Louise , Papillion Amber M. , Dishaw Lisa M. , Randall Troy D. , Woodland David L. , Winslow Gary M.
Published: March 2015

Infection of mice with the bacterium
Ehrlichia muris
elicits a protective T cell-independent (TI) IgM response mediated primarily by a population of CD11c-expressing plasmablasts in the spleen. Although splenic marginal zone (MZ) B cells are considered to be important for TI responses to blood-borne pathogens, MZ B cells were not responsible for generating plasmablasts in response to
Ehrlichia muris
. Moreover, antigen-specific serum IgM was decreased only modestly in splenectomized mice and in mice that lacked spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyer's patches (SLP mice). Both splenectomized and SLP mice were protected against lethal ehrlichial challenge infection. Moreover, we found a high frequency of
Ehrlichia
-specific plasmablasts in the omentum of both conventional and SLP mice. Omental plasmablasts elicited during
Ehrlichia
infection lacked expression of CD138 but expressed CD11c in a manner similar to that of their splenic counterparts. Selective ablation of CD11c-expressing B cells nearly eliminated the omental
Ehrlichia
-specific plasmablasts and reduced antigen-specific serum IgM, identifying the omental B cells as a source of IgM production in the SLP mice. Generation of the omental plasmablasts was route dependent, as they were detected following peritoneal infection but not following intravenous infection. Our data identify the omentum as an important auxiliary site of IgM production during intracellular bacterial infection.
Nonreplicating, Cyst-Defective Type II Toxoplasma gondii Vaccine Strains Stimulate Protective Immunity against Acute and Chronic Infection
Authors: Fox Barbara A. , Bzik David J.
Published: March 2015

Live attenuated vaccine strains, such as type I nonreplicating uracil auxotroph mutants, are highly effective in eliciting lifelong immunity to virulent acute infection by
Toxoplasma gondii
. However, it is currently unknown whether vaccine-elicited immunity can provide protection against acute infection and also prevent chronic infection. To address this problem, we developed nonreverting, nonreplicating, live attenuated uracil auxotroph vaccine strains in the type II Δ
ku80
genetic background by targeting the deletion of the orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase (
OMPDC
) and uridine phosphorylase (
UP
) genes. Deletion of
OMPDC
induced a severe uracil auxotrophy with loss of replication, loss of virulence in mice, and loss of the ability to develop cysts and chronic infection. Vaccination of mice using type II Δ
ku80
Δ
ompdc
mutants stimulated a fully protective CD8
+
T cell-dependent immunity that prevented acute infection by type I and type II strains of
T. gondii
, and this vaccination also severely reduced or prevented cyst formation after type II challenge infection. Nonreverting, nonreplicating, and non-cyst-forming Δ
ompdc
mutants provide new tools to examine protective immune responses elicited by vaccination with a live attenuated type II vaccine.
Targeting Surface Protein SasX by Active and Passive Vaccination To Reduce Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and Infection
Authors: Liu Qian , Du Xin , Hong Xufen , Li Tianming , Zheng Bing , He Lei , Wang Yanan , Otto Michael , Li Min
Published: March 2015

SasX is a recently described surface protein of
Staphylococcus aureus
that is linked to the epidemic success of hospital-associated methicillin-resistant clones, in particular in Asia. It enhances nasal colonization and virulence in skin and lung infection models. Here, we evaluated the potential of SasX as a vaccine component in passive and active immunization efforts using mouse infection models. We found that SasX induced a specific immune response predominantly based on IgG1 antibodies. Active immunization with recombinant SasX or passive immunization with rabbit polyclonal anti-SasX IgG significantly decreased the size of lesions caused by
S. aureus
in a skin infection model. Furthermore, active immunization reduced acute lung injury in a lung infection model. Moreover, active or passive immunization significantly reduced
S. aureus
colonization in a nasal colonization model. Finally, anti-SasX IgG enhanced the susceptibility of
S. aureus
to killing by human neutrophils. We conclude that SasX is a potential target for therapeutics or vaccines designed to moderate colonization and infection by
sasX
-positive epidemic strains of
S. aureus
.
Activated Human Valvular Interstitial Cells Sustain Interleukin-17 Production To Recruit Neutrophils in Infective Endocarditis
Authors: Yeh Chiou-Yueh , Shun Chia-Tung , Kuo Yu-Min , Jung Chiau-Jing , Hsieh Song-Chou , Chiu Yen-Ling , Chen Jeng-Wei , Hsu Ron-Bin , Yang Chia-Ju , Chia Jean-San
Published: March 2015

The mechanisms that underlie valvular inflammation in streptococcus-induced infective endocarditis (IE) remain unclear. We previously demonstrated that streptococcal glucosyltransferases (GTFs) can activate human heart valvular interstitial cells (VIC) to secrete interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine involved in T helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that activated VIC can enhance neutrophil infiltration through sustained IL-17 production, leading to valvular damage. To monitor cytokine and chemokine production, leukocyte recruitment, and the induction or expansion of CD4+CD45RA−CD25−CCR6+Th17 cells, primary human VIC were culturedin vitroand activated by GTFs. Serum cytokine levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and neutrophils and Th17 cells were detected by immunohistochemistry in infected valves from patients with IE. The expression of IL-21, IL-23, IL-17, and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor C (Rorc) was upregulated in GTF-activated VIC, which may enhance the proliferation of memory Th17 cells in an IL-6-dependent manner. Many chemokines, including chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), were upregulated in GTF-activated VIC, which might recruit neutrophils and CD4+T cells. Moreover, CXCL1 production in VIC was induced in a dose-dependent manner by IL-17 to enhance neutrophil chemotaxis. CXCL1-expressing VIC and infiltrating neutrophils could be detected in infected valves, and serum concentrations of IL-17, IL-21, and IL-23 were increased in patients with IE compared to healthy donors. Furthermore, elevated serum IL-21 levels have been significantly associated with severe valvular damage, including rupture of chordae tendineae, in IE patients. Our findings suggest that VIC are activated by bacterial modulins to recruit neutrophils and that such activities might be further enhanced by the production of Th17-associated cytokines. Together, these factors can amplify the release of neutrophilic contentsin situ, which might lead to severe valvular damage.
Correlates between Models of Virulence for Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Isolates of the Central Asian Lineage: a Case for Lysozyme Resistance Testing?
Authors: Pardieu Claire , Casali Nicola , Clark Simon O. , Hooper Richard , Williams Ann , Velji Preya , Gonzalo Ximena , Drobniewski Francis
Published: March 2015

Virulence factors (VFs) contribute to the emergence of new human
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
strains, are lineage dependent, and are relevant to the development of
M. tuberculosis
drugs/vaccines. VFs were sought within
M. tuberculosis
lineage 3, which has the Central Asian (CAS) spoligotype. Three isolates were selected from clusters previously identified as dominant in London, United Kingdom. Strain-associated virulence was studied in guinea pig, monocyte-derived macrophage, and lysozyme resistance assays. Whole-genome sequencing, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, and a literature review contributed to the identification of SNPs of interest. The animal model revealed borderline differences in strain-associated pathogenicity.
Ex vivo
, isolate C72 exhibited statistically significant differences in intracellular growth relative to C6 and C14. SNP candidates inducing lower fitness levels included 123 unique nonsynonymous SNPs, including three located in genes (
lysX
,
caeA
, and
ponA2
) previously identified as VFs in the laboratory-adapted reference strain H37Rv and shown to confer lysozyme resistance. C72 growth was most affected by lysozyme
in vitro
. A BLAST search revealed that all three SNPs of interest (C35F, P76Q, and P780R) also occurred in Tiruvallur, India, and in Uganda. Unlike C72, however, no single isolate identified through BLAST carried all three SNPs simultaneously. CAS isolates representative of three medium-sized human clusters demonstrated differential outcomes in models commonly used to estimate strain-associated virulence, supporting the idea that virulence varies within, not just across,
M. tuberculosis
lineages. Three VF SNPs of interest were identified in two additional locations worldwide, which suggested independent selection and supported a role for these SNPs in virulence. The relevance of lysozyme resistance to strain virulence remains to be established.
Efficient Assembly of Ribosomes Is Inhibited by Deletion of
bipA
in Escherichia coli
Authors: Choudhury Promisree , Flower Ann M.
Published: March 2015

The bacterial BipA protein belongs to the EF-G family of translational GTPases and has been postulated to be either a regulatory translation factor or a ribosome assembly factor. To distinguish between these hypotheses, we analyzed the effect of
bipA
deletion on three phenotypes associated with ribosome assembly factors: cold sensitivity, ribosome subunit distribution, and rRNA processing. We demonstrated that a Δ
bipA
strain exhibits a cold-sensitive phenotype that is similar to, and synergistic with, that of a strain with a known ribosome assembly factor,
deaD
. Additionally, the
bipA
deletion strain displayed a perturbed ribosome subunit distribution when grown at low temperature, similar to that of a
deaD
mutant, and again, the double mutant showed additive effects. The primary ribosomal deficiency noted was a decreased level of the 50S subunit and the appearance of a presumed pre-50S particle. Finally, deletion of
bipA
resulted in accumulation of pre23S rRNA, as did deletion of
deaD
. We further found that deletion of
rluC
, which encodes a pseudouridine synthase that modifies the 23S rRNA at three sites, suppressed all three phenotypes of the
bipA
mutant, supporting and extending previous findings. Together, these results suggest that BipA is important for the correct and efficient assembly of the 50S subunit of the ribosome at low temperature but when unmodified by RluC, the ribosomes become BipA independent for assembly.

IMPORTANCE
The ribosome is the complex ribonucleoprotein machine responsible for protein synthesis in all cells. Although much has been learned about the structure and function of the ribosome, we do not fully understand how it is assembled or the accessory proteins that increase efficiency of biogenesis and function. This study examined one such protein, BipA. Our results indicate that BipA either directly or indirectly enhances the formation of the 50S subunit of the ribosome, particularly at low temperature. In addition, ribosomes contain a large number of modified nucleosides, including pseudouridines. This work demonstrates that the function of BipA is tied to the modification status of the ribosome and may help us understand why these modifications have been retained.
Structure-Function Analysis of Peptide Signaling in the Clostridium perfringens Agr-Like Quorum Sensing System
Authors: Ma Menglin , Li Jihong , McClane Bruce A.
Published: March 2015

The accessory growth regulator (Agr)-like quorum sensing (QS) system of
Clostridium perfringens
controls the production of many toxins, including beta toxin (CPB). We previously showed (J. E. Vidal, M. Ma, J. Saputo, J. Garcia, F. A. Uzal, and B. A. McClane, Mol Microbiol 83:179–194, 2012,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07925.x
) that an 8-amino-acid, AgrD-derived peptide named 8-R upregulates CPB production by this QS system. The current study synthesized a series of small signaling peptides corresponding to sequences within the
C. perfringens
AgrD polypeptide to investigate the
C. perfringens
autoinducing peptide (AIP) structure-function relationship. When both linear and cyclic ring forms of these peptides were added to
agrB
null mutants of type B strain CN1795 or type C strain CN3685, the 5-amino-acid peptides, whether in a linear or ring (thiolactone or lactone) form, induced better signaling (more CPB production) than peptide 8-R for both
C. perfringens
strains. The 5-mer thiolactone ring peptide induced faster signaling than the 5-mer linear peptide. Strain-related variations in sensing these peptides were detected, with CN3685 sensing the synthetic peptides more strongly than CN1795. Consistent with those synthetic peptide results, Transwell coculture experiments showed that CN3685 exquisitely senses native AIP signals from other isolates (types A, B, C, and D), while CN1795 barely senses even its own AIP. Finally, a
C. perfringens
AgrD sequence-based peptide with a 6-amino-acid thiolactone ring interfered with CPB production by several
C. perfringens
strains, suggesting potential therapeutic applications. These results indicate that AIP signaling sensitivity and responsiveness vary among
C. perfringens
strains and suggest
C. perfringens
prefers a 5-mer AIP to initiate Agr signaling.

IMPORTANCE
Clostridium perfringens
possesses an Agr-like quorum sensing (QS) system that regulates virulence, sporulation, and toxin production. The current study used synthetic peptides to identify the structure-function relationship for the signaling peptide that activates this QS system. We found that a 5-mer peptide induces optimal signaling. Unlike other Agr systems, a linear version of this peptide (in addition to thiolactone and lactone versions) could induce signaling. Two
C. perfringens
strains were found to vary in sensitivity to these peptides. We also found that a 6-mer peptide can inhibit toxin production by some strains, suggesting therapeutic applications.
‘Engage me in taking care of my heart’: a grounded theory study on patient–cardiologist relationship in the hospital management of heart failure
Authors: Barello Serena , Graffigna Guendalina , Vegni Elena , Savarese Mariarosaria , Lombardi Federico , Bosio A Claudio
Published: March 2015

Objective

In approaching the study and practice of heart failure (HF) management, authors recognise that the patient–doctor relationship has a central role in engaging patients in their care. This study aims at identifying the features and the levers of HF patient engagement and suggestions for orienting clinical encounters.

Design

Using a grounded theory approach, we conducted 22 in-depth interviews (13 patients with HF, 5 physicians and 4 caregivers). Data were collected and analysed using open, axial and selective coding procedures according to the grounded theory principles.

Settings

All interviews were conducted in an office in a university hospital located in a metropolitan area of Milan, Italy.

Participants

The data comprised a total of 22 patient, hospital cardiologist and caregiver interviews. Patients aged ≥18 years with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class of II or III were eligible to take part. Patients were recruited primarily through their referral cardiologist.

Results

The HF patient engagement process develops in four main phases that are characterised by different patients’ emotional, cognitive and behavioural dynamics that contribute to shape the process of a patient's meaning making towards health and illness regarding their care. The emerging model illustrates that HF patient engagement entails a meaning-making process enacted by the patient after the critical event. This implies patients’ ability to give sense to their care experience and to their disease, symptomatology and treatments, and their changes along their illness course. Doctors are recognised as crucial in fostering patients’ engagement along all the phases of the process as they contribute to providing patients with self-continuity and give new meaning to their illness experience.

Conclusions

This study identifies the core experiential domains and the main levers involved in driving patients with HF to effectively engage in their disease management. The model emerging from this study may help clinicians think in a fresh way about encounters with patients and their role in fostering their patients’ health engagement.
Overweight and obesity on the island of Ireland: an estimation of costs
Authors: Dee Anne , Callinan Aoife , Doherty Edel , O'Neill Ciaran , McVeigh Treasa , Sweeney Mary Rose , Staines Anthony , Kearns Karen , Fitzgerald Sarah , Sharp Linda , Kee Frank , Hughes John , Balanda Kevin , Perry Ivan J
Published: March 2015

Objectives

The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity worldwide continues to compromise population health and creates a wider societal cost in terms of productivity loss and premature mortality. Despite extensive international literature on the cost of overweight and obesity, findings are inconsistent between Europe and the USA, and particularly within Europe. Studies vary on issues of focus, specific costs and methods. This study aims to estimate the healthcare and productivity costs of overweight and obesity for the island of Ireland in 2009, using both top-down and bottom-up approaches.

Methods

Costs were estimated across four categories: healthcare utilisation, drug costs, work absenteeism and premature mortality. Healthcare costs were estimated using Population Attributable Fractions (PAFs). PAFs were applied to national cost data for hospital care and drug prescribing. PAFs were also applied to social welfare and national mortality data to estimate productivity costs due to absenteeism and premature mortality.

Results

The healthcare costs of overweight and obesity in 2009 were estimated at €437 million for the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and €127.41 million for NI. Productivity loss due to overweight and obesity was up to €865 million for ROI and €362 million for NI. The main drivers of healthcare costs are cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, colon cancer, stroke and gallbladder disease. In terms of absenteeism, low back pain is the main driver in both jurisdictions, and for productivity loss due to premature mortality the primary driver of cost is coronary heart disease.

Conclusions

The costs are substantial, and urgent public health action is required in Ireland to address the problem of increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, which if left unchecked will lead to unsustainable cost escalation within the health service and unacceptable societal costs.
CWC: A Companion Write Cache for Energy-Aware Multi-Level Spin-Transfer Torque RAM Cache Design
Authors: Zhang Tiefei , Zhu Jixiang , Fu Jun , Chen Tianzhou
Published: March 2015

Due to its large leakage power and low density, the conventional SARM becomes less appealing to implement the large on-chip cache due to energy issue. Emerging non-volatile memory technologies, such as phase change memory (PCM) and spin-transfer torque RAM (STT-RAM), have advantages of low leakage power and high density, which makes them good candidates for on-chip cache. In particular, STT-RAM has longer endurance and shorter access latency over PCM. There are two kinds of STT-RAM so far: single-level cell (SLC) STT-RAM and multi-level cell (MLC) STT-RAM. Compared to the SLC STT-RAM, the MLC STT-RAM has higher density and lower leakage power, which makes it a even more promising candidate for future on-chip cache. However, MLC STT-RAM improves density at the cost of almost doubled write latency and energy compared to the SLC STT-RAM. These drawbacks degrade the system performance and diminish the energy benefits. To alleviate these problems, we propose a novel cache organization, companion write cache (CWC), which is a small fully associative SRAM cache, working with the main MLC STT-RAM cache in a master-and-servant way. The key function of CWC is to absorb the energy-consuming write updates from the MLC STT-RAM cache. The experimental results are promising that CWC can greatly reduce the write energy and dynamic energy, improve the performance and endurance of MLC STT-RAM cache compared to a baseline.
FLIPS IN COMBINATORIAL POINTED PSEUDO-TRIANGULATIONS WITH FACE DEGREE AT MOST FOUR
Authors: AICHHOLZER OSWIN , HACKL THOMAS , ORDEN DAVID , PILZ ALEXANDER , SAUMELL MARIA , VOGTENHUBER BIRGIT
Published: March 2015

In this paper we consider the ip operation for combinatorial pointed pseudotriangulations where faces have size 3 or 4, so-called combinatorial 4-PPTs.We show that every combinatorial 4-PPT is stretchable to a geometric pseudo-triangulation, which in general is not the case if faces may have size larger than 4. Moreover, we prove that the ip graph of combinatorial 4-PPTs is connected and has diameter O(n2), even in the case of labeled vertices with fixed outer face. For this case we provide an Ω(n log n) lower bound.
STABBING SIMPLICES OF POINT SETS WITH k-FLATS
Authors: CANO JAVIER , HURTADO FERRAN , URRUTIA JORGE
Published: March 2015

Let S be a set of n points in ℝd in general position. A set ℋ of k-flats is called an mk-stabber of S if the relative interior of any m-simplex with vertices in S is intersected by at least one element of ℋ. In this paper we give lower and upper bounds on the size of minimum mk-stabbers of point sets in ℝd and in general position. We study mainly mk-stabbers in the plane and in ℝ3.
EMBEDDING THE DOUBLE CIRCLE IN A SQUARE GRID OF MINIMUM SIZE
Authors: BEREG S. , FABILA-MONROY R. , FLORES-PEÑALOZA D. , LOPEZ M. A. , PÉREZ-LANTERO P.
Published: March 2015

In 1926, Jarník investigated the drawing of a curve that visits a large number of lattice points relative to its curvature. To this end, he constructed a convex n-gon with vertices on a “small” integer grid [0, c.n3/2]2, where c > 0 is a constant, and proved that this grid size is optimal up to a constant factor. We consider a similar construction for the double circle of 2n points and prove that it can be embedded in a grid of the same asymptotic size. Moreover, we give an O(n)-time algorithm to generate the corresponding point set.
Yang–Mills mass gap at large-N, noncommutative YM theory, topological quantum field theory and hyperfiniteness
Authors: Bochicchio Marco
Published: March 2015

We review a number of old and new concepts in quantum gauge theories, some of which are well-established but not widely appreciated, some are most recent, that may have analogs in gauge formulations of quantum gravity, loop quantum gravity, and their topological versions, and may be of general interest. Such concepts involve noncommutative gauge theories and their relation to the large-N limit, loop equations and the change to the anti-selfdual (ASD) variables also known as Nicolai map, topological field theory (TFT) and its relation to localization and Morse–Smale–Floer homology, with an emphasis both on the mathematical aspects and the physical meaning. These concepts, assembled in a new way, enter a line of attack to the problem of the mass gap in large-NSU(N) Yang–Mills (YM), that is reviewed as well.

Algebraic considerations furnish a measure of the mathematical complexity of a complete solution of large-NSU(N) YM: In the large-N limit of pure SU(N) YM the ambient algebra of Wilson loops is known to be a type II1 nonhyperfinite factor.

Nevertheless, for the mass gap problem at the leading 1/N order, only the subalgebra of local gauge-invariant single-trace operators matters. The connected two-point correlators in this subalgebra must be an infinite sum of propagators of free massive fields, since the interaction is subleading in [Formula: see text], a vast simplification. It is an open problem, determined by the growth of the degeneracy of the spectrum, whether the aforementioned local subalgebra is in fact hyperfinite.

Moreover, the sum of free propagators that occurs in the two-point correlators in the aforementioned local subalgebra must be asymptotic for large momentum to the result implied by the asymptotic freedom and the renormalization group: This fundamental constraint fixes asymptotically the residues of the poles of the propagators in terms of the mass spectrum and of the anomalous dimensions of the local operators.

For the mass gap problem, in the search of a hyperfinite subalgebra containing the scalar sector of large-N YM, a major role is played by the existence of a TFT underlying the large-N limit of YM, with twisted boundary conditions on a torus or, which is the same by Morita duality, on a noncommutative torus.

The TFT is trivial at the leading large-N order and localized on a set of critical points by means of a quantum version of Morse–Smale–Floer homology, that involves loop equations in the ASD variables.

A hyperfinite sector arises by fluctuations around the trivial TFT, in which the joint spectrum of scalar and pseudoscalar glueballs is linear in the square of the masses [Formula: see text] with degeneracy k = 1, 2,…, and the two-point correlator satisfies the aforementioned fundamental constraint arising by the asymptotic freedom and the renormalization group.
Shape coexistence and parity doublet in Zr isotopes
Authors: Kumar Bharat , Singh S. K. , Patra S. K.
Published: March 2015

The ground and excited states properties of Zr isotopes are studied from proton to neutron drip lines using the relativistic (RMF) and nonrelativistic (SHF) mean-field formalisms with Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) and Bogoliubov pairing, respectively. The well-known NL3* and SLy4 parameter sets are used in the calculations. We have found spherical ground and low-lying large deformed excited states in most of the isotopes. Several couples of Ωπ = 1/2± parity doublets configurations are noticed, while analyzing the single-particle energy levels of the large deformed configurations.
Classification and GNS-construction for general universal products
Authors: Gerhold Malte , Lachs Stephanie
Published: March 2015

It is known that there are exactly five natural products, which are universal products fulfilling two normalization conditions simultaneously. We classify universal products without these extra conditions. We find a two-parameter deformation of the Boolean product, which we call (r, s)-products. Our main result states that, besides degnerate cases, these are the only new universal products. Furthermore, we introduce a GNS-construction for not necessarily positive linear functionals on algebras and study the GNS-construction for (r, s)-product functionals.
Highly efficient hydroxylation of gaseous alkanes at reduced temperature catalyzed by cytochrome P450BM3 assisted by decoy molecules
Authors: Kawakami Norifumi , Cong Zhiqi , Shoji Osami , Watanabe Yoshihito
Published: March 2015

Cytochrome P450BM3 functions as a small-alkane hydroxylase upon the addition of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFs) as decoy molecules. The coupling efficiency (product formation rate per NADPH consumption rate) for the hydroxylation of small alkanes was improved by reducing the reaction temperature to 0°C.
CUSTOMER-INDUCED INTERACTIONS AND INNOVATION IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: THE CASE OF SOFTWARE CUSTOMISATION
Authors: SCHAARSCHMIDT MARIO , WALSH GIANFRANCO , BERTRAM MATTHIAS , VON KORTZFLEISCH HARALD
Published: March 2015

Typically, it is customers who demand that product software be adapted to organisational processes and aligned with their organisational IT landscape. From a knowledge perspective, such customisation services can be conceptualised as a reciprocal knowledge transfer between professional service firms (PSFs) and their customers. In addressing the scarcity in the innovation management literature regarding the benefits that arise from reciprocal knowledge transfers in customer-induced interactions, the present research investigates customer-induced interactions in relation to customisation services. The authors aim to improve the understanding of the complex relationships among PSFs' resource deployment, customer input, and performance. They extend and refine previous research by developing a conceptual model and testable propositions for academic and managerial consideration based on an extensive field study of PSFs and customers in the field of large enterprise product software.
在日华侨同乡意识的演变
Authors: 张玉玲
Published: March 2015

本文通过分析在日福清华侨的同乡组织的活动，探讨二战前后华侨的地缘纽带作用的变化，以及同乡意识在华侨民族文化认同形成过程中的演变。二战前以挨家挨户贩卖吴服（行商）为生的福清华侨，在移居和定居过程中同乡纽带起了很大的作用，但由于生意需要不得不分散于日本各地，而使同乡纽带的作用在之后并未得到维持强化。战后，在日本出生的第二代福清华侨积极参与华侨运动，并在其影响下成立全国性的同乡组织。战后的同乡组织一方面有很强的华侨运动的性质，另一方面依然起到维持华侨同乡纽带的作用。其反映的也是第二代华侨的多元化认同，而构成这些认同基底的是依然强烈的同乡意识，虽然“故乡”的含义已经发生变化。
China's Hukou Reform: New Guidelines and Implications
Authors: ZHAO Litao
Published: March 2015

China released the National New-Type Urbanisation Plan (2014-2020) and the State Council Opinion on Hukou Reform in 2014. The new leadership adopts a tiered approach to hukou conversion, ranging from full liberalisation in towns and small cities to strict control in mega cities. China is highly likely to meet the target of 100 million more urban hukou population by 2020. A big challenge is the integration of migrant workers in large cities.
Sierra de Guadarrama (Madrid, Spain): bridging the gap between geology and architecture
Authors: García-Rodriguez Manuel , García-Rodriguez Miguel , Gomez-Heras Miguel
Published: March 2015

The knowledge that societies have of their geological environment and of the materials used in their heritage is of great importance for the sustainable use and conservation of traditional natural stone architecture. Similar weathering mechanisms occur in natural environments and the built environment and, in both cases, weathering may endanger both natural and built heritage. The Sierra de Guadarrama (Spanish Central System) is a privileged area in which natural and built heritage coexist. This paper describes an area of particular monumental and geological interest on the northern slopes of the Sierra de Guadarrama; its main aim is to propose an itinerary for members of the public, presented as a route through the area around Segovia, in which architecture/cultural heritage and an Earth sciences approach are brought together with an educational purpose. To this end, some connections are established between weathering forms in natural and built environments, as well as between the lithological characteristics of the rocks used in construction of ancient monuments in the area and the distribution of stresses and loads of walls.
Early Cretaceous Obernkirchen and Bentheim Sandstones from Germany used as dimension stone in the Netherlands: geology, physical properties, architectural use and comparative weathering
Authors: Dubelaar C. Wim , Nijland Timo G.
Published: March 2015

The Netherlands, with only scarce occurrences of outcropping or shallow buried natural stone, has over centuries imported huge quantities of Early Cretaceous Bentheim Sandstone and Obernkirchen Sandstone from Germany. The present paper provides an overview of their distribution and properties relevant to their use as building stone, and their mutual differences and comparative weathering. Evidence in Dutch architecture for the onset of quarrying of the Bentheim Sandstone is presented, and an overview is given of the use of Bentheim Sandstone and Obernkirchen Sandstone in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Characterization of particulate matter in attic and settled dusts collected from two buildings in Budapest, Hungary
Authors: Baricza Á. , Bajnóczi B. , Tóth M. , Káldos R. , Szabó Cs.
Published: March 2015

We have investigated two buildings covered with Zsolnay glazed architectural ceramics in Budapest (Hungary), one located in the densely built-up area of the city centre with a high traffic rate and one in a city quarter with moderate traffic and more open space. A black crust layer, containing a large amount of artificial particulate matter with different size and chemical composition, was observed on the ceramic material of both buildings, whereas weathered glaze was detected only on the ceramics of the building situated in the city centre. In this paper, our goal is to reveal the role of the particulate matter in the degradation of architectural ceramics. For this reason the attic dust and settled dust from the roofs of the studied buildings were collected. In the attic dust, besides the natural particles of geological origin, three types of artificial particles typically with spherical shape (spherules) were also distinguished: aluminosilicate (two subtypes), carbonaceous, and iron-rich fly-ash. The appearance of gypsum crystallites around the particulate matter in association with all spherule types suggests that the particulate matter greatly contributes to the degradation process.
Comparison between petrophysical properties, durability and use of two limestones of the Paris region
Authors: Vázquez Patricia , Menéndez Beatriz , Denecker Mélanie F. C. , Thomachot-Schneider Celine
Published: March 2015

Most buildings of architectural heritage in Paris and its surroundings are built with Lutetian limestone. Several historic buildings of the ‘Vexin Normand’ region show Lutetian limestone in the upper parts of their walls, while the lower parts are built with a chalk known as ‘Pierre de Vernon’. The ‘Pierre de Vernon’ appears up to the first metre, although in exceptional cases it can reach the middle height of a building. Commonly, chalks exhibit low durability due to their high porosity. However, ‘Pierre de Vernon’ is supposed to have greater durability than other chalks because of its historic use for basement construction.

The objective of this research was to understand the use of the ‘Pierre de Vernon’ in the lower part of the constructions. A petrophysical characterization of Vernon chalk and Lutetian limestone was carried out, focusing mainly on the differences in porosity and water uptake. Salt crystallization tests were done to contrast their response to decay. Colour and roughness measurements and scanning electron microscope observations were performed.

Results show that the different porous networks of these two limestones lead to a high contrast in their hydric properties and responses to decay, and the use of Vernon chalk in the lower sections of buildings has been found to be appropriate.
Net Neutrality
Authors: Cooper Alissa , Brown Ian
Published: March 2015

We analyze UK and US experiences as they relate to two central net neutrality questions: (1) whether competition serves as a deterrent to the discriminatory treatment of Internet traffic, and (2) whether discrimination creates barriers to application development and innovation. Relying on consumer switching behavior to provide more comprehensive competitive discipline was insufficient for a variety of reasons, including the presence of switching costs. The process of correcting errors in the technology used for application-specific management revealed that such management creates costs for application developers and innovators, regardless of whether their products are targeted for traffic management.
Strategic Formation of Credit Networks
Authors: Dandekar Pranav , Goel Ashish , Wellman Michael P. , Wiedenbeck Bryce
Published: March 2015

Credit networks are an abstraction for modeling trust among agents in a network. Agents who do not directly trust each other can transact through exchange of IOUs (obligations) along a chain of trust in the network. Credit networks are robust to intrusion, can enable transactions between strangers in exchange economies, and have the liquidity to support a high rate of transactions. We study the formation of such networks when agents strategically decide how much credit to extend each other. We find strong positive network formation results for the simplest theoretical model. When each agent trusts a fixed set of other agents and transacts directly only with those it trusts, all pure-strategy Nash equilibria are social optima. However, when we allow transactions over longer paths, the price of anarchy may be unbounded. On the positive side, when agents have a shared belief about the trustworthiness of each agent, simple greedy dynamics quickly converge to a star-shaped network, which is a social optimum. Similar star-like structures are found in equilibria of heuristic strategies found via simulation studies. In addition, we simulate environments where agents may have varying information about each others’ trustworthiness based on their distance in a social network. Empirical game analysis of these scenarios suggests that star structures arise only when defaults are relatively rare, and otherwise, credit tends to be issued over short social distances conforming to the locality of information. Overall, we find that networks formed by self-interested agents achieve a high fraction of available value, as long as this potential value is large enough to enable any network to form.
Adipose triglyceride lipase deletion from adipocytes, but not skeletal myocytes, impairs acute exercise performance in mice
Authors: Dubé John J. , Sitnick Mitch T. , Schoiswohl Gabriele , Wills Rachel C. , Basantani Mahesh K. , Cai Lingzhi , Pulinilkunnil Thomas , Kershaw Erin E.
Published: March 2015

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) is the rate-limiting enzyme mediating triacylglycerol hydrolysis in virtually all cells, including adipocytes and skeletal myocytes, and hence, plays a critical role in mobilizing fatty acids. Global ATGL deficiency promotes skeletal myopathy and exercise intolerance in mice and humans, and yet the tissue-specific contributions to these phenotypes remain unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the relative contribution of ATGL-mediated triacylglycerol hydrolysis in adipocytes vs. skeletal myocytes to acute exercise performance. To achieve this goal, we generated murine models with adipocyte- and skeletal myocyte-specific targeted deletion of ATGL. We then subjected untrained mice to acute peak and submaximal exercise interventions and assessed exercise performance and energy substrate metabolism. Impaired ATGL-mediated lipolysis within adipocytes reduced peak and submaximal exercise performance, reduced peripheral energy substrate availability, shifted energy substrate preference toward carbohydrate oxidation, and decreased HSL Ser660 phosphorylation and mitochondrial respiration within skeletal muscle. In contrast, impaired ATGL-mediated lipolysis within skeletal myocytes was not sufficient to reduce peak and submaximal exercise performance or peripheral energy substrate availability and instead tended to enhance metabolic flexibility during peak exercise. Furthermore, the expanded intramyocellular triacylglycerol pool in these mice was reduced following exercise in association with preserved HSL phosphorylation, suggesting that HSL may compensate for impaired ATGL action in skeletal muscle during exercise. These data suggest that adipocyte rather than skeletal myocyte ATGL-mediated lipolysis plays a greater role during acute exercise in part because of compensatory mechanisms that maintain lipolysis in muscle, but not adipose tissue, when ATGL is absent.
Serum Creatinine Level: A Supplemental Index to Distinguish Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy from Becker Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Zhang Huili , Zhu Yuling , Sun Yiming , Liang Yingyin , Li Yaqin , Zhang Yu , Deng Langhui , Wen Xingxuan , Zhang Cheng
Published: March 2015

Background.To improve assessment of dystrophinopathy, the aim of this study was to identify whether serum creatinine (Crn) level reflects disease severity.Methods.Biochemical, Vignos score, and genetic data were collected on 212 boys with dystrophinopathy.Results.Serum Crn level had a strong inverse correlation with Vignos score by simple correlation(r=-0.793)and partial correlation analysis after adjustment for age, height, and weight (r=-0.791; bothP<0.01). Serum Crn level was significantly higher in patients with in-frame than out-of-frame mutations(Z=-4.716, P<0.01)and in Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) patients than Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients at ages 4, 5, 7, and 9 yr (allP<0.0125). After adjusting for age, height, and weight, BMD patients still had a significantly higher serum Crn level than DMD patients(β=7.140, t=6.277, P<0.01).Conclusions.Serum Crn level reflected disease severity and may serve as a supplemental index to distinguish DMD from BMD in clinical practice.
Analytical Calculation of Stored Electrostatic Energy per Unit Length for an Infinite Charged Line and an Infinitely Long Cylinder in the Framework of Born-Infeld Electrostatics
Authors: Moayedi S. K. , Shafabakhsh M. , Fathi F.
Published: March 2015

More than 80 years ago, Born-Infeld electrodynamics was proposed in order to remove the point charge singularity in Maxwell electrodynamics. In this work, after a brief introduction to Lagrangian formulation of Abelian Born-Infeld model in the presence of an external source, we obtain the explicit forms of Gauss’s law and the energy density of an electrostatic field for Born-Infeld electrostatics. The electric field and the stored electrostatic energy per unit length for an infinite charged line and an infinitely long cylinder in Born-Infeld electrostatics are calculated. Numerical estimations in this paper show that the nonlinear corrections to Maxwell electrodynamics are considerable only for strong electric fields. We present an action functional for Abelian Born-Infeld model with an auxiliary scalar field in the presence of an external source. This action functional is a generalization of the action functional which was presented by Tseytlin in his studies on low energy dynamics ofD-branes (Nucl. Phys. B469, 51 (1996); Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 19, 3427 (2004)). Finally, we derive the symmetric energy-momentum tensor for Abelian Born-Infeld model with an auxiliary scalar field.
Co3O4 Electrode Prepared by Using Metal‐Organic Framework as a Host for Supercapacitors
Authors: Jiang Jiaqiang , Wei Fuxiang , Yu Genxi , Sui Yanwei
Published: March 2015

Co3O4 nanoparticles were prepared from cobalt nitrate that was accommodated in the pores of a metal‐organic framework (MOF) ZIF‐8 (Zn(MeIM)2, MeIM = 2‐methylimidazole) by using a simple liquid‐phase method. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the obtained Co3O4 was composed of separate nanoparticles with a mean size of 30 nm. The obtained Co3O4 nanoparticles exhibited superior electrochemical property. Co3O4 electrode exhibited a maximum specific capacitance of 189.1 F g−1 at the specific current of 0.2 A g−1. Meanwhile, the Co3O4 electrode possessed the high specific capacitance retention ratio at the current density ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 A g−1, thereby indicating that Co3O4 electrode suited high‐rate charge/discharge.
An Improved Bayesian Structural Identification Using the First Two Derivatives of Log-Likelihood Measure
Authors: Zhou Jin , Mita Akira , Mei Liu
Published: March 2015

The posterior density of structural parameters conditioned by the measurement is obtained by a differential evolution adaptive Metropolis algorithm (DREAM). The surface of the formal log-likelihood measure is studied considering the uncertainty of measurement error to illustrate the problem of equifinality. To overcome the problem of equifinality, the first two derivatives of the log-likelihood measure are proposed to formulate a new informal likelihood measure for the sake of improving the accuracy of the estimator. Moreover, the proposed measure also reduces the standard deviation (uncertain range) of the posterior samples. The benefit of the proposed approach is demonstrated by simulations on identifying the structural parameters with limit output data and noise polluted measurements.
Berberine Nanosuspension Enhances Hypoglycemic Efficacy on Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Wang Zhiping , Wu Junbiao , Zhou Qun , Wang Yifei , Chen Tongsheng
Published: March 2015

Berberine (Ber), an isoquinoline derivative alkaloid and active ingredient of Coptis, has been demonstrated to possess antidiabetic activities. However its low oral bioavailability restricts its clinical application. In this report, Ber nanosuspension (Ber-NS) composed of Ber and D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) was prepared by high pressure homogenization technique. Antidiabetic effects of Ber-NS relative to efficacy of bulk Ber were evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic C57BL/6 mice. The particle size and zeta potential of Ber-NS were 73.1 ± 3.7 nm and 6.99 ± 0.17 mV, respectively. Ber-NS (50 mg/kg) treatment via oral gavage for 8 weeks resulted in a superior hypoglycemic and total cholesterol (TC) and body weight reduction effects compared to an equivalent dose of bulk Ber and metformin (Met, 300 mg/kg). These data indicate that a low dosage Ber-NS decreases blood glucose and improves lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic C57BL/6 mice. These results suggest that the delivery of Ber as a nanosuspension is a promising approach for treating type 2 diabetes.
Stochastic DES Fault Diagnosis with Coloured Interpreted Petri Nets
Authors: Muñoz Doyra Mariela , Correcher Antonio , García Emilio , Morant Francisco
Published: March 2015

This proposal presents an online method to detect and isolate faults in stochastic discrete event systems without previous model. A coloured timed interpreted Petri Net generates the normal behavior language after an identification stage. The next step is fault detection that is carried out by comparing the observed event sequences with the expected event sequences. Once a new fault is detected, a learning algorithm changes the structure of the diagnoser, so it is able to learn new fault languages. Moreover, the diagnoser includes timed events to represent and diagnose stochastic languages. Finally, this paper proposes a detectability condition for stochastic DES and the sufficient and necessary conditions are proved.