bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Cutinase-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate by Covalent Fusion to Hydrophobins
Authors: Ribitsch Doris , Herrero Acero Enrique , Przylucka Agnieszka , Zitzenbacher Sabine , Marold Annemarie , Gamerith Caroline , Tscheließnig Rupert , Jungbauer Alois , Rennhofer Harald , Lichtenegger Helga , Amenitsch Heinz , Bonazza Klaus , Kubicek Christian P. , Druzhinina Irina S. , Guebitz Georg M.
Published: March 2015

Cutinases have shown potential for hydrolysis of the recalcitrant synthetic polymer polyethylene terephthalate (PET). We have shown previously that the rate of this hydrolysis can be enhanced by the addition of hydrophobins, small fungal proteins that can alter the physicochemical properties of surfaces. Here we have investigated whether the PET-hydrolyzing activity of a bacterial cutinase from
Thermobifida cellulosilytica
(Thc_Cut1) would be further enhanced by fusion to one of three
Trichoderma
hydrophobins, i.e., the class II hydrophobins HFB4 and HFB7 and the pseudo-class I hydrophobin HFB9b. The fusion enzymes exhibited decreased
k
cat
values on soluble substrates (
p
-nitrophenyl acetate and
p
-nitrophenyl butyrate) and strongly decreased the hydrophilicity of glass but caused only small changes in the hydrophobicity of PET. When the enzyme was fused to HFB4 or HFB7, the hydrolysis of PET was enhanced >16-fold over the level with the free enzyme, while a mixture of the enzyme and the hydrophobins led only to a 4-fold increase at most. Fusion with the non-class II hydrophobin HFB9b did not increase the rate of hydrolysis over that of the enzyme-hydrophobin mixture, but HFB9b performed best when PET was preincubated with the hydrophobins before enzyme treatment. The pattern of hydrolysis by the fusion enzymes differed from that of Thc_Cut1 as the concentration of the product mono(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate relative to that of the main product, terephthalic acid, increased. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis revealed an increased scattering contrast of the fusion proteins over that of the free proteins, suggesting a change in conformation or enhanced protein aggregation. Our data show that the level of hydrolysis of PET by cutinase can be significantly increased by fusion to hydrophobins. The data further suggest that this likely involves binding of the hydrophobins to the cutinase and changes in the conformation of its active center.
Acquisition of Iron Is Required for Growth of Salmonella spp. in Tomato Fruit
Authors: Nugent Staci L. , Meng Fanhong , Martin Gregory B. , Altier Craig
Published: March 2015

Salmonella
remains a leading cause of bacterial food-borne disease, sickening millions each year. Although outbreaks of salmonellosis have traditionally been associated with contaminated meat products, recent years have seen numerous disease cases caused by the consumption of produce. Tomatoes have been specifically implicated, due to the ability of
Salmonella
spp. to enter the tomato fruit and proliferate within, making the decontamination of the raw product impossible. To investigate the genetic means by which
Salmonella
is able to survive and proliferate within tomatoes, we conducted a screen for bacterial genes of
Salmonella enterica
serovar Montevideo specifically induced after inoculation into ripe tomato fruit. Among these genes, we found 17 members of the previously described anaerobic Fur (ferric uptake regulator) regulon. Fur is a transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulator known to sense iron, suggesting the importance of this mineral to
Salmonella
within tomatoes. To test whether iron acquisition is essential for
Salmonella
growth in tomatoes, we tested a Δ
fepDGC
mutant, which lacks the ability to import iron-associated siderophores. This mutant grew significantly more poorly within tomatoes than did the wild type, but the growth defect of the mutant was fully reversed by the addition of exogenous iron, demonstrating the need for bacterial iron scavenging. Further, dependence upon iron was not apparent for
Salmonella
growing in filtered tomato juice, implicating the cellular fraction of the fruit as an important mediator of iron acquisition by the bacteria.
Human BK Polyomavirus Plasmid pBKV (34-2) (Dunlop) Contains Mutations Not Found in the Originally Published Sequences
Authors: Henriksen Stian , Mittelholzer Christian , Gosert Rainer , Hirsch Hans H. , Rinaldo Christine Hanssen
Published: March 2015

The plasmid pBKV (34-2) (ATCC 45025) contains the entire BK polyomavirus Dunlop genome. Sequencing revealed 12 point mutations compared to the GenBank sequence, but only 4 point mutations compared to the published sequence. The origin of these differences is unknown, but may impact virological as well as diagnostic research and development.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Hypervirulent Bacterium Clostridium difficile Strain G46, Ribotype 027
Authors: Gaulton Tom , Misra Raju , Rose Graham , Baybayan Primo , Hall Richard , Freeman Jane , Turton Jane , Picton Steve , Korlach Jonas , Gharbia Saheer , Shah Haroun
Published: March 2015

Clostridium difficile
is one of the leading causes of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in health care facilities worldwide. Here, we report the genome sequence of
C. difficile
strain G46, ribotype 027, isolated from an outbreak in Glamorgan, Wales, in 2006.
Cavernous sinus syndrome: need for early diagnosis
Authors: Toro Jaime , Burbano Lisseth Estefania , Reyes Saúl , Barreras Paula
Published: March 2015

Cavernous sinus syndrome (CSS) is a rare condition characterised by ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, ocular and conjunctival congestion, trigeminal sensory loss and Horner’s syndrome. These signs and symptoms result from the involvement of the cranial nerves passing through the cavernous sinus. We report the case of a 53-year-old man with a history of daily stabbing headache associated with dizziness, progressive blurred vision, right ocular pain, ptosis and ophthalmoplegia. After working up the patient, a meningioma was identified as the cause of the CSS. Despite advances in neuroimaging techniques, in some cases, the aetiology of CSS remains difficult to determine. We highlight the clinical and radiological features of a meningioma, one of the causes of CSS. Early diagnosis and treatment of CSS play a key role in a better prognosis.
Healthcare-associated infective endocarditis of the pulmonary valve
Authors: Laursen Marie Louise , Gill Sabine , Moller Jacob Eifer , Gustavsen Pia Hass
Published: March 2015

We report a case of a 66-year-old man with known ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus and stage 4 kidney disease who was admitted to our tertiary centre with shortness of breath and atrial flutter. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) was without suspicion of endocarditis. During hospitalisation, the patient suffered a nosocomial infection in a peripheral vascular catheter caused byStaphylococcus aureus. TOE after positive blood cultures revealed a new vegetation on the pulmonary valve that resolved after antibiotic treatment.
Successful emergency splenectomy during cardiac arrest due to cytomegalovirus-induced atraumatic splenic rupture
Authors: Glesner Matilde Kanstrup , Madsen Kristian Roerbaek , Nielsen Jesper Meng Rahn , Posth Stefan
Published: March 2015

A 27-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with fever and a petechial rash on suspicion of meningitis. Shortly after arriving she developed cardiac arrest. Blood work up showed severe lactate acidosis, anaemia and thrombocytopenia. A focused assessment with sonography in trauma scan showed free intraperitoneal fluid and an emergency laparotomy revealed massive bleeding from a ruptured spleen. The patient was successfully resuscitated. She proved to be infected with cytomegalovirus causing idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, splenomegaly and splenic rupture. She was treated for 14 days with ganciclovir and meropenem and discharged on recovery. Atraumatic splenic rupture caused by viral infection is a rare condition although well described. In the case of our patient, thrombocytopenia added to the severity of the splenic rupture. A multidisciplinary team approach was essential for the management and the eventual recovery of the patient.
Trifascicular block progressing to complete AV block on exercise: a rare presentation demonstrating the usefulness of exercise testing
Authors: Shetty Ranjan K , Agarwal Sumit , Ganiga Sanjeeva Naveen Chandra , Rao M Sudhakar
Published: March 2015

A 41-year-old man presented with dyspnoea and giddiness on exertion for the last 1 month. A resting ECG during showed trifascicular block with complete right bundle branch block, left anterior fascicular block and a prolonged PR interval of >0.24 s. His echocardiography showed no evidence of wall motion abnormality. He was subjected to a treadmill test for exercise-induced ischaemia, which showed complete atrioventricular (AV) block during first stage of Bruce protocol. His symptoms of dyspnoea and giddiness were also reproduced. The test was terminated and ECG returned to trifascicular block, similar to that at his baseline ECG during recovery. Coronary angiogram (CAG) was performed to rule out any ischaemic cause for this exercise-induced AV block, which was normal. In view of his reproducible symptoms and demonstration of complete AV block on exercise, a dual-chamber pacemaker (DDD) was implanted. His symptoms disappeared and he remained asymptomatic on follow-up.
Subcutaneous sarcoidosis in a rhinoplasty scar
Authors: Dulguerov Nicolas , Vankatova Lenka , Landis Basile Nicolas
Published: March 2015

The presence of a subcutaneous hard bony-like lump at the lateral nasal wall after a septorhinoplasty procedure is an unfavourable result. The reported patient developed this complication 2 years after a revision surgery, in which percutaneous osteotomies were performed. An excision biopsy of the lump took place and the histopathological analysis revealed a granulomatous gigantocellular inflammation with absence of birefringent particles on polarised lamp and negative mycobacteria culture. After additional investigations, the final diagnosis was consistent with grade 2 pulmonary sarcoidosis associated with subcutaneous sarcoidosis. No treatment was initiated. The facial symptoms resolved without any additional treatment and the pulmonary function tests have not deteriorated after 1 year of follow-up. The polymorphism of cutaneous lesions in sarcoidosis, the absence of systemic symptoms and the unrecognised entity of subcutaneous sarcoidosis in a scar illustrate the diagnostic challenge with this patient.
Nutrition and dietary intake and their association with mortality and hospitalisation in adults with chronic kidney disease treated with haemodialysis: protocol for DIET-HD, a prospective multinational cohort study
Authors: Palmer Suetonia C , Ruospo Marinella , Campbell Katrina L , Garcia Larsen Vanessa , Saglimbene Valeria , Natale Patrizia , Gargano Letizia , Craig Jonathan C , Johnson David W , Tonelli Marcello , Knight John , Bednarek-Skublewska Anna , Celia Eduardo , del Castillo Domingo , Dulawa Jan , Ecder Tevfik , Fabricius Elisabeth , Frazão João Miguel , Gelfman Ruben , Hoischen Susanne Hildegard , Schön Staffan , Stroumza Paul , Timofte Delia , Török Marietta , Hegbrant Jörgen , Wollheim Charlotta , Frantzen Luc , Strippoli G F M
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Adults with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) treated with haemodialysis experience mortality of between 15% and 20% each year. Effective interventions that improve health outcomes for long-term dialysis patients remain unproven. Novel and testable determinants of health in dialysis are needed. Nutrition and dietary patterns are potential factors influencing health in other health settings that warrant exploration in multinational studies in men and women treated with dialysis. We report the protocol of the “DIETary intake, death and hospitalisation in adults with end-stage kidney disease treated with HaemoDialysis (DIET-HD) study,” a multinational prospective cohort study. DIET-HD will describe associations of nutrition and dietary patterns with major health outcomes for adults treated with dialysis in several countries.

Methods and analysis

DIET-HD will recruit approximately 10 000 adults who have ESKD treated by clinics administered by a single dialysis provider in Argentina, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. Recruitment will take place between March 2014 and June 2015. The study has currently recruited 8000 participants who have completed baseline data. Nutritional intake and dietary patterns will be measured using the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN) food frequency questionnaire. The primary dietary exposures will be n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption. The primary outcome will be cardiovascular mortality and secondary outcomes will be all-cause mortality, infection-related mortality and hospitalisation.

Ethics and dissemination

The study is approved by the relevant Ethics Committees in participating countries. All participants will provide written informed consent and be free to withdraw their data at any time. The findings of the study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and to participants via regular newsletters. We expect that the DIET-HD study will inform large pragmatic trials of nutrition or dietary interventions in the setting of advanced kidney disease.
25 mg versus 50 mg dose of rectal diclofenac for prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis in Japanese patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Yoshihara Takeo , Horimoto Masayoshi , Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Osugi Naoto , Ikezoe Tatsuro , Kotani Kaori , Sanada Toru , Higashi Churi , Yamaguchi Daisuke , Ota Makiyo , Mizuno Tatsunori , Gotoh Yasukazu , Okuda Yorihide , Suzuki Kunio
Published: March 2015

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to assess the appropriate administration dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammation drugs to prevent pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Importantly, the 100 mg dose of diclofenac recommended in Western countries has not been permitted in Japan.

Design

A retrospective study.

Settings

A single centre in Japan.

Participants

This study enrolled patients who underwent ERCP at the Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka Saiseikai Senri Hospital, from April 2011 through June 2013, and who received either a 25 or a 50 mg dose of rectal diclofenac after ERCP.

Primary outcome measure

The occurrence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). A multivariate regression model was used to assess the effect of the 50 mg dose (the 50 mg group) of rectal diclofenac and to compare it to the occurrence of PEP referring to the 25 mg group.

Results

A total of 155 eligible patients received either 25 mg (84 patients) or 50 mg (71 patients) doses of rectal diclofenac after ERCP to prevent PEP. The proportion of PEP was significantly lower in the 50 mg group than in the 25 mg group (15.5% (11/71) vs 33.3% (28/84), p=0.018). In a multivariate analysis, the occurrence of PEP was significantly lower in the 50 mg group than in the 25 mg group even after adjusting potential confounding factors (adjusted OR=0.27, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.70).

Conclusions

From this observation, the occurrence of PEP was significantly lower among ERCP patients with the 50 mg dose of rectal diclofenac than among those with the 25 mg dose.
REpeated AutoLogous Infusions of STem cells In Cirrhosis (REALISTIC): a multicentre, phase II, open-label, randomised controlled trial of repeated autologous infusions of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) mobilised CD133+ bone marrow stem cells in patients with cirrhosis. A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: King A , Barton D , Beard H A , Than N , Moore J , Corbett C , Thomas J , Guo K , Guha I , Hollyman D , Stocken D , Yap C , Fox R , Forbes S J , Newsome P N
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Liver disease mortality and morbidity are rapidly rising and liver transplantation is limited by organ availability. Small scale human studies have shown that stem cell therapy is safe and feasible and has suggested clinical benefit. No published studies have yet examined the effect of stem cell therapy in a randomised controlled trial and evaluated the effect of repeated therapy.

Methods and analysis

Patients with liver cirrhosis will be randomised to one of three trial groups: group 1: Control group, Standard conservative management; group 2 treatment: granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; lenograstim) 15 µg/kg body weight daily on days 1–5; group 3 treatment: G-CSF 15 µg/kg body weight daily on days 1–5 followed by leukapheresis, isolation and aliquoting of CD133+ cells. Patients will receive an infusion of freshly isolated CD133+ cells immediately and frozen doses at days 30 and 60 via peripheral vein (0.2×106cells/kg for each of the three doses). Primary objective is to demonstrate an improvement in the severity of liver disease over 3 months using either G-CSF alone or G-CSF followed by repeated infusions of haematopoietic stem cells compared with standard conservative management. The trial is powered to answer two hypotheses of each treatment compared to control but not powered to detect smaller expected differences between the two treatment groups. As such, the overall α=0.05 for the trial is split equally between the two hypotheses. Conventionally, to detect a relevant standardised effect size of 0.8 point reduction in Model for End-stage Liver Disease score using two-sided α=0.05(overall α=0.1 split equally between the two hypotheses) and 80% power requires 27 participants to be randomised per group (81 participants in total).

Ethics and dissemination

The trial is registered at Current Controlled Trials on 18 November 2009 (ISRCTN number 91288089, EuDRACT number 2009-010335-41). The findings of this trial will be disseminated to patients and through peer-reviewed publications and international presentations.
Troponin: think before you request one
Authors: Gardezi Syed Anjum
Published: March 2015

Acute myocardial infarction (ACS) is one of the most common presentations in acute hospital settings. Troponin (cTn) has emerged as one of the most sensitive biochemical markers for the diagnosis of ACS. However, if used inappropriately and in the absence of true clinical context then it can be elevated in a number of non cardiac conditions and lead to false clinical diagnosis, inappropriate workup, and increased patient stay in hospital. The cost of unnecessary clinical testing is another aspect of the problem.

At Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport (one of the busiest district general hospitals in Wales) we retrospectively analysed the nature of troponin requests over a random period of one week, specifically looking for the indications and final diagnostic impact. In many cases it was found that requests were made without any clinical justification. One of the main and probably unavoidable reasons for this was that requests were made from triage before patient was assessed by a clinician. However, steps were taken to clarify common clinical indications for suspected cardiac diagnosis in which troponin was useful. Additionally, the "tick box" practice for inappropriate laboratory investigations was discouraged. A repeat audit was done on similar basic principles and a measurable improvement was identified, with a potential for significant impact in future.
Ethnic differences in risk factors for obesity in New Zealand infants
Authors: Howe Laura D , Ellison-Loschmann Lis , Pearce Neil , Douwes Jeroen , Jeffreys Mona , Firestone Ridvan
Published: March 2015

Background

In New Zealand, the burden of childhood obesity is greatest in Māori and Pacific children.

Methods

In 687 infants from an internet-based birth cohort in New Zealand, we investigated ethnic differences in early life risk factors for later obesity, the degree to which these were explained by sociodemographic factors, and the extent to which ethnic differences in weight at age 3 months were explained by measured risk factors.

Results

The risk of having an obese mother was double in Māori and Pacific infants compared with NZ European infants (prevalence 24% and 14%, respectively; OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.23 to 4.04). Māori and Pacific infants had higher weights in the first week of life and at 3 months (mean difference 0.19 kg, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.38), and their mothers had higher scores on a ‘snacks’ dietary pattern and lower scores on ‘healthy’ and ‘sweet’ dietary patterns. These inequalities were not explained by maternal education, maternal age or area-based deprivation. No ethnic differences were observed for maternal pre-pregnancy physical activity, hypertension or diabetes in pregnancy, exclusive breastfeeding or early introduction of solid foods. Ethnic inequalities in infant weight at 3 months were not explained by sociodemographic variables, maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index or dietary pattern scores or by other measured risk factors.

Conclusions

This study shows excess prevalence of early life risk factors for obesity in Māori and Pacific infants in New Zealand and suggests an urgent need for early interventions for these groups.
Petrochemistry, hydrothermal alteration, mineralogy, and sulfur isotope geochemistry of the Turgeon Cu–Zn volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit, northern New Brunswick, Canada
Authors: Lalonde Erik , Beaudoin Georges
Published: March 2015

The Turgeon deposit is a mafic-type, Cu–Zn volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit. It is hosted by Middle Ordovician pillow basalts of the Devereaux Formation of the Fournier Group within the Elmtree-Belledune inlier, near the Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC) in northern New Brunswick, Canada. The Turgeon deposit consists of two Cu–Zn massive sulfide lenses (“100m Zn”, “48-49”) composed of pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, and sphalerite, which are underlain by chalcopyrite–pyrite stockwork veins. Pyrite is overprinted and replaced by chalcopyrite in the stockwork and vent complex sulfide facies, where both minerals are enriched in Se and Co relative to pyrite and chalcopyrite in the massive pyrite and breccia sulfide facies. In, Se, and Co display a positive covariation with Cu, whereas Zn displays a positive covariation with Cd. Trace element geochemistry indicates that the host rocks are primarily tholeiitic basalts and andesites that have signatures between that of mid-ocean ridge basalt and island-arc tholeiite. The hanging wall rhyolite plots as an ocean ridge rhyolite and is geochemically similar to VMS-bearing FIIIa-type rhyolites. Hydrothermal alteration mineral assemblages in the footwall basalts proximal to mineralization are dominantly chlorite ± quartz in the stockwork zone, which is characterized by compositional gains in Fe and Mg and losses in Na and Ca. The chlorite-altered basalts and andesites have undergone up to 35% mass loss. Stockwork chlorite is an Fe-rich chamosite, whereas chlorite in the massive sulfides is a Mg-rich clinochlore. Chlorite geothermometry yields temperatures of 329–361 °C for chamosite and 246–286 °C for clinochlore. Sulfides at Turgeon have an average δ34SCDT of +6.9‰ (range: +5.8‰ to +10‰), indicating that sulfur was mostly derived from thermochemical reduction of Ordovician seawater sulfate. The Turgeon VMS deposit differs from those of the BMC, which is a reflection of their different tectonic settings; but it is similar to other mafic-type VMS deposits, such as the Betts Cove, Tilt Cove, and Rambler VMS deposits in Newfoundland, Canada.
Taphonomy, age, and paleoecological implication of a new Pachyrhinosaurus (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) bonebed from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Wapiti Formation of Alberta, Canada
Authors: Fanti Federico , Currie Philip J. , Burns Michael E.
Published: March 2015

The Grande Prairie region (Alberta, Canada) includes some of the richest Cretaceous fossil sites in North America, including the recently described bonebed of Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai at the Pipestone Creek locality. Here we describe a new multi-taxa, ceratopsian-dominated bonebed from the region, integrating taphonomic, radioisotopic, and paleoecological data. The bonebed can be traced for 107 m and has been excavated over an area of 40 m2 with an average bone density of 30–50 elements/m2. The new bonebed occurs within Unit 4 of the upper Campanian Wapiti Formation, and 40Ar/39Ar dating provides an age of 71.89 ± 0.14 Ma, thus making the site equivalent in age to the upper Drumheller Member of the lower Horseshoe Canyon Formation of central Alberta. About 88% of vertebrate remains are ceratopsian, and dromaeosaurid, hadrosaurid, troodontid, and tyrannosaurid remains have also been identified. Juvenile material, although scarce, indicates an assemblage of individuals of different ages. Specimens showed no strong preferred two-dimensional orientation but are clearly sorted vertically. Taphonomic and sedimentological interpretation support a complex pre-burial history of preserved elements as well as a depositional setting characterized by persistent waterlogged conditions as those typical of large oxbow lakes or marshy/swampy areas, as well as lacustrine settings within an alluvial plain. Being located more than 450 km inland from the paleo-coastline, the new bonebed represents one of the farthest-known inland occurrence of centrosaurines in North America, further supporting the presence of large aggregations of ceratopsian far from the coastal lowlands of the Western Interior Seaway.
Sea lice, sockeye salmon, and foraging competition: lousy fish are lousy competitors
Authors: Godwin Sean C. , Dill Lawrence M. , Reynolds John D. , Krkošek Martin
Published: March 2015

Pathogens threaten wildlife globally, but these impacts are not restricted to direct mortality from disease. For fish, which experience periods of extremely high mortality during their early life history, infections may primarily influence population dynamics and conservation through indirect effects on ecological processes such as competition and predation. We conducted a competitive foraging experiment using outmigrating juvenile Fraser River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) to determine whether fish with high abundances of parasitic sea lice (Caligus clemensi and Lepeophtheirus salmonis) have reduced competitive abilities when foraging. Highly infected sockeye were 20% less successful at consuming food, on average, than lightly infected fish. Competitive ability also increased with fish body size. Our results provide the first evidence that parasite exposure may have negative indirect effects on the fitness of juvenile sockeye salmon and suggest that indirect effects of pathogens may be of key importance for the conservation of marine fish.
Stability of uniform electronic wavepackets in chains and fullerenes
Authors: Chaves Filho Valdemir L. , Lima Rodrigo P. A. , de Moura F. A. B. F. , Lyra Marcelo L.
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we investigate the influence of electron-lattice interaction on the stability of uniform electronic wavepackets on chains as well as on several types of fullerenes. We will use an effective nonlinear Schrödinger equation to mimic the electron–phonon coupling in these topologies. By numerically solving the nonlinear dynamic equation for an initially uniform electronic wavepacket, we show that the critical nonlinear coupling above which it becomes unstable continuously decreases with the chain size. On the other hand, the critical nonlinear strength saturates on a finite value in large fullerene buckyballs. We also provide analytical arguments to support these findings based on a modulational instability analysis.
Active semisupervised community detection based on asymmetric similarity measure
Authors: Leng Mingwei , Huang Liang , Li Longjie , Zhou Hanhai , Cheng Jianjun , Chen Xiaoyun
Published: March 2015

Semisupervised community detection algorithms use prior knowledge to improve the performance of discovering the community structure of a complex network. However, getting those prior knowledge is quite expensive and time consuming in many real-world applications. This paper proposes an active semisupervised community detection algorithm based on the similarities between nodes. First, it transforms a given complex network into a weighted directed network based on the proposed asymmetric similarity method, some informative nodes are selected to be the labeled nodes by using an active mechanism. Second, the proposed algorithm discovers the community structure of a complex network by propagating the community labels of labeled nodes to their neighbors based on the similarity between a node and a community. Finally, the performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated with three real networks and one synthetic network and the experimental results show that the proposed method has a better performance compared with some other community detection algorithms.
POWER-LAW DISTRIBUTIONS BASED ON EXPONENTIAL DISTRIBUTIONS: LATENT SCALING, SPURIOUS ZIPF'S LAW, AND FRACTAL RABBITS
Authors: CHEN YANGUANG
Published: March 2015

The difference between the inverse power function and the negative exponential function is significant. The former suggests a complex distribution, while the latter indicates a simple distribution. However, the association of the power-law distribution with the exponential distribution has been seldom researched. This paper is devoted to exploring the relationships between exponential laws and power laws from the angle of view of urban geography. Using mathematical derivation and numerical experiments, I reveal that a power-law distribution can be created through a semi-moving average process of an exponential distribution. For the distributions defined in a one-dimension space (e.g. Zipf's law), the power exponent is 1; while for those defined in a two-dimension space (e.g. Clark's law), the power exponent is 2. The findings of this study are as follows. First, the exponential distributions suggest a hidden scaling, but the scaling exponents suggest a Euclidean dimension. Second, special power-law distributions can be derived from exponential distributions, but they differ from the typical power-law distributions. Third, it is the real power-law distributions that can be related with fractal dimension. This study discloses an inherent link between simplicity and complexity. In practice, maybe the result presented in this paper can be employed to distinguish the real power laws from spurious power laws (e.g. the fake Zipf distribution).
MULTIFRACTAL DETRENDED FLUCTUATION ANALYSIS OF ELECTRIC LOAD SERIES
Authors: YUAN XIAOHUI , JI BIN , YUAN YANBIN , HUANG YUEHUA , LI XIANSHAN , LI WENWU
Published: March 2015

Multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) method is applied to analyze the daily electric load time series. The results of the MF-DFA show that there are three crossover timescales at seven days, 15 days and 365 days approximately in the fluctuation function. Also we find that these fluctuations have multifractal nature with long range correlation behavior. The multifractal singularity spectrum of the daily electric load series has been fitted by the quadratic function model. Comparing the MF-DFA results of the original load series with those of shuffled and surrogate series, it concludes that the multifractal characteristics of the daily electric load time series is due to both broadness of the probability density function and long-range correlation, and the long-range correlation is dominant.
Parametric equations of plane sextic curves with a maximal set of double points
Authors: Orevkov Stepan
Published: March 2015

We give explicit parametric equations for all irreducible plane projective sextic curves which have at most double points and whose total Milnor number is maximal (is equal to 19). In each case we find a parametrization over a number field of the minimal possible degree and try to choose coordinates so that the coefficients are as small as we can do.
OPENING UP THE INNOVATION PROCESS: OUTSIDE-IN INVOLVEMENT OF INNOVATIVE USERS AND ESTABLISHED FIRMS' INNOVATION PERFORMANCE
Authors: ARVANITIS SPYROS , FUCHS BARBARA , WOERTER MARTIN
Published: March 2015

Innovation outcome measures are an important indicator of the economic potential of user involvement. Therefore, this study assesses empirically the relationship between users' knowledge as an input factor to innovation and firms' innovation success. The results strongly support the hypotheses: (i) that users have the potential to essentially improve the innovative performance of firms; (ii) that the method of interaction during the innovation process and the characteristics of involved users matter as well. The more firms make use of emphatic design and interact with advanced and lead users, the stronger is the relationship between access to users' knowledge and firm innovation success measured in sales of innovative products.
Facile Synthesis and Photocatalytic Performance of WO3/rGO Nanocomposite for Degradation of 1-Naphthol
Authors: Hajishafiee H. , Sangpour P. , Tabrizi N. Salman
Published: March 2015

In this study, WO 3–rGO nanocomposites were synthesized via a facile chemical method followed by a calcination process. The samples were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, BET technique, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results confirmed the formation of the nanocomposites. Photocatalytic activity of the synthesized samples was evaluated in degradation of 1-naphthol as a polycyclic aromatic pollutant under irradiation of xenon lamp. The concentration of the pollutant was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Efficient photocatalytic performance was observed and the kinetics data were well described by Langmuir–Hinshelwood model.
Congestion mitigation on high voltage power lines using multiple TCSC & UPFC
Authors: Siddiqui Anwar S. , Deb Tanmoy
Published: March 2015

With severe overload on transmission lines, further exchange of power flow is affected due to congestion on power transmission lines. This paper investigates the effect of Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices like TCSC and UPFC in congestion mitigation. The proposal uses multiple FACTS devices of similar type and investigates their effect on congestion mitigation in high voltage transmission lines. This proposal is tested on IEEE-14 bus system.
Experimental and numerical analysis of compressible two-phase flows in a shock tube
Authors: Bruce Ralphin Rose J. , Dhanalakshmi S. , Jinu G. R.
Published: March 2015

The comparative study on seven equation models with two different six equations model for compressible two-phase flow analysis is proposed. The seven equations model is derived for compressible two-phase flow that is in the nonconservation form. In the present work, two different six equations model are derived for two pressures, two velocities and single temperature with the derivation of the equation of state. The closing equation for one of the six equations model is energy conservation equation while another one is closed by entropy balance equation. The partial differential form of governing equations is hyperbolic and written in the conservative form. At this point, the set of governing equations are derived based on the principle of extended thermodynamics. The method of solving single temperature from both six equation models are simple and direct solution can be obtained. Numerical simulation has been tried using one of the six equation models for air–water shock tube problems. Explicit fourth order Runge–Kutta scheme is used with Finite Volume Shock Capturing method for solving the governing equations numerically. The pressure, velocity and volume fraction variations are captured along the shock tube length through flow solver. Experimental work is carried out to magnify the initial stage of liquid injection into a gas. The outcome of six equations model for compressible two-phase flow has revealed the multi-phase flow characteristics that are similar to the actual conditions.
Kupffer cell depletion protects against the steatosis, but not the liver damage, induced by marginal-copper, high-fructose diet in male rats
Authors: Song Ming , Schuschke Dale A. , Zhou Zhanxiang , Zhong Wei , Zhang Jiayuan , Zhang Xiang , Wang Yuhua , McClain Craig J.
Published: March 2015

High-fructose feeding impairs copper status and leads to low copper availability, which is a novel mechanism in obesity-related fatty liver. Copper deficiency-associated hepatic iron overload likely plays an important role in fructose-induced liver injury. Excess iron in the liver is distributed throughout hepatocytes and Kupffer cells (KCs). The aim of this study was to examine the role of KCs in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease induced by a marginal-copper high-fructose diet (CuMF). Male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a copper-adequate or a marginally copper-deficient diet for 4 wk. Deionized water or deionized water containing 30% fructose (wt/vol) was also given ad libitum. KCs were depleted by intravenous administration of gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) before and/or in the middle of the experimental period. Hepatic triglyceride accumulation was completely eliminated with KC depletion in CuMF consumption rats, which was associated with the normalization of elevated plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and increased hepatic sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 expression. However, hepatic copper and iron content were not significantly affected by KC depletion. In addition, KC depletion reduced body weight and epididymal fat weight as well as adipocyte size. Plasma endotoxin and gut permeability were markedly increased in CuMF rats. Moreover, MCP-1 was robustly increased in the culture medium when isolated KCs from CuMF rats were treated with LPS. Our data suggest that KCs play a critical role in the development of hepatic steatosis induced by marginal-copper high-fructose diet.
β-Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide acts at prejunctional adenosine A1 receptors to suppress inhibitory musculomotor neurotransmission in guinea pig colon and human jejunum
Authors: Wang Guo-Du , Wang Xi-Yu , Liu Sumei , Xia Yun , Zou Fei , Qu Meihua , Needleman Bradley J. , Mikami Dean J. , Wood Jackie D.
Published: March 2015

Intracellular microelectrodes were used to record neurogenic inhibitory junction potentials in the intestinal circular muscle coat. Electrical field stimulation was used to stimulate intramural neurons and evoke contraction of the smooth musculature. Exposure to β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (β-NAD) did not alter smooth muscle membrane potential in guinea pig colon or human jejunum. ATP, ADP, β-NAD, and adenosine, as well as the purinergic P2Y1 receptor antagonists MRS 2179 and MRS 2500 and the adenosine A1 receptor agonist 2-chloro- N6-cyclopentyladenosine, each suppressed inhibitory junction potentials in guinea pig and human preparations. β-NAD suppressed contractile force of twitch-like contractions evoked by electrical field stimulation in guinea pig and human preparations. P2Y1 receptor antagonists did not reverse this action. Stimulation of adenosine A1 receptors with 2-chloro- N6-cyclopentyladenosine suppressed the force of twitch contractions evoked by electrical field stimulation in like manner to the action of β-NAD. Blockade of adenosine A1 receptors with 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine suppressed the inhibitory action of β-NAD on the force of electrically evoked contractions. The results do not support an inhibitory neurotransmitter role for β-NAD at intestinal neuromuscular junctions. The data suggest that β-NAD is a ligand for the adenosine A1 receptor subtype expressed by neurons in the enteric nervous system. The influence of β-NAD on intestinal motility emerges from adenosine A1 receptor-mediated suppression of neurotransmitter release at inhibitory neuromuscular junctions.
Self-paced exercise in hot and cool conditions is associated with the maintenance of %V̇o2peak within a narrow range
Authors: Périard Julien D. , Racinais Sébastien
Published: March 2015

This study examined the time course and extent of decrease in peak oxygen uptake (V̇o2peak) during self-paced exercise in HOT (35°C and 60% relative humidity) and COOL (18°C and 40% relative humidity) laboratory conditions. Ten well-trained cyclists completed four consecutive 16.5-min time trials (15-min self-paced effort with 1.5-min maximal end-spurt to determine V̇o2peak) interspersed by 5 min of recovery on a cycle ergometer in each condition. Rectal temperature increased significantly more in HOT (39.4 ± 0.7°C) than COOL (38.6 ± 0.3°C; P < 0.001). Power output was lower throughout HOT compared with COOL ( P < 0.001). The decrease in power output from trial 1 to 4 was ∼16% greater in HOT ( P < 0.001). Oxygen uptake (V̇o2) was lower throughout HOT than COOL ( P < 0.05), except at 5 min and during the end-spurt in trial 1. In HOT, V̇o2peak reached 97, 89, 85, and 85% of predetermined maximal V̇o2, whereas in COOL 97, 94, 93, and 92% were attained. Relative exercise intensity (%V̇o2peak) during trials 1 and 2 was lower in HOT (∼84%) than COOL (∼86%; P < 0.05), decreasing slightly during trials 3 and 4 (∼80 and ∼85%, respectively; P < 0.05). However, heart rate was higher throughout HOT ( P = 0.002), and ratings of perceived exertion greater during trials 3 and 4 in HOT ( P < 0.05). Consequently, the regulation of self-paced exercise appears to occur in conjunction with the maintenance of %V̇o2peak within a narrow range (80-85% V̇o2peak). This range widens under heat stress, however, when exercise becomes protracted and a disassociation develops between relative exercise intensity, heart rate, and ratings of perceived exertion.
Noninvasive assessment of muscle temperature during rest, exercise, and postexercise recovery in different environments
Authors: Flouris Andreas D. , Webb Paul , Kenny Glen P.
Published: March 2015

We introduced noninvasive and accurate techniques to estimate muscle temperature (Tm) of vastus lateralis (VL), triceps brachii (TB), and trapezius (TRAP) during rest, exercise, and postexercise recovery using the insulation disk (iDISK) technique. Thirty-six volunteers (24 men, 12 women; 73.0 ± 12.2 kg; 1.75 ± 0.07 m; 24.4 ± 5.5 yr; 49.2 ± 6.8 ml·kg−1·min−1 peak oxygen uptake) underwent periods of rest, cycling exercise at 40% of peak oxygen uptake, and postexercise recovery in three environments: Normal (24°C, 56% relative humidity), Hot-Humid (30°C, 60% relative humidity), and Hot-Dry (40°C, 24% relative humidity). Participants were randomly allocated into the “model” and the “validation” groups. Results in the model group demonstrated that Tm (VL: 36.65 ± 1.27°C; TB: 35.76 ± 1.73°C; TRAP: 36.53 ± 0.96°C) was increased compared with iDISK (VL: 35.67 ± 1.71°C; TB: 34.77 ± 2.27°C; TRAP: 35.98 ± 1.34°C) across all environments ( P < 0.001). Stepwise regression analysis generated models that accurately predicted Tm (predTm) of VL ( R2 = 0.73-0.91), TB ( R2 = 0.85–0.93), and TRAP ( R2 = 0.84–0.86) using iDISK and the difference between the current iDISK temperature and that recorded between 1 and 4 min before. Cross-validation analyses in the validation group demonstrated small differences ( P < 0.05) of no physiological significance, small effect size of the differences, and strong associations ( r = 0.85–0.97; P < 0.001) between Tm and predTm. Moreover, narrow 95% limits of agreement and low percent coefficient of variation were observed between Tm and predTm. It is concluded that the developed noninvasive, practical, and inexpensive techniques provide accurate estimations of VL, TB, and TRAP Tm during rest, cycling exercise, and postexercise recovery.
Biomarkers of multiorgan injury in a preclinical model of exertional heat stroke
Authors: King Michelle A. , Leon Lisa R. , Mustico Danielle L. , Haines Joel M. , Clanton Thomas L.
Published: March 2015

It is likely that the pathophysiology of exertional heat stroke (EHS) differs from passive heat stroke (PHS), but this has been difficult to verify experimentally. C57Bl/6 mice were instrumented with temperature transponders and underwent 3 wk of training using voluntary and forced running wheels. An EHS group was exposed to environmental temperatures (Tenv) of 37.5, 38.5, or 39.5°C at either 30, 50, or 90% relative humidities (RH) while exercising on a forced running wheel. Results were compared with sham-matched exercise controls (EXC) and naïve controls (NC). In EHS, mice exercised in heat until they reached limiting neurological symptoms (loss of consciousness). The symptom-limited maximum core temperatures achieved were between 42.1 and 42.5°C at 50% RH. All mice that were followed for 4 days survived. Additional groups were killed at 0.5, 3, 24, and 96 h, post-EHS or -EXC. Histopathology revealed extensive damage in all regions of the small intestine, liver, and kidney. Plasma creatine kinase, blood urea nitrogen, alanine transaminase, and intestinal fatty acid binding protein-2 were significantly elevated compared with matched EXC and NC, suggesting multiple organ injury to striated muscle, kidney, liver, and intestine, respectively. EHS mice were hypoglycemic immediately following EHS but exhibited sustained hyperglycemia through 4 days. The results demonstrate unique features of survivable EHS in the mouse that included loss of consciousness, extensive organ injury, and rhabdomyolysis.
Quantitative assessment of multiscale structural and functional alterations in asthmatic populations
Authors: Choi Sanghun , Hoffman Eric A. , Wenzel Sally E. , Castro Mario , Fain Sean B. , Jarjour Nizar N. , Schiebler Mark L. , Chen Kun , Lin Ching-Long
Published: March 2015

Relationships between structural and functional variables in asthmatic lungs at local and global (or lobar) levels remain to be discovered. This study aims to investigate local alterations of structural variables [bifurcation angle, circularity, airway wall thickness (WT), and hydraulic diameter ( Dh)] in asthmatic subjects, and their correlations with other imaging and pulmonary function test-based global and lobar metrics, including lung shape, air-trapping, regional volume change, and more. Sixty-one healthy subjects, and 67 nonsevere and 67 severe asthmatic subjects were studied. The structural variables were derived from computed tomography images at total lung capacity (TLC). Air-trapping was measured at functional residual capacity, and regional volume change (derived from image registration) was measured between functional residual capacity and TLC. The tracheal diameter and WT predicted by 61 healthy subjects were used to normalize the Dhand WT. New normalization schemes allowed for the dissociation of luminal narrowing and wall thickening effects. In severe asthmatic subjects, the alteration of bifurcation angle was found to be correlated with a global lung shape at TLC, and circularity was significantly decreased in the right main bronchus. While normalized WT increased especially in the upper lobes of severe asthmatic subjects, normalized Dhdecreased in the lower lobes. Among local structural variables, normalized Dhwas the most representative variable, because it was significantly correlated with alterations of functional variables, including pulmonary function test's data. In conclusion, understanding multiscale phenomena may help to provide guidance in the search for potential imaging-based phenotypes for the development and outcomes assessment of therapeutic intervention.