bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overall equipment effectiveness of tyre curing press: a case study
Authors: Saleem Faizan , Nisar Salman , Khan Muhammad Ali , Khan Sohaib Zia , Sheikh Mohammad Aslam
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to formulate a benchmark to increase the tyre curing press production rate while minimizing tyre curing press downtime and maintenance cost with the help of a maintenance management technique based on overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on determining the OEE of tyre curing press before and after rectifying the causes of failures. The failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) technique is used to find out the root causes of repetitive failures in tyre curing press by using the risk priority number.

Findings

A significant change in the value of OEE is observed after rectifying the repetitive failures, which were determined using the FMEA technique. Thus, it is concluded that the OEE and FMEA assist in improving the industrial performance and competitiveness of the production equipment studied.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to determining the OEE of single equipment only, not the whole production system. Manufacturing facilities are dependent on the operating environment; therefore a comparison of two different manufacturing plants based on the OEE value would not be justified.

Practical implications

This study can be applied in any tyre manufacturing industry in order to take competitive benefits, such as reduction in equipment downtime, increased production and reduction in maintenance cost.

Originality/value

The angle from which the paper approaches the bottleneck problem in a tyre production line is original for the studied company and shows positives results. It allows the company to apply the same approach in its other production equipment, lines and factories to achieve improvement in industrial performance and competitiveness.
Mapping the research approach of asset management studies in the petroleum industry
Authors: Kusumawardhani Mayang , Gundersen Ståle , Tore Markeset
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the current research approaches in asset management (AM), to evaluate some of the prevalent research methods in AM studies and to summarize the result into a building-block research that may provide design guidelines in AM studies.

Design/methodology/approach

AM publications were selected for this study using by online search engines and the publications were classified based on the appropriate research approaches. The results will be discussed and a suitable building-block research for AM studies will be constructed based on the identified research approaches.

Findings

The paper identifies, analyses and validates the research approaches found in a sample of online AM publications. The research-approaches and their associated methods will be discussed to develop understanding of the context of these approaches in AM research.

Research limitations/implications

The paper limits the study in publications within the AM field in the petroleum industry. However, the research methods that are presented covers the most common research methods found in publications. Thus, although the sample of publications may not represent the entire population, the same approach and result can be used in similar topics and conditions.

Originality/value

Researchers or practitioners can benefit from the building blocks of research to develop a research design for AM studies. Moreover, the paper also provides information on common research methods and data gathering techniques that can be used for similar studies.
Effects of Re‐heating Tissue Samples to Core Body Temperature on High‐Velocity Ballistic Projectile–tissue Interactions
Authors: Humphrey Caitlin , Henneberg Maciej , Wachsberger Christian , Maiden Nicholas , Kumaratilake Jaliya
Published: February 2017

Damage produced by high‐speed projectiles on organic tissue will depend on the physical properties of the tissues. Conditioning organic tissue samples to human core body temperature (37°C) prior to conducting ballistic experiments enables their behavior to closely mimic that of living tissues. To minimize autolytic changes after death, the tissues are refrigerated soon after their removal from the body and re‐heated to 37°C prior to testing. This research investigates whether heating 50‐mm‐cube samples of porcine liver, kidney, and heart to 37°C for varying durations (maximum 7 h) can affect the penetration response of a high‐speed, steel sphere projectile. Longer conditioning times for heart and liver resulted in a slight loss of velocity/energy of the projectile, but the reverse effect occurred for the kidney. Possible reasons for these trends include autolytic changes causing softening (heart and liver) and dehydration causing an increase in density (kidney).
The state and food security discourses of Indonesia: feeding the bangsa
Authors: Neilson Jeff , Wright Josephine
Published: February 2017

This paper examines the ways in which discourses of food security and food sovereignty are articulated in Indonesia, exploring their emergence within particular historical episodes and considering how this change has informed their current deployment by state‐based actors. Looking first to the wider global discourses that encompass perspectives on food security and food sovereignty, this paper attempts to map a specifically Indonesian perspective on ‘food security’ (ketahanan pangan), and its relationship with ‘food sovereignty’ (kedaulatan pangan). Kedaulatan pangan emerges as a fundamentally endogenous political construct in Indonesia; that is, only marginally related to the broader global discourses of food sovereignty as espoused by organisations such as La Via Campesina. As presented by the Indonesian state, kedaulatan pangan is not oppositional to ketahanan pangan, as sometimes is portrayed elsewhere, but should instead be understood primarily as a rhetorical device to strengthen the role and function of the state and to reinforce existing associations between food security, state control, and national scale food self‐sufficiency. The Indonesian notion of kedaulatan pangan responds primarily to the scalar notion of feeding the bangsa, the abstract Indonesian word for ‘the nation’. The dominant discourse has been embraced and projected by political actors to further vested interests and also appears to be contributing to policy interventions with negative food security outcomes for some of Indonesia's most vulnerable individuals.
A powerful and efficient algorithm for breaking the links between aliased effects in asymmetric designs
Authors: Elsawah A. M.
Published: February 2017

Fractional factorial (FF) designs are no doubt the most widely used designs in experimental investigations due to their efficient use of experimental runs. One price we pay for using FF designs is, clearly, our inability to obtain estimates of some important effects (main effects or second order interactions) that are separate from estimates of other effects (usually higher order interactions). When the estimate of an effect also includes the influence of one or more other effects the effects are said to be aliased. Folding over an FF design is a method for breaking the links between aliased effects in a design. The question is, how do we define the foldover structure for asymmetric FF designs, whether regular or nonregular? How do we choose the optimal foldover plan? How do we use optimal foldover plans to construct combined designs which have better capability of estimating lower order effects? The main objective of the present paper is to provide answers to these questions. Using the new results in this paper as benchmarks, we can implement a powerful and efficient algorithm for finding optimal foldover plans which can be used to break links between aliased effects.
The development and correlates of gender role attitudes in African American youth
Authors: Lam Chun Bun , Stanik Christine , McHale Susan M.
Published: February 2017

This research examined the longitudinal trajectories and family correlates of gender role attitudes in African American youth in a sample of 166 sibling pairs residing with their mothers and fathers. Multilevel modelling revealed that (1) girls and boys exhibited significant declines in gender attitude traditionality from ages 9 to 15 that levelled off through age 18, (2) mothers’ (but not fathers’) gender role attitude traditionality was positively related to youth's attitude traditionality, and (3) within‐person variation in mothers’ (but not fathers’) racial discrimination experiences was negatively related to within‐person variation in youth's gender role attitude traditionality. The utility of applying a cultural ecological framework within an ethnic homogenous, accelerated longitudinal design to understand African American family processes, in conjunction with the intersectionality between race and gender, is the focus of the discussion.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Gender role attitude traditionality declined for girls, but not for boys, in European and Mexican American families.

Little is known about the roles of African American parents in shaping their children's gender development.

What does this study add?

For African American girls and boys, gender role attitude traditionality declined from ages 9 to 15 and then levelled off through age 18.

At the between‐person level, African American mothers’, but not fathers’, attitude traditionality was positively linked to that of their children.

At the within‐person level, African American mothers’, but not fathers’, experiences of racial discrimination were negatively linked to their children's attitude traditionality.
Building a Large Database of Facial Movements for Deformation Model‐Based 3D Face Tracking
Authors: Sibbing Dominik , Kobbelt Leif
Published: February 2017

We introduce a new markerless 3D face tracking approach for 2D videos captured by a single consumer grade camera. Our approach takes detected 2D facial features as input and matches them with projections of 3D features of a deformable model to determine its pose and shape. To make the tracking and reconstruction more robust we add a smoothness prior for pose and deformation changes of the faces. Our major contribution lies in the formulation of the deformation prior which we derive from a large database of facial animations showing different (dynamic) facial expressions of a fairly large number of subjects. We split these animation sequences into snippets of fixed length which we use to predict the facial motion based on previous frames. In order to keep the deformation model compact and independent from the individual physiognomy, we represent it by deformation gradients (instead of vertex positions) and apply a principal component analysis in deformation gradient space to extract the major modes of facial deformation. Since the facial deformation is optimized during tracking, it is particularly easy to apply them to other physiognomies and thereby re‐target the facial expressions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique on a number of examples.
Projected distributions of Southern Ocean albatrosses, petrels and fisheries as a consequence of climatic change
Authors: Krüger L. , Ramos J. A. , Xavier J. C. , Grémillet D. , González‐Solís J. , Petry M. V. , Phillips R. A. , Wanless R. M. , Paiva V. H.
Published: February 2017

Given the major ongoing influence of environmental change on the oceans, there is a need to understand and predict the future distributions of marine species in order to plan appropriate mitigation to conserve vulnerable species and ecosystems. In this study we use tracking data from seven large seabird species of the Southern Ocean (black‐browed albatross Thalassarche melanophris, grey‐headed albatross T. chrysostoma, northern giant petrel Macronectes halli, southern giant petrel M. giganteus, Tristan albatross Diomedea dabbenena, wandering albatross D. exulans and white‐chinned petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis, and on fishing effort in two types of fisheries (characterised by low or high‐bycatch rates), to model the associations with environmental variables (bathymetry, chlorophyll‐a concentration, sea surface temperature and wind speed) through ensemble species distribution models. We then projected these distributions according to four climate change scenarios built by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change for 2050 and 2100. The resulting projections were consistent across scenarios, indicating that there is a strong likelihood of poleward shifts in distribution of seabirds, and several range contractions (resulting from a shift in the northern, but no change in the southern limit of the range in four species). Current trends for southerly shifts in fisheries distributions are also set to continue under these climate change scenarios at least until 2100; some of these may reflect habitat loss for target species that are already over‐fished. It is of particular concern that a shift in the distribution of several highly threatened seabird species would increase their overlap with fisheries where there is a high‐bycatch risk. Under such scenarios, the associated shifts in distribution of seabirds and increases in bycatch risk will require much‐improved fisheries management in these sensitive areas to minimise impacts on populations in decline.
Synchrony in population counts predicts butterfly movement frequencies
Authors: OLIVER TOM H. , POWNEY GARY D. , BAGUETTE MICHEL , SCHTICKZELLE NICOLAS
Published: February 2017

1. Measuring functional connectivity, the ability of species to move between resource patches, is essential for conservation in fragmented landscapes. However, current methods are highly time consuming and expensive.

2. Population synchrony‐ the correlation in time series of counts between two long‐term population monitoring sites, has been suggested as a possible proxy measure of functional connectivity. To date, population synchrony has been shown to correlate with proxies for movement frequency such as the coverage of suitable habitat types in intervening landscapes, and also least cost distances around hostile land cover types.

3. This provides tentative evidence that synchrony is directly driven by movements of the focal species, but an alternative explanation is that these land cover types affect the movement of interacting species (e.g. natural enemies of the focal species) which can also drive synchronous population dynamics. Therefore, what is needed is a test directly relating population synchrony to movement frequencies of a focal species.

4. Here we use data from a 21 year mark‐release‐recapture study and show that population synchrony does indeed predict movements of a focal butterfly speciesBoloria eunomia(Esper).

5. There is growing evidence that population synchrony can be a useful conservation tool to measure functional connectivity.
Carisbamate blockade of T‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels
Authors: Kim Do Young , Zhang Fang‐Xiong , Nakanishi Stan T. , Mettler Timothy , Cho Ik‐Hyun , Ahn Younghee , Hiess Florian , Chen Lina , Sullivan Patrick G. , Chen S. R. Wayne , Zamponi Gerald W. , Rho Jong M.
Published: February 2017

Objectives

Carisbamate (CRS) is a novel monocarbamate compound that possesses antiseizure and neuroprotective properties. However, the mechanisms underlying these actions remain unclear. Here, we tested both direct and indirect effects of CRS on several cellular systems that regulate intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i.

Methods

We used a combination of cellular electrophysiologic techniques, as well as cell viability, Store Overload‐Induced Calcium Release (SOICR), and mitochondrial functional assays to determine whether CRS might affect [Ca2+]i levels through actions on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, and/or T‐type voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels.

Results

In CA3 pyramidal neurons, kainic acid induced significant elevations in [Ca2+]i and long‐lasting neuronal hyperexcitability, both of which were reversed in a dose‐dependent manner by CRS. Similarly, CRS suppressed spontaneous rhythmic epileptiform activity in hippocampal slices exposed to zero‐Mg2+ or 4‐aminopyridine. Treatment with CRS also protected murine hippocampal HT‐22 cells against excitotoxic injury with glutamate, and this was accompanied by a reduction in [Ca2+]i. Neither kainic acid nor CRS alone altered the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) in intact, acutely isolated mitochondria. In addition, CRS did not affect mitochondrial respiratory chain activity, Ca2+‐induced mitochondrial permeability transition, and Ca2+ release from the ER. However, CRS significantly decreased Ca2+ flux in human embryonic kidney tsA‐201 cells transfected with Cav3.1 (voltage‐dependent T‐type Ca2+) channels.

Significance

Our data indicate that the neuroprotective and antiseizure activity of CRS likely results in part from decreased [Ca2+]i accumulation through blockade of T‐type Ca2+ channels.
Managerial Discretion in Accruals and Informational Efficiency
Authors: Perotti Pietro , Windisch David
Published: February 2017

In this paper, we examine the relation between managerial discretion in accruals and informational efficiency. We measure managerial discretion in accruals by the absolute value of abnormal accruals. Assuming that efficient prices follow a random walk, we measure informational efficiency by using stock return variance ratios. We find that the absolute value of abnormal accruals is negatively associated with the price deviation from a random walk pattern, estimated in the 12‐month period subsequent to the accrual reporting; hence, future informational efficiency increases with the extent to which managers exercise discretion over accruals. The results are consistent with the view that discretionary accruals, on average, convey useful information to investors and facilitate the price convergence to its fundamental value. Our findings are robust to a battery of tests, including tests to validate both our measures of informational efficiency and our measure of managerial discretion in accruals.
The Economic Impact of Space Weather: Where Do We Stand?
Authors: Eastwood J. P. , Biffis E. , Hapgood M. A. , Green L. , Bisi M. M. , Bentley R. D. , Wicks R. , McKinnell L.‐A. , Gibbs M. , Burnett C.
Published: February 2017

Space weather describes the way in which the Sun, and conditions in space more generally, impact human activity and technology both in space and on the ground. It is now well understood that space weather represents a significant threat to infrastructure resilience, and is a source of risk that is wide‐ranging in its impact and the pathways by which this impact may occur. Although space weather is growing rapidly as a field, work rigorously assessing the overall economic cost of space weather appears to be in its infancy. Here, we provide an initial literature review to gather and assess the quality of any published assessments of space weather impacts and socioeconomic studies. Generally speaking, there is a good volume of scientific peer‐reviewed literature detailing the likelihood and statistics of different types of space weather phenomena. These phenomena all typically exhibit “power‐law” behavior in their severity. The literature on documented impacts is not as extensive, with many case studies, but few statistical studies. The literature on the economic impacts of space weather is rather sparse and not as well developed when compared to the other sections, most probably due to the somewhat limited data that are available from end‐users. The major risk is attached to power distribution systems and there is disagreement as to the severity of the technological footprint. This strongly controls the economic impact. Consequently, urgent work is required to better quantify the risk of future space weather events.
Venous Hemodialysis Catheters and Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: Avoiding a High‐Risk Combination
Authors: Saad Theodore F. , Weiner Henry L.
Published: February 2017

End‐stage renal disease is frequently accompanied by cardiac comorbidity that warrants treatment with a cardiovascular implantable electronic device (permanent pacemaker or implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator). In the United States, chronic hemodialysis (HD) population, cardiac implantable devices are present in up to 10.5% of patients; a venous HD catheter is utilized for blood access in 18% of prevalent patients. The concomitant presence of a venous HD catheter and cardiovascular implantable device creates a high‐risk circumstance, with potential for causing symptomatic central venous stenosis, and for developing complicated endovascular infection. This dangerous combination may be avoided for many patients by utilizing nondialysis methods for management of advanced chronic kidney disease, initiating dialysis without venous catheter access, or managing cardiac rhythm disorders without use of transvenous cardiac implantable electronic devices. In those situations where the combination of a venous HD catheter and cardiac implantable device is unavoidable, there are strategies to minimize duration of venous catheter access, and to reduce risks for infectious complications. It is essential for nephrologists and cardiologists to understand the indications, alternatives, and risks involved with venous HD access and cardiac implantable devices. Coordinated management of renal disease and cardiac rhythm disorders has potential to minimize risks, improve outcomes, and substantially reduce the cost of care.
COMPARISON BETWEEN SEDATION AND GENERAL ANESTHESIA FOR HIGH RESOLUTION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF CANINE IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS IN WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIERS
Authors: Roels Elodie , Couvreur Thierry , Farnir Frédéric , Clercx Cécile , Verschakelen Johny , Bolen Géraldine
Published: February 2017

Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive interstitial lung disease mainly affecting West Highland white terriers. Thoracic high‐resolution computed tomographic (T‐HRCT) findings for Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis acquired under general anesthesia have been described previously. However, the use of general anesthesia may be contraindicated for some affected dogs. Sedation may allow improved speed and safety, but it is unknown whether sedation would yield similar results in identification and grading of Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lesions. The aim of this prospective, observational, method‐comparison, case‐control study was to compare findings from T‐HRCT images acquired under sedation versus general anesthesia for West Highland white terriers affected with Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n = 11) and age‐matched controls (n = 9), using the glossary of terms of the Fleischner Society and a scoring system. Ground‐glass opacity was identified in all affected West Highland white terriers for both sedation and general anesthesia acquisitions, although the Ground‐glass opacity extent varied significantly between the two acquisitions (P < 0.001). Ground‐glass opacity was the sole lesion observed in control dogs (n = 6), but was less extensive compared with affected West Highland white terriers. Identification and grading of a mosaic attenuation pattern differed significantly between acquisitions (P < 0.001). Identification of lesions such as consolidations, nodules, parenchymal and subpleural bands, bronchial wall thickening, and bronchiectasis did not differ between acquisitions. The present study demonstrated that T‐HRCT obtained under sedation may provide different information than T‐HRCT obtained under general anesthesia for identification and grading of some Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lesions, but not all of them. These differences should be taken into consideration when general anesthesia is contraindicated and sedation is necessary for evaluating West Highland white terriers with Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Revisiting the Educational and Literary Activities among the Jewish Women of Calcutta
Authors: Chakrabarti Kaustav
Published: February 2017

The Jewish women of Calcutta contributed extensively towards building and consolidating the rich socio-cultural heritage through the creation of social and cultural infrastructures like schools, hospitals, baby clinics, women and youth organizations. Breaking social taboos, they were stimulated by the attractions of western education and took up modern professions. Their contributions were keenly appreciated both in pre-and post-independent India, which this paper tries to explore. Moreover, when India is delving into the rich diversity of its different voices, with women and environmental issues coming to the fore, the contribution(s) of the Jewish women, as the “other voice of history” could hardly be ignored. Thus besides highlighting the different aspects of the world of the Jewish women of Calcutta and their contribution in the literary-educational field, the paper also tries to fit their collective experience in a multi-cultural rubric, in the Indian context.
Pedagogical Cases: A New Translational Mechanism to Bridge Theory/Research Practice Gaps in Youth Physical Activity Education (PAE)
Authors: Armour Kathleen M.
Published: February 2017

This paper considers long-standing concerns about research/theory practice gaps in kinesiology, and proposes one potential solution. An analysis of the problem is followed by an overview and illustration of a new translational research mechanism: pedagogical cases (Armour, 2014). This mechanism has been designed to support the training and career-long development of practitioners in the broad field of physical activity education (PAE). It is argued that PAE practice is always interdisciplinary, therefore researchers in the kinesiology sub/disciplines have a responsibility to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to develop new, interdisciplinary knowledge that meets the needs of practitioners. It is also argued that researchers and practitioners have a responsibility to work together to do the difficult synthesis work required to improve both research and practice.
CRISPR patent ruling leaves license holders scrambling
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: February 2017

Widely anticipated decision affirms Broad Institute's claim to genome editing in human cells, but the battle is not over.
Comment on “Ducklings imprint on the relational concept of ‘same or different’”
Authors: Langbein Jan , Puppe Birger
Published: February 2017

Martinho and Kacelnik (Reports, 15 July 2016, p. 286) reported that newly hatched ducklings imprinted on relational concepts. We argue that reanalyzing the data at the individual level shows that this conclusion cannot be applied for all sets of stimuli presented and that the ability to grasp relational concepts is limited to the stimulus category that is most beneficial for survival.
In defense of basic research
The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge: With a companion essay by Robbert Dijkgraaf
Abraham Flexner
Princeton University Press, 2017. 99 pp.
Authors: Tovey Craig A.
Published: February 2017

A 1939 essay resonates today, persuasively advocating for science for science's sake
Antibody Responses to Zika Virus Infections in Environments of Flavivirus Endemicity
Authors: Keasey Sarah L. , Pugh Christine L. , Jensen Stig M. R. , Smith Jessica L. , Hontz Robert D. , Durbin Anna P. , Dudley Dawn M. , O'Connor David H. , Ulrich Robert G.
Published: February 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV) infections occur in areas where dengue virus (DENV), West Nile virus (WNV), yellow fever virus (YFV), and other viruses of the genus
Flavivirus
cocirculate. The envelope (E) proteins of these closely related flaviviruses induce specific long-term immunity, yet subsequent infections are associated with cross-reactive antibody responses that may enhance disease susceptibility and severity. To gain a better understanding of ZIKV infections against a background of similar viral diseases, we examined serological immune responses to ZIKV, WNV, DENV, and YFV infections of humans and nonhuman primates (NHPs). Using printed microarrays, we detected very specific antibody responses to primary infections with probes of recombinant E proteins from 15 species and lineages of flaviviruses pathogenic to humans, while high cross-reactivity between ZIKV and DENV was observed with 11 printed native viruses. Notably, antibodies from human primary ZIKV or secondary DENV infections that occurred in areas where flavivirus is endemic broadly recognized E proteins from many flaviviruses, especially DENV, indicating a strong influence of infection history on immune responses. A predictive algorithm was used to tentatively identify previous encounters with specific flaviviruses based on serum antibody interactions with the multispecies panel of E proteins. These results illustrate the potential impact of exposure to related viruses on the outcome of ZIKV infection and offer considerations for development of vaccines and diagnostics.
Update on Chlamydia trachomatis Vaccinology
Authors: de la Maza Luis M. , Zhong Guangming , Brunham Robert C.
Published: February 2017

Attempts to produce a vaccine to protect againstChlamydia trachomatis-induced trachoma were initiated more than 100 years ago and continued for several decades. Using whole organisms, protective responses were obtained. However, upon exposure toC. trachomatis, disease exacerbation developed in some immunized individuals, precluding the implementation of the vaccine. Evidence of the role ofC. trachomatisas a sexually transmitted pathogen started to emerge in the 1960s, and it soon became evident that it can cause acute infections and long-term sequelae in women, men, and newborns. The main focus of this minireview is to summarize recent findings and discuss formulations, including antigens, adjuvants, routes, and delivery systems for immunization, primarily explored in the female mouse model, with the goal of implementing a vaccine againstC. trachomatisgenital infections.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Sequence Typing for Antimicrobial Resistance, a Novel Antimicrobial Resistance Multilocus Typing Scheme for Tracking Global Dissemination of N. gonorrhoeae Strains
Authors: Demczuk W. , Sidhu S. , Unemo M. , Whiley D. M. , Allen V. G. , Dillon J. R. , Cole M. , Seah C. , Trembizki E. , Trees D. L. , Kersh E. N. , Abrams A. J. , de Vries H. J. C. , van Dam A. P. , Medina I. , Bharat A. , Mulvey M. R. , Van Domselaar G. , Martin I.
Published: February 2017

A curated Web-based user-friendly sequence typing tool based on antimicrobial resistance determinants in
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
was developed and is publicly accessible (
https://ngstar.canada.ca
). The
N. gonorrhoeae
Sequence Typing for Antimicrobial Resistance (NG-STAR) molecular typing scheme uses the DNA sequences of 7 genes (
penA
,
mtrR
,
porB
,
ponA
,
gyrA
,
parC
, and 23S rRNA) associated with resistance to β-lactam antimicrobials, macrolides, or fluoroquinolones. NG-STAR uses the entire
penA
sequence, combining the historical nomenclature for
penA
types I to XXXVIII with novel nucleotide sequence designations; the full
mtrR
sequence and a portion of its promoter region; portions of
ponA
,
porB
,
gyrA
, and
parC
; and 23S rRNA sequences. NG-STAR grouped 768 isolates into 139 sequence types (STs) (
n
= 660) consisting of 29 clonal complexes (CCs) having a maximum of a single-locus variation, and 76 NG-STAR STs (
n
= 109) were identified as unrelated singletons. NG-STAR had a high Simpson's diversity index value of 96.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.959 to 0.969). The most common STs were NG-STAR ST-90 (
n
= 100; 13.0%), ST-42 and ST-91 (
n
= 45; 5.9%), ST-64 (
n
= 44; 5.72%), and ST-139 (
n
= 42; 5.5%). Decreased susceptibility to azithromycin was associated with NG-STAR ST-58, ST-61, ST-64, ST-79, ST-91, and ST-139 (
n
= 156; 92.3%); decreased susceptibility to cephalosporins was associated with NG-STAR ST-90, ST-91, and ST-97 (
n
= 162; 94.2%); and ciprofloxacin resistance was associated with NG-STAR ST-26, ST-90, ST-91, ST-97, ST-150, and ST-158 (
n
= 196; 98.0%). All isolates of NG-STAR ST-42, ST-43, ST-63, ST-81, and ST-160 (
n
= 106) were susceptible to all four antimicrobials. The standardization of nomenclature associated with antimicrobial resistance determinants through an internationally available database will facilitate the monitoring of the global dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant
N. gonorrhoeae
strains.
Functional Relevance of the N-Terminal Domain of Pseudorabies Virus Envelope Glycoprotein H and Its Interaction with Glycoprotein L
Authors: Vallbracht Melina , Rehwaldt Sascha , Klupp Barbara G. , Mettenleiter Thomas C. , Fuchs Walter
Published: February 2017

Several envelope glycoproteins are involved in herpesvirus entry into cells, direct cell-to-cell spread, and induction of cell fusion. The membrane fusion protein glycoprotein B (gB) and the presumably gB-activating heterodimer gH/gL are essential for these processes and conserved throughout the
Herpesviridae
. However, after extended cell culture passage of gL-negative mutants of the alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PrV), phenotypic revertants could be isolated which had acquired spontaneous mutations affecting the gL-interacting N-terminal part of the gH ectodomain (gDH and gH
B4.1
) (B. G. Klupp and T. C. Mettenleiter, J Virol 73:3014–3022, 1999; C. Schröter, M. Vallbracht, J. Altenschmidt, S. Kargoll, W. Fuchs, B. G. Klupp, and T. C. Mettenleiter, J Virol 90:2264–2272, 2016). To investigate the functional relevance of this part of gH in more detail, we introduced an in-frame deletion of 66 codons at the 5′ end of the plasmid-cloned gH gene (gH
32/98
). The N-terminal signal peptide was retained, and the deletion did not affect expression or processing of gH but abrogated its function in
in vitro
fusion assays. Insertion of the engineered gH gene into the PrV genome resulted in a defective mutant (pPrV-gH
32/98
K), which was incapable of entry and spread. Interestingly,
in vitro
activity of mutated gH
32/98
was restored when it was coexpressed with hyperfusogenic gB
B4.1
, obtained from a passaged gL deletion mutant of PrV. Moreover, the entry and spread defects of pPrV-gH
32/98
K were compensated by the mutations in gB
B4.1
in
cis
, as well as in
trans
, independent of gL. Thus, PrV gL and the gL-interacting domain of gH are not strictly required for function.

IMPORTANCE
Membrane fusion is crucial for infectious entry and spread of enveloped viruses. While many enveloped viruses require only one or two proteins for receptor binding and membrane fusion, herpesvirus infection depends on several envelope glycoproteins. Besides subfamily-specific receptor binding proteins, the core fusion machinery consists of the conserved fusion protein gB and the gH/gL complex. The role of the latter is unclear, but it is hypothesized to interact with gB for fusion activation. Using isogenic virus recombinants, we demonstrate here that gL and the gL-binding domain of PrV gH are not strictly required for membrane fusion during virus entry and spread when concomitantly mutations in gB are present which increase its fusogenicity. Thus, our results strongly support the notion of a functional gB-gH interaction during the fusion process.
Heart failure complicating with SAPHO syndrome
Authors: Nishimura Takeshi , Kikuta Shota , Ishihara Satoshi , Nakayama Shinichi
Published: February 2017

A 65-year-old man was referred to our hospital with dyspnoea due to acute heart failure. He presented with swelling in the left clavicle and pustulosis on both soles. An antihypertensive drug and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation improved his condition rapidly. Since all his physical symptoms were compatible with the criteria of SAPHO (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteomyelitis) syndrome, we suspected that the SAPHO syndrome might cause acute heart failure. The aetiology between SAPHO syndrome and heart failure is unclear. Further studies are needed to clarify their relationship.
Gangliocytoma: outcome of a rare silent pituitary tumour
Authors: Donadille Bruno , Villa Chiara , Gaillard Stephan , Christin-Maitre Sophie
Published: February 2017

The most common finding in front of a pituitary incidentaloma is a silent pituitary adenoma. We describe a 59 years old woman with a pituitary gangliocytoma and her follow-up after 1 year. Hormonal exploration only evidenced partial corticotropic insufficiency. A trans-sphenoidal surgery was performed due to the tumour's suprasellar expansion. Gangliocytoma is a benign tumour of unknown prevalence, belonging to central nervous system tumour with neuronal differentiation, and 129 cases have been reported in the literature. growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or prolactin secretions have been reported, as these ganglion cell-like mature neurons are usually mixed with secreting pituitary endocrine cells. We report a case with a pure gangliocytoma devoid of symptomatic endocrine secretion, not surrounded by pituitary endocrine tumour cells. Immunochemistry of the tumour was positive for hypothalamic growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and pituitary hormones, such as GH and ACTH. Hence, this immunoexpression was not associated with peripheral hormonal secretions, suggesting biologically inactive hypothalamopituitary hormones.
Abstracts from international Emergency Medicine Journals
Authors: Weber Ellen J
Published: February 2017

Editor’s note: EMJ has partnered with the journals of multiple international emergency medicine societies to share from each a highlighted research study, as selected by their editors. This edition will feature an abstract from each publication.
Genet diversity, genetic structure, and trait expression of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloidesMichx.) after clear-cut harvesting and post-harvest soil treatments
Authors: Acet Mehmet , Jurgensen Martin F. , Kane Evan , Gailing Oliver
Published: February 2017

Trembling aspen is a fast growing, broadly distributed tree in North America that reproduces by root suckers (clonally) and by seeds (sexually). Since timber harvesting can affect both reproduction pathways by changing the soil properties, we assessed genet diversity, genetic structure, and phenotypic trait expression of trembling aspen populations after clear-cut harvesting in a long-term soil productivity study site in Michigan. A total of 323 stems in replicated plots having heavy soil compaction and surface organic matter (OM) removed, and the untreated controls, were analyzed at microsatellites and for phenotypic traits. Overall, higher spatial aggregation of ramets from the same genet, a greater spatial separation of different genets, and a very good phenotypic separation among genets was observed in the treatment plots. In contrast, for plots with spatially intermixed clones phenotypic separation was much lower. Genetic differentiation was high between individual plots, but soil compaction and OM removal had little effect on genetic differentiation and diversity. One treatment plot was strongly differentiated phenotypically, but not genetically, from all other plots. Consequently, microenvironmental and genetic differences should be considered when forest management effects on trait expressions and productivity are analyzed. Overall, heavy soil compaction and OM removal in fine-textured soil seemed to have restricted the spread of aspen clones.
Direct and interactive effects of climate, meteorology, river hydrology, and lake characteristics on water quality in productive lakes of the Canadian Prairies
Authors: Vogt R.J. , Sharma S. , Leavitt P.R.
Published: February 2017

Aquatic ecosystems are subject to multiple interacting stressors that obscure regulatory mechanisms and reduce the effectiveness of management strategies. Here we estimate the unique and interactive effects of continental climate systems, regional meteorology, river hydrology, and internal lake characteristics on patterns of landscape-scale water quality in six productive lakes within a 52 000 km2 catchment. We quantify variation in mean summer and monthly algal abundance, surface bloom intensity, water clarity, and density of potentially toxic cyanobacteria during 16 years on the Canadian Prairies. Internal lake characteristics best predicted overall water quality change, while climate systems, regional weather, and river hydrology characterized indirect pathways that influenced physicochemical environments. Scenario analysis of future environmental change predicted that atmospheric warming (3–5 °C) will have the strongest effect on water quality in these productive lakes, but unexpectedly predicted that even severe industrial water extraction (1% of inflow) will have negligible effects on transparency or algal abundance. Instead, nutrient management represents the only practical means to sustain water quality, although atmospheric and lake warming may override re-oligotrophication of eutrophied sites in future decades.
Using three-dimensional, digital models of pterosaur skulls for the investigation of their relative bite forces and feeding styles
Authors: Henderson Donald M.
Published: February 2017

Simple, three-dimensional, digital models of the crania and mandibles of 22 pterosaurs – 13 pterodactyloids and nine non-pterodactyloids (‘rhamphorhynchoids’) – were generated to investigate gross-level mechanical aspects of the skulls as they would related to feeding behaviour such as bite force and speed of jaw motions. The key parameter was the determination of second moments of area of the mid-muzzle region and the computation of the bending moment relative to the occiput. The shorter, stockier skulls of basal ‘rhamphorhynchoids’ were the strongest for their size in terms of potential resistance to dorso-ventral bending, and this finding correlates with their robust dentitions. More derived ‘rhamphorhynchoids’ showed the start of a trend towards weaker skulls, but faster jaw adduction was interpreted to be an adaptation for the snatching of small prey. Pterodactyloids continued the trend to lengthen the skull and to reduce its cross-sectional area, resulting in less stiff skulls, but more rapid opening and closing of the jaws. Changes in the rear of the skulls and the development of coronoid eminences on the mandibles of all the pterodactyloids are correlated with the reduction in bite force and a concomitant increase in jaw closing speed.
A Comparison of Tissue Engineering Scaffolds Incorporated with Manuka Honey of Varying UMF
Authors: Hixon Katherine R. , Lu Tracy , McBride-Gagyi Sarah H. , Janowiak Blythe E. , Sell Scott A.
Published: February 2017

Purpose. Manuka honey (MH) is an antibacterial agent specific to the islands of New Zealand containing both hydrogen peroxide and a Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). Although the antibacterial properties of MH have been studied, the effect of varying UMF of MH incorporated into tissue engineered scaffolds have not. Therefore, this study was designed to compare silk fibroin cryogels and electrospun scaffolds incorporated with a 5% MH concentration of various UMF.Methods. Characteristics such as porosity, bacterial clearance and adhesion, and cytotoxicity were compared.Results. Pore diameters for all cryogels were between 51 and 60 µm, while electrospun scaffolds were 10 µm. Cryogels of varying UMF displayed clearance of approximately 0.16 cm forE. coliandS. aureus. In comparison, the electrospun scaffolds clearance ranged between 0.5 and 1 cm. A glucose release of 0.5 mg/mL was observed for the first 24 hours by all scaffolds, regardless of UMF. With respect to cytotoxicity, neither scaffold caused the cell number to drop below 20,000.Conclusions. Overall, when comparing the effects of the various UMF within the two scaffolds, no significant differences were observed. This suggests that the fabricated scaffolds in this study displayed similar bacterial effects regardless of the UMF value.
The Effects of Long-Term Chaetomellic Acid A Administration on Renal Function and Oxidative Stress in a Rat Model of Renal Mass Reduction
Authors: Nogueira António , Peixoto Francisco , Oliveira Maria Manuel , Pires Carlos André , Colaço Bruno , Oliveira Paula Alexandra , Pires Maria João
Published: February 2017

Purpose.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic treatment with chaetomellic acid A (CAA) on oxidative stress and renal function in a model of renal mass reduction.Methods. Male Wistar rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy (RMR) or sham-operated (SO). One week after surgery, rats have been divided into four experimental groups: RMR: RMR rats without treatment(n=14); RMR + CAA: RMR rats treated with CAA(n=13); SO: SO rats without treatment(n=13); and SO + CAA: SO rats treated with CAA(n=13). CAA was intraperitoneally administered in a dose of 0.23 µg/Kg three times a week for six months.Results.RMR was accompanied by a significant reduction in catalase and glutathione reductase (GR) activity(p<0.05)and a decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio. CAA administration significantly increased catalase and GR activity(p<0.05)and increased GSH/GSSG ratio, but no significant difference between the treated and nontreated groups was found in this ratio. No significant differences were found between the RMR groups in any of the parameters of renal function. However, CAA administration slightly improves some parameters of renal function.Conclusions.These data suggest that CAA could attenuate 5/6 RMR-induced oxidative stress.
A Potential of sFasL in Preventing Gland Injury in Sjogren’s Syndrome
Authors: Luo Jiao , Wang Ying , Yu Bing , Qian Hongyan , He Yan , Shi Guixiu
Published: February 2017

Fas and its ligand FasL, members of tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, have been implicated in the process of cell apoptosis. FasL consists of two forms, membrane FasL (mFasL) and soluble FasL (sFasL). sFasL can be produced by mFasL cleaved by matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and also reveals a role for binding to Fas which is expressed on cell surface. Although Fas/FasL axis has been implicated in a variety of diseases, its role in Sjogren’s syndrome still remains ill defined. In this study, we investigated the potential of sFasL in the pathogenesis of Sjogren’s syndrome (SS). We found that the serum levels of sFasL in SS patients were significantly lower than healthy subjects. Moreover, serum levels of sFasL in patients with mild disease activity were higher than patients with severe disease activity. There is a positive correlation of the serum level of sFasL with uptake index of parotid gland in our expectation. In addition, liver injury involvement in SS patients showed decreased level of sFasL. Furthermore, we here also observed that the protective cytokine IL-10 expression was positively correlated with sFasL expression. Thus, our results here suggest a potential of sFasL in maintaining gland organ homeostasis.
Cooccurrences of Putative Endogenous Retrovirus-Associated Diseases
Authors: Brütting Christine , Emmer Alexander , Kornhuber Malte E. , Staege Martin S.
Published: February 2017

At least 8% of the human genome is composed of endogenous retrovirus (ERV) sequences. ERVs play a role in placental morphogenesis and can sometimes protect the host against exogenous viruses. On the other hand, ERV reactivation has been found to be associated with different diseases, for example, multiple sclerosis (MS), schizophrenia, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Little is known about the cooccurrence of these diseases. If all these diseases are caused by ERV, antiretroviral therapy should perhaps also show some effects in the other diseases. Here, we summarize literature demonstrating that some ERV-associated diseases seem to appear together more often than expected, for example, MS and ALS, MS and T1D, MS and schizophrenia, or ALS and T1D. In contrast, some ERV-associated diseases seem to appear together less frequently than expected, for example, schizophrenia and T1D. Besides, some reports demonstrate amelioration of MS, ALS, or schizophrenia under antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. If such results could be confirmed in larger studies, alternative therapy strategies for ERV-associated diseases like MS and schizophrenia might be possible.