bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute Cardiometabolic Responses to Three Modes of Treadmill Exercise in Older Adults With Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Rigby Brandon R. , Davis Ronald W. , Avalos Marco A. , Levine Nicholas A. , Becker Kevin A. , Nichols David L.
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this study was to compare acute cardiometabolic responses to 3 modes of treadmill exercise in adults diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Eight elderly adults with PD (67.9 ± 3.0 yr) completed 1 session each on a land, aquatic, and antigravity treadmill at 50% body weight. Participants walked from 1 to 3 mph in 0.5-mph increments at 0% grade for 5 min at each speed. Heart rate, energy expenditure, blood pressure, and rating of perceived exertion were measured at rest and during exercise. All variables except diastolic blood pressure increased with speed on all treadmills (p < .001). At all speeds except 1.5 mph, heart rate was higher on the land treadmill than the antigravity treadmill (p < .05). Exercising on an aquatic or antigravity treadmill elicits similar submaximal physiologic responses to exercise on a land treadmill in adults with PD.
Dynamic assembly of liquid crystalline graphene oxide gel fibers for ion transport
Authors: Park H. , Lee K. H. , Kim Y. B. , Ambade S. B. , Noh S. H. , Eom W. , Hwang J. Y. , Lee W. J. , Huang J. , Han T. H.
Published: November 2018

Highly aligned GO gel fibers are fabricated under high extensional flow for efficient nanofluidic transport of ion species.
Improving supersonic flights with femtosecond laser filamentation
Authors: Elias P.-Q. , Severac N. , Luyssen J.-M. , André Y.-B. , Doudet I. , Wattellier B. , Tobeli J.-P. , Albert S. , Mahieu B. , Bur R. , Mysyrowicz A. , Houard A.
Published: November 2018

We show that an embarked intense femtosecond laser can substantially reduce the drag experienced by a supersonic object.
A scientist's fraudulent studies put patients at risk
Authors: Marcus Adam
Published: November 2018

A physician with nearly 100 retracted papers may have misrepresented risks of an intravenous fluid.
Dynamic salience processing in paraventricular thalamus gates associative learning
Authors: Zhu Yingjie , Nachtrab Gregory , Keyes Piper C. , Allen William E. , Luo Liqun , Chen Xiaoke
Published: November 2018

A close view of the paraventricular thalamus

The paraventricular thalamus is a relay station connecting brainstem and hypothalamic signals that represent internal states with the limbic forebrain that performs associative functions in emotional contexts. Zhu
et al.
found that paraventricular thalamic neurons represent multiple salient features of sensory stimuli, including reward, aversiveness, novelty, and surprise. The nucleus thus provides context-dependent salience encoding. The thalamus gates sensory information and contributes to the sleep-wake cycle through its interactions with the cerebral cortex. Ren
et al.
recorded from neurons in the paraventricular thalamus and observed that both population and single-neuron activity were tightly coupled with wakefulness.

Science
, this issue p.
423
, p.
429
The paraventricular thalamus is a critical thalamic area for wakefulness
Authors: Ren Shuancheng , Wang Yaling , Yue Faguo , Cheng Xiaofang , Dang Ruozhi , Qiao Qicheng , Sun Xueqi , Li Xin , Jiang Qian , Yao Jiwei , Qin Han , Wang Guanzhong , Liao Xiang , Gao Dong , Xia Jianxia , Zhang Jun , Hu Bo , Yan Junan , Wang Yanjiang , Xu Min , Han Yunyun , Tang Xiangdong , Chen Xiaowei , He Chao , Hu Zhian
Published: November 2018

A close view of the paraventricular thalamus

The paraventricular thalamus is a relay station connecting brainstem and hypothalamic signals that represent internal states with the limbic forebrain that performs associative functions in emotional contexts. Zhu
et al.
found that paraventricular thalamic neurons represent multiple salient features of sensory stimuli, including reward, aversiveness, novelty, and surprise. The nucleus thus provides context-dependent salience encoding. The thalamus gates sensory information and contributes to the sleep-wake cycle through its interactions with the cerebral cortex. Ren
et al.
recorded from neurons in the paraventricular thalamus and observed that both population and single-neuron activity were tightly coupled with wakefulness.

Science
, this issue p.
423
, p.
429
Combination cancer immunotherapy targeting PD-1 and GITR can rescue CD8
+
T cell dysfunction and maintain memory phenotype
Authors: Wang Bei , Zhang Wen , Jankovic Vladimir , Golubov Jacquelynn , Poon Patrick , Oswald Erin M. , Gurer Cagan , Wei Joyce , Ramos Ilyssa , Wu Qi , Waite Janelle , Ni Min , Adler Christina , Wei Yi , Macdonald Lynn , Rowlands Tracey , Brydges Susannah , Siao Jean , Poueymirou William , MacDonald Douglas , Yancopoulos George D. , Sleeman Matthew A. , Murphy Andrew J. , Skokos Dimitris
Published: November 2018

Synergistic CD8
+
T cell activation by antibodies to PD-1 and GITR in cancer immunotherapy depends on the CD226 costimulatory pathway.
A sweet alternative: maintaining M2 macrophage polarization
Authors: Hamers Anouk A. J. , Pillai Asha B.
Published: November 2018

Glycolytic metabolism functions as a backup mechanism for M2 macrophage polarization when oxidative phosphorylation is disrupted.
Comparative Genomic Analysis Reveals the Distribution, Organization, and Evolution of Metal Resistance Genes in the Genus
Acidithiobacillus
Authors: Li Liangzhi , Liu Zhenghua , Meng Delong , Liu Xueduan , Li Xing , Zhang Ming , Tao Jiemeng , Gu Yabing , Zhong Shuiping , Yin Huaqun
Published: November 2018

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), natural selection, and gene duplication are three main engines that drive the adaptive evolution of microbial genomes. Previous studies indicated that HGT was a main adaptive mechanism in acidophiles to cope with heavy-metal-rich environments. However, evidences of HGT in
Acidithiobacillus
species in response to challenging metal-rich environments and the mechanisms addressing how metal resistance genes originated and evolved in
Acidithiobacillus
are still lacking. The findings of this study revealed a fascinating phenomenon of putative cross-phylum HGT, suggesting that
Acidithiobacillus
spp. recruited and consolidated additional novel functionalities during the adaption to challenging environments via HGT, gene duplication, and purifying selection. Altogether, the insights gained in this study have improved our understanding of the metal resistance strategies of
Acidithiobacillus
spp.
Draft Genome Sequences of Two Pseudomonas aeruginosa Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Isolates, PAL0.1 and PAL1.1
Authors: Grandjean Teddy , Le Guern Rémi , Duployez Claire , Faure Karine , Kipnis Eric , Dessein Rodrigue
Published: October 2018

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
infections are challenging due to intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms. We report here the draft genome sequences of two multidrug-resistant strains—PAL0.1, isolated from the airways of an intensive care unit (ICU) patient with ventilator-associated pneumonia, and PAL1.1, isolated from blood cultures of an ICU patient with sepsis.
Complete Genome Sequences of Mycobacteriophages Kwksand96 and Cane17
Authors: Fast Kayla M. , Keener Tracy W. , Castleberry Shane , Jones Kenny D. , Larrimore John D. , Long Caitlin A. , Newburn Jon T. , Pritchett Nicholas C. , Schellhammer P. Kiersten , Sandel Michael W.
Published: October 2018

Bacteriophages Kwksand96 and Cane17 were isolated from
Mycobacterium smegmatis
mc
2
155.
M. smegmatis
is host to the highest number of phages analyzed from one species.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Wild-Type Isolate of Caulobacter vibrioides Strain CB2
Authors: Scott Derrick C. , Scott LaTia , Wilson Kiesha , Ross Keshawn , Ingram Damyen , Lewter Tajah , Herring Jasmine , Linton LaTrice , Duncan David , Aikins Anthea , Ely Bert
Published: October 2018

The complete genome of
Caulobacter vibrioides
strain CB2 consists of a 4,123,726-bp chromosome, a GC content of 67.2%, and 3,896 coding DNA sequences. It has no rearrangements but numerous indels relative to the reference NA1000 genome.
Complete Genome and Plasmid Sequences of 32 Salmonella enterica Strains from 30 Serovars
Authors: Bessonov Kyrylo , Robertson James A. , Lin Janet T. , Liu Kira , Gurnik Simone , Kernaghan Shaun A. , Yoshida Catherine , Nash John H. E.
Published: October 2018

We report here 32 completed closed genome sequences of strains representing 30 serotypes of
Salmonella
. These genome sequences will provide useful references for understanding the genetic variation within
Salmonella enterica
serotypes, particularly as references to aid in comparative genomics studies, as well as providing information for improving
in silico
serotyping accuracy.
Complete Genome Sequences of Papillomavirus Isolates from the Oral Cavity, Skin, and Feces of Wild Rats
Authors: Ling Yu , Mo Fei , He Yumin , Zhao Min , Xu Hui , Zhang Wen
Published: October 2018

Six genome sequences of papillomavirus were determined from oral and skin swabs and fecal samples collected from wild rats. Three genomes were 7,722 bp, two genomes were 7,716 bp, and one was 7,730 bp, displaying typical papillomavirus genome organizations.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Arcobacter suis Type Strain LMG 26152
Authors: Miller William G. , Yee Emma , Bono James L.
Published: October 2018

Arcobacter
species are prevalent in pigs, and strains have been isolated from pig feces and pork meat; some
Arcobacter
strains may be porcine abortifacients.
Arcobacter suis
was recovered from pork meat in Spain.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Industrially Significant Bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 13525
Authors: Meier M. J. , Subasinghe R. M. , Beaudette L. A.
Published: October 2018

Pseudomonas fluorescens
is a Gram-negative bacterium with versatile metabolic functions and potential industrial uses. We sequenced
P. fluorescens
strain ATCC 13525 with the goal of determining virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes to predict the potential impacts on human and environmental health in the event of exposure.
Association of paternal age with perinatal outcomes between 2007 and 2016 in the United States: population based cohort study
Authors: Khandwala Yash S , Baker Valerie L , Shaw Gary M , Stevenson David K , Lu Ying , Eisenberg Michael L
Published: October 2018

Objective

To evaluate the impact of advanced paternal age on maternal and perinatal outcomes in the United States.

Design

Retrospective, population based cohort study.

Setting

US.

Population

40 529 905 documented live births between 2007 and 2016.

Main outcome measures

Primary perinatal outcomes were gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score at five minutes, admission to a neonatal intensive care unit, need for postpartum antibiotics, and seizures. Primary maternal outcomes were gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Secondary outcome was the number of preventable perinatal events.

Results

Higher paternal age was associated with an increased risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and low Apgar score. After adjustment for maternal age, infants born to fathers aged 45 years or older had 14% higher odds of premature birth (odds ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval 1.13 to 1.15), independent of gestational age, and 18% higher odds of seizures (1.18, 0.97 to 1.44) compared with infants of fathers aged 25 to 34 years. The odds of gestational diabetes was 34% higher (1.34, 1.29 to 1.38) in mothers with the oldest partners. 13.2% (95% confidence interval 12.5% to 13.9%) of premature births and 18.2% (17.5% to 18.9%) of gestational diabetes in births associated with older fathers were estimated to be attributable to advanced paternal age.

Conclusions

Advanced paternal age is associated with negative effects on both mothers and offspring. Given the relatively low prevalence of advanced paternal age in the US, population level impacts are currently modest. Nevertheless, as advanced paternal age has doubled in the US over the past generation, further investigation is warranted of the impact on birth outcomes and public health.
Systems consultation for opioid prescribing in primary care: a qualitative study of adaptation
Authors: Jacobson Nora , Johnson Roberta , Deyo Bri , Alagoz Esra , Quanbeck Andrew
Published: October 2018

Background

In order to promote guideline-concordant opioid prescribing practices, a blended implementation strategy called systems consultation was pilot tested in four primary care clinics in one US health system.

Objectives

To describe (1) how systems consultation worked during the pilot test and (2) the modifications necessary to adapt this implementation strategy to primary care.

Methods

A team of investigators conducted observations (n=24), focus groups (n=4) and interviews (n=2). The team; kept contact logs documenting all interactions with the intervention clinics and preserved all work products resulting from the intervention. Initial analysis was concurrent with data collection and findings were used to modify the intervention in real time. At the conclusion of the pilot test, a pragmatic descriptive analysis of all data was performed to explore key modifications.

Results

Time constraints, entrenched hierarchical structures and a lack of quality improvement skills among clinical staff were the main barriers to implementing systems consultation. Modifications made to address these conditions included creating a consulting team, giving change teams more direction, revising process improvement tools, supporting the use of electronic health record (EHR) functionalities and providing opportunities for shared learning among clinics.

Discussion and conclusion

With the lessons of this research in mind, our goal in future iterations of systems consultation is to give clinics a combination of clinical, organisational change and EHR expertise optimised according to their needs. We believe a streamlined process for assessing the key characteristics identified in this study can be used to develop a plan for this kind of optimisation, or tailoring, and we will be developing such a process as part of an upcoming clinical trial.
External validation of the Hospital Frailty Risk Score and comparison with the Hospital-patient One-year Mortality Risk Score to predict outcomes in elderly hospitalised patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: McAlister Finlay , van Walraven Carl
Published: October 2018

Objective

Frailty is an important prognostic factor in hospitalised patients but typically requires face-to-face assessment by trained observers to detect. Thus, frail patients are not readily apparent from a systems perspective for those interested in implementing quality improvement measures to optimise their outcomes. This study was designed to externally validate and compare two recently described tools using administrative data as potential markers for frailty: the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) and the Hospital-patient One-year Mortality Risk (HOMR) Score.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Ontario, Canada.

Participants

All patients over 75 with at least one urgent non-psychiatric hospitalisation between 2004 and 2010.

Main outcome measures

Prolonged hospital length of stay (>10 days), 30-day mortality after admission and 30-day postdischarge rates of urgent readmission or emergency department (ED) visits.

Results

In 452 785 patients (25.9% with intermediate or high-risk HFRS), increased HFRS was associated with higher Charlson scores, older age and decreased likelihood of baseline independence. Patients with high or intermediate HFRS had significantly increased risks of prolonged hospitalisation (70.0% (OR 8.64, 95%  CI 8.30 to 8.99) or 49.7% (OR 3.66, 95%  CI 3.60 to 3.71) vs 21.3% in low-risk HFRS group) and 30-day mortality (15.5% (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.33) or 16.8% (OR 1.39, 95%  CI 1.36 to 1.41) vs 12.7% in low-risk), but decreased risks of 30-day readmission (10.0% (OR 0.74, 95%  CI 0.69 to 0.79) and 11.2% (OR 0.84, 95%  CI 0.82 to 0.86) vs 13.1%) or ED visit (7.3% (OR 0.41, 95%  CI 0.38 to 0.45) and 11.1% (OR 0.66, 95%  CI 0.38 to 0.45) vs 16.0%). Although only loosely associated (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.265, p<0.0001), both the HFRS and HOMR Score were independently associated with each outcome—HFRS was more strongly associated with prolonged length of stay (C-statistic 0.71) and HOMR Score was more strongly associated with 30-day mortality (C-statistic 0.71). Both poorly predicted 30-day readmissions (C-statistics 0.52 for HFRS and 0.54 for HOMR Score).

Conclusions

The HFRS best identified hospitalised older patients at higher risk of prolonged length of stay and the HOMR score better predicted 30-day mortality. However, neither score was suitable for predicting risk of readmission or ED visit in the 30 days after discharge. Thus, a single score is inadequate to prognosticate for all outcomes associated with frailty.
Postoperative complications and owner assessment of single portal laparoscopic ovariectomy in dogs
Authors: Binder Claudia , Katić Nikola , Aurich Jörg E , Dupré Gilles
Published: October 2018

The aim of this retrospective study and owner survey was to record the postoperative complication rate, pain score and owners’ satisfaction rates of single portal laparoscopic ovariectomy in dogs using an operating laparoscope and to compare our results with data in the veterinary literature on other laparoscopic methods. Therefore, the medical records of all bitches that were spayed using a laparoscopic single port ovariectomy with an operating laparoscope between November 2007 and November 2014 were reviewed. A minimum follow‐up period of 12 months was required for study inclusion. One hundred and thirty two adult, healthy, femal dogs were included in our study. The information collected included breed, bodyweight, age at ovariectomy and postoperative complications detected during follow‐up 9–14 days after surgery. Furthermore, an electronic questionnaire was implemented, and the owners of the dogs were asked to report on long‐term complications and to retrospectively evaluate postoperative pain and overall satisfaction. Sixty‐two different and mixed breed dogs with weights ranging from 1.9 to 50 kg and ages ranging from 0.5 to 10.8 years were included. Short‐term complications were detected in 21 out of 132 cases, mostly at the surgical site (15.9 per cent). According to our questionnaire (n=65), 10 dogs developed urinary incontinence categorised as a major complication (15.4 per cent). The owner's evaluated pain score was less than 300 on a 1000‐unit visual analogue scale for 56 out of 65 dogs (86.2 per cent) and less than 500 in 63 dogs (96.9 per cent). The dog owners’ satisfaction rate was 95.3 per cent (87.5 per cent evaluated the surgery as excellent and 7.8 per cent as good). Altogether, our study suggests that single port access using an operating laparoscope for ovariectomy has minor complication rates comparable to other laparoscopic techniques but has the advantages of a low postoperative pain level as evaluated by the owner and a very high owner's satisfaction rate.
Influence of β-glucanase supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and meat quality in broilers fed wheat–barley–soybean diet
Authors: Sun Hao Yang , Ingale Santosh Laxman , Rathi Piyush , Kim In Ho
Published: October 2018

A total of 600 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens with an average body weight of 43.00 ± 0.42 g were used in a 35 d growth assay to investigate the supplemental effects of three levels (600, 1200, and 1800 β-glucanase units kg−1) of β-glucanase on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and meat quality in wheat–barley–soybean-meal-based broiler diet. During days 19–35 and overall period, chickens’ body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P < 0.05) improved linearly following the levels of β-glucanase supplementation. The digestibility of crude protein and gross energy were significantly (P < 0.05) increased linearly with the levels of β-glucanase supplementation. Significant linear increase (P < 0.05) due to increasing β-glucanase supplementation was observed for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration. Increasing β-glucanase supplementation did not influence (P > 0.05) the meat quality. In conclusion, broiler diets supplementation with increasing β-glucanase could improve the growth performance, enhance the digestibility, and modulate the concentrations of BUN linearly. Meat quality was not influenced.
Communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in maize (Zea mays L.) crops along an edaphoclimatic gradient in Northeast Brazil
Authors: de Mello Catarina Maria Aragão , da Silva Gladstone Alves , Oehl Fritz , da Silva Iolanda Ramalho , do Monte Junior Inácio Pascoal , da Silva Danielle Karla Alves , Maia Leonor Costa
Published: October 2018

The objective of this study was to determine the species richness, diversity, and communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), based on the morphology of their spores, in maize plantations along an edaphoclimatic gradient going from a humid zone (original area of Atlantic rainforest), to a transition zone and a drier zone (original area of Caatinga), to increase the understanding of the ecology of AMF in tropical agroecosystems. We extracted glomerospores from soil samples from maize plantations in each mesoregion and analysed AMF propagules and community structure. A total of 57 AMF taxa were identified, of which two are new to science. The most probable number of AMF infective propagules did not differ among the three areas. A greater number of glomerospores was obtained from the transition site, whereas species richness for AMF differed between the high humidity and transition sites. The composition of AMF communities differed among sites, with edaphic attributes significantly associated with AMF community composition. The environmental conditions of each mesoregion contribute to the structural differences of AMF assemblages in soils cultivated by the same host plant (maize).
Numerical solutions of the generalized Rosenau–Kawahara-RLW equation arising in fluid mechanics via B-spline collocation method
Authors: Ak Turgut , Dhawan Sharanjeet , İnan Bilge
Published: October 2018

Present study reports the solution of generalized Rosenau–Kawahara-RLW equation. It includes motion of single solitary wave, interaction of two solitary waves along with the calculated invariants and error norms. Gaussian and undular bore initial conditions are studied to show evolution of solitons. Developed train of solitons and conservation of invariants are shown via figures and tables in the respective sections. Various case studies are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed numerical scheme. Solutions so produced may be helpful for explaining various nonlinear physical phenomena in nonlinear dynamical systems.
Dispersive solitary wave solutions of nonlinear further modified Korteweg–de Vries dynamical equation in an unmagnetized dusty plasma
Authors: Iqbal Mujahid , Seadawy Aly R. , Lu Dianchen
Published: November 2018

In this work, we consider the propagation of one-dimensional nonlinear unmagnetized dusty plasma, by using the reductive perturbation technique to formulate the nonlinear mathematical model which is further modified Korteweg–de Vries (fmKdV) dynamical equation. We use the extend form of two methods, auxiliary equation mapping and direct algebraic methods, to investigate the families of dust and ion solitary wave solutions of one-dimensional nonlinear fmKdV. These new exact and solitary wave solutions, which represent the electrostatic potential and pressure for fmKdV, and also the graphical representation of electrostatic potential and pressure are shown with the aid of Mathematica.
Brans–Dicke gravity: From Higgs physics to (dynamical) dark energy
Authors: Peracaula Joan Solà
Published: October 2018

The Higgs mechanism is one of the central pieces of the Standard Model of electroweak interactions and thanks to it we can generate the masses of the elementary particles. Its fundamental origin is nonetheless unknown. Furthermore, in order to preserve renormalizability, we have to break the gauge symmetry spontaneously, which leads to a huge induced cosmological constant incompatible with observations. It turns out that in the context of generalized Brans–Dicke theories of gravity, the Higgs potential structure can be motivated from solutions of the field equations which carry harmless cosmological vacuum energy. In addition, the late-time cosmic evolution effectively appears like a universe filled with mildly evolving dynamical dark energy mimicking quintessence or phantom dark energy.
Shapley and Banzhaf Values as Probability Transformations
Authors: Miranda Enrique , Montes Ignacio
Published: November 2018

We investigate the role of some game solutions, such the Shapley and the Banzhaf values, as probability transformations. The first one coincides with the pignistic transformation proposed in the Transferable Belief Model; the second one is not efficient in general, leading us to consider its normalized version. We study a number of particular models of lower probabilities: minitive measures, coherent lower probabilities, as well as the lower probabilities induced by comparative or distortion models. For them, we provide some alternative expressions of the Shapley and Banzhaf values and study under which conditions they belong to the core of the lower probability.
An Effective Solution Approach Based on Extension Principle for Fuzzy Minimal Cost Flow Problem
Authors: Niroomand Sadegh , Mahmoodirad Ali , Keshavarz Esmaeil
Published: November 2018

A well-known version of minimal cost flow problem with fuzzy arc costs is focused in this study. The fuzzy arc costs is applied as in most of real-world applications, the parameters have high degree of uncertainty. The goal of this problem is to determine the minimum fuzzy cost of sending and passing a specified flow value in to and from a network. A decomposition-based solution methodology is introduced to tackle this problem. The methodology applies Zadeh’s extension principle to decompose the problem to two upper bound and lower bound problems. These problems are capable of being solved for different α-cut values to construct the fuzzy cost flow value as the objective function value. The efficiency of the proposed solution methodology is studied over some well-known examples of the minimal cost flow problem. The obtained results and the procedure applied to obtain them prove the superiority of the proposed approach comparing to the previous approaches of the literature.
PREPARATION OF Cu-SiO2/PA12 COMPOSITE POWDERS BY ELECTROLESS PLATING FOR USE IN SLS PROCESSING
Authors: GUI CHENGMEI , CHEN ZHENMING , YAO CHENGUANG , YANG GUISHENG
Published: October 2018

In this work, SiO2-encapsulated copper particles/PA12 (Cu-SiO2/PA12) composite powders were prepared by electroless composite plating, and the laser sintering behavior was investigated. Results showed that Cu, Cu2O, CuO, and SiO2 (Cu-SiO2) composite particles were plated on the surface of KH550-modified PA12 powders. The Cu-SiO2 particles existed independently on PA12 surface, and the size was around 200 nm. The melting temperature and crystallization temperature of Cu-SiO2/PA12 composite powders were 183∘C and 150∘C. The results indicate that the selective laser sintering (SLS) process involved the contact of Cu-SiO2/PA12 powders, the formation of sintering neck, the growth of sintering neck, and the formation of fused solid. The Cu-SiO2 composite particles uniformly dispersed in the part due to surface tension, and the contact interface was good due to their similar polarity. The Cu-SiO2/PA12 SLS parts had excellent dimensional precision. The tensile strength of the 15[Formula: see text]W-sintered Cu-SiO2/PA12 specimen was 48[Formula: see text]MPa.
Computational identification of physicochemical signatures for host tropism of influenza A virus
Authors: Yin Rui , Zhou Xinrui , Zheng Jie , Kwoh Chee Keong
Published: October 2018

Avian influenza viruses from migratory birds have managed to cross host species barriers and infected various hosts like human and swine. Epidemics and pandemics might occur when influenza viruses are adapted to humans, causing deaths and enormous economic loss. Receptor-binding specificity of the virus is one of the key factors for the transmission of influenza viruses across species. The determination of host tropism and understanding of molecular properties would help identify the mechanism why zoonotic influenza viruses can cross species barrier and infect humans. In this study, we have constructed computational models for host tropism prediction on human-adapted subtypes of influenza HA proteins using random forest. The feature vectors of the prediction models were generated based on seven physicochemical properties of amino acids from influenza sequences of three major hosts. Feature aggregation and associative rules were further applied to select top 20 features and extract host-associated physicochemical signatures on the combined model of nonspecific subtypes. The prediction model achieved high performance ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). Support and confidence rates were calculated for the host class-association rules. The results indicated that secondary structure and normalized Van der Waals volume were identified as more important physicochemical signatures in determining the host tropism.
Constrained maximum entropy models to select genotype interactions associated with censored failure times
Authors: Yang Aotian , Miller David , Pan Qing
Published: October 2018

We propose a novel screening method targeting genotype interactions associated with disease risks. The proposed method extends the maximum entropy conditional probability model to address disease occurrences over time. Continuous occurrence times are grouped into intervals. The model estimates the conditional distribution over the disease occurrence intervals given individual genotypes by maximizing the corresponding entropy subject to constraints linking genotype interactions to time intervals. The EM algorithm is employed to handle observations with uncertainty, for which the disease occurrence is censored. Stepwise greedy search is proposed to screen a large number of candidate constraints. The minimum description length is employed to select the optimal set of constraints. Extensive simulations show that five or so quantile-dependent intervals are sufficient to categorize disease outcomes into different risk groups. Performance depends on sample size, number of genotypes, and minor allele frequencies. The proposed method outperforms the likelihood ratio test, Lasso, and a previous maximum entropy method with only binary (disease occurrence, non-occurrence) outcomes. Finally, a GWAS study for type 1 diabetes patients is used to illustrate our method. Novel one-genotype and two-genotype interactions associated with neuropathy are identified.
From holography to the geometry of the spacetime
Authors: Pelegrín José A. S.
Published: October 2018

We show the geometric consequences that the holographic principle has on the spacetime. Namely, we prove that complete spacelike hypersurfaces in a spacetime that satisfies the holographic principle are non-parabolic. This has important consequences on the behaviour of the Brownian motion in these spacelike hypersurfaces, as well as provides a method for finding examples of universes that lead to a violation of this principle.
Adsorption of Methylene Blue on Titanate Nanotubes Synthesized with Ultra-Small Fe3O4 Nanoparticles
Authors: Marć Maciej , Dudek Mirosław R. , Kozioł Jacek J. , Zapotoczny Bartłomiej
Published: November 2018

Modified titanate nanotubes (TNT) were tested for their adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from water solutions. They were obtained from the TiO2 nanopowder using a standard alkaline hydrothermal method but in the stage of acid washing, when the titanate flakes begin to roll into nanotubes, magnetite nanoparticles were added. The Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles with diameter of around 2[Formula: see text]nm and 12[Formula: see text]nm were used in the tests. Significantly stronger adsorption of MB was observed when smaller nanoparticles were used compared to using larger nanoparticles and compared to the case of unmodified nanotubes. It was shown that the increased adsorption of MB is associated with a more negative value of [Formula: see text]-potential for titanates modified by the ultra-small nanoparticles. In the adsorption experiment, pH 7 was selected. These results may prove to be of great importance in the case of potential applications corresponding to the use of such material for wastewater purification.
Regulation of Muscle Growth in Early Postnatal Life in a Swine Model
Authors: Rudar Marko , Fiorotto Marta L. , Davis Teresa A.
Published: November 2018

Skeletal muscle growth during the early postnatal period is rapid in the pig and dependent on the capacity of muscle to respond to anabolic and catabolic stimuli. Muscle mass is driven by the balance between protein synthesis and degradation. Among these processes, muscle protein synthesis in the piglet is exceptionally sensitive to the feeding-induced postprandial changes in insulin and amino acids, whereas muscle protein degradation is affected only during specific catabolic states. The developmental decline in the response of muscle to feeding is associated with changes in the signaling pathways located upstream and downstream of the mechanistic target of rapamycin protein complex. Additionally, muscle growth is supported by an accretion of nuclei derived from satellite cells. Activated satellite cells undergo proliferation, differentiation, and fusion with adjacent growing muscle fibers. Enhancing early muscle growth through modifying protein synthesis, degradation, and satellite cell activity is key to maximizing performance, productivity, and lifelong pig health.
Neuro–Immune Cell Units: A New Paradigm in Physiology
Authors: Godinho-Silva Cristina , Cardoso Filipa , Veiga-Fernandes Henrique
Published: October 2018

The interplay between the immune and nervous systems has been acknowledged in the past, but only more recent studies have started to unravel the cellular and molecular players of such interactions. Mounting evidence indicates that environmental signals are sensed by discrete neuro–immune cell units (NICUs), which represent defined anatomical locations in which immune and neuronal cells colocalize and functionally interact to steer tissue physiology and protection. These units have now been described in multiple tissues throughout the body, including lymphoid organs, adipose tissue, and mucosal barriers. As such, NICUs are emerging as important orchestrators of multiple physiological processes, including hematopoiesis, organogenesis, inflammation, tissue repair, and thermogenesis. In this review we focus on the impact of NICUs in tissue physiology and how this fast-evolving field is driving a paradigm shift in our understanding of immunoregulation and organismal physiology.
Diversity in the Workplace: A Review, Synthesis, and Future Research Agenda
Authors: Roberson Quinetta M.
Published: October 2018

Fueled by socioeconomic trends that changed the composition of organizational workforces, the term workforce diversity was coined in the 1990s. Since then, both researchers and practitioners have strived (and struggled) to understand the concept, its effects in and on organizations, and strategies for managing such effects. In this article, I provide an overview and interpretation of the current literature to examine its purpose, progress, and direction. Highlighting key conceptualizations of the construct, theoretical foundations, and empirical findings on diversity and diversity management, I discuss the evolution and current state of the field and synthesize this information to propose a future research agenda. In doing so, I seek to identify theoretical, empirical, and practice areas of opportunity for advancing scientific knowledge about the meaning, substance, and outcomes of diversity as well as the implementation of diversity science in organizations.
The nuclear receptor RORα protects against angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure
Authors: Beak Ju Youn , Kang Hong Soon , Huang Wei , Myers Page H. , Bowles Dawn E. , Jetten Anton M. , Jensen Brian C.
Published: November 2018

The nuclear receptor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-α (RORα) regulates numerous critical biological processes, including central nervous system development, lymphocyte differentiation, and lipid metabolism. RORα has been recently identified in the heart, but very little is known about its role in cardiac physiology. We sought to determine whether RORα regulates myocardial hypertrophy and cardiomyocyte survival in the context of angiotensin II (ANG II) stimulation. For in vivo characterization of the function of RORα in the context of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, we used the “staggerer” (RORαsg/sg) mouse, which harbors a germline mutation encoding a truncated and globally nonfunctional RORα. RORαsg/sg and wild-type littermate mice were infused with ANG II or vehicle for 14 days. For in vitro experiments, we overexpressed or silenced RORα in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) and human cardiac fibroblasts exposed to ANG II. RORαsg/sg mice developed exaggerated myocardial hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction after ANG II treatment. In vitro gain- and loss-of-function experiments were consistent with the discovery that RORα inhibits ANG II-induced pathological hypertrophy and cardiomyocyte death in vivo. RORα directly repressed IL-6 transcription. Loss of RORα function led to enhanced IL-6 expression, proinflammatory STAT3 activation (phopho-STAT3 Tyr705), and decreased mitochondrial number and function, oxidative stress, hypertrophy, and death of cardiomyocytes upon ANG II exposure. RORα was less abundant in failing compared with nonfailing human heart tissue. In conclusion, RORα protects against ANG II-mediated pathological hypertrophy and heart failure by suppressing the IL-6-STAT3 pathway and enhancing mitochondrial function.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Mice lacking retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-α (RORα) develop exaggerated cardiac hypertrophy after angiotensin II infusion. Loss of RORα leads to enhanced IL-6 expression and NF-κB nuclear translocation. RORα maintains mitochondrial function and reduces oxidative stress after angiotensin II. The abundance of RORα is reduced in failing mouse and human hearts.
Galectin-3 deficiency ameliorates fibrosis and remodeling in dilated cardiomyopathy mice with enhanced Mst1 signaling
Authors: Nguyen My-Nhan , Ziemann Mark , Kiriazis Helen , Su Yidan , Thomas Zara , Lu Qun , Donner Daniel G. , Zhao Wei-Bo , Rafehi Haloom , Sadoshima Junichi , McMullen Julie R. , El-Osta Assam , Du Xiao-Jun
Published: November 2018

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of heart failure without effective therapy. Fibrogenesis plays a key role in the development of DCM, but little is known of the expression of the profibrotic factor galectin-3 (Gal-3) and its role in DCM pathophysiology. In a mouse DCM model with transgenic (TG) overexpression of mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1), we studied Gal-3 expression and effects of the Gal-3 inhibitor modified citrus pectin (MCP) or Gal-3 gene knockout (KO). Gal-3 deletion in TG mice (TG/KO) was achieved by crossbreeding Mst1-TG mice with Gal-3 KO mice. The DCM phenotype was assessed by echocardiography and micromanometry. Cardiac expression of Gal-3 and fibrosis were determined. The cardiac transcriptome was profiled by RNA sequencing. Mst1-TG mice at 3−8 mo of age exhibited upregulated expression of Gal-3 by ~40-fold. TG mice had dilatation of cardiac chambers, suppressed left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, poor LV contractility and relaxation, a threefold increase in LV collagen content, and upregulated fibrotic genes. Four-month treatment with MCP showed no beneficial effects. Gal-3 deletion in Mst1-TG mice attenuated chamber dilatation, organ congestion, and fibrogenesis. RNA sequencing identified profound disturbances by Mst1 overexpression in the cardiac transcriptome, which largely remained in TG/KO hearts. Gal-3 deletion in Mst1-TG mice, however, partially reversed the dysregulated transcriptional signaling involving extracellular matrix remodeling and collagen formation. We conclude that cardiac Mst1 activation leads to marked Gal-3 upregulation and transcriptome disturbances in the heart. Gal-3 deficiency attenuated cardiac remodeling and fibrotic signaling.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We found in a transgenic mouse dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) model a pronounced upregulation of galectin-3 in cardiomyocytes. Galectin-3 gene deletion reduced cardiac fibrosis and fibrotic gene profiles and ameliorated cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. These benefits of galectin-3 deletion were in contrast to the lack of effect of treatment with the galectin-3 inhibitor modified citrus pectin. Our study suggests that suppression of galectin-3 mRNA expression could be used to treat DCM with high cardiac galectin-3 content.
Global polysome analysis of normal and injured podocytes
Authors: Okabe Masahiro , Motojima Masaru , Miyazaki Yoichi , Pastan Ira , Yokoo Takashi , Matsusaka Taiji
Published: October 2018

Podocyte injury is a key event for progressive renal failure. We have previously established a mouse model of inducible podocyte injury (NEP25) that progressively develops glomerulosclerosis after immunotoxin injection. We performed polysome analysis of intact and injured podocytes utilizing the NEP25 and RiboTag transgenic mice, in which a hemagglutinin tag is attached to ribosomal protein L22 selectively in podocytes. Podocyte-specific polysomes were successfully obtained by immunoprecipitation with an antihemagglutinin antibody from glomerular homogenate and analyzed using a microarray. Compared with glomerular cells, 353 genes were highly expressed and enriched in podocytes; these included important podocyte genes and also heretofore uncharacterized genes, such as Dach1 and Foxd2. Podocyte injury by immunotoxin induced many genes to be upregulated, including inflammation-related genes despite no infiltration of inflammatory cells in the glomeruli. MafF and Egr-1, which structurally have the potential to antagonize MafB and WT1, respectively, were rapidly and markedly increased in injured podocytes before MafB and WT1 were decreased. We demonstrated that Maff and Egr1 knockdown increased the MafB targets Nphs2 and Ptpro and the WT1 targets Ptpro, Nxph3, and Sulf1, respectively. This indicates that upregulated MafF and Egr-1 may promote deterioration of podocytes by antagonizing MafB and WT1. Our systematic microarray study of the heretofore undescribed behavior of podocyte genes may open new insights into the understanding of podocyte pathophysiology.
Cardiac Disorders and Pathophysiology of Sarcomeric Proteins
Authors: van der Velden Jolanda , Stienen Ger J. M.
Published: October 2018

The sarcomeric proteins represent the structural building blocks of heart muscle, which are essential for contraction and relaxation. During recent years, it has become evident that posttranslational modifications of sarcomeric proteins, in particular phosphorylation, tune cardiac pump function at rest and during exercise. This delicate, orchestrated interaction is also influenced by mutations, predominantly in sarcomeric proteins, which cause hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy. In this review, we follow a bottom-up approach starting from a description of the basic components of cardiac muscle at the molecular level up to the various forms of cardiac disorders at the organ level. An overview is given of sarcomere changes in acquired and inherited forms of cardiac disease and the underlying disease mechanisms with particular reference to human tissue. A distinction will be made between the primary defect and maladaptive/adaptive secondary changes. Techniques used to unravel functional consequences of disease-induced protein changes are described, and an overview of current and future treatments targeted at sarcomeric proteins is given. The current evidence presented suggests that sarcomeres not only form the basis of cardiac muscle function but also represent a therapeutic target to combat cardiac disease.
Osseous Metaplasia of the Cervix: A Rare Transformation Can Mimic a Tumor—Literature Review
Authors: Alsaqobi Ameerah , Al-Brahim Nabeel
Published: October 2018

Background. The transformation of nonosseous soft tissue into bone is known as osseous metaplasia (OM). This condition most commonly affects the musculoskeletal and central nervous systems and it is a well-known phenomenon in different soft tissue organs. Rarely, OM can affect the uterus, which can extend into the cervix. OM affecting the cervix alone is a more rare condition that has multiple different clinical presentations. The presentation can be similar to that of a tumor in extremely rare cases. Case Summary. A 23-year-old nulligravida was complaining of irregular vaginal bleeding for one-month duration. Speculum examination revealed a foul-smelling bloody purulent discharge, tender cervix, and a brownish growth located at the posterior cervical lip. A punch biopsy of the growth was performed. Histological examination of the tissue revealed multiple bone fragments with necrosis and an inflammatory exudate. Because of the unusual findings, a repeat biopsy was performed. The biopsy yielded the same findings, which confirmed the diagnosis of osseous metaplasia of the cervix. Conclusion. Although osseous metaplasia is a known phenomenon in different soft tissues, it is extremely rare in the uterine cervix and can mimic malignancy. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of it.
Comment on “Storage and Dissipation Limits in Resonant Switched-Capacitor Converters”
Authors: Göknar İzzet Cem
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this note is (i) to point to a reference missing in the paper (Mayo-Maldonado et al., 2018) and (ii) to show that some of its content is covered in a more general setting by the results in that reference (Göknar, 1972).
Composite Lymphoma Comprising Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Nagai Shin , Hiraga Junji , Suzuki Noriyuki , Suzuki Naruko , Takagi Yusuke , Narita Michihiko , Kagami Yoshitoyo
Published: October 2018

We report a rare case of composite lymphoma comprising extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, (ENKL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in a 70-year-old man complaining of fatigue. Computed tomography showed multiple consolidations in both lungs, and ENKL was diagnosed from transbronchial lung biopsy. Positron emission tomography also detected abnormal uptake in the stomach, and DLBCL was diagnosed from subsequent gastroscopy. Two courses of chemotherapy including rituximab achieved reduction in DLBCL, but ENKL proved resistant to this treatment and progressed. Concomitant ENKL and DLBCL have not been previously described among reports of composite lymphomas.
Arterial Stiffness in a Toddler with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Refractory Hypertension
Authors: Stabouli Stella , Vargiami Euthymia , Maliachova Olga , Printza Nikoleta , Dotis John , Kyriazi Maria , Papazoglou Konstantinos O. , Zafeiriou Dimitrios
Published: October 2018

Arterial hypertension is a common finding in patients with neurofibromatosis (NF) type 1. Renovascular hypertension due to renal artery stenosis or midaortic syndrome could be the underlying cause. We report the case of a 4-year-old girl with NF type 1 and midaortic syndrome whose changes in blood pressure and pulse wave velocity suggested the evolution of vasculopathy, diagnosis of renovascular hypertension, and provided insights of response to treatment. Hypertension persisted after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the abdominal aorta, requiring escalation of antihypertensive treatment, while arterial stiffness demonstrated a mild decrease. Regular assessment of blood pressure using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and noninvasive assessment of arterial stiffness may enhance the medical care of patients with NF type 1.