bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro antibiofilm and anti‐adhesion effects of magnesium oxide nanoparticles against antibiotic resistant bacteria
Authors: Hayat Sumreen , Muzammil Saima , Rasool Muhammad Hidayat , Nisar Zonaira , Hussain Syed Zajif , Sabri Anjum Nasim , Jamil Saba
Published: February 2018

The aim of the current investigation was to determine the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of MgO nanoparticles (NPs) against antibiotic‐resistant clinical strains of bacteria. MgO NPs were synthesized by a wet chemical method and further characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray. Antibacterial activity was determined by broth microdilution and agar diffusion methods. The Bradford method was used to assess cellular protein leakage as a result of loss of membrane integrity. Microtiter plate assay following crystal violet staining was employed to determine the effect of MgO NPs on biofilm formation and removal of established biofilms. MIC values ranged between 125 and 500 μg/mL. Moreover, treatment with MgO NPs accelerated rate of membrane disruption, measured as a function of leakage of cellular proteins. Leakage of cellular protein content was greater among gram‐negative bacteria. Cell adherence assay indicated 25.3–49.8% inhibition of bacterial attachment to plastic surfaces. According to a static biofilm method, MgO NPs reduced biofilm formation potential from 31% to 82.9% in a time‐dependent manner. Moreover, NPs also significantly reduced the biomass of 48, 72, 96 and 120 hr old biofilms (P < 0.05). Cytotoxicity experiments using a neutral red assay revealed that MgO NPs are non‐toxic to HeLa cells at concentrations of 15–120 μg/mL. These data provide in vitro scientific evidence that MgO NPs are effective and safe antibiofilm agents that inhibit adhesion, biofilm formation and removal of established biofilms of multidrug‐resistant bacteria.
Negative interest rates in Switzerland: What have we learned?
Authors: Danthine Jean‐Pierre
Published: February 2018

The Swiss National Bank introduced negative interest rates of minus 75 bp in mid‐January 2015. Large exemptions on commercial bank holdings at the Swiss National Bank result in the average rate being significantly less negative than the marginal rate. With this constellation the policy transmission to the real economy is asymmetric. It fully satisfies the needs of a small open economy in search of a negative interest differential, not those of an economy aiming at a “classical” monetary stimulus at the zero bound. While the Swiss design would make it possible to impose rates that are significantly more negative with modest complementary features, the unpopularity of negative rates makes it likely that the ambition to totally free monetary policy of the ZLB will, in the near future, be thwarted by democratic realities.
Technology Licensing in a Network Product Market: Fixed‐Fee versus Royalty Licensing
Authors: Zhang Huaige , Wang Xuejun , Hong Xianpei , Lu Qiang (Steven)
Published: February 2018

This study investigates pricing and technology licensing decisions in a two‐echelon supply chain with one upstream firm that provides a key input to two downstream firms. We assume that one of the downstream firms owns a licensable innovation that exhibits network effects and that the other can either accept the licence from the innovator or develop a substitutable innovation. We analyse the effects of the producer‐innovator's two alternative licensing strategies (i.e. fixed‐fee and royalty licensing) on the members of the supply chain and the supply chain's efficiency. We find that royalty licensing is optimal with low network effects. For high network effects, the innovating firm's optimal licensing strategy depends on the market size and the potential licensee's cost of developing a substitutable innovation. We also find that royalty licensing can achieve better coordination of the supply chain than fixed‐fee licensing.
Assessing the Reliability of Self‐reported Income Information in Informal Small Business Lending through a Bogus Pipeline Experiment
Authors: Römer Ulf , Mußhoff Oliver , Weber Ron , Turvey Calum G.
Published: February 2018

Coping with asymmetric information plays a major role in successful small business lending. Our purpose is to determine if small business applicants report their income information correctly when requesting a loan. We use a randomised controlled trial bogus pipeline experiment, established during a typical cash‐flow analysis of a bank for small businesses in the Philippines. The bogus pipeline approach is commonly applied in social science and aims to increase the rate of truth telling by informing participants that answers will be verified by a lie detector. The experimental data, which include 243 observations of credit clients that are mainly from the agricultural and food value chain, served to identify asymmetric information. Additionally, debtors’ repayment behaviour for approved loans was observed by the bank. Our results indicate that loan applicants of the treatment group report lower incomes, an effect which is most pronounced in lower income quantile. Our analyses also reveal higher loan delinquencies in the control group.
Local House Price Dynamics: New Indices and Stylized Facts
Authors: Bogin Alexander , Doerner William , Larson William
Published: February 2018

We introduce the first publicly available data set of constant‐quality house price indices for counties, ZIP codes and census tracts in the United States, at an annual frequency, over a 40‐year period. Between 1990 and 2015, house price gradients within large cities steepen, documenting a reversal of decades of increasing relative desirability of suburban locations. Real house prices are more likely to be nonstationary near the centers of large cities. Within‐city differences in house price appreciation at the ZIP code level are, on average, about half of between‐city differences, though this ratio varies depending on the time period and city size.
Prospective analysis of the utility of 18‐FDG PET in Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin: A Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group Study, TROG 09:03
Authors: Poulsen Michael , Macfarlane David , Veness Michael , Estall Venessa , Hruby George , Kumar Mahesh , Pullar Andrew , Tripcony Lee , Rischin Danny
Published: February 2018

Introduction

TROG 09.03 prospectively studied the utility of Fluorine‐18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (18‐FDG) PET in the management of Merkel cell carcinoma of skin.

Methods

Following consent and registration, a pre‐treatment FDG‐PET/CT was performed. Sites of avid disease were confirmed by cytology where practicable. Following surgery, patients with AJCCv7 Stages IIA‐IIIB disease were treated with chemo‐radiotherapy and reassessed with a post‐treatment PET.

Results

Fifty‐eight subjects (45 males and 13 females, median age 68 years) were enrolled between 2011 and 2015, 43 patients of whom went on to receive chemo‐radiotherapy. An occult primary was present in 22 (37.9%), T1 in 22 (37.9%) and T2 disease in 14 (24.1%). Nodal disease was present in 69% of cases. Fifty per cent of subjects had gross residual disease at the primary site and/or nodal site at the time of registration. 18‐FDG PET/CT had a sensitivity of 94.74% (95% CI 82–99.3%) and a specificity of 88.24% (95% CI 63.56–98.54). The positive predictive value was 94.74% (83.01–98.51) and the negative predictive value was 88.24% (95% CI 65.81–96.69). The pre‐treatment PET influenced a treatment decision in 27.6% of cases. Upstaging occurred in 15 (25.9%), with no down staging. Other diseases were identified in 4 (6.9%) patients. Univariate analysis failed to demonstrate that pre‐treatment SUV levels or a negative post‐treatment PET had any impact on overall survival. PET staged patients had 89% 3‐year in‐field loco‐regional control and 76% 3‐year overall survival.

Conclusion

Staging 18‐FDG‐PET significantly influenced treatment decisions in approximately one‐third of cases of MCC and should be considered in the routine pre‐treatment work‐up. Post‐treatment PET was not found to be prognostic. Funding through the Medicare Benefits Schedule needs to be considered for high risk MCC.
Videolaryngoscopy vs. Macintosh laryngoscopy for double‐lumen tube intubation in thoracic surgery: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu T. T. , Li L. , Wan L. , Zhang C. H. , Yao W. L.
Published: February 2018

Double‐lumen intubation is more difficult than single‐lumen tracheal intubation. Videolaryngoscopes have many advantages in airway management. However, the advantages of videolaryngoscopy for intubation with a double‐lumen tube remain controversial compared with traditional Macintosh laryngoscopy. In this study, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and the Web of Science for randomised controlled trials comparing videolaryngoscopy with Macintosh laryngoscopy for double‐lumen tube intubation. We found that videolaryngoscopy provided a higher success rate at first attempt for double‐lumen tube intubation, with an odds ratio (95%CI) of 2.77 (1.92–4.00) (12 studies, 1215 patients, moderate‐quality evidence, p < 0.00001), as well as a lower incidence of oral, mucosal or dental injuries during double‐lumen tube intubation, odds ratio (95%CI) 0.36 (0.15–0.85) (11 studies, 1145 patients, low‐quality evidence, p = 0.02), and for postoperative sore throat, odds ratio (95%CI) 0.54 (0.36–0.81) (7 studies, 561 patients, moderate‐quality evidence, p = 0.003), compared with Macintosh laryngoscopy. There were no significant differences in intubation time, with a standardised mean difference (95%CI) of −0.10 (−0.62 to 0.42) (14 studies, 1310 patients, very low‐quality evidence, p = 0.71); and the incidence of postoperative voice change, odds ratio (95%CI) 0.53 (0.21–1.31) (7 studies, 535 patients, low‐quality evidence, p = 0.17). Videolaryngoscopy led to a higher incidence of malpositioned double‐lumen tube, with an odds ratio (95%CI) of 2.23 (1.10–4.52) (six studies, 487 patients, moderate‐quality evidence, p = 0.03).
1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydroisoquinolines as inhibitors of HIV‐1 integrase and human LEDGF/p75 interaction
Authors: George Anu , Gopi Krishna Reddy Alavala , Satyanarayana Gedu , Raghavendra Nidhanapati K
Published: February 2018

Alkaloids are a class of organic compounds with a wide range of biological properties, including anti‐HIV activity. The 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline is a ubiquitous structural motif of many alkaloids. Using a short and an efficient route for synthesis, a series of 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines/isoquinolines was developed. These compounds have been analysed for their ability to inhibit an important interaction between HIV‐1 integrase enzyme (IN) and human LEDGF/p75 protein (p75) which assists in the viral integration into the active genes. A lead compound 6d is found to inhibit the LEDGF/p75‐IN interaction in vitro with an IC50 of ~10 μm. Molecular docking analysis of the isoquinoline 6d reveals its interactions with the LEDGF/p75‐binding residues of IN. Based on an order of addition experiment, the binding of 6d or LEDGF/p75 to IN is shown to be mutually exclusive. Also, the activity of 6d in vitro is found to be unaffected by the presence of a non‐specific DNA. As reported earlier for the inhibitors of LEDGF/p75‐IN interaction, 6d exhibits a potent inhibition of both the early and late stages of HIV‐1 replication. Compound 6d differing from the known inhibitors in the chemical moieties and interactions with CCD could potentially be explored further for developing small molecule inhibitors of LEDGF/p75‐IN interaction having a higher potency.
New Maize Variety Adoption in Mozambique: A Spatial Approach
Authors: Fang Di , Richards Timothy J.
Published: February 2018

Farmers in developing countries can dramatically improve their productivity by adopting new plant varieties. Yet, informational barriers often mean adoption rates remain low. In this study, we focus on how learning from others represents one means of removing informational barriers. We capture the effect of social learning through an explicitly spatial econometric model applied to farm‐level maize adoption rates in Mozambique. We find that social learning is significant and can help explain the apparent clustering of adoption among farmers. Agencies interested in promoting variety adoption, therefore, would be well served to leverage the strength of existing information networks, rather than imposing solutions that work against interfarmer information flow.
Nanos3 of the frog Rana rugosa: Molecular cloning and characterization
Authors: Kodama Maho , Yoshida Madoka , Endo Masami , Kobayashi Tohru , Oike Akira , Yasumasu Shigeki , Nakamura Masahisa
Published: February 2018

Nanos is expressed in the primordial germ cells (PGCs) and also the germ cells of a variety of organisms as diverse as Drosophila, medaka fish, Xenopus and mouse. In Nanos3‐deficient mice, PGCs fail to incorporate into the gonad and the size of the testis and ovary is thereby dramatically reduced. To elucidate the role of Nanos in an amphibian species, we cloned Nanos3 cDNA from the testis of the R. rugosa frog. RT‐PCR analysis showed strong expression of Nanos3 mRNA in the testis of adult R. rugosa frogs, but expression was not sexually dimorphic during gonadal differentiation. In Nanos3‐knockdown tadpoles produced by the CRISPR/Cas9 system, the number of germ cells decreased dramatically in the gonads of both male and female tadpoles before sex determination and thereafter. This was confirmed by three dimensional imaging of wild‐type and Nanos3 knockdown gonads using serial sections immunostained for Vasa, a marker specific to germ cells. Taken together, these results suggest that Nanos3 protein function is conserved between R. rugosa and mouse.
The interactive effects of dolomite application and straw incorporation on soil N2O emissions
Authors: Shaaban M. , Wu Y. , Peng Q. , Wu L. , Van Zwieten L. , Khalid M. S. , Younas A. , Lin S. , Zhao J. , Bashir S. , Zafar‐ul‐hye M. , Abid M. , Hu R.
Published: February 2018

Soil N2O emissions are generally larger from soil with straw incorporated, and adjusting soil pH can substantially affect the mineralization of incorporated straw. However, the interactive effects of straw return and adjustment of soil pH on N2O emissions have not been well studied. Therefore, we investigated the role of adjusting soil pH using dolomite with incorporated crop straw in changing soil properties and N2O emissions. We performed a 105‐day incubation study in which dolomite was added to a rice (Oryza sativa L.) (C/N: 36) and green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) straw (C/N: 17) amended acidic soil (Ultisol). The pH of the original soil (4.92) steadily increased to 5.35 and 5.45 at day 105 in rice and green bean straw treatments, respectively. Application of dolomite increased pH to a maximum value of 6.35 in the rice straw + dolomite and 6.55 in the green bean straw + dolomite amended soil at day 105 following establishment of the trial. Application of dolomite and the crop straws significantly increased soil microbial biomass C (MBC), dissolved organic C (DOC) and nitrate (NO3−), whereas it had a short‐term effect on exchangeable ammonium (NH4+). The Ultisol amended with green bean straw emitted larger cumulative N2O emissions (7.25 mg N2O‐N kg−1) during the 105‐day study than soil amended with rice straw (4.23 mg N2O‐N kg−1) and the control soil (1.42 mg N2O‐N kg−1). Dolomite application significantly (P ≤ 0.001) decreased N2O emissions from both rice and green bean straw treatments by increasing soil pH. The results of the current study can help to mitigate N2O emissions and so improve field management.

Highlights

We investigated the effects of dolomite on N2O emissions in acidic soil following incorporation of crop residues.

Application of dolomite triggered chemical and biochemical soil processes.

Dolomite significantly decreased N2O emissions from both rice and green bean straw treatments.

Dolomite decreased net N2O emissions by increasing soil pH.
Sexual Distress and Marital Quality of Newlyweds: An Investigation of Sociodemographic Moderators
Authors: Blumenstock Shari M. , Papp Lauren M.
Published: February 2018

Objective

Drawing from the vulnerability–stress–adaptation model, we explored sexual distress as a lack of adaptive processes within marriage by assessing whether sociodemographic variables associated with stress moderated the association between sexual distress and marital quality.

Background

Sexual intimacy and marital quality are strongly linked, but it remains unclear what role sexual distress (distinct from low sexual satisfaction) plays in marital quality and whether this role differs across sociodemographic characteristics (race, socioeconomic status, premarital childbearing).

Method

Data are from in‐person and telephone interviews of 199 African American and 174 European American couples across their first 4 years of marriage. Dyadic multilevel modeling was used to analyze longitudinal associations between sexual distress and marital quality and to test whether these associations were moderated by race, socioeconomic status, and premarital childbearing, while controlling for joyful sex and pregnancy.

Results

Sexual distress and marital quality were bidirectionally linked. Sexual distress was a stronger predictor of marital quality for African American husbands compared with European American husbands. Socioeconomic status and premarital childbearing were not statistically significant moderators.

Conclusion

High sexual distress is distinct from low sexual satisfaction and may indicate insufficient adaptive processes for partners experiencing chronic stress. Social context and factors beyond marital processes may influence the role sexual intimacy plays in marital quality.

Implications

Findings contribute to practitioners' understanding of how sexual distress relates to marital quality in diverse newlywed couples.
Experimental characterisation of a CuAg alloy for thermo‐mechanical applications. Part 1: Identifying parameters of non‐linear plasticity models
Authors: Benasciutti D. , Srnec Novak J. , Moro L. , De Bona F. , Stanojević A.
Published: February 2018

Despite the wide use of copper alloys in thermo‐mechanical applications, there is little data on their cyclic plasticity behaviour, particularly for CuAg alloys. This prevents the behaviour of the materials from being correctly described in numerical simulations for design purposes. In this work CuAg0.1 alloy used for thermo‐mechanical applications was tested by strain‐controlled cyclic loading at 3 different temperatures (room temperature, 250°C, 300°C). In each test, stress‐strain cycles were recorded until the alloy had completely stabilised. These cycles were then used to identify material parameters of non‐linear kinematic and isotropic models. The focus was on plasticity models (Armstrong‐Frederick, Chaboche, Voce) that are usually implemented in commercial finite element codes. Simulated cyclic responses with the identified material models were compared with experiments and showed a good agreement. The identified material parameters for the CuAg alloy under investigation can be used directly in finite element models for cyclic plasticity simulations, thus enabling a durability analysis of components under thermo‐mechanical loads to be performed, particularly in the field of steel‐making plants.
Hydrocarbon‐Rich Groundwater above Shale‐Gas Formations: A Karoo Basin Case Study
Authors: Eymold William K. , Swana Kelley , Moore Myles T. , Whyte Colin J. , Harkness Jennifer S. , Talma Siep , Murray Ricky , Moortgat Joachim B. , Miller Jodie , Vengosh Avner , Darrah Thomas H.
Published: February 2018

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have enhanced unconventional hydrocarbon recovery but raised environmental concerns related to water quality. Because most basins targeted for shale‐gas development in the USA have histories of both active and legacy petroleum extraction, confusion about the hydrogeological context of naturally occurring methane in shallow aquifers overlying shales remains. The Karoo Basin, located in South Africa, provides a near‐pristine setting to evaluate these processes, without a history of conventional or unconventional energy extraction. We conducted a comprehensive pre‐industrial evaluation of water quality and gas geochemistry in 22 groundwater samples across the Karoo Basin, including dissolved ions, water isotopes, hydrocarbon molecular and isotopic composition, and noble gases. Methane‐rich samples were associated with high‐salinity, NaCl‐type groundwater and elevated levels of ethane, 4He, and other noble gases produced by radioactive decay. This endmember displayed less negative δ13C‐CH4 and evidence of mixing between thermogenic natural gases and hydrogenotrophic methane. Atmospheric noble gases in the methane‐rich samples record a history of fractionation during gas‐phase migration from source rocks to shallow aquifers. Conversely, methane‐poor samples have a paucity of ethane and 4He, near saturation levels of atmospheric noble gases, and more negative δ13C‐CH4; methane in these samples is biogenic and produced by a mixture of hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic sources. These geochemical observations are consistent with other basins targeted for unconventional energy extraction in the USA and contribute to a growing data base of naturally occurring methane in shallow aquifers globally, which provide a framework for evaluating environmental concerns related to unconventional energy development (e.g., stray gas).
Effect of deferred or no treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with early primary biliary cholangitis
Authors: Tanaka Atsushi , Hirohara Junko , Nakano Toshiaki , Yagi Minami , Namisaki Tadashi , Yoshiji Hitoshi , Nakanuma Yasuni , Takikawa Hajime ,   Japan PBC Study Group (JPBCSG)
Published: February 2018

Aim

As primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a heterogeneous disease, we hypothesized that there is a population of patients with early PBC who do not require prompt treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). In this study, we analyzed data from a large‐scale PBC cohort in Japan, and retrospectively investigated whether outcomes of early PBC patients were affected with prompt or deferred/no UDCA treatment.

Methods

We defined early PBC as asymptomatic, serum alkaline phosphatase <1.67‐fold the upper limit of normal, normal bilirubin, and histological stages I–II at presentation. We compared the outcomes of early PBC patients between the treatment regimens; prompt treatment group (UDCA was initiated within 1 year after diagnosis) and deferred/no treatment group (UDCA initiated >1 year after diagnosis or never initiated). Furthermore, we examined the outcomes of early PBC patients alternatively defined only with symptomatology and biochemistry.

Results

We identified 562 early PBC patients (prompt: n = 509; deferred/no treatment: n = 53). Incidence rates (per 1000 patient‐years) for liver‐related mortality or liver transplantation and decompensating events were 0.5 and 5.4, respectively, in the prompt treatment group, and 0 and 8.7, respectively, in the deferred/no treatment group. Multivariate analyses showed that age and bilirubin were significantly associated with developing decompensating events, whereas the prompt and deferred/no treatments were not. We obtained similar results in early PBC patients defined without histological examination.

Conclusions

We showed that deferred/no treatment for early PBC patients did not affect the outcomes. This study provides a rationale for a future prospective, randomized study.
In vitro antioxidant and in vivo xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of Pandanus amaryllifolius in potassium oxonate‐induced hyperuricemic rats
Authors: Shukor Nur Afira Ahmad , Ablat Abdulwali , Muhamad Nur Airina , Mohamad Jamaludin
Published: February 2018

Xanthine oxidase (XO) plays an important role in the regulation of uric acid and prevents it from being overproduced as in hyperuricemia disease. The combined effects of antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitor would become a promising approach for hyperuricemia treatment. In this research, the antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of Pandanus amaryllifolius leaf were evaluated. The leaf water extract (PA‐W) showed highest total phenols, and petroleum ether extract (PA‐PE) showed highest total flavonoids contents. The antioxidant activity of DPPH, metal chelating and hydrogen peroxide was highest in PA‐W extract. The treatment of PA‐W extract at 1000 mg kg−1 body weight in potassium oxonate‐induced hyperuricemic rats showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease in serum uric acid level by 85% and XO activity by 64%, respectively, as compared to the hyperuricemic rats. In conclusion, the P. amaryllifolius possess the dual effect of antioxidant and XO inhibition as potential therapeutic agents in the hyperuricemia treatment.
Why OUTLIERS are Good for Science
Authors: Bailey David
Published: February 2018

Scientific measurements are never perfect, but different teams studying the same phenomena can often produce widely different results. These “outlier” values are the cause of much consternation – but they may also be a sign of healthy scientific progress, says David Bailey
We are not Alone! (At least, Most of us aren't)
Authors: Charpentier Arthur , Coulmont Baptiste
Published: February 2018

Your name may feel unique to you – but chances are that someone, somewhere is called the same thing. Arthur Charpentier and Baptiste Coulmont estimate the proportion of shared identities in large social groups
Pre‐close technique of percutaneous closure for delayed hemostasis of large‐bore femoral sheaths
Authors: Lata Kusum , Kaki Amir , Grines Cindy , Blank Nimrod , Elder Mahir , Schreiber Theodore
Published: February 2018

Advancement of coronary interventions and portable hemodynamic device requires placement of large bore sheaths. Access for large caliber sheaths, its placement, maintenance, and hemostasis is very challenging and one of the key ailments for successful procedures. Traditional hemostasis method is manual compression, which is unattractive due to its own limitations and subsequent complications. Single closure device for sheath size larger than 8 French (Fr) is not available. We performed retrospective analysis of large cohort of patients with 13, 14 Fr sheaths (Impella device [ABIOMED]) percutaneous closure with the use of two Perclose devices. Two perclose devices were placed in a “Preclose” fashion and hemostasis was obtained few days later once hemodynamic support was weaned off by deployment of perclose sutures.
A comparison of contact force and remote magnetic navigation on lesion formation for the ablation of atrial fibrillation
Authors: Grossi Stefano , Grassi Francesco , Galleani Lorenzo , Bianchi Francesca , Conte Maria Rosa
Published: February 2018

Rationale

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the method of choice for the treatment of drug‐resistant atrial fibrillation (AF). However, arrhythmia recurrences are frequent due to suboptimal lesions formation and pulmonary vein reconnection. Contact force (CF)‐ and remote magnetic navigation (RMN)‐guided catheters are both capable of improving contact and energy transfer to the tissue, possibly improving PVI outcome.

Objective

The objective of our study was to compare CF‐ and RMN‐guided PVI in patients with paroxysmal AF in terms of surrogate parameters of the dimension and quality of the lesions.

Methods and results

Between March 2014 and March 2016, 44 patients affected by paroxysmal AF underwent a circumferential PVI procedure, 22 with a CF catheter and 22 with a RMN catheter. Signals were recorded before and after 30 seconds of radiofrequency point‐by‐point delivery. For each location, signal energy attenuation and impedance drop were evaluated as lesion dimension surrogates and signal fragmentation and shrinkage were estimated as lesion quality surrogates. Statistical analysis shows that CF catheter achieves higher attenuation and impedance drop than RMN‐guided catheter, which instead performs better in terms of shrinkage and fragmentation. There were no differences in terms of PVI rate and sinus rhythm maintenance 1 year after the procedure (77.2% in both groups).

Conclusions

CF‐guided catheters produce lesions that are larger but less homogeneous than those produced by RMN‐guided catheters in terms of surrogate parameters. These two features could possibly offset each other, resulting in identical acute and long‐term outcomes.
PeCHYR1, a ubiquitin E3 ligase from Populus euphratica, enhances drought tolerance via ABA‐induced stomatal closure by ROS production in Populus
Authors: He Fang , Wang Hou‐Ling , Li Hui‐Guang , Su Yanyan , Li Shuang , Yang Yanli , Feng Cong‐Hua , Yin Weilun , Xia Xinli
Published: February 2018

Drought, a primary abiotic stress, seriously affects plant growth and productivity. Stomata play a vital role in regulating gas exchange and drought adaptation. However, limited knowledge exists of the molecular mechanisms underlying stomatal movement in trees. Here, PeCHYR1, a ubiquitin E3 ligase, was isolated from Populus euphratica, a model of stress adaptation in forest trees. PeCHYR1 was preferentially expressed in young leaves and was significantly induced by ABA (abscisic acid) and dehydration treatments. To study the potential biological functions of PeCHYR1, transgenic poplar 84K (Populus alba × Populus glandulosa) plants overexpressing PeCHYR1 were generated. PeCHYR1 overexpression significantly enhanced H2O2 production and reduced stomatal aperture. Transgenic lines exhibited increased sensitivity to exogenous ABA and greater drought tolerance than that of WT (wild‐type) controls. Moreover, up‐regulation of PeCHYR1 promoted stomatal closure and decreased transpiration, resulting in strongly elevated WUE (water use efficiency). When exposed to drought stress, transgenic poplar maintained higher photosynthetic activity and biomass accumulation. Taken together, these results suggest that PeCHYR1 plays a crucial role in enhancing drought tolerance via ABA‐induced stomatal closure caused by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production in transgenic poplar plants.
Allelic variation for broad‐spectrum resistance and susceptibility to bacterial pathogens identified in a rice MAGIC population
Authors: Bossa‐Castro Ana M. , Tekete Cheick , Raghavan Chitra , Delorean Emily E. , Dereeper Alexis , Dagno Karim , Koita Ousmane , Mosquera Gloria , Leung Hei , Verdier Valérie , Leach Jan E.
Published: February 2018

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) that confer broad‐spectrum resistance (BSR), or resistance that is effective against multiple and diverse plant pathogens, have been elusive targets of crop breeding programmes. Multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) populations, with their diverse genetic composition and high levels of recombination, are potential resources for the identification of QTL for BSR. In this study, a rice MAGIC population was used to map QTL conferring BSR to two major rice diseases, bacterial leaf streak (BLS) and bacterial blight (BB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pathovars (pv.) oryzicola (Xoc) and oryzae (Xoo), respectively. Controlling these diseases is particularly important in sub‐Saharan Africa, where no sources of BSR are currently available in deployed varieties. The MAGIC founders and lines were genotyped by sequencing and phenotyped in the greenhouse and field by inoculation with multiple strains of Xoc and Xoo. A combination of genomewide association studies (GWAS) and interval mapping analyses revealed 11 BSR QTL, effective against both diseases, and three pathovar‐specific QTL. The most promising BSR QTL (qXO‐2‐1, qXO‐4‐1 and qXO‐11‐2) conferred resistance to more than nine Xoc and Xoo strains. GWAS detected 369 significant SNP markers with distinguishable phenotypic effects, allowing the identification of alleles conferring disease resistance and susceptibility. The BSR and susceptibility QTL will improve our understanding of the mechanisms of both resistance and susceptibility in the long term and will be immediately useful resources for rice breeding programmes.
Why No Porphyry Copper Deposits in Japan and South Korea?
Authors: Sillitoe Richard H.
Published: February 2018

This analysis concludes that there is little realistic likelihood of discovering large, high‐grade porphyry Cu deposits in Japan and South Korea because of an unusual combination of geological factors. First, weak inter‐plate coupling, trench retreat, and extension – a tectonic regime unfavorable for porphyry Cu formation – appears to have characterized the convergent margin during much of Cretaceous through Neogene time. Second, Cretaceous through Quaternary magmatism involved widespread ash‐flow caldera development, a volcanic style that suppresses porphyry Cu formation because the all‐important Cu‐bearing magmatic fluids – if present – would be explosively discharged during silicic ignimbrite eruption and lost to the atmosphere. Third, due to the trench retreat, crustal profiles beneath Japan are dominated by accretionary complexes containing chemically reduced lithologies, which decrease the redox state of subduction‐related magmas during their ascent. The most reduced intrusions belong to the ilmenite‐series, which may lock up chalcophile elements at depth and produce magmatic fluids that are incapable of transporting the Cu required for significant porphyry deposit formation. Fourth, many of the caldera‐related magmatic rocks, including the principal intrusions, are not only derived by partial melting of reduced crust but are commonly also highly fractionated; hence, any associated mineralization tends to be Mo ± W‐rich rather than Cu dominated. Fifth, intrusive rocks with high Sr/Y, typical of hydrous magmas responsible for porphyry Cu belts worldwide, appear to be present only locally. Sixth, two important magmatic and metallogenic tracts in Japan, the Kuroko‐bearing Green Tuff belt and Kitami low‐sulfidation epithermal Au region, are characterized by bimodal magmatism, which worldwide is compositionally unsuited to porphyry Cu generation. Seventh, the Pliocene‐Quaternary andesitic–dacitic volcanoes that could be the surface expressions of porphyry Cu systems are mostly too shallowly eroded to reveal underlying deposits should they exist. Consequently, few magmatic suites in Japan and South Korea provide propitious environments for porphyry Cu exploration, with the last hope believed to lie at depth below late Miocene–Pliocene advanced argillic lithocaps, several of which contain relatively minor high‐sulfidation epithermal Au mineralization. However, even there, the reduced crust may have militated against effective Cu transport into the porphyry environment. The magmatic and metallogenic factors that downgrade the porphyry Cu potential of Japan and South Korea are believed to be equally applicable to other subduction‐related magmatic arc segments worldwide.
Towards a comprehensive explanation of the development of occupational pension. The interplay between welfare state legacies, industrial relations, and housing regimes in Belgium and the Netherlands
Authors: De Deken Johan
Published: February 2018

This article investigates the interplay between social policies, industrial relations, and housing regimes in order to explain the development of occupational pensions. The structure of statutory provisions and industrial relations of the Bismarckian “latecomer” Belgium make it appear a “most likely case” for a successful transition into “mature” multi‐pillarism. The continued importance of outright homeownership in the retirement package turns out to be a key in explaining that such a transition largely failed in Belgium. In the Netherlands, on the other hand, two financial crises have eroded the apparent advantages of securing the second‐tier function of retirement provisions by relying on prefunded occupational plans and a financialized housing regime. The crises provoked a drift away from the “high road” of second‐pillar pensions, and initiated a process that increases the importance of outright homeownership in the retirement package at the expense of generously funded occupational plans.
When finance captures labor's capital: Dominant personal pensions, resurgent occupational provision in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Naczyk Marek
Published: February 2018

While in Western Europe occupational plans dominate private pension provision, coverage of such plans is marginal in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Previous literature has shown the World Bank's instrumental role in persuading CEE countries to divert part of their social security contributions towards mandatory personal pensions. The dominance of the Bank's model of pension privatization from the mid‐1990s largely explains the marginalization of occupational plans. However, as this model has been challenged since the late 2000s, occupational pensions (OPs) have re‐appeared on the agenda. To shed light on the changing politics of OPs, this article focuses on the role of organized interests—namely employers' associations, trade unions, and financial groups—that are key players in Western Europe, but whose role has been understudied in CEE. The article follows these actors' activities in the last three decades of pension politics in Poland, i.e., one of the few CEE countries to have promoted occupational provision. It shows that, although organized interests had limited policy expertise and mainly mobilized social consent for—or opposition to—reform in the early phases of post‐communist pension reform, the growing organizational resources of business groups—in contrast with unions—make them increasingly influential actors in reshaping the contours of CEE private pension provision.
Manufacturing servitisation and duration of exports in China
Authors: Cui Yaqiong , Liu Bin
Published: February 2018

In recent years, manufacturing servitisation has become a growing characteristic of global firms. Firms develop their service factors, to realise more values and increase their international competitiveness. China, as an important manufacturing centre of the world, has abundant manufacturers seeking for getting more involved in the international market. This paper makes use of detailed customs data and firm‐level data from China, to find how the servitisation in China affects the export durations of Chinese manufacturers. The results demonstrate that manufacturing servitisation input in China contributes to export performance. The service factors have become the important production factors in Chinese manufacturing enterprises. However, China is still at the primary stage of manufacturing servitisation, and Chinese manufacturing enterprises should pay more attention to the whole value chain and seek the transformation from a pure manufacturing enterprise to a service manufacturing enterprise.
Leverage and currency mismatches: Non‐financial companies in the emerging markets
Authors: Chui Michael , Kuruc Emese , Turner Philip
Published: February 2018

Growing currency mismatches in the emerging market economies (EMEs) since 2010 have been driven by non‐financial companies. Their financing conditions were greatly eased by lower policy rates and a huge expansion in central bank balance sheets in major advanced economies. This has allowed these companies to increase their gearing, notably by greater foreign currency borrowing, thereby greatly increased the risk of currency mismatches. Microeconomic data show that it was not only companies providing tradable goods and services but also those producing non‐tradable goods which have increased their foreign currency borrowing. The across‐the‐board decline in EME companies’ profitability from mid‐2010 to mid‐2015 brought to light significant vulnerabilities and appeared to have constrained business fixed investment, and therefore growth, in the near term. But the strong external asset positions of the official sector in most EMEs will help the authorities cope with these challenges.
Tritrichomonas foetus and Mycoplasma felis coinfection in the upper respiratory tract of a cat with chronic purulent nasal discharge
Authors: Pazzini Luca , Mugnaini Linda , Mancianti Francesca , Ressel Lorenzo
Published: February 2018

A 5‐year‐old indoor male neutered Siamese cat was presented with clinical signs of sneezing and chronic bilateral purulent nasal discharge. Multiple nasal cavity swabs were submitted for bacterial cultures, Mycoplasma felis‐DNA qPCR, and cytology. M felisqPCR was positive and cytomorphologic diagnosis was severe, acute, purulent, rhinitis with intralesional protozoal microorganisms consistent with a Trichomonas spp. Nested PCR (nPCR) confirmed the diagnosis of Tritrichomonas foetus. Systemic therapy with doxycycline for M felis and metronidazole for T foetus was started with remission of clinical signs within 2 weeks; however, symptoms relapsed shortly after therapy was discontinued. This study represents the first documented case of T foetus associated with chronic nasal discharge in a cat, which supports the hypothesis that T foetus can live in the nasal cavity. It is also the first reported case of M felis and T foetus coinfection, which indicates that with mycoplasmal feline upper respiratory tract infections, T foetus should be considered as a coinfecting agent.
Reflecting on the Development of a Conceptual Framework for Sport Coaching
Authors: Lyle John
Published: February 2018

This is a retrospective account of the development of a conceptual framework for sport coaching. The framework comprises an extensive and comprehensive set of constructs and relationships that form a basis for discourse and the conduct of research, education and development. The origins of the framework are identified, within an academic field of study that was under-theorised, under-resourced and displayed ill-defined concepts. The incremental development of the framework is situated within the understanding of coaching concepts at that time. Key features of this conceptual framework are described in detail and their insinuation into the literature illustrated. An analysis of later publications demonstrates how these concepts have been further elaborated in response to a maturing field of study. Attention is drawn to the sport coaching construct as a family of roles, identification of core functions, and the contextual particularity of coaching practice and expertise. The account concludes that key concepts have impacted policy documentation and the academic debate, and the framework has acted as a reference point for academic writing and research, although more needs to be done to emphasise the importance of conceptual clarity, especially in research design and dissemination.
Functional Performance Measures Used for Return-to-Sport Criteria in Youth Following Lower-Extremity Injury
Authors: Powell Christie , Jensen Jody , Johnson Samantha
Published: February 2018

Context:As sport participation increases globally, so will injury-related risks. The process used to determine return-to-sport following injury is vital to future sport participation and injury prevention. Early specialization along with poor management of sport participation causes an increase in injury risk and potential long-term health consequences for youth athletes.Objectives:Previous injury is a common intrinsic risk factor for new injuries. Identifying functional performance deficits, defined by return-to-sport criteria, minimizes these risk factors and provides athletes with guidelines to return safely to sport. The purposes of this clinical commentary and literature review are to provide a summary of current concepts and clinical practices and to identify functional performance measures as clinical assessment tools for return-to-play criteria in the youth population.Evidence:A literature review was completed using numerous databases, where 154 relevant articles were reviewed and 22 articles were included in this commentary. Of the 22 articles using functional performance measures for return-to-sport criteria, 6 were specific to youth, 12 had mixed populations of adults and youth, and 4 were normative samples for specific youth populations.Acquisition:The gaps in the literature pertaining to functional performance measures in the youth population are addressed, and future research needs for return-to-sport criteria are identified.Evidence Synthesis:This descriptive literature review identifies 22 articles that meet the search criteria for the youth population discussing the use of clinical functional performance measures in order to identify return-to-sport criteria for lower-extremity injuries.Conclusions:Due to the inconsistencies in terminology, definitions, and standardization of clinical assessment tools, it seems necessary to create a comprehensive functional performance test battery for the lower extremity that can be used as return-to-sport criteria.
Exploring “Sledging” and Interpersonal Emotion-Regulation Strategies in Professional Cricket
Authors: Davis Paul A. , Davis Louise , Wills Samuel , Appleby Ralph , Nieuwenhuys Arne
Published: February 2018

The present study examines cricketers’ perceptions of emotional interactions between competitors. Semistructured interviews with 12 male professional cricketers explored experiences (i.e., emotions, cognitions, behaviors) relating to incidents during competition where they or an opponent attempted to evoke an emotional reaction (e.g., sledging). Cricketers described their use of sledging as aggressive actions and verbal interactions with the aim of disrupting concentration and altering the emotional states of opponents. They described experiencing a variety of emotions (e.g., anxiety, anger) in response to opponents’ attempts at interpersonal emotion regulation; linguistic analyses indicated that both positive than negative emotions were experienced. A range of strategies in response to competitors’ deliberate attempts at interpersonal emotion regulation were outlined. The present study extends previous research investigating interpersonal emotion regulation within teams by indicating that professional cricketers are aware of the impact of cognitions and emotions on performance and attempt to negatively influence these factors in competitors.
Prophylactic Antiheparanase Activity by PG545 Is Antiviral
In Vitro
and Protects against Ross River Virus Disease in Mice
Authors: Supramaniam Aroon , Liu Xiang , Ferro Vito , Herrero Lara J.
Published: February 2018

Recently we reported on the efficacy of pentosan polysulfate (PPS), a heparan sulfate mimetic, to reduce the recruitment of inflammatory infiltrates and protect the cartilage matrix from degradation in Ross River virus (RRV)-infected PPS-treated mice. Here, we describe both prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with PG545, a low-molecular-weight heparan sulfate mimetic, for arthritogenic alphaviral infection. We first assessed antiviral activity
in vitro
through a 50% plaque reduction assay. Increasing concentrations of PG545 inhibited plaque formation prior to viral adsorption in viral strains RRV T48, Barmah Forest virus 2193, East/Central/South African chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Asian CHIKV, suggesting a strong antiviral mode of action. The viral particle-compound dissociation constant was then evaluated through isothermal titration calorimetry. Furthermore, prophylactic RRV-infected PG545-treated mice had reduced viral titers in target organs corresponding to lower clinical scores of limb weakness and immune infiltrate recruitment. At peak disease, PG545-treated RRV-infected mice had lower concentrations of the matrix-degrading enzyme heparanase in conjunction with a protective effect on tissue morphology, as seen in the histopathology of skeletal muscle. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay quantification of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and cross-linked C-telopeptides of type II collagen as well as knee histopathology showed increased matrix protein degradation and cartilage erosion in RRV-infected phosphate-buffered saline-treated mice compared to their PG545-treated RRV-infected counterparts. Taken together, these findings suggest that PG545 has a direct antiviral effect on arthritogenic alphaviral infection and curtails RRV-induced inflammatory disease when administered as a prophylaxis.