bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural representation of composite data with replicated autoencoders
Authors: Negri Matteo , Bergamini Davide , Baldassi Carlo , Zecchina Riccardo , Feinauer Christoph
Published: September 2019

Generative processes in biology and other fields often produce data that can be regarded as resulting from a composition of basic features. Here we present an unsupervised method based on autoencoders for inferring these basic features of data. The main novelty in our approach is that the training is based on the optimization of the ‘local entropy’ rather than the standard loss, resulting in a more robust inference, and enhancing the performance on this type of data considerably. Algorithmically, this is realized by training an interacting system of replicated autoencoders. We apply this method to synthetic and protein sequence data, and show that it is able to infer a hidden representation that correlates well with the underlying generative process, without requiring any prior knowledge.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

Extracting compositional features from noisy data and identifying the corresponding generative models is a fundamental challenge across sciences. The composition of elementary features can have highly non-linear effects which makes them very hard to identify from experimental data.

In biology, for instance, one challenge is to identify the key steps or components of molecular and cellular processes. Representative examples are the modeling of protein sequences as the composition of patterns influenced by phylogeny or the identification of gene clusters in which the presence of specific genes depends on the evolutionary history of the cell.

Here we present an unsupervised machine learning technique for the analysis of compositional data which is based on entropic neural autoencoders. Our approach aims at finding deep autoencoders that are highly invariant with respect to perturbations in the inputs and in the parameters. The procedure is efficient to implement and we have validated it both on synthetic and protein sequence data, where it can be shown that the latent variables of the autoencoders are non trivially correlated with the true underlying generative processes. Our results suggests that the local entropy approach represents a general valuable tool for the extraction of compositional features in hard unsupervised learning problems.
PulseDIA: in-depth data independent acquisition mass spectrometry using enhanced gas phase fractionation
Authors: Cai Xue , Ge Weigang , Yi Xiao , Sun Rui , Zhu Jiang , Lu Cong , Sun Ping , Zhu Tiansheng , Ruan Guan , Yuan Chunhui , Liang Shuang , Lyv Mengge , Huang Shiang , Zhu Yi , Guo Tiannan
Published: September 2019

An inherent bottleneck of data independent acquisition (DIA) analysis by Orbitrap-based mass spectrometers is the relatively large window width due to the relatively slow scanning rate compared to TOF. Here we present a novel gas phase separation and MS acquisition method called PulseDIA-MS, which improves the specificity and sensitivity of Orbitrap-based DIA analysis. This is achieved by dividing the ordinary DIA-MS analysis covering the entire mass range into multiple injections for DIA-MS analyses with complementary windows. Using standard HeLa digests, the PulseDIA method identified 69,530 peptide precursors from 9,337 protein groups with ten MS injections of 30 min LC gradient. The PulseDIA scheme containing two complementary windows led to the highest gain of peptide and protein identifications per time unit compared to the conventional 30 min DIA method. We further applied the method to profile the proteome of 18 cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) tissue samples (benign and malignant) from nine patients. PulseDIA identified 7,796 protein groups in these CCA samples, with 14% increase of protein identifications, compared to the conventional DIA method. The missing value for protein matrix dropped by 7% with PulseDIA acquisition. 681 proteins were significantly dysregulated in tumorous CCA samples. Together, we presented and benchmarked an alternative DIA method with higher sensitivity and lower missing rate.
Perception towards quality and effectiveness of social work education through open and distance learning
Authors: Dash Bishnu Mohan
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the perception of the students towards the quality and effectiveness of social work education offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) through open and distance learning (ODL).

Design/methodology/approach

The sample size consisted of 150 students, 15 academic counsellors engaged in either teaching or development sectors, or faculty members of School of Social Work of IGNOU. The methods of data collection included interviews and content analysis. Interview schedule for students, interview guide for academic counsellors and interview guide for faculty members were used.

Findings

The study centres were allotted as per student’s choice. Students were satisfied with the counsellors because of their support, availability, contact, accessibility and assisting the students to clearing their doubts. The study found that the student’s attendance in counselling sessions was found to be negligible, even a large number of respondents were not aware of the ODL system. The study also shows that students face lots of problem with regard to their field work supervision and other components of field work as were also neglected.

Practical implications

The findings of the study are extremely relevant for formulating necessary guidelines for improving the social work education through ODL mode. The study recommends revision of course materials translated in Hindi language, holding of individual and group conferences regularly as well as proper evaluation of field work reports.

Originality/value

This is first such study conducted in India to examine the effectiveness of social work education through ODL.
Forecasting the total energy consumption in Ghana using grey models
Authors: Katani Emmanuel Kwadzo
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to forecast the future trend of Ghana’s total energy consumption (GTEC) using two grey models, which are GM(1,1) and the grey Verhulst model.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs the use of Even model GM(1,1) and the grey Verhulst model to forecast GTEC for the next five years. Since various models were used, the margin for error is minimal, hence resulting in a better choice for forecasting the future. The forecast reveals that the GTEC for the next five years will increase rapidly.

Findings

The results reveal that the models can be used accurately to predict the total energy consumption smoothly. This will aid the government of Ghana to take necessary measures such as transforming the economic development pattern and enhancing the energy utilization efficiency since future patterns of energy consumed can be predicted.

Research limitations/implications

This research is meaningful to the government and all stakeholders in Ghana to help develop and appreciate the energy sector and its economic impact. This research is going to help government put in measures for efficient utilization of energy since results reveal an increase in energy consumption.

Practical implications

Research results could be used for development of the energy sector through managerial and economic decision making.

Originality/value

Ghana is a developing country and has great prospects in terms of boosting or resourcing its energy sector to meet future demands. The successfully explored models could aid the government of Ghana to formulate policies in the energy sector and generate future consumption plans.
The necessity of teaching Intercultural Communication in higher education
Authors: AlTaher Bassmah B.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how Intercultural Communication is a necessary course for students to learn how to communicate in a healthy, tolerant and respectful manner when pursuing higher education, for miscommunication can result from ethnocentric behavior when dealing with people from various cultural backgrounds.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method of research was adopted and questionnaires were administered to two sets of students: those who have taken Intercultural Communications and those who have not. A total of 192 valid responses from students were received from the School of Basic Sciences and Humanities, German Jordanian University. The first survey falls under the nominal analysis of a dichotomous questionnaire, and the results were measured with Cronbach’s α to test the reliability of the its consistency. The second questionnaire’s items were uni-dimensional, and so the Guttman chart was used to conduct students’ comprehension of global communication.

Findings

The results of this study have shown that the first questionnaire has a strong consistency (0.86); students have successfully understood the dynamics of cross-cultural communication, and used that knowledge to aid and prepare them for future careers. As for students who have not taken IC, they have answered the second questionnaire with great confidence in the first category of personal expectations, but fluctuated in their answers when answering the category of self-development and cultural appreciation. ZPD1 and ZPD2 have proven that students need their teacher to learn new knowledge and insights which they can gain from an IC course.

Research limitations/implications

Apart from the valuable contributions of the study, this study is performed at one public university, and the students, despite their diverse cultural backgrounds and majors, restrict the findings of this research from generalizing the results. Hence, future studies in this area are deeply encouraged, especially when comparing between private and public universities, and how IC is interrelated to other courses in the humanities; moreover, IC as an academic course can bridge the gap between student–teacher relationships.

Originality/value

The scarcity of a diverse course that teaches intercultural skills in communication has become a growing necessity in this day and age, especially in the Middle East and particularly in Jordan. Due to globalization and informatization, Jordanian students are constantly exposed to cultural and religious differences, and to have them engage in a healthy, well-respected conversation is the core aim of this paper, for tolerance and understanding are constantly on high demand. Students learn these skills in IC, and this course reflects how essential a course like this can play a great role in a student’s development.
SOCIAL INVESTMENT AND YOUTH LABOR MARKET PARTICIPATION
Authors: Ecchia Giulio , Gagliardi Francesca , Giannetti Caterina
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we first rely on small area techniques to derive from EU statistics on income and living conditions (EU‐SILC) survey new indicators of compensatory and social‐investment policies at regional level. While compensatory policies have mainly the goal of protecting individuals from “old” risks (e.g., old‐age), investment‐related social policies tend to focus more on “new social risks” (e.g., skill deficits). We rely on these new indicators to perform a data‐driven structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) analysis to investigate the causal relationships between youth labor market outcomes and these two types of spending. Our results support the view that social‐investment policies are effective for tackling new social challenges. (JEL C18, C54, E02)
A population genomics appraisal suggests independent dispersals for bitter and sweet manioc in Brazilian Amazonia
Authors: Alves‐Pereira Alessandro , Clement Charles R. , Picanço‐Rodrigues Doriane , Veasey Elizabeth Ann , Dequigiovanni Gabriel , Ramos Santiago Linorio Ferreyra , Pinheiro José Baldin , de Souza Anete Pereira , Zucchi Maria Imaculada
Published: September 2019

Amazonia is a major world centre of plant domestication, but the genetics of domestication remains unclear for most Amazonian crops. Manioc (Manihot esculenta) is the most important staple food crop that originated in this region. Although manioc is relatively well‐studied, little is known about the diversification of bitter and sweet landraces and how they were dispersed across Amazonia. We evaluated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in wild and cultivated manioc to identify outlier SNPs putatively under selection and to assess the neutral genetic structure of landraces to make inferences about the evolution of the crop in Amazonia. Some outlier SNPs were in putative manioc genes possibly related to plant architecture, transcriptional regulation and responses to stress. The neutral SNPs revealed contrasting genetic structuring for bitter and sweet landraces. The outlier SNPs may be signatures of the genomic changes resulting from domestication, while the neutral genetic structure suggests independent dispersals for sweet and bitter manioc, possibly related to the earlier domestication and diversification of the former. Our results highlight the role of ancient peoples and current smallholders in the management and conservation of manioc genetic diversity, including putative genes and specific genetic resources with adaptive potential in the context of climate change.
Aristóteles: entre aisthesis y phantasía
Authors: Pineda Rivera Diego Antonio
Published: September 2019

El presente artículo examina el tránsito que, desde la percepción sensible (aisthesis) hacia la imaginación (phantasía), se hace en la psicología aristotélica, específicamente en el capítulo 3 del Libro III del De Anima y en el tratado Acerca de los ensueños. Tras un primer examen del uso que hace Aristóteles de los términos aisthesis y phantasía, y de examinar las razones por las cuales adscribe esta última a la facultad perceptiva del alma, se pone de presente la ampliación que del campo de la percepción hace el Estagirita a partir de la consideración de fenómenos psicológicos como las pariciones perceptuales y postperceptuales, los engaños e ilusiones perceptivos y la llamada “percepción proposicional”. Para finalizar, se destaca la función mediador entre la percepción y el intelecto que cumple la phantasía y se distingue entre la imaginación sensitiva, una dedicada a la combinación de las imágenes y, finalmente, una imaginación de carácter racional y deliberativo.
Agustín y Cicerón: la búsqueda de la verdad
Authors: Unger Parra Biviana
Published: September 2019

La influencia del Arpinate en el desarrollo vital e intelectual de Agustín es indiscutible. Existen varios estudios que rastrean la relación entre los dos pensadores, en particular, en lo que concierne a la retórica clásica y a la recepción agustiniana de las categorías de Cicerón. Sin embargo, hay un aspecto crucial que no ha sido abordado aún de manera exhaustiva, se trata de la relación del joven Agustín con el veterano Cicerón, esto es, la relación entre dos compositores de diálogos filosóficos que, hasta ese momento, se habían ocupado de la retórica. La intención aquí es la de rastrear dicha relación a partir de un diálogo que, por su carácter, nos ofrece una posición hermenéutica privilegiada: el Contra Academicos.
El hilemorfismo en evolución. Una aproximación moral a la relación entre el cuerpo y el alma en Aristóteles
Authors: Garrocho Salcedo Diego Sebastián
Published: September 2019

El presente artículo trata de reconstruir la eventual continuidad doctrinal en el tratamiento aristotélico entre el alma y el cuerpo. Primeramente, trataremos de problematizar las clásicas dicotomías en las que se ha intentado encajar la teoría hilemórfica con vistas a demostrar la imposibilidad de defender bien sea un dualismo o bien un monismo que resuma, con exactitud suficiente, el tratamiento aristotélico del alma. Finalmente, y a la luz de los planteamientos definitivos que parecen recogerse en De Anima, abordaremos un análisis comparado entre este tratado tardío y el examen de la relación entre el alma y el cuerpo contenido en los textos morales del Estagirita.
¿Qué hay de nuevo? La Edad Media
Authors: Boulnois Olivier
Published: September 2019

En este trabajo el autor se propone dos objetivos complementarios. En primer lugar, demostrar la actualidad de la Edad Media y, en segundo lugar, la falsa novedad de los Tiempos Modernos. Se trata de mostrar el horizonte medieval de la modernidad y por lo tanto, la falsa disyunción que esta establece entre su propio origen, como ruptura, frente al oscurantismo medieval. El autor analiza varios momentos considerados como indicadores de esta ruptura (el humanismo, la dignidad del hombre y el protestantismo) y varios temas considerados tradicionalmente como modernos (la secularización, el deseo de saber, la concepción del progreso) para mostrar su filiación medieval. Sin embargo, el autor no pretende defender la continuidad histórica dentro de la lógica de la modernidad, sino la posibilidad de una genealogía de los “olvidos” que caracterizan nuestra época, para defender y reconsiderar lo inactual dentro de una nueva definición de lo contemporáneo; y el estudio de la filosofía medieval por ella misma, más allá de su pre-modernidad, en un orden ya postmoderno.
A solução de Geraldo Odon ao paradoxo do mentiroso
Authors: Rieger Schmidt Ana
Published: September 2019

O presente artigo pretende inserir o teólogo franciscano Geraldo Odon (ca.1290-1349) no debate historiográfico medieval acerca das diferentes soluções oferecidas ao célebre paradoxo do mentiroso. Na primeira parte a autora apresenta rapidamente e de forma esquemática os principais tipos de solução ao sofisma para em seguida analisar o texto de Odon, respondendo à questão da sua originalidade.
θεός como otredad: una lectura del pensamiento aristotélico
Authors: Beltrán Ulate Esteban Josué
Published: September 2019

La investigación asume el estudio de la “otredad” en el pensamiento aristotélico, profundizando el carácter del θεός. Se procura responder a la pregunta: ¿Qué es “otro” (ἄλλος)? y ¿Cómo es entendida la otredad (ἑτερότης) por Aristóteles? para así, en un último escenario. esbozar una reflexión a propósito de θεός como otredad (ἑτερότης), radicalizando las tesis aristotélicas.
René Girard: una original respuesta al problema del universale concretum
Authors: Ruiz Lozano Pablo
Published: September 2019

El nuevo concepto de razón que asumió la modernidad implicaba la negación de uno de los fundamentos del cristianismo: el valor universal de la salvación ofrecida por Jesús. Desde tal perspectiva no era posible que el acontecimiento histórico de la muerte de Jesús pudiera tener un sentido para el hombre de todos los tiempos. En este artículo pretendo mostrar cómo la hipótesis de René Girard ofrece una respuesta alternativa, a partir de un enfoque antropológico, al aparente imposible del universale concretum.
Raturer la théorie mimétique : Marion au-delà de Girard
Authors: Vinolo Stéphane
Published: September 2019

La théorie mimétique de René Girard est totalement close sur la violence parce que la déconstruction des mécanismes victimaires, mis à nu sur la Croix, n’a fait qu’accélérer l’advenue de l’Apocalypse. En montrant que cette clôture est due à un enfermement métaphysique d’un premier moment de la théorie mimétique, enfermement porté par un chemin qui nous mène inexorablement de l’objet à l’être, en passant par l’image et l’idole, nous ouvrons une brèche dans la violence grâce à la phénoménologie de la donation de Marion. Contre le modèle de l’image et de son idolâtrie, Marion nous permet de dépasser la violence par le paradigme de l’icône qui, loin d’en passer par l’image et l’être, nous porte vers le signe et les phénomènes saturés. En percevant le monde non plus à l’aune de l’objectité, mais selon la modalité phénoménologique de la saturation, la boucle autoréférentielle de la violence mimétique est mise en question et nous ouvre la possibilité de relations pacifiques. Aussi, le grand défi de notre temps n’est pas tellement de savoir donner que d’apprendre à recevoir.
An Experimental and Numerical Study of Regulating Performance and Flow Loss in a V-Port Ball Valve
Authors: Tao Junyu , Lin Zhe , Ma Chuanjing , Ye Jiahui , Zhu Zuchao , Li Yi , Mao Wei
Published: September 2019

Process valves are responsible for regulating and controlling the rate and direction of flow in pipeline systems. The V-port ball valve is one kind of process valve with a regulating performance influenced by V-angle. In this article, a DN50 V-port ball valve is taken as the research object. This work therefore aims to investigate the effect of and relationship between the V-angle on valve performance and internal flow properties via experiments and numerical simulations. Results indicate that an increase in either V-angle or valve opening causes a large-pressure fluctuation near the valve outlet, thus leading to a long pressure-stable distance. Meanwhile, the flow coefficient increases exponentially with valve opening, and the value of the exponent remains at 2.5 for different V-angles. Furthermore, the stable position of internal energy loss along the downstream pipe is well-matched with the stable position of external pressure fluctuation. This inspires a new method for controlling the pressure stability downstream from the valve. These results may facilitate improvements in the design and optimization of the process valve, thus benefiting the development of fluid transport techniques in energy industries.
Performance Improvements for a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine by Means of Gurney Flap
Authors: Yan Yan , Avital Eldad , Williams John , Cui Jiahuan
Published: September 2019

A numerical study was carried out to investigate the effects of a Gurney flap (GF) on the aerodynamics performance of the NACA 00 aerofoil and an associated three-blade rotor of a H-type Darrieus wind turbine. The flow fields around a single aerofoil and the vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) rotor are studied using unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations (URANS). The height of GF ranges from 1% to 5% of the aerofoil chord length. The results show that the GF can increase the lift and lift-to-drag ratio of the aerofoil as associated with the generation of additional vortices near the aerofoil trailing edge. As a result, adding a GF can significantly improve the power coefficient of the VAWT at low tip speed ratio (TSR), where it typically gives low power production. The causing mechanism is discussed in detail, pointing to flow separation and dynamic stall delay.
Two new eriophyid species (Acariformes: Eriophyidae) from Mazandaran province of Iran

Authors: Ranjbar Varandi Forough , Haddad Irani-Nejad Karim , Lotfollahi Parisa
Published: September 2019

During the study of eriophyoid mite fauna of Sari county in Mazandaran province, north of Iran, two new species were identified, described and illustrated: Eriophyes parrotiae sp. nov. from Parrotia persica C.A.Mey, (Hamamelidaceae) and Tetra hyrcanica sp. nov. from Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Poir.) Spach (Juglandaceae). A list of eriophyoid mite species collected on Hamamelidaceae plants worldwide and Tetra species recorded from Iran, their type host, type locality and habitus are provided. In addition, the identification key for species collected on Hamamelidaceae and a key for identification of Tetra species from Iran is brought.
Reflective metamaterial polarizer enabled by solid-immersion Lloyd's mirror interference lithography
Authors: Hong Fan , Blaikie Richard
Published: September 2019

Metamaterials with induced form birefringence arising from orderly arrangements of subwavelength structures can realize effective refractive indices that do not exist in nature. Using lithographically-defined thin film or multilayered metasurfaces, such form birefringence can be used for polarization and phase control in thin-film elements. In this work, the authors experimentally demonstrate a highly birefringent omnidirectional broadband reflective metamaterial polarizer (RMP), fabricated using a solid-immersion Lloyd's mirror interference lithography (SILMIL) technique. This technique can create 55 nm half-pitch gratings, up to 200 nm tall, using single 405 nm exposures. Angle-resolved reflection spectra of SILMIL-fabricated subwavelength dual-silver grating RMPs exhibit excellent omnidirectionality over a broad spectral bandwidth in the optical range. The behavior and mechanism of the double-layer RMP has been analyzed with finite-difference time domain and rigorous coupled wave analysis simulations, showing coupling between excited surface plasmon polaritons and multiple Fabry–Perot resonances. Furthermore, the authors propose via simulation that by switching from a dielectric resonator to a metallic resonator, the SILMIL technique can be used to fabricate dual-layer thin-film metamaterials that have the capability of phase retardation control, providing a new scheme for reflective thin-film waveplates.
Effect of thermal annealing for W/β-Ga2O3 Schottky diodes up to 600 °C
Authors: Xian Minghan , Fares Chaker , Ren Fan , Gila Brent P. , Chen Yen-Ting , Liao Yu-Te , Tadjer Marko , Pearton Stephen J.
Published: September 2019

The electrical and structural properties of sputter-deposited W Schottky contacts with Au overlayers on n-type Ga2O3 are found to be basically stable up to 500 °C. The reverse leakage in diode structures increases markedly (factor of 2) for higher temperature annealing of 550–600 °C. The sputter deposition process introduces near-surface damage that reduces the Schottky barrier height in the as-deposited state (0.71 eV), but this increases to 0.81 eV after a 60 s anneal at 500 °C. This is significantly lower than conventional Ni/Au (1.07 eV), but W is much more thermally stable, as evidenced by Auger electron spectroscopy of the contact and interfacial region and the minimal change in contact morphology. The contacts are used to demonstrate 1.2 A switching of forward current to −300 V reverse bias with a reverse recovery time of 100 ns and a dI/dt value of 2.14 A/μs. The on/off current ratios were ≥106 at −100 V reverse bias, and the power figure-of-merit was 14.4 MW cm−2.
3D acoustic propagation through an estuarine salt wedge at low-to-mid-frequencies: Modeling and measurement
Authors: Reeder D. Benjamin , Lin Ying-Tsong
Published: September 2019

The estuarine salt wedge presents a dynamic and highly refractive waveguide, the acoustic propagation characteristics of which are controlled by the water column sound speed gradient and boundary interactions. Acoustically, the salt wedge consists of two isospeed layers separated by a thin, three-dimensional (3D), high-gradient layer. The behavior of a broadband (500–2000 Hz) acoustic field under the influence of an estuarine salt wedge in the Columbia River estuary is explored using two 3D acoustic propagation models: 3D rays and 3D parabolic equation. These model results are compared to data collected during the field experiment. Results demonstrate that the dominant physical mechanism controlling acoustic propagation in this waveguide shifts from 3D bottom scatter in a non-refractive waveguide (before the entrance of the salt wedge) to 3D acoustic refraction with minimal bottom interaction in a refractive waveguide (when the salt wedge occupies the acoustic transect). Vertical and horizontal refraction in the water column and out-of-plane scattering by the bottom are clearly evident at specific narrowband frequencies; however, these mechanisms contribute to, but do not account for, the total observed broadband transmission loss.
Exploring Aztreonam in Combination with Ceftazidime-Avibactam or Meropenem-Vaborbactam as Potential Treatments for Metallo- and Serine-β-Lactamase-Producing
Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Biagi M. , Wu T. , Lee M. , Patel S. , Butler D. , Wenzler E.
Published: September 2019

Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
, particularly those that coharbor serine β-lactamases, are a serious emerging public health threat given their rapid dissemination and the limited number of treatment options. Preclinical and anecdotal clinical data support the use of aztreonam in combination with ceftazidime-avibactam against these pathogens, but other aztreonam-based combinations have not been explored.
Cold Shock Induces Chromosomal
qnr
in
Vibrio
Species and Plasmid-Mediated
qnrS1
in Escherichia coli
Authors: Jang Hee-Chang , Wang Yin , Chen Chunhui , Vinué Laura , Jacoby George A. , Hooper David C.
Published: September 2019

qnr
genes are found in aquatic bacteria and were present in the bacterial community before the introduction of synthetic quinolones. Their natural functions are unknown. We evaluated expression of chromosomal
qnr
in
Vibrio
species in response to environmental stresses and DNA-damaging agents. Subinhibitory concentrations of quinolones, but not other DNA-damaging agents, increased expression of chromosomal
qnr
by more than five times in
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
,
Vibrio vulnificus
, and
Vibrio mytili
.
Particles from the Echinococcus granulosus Laminated Layer Inhibit CD40 Upregulation in Dendritic Cells by Interfering with Akt Activation
Authors: Pittini Álvaro , Martínez-Acosta Yamila E. , Casaravilla Cecilia , Seoane Paula I. , Rückerl Dominik , Quijano Celia , Allen Judith E. , Díaz Álvaro
Published: September 2019

The larval stage of the cestodeEchinococcus granulosuscauses cystic echinococcosis in humans and livestock. This larva is protected by the millimeter-thick, mucin-based laminated layer (LL), from which materials have to be shed to allow parasite growth. We previously reported that dendritic cells (DCs) respond to microscopic pieces of the mucin gel of the LL (pLL) with unconventional maturation phenotypes, in the absence or presence of Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
Macromolecular Synthesis Shutoff Resistance by Myeloid Cells Is Critical to IRF7-Dependent Systemic Interferon Alpha/Beta Induction after Alphavirus Infection
Authors: Bhalla Nishank , Gardner Christina L. , Downs Sierra N. , Dunn Matthew , Sun Chengqun , Klimstra William B.
Published: September 2019

Most previous research exploring the interaction of alphaviruses with host cell antiviral responses has been conducted using fibroblast lineage cell lines. Previous studies have led to the discovery of virus-mediated activities that antagonize host cell antiviral defense pathways, such as host cell translation and transcription inhibition and suppression of STAT1 signaling. However, their relevance and impact upon myeloid lineage cell types, which are key responders during the initial stages of alphavirus infection
in vivo
, have not been well studied. Here, we demonstrate the different abilities of myeloid cells to resist VEEV infection compared to nonmyeloid cell types and begin to elucidate the mechanisms by which host antiviral responses are upregulated in myeloid cells despite the actions of virus-encoded antagonists.
Group A Streptococcus Induces LAPosomes via SLO/β1 Integrin/NOX2/ROS Pathway in Endothelial Cells That Are Ineffective in Bacterial Killing and Suppress Xenophagy
Authors: Cheng Yi-Lin , Kuo Chih-Feng , Lu Shiou-Ling , Omori Hiroko , Wu Ya-Na , Hsieh Cheng-Lu , Noda Takeshi , Wu Shang-Rung , Anderson Robert , Lin Chiou-Feng , Chen Chia-Ling , Wu Jiunn-Jong , Lin Yee-Shin
Published: September 2019

Our previous reports showed that the LC3-associated GAS-containing single membrane vacuoles are inefficient for bacterial clearance in endothelial cells, which may result in bacteremia. However, the characteristics and the induction mechanisms of these LC3-positive vacuoles are still largely unknown. Here we provide the first evidence that these LC3-positive GAS-containing single membrane compartments appear to be LAPosomes, which are induced by NOX2 and ROS. Through NOX2- and ROS-mediated signaling, GAS preferentially induces LAP and inhibits bacteriostatic xenophagy in endothelial cells. We also provide the first demonstration that β1 integrin acts as the receptor for LAP induction through GAS-produced SLO stimulation in endothelial cells. Our findings reveal the underlying mechanisms of LAP induction and autophagy evasion for GAS multiplication in endothelial cells.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing Molecule Alters Skeletal Muscle Protein Homeostasis by Perturbing the Antioxidant Defense System
Authors: Bandyopadhaya Arunava , Tzika A. Aria , Rahme Laurence G.
Published: September 2019

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, a bacterium that is resistant to treatment, causes serious acute, persistent, and relapsing infections in humans. There is increasing evidence that bacterial excreted small molecules play a critical role during infection. We have shown that a quorum sensing (QS)-regulated excreted small molecule, 2-AA, which is abundantly produced by
P. aeruginosa
, promotes persistent infections, dampens host inflammation, and triggers mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle. QS is a cell-to-cell communication system utilized by bacteria to promote collective behaviors. The significance of our study in identifying a mechanism that leads to skeletal muscle dysfunction, via the action of a QS molecule, is that it may open new avenues in the control of muscle loss as a result of infection and sepsis. Given that QS is a common characteristic of prokaryotes, it is possible that 2-AA-like molecules promoting similar effects may exist in other pathogens.
Complex Multilevel Control of Hemolysin Production by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Nhu Nguyen Thi Khanh , Phan Minh-Duy , Forde Brian M. , Murthy Ambika M. V. , Peters Kate M. , Day Christopher J. , Poole Jessica , Kidd Timothy J. , Welch Rodney A. , Jennings Michael P. , Ulett Glen C. , Sweet Matthew J. , Beatson Scott A. , Schembri Mark A.
Published: September 2019

Uropathogenic
E. coli
(UPEC) is the major cause of urinary tract infections and a frequent cause of sepsis. Nearly half of all UPEC strains produce the potent cytotoxin hemolysin, and its expression is associated with enhanced virulence. In this study, we explored hemolysin variation within the globally dominant UPEC ST131 clone, finding that strains from the ST131 sublineage with the greatest multidrug resistance also possess the strongest hemolytic activity. We also employed an innovative forward genetic screen to define the set of genes required for hemolysin production. Using this approach, and subsequent targeted mutagenesis and complementation, we identified new hemolysin-controlling elements involved in LPS inner core biosynthesis and cytoplasmic chaperone activity, and we show that mechanistically they are required for hemolysin secretion. These original discoveries substantially enhance our understanding of hemolysin regulation, secretion and function.
New Mitochondrial Targets in Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Murante Daniel , Hogan Deborah A.
Published: September 2019

In eukaryotic cells, mitochondria are responsible for the synthesis of ATP using power generated by the electron transport chain (ETC). While much of what is known about mitochondria has been gained from a study of a small number of model species, including the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
, the general mechanisms of mitochondrial respiration have been recognized as being highly conserved across eukaryotes. Now, Sun et al. (N. Sun, R. S. Parrish, R. A. Calderone, and W. A.
Contrasting Biogeographic Patterns of Bacterial and Archaeal Diversity in the Top- and Subsoils of Temperate Grasslands
Authors: Liu Nana , Hu Huifeng , Ma Wenhong , Deng Ye , Liu Yuqing , Hao Baihui , Zhang Xinying , Dimitrov Dimitar , Feng Xiaojuan , Wang Zhiheng
Published: September 2019

Exploring the biogeographic patterns of soil microbial diversity is critical for understanding mechanisms underlying the response of soil processes to climate change. Using top- and subsoils from an ∼1,500-km temperate grassland transect, we find divergent patterns of microbial diversity and its determinants in the topsoil versus the subsoil. Furthermore, we find important and direct legacy effects of historical climate change on the microbial diversity of subsoil yet indirect effects on topsoil. Our findings challenge the conventional assumption of similar geographic patterns of soil microbial diversity along soil profiles and help to improve our understanding of how soil microbial communities may respond to future climate change in different regions with various climate histories.
Linagliptin-associated bullous pemphigoid treated with rituximab
Authors: Mani Hariharasudan , Safo Patrick , Onitilo Adedayo A
Published: September 2019

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are increasingly used these days in management of diabetes. There has been reported in a few case reports of increasing association between DPP-4 inhibitor use and bullous pemphigoid (BP). We report a case of association between linagliptin use and BP and subsequent treatment with rituximab.
An unusual presentation of atrial myxoma: thromboembolic phenomenon with a recent normal echocardiogram
Authors: Rofe Alexander , Fazio Timothy N , Jones Nicholas , Al-Kaisey Ahmed M
Published: September 2019

Atrial myxomas are the most common primary neoplasms of the heart. Clinical presentation varies from asymptomatic incidental masses to serious life-threatening cardiovascular complications. We describe the case of a 37-year-old man who presented with both coronary and cerebral embolisation secondary to an atrial myxoma in the context of a recent normal transthoracic echocardiogram.
Using rubber stamps and mobile phones to help understand and change antibiotic prescribing behaviour in private sector primary healthcare clinics in Kenya
Authors: Kleczka Bernadette , Kumar Pratap , Njeru Mercy Karimi , Musiega Anita , Wekesa Phoebe , Rabut Grace , Marx Michael
Published: September 2019

Background

Antibiotic use in primary care can drive antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the community. However, our understanding of antibiotic prescribing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) stems mostly from hospital-based studies or prescription/sales records, with little information available on routine primary care practices. We used an innovative, paper-to-digital documentation approach to deliver routine data and understand antibiotic use for common infections in low-resource primary healthcare clinics (PHCs).

Methods

Rubber stamps were introduced in nine private sector PHCs serving Nairobi’s informal settlements to ‘print-on-demand’ clinical documentation templates into paper charts. The intervention included one mobile phone per PHC to take and share images of filled templates, guideline compilation booklets and monthly continuing medical education (CME) sessions. Templates for upper respiratory tract (URTI), urinary tract (UTI), sexually transmitted (STI) and gastrointestinal infection (GI) management were used in eight PHCs. Information in templates from 889 patient encounters was digitised from smartphone images, analysed, and fed back to clinicians during monthly CME sessions. UTI charts (n=130 and 96, respectively) were audited preintervention and postintervention for quality of clinical documentation and management.

Results

Antibiotics were prescribed in 94.3%±1.6% of all patient encounters (97.3% in URTI, 94.2% in UTI, 91.6% in STI and 91.3% in GI), with 1.4±0.4 antibiotics prescribed per encounter. Clinicians considered antibiotic use appropriate in only 58.6% of URTI and 47.2% of GI cases. While feedback did not affect the number of antibiotics prescribed for UTIs, the use of nitrofurantoin, an appropriate, narrow-spectrum antibiotic, increased (9.2% to 29.9%; p<0.0001) and use of broad spectrum quinolones decreased (30.0% to 16.1%; p<0.05).

Conclusion

Antibiotic use for common infections is high in private sector PHCs in Kenya, with both knowledge and ‘know-do’ gaps contributing to inappropriate prescription. Paper-based templates in combination with smartphone technologies can sustainably deliver routine primary care case management data to support the battle against AMR.
Regular black holes with $$\varLambda >0$$ and its evolution in Lovelock gravity
Authors: Estrada Milko , Aros Rodrigo
Published: September 2019

In this work it is shown that the thermodynamics of regular black holes with a cosmological horizon, which are solutions of Lovelock gravity, determines that they must evolve either into a state where the black hole and cosmological horizons have reached thermal equilibrium or into an extreme black hole geometry where the black hole and cosmological horizons have merged. This differs from the behavior of Schwarzschild de Sitter geometry which evolves into a de Sitter space, the ground state of the space of solutions. This occurs due to a phase transition of the heat capacity of the black hole horizon. To perform that analysis it is shown that at each horizon a local first law of thermodynamics can be obtained from the gravitational equations.
Two-body corrections to the g factors of the bound muon and nucleus in light muonic atoms
Authors: Karshenboim Savely G. , Ivanov Vladimir G.
Published: September 2019

A nonrelativistic (NR) theory of recoil corrections to the magnetic moments of bound particles is revisited. A number of contributions can be described within an NR theory with the help of various potentials. We study those potential-type contributions for two-body atomic systems. We have developed an approach, that allows us to find the g factor for an electron or muon in a two-body bound system for an arbitrary electrostatic interaction together with the m/M recoil corrections, as well as the binding corrections to the g factor of the nucleus. We focus our attention on light muonic two-body atoms, where the recoil effects are enhanced. Both mentioned kinds of contributions have been previously known only for the pure Coulomb effects. We have applied the here-obtained master equations to a few particular cases of perturbations of the Coulomb potential. In particular, the results on the recoil corrections to the finite-nuclear-size (FNS) and Uehling-potential contributions to the g factor of the bound muon are obtained. The Uehling-potential and FNS contributions to the g factor of the bound nucleus have been found as well together with the related recoil corrections. We have generalized the results for the case of the g factor of a bound muon in a three-body atomic system consisting of an electron, a muon, and a spinless nucleus.

Graphical abstract
Lattice spin simulations of low power photonic liquid-crystal devices
Authors: Asquini Rita , d’Alessandro Antonio , Chiccoli Cesare , Pasini Paolo , Zannoni Claudio
Published: September 2019

We have performed a detailed Monte Carlo study of photonic devices based on nematic liquid crystal infiltrated in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and in Silicon-Organic Hybrid (SOH) channels, to be used as waveguides. The simulations of a simple model of these slot waveguide shifters have shown the effect of an applied electric external field in two cases with different surface alignments, i.e. planar SOH and homeotropic PDMS. We have investigated the effect of the external field on the optical transmission and the ordering across the cell.
Special clean elements in rings
Authors: Khurana Dinesh , Lam T. Y. , Nielsen Pace P. , Šter Janez
Published: September 2019

A clean decomposition [Formula: see text] in a ring [Formula: see text] (with idempotent [Formula: see text] and unit [Formula: see text]) is said to be special if [Formula: see text]. We show that this is a left-right symmetric condition. Special clean elements (with such decompositions) exist in abundance, and are generally quite accessible to computations. Besides being both clean and unit-regular, they have many remarkable properties with respect to element-wise operations in rings. Several characterizations of special clean elements are obtained in terms of exchange equations, Bott–Duffin invertibility, and unit-regular factorizations. Such characterizations lead to some interesting constructions of families of special clean elements. Decompositions that are both special clean and strongly clean are precisely spectral decompositions of the group invertible elements. The paper also introduces a natural involution structure on the set of special clean decompositions, and describes the fixed point set of this involution.
Symbol-triple distance of repeated-root constacyclic codes of prime power lengths
Authors: Dinh Hai Q , Satpati Sampurna , Singh Abhay Kumar , Yamaka Woraphon
Published: September 2019

Let [Formula: see text] be an odd prime, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be positive integers and [Formula: see text] be a nonzero element of [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text]-constacyclic codes of length [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text] are linearly ordered under set theoretic inclusion as ideals of the chain ring [Formula: see text]. Using this structure, the symbol-triple distances of all such [Formula: see text]-constacyclic codes are established in this paper. All maximum distance separable symbol-triple constacyclic codes of length [Formula: see text] are also determined as an application.
A Four-Noded Triangular (Tr4) Element for Solid Mechanics Problems with Curved Boundaries
Authors: Yue Jun Hong , Liu Guirong , Niu Ruiping , Li Ming
Published: September 2019

Linear triangular elements with three nodes (Tr3) were the earliest, simplest and most widely used in finite element (FE) developed for solving mechanics and other physics problems. The most important advantages of the Tr3 elements are the simplicity, ease in generation, and excellent adaptation to any complicated geometry with straight boundaries. However, it cannot model well the geometries with curved boundaries, which is known as one of the major drawbacks. In this paper, a four-noded triangular (Tr4) element with one curved edge is first used to model the curved boundaries. Two types of shape functions of Tr4 elements have been presented, which can be applied to finite element method (FEM) models based on the isoparametric formulation. FE meshes can be created with mixed linear Tr3 and the proposed Tr4 (Tr3-4) elements, with Tr3 elements for interior and Tr4 elements for the curved boundaries. Compared to the pure FEM-Tr3, the FEM-Tr3-4 can significantly improve the accuracy of the solutions on the curved boundaries because of accurate approximation of the curved boundaries. Several solid mechanics problems are conducted, which validate the effectiveness of FEM models using mixed Tr3-4 meshes.
Effect of Innovation on Firm Performance — The Case of a Technology Intensive Manufacturing Cluster in India
Authors: Chandrashekar Deepak , Subrahmanya M. H. Bala , Joshi Kshitija , Priyadarshi Tathagat
Published: September 2019

Industrial clusters can be sources of innovation. Further, externalities rendered by clusters entitled firms in clusters to various economic benefits. The motivation of the study is to understand what determines the net benefits that these cluster firms receive. While innovation is a key driver of firm performance, it has not been probed adequately in the context of a cluster. The present study which draws data from 101 technology intensive manufacturing firms in Bengaluru cluster adopts stratified random sampling technique. The study employs Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to examine the influence of firm-level innovation on performance, considering the role of various firm-specific factors in moderating the relationship between innovation and performance. The results of the study reveal that there does not exist any direct relationship between innovation and firm performance. However, a strong and nonlinear relationship between them is moderated by firm-specific factors such as firm size, nature of Industry, origin of a firm and firms’ age. The findings of the study have brought out an important lesson for policy makers that mere promotion of industrial clusters does not ensure the generation of innovations by firms located therein, for their benefit. A cluster focused innovation promotion policy has to consider industry/firm-specific characteristics for its effective implementation.