bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Race‐to‐the‐bottom Tariff Cutting
Authors: Vézina Pierre‐Louis
Published: May 2014

Unilateral tariff liberalization accounts for the lion's share of trade liberalization since the 1980s and has accompanied the most successful trade‐led development model of the past 50 years, “Factory Asia”. Understanding what drove this liberalization is therefore crucial to our grasp of the process of economic development. This paper provides empirical evidence for seven Asian emerging economies from 1988 to 2006 consistent with a tariff race to the bottom driven by a competition for foreign direct investment (FDI). The identification is two‐pronged. First, it is shown that tariffs on parts and components, intermediates and capital goods, crucial locational determinants for assembly firms, are correlated in competitive space, i.e. across countries at a similar level of development, but not across all countries. Second, it is shown that the tariff correlation in competitive space is significantly higher for inputs than consumer goods.
Accessory Vein Obliteration Criteria for Immature Fistulae: A Modest Proposal for an Old Paradigm
Authors: Haq Naveed Ul , Albaqumi Mamdouh
Published: May 2014

Venous stenosis and/or presence of accessory vein (av) are the two most common causes of early fistula failure. While treatment of stenosis is better defined, there are no clear criteria for obliteration of the av. Often, interventionalists rely on visual assessment of flow through the av and its diameter (significant if > 1/3 of the main fistula diameter) for intervention. The purpose of this study was to establish objective criteria for the management of av. Various computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed to analyze blood flow in the arteriovenous fistula (AVF). av of different diameters and angles was then added at various locations in the AVF and comparison of simulation results was undertaken. The computational model revealed that when the av was 33% of the diameter of the AVF, flow in av was only 7%. When diameter of the av was increased to 50% and 66% of the diameter of the AVF, flow through the av was 10% and 31% of the flow in main AVF, respectively. Location or angle of take‐off of av did not alter flow. This report provides objective information regarding criteria for av obliteration. It needs to be further validated in randomized clinical trials.
Corporate Voluntary Carbon Information Disclosure: Evidence from China's Listed Companies
Authors: Peng Juan , Sun Jianfei , Luo Rui
Published: May 2014

This article seeks to answer two questions: (i) what factors drive firms to decide whether or not to disclose the information related to their greenhouse gas emissions (also called carbon information)? (ii) what forces lead firms to disclose more carbon information? Using data hand‐collected from the annual Corporate Social Responsibility reports of China's listed companies from 2008 to 2012, we find the following: (i) firms that operate in sectors of high‐emission industries are more likely to make carbon information disclosure (CID hereafter); (ii) the more companies within one industry that make CID, the more likely it is that a company in that industry will make CID; (iii) companies having a higher sales rank within an industry are more likely to make CID.
Numerical Investigation on Aerodynamic and Combustion Performance of Chevron Mixer Inside an Afterburner
Authors: Yong Shan , JingZhou Zhang , Yameng Wang
Published: May 2014

To improve the performance of the afterburner for the turbofan engine, an innovative type of mixer, namely, the chevron mixer, was considered to enhance the mixture between the core flow and the bypass flow. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations investigated the aerodynamic performances and combustion characteristics of the chevron mixer inside a typical afterburner. Three types of mixer, namely, CC (chevrons tilted into core flow), CB (chevrons tilted into bypass flow), and CA (chevrons tilted into core flow and bypass flow alternately), respectively, were studied on the aerodynamic performances of mixing process. The chevrons arrangement has significant effect on the mixing characteristics and the CA mode seems to be advantageous for the generation of the stronger streamwise vortices with lower aerodynamic loss. Further investigations on combustion characteristics for CA mode were performed. Calculation results reveal that the local temperature distribution at the leading edge section of flame holder is improved under the action of streamwise vortices shedding from chevron mixers. Consequently, the combustion efficiency increased by 3.5% compared with confluent mixer under the same fuel supply scheme.
Extension Neck Injury in Female DanceSport Competitors
Authors: McCabe Teri Riding , Ambegaonkar Jatin P. , Wyon Matthew , Redding Emma
Published: May 2014

Context:

The female dancer’s technique in DanceSport involves keeping the upper body and head poised in extension and left rotation. Attempting to maintain this position while dancing can lead to an extension neck injury (ENI).

Objective:

The aim of this online survey was to discover the prevalence of ENI among female ballroom dancers.

Design and Participants:

Female DanceSport competitors (N = 127) completed an online survey.

Results:

Twenty-fve percent reported having ENI, and 68% of ENI occurred at competitions. Younger dancers (mean age = 20 ± 4.8 years) were significantly (p < .003) more likely to have ENI than older dancers (mean age = 34 ± 12.9 years).

Conclusions:

ENI is prevalent in DanceSport competitors. Dance medicine professionals should consider this when designing injury prevention programs.
Concurrent Validity of Arterial Blood Oxygen Saturation Measurements: A Preliminary Analysis of an iPad Pulse Oximeter and Traditional Pulse Oximeter Using Bluetooth
Authors: Cheatham Scott , Kolber Morey J. , Ernst Michael P.
Published: May 2014

Context:

Pulse oximetry has become mobile with the use of smartphone and Bluetooth wireless technology. This technology offers many benefits but has not been extensively studied. There is a need to further validate its clinimetric properties for health professionals to provide proper guidance to patients.

Objective:

This investigation assessed the concurrent validity of the iSpO2 pulse oximeter against a traditional pulse oximeter in measuring short-term resting blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate.

Design:

Observational study of reliability.

Setting:

University kinesiology laboratory.

Participants:

Thirty healthy, recre-ationally active adults (18 men, 12 women; mean age = 25.7 ± 5.46 years, mean height = 170.3cm ± 9.51, mean body mass = 76.4 kg ± 19.33).

Intervention:

Resting measurement of SpO2 and pulse rate using the iSpO2 pulse oximeter with the iPad Mini and a traditional pulse oximeter with Bluetooth.

Main Outcome Measure:

Resting SpO2 and pulse rate were concurrently measured over 5 min.

Results:

The concurrent validity between the iSpO2 and traditional pulse oximeter was moderate for measuring SpO2, intraclass correlation coeffcient (ICC)(3, 1) = .73, SEM = 0.70%, and good for pulse rate, ICC(3, 1) = .97, SEM = 1.74 beats per minute (bpm). The minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence interval for both instruments suggests that there may be 1.94% disagreement for SpO2 and 4.82 bpm disagreement between pulse oximetry methods. The 95% limits of agreement (LoA) for measuring SpO2 suggests that the iSpO2 and traditional pulse oximeters may vary -0.28 ± 1.98%, or approximately 2%. The 95% LoA for measuring pulse rate suggests that the iSpO2 and traditional pulse oximeter may vary 1.74 ± 4.98 bpm, potentially upward of 6 bpm. On the basis of the results of the LoA, it appears that there may be a slight systematic bias between the two devices, with the traditional pulse oximeter producing higher pulse rates than the iSpO2.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that both instruments may be beneficial for indirect short-term measurements of resting SpO2 and pulse rate.
Skilled Interaction: Concepts of Communication and Player Management in the Development of Sport Officials
Authors: Cunningham Ian , Simmons Peter , Mascarenhas Duncan , Redhead Steve
Published: May 2014

Communication and player management are integral to effective sport officiating, but most research has focused on physical performance and decision making. The few previous studies of officiating communication tended to use “transmission” conceptualizations of communication (e.g., decision communication, impression management). Eleven officiating-development managers and coaches from 7 peak Australian sport bodies were interviewed to explore conceptualizations of communication and player management, the way officials improve, and the role of the sport bodies in improvement. Four salient themes emerged in conceptualizations of effective officiating communication and player management: personal qualities of the official, 1-way-communication direction giving and impression management, situation monitoring (interpreting player and context), and skilled interaction (adapting communication appropriately for context). The findings highlight a mismatch between (a) interpretive and interactive communication skills perceived to be most important and challenging and (b) the training that is currently provided to officials. There was general commonality in practice and training issues across sport codes. The article makes theoretical contributions to the study of sport-official communication and practical recommendations for improving approaches to training skilled communication and player management.
Exploring the Factors Affecting Popularity in Social Media: A Case Study of Football Bowl Subdivision Head Coaches
Authors: Jensen Jonathan A. , Ervin Shaina M. , Dittmore Stephen W.
Published: May 2014

Social media have become an increasingly important tool for college coaches and administrators to connect with fans, alumni, and recruits. However, despite their increasing prevalence, it is not well understood which factors may contribute to the reach and popularity in social media of high-profile figures such as coaches and athletic directors. Using Football Bowl Subdivision head football coaches and the popular social-media platform Twitter, this case study sought to explore the potential influence of on-field performance on coaches’ popularity in social media. Among the results is the finding that the most influential factor is the football program’s prestige (long-term success), while the coach’s on-field success and the size of the school’s fan base are of lesser importance. Given the increasing influence of social media in intercollegiate athletics, the case study’s results feature several important considerations for administrators seeking to use social-media platforms to increase the reach of their athletic programs.
Male Athletes, Female Aesthetics: The Continued Ambivalence Toward Female Athletes in ESPN’s The Body Issue
Authors: Cranmer Gregory A. , Brann Maria , Bowman Nicholas D.
Published: May 2014

Previous studies have suggested that media reify frames that subtly enforce sex differences in a manner that detracts from women athletes’ athleticism. This phenomenon is referred to as ambivalence. To analyze ambivalence, this study introduces a theoretically and empirically supported coding scheme that was used to conduct a quantitative frame analysis of 157 images featured in ESPN’s The Body Issue. These images were coded for frames that de-emphasize athleticism, sexualize athletes, or deny a sporting context. Results suggest that athlete sex is associated with de-emphasized athleticism and sexualized frames, and sport gender is associated with context frames. Results also support longitudinal trends in The Body Issue series, which suggest that the series has become more sexualized and removed from a sports context but has decreased the use of frames that de-emphasize athleticism. In general, The Body Issue continues to reinforce established media trends that trivialize female athletes, despite claiming to do the opposite.
Effects of Antioxidant Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Acute Normobaric Hypoxia
Authors: Mariacher Christian , Gatterer Hannes , Greilberger Joachim , Djukic Radoslav , Greilberger Michaela , Philippe Marc , Burtscher Martin
Published: May 2014

Background/Objectives:

To compare the effects of a 3-week supplementation between two different mixtures of antioxidants and placebo on aerobic exercise performance in acute normobaric hypoxia.

Subjects/Methods:

Seventeen subjects were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to receive a broad-based antioxidants supplement containing beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, d-alpha-tocopherol-succinate, N-acetylcysteine, riboflavin, zinc, and selenium (antioxidant capsule group [AO group]), or a combination of alpha-ketoglutaric acid (α-KG) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF; CYL concentrate supplementation group [CS group]), or placebo (PL group). Before and after supplementation, subjects performed two incremental cycle-exercise tests until exhaustion. The first test was conducted under normoxic conditions (LA, FiO2 of 20.9%, ~547 m) and the second after the 3-week supplementation period under normobaric hypoxic conditions (AHA, FiO2 of 12.9%, ~4300m).

Results:

In CS peak cycling performance (peak power) declined from LA to AHA 7.3% (90% CI: 2.2–12.4) less compared with PL (p = .04) and 6.7% (90%CI: 3.2–10.2) less compared with AO (p = .03). Better maintenance of aerobic exercise capacity in CS was associated with an attenuated reduction in maximal heart rate in hypoxia.

Conclusions:

Aerobic exercise performance was less impaired in acute normobaric hypoxia after 3 weeks with supplementation of α-KG and 5-HMF compared with a broad-based antioxidants supplement or PL.
Dose Response of Whey Protein Isolate in Addition to a Typical Mixed Meal on Blood Amino Acids and Hormonal Concentrations
Authors: Forbes Scott C. , McCargar Linda , Jelen Paul , Bell Gordon J.
Published: May 2014

The purpose was to investigate the effects of a controlled typical 1-day diet supplemented with two different doses of whey protein isolate on blood amino acid profiles and hormonal concentrations following the final meal. Nine males (age: 29.6 ± 6.3 yrs) completed four conditions in random order: a control (C) condition of a typical mixed diet containing ~10% protein (0.8 g·kg–1), 65% carbohydrate, and 25% fat; a placebo (P) condition calorically matched with carbohydrate to the whey protein conditions; a low-dose condition of 0.8 grams of whey protein isolate per kilogram body mass per day (g·kg–1·d–1; W1) in addition to the typical mixed diet; or a high-dose condition of 1.6 g·kg–1·d–1 (W2) of supplemental whey protein in addition to the typical mixed diet. Following the final meal, significant (p < .05) increases in total amino acids, essential amino acids (EAA), branch-chained amino acids (BCAA), and leucine were observed in plasma with whey protein supplementation while no changes were observed in the control and placebo conditions. There was no significant group difference for glucose, insulin, testosterone, cortisol, or growth hormone. In conclusion, supplementing a typical daily food intake consisting of 0.8 g of protein·kg–1·d–1 with a whey protein isolate (an additional 0.8 or 1.6 g·kg–1·d–1) significantly elevated total amino acids, EAA, BCAA, and leucine but had no effect on glucose, insulin, testosterone, cortisol, or growth hormone following the final meal. Future acute and chronic supplementation research examining the physiological and health outcomes associated with elevated amino acid profiles is warranted.
Marketing Pro-Environmental Venues in Professional Sport: Planting Seeds of Change Among Existing and Prospective Consumers
Authors: Kellison Timothy B. , Kim Yu Kyoum
Published: May 2014

Professional sport organizations are showing increasing interest in proenvironmental strategies, as evidenced in part by the recent incorporation of sustainable design in many facilities. This interest may be driven by the perceived positive outcomes associated with the triple bottom line (TBL), which illustrates the environmental, social, and economic benefits of proenvironmental initiatives. The TBL has been the subject of both acclaim and criticism by scholars and practitioners, and this study provides new insight into its appropriateness as a reflection of proenvironmental organizations’ motives. Through standardized interviews, the authors found that professional sport organizations place particular emphasis on the TBL’s social component, which represents the objectives of increasing environmental awareness among fans and attracting new consumers. This study contends that the TBL’s three components are closely intertwined, and the implementation of commercial and social marketing strategies is necessary to attend to and realize the organizations’ stated goal of maximizing all three components.
Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Is a Regulator of the Interleukin-10–Induced Transcriptional Program in Macrophages
Authors: Pike Kelly A. , Hutchins Andrew P. , Vinette Valerie , Théberge Jean-François , Sabbagh Laurent , Tremblay Michel L. , Miranda-Saavedra Diego
Published: May 2014

The specificity of cytokine target genes may be fine-tuned by protein tyrosine phosphatases.
Downstream of Mutant KRAS, the Transcription Regulator YAP Is Essential for Neoplastic Progression to Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhang Weiying , Nandakumar Nivedita , Shi Yuhao , Manzano Mark , Smith Alias , Graham Garrett , Gupta Swati , Vietsch Eveline E. , Laughlin Sean Z. , Wadhwa Mandheer , Chetram Mahandranauth , Joshi Mrinmayi , Wang Fen , Kallakury Bhaskar , Toretsky Jeffrey , Wellstein Anton , Yi Chunling
Published: May 2014

Without the transcription regulator YAP, KRAS-mutant pancreatic neoplasia cannot progress into invasive cancer.
Watching Brain Molecules
Authors: Stern Peter R.
Published: May 2014

Development of a molecular functional magnetic resonance imaging tool to quantify dopamine release simultaneously in different brain regions is shown.
Finding the Heart’s Regenerative Switch
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: May 2014

The first breaths of life in newborn mice increase energy metabolism at the expense of proliferation in cardiomyocytes.
Colistin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice Involves the Mitochondrial, Death Receptor, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Pathways
Authors: Dai Chongshan , Li Jichang , Tang Shusheng , Li Jian , Xiao Xilong
Published: May 2014

Nephrotoxicity is the dose-limiting factor for colistin, but the exact mechanism is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the roles of the mitochondrial, death receptor, and endoplasmic reticulum pathways in colistin-induced nephrotoxicity. Mice were intravenously administered 7.5 or 15 mg of colistin/kg of body weight/day (via a 3-min infusion and divided into two doses) for 7 days. Renal function, oxidative stress, and apoptosis were measured. Representative biomarkers involved in the mitochondrial, death receptor, and endoplasmic reticulum pathways were investigated, and the key markers involved in apoptosis and autophagy were examined. After 7-day colistin treatment, significant increase was observed with blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and malondialdehyde, while activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase decreased in the kidneys. Acute tubular necrosis and mitochondrial dysfunction were detected, and colistin-induced apoptosis was characterized by DNA fragmentation, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1), increase of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and activation of caspases (caspase-8, -9, and -3). It was evident that colistin-induced apoptosis involved the mitochondrial pathway (downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of cytochrome C [cytC] and Bax), death receptor pathway (upregulation of Fas, FasL, and Fas-associated death domain [FADD]), and endoplasmic reticulum pathway (upregulation of Grp78/Bip, ATF6, GADD153/CHOP, and caspase-12). In the 15-mg/kg/day colistin group, expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK) significantly increased (
P
< 0.05), while in the 7.5-mg/kg/day colistin group, a large number of autophagolysosomes and classic autophagy were observed. Western blot results of Beclin-1 and LC3B indicated that autophagy may play a protective role in colistin-induced nephrotoxicity. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate that all three major apoptosis pathways and autophagy are involved in colistin-induced nephrotoxicity.
Aerosol Phage Therapy Efficacy in Burkholderia cepacia Complex Respiratory Infections
Authors: Semler Diana D. , Goudie Amanda D. , Finlay Warren H. , Dennis Jonathan J.
Published: May 2014

Phage therapy has been suggested as a potential treatment for highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as the species of the
Burkholderia cepacia
complex (BCC). To address this hypothesis, experimental
B. cenocepacia
respiratory infections were established in mice using a nebulizer and a nose-only inhalation device. Following infection, the mice were treated with one of five
B. cenocepacia
-specific phages delivered as either an aerosol or intraperitoneal injection. The bacterial and phage titers within the lungs were assayed 2 days after treatment, and mice that received the aerosolized phage therapy demonstrated significant decreases in bacterial loads. Differences in phage activity were observed
in vivo
. Mice that received phage treatment by intraperitoneal injection did not demonstrate significantly reduced bacterial loads, although phage particles were isolated from their lung tissue. Based on these data, aerosol phage therapy appears to be an effective method for treating highly antibiotic-resistant bacterial respiratory infections, including those caused by BCC bacteria.
4-Amino Bis-Pyridinium Derivatives as Novel Antileishmanial Agents
Authors: Gómez-Pérez Verónica , Manzano José Ignacio , García-Hernández Raquel , Castanys Santiago , Campos Rosa Joaquín M. , Gamarro Francisco
Published: May 2014

The antileishmanial activity of a series of bis-pyridinium derivatives that are analogues of pentamidine have been investigated, and all compounds assayed were found to display activity against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of
Leishmania donovani
and
Leishmania major
, with 50% effective concentrations (EC
50
s) lower than 1 μM in most cases. The majority of compounds showed similar behavior in both
Leishmania
species, being slightly more active against
L. major
amastigotes. However, compound VGP-106 {1,1′-(biphenyl-4,4′-diylmethylene)bis[4-(4-bromo-
N
-methylanilino)pyridinium] dibromide} exhibited significantly higher activity against
L. donovani
amastigotes (EC
50
, 0.86 ± 0.46 μM) with a lower toxicity in THP-1 cells (EC
50
, 206.54 ± 9.89 μM). As such, VGP-106 was chosen as a representative compound to further elucidate the mode of action of this family of inhibitors in promastigote forms of
L. donovani
. We have determined that uptake of VGP-106 in
Leishmania
is a temperature-independent process, suggesting that the compound crosses the parasite membrane by diffusion. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed a severe mitochondrial swelling in parasites treated with compound VGP-106, which induces hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and a significant decrease of intracellular free ATP levels due to the inhibition of ATP synthesis. Additionally, we have confirmed that VGP-106 induces mitochondrial ROS production and an increase in intracellular Ca
2+
levels. All these molecular events can activate the apoptotic process in
Leishmania
; however, propidium iodide assays gave no indication of DNA fragmentation. These results underline the potency of compound VGP-106, which may represent a new avenue for the development of novel antileishmanial compounds.
Pharmacokinetic Comparison To Determine the Mechanisms Underlying the Differential Efficacies of Cationic Diamidines against First- and Second-Stage Human African Trypanosomiasis
Authors: Yang Sihyung , Wenzler Tanja , Miller Patrik N. , Wu Huali , Boykin David W. , Brun Reto , Wang Michael Zhuo
Published: May 2014

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), a neglected tropical disease, is fatal without treatment. Pentamidine, a cationic diamidine, has been used to treat first-stage (hemolymphatic) HAT since the 1940s, but it is ineffective against second-stage (meningoencephalitic, or central nervous system [CNS]) infection. Novel diamidines (DB75, DB820, and DB829) have shown promising efficacy in both mouse and monkey models of first-stage HAT. However, only DB829 cured animals with second-stage infection. In this study, we aimed to determine the mechanisms underlying the differential efficacies of these diamidines against HAT by conducting a comprehensive pharmacokinetic characterization. This included the determination of metabolic stability in liver microsomes, permeability across MDCK and MDR1-MDCK cell monolayers, interaction with the efflux transporter MDR1 (P-glycoprotein 1 or P-gp), drug binding in plasma and brain, and plasma and brain concentration-time profiles after a single dose in mice. The results showed that DB829, an azadiamidine, had the highest systemic exposure and brain-to-plasma ratio, whereas pentamidine and DB75 had the lowest. None of these diamidines was a P-gp substrate, and the binding of each to plasma proteins and brain differed greatly. The brain-to-plasma ratio best predicted the relative efficacies of these diamidines in mice with second-stage infection. In conclusion, pharmacokinetics and CNS penetration influenced the
in vivo
efficacies of cationic diamidines against first- and second-stage HAT and should be considered when developing CNS-active antitrypanosomal diamidines.
Surveillance of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: Tracking Molecular Epidemiology and Outcomes through a Regional Network
Authors: van Duin David , Perez Federico , Rudin Susan D. , Cober Eric , Hanrahan Jennifer , Ziegler Julie , Webber Raymond , Fox Jacqueline , Mason Pamela , Richter Sandra S. , Cline Marianne , Hall Geraldine S. , Kaye Keith S. , Jacobs Michael R. , Kalayjian Robert C. , Salata Robert A. , Segre Julia A. , Conlan Sean , Evans Scott , Fowler Vance G. , Bonomo Robert A.
Published: May 2014

Carbapenem resistance in Gram-negative bacteria is on the rise in the United States. A regional network was established to study microbiological and genetic determinants of clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with carbapenem-resistant (CR)
Klebsiella pneumoniae
in a prospective, multicenter, observational study. To this end, predefined clinical characteristics and outcomes were recorded and
K. pneumoniae
isolates were analyzed for strain typing and resistance mechanism determination. In a 14-month period, 251 patients were included. While most of the patients were admitted from long-term care settings, 28% of them were admitted from home. Hospitalizations were prolonged and complicated. Nonsusceptibility to colistin and tigecycline occurred in isolates from 7 and 45% of the patients, respectively. Most of the CR
K. pneumoniae
isolates belonged to repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) types A and B (both sequence type 258) and carried either
bla
KPC-2
(48%) or
bla
KPC-3
(51%). One isolate tested positive for
bla
NDM-1
, a sentinel discovery in this region. Important differences between strain types were noted; rep-PCR type B strains were associated with
bla
KPC-3
(odds ratio [OR], 294; 95% confidence interval [CI], 58 to 2,552;
P
< 0.001), gentamicin nonsusceptibility (OR, 24; 95% CI, 8.39 to 79.38;
P
< 0.001), amikacin susceptibility (OR, 11.0; 95% CI, 3.21 to 42.42;
P
< 0.001), tigecycline nonsusceptibility (OR, 5.34; 95% CI, 1.30 to 36.41;
P
= 0.018), a shorter length of stay (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.00;
P
= 0.043), and admission from a skilled-nursing facility (OR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.26 to 8.08;
P
= 0.013). Our analysis shows that (i) CR
K. pneumoniae
is seen primarily in the elderly long-term care population and that (ii) regional monitoring of CR
K. pneumoniae
reveals insights into molecular characteristics. This work highlights the crucial role of ongoing surveillance of carbapenem resistance determinants.
Virulence and Immunity Orchestrated by the Global Gene Regulator
sigL
in Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis
Authors: Ghosh Pallab , Steinberg Howard , Talaat Adel M.
Published: May 2014

Mycobacterium avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
causes Johne's disease in ruminants, a chronic enteric disease responsible for severe economic losses in the dairy industry. Global gene regulators, including sigma factors are important in regulating mycobacterial virulence. However, the biological significance of such regulators in
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
rremains elusive. To better decipher the role of sigma factors in
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
pathogenesis, we targeted a key sigma factor gene,
sigL
, activated in mycobacterium-infected macrophages. We interrogated an
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
Δ
sigL
mutant against a selected list of stressors that mimic the host microenvironments. Our data showed that
sigL
was important in maintaining bacterial survival under such stress conditions. Survival levels further reflected the inability of the Δ
sigL
mutant to persist inside the macrophage microenvironments. Additionally, mouse infection studies suggested a substantial role for
sigL
in
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
virulence, as indicated by the significant attenuation of the Δ
sigL
-deficient mutant compared to the parental strain. More importantly, when the
sigL
mutant was tested for its vaccine potential, protective immunity was generated in a vaccine/challenge model of murine paratuberculosis. Overall, our study highlights critical role of
sigL
in the pathogenesis and immunity of
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
infection, a potential role that could be shared by similar proteins in other intracellular pathogens.
Cryopreservation of canine semen after cold storage in a Neopor box: effect of extender, centrifugation and storage time
Authors: Hidalgo M. , Portero J. M. , Demyda‐Peyrás S. , Ortiz I. , Dorado J.
Published: May 2014

The aim of this work was to assess the combined effect of sperm centrifugation, semen extender and storage time before freezing on post‐thaw sperm quality and freezability on chilled stored canine semen in a Neopor box. Sperm parameters evaluated were total and progressive sperm motility by Computer‐Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) and sperm viability and acrosome integrity using a triple fluorescent stain. Sperm quality and freezability indexes were also studied. First, the effect of centrifugation and two commercial extenders from Minitübe (Biladyl A and CaniPRO Freeze A) was evaluated in chilled semen after 24 and 45 hours of cold storage. No significant differences were observed between treatments in almost all the sperm parameters assessed. Secondly, chilled semen was frozen after 24 and 45 hours of cold storage in a Neopor box. The best results were obtained when semen was centrifuged, chilled with CaniPRO Freeze A and then frozen after 24 hours of cold storage, showing no differences in both post‐thaw sperm quality and freezability in comparison with semen immediately frozen after collection. In conclusion, dog semen centrifuged after collection and extended with CaniPRO Freeze can be frozen after 24 hours of cold storage in a Neopor box, obtaining similar results to semen immediately frozen after collection.
Factors associated with cord blood vitamin D concentration in Saskatchewan newborns
Authors: Katzman Miriam , Lawson Josh , Whiting Susan J. , Rosenberg Alan M.
Published: May 2014

This prospective study investigated associations between cord blood vitamin D, risk factors for low vitamin D, and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. The study included 65 maternal-fetal dyads delivering between December and February in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Eighty-five percent of mothers reported taking daily prenatal vitamin D but 70% of their newborns had insufficient or deficient cord blood vitamin D, suggesting that usual prenatal supplementation may be inadequate to achieve sufficient cord blood vitamin D in most newborns.
Numerical simulation of rock mass vibrations induced by nearby production blast
Authors: Sainoki Atsushi , Mitri Hani S.
Published: May 2014

It is of importance to understand the effect of production blasts on the surrounding rock formations in underground mines. This study presents a numerical procedure to simulate stress waves resulting from nearby production blasts. First, the damping coefficient and peak borehole pressure are calibrated using a dynamic numerical model of a single blast hole. The resulting time-varying particle velocities in the surrounding rock mass at the specified points are calculated. These are then used as input parameters in a three-dimensional mine-wide model, considering a positional relationship between the blast hole and the specified points on the wall rock. The mine-wide model encompasses a fault running parallel to a steeply dipping, tabular ore deposit. Dynamic analysis simulating the effect of production blasts is conducted after the extraction of mining blocks with static analysis. In this study, variations of stresses along the fault due to blast-induced stress waves are examined. Results demonstrate that the developed methodology can reasonably simulate stress changes induced by stress waves on the fault. The methodology considers blast sequences and time-varying blast loads that vary according to the positional relationship between the blast holes and the specified points on the wall rock.
Do ectomycorrhizas affect boron uptake in Betula pendula?
Authors: Ruuhola Teija , Lehto Tarja
Published: May 2014

The role of mycorrhizas in the uptake of boron (B) is still poorly known; it has been suggested that ectomycorrhizas (ECM) may either increase B uptake or sequester B in forms unavailable for plants. We examined whether ECM infection affects the B uptake compared with nonmycorrhizal plants and whether two ECM fungal species differ in this respect. We inoculated silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings with either Paxillus involutus (Batsch) Fr. or Laccaria sp. Seedlings were fertilized with a complete nutrient solution including B. The whole-plant specific B uptake rates were slightly higher in Laccaria-inoculated seedlings than in noninoculated seedlings. Laccaria seedlings accumulated B transiently in their roots, which led to an increase in the specific leaf uptake rate of B in a later phase. Colonization of seedlings by Paxillus was low, and this fungus did not affect B uptake or allocation. The main result was that mycorrhizas did not affect B uptake and translocation negatively. An ability to accumulate B in mycorrhizas transiently might even make plants more tolerant to temporary B deficiency as they are not so strictly dependent on a continuous external B supply. However, the possibility of retention at very low B availability remains to be studied.
Comment on “Multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock energy levels and radiative rates for Br-like tungsten” by S. Aggarwal, A.K.S. Jha, and M. Mohan [Can. J. Phys. 91, 394 (2013)]
Authors: Aggarwal Kanti M. , Keenan Francis P.
Published: May 2014

We report calculations of energy levels and oscillator strengths for transitions in W XL, undertaken with the general-purpose relativistic atomic structure package (GRASP) and flexible atomic code (FAC). Comparisons are made with existing results and the accuracy of the data is assessed. Discrepancies with the most recent results of S. Aggarwal et al. (Can. J. Phys. 91, 394 (2013)) are up to 0.4 Ryd and up to two orders of magnitude for energy levels and oscillator strengths, respectively. Discrepancies for lifetimes are even larger, up to four orders of magnitude for some levels. Our energy levels are estimated to be accurate to better than 0.5% (i.e., 0.2 Ryd), whereas results for oscillator strengths and lifetimes should be accurate to better than 20%.
Reply to Comment on “Multiconfigurational Dirac–Fock energy levels and radiative rates for Br-like tungsten” (Can. J. Phys. 91, 394 (2013))
Authors: Mohan Man , Aggarwal Sunny , Singh Narendra , Jha A.K.S.
Published: May 2014

We show that the comment of K.M. Aggarwal (Can. J. Phys. 92, This issue. (2014) doi:10.1139/cjp-2013-0382 ), although being only marginally relevant to the content of the original paper (Can. J. Phys. 91, 394 (2013)), misinterprets our results and leads to a wrong conclusion.
Comparative genome-scale analysis of niche-based stress-responsive genes inLactobacillus helveticusstrains
Authors: Senan Suja , Prajapati Jashbhai B. , Joshi Chaitanya G.
Published: May 2014

Next generation sequencing technologies with advanced bioinformatic tools present a unique opportunity to compare genomes from diverse niches. The identification of niche-specific stress-responsive genes can help in characterizing robust strains for multiple applications. In this study, we attempted to compare the stress-responsive genes of a potential probiotic strain, Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC 5463, and a cheese starter strain, Lactobacillus helveticus DPC 4571, from a gut and dairy niche, respectively. Sequencing of MTCC 5463 was done using 454 GS FLX, and contigs were assembled using GS Assembler software. Genome analysis was done using BLAST hits and the prokaryotic annotation server RAST. The MTCC 5463 genome carried multiple orthologs of genes governing stress responses, whereas the DPC 4571 genome lacked in the number of major stress-response proteins. The absence of the bile salt hydrolase gene in DPC 4571 and its presence in MTCC 5463 clearly indicated niche adaptation. Further, MTCC 5463 carried higher copy numbers of genes contributing towards heat, cold, osmotic, and oxidative stress resistance as compared with DPC 4571. Through comparative genomics, we could thus identify stress-responsive gene sets required to adapt to gut and dairy niches.
On basicity of exponential systems in Morrey-type spaces
Authors: Bilalov Bilal T. , Quliyeva Aida A.
Published: May 2014

In this paper, we consider Banach spaces of functions of Morrey–Hardy, Morrey–Smirnov and Morrey–Lebesgue type. Basicity of exponential system and its parts in these spaces is proved.
CASE REPORT: CHOROID PLEXUS CARCINOMA IN THE POSTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA — PATHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT IN A DOG
Authors: Peng Pin-Chieh , Chiou Hue-Ying , Wu Pin-Hsien , Chang Ya-Pei , Wang Peng-Cheng
Published: May 2014

Choroid plexus tumors (PTs) are rare in dogs. Herein, we reported a canine case of choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC) and its clinical treatment. A 10-year-old male Shar Pei presented a two-month history of progressive uncoordinated change in head and gait posture. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a lesion in posterior cranial fossa characterized by iso- to hypo-intensity in T1 and iso- to hyper-intensity in T2 with a homogeneous contrast uptake. The case received a one-month course of steroid therapy, and then performed by suboccipital craniectomy. The histopathological examination was described as CPC. The neurological symptoms were immediately and significantly improved after surgery. Follow-up MRI demonstrated that approximately 60% of the tumor was resected. To our knowledge, the clinical outcome of CPC was very poor. In this study, we provided an effective surgical approach, suboccipital craniectomy, for CPC in the posterior cranial fossa to avoid excess brain damage.
Antihyperglycaemic Effect of Tetracarpidium Conophorum Nuts in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Female Albino Rats
Authors: Onwuli Donatus Onukwufor , Brown Holy , Ozoani Harrison Anaezichukwuolu
Published: May 2014

The antihyperglycaemic activity of Tetracarpidium conophorum nut (walnut) was investigated in albino rats. A total of 20 albino rats were used for the study. The rats were divided into five groups (A–E) of four rats each. Diabetes were induced in the rats except four which served as the positive control group A. Groups B (negative control), C, D, and E contain diabetic rats each with blood sugar level ≥17.00 mmol/L. Groups A and B were fed on 85.2 g of top feed grower over the test period. Test groups C, D, and E were fed on 21.3 g, 42.6 g, and 85.2 g of walnuts, respectively, and their fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were checked on daily basis. Fasting blood glucose levels of the test groups were significantly lower than negative control P<0.05, for 3rd, 7th, and 10th days of the test. There were also significant increase in the body weight and hemoglobin concentration and a decreased urine output of the test group compared with the controls. These results indicate that Tetracarpidium conophorum nut (walnut) has an antihyperglycemic effect in diabetic rats.
Notes on the Hermitian Positive Definite Solutions of a Matrix Equation
Authors: Li Jing , Zhang Yuhai
Published: May 2014

The nonlinear matrix equation,X-∑i=1mAi*XδiAi=Q,with-1≤δi<0is investigated. A fixed point theorem in partially ordered sets is proved. And then, by means of this fixed point theorem, the existence of a unique Hermitian positive definite solution for the matrix equation is derived. Some properties of the unique Hermitian positive definite solution are obtained. A residual bound of an approximate solution to the equation is evaluated. The theoretical results are illustrated by numerical examples.
Risk Comparison of Improved Estimators in a Linear Regression Model with MultivariatetErrors under Balanced Loss Function
Authors: Hu Guikai , Li Qingguo , Yu Shenghua
Published: May 2014

Under a balanced loss function, we derive the explicit formulae of the risk of the Stein-rule (SR) estimator, the positive-part Stein-rule (PSR) estimator, the feasible minimum mean squared error (FMMSE) estimator, and the adjusted feasible minimum mean squared error (AFMMSE) estimator in a linear regression model with multivariateterrors. The results show that the PSR estimator dominates the SR estimator under the balanced loss and multivariateterrors. Also, our numerical results show that these estimators dominate the ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator when the weight of precision of estimation is larger than about half, and vice versa. Furthermore, the AFMMSE estimator dominates the PSR estimator in certain occasions.
Phyllanthus wightianusMüll. Arg.: A Potential Source for Natural Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Natarajan D. , Srinivasan R. , Shivakumar M. S.
Published: May 2014

Phyllanthus wightianusbelongs to Euphorbiaceae family having ethnobotanical importance. The present study deals with validating the antimicrobial potential of solvent leaf extracts ofP. wightianus. 11 human bacterial pathogens (Bacillus subtilis,Streptococcus pneumoniae,Staphylococcus epidermidis,Proteus vulgaris,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Proteus vulgaris, andSerratia marcescens) and 4 fungal pathogens (Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Mucor racemosus, andAspergillus niger) were also challenged with solvent leaf extracts usingagar well and disc diffusion methods. Further, identification of the active component present in the bioactive extract was done using GC-MS analysis. Results show that all extracts exhibited broad spectrum (6–29 mm) of antibacterial activity on most of the tested organisms. The results highlight the fact that the well in agar method was more effective than disc diffusion method. Significant antimicrobial activity was detected in methanol extract againstS. pneumoniae(29 mm) with MIC and MBC values of 15.62 μg/mL. GC-MS analysis revealed that 29 bioactive constituents were present in methanolic extract ofP. wightianus,of which 9,12-octadecaenioic acid (peak area 22.82%; RT-23.97) and N-hexadecanoic acid (peak area 21.55% RT-21.796) are the major compounds. The findings of this study show thatP. wightianusextracts may be used as an anti-infective agent in folklore medicine.
Maximizing Lifetime of Three-Dimensional Corona-Based Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Xia Changqing , Guan Nan , Deng Qingxu , Yi Wang
Published: May 2014

In a wireless sensor network (WSN), the energy of nodes closer to the sink node is usually exhausted sooner than others. This is known as the energy hole problem, which heavily affects the lifetime of the network. In this work, we study the lifetime maximization problem of a three-dimensional corona-based WSN with uniformly distributed sensor nodes and data transmission workload. We first derive the optimal configuration of the first layer of the corona to maximize the lifetime of the network. Then, we propose two strategies to configure nodes outside the first layer: the equal energy strategy (EES) which minimizes the number of hops to transmit data from sensor nodes to the sink and the local optimal energy (LOE) which stands for the fact that under this strategy each individual layer reaches its minimal energy consumption. Furthermore, the optimal equal distance strategy (OEDS) which is a simple deployment strategy was proposed to prolong the lifetime of the network by optimizing layer number k.
Iron (FeII) Chelation, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power, and Immune Modulating Potential ofArisaema jacquemontii(Himalayan Cobra Lily)
Authors: Sudan Rasleen , Bhagat Madhulika , Gupta Sahil , Singh Jasvinder , Koul Anupurna
Published: May 2014

This study explored the antioxidant and immunomodulatory potential of ethnomedicinally valuable species, namely, Arisaema jacquemontiiof north-western Himalayan region. The tubers, leaves, and fruits of this plant were subjected to extraction using different solvents.In vitroantioxidant studies were performed in terms of chelation power on ferrous ions and FRAP assay. The crude methanol extract of leaves was found to harbour better chelating capacity (58% at 100 μg/mL) and reducing power (FRAP value1085.4±0.11 μMFe3+/g dry wt.) than all the other extracts. The crude methanol extract was thus further partitioned with solvents to yield five fractions. Antioxidant study of fractions suggested that the methanol fraction possessed significant chelation capacity (49.7% at 100 μg/mL) and reducing power with FRAP value of 1435.4 μM/g dry wt. The fractions were also studied for immune modulating potential where it was observed that hexane fraction had significant suppressive effect on mitogen induced T-cell and B-cell proliferation and remarkable stimulating effect on humoral response by 141% and on DTH response by 168% in immune suppressed mice as compared to the controls. Therefore, it can be concluded thatA. jacquemontiileaves hold considerable antioxidant and immunomodulating potential and they can be explored further for the identification of their chemical composition for a better understanding of their biological activities.
Evaluation of the Particle Aerosolization from n‐TiO2 Photocatalytic Nanocoatings under Abrasion
Authors: Shandilya Neeraj , Le Bihan Olivier , Bressot Christophe , Morgeneyer Martin
Published: May 2014

A parametric study on the release of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles from two commercial photocatalytic nanocoatings is carried out. For this, abrasion tests are performed on them. The formed aerosols are characterized by their number concentration, particle size distribution, individual particle shape, size, and chemical composition. The two nanocoatings appear to exhibit contrastingly opposite behavior with respect to the number concentration of the released particles. Having irregular shapes, the released particles are found to have unimodal size distributions with 1.5–3.5% (in mass) of Ti content. However, no free nanoparticles of TiO2 were found. Distinct phases during the particle number concentration evolution with time are also discussed and evaluated. Two quantities—(ΔC/Δt)I and TII—are identified as the important indicators to qualitatively measure the resistance strength and hence the concentration of the released particles from a nanocoating during stress application.