bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visual outcome in cats with hypertensive chorioretinopathy
Authors: Young Whitney M , Zheng Chaowen , Davidson Michael G , Westermeyer Hans D
Published: April 2018

Purpose

To investigate factors associated with long‐term visual outcome in cats with hypertensive chorioretinopathy.

Animals studied

Eighty‐eight client‐owned cats diagnosed with hypertensive chorioretinopathy.

Procedure

Medical records from cats with systemic hypertension and associated retinal lesions were reviewed.

Results

Most cats (61%) were blind in both eyes at presentation. Presence of menace response at last follow‐up evaluation was positively correlated with presence of menace response at presentation (P = .0025), time to complete retinal reattachment (P < .0001), and gender (P = .0137). Seventy‐six of 132 eyes (57.6%) that were blind at presentation regained some vision following treatment. At the time of last evaluation, 101/176 eyes (60%) had a positive menace response, while 34/46 (74%) eyes with a follow‐up of >6 months had a positive menace response. Eyes that had a menace response at presentation were 17 and 37 times more likely to have a menace response at last examination compared to eyes blind for less than 2 weeks and eyes blind greater than 2 weeks, respectively. Female cats were overrepresented (62.5% of cases), and male cats were 4.2 times more likely to be visual at time of last examination compared to female cats.

Conclusions

With treatment, the prognosis for long‐term vision in cats with hypertensive chorioretinopathy, even following complete retinal detachment, is good.
World Englishes and Second Language Acquisition
Authors: Bolton Kingsley
Published: April 2018

This article starts with an overview of the broad field of studies concerned with world Englishes (WE), before moving on to a discussion of current debates on world Englishes, and the central issue of world Englishes and Second Language Acquisition. The later sections of this article then consider various ways of bridging the gap between the fields of world Englishes and Second Language Acquisition, highlighting the importance of a multilingual perspective in this context.
English as a spatial resource and the claimed competence of Chinese STEM professionals
Authors: Canagarajah Suresh
Published: April 2018

This interview‐based study of 24 Chinese STEM scholars in a midwestern US university explores their competence for professional communication in their workplace. Though they acknowledge a lack of advanced grammatical proficiency in English, they state that they are successful in professional communication. Their success results from their use of diverse semiotic resources beyond language, and the strategic alignment of semiotic resources with spatial and social ecologies in their communication. To explain this competence, the article argues that we have to adopt a spatial orientation to communication as an activity, shifting from structuralist models which prioritize grammar as an autonomous system.
Fibroadenomas and breast carcinoma: a possible answer to a frequently asked question. A pictorial essay
Authors: Ciurea Anca Ileana , Herţa Hanelore Argentina , Iacoban Cătălin George , Fetica Bogdan , Rogojan Liliana , Ciortea Cristiana Augusta
Published: April 2018

Fibroadenomas (FAs) are the most frequently encountered benign breast lesions in young women and due to the age of the patients, they are usually diagnosed by ultrasound. Although they rarely undergo malignant transformation, the patients remain concerned about the possibility of malignant transformation. The aim of this pictorial essay is to illustrate the appearance of classic and complex fibroadenomas, to discuss the risk factors and to highlight the imaging characteristics that raise the suspicion of malignant transformation. In other words, we try to answer, according to our experience and literature data, to a frequently asked question in daily practice: “Is there any risk thatmy fibroadenoma will become malignant?”
Effectiveness of Superb Microvascular Imaging for the differentiation of intraductal breast lesions
Authors: Bakdik Suleyman , Arslan Serdar , Oncu Fatih , Durmaz Mehmet Sedat , Altunkeser Aysegul , Eryilmaz Mehmet Ali , Unlu Yasar
Published: April 2018

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and power Doppler imaging (PDI) for the differentiation of intraductal breast lesions.Materials and methods: A total of 54 intraductal breast lesions (39 benign, 10 atypical, and 5 malignant) in 53 patients were examined using B-mode ultrasonography, PDI, and SMI. Vascularity grading, distribution of microvessels, and penetrating vessels were evaluated using each Doppler technique. The diagnostic performances of both methods were compared.Results: SMI was more efficient in detecting flow signals than PDI (p=0.004). The highest diagnostic accuracy rates were achieved with SMI using vascular grading. When hypervascularity was used as a cut-off value to differentiate malignant and atypical lesions from benign lesions, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 66.6%, 80.7%, 66.6%, 80.7%, and 75.6%for PDI, and 86.6%, 76.9%, 68.4%, 90.9%, and 80.4% for SMI, respectively. Conclusions: SMI is more sensitive than PDI for detecting subtle blood flow in intraductal breast lesions with statistical significance. This novel and promising vascular imaging technique may be helpful in B-mode ultrasonography to distinguish intraductal breast lesions.
Microstructure, mechanical, and tribological properties of niobium vanadium carbon nitride films
Authors: Ju Hongbo , Yu Dian , Xu Junhua , Yu Lihua , Geng Yaoxiang , Gao Ting , Yi Guo , Bian Shunuo
Published: April 2018

Composite Nb-V-C-N films with different carbon content were synthesized using reactive magnetron sputtering system, and the influence of carbon on the microstructure, mechanical, and tribological properties of niobium vanadium nitride films was investigated. The films with carbon content below 9.1 at. % exhibited a two-phase of solid solution face-centered cubic (fcc) (NbV)(CN) and hexagonal close-packed (hcp) (NbV)2(CN); increasing the carbon content further induced the formation of amorphous carbon and CNx, and the films consist of fcc-(NbV)(CN), hcp-(NbV)2(CN), amorphous carbon, and CNx. Solid solution strengthening and the heterostructure led to an increase in hardness to ∼32 GPa at 9.1 at. % carbon. A further increase in carbon content led to a gradual decrease in hardness due to the formation of soft amorphous phases of carbon and CNx. The tribological properties of the films against alumina counterpart at room temperature were significantly influenced by the carbon content. The incorporation of carbon into the films decreased the average friction coefficient (μ) from ∼0.61 at 0 at. % carbon to ∼0.25 at 21.6 at. % carbon. As the carbon content increased, the wear rate first dropped from ∼2.6 × 10−8 mm3/(N mm) at 0 at. % carbon to ∼1.2 × 10−8 mm3/(N mm) at 9.1 at. % carbon, and then rose gradually to ∼8.7 × 10−7 mm3/(N mm) at 21.6 at. % carbon.
“Ripples” in an Aluminum Pool?
Authors: Rohr James , Wang Si-Yin , Nesterenko Vitali F.
Published: April 2018

Our motivation for this article is for students to realize that opportunities for discovery are all around them. Discoveries that can still puzzle present day researchers. Here we explore an observation by a middle school student concerning the production of what appears to be water-like “ripples” produced in aluminum foil when placed between two colliding spheres. We both applaud and explore the student’s reasoning that the ripples were formed in a melted aluminum pool.
The Electromotive Force in Different Reference Frames
Authors: Adler Charles L.
Published: April 2018

The electromotive force (EMF) is the work per unit charge around a wire loop caused by a time-varying magnetic flux threading the loop. It is due to a force moving the charges around the loop. This is true whether the change in flux is due to the wire loop being stationary and the field changing in time, or the loop moving through a spatially varying field. In the first case, we say that the time-varying magnetic field induces an electric field that provides the force; in the second, we say that the force is due to the magnetic field acting on the charges in the moving loop. The theory of relativity states that both viewpoints must be equivalent, but it is sometimes difficult to harmonize them.
Learning Abstract Physical Concepts from Experience: Design and Use of an RC Circuit
Authors: Parra Alfredo , Ordenes Jorge , de la Fuente Milton
Published: April 2018

Science learning for undergraduate students requires grasping a great number of theoretical concepts in a rather short time. In our experience, this is especially difficult when students are required to simultaneously use abstract concepts, mathematical reasoning, and graphical analysis, such as occurs when learning about RC circuits. We present a simple experimental model in this work that allows students to easily design, build, and analyze RC circuits, thus providing an opportunity to test personal ideas, build graphical descriptions, and explore the meaning of the respective mathematical models, ultimately gaining a better grasp of the concepts involved. The result suggests that the simple setup indeed helps untrained students to visualize the essential points of this kind of circuit.
Things One Can Learn by Putting a Quadcopter in a Vacuum Chamber
Authors: Ayars Eric , Goff Tori , Williams Kirk
Published: April 2018

Quadcopters (also known as “drones”) do not fly in vacuum. This is obvious enough that experimenting on one in a vacuum chamber would seem rather uninteresting, but there is one question that may be usefully addressed by such an experiment: the mechanism for yaw control. Quadcopters control yaw (rotation about the vertical axis) by differential rotor speed, and the question of whether those changes in rotor speed create yaw torque via conservation of angular momentum or via atmospheric drag can be addressed by “flying” a quadcopter in a vacuum where there is effectively zero atmospheric drag.
Some Pros and Cons of Laptop Use in Class
Authors: Harris R. W.
Published: April 2018

We did not have laptops or computer networks in schools in 1968, when I started teaching physics. When classroom computers became available, followed by the internet, I greeted them as great educational tools. I developed my own website in order to provide reference material and assignments for my students. I found that online assignments were more likely than traditional ones to be completed. I also had my own system making password-protected grades available online. The parents loved it. I began giving some tests online. However, there is a downside to laptop use in class.
Determination of the drag resistance coefficients of different vehicles
Authors: Fahsl Christoph , Vogt Patrik
Published: April 2018

While it has been demonstrated how air resistance could be analyzed by using mobile devices, this paper demonstrates a method of how to determine the drag resistance coefficient c of a commercial automobile by using the acceleration sensor of a smartphone or tablet. In an academic context, the drag resistance is often mentioned, but little attention is paid to quantitative measurements. This experiment was driven by the fact that this physical value is most certainly neglected because of its difficult measurability. In addition to that, this experiment gives insights on how the aerodynamic factor of an automobile affects the energy dissipation and thus how much power is required by automobile transportation.
The mass-lifetime relation
Authors: LoPresto Michael C.
Published: April 2018

In a recent “AstroNote,” I described a simple exercise on the mass-luminosity relation for main sequence stars as an example of exposing students in a general education science course of lower mathematical level to the use of quantitative skills such as collecting and analyzing data. Here I present another attempt at a meaningful experience for such students that again involves both the gathering and analysis of numerical data and comparison with accepted result, this time on the relationship of the mass and lifetimes of main sequence stars. This experiment can stand alone or be used as an extension of the previous mass-luminosity relationship experiment.
Intranasal administration of temozolomide combined with focused ultrasound to enhance the survival of mice with glioma (A Pilot Study)
Authors: Ye Dezhuang , Yue Yimei , Zhu Lifei , Chen Hong
Published: April 2018

Intranasal route provides therapeutics direct access to the brain through the nose-to-brain pathway, bypassing the BBB and minimizing systemic exposure. However, nasal delivery is limited by its low delivery efficiency and non-localized delivery. Focused ultrasound-enhanced intranasal (FUSIN) delivery is a new technique for noninvasive and localized delivery of therapeutic agents to the brain. Previous studies have shown its feasibility in the delivery of dextrans and brain-derived neurotrophic factor to the brain. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the application of FUSIN for the delivery of temozolomide (TMZ), a first-line drug for treating glioma tumors, for the treatment of glioblastoma in an orthotopic mouse model. U87 glioblastoma cells were trancranially implanted to nude mice. The tumor mice were divided into four groups: (1) FUSIN + TMZ (n = 7); (2) IN TMZ (n = 6); (3) Oral TMZ (n = 6); and (4) IN vehicle (n = 6), and were treated once each week for 4 weeks. Mice were weighed once a week. A body weight loss reaching 20% was selected as the endpoint criteria for the study. Mice in FUSIN group showed statistically significant higher survival rate when compared with mice in all other groups. This pilot study suggested that FUSIN can potentially be an effective technique for the treatment of brain diseases.
Towards transparent EEG: Ear-centered EEG acquisition using the cEEGrid
Authors: Bleichner Martin G. , Debener Stefan
Published: April 2018

Ear-centered electroencephalography (EEG) allows for inconspicuous acquisition of EEG signals. Different approaches of placing electrodes in the ear canal, the concha, or around the ear have been proposed. As integral part of a hearing device, they promise to capture the neural correlates of a user’s listening intent or listening effort in everyday situations. We have developed a ten electrode c-shaped array (cEEGrid); the flex-printed grid is positioned around the ear using an adhesive tape and allows for extended (>8 hours) high quality EEG recordings. We have shown that neural activity related to auditory processing originating from different neural sources can be reliably recorded. The signals recorded from different locations around the ear contain non-redundant information. The signal similarity between electrodes depends on their respective angle relative to the reference electrode. If this angle difference is small (20°) the signals recorded at these electrodes correlate highly (correlation score around 0.8). If this angle difference is large (160°) the signals recorded at these electrodes are uncorrelated. From this we conclude that the distributed electrode placement around the ear provides an interesting perspective on different neural processes. In combination with smartphone based experimentation, signal acquisition and analysis ear-centered EEG may soon enable the use of brain signals captured in daily life situations.
A contrastive place of articulation between palatals and velars: An ultrasound study of Malayalam palatal-velar nasals
Authors: Bouavichith Dominique A. , Namboodiripad Savithry , Garellek Marc
Published: April 2018

Malayalam (Dravidian) has been described as having seven contrastive nasal places of articulation: labial, dental, alveolar, retroflex, palatal, velar, and a “seventh nasal,” sometimes called palatal-velar /ŋj/ (Asher & Kumari 1997; Namboodiripad & Garellek 2017). Nasal inventories of this size are cross-linguistically rare, and the palatal-velar nasal has only been proposed in a handful of languages worldwide (e.g., Irish, Yanyuwa, and Awngi). Indeed, its status in Malayalam could be deemed peripheral; it is infrequent and occurs in limited phonological contexts. Namboodiripad & Garellek (2017) claim that, though several consonants undergo palatalization in Malayalam, this palatal-velar nasal is dynamically stable and not post-palatalized. Although it is distinct in format transitions from the non-palatalized velar nasal, the articulatory basis for the distinction between this palatal-velar nasal and a velar-glide cluster is not clear. The present study uses ultrasound imaging to determine if this seventh nasal is in fact dynamically stable. Ultrasound data were collected from one native speaker of Malayalam; the placement and timing of lingual contact with the palate were examined. Discussion will focus on how the palatal-velar differs in terms of place and timing of articulations from both palatal and velar nasals, as well as from other palatalized consonants.
Predictions of Laryngeal Realism for breathy-voiced stops: Counter-evidence from Bangla
Authors: Islam Jahurul
Published: April 2018

The Laryngeal Realism (LR) framework (Honeybone 2005, Beckman et al. 2013) argues that the breathy-voiced stops in the four-way stop systems are specified for multiple features: [voice] and [spread glottis] ([sg]). As a diagnostic of the specified features, Beckman et al. (2013) proposed that the acoustic cues for a specified feature be longer in slower speech. While predictions of the LR framework have been tested on two- and three-way stop systems using this technique, there has not been much on the four-way stop systems. This study presents evidence from Bangla and argues that the predictions of the LR framework apply variably for the breathy-voiced stops; [sg] is found to be the stronger candidate as the specified feature than [voice]. In slower speech, the cue for the breathy voicing (the lag-time) lengthened in the breathy-voiced stops. Contrarily, the acoustic cue for the [voice] feature (the prevoicing) was not affected by speech rate. Mixed-effects models confirmed that the effect of speech rate on the duration of breathy-voicing cues was statistically significant, but the effect on prevoicing was not. These results imply that the prediction of the LR framework may not be the best representation of the phonological features of breathy-voiced stops.
Automatic target recognition with uncertain scattered signal distributions
Authors: Wilson D. K. , Hart Carl R. , Pettit Chris L. , Breton Daniel J. , Nykaza Edward T. , Ostashev Vladimir E.
Published: April 2018

One of the primary challenges for performing robust automated target recognition (ATR) is how to compensate the signatures for environmental propagation effects. ATR algorithms tend to function well only in the specific terrain and atmospheric conditions for which they were trained. This is particularly true for acoustic signals, which undergo strong frequency-dependent scattering and refraction in both outdoor and underwater environments. To address this problem, we formulate a Bayesian sequential updating method, which accounts for realistic signal and noise distributions, and uncertainties in the parameters of these distributions. The formulation utilizes physics-based scattering models for signal fading and the cross coherence between frequencies and transmission paths. We discuss how, in a Bayesian context, the scattering models correspond to likelihood functions, which are conveniently paired with their conjugate priors to efficiently update the uncertain signal parameters (hyperparameters). The original (prior) distributions, as predicted using an initial forecast based on available weather and terrain data, are nudged towards the observed signal properties as samples are collected in real time. This leads to an optimal posterior distribution, as appropriate for use in a Bayesian classifier. The technique is demonstrated using simulations in which signal transmissions are collected along single and multiple transmission paths.
Biologically inspired acoustic sensors: From insect ears to miniature microphones
Authors: Windmill James F.
Published: April 2018

Taking inspiration from insect ears to develop an acoustic device is not new. Research to take inspiration from the highly directional, sub-wavelength, Ormia ochracea fly’s ear to produce miniature directional microphones is well-known. Since the 1990s, researchers have tried to implement Ormia based micro-electro-mechanical systems devices, typically using standard silicon or similar microfabrication. Much of this time has been spent trying to circumvent the fact that Ormia evolved to hear one specific frequency, that of a calling cricket, and so is not a broadband system as you would require for an audio microphone. Further, building a silicon system inspired by the mechanics of insect ears leads to various compromises. This talk will discuss ongoing work at the University of Strathclyde on silicon microfabrication of acoustic devices inspired by the Ormia system. It will focus on efforts to create MEMS microphones designed with multiple resonance frequencies in the human vocal range. It will also describe ongoing research into the use of active feedback in MEMS acoustic systems, inspired by auditory hearing mechanisms. Finally, it will also look at the latest research by the Strathclyde team into the application of 3D microfabrication for the development of bio-inspired acoustic devices.
Reflections on Los Alamos infrasound research
Authors: Whitaker Rodney W.
Published: April 2018

Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory began work in infrasound research in 1982 under Department of Energy funding. This beginning was to investigate the generation and propagation of surface ground motion generated atmospheric infrasound signals. Infrasound arrays were operated to measure the infrasound signals at near regional distances. The program was successful and continued until the end of US underground nuclear testing in 1992. During this time, data were collected on earthquakes, bolides and on various man-made high explosive tests. As work on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was continuing, Los Alamos, working with Sandia National Laboratory, fielded a prototype infrasound array following Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty guidelines, which operated from mid 1997 to 2007. More recent work emphasizes seismo-acoustic research in explosion monitoring, improving infrasound propagation models for better source location and analysis and the development of Python based tools. In this talk, I will highlight some aspects of the earlier and current Los Alamos activity.
Pleural fluid may pose no measurable effect on lung stiffness in lung ultrasound surface wave elastography
Authors: Zhou Jinling , Zhang Xiaoming
Published: April 2018

Lung ultrasound surface wave elastography (LUSWE) was developed as a non-invasive tool for assessing pulmonary fibrosis. In this research, the effect of the fleural fluid on surface wave speed measurement of the lung is studied. Low-cost sponges [J. Ultrasound Med. 2017; 36, 2133], as good lung phantoms, were used in this study. The ultrasound transmission gel was used to simulate the pleural fluid. A harmonic vibration was generated at sponge surfaces using a shaker at 100, 150, and 200 Hz. The sponge surface wave speeds were measured with a 6 MHz ultrasound probe for both with and without a thin layer gel. The ultrasound features of A and B-lines were clearly observed in every sponge model in our experiment. The surface wave speeds for the sponges with the gel were indistinguishable from those without the gel for each frequency. The surface wave speeds were faster at higher excitation frequencies which is consistent with our patient study results. It was conclude that the pleural fluid may not affect the lung surface wave speed measurement based upon our lung phantom sponge models.
Mandarin vowel and tone identification for Mandarin congenital amusics
Authors: Li Mingshuang , Tang Wei , Liu Chang , Nan Yun , wang wenjing , dong qi
Published: April 2018

Recent studies found that the lexical tone processing in Mandarin Chinese was normal for amusics with musical perception disorders, but was degraded for a subgroup of amusics, named tone agnosics. The current study aimed to further explore whether the lexical deficits in tone agnosics were presented in phonetic processing, in particular, diphthong and triphthong. Vowel and tone identifications were examined among three groups of Mandarin-native listeners: tone agnosics (amusics with lexical tone deficits), the pure amusics (with normal lexical processing) and normal controls. Preliminary results showed that tone agnosics had the lowest scores in the identification of vowel-plus-tones, vowels, and tones, while the performances were similar between the pure amusics and normal controls. Moreover, tone agnosics showed deficits not only in lexical tone identification, but also in vowel identification. Particularly, the disadvantages of tone agnosics in both vowel and tone processing appeared to be greater in diphthongs and triphthongs than in monothongs. Speech processing of pure amusics was comparable with that of the control group, although they had deficits in musical disorders, implying that musical perception was separate from speech perception at high-level processing. On the other hand, tone agnosia had deficits in both musical and speech processing.
Acoustic measures of delabialized velars in Hong Kong Cantonese
Authors: Culnan John , Yiu Suki
Published: April 2018

Hong Kong Cantonese is undergoing a neutralization of the labialized velar /kw/ with the plain velar /k/ before the round back vowel /ɔ/ that is well-documented auditorily but not acoustically (Bauer, 1982; Newman, 1987; To et al., 2015). The present data from 14 native speakers of Hong Kong Cantonese seeks to determine what acoustic characteristics differentiate non-neutralized /k/ and /kw/, and whether neutralization of these segments in neutralization environment is complete or incomplete. Initial data analysis suggests that locus equations on the second and third vowel formants may not be reliable cues in distinguishing plain and clearly labialized (non-merged) velars in this dialect of Cantonese, although formant lowering and increased vowel length for non-merged, labialized productions appear consistent, and intensity measures at 50 ms post-vowel onset may prove to be an important cue as well. The most consistent cues for labialization in clearly labialized articulations of target words will then be measured in neutralized (phonetically plain) productions in order to determine whether any acoustic traces of labialization remain for these realizations.
The position of the tongue root in the articulation of posterior sibilants in Polish
Authors: Cavar Malgorzata E. , Lulich Steven M.
Published: April 2018

Standard Polish has a typologically relatively rare contrast between “hard” post-alveolar affricates and fricatives, transcribed by Ladefoged and Disner (2012) as (/tṣ, dẓ, ṣ, ẓ/ and “soft” alveolo-palatal affricates and fricatives (IPA transcription /tɕ, dʑ, ɕ, ʑ /). The hard post-alveolars are notoriously ambiguous—phonetically they are neither sense stricto retroflexes (though some authors adopt such an analysis based on phonological arguments, e.g., Hamann 2003) nor typical palatoalveolars. Additionally, the “hard” post-alveoalars can be allophonically palatalized in the context of [i]. Multiple approaches have been proposed to differentiate the hard and soft series, all of them primarily focusing on the shape of the body of the tongue, including the level of raising of the body of the tongue, the place of articulation, and the length of the constriction. In this study, we present 3-D tongue shapes of the consonants. The 3D ultrasound images—besides additional details of the shape of the tongue body—reveal a consistent difference in terms of the tongue root position, with a fronting of the tongue root and a pronounced groove along the center of the tongue in the root part of the tongue for prepalatals and no such fronting for the “hard” post-alveolars.
Heritable stress response dynamics revealed by single-cell genealogy
Authors: Chatterjee Meenakshi , Acar Murat
Published: April 2018

Single yeast cells preserve a memory of their mothers’ dynamic response to stressful conditions.
Decline of genetic diversity in ancient domestic stallions in Europe
Authors: Wutke Saskia , Sandoval-Castellanos Edson , Benecke Norbert , Döhle Hans-Jürgen , Friederich Susanne , Gonzalez Javier , Hofreiter Michael , Lõugas Lembi , Magnell Ola , Malaspinas Anna-Sapfo , Morales-Muñiz Arturo , Orlando Ludovic , Reissmann Monika , Trinks Alexandra , Ludwig Arne
Published: April 2018

Today there are ~56 million horses worldwide, but nearly all of them are descendants of one stallion.
Origin of Phobos and Deimos by the impact of a Vesta-to-Ceres sized body with Mars
Authors: Canup Robin , Salmon Julien
Published: April 2018

Phobos and Deimos are likely remnants of a low-mass disk generated by the impact of a Vesta to Ceres-sized body with Mars.
Dynamic coding of predatory information between the prelimbic cortex and lateral amygdala in foraging rats
Authors: Kim Eun Joo , Kong Mi-Seon , Park Sang Geon , Mizumori Sheri J. Y. , Cho Jeiwon , Kim Jeansok J.
Published: April 2018

We report how the brain codes predatory threat information to guide and shape foraging behaviors in rats.
Geometric constraints and optimization in externally driven propulsion
Authors: Mirzae Yoni , Dubrovski Oles , Kenneth Oded , Morozov Konstantin I. , Leshansky Alexander M.
Published: April 2018

The optimal propulsion of magnetic micromachines with preprogrammed and random shapes is theoretically investigated.
Systemic administration of the antisense oligonucleotide NS-065/NCNP-01 for skipping of exon 53 in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Komaki Hirofumi , Nagata Tetsuya , Saito Takashi , Masuda Satoru , Takeshita Eri , Sasaki Masayuki , Tachimori Hisateru , Nakamura Harumasa , Aoki Yoshitsugu , Takeda Shin’ichi
Published: April 2018

NS-065/NCNP-01, an antisense oligonucleotide that enables exon 53 skipping in the dystrophin gene, showed a favorable safety profile and promising pharmacokinetics in 10 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Synthetic biology-based cellular biomedical tattoo for detection of hypercalcemia associated with cancer
Authors: Tastanova Aizhan , Folcher Marc , Müller Marius , Camenisch Gieri , Ponti Aaron , Horn Thomas , Tikhomirova Maria S. , Fussenegger Martin
Published: April 2018

A biomedical tattoo composed of cells engineered to express a calcium-sensing receptor coupled to visible melanin production detects hypercalcemia.
Shaking up cellular therapy
Authors: Conway Claire
Published: April 2018

Stem cell preparation technique determines the outcome of transplant therapy for myocardial infarction.
An epigenetic target for autism
Authors: Liston Conor
Published: April 2018

A transient 3-day course of treatment with a histone deacetylase inhibitor persistently rescues atypical social behavior in a
Shank3-
deficiency mouse model of autism.
A (synthetic) lethal weapon for cancer
Authors: Lujambio Amaia
Published: April 2018

ROS1 inhibition in E-cadherin–deficient tumors leads to synthetic lethality, which could be exploited for the selective treatment of breast cancer patients.
Analysis of Clinical Drug-Drug Interaction Data To Predict Magnitudes of Uncharacterized Interactions between Antiretroviral Drugs and Comedications
Authors: Stader Felix , Kinvig Hannah , Battegay Manuel , Khoo Saye , Owen Andrew , Siccardi Marco , Marzolini Catia
Published: April 2018

Despite their high potential for drug-drug interactions (DDI), clinical DDI studies of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) are often lacking, because the full range of potential interactions cannot feasibly or pragmatically be studied, with some high-risk DDI studies also being ethically difficult to undertake. Thus, a robust method to screen and to predict the likelihood of DDIs is required. We developed a method to predict DDIs based on two parameters: the degree of metabolism by specific enzymes, such as CYP3A, and the strength of an inhibitor or inducer. These parameters were derived from existing studies utilizing paradigm substrates, inducers, and inhibitors of CYP3A to assess the predictive performance of this method by verifying predicted magnitudes of changes in drug exposure against clinical DDI studies involving ARVs. The derived parameters were consistent with the FDA classification of sensitive CYP3A substrates and the strength of CYP3A inhibitors and inducers. Characterized DDI magnitudes (n= 68) between ARVs and comedications were successfully quantified, meaning 53%, 85%, and 98% of the predictions were within 1.25-fold (0.80 to 1.25), 1.5-fold (0.66 to 1.48), and 2-fold (0.66 to 1.94) of the observed clinical data. In addition, the method identifies CYP3A substrates likely to be highly or, conversely, minimally impacted by CYP3A inhibitors or inducers, thus categorizing the magnitude of DDIs. The developed effective and robust method has the potential to support a more rational identification of dose adjustment to overcome DDIs, being particularly relevant in an HIV setting, given the treatment's complexity, high DDI risk, and limited guidance on the management of DDIs.
Long-Term Survival and Thermal Death Kinetics of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Serogroups O26, O103, O111, and O157 in Wheat Flour
Authors: Forghani Fereidoun , den Bakker Meghan , Futral Alexandra N. , Diez-Gonzalez Francisco
Published: April 2018

Wheat flour has been associated with outbreaks of enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
(EHEC), but little is known on EHEC's survival during storage and thermal processing. The objective of this study was to determine long-term viability and thermal inactivation kinetics of EHEC serogroups O26, O103, O111, and O157. Wheat flour samples were inoculated with a cocktail of five strains of a single serogroup and stored at 23 and 35°C. Inoculated samples were heated at 55, 60, 65, and 70°C. Viability was determined by plate counting. Decimal reduction time (
D
) and first decimal reduction time (δ) values were calculated with log-linear and Weibull models, respectively. At 23°C, EHEC counts declined gradually for 84 days and samples tested positive from 84 to 280 days. The thermal resistance (
D
and δ) values ranged from 7.5 to 8.2 and 3.1 to 5.3 days, respectively, but there were no significant differences among serogroups (
P
≤ 0.05). At 35°C, no EHEC was quantifiable by day 7 and no positive samples were detected after 49 days. Heating at 55 and 65°C resulted in δ-value ranges of 15.6 to 39.7 min and 3.0 to 3.9 min, respectively, with no significant difference among serogroups either. Z values were 12.6, 6.7, 10.2, and 13.4°C for O26, O103, O111, and O157, respectively. Thermal death kinetics of EHEC in flour were better described using the Weibull model. Survival and inactivation rates of four serogroups were remarkably similar. These findings indicated that all EHEC serovars tested remained viable for at least 9 months at room temperature and survived for up to 60 min at 70°C in wheat flour.

IMPORTANCE
Enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
(EHEC) and
Salmonella
have recently caused several gastroenteritis outbreaks and recalls of wheat flour. Because EHEC can cause illness with very low doses and there is very scarce information regarding their ability to survive storage and heating in flour, the present study was undertaken to assess the long-term survival of EHEC serogroups O26, O103, O111, and O157 in flour. These findings are relevant, as we report that EHEC can survive for more than 9 months in wheat flour during storage. In addition, results obtained suggest that thermal inactivation at 65°C for 30 min or 2 months of storage at 35°C may be feasible strategies to mitigate the risk of most EHEC serovars in wheat flour.
Investigating the Central Metabolism of Clostridium thermosuccinogenes
Authors: Koendjbiharie Jeroen Girwar , Wiersma Kilian , van Kranenburg Richard
Published: April 2018

Clostridium thermosuccinogenes
is a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium able to convert various carbohydrates to succinate and acetate as main fermentation products. Genomes of the four publicly available strains have been sequenced, and the genome of the type strain has been closed. The annotated genomes were used to reconstruct the central metabolism, and enzyme assays were used to validate annotations and to determine cofactor specificity. The genes were identified for the pathways to all fermentation products, as well as for the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway and the pentose phosphate pathway. Notably, a candidate transaldolase was lacking, and transcriptomics during growth on glucose versus that on xylose did not provide any leads to potential transaldolase genes or alternative pathways connecting the C
5
with the C
3
/C
6
metabolism. Enzyme assays showed xylulokinase to prefer GTP over ATP, which could be of importance for engineering xylose utilization in related thermophilic species of industrial relevance. Furthermore, the gene responsible for malate dehydrogenase was identified via heterologous expression in
Escherichia coli
and subsequent assays with the cell extract, which has proven to be a simple and powerful method for the basal characterization of thermophilic enzymes.

IMPORTANCE
Running industrial fermentation processes at elevated temperatures has several advantages, including reduced cooling requirements, increased reaction rates and solubilities, and a possibility to perform simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of a pretreated biomass. Most studies with thermophiles so far have focused on bioethanol production.
Clostridium thermosuccinogenes
seems an attractive production organism for organic acids, succinic acid in particular, from lignocellulosic biomass-derived sugars. This study provides valuable insights into its central metabolism and GTP and PP
i
cofactor utilization.
LaoABCR, a Novel System for Oxidation of Long-Chain Alcohols Derived from SDS and Alkane Degradation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Panasia Gianna , Philipp Bodo
Published: April 2018

The opportunistic pathogenPseudomonas aeruginosastrain PAO1 is able to use a variety of organic pollutants as growth substrates, including the anionic detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and long-chain alkanes. While the enzymes initiating SDS and alkane degradation are well known, the subsequent enzymatic steps for degradation of the derived primary long-chain alcohols have not yet been identified. By evaluating genes specifically induced during growth with SDS, a gene cluster encoding a putative alcohol dehydrogenase (PA0364/LaoA), a probable inner membrane protein (PA0365/LaoB), and a presumable aldehyde dehydrogenase (PA0366/LaoC) was identified and designated the Lao (long-chain-alcohol/aldehyde-oxidation) system. Growth experiments with deletion mutants with SDS, 1-dodecanol, and alkanes revealed that LaoA and LaoB are involved in the degradation of primary long-chain alcohols. Moreover, detection of 1-dodecanol oxidation in cell extracts by activity staining revealed an interdependency of LaoA and LaoB for efficient 1-dodecanol oxidation. Anin silicoanalysis yielded no well-characterized homologue proteins for LaoA and LaoB. Furthermore, a gene adjacent to thelaogene cluster encodes a putative transcriptional regulator (PA0367/LaoR). AlaoRdeletion mutant exhibited constitutive expression of LaoA and LaoB, indicating that LaoR is a repressor for the expression oflaoABC. Taken together, these results showed that the proteins LaoA and LaoB constitute a novel oxidation system for long-chain alcohols derived from pollutants.

IMPORTANCEThe versatile and highly adaptive bacteriumPseudomonas aeruginosa is able to colonize a variety of habitats, including anthropogenic environments, where it is often challenged with toxic compounds. Its ability to degrade such compounds and to use them as growth substrates can significantly enhance spreading of this opportunistic pathogen in hygienic settings, such as clinics or water distribution systems. Thus, knowledge about the metabolism ofP. aeruginosacan contribute to novel approaches for preventing its growth and reducing nosocomial infections. As the Lao system is important for the degradation of two different classes of pollutants, the identification of these novel enzymes can be a useful contribution for developing effective antibacterial strategies.
Draft Genome Sequence of FGL03-6, a Race 1 Strain of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans, the Causal Agent of Cabbage Fusarium Wilt
Authors: Lv Honghao , Yang Yuhong , Liu Xing , Ling Jian , Fang Zhiyuan , Yang Limei , Zhang Yangyong , Wang Yong
Published: April 2018

We present here the draft genome sequence of FGL03-6, a race 1 strain of
Fusarium oxysporum
f. sp.
conglutinans
, the pathogen causing
Fusarium
yellows of cabbage. The FGL03-6 genome consists of 414 scaffolds with 61,662,789 bp (GC content, 47.9%) and 9,790 predicted genes.
Draft Genome Assembly of the Sheep Scab Mite, Psoroptes ovis
Authors: Burgess Stewart T. G. , Bartley Kathryn , Marr Edward J. , Wright Harry W. , Weaver Robert J. , Prickett Jessica C. , Hughes Margaret , Haldenby Sam , Thi Le Phuong , Rombauts Stephane , Van Leeuwen Thomas , Van de Peer Yves , Nisbet Alasdair J.
Published: April 2018

Sheep scab, caused by infestation with
Psoroptes ovis
, is highly contagious, results in intense pruritus, and represents a major welfare and economic concern. Here, we report the first draft genome assembly and gene prediction of
P. ovis
based on PacBio
de novo
sequencing. The ∼63.2-Mb genome encodes 12,041 protein-coding genes.
Draft Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium porcinum CSURP1564
Authors: Bouam A. , Levasseur A. , Drancourt M.
Published: April 2018

Mycobacterium porcinumis a rapidly growing environmental mycobacterium responsible for opportunistic infections. The 7,025,616-bp draft genome ofM. porcinumstrain CSURP1564 exhibits a 66.71% G+C content, 6,687 protein-coding genes, and 65 predicted RNA genes.In silicoDNA-DNA hybridization confirms its assignment to theMycobacterium fortuitumcomplex.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas sp. Strain LLC-1 (NBRC 111237), Capable of Metabolizing Lignin-Derived Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds
Authors: Hirose Jun , Tsuda Naoki , Miyatake Munetoshi , Yokoi Haruhiko , Shimodaira Jun
Published: April 2018

Pseudomonas
sp. strain LLC-1 (NBRC 111237), isolated from soil, metabolizes lignin-derived low-molecular-weight compounds and utilizes vanillin and vanillic acid as its sole sources of carbon. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Pseudomonas
sp. strain LLC-1.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Natural Escherichia coli O145:H11 Isolate That Belongs to Phylogroup A
Authors: Carter Michelle Qiu , Pham Antares
Published: April 2018

Escherichia coli
O145:H11 strain RM14721 was originally isolated from wildlife feces near a leafy greens-growing region in Yuma, AZ. This strain was initially positive for
stx
1
; however, in subsequent cultures,
stx
1
was not detected by PCR. Here, we report the complete genome sequence and annotation of RM14721.
Entamoeba histolytica Alters Ileal Paneth Cell Functions in Intact and Muc2 Mucin Deficiency
Authors: Cobo Eduardo R. , Holani Ravi , Moreau France , Nakamura Kiminori , Ayabe Tokiyoshi , Mastroianni Jennifer R. , Eriguchi Yoshihiro , Ouellette Andre , Chadee Kris
Published: April 2018

Enteric α-defensins, termed cryptdins (Crps) in mice, and lysozymes secreted by Paneth cells contribute to innate host defense in the ileum. Antimicrobial factors, including lysozymes and β-defensins, are often embedded in luminal glycosylated colonic Muc2 mucin secreted by goblet cells that form the protective mucus layer critical for gut homeostasis and pathogen invasion. In this study, we investigated ileal innate immunity againstEntamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of intestinal amebiasis, by inoculating parasites in closed ileal loops inMuc2+/+andMuc2−/−littermates and quantifying Paneth cell localization (lysozyme expression) and function (Crp secretion). Relative toMuc2+/+littermates,Muc2−/−littermates showed a disorganized mislocalization of Paneth cells that was diffusely distributed, with elevated lysozyme secretion in the crypts and on villi in response toE. histolytica. Inhibition ofE. histolyticaGal/GalNAc lectin (Gal-lectin) binding with exogenous galactose andEntamoeba histolyticacysteine proteinase 5 (EhCP5)-negativeE. histolyticahad no effect on parasite-induced erratic Paneth cell lysozyme synthesis. Although the basal ileal expression ofCrpgenes was unaffected inMuc2−/−mice in response toE. histolytica, there was a robust release of proinflammatory cytokines and Crp peptide secretions in luminal exudates that was also present in the colon. Interestingly,E. histolytica-secreted cysteine proteinases cleaved the proregion of Crp4 but not the active form. These findings define Muc2 mucin as an essential component of ileal barrier function that regulates the localization and function of Paneth cells critical for host defense against microbes.
Mortality in coeliac disease: a population-based cohort study from a single centre in Southern Derbyshire, UK
Authors: Holmes Geoffrey K T , Muirhead Andrew
Published: April 2018

Objective

With the advent of screening tests, it was hypothesised that milder cases of coeliac disease coming to diagnosis might have reduced risk of mortality. An earlier publication did not support this view. We have re-examined this issue employing a larger number of patients followed for a further 8 years.

Design

Patients with coeliac disease from Southern Derbyshire, UK, were followed prospectively from 1978 to 2014 and included those diagnosed by biopsy and serology. Causes of death were ascertained. Standardised mortality ratios were calculated for all deaths, cardiovascular disease, malignancy, accidents and suicides, respiratory and digestive disease. Ratios were calculated for individual causes. Analysis centred on the postdiagnosis period that included follow-up time beginning 2 years from the date of coeliac disease diagnosis to avoid ascertainment bias. Patients were stratified according to date of diagnosis to reflect increasing use of serological methods.

Results

All-cause mortality increase was 57%. Mortality in the serology era declined overall. Mortality from cardiovascular disease, specifically, decreased significantly over time. Death from respiratory disease significantly increased in the postdiagnosis period. The standardised mortality ratio for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was 6.32, for pneumonia 2.58, for oesophageal cancer 2.80 and for liver disease 3.10. Survival in those who died after diagnosis increased by three times over the past three decades.

Conclusions

Serological testing has impacted on the risk of mortality in coeliac disease. There is an opportunity to improve survival by implementing vaccination programmes for pneumonia and more prompt, aggressive treatments for liver disease.