bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Future Importance of Product Features Based on Online Customer Reviews
Authors: Jiang Huimin , Kwong C. K. , Yung K. L.
Published: July 2017

Previous studies conducted customer surveys based on questionnaires and interviews, and the survey data were then utilized to analyze product features. In recent years, online customer reviews on products became extremely popular, which contain rich information on customer opinions and expectations. However, previous studies failed to properly address the determination of the importance of product features and prediction of their future importance based on online reviews. Accordingly, a methodology for predicting future importance weights of product features based on online customer reviews is proposed in this paper which mainly involves opinion mining, a fuzzy inference method, and a fuzzy time series method. Opinion mining is adopted to analyze the online reviews and extract product features. A fuzzy inference method is used to determine the importance weights of product features using both frequencies and sentiment scores obtained from opinion mining. A fuzzy time series method is adopted to predict the future importance of product features. A case study on electric irons was conducted to illustrate the proposed methodology. To evaluate the effectiveness of the fuzzy time series method in predicting the future importance, the results obtained by the fuzzy time series method are compared with those obtained by the three common forecasting methods. The results of the comparison show that the prediction results based on fuzzy time series method are better than those based on exponential smoothing, simple moving average, and fuzzy moving average methods.
Pop-Up MEMS One-Way Endobronchial Valve for Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Malka Ronit E. , Gafford Joshua B. , Springmeyer Steven C. , Wood Robert J.
Published: July 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of morbidity in aging populations worldwide. One of the most debilitating effects of COPD is hyperinflation, which restricts the function of healthier portions of the lung, diaphragm, and heart. Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) is a minimally invasive technique to reduce hyperinflation, consisting of one-way valves inserted bronchoscopically that slowly drain the diseased lobe of its accumulated air. Presented here is a novel redesign of current BLVR devices using pop-up microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing to create microscale check valves. These operate more reliably than current polymer valves and allow tunable airflow to accommodate widely varying patient physiologies. Analysis and ex vivo testing of the redesigned valve predicted the valve should outlast current valves with a lifetime of well over 8 yr and showed airflow controllability within desired physiological ranges of up to 1.2 SLM. The valve resists backflow twice as well as the current standard valves while permitting comparable forward flow.
Cross Country Pipeline Construction in the Pursuit of Zero Accident
Authors: Chaudhari Narayan
Published: July 2017

Cross country pipeline construction, as an industry, may be 65 years or even more, the equipment, the methodology and technologies in this industry have not changed significantly as compared to other industries. The same accident reoccurs on one pipeline project after another even though the incidents are investigated and reports are published and root causes are known to management and communicated to workforce. Pipeline construction activities are hazardous, fast paced, strenuous and are undertaken simultaneously at remote sites, with limited access making it difficult to monitor and control. Experience shows that the time spent on pre-construction and planning activities is simply rapid during construction phase of the work, when safety issues can be much more difficult to resolve. Road driving is another area of concern as lot of travelling is involved. Strategic, focused application of Health, safety and environment programs and its monitoring and mitigation will significantly improve the safety performance of the pipeline construction areas while improving the overall motivation of workers and time schedule to complete the project. These achievements have been demonstrated through the development and implementation of strategic and focused HSE management programs that identifies the areas of concern along the pipeline in the field and allocating the right type of resources in time to mitigate the probability of incidents. Pipeline construction industry will prosper in twenty-first century only if everyone at every level understands the importance of these safety issues and implement the practices that will safeguard both people and planet.
Advanced Ultrasonic In-Line Inspection for the Assessment of Pipelines Affected by Pitting and Pinhole Corrosion
Authors: Willems Herbert
Published: July 2017

The network of pipelines worldwide is growing and aging which leads to an ever increasing focus towards integrity management of these pipelines. One major challenge faced by today’s operators is the realization and management of corrosion of pipelines. Unless detected, sized and documented correctly corrosion does pose as a major time-dependent threat to the aging pipeline network which eventually, if undetected and uncontrolled, can lead to catastrophic failures.

Inline inspection (ILI) by means of intelligent pigs is widely used to ensure a safe operation of pipelines. Ultrasonic technology (UT) is currently the most accurate and reliable inline inspection technology available in the market. Highly specialized UT ILI tools can detect and size pipeline threats related to corrosion or cracking. High resolution tools as available today allow for the reliable inspection of tiny corrosion defects such as pittings or even pinholes. These small but often deep anomalies are severe forms of corrosion known to have caused pipeline failures in the past.

The economic environment for oil companies has changed significantly in the last few years where reduced prices and margins for oil transportation and production challenge pipeline operators globally. At these tight margins, operators must scrutinize closely the indirect costs of performing inspections. Any constraints imposed by required inspections have the potential to negatively affect margin, including the reduction of pipeline flow rates to accommodate optimum inline inspection conditions. The latest generation of UT tools offer higher inspection speeds which overcome the need for flow reduction, therefore reducing transportation losses due to the reduction of throughput. In addition, there is also a need for enhanced axial and circumferential resolution to enable reliable detection and sizing of e. g. pinhole corrosion defects. Without the necessary measuring resolution these defects otherwise might go undetected and un-accounted for. In this contribution, the latest improvements of ultrasonic ILI are described and illustrated by inspection results.
Risk Based Inspection (RBI) Implementation in Cross Country Petroleum Pipelines
Authors: Singh Gurjar Sahab
Published: July 2017

Risk Based Inspection (RBI) is a risk assessment and management process that is focused on loss of containment of pressurized equipment in processing / transportation facilities, due to material deterioration / degradation. These risks are managed primarily through threat identification, inspection, monitoring and mitigation measures. Risk Based Inspection (RBI) process is focused on maintaining the mechanical integrity of high pressure pipelines and minimizing the risk of loss of containment due to deterioration. Frequency of inspection & monitoring activities are fixed in cost effective way which based on the risk ranking.

This paper discusses the development, implementation and maintaining a risk-based inspection (RBI) program for high pressure long petroleum pipelines. It provides guidance to operators of pressure-containing pipelines for developing and implementing an inspection program. This technical paper includes means for assessing an inspection program and its plan. The approach emphasizes safe and reliable operation through risk-prioritized inspection and monitoring program. This also includes practical implementation case study of Wolrd’s longest heated crude oil pipeline operated and maintained by M/s Cairn India Limited.
Effect of Al2O3 passivation layer on the stability of aluminum-indium-zinc oxide thin film transistors
Authors: Park Ji-In , Lim Yooseong , Jang Minhyung , Hwang Namgyung , Yi Moonsuk
Published: July 2017

This study investigated the effect of an Al2O3 passivation layer on the stability of radio-frequency magnetron cosputtered aluminum-indium-zinc oxide (Al-IZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) under positive bias stress, positive bias illumination stress, negative bias illumination stress, and constant current stress. In current devices, threshold-voltage (Vth) instability is dominated by the photo-generated hole/electron trapping at a back-channel surface and/or interface between an insulator and a channel, and the deep defects (subgap states) located near the valence band can easily cause a subgap photoexcitation, resulting in a large Vth shift. In this study, experimental results show that Al2O3-passivated Al-IZO TFTs exhibit stable electrical behaviors under each stress condition (ΔVth < 1.7 V), whereas the unpassivated Al-IZO TFTs exhibit obvious shifts in threshold voltage (ΔVth < 10.50 V). In this study, the authors demonstrated that Al2O3 could be an effective passivation layer to suppress O2 absorption/desorption on the Al-IZO back-channel and decrease photo-excitation on Al-IZO films.
Learning in Physical Education: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective
Authors: Sun Haichun , Li Weidong , Shen Bo
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to review the literature relevant to learning in physical education (PE) according to the self-determination theory (SDT). In this literature review, we first provide an overview of SDT. Second, we discuss students’ SDT-related motivational profiles in PE. Third, we illustrate the relationships among students’ perceptions of the nature of an autonomy-supportive or controlling learning environment, need satisfaction, and self-determined motivation. Fourth, we explore the impact of SDT on students’ learning in PE with respect to the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains. Finally, we articulate the pedagogical implications on the basis of the reviewed SDT research and future directions for SDT research in PE.
Addressed realization of multication complex arrangements in metal-organic frameworks
Authors: Castillo-Blas Celia , de la Peña-O’Shea Víctor A. , Puente-Orench Inés , de Paz Julio Romero , Sáez-Puche Regino , Gutiérrez-Puebla Enrique , Gándara Felipe , Monge Ángeles
Published: July 2017

A method to control the arrangement of various metal elements in MOFs at atomic and mesoscopic scales is described.
Understanding the molecular mechanism of pulse current charging for stable lithium-metal batteries
Authors: Li Qi , Tan Shen , Li Linlin , Lu Yingying , He Yi
Published: July 2017

Pulse current charging stabilizes high-energy lithium-metal batteries.
Papers of note in
Science Translational Medicine
9
(399)
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: July 2017

This week’s articles describe how CAR T cells might be used to treat recurrent glioblastoma and how microvascular cells induce inflammation in the autoimmune disease giant cell arteritis.
Paper of note in
Science
357
(6348)
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: July 2017

This week’s article is a review that highlights how epigenetic factors may make cells more or less susceptible to oncogenic transformation.
Effect of Rifampin on the Single-Dose Pharmacokinetics of Oral Cabotegravir in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Ford S. L. , Sutton K. , Lou Y. , Zhang Z. , Tenorio A. , Trezza C. , Patel P. , Spreen W.
Published: July 2017

Drug-drug interactions between antiretroviral medications and rifampin complicate the treatment of HIV and tuberculosis coinfection. This study evaluated the effect of rifampin on the pharmacokinetics of oral cabotegravir, an integrase strand transfer inhibitor being investigated for long-acting treatment and prevention of HIV-1 infection. This was a phase I, single-center, open-label, fixed-sequence crossover study in healthy adults. The objective was to evaluate the effect of steady-state rifampin on the single-dose plasma pharmacokinetics of cabotegravir. Subjects received a single oral dose of cabotegravir (30 mg) on day 1 followed by plasma sampling on days 1 to 8. Treatment with once-daily oral rifampin (600 mg) occurred on days 8 to 28. Subjects received a second dose of 30 mg cabotegravir on day 21 followed by pharmacokinetic sampling on days 21 to 28. Fifteen subjects were enrolled and completed the study. Rifampin decreased the cabotegravir area under the concentration-time curve from 0 h to infinity and the half-life by 59% and 57%, respectively, whereas oral clearance was increased 2.4-fold. The maximum concentration of cabotegravir in plasma was unaffected by coadministration with rifampin. All adverse events were mild in severity, with chromaturia attributed to rifampin observed in all subjects. Rifampin induction of cabotegravir metabolism resulted in increased cabotegravir oral clearance and significantly decreased cabotegravir exposures. Rifampin is expected to increase cabotegravir clearance following long-acting injectable administration. Concomitant administration of rifampin with oral and long-acting formulations of cabotegravir is not recommended currently without further study. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT02411435.)
Protection of Hamsters from Mortality by Reducing Fecal Moxifloxacin Concentration with DAV131A in a Model of Moxifloxacin-Induced Clostridium difficile Colitis
Authors: Burdet Charles , Sayah-Jeanne Sakina , Nguyen Thu Thuy , Miossec Christine , Saint-Lu Nathalie , Pulse Mark , Weiss William , Andremont Antoine , Mentré France , de Gunzburg Jean
Published: July 2017

Lowering the gut exposure to antibiotics during treatments can prevent microbiota disruption. We evaluated the effects of an activated charcoal-based adsorbent, DAV131A, on the fecal free moxifloxacin concentration and mortality in a hamster model of moxifloxacin-induced
Clostridium difficile
infection. A total of 215 hamsters receiving moxifloxacin subcutaneously (day 1 [D
1
] to D
5
) were orally infected at D
3
with
C. difficile
spores. They received various doses (0 to 1,800 mg/kg of body weight/day) and schedules (twice a day [BID] or three times a day [TID]) of DAV131A (D
1
to D
8
). Moxifloxacin concentrations and
C. difficile
counts were determined at D
3
, and mortality was determined at D
12
. We compared mortality rates, moxifloxacin concentrations, and
C. difficile
counts according to DAV131A regimen and modeled the links between DAV131A regimen, moxifloxacin concentration, and mortality. All hamsters that received no DAV131A died, but none of those that received 1,800 mg/kg/day died. Significant dose-dependent relationships between DAV131A dose and (i) mortality, (ii) moxifloxacin concentration, and (iii)
C. difficile
count were evidenced. Mathematical modeling suggested that (i) lowering the moxifloxacin concentration at D
3
, which was 58 μg/g (95% confidence interval [CI] = 50 to 66 μg/g) without DAV131A, to 17 μg/g (14 to 21 μg/g) would reduce mortality by 90%; and (ii) this would be achieved with a daily DAV131A dose of 703 mg/kg (596 to 809 mg/kg). In this model of
C. difficile
infection, DAV131A reduced mortality in a dose-dependent manner by decreasing the fecal free moxifloxacin concentration.
Differentiating Botulinum Neurotoxin-Producing Clostridia with a Simple, Multiplex PCR Assay
Authors: Williamson Charles H. D. , Vazquez Adam J. , Hill Karen , Smith Theresa J. , Nottingham Roxanne , Stone Nathan E. , Sobek Colin J. , Cocking Jill H. , Fernández Rafael A. , Caballero Patricia A. , Leiser Owen P. , Keim Paul , Sahl Jason W.
Published: July 2017

Diverse members of the genus
Clostridium
produce botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), which cause a flaccid paralysis known as botulism. While multiple species of clostridia produce BoNTs, the majority of human botulism cases have been attributed to
Clostridium botulinum
groups I and II. Recent comparative genomic studies have demonstrated the genomic diversity within these BoNT-producing species. This report introduces a multiplex PCR assay for differentiating members of
C. botulinum
group I,
C. sporogenes
, and two major subgroups within
C. botulinum
group II. Coding region sequences unique to each of the four species/subgroups were identified by
in silico
analyses of thousands of genome assemblies, and PCR primers were designed to amplify each marker. The resulting multiplex PCR assay correctly assigned 41 tested isolates to the appropriate species or subgroup. A separate PCR assay to determine the presence of the
ntnh
gene (a gene associated with the botulinum neurotoxin gene cluster) was developed and validated. The
ntnh
gene PCR assay provides information about the presence or absence of the botulinum neurotoxin gene cluster and the type of gene cluster present (
ha
positive [
ha
+
] or
orfX
+
). The increased availability of whole-genome sequence data and comparative genomic tools enabled the design of these assays, which provide valuable information for characterizing BoNT-producing clostridia. The PCR assays are rapid, inexpensive tests that can be applied to a variety of sample types to assign isolates to species/subgroups and to detect clostridia with botulinum neurotoxin gene (
bont
) clusters.

IMPORTANCE
Diverse clostridia produce the botulinum neurotoxin, one of the most potent known neurotoxins. In this study, a multiplex PCR assay was developed to differentiate clostridia that are most commonly isolated in connection with human botulism cases:
C. botulinum
group I,
C. sporogenes
, and two major subgroups within
C. botulinum
group II. Since BoNT-producing and nontoxigenic isolates can be found in each species, a PCR assay to determine the presence of the
ntnh
gene, which is a universally present component of
bont
gene clusters, and to provide information about the type (
ha
+
or
orfX
+
) of
bont
gene cluster present in a sample was also developed. The PCR assays provide simple, rapid, and inexpensive tools for screening uncharacterized isolates from clinical or environmental samples. The information provided by these assays can inform epidemiological studies, aid with identifying mixtures of isolates and unknown isolates in culture collections, and confirm the presence of bacteria of interest.
Identification of the
hcb
Gene Operon Involved in Catalyzing Aerobic Hexachlorobenzene Dechlorination in Nocardioides sp. Strain PD653
Authors: Ito Koji , Takagi Kazuhiro , Iwasaki Akio , Tanaka Naoto , Kanesaki Yu , Martin-Laurent Fabrice , Igimi Shizunobu
Published: July 2017

Nocardioides
sp. strain PD653 was the first identified aerobic bacterium capable of mineralizing hexachlorobenzene (HCB). In this study, strain PD653-B2, which was unexpectedly isolated from a subculture of strain PD653, was found to lack the ability to transform HCB or pentachloronitrobenzene into pentachlorophenol. Comparative genome analysis of the two strains revealed that genetic rearrangement had occurred in strain PD653-B2, with a genomic region present in strain PD653 being deleted.
In silico
analysis allowed three open reading frames within this region to be identified as candidate genes involved in HCB dechlorination. Assays using recombinant
Escherichia coli
cells revealed that an operon is responsible for both oxidative HCB dechlorination and pentachloronitrobenzene denitration. The metabolite pentachlorophenol was detected in the cultures produced in the
E. coli
assays. Significantly less HCB-degrading activity occurred in assays under oxygen-limited conditions ([O
2
] < 0.5 mg liter
−1
) than under aerobic assays, suggesting that monooxygenase is involved in the reaction. In this operon,
hcbA1
was found to encode a monooxygenase involved in HCB dechlorination. This monooxygenase may form a complex with the flavin reductase encoded by
hcbA3
, increasing the HCB-degrading activity of PD653.

IMPORTANCE
The organochlorine fungicide HCB is widely distributed in the environment. Bioremediation can effectively remove HCB from contaminated sites, but HCB-degrading microorganisms have been isolated in few studies and the genes involved in HCB degradation have not been identified. In this study, possible genes involved in the initial step of the mineralization of HCB by
Nocardioides
sp. strain PD653 were identified. The results improve our understanding of the protein families involved in the dechlorination of HCB to give pentachlorophenol.
An Enterotoxin-Like Binary Protein from Pseudomonas protegens with Potent Nematicidal Activity
Authors: Wei Jun-Zhi , Siehl Daniel L. , Hou Zhenglin , Rosen Barbara , Oral Jarred , Taylor Christopher G. , Wu Gusui
Published: July 2017

Soil microbes are a major food source for free-living soil nematodes. It is known that certain soil bacteria have evolved systems to combat predation. We identified the nematode-antagonistic
Pseudomonas protegens
strain 15G2 from screening of microbes. Through protein purification we identified a binary protein, designated Pp-ANP, which is responsible for the nematicidal activity. This binary protein inhibits
Caenorhabditis elegans
growth and development by arresting larvae at the L1 stage and killing older-staged worms. The two subunits, Pp-ANP1a and Pp-ANP2a, are active when reconstituted from separate expression in
Escherichia coli
. The binary toxin also shows strong nematicidal activity against three other free-living nematodes (
Pristionchus pacificus
,
Panagrellus redivivus
, and
Acrobeloides
sp.), but we did not find any activity against insects and fungi under test conditions, indicating specificity for nematodes. Pp-ANP1a has no significant identity to any known proteins, while Pp-ANP2a shows ∼30% identity to
E. coli
heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) subunit A and cholera toxin (CT) subunit A. Protein modeling indicates that Pp-ANP2a is structurally similar to CT/LT and likely acts as an ADP-ribosyltransferase. Despite the similarity, Pp-ANP shows several characteristics distinct from CT/LT toxins. Our results indicate that Pp-ANP is a new enterotoxin-like binary toxin with potent and specific activity to nematodes. The potency and specificity of Pp-ANP suggest applications in controlling parasitic nematodes and open an avenue for further research on its mechanism of action and role in bacterium-nematode interaction.

IMPORTANCE
This study reports the discovery of a new enterotoxin-like binary protein, Pp-ANP, from a
Pseudomonas protegens
strain. Pp-ANP shows strong nematicidal activity against
Caenorhabditis elegans
larvae and older-staged worms. It also shows strong activity on other free-living nematodes (
Pristionchus pacificus
,
Panagrellus redivivus
, and
Acrobeloides
sp.). The two subunits, Pp-ANP1a and Pp-ANP2a, can be expressed separately and reconstituted to form the active complex. Pp-ANP shows some distinct characteristics compared with other toxins, including
Escherichia coli
enterotoxin and cholera toxin. The present study indicates that Pp-ANP is a novel binary toxin and that it has potential applications in controlling parasitic nematodes and in studying toxin-host interaction.
Bacillomycin D Produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Is Involved in the Antagonistic Interaction with the Plant-Pathogenic Fungus Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Gu Qin , Yang Yang , Yuan Qiming , Shi Guangming , Wu Liming , Lou Zhiying , Huo Rong , Wu Huijun , Borriss Rainer , Gao Xuewen
Published: July 2017

Fusarium graminearum
(teleomorph: Ascomycota, Hypocreales,
Gibberella
,
Gibberella zeae
) is a destructive fungal pathogen that threatens the production and quality of wheat and barley worldwide. Controlling this toxin-producing pathogen is a significant challenge. In the present study, the commercially available strain
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
(
Bacteria
,
Firmicutes
,
Bacillales
,
Bacillus
) FZB42 showed strong activity against
F. graminearum
. The lipopeptide bacillomycin D, produced by FZB42, was shown to contribute to the antifungal activity. Purified bacillomycin D showed strong activity against
F. graminearum
, and its 50% effective concentration was determined to be approximately 30 μg/ml. Analyses using scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that bacillomycin D caused morphological changes in the plasma membranes and cell walls of
F. graminearum
hyphae and conidia. Fluorescence microscopy combined with different dyes showed that bacillomycin D induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and caused cell death in
F. graminearum
hyphae and conidia.
F. graminearum
secondary metabolism also responded to bacillomycin D challenge, by increasing the production of deoxynivalenol. Biological control experiments demonstrated that bacillomycin D exerted good control of
F. graminearum
on corn silks, wheat seedlings, and wheat heads. In response to bacillomycin D,
F. graminearum
genes involved in scavenging reactive oxygen species were downregulated, whereas genes involved in the synthesis of deoxynivalenol were upregulated. Phosphorylation of MGV1 and HOG1, the mitogen-activated protein kinases of
F. graminearum
, was increased in response to bacillomycin D. Taken together, these findings reveal the mechanism of the antifungal action of bacillomycin D.

IMPORTANCE
Biological control of plant disease caused by
Fusarium graminearum
is desirable.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
FZB42 is a representative of the biocontrol bacterial strains. In this work, the lipopeptide bacillomycin D, produced by FZB42, showed strong fungicidal activity against
F. graminearum
. Bacillomycin D caused morphological changes in the plasma membrane and cell wall of
F. graminearum
, induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and ultimately caused cell death in
F. graminearum
. Interestingly, when
F. graminearum
was challenged with bacillomycin D, the deoxynivalenol production, gene expression, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, and pathogenicity of
F. graminearum
were significantly altered. These findings clarified the mechanisms of the activity of bacillomycin D against
F. graminearum
and highlighted the potential of
B. amyloliquefaciens
FZB42 as a biocontrol agent against
F. graminearum
.
Transcriptional Modulation of Transport- and Metabolism-Associated Gene Clusters Leading to Utilization of Benzoate in Preference to Glucose in Pseudomonas putida CSV86
Authors: Choudhary Alpa , Modak Arnab , Apte Shree K. , Phale Prashant S.
Published: July 2017

The effective elimination of xenobiotic pollutants from the environment can be achieved by efficient degradation by microorganisms even in the presence of sugars or organic acids. Soil isolate
Pseudomonas putida
CSV86 displays a unique ability to utilize aromatic compounds prior to glucose. The draft genome and transcription analyses revealed that glucose uptake and benzoate transport and metabolism genes are clustered at the
glc
and
ben
loci, respectively, as two distinct operons. When grown on glucose plus benzoate, CSV86 displayed significantly higher expression of the
ben
locus in the first log phase and of the
glc
locus in the second log phase. Kinetics of substrate uptake and metabolism matched the transcription profiles. The inability of succinate to suppress benzoate transport and metabolism resulted in coutilization of succinate and benzoate. When challenged with succinate or benzoate, glucose-grown cells showed rapid reduction in
glc
locus transcription, glucose transport, and metabolic activity, with succinate being more effective at the functional level. Benzoate and succinate failed to interact with or inhibit the activities of glucose transport components or metabolic enzymes. The data suggest that succinate and benzoate suppress glucose transport and metabolism at the transcription level, enabling
P. putida
CSV86 to preferentially metabolize benzoate. This strain thus has the potential to be an ideal host to engineer diverse metabolic pathways for efficient bioremediation.

IMPORTANCE
Pseudomonas
strains play an important role in carbon cycling in the environment and display a hierarchy in carbon utilization: organic acids first, followed by glucose, and aromatic substrates last. This limits their exploitation for bioremediation. This study demonstrates the substrate-dependent modulation of
ben
and
glc
operons in
Pseudomonas putida
CSV86, wherein benzoate suppresses glucose transport and metabolism at the transcription level, leading to preferential utilization of benzoate over glucose. Interestingly, succinate and benzoate are cometabolized. These properties are unique to this strain compared to other pseudomonads and open up avenues to unravel novel regulatory processes. Strain CSV86 can serve as an ideal host to engineer and facilitate efficient removal of recalcitrant pollutants even in the presence of simpler carbon sources.
Osmotic Compounds Enhance Antibiotic Efficacy against Acinetobacter baumannii Biofilm Communities
Authors: Falghoush Azeza , Beyenal Haluk , Besser Thomas E. , Omsland Anders , Call Douglas R.
Published: July 2017

Biofilm-associated infections are a clinical challenge, in part because a hydrated matrix protects the bacterial community from antibiotics. Herein, we evaluated how different osmotic compounds (maltodextrin, sucrose, and polyethylene glycol [PEG]) enhance antibiotic efficacy against
Acinetobacter baumannii
biofilm communities. Established (24-h) test tube biofilms (strain ATCC 17978) were treated with osmotic compounds in the presence or absence of 10× the MIC of different antibiotics (50 μg/ml tobramycin, 20 μg/ml ciprofloxacin, 300 μg/ml chloramphenicol, 30 μg/ml nalidixic acid, or 100 μg/ml erythromycin). Combining antibiotics with hypertonic concentrations of the osmotic compounds for 24 h reduced the number of biofilm bacteria by 5 to 7 log (
P
< 0.05). Increasing concentrations of osmotic compounds improved the effect, but there was a trade-off with increasing solution viscosity, whereby low-molecular-mass compounds (sucrose, 400-Da PEG) worked better than higher-mass compounds (maltodextrin, 3,350-Da PEG). Ten other
A. baumannii
strains were similarly treated with 400-Da PEG and tobramycin, resulting in a mean 2.7-log reduction in recoverable bacteria compared with tobramycin treatment alone. Multivariate regression models with data from different osmotic compounds and nine antibiotics demonstrated that the benefit from combining hypertonic treatments with antibiotics is a function of antibiotic mass and lipophilicity (
r

2

> 0.82;
P
< 0.002), and the relationship was generalizable for biofilms formed by
A. baumannii
and
Escherichia coli
K-12. Augmenting topical antibiotic therapies with a low-mass hypertonic treatment may enhance the efficacy of antibiotics against wound biofilms, particularly when using low-mass hydrophilic antibiotics.

IMPORTANCE
Biofilms form a barrier that protects bacteria from environmental insults, including exposure to antibiotics. We demonstrated that multiple osmotic compounds can enhance antibiotic efficacy against
Acinetobacter baumannii
biofilm communities, but viscosity is a limiting factor, and the most effective compounds have lower molecular mass. The synergism between osmotic compounds and antibiotics is also dependent on the hydrophobicity and mass of the antibiotics. The statistical models presented herein provide a basis for predicting the optimal combination of osmotic compounds and antibiotics against surface biofilms communities.
Community preferences for a social health insurance benefit package: an exploratory study among the uninsured in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Hoa Thi , Luu Tinh Viet , Leppert Gerald , De Allegri Manuela
Published: July 2017

Understanding public preferences in terms of health benefit packages (HBPs) remains limited, yet gathering community insights is an important endeavour when developing people-centred health systems and moving towards universal health coverage. Our study aimed to address this gap in knowledge by eliciting community preferences for the social health insurance benefit package among the uninsured in Vietnam. We adopted a mixed methods approach that included a ranking exercise followed by focus group discussions. We collected quantitative and qualitative data from 174 uninsured people in Bac Giang, a province in northern Vietnam. Study participants were purposively selected from 12 communities and assembled in 14 group sessions that entailed three stages: participants first selected and ranked benefit items individually, then in groups and finally they engaged in a discussion regarding their decisions. The majority of respondents (both as individuals and as groups) preferred an HBP that covers both curative and preventive care, with a strong preference for the inclusion of high-cost care, resulting from rare and costly events (inpatient care), as well as frequent and less costly events (drugs, tests and outpatient care). The process of group discussion highlighted how individual choices could be modified in the context of group negotiation. The shift in preferences was motivated by the wish to protect low-income people from catastrophic expenditure while maximising community access to vital yet costly healthcare services. Future research, interventions and policies can built on this initial exploration of preferences to explore how stakeholders can engage communities and support greater public involvement in the development of HBPs in Vietnam and other low-income and middle-income countries.
Health sector governance: should we be investing more?
Authors: Fryatt Robert , Bennett Sara , Soucat Agnes
Published: July 2017

Governance is central to improving health sector performance and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). However, the growing body of research on governance and health has not yet led to a global consensus on the need for more investment in governance interventions to improve health. This paper aims to summarise the latest evidence on the influence of governance on health, examines how we can assess governance interventions and considers what might constitute good investments in health sector governance in resource constrained settings. The paper concludes that agendas for improving governance need to be realistic and build on promising in-country innovation and the growing evidence base of what works in different settings. For UHC to be achieved, governance will require new partnerships and opportunities for dialogue, between state and non-state actors. Countries will require stronger platforms for effective intersectoral actions and more capacity for applied policy research and evaluation. Improved governance will also come from collective action across countries in research, norms and standards, and communicable disease control.
Models for estimating and projecting global, regional and national prevalence and disease burden of asthma: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Bhuia Mohammad Romel , Nwaru Bright I , Weir Christopher J , Sheikh Aziz
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Models that have so far been used to estimate and project the prevalence and disease burden of asthma are in most cases inadequately described and irreproducible. We aim systematically to describe and critique the existing models in relation to their strengths, limitations and reproducibility, and to determine the appropriate models for estimating and projecting the prevalence and disease burden of asthma.

Methods

We will search the following electronic databases to identify relevant literature published from 1980 to 2017: Medline, Embase, WHO Library and Information Services and Web of Science Core Collection. We will identify additional studies by searching the reference list of all the retrieved papers and contacting experts. We will include observational studies that used models for estimating and/or projecting prevalence and disease burden of asthma regarding human population of any age and sex. Two independent reviewers will assess the studies for inclusion and extract data from included papers. Data items will include authors’ names, publication year, study aims, data source and time period, study population, asthma outcomes, study methodology, model type, model settings, study variables, methods of model derivation, methods of parameter estimation and/or projection, model fit information, key findings and identified research gaps. A detailed critical narrative synthesis of the models will be undertaken in relation to their strengths, limitations and reproducibility. A quality assessment checklist and scoring framework will be used to determine the appropriate models for estimating and projecting the prevalence anddiseaseburden of asthma.

Ethics and dissemination

We will not collect any primary data for this review, and hence there is no need for formal National Health Services Research Ethics Committee approval. We will present our findings at scientific conferences and publish the findings in the peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Should heart failure be regarded as a terminal illness requiring palliative care? A study of heart failure patients’, carers’ and clinicians’ understanding of heart failure prognosis and its management
Authors: Stocker Rachel , Close Helen , Hancock Helen , Hungin A Pali S
Published: July 2017

Objectives

Communication and planning for heart failure (HF) care near the end of life is known to be complex. Little is known about how the patient experience of palliative assessment and communication needs change over time, and how this might inform management. Our aim was to explore experiences of giving or receiving a prognosis and advanced palliative care planning (ACP) for those with HF.

Methods

We carried out a longitudinal grounded theory study, employing in-depth interviews with 14 clinicians (primary and secondary care) and observations of clinic and home appointments, followed by a series of interviews with 13 patients with HF and 9 carers.

Results

Overall, the majority of participants rejected notions of HF as a terminal illness in favour of a focus on day-to-day management and maintenance, despite obvious deterioration in disease stage and needs over time. Clinicians revealed frustration about the uncertain nature of HF prognosis, leading to difficulties in planning. Others highlighted the need to deliver problem-based, individualised care but felt constrained sometimes by the lack of multidisciplinary ACP. Patients reported an absence of prognostic discussions with clinicians.

Conclusions

This is the first study exploring the experiences of prognostic communication at all stages of HF. Findings raise questions regarding the pragmatic utility of the concept of HF as a terminal illness and have implications for future HF care pathway development. Findings support the incorporation of a problem-based approach to management, which recognises the importance of everyday functioning for patients and carers as well as the opportunity for ACP.
Local scour of cohesive beds downstream of a rigid apron
Authors: Hamidifar Hossein , Omid Mohammad Hossein
Published: July 2017

In this paper, the physics of scour hole in a mixed sand–clay bed downstream of an apron is studied experimentally. Seven combinations of sand–clay mixtures including clay contents, Cc, ranging from 0 to 0.4 were used. The results show that Cc = 0.4 can reduce the maximum scour depth, εm, up to about 80% for all the densimetric Froude numbers in the range of the present study. An empirical equation has been proposed for calculation of εm in sand–clay mixtures with the mean error of 0.12. The removal mechanism of sediments from the bed was different based on the Cc. For low clay contents, i.e., Cc ≤ 15%, individual particles were detached from the bed. At higher Cc, clusters of particles were separated and moved downstream with the flow. A new equation has been proposed to predict the dimensionless scour hole profile in mixed sand–clay sediments. Dimensionless graphs have been presented for incorporating the effect of tailwater depth and sediment grain size on the main characteristics lengths in sand–clay mixtures.
Genetic population structure of fishers (Pekania pennanti) in the Great Lakes region: remnants and reintroductions
Authors: Hapeman Paul , Latch Emily K. , Rhodes Olin E. , Swanson Brad , Kilpatrick C. William
Published: July 2017

Reintroduction programs have been pivotal in augmenting populations of fishers (Pekania pennanti (Erxleben, 1777)) and re-establishing them to their former range in North America. The majority of reintroduction efforts in fishers have been considered demographically successful, but reintroductions can alter genetic population structure and success has rarely been evaluated in fishers from a genetic standpoint. We used microsatellite data (n = 169) to examine genetic population structure of fishers in the Great Lakes region and comment on the success of past reintroductions at two different spatial scales. We found significant genetic population structure among source and reintroduced populations within the Great Lakes region and large-scale genetic structure between fisher populations located in two geographically distant regions (Great Lakes and Northeast) in the eastern United States. Reintroductions associated with the Great Lakes produced results that were largely consistent with other studies of fisher reintroductions in the Northeast. However, our data are the first to support a measurable impact on genetic population structure in Pekania pennanti pennanti (Erxleben, 1777) from a reintroduction using geographically distant source and reintroduced populations. When feasible, we strongly recommend that reintroduction programs include an investigation of the underlying genetic structure to better define intended goals and supplement measures of demographic success.
Strangeness chemical potential from the baryons relative to the kaons particle ratios
Authors: Tawfik Abdel Nasser , Wahab Magda Abdel , Yassin Hayam , Abo Elyazeed Eman R. , Nasr El Din Hadeer M.
Published: July 2017

From a systematic analysis of the energy-dependence of four antibaryon-to-baryon ratios relative to the antikaon-to-kaon ratio, we propose an alternative approach determining the strange-quark chemical potential ([Formula: see text]). It is found that [Formula: see text] generically genuinely equals one-fifth the baryon chemical potential ([Formula: see text]). An additional quantity depending on [Formula: see text] and the freezeout temperature ([Formula: see text]) should be added in order to assure averaged strangeness conversation. This quantity gives a genuine estimation for the possible strangeness enhancement with the increase in the collision energy. At the chemical freezeout conditioned to constant entropy density normalized to temperature cubed, various particle ratios calculated at [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and the resultant [Formula: see text] excellently agree with the statistical-thermal calculations.
Lipid droplet size and location in human skeletal muscle fibers are associated with insulin sensitivity
Authors: Nielsen Joachim , Christensen Anders E. , Nellemann Birgitte , Christensen Britt
Published: July 2017

In skeletal muscle, an accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs) in the subsarcolemmal space is associated with insulin resistance, but the underlying mechanism is not clear. We aimed to investigate how the size, number, and location of LDs are associated with insulin sensitivity and muscle fiber types and are regulated by aerobic training and treatment with an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) in healthy young untrained men. LD analyses were performed by quantitative transmission electron microscopy, and insulin sensitivity was assessed by a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. At baseline, we found that only the diameter (and not the number) of individual subsarcolemmal LDs was negatively associated with insulin sensitivity ( R2 = 0.20, P = 0.03, n = 29). Despite 34% ( P = 0.004) fewer LDs, the diameter of individual subsarcolemmal LDs was 20% ( P = 0.0004) larger in type 2 fibers than in type 1 fibers. Furthermore, aerobic training decreased the size of subsarcolemmal LDs in the type 2 fibers, and ESA treatment lowered the number of both intermyofibrillar and subsarcolemmal LDs in the type 1 fibers. In conclusion, the size of individual subsarcolemmal LDs may be involved in the mechanism by which LDs are associated with insulin resistance in skeletal muscle.
Bisphenol A Does Not Mimic Estrogen in the Promotion of the In Vitro Response of Murine Dendritic Cells to Toll-Like Receptor Ligands
Authors: Chakhtoura Marita , Sriram Uma , Heayn Michelle , Wonsidler Joshua , Doyle Christopher , Dinnall Joudy-Ann , Gallucci Stefania , Roberts Rebecca A.
Published: July 2017

Sex hormones affect immune responses and might promote autoimmunity. Endocrine disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) may mimic their immune effects. Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) are pivotal initiators of immune responses upon activation by danger signals coming from pathogens or distressed tissues through triggering of the Toll-like receptors (TLRs). We generated in vitro murine cDCs in the absence of estrogens and measured the effects of exogenously added estrogen or BPA on their differentiation and activation by the TLR ligands LPS and CpG. Estrogen enhanced the differentiation of GM-CSF-dependent cDCs from bone marrow precursors in vitro, and the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) tamoxifen and fulvestrant blocked these effects. Moreover, estrogen augmented the upregulation of costimulatory molecules and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-12p70 and TNFα) upon stimulation by TLR9 ligand CpG, while the response to LPS was less estrogen-dependent. These effects are partially explained by an estrogen-dependent regulation of TLR9 expression. BPA did not promote cDC differentiation nor activation upon TLR stimulation. Our results suggest that estrogen promotes immune responses by increasing DC activation, with a preferential effect on TLR9 over TLR4 stimulation, and highlight the influence of estrogens in DC cultures, while BPA does not mimic estrogen in the DC functions that we tested.
Long Noncoding RNAs and RNA‐Binding Proteins in Oxidative Stress, Cellular Senescence, and Age‐Related Diseases
Authors: Kim Chongtae , Kang Donghee , Lee Eun Kyung , Lee Jae-Seon
Published: July 2017

Cellular senescence is a complex biological process that leads to irreversible cell‐cycle arrest. Various extrinsic and intrinsic insults are associated with the onset of cellular senescence and frequently accompany genomic or epigenomic alterations. Cellular senescence is believed to contribute to tumor suppression, immune response, and tissue repair as well as aging and age‐related diseases. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are >200 nucleotides long, poorly conserved, and transcribed in a manner similar to that of mRNAs. They are tightly regulated during various cellular and physiological processes. Although many lncRNAs and their functional roles are still undescribed, the importance of lncRNAs in a variety of biological processes is widely recognized. RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) have a pivotal role in posttranscriptional regulation as well as in mRNA transport, storage, turnover, and translation. RBPs interact with mRNAs, other RBPs, and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) including lncRNAs, and they are involved in the regulation of a broad spectrum of cellular processes. Like other cell fate regulators, lncRNAs and RBPs, separately or cooperatively, are implicated in initiation and maintenance of cellular senescence, aging, and age‐related diseases. Here, we review the current understanding of both lncRNAs and RBPs and their association with oxidative stress, senescence, and age‐related diseases.