bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iterons Homologous to Helper Geminiviruses Are Essential for Efficient Replication of Betasatellites
Authors: Xu Xiongbiao , Qian Yajuan , Wang Yaqin , Li Zhenghe , Zhou Xueping
Published: December 2018

The geminivirus-encoded replication initiator protein (Rep) binds to repeated sequence elements (also known as iterons) in the origin of replication that serve as essential
cis
elements for specific viral replication. Betasatellites associated with begomoviruses can be replicated by cognate or noncognate helper viruses, but the
cis
elements responsible for betasatellite origin recognition have not been characterized. Using a betasatellite (TbCSB) associated with tobacco curly shoot virus (TbCSV) as a model, we identify two tandem repeats (iterons) in the Rep-binding motif (RBM) that are required for specific Rep binding and efficient replication, and we show that identical iteron sequences present in TbCSV are also necessary for Rep binding and the replication of helper viruses. Extensive analysis of begomovirus/betasatellite sequences shows that many betasatellites contain iteron-like elements homologous to those of their respective cognate helper begomoviruses. Our data suggest that many betasatellites have evolved to acquire homologous iteron-like sequences for efficient replication mediated by cognate helper viruses.
A Coreceptor-Mimetic Peptide Enhances the Potency of V3-Glycan Antibodies
Authors: Fetzer Ina , Davis-Gardner Meredith E. , Gardner Matthew R. , Alfant Barnett , Weber Jesse A. , Prasad Neha R. , Zhou Amber S. , Farzan Michael
Published: December 2018

HIV-1 requires both the cellular receptor CD4 and a tyrosine-sulfated coreceptor to infect its target cells. CD4-Ig is a fusion of the HIV-1-binding domains of CD4 with an antibody Fc domain. Previous studies have demonstrated that the potency of CD4-Ig is markedly increased by appending a coreceptor-mimetic sulfopeptide to its C terminus. We investigated whether this coreceptor-mimetic peptide improves the potency of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting five major epitopes on the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env). We observed that inclusion of the sulfopeptide dramatically improved the potency of all bNAb classes against isolates with more-open Env structures, typically those that utilize the coreceptor CXCR4. In contrast, the sulfopeptide improved only V3-glycan antibodies when neutralizing primary isolates, on average by 2-fold. These studies improve the potency of one class of bNAbs, show that coreceptor-mimetic sulfopeptides enhance neutralization through distinct mechanisms, and provide insight for the design of novel multispecific entry inhibitors.
Global Proteomic Profiling of
Salmonella
Infection by a Giant Phage
Authors: Weintraub Susan T. , Mohd Redzuan Nurul Humaira , Barton Melissa K. , Md Amin Nur Amira , Desmond Maxim I. , Adams Lily E. , Ali Bazla , Pardo Sammy , Molleur Dana , Wu Weimin , Newcomb William W. , Osier Michael V. , Black Lindsay W. , Steven Alasdair C. , Thomas Julie A.
Published: December 2018

“Giant” phages with genomes >200 kb are being isolated in increasing numbers from a range of environments. With hosts such as
Salmonella enterica
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and
Erwinia amylovora
, these phages are of interest for phage therapy of multidrug-resistant pathogens. However, our understanding of how these complex phages interact with their hosts is impeded by the proportion (∼80%) of their gene products that are functionally uncharacterized. To develop the repertoire of techniques for analysis of phages, we analyzed a liquid infection of
Salmonella
phage SPN3US (240-kb genome) using third-generation mass spectrometry. We observed the temporal production of phage proteins whose genes collectively represent 96% of the SPN3US genome. These findings demonstrate the sensitivity of mass spectrometry for global proteomic profiling of virus-infected cells, and the identification of a candidate for a major head morphogenesis protein will facilitate further studies into giant phage head assembly.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 Receptor Expression Is Promoted by Human Herpesvirus 8-Encoded Interleukin-6 and Contributes to Viral Latency and Productive Replication
Authors: Li Qian , Chen Daming , Xiang Qiwang , Nicholas John
Published: December 2018

HHV-8 vIL-6 promotes productive replication in the context of reactivated lytic replication in primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and endothelial cells and sustains latently infected PEL cell viability. Viral IL-6 is also considered to contribute significantly to HHV-8-associated pathogenesis, since vIL-6 can promote cell proliferation, cell survival, and angiogenesis that are characteristic of HHV-8-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma, PEL and multicentric Castleman’s disease (MCD), in addition to proinflammatory activities observed in MCD-like “Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-induced cytokine syndrome.” We show in the present study that vIL-6 can promote productive replication and latent PEL cell viability through upregulation of the mannose-6-phosphate- and peptide hormone-interacting receptor IGF2R, which is a positive factor in HHV-8 biology via these activities. VKORC1v2-enhanced ER-associated degradation of IGF2R and vIL-6 promotion of IGF2R expression through prevention of its interaction with VKORC1v2 and consequent rescue from degradation represent newly recognized activities of VKOCR1v2 and vIL-6.
Complete Genome Sequence of Cluster C2
Bacillus
Phage Maceta
Authors: Greguske Elizabeth
Published: December 2018

Bacillus
phage Maceta was isolated from the soil of commercially purchased annual flowers using the host
Bacillus thuringiensis
serovar kurstaki. Isolated DNA was then sequenced and annotated.
Whole-Genome Sequences of Corynebacterium macginleyi CCUG 32361
T
and Clinical Isolates NML 080212 and NML 120205
Authors: Bernier Anne-Marie , Bernard Kathryn
Published: December 2018

Draft genome sequences of
Corynebacterium macginleyi
CCUG 32361
T
and clinical isolates NML 080212 and NML 120205 were assembled and studied. Genome sizes ranged from 2.35 Mb to 2.42 Mb, with G+C contents ranging from 57.1% to 57.2%.
Seizure Triggered by Sick Sinus Syndrome
Authors: Patel Nilesh , Majeed Faisal , Sule Anupam Ashutosh
Published: December 2018

Sick sinus syndrome (SSS) is a dysfunction of sinoatrial node resulting in symptomatic bradycardia or sinus pauses causing decreased cardiac output with cerebral hypoperfusion and usually presents as syncope, presyncope or fatigue. The occurrence of a seizure is very rare. A 69-year-old man suffered two episodes of generalised tonic–clonic seizures. MRI and electroencephalogram failed to reveal the cause of seizures. In the emergency room, he experienced presyncope simultaneous to bradycardia and sinus pauses. He was stabilised with atropine and dopamine infusion and underwent definitive therapy with a permanent dual-chamber pacemaker with complete symptom resolution. Diagnostic confounders include convulsive syncope and ictal bradycardia. Syncope may be accompanied by myoclonic jerks (convulsive syncope), but postictal confusion is absent. Bradycardia may be seen during the postictal period (ictal bradycardia syndrome), but protracted sinus dysfunction is not present. Hypoperfusion due to significant SSS triggered seizures in this patient who may have an underlying predisposition.
Identifying and prioritising systematic review topics with public health stakeholders: A protocol for a modified Delphi study in Switzerland to inform future research agendas
Authors: Hoekstra Dyon , Mütsch Margot , Kien Christina , Gerhardus Ansgar , Lhachimi Stefan K
Published: December 2018

Introduction

The Cochrane Collaboration aims to produce relevant and top priority evidence that responds to existing evidence gaps. Hence, research priority setting (RPS) is important to identify which potential research gaps are deemed most important. Moreover, RPS supports future health research to conform both health and health evidence needs. However, studies that are prioritising systematic review topics in public health are surprisingly rare. Therefore, to inform the research agenda of Cochrane Public Health Europe (CPHE), we introduce the protocol of a priority setting study on systematic review topics in several European countries, which is conceptualised as pilot.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a two-round modified Delphi study in Switzerland, incorporating an anonymous web-based questionnaire, to assess which topics should be prioritised for systematic reviews in public health. In the first Delphi round public health stakeholders will suggest relevant assessment criteria and potential priority topics. In the second Delphi round the participants indicate their (dis)agreement to the aggregated results of the first round and rate the potential review topics with the predetermined criteria on a four-point Likert scale. As we invite a wide variety of stakeholders we will compare the results between the different stakeholder groups.

Ethics and dissemination

We have received ethical approval from the ethical board of the University of Bremen, Germany (principal investigation is conducted at the University of Bremen) and a certificate of non-objection from the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland (fieldwork will be conducted in Switzerland). The results of this study will be further disseminated through peer reviewed publication and will support systematic review author groups (i.a. CPHE) to improve the relevance of the groups´ future review work. Finally, the proposed priority setting study can be used as a framework by other systematic review groups when conducting a priority setting study in a different context.
Biogeography and genotypic diversity ofMetarhizium brunneumandMetarhizium robertsiiin northwestern North American soils
Authors: Inglis G. Douglas , Duke Grant M. , Goettel Mark S. , Kabaluk J. Todd , Ortega-Polo Rodrigo
Published: December 2018

The biogeography and genotype diversity of Metarhizium species in northwestern North American soils was examined; 20 ecoregions were sampled, including 58 agricultural and 80 natural habitat subsites, and areas that were glaciated during the Pleistocene epoch. One hundred and twenty-nine isolates of M. brunneum, 26 isolates of M. robertsii, four isolates of M. guizhouense, one isolate of M. flavoviride, and 55 isolates of Beauveria were recovered. Metarhizium and Beauveria species were isolated in diverse ecoregions within the study area, but a trend for increased isolation of Metarhizium species in western regions of the study area was observed. Consistent with this observation, the prevalence of M. brunneum and M. robertsii decreased at higher elevations, and the opposite was true for Beauveria. Both M. brunneum and M. robertsii were more commonly isolated from agricultural and natural habitat subsites, and considerable genotypic diversity was observed in both habitats and within the same subsite. Metarhizium robertsii, but not M. brunneum, was more commonly isolated from nonglaciated locations; however, less diversity and richness was observed for M. brunneum recovered from glaciated versus nonglaciated locations consistent with insular biogeography. The study has implications for microbial control strategies in the region.
Effect of vacancies on the nucleation of Cr precipitates at grain boundary in α-Fe
Authors: Dai Y.Y. , Yang L. , Nie J.L. , Peng S.M. , Long X.G. , Zhou X.S. , Zu X.T. , Liu L. , Gao F.
Published: December 2018

Effect of local vacancies on the nucleation of Cr precipitates at Σ3 ⟨110⟩ {112} grain boundary (GB) in α-Fe has been studied using molecular dynamics with a two-band embedded atomic model potential. Radiation-induced vacancies and Cr atoms were directly introduced into the GB core. The local vacancies affect the accumulation of Cr atoms and the evolution of the GB. It is of interest to find that high vacancy concentrations enhance the long-distance migration of Cr, which is mainly correlated to the vacancy migration mechanism, thus leading to the formation of large vacancy-diluted Cr precipitates near the GB plane. Also, the large vacancy clusters are found to be depleted by Cr atoms during relaxation. The accumulation of vacancies and nucleation of Cr precipitates at the GB lead to significant deformation of the GB structure, resulting in the displacement and broadening of the GB. Without vacancies, the GB tends to climb perpendicular to the GB axis. The current research could help in understanding the nucleation mechanism of Cr precipitates at the GB in α-Fe.
Numerical treatment for Darcy–Forchheimer flow of nanofluid due to a rotating disk with slip effects
Authors: Naqvi Syed Muhammad Raza Shah , Muhammad Taseer , Kim Hyun Min , Mahmood Tariq , Saeed Adnan , Khan Babar Shahzad
Published: December 2018

Three-dimensional Darcy–Forchheimer flow of nanoliquid due to a rotating disk subject to multiple slip conditions is examined in this study. Thermophoresis and Brownian motion along with heat and mass transfer are incorporated. Slip conditions of velocity, concentration, and temperature are executed. Similarity results are established via MATLAB routine bvp4c. Graphs of velocities, temperature, and concentration are sketched to discuss the impacts of several influential parameters. Numerical values of skin frictions and local Sherwood and Nusselt numbers are calculated and inspected. Our findings display that concentration and temperature are enhanced for larger thermophoresis parameter.
Aspects of nonsupersymmetric string phenomenology
Authors: Rizos John
Published: December 2018

We consider a big class of chiral four-dimensional string models which bear [Formula: see text] gauge symmetry. Supersymmetry (SUSY) is spontaneously broken via the Scherk–Schwarz mechanism associated with two large internal dimensions. We study two central issues in nonsupersymmetric string phenomenology: the suppression of the cosmological constant and the decompactification problem. We identify a subclass of chiral nonsupersymmetric models with fermion–boson degeneracy leading to exponentially suppressed cosmological constant. In addition, we propose a novel solution to the decompactification problem related to the cancellation of the linear growth of the gauge part of the thresholds with a similar growth of the universal part. We show that the proposed mechanism resolves the decompactification problem related to the non-Abelian gauge couplings in approximately 40% of the models under consideration.
A dichotomous search-based frequency estimator with generic analytical expression
Authors: Zhang Gangbing , Jin Lu , Huang Defeng (David)
Published: December 2018

Fine resolution frequency estimation of a single-tone complex sinusoidal signal in the additive white Gaussian noise is of importance in many fields. In this paper, a generic analytical expression is proposed to refine the residual of a dichotomous search, leading to an estimator with much less iterations than the conventional dichotomous search estimator. Compared with other existing estimators, the proposed estimator has a better trade-off between performance and computational complexity. Simulation results demonstrate that the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the proposed estimator is closer to the Cramer–Rao lower bound (CRLB) than other estimators over the whole frequency interval when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is above a threshold.
Energy-aware integrated optimization of process planning and scheduling considering transportation
Authors: Dai Mei , Ji Zhicheng , Wang Yan
Published: December 2018

This paper concentrates on energy conservation in flexible manufacturing system. In addition to the energy saving of single machine tool, it is significant to reduce energy consumption in the two sub-systems of process planning and shop scheduling. Compared to traditional methods that consider the two sub-systems separately, integrated optimization of these sub-systems further improves the energy efficiency of the job shop. Furthermore, the transportation of jobs and semi-manufactured jobs in the process have been ignored in previous research, which has a great influence on the process routes selecting, machine dispatching and energy consumption. Therefore, this paper proposes an energy-aware multi-objective integrated optimization model of process planning and shop scheduling considering transportation. Parameters are optimized simultaneously including work piece machining feature selecting, process method selecting, processing sequence and machine dispatching of each job. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm is adopted to minimize the total energy consumption and makespan. Finally, a case study using the proposed model is employed to verify that energy consumption of transportation has authentically influence on total energy consumption and scheduling scheme.
Mechanics Analysis and Hardware Implementation of a New 3D Chaotic System
Authors: Jia Hongyan , Guo Zhiqiang , Wang Shanfeng , Chen Zengqiang
Published: December 2018

In this study, a new 3D chaotic system was first transformed into a Kolmogorov-type system to describe the vector field from the viewpoint of torque. In this Kolmogorov-type system, only inertial torque and non-Rayleigh dissipation exist. Thus, this is different from previously reported Kolmogorov-type systems that are generally decomposed into inertial torque, internal torque, dissipation, and external torque. Moreover, by analyzing these two torques, the physical background of the system and the key factors of chaos generation were also determined. That is, the inertial torque and non-Rayleigh dissipation are responsible for chaos generation in the new 3D chaotic system. Then, the Casimir function and Hamiltonian energy function were also analyzed to investigate the cycling of energy in the chaotic system. Finally, both an analog circuit and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) circuit were designed to implement the chaotic system. All of the experimentally obtained results are consistent with the results of numerical analysis, which did not only indicate the chaotic characteristics of the 3D chaotic system physically, but also provided physical models for engineering applications.
Bifurcation Diagrams and Global Phase Portraits for Some Hamiltonian Systems with Rational Potentials
Authors: Chen Ting , Llibre Jaume
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we study the global dynamical behavior of the Hamiltonian system [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] with the rational potential Hamiltonian [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are polynomials of degree 1 or 2. First we get the normal forms for these rational Hamiltonian systems by some linear change of variables. Then we classify all the global phase portraits of these systems in the Poincaré disk and provide their bifurcation diagrams.
New traversable wormhole solutions in f(T) gravity
Authors: Tefo R. C. , Logbo P. H. , Houndjo M. J. S. , Tossa J.
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we search for dynamical traversable wormhole solutions in the modified [Formula: see text] theory of gravity, [Formula: see text] being the torsion scalar. For such a wormhole, the time dependence is inserted in the static traversable wormhole metric of Morris and Thorne. Two set of tetrads are adopted: the diagonal and the nondiagonal tetrads. The diagonal set of tetrads constrains and reduces [Formula: see text] model to teleparallel theory where usual solutions have been found. With diagonal set of tetrads, free from the teleparallel theory constraint, our results show that the existence of traversable wormhole is possible only for nondynamical spacetime metric, i.e. static traversable wormhole solutions. Moreover we take into account energy condition analysis and the results show that the violation of null energy condition is not determinant for existence of static traversable wormhole solutions.
Inflation and linear expansion in the radiation dominated era in Jordan–Brans–Dicke cosmology
Authors: Ildes Medine , Arik Metin , Sheftel Mikhail B.
Published: December 2018

We present several features of a cosmological model based on the Brans–Dicke–Jordan–Thirry action which is scale invariant with a quartic potential for the Jordan scalar field. We show that the radiation dominated era starts with a closed universe which expands exponentially and the late radiation dominated era expands linearly. We find that there may be a scale-invariant phase with stiff matter between these two radiation dominated eras. The introduction of matter in the linearly expanding universe may cause deceleration or acceleration.
Green Hydrothermal Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Dots from Glucose and Taurine for Fe3+ and pH Sensing
Authors: Xu Yanmin , Yan Lihe , Yue Mengmeng , Yu Yang
Published: December 2018

Carbon nanodots (C-dots), as a class of heavy-metal-free fluorescent nonmaterial have drawn increasing attention due to their strong photoluminescence (PL), good biocompatibility and low toxicity. Herein, we synthesize nontoxic fluorescent C-dots by hydrothermal treatment of the mixture of glucose and taurine, in which process the formation and the surface passivation of C-dots take place simultaneously. The influence of reaction temperature, reaction time and feed ratio of glucose to taurine on the PL property of C-dots is studied. As the C-dots exhibit sensitive pH and iron ion dependent PL property, they can be used for pH and Fe[Formula: see text] sensing in solutions.
Dynamic Deadlock Verification for General Barrier Synchronisation
Authors: Cogumbreiro Tiago , Hu Raymond , Martins Francisco , Yoshida Nobuko
Published: December 2018

We present Armus, a verification tool for dynamically detecting or avoiding barrier deadlocks. The core design of Armus is based on phasers, a generalisation of barriers that supports split-phase synchronisation, dynamic membership, and optional-waits. This allows Armus to handle the key barrier synchronisation patterns found in modern languages and libraries. We implement Armus for X10 and Java, giving the first sound and complete barrier deadlock verification tools in these settings.

Armus introduces a novel event-based graph model of barrier concurrency constraints that distinguishes task-event and event-task dependencies. Decoupling these two kinds of dependencies facilitates the verification of distributed barriers with dynamic membership, a challenging feature of X10. Further, our base graph representation can be dynamically switched between a task-to-task model, Wait-for Graph (WFG), and an event-to-event model, State Graph (SG), to improve the scalability of the analysis.

Formally, we show that the verification is sound and complete with respect to the occurrence of deadlock in our core phaser language, and that switching graph representations preserves the soundness and completeness properties. These results are machine checked with the Coq proof assistant. Practically, we evaluate the runtime overhead of our implementations using three benchmark suites in local and distributed scenarios. Regarding deadlock detection, distributed scenarios show negligible overheads and local scenarios show overheads below 1.15×. Deadlock avoidance is more demanding, and highlights the potential gains from dynamic graph selection. In one benchmark scenario, the runtime overheads vary from 1.8× for dynamic selection, 2.6× for SG-static selection, and 5.9× for WFG-static selection.
Logic-based Perspectives on Query Reformulationover Restricted Interfaces
Authors: Benedikt Michael
Published: December 2018

We overview recent developments on query reformulation over a restricted interface, in the presence of integrity constraints. We overview an approach to the problem via reduction to query containment with constraints, where the reduction makes use of interpolation algorithms from logic. We first present the approach in the context of reformulating one query as another query using a fixed set of tables. We then generalize to reformulation of a query as a plan over a set of access methods.
Stream Processing Languages in the Big Data Era
Authors: Hirzel Martin , Baudart Guillaume , Bonifati Angela , Della Valle Emanuele , Sakr Sherif , Akrivi Vlachou Akrivi
Published: December 2018

This paper is a survey of recent stream processing languages, which are programming languages for writing applications that analyze data streams. Data streams, or continuous data flows, have been around for decades. But with the advent of the big-data era, the size of data streams has increased dramatically. Analyzing big data streams yields immense advantages across all sectors of our society. To analyze streams, one needs to write a stream processing application. This paper showcases several languages designed for this purpose, articulates underlying principles, and outlines open challenges.
Kenneth Ross Speaks Out on Making Contributions that Span Technology and Science
Authors: Winslett Marianne , Braganholo Vanessa
Published: December 2018

Welcome to ACM SIGMOD Record's series of interviews with distinguished members of the database community. I'm Marianne Winslett, and today we are in Snowbird, Utah, USA, site of the 2014 SIGMOD and PODS conference. I have here with me Ken Ross, who is a professor at Columbia University. He was a Sloan Fellow and a Packard Fellow, as well as an NSF Young Investigator. His Ph.D. is from Stanford.
Transgene-associated human growth hormone expression in pancreatic β-cells impairs identification of sex-based gene expression differences
Authors: Stancill Jennifer S. , Osipovich Anna B. , Cartailler Jean-Philippe , Magnuson Mark A.
Published: December 2018

Fluorescent protein reporter genes are widely used to identify and sort murine pancreatic β-cells. In this study, we compared use of the MIP-GFP transgene, which exhibits aberrant expression of human growth hormone (hGH), with a newly derived Ins2Apple allele that lacks hGH expression on the expression of sex-specific genes. β-Cells from MIP-GFP transgenic mice exhibit changes in the expression of 7,733 genes, or greater than half of their transcriptome, compared with β-cells from Ins2Apple/+ mice. To determine how these differences might affect a typical differential gene expression study, we analyzed the effect of sex on gene expression using both reporter lines. Six hundred fifty-seven differentially expressed genes were identified between male and female β-cells containing the Ins2Apple allele. Female β-cells exhibit higher expression of Xist, Tmed9, Arpc3, Eml2, and several islet-enriched transcription factors, including Nkx2-2 and Hnf4a, whereas male β-cells exhibited a generally higher expression of genes involved in cell cycle regulation. In marked contrast, the same male vs. female comparison of β-cells containing the MIP-GFP transgene revealed only 115 differentially expressed genes, and comparison of the 2 lists of differentially expressed genes revealed only 17 that were common to both analyses. These results indicate that 1) male and female β-cells differ in their expression of key transcription factors and cell cycle regulators and 2) the MIP-GFP transgene may attenuate sex-specific differences that distinguish male and female β-cells, thereby impairing the identification of sex-specific variations.
Periostin induces kidney fibrosis after acute kidney injury via the p38 MAPK pathway
Authors: An Jung Nam , Yang Seung Hee , Kim Yong Chul , Hwang Jin Ho , Park Jae Yoon , Kim Dong Ki , Kim Jin Hyuk , Kim Dae Woo , Hur Dong Gu , Oh Yun Kyu , Lim Chun Soo , Kim Yon Su , Lee Jung Pyo
Published: December 2018

Periostin plays a crucial role in fibrosis, and acute kidney injury results in a high risk of progression to chronic kidney disease. Therefore, we hypothesized that periostin was involved in the progression of acute kidney injury to kidney fibrosis. Unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (UIRI) was induced in 7- to 8-wk-old male wild-type and periostin-null mice, and the animals were observed for 6 wk. In vitro, human kidney-2 cells and primary-cultured human tubular epithelial cells were incubated under hypoxic conditions (5% O2, 5% CO2, and 90% N2) for 5 days. The cells were also cultured with recombinant periostin (rPeriostin) and a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor in a hypoxic incubator. At 6 wk after UIRI, interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy was significantly alleviated in periostin-null mice compared with wild-type controls. In addition, periostin-null mice had attenuated expression of fibrosis/apoptosis markers and phosphorylated-p38 MAPK compared with wild-type controls. In vitro, hypoxic injury increased the expression of fibrosis markers, periostin, and phosphorylated-p38 MAPK, which was comparable to or substantially greater than their expression levels following treatment with recombinant transforming growth factor-β1 under normoxic conditions. Furthermore, rPeriostin treatment under hypoxic conditions enhanced fibrosis/apoptosis markers and phosphorylated-p38 MAPK. In contrast, p38 MAPK inhibition ameliorated hypoxia-induced fibrosis, and the addition of the p38 MAPK inhibitor to rPeriostin significantly ameliorated the changes induced by rPeriostin. In conclusion, periostin promotes kidney fibrosis via the p38 MAPK pathway following acute kidney injury triggered by a hypoxic or ischemic insult. Periostin ablation may protect against chronic kidney disease progression.
Myo-inositol oxygenase accentuates renal tubular injury initiated by endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Tominaga Tatsuya , Sharma Isha , Fujita Yui , Doi Toshio , Wallner Aryana K. , Kanwar Yashpal S.
Published: December 2018

Besides oxidant stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various metabolic disorders affecting the kidney. These two forms of stresses are not mutually exclusive to each other and may operate by a feedback loop in worsening the cellular injury. To attest to this contention, studies were performed to assess whether in such a setting, there is worsening of tubulointerstitial injury. We employed tunicamycin as a model of ER stress and used tubular cells and mice overexpressing myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX), an enzyme involved in glycolytic events with excessive generation of ROS. Concomitant treatment of tunicamycin and transfection of cells with MIOX-pcDNA led to a marked generation of ROS, which was reduced by MIOX-siRNA. Likewise, an accentuated expression of ER stress sensors, GRP78, XBP1, and CHOP, was observed, which was reduced with MIOX-siRNA. These sensors were markedly elevated in MIOX-TG mice compared with WT treated with tunicamycin. This was accompanied with marked deterioration of tubular morphology, along with impairment of renal functions. Interestingly, minimal damage and elevation of ER stressors was observed in MIOX-KO mice. Downstream events that were more adversely affected in MIOX-TG mice included accentuated expression of proapoptogenic proteins, proinflammatory cytokines, and extracellular matrix constituents, although expression of these molecules was unaffected in MIOX-KO mice. Also, their tunicamycin-induced accentuated expression in tubular cells was notably reduced with MIOX-siRNA. These studies suggest that the biology of MIOX-induced oxidant stress and tunicamycin-induced ER stress are interlinked, and both of the events may feed into each other to amplify the tubulointerstitial injury.
Phase shifts in high-beta- and low-gamma-band local field potentials predict the focus of visual spatial attention
Authors: Mock Vanessa L. , Luke Kimberly L. , Hembrook-Short Jacqueline R. , Briggs Farran
Published: December 2018

The local field potential (LFP) contains rich information about activity in local neuronal populations. However, it has been challenging to establish direct links between LFP modulations and task-relevant behavior or cognitive processes, such as attention. We sought to determine whether LFP amplitude or phase modulations are predictive of the allocation of visual spatial attention. LFPs were recorded simultaneously in multiple early visual brain structures of alert macaque monkeys performing attention-demanding detection and discrimination tasks. Attention directed toward the receptive field of recorded neurons generated systematically larger phase shifts in high-beta- and low-gamma-frequency LFPs compared with LFP phase shifts on trials in which attention was directed away from the receptive field. This attention-mediated temporal advance corresponded to ~10 ms. LFP phase shifts also correlated with reaction times when monkeys were engaged in the tasks. Importantly, attentional modulation of LFP phase was consistent across monkeys, tasks, visual brain structures, and cortical layers. In contrast, attentional modulation of LFP amplitude varied across frequency bands, visual structures/layers, and tasks. Because LFP phase shifts were robust, consistent, and predictive of spatial attention, they could serve as a reliable marker for attention signals in the brain.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Local field potentials (LFPs) reflect the activity of spatially localized populations of neurons. Whether alterations in LFP activity are indicative of cognitive processes, such as attention, is unclear. We found that shifts in the phase of LFPs measured in multiple visual brain areas reliably predicted the focus of spatial attention. LFP phase shifts could therefore serve as a marker for behaviorally relevant attention signals in the brain.
Poor estimates of motor variability are associated with longer grooved pegboard times for middle-aged and older adults
Authors: Hamilton Landon D. , Mazzo Melissa R. , Petrigna Luca , Ahmed Alaa A. , Enoka Roger M.
Published: December 2018

Goal-directed movements that involve greater motor variability are performed with an increased risk that the intended goal will not be achieved. The ability to estimate motor variability during such actions varies across individuals and influences how people decide to move about their environment. The purpose of our study was to identify the decision-making strategies used by middle-aged and older adults when performing two goal-directed motor tasks and to determine if these strategies were associated with the time to complete the grooved pegboard test. Twenty-one middle-aged (48 ± 6 yr; range 40–59 yr, 15 women) and 20 older adults (73 ± 4 yr; range 65–79 yr, 8 women) performed two targeted tasks, each with two normalized target options. Decision-making characteristics were not associated with time to complete the test of manual dexterity when the analysis included all participants, but slower pegboard times were associated with measures of greater movement variability during the target-directed actions. When the data were clustered on the basis of pegboard time rather than age, relatively longer times for the faster group were associated with greater motor variability during the prescribed tasks, whereas longer times for the slower group were associated with increased risk-seeking behavior (α) and greater variability in the targeted actions.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study was the first to examine the association between decision-making choices and an NIH Toolbox test of manual dexterity (grooved pegboard test) performed by middle-aged and older adults. Significant associations were observed between decision-making choices and time to complete the test when the analyses were based on pegboard times rather than chronological age. This result indicates that decision-making choices of middle-aged and older adults, independent of age, were associated with time to complete a test of manual dexterity.
Differential developmental changes in cortical representations of auditory-vocal stimuli in songbirds
Authors: Yuan Rachel C. , Bottjer Sarah W.
Published: December 2018

Procedural skill learning requires iterative comparisons between feedback of self-generated motor output and a goal sensorimotor pattern. In juvenile songbirds, neural representations of both self-generated behaviors (each bird’s own immature song) and the goal motor pattern (each bird’s adult tutor song) are essential for vocal learning, yet little is known about how these behaviorally relevant stimuli are encoded. We made extracellular recordings during song playback in anesthetized juvenile and adult zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata) in adjacent cortical regions RA (robust nucleus of the arcopallium), AId (dorsal intermediate arcopallium), and RA cup, each of which is well situated to integrate auditory-vocal information: RA is a motor cortical region that drives vocal output, AId is an adjoining cortical region whose projections converge with basal ganglia loops for song learning in the dorsal thalamus, and RA cup surrounds RA and receives inputs from primary and secondary auditory cortex. We found strong developmental differences in neural selectivity within RA, but not in AId or RA cup. Juvenile RA neurons were broadly responsive to multiple songs but preferred juvenile over adult vocal sounds; in addition, spiking responses lacked consistent temporal patterning. By adulthood, RA neurons responded most strongly to each bird’s own song with precisely timed spiking activity. In contrast, we observed a complete lack of song responsivity in both juvenile and adult AId, even though this region receives song-responsive inputs. A surprisingly large proportion of sites in RA cup of both juveniles and adults did not respond to song playback, and responsive sites showed little evidence of song selectivity.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Motor skill learning entails changes in selectivity for behaviorally relevant stimuli across cortical regions, yet the neural representation of these stimuli remains understudied. We investigated how information important for vocal learning in zebra finches is represented in regions analogous to infragranular layers of motor and auditory cortices during vs. after the developmentally regulated learning period. The results provide insight into how neurons in higher level stages of cortical processing represent stimuli important for motor skill learning.
The Research of Mobile Location Privacy Protection Access Control Method Based on Game Theory
Authors: Zheng Lijuan , Zhang Linhao , Cui Meng , Cao Ning , Ding Jianrui , Yalemshet Leul , Nyakonda Tsepo , Musasike Shepard
Published: December 2018

In recent years, the Internet of things has developed rapidly. And the location‐based service (LBS) is becoming more and more extensive. Service providers hold a large number of users’ information. In order to improve the quality of service, service providers increasingly use big data technology to provide more accurate services for users. At the same time, it aggravates the information disclosure of users’ privacy. From the perspective of the service provider, a mobile location privacy access control method based on game theory is proposed to solve the access control problem of mobile location privacy information. Firstly, the weight coefficient is set according to the location privacy influence factors, and then the access control threshold is calculated according to the privacy location leakage situation of the mobile location. Different visitor levels are set according to the threshold. In the process of access control, the prejudgement of the access behaviour is performed, and then the privacy information amount of the information requested for access is calculated according to the weights of the different information. Compare the result with the threshold and get the access control strategy. The strategy set is selected based on strategy matrix of game theory and thresholds are adjusted based on the calculation returns of strategy matrix. The effectiveness and practicability of the method are verified through the security analysis.
Study on the Stability of Surrounding Rock of Underground Circular Cavern Based on the Anchor Reinforcement Effect
Authors: Gu Shuancheng , Zhou Pan , Sun Wei , Hu Chunhui , Li Zhi , Wang Chao
Published: December 2018

Achieving a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the anchor reinforcement mechanism and a quantitative evaluation of the surrounding rock’s stability for an anchored underground cavern can provide an important theoretical basis for supporting and excavating the cavern. First, the composite bearing structure composed of the anchor and surrounding rock was defined as the surrounding rock reinforcement body by using the homogenization method, and a new method for evaluating the stability of surrounding rock by the surrounding rock reinforcement body deformation and damage degree was proposed. Second, based on the anchor reinforcement effect, the expression of the physical‐mechanical parameters of the surrounding rock reinforcement body was deduced, and the analytical solution of stress and displacement of the surrounding rock reinforcement body was obtained. Finally, the stability coefficient of surrounding rock indicating the degree of the surrounding rock reinforcement body damage was defined. The research showed that the theoretical solution agreed well with the results of the numerical simulation, and the difference between the theoretical solution and the monitoring value was less than 10%, which verified the reliability of the method and the results of this paper. The design of the length and spacing of the anchor followed the principle of long but sparse and short but dense, and the pretightening force of the anchor and the stability coefficient of surrounding rock varied linearly. The analytical solution of this paper provides a theoretical reference for understanding the mechanism of anchor support and provides a quantitative evaluation method for the stability of surrounding rock. Compared with the traditional support design, the theory of this paper gives full play to the self‐stability of the surrounding rock and the strength of the anchor, which is conducive to saving support costs and avoiding the construction limitations in some projects.
Multi-Parameter Dominant Grouping of Discontinuities in Rock Mass Using Improved ISODATA Algorithm
Authors: Ding Qing , Huang Runqiu , Wang Fengyan , Chen Jianping , Wang Mingchang , Zhang Xuqing
Published: December 2018

The dominant grouping of the discontinuities in a rock mass is crucial to investigating the rock structure and stability. The traditional grouping methods are mostly based on the discontinuity orientation. However, other discontinuity parameters nonnegligibly impact the properties of a rock mass. If two discontinuities have the same orientation but differ otherwise, their mechanical and hydraulic properties would differ. In the present study, orientation, trace length, opening degree, and undulation of discontinuities were used to develop a multi-parameter dominant discontinuity grouping method that utilizes an improved ISODATA algorithm. The developed method uses several indicators, such as the weighted Euclidean distance and standard deviation, to iteratively update the clustering centers of the discontinuities. A clustering validity index was introduced for assessment and optimization of the discontinuity grouping results, and an adaptive grouping model that considers the weight of each grouping parameter was developed. By grouping discontinuities generated by Monte Carlo stochastic simulation, defects existing in the grouping based on the orientation only were illustrated, and the rationality of the established adaptive grouping model was verified. The engineering practicability of the method was further verified by using it to group discontinuities measured in the Dongsheng Quarry in Jingyuetan, Changchun, China.
Experimental Research on Frost Heave Characteristics of Gravel Soil and Multifactor Regression Prediction
Authors: Long Xiaoyong , Cen Guoping , Cai Liangcai , Chen Yue
Published: December 2018

Gravel soil is usually considered to be insensitive to frost heave. However, many frost heave deformations of foundation in seasonal frozen region indicate that gravel soil may also produce frost heave under certain special conditions. In order to gain a deep insight into the frost heave characteristics of gravel soil, a series of laboratory experiments on one‐dimensional frost heave were conducted under the open‐ and closed‐water replenishing condition using an improved experiment apparatus. The influence of various factors including initial moisture content, clay content, compactness, overlying load, and water replenishing on frost‐heaving ratio of gravel soil were analyzed. And the basic frost heave characteristics including frost heave amount, frost heave speed, frozen depth, freezing speed, and moisture content distribution after freezing in a gravel soil sample were analyzed. The corresponding mechanisms were also discussed. Results showed that in the open water replenishing condition, there exists a linear relationship between initial moisture content, overlying load, and frost‐heaving ratio and a quadratic polynomial relationship between clay content, compactness, and frost‐heaving ratio. Frost‐heaving ratio in the open water replenishing condition can be found to increase over three times than that under the closed water replenishing condition. Multifactor regression empirical formula was obtained by multiple regression analysis to predict the frost‐heaving ratio of gravel soil under certain collocation of factors and levels under the closed water replenishing condition. The significant effects on frost‐heaving ratio were, in order, water replenishing > initial moisture content > clay content > compactness > overlying load.
Morphological Variations inTamarindus indicaLINN. Fruits and Seed Traits in the Different Agroecological Zones of Uganda
Authors: Okello Jaspher , Okullo John Bosco Lamoris , Eilu Gerald , Nyeko Philip , Obua Joseph
Published: December 2018

An investigation was carried out on variations in the morphological traits ofTamarindus indicaLINN. fruits (length, breadth, mass, and pulp mass) and seeds (number and mass) from the different agroecological zones and land use types of Uganda. Fruits were collected from the two land use types in the three agroecological zones and measured for various morphological traits. The study sites were located between 593 and 1,096 meters above sea level. ANOVA was used to test the differences in morphological traits of fruits and seeds between agroecological zones and land use types. The morphological traits relationship was determined using Pearson Correlation Coefficient (R). There were significant (P≤0.05) variations among theT. indicafruits and seed morphological traits within the agroecological zones and land use types. Lake Victoria Crescent agroecological zone recorded higher fruits morphological traits values. Wild and on-farm land use types were superior in fruits and seed traits, respectively. Many seeds per fruit (17) were recorded in Uganda (Eastern agroecological zone) than those recorded elsewhere. Significant uphill positive linear correlations between all morphological traits (P≤0.05) were observed, with the strongest relationships being between seed mass and seed number (R=0.79), fruit mass and fruit length (R=0.75), pulp mass and fruit mass (R=0.73), and seed mass and fruit mass (R=0.73). However, fruit breadth presented slightly weaker positive linear correlations with all other morphological traits. This is the first quantitative evaluation ofT. indicamorphological traits variation in Uganda. Dispersion/variation and correlation relationships suggest that all the studied morphological traits can be used for selection of plus trees for tree breeding improvement such as yield per tree. The observed variations are probably attributed to influence of agroecological zones’ factors, environmental factors, climate, land use types, and farming systems, a reflection ofT. indicaadaptation to different conditions showing high genetic and phenotypic differences to be exploited.