bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One‐class SVM for biometric authentication by keystroke dynamics for remote evaluation
Authors: Eude Thierry , Chang Chuan
Published: August 2017

Remote skills assessment in distance education needs individual identification in distinguishing between candidates and impostors. Keystroke dynamics is a behavioral biometrics which can be used to identify them. To expect lower error rate, behaviors should be as natural and consistent as possible. The unique identifier assigned to students at their registration seems appropriate but the classification method applied for this case of anomaly detection must be robust even with a lower signature number. In this paper, we first explain how we construct our own dataset. Three methods of selecting Gaussian kernel parameters for one‐class support vector machine are subsequently studied regarding the targeted application constraints. The results show that an indirect method as distance to farthest neighbor cannot be used because some signature features have multimodal and dispersed distributions. A method is then proposed based on the selection of the parameters via detecting the "tightness" of the decision boundaries and uses a greedy search. Its performances are compared to those of a grid search method using LibSVM. The results show that the proposed method is more robust when the signatures number decreases and better and more stable in detecting impostors.
Factors affecting fatigue severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Kim Soo A , Koo Brian B , Kim Do Eui , Hwangbo Young , Yang Kwang Ik
Published: August 2017

Objectives

A limited number of studies have investigated the relationships among fatigue, insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study evaluated the factors affecting fatigue severity in patients with OSA.

Methods

We investigated 633 OSA patients who were diagnosed by polysomnography. All patients completed sleep questionnaires including self‐reported sleep duration, the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Korean version of Epworth Sleepiness Scale (K‐ESS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Korean version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (K‐PSQI) and Beck Depression Inventory‐2 (BDI‐2).

Results

The subjects had a mean age of 48.7 ± 10.5 years and 72.5% (n = 459) were men. The subjects were distributed as follows: 160 with mild, 168 with moderate and 305 with severe OSA. A multiple regression model found that age (β = −0.146, P = .005), K‐ESS (β = 0.689, P < .001), 8 ≤ ISI score < 15 (β = 3.801, P = .006), 15 ≤ ISI score (β = 4.565, P = .009), and K‐PSQI (β = 0.684, P = .002) were predictors of a higher FSS score. BDI‐2 (β = 0.007, P = .918), apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) (β = −0.006, P = .895), arousal index (β = 0.034, P = .415), and nadir O2 saturation (β = −0.044, P = .655) were not associated with FSS score.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that fatigue severity is more likely to be associated with younger age, sleepiness and insomnia, but less likely to be directly related to OSA severity.
Evaluation of a digital drainage system (Thopaz) in over 250 cases at a single site: A retrospective case‐control study
Authors: Arai Hiromasa , Tajiri Michihiko , Kameda Yohei , Shiino Kimihisa , Ando Kohei , Okudela Koji , Masuda Munetaka
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Thopaz system, a new drainage system in management of general thoracic surgery, based on a review of our clinical practice and a comparison of the utility of the Thopaz device compared with a standard drainage system.

Methods

A review of 540 thoracic surgeries at our hospital was performed. These cases were divided into 275 treated with the Thopaz system from April 2014 to March 2015 and 265 treated with a standard system from April 2013 to March 2014. The characteristics of patients and outcomes after surgery were compared in these 2 groups.

Results

The characteristics of the patients were similar in the 2 groups. Outcomes after surgery, including types of operation, period of chest tube placement, chest tube reinsertion rate and clamping test rate also did not differ significantly between the groups.

Conclusions

The non‐inferiority of the Thopaz system compared to a standard system was verified statistically. With advantages of providing objective data as a small portable system, in addition to the quietness of the unit and the ease of setup and operation, Thopaz system is likely to become mainstream in postoperative management in general thoracic surgery.
Environmental and spatial processes influencing phytoplankton biomass along a reservoirs‐river‐floodplain lakes gradient: A metacommunity approach
Authors: Bortolini Jascieli Carla , Pineda Alfonso , Rodrigues Luzia Cleide , Jati Susicley , Velho Luiz Felipe Machado
Published: August 2017

Evaluation of the relative influences of environmental and spatial processes in structuring aquatic metacommunities is an essential first step for understanding how these factors govern species distributions and affect spatial and temporal variability in community structure. Such variability has many causes and consequences at different scales. In the case of phytoplankton metacommunities, both species sorting and mass effect processes are likely to be important in structuring the patterns of biomass distribution on large spatial scales.

We investigated the influences of environmental and spatial components on the phytoplankton community on a large spatial scale, consisting of a reservoirs‐river‐floodplain lakes gradient in a Neotropical region. Using partial redundancy analysis, we partitioned the relative role of environmental (environmental filters) and spatial (asymmetric eigenvector maps) processes structuring phytoplankton biomass.

A clear difference of the limnological conditions was observed between the reservoirs and river–floodplain lakes system. High species richness and higher mean values of phytoplankton biomass were recorded in the floodplain lakes. Variation partitioning demonstrated the importance of both environmental and spatial process in phytoplankton biomass structuring. However, the relative importance of these processes may vary over time.

Our results suggest that from a metacommunity perspective, the phytoplankton biomass of upstream reservoirs and a downstream river–floodplain lakes system is determined by environmental conditions (species sorting process), mainly in the floodplain lakes; and by high dispersion rates favoured by the connectivity and unidirectional flow (mass effect process), mainly between the reservoirs and the river.
Marine‐terminating glaciers sustain high productivity in Greenland fjords
Authors: Meire Lorenz , Mortensen John , Meire Patrick , Juul‐Pedersen Thomas , Sejr Mikael K. , Rysgaard Søren , Nygaard Rasmus , Huybrechts Philippe , Meysman Filip J. R.
Published: August 2017

Accelerated mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet leads to glacier retreat and an increasing input of glacial meltwater to the fjords and coastal waters around Greenland. These high latitude ecosystems are highly productive and sustain important fisheries, yet it remains uncertain how they will respond to future changes in the Arctic cryosphere. Here we show that marine‐terminating glaciers play a crucial role in sustaining high productivity of the fjord ecosystems. Hydrographic and biogeochemical data from two fjord systems adjacent to the Greenland ice sheet, suggest that marine ecosystem productivity is very differently regulated in fjords influenced by either land‐terminating or marine‐terminating glaciers. Rising subsurface meltwater plumes originating from marine‐terminating glaciers entrain large volumes of ambient deep water to the surface. The resulting upwelling of nutrient‐rich deep water sustains a high phytoplankton productivity throughout summer in the fjord with marine‐terminating glaciers. In contrast, the fjord with only land‐terminating glaciers lack this upwelling mechanism, and is characterized by lower productivity. Data on commercial halibut landings support that coastal regions influenced by large marine‐terminating glaciers have substantially higher marine productivity. These results suggest that a switch from marine‐terminating to land‐terminating glaciers can substantially alter the productivity in the coastal zone around Greenland with potentially large ecological and socio‐economic implications.
Relating factors to severe injury from outdoor falls in older people
Authors: Jung Hey Youn , Kim Sun Hyu , Lee Sang Cheal , Kim Sunpyo , Cho Gyu Chong , Kim Min Joung , Lee Ji Sook , Han Chul
Published: August 2017

Aim

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, including floor characteristics and factors, related to severe injury from outdoor falls in older adults.

Methods

Patients were divided into two groups based on injury severity: the severe group and non‐severe group. The clinical and general characteristics were compared between the two groups, and factors associated with severe injury were investigated.

Results

Approximately 5% (364/7635) of older people involved in outdoor falls were classified into severe injury. The proportion of men and the rate of alcohol ingestion were higher in the severe group compared with that in the non‐severe group. Falling from stairs was a more frequent mechanism of fall in the severe group compared with that in the non‐severe group. Non‐slippery floor condition had a higher proportion in the severe group than that in the non‐severe group. Head and neck were the predominantly injured regions in both groups. Discharge was the most common result of emergency department treatment in the non‐severe group, whereas admission to intensive care unit was the main result in the severe group. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that male sex and falls from stairs rather than slipping down on the same level were associated with severe injury.

Conclusions

Floor characteristics did not influence injury severity; however, the risk of severe injury from outdoor falls in older adults was high in men and those who fell from stairs. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 80–87.
Formation of bulk titanium boride (TiB) nano‐ceramic with Fe–Mo addition by electric‐field‐activated‐sintering
Authors: Du Jun , Ravi Chandran K. S.
Published: August 2017

The present work is focused on optimization of Fe–Mo content, which is essential for transient liquid phase formation and densification, during in‐situ reaction sintering of nanostructured titanium boride (TiB) in the bulk form. The principle objective is to develop a systematic understanding of how the Fe–Mo additions affect the densification, microstructure, and hardness of the TiB nano‐ceramic. Various TiB ceramic compositions, with varying Fe–Mo content and retaining a high‐volume fraction of TiB in the final microstructure, were made by the electric‐field‐activated‐sintering (EFAS) technique. An increase in Fe–Mo content is found to decrease the beginning point of densification temperature/time during the consolidation process through transient liquid phase formation. It is shown that at the optimum level of Fe–Mo, which is around 1.5 wt%, the density and hardness reach maximum levels with a least amount of spatial segregation of Fe within the ceramic. Interestingly, it has been found that Mo is uniformly incorporated within the orthorhombic lattice of the boride, while Fe is largely segregated to β‐Ti phase. At the optimal Fe–Mo content (1.5 wt%), a relative density of 99.7% and a Vickers hardness of 2050 ± 40 kg/mm2were achieved. From microstructural and X‐ray diffraction analyses, it is found that a high proportion of TiB (>99 vol%), with a least amount of metallic ductile phase, is formed in this composition.
Pathophysiology of reflex syncope: A review
Authors: Adkisson Wayne O. , Benditt David G.
Published: August 2017

In this correspondence, the pathophysiology of reflex syncope (vasovagal syncope, carotid sinus syndrome, and situational syncope) is reviewed, including clarification of the nomenclature.
Ripple mapping: Initial multicenter experience of an intuitive approach to overcoming the limitations of 3D activation mapping
Authors: Luther Vishal , Cortez‐Dias Nuno , Carpinteiro Luís , de Sousa João , Balasubramaniam Richard , Agarwal Sharad , Farwell David , Sopher Mark , Babu Girish , Till Richard , Jones Nikki , Tan Stuart , Chow Anthony , Lowe Martin , Lane Jem , Pappachan Naveen , Linton Nicholas , Kanagaratnam Prapa
Published: August 2017

Background

Ripple mapping (RM) displays electrograms as moving bars over a three‐dimensional surface displaying bipolar voltage, and has shown in a single‐center series to be effective for atrial tachycardia (AT) mapping without annotation of local activation time or window‐of‐interest assignment. We tested the reproducibility of these findings in operators naïve to RM, using it for the first time in postablation AT.

Methods

Maps were collected with multielectrode catheters and CARTO ConfiDENSE. A diagnosis of the tachycardia mechanism was made using RM and an assessment of operator confidence was made according to a three‐grade scale (1 highest—3 lowest).

Results

The first 20 patients (64 ± 9 years, median two previous ablations) undergoing RM‐guided AT ablation across five sites were studied. High‐density maps (2,935 ± 1,328 points) in AT (CL = 296 ± 95 milliseconds) were collected. Macroreentrant ATs bordered by scar or anatomical obstacles were identified in n = 12 (60%), small reentrant ATs around scar in n = 3 (15%), and focal ATs from scar in n = 5 (25%). Diagnostic confidence with RM was grade 1 in n = 13 (65%), where operators felt confident to proceed to ablation without entrainment. Ablation offered the correct diagnosis n = 18 (90%). Retrospective review of the accompanying LAT maps demonstrated potential sources for error related to the window of interest selection, interpolation, and differentiating regions of scar during tachycardia on the voltage map.

Conclusion

RM was easy to adopt by operators using it for the first time, and identified the correct target for ablation with high diagnostic confidence in most cases of complex AT.
The relationship between nighttime hypertension and left atrial function
Authors: Tadic Marijana , Cuspidi Cesare , Pencic‐Popovic Biljana , Celic Vera , Mancia Giuseppe
Published: August 2017

The authors sought to investigate the association between different hypertensive phenotypes and left atrial (LA) function assessed by the volumetric method and the strain method in patients with untreated hypertension. This cross‐sectional study involved 236 untreated patients who underwent 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and two‐dimensional echocardiographic examination. Our findings showed that LA function gradually deteriorated from patients with normotension, across patients with daytime hypertension, to patients with night‐ and day‐nighttime hypertension. LA reservoir and conduit functions were particularly deteriorated in patients with nighttime and day‐nighttime hypertension compared with patients with normotension and patients with daytime hypertension, whereas LA pump function was compensatorily increased only in the participants with day‐nighttime hypertension. Only nighttime hypertension and day‐nighttime hypertension were independently associated with the reduced reservoir and conduit LA function. The difference between patients with daytime and nighttime hypertension was found in reservoir and conduit LA but not LA pump function.
Why “Animal (De)liberation” survives early criticism and is pivotal to public health
Authors: Deckers Jan
Published: August 2017

In 2016, the book Animal (De)liberation: Should the Consumption of Animal Products Be Banned? was published. This article aims to engage with the critique that this book has received and to clarify and reinforce its importance for human health. It is argued that the ideas developed in the book withstand critical scrutiny. As qualified moral veganism avoids the pitfalls of other moral positions on human diets, public health policies must be altered accordingly, subject to adequate political support for its associated vegan project.
Exploring Jordan's rule in Pacific three‐spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus
Authors: Morris M. R. J. , Petrovitch E. , Bowles E. , Jamniczky H. A. , Rogers S. M.
Published: August 2017

Coastal marine Gasterosteus aculeatus were captured from seven locations along the Pacific coast of North America, ranging across 21·8° latitude to test Jordan's rule, i.e. that vertebral number should increase with increasing latitude for related populations of fish. Vertebral number significantly increased with increasing latitude for both total and caudal vertebral number. Increasing length with latitude (sensu Bergmann's rule) was also supported, but the predictions for Jordan's rule held when controlling for standard length. Pleomerism was weakly evidenced. Gasterosteus aculeatus exhibited sexual dimorphism for Jordan's rule, with both sexes having more vertebrae at higher latitudes, but only males showing a positive association between latitude and the ratio of caudal to abdominal vertebrae. The number of dorsal‐ and anal‐fin rays and basals increased with increasing latitude, while pectoral‐fin ray number decreased. This study reinforces the association between phenotypic variation and environmental variation in marine populations of G. aculeatus.
Another piece in the progranulin puzzle: special binding between progranulin and prosaposin creates additional lysosomal access
Authors: Van Damme Philip
Published: August 2017

Loss‐of‐function mutations in the gene encoding the growth factor progranulin cause degeneration of the ageing brain in a dose‐dependent manner. While heterozygous mutations result in adult onset frontotemporal dementia, the much rarer homozygous null mutations cause an early onset lysosomal storage disorder. A better understanding of the biology of progranulin in the central nervous system is needed to find solutions for these incurable diseases. This Editorial highlights a study by Zhou et al. in the current issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry, in which the authors provide data that are a step towards this goal. Progranulin is mainly expressed by neurons and microglia and, although it is a secreted protein, it also ends up in lysosomes. Recently, the trafficking of progranulin and the molecular players involved have become better understood. A special interaction between progranulin and its travelling companion, prosaposin, explains how both proteins can use each other's transport receptors to gain access to lysosomes.

image
Early‐stage attenuation of phase‐amplitude coupling in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex in a transgenic rat model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Bazzigaluppi Paolo , Beckett Tina L. , Koletar Margaret M. , Lai Aaron Y. , Joo Illsung L. , Brown Mary E. , Carlen Peter L. , McLaurin JoAnne , Stefanovic Bojana
Published: August 2017

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is pathologically characterized by amyloid‐β peptide (Aβ) accumulation, neurofibrillary tangle formation, and neurodegeneration. Preclinical studies on neuronal impairments associated with progressive amyloidosis have demonstrated some Aβ‐dependent neuronal dysfunction including modulation of gamma‐aminobutyric acid‐ergic signaling. The present work focuses on the early stage of disease progression and uses TgF344‐ADrats that recapitulate a broad repertoire ofAD‐like pathologies to investigate the neuronal network functioning using simultaneous intracranial recordings from the hippocampus (HPC) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), followed by pathological analyses of gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor subunits α1,α5, and δ, and glutamic acid decarboxylases (GAD65 andGAD67). Concomitant to amyloid deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation, low‐gamma band power was strongly attenuated in theHPCandmPFCof TgF344‐ADrats in comparison to those in non‐transgenic littermates. In addition, the phase‐amplitude coupling of the neuronal networks in both areas was impaired, evidenced by decreased modulation of theta band phase on gamma band amplitude in TgF344‐ADanimals. Finally, the gamma coherence betweenHPCandmPFCwas attenuated as well. These results demonstrate significant neuronal network dysfunction at an early stage ofAD‐like pathology. This network dysfunction precedes the onset of cognitive deficits and is likely driven by Aβ and tau pathologies.

image

This article is part of the Special Issue “Vascular Dementia”.
Morphology, topology and dimensions of the heart and arteries of genetically normal and mutant mouse embryos at stages S21–S23
Authors: Geyer Stefan H. , Reissig Lukas F. , Hüsemann Markus , Höfle Cordula , Wilson Robert , Prin Fabrice , Szumska Dorota , Galli Antonella , Adams David J. , White Jacqui , Mohun Timothy J. , Weninger Wolfgang J.
Published: August 2017

Accurate identification of abnormalities in the mouse embryo depends not only on comparisons with appropriate, developmental stage‐matched controls, but also on an appreciation of the range of anatomical variation that can be expected during normal development. Here we present a morphological, topological and metric analysis of the heart and arteries of mouse embryos harvested on embryonic day (E)14.5, based on digital volume data of whole embryos analysed by high‐resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM). By comparing data from 206 genetically normal embryos, we have analysed the range and frequency of normal anatomical variations in the heart and major arteries across Theiler stages S21–S23. Using this, we have identified abnormalities in these structures among 298 embryos from mutant mouse lines carrying embryonic lethal gene mutations produced for the Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders (DMDD) programme. We present examples of both commonly occurring abnormal phenotypes and novel pathologies that most likely alter haemodynamics in these genetically altered mouse embryos. Our findings offer a reference baseline for identifying accurately abnormalities of the heart and arteries in embryos that have largely completed organogenesis.
Retracted: Molecular characterization of excipients’ preferential interactions with therapeutic monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Kim Jehoon , Krebs Mark R H , Trout Bernhardt L
Published: August 2017

Retraction: Molecular characterization of excipients’ preferential interactions with therapeutic monoclonal antibodies by Jehoon Kim, Mark R. H. Krebs and Bernhardt L. Trout

The above article from the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, first published online on 4 August 2017 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor-in-Chief, Professor David Jones, and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The authors discovered that the analysis of simulations was faulty making the data incorrect.

Reference

Kim J et al. Molecular characterization of excipients’ preferential interactions with therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. J Pharm Pharmacol 2017. https://doi.org/10.1111/jphp.12787
Mechanisms involved in the cytotoxic action of Brazilian propolis and caffeic acid against HEp-2 cells and modulation of P-glycoprotein activity
Authors: da Silva Lívia M , Frión-Herrera Yahima , Bartolomeu Ariane R , Gorgulho Carolina Mendonça , Sforcin José M
Published: August 2017

Objectives

The effects of propolis and phenolic compounds (caffeic acid – Caf; dihydrocinnamic acid – Cin; p-coumaric acid – Cou) in the same quantity found in our propolis sample were investigated on human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma (HEp-2) cells.

Methods

Cell viability, apoptosis/necrosis and cell cycle arrest, P53 and CASPASE-3 gene expression, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ability of propolis to induce doxorubicin (DOX) efflux using a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor (verapamil) were assayed.

Key findings

Propolis exerted a cytotoxic effect on HEp-2 cells, whereas isolated compounds had no effect on cell viability. Higher concentrations were tested and Caf induced late apoptosis or necrosis in HEp-2 cells, while propolis induced apoptosis, both probably due to ROS generation. P53 expression was downregulated by propolis but not by Caf. CASPASE-3 expression was correlated with induction of both early and late apoptosis, with both propolis and Caf alone upregulating its expression. Propolis induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and Caf at S phase. Propolis but not Caf may act as a P-gp inhibitor by modulating P-gp activity and inhibiting DOX efflux.

Conclusions

Propolis exerted cytotoxic effects on HEp-2 cells, and the mechanisms are discussed, showing its potential as an antitumour drug.
Children's experiences of living with a parent with mental illness: A systematic review of qualitative studies using thematic analysis
Authors: Yamamoto Rumi , Keogh Brian
Published: August 2017

Accessible Summary

What is known about the subject?

There are many qualitative studies that explore what it is like for children who live with a parent who has a mental illness.

These studies are sometimes criticized because they have small sample sizes which limits their application.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge?

We conducted a systematic review of qualitative papers with an aim to strengthening our understanding of what it is like for children who live with a parent who has a mental illness.

We used stringent criteria to make sure that only the voices of children affected by parental mental illness were included in the review.

In addition, the paper presents a timely update on previous reviews completed in this area.

What are the implications for practice?

The findings of this review highlight the impact that parental mental illness has on children and the important role that mental health nurses can play in maximizing opportunities for building resilience in affected children.

Mental health nurses are in a key position to provide timely and age‐appropriate information and support to both parents and children to assist in the development of appropriate coping and support mechanisms.

Introduction

This paper brings together what is known about what it is like for children who live with a parent with a mental illness with a view to strengthening our understanding of their experiences. This paper presents an update on previous reviews that were completed in this area and used a systematic approach and stringent inclusion/exclusion criteria to ensure that the voices of children were central in the included papers. A systematic review of this nature could not be located in the literature.

Aims

This paper presents the findings of a systematic review which explored the experiences of children who were affected by parental mental illness.

Methods

CINAHL, PubMed, PsychINFO, Pubmesh and EMBASE were searched for qualitative studies which explored children's experiences, and eight studies were included following review and quality appraisal. Pertinent data were extracted, coded and analysed using a thematic approach.

Results

Four themes emerged from the analytic process which described the children's understanding of mental illness, their relationship with their parents, their coping strategies and their social connections.

Implications for Practice

Mental health nurses need to recognize the psychosocial needs of children, and to acknowledge, the wider impact mental illness has of the family.
Evolution of novel mimicry rings facilitated by adaptive introgression in tropical butterflies
Authors: Enciso‐Romero Juan , Pardo‐Díaz Carolina , Martin Simon H. , Arias Carlos F. , Linares Mauricio , McMillan William Owen , Jiggins Chris D. , Salazar Camilo
Published: August 2017

Understanding the genetic basis of phenotypic variation and the mechanisms involved in the evolution of adaptive novelty, especially in adaptive radiations, is a major goal in evolutionary biology. Here, we used whole‐genome sequence data to investigate the origin of the yellow hindwing bar in theHeliconius cydnoradiation. We found modular variation associated with hindwing phenotype in two narrow noncoding regions upstream and downstream of thecortexgene, which was recently identified as a pigmentation pattern controller in multiple species ofHeliconius. Genetic variation at each of these modules suggests an independent control of the dorsal and ventral hindwing patterning, with the upstream module associated with the ventral phenotype and the downstream module with the dorsal one. Furthermore, we detected introgression betweenH. cydnoand its closely related speciesHeliconius melpomenein these modules, likely allowing both species to participate in novel mimicry rings. In sum, our findings support the role of regulatory modularity coupled with adaptive introgression as an elegant mechanism by which novel phenotypic combinations can evolve and fuel an adaptive radiation.
Stomatal heterogeneity in responses to humidity and temperature: Testing a mechanistic model
Authors: Sweet Kathryn J. , Peak David , Mott Keith A.
Published: August 2017

The role of stomatal heterogeneity in the response of stomatal conductance (gs) to the mole fraction difference in water vapour between the inside of the leaf and the ambient air (Δw) was determined using thermography and gas exchange for 3 species. The value of Δw for the leaf was varied in 2 different ways: first by varying air humidity while holding leaf temperature constant and second by varying leaf temperature while holding air humidity constant. Stomatal heterogeneity was explored by examining the response of gs in small areas of the leaf (as determined by thermography) and comparing them to each other and to the average value of gs (as determined by gas exchange). These analyses show that despite substantial heterogeneity in gs values, the response of gs to Δw was qualitatively similar in all areas of the leaf, and all responses of gs to Δw were well predicted by a recently proposed, vapour‐phase mechanism for stomatal responses to temperature and humidity. Remarkably, the 2 model parameters, Θ and Z, that depend on leaf anatomy were constant for a given species, and only the maximum conductance varied in different regions of the leaf.
The Effect of School Spending on Student Achievement: Addressing Biases in Value-Added Models
Authors: Nicoletti Cheti , Rabe Birgitta
Published: August 2017

The estimation of education production models used to evaluate the effect of school inputs and past skills on test scores, often called value-added models, can be biased by three main econometric issues: unobserved child characteristics, unobserved family and school characteristics and measurement error. We propose a two-step estimation technique which exploits the availability of test scores across time, subjects, families and schools in a unique administrative data set for England to correct for these potential biases. Our empirical results suggest that omitting school characteristics biases the estimation of the effect of school expenditure, whereas omitting unobserved child endowment biases the estimation of the effect of past skills but not the effect of school expenditure.
HLA‐DPB1*518:01, a new allele identified by sequence‐based typing in a Korean individual
Authors: Choi H. J. , Im J. , Lee J. H. , Kim S. H. , Shin M. G.
Published: August 2017

The new allele DPB1*518:01 showed one nucleotide difference with DPB1*13:01:01 at codon 124 (CCT/ACT).
Heat Transfer Modeling of Spent Nuclear Fuel Using Uncertainty Quantification and Polynomial Chaos Expansion
Authors: Khalil Imane , Pratt Quinn , Schmachtenberger Harrison , Ghanem Roger
Published: August 2017

A novel method that incorporates uncertainty quantification (UQ) into numerical simulations of heat transfer for a 9 × 9 square array of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) assemblies in a boiling water reactor (BWR) is presented in this paper. The results predict the maximum mean temperature at the center of the 9 × 9 BWR fuel assembly to be 462 K using a range of fuel burn-up power. Current related modeling techniques used to predict the heat transfer and the maximum temperature inside SNF assemblies rely on commercial codes and address the uncertainty in the input parameters by running separate simulations for different input parameters. The utility of leveraging polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) to develop a surrogate model that permits the efficient evaluation of the distribution of temperature and heat transfer while accounting for all uncertain input parameters to the model is explored and validated for a complex case of heat transfer that could be substituted with other problems of intricacy. UQ computational methods generated results that are encompassing continuous ranges of variable parameters that also served to conduct sensitivity analysis on heat transfer simulations of SNF assemblies with respect to physically relevant parameters. A two-dimensional (2D) model is used to describe the physical processes within the fuel assembly, and a second-order PCE is used to characterize the dependence of center temperature on ten input parameters.
The Oscillation Attenuation of an Accelerating Jeffcott Rotor Damped by Magnetorheological Dampers Affected by the Delayed Yielding Phenomenon in the Lubricating Oil
Authors: Zapoměl Jaroslav , Ferfecki Petr
Published: August 2017

Adding damping devices to the rotor supports is a frequently used technological solution for reducing vibrations of rotating machines. To achieve their optimum performance, their damping effect must be adaptable to the current operating speed. This is offered by magnetorheological squeeze film dampers. The magnetorheological oils are liquids sensitive to magnetic induction and belong to the class of fluids with a yielding shear stress. Their response to the change of a magnetic field is not instantaneous, but it is a process called the delayed yielding. The developed mathematical model of the magnetorheological squeeze film damper is based on the assumptions of the classical theory of lubrication. The lubricant is represented by a bilinear material, the yielding shear stress of which depends on magnetic induction. The delayed yielding process is described by a convolution integral with an exponential kernel. The developed mathematical model of the damper was implemented in the computational procedures for transient analysis of rotors working at variable operating speed. The carried-out simulations showed that the delayed yielding effect could have a significant influence on performance of magnetorheological damping devices. The development of a novel mathematical model of a magnetorheological squeeze film damper, the representation of the magnetorheological oil by bilinear material, taking the delayed yielding phenomenon into consideration, increased numerical stability of the computational procedures for transient analysis of flexible rotors, and extension of knowledge on behavior of rotor systems damped by magnetorheological squeeze film dampers are the principal contributions of this paper.
Complete Genome Sequence of Citrobacter freundii Myophage Mijalis
Authors: Parvataneni Sruti , Mijalis Eleni M. , Kuty Everett Gabriel F. , Rasche Eric S. , Liu Mei , Gill Jason J.
Published: August 2017

Citrobacter freundii
is responsible for various opportunistic nosocomial infections. Phage therapies against
C. freundii
may prove useful in human medicine for treatment of infections caused by the ubiquitous bacteria. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence of the
C. freundii
Felix O1-like myophage Mijalis and present its features.
Genome Sequence of Human Papillomavirus Type 20, Strain HPV-20/Lancaster/2015
Authors: Atkinson Kate V. , Bishop Lisa A. , Rhodes Glenn , Salez Nicolas , McEwan Neil R. , Hegarty Matthew J. , Robey Julie , Harding Nicola , Wetherell Simon , Lauder Robert M. , Pickup Roger W. , Wilkinson Mark , Gatherer Derek
Published: August 2017

The genome sequence of human papillomavirus type 20 (HPV-20; family
Papillomaviridae
, genus
Betapapillomavirus
, species
Betapapillomavirus 1
, type 20) was assembled by deep sequencing from nasopharyngeal swabs. The assembled genome is 0.37% divergent over its full length from the single complete genome of HPV-20 in GenBank (U31778). We named the strain HPV-20/Lancaster/2015.
Draft Genome Sequence of Deinococcus indicus DR1, a Novel Strain Isolated from a Freshwater Wetland
Authors: Chauhan Deepika , Srivastava Pulkit Anupam , Yennamalli Ragothaman M. , Priyadarshini Richa
Published: August 2017

Deinococcus indicus
strain DR1, a red-pigmented, arsenic- and radiation-resistant bacterium, was isolated from a water sample of the Dadri wetland, Uttar Pradesh, India. Here, we report a draft genome sequence of this strain, which may provide useful information regarding the genes and pathways involved in heavy-metal bioremediation.
Complete Genome Sequences of Four Coxsackievirus A16 Strains Isolated from Four Children with Severe Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Authors: Xu Shao-Jian , Yang Hong , Yao Xiang-Jie , Zhang Hai-Long , Ren Yan , Wu Wei , Meng Jun , Chen Hong-Biao , He Ya-Qing , Zhang Ren-Li , Lin Qi-Hui , Chen Long
Published: August 2017

Here, we report the complete genome sequences of four coxsackievirus A16 strains isolated from four children with severe hand, foot, and mouth disease. Three of them were assigned to subgenotype B1b based on phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 gene, and the other one belonged to subgenotype B1a.
Comparing optical coherence tomography radial and cube scan patterns for measuring Bruch’s membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) in glaucoma and healthy eyes: cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis
Authors: Kabbara Sami W , Zangwill Linda M , Mundae Rusdeep , Hammel Naama , Bowd Christopher , Medeiros Felipe A , Weinreb Robert N , Belghith Akram
Published: August 2017

Aim

To compare the cube and radial scan patterns of the spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for quantifying the Bruch’s membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW).

Methods

Sixty healthy eyes and 189 glaucomatous eyes were included. The optic nerve head cube and radial pattern scans were acquired using Spectralis SD-OCT. BMO-MRWs were automatically delineated using the San Diego Automated Layer Segmentation Algorithm. The BMO-MRW diagnostic accuracy for glaucoma detection and rates of change derived from the two scan patterns were compared.

Results

There was a significant difference between the baseline global BMO-MRW measurements of cube and radial scans for healthy (301.9±57.8 µm and 334.7±61.8 µm, respectively, p<0.003) and glaucoma eyes (181.2±63.0 µm and 210.2±67.2 µm, respectively, p<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for differentiating between healthy and glaucoma eyes was 0.90 for both the radial scan-based and cube scan-based BMO-MRW. No significant difference in the rate of BMO-MRW change (mean follow-up years) by scan pattern was found among both healthy (cube: −1.47 µm/year, radial: −1.53 µm/year; p=0.48) (1.6 years) and glaucoma eyes (cube: −2.37 µm/year, radial: −2.28 µm/year; p=0.45) (2.6 years).

Conclusion

Although the cube scan-based BMO-MRW was significantly smaller than the radial scan-based BMO-MRW, we found no significant difference between the two scan patterns for detecting glaucoma, identifying BMO location and measuring the rate of BMO-MRW change. These results suggest that although BMO-MRW estimates are not interchangeable, both scan patterns can be used for monitoring BMO-MRW changes over time.
Epigenetic silencing of LPP/miR-28 in multiple myeloma
Authors: Li Zhenhai , Wong Kwan Yeung , Chan Godfrey Chi-fung , Chim Chor Sang
Published: August 2017

Aims

miR-28-5- is a tumour suppressor microRNA implicated in cancers. As a CpG island is absent in miR-28-5- but present in its host gene, LPP (LIM domain containing preferred translocation partner in lipoma), we hypothesized that miR-28-5p is epigenetically silenced by promoter DNA methylation of its host gene in multiple myeloma.

Methods

Methylation-specific PCR, verified by quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing, was employed to study methylation of LPP/miR-28 in healthy controls (n=10), human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) (n=15), and primary myeloma marrow samples at diagnosis (n=49) and at relapse (n=18). Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was used to investigate expression of miR-28-5p, LPP and CCND1.

Results

LPP/miR-28 was completely unmethylated in all healthy controls and 12 (80%) HMCLs, but partially methylated in three (20%) HMCLs. Methylation of LPP/miR-28 correlated with low expression of miR-285p (p=0.012) and LPP (p=0.037) in HMCLs. In RPMI-8226R cells, in which LPP/miR-28 was partially methylated, 5-AzadC treatment led to demethylation of LPP/miR-28 and re-expression of both miR-28-5p (p=0.0007) and LPP (p=0.0007), whereas continuous culture without 5-AzadC restored LPP/miR-28 methylation and reduced expression of both miR-28-5p (p=0.0013) and LPP (p=0.0025). Moreover, a known miR-28-5p target, CCND1, was expressed at higher levels in HMCLs with LPP/miR-28 methylation than those without, consistent with a tumour suppressor role of miR-28-5p in myeloma. However, in primary samples, LPP/miR-28 was methylated in two (4.1%) at diagnosis, whereas none at relapse.

Conclusions

This is the first report of epigenetic regulation of the intronic miR-28-5p expression by promoter DNA methylation of its host gene, hence warrants further study in different cancers.
Comparison of protein-based cell-of-origin classification to the Lymph2Cx RNA assay in a cohort of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in Malaysia
Authors: Phang Kean-Chang , Akhter Ariz , Tizen Nur Maya Sabrina , Rahman Faridah Abd , Zahratul Azma Raja , Elyamany Ghaleb , Shabani-Rad Meer-Taher , Masir Noraidah , Mansoor Adnan
Published: August 2017

Aims

The cell of origin (COO) based molecular characterisation into germinal centre B-cell-like (GCB) and activated B-cell-like (ABC) subtypes are central to the pathogenesis and clinical course in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Globally, clinical laboratories employ pragmatic but less than ideal immunohistochemical (IHC) assay for COO classification. Novel RNA-based platforms using routine pathology samples are emerging as new gold standard and offer unique opportunities for assay standardisation for laboratories across the world. We evaluated our IHC protocols against RNA-based technologies to determine concordance; additionally, we gauged the impact of preanalytical variation on the performance of Lymph2Cx assay.

Methods

Diagnostic biopsies (n=104) were examined for COO classification, employing automated RNA digital quantification assay (Lymph2Cx). Results were equated against IHC-based COO categorisation. Assay performance was assessed through its impact on overall survival (OS).

Results

96 (92%) informative samples were labelled as GCB (38/96; 40%) and non-GCB (58/96; 60%) by IHC evaluation. Lymph2Cx catalogued 36/96 (37%) samples as GCB, 45/96 (47%) as ABC and 15/96 (16%) as unclassified. Lymph2Cx being reference, IHC protocol revealed sensitivity of 81% for ABC and 75% for GCB categorisation and positive predictive value of 81% versus 82%, respectively. Lymph2Cx-based COO classification performed superior to Hans algorithm in predicting OS (log rank test, p=0.017 vs p=0.212).

Conclusions

Our report show that current IHC-based protocols for COO classification of DLBCL at UKM Malaysia are in line with previously reported results and marked variation in preanalytical factors do not critically impact Lymph2Cx assay quality.
Gliosarcomas with theBRAFV600E mutation: a report of two cases and review of the literature
Authors: Wang Leiming , Sun Jian , Li Zhuo , Chen Li , Fu Yongjuan , Zhao Lihong , Liu Li , Wei Yukui , Teng Lianghong , Lu Dehong
Published: August 2017

Gliosarcoma, which is regarded as a variant of glioblastoma, is a rare malignant neoplasm of the central nervous system. Both its sarcomatous component and glial component are reported to share significant clinical and genetic similarities. However, gliosarcomas are considered to be characterised by a lack of theBRAFV600E mutation. Here, we report two cases of gliosarcoma harbouring theBRAFV600E mutation, of which one case appears to have arisen de novo, while the other likely arose from ganglioglioma. Interestingly, theBRAFV600E mutation was detected only in the glial component in the first case, but was present in both the glial and the sarcomatous components in the recurrent gliosarcoma. Furthermore, the different mutation state ofBRAFV600E in our two cases suggests that the malignant transformation of gliosarcoma might have different underlying genetic alterations and mechanisms in de novo versus recurrent gliosarcoma.
Perceptions of control and unrealistic optimism in early-phase cancer trials
Authors: Jansen Lynn A , Mahadevan Daruka , Appelbaum Paul S , Klein William M P , Weinstein Neil D , Mori Motomi , Degnin Catherine , Sulmasy Daniel P
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Recent research has found unrealistic optimism (UO) among patient-subjects in early-phase oncology trials. Our aim was to investigate the cognitive and motivational factors that evoke this bias in this context. We expected perceptions of control to be a strong correlate of unrealistic optimism.

Methods

A study of patient-subjects enrolled in early-phase oncology trials was conducted at two sites in the USA. Respondents completed questionnaires designed to assess unrealistic optimism and several risk attribute variables that have been found to evoke the bias in other contexts.

Results

One hundred and seventy-one patient-subjects agreed to be interviewed for our study. Significant levels of perceived controllability were found with respect to all nine research-related questions. Perceptions of control were found to predict unrealistic optimism. Two other risk attribute variables, awareness of indicators (p=0.024) and mental image (p=0.022), were correlated with unrealistic optimism. However, in multivariate regression analysis, awareness and mental image dropped out of the model and perceived controllability was the only factor independently associated with unrealistic optimism (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

Patient-subjects reported that they can, at least partially, control the benefits they receive from participating in an early-phase oncology trial. This sense of control may underlie unrealistic optimism about benefiting personally from trial participation. Effective interventions to counteract unrealistic optimism may need to address the psychological factors that give rise to distorted risk/benefit processing.
Growth, structural, spectroscopic, thermal, dielectric and optical study of cobalt sulphide-doped ADP crystals
Authors: Kochuparampil A. P. , Joshi J. H. , Joshi M. J.
Published: August 2017

As ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) is a popular nonlinear optical crystal, to engineer its linear and nonlinear optical properties, the chalcogenide compound cobalt sulphide (CoS) was doped and the crystals were grown by the slow solvent evaporation method. To increase the solubility of CoS in water, its nanoparticles were synthesized by wet chemical technique using ethylene diamine as the capping agent followed by microwave irradiation. The nanoparticle sample exhibited finite solubility in water and was used to dope in ADP crystals. The powder XRD patterns showed the single phase nature of the doped crystals. The FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of various functional groups and EDAX gave the estimation of Co and S elements. The EPR spectroscopy also confirmed the presence of cobalt in the doped samples. TGA indicated slightly less thermal stability of the doped crystals compared to the pure ADP. The dielectric study was carried out at room temperature in the frequency range from 100[Formula: see text]Hz to 1[Formula: see text]MHz. Also, various linear optical parameters were evaluated for pure and doped crystals using UV–Vis spectroscopy. The second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of Nd:YAG laser was evaluated by the Kurtz and Parry method for the doped samples, it was found to be slightly lesser than that of the pure ADP crystals.