bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KATP channel inhibition blunts electromechanical decline during hypoxia in left ventricular working rabbit hearts
Authors: Garrott Kara , Kuzmiak‐Glancy Sarah , Wengrowski Anastasia , Zhang Hanyu , Rogers Jack , Kay Matthew W.
Published: February 2017

Key points

Heart function is critically dependent upon the balance of energy production and utilization. Sarcolemmal ATP‐sensitive potassium channels (KATP channels) in cardiac myocytes adjust contractile function to compensate for the level of available energy.

Understanding the activation of KATP channels in working myocardium during high‐stress situations is crucial to the treatment of cardiovascular disease, especially ischaemic heart disease.

Using a new optical mapping approach, we measured action potentials from the surface of excised contracting rabbit hearts to assess when sarcolemmal KATP channels were activated during physiologically relevant workloads and during gradual reductions in myocardial oxygenation.

We demonstrate that left ventricular pressure is closely linked to KATP channel activation and that KATP channel inhibition with a low concentration of tolbutamide prevents electromechanical decline when oxygen availability is reduced. As a result, KATP channel inhibition probably exacerbates a mismatch between energy demand and energy production when myocardial oxygenation is low.

Sarcolemmal ATP‐sensitive potassium channel (KATP channel) activation in isolated cells is generally understood, although the relationship between myocardial oxygenation and KATP activation in excised working rabbit hearts remains unknown. We optically mapped action potentials (APs) in excised rabbit hearts to test the hypothesis that hypoxic changes would be more severe in left ventricular (LV) working hearts (LWHs) than Langendorff (LANG) perfused hearts. We further hypothesized that KATP inhibition would prevent those changes. Optical APs were mapped when measuring LV developed pressure (LVDP), coronary flow rate and oxygen consumption in LANG and LWHs. Hearts were paced to increase workload and perfusate was deoxygenated to study the effects of myocardial hypoxia. A subset of hearts was perfused with 1 μm tolbutamide (TOLB) to identify the level of AP duration (APD) shortening attributed to KATP channel activation. During sinus rhythm, APD was shorter in LWHs compared to LANG hearts. APD in both LWHs and LANG hearts dropped steadily during deoxygenation. With TOLB, APDs in LWHs were longer at all workloads and APD reductions during deoxygenation were blunted in both LWHs and LANG hearts. At 50% perfusate oxygenation, APD and LVDP were significantly higher in LWHs perfused with TOLB (199 ± 16 ms; 92 ± 5.3 mmHg) than in LWHs without TOLB (109 ± 14 ms, P = 0.005; 65 ± 6.5 mmHg, P = 0.01). Our results indicate that KATP channels are activated to a greater extent in perfused hearts when the LV performs pressure–volume work. The results of the present study demonstrate the critical role of KATP channels in modulating myocardial function over a wide range of physiological conditions.
The prospective opportunities offered by magnetic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: a review
Authors: Ortolani Alessandro , Bianchi Michele , Mosca Massimiliano , Caravelli Silvio , Fuiano Mario , Marcacci Maurilio , Russo Alessandro
Published: February 2017

Magnetic scaffolds are becoming increasingly attractive in tissue engineering, due to their ability to enhance bone tissue formation by attracting soluble factors, such as growth factors, hormones and polypeptides, directly to the implantation site, as well as their potential to improve the fixation and stability of the implant. Moreover, there is increasing evidence that the synergistic effects of magnetic scaffolds and magnetic fields can promote bone repair and regeneration. In this manuscript we review the recent innovations in bone tissue engineering that exploit magnetic biomaterials combined with static magnetic fields to enhance bone cell adhesion and proliferation, and thus bone tissue growth.
Behind Closed Doors: Secrecy and Transparency in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Negotiations
Authors: Maher Sasha
Published: February 2017

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement has been mired in controversies about secrecy and the lack of transparency since the United States joined negotiations in 2010. Yet the content and impact of these disputes surrounding this new mega-regional trade agreement have not been explored. This article examines the role of secrecy in state formation by exploring the tension produced by the state’s deliberate withholding of Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiation texts from public circulation (“TPP secret”). Focusing on how the TPP secret unfolded in New Zealand, where the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade is the designated depository of the TPP texts and criticism is prolific, I draw on the New Zealand High Court case that was filed by TPP critics against the Minister of Trade and on other commentary in order to trace the characteristics of the transparency debate. The article argues that the the narrow focus of the debate on documents and procedures leaves critical questions about the militarisation of the Asia-Pacific and the security ambitions of the United States unanswered.
Māori Indigeneity and Commodity Fetishism
Authors: Webster Steven Sebastian
Published: February 2017

The Māori have survived at least three different sustained efforts to assimilate them since colonisation. I would argue that each time they have emerged as a substantially different culture as well as a different part of New Zealand society, and new efforts to assimilate them have had to confront the unpredictable results. To generalise, the first effort of assimilation was propelled by enlightened colonial arrogance, and finally by force; another effort started in the 1920s and sought to help them be ‘more Māori' by preserving their traditional culture. The most recent form of assimilation took shape in the 1980s but, facing what has come to be called indigeneity, became a kind of welcome (even a pōwhiri) into the new world of neoliberal opportunities. In the 1990s I traced some of the results since the 1920s, but I was only vaguely aware that this latest neoliberal phase of assimilation efforts had already begun. Fiona McCormack has, I think, best drawn together the critiques of this latest development, and furthermore appreciated its results as essentially unpredictable. In this essay I want to review some of her examples, and suggest that Marx's image of the fetishism of commodities better captures the ambiguous contradictions and unpredictabilities of the situations she describes.

Key words:
Maori indigeneity; political economy; commodity fetishism; ethnicity
Cryogenic etching of porous low-k dielectrics in CF3Br and CF4 plasmas
Authors: Rezvanov Askar , Miakonkikh Andrey V. , Vishnevskiy Alexey S. , Rudenko Konstantin V. , Baklanov Mikhail R.
Published: February 2017

Low temperature etching of organosilicate low-k dielectrics in CF3Br and CF4 plasmas is studied. The chemical composition of pristine and etched low-k films was measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Reduction of plasma-induced damage at low process temperature is observed. It is shown that the plasma damage reduction is related to protective effects of accumulated reaction products (CHxFyBrz, SiBrx after CF3Br, and CFx polymers after CF4 plasma). The reaction products could then be removed by thermal annealing for the pores to become empty. In the case of CF4 plasma, the thickness of CFx polymer increases with the temperature reduction, which is measured by ellipsometry. This polymer layer leads to a strong decrease in the diffusion rate of fluorine atoms and, as a consequence, to reduction of plasma-induced damage. Bromine containing reaction products are less efficient for low-k surface protection against the plasma damage.
Optical, electrical, and electrochemical properties of indium tin oxide thin films studied in different layer-structures and their corresponding inorganic all-thin-film solid-state electrochromic devices
Authors: Wang Mengying , Diao Xungang , Dong Guobo , He Yingchun , Liu Qirong
Published: February 2017

In this investigation, the indium tin oxide (ITO) film layers were prepared by reactive direct current magnetron sputtering at room temperature with different deposition parameters on six different substrates: glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), NiOx/ITO/glass, NiOx/ITO/PET, WO3/ITO/glass, and WO3/ITO/PET. The ITO deposited on WO3/ITO/glass showed great advantage than others having a resistance as low as 9.2 Ω/◻ and a high average optical transmittance of 77.1% and reaching the balance between the optical and electrical properties of ITO thin films. Meanwhile, the WO3 film as electrochromism layer on ITO (under different deposited parameters)/glass shows nearly perfect reversibility, charge density of 20 mC/cm2, and fast response time of about 2–6 s. With the outer ITO thin film layer optimized, the electrochromic devices (ECDs) with typical five-layer structure were deposited. ECDs show the reversible dark-blue-coloration and bleaching cycles, large optical contrast, fast response time, and good stability. The device with glass/ITO/NiOx/electrolyte/WO3/ITO structure represents a transmittance variation from 20% (colored state) to 90% (bleached state).
Dynamical computation of constrained flexible systems using a modal Udwadia-Kalaba formulation: Application to musical instruments
Authors: Antunes J. , Debut V.
Published: February 2017

Most musical instruments consist of dynamical subsystems connected at a number of constraining points through which energy flows. For physical sound synthesis, one important difficulty deals with enforcing these coupling constraints. While standard techniques include the use of Lagrange multipliers or penalty methods, in this paper, a different approach is explored, the Udwadia-Kalaba (U-K) formulation, which is rooted on analytical dynamics but avoids the use of Lagrange multipliers. This general and elegant formulation has been nearly exclusively used for conceptual systems of discrete masses or articulated rigid bodies, namely, in robotics. However its natural extension to deal with continuous flexible systems is surprisingly absent from the literature. Here, such a modeling strategy is developed and the potential of combining the U-K equation for constrained systems with the modal description is shown, in particular, to simulate musical instruments. Objectives are twofold: (1) Develop the U-K equation for constrained flexible systems with subsystems modelled through unconstrained modes; and (2) apply this framework to compute string/body coupled dynamics. This example complements previous work [Debut, Antunes, Marques, and Carvalho, Appl. Acoust. 108, 3–18 (2016)] on guitar modeling using penalty methods. Simulations show that the proposed technique provides similar results with a significant improvement in computational efficiency.
Thioredoxin reverses age-related hypertension by chronically improving vascular redox and restoring eNOS function
Authors: Hilgers Rob H. P. , Kundumani-Sridharan Venkatesh , Subramani Jaganathan , Chen Leon C. , Cuello Luis G. , Rusch Nancy J. , Das Kumuda C.
Published: February 2017

Thioredoxin treatment in aged mice reversed hypertension, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach.
Intestinal commensal bacteria mediate lung mucosal immunity and promote resistance of newborn mice to infection
Authors: Gray Jerilyn , Oehrle Katherine , Worthen George , Alenghat Theresa , Whitsett Jeffrey , Deshmukh Hitesh
Published: February 2017

Postnatal colonization by intestinal commensal bacteria directs migration of innate lymphoid cells to the lungs and promotes resistance of newborn mice to pneumonia.
IgA-coated
E. coli
enriched in Crohn’s disease spondyloarthritis promote T
H
17-dependent inflammation
Authors: Viladomiu Monica , Kivolowitz Charles , Abdulhamid Ahmed , Dogan Belgin , Victorio Daniel , Castellanos Jim G. , Woo Viola , Teng Fei , Tran Nhan L. , Sczesnak Andrew , Chai Christina , Kim Myunghoo , Diehl Gretchen E. , Ajami Nadim J. , Petrosino Joseph F. , Zhou Xi K. , Schwartzman Sergio , Mandl Lisa A. , Abramowitz Meira , Jacob Vinita , Bosworth Brian , Steinlauf Adam , Scherl Ellen J. , Wu Hsin-Jung Joyce , Simpson Kenneth W. , Longman Randy S.
Published: February 2017

IgA-reactive
E. coli
in Crohn’s disease–associated spondyloarthritis link mucosal immunity and systemic inflammation.
Drug discovery for Diamond-Blackfan anemia using reprogrammed hematopoietic progenitors
Authors: Doulatov Sergei , Vo Linda T. , Macari Elizabeth R. , Wahlster Lara , Kinney Melissa A. , Taylor Alison M. , Barragan Jessica , Gupta Manav , McGrath Katherine , Lee Hsiang-Ying , Humphries Jessica M. , DeVine Alex , Narla Anupama , Alter Blanche P. , Beggs Alan H. , Agarwal Suneet , Ebert Benjamin L. , Gazda Hanna T. , Lodish Harvey F. , Sieff Colin A. , Schlaeger Thorsten M. , Zon Leonard I. , Daley George Q.
Published: February 2017

A stem cell reprogramming approach enables disease modeling and drug discovery for a genetic blood disorder and uncovers a candidate therapeutic.
Your genes are conspiring against you
Authors: Peñagarikano Olga
Published: February 2017

Gene variants in the dopamine receptor D2 expression network predict physiological and clinical features as well as treatment responses in schizophrenia.
A Mobile Element in
mutS
Drives Hypermutation in a Marine
Vibrio
Authors: Chu Nathaniel D. , Clarke Sean A. , Timberlake Sonia , Polz Martin F. , Grossman Alan D. , Alm Eric J.
Published: February 2017

Bacteria face a trade-off between genetic fidelity, which reduces deleterious mistakes in the genome, and genetic innovation, which allows organisms to adapt. Evidence suggests that many bacteria balance this trade-off by modulating their mutation rates, but few mechanisms have been described for such modulation. Following experimental evolution and whole-genome resequencing of the marine bacterium
Vibrio splendidus
12B01, we discovered one such mechanism, which allows this bacterium to switch to an elevated mutation rate. This switch is driven by the excision of a mobile element residing in
mutS
, which encodes a DNA mismatch repair protein. When integrated within the bacterial genome, the mobile element provides independent promoter and translation start sequences for
mutS
—different from the bacterium’s original
mutS
promoter region—which allow the bacterium to make a functional
mutS
gene product. Excision of this mobile element rejoins the
mutS
gene with host promoter and translation start sequences but leaves a 2-bp deletion in the
mutS
sequence, resulting in a frameshift and a hypermutator phenotype. We further identified hundreds of clinical and environmental bacteria across
Betaproteobacteria
and
Gammaproteobacteria
that possess putative mobile elements within the same amino acid motif in
mutS
. In a subset of these bacteria, we detected excision of the element but not a frameshift mutation; the mobile elements leave an intact
mutS
coding sequence after excision. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which one bacterium alters its mutation rate and hint at a possible evolutionary role for mobile elements within
mutS
in other bacteria.

IMPORTANCE
DNA mutations are a double-edged sword. Most mutations are harmful; they can scramble precise genetic sequences honed over thousands of generations. However, in rare cases, mutations also produce beneficial new traits that allow populations to adapt to changing environments. Recent evidence suggests that some bacteria balance this trade-off by altering their mutation rates to suit their environment. To date, however, we know of few mechanisms that allow bacteria to change their mutation rates. We describe one such mechanism, driven by the action of a mobile element, in the marine bacterium
Vibrio splendidus
12B01. We also found similar mobile genetic sequences in the
mutS
genes of many different bacteria, including clinical and agricultural pathogens. These mobile elements might play an as yet unknown role in the evolution of these important bacteria.
The Antituberculosis Drug Ethambutol Selectively Blocks Apical Growth in CMN Group Bacteria
Authors: Schubert Karin , Sieger Boris , Meyer Fabian , Giacomelli Giacomo , Böhm Kati , Rieblinger Angela , Lindenthal Laura , Sachs Nadja , Wanner Gerhard , Bramkamp Marc
Published: February 2017

Members of the genus
Mycobacterium
are the most prevalent cause of infectious diseases. Mycobacteria have a complex cell envelope containing a peptidoglycan layer and an additional arabinogalactan polymer to which a mycolic acid bilayer is linked; this complex, multilayered cell wall composition (mAGP) is conserved among all CMN group bacteria. The arabinogalactan and mycolic acid synthesis pathways constitute effective drug targets for tuberculosis treatment. Ethambutol (EMB), a classical antituberculosis drug, inhibits the synthesis of the arabinose polymer. Although EMB acts bacteriostatically, its underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we used
Corynebacterium glutamicum
and
Mycobacterium phlei
as model organisms to study the effects of EMB at the single-cell level. Our results demonstrate that EMB specifically blocks apical cell wall synthesis, but not cell division, explaining the bacteriostatic effect of EMB. Furthermore, the data suggest that members of the family
Corynebacterineae
have two dedicated machineries for cell elongation (elongasome) and cytokinesis (divisome).

IMPORTANCE
Antibiotic treatment of bacterial pathogens has contributed enormously to the increase in human health. Despite the apparent importance of antibiotic treatment of bacterial infections, surprisingly little is known about the molecular functions of antibiotic actions in the bacterial cell. Here, we analyzed the molecular effects of ethambutol, a first-line antibiotic against infections caused by members of the genus
Mycobacterium
. We find that this drug selectively blocks apical cell growth but still allows for effective cytokinesis. As a consequence, cells survive ethambutol treatment and adopt a pneumococcal cell growth mode with cell wall synthesis only at the site of cell division. However, combined treatment of ethambutol and beta-lactam antibiotics acts synergistically and effectively stops cell proliferation.
Distinct Biogeographic Patterns for Archaea, Bacteria, and Fungi along the Vegetation Gradient at the Continental Scale in Eastern China
Authors: Ma Bin , Dai Zhongmin , Wang Haizhen , Dsouza Melissa , Liu Xingmei , He Yan , Wu Jianjun , Rodrigues Jorge L. M. , Gilbert Jack A. , Brookes Philip C. , Xu Jianming
Published: February 2017

Understanding biogeographic patterns is a precursor to improving our knowledge of the function of microbiomes and to predicting ecosystem responses to environmental change. Using natural forest soil samples from 110 locations, this study is one of the largest attempts to comprehensively understand the different patterns of soil archaeal, bacterial, and fungal biogeography at the continental scale in eastern China. These patterns in natural forest sites could ascertain reliable soil microbial biogeographic patterns by eliminating anthropogenic influences. This information provides guidelines for monitoring the belowground ecosystem’s decline and restoration. Meanwhile, the deviations in the soil microbial communities from corresponding natural forest states indicate the extent of degradation of the soil ecosystem. Moreover, given the association between vegetation type and the microbial community, this information could be used to predict the long-term response of the underground ecosystem to the vegetation distribution caused by global climate change.
Isotopic signature of dissolved iron delivered to the Southern Ocean from hydrothermal vents in the East Scotia Sea
Authors: Klar Jessica K. , James Rachael H. , Gibbs Dakota , Lough Alastair , Parkinson Ian , Milton J. Andrew , Hawkes Jeffrey A. , Connelly Douglas P.
Published: February 2017

It has recently been demonstrated that hydrothermal vents are an important source of dissolved Fe (dFe) to the Southern Ocean. The isotopic composition (δ56Fe) of dFe in vent fluids appears to be distinct from other sources of dFe to the deep ocean, but the evolution of δ56Fe during mixing between vent fluids and seawater is poorly constrained. Here we present the evolution of δ56Fe for dFe in hydrothermal fluids and dispersing plumes from two sites in the East Scotia Sea. We show that δ56Fe values in the buoyant plume are distinctly lower (as low as −1.19‰) than the hydrothermal fluids (−0.29‰), attributed to (1) precipitation of Fe sulfides in the early stages of mixing, and (2) partial oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III), >55% of which subsequently precipitates as Fe oxyhydroxides. By contrast, the δ56Fe signature of stabilized dFe in the neutrally buoyant plume is −0.3‰ to −0.5‰. This cannot be explained by continued dilution of the buoyant plume with background seawater; rather, we suggest that isotope fractionation of dFe occurs during plume dilution due to Fe ligand complexation and exchange with labile particulate Fe. The δ56Fe signature of stabilized hydrothermal dFe in the East Scotia Sea is distinct from background seawater and may be used to quantify the hydrothermal dFe input to the ocean interior.
Stratigraphic unmixing reveals repeated hypoxia events over the past 500 yr in the northern Adriatic Sea
Authors: Tomašových Adam , Gallmetzer Ivo , Haselmair Alexandra , Kaufman Darrell S. , Vidović Jelena , Zuschin Martin
Published: February 2017

In the northern Adriatic Sea and in most semienclosed coastal regions worldwide, hypoxia induced by eutrophication in the late 20th century caused major die-offs of coastal marine organisms. However, ecosystem responses to hypoxia over longer centennial scales are unclear because the duration of direct observations is limited to a few decades and/or the temporal resolution of sedimentary archives is compromised by slow sedimentation and bioturbation. To assess whether perturbations of ecosystems by hypoxia recurred over centuries in the northern Adriatic Sea, we evaluate the timing and forcing of past hypoxia events based on the production history of the opportunistic, hypoxia-tolerant bivalve Corbula gibba, using 210Pb data, radiocarbon dating, amino acid racemization, and distribution of foraminifers in sediment cores that capture the past 500 yr in the Gulf of Trieste. Unmixing the stratigraphic record on the basis of 311 shells of C. gibba, we show that the reconstructed fluctuations in abundance do not correlate with abundances in the raw stratigraphic record. We find that production of C. gibba has undergone major decadal-scale fluctuations since the 18th century, with outbreaks corresponding to density of more than 1000 individuals per square meter. These outbreaks represent long-term phenomena in the northern Adriatic ecosystem rather than novel states characteristic of the 20th century eutrophication. They positively correlate with centennial-scale fluctuations in sea-surface temperature, indicating that the hypoxia events were coupled with water-column stratification rather than with nutrient enrichment.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation-like reaction following rituximab infusion
Authors: Rafei Hind , Nassereddine Samah , Garcia Ivan F
Published: February 2017

Rituximab generally is a well-tolerated medication used in a variety of haematological and autoimmune conditions. The safety profile of the medication has been reviewed in the literature. Infusion reactions due to cytokine release are the most common side effects. With the increased use of rituximab, there is an increase incidence of cytopenias, most commonly thrombocytopenia and leucopenia. Coagulopathy is quite rare, reported previously in four cases in the literature. We highlighted the clinical course of a 39-year-old patient with precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who was started on rituximab infusion. The patient developed a cytokine-release syndrome with haemodynamic instability, followed by rapid-onset cytopenias and disseminated intravascular coagulation abnormalities characterised by coagulopathy with fibrinolysis and mucocutaneous bleeding. The report is followed by a review of the literature. It is important to recognise rituximab-induced coagulopathy early as part of the differential diagnosis of thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation following rituximab administration.
Do biomass fuel use and consumption of unsafe water mediate educational inequalities in stillbirth risk? An analysis of the 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey
Authors: Amegah A Kofi , Näyhä Simo , Jaakkola Jouni J K
Published: February 2017

Background

Numerous studies have explored the association between educational inequalities and stillbirth but most have failed to elaborate how low educational attainment leads to an increased risk of stillbirth. We hypothesised that use of biomass fuels and consumption of unsafe water related to low educational attainment could explain the stillbirth burden in Ghana attributable to socioeconomic disadvantage.

Methods

Data from the 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey, a nationally representative population-based survey were analysed for this study. Of the10 370 women aged 15–49 years interviewed via structured questionnaires for the survey, 7183 primiparous and multiparous women qualified for inclusion in the present study.

Results

In a logistic regression analysis that adjusted for age, area of residence, marital status and ethnicity of women, lower maternal primary education was associated with a 62% (OR=1.62; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.52) increased lifetime risk of stillbirth. Biomass fuel use and consumption of unsafe water mediated 18% and 8% of the observed effects, respectively. Jointly these two exposures explained 24% of the observed effects. The generalised additive modelling revealed a very flat inverted spoon-shaped smoothed curve which peaked at low levels of schooling (2–3 years) and confirms the findings from the logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions

Our results show that biomass fuel use and unsafe water consumption could be important pathways through which low maternal educational attainment leads to stillbirths in Ghana and similar developing countries. Addressing educational inequalities in developing countries is thus essential for ensuring household choices that curtail environmental exposures and help improve pregnancy outcomes.
Knowledge and opinions of veterinary students in Italy toward animal welfare science and law
Authors: Magnani D. , Ferri N. , Dalmau A. , Messori S.
Published: February 2017

Animal welfare (AW) is a growing concern worldwide and veterinary students are expected to demonstrate a high degree of professional interest in the welfare of animals. However, previous studies have highlighted gaps in the teaching of AW teaching in different countries, possibly impairing veterinary competency in the area. This survey aimed to assess the opinions of Italian veterinary students towards AW, as well as their knowledge on the issue. Questions were divided into different sections, investigating the definition of, and information on, AW, knowledge about AW legislation, and the level of tolerance towards AW in regard to the use of animals for different purposes. Results showed that behaviour was the most frequently used word to define AW. Italian students considered their own level of knowledge on AW as good, relying on their university training, websites and television. They requested more AW legislation, but when questioned on specifics of the current legislation, there was a general lack of knowledge. Although poultry, pigs and rabbits were considered the species experiencing the worst management conditions, the species that raised the most AW concerns were companion animals and cattle. Results from this investigation may allow the development of tailored actions aimed at appropriately implementing educational strategies, at national and international levels, to improve the role of future veterinarians as leaders in AW.
Synthetic cystic fibrosis sputum medium diminishes Burkholderia cenocepacia antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus independently of phenylacetic acid production
Authors: Lightly Tasia Joy , Phung Ryan R. , Sorensen John L. , Cardona Silvia T.
Published: February 2017

Phenylacetic acid (PAA), an intermediate of phenylalanine degradation, is emerging as a signal molecule in microbial interactions with the host. In this work, we explore the presence of phenylalanine and PAA catabolism in 3 microbial pathogens of the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung microbiome: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cenocepacia, and Aspergillus fumigatus. While in silico analysis of B. cenocepacia J2315 and A. fumigatus Af293 genome sequences showed complete pathways from phenylalanine to PAA, the P. aeruginosa PAO1 genome lacked several coding genes for phenylalanine and PAA catabolic enzymes. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of supernatants from B. cenocepacia K56-2 detected PAA when grown in Luria–Bertani medium but not in synthetic cystic fibrosis sputum medium (SCFM). However, we were unable to identify PAA production by A. fumigatus or P. aeruginosa in any of the conditions tested. The inhibitory effect of B. cenocepacia on A. fumigatus growth was evaluated using agar plate interaction assays. Inhibition of fungal growth by B. cenocepacia was lessened in SCFM but this effect was not dependent on bacterial production of PAA. In summary, while we demonstrated PAA production by B. cenocepacia, we were not able to link this metabolite with the B. cenocepacia – A. fumigatus microbial interaction in CF nutritional conditions.
Environmental drivers of carry-over effects in a pond-breeding amphibian, the Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)
Authors: Freidenburg L.K.
Published: February 2017

Breeding animals confront a complex environment when deciding where to oviposit, and this decision may depend on fine-scale variation in environmental conditions that have the potential to affect not only embryos but also subsequent larvae. I evaluated the influences of two variables, light and temperature, at oviposition sites of Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica LeConte, 1825). First, in four ponds varying in canopy cover, I moved a subset of egg masses from the original oviposition site to an alternative site in the same pond and monitored embryos until hatching commenced. I found that embryos in the alternative site experienced delays in hatching a mean of 2.5 days. Second, in each of the four ponds, I placed hatchlings from the two sites in enclosures throughout the pond. After 2 weeks, larval performance was assessed with respect to development and growth. Larvae from the alternative oviposition site gained less mass (on average, 15% less) and developed more slowly (up to two Gosner stages) than larvae from the original oviposition site. Collectively, these results show that in selecting oviposition sites, Wood Frogs can use local cues to support high performance of their offspring and that those positive effects can carry over well into the larval period.
INTERVENTION AND SIGNALING: INTERACTION BETWEEN CENTRAL BANKS AND FX MARKETS IN AN EMERGING MARKET
Authors: GOYAL ASHIMA
Published: February 2017

The paper analyzes the effectiveness of intervention and of signals on future intervention on the foreign exchange market of an emerging market (EM) facing large capital flows. A model of strategic interaction between speculators and the Central Bank shows the speculative demand curve to be downward sloping under greater uncertainty about fundamentals, which is common in EMs. Tests with Indian data confirm a stable speculative demand curve. The domestic currency appreciates when net dealer demand is positive. Intervention influences exchange rate levels and volatility. Anticipated intervention decreases dealer turnover, so expectations are stabilizing and signals on future intervention effective.
A New Reliability Method Combining Kriging and Probability Density Evolution Method
Authors: Jiang Zhongming , Li Jie
Published: February 2017

Stochastic dynamic analysis of structures with random parameters continues to be an open question in the field of civil engineering. As a newly developed method, the probability density evolution method (PDEM) can provide the probability density function (PDF) of the dynamic responses of highly nonlinear structures. In this paper, a new method based on PDEM and the kriging surrogate model, named the K-PDEM, is proposed to study the stochastic response of a structure. Being an exact interpolation method, the Gaussian process regression or the so-called kriging method is capable of producing highly accurate results. Unlike the traditional PDEM numerical method whose numerical precision is strongly influenced by the number of representative points, the K-PDEM employs the kriging method at each instant to generate additional time histories. Then, the PDEM, which is capable of capturing the instantaneous PDF of a dynamic response and its evolution, is employed in nonlinear stochastic dynamic systems. Because of the decoupling properties of the K-PDEM, the numerical precision of the result is improved by the enrichment of the generalized density evolution equations without increasing the computation time. The result shows that the new method is capable of calculating the stochastic response of structures with efficiency and accuracy.
Human Gait Prediction with a High DOF Upper Body: A Multi-Objective Optimization of Discomfort and Energy Cost
Authors: Kwon Hyun-Jung , Chung Hyun-Joon , Xiang Yujiang
Published: February 2017

To predict the 3D walking pattern of a human, a detailed upper body model that includes the spine, shoulders, and neck must be made, which is challenging because of the coupling relations of degrees of freedom (DOF) in these body sections. The objective of this study was to develop a discomfort function for including a high DOF upper body model during walking. A multi-objective optimization (MOO) method was formulated by minimizing dynamic effort (DE) and the discomfort function simultaneously. The discomfort function is defined as the sum of the squares of deviation of joint angles from their neutral angle positions. The neutral angle position is defined as a relaxed human posture without actively applied external forces. The DE is the sum of the joint torque squared. To illustrate the capability of including a high DOF upper body, backward walking is used as an example. By minimizing both DE and the discomfort function, a 3D whole-body model with a high DOF upper body for walking was simulated successfully. The proposed MOO is a promising human performance measure to predict human motion using a high DOF upper body with full range of motion. This has been demonstrated by simulating backward walking, lifting, and ingress motions.
Geochemical and mineralogical controls on metal(loid) dispersion in streams and stream sediments in the Prairie Creek district, NWT
Authors: Skeries Kristina , Jamieson Heather , Falck Hendrik , Paradis Suzanne , Day Stephen
Published: February 2017

The Prairie Creek district contains several types of carbonate-hosted Zn–Pb–Ag mineralization, including stratabound replacement sulphides, quartz-carbonate-sulphide veins, and classic Mississippi Valley-type. It is located in in the southern Mackenzie Mountains of northwestern Canada and within the boundaries of Nahanni National Park Reserve. The Prairie Creek district does not produce a strong geochemical signal in comparison to other mineralized areas of similar deposit types. Stream waters and sediments draining the district were sampled to determine the concentrations of Pb, Zn, Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Sb, and Se, and investigate the minerals hosting these elements, to investigate the geochemical controls on the mobility of these elements and any trends in dispersion. Results indicate that Zn and Pb are the most useful pathfinder elements, with anomalous concentrations in water downstream from Mississippi-Valley type mineralization and in sediments downstream from quartz-carbonate-sulphide vein mineralization. Zinc is more mobile than Pb, but elevated concentrations of neither element persist downstream of the metal source. Microanalytical examination of silt sediments indicate that Zn and Pb are associated with goethite and hematite, confirming active chemical weathering in this subarctic alpine environment.
Suprachiasmatic vasopressin to paraventricular oxytocin neurocircuit in the hypothalamus relays light reception to inhibit feeding behavior
Authors: Santoso Putra , Nakata Masanori , Ueta Yoichi , Yada Toshihiko
Published: February 2017

Light synchronizes the body’s circadian rhythms by modulating the master clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. In modern lifestyles that run counter to normal circadian rhythms, the extended and/or irregular light exposure impairs circadian rhythms and, consequently, promotes feeding and metabolic disorders. However, the neuronal pathway through which light is coupled to feeding behavior is less elucidated. The present study employed the light exposure during the dark phase of the day in rats and observed its effect on neuronal activity and feeding behavior. Light exposure acutely suppressed food intake and elevated c-Fos expression in the AVP neurons of SCN and the oxytocin (Oxt) neurons of paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the hypothalamus. The light-induced suppression of food intake was abolished by blockade of the Oxt receptor in the brain. Retrograde tracer analysis demonstrated the projection of SCN AVP neurons to the PVN. Furthermore, intracerebroventricular injection of AVP suppressed food intake and increased c-Fos in PVN Oxt neurons. Intra-PVN injection of AVP exerted a stronger anorexigenic effect than intracerebroventriclar injection. AVP also induced intracellular Ca2+ signaling and increased firing frequency in Oxt neurons in PVN slices. These results reveal the novel neurocircuit from SCN AVP to PVN Oxt that relays light reception to inhibition of feeding behavior. This light-induced neurocircuit may serve as a pathway for forming the circadian feeding rhythm and linking irregular light exposure to arrhythmic feeding and, consequently, obesity and metabolic diseases.
Disharmony in neural oscillations
Authors: Hyafil Alexandre
Published: February 2017

Cross-frequency phase coupling (PPC) may play an important role in neural processing and cognition. However, a new study unveils a statistical bias in how PPC is detected in neural recordings, questions prior evidence for PPC in hippocampus, and shows PPC tests are dramatically flawed by their confounds with oscillation harmonics.
Optimal Modes for the Fabrication of Aluminum Nanopowders by the Electrical Explosion of Wires
Authors: Pustovalov Alexei , An Vladimir , Kim Jin-Chun
Published: February 2017

The paper is aimed at studying the impact of initial conditions of electrical explosion of wires on energy characteristics of the explosion and some other properties of the obtained aluminum powders. Explosion modes where the energy input into the wire has the maximal level were found. These modes are optimal for fabrication of powders with the best properties. The powders have the highest value of the specific surface of 14.5 m2/g, a narrow histogram of the particle size distribution, and a narrow distribution histogram with a high polydispersity coefficient of 0.7.
Targeting Oxidative Stress for Treatment of Glaucoma and Optic Neuritis
Authors: Kimura Atsuko , Namekata Kazuhiko , Guo Xiaoli , Noro Takahiko , Harada Chikako , Harada Takayuki
Published: February 2017

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease of the eye and it is one of the leading causes of blindness. Glaucoma is characterized by progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons, namely, the optic nerve, usually associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Current glaucoma therapies target reduction of IOP, but since RGC death is the cause of irreversible vision loss, neuroprotection may be an effective strategy for glaucoma treatment. One of the risk factors for glaucoma is increased oxidative stress, and drugs with antioxidative properties including valproic acid and spermidine, as well as inhibition of apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase 1, an enzyme that is involved in oxidative stress, have been reported to prevent glaucomatous retinal degeneration in mouse models of glaucoma. Optic neuritis is a demyelinating inflammation of the optic nerve that presents with visual impairment and it is commonly associated with multiple sclerosis, a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Although steroids are commonly used for treatment of optic neuritis, reduction of oxidative stress by approaches such as gene therapy is effective in ameliorating optic nerve demyelination in preclinical studies. In this review, we discuss oxidative stress as a therapeutic target for glaucoma and optic neuritis.
Glycemic Excursions in Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Semiparametric Statistical Approach to Identify Sensitive Time Points during Gestation
Authors: Gupta Resmi , Khoury Jane , Altaye Mekibib , Dolan Lawrence , Szczesniak Rhonda D.
Published: February 2017

Aim.To examine the gestational glycemic profile and identify specific times during pregnancy that variability in glucose levels, measured by change in velocity and acceleration/deceleration of blood glucose fluctuations, is associated with delivery of a large-for-gestational-age (LGA) baby, in women with type 1 diabetes.Methods.Retrospective analysis of capillary blood glucose levels measured multiple times daily throughout gestation in women with type 1 diabetes was performed using semiparametric mixed models.Results.Velocity and acceleration/deceleration in glucose levels varied across gestation regardless of delivery outcome. Compared to women delivering LGA babies, those delivering babies appropriate for gestational age exhibited significantly smaller rates of change and less variation in glucose levels between 180 days of gestation and birth.Conclusions.Use of innovative statistical methods enabled detection of gestational intervals in which blood glucose fluctuation parameters might influence the likelihood of delivering LGA baby in mothers with type 1 diabetes. Understanding dynamics and being able to visualize gestational changes in blood glucose are a potentially useful tool to assist care providers in determining the optimal timing to initiate continuous glucose monitoring.
Pathologic and Radiologic Correlation of Adult Cystic Lung Disease: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Boddu Prajwal , Parimi Vamsi , Taddonio Michale , Kane Joshua Robert , Yeldandi Anjana
Published: February 2017

The presence of pulmonary parenchymal cysts on computed tomography (CT) imaging presents a significant diagnostic challenge. The diverse range of possible etiologies can usually be differentiated based on the clinical setting and radiologic features. In fact, the advent of high-resolution CT has facilitated making a diagnosis solely on analysis of CT image patterns, thus averting the need for a biopsy. While it is possible to make a fairly specific diagnosis during early stages of disease evolution by its characteristic radiological presentation, distinct features may progress to temporally converge into relatively nonspecific radiologic presentations sometimes necessitating histological examination to make a diagnosis. The aim of this review study is to provide both the pathologist and the radiologist with an overview of the diseases most commonly associated with cystic lung lesions primarily in adults by illustration and description of pathologic and radiologic features of each entity. Brief descriptions and characteristic radiologic features of the various disease entities are included and illustrative examples are provided for the common majority of them. In this article, we also classify pulmonary cystic disease with an emphasis on the pathophysiology behind cyst formation in an attempt to elucidate the characteristics of similar cystic appearances seen in various disease entities.
Modeling the Parasitic Filariasis Spread by Mosquito in Periodic Environment
Authors: Cheng Yan , Wang Xiaoyun , Pan Qiuhui , He Mingfeng
Published: February 2017

In this paper a mosquito-borne parasitic infection model in periodic environment is considered. Threshold parameterR0is given by linear next infection operator, which determined the dynamic behaviors of system. We obtain that whenR0<1, the disease-free periodic solution is globally asymptotically stable and whenR0>1by Poincaré map we obtain that disease is uniformly persistent. Numerical simulations support the results and sensitivity analysis shows effects of parameters onR0, which provided references to seek optimal measures to control the transmission of lymphatic filariasis.
Boundedness Criteria and Norm of Some Multilinear Hilbert-Type Operators
Authors: Bansah Justice S. , Sehba Benoît F.
Published: February 2017

We consider two families of multilinear Hilbert-type operators for which we give exact relations between the parameters so that they are bounded. We also find the exact norm of these operators.
Reversible Data Hiding Based on DNA Computing
Authors: Wang Bin , Xie Yingjie , Zhou Shihua , Zhou Changjun , Zheng Xuedong
Published: February 2017

Biocomputing, especially DNA, computing has got great development. It is widely used in information security. In this paper, a novel algorithm of reversible data hiding based on DNA computing is proposed. Inspired by the algorithm of histogram modification, which is a classical algorithm for reversible data hiding, we combine it with DNA computing to realize this algorithm based on biological technology. Compared with previous results, our experimental results have significantly improved the ER (Embedding Rate). Furthermore, some PSNR (peak signal-to-noise ratios) of test images are also improved. Experimental results show that it is suitable for protecting the copyright of cover image in DNA-based information security.
Platelet Count to Spleen Diameter Ratio for the Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Varices in Liver Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Runhua , Deng Han , Ding Xia , Xie Chune , Wang Wei , Shen Qian
Published: February 2017

Platelet count to spleen diameter ratio (PSR) was studied extensively as a noninvasive method of diagnosis for varices. The present study aimed to systematically assess the performance of PSR in the diagnosis of varices. PubMed, EMBASE, and article references were searched. The summary receiver operating characteristic curves (AUSROCs), sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated. The heterogeneity, quality, and publication bias of studies were evaluated. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. A total of 49 papers were included. The AUSROCs of PSR for any varices and high-risk varices were 0.8719 and 0.8132, respectively. The summary sensitivities of PSR for any varices and high-risk varices were 0.84 and 0.78, respectively. The summary specificities of PSR for any varices and high-risk varices were 0.78 and 0.67, respectively. The AUSROC of PSR for any varices at the threshold of 909 was 0.8867. The AUSROC of PSR for any varices in viral liver cirrhosis was 0.8675. The overall quality of studies was moderate. Significant heterogeneity and publication bias existed in the study. In conclusion, PSR can be used to identify varices in liver cirrhosis. PSR had a high sensitivity in viral liver cirrhosis.