bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hyperglycaemia does not affect antigen-specific activation and cytolytic killing by CD8+ T cells in vivo
Authors: Recino Asha , Barkan Kerry , Wong F. Susan , Ladds Graham , Cooke Anne , Wallberg Maja
Published: August 2017

Metabolism is of central importance for T cell survival and differentiation. It is well known that T cells cannot function in the absence of glucose, but it is less clear how they respond to excessive levels of glucose. In the present study, we investigated how increasing levels of glucose affect T-cell-mediated immune responses. We examined the effects of increased levels of glucose on CD8+ T-cell behaviour in vitro by assessing activation and cytokine production, as well as oxygen consumption rate (OCR), extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and intracellular signalling. In addition, we assessed in vivo proliferation, cytokine production and cytolytic activity of cells in chemically induced diabetic C57BL/6 mice. Elevated levels of glucose in in vitro cultures had modest effects on proliferation and cytokine production, while in vivo hyperglycaemia had no effect on CD8+ T-cell proliferation, interferon γ (IFNγ) production or cytolytic killing.
Perivascular spaces, glymphatic dysfunction, and small vessel disease
Authors: Mestre Humberto , Kostrikov Serhii , Mehta Rupal I. , Nedergaard Maiken
Published: August 2017

Cerebral small vessel diseases (SVDs) range broadly in etiology but share remarkably overlapping pathology. Features of SVD including enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) and formation of abluminal protein deposits cannot be completely explained by the putative pathophysiology. The recently discovered glymphatic system provides a new perspective to potentially address these gaps. This work provides a comprehensive review of the known factors that regulate glymphatic function and the disease mechanisms underlying glymphatic impairment emphasizing the role that aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-lined perivascular spaces (PVSs), cerebrovascular pulsatility, and metabolite clearance play in normal CNS physiology. This review also discusses the implications that glymphatic impairment may have on SVD inception and progression with the aim of exploring novel therapeutic targets and highlighting the key questions that remain to be answered.
The human papillomavirus replication cycle, and its links to cancer progression: a comprehensive review
Authors: Graham Sheila V.
Published: August 2017

HPVs (human papillomaviruses) infect epithelial cells and their replication cycle is intimately linked to epithelial differentiation. There are over 200 different HPV genotypes identified to date and each displays a strict tissue specificity for infection. HPV infection can result in a range of benign lesions, for example verrucas on the feet, common warts on the hands, or genital warts. HPV infects dividing basal epithelial cells where its dsDNA episomal genome enters the nuclei. Upon basal cell division, an infected daughter cell begins the process of keratinocyte differentiation that triggers a tightly orchestrated pattern of viral gene expression to accomplish a productive infection. A subset of mucosal-infective HPVs, the so-called ‘high risk’ (HR) HPVs, cause cervical disease, categorized as low or high grade. Most individuals will experience transient HR-HPV infection during their lifetime but these infections will not progress to clinically significant cervical disease or cancer because the immune system eventually recognizes and clears the virus. Cancer progression is due to persistent infection with an HR-HPV. HR-HPV infection is the cause of >99.7% cervical cancers in women, and a subset of oropharyngeal cancers, predominantly in men. HPV16 (HR-HPV genotype 16) is the most prevalent worldwide and the major cause of HPV-associated cancers. At the molecular level, cancer progression is due to increased expression of the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, which activate the cell cycle, inhibit apoptosis, and allow accumulation of DNA damage. This review aims to describe the productive life cycle of HPV and discuss the roles of the viral proteins in HPV replication. Routes to viral persistence and cancer progression are also discussed.
Extending minimum sequence length invariantly to constant input for MASH 1‐1‐1 digital delta–sigma modulator
Authors: Song J.
Published: August 2017

The architecture of MASH 1‐1‐1 digital delta–sigma modulator for lengthening minimum sequence length is proposed. The first stage of the proposed multi‐stage noise‐shaping (MASH) delta–sigma modulator consists of two parts for the quantisation of input and the generation of long periodic feed‐forward signal. The feed‐forward signal results in extending the minimum sequence length invariantly to the input of the MASH 1‐1‐1 delta–sigma modulator. The noise power spectrum is analysed for preserving the noise‐shaping capability of the MASH architecture.
Wideband balun bandpass filter with broadside‐coupled microstrip/slotline resonator structure
Authors: Huang Feng , Wang Jianpeng , Hong Jiasheng , Wu Wen
Published: August 2017

In this Letter, a new design scheme for wideband balun bandpass filter (BPF) is presented originating from the conventional Marchand‐type balun prototype. The designed balun BPF is basically composed of three microstrip lines on the top side of the substrate and two half‐wavelength slotline resonators etched in the ground plane. A distinctive wideband performance is attained by utilising the broadside coupling between these microstrip lines and slotline resonators. For demonstration, one fabricated prototype balun BPF operating at 3.75 GHz shows a broad bandwidth of 93% with nice in‐band balanced performance. Final results from simulation and experiment are both recorded in good agreement.
Free‐space optical link with dual‐branch transmit laser selection diversity over double generalised gamma turbulence channel
Authors: Samimi Hossein
Published: August 2017

Very recently, double generalised gamma (GG) distribution has been proposed for describing irradiance fluctuation in free‐space optical (FSO) communication systems. As a generic model, double GG contains commonly used turbulence models such as gamma–gamma distribution as its special cases. In this study, first we derive an exact closed‐form expression in terms of Meijer's G‐function for the average bit error rate (BER) of FSO communication system with differential phase shift keying modulation over double GG turbulence channel. This study shows that in the special case, the derived BER expression coincides with the existing BER results presented in the literature for gamma–gamma turbulence channel. Then, to improve the BER performance of the system, dual‐branch transmit laser selection diversity scheme is used and derive exact closed‐form expression for the BER in terms of bivariate Fox's H‐function. Numerical and simulation results are demonstrated to confirm the accuracy and applicability of the derived analytical expressions.
Vehicle collision prediction at intersections based on comparison of minimal distance between vehicles and dynamic thresholds
Authors: Wang Pin , Chan Ching‐Yao
Published: August 2017

Accurate collision prediction algorithms are important to provide drivers reliable warning messages. This study introduces a novel approach for collision prediction at intersections. The algorithm involves the use of an index called ‘minimal future distance (MFD)’, which is defined to be a future distance (FD) between the subject vehicle and the primary other vehicle, and a two‐level dynamic threshold for performing the collision prediction task. Real‐time vehicle motion information and surrounding road geometry are utilised to forecast FDs and identify MFD within an upcoming time horizon. The dynamic threshold in both emergency warning and normal warning situations consists of two parts, a vehicle heading direction‐related part and a speed value‐related part. Potential collisions are determined by the comparison of MFD with different dynamic thresholds in different driving scenarios. The combined use of vehicle real‐time state and road geometry in the algorithm significantly increased the collision prediction accuracy. Furthermore, the use of dynamic thresholds ensured the promptness and robustness of the collision warning system. Simulation results show that the false positive rate and false negative rate of severe collisions at intersections can be robustly eliminated and those of marginal collisions can be kept low at 2.4 and 3.6%, respectively.
Simultaneous motion tracking and localisation of a person based on the integration of multiple IMUs and depth camera
Authors: Cho Seong Yun , Lee So Yeon , Lim Jae Hyun , Park Sang Joon
Published: August 2017

To overcome the limitations of the conventional motion tracking and localisation methods: environmental constraints of the infra‐based approaches and long‐term inaccuracy of the wearable sensor‐based approaches, an algorithm for simultaneous motion tracking and localisation (SMaL) of a person, namely multiple inertial measurement unit (IMU)‐based SMaL (MIbS), is proposed. A filtering method for the multiple IMUs/depth camera integration (MDI) is also proposed to add long‐term localisation accuracy to the MIbS. The performance of the proposed MIbS and MDI is verified experimentally. The experimental results show that the proposed MIbS can track the motion of the person with the wearable sensor system accurately, and can localise the person on the local coordinate frame of the testbed. The encouraging fact is that the localisation errors caused by the MIbS grow slowly with time. Also, the growing localisation errors can be compensated by the MDI.
Axially Chiral Shape-Persistent Encapsulating Agents
Authors: Cid María Magdalena , Míguez-Lago Sandra
Published: August 2017

In this review is presented the results of investigations during the last two decades on molecular recognition processes, mainly chiral host–guest systems insofar as they deal with intermolecular recognition events. Attention is devoted to those systems involving chiral hosts whose chirality does not arise from the presence of a chiral center and that possess a defined cavity to accommodate guests. Thus, the scope of this short review is restricted to chiral containers in which size, shape, and functionality are critical aspects, while those examples involving chirality transfer processes are excluded. The systems covered are those with axial chirality, including helical chirality, in which the chirality, that can be inherent or induced by steric interactions, originates from the 3D helical array of substituents. More specifically, the focus is on both macrocycles that bear open cavities and molecular cages with more enclosed voids.

1 Introduction

2 Encapsulating Agents: Macrocycles

3 Encapsulating Agents: Molecular Cages

4 Conclusions
Full Percutaneous Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Technical Note
Authors: Taguchi Mitsuto , Nakamura Shu
Published: August 2017

Introduction Although lumbar interbody fusion is effective for low back pain caused by severe disk degeneration, it is a highly invasive procedure. Less invasive procedures such as transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and lumbar lateral interbody fusion have become available; however, there is still scope for improvement. We performed full percutaneous endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (PELIF), a technique designed as a safe and less invasive percutaneous fusion.

Method and Subjects Our technique is indicated for patients with chronic low back pain in whom conservative treatment was not effective, thinning of the intervertebral disk was prominent, and temporary pain relief was achieved with a disk block. In the operation, percutaneous endoscopic diskectomy was performed with a 7.5-mm sheath inserted through a small incision, and a cage was inserted percutaneously using an L-shaped retractor. Instead of pedicle screw fixation, hybrid facet screw fixation was performed. Low back pain was improved, and bone union was confirmed on radiography. This technique was used in six patients, and no surgery-related complications occurred.

Discussion The L-shaped retractor used in this series can protect the exiting nerve by inserting it into the sheath, then removing the sheath and placing the rounded corner of the retractor on the lateral cranial side. This technique is safe with no other associated risks. Cages larger than the sheath can be inserted, and commercially available cages for TLIF are applicable. Hybrid facet screw fixation can overcome the problems associated with both conventional transfacet pedicle screw fixation and translaminar facet screw fixation by combining these two procedures.

Conclusion PELIF is an easy, safe, and fully percutaneous technique with very low invasiveness that uses an L-shaped retractor and hybrid facet screw fixation. This procedure can be a treatment option for patients with severe low back pain related to disk degeneration.
Impact of the Regional Pediatric Palliative Care Network on the Care of Children on Long-Term Ventilation: Could the Availability of a Residential Solution into the Network Reduce the Duration of Intensive Care Unit Staying for These Patients?
Authors: Agosto Caterina , Brugnaro Luca , Benini Franca , Rusalen Francesca
Published: August 2017

The prevalence of children on long-term ventilation (LTV) at home has increased in many countries. In Italy, there are 4.3/100,000 population younger than 18 years. Pediatric palliative care (PPC) network provides high-level care for these patients. In December 2003, in the northeast region of Italy, the regional authority promoted and developed a regional network for PPC, a regional network dedicated to the management of pediatric patients with life-limiting and life-threatening diseases. Characterization of LTV children population and description of care offered to them by a regional PPC network, based on the experience of the Veneto region were collected in a regional database. The regional database and evaluation of families' satisfaction, by means of a questionnaire, were longitudinally analyzed. We studied 56 children on LTV. The main involved diseases were neuromuscular diseases and myopathy. All patients had major comorbidities. Mean age was 4.5 years. The median age of starting ventilation was 3.9 years. The initial type of ventilation was invasive mechanical ventilation in 31 patients and noninvasive ventilation in 25 of them. The overall average frequency of hospitalizations for acute episodes was 0.7 admissions per year and the median duration of staying was 6 days. The median duration of staying in the intensive care unit (ICU) was significantly reduced after the opening of a residential solution (the pediatric hospice) (5 vs. 39 days). PPC network can offer global care to children on LTV. The availability of a residential structure into the PPC network seems to reduce the number and duration of hospital stays, especially in ICU, of this population, with likely cost savings. Further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
Zurück zur Natur
Authors: Hügler Stephanie
Published: August 2017

BETREUUNG DER SCOTT-SRAM-MOUNTAINBIKER Es geht durch Urwälder, kleine Flüsse und Sandgruben, über Hängebrücken, Felsen, Lehm- oder
Kieselpisten: Kaum ein Untergrund ist den Profi-Mountainbikern vom Scott-SRAM-Team zu uneben, rutschig oder wackelig. Denn am Ende der
rasanten Fahrt wartet vielleicht eine Medaille oder ein Titel – so wie bei den beiden Goldmedaillengewinnern der letzten Olympiade in Rio,
Jenny Rissveds und Nino Schurter. Dass sie dabei stets auf Kurs bleiben, dafür sorgt ihr Sportphysio Frank Holfeld.
Faszienbehandlung in der Sportphysiotherapie
Authors: Wilke Jan
Published: August 2017

MECHANISMEN UND ANWENDUNGSBEISPIELE Wenn man von Faszientherapie spricht, denken viele an schmerzhafte manuelle Techniken. Doch zur
erfolgreichen Behandlung des kollagenen Bindegewebes gehört für den Sportphysiotherapeuten noch weit mehr: Neben dem Grundwissen zum
nozizeptiven Potenzial der Faszie und ihrer mechanischen Relevanz ist die evidenzbasierte Verwendung von Hartschaumrollen-, Stretching- und
Kräftigungsübungen von entscheidender Bedeutung für den Therapieerfolg.
Electron microscopy with high accuracy and precision at atomic resolution: In-situ observation of a dielectric crystal under electric field
Authors: Sato Yukio , Gondo Takashi , Miyazaki Hiroya , Teranishi Ryo , Kaneko Kenji
Published: August 2017

Measuring atomic positions in-situ under an external electric field can provide important insights into the structure-property relationship of electronic materials. In this paper, we demonstrate picometer level accuracy and precision of atomic positions in single-crystalline SrTiO3 under an electric field through annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. By carrying out electrical biasing in-situ electron microscopy at the atomic scale, the lattice constant was measured with a precision of 9.0 pm under an electric field of ±0.57 kV/cm. In addition, the Ti position in the SrTiO3 unit cell was measured with an accuracy of 20.0 pm at a confidence level of greater than 93%. This opens up a possibility of characterizing functional electronic devices at atomic resolution under operative conditions.
A gap method for increasing the sensitivity of cantilever biosensors
Authors: Leahy Stephane , Lai Yongjun
Published: August 2017

Dynamic-mode cantilever biosensors are an attractive technology for biological sensing. However, researchers are constantly seeking ways to increase their sensitivity, especially in liquids, in order to rapidly detect biological particles in dilute samples. Here, we investigate a novel gap method for increasing their sensitivity. We design cantilevers with a micron-sized gap between their free end and a supporting structure that constrains the motion of individual particles deposited across the gap. When individual particles are deposited across the gap, they form a bridge between the free end of the cantilever and the supporting structure and generate fundamental resonant frequency shifts that are two orders of magnitude higher than when they are deposited on conventional cantilevers. Through experiments and simulation in air, we show that cantilevers based on the gap method rely on stiffness-change instead of mass-change, and that they are significantly more sensitive than conventional cantilevers.
Projected coupled cluster theory
Authors: Qiu Yiheng , Henderson Thomas M. , Zhao Jinmo , Scuseria Gustavo E.
Published: August 2017

Coupled cluster theory is the method of choice for weakly correlated systems. But in the strongly correlated regime, it faces a symmetry dilemma, where it either completely fails to describe the system or has to artificially break certain symmetries. On the other hand, projected Hartree-Fock theory captures the essential physics of many kinds of strong correlations via symmetry breaking and restoration. In this work, we combine and try to retain the merits of these two methods by applying symmetry projection to broken symmetry coupled cluster wave functions. The non-orthogonal nature of states resulting from the application of symmetry projection operators furnishes particle-hole excitations to all orders, thus creating an obstacle for the exact evaluation of overlaps. Here we provide a solution via a disentanglement framework theory that can be approximated rigorously and systematically. Results of projected coupled cluster theory are presented for molecules and the Hubbard model, showing that spin projection significantly improves unrestricted coupled cluster theory while restoring good quantum numbers. The energy of projected coupled cluster theory reduces to the unprojected one in the thermodynamic limit, albeit at a much slower rate than projected Hartree-Fock.
Binding energies of hydrated cobalt hydroxide ion complexes: A guided ion beam and theoretical investigation
Authors: Coates Rebecca A. , Armentrout P. B.
Published: August 2017

The sequential bond energies of CoOH+(H2O)x complexes, where x = 1–4, are measured by threshold collision-induced dissociation using a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer. The primary dissociation pathway for all reactants consists of loss of a single water molecule. This is followed by the sequential loss of additional water molecules at higher collision energies for the x = 2–4 complexes, whereas the x = 1 reactant loses the OH ligand competitively with the H2O ligand. The kinetic energy dependent cross sections for dissociation of CoOH+(H2O)x complexes are modeled to obtain 0 and 298 K binding energies. Our experimental results agree well with theoretically determined bond dissociation energies (BDEs) at the B3LYP, B3LYP-GD3BJ, B3P86, and MP2(full) levels of theory with a 6-311+G(2d,2p) basis set using geometries and vibrational frequencies determined at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level. Thermochemical information for the loss of OH from CoOH+(H2O)x where x = 0–4 is also derived by combining the present experimental HO–Co+(H2O) and water loss BDEs from CoOH+(H2O)x with those for Co+(H2O)y from the literature. These BDEs are also compared to theory with mixed results.
A surprisingly simple correlation between the classical and quantum structural networks in liquid water
Authors: Hamm Peter , Fanourgakis George S. , Xantheas Sotiris S.
Published: August 2017

Nuclear quantum effects in liquid water have profound implications for several of its macroscopic properties related to the structure, dynamics, spectroscopy, and transport. Although several of water’s macroscopic properties can be reproduced by classical descriptions of the nuclei using interaction potentials effectively parameterized for a narrow range of its phase diagram, a proper account of the nuclear quantum effects is required to ensure that the underlying molecular interactions are transferable across a wide temperature range covering different regions of that diagram. When performing an analysis of the hydrogen-bonded structural networks in liquid water resulting from the classical (class) and quantum (qm) descriptions of the nuclei with two interaction potentials that are at the two opposite ends of the range in describing quantum effects, namely the flexible, pair-wise additive q-TIP4P/F, and the flexible, polarizable TTM3-F, we found that the (class) and (qm) results can be superimposed over the temperature range T = 250-350 K using a surprisingly simple, linear scaling of the two temperatures according to T(qm) = α T(class) + ΔT, where α = 0.99 and ΔT = −6 K for q-TIP4P/F and α = 1.24 and ΔT = −64 K for TTM3-F. This simple relationship suggests that the structural networks resulting from the quantum and classical treatment of the nuclei with those two very different interaction potentials are essentially similar to each other over this extended temperature range once a model-dependent linear temperature scaling law is applied.
Tunneling lifetimes of electrons escaping from atoms under a static electric field
Authors: Zhao Rundong , Sarwono Yanoar Pribadi , Zhang Rui-Qin
Published: August 2017

The tunneling lifetime of an electron escaping from an atom is calculated using a projected Green’s function method, combining with the radial potential of the atom which is obtained from density functional theory. Results of the calculated electron tunneling lifetimes in model systems such as a quantum dot are shown to be comparable with other theoretical studies. For the first time, we have obtained the tunneling lifetimes of electrons escaping from a series of atoms (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, H, Li, Na, K) under a static electric field. Dependent on both the barrier width/height and the bound strength of the ground state electron, the calculated tunneling lifetime under a static electric field spans from femtosecond level to picosecond level, consistent with the attosecond-level results in experiments using a time-dependent external field.
A thermodynamic model of contact angle hysteresis
Authors: Makkonen Lasse
Published: August 2017

When a three-phase contact line moves along a solid surface, the contact angle no longer corresponds to the static equilibrium angle but is larger when the liquid is advancing and smaller when the liquid is receding. The difference between the advancing and receding contact angles, i.e., the contact angle hysteresis, is of paramount importance in wetting and capillarity. For example, it determines the magnitude of the external force that is required to make a drop slide on a solid surface. Until now, fundamental origin of the contact angle hysteresis has been controversial. Here, this origin is revealed and a quantitative theory is derived. The theory is corroborated by the available experimental data for a large number of solid-liquid combinations. The theory is applied in modelling the contact angle hysteresis on a textured surface, and these results are also in quantitative agreement with the experimental data.
Comparative simulation analysis on the ignition threshold of atmospheric He and Ar dielectric barrier discharge
Authors: Yao Congwei , Chang Zhengshi , Chen Sile , Ma Hengchi , Mu Haibao , Zhang Guan-Jun
Published: August 2017

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is widely applied in many fields, and the discharge characteristics of insert gas have been the research focus for years. In this paper, fluid models of atmospheric Ar and He DBDs driven by 22 kHz sinusoidal voltage are built to analyze their ignition processes. The contributions of different electron sources in ignition process are analyzed, including the direct ionization of ground state atom, stepwise ionization of metastable particles, and secondary electron emission from dielectric wall, and they play different roles in different discharge stages. The Townsend direct ionization coefficient of He is higher than Ar with the same electrical field intensity, which is the direct reason for the different ignition thresholds between He and Ar. Further, the electron energy loss per free electron produced in Ar and He DBDs is discussed. It is found that the total electron energy loss rate of Ar is higher than He when the same electrical field is applied. The excitation reaction of Ar consumes the major electron energy but cannot produce free electrons effectively, which is the essential reason for the higher ignition threshold of Ar. The computation results of He and Ar extinction voltages can be explained in the view of electron energy loss, as well as the experimental results of different extinction voltages between Ar/NH3 and He DBDs.
Bulk-impurity induced noise in large-area epitaxial thin films of topological insulators
Authors: Islam Saurav , Bhattacharyya Semonti , Kandala Abhinav , Richardella Anthony , Samarth Nitin , Ghosh Arindam
Published: August 2017

We report a detailed study on low-frequency 1/f-noise in large-area molecular-beam epitaxy grown thin (∼10 nm) films of topological insulators as a function of temperature, gate voltage, and magnetic field. When the Fermi energy is within the bulk valence band, the temperature dependence reveals a clear signature of generation-recombination noise in the defect states in the bulk band gap. However, when the Fermi energy is tuned to the bulk band gap, the gate voltage dependence of noise shows that the resistance fluctuations in surface transport are caused by correlated mobility-number density fluctuations due to the activated defect states present in the bulk of the topological insulator crystal with a density of Dit=3.2×1017 cm−2  eV−1. In the presence of the magnetic field, noise in these materials follows a parabolic dependence, which is qualitatively similar to mobility and charge-density fluctuation noise in non-degenerately doped trivial semiconductors. Our studies reveal that even in thin films of (Bi,Sb)2Te3 with thickness as low as 10 nm, the internal bulk defects are the dominant source of noise.
Two-dimensional structure-embedded acoustic lenses based on periodic acoustic black holes
Authors: Zhu Hongfei , Semperlotti Fabio
Published: August 2017

Recent studies have introduced a new class of two-dimensional acoustic metamaterials whose dispersion and propagation properties result from the use of geometric inhomogeneities in the form of Acoustic Black Holes (ABH). The ABH is an element able to smoothly bend acoustic rays and slow down elastic bending waves, therefore providing a variety of unconventional dispersion and propagation properties that are typically observed in more complex multi-material and locally resonant designs. Our approach enables full integration of acoustic lenses in thin-walled structural elements while preserving the structural character. The lenses are capable of different high-level functionalities such as focusing, collimation, and negative refraction. Numerical and experimental results show that such structures exhibit broadband operating conditions that span both the metamaterial and the phononic range.
Material impacts and heat flux characterization of an electrothermal plasma source with an applied magnetic field
Authors: Gebhart T. E. , Martinez-Rodriguez R. A. , Baylor L. R. , Rapp J. , Winfrey A. L.
Published: August 2017

To produce a realistic tokamak-like plasma environment in linear plasma device, a transient source is needed to deliver heat and particle fluxes similar to those seen in an edge localized mode (ELM). ELMs in future large tokamaks will deliver heat fluxes of ∼1 GW/m2 to the divertor plasma facing components at a few Hz. An electrothermal plasma source can deliver heat fluxes of this magnitude. These sources operate in an ablative arc regime which is driven by a DC capacitive discharge. An electrothermal source was configured with two pulse lengths and tested under a solenoidal magnetic field to determine the resulting impact on liner ablation, plasma parameters, and delivered heat flux. The arc travels through and ablates a boron nitride liner and strikes a tungsten plate. The tungsten target plate is analyzed for surface damage using a scanning electron microscope.
The systematics and biogeography of the mite harvestman family Sironidae (Arachnida : Opiliones : Cyphophthalmi) with the description of five new species
Authors: Giribet Gonzalo , Benavides Ligia R. , Merino-Sáinz Izaskun
Published: August 2017

Sironidae, the first described family of Cyphophthalmi, is among the least understood phylogenetically. After examining recent collections across their distribution range, we provide the first comprehensive treatment of Sironidae by including molecular data from most of the known species, and all genera except for the monotypic Odontosiro Juberthie, 1961. We also revisit the male genitalic morphology for most genera by using confocal laser scanning microscopy and provide descriptions of five new species belonging to Iberosiro de Bivort & Giribet, 2004 (monotypic until now), Paramiopsalis Juberthie, 1962 and Siro Latreille, 1802. While the monophyly of Sironidae remains poorly supported using traditional Sanger-based markers, with the Mediterranean Parasiro Hansen & Sørensen, 1904 and the Japanese Suzukielus Juberthie, 1970b sometimes branching basally with respect to the other sironids, the remaining genera form a well-supported Laurentian/Laurasian clade. This group divides into a Western European/North American clade of Siro and the remaining genera, Iberosiro, Paramiopsalis and Cyphophthalmus Joseph, 1868. Iberosiro and Paramiopsalis form a well-supported clade from the NW corner of the Iberian Peninsula, while Cyphophthalmus is widespread in the Balkan region and Eastern Mediterranean. Finally, the following new taxa are described: Iberosiro rosae Giribet, Merino-Sáinz & Benavides, sp. nov., Paramiopsalis anadonae Giribet, Merino-Sáinz & Benavides, sp. nov., Paramiopsalis ramblae Benavides & Giribet, sp. nov., Siro ligiae Giribet, sp. nov., and Siro richarti Benavides & Giribet, sp. nov.
ChAMP: updated methylation analysis pipeline for Illumina BeadChips
Authors: Tian Yuan , Morris Tiffany J , Webster Amy P , Yang Zhen , Beck Stephan , Feber Andrew , Teschendorff Andrew E
Published: August 2017

The Illumina Infinium HumanMethylationEPIC BeadChip is the new platform for high-throughput DNA methylation analysis, effectively doubling the coverage compared to the older 450 K array. Here we present a significantly updated and improved version of the Bioconductor package ChAMP, which can be used to analyze EPIC and 450k data. Many enhanced functionalities have been added, including correction for cell-type heterogeneity, network analysis and a series of interactive graphical user interfaces.

Availability and implementation

ChAMP is a BioC package available from https://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/ChAMP.html.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Single-center Experience of Over a Hundred Implantations of a Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Device
Authors: Dimitriadis Panagiotis A. , Hind Daniel , Wright Kay , Proctor Vicki , Greenwood Larissa , Carrick Suzanne , Ray Jaydip
Published: August 2017

Objective:

To assess outcomes with a novel passive transcutaneous bone conduction device (t-BCD).

Study Design:

Prospective data collection and patient review.

Setting:

Tertiary referral center.

Patients:

Patients who underwent implantation with the t-BCD between November 2013 and September 2016.

Intervention:

Implantation of BAHA Attract.

Main Outcome Measures:

Surgical outcome, patient reported outcomes including the “Glasgow Benefit Inventory” and the “Client Oriented Scale of Improvement” for adults and the “Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale” (SSQ-12) for children.

Results:

One hundred five patients were implanted. Numbness superior to the incision was commonly noticed. Four patients (3.8%) developed skin tenderness and redness that settled with conservative measures. Among those patients who had a conversion from a percutaneous Bone Conduction Hearing Device (BCHD) to the t-BCD (n=15), 1 (0.9%) developed seroma and 2 (1.9%) developed skin dehiscence at the edge of the implant magnet. Significant improvement in Client Oriented Scale of Improvement and Glasgow Benefit Inventory scores with a global satisfaction of 84% and 77.4% was observed for those previously aided and unaided respectively, with use of the device. A 22% improvement in SSQ-12 mean score was observed in the pediatric population.

Conclusion:

This is the largest single-center series reported on this t-BCD. The complication rate is small but caution is required in patients of conversion from a percutaneous BCHD. The patients’ satisfaction is high and the need for aftercare is minimal. Cost-effectiveness evaluation of these devices, development of core outcome sets and well-designed, prospective trials to compare the different BCHDs should be the focus of future research.
Predictors of early discontinuation of interferon-free direct antiviral agents in patients with hepatitis C virus and advanced liver fibrosis: results of a real-life cohort
Authors: Miotto Noelle , Mendes Leandro C. , Zanaga Letícia P. , Goncales Eduardo S.L. , Lazarini Maria S.K. , Pedro Marcelo N. , Gonçales Fernando L. , Stucchi Raquel S.B. , Vigani Aline G.
Published: August 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for premature treatment discontinuation among patients with hepatitis C and advanced fibrosis with advanced fibrosis treated with interferon (IFN)-free direct antiviral agents (DAA)-based therapy.

Patients and methods

We included all patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and advanced liver fibrosis in whom treatment was initiated with IFN-free DAA therapy at a university hospital from December 2015 through June 2016. We prospectively collected data from medical records using standardized questionnaires and evaluated them using Epi Info 7.1.2.0. The primary outcome was treatment interruption and associated factors.

Results

In total, 214 patients were included in this study; 180 patients were treated with sofosbuvir (SOF)+daclatasvir±ribavirin (RBV), 31 received SOF+simeprevir±RBV, and three were treated with SOF+RBV. Treatment discontinuation rate was 8.9% (19 patients) and cirrhotic decompensation was the main reason [8 (42.1%)]. Among patients with Child B or C cirrhosis (31), 10 (32.2%) prematurely interrupted treatment. The risk factors for treatment discontinuation in univariate analysis were older age (P=0.0252), higher comorbidity index (P=0.0078), higher model for end-stage liver disease (P<0.0001), higher fibrosis index based on the 4 factores (P=0.0122), and lower hemoglobin (P=0.0185) at baseline. Multivariate analysis showed that older age (odds ratio: 1.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.19) and higher model for end-stage liver disease (odds ratio: 1.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–1.56) were associated with premature treatment interruption.

Conclusion

Older age and advanced liver disease were related to treatment interruption. Identification of risk factors associated with treatment discontinuation is important to recognize patients who should be followed up closely during treatment, ando those whom possibly may not benefit from immediate DAA treatment or should be followed up closely during treatment.
Associations Between Perceived Race-based Discrimination and Contraceptive Use Among Women Veterans in the ECUUN Study
Authors: MacDonald Serena , Hausmann Leslie R.M. , Sileanu Florentina E. , Zhao Xinhua , Mor Maria K. , Borrero Sonya
Published: August 2017

Objective:

To describe perceived race-based discrimination in Veterans Affairs (VA) health care settings and assess its associations with contraceptive use among a sample of women Veterans.

Methodology:

This study used data from a national telephone survey of women Veterans aged 18–44 receiving health care in VA who were at risk of unintended pregnancy. Participants were asked about their perceptions of race-based discrimination while seeking VA health care and about their contraceptive use at last heterosexual intercourse. Logistic and multinomial regression analyses were used to examine associations between perceived race-based discrimination with use of prescription contraception.

Results:

In our sample of 1341 women Veterans, 7.9% report perceived race-based discrimination when receiving VA care, with blacks and Hispanics reporting higher levels of perceived discrimination than white women (11.3% and 11.2% vs. 4.4%; P<0.001). In logistic and multinomial regression analyses adjusting for race/ethnicity, age, income, marital status, parity, and insurance, women who perceived race-based discrimination were less likely to use any prescription birth control than women who did not (odds ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.42–1.00), with the largest difference seen in rates of intrauterine device or implant use (odds ratio, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.20–0.79).

Conclusions:

In this national sample of women Veterans, over 10% of racial/ethnic minority women perceived race-based discrimination when receiving care in VA settings, and perceived racial/ethnic discrimination was associated with lower likelihood of prescription contraception use, especially intrauterine devices and implants. VA efforts to enhance respectful interactions may not only improve patient health care experiences, but also represent an opportunity to improve reproductive health outcomes for women Veterans.
Creating a Toolkit to Reduce Disparities in Patient Engagement
Authors: Keddem Shimrit , Agha Aneeza Z. , Long Judith A. , Werner Rachel M. , Shea Judy A.
Published: August 2017

Background:

Patient engagement has become a major focus of health care improvement efforts nationally. Although evidence suggests patient engagement can be beneficial to patients, it has not been consistently defined, operationalized, or translated into practice.

Objectives:

Our objective was to develop a toolkit to help providers increase patient engagement and reduce disparities in patient engagement.

Research Design:

We used qualitative interviews and observations with staff at primary care sites nationally to identify patient engagement practices and resources used to engage patients. We then used a modified Delphi process, that included a series of conference calls and surveys, where stakeholders reduced lists of engagement practices based on perceived feasibility and importance to develop a toolkit for patient engagement.

Sampling:

Sites were selected for interviews and site visits based on the concentration of minority patients served and performance on a measure of patient engagement, with the goal of highlighting practices at sites that successfully serve minority patients.

Results:

We created a toolkit consisting of patient engagement practices and resources. No identified practice or resource specifically targeted patient engagement of minorities or addressed disparities. However, high-performing, high–minority-serving sites tended to describe more staff training opportunities and staff feedback mechanisms. In addition, low-performing and high–minority-serving sites more often reported barriers to implementation of patient engagement practices.

Conclusions:

Stakeholders agreed on feasible and important engagement practices. Implementation of this toolkit will be tracked to better understand patient engagement and its effect on patient-centered care and related disparities in care.
Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis and Mental Health
Authors: Dinan Timothy G. , Cryan John F.
Published: August 2017

Objective

The brain-gut-microbiota axis has been put forward as a new paradigm in neuroscience, which may be of relevance to mental illness. The mechanisms of signal transmission in the brain-gut-microbiota axis are complex and involve bidirectional communications that enable gut microbes to communicate with the brain and the brain to communicate with the microbes. This review assesses the potential usefulness and limitations of the paradigm.

Methods

A selective literature review was conducted to evaluate the current knowledge in clinical and preclinical brain-gut-microbiota interactions as related to psychiatric disorders.

Results

Most published studies in the field are preclinical, and there is so far a lack of clinical studies. Preliminary studies in psychiatric populations support the view of a dysbiosis in some conditions, but studies are often small scale and marred by potential confounding variables. Preclinical studies support the view that psychobiotics (“bacteria which when ingested in adequate amounts have a positive mental health benefit”) might be of use in treating some patients with mental health difficulties. To date, we have no well-conducted studies in clinical populations, although there are some studies in healthy volunteers. A cocktail of probiotics has been shown to alter brain activity as monitored by functional magnetic resonance imaging, and Bifidobacterium longum was reported to alter brain electrical activity.

Conclusions

It has yet to be convincingly demonstrated that the exciting findings of psychobiotic efficacy demonstrated in preclinical models of psychiatric illness will translate to patients.
Congenital Salivary Fistula From Parotid Main Gland
Authors: Lee Dong Hoon , Yoon Tae Mi , Lee Joon Kyoo , Lim Sang Chul
Published: August 2017

Congenital parotid fistulas are extremely rare diseases. Herein, the authors report a patient with congenital salivary fistula from parotid main gland in a 15-year-old boy. Therefore, clinicians should consider the possibility of congenital parotid fistula form parotid main gland. Surgical excision of the fistula and parotid gland can be effective treatment option of congenital parotid fistula.
Bromodomains regulate dynamic targeting of the PBAF chromatin remodeling complex to chromatin hubs
Authors: Kenworthy C.A. , Haque N. , Liou S.H. , Chandris P. , Wong V. , Dziuba P. , Lavis L.D. , Liu W.L. , Singer R.H. , Coleman R.A.
Published: August 2017

Transcriptional bursting involves genes rapidly switching between active and inactive states. Chromatin remodelers actively target arrays of acetylated nucleosomes at select enhancers and promoters to facilitate or shut down the repeated recruitment of RNA Pol II during transcriptional bursting. It is unknown how acetylated chromatin is dynamically targeted and regulated by chromatin remodelers such as PBAF. Thus, we sought to understand how PBAF targets acetylated chromatin using live-cell single molecule fluorescence microscopy. Our work reveals chromatin hubs throughout the nucleus where PBAF rapidly cycles on and off the genome. Deletion of PBAF’s bromodomains impairs targeting, stable engagement and persistent binding on chromatin in hubs. Interestingly, PBAF has a higher probability to stably engage chromatin inside hubs indicating that hubs contain a unique nucleosomal scaffold compared to global chromatin. Dual color imaging of PBAF in hubs near H3.3 or HP1α reveals that PBAF targets both euchromatic and heterochromatic regions with distinct genome binding kinetics that mimic chromatin stability. Removal of PBAF’s bromodomains stabilizes H3.3 and HP1α binding within chromatin indicating that bromodomains may play a direct role in remodeling of the nucleosome. Our data, suggests that PBAF differentially and dynamically engages a variety of chromatin structures involved in both activation and repression of transcription via bromodomains. Furthermore, PBAF’s binding stability on chromatin may reflect the chromatin remodeling potential of different bound chromatin states.

Statement of Significance

Transcriptional bursting involves a gene rapidly switching between transcriptionally active and inactive states. To regulate transcriptional bursting, chromatin must interchange between euchromatin and heterochromatin to permit or restrict access of transcription factors including RNA Polymerase II to enhancer and gene promoters. However, little is known regarding how chromatin remodelers dynamically read a rapidly changing 4D epigenome. We used live-cell single molecule imaging to characterize the spatiotemporal chromatin binding dynamics of PBAF, a chromatin remodeler that accesses both euchromatin and heterochromatin to regulate transcription. PBAF cycles on and off chromatin hubs in select nuclear regions where it distinctly engages euchromatin and heterochromatin via bromodomains in its BAF180 subunit. Our study provides the framework to understand how the 4D epigenome is regulated.
Automating Mendelian randomization through machine learning to construct a putative causal map of the human phenome
Authors: Hemani Gibran , Bowden Jack , Haycock Philip , Zheng Jie , Davis Oliver , Flach Peter , Gaunt Tom , Smith George Davey
Published: August 2017

A major application for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has been the emerging field of causal inference using Mendelian randomization (MR), where the causal effect between a pair of traits can be estimated using only summary level data. MR depends on SNPs exhibiting vertical pleiotropy, where the SNP influences an outcome phenotype only through an exposure phenotype. Issues arise when this assumption is violated due to SNPs exhibiting horizontal pleiotropy. We demonstrate that across a range of pleiotropy models, instrument selection will be increasingly liable to selecting invalid instruments as GWAS sample sizes continue to grow. Methods have been developed in an attempt to protect MR from different patterns of horizontal pleiotropy, and here we have designed a mixture-of-experts machine learning framework (MR-MoE 1.0) that predicts the most appropriate model to use for any specific causal analysis, improving on both power and false discovery rates. Using the approach, we systematically estimated the causal effects amongst 2407 phenotypes. Almost 90% of causal estimates indicated some level of horizontal pleiotropy. The causal estimates are organised into a publicly available graph database (http://eve.mrbase.org), and we use it here to highlight the numerous challenges that remain in automated causal inference.