bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vivo measurement of basilar membrane vibration in the unopened chinchilla cochlea using high frequency ultrasound
Authors: Landry Thomas G. , Bance Manohar L. , Leadbetter Jeffrey , Adamson Robert B. , Brown Jeremy A.
Published: June 2017

The basilar membrane and organ of Corti in the cochlea are essential for sound detection and frequency discrimination in normal hearing. There are currently no methods used for real-time high resolution clinical imaging or vibrometry of these structures. The ability to perform such imaging could aid in the diagnosis of some pathologies and advance understanding of the causes. It is demonstrated that high frequency ultrasound can be used to measure basilar membrane vibrations through the round window of chinchilla cochleas in vivo. The basic vibration characteristics of the basilar membrane agree with previous studies that used other methods, although as expected, the sensitivity of ultrasound was not as high as optical methods. At the best frequency for the recording location, the average vibration velocity amplitude was about 4 mm/s/Pa with stimulus intensity of 50 dB sound pressure level. The displacement noise floor was about 0.4 nm with 256 trial averages (5.12 ms per trial). Although vibration signals were observed, which likely originated from the organ of Corti, the spatial resolution was not adequate to resolve any of the sub-structures. Improvements to the ultrasound probe design may improve resolution and allow the responses of these different structures to be better discriminated.
Pyrazinamide Susceptibility and
pncA
Mutation Profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Arfatur , Ferdous Sara Sabrina , Ahmed Shahriar , Rahman S. M. Mazidur , Uddin Mohammad Khaja Mafij , Pholwat Suporn , Gratz Jean , Houpt Eric , Banu Sayera
Published: June 2017

Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a frontline antituberculosis (anti-TB) drug used in both first- and second-line treatment regimens. However, due to complex laboratory requirements, the PZA susceptibility test is rarely performed, leading to a scarcity of data on susceptibility to PZA. Bangladesh is a country with a burden of high rates of both TB and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), but to our knowledge, published data on rates of PZA susceptibility (PZA
s
), especially among MDR-TB patients, are limited. We aimed to analyze the PZA susceptibility patterns of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
isolates from MDR-TB patients and to correlate the
pncA
mutation with PZA resistance in Bangladesh. A total of 169 confirmed MDR
M. tuberculosis
isolates from a pool of specimens collected in a nationwide surveillance study were included in this analysis. All the isolates were tested for phenotypic PZA susceptibility in Bactec mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) culture medium, and the
pncA
gene was sequenced. We also correlated different types of clinical information and treatment outcomes with PZA susceptibility. We found that 45% of isolates were phenotypically PZA resistant. Sequencing of the
pncA
gene revealed a high concordance (82.2%) between the
pncA
gene sequence and the phenotypic assay results. A total of 64 different mutations were found, and 9 isolates harbored multiple mutations. We detected 27 new
pncA
mutations. We did not find any significant correlation between the different clinical categories, the genetic lineage, or treatment outcome group and PZA susceptibility. Considering the turnaround time, sequencing would be the more feasible option to determine PZA susceptibility, and further studies to investigate the MIC of PZA should be conducted to determine an effective dose of the drug.
Identifying Spectra of Activity and Therapeutic Niches for Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Imipenem-Relebactam against Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Haidar Ghady , Clancy Cornelius J. , Chen Liang , Samanta Palash , Shields Ryan K. , Kreiswirth Barry N. , Nguyen M. Hong
Published: June 2017

We determined imipenem, imipenem-relebactam, ceftazidime, and ceftazidime-avibactam MICs against 100 CRE isolates that underwent whole-genome sequencing.
Klebsiella pneumoniae
carbapenemases (KPCs) were the most common carbapenemases. Forty-six isolates carried extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). With the addition of relebactam, imipenem susceptibility increased from 8% to 88%. With the addition of avibactam, ceftazidime susceptibility increased from 0% to 85%. Neither imipenem-relebactam nor ceftazidime-avibactam was active against metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producers. Ceftazidime-avibactam (but not imipenem-relebactam) was active against OXA-48-like producers, including a strain not harboring any ESBL. Major OmpK36 porin mutations were independently associated with higher imipenem-relebactam MICs (
P
< 0.0001) and showed a trend toward independent association with higher ceftazidime-avibactam MICs (
P
= 0.07). The presence of variant KPC-3 was associated with ceftazidime-avibactam resistance (
P
< 0.0001). In conclusion, imipenem-relebactam and ceftazidime-avibactam had overlapping spectra of activity and niches in which each was superior. Major OmpK36 mutations in KPC-
K. pneumoniae
may provide a foundation for stepwise emergence of imipenem-relebactam and ceftazidime-avibactam resistance.
Topical Antimicrobial Treatments Can Elicit Shifts to Resident Skin Bacterial Communities and Reduce Colonization by Staphylococcus aureus Competitors
Authors: SanMiguel Adam J. , Meisel Jacquelyn S. , Horwinski Joseph , Zheng Qi , Grice Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2017

The skin microbiome is a complex ecosystem with important implications for cutaneous health and disease. Topical antibiotics and antiseptics are often employed to preserve the balance of this population and inhibit colonization by more pathogenic bacteria. However, despite their widespread use, the impact of these interventions on broader microbial communities remains poorly understood. Here, we report the longitudinal effects of topical antibiotics and antiseptics on skin bacterial communities and their role in
Staphylococcus aureus
colonization resistance. In response to antibiotics, cutaneous populations exhibited an immediate shift in bacterial residents, an effect that persisted for multiple days posttreatment. By contrast, antiseptics elicited only minor changes to skin bacterial populations, with few changes to the underlying microbiota. While variable in scope, both antibiotics and antiseptics were found to decrease colonization by commensal
Staphylococcus
spp. by sequencing- and culture-based methods, an effect which was highly dependent on baseline levels of
Staphylococcus
. Because
Staphylococcus
residents have been shown to compete with the skin pathogen
S. aureus
, we also tested whether treatment could influence
S. aureus
levels at the skin surface. We found that treated mice were more susceptible to exogenous association with
S. aureus
and that precolonization with the same
Staphylococcus
residents that were previously disrupted by treatment reduced
S. aureus
levels by over 100-fold. In all, the results of this study indicate that antimicrobial drugs can alter skin bacterial residents and that these alterations can have critical implications for cutaneous host defense.
Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Single-Dose Intravenous (ZTI-01) and Oral Fosfomycin in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Wenzler E. , Ellis-Grosse E. J. , Rodvold K. A.
Published: June 2017

The pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of intravenous (i.v.) fosfomycin disodium (ZTI-01) and oral fosfomycin tromethamine were evaluated after a single dose in 28 healthy adult subjects. Subjects received a single 1-h i.v. infusion of 1 g and 8 g fosfomycin disodium and a single dose of 3 g oral fosfomycin tromethamine in a phase I, randomized, open-label, three-period crossover study. Serial blood and urine samples were collected before and up to 48 h after dosing. The mean pharmacokinetic parameters ± standard deviations of fosfomycin in plasma after 1 g and 8 g i.v., respectively, were the following: maximum clearance of drug in serum (
C
max
), 44.3 ± 7.6 and 370 ± 61.9 μg/ml; time to maximum concentration of drug in serum (
T
max
), 1.1 ± 0.05 and 1.08 ± 0.01 h; volume of distribution (
V
), 29.7 ± 5.7 and 31.5 ± 10.4 liters; clearance (CL), 8.7 ± 1.7 and 7.8 ± 1.4 liters/h; renal clearance (CL
R
), 6.6 ± 1.9 and 6.3 ± 1.6 liters/h; area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to infinity (AUC
0–∞
), 120 ± 28.5 and 1,060 ± 192 μg·h/ml; and half-life (
t
1/2
), 2.4 ± 0.4 and 2.8 ± 0.6 h. After oral administration, the parameters were the following:
C
max
, 26.8 ± 6.4 μg/ml;
T
max
, 2.25 ± 0.4 h;
V
/F, 204 ± 70.7 liters; CL/F, 17 ± 4.7 liters/h; CL
R
, 6.5 ± 1.8 liters/h; AUC
0–∞
, 191 ± 57.6 μg · h/ml; and
t
1/2
, 9.04 ± 4.5 h. The percent relative bioavailability of orally administered fosfomycin was 52.8% in relation to the 1-g i.v. dose. Approximately 74% and 80% of the 1-g and 8-g i.v. doses were excreted unchanged in the urine by 48 h compared to 37% after oral administration, with the majority of this excretion occurring by 12 h regardless of dosage form. No new safety concerns were identified during this study. The results of this study support further investigation of i.v. fosfomycin in the target patient population, including patients with complicated urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis.
The Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Effector EspW Triggers Actin Remodeling in a Rac1-Dependent Manner
Authors: Sandu Pamela , Crepin Valerie F. , Drechsler Hauke , McAinsh Andrew D. , Frankel Gad , Berger Cedric N.
Published: June 2017

Enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
(EHEC) is a diarrheagenic pathogen that colonizes the gut mucosa and induces attaching-and-effacing lesions. EHEC employs a type III secretion system (T3SS) to translocate 50 effector proteins that hijack and manipulate host cell signaling pathways, which allow bacterial colonization and subversion of immune responses and disease progression. The aim of this study was to characterize the T3SS effector EspW. We found
espW
in the sequenced O157:H7 and non-O157 EHEC strains as well as in
Shigella boydii
. Furthermore, a truncated version of EspW, containing the first 206 residues, is present in EPEC strains belonging to serotype O55:H7. Screening a collection of clinical EPEC isolates revealed that
espW
is present in 52% of the tested strains. We report that EspW modulates actin dynamics in a Rac1-dependent manner. Ectopic expression of EspW results in formation of unique membrane protrusions. Infection of Swiss cells with an EHEC
espW
deletion mutant induces a cell shrinkage phenotype that could be rescued by Rac1 activation via expression of the bacterial guanine nucleotide exchange factor, EspT. Furthermore, using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified the motor protein Kif15 as a potential interacting partner of EspW. Kif15 and EspW colocalized in cotransfected cells, while ectopically expressed Kif15 localized to the actin pedestals following EHEC infection. The data suggest that Kif15 recruits EspW to the site of bacterial attachment, which in turn activates Rac1, resulting in modifications of the actin cytoskeleton that are essential to maintain cell shape during infection.
Regulation of Type III Secretion of Translocon and Effector Proteins by the EsaB/EsaL/EsaM Complex in Edwardsiella tarda
Authors: Liu Lu Yi , Nie Pin , Yu Hong Bing , Xie Hai Xia
Published: June 2017

The type III secretion system (T3SS) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of many Gram-negative bacteria, including
Edwardsiella tarda
, an important fish pathogen. Within the
E. tarda
T3SS, there are three proteins (EsaB/EsaL/EsaM) that are homologous to proteins present in many other bacteria, including SpiC/SsaL/SsaM in
Salmonella
, SepD/SepL/CesL in enteropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic
E. coli
(EHEC), and YscB/YopN/SycN in
Yersinia
. EsaL was found to interact with both EsaB and EsaM within the bacterial cell, as revealed by a coimmunoprecipitation assay. Moreover, EsaM is required for EsaB stability, and the two proteins interact with each other. EsaB, EsaL, and EsaM are all indispensable for the secretion of the T3SS translocon protein EseC into supernatants under pH 5.5 and pH 7.2 conditions. Unlike EseC, EseG is a T3SS effector whose secretion is suppressed by EsaL at pH 7.2 while it is promoted at pH 5.5 condition. Despite this finding, mutant strains lacking EsaB, EsaL, or EsaM (i.e., the Δ
esaB
, Δ
esaL
, or Δ
esaM
strain, respectively) were all outcompeted by wild-type
E. tarda
during a coinfection model. These results demonstrate that EsaB/EsaL/EsaM form a ternary complex controlling the secretion of T3SS translocon and effector proteins and contributing to
E. tarda
pathogenesis.
Polar Organizing Protein PopZ Is Required for Chromosome Segregation in Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Authors: Ehrle Haley M. , Guidry Jacob T. , Iacovetto Rebecca , Salisbury Anne K. , Sandidge D. J. , Bowman Grant R.
Published: June 2017

Despite being perceived as relatively simple organisms, many bacteria exhibit an impressive degree of subcellular organization. In
Caulobacter crescentus
, the evolutionarily conserved polar organizing protein PopZ facilitates cytoplasmic organization by recruiting chromosome centromeres and regulatory proteins to the cell poles. Here, we characterize the localization and function of PopZ in
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
, a genetically related species with distinct anatomy. In this species, we find that PopZ molecules are relocated from the old pole to the new pole in the minutes following cell division. PopZ is not required for the localization of the histidine kinases DivJ and PdhS1, which become localized to the old pole after PopZ relocation is complete. The histidine kinase PdhS2 is temporally and spatially related to PopZ in that it localizes to transitional poles just before they begin to shed PopZ and disappears from the old pole after PopZ relocalization. At the new pole, PopZ is required for tethering the centromere of at least one of multiple replicons (chromosome I), and the loss of
popZ
results in a severe chromosome segregation defect, aberrant cell division, and cell mortality. After cell division, the daughter that inherits polar PopZ is shorter in length and delayed in chromosome I segregation compared to its sibling. In this cell type, PopZ completes polar relocation well before the onset of chromosome segregation. While
A. tumefaciens
PopZ resembles its
C. crescentus
homolog in chromosome tethering activity, other aspects of its localization and function indicate distinct properties related to differences in cell organization.

IMPORTANCE
Members of the
Alphaproteobacteria
exhibit a wide range of phenotypic diversity despite sharing many conserved genes. In recent years, the extent to which this diversity is reflected at the level of subcellular organization has become increasingly apparent. However, which factors control such organization and how they have changed to suit different body plans are poorly understood. This study focuses on PopZ, which is essential for many aspects of polar organization in
Caulobacter crescentus
, but its role in other species is unclear. We explore the similarities and differences in PopZ functions between
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
and
Caulobacter crescentus
and conclude that PopZ lies at a point of diversification in the mechanisms that control cytoplasmic organization and cell cycle regulation in
Alphaproteobacteria
.
Linearizable Wait-Free Iteration Operations in Shared Double-Ended Queues
Authors: Fatourou Panagiota , Nikolakopoulos Yiannis , Papatriantafilou Marina
Published: June 2017

Shared data object implementations that allow non-blocking concurrent operations are useful for in-memory data-processing, especially when they support consistent bulk operations like iterations. We propose an algorithmic implementation for concurrent iterators on shared double-ended queues (deques), building on and complementing a known lock-free deque implementation by M. Michael. The proposed construction is linearizable and wait-free. Moreover, it is read-only, so it does not execute expensive synchronization primitives and it does not interfere with update operations.
Strong Fault-Hamiltonicity for the Crossed Cube and Its Extensions
Authors: Hung Chun-Nan , Lin Cheng-Kuan , Hsu Lih-Hsing , Cheng Eddie , Lipták László
Published: June 2017

Fault-Hamiltonicity is an important measure of robustness for interconnection networks. Given a graph G = (V, E). The goal is to ensure that G − F remains Hamiltonian for every F ⊆ V ∪E such that |F|  ≤ k for some k. Obviously, one wants the best k possible. For many interconnection networks, in particular, for the crossed cube, the optimal result is known. There is a natural bound for k as the resulting graph cannot have a vertex of degree at most 1. Thus, if r is the minimum degree in G, then k ≤  r − 2. Since interconnection networks are modeled after computer networks, it is reasonable to assume that the vertex/edge faults occur following certain probability distributions. As such, it is reasonable to assume that it is unlikely for a vertex to have degree at most 1 even if r − 1 vertices/edges are deleted. Thus we may be able to delete more vertices and/or vertices if we assume that all the faults are “not clustered” at a vertex. To be precise, the goal is to find the best possible k in which G − F remains Hamiltonian for every F ⊆ V ∪E such that |F|  ≤ k and the minimum degree of G − F is at least 2. In this paper, we study this problem for the crossed cube and then extend the result to cover a large subclass of bijective connection networks as well as the more general matching composition networks.
Differential Analysis of Genetic, Epigenetic, and Cytogenetic Abnormalities in AML
Authors: Islam Mirazul , Mohamed Zahurin , Assenov Yassen
Published: June 2017

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a haematological malignancy characterized by the excessive proliferation of immature myeloid cells coupled with impaired differentiation. Many AML cases have been reported without any known cytogenetic abnormalities and carry no mutation in known AML-associated driver genes. In this study, 200 AML cases were selected from a publicly available cohort and differentially analyzed for genetic, epigenetic, and cytogenetic abnormalities. Three genes (FLT3, DNMT3A, and NPMc) are found to be predominantly mutated. We identified several aberrations to be associated with genome-wide methylation changes. These include Del (5q), T (15; 17), and NPMc mutations. Four aberrations—Del (5q), T (15; 17), T (9; 22), and T (9; 11)—are significantly associated with patient survival. Del (5q)-positive patients have an average survival of less than 1 year, whereas T (15; 17)-positive patients have a significantly better prognosis. Combining the methylation and mutation data reveals three distinct patient groups and four clusters of genes. We speculate that combined signatures have the better potential to be used for subclassification of AML, complementing cytogenetic signatures. A larger sample cohort and further investigation of the effects observed in this study are required to enable the clinical application of our patient classification aided by DNA methylation.
Influence of Elements on the Corrosion Resistance of DLC Films
Authors: Moolsradoo Nutthanun , Watanabe Shuichi
Published: June 2017

Pure DLC, Si-DLC, and Si-N-DLC films deposited from C2H2, C2H2 : TMS and C2H2 : TMS : N2 mixtures were used to study the effects of the elemental contents (silicon, silicon-nitrogen) on deposition and corrosion resistance properties. The films were prepared on Si (100) wafers using the plasma-based ion implantation (PBII) technique. The film structure was analyzed using Raman spectroscopy. The composition at the top surface of the films was measured using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The hardness and elastic modulus of the films were measured using a nanoindentation hardness tester. The corrosion performance of the films was conducted using potentiodynamic polarization experiments in an aqueous 0.05 M NaCl solution. The results indicate that the hardness and corrosion resistance of the Si-DLC film increase as the silicon content increases. This is due to the increase of the sp3 cluster. The corrosion resistance of a pure DLC film increases when silicon and silicon-nitrogen are doped into the film. Si-DLC films with a silicon content of 40 at.% had a corrosion potential value of 0.61 V, while a Si-N-DLC film with a silicon and nitrogen content of 19.3 at.% and 1 at.% shows a corrosion potential value of 0.85 V, which is a considerable improvement in the corrosion resistance property.
Changes of Bone Turnover Markers in Long Bone Nonunions Treated with a Regenerative Approach
Authors: Granchi Donatella , Gómez-Barrena Enrique , Rojewski Markus , Rosset Philippe , Layrolle Pierre , Spazzoli Benedetta , Donati Davide Maria , Ciapetti Gabriela
Published: June 2017

In this clinical trial, we investigated if biochemical bone turnover markers (BTM) changed according to the progression of bone healing induced by autologous expanded MSC combined with a biphasic calcium phosphate in patients with delayed union or nonunion of long bone fractures. Bone formation markers, bone resorption markers, and osteoclast regulatory proteins were measured by enzymatic immunoassay before surgery and after 6, 12, and 24 weeks. A satisfactory bone healing was obtained in 23 out of 24 patients. Nine subjects reached a good consolidation already at 12 weeks, and they were considered as the “early consolidation” group. We found that bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP), and beta crosslaps collagen (CTX) changed after the regenerative treatment, BAP and CTX correlated to the imaging results collected at 12 and 24 weeks, and BAP variation along the healing course differed in patients who had an “early consolidation.” A remarkable decrease in BAP and PICP was observed at all time points in a single patient who experienced a treatment failure, but the predictive value of BTM changes cannot be determined. Our findings suggest that BTM are promising tools for monitoring cell therapy efficacy in bone nonunions, but studies with larger patient numbers are required to confirm these preliminary results.
Dietary Polyphenol Intake, but Not the Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity, Is Inversely Related to Cardiovascular Disease in Postmenopausal Polish Women: Results of WOBASZ and WOBASZ II Studies
Authors: Witkowska Anna M. , Waśkiewicz Anna , Zujko Małgorzata E. , Szcześniewska Danuta , Pająk Andrzej , Stepaniak Urszula , Drygas Wojciech
Published: June 2017

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the dietary polyphenol intake (DPI) and the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women. Participants were 916 postmenopausal women diagnosed with CVD and 1683 postmenopausal women without history of CVD, who took part in the population‐based studies carried out in Poland: WOBASZ (2003–2005) and WOBASZ II (2013‐2014). Nutritional data were collected using a single 24‐hour dietary recall. DPI and DTAC in the CVD women were significantly lower and accounted for 1766.39 mg/d and 10.84 mmol/d, respectively, versus 1920.57 mg/d and 11.85 mmol/d in the women without CVD, but these differences disappeared after the standardization for energy input. Also, in the multiple‐adjustment model, higher DPI, but not DTAC, was associated with the reduced odds ratio for the prevalence of CVD. Beverages, mainly coffee and tea, contributed in more than 40% to DPI and in more than a half to DTAC. In this study, higher dietary polyphenol intake, but not the dietary total antioxidant capacity, was inversely associated with CVD in postmenopausal women, which points to the health benefits of increased polyphenol intake from food sources for these women.
Design Considerations When Accelerating an FPGA-Based Digital Microphone Array for Sound-Source Localization
Authors: da Silva Bruno , Braeken An , Steenhaut Kris , Touhafi Abdellah
Published: June 2017

The use of microphone arrays for sound-source localization is a well-researched topic. The response of such sensor arrays is dependent on the quantity of microphones operating on the array. A higher number of microphones, however, increase the computational demand, making real-time response challenging. In this paper, we present a Filter-and-Sum based architecture and several acceleration techniques to provide accurate sound-source localization in real-time. Experiments demonstrate how an accurate sound-source localization is obtained in a couple of milliseconds, independently of the number of microphones. Finally, we also propose different strategies to further accelerate the sound-source localization while offering increased angular resolution.
Radiative Decay Widths of Ground and Excited States of Vector Charmonium and Bottomonium
Authors: Negash Hluf , Bhatnagar Shashank
Published: June 2017

We study the radiative decay widths of vector quarkonia for the process of J/ψ(nS)→ηc(nS)γ and Υ(nS)→ηb(nS)γ (for principal quantum numbers n=1,2,3) in the framework of Bethe-Salpeter equation under the covariant instantaneous ansatz using a 4×4 form of BSE. The parameters of the framework were determined by a fit to the mass spectrum of ground states of pseudoscalar and vector quarkonia, such as ηc, ηb, J/ψ, and Υ. These input parameters so fixed were found to give good agreements with data on mass spectra of ground and excited states of pseudoscalar and vector quarkonia, leptonic decay constants of pseudoscalar and vector quarkonia, two-photon decays, and two-gluon decays of pseudoscalar quarkonia in our recent paper. With these input parameters so fixed, the radiative decay widths of ground (1S) and excited (2S,3S) states of heavy vector quarkonia (J/Ψ and Υ) are calculated and found to be in reasonable agreement with data.
3D Printed and Photonically Cured Graphene UHF RFID Tags on Textile, Wood, and Cardboard Substrates
Authors: Akbari M. , He H. , Juuti J. , Tentzeris M. M. , Virkki J. , Ukkonen L.
Published: June 2017

This paper introduces 3D direct writing and microdispensing of graphene ultrahigh frequency (UHF) radio-frequency-identification (RFID) antennas on textile, wood, and cardboard substrates, subsequently cured either by conventional oven or photonically by pulsed Xenon flashes. Photonic-cured passive UHF RFID graphene tags on cardboard, wood, and textile substrates achieve read ranges of 5.4, 4.6, and 4 meters, respectively. These results are superior to those achieved by the oven-cured tags that featured read ranges of 4.8, 4.5, and 3.6 meters, respectively. This work presents the first integration of 3D printing and photonic curing of graphene antennas on low-cost versatile substrates.
Compact Multiband Interdigital-Coupled-Fed Planar Antenna with Stepped-Impedance Structures for Mobile Handsets
Authors: Zhou Tao , Cao Yazi , Cheng Zhiqun
Published: June 2017

A new compact multiband planar antenna combining an interdigital-coupled feeding line and one stepped-impedance structure is presented here. This antenna is capable of generating five resonant modes to cover the ISM 915/2400/5800 MHz bands, GPS band, and IMT C-band, respectively. The five resonant frequencies covered by the proposed antenna can be adjusted individually by controlling the impedances and electrical lengths of the corresponding stepped-impedance sections. An additional advantage of the proposed stepped-impedance structure is its ability to suppress higher order resonance modes, thus filtering out unwanted interference. The proposed antenna utilizes a simple planar compact structure and occupies a small area of only 12 × 30 mm2. Details of the antenna design and experimental results are presented and discussed.
Izergin-Korepin Analysis on the Projected Wavefunctions of the Generalized Free-Fermion Model
Authors: Motegi Kohei
Published: June 2017

We apply the Izergin-Korepin analysis to the study of the projected wavefunctions of the generalized free-fermion model. We introduce a generalization of the L-operator of the six-vertex model by Bump-Brubaker-Friedberg and Bump-McNamara-Nakasuji. We make the Izergin-Korepin analysis to characterize the projected wavefunctions and show that they can be expressed as a product of factors and certain symmetric functions which generalizes the factorial Schur functions. This result can be seen as a generalization of the Tokuyama formula for the factorial Schur functions.
Precipitating Cloud Characteristics during Changma as Seen in TRMM PR Observations
Authors: Seo Eun-Kyoung , Kim Kyu-Myong
Published: June 2017

The climatological characteristics of precipitating clouds during Changma, the summer rainy period in the Korean Peninsula, were investigated using the Precipitation Radar (PR) on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. This investigation was further augmented with reanalysis data. Specifically, Changma clouds are compared with post-Changma clouds. Similarities and differences in cloud properties between the two periods are discussed based on seasonal changes in thermodynamic environments. For convective clouds migrating along the Changma (stationary) front, rain intensity is much stronger and cloud height is relatively higher than during any other summer period, including post-Changma period. Convective rain clouds have a large seasonal variability, even during summer. The seasonal variability in rain parameters related to convective rain type appears to be due to the thermodynamic and dynamic environments.
Postnatal Growth in a Cohort of Sardinian Intrauterine Growth-Restricted Infants
Authors: Clemente Maria Grazia , Capobianco Giampiero , Galasso Paolo Mattia , Dessole Francesco , Virdis Giuseppe , Sanna Maria Grazia , Olzai Mauro Giorgio , Argiolas Lino , Dessole Salvatore , Antonucci Roberto
Published: June 2017

Recent studies have shown that infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) undergo catch-up growth during infancy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the postnatal growth in a cohort of IUGR infants born in a tertiary-level Obstetric University Hospital of Northern Sardinia. An observational retrospective study was conducted on 12 IUGR (group A) and 12 control infants (group B) by measuring the anthropometric parameters of weight (W), length (L) and head circumference (HC) from birth to the 3rd postnatal year. At birth, significant differences were found between group A and group B with regard to all the auxological parameters (W, mean 1846.6 versus 3170.8 g, p < 0.0001; HC, 30.1 versus 34.4 cm, p < 0.0001; L, mean 43.4 versus 49.4 cm, p < 0.0001). During the 1st year, 8 of 12 (70%) IUGR infants exhibited a significant catch-up growth in the 3 anthropometric parameters and a regular growth until the 3rd year of follow-up. The majority but not all infants born with IUGR in our series showed significant postnatal catch-up growth essentially during the first 12 months of life. An improved knowledge of the causes of IUGR will help to develop measures for its prevention and individualized treatment.
A Three-Year Retrospective Study on Survival of Ceramic-Veneered Zirconia (Y-TZP) Fixed Dental Prostheses Performed in Private Practices
Authors: Norström Saarva Veronika , Bjerkstig Göran , Örtorp Anders , Svanborg Per
Published: June 2017

Objectives. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the three-year clinical outcome for ceramic-veneered zirconia fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). Methods. All patients who were treated with ceramic-veneered zirconia FDPs, in three private practices in Sweden, during the period June 2003 to April 2007 were included. Case records from 151 patients, treated with a total of 184 zirconia FDPs (692 units), were analysed for clinical data. All complications noted in the charts were registered and compared to definitions for success and survival and statistical analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and a Cox regression model. Results. In total, 32 FDPs in 31 patients experienced some type of complication (17.4% of FDPs, 20.5% of patients). Core fractures occurred in two (1.1%) FDPs. Two (1.1%) FDPs or 0.6% of units showed adhesive veneer fractures. Cohesive veneer fractures occurred in 10 (5.4%) FDPs (1.6% of units). The three-year cumulative success and survival rates (CSR) were 82.3% and 95.2%, respectively. Conclusions. Ceramic-veneered zirconia is a promising alternative to metal-ceramic FDPs, even in the posterior area. However, the higher survival rate of metal-ceramic FDPs should be noted and both dentists and patients must be aware of the risks of complications.
DNA Damage and Repair Biomarkers of Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Mouw Kent W. , Goldberg Michael S. , Konstantinopoulos Panagiotis A. , D'Andrea Alan D.
Published: June 2017

DNA-damaging agents are widely used in clinical oncology and exploit deficiencies in tumor DNA repair. Given the expanding role of immune checkpoint blockade as a therapeutic strategy, the interaction of tumor DNA damage with the immune system has recently come into focus, and it is now clear that the tumor DNA repair landscape has an important role in driving response to immune checkpoint blockade. Here, we summarize the mechanisms by which DNA damage and genomic instability have been found to shape the antitumor immune response and describe clinical efforts to use DNA repair biomarkers to guide use of immune-directed therapies.

Significance: Only a subset of patients respond to immune checkpoint blockade, and reliable predictive biomarkers of response are needed to guide therapy decisions. DNA repair deficiency is common among tumors, and emerging experimental and clinical evidence suggests that features of genomic instability are associated with response to immune-directed therapies. Cancer Discov; 7(7); 675–93. ©2017 AACR.
Image Documentation in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Review of Recommendations
Authors: Marques Susana , Bispo Miguel , Pimentel-Nunes Pedro , Chagas Cristina , Dinis-Ribeiro Mário
Published: June 2017

In recent years, endoscopic image documentation has gained an important role in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic reporting and has become an integral aspect of quality control. Since 2001, several important guidelines and statements, some from major endoscopic societies, have been published to standardize endoscopic image documentation. Therefore, and according to the most recent recommendations of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, we propose a set of images to be routinely captured in upper and lower GI endoscopy. Systematic acquisition of 10 and 9 photographs of specific landmarks is recommended in upper-GI endoscopy and colonoscopy, respectively. In addition to photo documentation of the normal endoscopic features, imaging of pathologic findings is also advocated. Considering accurate and adequate image documentation as an essential part of endoscopic reporting, it should be systematically performed in upper and lower GI endoscopy.
Inhibition of the Cardiac Fibroblast–Enriched lncRNA
Meg3
Prevents Cardiac Fibrosis and Diastolic Dysfunction
Authors: Piccoli Maria-Teresa , Gupta Shashi Kumar , Viereck Janika , Foinquinos Ariana , Samolovac Sabine , Kramer Freya Luise , Garg Ankita , Remke Janet , Zimmer Karina , Batkai Sandor , Thum Thomas
Published: June 2017

Rationale:

Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) drive extracellular matrix remodeling after pressure overload, leading to fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction. Recent studies described the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cardiac pathologies. Nevertheless, detailed reports on lncRNAs regulating CF biology and describing their implication in cardiac remodeling are still missing.

Objective:

Here, we aimed at characterizing lncRNA expression in murine CFs after chronic pressure overload to identify CF-enriched lncRNAs and investigate their function and contribution to cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction.

Methods and Results:

Global lncRNA profiling identified several dysregulated transcripts. Among them, the lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (
Meg3
) was found to be mostly expressed by CFs and to undergo transcriptional downregulation during late cardiac remodeling. In vitro,
Meg3
regulated the production of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). GapmeR-mediated silencing of
Meg3
in CFs resulted in the downregulation of
Mmp
-2 transcription, which, in turn, was dependent on P53 activity both in the absence and in the presence of transforming growth factor-β I. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that further induction of
Mmp
-2 expression by transforming growth factor-β I was blocked by
Meg3
silencing through the inhibition of P53 binding on the
Mmp-2
promoter. Consistently, inhibition of
Meg3
in vivo after transverse aortic constriction prevented cardiac MMP-2 induction, leading to decreased cardiac fibrosis and improved diastolic performance.

Conclusions:

Collectively, our findings uncover a critical role for
Meg3
in the regulation of MMP-2 production by CFs in vitro and in vivo, identifying a new player in the development of cardiac fibrosis and potential new target for the prevention of cardiac remodeling.
Multiparametric Model for Penumbral Flow Prediction in Acute Stroke
Authors: Livne Michelle , Kossen Tabea , Madai Vince I. , Zaro-Weber Olivier , Moeller-Hartmann Walter , Mouridsen Kim , Heiss Wolf-Dieter , Sobesky Jan
Published: June 2017

Background and Purpose—

Identification of salvageable penumbra tissue by dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable tool for acute stroke patient stratification for treatment. However, prior studies have not attempted to combine the different perfusion maps into a predictive model. In this study, we established a multiparametric perfusion imaging model and cross-validated it using positron emission tomography perfusion for detection of penumbral flow.

Methods—

In a retrospective analysis of 17 subacute stroke patients with consecutive magnetic resonance imaging and H2O15 positron emission tomography scans, perfusion maps of cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, mean transit time, time-to-maximum, and time-to-peak were constructed and combined using a generalized linear model (GLM). Both the GLM maps and the single perfusion maps alone were cross-validated with positron emission tomography-cerebral blood flow scans to predict penumbral flow on a voxel-wise level. Performance was tested by receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis, that is, the area under the curve, and the models’ fits were compared using the likelihood ratio test.

Results—

The GLM demonstrated significantly improved model fit compared with each of the single perfusion maps (
P
<1×e-5) and demonstrated higher performance, with an area under the curve of 0.91. However, the absolute difference between the performance of GLM and the best-performing single perfusion parameter (time-to-maximum) was relatively low (area under the curve difference =0.04).

Conclusions—

Our results support a dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging–based GLM as an improved model for penumbral flow prediction in stroke patients. With given perfusion maps, this model is a straightforward and observer-independent alternative for therapy stratification.
Trapping the Objectless
Authors: Domnitch Evelina , Gelfand Dmitry , Calarco Tommaso
Published: June 2017

Through the epistemological lenses of quantum theory and phenomenological art, the authors describe their collaborative development of several artworks exploring electrodynamic levitation. Comprising diverse ion traps that enable naked-eye observation of charged matter interactions, these artworks question the murky boundaries of perceptibility and objectification.
How a Mathematician Started Making Movies
Authors: Emmer Michele
Published: June 2017

The author’s father, Luciano Emmer, was an Italian filmmaker who made feature movies and documentaries on art from the 1930s through 2008, one year before his death. Although the author’s interest in films inspired him to write many books and articles on cinema, he knew he would be a mathematician from a young age. After graduating in 1970 and fortuitously working on minimal surfaces—soap bubbles—he had the idea of making a film. It was the start of a film series on art and mathematics, produced by his father and Italian state television. This article tells of the author’s professional life as a mathematician and a filmmaker.
Land-Grant Hybrids: From Art and Technology to SEAD
Authors: Zacharias Kari , Wisnioski Matthew
Published: June 2017

The authors explore the role that public and land-grant universities play in sciences, engineering, arts and design (SEAD). They combine a networked institutional history of art and technology collaborations with an ethnographic study of SEAD initiatives. They use the notion of land-grant hybrids to describe widespread entanglements between research, teaching and public engagement. Their study identifies three “matters of concern” that aid in rethinking the origins, current practices and possible futures of SEAD: disparities in sponsored collaboration, the need for hybrid practitioners to demonstrate measurable impact and the ambiguities of what counts as appropriate art and reputable research.
A Prophetic Pragmatist Response to Koopman’s Transitional Pragmatism
Authors: Stone Brad Elliott
Published: June 2017

Colin Koopman’s Pragmatism as Transition offers a new insight into how to understand pragmatism, particularly by connecting pragmatism’s melioristic approach to problems with a Foucauldian genealogical analysis of the very problems that pragmatism hope to solve. Peculiarly absent from Koopman’s presentation is a consideration of Cornel West’s prophetic pragmatism, which itself combined the melioristic problem-solving of pragmatism and the Foucauldian analysis proposed by Koopman. This absence is not malicious, of course, but it does bring to mind how West’s prophetic pragmatism has been generally disregarded by mainstream pragmatism scholarship.
Walter Benjamin and the Question of Print in Media History
Authors: Berret Charles
Published: June 2017

Although Walter Benjamin’s “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” is a seminal essay in the study of media history, the work itself gives a surprisingly brief account of one of field’s core subjects: the printing press. Books and literature present only a special case of mechanical reproduction, according to Benjamin, but the implications of this point remain largely unexplored by scholars. The purpose of this essay is to ask why Benjamin would have considered print to be different or less historically consequential compared to photography and cinema when the revolutionary potential he ascribes to these more recent technologies is also prefigured in his other writings on books and literature. Answering this question helps to create a sharper picture of what matters to Benjamin about new media and also points to figures like Georg Lukács who influenced Benjamin’s account of technology and art. Ultimately, this line of questioning also raises concerns about the place of the “Work of Art” essay in the study of media history, a field in which the signal error is to treat new media as unprecedented developments.
The ‘Greferendum’ and the Eurozone crisis in the Danish daily press
Authors: Mylonas Yiannis , Noutsou Matina
Published: June 2017

This article presents a critical analysis of the Danish press coverage of the referendum called by the Left-led coalition government of Greece in July 2015, concerning the future of austerity policies. It focuses on the conservative daily press of Denmark, one of the ‘core’ EU countries, writing on developments in the periphery. Three main themes emerge in the study’s discourse analysis of Berlingske Tidende’s and Jyllands Posten’s coverage: ‘post-democratic realism’, ‘the upper-class gaze’, and ‘Orientalism and cultural racism’. The authors not only reveal the one-sided, elitist coverage by the rightwing papers at Europe’s centre but also point out how the principles of neoliberalism itself and the acceptance of austerity are being constantly reinforced by the media in a country like Denmark, which had previously been marked out for its more progressive welfare capitalism. Denmark’s turn to the Right (and to racism) alongside its biased coverage of the ‘Greferendum’ are examined here in the context of the way in which neoliberalism and its politico-social effects are now presented as both common sense and the only way forward.
College Women’s Experiences of Male Partner Contraceptive Interference: Associations With Intimate Partner Violence and Contraceptive Outcomes
Authors: Katz Jennifer , Sutherland Melissa A.
Published: June 2017

Many young adult women experience interpersonal barriers to protecting their sexual health. The focus of the current study was on contraceptive interference (CI), defined as partner behaviors that prevent effective contraception use before or during sex. We investigated whether CI tends to co-occur with intimate partner violence (IPV) and whether past CI is negatively associated with women’s contraceptive outcomes. We also investigated perceived reasons for partner CI. Data were collected from sexually active female undergraduates ( N = 146) who had ended a (hetero)sexual relationship lasting at least 1 month. Participants provided self-report data on past relationships with male “target” partners who either did or did not enact CI, IPV within the same relationship, contraceptive use at last sex (with most recent partner), and condom negotiation efficacy (on day of study). About 25% of the sample reported past CI. Results revealed positive associations between target partner CI and psychological abuse, severe physical assault, and attempted or completed sexual assault by that same partner. Past CI was negatively associated with condom negotiation self-efficacy but not contraceptive use at last sex. All women perceived that CI was motivated by an intent to promote his pleasure, and only a few women perceived that CI was motivated by an intent to promote pregnancy. These results suggest that women’s experiences of CI reflect broader disempowerment within the dyadic context. Furthermore, these results suggest that research on CI behaviors as well as intentions underlying these behaviors will improve our understanding of how and why IPV affects women’s reproductive and sexual health.
Cryptococcal Maxillary Osteomyelitis and Osteonecrosis in a 18-Month-Old Dog
Authors: Block Katherine , Battig Jean
Published: June 2017

An 18-month-old neutered male labradoodle was treated with surgical debridement for maxillary osteomyelitis and sequestrum formation. Histopathologic findings of the necrotic bone were consistent with Cryptococcus subspecies, confirmed with latex agglutination serum titer testing. The patient responded to a combination of fluconazole and surgical debridement and was titer negative after 8 months of medical therapy. The patient never exhibited signs of systemic illness which is commonly reported with cryptococcosis. Cryptococcus subspecies infection in dogs in the Pacific Northwest is part of an ongoing outbreak in the region, first reported in 2001, and is associated with specific risk factors. This is the first published case of oral cryptococcosis from primary inoculation.