bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dyakonov-Shur instability across the ballistic-to-hydrodynamic crossover
Authors: Mendl Christian B. , Lucas Andrew
Published: March 2018

We numerically solve semiclassical kinetic equations and compute the growth rate of the Dyakonov-Shur instability of a two-dimensional Fermi liquid in a finite length cavity. When electron-electron scattering is fast, we observe the well-understood hydrodynamic instability and its disappearance due to viscous dissipation. When electron-electron scattering is negligible, we find that the instability re-emerges for certain boundary conditions but not for others. We discuss the implications of these findings for experiments.
Singularities of the transmission coefficient and anomalous scattering by a dielectric slab
Authors: Shestopalov Yury
Published: March 2018

We prove the existence and describe the distribution on the complex plane of the singularities, resonant states (RSs), of the transmission coefficient in the problem of the plane wave scattering by a parallel-plate dielectric slab in free space. It is shown that the transmission coefficient has isolated poles all with nonzero imaginary parts that form countable sets in the complex plane of the refraction index or permittivity of the slab with the only accumulation point at infinity. The transmission coefficient never vanishes and anomalous scattering, when its modulus exceeds unity, occurs at arbitrarily small loss of the dielectric filling the layer. These results are extended to the cases of scattering by arbitrary multi-layer parallel-plane media. Connections are established between RSs, spectral singularities, eigenvalues of the associated Sturm–Liouville problems on the line, and zeros of the corresponding Jost function.
PDGFRα

+

pericryptal stromal cells are the critical source of Wnts and RSPO3 for murine intestinal stem cells in vivo
Authors: Greicius Gediminas , Kabiri Zahra , Sigmundsson Kristmundur , Liang Chao , Bunte Ralph , Singh Manvendra K. , Virshup David M.
Published: March 2018

Significance

Tissue stem cells in vivo reside in highly structured niches that provide signals for proliferation and differentiation. Understanding the role of the niche requires identifying the key cell types that provide these regulators. In the intestine, R-spondins and Wnts are essential regulators of the stem-cell niche. Here we identify subepithelial myofibroblasts of the PDGF receptor α lineage as the specific stromal cell type that secretes these ligands. These data demonstrate the close interaction between epithelial stem cells and the underlying regulatory stroma niche and provide insights into both normal homeostasis and tissue recovery after injury.
Conformation-dependent partitioning of yeast nutrient transporters into starvation-protective membrane domains
Authors: Gournas Christos , Gkionis Stelios , Carquin Mélanie , Twyffels Laure , Tyteca Donatienne , André Bruno
Published: March 2018

Significance

The plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells is compartmentalized into domains enriched in specific lipids and proteins. However, our understanding of the mechanisms and functions of this lateral segregation remains incomplete. Here, we show that the clustering of the yeast Can1 arginine transporter into domains is dictated by its conformation and requires sustained biogenesis of complex sphingolipids. Furthermore, this clustering confers to Can1 and other transporters protection from ubiquitin-dependent endocytosis. Under nutrient-starvation conditions, this protective role is reinforced, thereby allowing cells to preserve a fraction of their nutrient transporters from bulk endocytosis and to more efficiently resume growth when replenishing compounds are available. Our study reveals nutrient-regulated protection from endocytosis as an important role for protein partitioning into membrane domains.
Intestinal spirochete infections of chickens: a review of disease associations, epidemiology and control
Authors: Stephens C.P. , Hampson D.J.
Published: March 2018

This paper presents an overview of intestinal spirochete infections of chickens. It focuses particularly on studies in Australia, where recent surveys of 136 layer and broiler breeder flocks have revealed a high rate of infection (>40%) with intestinal spirochetes. Infection was not detected in broiler flocks. Approximately 50% of isolates from infected flocks wereBrachyspira(Serpulina)intermediaorB. pilosicoli, with the other isolates beingB. innocens, B. murdochiior the proposed species ‘B. pulli’. No isolates ofB. alvinipulliwere found. Intestinal spirochetes were significantly associated with wet litter problems and/or reduced egg production. Experimental infection of point-of-lay birds with eitherB. intermediaorB. pilosicolicaused reduced egg production, and, withB. intermedia, a significant increase in fecal moisture content. Infection withB. innocenscaused no significant changes. In-water treatment of a flock with a mixed spirochete infection using lincospectin resulted in a slimy diarrhea lasting for 2–3 weeks, followed by absence of spirochetes for 3 months. Birds treated with tiamulin remained healthy, and had a reduced level of infection with intestinal spirochetes (30%) for 3 months. Trials are under way to test the efficacy of antimicrobials in point-of-lay chickens experimentally infected with eitherB. intermediaorB. pilosicoli.
Porcine enteric spirochete infections in the UK: surveillance data and preliminary investigation of atypical isolates
Authors: Thomson J.R. , Smith W.J. , Murray B.P. , Murray D. , Dic J.E. , Sumption K.J.
Published: March 2018

Investigations into the possible causes of colitis and typhlocolitis were carried out on 98 pig units in the United Kingdom between 1997 and 1999.Brachyspira pilosicoliwas identified most commonly, occurring as the suggested primary agent in 18% of the outbreaks but forming part of mixed infections in another 24% of outbreaks. The equivalent figures for other bacterial pathogens were:B.hyodysenteriae, 13% and 16%;Lawsonia intracellularis, 10% and 15%;Salmonellaspecies, 6% and 12%; andYersiniaspecies, 4% and 10%. UnclassifiedBrachyspiraspecies of unknown pathogenicity were identified in 12% of outbreaks. The 24 unclassified isolates divided into three groups on the basis of their phenotypic characteristics. In addition, there were 50 atypicalBrachyspiraspecies isolates that showed differences between their phenotypic characteristics and genetic identity based on sequence analysis of a section of the 23S rDNA gene. Four representative atypical isolates were found to be pathogenic as a result of an experimental oral challenge study in pigs.
Measuring magnetosomal pH of the magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 using pH-sensitive fluorescent proteins
Authors: Eguchi Yukako , Fukumori Yoshihiro , Taoka Azuma
Published: March 2018

Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize uniform-sized and regularly shaped magnetic nanoparticles in their organelles termed magnetosomes. Homeostasis of the magnetosome lumen must be maintained for its role accomplishment. Here, we developed a method to estimate the pH of a single living cell of the magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 using a pH-sensitive fluorescent protein E2GFP. Using the pH measurement, we estimated that the cytoplasmic pH was approximately 7.6 and periplasmic pH was approximately 7.2. Moreover, we estimated pH in the magnetosome lumen and cytoplasmic surface using fusion proteins of E2GFP and magnetosome-associated proteins. The pH in the magnetosome lumen increased during the exponential growth phase when magnetotactic bacteria actively synthesize magnetite crystals, whereas pH at the magnetosome surface was not affected by the growth stage. This live-cell pH measurement method will help for understanding magnetosome pH homeostasis to reveal molecular mechanisms of magnetite biomineralization in the bacterial organelle.
Political Freedom as an Islamic Value
Authors: Decosimo David
Published: March 2018

The esteemed scholar Michael Cook has recently argued that political freedom is “not an Islamic value” but is in tension with Islam. This paper contends that Cook is mistaken. It moves in four steps. First, I consider the very idea of an “Islamic value,” sketching a nonessentialist way of conceiving such a thing. Next, I show that the particular “liberal” notion of political freedom that Cook rightly claims is absent is but one of three distinct conceptions of political freedom: he neglects to consider the possible presence of an alternate “republican” conception. Then, taking some of the very evidence Cook cites along with the case of al-Ghazālī, I show that this republican conception figures in Islamic thought and practice. I conclude by considering some broader interpretive issues that bear on this matter and have wider significance. Political freedom, it turns out, is an Islamic value after all.
Discovery of a radio nebula around PSR J0855−4644
Authors: Maitra C , Roy S , Acero F , Gupta Y
Published: March 2018

We report the discovery of a diffuse radio emission around PSR J0855−4644 using an upgraded GMRT (uGMRT) observation at 1.35 GHz. The radio emission is spatially coincident with the diffuse X-ray pulsar wind nebula (PWN) seen with XMM–Newton but is much larger in extent compared to the compact axisymmetric PWN seen with Chandra. The morphology of the emission, with a bright partial ring-like structure and two faint tail-like features strongly resembles a bow shock nebula, and indicates a velocity of 100 km s−1 through the ambient medium. We conclude that the emission is most likely to be associated with the radio PWN of PSR J0855−4644. From the integrated flux density, we estimate the energetics of the PWN.
AzBio Speech Understanding Performance in Quiet and Noise in High Performing Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Brant Jason A. , Eliades Steven J. , Kaufman Hannah , Chen Jinbo , Ruckenstein Michael J.
Published: March 2018

Objective:

To evaluate high-performing cochlear implant patients’ performance on AzBio sentence testing.

Methods:

Retrospective review of prospectively collected database at a tertiary care hospital. Unilateral cochlear implant patients with AzBio testing were included. The primary outcome of interest was AzBio performance scores in quiet and at +10 and +5 decibels signal to noise (dB S/N).

Results:

One hundred eighty five subjects met inclusion criteria with scores for AzBio in quiet, 114 at +10 dB S/N, and 66 at +5 dB S/N. Linear mixed effects models showed performance significantly correlated with time since activation in all conditions (8.4%/yr; p < 0.0001). Strong correlations between mean performance in quiet and at +10 dB S/N (r = 0.77, p < 0.0001), and between +10 and +5 dB S/N (r = 0.73, p < 0.0001) were found. The correlation between quiet and +5 dB S/N (r = 0.45, p = 0.01) was less robust. Shapiro-Wilks test of normality found only +10 dB S/N to correspond to a normal distribution. Skew analysis demonstrated values of –0.64, –0.11, and 0.8 for quiet, +10 dB S/N, and +5 dB S/N, respectively.

Conclusions:

AzBio scores at +10 dB S/N show a strong correlation with, but avoid the ceiling effects that limit the usefulness of testing in quiet for high performing cochlear implant users, making it the preferred test in this population. Significant complexities exist in the study of outcomes in cochlear implant recipients, and there is no single test that is ideal for the entirety of this population.
Risky Sexual Behavior Among Individuals Receiving Buprenorphine/Naloxone Opiate Dependency Treatment: HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 058
Authors: Shava Emily , Lipira Lauren E. , Beauchamp Geetha G. , Donnell Deborah J. , Lockman Shahin , Ruan Yuhua , Shao Yiming
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

Understanding the role of opiate dependency treatment in risky sexual behavior could help optimize interventions for people who inject drugs (PWID).

Objectives:

We evaluated whether long-term medication-assisted treatment (LT-MAT) of opiate dependency with buprenorphine/naloxone influenced risky sexual behavior among HIV-uninfected PWID and identified predictors of risky sexual behavior.

Methods:

We used data from HPTN 058, a randomized controlled trial of LT-MAT vs. short-term medication-assisted treatment among PWID in China and Thailand. We evaluated associations between randomized opiate dependency treatment group and self-reported risky sexual behaviors within the past month: condomless sex with primary partner, condomless sex with nonprimary partner, multiple partners, and more than 3 sexual acts. We used generalized estimating equations to conduct intention-to-treat, as-treated, and exploratory analyses of these associations.

Results:

Of 1250 participants included in the analysis, 92% were male, with median age of 34 years (interquartile range 28–39). At baseline, referring to the past month, 36% of participants reported condomless sex with primary partner, 4% reported condomless sex with nonprimary partner, 6% reported multiple sex partners, and 30% reported more than 3 sexual acts. Risky sexual behaviors did not differ significantly between treatment groups at any point. Significant predictors (P < 0.05) of condomless sex with nonprimary partner were history of incarceration and noninjection drug use. Number of needle-sharing partners, noninjection drug use, and higher income were predictors for multiple sexual partners.

Conclusions:

LT-MAT did not significantly modify risky sexual behavior among HIV-uninfected PWID. Interventions that reduce sexual risk should target PWID with history of incarceration, alcohol use, and needle sharing.
FDG-Avid Focal Liver Reaction From Proton Therapy in a Patient With Primary Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ahmed Hena S. , Pantel Austin R. , Metz James M. , Plastaras John P. , Farwell Michael D.
Published: March 2018

A 25-year-old man with IgA deficiency was treated with 2 months of chemotherapy and proton therapy for gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Restaging PET/CT 18 days posttherapy demonstrated 2 new foci of increased FDG uptake in the left hepatic lobe, which were favored to represent radiation injury as opposed to new metastases. Follow-up MRI with contrast 2 weeks later demonstrated hypoenhancement and T1/T2 hypointensity in the liver, without restricted diffusion, which correlated with the dominant FDG-avid focus. The hepatic lesions resolved on subsequent FDG PET/CT and MRI studies, confirming the diagnosis of acute radiation injury.
Three Primary Carcinomas on 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Wu Dayong , Hu Yujing , Wei Qiang , Tian Congna , Bian Yanzhu
Published: March 2018

A CT scan was performed on a 67-year-old man newly diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. The scan revealed a low-density lesion in the liver, a left renal nodule, and a right renal cystic mass. Intense 18F-FDG uptake was observed in the liver lesion and left renal nodule. No abnormal uptake was observed in the right renal mass. In addition, another focal intense uptake was observed in segment VII of the liver. Biopsies revealed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas in the 2 liver lesions, papillary renal cell carcinoma in the left renal lesion and clear cell renal cell carcinoma in the right renal lesion.
Unusually Elevated Gastric Radioactivity on 18F-FDG PET/CT in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Yin Hongyan , Liu Guobing , Xiu Yan , Luo Rongkui , Shi Hongcheng
Published: March 2018

A 41-year-old woman presented with abdominal distention, inappetence, and rapid emaciation for 1 month. Diffuse bulky gastric wall thickening with lymph nodes enlargement and peritoneal nodules were revealed using abdominal CT. Staging 18F-FDG PET/CT performed after admission demonstrated intensely diffuse FDG uptake in stomach, FDG-avid lymph nodes, and peritoneal nodular lesions. Postoperatively, these lesions were diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Metabolic modeling of Pectobacterium parmentieri SCC3193 provides insights into metabolic pathways of plant pathogenic bacteria
Authors: Zoledowska Sabina , Presta Luana , Fondi Marco , Decorosi Francesca , Giovannetti Luciana , Mengoni Alessio , Lojkowska Ewa
Published: March 2018

Understanding the plant-microbe interactions are crucial for improving plant productivity and plant protection. The latter aspect is particularly relevant for sustainable agriculture and development of new preventive strategies against the spread of plant diseases. Constraint-based metabolic modeling is providing one of the possible ways to investigate the adaptation to different ecological niches and may give insights into the metabolic versatility of plant pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we present a curated metabolic model of the emerging plant pathogenic bacterium Pectobacterium parmentieri SCC3193. Using flux balance analysis (FBA), we predict the metabolic adaptation to two different ecological niches, relevant for the persistence and the plant colonization by this bacterium: soil and rhizosphere. We performed in silico gene deletions to predict the set of core essential genes for this bacterium to grow in such environments. We anticipate that our metabolic model will be a valuable element for defining a set of metabolic targets to control infection and spreading of this plant pathogen and a scaffold to interpret future –omics datasets for this bacterium.
Explaining international footballer selection through Poisson modelling
Authors: Butler David , Butler Robert , Doran Justin , O’Connor Sean
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Growing evidence suggests regional economic factors impact on individual outcomes, such as life expectancy and well-being. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact that player-specific and regional differences have on the number of senior international appearances football players accumulate over the course of their careers, for six UEFA member countries, from 1993 to 2014.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employs a Poisson regression model to analyse the impact of individual and regional factors on the number of senior international caps a footballer receives over the course of their career.

Findings

The results indicate that both individual and regional variables can explain the number of caps a player receives over the course of their career. The authors find that an individual’s career length positively influences the number of international caps accrued. Players born in wealthier and more populous regions accumulate a greater number of international appearances. Distance from the capital has no effect, however, the number of youth academies in the player’s region of birth has a significant positive effect.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis is limited to regional variations within economically developed states. It would be interesting to test whether the correlation between relative regional development and international success exists in less developed countries. The authors only address mens international football in this study and cannot comment on the generality of the findings across genders or sports.

Practical implications

The results can provide insights for local football authorities and policy makers concerned with regional characteristics and those interested in the development of elite talent.

Originality/value

This is the first study to analyse a pan-European data set, using an increasingly adopted econometric method to understanding regional economic development – Poisson modelling.
The Strategy of Datum Reference Frame Selection Based on Statistical Learning
Authors: Cao Yanlong , Zhao Qijian , Liu Ting , Ren Lifei , Yang Jiangxin
Published: March 2018

A datum selection strategy based on statistical learning is proposed. The datum selection is an important part of tolerance specification which is the base of geometric tolerance selection and tolerance principle selection. The problem of datum selection is to deduce the datum reference frame (DRF) based on geometrical, contact, and positioning characteristics. Currently, heuristic rules are used for DRF selection, leading to suboptimal choice of DRF in many cases. The proposed strategy formulates normalized vectors computed from the geometric, contact, and positioning characteristics of surfaces. The surfaces of different parts can be compared by their normalized vectors. Then the statistical learning method is used for building a classifier which can discriminate datum feature vectors based on training samples. Finally, a case study is given to verify the strategy and the different algorithms are compared and discussed.
Shape Descriptor-Based Local Contour Profile Registration and Measurement for Flexible Automotive Sealing Strips
Authors: Li Jianhua , Du Zhengchun , Wang Yan
Published: March 2018

For vision-based measurement, there are few research or professional tools for local contour positional errors of flexible automotive rubber strips. To support the automatic measurement of contour positional errors, a novel local contour registration and measurement method based on shape descriptors is proposed. In this method, a shape descriptor is proposed to find correspondence between a reference local contour and a desired local contour. First, a shape descriptor that includes the shape representation and restrictions of the local contour is extracted from the reference contour. Second, several tolerable shape descriptors for a desired actual local contour are constructed by adding some loosening factors to the ideal descriptor, and an angular similarity-based searching strategy is used to find the best actual local contour. Finally, from the matched local point sets, a quantitative calculation step provides the desired deviation values. This method is implemented in a sealing strip cross section measurement system, and numerous cross-sectional profiles are tested. The experimental results verify the stability and effectiveness of the proposed method. Important progress toward the automatic measurement of flexible products is demonstrated.
A Knowledge-Based Method for Innovative Design for Additive Manufacturing Supported by Modular Ontologies
Authors: Hagedorn Thomas J. , Krishnamurty Sundar , Grosse Ian R.
Published: March 2018

Additive manufacturing (AM) offers significant opportunities for product innovation in many fields provided that designers are able to recognize the potential values of AM in a given product development process. However, this may be challenging for design teams without substantial experience with the technology. Design inspiration based on past successful applications of AM may facilitate application of AM even in relatively inexperienced teams. While designs for additive manufacturing (DFAM) methods have experimented with reuse of past knowledge, they may not be sufficient to fully realize AM's innovative potential. In many instances, relevant knowledge may be hard to find, lack context, or simply unavailable. This design information is also typically divorced from the underlying logic of a products' business case. In this paper, we present a knowledge based method for AM design ideation as well as the development of a suite of modular, highly formal ontologies to capture information about innovative uses of AM. This underlying information model, the innovative capabilities of additive manufacturing (ICAM) ontology, aims to facilitate innovative use of AM by connecting a repository of a business and technical knowledge relating to past AM products with a collection of knowledge bases detailing the capabilities of various AM processes and machines. Two case studies are used to explore how this linked knowledge can be queried in the context of a new design problem to identify highly relevant examples of existing products that leveraged AM capabilities to solve similar design problems.
Effect of Substrate Compliance on Measuring Delamination Properties of Elastic Thin Foil
Authors: Liu C.
Published: March 2018

Through the analysis of a model problem, a thin elastic plate bonded to an elastic foundation, we address several issues related to the miniature bulge test for measuring the energy-release rate associated with the interfacial fracture of a bimaterial system, where one of the constituents is a thin foil. These issues include the effect of the substrate compliance on the interpretation of the energy release rate, interfacial strength, and the identification of the boundary of the deforming bulge or the location of the interfacial crack front. The analysis also suggests a way for measuring the so-called foundation modulus, which characterizes the property of the substrate. An experimental example, a stainless steel thin foil bonded to an aluminum substrate through hot-isostatic-pressing (HIP), is used to illustrate and highlight some of the conclusions of the model analysis.
An Exact Robust Differentiator Based on Continuous Fractional Sliding Modes
Authors: Jonathan Muñoz-Vázquez Aldo , Vázquez-Aguilera Carlos , Parra-Vega Vicente , Sánchez-Orta Anand
Published: March 2018

The problem addressed in this paper is the online differentiation of a signal/function that possesses a continuous but not necessarily differentiable derivative. In the realm of (integer) high-order sliding modes, a continuous differentiator provides the exact estimation of the derivative f˙(t), of f(t), by assuming the boundedness of its second-order derivative, f¨(t), but it has been pointed out that if f˙(t) is casted as a Hölder function, then f˙(t) is continuous but not necessarily differentiable, and as a consequence, the existence of f¨(t) is not guaranteed, but even in such a case, the derivative of f(t) can be exactly estimated by means of a continuous fractional sliding mode-based differentiator. Then, the properties of fractional sliding modes, as exact differentiators, are studied. The novelty of the proposed differentiator is twofold: (i) it is continuous, and (ii) it provides the finite-time exact estimation of f˙(t), even if f¨(t) does not exist. A numerical study is discussed to show the reliability of the proposed scheme.
Multi-Objective Optimization Model Development to Support Sizing Decisions for a Novel Reciprocating Steam Engine Technology
Authors: Hamel J. M. , Allphin Devin , Elroy Joshua
Published: March 2018

A system-level computational model of a recently patented and prototyped novel steam engine technology was developed from first principles for the express purpose of performing design optimization studies for the engine's inventors. The developed system model consists of numerous submodels including a flow model of the intake process, a dynamic model of the intake valve response, a pressure model of the engine cylinder, a kinematic model of the engine piston, and an output model that determines engine performance parameters. A crank-angle discretization strategy was employed to capture the performance of engine throughout a full cycle of operation, thus requiring all engine design submodels to be evaluated at each crank angle of interest. To produce a system model with sufficient computational speed to be useful within optimization algorithms, which must exercise the system level model repeatedly, various simplifying assumptions and modeling approximations were utilized. The model was tested by performing a series of multi-objective design optimization case studies using the geometry and operating conditions of the prototype engine as a baseline. The results produced were determined to properly capture the fundamental behavior of the engine as observed in the operation of the prototype and demonstrated that the design of engine technology could be improved over the baseline using the developed computational model. Furthermore, the results of this study demonstrate the applicability of using a multi-objective optimization-driven approach to conduct conceptual design efforts for various engine system technologies.
Post-Buckling Analysis of a Rod Confined in a Cylindrical Tube
Authors: Liu Jia-Peng , Zhong Xiao-Yu , Cheng Zai-Bin , Feng Xi-Qiao , Ren Ge-Xue
Published: March 2018

Understanding the buckling and post-buckling behavior of rods confined in a finite space is of both scientific and engineering significance. Under uniaxial compression, an initially straight and slender rod confined in a tube may buckle into a sinusoidal shape and subsequently evolve into a complicated, three-dimensional (3D) helical shape. In this paper, we combine theoretical and numerical methods to investigate the post-buckling behavior of confined rods. Two theoretical models, which are based on the inextensible and extensible rod theories, respectively, are proposed to derive the analytical expressions for the axial compressive stiffness in the sinusoidal post-buckling stage. The former is concise in formulation and can be easily applied in engineering, while the latter works well in a broader scope of post-buckling analysis. Both methods can give a good approximation to the sinusoidal post-buckling stiffness and the former model is proved to be a zeroth-order approximation of the latter. The flexible multibody dynamics method based on the Timoshenko's geometrically exact beam theory is used to examine the accuracy of the two models. The methods presented in this work can be used in, for example, drilling engineering in oil and gas industries.
Tensorial dynamic time warping with articulation index representation for efficient audio-template learning
Authors: Le Long N. , Jones Douglas L.
Published: March 2018

Audio classification techniques often depend on the availability of a large labeled training dataset for successful performance. However, in many application domains of audio classification (e.g., wildlife monitoring), obtaining labeled data is still a costly and laborious process. Motivated by this observation, a technique is proposed to efficiently learn a clean template from a few labeled, but likely corrupted (by noise and interferences), data samples. This learning can be done efficiently via tensorial dynamic time warping on the articulation index-based time-frequency representations of audio data. The learned template can then be used in audio classification following the standard template-based approach. Experimental results show that the proposed approach outperforms both (1) the recurrent neural network approach and (2) the state-of-the-art in the template-based approach on a wildlife detection application with few training samples.
Deep-Sequencing Analysis of the Dynamics of HIV-1 Quasiespecies in Naive Patients during a Short Exposure to Maraviroc
Authors: Cascajero Almudena , Rastrojo Alberto , Díez-Fuertes Francisco , Hernández-Novoa Beatriz , Aguado Begoña , Moreno Santiago , Alcami José , Pérez-Olmeda Mayte
Published: March 2018

In this study, we have characterized quasispecies dynamics and the evolution of viral tropism in naive HIV-1-infected patients treated with a short course of maraviroc monotherapy (ClinicalTrials.gov registration no. NCT01060618) independently of the tropism of the infecting virus. We randomly selected 20 patients infected with viruses displaying different basal tropisms—10 carrying R5 and 10 carrying dual/mixed X4 (DM/X4) viruses—at recruitment as determined by phenotypic assay (Trofile). Evolution of viral quasiespecies at the end of treatment was determined by ultradeep sequencing of the V3 region using a 454 Life Sciences Platform and geno2pheno (g2p) algorithm for viral tropism prediction. The false-positive rate (FPR) that defines the probability of classifying an R5 virus falsely as X4 was set at 10%. X4-specific HIV-1 viral load (VL) was calculated from sequences with an FPR of <3.75%. Virological response as defined as >1-log
10
copies/ml reduction in VL was detected in 70% of patients independently of the basal tropism of the infecting virus. Viral tropism remained stable, and nonsignificant differences in FPR values before and after treatment were found for the majority of patients in both tropism groups. Only three patients (one with R5 and two with DM/X4 viruses) showed an increased (>1 log) X4 VL, and one patient harboring a DM/X4-tropic virus displayed a significant reduction in FPR values at the end of treatment. Fast changes in the composition of viral populations were observed in all patients after 10 days of maraviroc (MVC) monotherapy treatment, and a complete replacement of viral quasiespecies was found in 3/10 patients carrying R5-using viruses and 4/10 patients carrying DM/X4-using viruses.

IMPORTANCE
Initiation of treatment with maraviroc requires previous determination of viral tropism by genotypic or phenotypic methods because of the risk of treatment failure and selection of DM/X4-tropic variants. In this study, we confirm previous work showing that the virologic response to maraviroc is independent of basal tropism. By deep-sequencing analysis, we determined that fast changes in viral populations were due to the emergence of minority variants in some patients whereas in others generation of new strains was detected. The risk of DM/X4 selection was very low as FPR values remained stable, and only one patient showed a detrimental switch to DM/X4 variants. Our data show that some DM/X4 viruses are sensitive to maraviroc treatment probably because only a low proportion of DM/X4 viruses use preferentially the X4 receptor and contain authentically maraviroc-resistant viruses that are not accurately detected by current assays.
Characterization of H5N1 Influenza Virus Quasispecies with Adaptive Hemagglutinin Mutations from Single-Virus Infections of Human Airway Cells
Authors: Watanabe Yohei , Arai Yasuha , Kawashita Norihito , Ibrahim Madiha S. , Elgendy Emad M. , Daidoji Tomo , Kajikawa Junichi , Hiramatsu Hiroaki , Sriwilaijaroen Nongluk , Ono Takao , Takagi Tatsuya , Takahashi Kazuo , Shioda Tatsuo , Matsumoto Kazuhiko , Suzuki Yasuo , Nakaya Takaaki
Published: March 2018

Transmission of avian influenza (AI) viruses to mammals involves phylogenetic bottlenecks that select small numbers of variants for transmission to new host species. However, little is known about the AI virus quasispecies diversity that produces variants for virus adaptation to humans. Here, we analyzed the hemagglutinin (HA) genetic diversity produced during AI H5N1 single-virus infection of primary human airway cells and characterized the phenotypes of these variants. During single-virus infection, HA variants emerged with increased fitness to infect human cells. These variants generally had decreased HA thermostability, an indicator of decreased transmissibility, that appeared to compensate for their increase in α2,6-linked sialic acid (α2,6 Sia) binding specificity and/or in the membrane fusion pH threshold, each of which is an advantageous mutational change for viral infection of human airway epithelia. An HA variant with increased HA thermostability also emerged but could not outcompete variants with less HA thermostability. These results provided data on HA quasispecies diversity in human airway cells.

IMPORTANCE
The diversity of the influenza virus quasispecies that emerges from a single infection is the starting point for viral adaptation to new hosts. A few studies have investigated AI virus quasispecies diversity during human adaptation using clinical samples. However, those studies could be appreciably affected by individual variability and multifactorial respiratory factors, which complicate identification of quasispecies diversity produced by selective pressure for increased adaptation to infect human airway cells. Here, we found that detectable HA genetic diversity was produced by H5N1 single-virus infection of human airway cells. Most of the HA variants had increased fitness to infect human airway cells but incurred a fitness cost of less HA stability. To our knowledge, this is the first report to characterize the adaptive changes of AI virus quasispecies produced by infection of human airway cells. These results provide a better perspective on AI virus adaptation to infect humans.
Bet 2: Does intravenous vitamin C improve mortality in patients with severe sepsis?
Authors: Sheikh Mohammed , Horner Daniel
Published: March 2018

A shortcut review was carried out to establish whether the use of intravenous vitamin C can reduce mortality or morbidity in patients diagnosed in the early phases of severe sepsis. Three directly relevant papers were found using the reported search strategy. The author, date and country of publication; patient group studied; study type; relevant outcomes; results and study weaknesses of the best papers are tabulated. It is concluded that there is insufficient high-quality research to justify the routine use of vitamin C in severe sepsis. Further multicentre, double-blinded randomised controlled trials are required in order to establish the role of vitamin C in sepsis.
Overhydrated stomatocytosis associated with a complexRHAGgenotype including a novelde novomutation
Authors: Jamwal Manu , Aggarwal Anu , Sachdeva Man Updesh Singh , Sharma Prashant , Malhotra Pankaj , Maitra Arindam , Das Reena
Published: March 2018

Overhydrated stomatocytosis is a rare autosomal dominant disorder known to cause variably severe haemolytic anaemia due to heterozygous mutations in theRHAGgene. We report a 26-year-old man with recurring jaundice, splenohepatomegaly and mild chronic haemolytic anaemia with significant stomatocytosis. Extensive haemolytic work-up including flow cytometry for eosin-5′-maleimide and CD47 expression levels was carried out. Targeted resequencing revealed two probably causative heterozygous mutations inRHAG(Leu336Ser and Ile149Met) and one heterozygous mutation inANK1(Glu1046Lys). RHAGinvolvement was confirmed by decreased RhAG macrocomplex component indicated by the reduced CD47 expression on erythrocytes.In silicoanalysis concordantly flaggedRHAG:Leu336Ser andANK1:Glu1046Lys as likely deleterious mutation, whereasRHAG:Ile149Met was reported as likely neutral by PROVEAN. Family screening by Sanger sequencing revealedRHAG:Leu336Ser in a mother andANK1:Glu1046Lys in a father who were both asymptomatic, excluding them as causative dominant events, thus establishingRHAG:Ile149Met, novelde novomutation as probably causative. This case illustrates the importance of family screening in interpreting next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, as in silico analysis alone can be misleading. Erudite generation of diagnostic possibilities based on a thorough baseline clinical and laboratory work-up remains as important as ever, even as NGS brings about a paradigm shift in the diagnostic work-up of rare haemolytic anaemias.
Differential participation of calcium-activated potassium channel in endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization-type relaxation in superior mesenteric arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Ando Makoto , Matsumoto Takayuki , Kobayashi Shota , Iguchi Maika , Taguchi Kumiko , Kobayashi Tsuneo
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of KCa channels to endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)-mediated relaxation induced by acetylcholine (ACh) in the superior mesenteric arteries of 7-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Upon inhibition of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase, ACh-induced EDHF-mediated relaxation was found to be weaker in SHR than in age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). These relaxations in both group were attenuated by combined treatment with small-conductance and intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (SKCa and IKCa) inhibitors, with the exception of relaxation resistant to inhibition of these channels in SHR (vs. WKY). Treatment with large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BKCa) inhibitor specifically attenuated relaxation in SHR, but not in WKY. Protein expression of IKCa and SKCa in the arteries did not differ between the 2 groups, whereas ratio of sloβ1 subunit to α subunit of BKCa was increased in SHR (vs. WKY). These results suggest that EDHF-mediated relaxations in superior mesenteric arteries are impaired in SHR, and utilize components of BKCa in addition to SKCa/IKCa channel activities, that the increased participation of BKCa may be attributable to alterations in α and sloβ1 subunit ratio, and that components unrelated to KCa activity may also contribute to the difference between SHR and WKY arteries.
GENDER COMPARISONS IN SUCCESS EVALUATION AND SME PERFORMANCE IN CANADA
Authors: ROBICHAUD YYES , CACHON JEAN-CHARLES , MCGRAW EGBERT
Published: March 2018

One hundred fifteen female and 252 male entrepreneurs from Atlantic Canada and Ontario were compared to identify gender similarities and differences in terms of their perceptions of success as well as comparing general success factors present in the literature. Gender comparisons were based on a Success Factors' scale derived from the literature and on objective as well as subjective Performance Indicators. Factor analyses and other statistics revealed a positive relation between subjective and objective performance indicators, as well as a particular importance of government programs geared to entrepreneurs among female respondents. Both genders received considerable spousal support.
China’s Global and Civilizational Re-Balancing and India’s Options
Authors: Deepak B. R.
Published: March 2018

As China unfolds a new economic and foreign policy with its neighbors by promoting the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative (BRI), the revival of the ‘Silk Route Spirit’ that integrated regions economically and culturally seems imminent. India and China were at the Centre of civilizational and global rebalancing during ancient times; can they come together yet again after the centuries of Western dominance? The connectivity initiatives whether from China or India, no matter how grandiose or miniscule they are, could be considered parts of the globalization processes that would immensely benefit countries and regions? The symbiosis or metamorphosis of these processes is extremely important if the dividends of the globalization are to be achieved and shared. I argue that the BRI which is a re-globalization drive from the orient needs to dock itself with other similar yet smaller processes initiated by other countries and regions for example the ‘Sagarmala’ and ‘Bharatmala’ of India; Eurasian Economic Union of Russia etc. The metamorphosis into each other’s initiative may lead the BRI to success. India, needs to be an insider rather than an outsider of this value chain. It holds that the cooperation entails deeper integration among countries concerned, and will open vistas of opportunities in many diversified areas including trade, transport, tourism, as well as cooperation in traditional and non-tradition security.
Field Observation and Theoretical Study on an Existing Tunnel Underpassed by New Twin Tunnels
Authors: Zhang Qiongfang
Published: March 2018

The methodology of the existing displacement control is illustrated taking the shield of twin tunnels of Line 4 underpassing the upline tunnel of existing metro Line 1, for example. Vertical, horizontal, and convergence displacement of the existing tunnel is monitored and analyzed in detail in this paper. Shield parameters are predefined and adjusted based on the feedback of the displacement of Line 1. Short‐term displacement of the existing tunnel is greatly influenced by the relative distance between the shield face and the existing tunnel and shield parameters. The shapes of horizontal and convergence displacement curves are similar. Line 1 is reinforced, and a new analysis method is firstly proposed for the design of reinforcement of the existing tunnel which is verified by the analytical methods derived from prior studies. The results show that the change of reinforcement stiffness has a greater effect on the normalized bending moment and the normalized shear force of the existing tunnel, and reinforcement of 25 rings on either side of the intersection point is the best choice in this case. The proposed model can be widely applicable for reinforcement design and safety check of the existing tunnel.
Development of Composite for Thermal Barriers Reinforced by Ceramic Fibers
Authors: Holčapek Ondřej , Kot′átková Jaroslava , Reiterman Pavel
Published: March 2018

The paper introduces the development process of fiber‐reinforced composite with increased resistance to elevated temperatures, which could be additionally increased by the hydrothermal curing. However, production of these composites is extremely energy intensive, and that is why the process of the design reflects environmental aspects by incorporation of waste material—fine ceramic powder applied as cement replacement. Studied composite materials consisted of the basalt aggregate, ceramic fibers applied up to 8% by volume, calcium‐aluminous cement (CAC), ceramic powder up to 25% by mass (by 5%) as cement replacement, plasticizer, and water. All studied mixtures were subjected to thermal loading on three thermal levels: 105°C, 600°C, and 1000°C. Experimental assessment was performed in terms of both initial and residual material properties; flow test of fresh mixtures, bulk density, compressive strength, flexural strength, fracture energy, and dynamic modulus of elasticity were investigated to find out an optimal dosage of ceramic fibers. Resulting set of composites containing 4% of ceramic fibers with various modifications by ceramic powder was cured under specific hydrothermal condition and again subjected to elevated temperatures. One of the most valuable benefits of additional hydrothermal curing of the composites lies in the higher residual mechanical properties, what allows successful utilization of cured composite as a thermal barrier in civil engineering. Mixtures containing ceramic powder as cement substitute exhibited after hydrothermal curing increase of residual flexural strength about 35%; on the other hand, pure mixture exhibited increase up to 10% even higher absolute values.
In Vivo6-([18F]Fluoroacetamido)-1-hexanoicanilide PET Imaging of Altered Histone Deacetylase Activity in Chemotherapy-Induced Neurotoxicity
Authors: Fukumitsu Nobuyoshi , Yeh Skye Hsin-Hsien , Flores II Leo Garcia , Mukhopadhyay Uday , Young Daniel , Ogawa Kazuma , Jeong Hwan-Jeong , Tong William , Gelovani Juri G.
Published: March 2018

Background. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate gene expression by changing histone deacetylation status. Neurotoxicity is one of the major side effects of cisplatin, which reacts with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and has excellent antitumor effects. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) is an HDAC inhibitor with neuroprotective effects against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity.Purpose. We investigated how cisplatin with and without SAHA pretreatment affects HDAC expression/activity in the brain by using 6-([18F]fluoroacetamido)-1-hexanoicanilide ([18F]FAHA) as a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent for HDAC IIa.Materials and Methods. [18F]FAHA and [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-2-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) PET studies were done in 24 mice on 2 consecutive days and again 1 week later. The mice were divided into three groups according to drug administration between the first and second imaging sessions (Group A: cisplatin 2 mg/kg, twice; Group B: cisplatin 4 mg/kg, twice; Group C: cisplatin 4 mg/kg, twice, and SAHA 300 mg/kg pretreatment, 4 times).Results. TheKivalue of [18F]FAHA was increased and the percentage of injected dose/tissue g (% ID/g) of [18F]FDG was decreased in the brains of animals in Groups A and B. TheKivalue of [18F]FAHA and % ID/g of [18F]FDG were not significantly different in Group C.Conclusions. [18F]FAHA PET clearly showed increased HDAC activity suggestive of cisplatin neurotoxicityin vivo, which was blocked by SAHA pretreatment.