bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Macrodiplodiopsis in Lophiostomataceae, Pleosporales
Authors: WIJAYAWARDENE NALIN N. , CAMPORESI ERIO , BHAT D. JAYARAMA , SONG YU , CHETHANA K.W. THILINI , CHUKEATIROTE EKACHAI , WANG YONG , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: September 2014

Macrodiplodiopsis desmazieri, the type species of Macrodiplodiopsis, was collected from Italy, and morpho-molecular studies were carried out. Phylogenetic analyses (maximum-likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian) using combined data set of LSU, SSU and EF1-α sequences showed our strain to group in Lophiostomataceae (Pleosporales) with Misturatosphaeria uniseriata and other Misturatosphaeria spp. Floricola striata, the type species of Floricola also groups in the same clade with a close relationship with Misturatosphaeria cruciformis. The Macrodiplodiopsis clade is well supported with high bootstrap and posterior probability. Floricola striata and nine species of Misturatosphaeria are transferred to the older name Macrodiplodiopsis as new combinations.
The status of Myriangiaceae (Dothideomycetes)
Authors: DISSANAYAKE ASHA J. , JAYAWARDENA RUVISHIKA S. , BOONMEE SARANYAPHAT , THAMBUGALA KASUN M. , TIAN QING , Mapook Ausana , Senanayake Indunil C. , YAN JIYE , LI YAN MEI , LI XINGHONG , CHUKEATIROTE EKACHAI , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: September 2014

The family Myriangiaceae is relatively poorly known amongst the Dothideomycetes and includes genera which are saprobic, epiphytic and parasitic on the bark, leaves and branches of various plants. The family has not undergone any recent revision, however, molecular data has shown it to be a well-resolved family closely linked to Elsinoaceae in Myriangiales. Both morphological and molecular characters indicate that Elsinoaceae differs from Myriangiaceae. In Elsinoaceae, small numbers of asci form in locules in light coloured pseudostromata, which form typical scab-like blemishes on leaf or fruit surfaces. The coelomycetous, “Sphaceloma”-like asexual state of Elsinoaceae, form more frequently than the sexual state; conidiogenesis is phialidic and conidia are 1-celled and hyaline. In Myriangiaceae, locules with single asci are scattered in a superficial, coriaceous to sub-carbonaceous, black ascostromata and do not form scab-like blemishes. No asexual state is known. In this study, we revisit the family Myriangiaceae, and accept ten genera, providing descriptions and discussion on the generic types of Anhellia, Ascostratum, Butleria, Dictyocyclus, Diplotheca, Eurytheca, Hemimyriangium, Micularia, Myriangium and Zukaliopsis. The genera of Myriangiaceae are compared and contrasted. Myriangium duriaei is the type species of the family, while Diplotheca is similar and may possibly be congeneric. The placement of Anhellia in Myriangiaceae is supported by morphological and molecular data. Because of similarities with Myriangium, Ascostratum (A. insigne), Butleria (B. inaghatahani), Dictyocyclus (D. hydrangea), Eurytheca (E. trinitensis), Hemimyriangium (H. betulae), Micularia (M. merremiae) and Zukaliopsis (Z. amazonica) are placed in Myriangiaceae. Molecular sequence data from fresh collections is required to confirm the relationships and placement of the genera in this family.
The sexual state of Setophoma
Authors: PHOOKAMSAK RUNGTIWA , LIU JIAN-KUI , MANAMGODA DIMUTHU S. , CHUKEATIROTE EKACHAI , MORTIMER PETER E. , MCKENZIE ERIC H.C. , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: September 2014

A sexual state of Setophoma, a coelomycete genus of Phaeosphaeriaceae, was found causing leaf spots of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). Pure cultures from single ascospores produced the asexual morph on rice straw and bamboo pieces on water agar. Multiple gene phylogenetic analysis using ITS, LSU and RPB2 showed that our strains belong to the family Phaeosphaeriaceae. The strains clustered with Setophoma sacchari with strong support (100% ML, 100% MP and 1.00 PP) and formed a well-supported clade with other Setophoma species. Therefore our strains are identified as S. sacchari. In this paper descriptions and photographs of the sexual and asexual morphs of S. sacchari are provided. The sexual state of S. sacchari is compared with Leptosphaeria sacchari, L. saccharicola, Phaeosphaeria nodorum and Sphaerulina sacchari which have similar morphological characters; however they differ in size and colour of ascospores and in the characters of the asexual state. Setophoma is clearly separated from other Phaeosphaeria species based on the phylogenetic analysis.
Towards a natural classification of Dothideomycetes 5: The genera Ascostratum, Chaetoscutula, Ceratocarpia, Cystocoleus, and Colensoniella (Dothideomycetes incertae sedis)
Authors: TIAN QING , CHOMNUNTI PUTARAK , BHAT JAYARAMA D. , ALIAS SITI. A. , MORTIMER PETER E. , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: September 2014

In the Outline of Ascomycota 2009, 116 genera were listed under Dothideomycetes, genera incertae cedis. In the present study, we re-examined the generic types of Ascostratum, Chaetoscutula, Ceratocarpia, Cystocoleus and Colensoniella which are relatively poorly documented. We re-described and illustrated the type species of these genera and suggest higher level placements based on a modern classification system. Ascostratum is placed in Myriangiaceae because of similarities with Anhelia, both genera have ascostromata with numerous locules in the upper part and 4–7 transversely septate ascospores. Chaetoscutula is similar to Pododimeria in having the same host and septate, olivaceous-brown ascospores and thus is transferred to Pseudoperisporiaceae. Colensoniella has apothecioid ascomata but 1-septate oblong, uniseriately ascospores that many break in the centre form part-spores and is referred to Patellariaceae. Cystocoleus is a typical of any family of Dothideomycetes, but phylogenetic analysis showed this genus to cluster in Capnodiales incertae sedis. Ceratocarpia has glabrous ascomata, muriform ascospores and evanescent pseudoparaphyses so placed in Chaetothyriaceae. By illustrating the genera we hope to stimulate fresh collections so that these genera can be epitypified and molecular data analyzed to establish a truly natural classification.
Towards a natural classification of Dothideomycetes 6: The genera Dolabra, Placostromella, Pleosphaerellula, Polysporidiella and Pseudotrichia (Dothideomycetes incertae sedis)
Authors: THAMBUGALA KASUN M. , ARIYAWANSA HIRAN A. , LIU ZUO-YI , CHUKEATIROTE EKACHAI , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: September 2014

The type specimens of Dolabra, Placostromella, Pleosphaerellula, Polysporidiella and Pseudotrichia were re-examined in order to suggest their familial and higher placement according to the morphology based on modern taxonomic concepts. An overview of the history and descriptions and illustrations of these genera are provided. Based on morphological similarities, Placostromella is placed in Parmulariaceae, while Pseudotrichia is transferred to Montagnulaceae. Pleosphaerellula is placed in Pleosporales, genera incertae sedis and Polysporidiella is retained in Dothideomycetes, genera incertae sedis as it is not typical of any existing family of Dothideomycetes. According to published phylogenetic data, Dolabra belongs in Chaetothyriomycetidae, genera incertae sedis (Eurotiomycetes). Recollection, epitypifycation and multi-gene molecular analyses are needed for all type species of these genera in order to clarify their familial status. By illustrating and redescribing the type species we expect to stimulate interest for these fungi to be recollected.
The epizoic marine diatom Sceptronema orientale (Licmophoraceae, Licmophorales): epitypification and emendation of specific and generic descriptions
Authors: SAR EUGENIA A. , SUNESEN INÉS
Published: September 2014

Sceptronema orientale was found epizoic on the harpacticoid copepod Euterpina acutifrons (Dana) collected from several locations along Bahía Anegada, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Material was examined with light and scanning electron microscopy and new data about the morphology of the chloroplast and ultrastructural details of the girdle, valves, apical slit fields and rimoportulae pattern were obtained. Based on this new knowledge the descriptions of the species and of the monotypic genus Sceptronema are emended. Considering that in the protologue three pictures were designated as iconotype, the material from Ría del Jabalí is chosen as an epitype to serve as the interpretative type of Sceptronema orientale. A comparison with the morphologically similar genera Licmophora and Gato was conducted and the inclusion of Sceptronema in the Family Licmophoraceae, Order Licmophorales is proposed.
A new species and new records of Allium (Amaryllidaceae) for Uzbekistan (Central Asia)
Authors: Tojibaev Komil SH. , TURGINOV ORZIMAT , KARIMOV FARKHOD I.
Published: September 2014

Allium decoratum Turginov & Tojibaev is described as new species from Uzbekistan (Central Asia). The distribution area of this species is restricted to Baisuntau moumtains in SW Hissar Range. The new species is close to the type species of subsect. Ligulifolia R.M.Fritsch, but differs from all known species of subsect. Ligulifolia by morphological characters of bulbs and flowers. Also we report 3 Allium species as new records for the territory of Uzbekistan: A. flavellum Vvedensky, A. lutescens Vvedensky and A. viridiflorum Pobedimova.
Description of the tadpole of Proceratophrys carranca Godinho, Moura, Lacerda and Feio, 2013, (Anura, Odontophrynidae)
Authors: PEIXOTO MARCO ANTÔNIO AMORIM , PIRES DANIELLEN MARTINS VIEIRA , GODINHO LEANDRO BRAGA , FEIO RENATO NEVES
Published: September 2014

Proceratophrys carranca Godinho, Moura, Lacerda & Feio, 2013 belongs to the P. cristiceps group, which currently contains 15 species (Brandão et al. 2013). This group is defined by species lacking palpebral appendages, postocular swellings and inhabiting mainly seasonally dry open environments (Cerrado and Caatinga domains) in Brazil (Giaretta et al. 2000). Using molecular data, Amaro et al. (2009) showed the non-monophyletic status of the P. cristiceps group. These authors emphasize that more studies are needed for to understand the taxonomy of the genus Proceratophrys. Larval characters are important tools that make a significant contribution to the resolution of taxonomic problems.
Rapid Refresh Information of Significant Events: Preparing Users for the Next Generation of Geostationary Operational Satellites
Authors: Schmit Timothy J. , Goodman Steven J. , Gunshor Mathew M. , Sieglaff Justin , Heidinger Andrew K. , Bachmeier A. Scott , Lindstrom Scott S. , Terborg Amanda , Feltz Joleen , Bah Kaba , Rudlosky Scott , Lindsey Daniel T. , Rabin Robert M. , Schmidt Christopher C.
Published: September 2014

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-14 (GOES-14) imager was operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in an experimental rapid scan 1-min mode during parts of the summers of 2012 and 2013. This scan mode, known as the super rapid scan operations for GOES-R (SRSOR), emulates the high-temporal-resolution sampling of the mesoscale region scanning of the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on the next-generation GOES-R series. This paper both introduces these unique datasets and highlights future satellite imager capabilities. Many phenomena were observed from GOES-14, including fog, clouds, severe storms, fires and smoke (including the California Rim Fire), and several tropical cyclones. In 2012 over 6 days of SRSOR data of Hurricane Sandy were acquired. In 2013, the first two days of SRSOR in June observed the propagation and evolution of a mid-Atlantic derecho. The data from August 2013 were unique in that the GOES imager operated in nearly continuous 1-min mode; prior to this time, the 1-min data were interrupted every 3 h for full disk scans. Used in a number of NOAA test beds and operational centers, including NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC), the Aviation Weather Center (AWC), the Ocean Prediction Center (OPC), and the National Hurricane Center (NHC), these experimental data prepare users for the next-generation imager, which will be able to routinely acquire mesoscale (1,000 km × 1,000 km) images every 30 s (or two separate locations every minute). Several animations are included, showcasing the rapid change of the many phenomena observed during SRSOR from the GOES-14 imager.
On the Characteristics of and Processes Producing Winter Precipitation Types near 0°C
Authors: Stewart Ronald E. , Thériault Julie M. , Henson William
Published: September 2014

This article examines the types of winter precipitation that occur near 0°C, specifically rain, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, ice pellets, snow pellets, and wet snow. It follows from a call by M. Ralph et al. for more attention to be paid to this precipitation since it represents one of the most serious wintertime quantitative precipitation forecasting (QPF) issues. The formation of the many precipitation types involves ice-phase and/or liquid-phase processes, and thresholds in the degree of melting and/or freezing often dictate the types occurring at the surface. Some types can occur simultaneously so that, for example, ensuing collisions between supercooled raindrops and ice pellets that form ice pellet aggregates can lead to substantial reductions in the occurrence of freezing rain at the surface, and ice crystal multiplication processes can lead to locally produced ice crystals in the subfreezing layer below inversions. Highly variable fall velocities within the background temperature and wind fields of precipitation-type transition regions lead to varying particle trajectories and significant alterations in the distribution of precipitation amount and type at the surface. Physically based predictions that account for at least some of the phase changes and particle interactions are now in operation. Outstanding issues to be addressed include the impacts of accretion on precipitation-type formation, quantification of melting and freezing rates of the highly variable precipitation, the consequences of collisions between the various types, and the onset of ice nucleation and its effects. The precipitation physics perspective of this article furthermore needs to be integrated into a comprehensive understanding involving the surrounding and interacting environment.
A New Compilation of North Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1851–98*
Authors: Chenoweth Michael
Published: September 2014

A comprehensive new compilation of North Atlantic tropical cyclone activity for the years 1851–98 is presented and compared with the second-generation North Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT2) for the same years. This new analysis is based on the retrieval of 9072 newspaper marine shipping news reports, 1260 original logbook records, 271 Maury abstract logs, 147 U.S. marine meteorological journals, and 34 Met Office (UKMO) logbooks. Records from throughout North America and the Caribbean region were used along with other primary and secondary references holding unique land and marine data. For the first time, North Atlantic daily weather maps for 1864/65, 1873, and 1881–98 were used in historical tropical cyclone research. Results for the years 1851–98 include the omission of 62 of the 361 HURDAT2 storms, and the further reduction resulting from the merging of storms to a total of 288 unique HURDAT2 tropical cyclones. The new compilation gave a total of 497 tropical cyclones in the 48-yr record, or an average of 10.4 storms per year compared to 6.0 per year in HURDAT2 less the author’s omissions. Of this total, 209 storms are completely new. A total of 90 hurricanes made landfall in the United States during this time. Seven new U.S. landfalling hurricanes are present in the new dataset but not in HURDAT2. Eight U.S. landfalling hurricanes in HURDAT2 are now considered to have only tropical storm impact or were actually extratropical at landfall. Across the North Atlantic, the number of category-4 hurricanes based on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, compared with HURDAT2, increased from 11 to 25, 6 of which made U.S. landfall at category-4 level.
Coupled Impacts of the Diurnal Cycle of Sea Surface Temperature on the Madden–Julian Oscillation
Authors: Seo Hyodae , Subramanian Aneesh C. , Miller Arthur J. , Cavanaugh Nicholas R.
Published: September 2014

This study quantifies, from a systematic set of regional ocean–atmosphere coupled model simulations employing various coupling intervals, the effect of subdaily sea surface temperature (SST) variability on the onset and intensity of Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) convection in the Indian Ocean. The primary effect of diurnal SST variation (dSST) is to raise time-mean SST and latent heat flux (LH) prior to deep convection. Diurnal SST variation also strengthens the diurnal moistening of the troposphere by collocating the diurnal peak in LH with those of SST. Both effects enhance the convection such that the total precipitation amount scales quasi-linearly with preconvection dSST and time-mean SST. A column-integrated moist static energy (MSE) budget analysis confirms the critical role of diurnal SST variability in the buildup of column MSE and the strength of MJO convection via stronger time-mean LH and diurnal moistening. Two complementary atmosphere-only simulations further elucidate the role of SST conditions in the predictive skill of MJO. The atmospheric model forced with the persistent initial SST, lacking enhanced preconvection warming and moistening, produces a weaker and delayed convection than the diurnally coupled run. The atmospheric model with prescribed daily-mean SST from the coupled run, while eliminating the delayed peak, continues to exhibit weaker convection due to the lack of strong moistening on a diurnal basis. The fact that time-evolving SST with a diurnal cycle strongly influences the onset and intensity of MJO convection is consistent with previous studies that identified an improved representation of diurnal SST as a potential source of MJO predictability.
Improved Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer Tropical Cyclone Surface Winds in Heavy Precipitation
Authors: Klotz Bradley W. , Uhlhorn Eric W.
Published: September 2014

Surface wind speeds retrieved from airborne stepped frequency microwave radiometer (SFMR) brightness temperature measurements are important for estimating hurricane intensity. The SFMR performance is highly reliable at hurricane-force wind speeds, but accuracy is found to degrade at weaker wind speeds, particularly in heavy precipitation. Specifically, a significant overestimation of surface wind speeds is found in these conditions, suggesting inaccurate accounting for the impact of rain on the measured microwave brightness temperature. In this study, the wind speed bias is quantified over a broad range of operationally computed wind speeds and rain rates, based on a large sample of collocated SFMR wind retrievals and global positioning system dropwindsonde surface-adjusted wind speeds. The retrieval bias is addressed by developing a new SFMR C-band relationship between microwave absorption and rain rate (κ−R) from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration WP-3D aircraft tail Doppler radar reflectivity and in situ Droplet Measurement Technologies Precipitation Imaging Probe measurements to more accurately model precipitation impacts. Absorption is found to be a factor of 2 weaker than is estimated by the currently operational algorithm. With this new κ–R relationship, surface wind retrieval bias is significantly reduced in the presence of rain at wind speeds weaker than hurricane force. At wind speeds greater than hurricane force where little bias exists, no significant change is found. Furthermore, maximum rain rates computed using the revised algorithm are around 50% greater than operational measurements, which is more consistent with maximum reflectivity-estimated rain rates in hurricanes.
Meteor Trail Echo Rejection in Atmospheric Phased Array Radars Using Adaptive Sidelobe Cancellation
Authors: Hashimoto Taishi , Nishimura Koji , Tsutsumi Masaki , Sato Toru
Published: September 2014

Strong meteor trail echoes are interferences in the wind velocity estimates made from mesosphere radar observations. Contaminated spectra are detected by their discontinuity and are removed at the risk of greater fluctuations of spectra, leading to a severe reduction of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and inaccurate wind estimates for weak atmospheric echoes. This paper presents an adaptive signal processing technique for the suppression of spectral contaminations by meteor trail echoes. The method is based on the norm-constrained and directionally constrained minimization of power (NC-DCMP), which balances the capability of canceling the clutter and the robustness of beam shaping, at the cost of a slight decrease in the SNR, which can be determined in advance. Simulation results show that with a 3-dB decrease of the SNR being allowed, the method improves the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) by 15 dB, giving wind estimates that are about 8 m s−1 better in terms of root-mean-square error and providing 4 times as wide an observable range when compared with the results of the ordinary nonadaptive beamforming method. The results for an actual observation show that the improvement of both the SIR and the observable range are achieved as in the simulations, which implies that the method should provide the simulated accuracy for the estimation of wind velocity from actual observations.
Ensemble Kalman Filtering with a Divided State-Space Strategy for Coupled Data Assimilation Problems*
Authors: Luo Xiaodong , Hoteit Ibrahim
Published: September 2014

This study considers the data assimilation problem in coupled systems, which consists of two components (subsystems) interacting with each other through certain coupling terms. A straightforward way to tackle the assimilation problem in such systems is to concatenate the states of the subsystems into one augmented state vector, so that a standard ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) can be directly applied. This work presents a divided state-space estimation strategy, in which data assimilation is carried out with respect to each individual subsystem, involving quantities from the subsystem itself and correlated quantities from other coupled subsystems. On top of the divided state-space estimation strategy, the authors also consider the possibility of running the subsystems separately. Combining these two ideas, a few variants of the EnKF are derived. The introduction of these variants is mainly inspired by the current status and challenges in coupled data assimilation problems and thus might be of interest from a practical point of view. Numerical experiments with a multiscale Lorenz 96 model are conducted to evaluate the performance of these variants against that of the conventional EnKF. In addition, specific for coupled data assimilation problems, two prototypes of extensions of the presented methods are also developed in order to achieve a trade-off between efficiency and accuracy.
What Stakeholder Needs Tell Us about Enabling Adaptive Capacity: The Intersection of Context and Information Provision across Regions in the United States
Authors: Dilling Lisa , Lackstrom Kirsten , Haywood Benjamin , Dow Kirstin , Lemos Maria Carmen , Berggren John , Kalafatis Scott
Published: September 2014

In recent years increasing attention has been focused on understanding the different resources that can support decision makers at all levels in responding to climate variability and change. This article focuses on the role that access to information and other potential constraints may play in the context of water decision making across three U.S. regions (the Intermountain West, the Great Lakes, and the Carolinas). The authors report on the degree to which climate-related needs or constraints pertinent to water resources are regionally specific. They also find that stakeholder-identified constraints or needs extended beyond the need for data/information to enabling factors such as governance arrangements and how to improve collaboration and communication. As climate information networks expand and emphasis is placed on encouraging adaptation more broadly, these constraints have implications not only for how information dissemination efforts are organized but for how those efforts need to be informed by the larger regional context in a resource-limited and fragmented landscape.
What Are Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Eating? A Closer Look at the Dietary Habits of a Population‐Based Canadian IBD Cohort
Authors: Vagianos Kathy , Clara Ian , Carr Rachel , Graff Leslie A. , Walker John R. , Targownik Laura E. , Lix Lisa M. , Rogala Linda , Miller Norine , Bernstein Charles N.
Published: September 2014

Background: A comprehensive study of what individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are eating that encompasses food avoidance, dietary sugar consumption, and a comparison with the non‐IBD Canadian population has not been documented. The aim was to analyze these interrelated dietary components. Methods: Food avoidance and sugar intake data were collected from 319 patients with IBD enrolled in the University of Manitoba IBD Cohort Study. Diets of those with IBD (n = 256) were compared with a matched, non‐IBD Canadian cohort using the nutrition questions obtained from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). Results: Food avoidance among IBD is prevalent for alcohol, popcorn, legumes, nuts, seeds, deep‐fried food, and processed deli meat, with a higher prevalence among those with active IBD. Patients with active IBD also consumed significantly more portions of sports drinks and sweetened beverages compared with those with inactive disease. Compared with the non‐IBD Canadian population, patients with IBD consume significantly less iron‐rich food but more milk. Conclusions: Food avoidance is common among those with IBD but may be due more to personal preferences, while sugar‐laden beverages may be displacing other foods higher in nutrients. The overall diet of patients with IBD differed from that of the non‐IBD Canadian population, but deficiencies were observed in both groups. Considering malnutrition among persons living with IBD, nutrition education by trained dietitians as part of the IBD team is imperative to address food avoidance and overall balance nutrition as part of treating and preventing nutrition deficiencies.
Copper and Zinc Deficiency in a Patient Receiving Long‐Term Parenteral Nutrition During a Shortage of Parenteral Trace Element Products
Authors: Palm Eric , Dotson Bryan
Published: September 2014

Drug shortages in the United States, including parenteral nutrition (PN) components, have been common in recent years and can adversely affect patient care. Here we report a case of copper and zinc deficiency in a patient receiving PN during a shortage of parenteral trace element products. The management of the patient's deficiencies, including the use of an imported parenteral multi–trace element product, is described.
Procalcitonin guidance for reduction of antibiotic use in patients hospitalized with severe acute exacerbations of asthma: a randomized controlled study with 12-month follow-up
Authors: Long Wei , Li Li-juan , Huang Gao-zhong , Zhang Xue-min , Zhang Yi-cui , Tang Jian-guo , Zhang Yu , Lu Gang
Published: September 2014

Introduction

Patients with severe acute exacerbations of asthma often receive inappropriate antibiotic treatment. We aimed to determine whether serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels can effectively and safely reduce antibiotic exposure in patients experiencing exacerbations of asthma.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, a total of 216 patients requiring hospitalization for severe acute exacerbations of asthma were screened for eligibility to participate and 169 completed the 12-month follow-up visit. Patients were randomized to either PCT-guided (PCT group) or standard (control group) antimicrobial therapy. In the control group, patients received antibiotics according to the attending physician’s discretion; in the PCT group, patients received antibiotics according to an algorithm based on serum PCT levels. The primary end point was antibiotic exposure; secondary end points were clinical recovery, length of hospital stay, clinical and laboratory parameters, spirometry, number of asthma exacerbations, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and need for corticosteroid use due to asthma.

Results

PCT guidance reduced antibiotic prescription (48.9% versus 87.8%, respectively; P < 0.001) and antibiotic exposure (relative risk, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.44 to 0.70; P < 0.001) compared to standard therapy. There were no significant differences in clinical recovery, length of hospital stay or clinical, laboratory and spirometry outcomes in both groups. Number of asthma exacerbations, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and need for corticosteroid use due to asthma were similar during the 12-month follow-up period.

Conclusion

A PCT-guided strategy allows antibiotic exposure to be reduced in patients with severe acute exacerbation of asthma without apparent harm.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR-TRC-12002534 (registered 26 September 2012)
Heparin-like effect in postcardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients
Authors: Ranucci Marco , Baryshnikova Ekaterina , Isgrò Giuseppe , Carlucci Concetta , Cotza Mauro , Carboni Giovanni , Ballotta Andrea
Published: September 2014

Introduction

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is the anticoagulant of choice for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), but bivalirudin can be used as an alternative. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the existence of a heparin-like effect (HLE) during heparin-free ECMO.

Methods

This is a retrospective study on patients treated with ECMO and receiving bivalirudin as the sole anticoagulant. Thromboelastography (TEG) tests with and without heparinase were recorded during the ECMO duration. A total of 41 patients (22 pediatrics and 19 adults) treated with ECMO after cardiac surgery procedures and receiving only bivalirudin-based anticoagulation were studied. Based on the presence of a different reaction time (R-time) between the TEG test with heparinase or without heparinase we defined the presence of a HLE. Survival to hospital discharge, liver failure, sepsis, bleeding and transfusion rate were analyzed for association with HLE with univariate tests.

Results

HLE was detected in 56.1% of the patients. R-times were significantly shorter in tests done with heparinase versus without heparinase during the first seven days on ECMO. Patients with HLE had a significantly (P = 0.046) higher rate of sepsis (30%) than patients without HLE (5.6%) at a Pearson's chi-square test.

Conclusions

A heparin-like effect is common during ECMO, and most likely due to a release of heparinoids from the glycocalyx and the mast cells, as a consequence of sepsis or of the systemic inflammatory reaction triggered by the contact of blood with foreign surfaces.
Diagnostic and prognostic utility of soluble CD 14 subtype (presepsin) for severe sepsis and septic shock during the first week of intensive care treatment
Authors: Behnes Michael , Bertsch Thomas , Lepiorz Dominic , Lang Siegfried , Trinkmann Frederik , Brueckmann Martina , Borggrefe Martin , Hoffmann Ursula
Published: September 2014

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of presepsin in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock during the first week of ICU treatment.

Methods

In total, 116 patients with suspected severe sepsis or septic shock were included during the first 24 hours of ICU treatment. Blood samples for biomarker measurements of presepsin, procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin 6 (IL-6), C reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBC) were drawn at days 1, 3 and 8. All patients were followed up for six months. Biomarkers were tested for diagnosis of sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock and for prognosis of 30-days and 6-months all-cause mortality at days 1, 3 and 8. Diagnostic and prognostic utilities were tested by determining diagnostic cutoff levels, goodness criteria, C-statistics and multivariable Cox regression models.

Results

Presepsin increased significantly from the lowest to most severe sepsis groups at days 1, 3 and 8 (test for linear trend P <0.03). Presepsin levels revealed valuable diagnostic capacity to diagnose severe sepsis and septic shock at days 1, 3 and 8 (range of diagnostic area under the curves (AUC) 0.72 to 0.84, P = 0.0001) compared to IL-6, PCT, CRP and WBC. Goodness criteria for diagnosis of sepsis severity were analyzed (≥sepsis, cutoff = 530 pg/ml; ≥severe sepsis, cutoff = 600 pg/ml; ≥septic shock, cutoff = 700 pg/ml; P <0.03). Presepsin levels revealed significant prognostic value for 30 days and 6 months all-cause mortality (presepsin: range of AUC 0.64 to 0.71, P <0.02). Patients with presepsin levels of the 4th quartile were 5 to 7 times more likely to die after six months than patients with lower levels. The prognostic value for all-cause mortality of presepsin was comparable to that of IL-6 and better than that of PCT, CRP or WBC.

Conclusions

In patients with suspected severe sepsis and septic shock, presepsin reveals valuable diagnostic capacity to differentiate sepsis severity compared to PCT, IL-6, CRP, WBC. Additionally, presepsin and IL-6 reveal prognostic value with respect to 30 days and 6 months all-cause mortality throughout the first week of ICU treatment.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01535534. Registered 14 February 2012.
Accelerating precision biology and medicine with computational biology and bioinformatics
Authors: Lussier Yves A , Li Haiquan , Pouladi Nima , Li Qike
Published: September 2014

A report on the 22nd Annual International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology, held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, July 11-15, 2014.
Fuzzy fixed point theorems for fuzzy mappings via β-admissible with applications
Authors: Phiangsungnoen Supak , Sintunavarat Wutiphol , Kumam Poom
Published: September 2014

The object of this paper is to utilize the notion of β-admissible in the sense of Mohammadi et al. (Fixed Point Theory Appl. 2013:24, 2013) to prove a fuzzy fixed point theorem and present some corollaries. We also give illustrative examples which demonstrate the validity of hypotheses of our results and applications to fuzzy fixed points for fuzzy mappings in partially ordered metric spaces are studied.
Divergent antiviral roles of amphibian (Xenopus laevis) macrophages elicited by colony-stimulating factor-1 and interleukin-34
Authors: Grayfer Leon , Robert Jacques
Published: September 2014

Macrophages are integral to amphibian immunity against RVs, as well as to the infection strategies of these pathogens. Although CSF-1 was considered to be the principal mediator of macrophage development, the IL-34 cytokine, which shares no sequence identity with CSF-1, is now believed to contribute to vertebrate monopoiesis. However, the respective roles of CSF-1- and IL-34-derived macrophages are still poorly understood. To delineate the contribution of these macrophage populations to amphibian immunity against the RV FV3, we identified the Xenopus laevis IL-34 and transcriptionally and functionally compared this cytokine with the previously identified X. laevis CSF-1. The X. laevis CSF-1 and IL-34 displayed strikingly nonoverlapping developmental and tissue-specific gene-expression patterns. Furthermore, only CSF-1 but not IL-34 was up-regulated in the kidneys of FV3-challenged tadpoles. Intriguingly, recombinant forms of these cytokines (rXlCSF-1, rXlIL-34) elicited morphologically distinct tadpole macrophages, and whereas rXlCSF-1 pretreatment decreased the survival of FV3-infected tadpoles, rXlIL-34 administration significantly prolonged FV3-challenged animal survival. Compared with rXlIL-34-elicited macrophages, macrophages derived by rXlCSF-1 were more phagocytic but also significantly more susceptible to in vitro FV3 infections. By contrast, rXlIL-34-derived macrophages exhibited significantly greater in vitro antiranaviral activity and displayed substantially more robust gene expression of the NADPH oxidase components (p67phox, gp91phox) and type I IFN. Moreover, FV3-challenged, rXlIL-34-derived macrophages exhibited several orders of magnitude greater up-regulation of the type I IFN gene expression. This marks the first report of the disparate roles of CSF-1 and IL-34 in vertebrate antiviral immunity.
Approximation of Passage Times of γ-Reflected Processes with FBM Input
Authors: Hashorva Enkelejd , Ji Lanpeng
Published: September 2014

Define a γ-reflected processWγ(t) =YH(t) - γinfs∈[0,t]YH(s),t≥ 0, with input process {YH(t),t≥ 0}, which is a fractional Brownian motion with Hurst indexH∈ (0, 1) and a negative linear trend. In risk theoryRγ(u) =u-Wγ(t),t≥ 0, is referred to as the risk process with tax payments of a loss-carry-forward type. For various risk processes, numerous results are known for the approximation of the first and last passage times to 0 (ruin times) when the initial reserveugoes to ∞. In this paper we show that, for the γ-reflected process, the conditional (standardized) first and last passage times are jointly asymptotically Gaussian and completely dependent. An important contribution of this paper is that it links ruin problems with extremes of nonhomogeneous Gaussian random fields defined byYH, which we also investigate.
Existence and Uniqueness of a Quasistationary Distribution for Markov Processes with Fast Return from Infinity
Authors: Martínez Servet , San Martín Jaime , Villemonais Denis
Published: September 2014

We study the long-time behaviour of a Markov process evolving in N and conditioned not to hit 0. Assuming that the process comes back quickly from ∞, we prove that the process admits a unique quasistationary distribution (in particular, the distribution of the conditioned process admits a limit when time goes to ∞). Moreover, we prove that the distribution of the process converges exponentially fast in the total variation norm to its quasistationary distribution and we provide a bound for the rate of convergence. As a first application of our result, we bring a new insight on the speed of convergence to the quasistationary distribution for birth-and-death processes: we prove that starting from any initial distribution the conditional probability converges in law to a unique distribution ρ supported in N* if and only if the process has a unique quasistationary distribution. Moreover, ρ is this unique quasistationary distribution and the convergence is shown to be exponentially fast in the total variation norm. Also, considering the lack of results on quasistationary distributions for nonirreducible processes on countable spaces, we show, as a second application of our result, the existence and uniqueness of a quasistationary distribution for a class of possibly nonirreducible processes.
Invariant Bipartite Random Graphs on Rd
Authors: Lopes Fabio
Published: September 2014

Suppose that red and blue points occur in Rd according to two simple point processes with finite intensities λR and λB, respectively. Furthermore, let ν and μ be two probability distributions on the strictly positive integers with means ν̅ and μ̅, respectively. Assign independently a random number of stubs (half-edges) to each red (blue) point with law ν (μ). We are interested in translation-invariant schemes for matching stubs between points of different colors in order to obtain random bipartite graphs in which each point has a prescribed degree distribution with law ν or μ depending on its color. For a large class of point processes, we show that such translation-invariant schemes matching almost surely all stubs are possible if and only if λRν̅ = λBμ̅, including the case when ν̅ = μ̅ = ∞ so that both sides are infinite. Furthermore, we study a particular scheme based on the Gale-Shapley stable marriage problem. For this scheme, we give sufficient conditions on ν and μ for the presence and absence of infinite components. These results are two-color versions of those obtained by Deijfen, Holroyd and Häggström.
Optimal Stopping Problems in Diffusion-Type Models with Running Maxima and Drawdowns
Authors: Gapeev Pavel V. , Rodosthenous Neofytos
Published: September 2014

We study optimal stopping problems related to the pricing of perpetual American options in an extension of the Black-Merton-Scholes model in which the dividend and volatility rates of the underlying risky asset depend on the running values of its maximum and maximum drawdown. The optimal stopping times of the exercise are shown to be the first times at which the price of the underlying asset exits some regions restricted by certain boundaries depending on the running values of the associated maximum and maximum drawdown processes. We obtain closed-form solutions to the equivalent free-boundary problems for the value functions with smooth fit at the optimal stopping boundaries and normal reflection at the edges of the state space of the resulting three-dimensional Markov process. We derive first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations for the optimal exercise boundaries of the perpetual American standard options.
CRL4B interacts and coordinates with SIN3A/HDAC complex to repress CDKN1A in driving cell cycle progression
Authors: Ji Qinghong , Hu Huili , Yang Fan , Yuan Jupeng , Yang Yang , Jiang Liangqian , Qian Yanyan , Jiang Baichun , Zou Yongxin , Wang Yan , Shao Changshun , Gong Yaoqin
Published: September 2014

CUL4B, a scaffold protein that assembles CRL4B ubiquitin ligase complex, participates in the regulation of a broad spectrum of biological processes. We here demonstrated a critical role of CUL4B in driving cell cycle progression. We showed that loss of CUL4B resulted in a significantly reduced cell proliferation and G1 cell cycle arrest that were accompanied by the upregulation of the CDK inhibitors p21 and p57. Strikingly, CUL4B was found to negatively regulate the function of p21 via transcription repression, but not via proteolysis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CRL4B and SIN3A/HDAC complexes interact with each other and co-occupy the CDKN1A and CDKN1C promoters. Lack of CUL4B led to a decreased retention of SIN3A/HDAC components and increased levels of acetylated H3 and H4. Interestingly, the ubiquitination function of CRL4B is not required for the stable retention of SIN3A/HDAC on the promoters of target genes. Thus, in addition to directly contributing to epigenetic silencing by catalyzing H2AK119 monoubiquitination, CRL4B also facilitates the deacetylation function of SIN3A/HDAC. Our findings reveal a coordinated action between CRL4B and SIN3A/HDAC complexes in transcription repression.
Clap and fling mechanism with interacting porous wings in tiny insect flight
Authors: Santhanakrishnan Arvind , Robinson Alice K. , Jones Shannon , Lowe Audrey , Gadi Sneha , Hedrick Tyson L. , Miller Laura A.
Published: September 2014

The aerodynamics of flapping flight for the smallest insects such as thrips is often characterized by a 'clap and fling' of the wings at the end of the upstroke and the beginning of the downstroke. These insects fly at Reynolds numbers (Re) on the order of 10 or less where viscous effects are significant. Although this wing motion is known to augment the lift generated during flight, the drag required to fling the wings apart at this scale is an order of magnitude larger than the corresponding force acting on a single wing. Since the opposing forces acting normal to each wing nearly cancel during the fling, these large forces do not have a clear aerodynamic benefit. If flight efficiency is defined as the ratio of lift to drag, the 'clap and fling' motion dramatically reduces efficiency relative to the case of wings that do not aerodynamically interact. In this paper, the effect of a bristled wing characteristic of many of these insects is investigated using computational fluid dynamics. We perform 2D numerical simulations using a porous version of the immersed boundary method. Given the computational complexity involved in modeling flow through exact descriptions of bristled wings, the wing is modeled as a homogenous porous layer as a first approximation. High-speed video recordings of free flying thrips in take-off flight were captured in the laboratory, and an analysis of the wing kinematics was performed. This information was used for the estimation of input parameters for the simulations. As compared to a solid wing (without bristles), the results of the study show that the porous nature of the wings contributes largely to drag reduction across the Re range explored. The aerodynamic efficiency, calculated as the ratio of lift to drag coefficients, was larger for some porosities when compared to solid wings.
Dual silencing of long and short Amblyomma americanum acidic chitinase forms weakens the tick cement cone stability
Authors: Kim Tae K. , Curran Jenny , Mulenga Albert
Published: September 2014

This study demonstrates that Amblyomma americanum (Aam) constitutively and ubiquitously expresses the long (L) and short (S) putative acidic chitinases (Ach) that are distinguished by a 210 base pair (bp) deletion in AamAch-S. Full-length AamAch-L and -S cDNA are 1959 and 1718bp long containing 1332 and 1104bp open reading frames that code for 443 and 367 amino acid residues proteins with the former predicted to be extracellular and the latter intracellular. Both AamAch-L and -S mRNA are expressed in multiple organs as revealed by qualitative RT-PCR analysis. Furthermore, quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that AamAch-L mRNA was down regulated in the midgut, but was unchanged in the salivary gland and in other organs in response to feeding. Of significant interest, AamAch-L and/or AamAch-S functions are likely associated with formation and/or maintenance of stability of A. americanum tick cement cone. Dual RNAi silencing of AamAch-L and/or AamAch-S mRNA caused ticks to loosely attach onto host skin as suggested by bleeding around tick mouthparts and ticks detaching off host skin with a light touch. AamAch-L may apparently encode an inactive chitinase as indicated by Pichia pastoris-expressed recombinant (r) AamAch-L failing to hydrolyze chitinase substrates. Unpublished related work in our lab, and published work by others that found AamAch-L in tick saliva, suggest that native AamAch-L is a non-specific immunoglobulin binding tick saliva protein in that rAamAch-L non-specifically bound rabbit, bovine, and chicken non-immune sera. We discuss findings in this study with reference to advancing knowledge on tick feeding physiology.
Moth-eye-structured Antireflective Poly(methyl methacrylate) Film with Visible-light-responsive Self-cleaning Ability
Authors: Nakata Kazuya , Terashima Chiaki , Fujishima Akira
Published: September 2014

A poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film with moth-eye-structured surface was coated with PtCl-modified TiO2 (PtCl–TiO2) particles to form an antireflective and self-cleaning film that works under visible-light illumination. Coating PtCl–TiO2 on the PMMA surface produced a porous PtCl–TiO2 layer. Transmittance spectra showed near independency of the tilted angle of light illumination for the coated film. The coated film showed the ability to decompose oleic acid under visible-light irradiation.