bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neutralizing gut-derived lipopolysaccharide as a novel therapeutic strategy for severe leptospirosis
Authors: Xie Xufeng , Chen Xi , Zhang Shilei , Liu Jiuxi , Zhang Wenlong , Cao Yongguo
Published: May 2024

Leptospirosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. Humans and some mammals can develop severe forms of leptospirosis accompanied by a dysregulated inflammatory response, which often results in death. The gut microbiota has been increasingly recognized as a vital element in systemic health. However, the precise role of the gut microbiota in severe leptospirosis is still unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the function and potential mechanisms of the gut microbiota in a hamster model of severe leptospirosis. Our study showed that leptospires were able to multiply in the intestine, cause pathological injury, and induce intestinal and systemic inflammatory responses. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed that Leptospira infection changed the composition of the gut microbiota of hamsters with an expansion of Proteobacteria. In addition, gut barrier permeability was increased after infection, as reflected by a decrease in the expression of tight junctions. Translocated Proteobacteria were found in the intestinal epithelium of moribund hamsters, as determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization, with elevated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in the serum. Moreover, gut microbiota depletion reduced the survival time, increased the leptospiral load, and promoted the expression of proinflammatory cytokines after Leptospira infection. Intriguingly, fecal filtration and serum from moribund hamsters both increased the transcription of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and TLR4 in macrophages compared with those from uninfected hamsters. These stimulating activities were inhibited by LPS neutralization using polymyxin B. Based on our findings, we identified an LPS neutralization therapy that significantly improved the survival rates in severe leptospirosis when used in combination with antibiotic therapy or polyclonal antibody therapy. In conclusion, our study not only uncovers the role of the gut microbiota in severe leptospirosis but also provides a therapeutic strategy for severe leptospirosis.
High-Resolution Laminar Identification in Macaque Primary Visual Cortex Using Neuropixels Probes
Authors: Zhang Li A. , Li Peichao , Callaway Edward M.
Published: May 2024

Laminar electrode arrays allow simultaneous recording of activity of many cortical neurons and assignment to correct layers using current source density (CSD) analyses. Electrode arrays with 100-micron contact spacing can estimate borders between layer 4 versus superficial or deep layers, but in macaque primary visual cortex (V1) there are far more layers, such as 4A which is only 50-100 microns thick. Neuropixels electrode arrays have 20-micron spacing, and thus could potentially discern thinner layers and more precisely identify laminar borders. Here we show that CSD signals lack the spatial resolution required to take advantage of high density Neuropixels arrays and describe the development of approaches based on higher resolution electrical signals and analyses, including spike waveforms and spatial spread, unit density, high-frequency action potential (AP) power spectrum, temporal power change, and coherence spectrum, that afford far higher resolution of laminar distinctions, including the ability to precisely detect the borders of even the thinnest layers of V1.
El discurso especializado de la oncología en español y en italiano.
Authors: Claudia Colantonio
Published: May 2024

El presente trabajo aborda las fases de desarrollo del corpus y del sucesivo glosario terminológico ONCO_ESP_IT que toma como punto de partida el género de la guía para pacientes dentro del ámbito de la comunicación médica oncológica. En primer lugar, se ha llevado a cabo un análisis de su macroestructura y en segundo lugar, se ha analizado, desde un punto de vista comparativo, su terminología. Dicho análisis ha dado como resultado la creación de un corpus y de un glosario terminológico bilingüe ESP-IT. El glosario, en particular, pretende ser una herramienta para el público lego, además de una herramienta profesional para aquellos que necesitan conocer y saber aplicar la terminología de la oncología.
Mood and modal concord in Spanish directive clauses
Authors: Faulkner Tris
Published: May 2024

According to Faulkner (2022b), in the case of Spanish, “indicative directive complements are strongly preferable to subjunctive clauses when a weak necessity and teleological matrix directive embeds a modal verb of equivalent strength and type” (p. 8). She explains that the exceptionality of this phenomenon relates to both predicates being interpreted in concord with one another. Having compared and analyzed several authentic examples of mood use in this context (see Faulkner 2021b, 2022a, 2022b), she, consequently, suggests that, in spite of being labeled core selectors of the subjunctive (e.g., Villalta 2008), if a modal concord construction is to come into play, the mood of the particular directive complement is affected. However, unbeknownst to Faulkner (2022b) at the time of publishing, this symbiotic relationship between modal concord and mood is not exclusive to matrix and subordinate directives that are weak necessity (of strength) and teleological (of type). Concord readings may, in fact, be evoked in contexts in which both the matrix and embedded predicates are, for example, either deontic and strong necessity or bouletic and strong necessity. In other words, if the two expressions parallel each other in strength and priority, an indicative modal complement, interpreted in concord (or unison) with the main directive, is likely to result; and, most importantly, whether or not the two modal elements are teleological and weak necessity.
What Spanish can tell us about the syntax of eventives vs. stative verbal predicates
Authors: McDonald Jonathan E.
Published: May 2024

The main goal of this article is to argue and provide support for the distinction between eventive and stative verbal predicates being encoded in the syntax. More specifically, following Travis (1991, 2010, MacDonald 2008, Kardos & Farkas 2022), I provide arguments for the existence of an aspectual functional projection situated between Voice and VP: AspP. I argue that eventive verbal predicates project AspP and stative verbal predicates do not. Its syntactic presence serves as input to semantics giving rise to a dynamic predicate, a predicate that entails (some amount of) change along a scale, based on scalar approaches to eventive verbal predicates (Hay et al. 1999, Kennedy & Levin 2008, Beavers 2011, 2013, among others). Empirically, I discuss two phenomena from Spanish: hacerlo "do so" substitution and verbal interfixes, like ot in fregotear "to scrub at" (vs. fregar "to scrub"). I argue that hacer selects for AspP while the verbal interfixes head Asp. Support for the main proposal that there is a syntactic distinction between eventives and statives emerges from the ungrammaticality of hacerlo when it takes a stative verbal antecedent and the fact that the output of interfixation does not give rise to stative verbal predicates, only eventive verbal predicates
New records of non-indigenous species from the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Crustacea, Mollusca), with a revision of genus Isognomon (Mollusca: Bivalvia)
Authors: Albano Paolo G. , Hong Yuanyuan , Steger Jan , Yasuhara Moriaki , Bartolini Stefano , Bogi Cesare , Bošnjak Marija , Chiappi Marina , Fossati Valentina , Huseyinoglu Mehmet Fatih , Jiménez Carlos , Lubinevsky Hadas , Morov Arseniy R. , Noè Simona , Papatheodoulou Magdalene , Resaikos Vasilis , Zuschin Martin , Guy-Haim Tamar
Published: May 2024

We report new data on non-indigenous invertebrates from the Mediterranean Sea (four ostracods and 20 molluscs), including five new records for the basin: the ostracods Neomonoceratina iniqua, Neomonoceratina aff. mediterranea, Neomonoceratina cf. entomon, Loxoconcha cf. gisellae (Arthropoda: Crustacea)–the first records of non-indigenous ostracods in the Mediterranean–and the bivalve Striarca aff. symmetrica (Mollusca). Additionally, we report for the first time Electroma vexillum from Israel, and Euthymella colzumensis, Joculator problematicus, Hemiliostraca clandestina, Pyrgulina nana, Pyrgulina microtuber, Turbonilla cangeyrani, Musculus aff. viridulus and Isognomon bicolor from Cyprus. We also report the second record of Fossarus sp. and of Cerithiopsis sp. cf. pulvis in the Mediterranean Sea, the first live collected specimens of Oscilla galilae from Cyprus and the northernmost record of Gari pallida in Israel (and the Mediterranean). Moreover, we report the earliest records of Rugalucina angela, Ervilia scaliola and Alveinus miliaceus in the Mediterranean Sea, backdating their first occurrence in the basin by 3, 5 and 7 years, respectively. We provide new data on the presence of Spondylus nicobaricus and Nudiscintilla aff. glabra in Israel. Finally, yet importantly, we use both morphological and molecular approaches to revise the systematics of the non-indigenous genus Isognomon in the Mediterranean Sea, showing that two species currently co-occur in the basin: the Caribbean I. bicolor, distributed in the central and eastern Mediterranean, and the Indo-Pacific I. aff. legumen, at present reported only from the eastern Mediterranean and whose identity requires a more in-depth taxonomic study. Our work shows the need of taxonomic expertise and investigation, the necessity to avoid the unfounded sense of confidence given by names in closed nomenclature when the NIS belong to taxa that have not enjoyed ample taxonomic work, and the necessity to continue collecting samples–rather than relying on visual censuses and bio-blitzes–to enable accurate detection of non-indigenous species.
Public transit mobility as a leading indicator of COVID-19 transmission in 40 cities during the first wave of the pandemic
Authors: Soucy Jean-Paul R. , Sturrock Shelby L. , Berry Isha , Westwood Duncan J. , Daneman Nick , Fisman David , MacFadden Derek R. , Brown Kevin A.
Published: May 2024

Background

The rapid global emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 created urgent demand for leading indicators to track the spread of the virus and assess the consequences of public health measures designed to limit transmission. Public transit mobility, which has been shown to be responsive to previous societal disruptions such as disease outbreaks and terrorist attacks, emerged as an early candidate.

Methods

We conducted a longitudinal ecological study of the association between public transit mobility reductions and COVID-19 transmission using publicly available data from a public transit app in 40 global cities from March 16 to April 12, 2020. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the association between COVID-19 transmission and the value of the mobility index 2 weeks prior using two different outcome measures: weekly case ratio and effective reproduction number.

Results

Over the course of March 2020, median public transit mobility, measured by the volume of trips planned in the app, dropped from 100% (first quartile (Q1)–third quartile (Q3) = 94–108%) of typical usage to 10% (Q1–Q3 = 6–15%). Mobility was strongly associated with COVID-19 transmission 2 weeks later: a 10% decline in mobility was associated with a 12.3% decrease in the weekly case ratio (exp(β) = 0.877; 95% confidence interval (CI): [0.859–0.896]) and a decrease in the effective reproduction number (β = −0.058; 95% CI: [−0.068 to −0.048]). The mobility-only models explained nearly 60% of variance in the data for both outcomes. The adjustment for epidemic timing attenuated the associations between mobility and subsequent COVID-19 transmission but only slightly increased the variance explained by the models.

Discussion

Our analysis demonstrated the value of public transit mobility as a leading indicator of COVID-19 transmission during the first wave of the pandemic in 40 global cities, at a time when few such indicators were available. Factors such as persistently depressed demand for public transit since the onset of the pandemic limit the ongoing utility of a mobility index based on public transit usage. This study illustrates an innovative use of “big data” from industry to inform the response to a global pandemic, providing support for future collaborations aimed at important public health challenges.
Influence of Digital Literacy and Patient Activation on Sick Role Behavior in Vulnerable Older Adults with Diabetes
Authors: Yi Young-Eun , Lee Hyun-Ju
Published: May 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of digital literacy and patient activation on sick role behavior in vulnerable older adults with diabetes.Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study included 142 vulnerable older adults aged over 65 with diabetes who were seen at Busan Medical Center. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and stepwise multiple regression analysis with SPSS for Windows version 23.0.Results: Sick role behavior was significantly correlated with digital literacy (r=.68, p<.001) and patient activation (r=.83, p<.001). Digital literacy had a significant correlation with patient activation (r=.63, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis for sick role behavior revealed that the most powerful predictor was patient activation (β=.55, p<.001). Patient activation, digital literacy, gender (female), religiosity (being religious) and cohabitation (living with family) explained 81.0% of the variance in sick role behavior.Conclusion: Various factors were found to be related to the sick role behavior of vulnerable older adults with diabetes. Based on the results of this study, further development and application of a customized educational interventional program for improving the sick role behavior of older adults with diabetes will have a positive influence on disease treatment and health management for this population.
Risk Factors for Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales Colonization upon Admission to Tertiary Hospital Hematology Units: A Retrospective Case-control Study
Authors: Lee Jiyeon , Cha Chiyoung
Published: May 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) carriage among patients who were admitted to hematology units to identify risk factors for CPE carriage.Methods: This retrospective case-control study was carried out at a tertiary hospital, with a specific focus on adult patients (18 years of age or older) who were admitted to the hematology department. The cases comprised 73 patients with CPE, while the controls comprised 292 individuals matched randomly in a 1:4 ratio according to gender and age. A retrospective review of electronic medical records was conducted to collect data using a CPE acquisition risk factor questionnaire. Patient characteristics, drugs used, and the duration of use were compared between two groups using univariate analysis, and the risk factors associated with CPE were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis.Results: The research findings indicated a prevalence of CPE of 5.4%. The predominant strain identified was Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the primary genotype identified was New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM). A history of surgery and use of penicillin-based antibiotics were identified as risk factors for CPE carriage.Conclusion: The results emphasize the importance of establishing specific criteria when proactively screening high-risk patients for CPE. Furthermore, these findings provide evidence for forecasting risk factors associated with CPE and devising efficacious preventive measures.
Effectiveness of a Virtual Reality-based Infection Control Education Program
Authors: Cha Kyung-Sook , Choi Jung-Hyun , Kim Tae Hyong , Kim Kyung Mi
Published: May 2024

Purpose: This study evaluated the effect of virtual reality (VR)-based infection control (IC) education program on IC knowledge, awareness, performance confidence, and self-efficacy in nursing students.Methods: A single-group pretest-posttest design was employed. The study participants consisted of 86 nursing students. The VR-based IC education program was developed by applying the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) model. The subject of the VR-based IC education program was isolation precautions. The effects of the VR-based educational program were measured via a questionnaire.Results: There were no significant differences in IC knowledge before and after the VR-based IC education program. However, IC awareness (t=2.31, p=.023), IC performance confidence (t=2.19, p=.031), and self-efficacy (t=3.43, p=.001) exhibited statistically significant increases after the VR-based IC education program. Satisfaction with the VR-based IC education program was relatively high, at 4.71±0.59 points.Conclusion: IC education using VR effectively strengthened IC competency by improving IC awareness, performance confidence, and self-efficacy. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and utilize various VR-based IC education content for nursing students.
Effect of Social Support, Fatigue, and Depression on the Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Jung Ji Hye , Kim Hye Young
Published: May 2024

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of social support, fatigue, and depression on the quality of life of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.Methods: This descriptive research included 130 patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, who were treated in an artificial kidney room. Data were collected from June 2021 to August 2021, and a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed.Results: Social support, depression, and medical staff providing dialysis-related information were significant factors inflencing the quality of life of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, and the explanatory power of the model was found to be 41%. Among the factors, social support (β=.52) had the greatest impact on quality of life.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the need to develop nursing interventions and educational programs that can improve the social support of patients with peritoneal dialysis and reduce depression, thereby improving their quality of life.
Comunidades religiosas en la crisis habitacional. Iglesia de uso mixto en Plaza Egaña
Authors:   ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Estudios Urbanos, Letelier Venegas Esteban
Published: May 2024

La crisis habitacional en Chile ha llevado al desarrollo del Plan de Emergencia Habitacional (PEH), el cual ha diagnosticado que el déficit actual de vivienda afecta a 650.000 hogares. Es en este contexto que el PEH pone énfasis en la necesidad de ciudadanos presentes, participativos, críticos y comprometidos, considerándolos como actores complementarios y corresponsables. En base a esta certeza se contempla una modalidad mixta de gestión y/o financiamiento con otros actores, como órganos públicos, gobiernos regionales, municipios, empresas u otras personas de derecho público o privado. Históricamente entidades no estatales han participado en la provisión de vivienda, siendo de las más relevantes y pioneras las instituciones religiosas cristianas (católicos, evangélicos, protestantes). Por esta razón se ha estudiado cómo han desarrollado y mantenido vigente su rol histórico en la provisión de soluciones habitacionales, principalmente debido a las doctrinas sociales de sus respectivas creencias y a su predominancia cultural. Esta provisión de vivienda se ha llevado a cabo de diversas maneras y a través de distintos modos de tenencia, destacando la construcción de viviendas, principalmente por parte de la Iglesia Católica, y por otro lado la gestión de hogares para grupos vulnerables, como niños, personas de tercera edad, migrantes o estudiantes por parte de la Iglesia Evangélica. La investigación se centra en el modelo de hogares, el cual puede ofrecer una solución habitacional distinta a grupos generalmente excluidos de las políticas tradicionales de vivienda, diversificando la oferta de soluciones para responder adecuadamente a personas que necesiten un hogar de carácter transitorio. El objetivo es comprender cómo las comunidades religiosas pueden articularse junto al PEH, identificando sus virtudes y deficiencias. A este antecedente se suma la gran cantidad de terrenos e infraestructura de propiedad de las comunidades religiosas localizadas estratégicamente en la ciudad de Santiago. Estas infraestructuras presentan una subutilización, debido a la concentración de las actividades en ciertos días y horarios, generando que los templos permanezcan cerrados gran parte del día, de lunes a viernes (Vidal, R. 2012).La investigación, se enmarca entre estas dos oportunidades. Por un lado, el modelo de hogar, que diversifica la oferta de soluciones habitacionales y por otro, la existencia de terrenos e infraestructura subutilizada perteneciente a las comunidades religiosas. A partir de estas oportunidades se genera un proyecto que unifica tanto los usos habitacionales como la generación de un hito urbano de carácter ecuménico, es decir, que responde a los usos litúrgicos y preserve tanto el rol simbólico como la presencia en el territorio.
Can Benefits of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology be Extended up to Community Level as a Baseline Investigation: A Nine-year Experience from a Tertiary Care Institute in Bankura, West Bengal, India
Authors: Sengupta Sanjay , Parveen Himel Bera Pauline Ara , Ray Anindya , Sengupta Ritam , Lyngdoh Banduriap , Minz Raison Shail
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Aspiration cytology has recently become the first-line of investigation during the initial assessment of any swelling. It is also an effective tool for the early diagnosis of malignancy. In this study, the feasibility of extending the benefits of this simple, cost-effective procedure to the community level has been assessed. Aim: In the present study, attempts were made to prove that most aspirations and subsequent interpretations of aspirated samples could be accomplished by Junior Residents (JRs) even in a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bankura Sammilani Medical College (BSMC), West Bengal, India for a period of nine years (01/01/2014 to 31/12/2022). Conventional aspirations without guidance were included in the study group. The majority of aspirations were successfully conducted by JRs, and only 4.5% (823) of conventional aspirations needed the help and supervision of senior faculties. All adequate aspirations were then independently interpreted by two separate JRs, and the proportion of cases with similar and dissimilar interpretations was duly noted. Finally, all the smears were assessed by senior faculties and compared with the interpretations of JRs. Result: During this study period, a total of 19,743 aspirations were done of which 18,391 were conventional. JRs aspirated 17,568 (95.5%) of these cases. Data analysis revealed that JRs were successful in 16,570 (83.9%) of total aspirations and also correctly interpreted 13,381 (67.8%) of total cases. Conclusion: This study proved that one year of training could be sufficient to achieve a desirable level of competency in aspiration and interpretation of cytological samples. So, willing doctors with the necessary training could perform as Community Cytopathologists (CCPs) to extend the benefits of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) up to the block level, thus escalating the fight against malignancy
Proposed Model for the Excellent Educational System: Overview of the Field
Authors: Bantilan Jecyl C.
Published: May 2024

The educational system must be transformed to fulfill its promise of providing quality education. In measuring its quality, it is vital to consider valid indicators to determine whether it has achieved its goals and objectives. Without indicators, it will be difficult to assess its performance and plan for improvement. Thus, this paper explored the various literature on best educational systems to list indicators and create a model of an excellent educational system. Based on the qualitative data analysis, four indicators emerged for the excellent educational system: context indicators, input indicators, process indicators, and output indicators. Context indicators include student characteristics, socio-economic conditions, cultural aspects, status of the teaching profession, and local community issues. Meanwhile, input indicators involve financial, material, and human resources that influence the success of an educational system. On the other hand, process indicators include how specific educational processes are conducted in practice like the application of standards, teaching quality, time on task, school climate, and educational leadership. Lastly, output indicators involve subject knowledge, competencies, repetition, progression and completion rates, and employer satisfaction. Further, these indicators are described as amiable context, adequate input, appropriate process, and acceptable output to achieve the best educational system. The absence of one indicator may affect other indicators as these indicators need one another to complete an educational system. Therefore, educational leaders are encouraged to focus on the improvement of these indicators to achieve an excellent educational system. Teachers and stakeholders can also support the administrators in realizing these indicators.
Student Course Engagement and Academic Life Satisfaction of College Students
Authors: Rebusa Niña Claire C. , Barote Laurence , Navarez Hacel Jane , Culajara Claire Lynn
Published: May 2024

Student course engagement and academic life satisfaction are two determinants of student success. In university courses, student course engagement holds the power to shape numerous results, including learning, achievements, retention rates, satisfaction levels, and overall academic success. Academic life satisfaction, on the other hand, is defined as the student's attitude and sense of well-being with regard to their learning activities. Academic life satisfaction also plays a significant role in shaping student course engagement. This study utilized descriptive-predictive research design which provides insights into the levels of student course engagement and academic life satisfaction. The research aims to identify correlations and predictors, particularly the impact of academic life satisfaction on student course engagement. The study was particularly joined by 350 college students using a simple random sampling comprising first-year to fourth-year level students. The data interpretation is performed by Jamovi software together with Excel. The gathered data go through the test of normality using the Shapiro-Wilk Test which shows not normally distributed data because of the outliers. The result shows that student course engagement and academic life satisfaction have a significant relationship. The overall student course engagement of the college students had a mean score (x̄= 3.72, SD= .736) reflecting an overall positively engaged analysis.  In addition, the overall Academic Life Satisfaction of the college students had a mean score of (x̄= 3.75, SD= .628) shows that the satisfaction is oftentimes evident, indicating a generally positive perception of their personal and academic circumstances. Moreover, using Linear Regression Analysis, personal satisfaction is the only predictor that contributes to student course engagement among the respondents. Linear regression analysis indicates a positive correlation between two variables: as the student becomes satisfied, the more they will engage themselves in certain activities. Lastly, this study is beneficial to the current student enrollee in the institution by knowing one of the factors that predict academic success.
Abusive supervision and work behaviors: The mediating role of LMX
Authors: Xu Erica , Huang Xu , Lam Catherine K. , Miao Qing
Published: July 2011

We investigated the mediating role of the leader–member exchange (LMX) in the association of abusive supervision and employee work behaviors (task performance and organizational citizenship behaviors toward the organization and individuals). Using data collected from 366 supervisor–subordinate dyads, we found that LMX fully mediated the negative effects of abusive supervision on all three work behaviors. In addition, we conducted a supplementary study on the basis of the data collected from 54 supervisor–subordinate dyads from a garment company, and we found that LMX mediated the relationship between abusive supervision and employee objective future performance with interactional justice controlled. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dependence of collision‐induced dissociation energy on molecular degrees of freedom as a means to assess relative binding affinity in multivalent complexes
Authors: Huffman Carmen L. , Williams Melissa Lee , Benoist D. Michelle , Overstreet Richard E. , Jellen‐McCullough Emily E.
Published: July 2011

In collision‐induced dissociation mass spectrometry experiments, the collision energy required for dissociation linearly depends on the degrees of freedom in the precursor ion. The magnitude of the slope of this relationship previously has been shown to qualitatively correlate to the relative binding strength of a noncovalently bound, monovalent complex. The goal of the work presented here is to determine if a similar methodology can be applied for assessing relative binding strengths in multivalent species. We have tested the method on complexes formed from 18‐crown‐6 and a variety of protonated, primary alkylamines, [CnH2n+1NH3]+ (n = 9, 12, 14, 16 and 18) and alkyldiamines, [H3NCnH2nNH3]2+ (n = 3, 5, 6, 9 and 12), and compared our results with dissociation energies calculated using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level. We found that the method correctly assessed the stronger crown ether/headgroup interaction in the two divalent species (1:1 and 2:1 complexes formed from the diaminoalkanes) compared with the weaker interaction in the monovalent species (1:1 complexes formed from mono‐aminoalkanes). However, the experimental method could not distinguish between the binding strengths of the two divalent complexes, perhaps because their calculated dissociation energies were quite similar. Our preliminary results suggest that this method could potentially be used for a quick and simple analysis of binding strengths in multivalent species if the binding strengths of the species are significantly different from one another. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment and characterisation of common renal masses with CT and MRI
Authors: Pallwein-Prettner Leo , Flöry Daniel , Rotter Claus Raphael , Pogner Kurt , Syré Gerhard , Fellner Claudia , Frauscher Ferdinand , Aigner Friedrich , Krause Frens Steffen , Fellner Franz
Published: July 2011

Objective

Owing to the widespread use of abdominal imaging studies the detection rate of solid renal masses has increased, and an accurate characterisation of imaging features of renal masses has become more essential for case management.

Method and results

MR imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are frequently used modalities for detection and differentiation of renal masses. This article gives a review of imaging characteristics of benign and malignant renal masses, discussing their appearance in CT and MR imaging. Advanced MR techniques like diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping, which have shown promising results in the differentiation between benign and malignant renal lesions, will be introduced.

Conclusion

MRI and CT are useful in the characterisation and estimation of the prognosis for renal masses.
Mechanosensitive shivering of model tissues under controlled aspiration
Authors: Guevorkian Karine , Gonzalez-Rodriguez David , Carlier Camille , Dufour Sylvie , Brochard-Wyart Françoise
Published: July 2011

During embryonic development and wound healing, the mechanical signals transmitted from cells to their neighbors induce tissue rearrangement and directional movements. It has been observed that forces exerted between cells in a developing tissue under stress are not always monotonically varying, but they can be pulsatile. Here we investigate the response of model tissues to controlled external stresses. Spherical cellular aggregates are subjected to one-dimensional stretching forces using micropipette aspiration. At large enough pressures, the aggregate flows smoothly inside the pipette. However, in a narrow range of moderate aspiration pressures, the aggregate responds by pulsed contractions or “shivering.” We explain the emergence of this shivering behavior by means of a simple analytical model where the uniaxially stretched cells are represented by a string of Kelvin–Voigt elements. Beyond a deformation threshold, cells contract and pull on neighboring cells after a time delay for cell response. Such an active behavior has previously been found to cause tissue pulsation during dorsal closure of
Drosophila
embryo.
Response of an ion–ion plasma to dc biased electrodes
Authors: Popelier Lara , Aanesland Ane , Chabert Pascal
Published: July 2011

Electronegative plasmas are plasmas containing a significant fraction of negative ions, when magnetized they are very often segregated: the core is electropositive or weakly electronegative whereas a highly electronegative plasma forms at the periphery. At strong magnetic fields this segregation can lead to the formation of ion–ion plasmas almost free of electrons close to the walls or extraction surfaces and allows access to both positive and negative ions. The PEGASES thruster aims at alternately extracting and accelerating positive and negative ions from the ion–ion plasma region to provide thrust by both types of ions. The acceleration schemes depend on the possible control of the potential in an ion–ion plasma relative to the acceleration grids. In this paper continuous extraction and acceleration of positive ions from the PEGASES thruster is investigated by a retarding field energy analyser. It is shown from the measured ion energy distribution functions that the continuous acceleration potential can be controlled by biasing bare electrodes in contact with the region of the plasma with high electron density (i.e. the weakly electronegative plasma core). A grounded grid placed in the ion–ion region allows consequently the acceleration of positive ions, where the ion velocity is controlled by the bias applied to the electrodes in the plasma core. In contrast, when the grid in the ion–ion region is biased, positive ion beams are not detected downstream of the grid. The results indicate that biasing a grid positively in the ion–ion region may result in an electronegative space-charge sheath in front of the grid, which traps the positive ions inside the thruster.
Preliminary study on the modelling of negative leader discharges
Authors: Arevalo L , Cooray V
Published: July 2011

Nowadays, there is considerable interest in understanding the physics underlying positive and negative discharges because of the importance of improving lightning protection systems and of coordinating the insulation for high voltages. Numerical simulations of positive switching impulses made in long spark gaps in a laboratory are achievable because the physics of the process is reasonably well understood and because of the availability of powerful computational methods. However, the existing work on the simulation of negative switching discharges has been held up by a lack of experimental data and the absence of a full understanding of the physics involved. In the scientific community, it is well known that most of the lightning discharges that occur in nature are of negative polarity, and because of their complexity, the only way to understand them is to generate the discharges in laboratories under controlled conditions.

The voltage impulse waveshape used in laboratories is a negative switching impulse. With the aim of applying the available information to a self-consistent physical method, an electrostatic approximation of the negative leader discharge process is presented here. The simulation procedure takes into consideration the physics of positive and negative discharges, considering that the negative leader propagates towards a grounded electrode and the positive leader towards a rod electrode. The simulation considers the leader channel to be thermodynamic, and assumes that the conditions required to generate a thermal channel are the same for positive and negative leaders. However, the magnitude of the electrical charge necessary to reproduce their propagation and thermalization is different, and both values are based on experimental data. The positive and negative streamer development is based on the constant electric field characteristics of these discharges, as found during experimental measurements made by different authors. As a computational tool, a finite element method based software is employed. The simulations are compared with experimental data available in the literature.
Effect of carbon embedding on the tribological properties of magnetic media surface with and without a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) layer
Authors: Samad M Abdul , Yang H , Sinha S K , Bhatia C S
Published: July 2011

Carbon embedding (⩽1 nm) in the top surface of cobalt (∼100 nm) sputtered on a silicon surface is used as a surface modification technique to evaluate the tribological properties with or without an ultra-thin layer of perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant. The carbon embedding is achieved using the filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique at an ion energy of 90 eV. Transport of ions in matter simulations, time-of-flight secondary ion spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to study the carbon embedding profiles and surface chemical composition. The XPS results show that carbon embedding using the ion energy of 90 eV results in the formation of about 58 ± 6% of tetrahedral (sp3) carbon hybridization. Furthermore, the XPS results also show that the carbon embedding is effective in improving the anti-oxidation resistance of cobalt. Ball-on-disk tribological tests are conducted at a contact pressure of 0.26 GPa on the modified cobalt surface with or without the PFPE layer. It is observed that the average coefficient of friction is reduced considerably from a value of approximately 0.7 to 0.42 after the surface modification. The coefficient of friction is further reduced to ∼0.26 after the deposition of an ultra-thin layer of PFPE over the modified surface, which is lower than a friction coefficient of 0.4 from commercial media. The modified cobalt surface also shows much better wear life than the present day commercial media.
Halomicrobium zhouii sp. nov., a halophilic archaeon from a marine solar saltern
Authors: Yang Xin , Cui Heng-Lin
Published: July 2011

A halophilic archaeon, strain TBN51T, was isolated from a marine solar saltern in Jiangsu, China. The colonies were red-pigmented and the cells were pleomorphic, motile and Gram-staining-negative. The strain was able to grow at 20–55 °C (optimum 42 °C), in the presence of 1.4–5.1 M NaCl (optimum 2.6 M), with 0–1.0 M MgCl2(optimum 0.05 M) and at pH 5.5–9.5 (optimum pH 7.0). Cells lysed in distilled water; the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent such lysis was 8 % (w/v). The major polar lipids of strain TBN51Twere phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate and an unidentified glycolipid. The latter lipid and a minor glycolipid also detected in the novel strain were chromatographically identical to sulfated and non-sulfated mannosyl glucosyl diether, respectively. Analysis revealed that strain TBN51Thad three dissimilar 16S rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of these genes indicated that the novel strain was most closely related toHalomicrobium mukohataeiJCM 9738T(89.2–94.8 % sequence similarity) andHalomicrobium katesiiDSM 19301T(88.8–94.8 %). In similar comparisons ofrpoB′ gene sequences, strain TBN51Talso appeared most closely related toHmc. mukohataeiJCM 9738T(88.5 % sequence similarity) andHmc. katesiiDSM 19301T(88.1 %). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain TBN51Twas 69.1 mol%. The results of DNA–DNA hybridizations indicated that strain TBN51Trepresented a novel species since it showed relatedness values of only 23 % withHmc. mukohataeiJCM 9738Tand 21 % withHmc. katesiiDSM 19301T. It was concluded that strain TBN51Trepresents a novel species of the genusHalomicrobium, for which the nameHalomicrobium zhouiisp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TBN51T( = CGMCC 1.10457T = JCM 17095T).
Roseivivax isoporae sp. nov., isolated from a reef-building coral, and emended description of the genus

Roseivivax
Authors: Chen Ming-Hui , Sheu Shih-Yi , Chen Chaolun Allen , Wang Jih-Terng , Chen Wen-Ming
Published: July 2011

A bacterial strain, isolated from a sample of reef-building coral (Isopora palifera) collected off the coast of southern Taiwan, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain, designated sw-2T, was Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and motile, with subpolar flagella, and formed greyish pink colonies. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain sw-2T was most closely related to

Roseivivax halodurans

Och 239T (97.4 % sequence similarity) and

Roseivivax halotolerans

Och 210T (96.4 %). The novel strain did not require NaCl for growth and exhibited optimal growth at 35–40 °C, at pH 7.5–8.0 and with 3–7 % (w/v) NaCl. It produced bacteriochlorophyll a under aerobic conditions. Summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c; 63.7 %) predominated in the cellular fatty acid profile. The novel strain’s major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10 and its genomic DNA G+C content was 68.8 mol%. The polar lipid profile consisted of a mixture of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, sulfo-quinovosyl diacylglycerol and three uncharacterized phospholipids. The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain sw-2T and

Roseivivax halodurans

Och 239T was only 15.0 %. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed the clear phenotypic differentiation of the novel strain from all established species of the genus

Roseivivax

. Based on the genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain sw-2T represents a novel species in the genus

Roseivivax

, for which the name Roseivivax isoporae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is sw-2T ( = LMG 25204T = BCRC 17966T).
Bacteroides sartorii

is an earlier heterotypic synonym of

Bacteroides chinchillae

and has priority
Authors: Sakamoto Mitsuo , Ohkuma Moriya
Published: July 2011

Strains of the recently proposed species

Bacteroides chinchillae

share more than 99.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strain of

Bacteroides sartorii

although these two species do not appear to be similar from their published descriptions. The aim of this study was to perform phenotypic and genetic analyses of both species to clarify their taxonomic position.

B. chinchillae

JCM 16497T exhibited high hsp60 gene sequence similarity with

B. sartorii

JCM 17136T (100 %) as well as

B. chinchillae

JCM 16498 (100 %). The hsp60 gene sequence analysis and levels of DNA–DNA relatedness observed demonstrated

B. sartorii

JCM 17136T,

B. chinchillae

JCM 16497T, and

B. chinchillae

JCM 16498 are members of a single species. Based on these data, we propose

Bacteroides chinchillae

as a later heterotypic synonym of

Bacteroides sartorii

. An emended description of B. sartorii is provided.
Phylogenetic Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Strains Applicable to Natto (Fermented Soybean) Production
Authors: Kubo Yuji , Rooney Alejandro P. , Tsukakoshi Yoshiki , Nakagawa Rikio , Hasegawa Hiromasa , Kimura Keitarou
Published: July 2011

Spore-forming
Bacillus
strains that produce extracellular poly-γ-glutamic acid were screened for their application to natto (fermented soybean food) fermentation. Among the 424 strains, including
Bacillus subtilis
and
B. amyloliquefaciens
, which we isolated from rice straw, 59 were capable of fermenting natto. Biotin auxotrophism was tightly linked to natto fermentation. A multilocus nucleotide sequence of six genes (
rpoB
,
purH
,
gyrA
,
groEL
,
polC
, and 16S rRNA) was used for phylogenetic analysis, and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was also conducted on the natto-fermenting strains. The ability to ferment natto was inferred from the two principal components of the AFLP banding pattern, and natto-fermenting strains formed a tight cluster within the
B. subtilis
subsp.
subtilis
group.
Molecular Basis of Sulfonamide and Trimethoprim Resistance in Fish-Pathogenic Aeromonas Isolates
Authors: Kadlec Kristina , von Czapiewski Ellen , Kaspar Heike , Wallmann Jürgen , Michael Geovana Brenner , Steinacker Ulrike , Schwarz Stefan
Published: July 2011

Sulfonamide-trimethoprim-resistant
Aeromonas salmonicida
and motile
Aeromonas
spp. from diseased fish of the GE
RM
-Vet study carried the
sul1
gene together with mostly cassette-borne trimethoprim resistance genes, including the novel gene
dfrA28
. The seven
dfrA
and
dfrB
genes identified were located mostly in class 1 integrons which commonly harbored other gene cassettes.
Strategy for Modular Tagged High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing
Authors: de Cárcer Daniel Aguirre , Denman Stuart E. , McSweeney Chris , Morrison Mark
Published: July 2011

The use and validation of a strategy that allows a universal set of bar-coded sequencing primers to be appended to an amplified PCR product is described. The strategy allows a modular approach, in that the same bar code can be used with two or more target-specific primer sets, even simultaneously.
PCR Amplification-Independent Methods for Detection of Microbial Communities by the High-Density Microarray PhyloChip
Authors: DeAngelis Kristen M. , Wu Cindy H. , Beller Harry R. , Brodie Eoin L. , Chakraborty Romy , DeSantis Todd Z. , Fortney Julian L. , Hazen Terry C. , Osman Shariff R. , Singer Mary E. , Tom Lauren M. , Andersen Gary L.
Published: July 2011

Environmental microbial community analysis typically involves amplification by PCR, despite well-documented biases. We have developed two methods of PCR-independent microbial community analysis using the high-density microarray PhyloChip: direct hybridization of 16S rRNA (dirRNA) or rRNA converted to double-stranded cDNA (dscDNA). We compared dirRNA and dscDNA communities to PCR-amplified DNA communities using a mock community of eight taxa, as well as experiments derived from three environmental sample types: chromium-contaminated aquifer groundwater, tropical forest soil, and secondary sewage in seawater. Community profiles by both direct hybridization methods showed differences that were expected based on accompanying data but that were missing in PCR-amplified communities. Taxon richness decreased in RNA compared to that in DNA communities, suggesting a subset of 20% in soil and 60% in groundwater that is active; secondary sewage showed no difference between active and inactive populations. Direct hybridization of dscDNA and RNA is thus a viable alternative to PCR-amplified microbial community analysis, providing identification of the active populations within microbial communities that attenuate pollutants, drive global biogeochemical cycles, or proliferate disease states.