bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The incidence, prevalence and clinical features ofMECP2duplication syndrome in Australian children
Authors: Giudice‐Nairn Peter , Downs Jenny , Wong Kingsley , Wilson Dylan , Ta Daniel , Gattas Michael , Amor David , Thompson Elizabeth , Kirrali‐Borri Cathy , Ellaway Carolyn , Leonard Helen
Published: February 2019

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and prevalence ofMECP2duplication syndrome in Australian children and further define its phenotype.

Methods

The Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit was used to identify children withMECP2duplication syndrome between June 2014 and November 2017. Reporting clinicians were invited to complete a questionnaire. Clinician data (n= 20) were supplemented with information from the International Rett Syndrome Phenotype Database and from caregivers (n= 7). Birth prevalence and diagnostic incidence were calculated.

Results

The birth prevalence ofMECP2duplication syndrome in Australia was 0.65/100 000 for all live births and 1/100 000 for males. Diagnostic incidence was 0.07/100 000 person‐years overall and 0.12/100 000 person‐years for males. The median age at diagnosis was 23.5 months (range 0 months–13 years). A history of pneumonia was documented in three quarters of the clinical cases, half of whom had more than nine episodes. Cardiovascular abnormalities were reported in three cases. A clinical vignette is presented for one child who died due to severe idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. The majority (13/15) of males had inherited the duplication from their mothers, and two had an unbalanced translocation.

Conclusions

MECP2duplication syndrome is a rare but important diagnosis in children because of the burden of respiratory illness and recurrence risk. Pulmonary hypertension is a rare life‐threatening complication. Array comparative genomic hybridisation testing is recommended for children with undiagnosed intellectual disability or global developmental delay. Early cardiac assessment and ongoing monitoring is recommended forMECP2duplication syndrome.
Opportunities for nurses to support recovery after pediatric injury: Relationships among posttraumatic stress, hope, and quality of life
Authors: Weiss Danielle , Ostrowski‐Delahanty Sarah , Van Allen Jason , Seegan Paige , Marsac Meghan L.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Nurses are at the forefront of children's postinjury recovery; this unique role provides an opportunity for nurses to recognize and screen for symptoms that may interfere with children's quality of life (QOL). As such, aims of the present investigation were to explore selected variables (e.g., posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS], hope) that have the potential to impact QOL after pediatric injury, with a larger goal of contributing to recommendations for nursing practice to support children's full (physical and emotional) recovery during the peritrauma period following injury.

Design and methods

Sixty children (aged 7–13) completed measures of PTSS, hope, and QOL while receiving injury treatment.

Results

PTSS significantly predicted concurrent QOL, β = −0.42, p = 0.001. Exploratory results demonstrated that specific PTSS clusters (re‐experiencing [
β = −0.39; p = 0.003), avoidance [
β = −0.35; p = 0.009], arousal [
β = −0.34; p = .012]) all significantly predicted QOL. Specific PTSS were explored. Hope (overall, domains of pathways, general agency, goal setting) did not significantly predict concurrent QOL.

Practice implications

While this study is exploratory and more research is needed, current results suggest that nurses’ awareness of PTSS (including symptoms of re‐experiencing, avoidance, arousal) may help medical teams in identifying children that are at risk for impaired functional recovery (e.g., QOL) during the peritrauma period. Nurses may want to consider advocating for the integration of PTSS screeners into standard medical care. In addition, nurses have the opportunity to serve as key medical professionals in the delivery of trauma‐informed medical care (which aims to minimize further trauma or re‐traumatization). Nursing leadership may want to consider offering training in how nurses can identify and respond to children who have experienced an injury (such as trauma‐informed care).
Hereditary xanthinuria in a goat
Authors: Vail Krystal J. , Tate Nicole M. , Likavec Tasha , Minor Katie M. , Gibbons Philippa M. , Rech Raquel R. , Furrow Eva
Published: February 2019

A 2‐year‐old mixed breed goat was presented for a 1‐day history of anorexia and 1 week of weight loss. Serum biochemistry disclosed severe azotemia. Abdominal ultrasound examination showed decreased renal corticomedullary distinction, poor visualization of the renal pelves, and dilated ureters. On necropsy, the kidneys were small, the pelves were dilated, and the medulla was partially effaced by variably sized yellow nephroliths. Histologically, cortical and medullary tubules were distended by yellow‐brown, multilayered crystals. Stone composition was 100% xanthine. Exonic sequencing of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and molybdenum cofactor sulfurase (MOCOS) identified 2 putative pathogenic variants: a heterozygous XDH p.Leu128Pro variant and a homozygous MOCOS p.Asp303Gly variant. Variant frequencies were determined in 7 herd mates, 12 goats undergoing necropsy, and 443 goats from genome databases. The XDH variant was not present in any of these 462 goats. The MOCOS variant allele frequency was 0.03 overall, with 3 homozygotes detected. Hereditary xanthinuria is a recessive disorder in other species, but the XDH variant could be causal if the case goat is a compound heterozygote harboring a second variant in a regulatory region not analyzed or if the combination of the XDH and MOCOS variants together abolish XDH activity. Alternatively, the MOCOS variant alone could be causal despite the presence of other homozygotes, because hereditary xanthinuria in humans often is asymptomatic. Ours is the first report describing the clinical presentation and pathology associated with xanthine urolithiasis in a goat. The data support hereditary xanthinuria, but functional studies are needed to conclusively determine the causal variant(s).
Biomarkers of oxidative stress as an assessment of the redox status of the liver in dogs
Authors: Barry‐Heffernan Caitlin , Ekena Joanne , Dowling Sarah , Pinkerton Marie E. , Viviano Katrina
Published: February 2019

Background

Oxidative stress is associated with a diverse group of liver disorders across species.

Objectives

Determine whether glutathione (GSH) concentration in plasma and red blood cells correlates with liver GSH concentration in dogs and evaluate whether other markers of systemic oxidative stress, plasma vitamin E and urine 8‐isoprostanes/creatinine (F2‐IsoPs/Cr) concentrations, correlate with liver GSH.

Animals

Thirty‐four client‐owned dogs undergoing clinically indicated liver biopsy and 15 healthy control dogs.

Methods

Prospective, observational cross‐sectional study. Urine and blood were collected before liver biopsy. Plasma, erythrocyte, and liver GSH were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); vitamin E was measured by HPLC, and F2‐IsoPs/Cr was measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Results

All dogs were treated at the discretion of the attending clinician (24/34 received antioxidants; 4/34 fed therapeutic liver diet), which included dogs with primary or secondary liver disease (inflammatory (n = 21), metabolic (n = 9), vascular (n = 2), and neoplastic (n = 2)). Median GSH concentrations in plasma, erythrocyte, and liver were 0.18 mg/dL (range 0.14 to 0.56 mg/dL), 56.7 mg/dL (18.3 to 79.2 mg/dL), and 181 mg/dL (39.9 to 527 mg/dL), respectively. No significant correlations were found between liver GSH and erythrocyte GSH, plasma GSH, vitamin E, or F2‐IsoPs/Cr. Dogs undergoing clinically indicated liver biopsy had significantly higher urine F2‐IsoPs/Cr than did healthy controls (5.89 vs 2.98 ng/mg; P < .0001).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Erythrocyte and plasma GSH are not indicative of liver GSH concentration in dogs. In addition, dogs undergoing clinically indicated liver biopsy have evidence of increased systemic oxidative stress compared to healthy controls.
Assessing the bacterial communities of sponges inhabiting the remote western Indian Ocean island of Mayotte
Authors: de Voogd Nicole J. , Gauvin‐Bialecki Anne , Polónia Ana R. M. , Cleary Daniel F. R.
Published: February 2019

Marine sponges are known to host diverse and abundant communities of microbial symbionts. It has been generally assumed that the bacterial communities of low microbial abundance (LMA) sponges are less diverse than those of high microbial abundance (HMA) sponges. In this study, we used next‐generation sequencing technology to explore the bacterial communities of several biotopes including sponges, seawater, and sediment from the remote Western Indian Ocean island of Mayotte. The species investigated were the known LMA sponges: Jaspis splendens, Stylissa carteri, and Stylissa massa, and the known HMA sponges: Hyrtios erectus and Xestospongia testudinaria. In addition to this, we also investigated the following sponge species: Ectyoplasia coccinea, Paratetilla bacca, Liosina paradoxa, and Petrosia aff. spheroida of which the exact HMA/LMA status is unknown although we preliminarily classified them as HMA or LMA based on the status of closely related species. Certain HMA sponges shared similar bacterial communities dominated by Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi, whereas another species (E. coccinea) had a bacterial community closer to that of LMA sponges. Most LMA sponges housed a bacteriome dominated by Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria, but the bacteriome of P. bacca also included dominant Chloroflexi and actinobacterial OTUs. Together with S. carteri, this sponge housed a more diverse bacterial community at the phylum, class, and order levels than HMA sponges. Although certain LMA sponges housed a bacterial community similar to the surrounding environment (seawater), they also included highly abundant, possibly species or genus specific, OTUs. Based on this study and small set of sponges studied, we conclude that a clear dichotomy between HMA and LMA sponges does not appear to exist.
Shorter cryoballoon applications times do effect efficacy but result in less phrenic nerve injury: Results of the randomized 123 study
Authors: Molenaar Marleen M.D. , Timmermans Carl C. , Hesselink Tim , Scholten Marcoen F. , ter Bekke Rachel M.A. , Luermans Justin G.L.M. , Brusse‐Keizer Marjolein , Kraaier Karin , ten Haken Bernard , Grandjean Jan G. , Vernooy Kevin , van Opstal Jurren M.
Published: February 2019

Background

The second‐generation cryoballoon significantly improves outcome of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) but may cause more complications than the first generation. Currently, no consensus regarding optimal cryoballoon application time exists. The 123‐study aimed to assess the minimal cryoballoon application duration necessary to achieve PVI (primary endpoint) and the effect of application duration on prevention of phrenic nerve injury (PNI).

Methods

Patients <75 years of age with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, normal PV anatomy, and left atrial size <40 cc/m² or <50 mm were randomized to two applications of different duration: “short,” “medium,” or “long.” A total of 222 patients were enrolled, 74 per group.

Results

Duration per application was 105 (101‐108), 164 (160‐168), and 224 (219‐226) s and isolation was achieved in 79, 89, and 90% (P < 0.001) of the PVs after two applications in groups short, medium, and long, respectively. Only for the left PVs, the success rate of the short group was significantly less compared to the medium‐ and long‐duration groups (P < 0.001). PNI during the procedure occurred in 19 PVs (6.5%) in the medium and in 20 PVs (6.8%) in the long duration groups compared to only five PVs (1.7%) in the short duration group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Short cryoballoon ablation application times, less than 2 min, did affect the success for the left PVs but not for the right PVs and resulted in less PNI. A PV tailored approach with shorter application times for the right PVs might be advocated.
Active Trigger Points Are Associated With Anxiety and Widespread Pressure Pain Sensitivity in Women, but not Men, With Tension Type Headache
Authors: Cigarán‐Méndez Margarita , Jiménez‐Antona Carmen , Parás‐Bravo Paula , Fuensalida‐Novo Stella , Rodríguez‐Jiménez Jorge , Fernández‐de‐las‐Peñas César
Published: February 2019

Background

A better understanding of gender differences can assist clinicians in further developing therapeutic programs in tension type headache (TTH).

Objective

To evaluate gender differences in the presence of trigger points (TrPs) in the head, neck, and shoulder muscles and their relationship with headache features, pressure pain sensitivity, and anxiety in people with TTH.

Methods

Two hundred and ten (59 men, 151 women) patients with TTH participated. TrPs were bilaterally explored in the temporalis, masseter, suboccipital, upper trapezius, splenius capitis, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Headache features were collected using a 4‐week headache diary. Trait and state anxiety levels were assessed using the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) over the temporalis, C5/C6 joint, second metacarpal, and tibialis anterior were assessed.

Results

Women with TTH exhibited a significantly higher number of total (P = 0.027) and active (P = 0.030), but similar number of latent (P = 0.461), TrPs than men with TTH. Active TrPs in the temporalis, suboccipital, and splenius capitis muscles were the most prevalent in both men and women with TTH. The number of active TrPs was associated with anxiety levels (r = 0.217; P = 0.045) in women, but not in men (P = 0.453): the higher the number of active TrPs, the more the trait levels of anxiety. Women exhibited lower PPTs than men (all, P < 0.001). In men, the number of active, but not latent, TrPs was negatively associated with localized PPTs (all, P < 0.05), whereas in women, the number of active and latent TrPs was negatively associated with PPTs in all points (all, P < 0.01): the higher the number of TrPs, the lower the widespread PPTs.

Conclusions

This study described gender differences in the presence of TrPs in TTH. Women with TTH showed lower PPTs than men. The association between TrPs, anxiety levels, and pressure pain hyperalgesia seems to be more pronounced in women than in men with TTH.
Absence of conditioned responding in humans: A bad measure or individual differences?
Authors: Marin Marie‐France , Barbey Florentine , Rosenbaum Blake L. , Hammoud Mira Z. , Orr Scott P. , Milad Mohammed R.
Published: February 2019

Skin conductance response (SCR) is often used as an index of conditioned fear. SCR has been shown to be highly variable, and absence of SC reactivity is sometimes used as criteria for excluding data. It is, however, possible that low or no SC reactivity is the result of a distinct biological signature that underlies individual differences in SCR reactivity. This study examined neural correlates associated with the near absence of SCR conditionability. Archival data from 109 healthy adults aged 18–60 years were pooled. All individuals had participated in a fear conditioning protocol in a fMRI environment, during which two cues were partially reinforced (CS+) with a shock and a third cue was not (CS−). Using SCR to the conditioned stimuli and differential SCR (CS+ minus CS−), we created two groups of 30 individuals: low conditioners (defined as those showing the smallest SCR to the CS+ and smallest differential SCR) and high conditioners (defined as those showing the largest SCR to the CS+ and largest differential SCR). Our analyses showed differences in patterns of brain activations between these two groups during conditioning in the following regions: dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, and insular cortex. Our findings suggest that low or absent SCR conditionability is associated with hypoactivation of brain regions involved in fear learning and expression. This highlights the need to be cautious when excluding SCR nonconditioners and to consider the potential implications of such exclusion when interpreting the findings from studies of conditioned fear.
Fiscal devaluation and real exchange rates in the Euro area: Some econometric insights
Authors: Tkalec Marina , Vizek Maruška , Vukšić Goran
Published: February 2019

We explore whether a fiscal devaluation, that is, a reduction in employers’ social security contributions and an increase in value added tax, affects two indicators of bilateral real exchange rates in the euro area: one based on unit labor costs, and another based on consumer prices. We find that, in the short term, cuts in employers’ contributions depreciate real exchange rates based on unit labor costs, while value added tax hikes appreciate real exchange rates based on consumer prices. In the long run, a value added tax increase also appreciates the real exchange rates based on unit labor costs.
Direct analysis of pollen fitness by flow cytometry: implications for pollen response to stress
Authors: Luria Gilad , Rutley Nicholas , Lazar Itay , Harper Jeffery F. , Miller Gad
Published: February 2019

Summary

Sexual reproduction in flowering plants depends on the fitness of the male gametophyte during fertilization. Because pollen development is highly sensitive to hot and cold temperature extremes, reliable methods to evaluate pollen viability are important for research into improving reproductive heat stress (HS) tolerance. Here, we describe an approach to rapidly evaluate pollen viability using a reactive oxygen species (ROS) probe dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (i.e. H2DCFDA‐staining) coupled with flow cytometry. In using flow cytometry to analyze mature pollen harvested from Arabidopsis and tomato flowers, we discovered that pollen distributed bimodally into ‘low‐ROS’ and ‘high‐ROS’ subpopulations. Pollen germination assays following fluorescence‐activated cell sorting revealed that the high‐ROS pollen germinated with a frequency that was 35‐fold higher than the low‐ROS pollen, supporting a model in which a significant fraction of a flower's pollen remains in a low metabolic or dormant state even after hydration. The ability to use flow cytometry to quantify ROS dynamics within a large pollen population was shown by dose‐dependent alterations in DCF‐fluorescence in response to oxidative stress or antioxidant treatments. HS treatments (35°C) increased ROS levels, which correlated with a ~60% reduction in pollen germination. These results demonstrate the potential of using flow cytometry‐based approaches to investigate metabolic changes during stress responses in pollen.
Gait and electromyographic alterations due to early onset of injury and eventual rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs: A pilot study
Authors: Adrian Caroline P. , Haussler Kevin K. , Kawcak Christopher E. , Reiser Raoul F. , Riegger‐Krugh Cheryl , Palmer Ross H. , McIlwraith C. Wayne , Taylor Robert A.
Published: February 2019

Objective

Identify relevant electromyography (EMG), kinematic, and kinetic changes resulting from monopolar radiofrequency energy (MRFE)‐induced cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury and eventual rupture in dogs.

Study design

Experimental, repeated measures.

Animals

Five purpose‐bred female dogs free of orthopedic and neurologic disease.

Methods

Surface EMG, joint kinematics, and ground reaction forces were assessed at a trot in the pelvic limbs at baseline, at 2 and 4 weeks after unilateral MRFE‐induced CCL injury, and at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after CCL rupture (CCLR).

Results

After MRFE‐induced injury, average hip joint range of motion (ROM) during stance decreased within the untreated pelvic limb. After CCLR, stifle flexion angles decreased within the treated limb at 8 weeks and within the untreated pelvic limb at all time points, whereas average tarsal joint ROM decreased in the treated limb and increased in the untreated limb. Peak vertical ground reaction force and impulse decreased within the treated limb. Qualitative alterations of many EMG values were noted after MRFE‐induced injury and CCLR, although significant differences between limbs or from baseline values were not detected.

Conclusion

Monopolar radiofrequency energy‐induced injury altered contralateral hip kinematics, suggesting early regional compensatory gait alterations. After CCLR, additional compensatory gait patterns occurred in both pelvic limbs.

Clinical impact

The qualitative analysis of trial‐averaged EMG data in this small population supports a relationship between neuromuscular function and induced CCL injury leading to rupture.
Exercise serum increases GLUT4 in human adipocytes
Authors: Flores‐Opazo Marcelo , Raajendiran Arthe , Watt Matthew J. , Hargreaves Mark
Published: February 2019

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Do circulating factors mediate exercise‐induced effects on adipose tissue GLUT4 expression?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Serum (10%) obtained from human volunteers immediately after a single exercise bout increased GLUT4 protein levels in human adipocytes in culture. This result suggests that circulating factors might mediate the effects of exercise on adipose tissue GLUT4 and prompts further effort to identify the specific factor(s) and tissue(s) of origin.

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that circulating factors generated during exercise increase adipose tissue GLUT4 expression. Serum was obtained from eight healthy subjects before and after 60 min of cycling exercise, and primary adipocytes were cultured from stromal vascular fractions that were isolated from subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue samples from one healthy, male volunteer. A 48 h exposure of human primary adipocytes to 10% serum obtained after exercise increased GLUT4 protein expression, on average, by 12% compared with exposure to 10% serum obtained at rest, before exercise. GLUT4 mRNA levels were increased after 12 h of exposure to exercise serum but were unchanged after 6 and 24 h of exposure. Our results suggest that circulating factors might mediate the effects of exercise on adipose tissue GLUT4 expression and encourage further efforts to identify the potential factor(s), tissue(s) of origin and physiological relevance.
Resting metabolic rate prediction equations and the validity to assess energy deficiency in the athlete population
Authors: Schofield K. L. , Thorpe H. , Sims S. T.
Published: February 2019

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

We review the issues with using predicted resting metabolic rate equations in athletic populations.

What advances does it highlight?

The use of dated predicted resting metabolic rate equations is not appropriate for athletic populations until more studies have been conducted among these unique populations.

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is the amount of energy the body uses at rest. A suppressed RMR has been correlated with low energy availability and therefore used as an indicator of an individual's energy state. Furthermore, confounding identification of low energy availability within an athletic population are the physiological measures required, which can be time consuming and require professional expertise. To negate the demands of laboratory protocols in measuring RMR, predicted RMR (pRMR) equations were developed. Caution should be exercised when applying the pRMR equations for determining low energy availability in athletes owing to the population used to develop the equations and the higher metabolic cost of fat‐free mass, thus elevated RMR, associated with athletes. Moreover, a low ratio of measured RMR to pRMR is often used as an alternative marker for energy deficiency. Predictive equations should implement fat‐free mass within the algorithm when estimating RMR in athletic populations. The purpose of this paper is to describe pRMR equation development and the issues associated with use of pRMR equations for athletic populations. As professional sport increases, validation of pRMR equations in the modern athlete population is needed to monitor energy availability for athletic health and performance.
Analytical Approximations for the Closure Time of Freezing Processes in Spheres and Cylindrical Tubes
Authors: Al-Hamed K. H. M. , Sahin A. Z. , Laoui T. , Bokhari A. H.
Published: February 2019

In this study, an analytical approach is used to find expressions for the closure time in freezing processes for spheres and cylindrical tubes. The starting point is the well-known two-phase Stefan problem. A new characteristic solution is established for extending the theory of constant heat flux ratio. Next, temperature profiles are assumed and substituted into the interface equation, which are then solved for the inward freezing process to get the closure time. Plots are generated to compare the new expressions to previously published experimental results of closure time. The new analytical approximations give reasonable outcomes as discussed in this paper. This paper demonstrates a general approach that can be further applied to different types of phase-change problems.
Impact of annealing on the current conduction and trap properties of CeO2/La2O3 metal-insulator-metal capacitors
Authors: Rossetto Isabella , Piagge Rossella , Toia Fabrizio , Spiga Sabina , Lamperti Alessio , Vangelista Silvia , Ritasalo Riina , Järvinen Päivi , Ghidini Gabriella
Published: February 2019

This paper focuses on the impact of annealing on the current conduction and trap states of metal-insulator-metal capacitors with CeO2/La2O3 dielectrics. Capacitance-frequency measurements identify two main trap levels (T1 and T2), characterized by an activation energy of 0.2 and 0.3 eV, respectively, and by a time constant of 1 ms and 20 μs at room temperature. The current conduction is found to be ruled by a Poole-Frenkel effect and space charge limited current under positive and negative bias, respectively. Selective annealing of CeO2 and La2O3 layers clarifies the nature of the aforementioned traps. Although providing no change in the activation energy, an additional annealing of the CeO2 and La2O3 layer is found to significantly change the trap amplitude of T1 and T2, respectively. The corresponding change of the current conduction in the region where trap assisted mechanisms play a major role is discussed.
Can perceptual training alter the effect of visual biofeedback in speech-motor learning?
Authors: Klaus Adam , Lametti Daniel R. , Shiller Douglas M. , McAllister Tara
Published: February 2019

Recent work showing that a period of perceptual training can modulate the magnitude of speech-motor learning in a perturbed auditory feedback task could inform clinical interventions or second-language training strategies. The present study investigated the influence of perceptual training on a clinically and pedagogically relevant task of vocally matching a visually presented speech target using visual-acoustic biofeedback. Forty female adults aged 18–35 yr received perceptual training targeting the English /æ-ɛ/ contrast, randomly assigned to a condition that shifted the perceptual boundary toward either /æ/ or /ɛ/. Participants were then asked to produce the word head while modifying their output to match a visually presented acoustic target corresponding with a slightly higher first formant (F1, closer to /æ/). By analogy to findings from previous research, it was predicted that individuals whose boundary was shifted toward /æ/ would also show a greater magnitude of change in the visual biofeedback task. After perceptual training, the groups showed the predicted difference in perceptual boundary location, but they did not differ in their performance on the biofeedback matching task. It is proposed that the explicit versus implicit nature of the tasks used might account for the difference between this study and previous findings.
Identification of Antimalarial Compounds That Require CLAG3 for Their Uptake by
Plasmodium falciparum
-Infected Erythrocytes
Authors: Mira-Martínez Sofía , Pickford Anastasia K. , Rovira-Graells Núria , Guetens Pieter , Tintó-Font Elisabet , Cortés Alfred , Rosanas-Urgell Anna
Published: February 2019

During the intraerythrocytic asexual cycle malaria parasites acquire nutrients and other solutes through a broad selectivity channel localized at the membrane of the infected erythrocyte termed the plasmodial surface anion channel (PSAC). The protein product of the
Plasmodium falciparum
clonally variant
clag3.1
and
clag3.2
genes determines PSAC activity.
The Response of
nor
and
nos
Contributes to
Staphylococcus aureus
Virulence and Metabolism
Authors: Favazzo Lacey J. , Gill Ann Lindley , Farnsworth Christopher W. , Mooney Robert A. , Gill Steven R.
Published: February 2019

Staphylococcus aureus
can cause disease at most body sites, and illness spans asymptomatic infection to death. The variety of clinical presentations is due to the diversity of strains, which are grouped into distinct clonal complexes (CCs) based on genetic differences. The ability of
S. aureus
CC30 to cause chronic infections relies on its ability to evade the oxidative/nitrosative defenses of the immune system and survive under different environmental conditions, including differences in oxygen and nitric oxide concentrations. The significance of this work is the exploration of unique genes involved in resisting NO stress and anoxia. A better understanding of the functions that control the response of
S. aureus
CC30 to NO and oxygen will guide the treatment of severe disease presentations.
Modulation of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Quorum Sensing by Glutathione
Authors: Zhou Hui , Wang Meizhen , Smalley Nicole E. , Kostylev Maxim , Schaefer Amy L. , Greenberg E. Peter , Dandekar Ajai A. , Xu Feng
Published: February 2019

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and other bacteria coordinate group behaviors using a chemical communication system called quorum sensing (QS). The QS system of
P. aeruginosa
is complex, with several regulators and signals. We show that decreased levels of glutathione lead to increased gene activation in
P. aeruginosa
, which did not occur in a strain carrying the redox-insensitive variant of a transcription factor. The ability of
P. aeruginosa
QS transcription factors to integrate information about cell density and cellular redox state shows these transcription factors can fine-tune levels of the gene products they control in response to at least two types of signals or cues.
Rcs Phosphorelay Activation in Cardiolipin-Deficient Escherichia coli Reduces Biofilm Formation
Authors: Nepper Julia F. , Lin Yin C. , Weibel Douglas B.
Published: February 2019

There is a growing interest in the role of lipid membrane composition in the physiology and adaptation of bacteria. We demonstrate that a reduction in the anionic phospholipid cardiolipin impairs biofilm formation in
Escherichia coli
cells. Depleting cardiolipin reduced protein translocation across the inner membrane and activated the Rcs envelope stress response. Consequently, cardiolipin depletion produced cells lacking assembled flagella, which impacted their ability to attach to surfaces and seed the earliest stage in biofilm formation. This study provides empirical evidence for the role of anionic phospholipid homeostasis in protein translocation and its effect on biofilm development and highlights modulation of the membrane composition as a potential method of altering bacterial phenotypes related to adaptation and survival.
Draft Genome Sequences of Two
Bacillus
spp. and an
Oceanobacillus
sp. Strain Isolated from Marine Macroalgae
Authors: Subramanian Mugesh , Maruthamuthu Murugan
Published: February 2019

We present the draft genome sequences of
Bacillus flexus
strain DMTMMB08,
Bacillus licheniformis
strain DMTMMB10, and
Oceanobacillus picturae
strain DMTMMB24, isolated from marine macroalgae.
Metagenomics of the Viral Community in Three Cattle Slurry Samples
Authors: Sazinas Pavelas , Michniewski Slawomir , Rihtman Branko , Redgwell Tamsin , Grigonyte Aurelija , Brett Amelia , Guck Bethany , Smith Rebecca , Hooton Steven P. , Hobman Jon L. , Millard Andrew D.
Published: February 2019

The diversity of viruses in slurries from dairy farming remains largely uncharacterized. Here we report viral diversity found in cattle slurry from a dairy farm in the East Midlands in the United Kingdom.
Complete Genome Sequence of Dickeya dianthicola ME23, a Pathogen Causing Blackleg and Soft Rot Diseases of Potato
Authors: Ma Xing , Perna Nicole T. , Glasner Jeremy D. , Hao Jianjun , Johnson Steven , Nasaruddin Afnan Shazwan , Charkowski Amy O. , Wu Shan , Fei Zhangjun , Perry Keith L. , Stodghill Paul , Swingle Bryan
Published: February 2019

In 2014, an outbreak of potato blackleg and soft rot disease emerged in North America and continues to impact potato production. Here, we report the annotated genome sequence of
Dickeya dianthicola
ME23, a strain hypothesized to be representative of the bacterial population responsible for this disease outbreak.
Draft Genome Sequence of Heavy Metal-Resistant Bacillus cereus NWUAB01
Authors: Babalola Olubukola Oluranti , Aremu Bukola Rhoda , Ayangbenro Ayansina Segun
Published: February 2019

Bacillus cereus
NWUAB01 was isolated from a gold-mining site in Vryburg, South Africa, for its multiple heavy metal resistance properties. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
B. cereus
NWUAB01 obtained with Illumina sequencing.
Low-temperature expansion of the Casimir–Polder free energy for an atom interacting with a conductive plane
Authors: Khusnutdinov N. , Emelianova N.
Published: February 2019

The low-temperature expansion of the free energy of an atom/plane system is considered for a general symmetric form of the tensor conductivity of the plane. It is shown that the first correction is proportional to the second order of the temperature [Formula: see text] and comes from the TM mode. The agreement of the expansion and exact expressions for different models of conductivity is numerically demonstrated.
Stability of a Mathematical Model with Piecewise Constant Arguments for Tumor-Immune Interaction Under Drug Therapy
Authors: Feng Zonghong , Wu Xinxing , Yang Luo
Published: February 2019

This paper studies a mathematical model for the interaction between tumor cells and Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) under drug therapy. We obtain some sufficient conditions for the local and global asymptotical stabilities of the system by using Schur–Cohn criterion and the theory of Lyapunov function. In addition, it is known that the system without any treatment may undergo Neimark–Sacker bifurcation, and there may exist a chaotic region of values of tumor growth rate where the system exhibits chaotic behavior. So it is important to narrow the chaotic region. This may be done by increasing the intensity of the treatment to some extent. Moreover, for a fixed value of tumor growth rate in the chaotic region, a threshold value [Formula: see text] is predicted of the treatment parameter [Formula: see text]. We can see Neimark–Sacker bifurcation of the system when [Formula: see text], and the chaotic behavior for tumor cells ends and the system becomes locally asymptotically stable when [Formula: see text].
Dynamics of anisotropic dark energy universe embedded in one-directional magnetized fluid
Authors: Ray Pratik P. , Mishra B. , Tripathy S. K.
Published: February 2019

In this work, we have constructed an anisotropic dark energy cosmological model in a two-fluid situation, such as the usual dark energy and the magnetized fluid. We have assumed the dark energy pressure to be anisotropic in different spatial directions. In order to develop the mathematical formalism of the model, we have considered the scale factor as hybrid scale factor which is a combination of both power law and exponential volumetric expansion law. The physical parameters are derived and analyzed and found to be in agreement with the observational limits.
Color PET-MRI Medical Image Fusion Combining Matching Regional Spectrum in Shearlet Domain
Authors: Biswas Biswajit , Sen Biplab Kanti
Published: February 2019

The color PET-MRI medical image fusion is a growing research area in medical image processing domain. MRI imagery provides the picture of the anatomy of brain tissues without any functional information, while the color PET imagery gives the functional information of brain tissues with low spatial resolution. An ideal fusion model should maintain both the functional and spatial information of the images without any spatial distortion or color deformation. In this work, we present a novel fusion technique for color PET-MRI medical images using Two-Dimensional Discrete Fourier (2DFT)-Karhunen–Loeve transform (KLT) and singular value decomposition (SVD) in shearlet domain. This method decomposes the source images into multi-scaled and multi-directional sub-bands by shearlet transform (ST). Then, SVD is utilized to eliminate superfluous ST coefficients; later, the 2DFT and KLT are utilized to estimate optimal low-pass ST coefficients in each of the decomposed images. Later, we combine the largest low-pass ST coefficients using a novel fusion strategy. The process of decomposing the source image has been discussed in detail. Finally, we use the inverse shearlet transformation (IST) to obtain the fused image. Experimental results establish the excellence of our proposed method in terms of quantitative and qualitative evaluation criteria compared to other state-of-the-art techniques.
Medical image fusion based on nonsubsampled shearlet transform and principal component averaging
Authors: Akbarpour Tannaz , Shamsi Mousa , Daneshvar Sabalan , Pooreisa Masoud
Published: February 2019

Medical image fusion has a crucial role in many areas of modern medicine like diagnosis and therapy planning. Methods based on principal component analysis (PCA) have been extensively used in area of medical image fusion due to their computational simplicity. Methods based on multiresolution analysis are of attraction now due to their ability in extracting image details. A new method is proposed in this paper to benefit from these advantages. For this aim, firstly, images are transformed into multiscale space based on nonsubsampled shearlet transform (NSST). Secondly, principal components and weights of each subband are calculated. Averaging them yields weights necessary for fusion step. Finally, fused image is achieved by merging source images according to weights. Quantitative and qualitative analysis prove outperformance of our methods compared to well-known fusion methods and improvement compared to subsequent best method, in terms of standard deviation [Formula: see text], entropy [Formula: see text], structural similarity [Formula: see text], signal to noise ratio [Formula: see text] and fusion performance metric [Formula: see text].
Numerical constructions of optimal feedback in models of chemotherapy of a malignant tumor
Authors: Novoselova Natalia G.
Published: February 2019

In this paper, a problem of chemotherapy of a malignant tumor is considered. Dynamics is piecewise monotone and a therapy function has two maxima. The aim of therapy is to minimize the number of tumor cells at the given final instance.

The main result of this work is the construction of optimal feedbacks in the chemotherapy task. The construction of optimal feedback is based on the value function in the corresponding problem of optimal control (therapy). The value function is represented as a minimax generalized solution of the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation. It is proved that optimal feedback is a discontinuous function and the line of discontinuity satisfies the Rankin–Hugoniot conditions. Other results of the work are illustrative numerical examples of the construction of optimal feedbacks and Rankin–Hugoniot lines.
Modeling and dynamics of an ecological-economic model
Authors: Liu Wei , Jiang Yaolin
Published: February 2019

In this paper, an eco-economic model with harvesting on biological population is established, which takes the form of a differential-algebra system. The impact of the economic profit from harvesting upon the dynamics of the model is studied. By using a suitable parameterization for the differential-algebra system, we derive an equivalent parameterized system which gives the stability results for the positive equilibrium point of our model. Moreover, based on the parameterized system as well as the approaches of normal form and formal series, the conditions on the Hopf bifurcation and the stability of center are obtained. Several numerical simulations for demonstrating the theoretical results are also presented. Lastly, according to the dynamical analysis, we provide a threshold value for the economic profit, which can maintain the sustainable development of our eco-economic system.
SHORT-TERM HERDING EFFECT ON MARKET INDEX RETURNS
Authors: KUDRYAVTSEV ANDREY
Published: February 2019

The study analyzes the predictability of stock market returns based on the previous day’s cross-sectional market-wide herd behavior. Assuming that herding may lead to stock price overreaction and result in subsequent price reversals, I suggest that daily stock market returns may be higher (lower) following trading days characterized by negative (positive) market returns and high levels of herding. Analyzing the daily price data for S&P 500 Index and all its constituents and employing two alternative market-wide herding measures based on cross-sectional daily deviation of stock returns, I document that the days of both positive and negative market returns tend to be followed by price reversals (drifts), if the market-wide levels of herding are high (low). The herding effect on the next day’s stock market returns is found to be more pronounced following the days when the sign of the market return corresponds to the direction of the longer-term stock market tendency and the days characterized by relatively large stock market movements. The effect also remains significant after accounting for the specific numerical value of the market return.
In VivoForce Sensing During Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy Vaginal Vault Manipulation
Authors: De Smet Jef , Deprest Jan , Vander Poorten Emmanuel B.
Published: February 2019

Context [Formula: see text] During laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, vaginal vault prolapse is repaired by restoring the anatomical state of the vagina with a surgical mesh. A vaginal manipulator is placed inside the vagina to provide proper exposure to the surgeon for fixation of the mesh on the vaginal surface and vault by laparoscopy. Vaginal vault manipulation is done manually by an assistant and long operation times lead to fatigue, inconsistent application of tensioning forces and possibly vaginal rupture. This work describes a novel force sensor designed to be integrated in a vaginal manipulator to measure interaction forces between the vaginal vault and the manipulator. Content [Formula: see text] The sensor is characterized and tested in lab-environment. After receiving ethics committee approval two first-in-woman studies have been conducted. Both the force and pose of the instrument were recorded. Conclusions [Formula: see text] The force sensor showed to be suited to measure vaginal vault interaction forces and will be embedded in a robotic system for vaginal vault manipulation. Up to now, no previous research has quantified these interaction forces. Quantifying these forces and providing feedback cues to the surgeon is of particular interest, especially as a means to avoid vaginal rupture due to over-tensioning. A total of 30 interventions will be recorded.
Remote sensing applications in the Fars Region of the Zagros Mountains of Iran
Authors: Ginés Jorge , Edwards Rowan , Lohr Tina , Larkin Hayley , Holley Rachel
Published: February 2019

The Zagros Mountains in Iran are an active fold-and-thrust belt that contains world-class examples of folding and salt tectonics. The Fars Region is an excellent location for testing remote sensing methods and applications of satellite data due to its dry climate and superb exposure of geological features. Recent advances in satellite technology and image acquisition have resulted in high-quality global datasets at increasing resolution that provide a highly valuable source of data for structural analysis of fold-and-thrust belts. Oblique lineaments like the Razak Line in eastern Fars can be identified by changes in the dimensions of anticlines, presence of deflected folds, offsets in the alignment of structures, location of anticlinal plunges and exposures of salt. Drainage analysis can show propagation and coalescence of anticlines. We review several methods using optical data, digital elevation models and interferometric synthetic-aperture radar. We integrate those methods and generate detailed geological maps, structural cross-sections, identify structural steps and hidden basement features, and compare to seismological data and their effect on the exposed geology.
Totally green
Authors: Chang Jichuan , Meza Justin , Ranganathan Parthasarathy , Shah Amip , Shih Rocky , Bash Cullen
Published: February 2019

The environmental impact of servers and datacenters is an important future challenge. System architects have traditionally focused on operational energy as a proxy for designing green servers, but this ignores important environmental implications from server production (materials, manufacturing, etc.). In contrast, this paper argues for a lifecycle focus on the environmental impact of future server designs, to include both operation and production. We present a new methodology to quantify the total environmental impact of system design decisions. Our approach uses the thermodynamic metric of exergy consumption, adapted and validated for use by system architects. Using this methodology, we evaluate the lifecycle impact of several example system designs with environment-friendly optimizations. Our results show that environmental impact from production can be important (around 20% on current servers and growing) and system design choices can reduce this component (by 30--40%). Our results also highlight several, sometimes unexpected, cross-interactions between the environmental impact of production and operation that further motivate a total lifecycle emphasis for future green server designs.
Clearing the clouds
Authors: Ferdman Michael , Adileh Almutaz , Kocberber Onur , Volos Stavros , Alisafaee Mohammad , Jevdjic Djordje , Kaynak Cansu , Popescu Adrian Daniel , Ailamaki Anastasia , Falsafi Babak
Published: February 2019

Emerging scale-out workloads require extensive amounts of computational resources. However, data centers using modern server hardware face physical constraints in space and power, limiting further expansion and calling for improvements in the computational density per server and in the per-operation energy. Continuing to improve the computational resources of the cloud while staying within physical constraints mandates optimizing server efficiency to ensure that server hardware closely matches the needs of scale-out workloads.

In this work, we introduce CloudSuite, a benchmark suite of emerging scale-out workloads. We use performance counters on modern servers to study scale-out workloads, finding that today's predominant processor micro-architecture is inefficient for running these workloads. We find that inefficiency comes from the mismatch between the workload needs and modern processors, particularly in the organization of instruction and data memory systems and the processor core micro-architecture. Moreover, while today's predominant micro-architecture is inefficient when executing scale-out workloads, we find that continuing the current trends will further exacerbate the inefficiency in the future. In this work, we identify the key micro-architectural needs of scale-out workloads, calling for a change in the trajectory of server processors that would lead to improved computational density and power efficiency in data centers.