bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion to silica surfaces with stochastic nanotopography
Authors: Lord Megan S. , Whitelock John M. , Simmons Anne , Williams Rachel L. , Milthorpe Bruce K.
Published: November 2014

In this study, the effect of surface nanoscale roughness on fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion was investigated. Nanorough silica surfaces with a low level of surface roughness (10 nm Rrms) were found to support the same level of fibrinogen adsorption as the planar silica surfaces, while nanorough silica surfaces with higher levels of surface roughness (15 nm Rrms) were found to support significantly less fibrinogen adsorption. All surfaces analyzed were found to support the same level of platelet adhesion; however, platelets were rounded in morphology on the nanorough silica surfaces while platelets were spread with a well-developed actin cytoskeleton on the planar silica. Unique quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) responses was observed for the interactions between platelets and each of the surfaces. The QCM-D data indicated that platelets were more weakly attached to the nanorough silica surfaces compared with the planar silica. These data support the role of surface nanotopography in directing platelet–surface interactions even when the adsorbed fibrinogen layer is able to support the same level of platelet adhesion.
Generic trend of work functions in transition-metal carbides and nitrides
Authors: Yoshitake Michiko
Published: November 2014

Transition-metal carbides and nitrides (TMCs and TMNs) are promising electrode materials for various electronic devices such as metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors and metal-insulator-metal capacitors. In this paper, the work functions of TMCs and TMNs are discussed systematically. Based upon the origin of the work function, the effect upon transition metal species by different periodic table groups is explained, carbides are compared with nitrides for the same transition metal, and the effect of carbon or nitrogen vacancies is discussed. In addition, a method to estimate the generic trend of the work function is proposed for TMCx, TMNx, TMC1−yNy (transition metal carbonitrides), and TM1−zTM′zC (alloy carbides).
Adaptation of the modified Bouc–Wen model to compensate for hysteresis in respiratory motion for the list‐mode binning of cardiac SPECT and PET acquisitions: Testing using MRI
Authors: Dasari Paul K. R. , Shazeeb Mohammed Salman , Könik Arda , Lindsay Clifford , Mukherjee Joyeeta M. , Johnson Karen L. , King Michael A.
Published: November 2014

Purpose:

Binning list‐mode acquisitions as a function of a surrogate signal related to respiration has been employed to reduce the impact of respiratory motion on image quality in cardiac emission tomography (SPECT and PET). Inherent in amplitude binning is the assumption that there is a monotonic relationship between the amplitude of the surrogate signal and respiratory motion of the heart. This assumption is not valid in the presence of hysteresis when heart motion exhibits a different relationship with the surrogate during inspiration and expiration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the novel approach of using the Bouc–Wen (BW) model to provide a signal accounting for hysteresis when binning list‐mode data with the goal of thereby improving motion correction. The study is based on the authors’ previous observations that hysteresis between chest and abdomen markers was indicative of hysteresis between abdomen markers and the internal motion of the heart.

Methods:

In 19 healthy volunteers, they determined the internal motion of the heart and diaphragm in the superior–inferior direction during free breathing using MRI navigators. A visual tracking system (vts) synchronized with MRI acquisition tracked the anterior–posterior motions of external markers placed on the chest and abdomen. These data were employed to develop and test the Bouc–Wen model by inputting the vts derived chest and abdomen motions into it and using the resulting output signals as surrogates for cardiac motion. The data of the volunteers were divided into training and testing sets. The training set was used to obtain initial values for the model parameters for all of the volunteers in the set, and for set members based on whether they were or were not classified as exhibiting hysteresis using a metric derived from the markers. These initial parameters were then employed with the testing set to estimate output signals. Pearson's linear correlation coefficient between the abdomen, chest, average of chest and abdomen markers, and Bouc–Wen derived signals versus the true internal motion of the heart from MRI was used to judge the signals match to the heart motion.

Results:

The results show that the Bouc–Wen model generated signals demonstrated strong correlation with the heart motion. This correlation was slightly larger on average than that of the external surrogate signals derived from the abdomen marker, and average of the abdomen and chest markers, but was not statistically significantly different from them.

Conclusions:

The results suggest that the proposed model has the potential to be a unified framework for modeling hysteresis in respiratory motion in cardiac perfusion studies and beyond.
The significance of parameter uncertainties for the prediction of offshore pile driving noise
Authors: Lippert Tristan , von Estorff Otto
Published: November 2014

Due to the construction of offshore wind farms and its potential effect on marine wildlife, the numerical prediction of pile driving noise over long ranges has recently gained importance. In this contribution, a coupled finite element/wavenumber integration model for noise prediction is presented and validated by measurements. The ocean environment, especially the sea bottom, can only be characterized with limited accuracy in terms of input parameters for the numerical model at hand. Therefore the effect of these parameter uncertainties on the prediction of sound pressure levels (SPLs) in the water column is investigated by a probabilistic approach. In fact, a variation of the bottom material parameters by means of Monte-Carlo simulations shows significant effects on the predicted SPLs. A sensitivity analysis of the model with respect to the single quantities is performed, as well as a global variation. Based on the latter, the probability distribution of the SPLs at an exemplary receiver position is evaluated and compared to measurements. The aim of this procedure is to develop a model to reliably predict an interval for the SPLs, by quantifying the degree of uncertainty of the SPLs with the MC simulations.
Vocal fold vibratory patterns in tense versus lax phonation contrasts
Authors: Kuang Jianjing , Keating Patricia
Published: November 2014

This study explores the vocal fold contact patterns of one type of phonation contrast—the tense vs lax phonation contrasts of three Yi (Loloish) languages. These contrasts are interesting because neither phonation category is very different from modal voice, and because both phonations are largely independent of the languages' tonal contrasts. Electroglottographic (EGG) recordings were made in the field, and traditional EGG measures were derived. These showed many small but significant differences between the phonations, with tense phonation having greater contact quotients and briefer but slower changes in contact. Functional data analysis was then applied to entire EGG pulse shapes. The resulting first principal component was found to be mostly strongly related to the phonation contrasts, and correlated with almost all the traditional EGG measures. Unlike the traditional measures, however, this component also seems to capture differences in abruptness of contact. Furthermore, previously collected perceptual responses from native speakers of one of the languages correlated better with this component than with any other EGG measure or any acoustic measure. The differences between these tense and lax phonations are not large, but apparently they are consistent enough, and perceptually robust enough, to support this linguistic contrast.
Nondestructive measurement of neutral temperature in continuous welded rails by nonlinear ultrasonic guided waves
Authors: Nucera Claudio , Lanza di Scalea Francesco
Published: November 2014

Modern rail construction uses continuous-welded rail (CWR). The presence of very few joints leads to an increasing concern due to the large longitudinal loads caused by restrained thermal expansion and contraction, following seasonal temperature variations. The knowledge of the current state of thermal stress in the rail or, equivalently, the rail neutral temperature (corresponding to zero net longitudinal force) is a key need within the railroad transportation community in order to properly schedule slow-order mandates and prevent derailments. This paper presents a nondestructive diagnostic system for measurement of the neutral temperature in CWR based on nonlinear ultrasonic guided waves. The theoretical part of the study involved the development of a constitutive model in order to explain the origin of nonlinear effects arising in complex waveguides under constrained thermal expansion. A numerical framework has been implemented to predict internal resonance conditions of nonlinear waves in complex waveguides. This theoretical/numerical phase has led to the development of an experimental prototype (Rail-NT) that was tested both in the laboratory and in the field. The results of these experimental tests are also summarized.
Evidence of three-dimensional acoustic propagation in the Catoche Tongue
Authors: Sagers Jason D. , Ballard Megan S. , Knobles David P.
Published: November 2014

This paper presents observations of two classes of acoustic arrivals recorded on a sparsely populated vertical line array (VLA) moored in the center of the Catoche Tongue, a major reentrant in the Campeche Bank in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The acoustic signals were generated by signals underwater sound (SUS) located 50–80 km from the VLA. The first class of arrivals was identified as resulting from a direct (non-horizontally refracted) path. Then following a quiescent period, a second, more diffuse class of arrivals is observed and is believed to be the result of horizontal refraction from the margin of the Tongue. A spectral analysis of the measured data revealed that both classes of arrivals were characterized by the source spectrum associated with SUS. Additionally, the difference in time between the onset of the first and second class of arrivals observed as a function of range from the VLA is consistent with the relative difference in the length of the direct and refracted paths. The observations are further supported by a three-dimensional (3D) acoustic propagation computation that reproduces many of the features of the measured data and provides additional insight into the details of the 3D propagation.
Optimizing thermoacoustic regenerators for maximum amplification of acoustic power
Authors: Holzinger Tobias , Emmert Thomas , Polifke Wolfgang
Published: November 2014

Identifying optimum design parameters and operating conditions of thermoacoustic engines or refrigerators is crucial for the further development of such devices. This publication proposes an optimization criterion for the stack of a thermoacoustic device with the objective of maximizing the amplification of acoustic energy by the stack. For this purpose, the stack is described as an acoustic multi-port, represented mathematically by its scattering matrix. It is shown how the scattering matrix may be deduced from the standard thermo-acoustic governing equations. Then an acoustic power balance is deduced from the scattering matrix. The spectral norm and the eigenvectors of the scattering matrix identify optimal acoustic states. Stack design operating parameters and frequencies with maximum amplification of acoustic power are identified for various stack configurations. The corresponding acoustic states are interpreted physically.
Scattering by an array of perforated cylinders with a porous core
Authors: van der Aa Bart , Forssén Jens
Published: November 2014

In this work multiple scattering by an array of perforated cylindrical shells with a porous core has been investigated. A semi-analytical model to predict scattering from such cylindrical units is presented in the context of the multiple scattering theory (MST), and validated against laboratory experiments. The suggested semi-analytical multiple scattering model uses an impedance expression to include the perforated shell in the scattering coefficients, which is a compact way to describe a composite scatterer in MST. Calculation results of a small array are shown to be in excellent agreement with measured data. Predictions and data show that perforated cylinders with empty cavities exhibit a strong and narrow insertion loss peak at resonance, though simultaneously suffer from amplification below resonance. By adding porous material in the core of the scatterer adverse effects below the resonance peak were suppressed. In addition, it was found that the reduction peak broadens, though at a cost of a reduced peak amplitude. Finally, it has been shown that adding porous material in a perforated shell will introduce partial absorption of the incoming field, which can be optimized by adjusting the perforation ratio of the shell.
On the spatial properties of ambient noise in the Tonga Trench, including effects of bathymetric shadowing
Authors: Barclay David R. , Buckingham Michael J.
Published: November 2014

In September 2012, the free-falling, deep-diving instrument platform Deep Sound III descended to the bottom of the Tonga Trench, where it resided at a depth of 8515 m for almost 3 h, recording ambient noise data on four hydrophones arranged in a vertical L-shaped configuration. The time series from each of the hydrophones yielded the power spectrum of the noise over the frequency band 3 Hz to 30 kHz. The spatial coherence functions, along with the corresponding cross-correlation functions, were recovered from all available hydrophone pairs in the vertical and the horizontal. The vertical coherence and cross-correlation data closely follow the predictions of a simple theory of sea-surface noise in a semi-infinite ocean, suggesting that the seabed in the Tonga Trench is a very poor acoustic reflector, which is consistent with the fact that the sediment at the bottom of the trench consists of very-fine-grained material having an acoustic impedance similar to that of seawater. The horizontal coherence and cross-correlation data are a little more complicated, showing evidence of (a) bathymetric shadowing of the noise by the walls of the trench and (b) highly directional acoustic arrivals from the research vessel supporting the experiment.
Energy balance during underwater implosion of ductile metallic cylinders
Authors: Chamberlin Ryan E. , Guzas Emily L. , Ambrico Joseph M.
Published: November 2014

Energy-based metrics are developed and applied to a numerical test case of implosion of an underwater pressure vessel. The energy metrics provide estimates of the initial energy in the system (potential energy), the energy released into the fluid as a pressure pulse, the energy absorbed by the imploding structure, and the energy absorbed by air trapped within the imploding structure. The primary test case considered is the implosion of an aluminum cylinder [diameter: 2.54 cm (1 in.), length: 27.46 cm (10.81 in.)] that collapses flat in a mode-2 shape with minimal fracture. The test case indicates that the structure absorbs the majority (92%) of the initial energy in the system. Consequently, the energy emitted as a pressure pulse into the fluid is a small fraction, approximately 5%, of the initial energy. The energy absorbed by the structure and the energy emitted into the fluid are calculated for additional simulations of underwater pressure vessel implosions. For all cases investigated, there is minimal fracture in the collapse, the structure absorbs more than 80% of the initial energy of the system, and the released pressure pulse carries away less than 6% of the initial energy.
Otoacoustic-emission-based medial-olivocochlear reflex assays for humans
Authors: Marshall Lynne , Lapsley Miller Judi A. , Guinan John J. , Shera Christopher A. , Reed Charlotte M. , Perez Zachary D. , Delhorne Lorraine A. , Boege Paul
Published: November 2014

Otoacoustic emission (OAE) tests of the medial-olivocochlear reflex (MOCR) in humans were assessed for viability as clinical assays. Two reflection-source OAEs [TEOAEs: transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions evoked by a 47 dB sound pressure level (SPL) chirp; and discrete-tone SFOAEs: stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions evoked by 40 dB SPL tones, and assessed with a 60 dB SPL suppressor] were compared in 27 normal-hearing adults. The MOCR elicitor was a 60 dB SPL contralateral broadband noise. An estimate of MOCR strength, MOCR%, was defined as the vector difference between OAEs measured with and without the elicitor, normalized by OAE magnitude (without elicitor). An MOCR was reliably detected in most ears. Within subjects, MOCR strength was correlated across frequency bands and across OAE type. The ratio of across-subject variability to within-subject variability ranged from 2 to 15, with wideband TEOAEs and averaged SFOAEs giving the highest ratios. MOCR strength in individual ears was reliably classified into low, normal, and high groups. SFOAEs using 1.5 to 2 kHz tones and TEOAEs in the 0.5 to 2.5 kHz band gave the best statistical results. TEOAEs had more clinical advantages. Both assays could be made faster for clinical applications, such as screening for individual susceptibility to acoustic trauma in a hearing-conservation program.
Minimizing the acoustic power radiated by a fluid-loaded curved panel excited by turbulent boundary layer flow
Authors: Shepherd Micah R. , Hambric Stephen A.
Published: November 2014

In order to address noise control problems in the design stage, structural-acoustic optimization procedures can be used to find the optimal design for reduced noise or vibration. However, most structural-acoustic optimization procedures are not general enough to include both heavy fluid loading and complex forcing functions. Additionally, it can be difficult to determine and assess trade-offs between weight and sound radiation. A structural-acoustic optimization approach is presented for minimizing the radiated power of structures with heavy fluid loading excited by complex forcing functions. The procedure is demonstrated on a curved underwater panel excited by a point drive and by turbulent boundary layer flow. To facilitate more efficient analysis, an uncorrelated pressure assumption is made for the turbulent boundary layer forcing function. The thicknesses of groups of elements were used as the design variables with an adaptive covariance matrix evolutionary strategy as the search algorithm. The objective function was a weighted sum of total sound power and panel mass and the Pareto front was computed to show the optimum trade-off between the two objectives. The optimal designs are presented which illustrate the best methods for reducing radiated sound and mass simultaneously.
Investigating the thermally induced acoustoelastic effect in isotropic media with Lamb waves
Authors: Dodson Jacob C. , Inman Daniel J.
Published: November 2014

Elastic wave velocities in metallic structures are affected by variations in environmental conditions such as changing temperature. This paper extends the theory of acoustoelasticity by allowing thermally induced strains in unconstrained isotropic media, and it experimentally examines the velocity variation of Lamb waves in aluminum plates (AL-6061) due to isothermal temperature deviations. This paper presents both thermally induced acoustoelastic constants and thermally varying effective Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio which include the third order elastic material constants. The experimental thermal sensitivity of the phase velocity (∂vP/∂θ) for both the symmetric and antisymmetric modes are bounded by two theories, the acoustoelastic Lamb wave theory with thermo-acoustoelastic tensors and the thermoelastic Lamb wave theory using an effective thermo-acoustoelastic moduli. This paper shows the theoretical thermally induced acoustoelastic Lamb wave thermal sensitivity (∂vP/∂θ) is an upper bound approximation of the experimental thermal changes, but the acoustoelastic Lamb wave theory is not valid for predicting the antisymmetric (A0) phase velocity at low frequency-thickness values, <1.55 MHz mm for various temperatures.
Spatial-temporal coherence of acoustic signals propagating in a refractive, turbulent atmosphere
Authors: Ostashev Vladimir E. , Keith Wilson D. , Vecherin Sergey N. , Collier Sandra L.
Published: November 2014

Propagation of acoustic signals above an impedance ground in a refractive, turbulent atmosphere with spatial-temporal fluctuations in temperature and wind velocity is considered. Starting from a parabolic equation, and using the Markov approximation and a locally frozen turbulence hypothesis, closed-form equations for the spatial-temporal statistical moments of arbitrary order of the sound-pressure field are derived. The general theory provides a basis for analysis of many statistical characteristics of broadband and narrowband acoustic signals for different geometries of propagation: line-of-sight propagation, multipath propagation in a refractive atmosphere above an impedance ground, and sound scattering into a refractive shadow zone. As an example of application of this theory, the spatial-temporal coherence of narrowband acoustic signals for line-of-sight propagation is calculated and analyzed. The coherence time of acoustic signals is studied numerically for meteorological conditions ranging from cloudy to sunny conditions, and with light, moderate, and strong wind. The results obtained are compared with available experimental data.
A theoretical model of linearly filtered reverberation for pulsed active sonar in shallow water
Authors: Murray John J.
Published: November 2014

This paper presents a statistical model useful for characterizing pulsed active sonar reverberation in shallow water. The model is based on the fundamental assumption that reverberation consists of echoes from point scatterers having random positions, strengths, and Doppler dilations. Receive array beam patterns, simple propagation losses, and planar bistatic geometry are included. The probability distribution of uniformly dense scatterers as a function of echo delay and bearing is explicitly related to the change in the area from which scatterer echoes contribute to the reverberation, and is presented in closed form. The cross Q-function of the transmitted waveform and the linear filter applied to the received signal arises naturally from the development. This function, along with environmental spreading, determines the shape of the reverberation along the Doppler axis. The assumptions and simplifications under which the reverberation decouples into independent spatial (delay and bearing) and Doppler terms are presented.
Experimental active structural acoustic control of simply supported plates using a weighted sum of spatial gradients
Authors: Hendricks Daniel R. , Johnson William R. , Sommerfeldt Scott D. , Blotter Jonathan D.
Published: November 2014

A limitation currently facing active structural acoustic control (ASAC) researchers is that an ideal minimization quantity for use in the control algorithms has not been developed. A novel parameter termed the “weighted sum of spatial gradients” (WSSG) was recently developed for use in ASAC and shown to effectively attenuate acoustic radiation from a vibrating flat simply supported plate in computer simulations. This paper extends this research from computer simulations and provides experimental test results. The results presented show that WSSG is a viable control quantity and provides better results than the volume velocity approach. The paper also investigates several of the challenges presented by the use of WSSG. These include determining a method to measure WSSG experimentally, an analysis of the influence of noise on WSSG control results and complications presented when degenerate modes exist. Results are shown and discussed for several experimental configurations.
Toddlers' ability to map the meaning of new words in multi-talker environments
Authors: Dombroski Justine , Newman Rochelle S.
Published: November 2014

Whether in a noisy daycare center, home, or classroom, many of the environments children are exposed to are, undoubtedly, not acoustically ideal for speech processing. Yet, somehow, these toddlers are still able to acquire vocabularies consisting of hundreds of words. The current study explores the effect of background speech noise on children's early word learning (specifically, their ability to map a label onto an object). Three groups of children aged 32–36 months were taught two new words either in quiet, or in the presence of multi-talker babble at a +5 or 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). They were then tested on their learning of these new word-to-object mappings. Children showed similar accuracy in all three conditions, suggesting that even at a 0 dB SNR, children were successfully able to learn new words.
Elicitation of attributes for the evaluation of audio-on-audio interference
Authors: Francombe Jon , Mason Russell , Dewhirst Martin , Bech Søren
Published: November 2014

An experiment to determine the perceptual attributes of the experience of listening to a target audio program in the presence of an audio interferer was performed. The first stage was a free elicitation task in which a total of 572 phrases were produced. In the second stage, a consensus vocabulary procedure was used to reduce these phrases into a comprehensive set of attributes. Groups of experienced and inexperienced listeners determined nine and eight attributes, respectively. These attribute sets were combined by the listeners to produce a final set of 12 attributes: masking, calming, distraction, separation, confusion, annoyance, environment, chaotic, balance and blend, imagery, response to stimuli over time, and short-term response to stimuli. In the third stage, a simplified ranking procedure was used to select only the most useful and relevant attributes. Four attributes were selected: distraction, annoyance, balance and blend, and confusion. Ratings using these attributes were collected in the fourth stage, and a principal component analysis performed. This suggested two dimensions underlying the perception of an audio-on-audio interference situation: The first dimension was labeled “distraction” and accounted for 89% of the variance; the second dimension, accounting for 10% of the variance, was labeled “balance and blend.”
ACOUSTICAL STANDARDS NEWS
Authors: Blaeser Susan B. , Schomer Paul D.
Published: November 2014

American National Standards (ANSI Standards) developed by Accredited Standards Committees S1, S2, S3, S3/SC 1, and S12 in the areas of acoustics, mechanical vibration and shock, bioacoustics, animal bioacoustics, and noise, respectively, are published by the Acoustical Society of America (ASA). In addition to these standards, ASA publishes catalogs of Acoustical Standards, both National and International. To receive copies of the latest Standards catalogs, please contact Susan B. Blaeser.

Comments are welcomed on all material in Acoustical Standards News.

This Acoustical Standards News section in JASA, as well as the National and International Catalogs of Acoustical Standards, and other information on the Standards Program of the Acoustical Society of America, are available via the ASA home page: http://acousticalsociety.org.
Application of subharmonics for active sound design of electric vehicles
Authors: Gwak Doo Young , Yoon Kiseop , Seong Yeolwan , Lee Soogab
Published: November 2014

The powertrain of electric vehicles generates an unfamiliar acoustical environment for customers. This paper seeks optimal interior sound for electric vehicles based on psychoacoustic knowledge and musical harmonic theory. The concept of inserting a virtual sound, which consists of the subharmonics of an existing high-frequency component, is suggested to improve sound quality. Subjective evaluation results indicate that the impression of interior sound can be enhanced in this manner. Increased appeal is achieved through two designed stimuli, which proves the effectiveness of the method proposed.
Exercise in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Tran Brian D. , Galassetti Pietro
Published: November 2014

The beneficial effects of exercise, including reduction of cardiovascular risk, are especially important in children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), in whom incidence of lifetime cardiovascular complications remains elevated despite good glycemic control. Being able to exercise safely is therefore a paramount concern. Dysregulated metabolism in T1DM however, causes frequent occurrence of both hypo- and hyperglycemia, the former typically associated with prolonged, moderate exercise, the latter with higher intensity, if shorter, challenges. While very few absolute contraindications to exercising exist in these children, exercise should not be started with glycemia outside the 80–250 mg/dl range. Within this glycemic range, careful adjustments in insulin administration (reduction or infusion rate via insulin pumps, or overall reduction of dosage of multiple injections) should be combined with carbohydrate ingestion before/during exercise, based on prior, individual experience with specific exercise formats. Unfamiliar exercise should always be tackled with exceeding caution, based on known responses to other exercise formats. Finally, gaining a deep understanding of other complex exercise responses, such as the modulation of inflammatory status, which is a major determinant of the cardio-protective effects of exercise, can help determine which exercise formats and which individual metabolic conditions can lead to maximally beneficial health effects.
Adipocytokine and Ghrelin Levels in Relation to Body Composition in Rhythmic Gymnasts Entering into Puberty: A Three-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Võsoberg Kristel , Tillmann Vallo , Tamm Anna-Liisa , Jürimäe Toivo , Saar Meeli , Maasalu Katre , Neissaar Inga , Lätt Evelin , Jürimäe Jaak
Published: November 2014

The aim of this study was to describe longitudinal changes in body composition, leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin over a 36-month period in prepubertal rhythmic gymnasts (RG) and their age-matched untrained controls (UC) entering into puberty. Thirty-five RG (8.0 ± 0.6 yrs) and 33 UC (8.2 ± 0.6 yrs) were followed at 12-month intervals for the next 3 years. Height, weight, pubertal stage, body composition, leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin were measured at each time points. The pubertal development over the next 36 months was slower in the RG compared with UC. Leptin was increased in UC and remained unchanged in RG over 3-year study period (3.7 ± 3.6 vs. 0.2 ± 1.1 ng/ml; p < .05). In RG, baseline leptin was negatively correlated with the change in body fat percentage over a 36-month period (r = −0.34; p < .05). The change in adiponectin over the study period was negatively correlated with the change in BMI (r = −0.43; p < .05). RG had relative leptin deficiency per body fat mass. In conclusion, relatively high leptin concentration at the beginning of puberty may predict those girls who do not increase their body fat percentage through coming years and therefore may have increased risk for delayed puberty.
The GH-IGF-I Response to Typical Field Sports Practices in Adolescent Athletes: A Summary
Authors: Eliakim Alon , Cooper Dan M. , Nemet Dan
Published: November 2014

The present study compares previous reports on the effect of “real-life” typical field individual (ie, cross-country running and wrestling—representing combat versus noncombat sports) and team sports (ie, volleyball and water polo—representing water and land team sports) training on GH and IGF-1, the main growth factors of the GH→IGF axis, in male and female late pubertal athletes. Cross-country running practice and volleyball practice in both males and females were associated with significant increases of circulating GH levels, while none of the practices led to a significant increase in IGF-I levels. The magnitude (percent change) of the GH response to the different practices was determined mainly by preexercise GH levels. There was no difference in the training-associated GH response between individual and team sports practices. The GH response to the different typical practices was not influenced by the practice-associated lactate change. Further studies are needed to better understand the effect of real-life typical training in prepubertal and adolescent athletes and their role in exercise adaptations.
Adipocytokine and Ghrelin Responses to Acute Exercise and Sport Training in Children During Growth and Maturation
Authors: Jürimäe Jaak
Published: November 2014

Physical exercise is known to regulate energy balance. Important to this regulatory system is the existence of several peptides that communicate the status of body energy stores to the brain and are related to the body fatness including leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin. These hormones assist in regulating energy balance as well as somatic and pubertal growth in children. It appears that rather few studies have investigated the responses of leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin to acute exercise and these studies have demonstrated no changes in these peptides as a result of exercise. Leptin levels are decreased and may remain unchanged advancing from prepuberty to pubertal maturation in young male and female athletes. A limited number of studies indicate that adiponectin levels are not different between prepubertal and pubertal athletes and untrained controls. However, in certain circumstances circulating adiponectin could be increased in young athletes after onset of puberty as a result of heavily increased energy expenditure. Ghrelin levels are elevated in young sportsmen. However, pubertal onset decreases ghrelin levels in boys and girls even in the presence of chronically elevated energy expenditure as seen in young athletes. Ghrelin may also be used as an indicator of energy imbalance across the menstrual cycle in adolescent athletes. There are no studies with high-molecular-weight adiponectin and only very few studies with acylated ghrelin responses to acute exercise and chronic training have been performed in young athletes. Since these forms of adiponectin and ghrelin have been thought to be bioactive forms, further studies with these specific forms of adiponectin and ghrelin are needed. In conclusion, further studies should be conducted to investigate the response of these hormones to acute and chronic negative energy balance to better understand their role in regulating energy balance during growth and maturation in young athletes.
Altered Insulin Response to an Acute Bout of Exercise in Pediatric Obesity
Authors: Tran Brian D. , Leu Szu-Yun , Oliver Stacy , Graf Scott , Vigil Diana , Galassetti Pietro
Published: November 2014

Pediatric obesity typically induces insulin resistance, often later evolving into type 2 diabetes. While exercise, enhancing insulin sensitivity, is broadly used to prevent this transition, it is unknown whether alterations in the exercise insulin response pattern occur in obese children. Therefore, we measured exercise insulin responses in 57 healthy weight (NW), 20 overweight (OW), and 56 obese (Ob) children. Blood samples were drawn before and after 30min of intermittent (2min on, 1min off) cycling at ~80% VO2max. In a smaller group (14 NW, 6 OW, 15 Ob), a high-fat meal was ingested 45 min preexercise. Baseline glycemia was similar and increased slightly and similarly in all groups during exercise. Basal insulin (pmol/L) was significantly higher in Ob vs. other groups; postexercise, insulin increased in NW (+7 ± 3) and OW (+5 ± 8), but decreased in Ob (−15 ±5, p < .0167 vs. NW). This insulin drop in Ob was disproportionately more pronounced in the half of Ob children with higher basal insulin (Ob-H). In all groups, high-fat feeding caused a rapid rise in insulin, promptly corrected by exercise. In Ob, however, insulin rose again 30 min postexercise. Our data indicates a distinct pattern of exercise-induced insulin modulation in pediatric obesity, possibly modulated by basal insulin concentrations.
Protein folding creates structure-based, noncontiguous consensus phosphorylation motifs recognized by kinases
Authors: Duarte Mariana Lemos , Pena Darlene Aparecida , Nunes Ferraz Felipe Augusto , Berti Denise Aparecida , Paschoal Sobreira Tiago José , Costa-Junior Helio Miranda , Abdel Baqui Munira Muhammad , Disatnik Marie-Hélène , Xavier-Neto José , Lopes de Oliveira Paulo Sérgio , Schechtman Deborah
Published: November 2014

Kinases can recognize consensus motifs that are noncontiguous in folded proteins.
MicroRNAs meet calcium: Joint venture in ER proteostasis
Authors: Finger Fabian , Hoppe Thorsten
Published: November 2014

Multiple microRNAs converge to regulate calcium homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Getting By with a Little Help from Your Friends
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: November 2014

Systemic infection triggers fucosylation of surface proteins on intestinal epithelia, which supports healthy host-commensal interactions to protect the host.
Intraocular Levels of Interleukin 17A (IL-17A) and IL-10 as Respective Determinant Markers of Toxoplasmosis and Viral Uveitis
Authors: Sauer Arnaud , Villard Odile , Creuzot-Garcher Catherine , Chiquet Christophe , Berrod Jean-Paul , Speeg-Schatz Claude , Bourcier Tristan , Candolfi Ermanno
Published: November 2014

Uveitis is a potentially blinding inflammatory disease. Thirty to 50% of uveitis cases are considered idiopathic. The present study sought to determine the intraocular cytokine patterns in the different etiological types of uveitis in order to better understand their immunological regulation and to determine whether the cytokine pattern may be a useful diagnostic tool. From a multicenter institutional prospective study, the clinical and biological data from patients with uveitis of various etiologies, determined after a complete workup, were compared with those from a control group of cataract patients. A multiplex assay was used to assess the profiles of 27 cytokines and chemokines in aqueous humor samples from these patients. In total, 62 patients with infectious or noninfectious uveitis and 88 controls were included. After a complete workup, the cause of uveitis remained unknown in 25 patients (40% idiopathic uveitis). Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) levels were markedly increased in viral uveitis, as were IL-10 levels, whereas IL-17A levels were augmented in toxoplasmic uveitis. Based on the cytokine pattern, the patients were reassigned to specific groups. At the end of the study, the diagnosis of idiopathic uveitis was still valid in only 11 patients (18%). The observation that some markers are specific to certain diseases enables a better understanding of the disease pathogenesis and paves the way for new diagnostic methods aimed to identify inflammatory markers, which may perhaps be targeted by therapy.
Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086, a Widely Used Spore-Forming Probiotic Strain
Authors: Orrù Luigi , Salvetti Elisa , Cattivelli Luigi , Lamontanara Antonella , Michelotti Vania , Capozzi Vittorio , Spano Giuseppe , Keller David , Cash Howard , Martina Alessia , Torriani Sandra , Felis Giovanna E.
Published: November 2014

Bacillus coagulans
GBI-30, 6086 is a safe strain, already available on the market, and characterized by certified beneficial effects. The draft genome sequence presented here constitutes the first pillar toward the identification of the molecular mechanisms responsible for its positive features and safety.
White Spot Syndrome Virus Protein Kinase 1 Defeats the Host Cell's Iron-Withholding Defense Mechanism by Interacting with Host Ferritin
Authors: Lin Shin-Jen , Lee Der-Yen , Wang Hao-Ching , Kang Shih-Ting , Hwang Pung-Pung , Kou Guang-Hsiung , Huang Ming-Fen , Chang Geen-Dong , Lo Chu-Fang
Published: November 2014

Iron is an essential nutrient for nearly all living organisms, including both hosts and invaders. Proteins such as ferritin regulate the iron levels in a cell, and in the event of a pathogenic invasion, the host can use an iron-withholding mechanism to restrict the availability of this essential nutrient to the invading pathogens. However, pathogens use various strategies to overcome this host defense. In this study, we demonstrated that white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) protein kinase 1 (PK1) interacted with shrimp ferritin in the yeast two-hybrid system. A pulldown assay and 27-MHz quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) analysis confirmed the interaction between PK1 and both ferritin and apoferritin. PK1 did not promote the release of iron ions from ferritin, but it prevented apoferritin from binding ferrous ions. When PK1 was overexpressed in Sf9 cells, the cellular labile iron pool (LIP) levels were elevated significantly. Immunoprecipitation and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) further showed that the number of iron ions bound by ferritin decreased significantly at 24 h post-WSSV infection. Taken together, these results suggest that PK1 prevents apoferritin from iron loading, and thus stabilizes the cellular LIP levels, and that WSSV uses this novel mechanism to counteract the host cell's iron-withholding defense mechanism.

IMPORTANCE
We show here that white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) ensures the availability of iron by using a previously unreported mechanism to defeat the host cell's iron-withholding defense mechanism. This defense is often implemented by ferritin, which can bind up to 4,500 iron atoms and acts to sequester free iron within the cell. WSSV's novel counterstrategy is mediated by a direct protein-protein interaction between viral protein kinase 1 (PK1) and host ferritin. PK1 interacts with both ferritin and apoferritin, suppresses apoferritin's ability to sequester free iron ions, and maintains the intracellular labile iron pool (LIP), and thus the availability of free iron is increased within cells.
The reliability of in-hospital diagnoses of diabetes mellitus in the setting of an acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Arnold Suzanne V , Lipska Kasia J , Inzucchi Silvio E , Li Yan , Jones Philip G , McGuire Darren K , Goyal Abhinav , Stolker Joshua M , Lind Marcus , Spertus John A , Kosiborod Mikhail
Published: November 2014

Objective

Incident diabetes mellitus (DM) is important to recognize in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To develop an efficient screening strategy, we explored the use of random plasma glucose (RPG) at admission and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to select patients with AMI for glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) testing.

Design, setting, andparticipants

Prospective registry of 1574 patients with AMI not taking glucose-lowering medication from 24 US hospitals. All patients had HbA1c measured at a core laboratory and admission RPG and ≥2 FPGs recorded during hospitalization. We examined potential combinations of RPG and FPG and compared these with HbA1c≥6.5%—considered the gold standard for DM diagnosis in these analyses.

Results

An RPG>140 mg/dL or FPG≥126 mg/dL had high sensitivity for DM diagnosis. Combining these into a screening protocol (if admission RPG>140, check HbA1c; or if FPG≥126 on a subsequent day, check HbA1c) led to HbA1c testing in 50% of patients and identified 86% with incident DM (number needed to screen (NNS)=3.3 to identify 1 case of DM; vs NNS=5.6 with universal HbA1c screening). Alternatively, using an RPG>180 led to HbA1c testing in 40% of patients with AMI and identified 82% of DM (NNS=2.7).

Conclusions

We have established two potential selective screening methods for DM in the setting of AMI that could identify the vast majority of incident DM by targeted screening of 40–50% of patients with AMI with HbA1c testing. Using these methods may efficiently identify patients with AMI with DM so that appropriate education and treatment can be promptly initiated.
Nodding syndrome in Kitgum District, Uganda: association with conflict and internal displacement
Authors: Landis Jesa L , Palmer Valerie S , Spencer Peter S
Published: November 2014

Objectives

To test for any temporal association of Nodding syndrome with wartime conflict, casualties and household displacement in Kitgum District, northern Uganda.

Methods

Data were obtained from publicly available information reported by the Ugandan Ministry of Health (MOH), the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) Project of the University of Sussex in the UK, peer-reviewed publications in professional journals and other sources.

Results

Reports of Nodding syndrome began to appear in 1997, with the first recorded cases in Kitgum District in 1998. Cases rapidly increased annually beginning in 2001, with peaks in 2003–2005 and 2008, 5–6 years after peaks in the number of wartime conflicts and deaths. Additionally, peaks of Nodding syndrome cases followed peak influxes 5–7 years earlier of households into internal displacement camps.

Conclusions

Peaks of Nodding syndrome reported by the MOH are associated with, but temporally displaced from, peaks of wartime conflicts, deaths and household internment, where infectious disease was rampant and food insecurity rife.
Seeking the source ofPseudomonas aeruginosainfections in a recently opened hospital: an observational study using whole-genome sequencing
Authors: Quick Joshua , Cumley Nicola , Wearn Christopher M , Niebel Marc , Constantinidou Chrystala , Thomas Chris M , Pallen Mark J , Moiemen Naiem S , Bamford Amy , Oppenheim Beryl , Loman Nicholas J
Published: November 2014

Objectives

Pseudomonas aeruginosais a common nosocomial pathogen responsible for significant morbidity and mortality internationally. Patients may become colonised or infected withP. aeruginosaafter exposure to contaminated sources within the hospital environment. The aim of this study was to determine whether whole-genome sequencing (WGS) can be used to determine the source in a cohort of burns patients at high risk ofP. aeruginosaacquisition.

Study design

An observational prospective cohort study.

Setting

Burns care ward and critical care ward in the UK.

Participants

Patients with >7% total burns by surface area were recruited into the study.

Methods

All patients were screened forP. aeruginosaon admission and samples taken from their immediate environment, including water. Screening patients who subsequently developed a positiveP. aeruginosamicrobiology result were subject to enhanced environmental surveillance. All isolates ofP. aeruginosawere genome sequenced. Sequence analysis looked at similarity and relatedness between isolates.

Results

WGS for 141P. aeruginosaisolates were obtained from patients, hospital water and the ward environment. Phylogenetic analysis revealed eight distinct clades, with a single clade representing the majority of environmental isolates in the burns unit. Isolates from three patients had identical genotypes compared with water isolates from the same room. There was clear clustering of water isolates by room and outlet, allowing the source of acquisitions to be unambiguously identified. Whole-genome shotgun sequencing of biofilm DNA extracted from a thermostatic mixer valve revealed this was the source of aP. aeruginosasubpopulation previously detected in water. In the remaining two cases there was no clear link to the hospital environment.

Conclusions

This study reveals that WGS can be used for source tracking ofP. aeruginosain a hospital setting, and that acquisitions can be traced to a specific source within a hospital ward.