bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does captivity influence territorial and hunting behaviour? Assessment for an ex situ reintroduction program of African lions Panthera leo
Authors: Dunston Emma J. , Abell Jackie , Doyle Rebecca E. , Duffy Deanna , Poynter Craig , Kirk Jacqui , Hilley Victoria B. , Forsyth Andrew , Jenkins Emma , Mcallister Dominique , Freire Rafael
Published: September 2017

Maintaining a territory and being able to hunt are imperative for the success of African lion Panthera leo prides. We aimed to determine whether captive‐origin prides display similar territorial and hunting behaviour to wild lions. Behaviours and locations of two captive‐origin prides and one wild pride were collected through direct observation. All prides established territories, and core areas corresponded to resource requirements. There was no evidence that pride origin affected territorial or hunting behaviour. Captive‐origin prides exhibited behaviours that lead us to be optimistic about each pride's ability to establish and defend a territory successfully, and to hunt, following reintroduction.
Ancestral acquisitions, gene flow and multiple evolutionary trajectories of the type three secretion system and effectors in Xanthomonas plant pathogens
Authors: Merda Déborah , Briand Martial , Bosis Eran , Rousseau Céline , Portier Perrine , Barret Matthieu , Jacques Marie‐Agnès , Fischer‐Le Saux Marion
Published: September 2017

Deciphering the evolutionary history and transmission patterns of virulence determinants is necessary to understand the emergence of novel pathogens. The main virulence determinant of most pathogenic proteobacteria is the type three secretion system (T3SS). The Xanthomonas genus includes bacteria responsible for numerous epidemics in agroecosystems worldwide and represents a major threat to plant health. The main virulence factor of Xanthomonas is the Hrp2 family T3SS; however, this system is not conserved in all strains and it has not been previously determined whether the distribution of T3SS in this bacterial genus has resulted from losses or independent acquisitions. Based on comparative genomics of 82 genome sequences representing the diversity of the genus, we have inferred three ancestral acquisitions of the Hrp2 cluster during Xanthomonas evolution followed by subsequent losses in some commensal strains and re‐acquisition in some species. While mutation was the main force driving polymorphism at the gene level, interspecies homologous recombination of large fragments expanding through several genes shaped Hrp2 cluster polymorphism. Horizontal gene transfer of the entire Hrp2 cluster also occurred. A reduced core effectome composed of xopF1, xopM, avrBs2 and xopR was identified that may allow commensal strains overcoming plant basal immunity. In contrast, stepwise accumulation of numerous type 3 effector genes was shown in successful pathogens responsible for epidemics. Our data suggest that capacity to intimately interact with plants through T3SS would be an ancestral trait of xanthomonads. Since its acquisition, T3SS has experienced a highly dynamic evolutionary history characterized by intense gene flux between species that may reflect its role in host adaptation.
A putative spermidine synthase interacts with flagellar switch protein FliM and regulates motility in Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Zhang Huawei , Lam Kwok Ho , Lam Wendy Wai Ling , Wong Sandra Yuen Yuen , Chan Vera Sau Fong , Au Shannon Wing Ngor
Published: September 2017

The flagellar motor is an important virulence factor in infection by many bacterial pathogens. Motor function can be modulated by chemotactic proteins and recently appreciated proteins that are not part of the flagellar or chemotaxis systems. How these latter proteins affect flagellar activity is not fully understood. Here, we identified spermidine synthase SpeE as an interacting partner of switch protein FliM in Helicobacter pylori using pull‐down assay and mass spectrometry. To understand how SpeE contributes to flagellar motility, a speE‐null mutant was generated and its motility behavior was evaluated. We found that deletion of SpeE did not affect flagellar formation, but induced clockwise rotation bias. We further determined the crystal structure of the FliM‐SpeE complex at 2.7 Å resolution. SpeE dimer binds to FliM with micromolar binding affinity, and their interaction is mediated through the β1' and β2' region of FliM middle domain. The FliM‐SpeE binding interface partially overlaps with the FliM surface that interacts with FliG and is essential for proper flagellar rotational switching. By a combination of protein sequence conservation analysis and pull‐down assays using FliM and SpeE orthologues in E. coli, our data suggest that FliM‐SpeE association is unique to Helicobacter species.
Concrete and Otherworldly: Reading Kierkegaard's Works of Love alongside Hegel's Philosophy of Right
Authors: Millay Thomas Joseph
Published: September 2017

Here I argue that much of the confusion surrounding the status of material aid to the neighbor in Kierkegaard's Works of Love is cleared up once one sees the text as participating in a movement that has a fundamentally Hegelian substructure: from Moralität in Upbuilding Discourses in Various Spirits to Sittlichkeit in Works of Love. As might be expected, Kierkegaard takes this Hegelian structure in a very different direction than the Hegel of Philosophy of Right—a direction best described as an Augustinian ethic that is both concrete and otherworldly.
Filioque, Theosis, and Ecclesia: Augustine in Dialogue with Modern Orthodox Theology
Authors: Iacovetti Christopher
Published: September 2017

By bringing recent developments in Augustine scholarship into conversation with modern Orthodox criticisms of Augustine, this article challenges the polemical Orthodox claim that Augustinian pneumatology logically undermines the doctrine of theosis. Indeed, in Augustine's own case, I argue that just the opposite is true: Augustine's “filioquist” pneumatology is precisely what leads him, ahead of his contemporaries, to advance a robustly ecclesial and trinitarian account of deification. Augustine should therefore be seen not as an opponent but as a crucial conversation partner for Orthodox theology, addressing in advance many of the ecclesiological and trinitarian questions with which the latter has engaged in recent centuries.
Consequences of Linguistic Distance for Economic Growth
Authors: Gören Erkan
Published: September 2017

This paper advances a new country‐level measure of ethno‐linguistic diversity, making use of Greenberg's definition of diversity by synthesizing information on the share of different ethno‐linguistic groups in a country's population and, more importantly, information on intergroup linguistic distances derived from a recently developed lexicostatistical approach. I show that this measure captures ethno‐linguistic diversity at lower levels of linguistic aggregation. However, unlike the commonly used phylogenetic language tree approach, I found that these distance‐weighted diversity measures continue to have a strong negative statistical association with economic growth that is not sensitive to the underlying resemblance function between ethno‐linguistic groups.
The Parrot and the Braid
Authors: Cooke Roderick
Published: September 2017

I begin by articulating a basis for comparison between Flaubert's “Un cœur simple” (1877) and Rodenbach's Bruges‐la‐morte (1891), identifying a set of five close structural parallels between their final chapters. Given these parallels, why do the two narratives end so differently, with a quiet death in the Flaubert and a violent one in the Rodenbach? Donald Winnicott's theory of transitional objects enables an answer to this question. Flaubert's protagonist has a successful transitional object, the parrot Loulou, where Rodenbach's has a failed object in the form of his dead wife's golden braid, and the roles of these two objects help to explain the two works’ conclusions.

A transitional object reading further allows comparison of the texts’ representation of religion, both the private shrines of the characters and the public processions of their communities. The distinction between successful and failed transitional objects is tied to the public/private opposition. Félicité, in “Un cœur simple,” and Hugues, in Bruges‐la‐morte, differ from each other in their respective attachments to public and private life, notably in the religious sphere. The same opposition may, I suggest, be connected to the difference between motivated and unmotivated metaphors articulated in conceptual metaphor theory.
The phenylephrine concentration‐response relationship for blood pressure after nasal delivery in children
Authors: Anderson Brian J. , Christensen Lisa K. , Armstead Valerie E. , Bilyeu David P. , Johnson Kenneth E. , Friesen Robert H.
Published: September 2017

Background

Intranasal phenylephrine is commonly used to vasoconstrict the nasal mucosa, reducing bleeding associated with nasotracheal intubation or endoscopic sinus surgery. There are few data quantifying either absorption pharmacokinetics or phenylephrine concentration effect on blood pressure in children.

Methods

Published observations of plasma concentration and blood pressure changes after phenylephrine nasal administration (0.1 mL kg−1, 0.25% or 0.5%) in children (n = 52, 2‐12 years, 10‐40 kg) were pooled with those in adults (23‐81 years) given phenylephrine 2.5% (n = 10) and 10% (n = 10) eyedrops. Further pharmacokinetic (PK) data were available from healthy volunteers given oral phenylephrine 10 mg alone, with blood for concentration assay taken at 5, 15, 30, 45 minutes and 1, 2, 3, 6 hours (n = 28). Intravenous time‐concentration data were available from four healthy volunteers given phenylephrine 1 mg and who had blood taken for assay on 17 occasions over the subsequent 4 hours. Data were analyzed using an integrated pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic (PK‐PD) model using nonlinear mixed‐effects models. Allometry, scaled to a 70‐kg person, was used for PK size standardization. Effect was described using an EMAX model.

Results

A two‐compartment model was used to fit PK data while an additional compartment, linked by an equilibration half‐time (T1/2keo), was used to describe effect. PK parameter estimates for the nasal formulation were clearance (CL) 160 L h−1, central volume of distribution (V1) 13.3 L, intercompartment clearance (Q) 25.3 L h−1, peripheral volume of distribution (V2) 225 L, absorption half‐time (Tabs) 6.2 minutes, absorption lag time (Tlag) 1.5 minutes, and bioavailability (F) 0.183. Bioavailability and absorption of the ophthalmic solution were concentration dependent (F 0.13, Tabs 5.5 minutes for 2.5% solution; F 0.15, Tabs 9.6 minutes for 10% solution). Absorption of the oral formulation was slow (Tabs 48 minutes) with poor bioavailability (F 0.0128). The pediatric PD interrogation revealed a baseline mean arterial pressure of 60 mm Hg, a maximum effect (EMAX) of 25 mm Hg, and an EC50 of 10.3 μg L−1. The effect on vasculature was immediate and T1/2keo was not estimable.

Conclusion

Absorption of phenylephrine through the nasal mucosa was rapid and similar to the ophthalmic formulation. Bioavailability was also similar to the ophthalmic formulation. The maximum effect (EMAX) in children was half that in adults (EMAX 50 mm Hg).
Comprehensive description of genomewide nucleotide and structural variation in short‐season soya bean
Authors: Torkamaneh Davoud , Laroche Jérôme , Tardivel Aurélie , O'Donoughue Louise , Cober Elroy , Rajcan Istvan , Belzile François
Published: September 2017

Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics tools have greatly facilitated the characterization of nucleotide variation; nonetheless, an exhaustive description of both SNP haplotype diversity and of structural variation remains elusive in most species. In this study, we sequenced a representative set of 102 short‐season soya beans and achieved an extensive coverage of both nucleotide diversity and structural variation (SV). We called close to 5M sequence variants (SNPs, MNPs and indels) and noticed that the number of unique haplotypes had plateaued within this set of germplasm (1.7M tag SNPs). This data set proved highly accurate (98.6%) based on a comparison of called genotypes at loci shared with a SNP array. We used this catalogue of SNPs as a reference panel to impute missing genotypes at untyped loci in data sets derived from lower density genotyping tools (150 K GBS‐derived SNPs/530 samples). After imputation, 96.4% of the missing genotypes imputed in this fashion proved to be accurate. Using a combination of three bioinformatics pipelines, we uncovered ~92 K SVs (deletions, insertions, inversions, duplications, CNVs and translocations) and estimated that over 90% of these were accurate. Finally, we noticed that the duplication of certain genomic regions explained much of the residual heterozygosity at SNP loci in otherwise highly inbred soya bean accessions. This is the first time that a comprehensive description of both SNP haplotype diversity and SV has been achieved within a regionally relevant subset of a major crop.
OsASR2 regulates the expression of a defence‐related gene, Os2H16, by targeting the GT‐1 cis‐element
Authors: Li Ning , Wei Shutong , Chen Jing , Yang Fangfang , Kong Lingguang , Chen Cuixia , Ding Xinhua , Chu Zhaohui
Published: September 2017

The GT‐1 cis‐element widely exists in many plant gene promoters. However, the molecular mechanism that underlies the response of the GT‐1 cis‐element to abiotic and biotic stresses remains elusive in rice. We previously isolated a rice short‐chain peptide‐encoding gene, Os2H16, and demonstrated that it plays important roles in both disease resistance and drought tolerance. Here, we conducted a promoter assay of Os2H16 and identified GT‐1 as an important cis‐element that mediates Os2H16 expression in response to pathogen attack and osmotic stress. Using the repeated GT‐1 as bait, we characterized an abscisic acid, stress and ripening 2 (ASR2) protein from yeast‐one hybridization screening. Sequence alignments showed that the carboxy‐terminal domain of OsASR2 containing residues 80–138 was the DNA‐binding domain. Furthermore, we identified that OsASR2 was specifically bound to GT‐1 and activated the expression of the target gene Os2H16, as well as GFP driven by the chimeric promoter of 2 × GT‐1‐35S mini construct. Additionally, the expression of OsASR2 was elevated by pathogens and osmotic stress challenges. Overexpression of OsASR2 enhanced the resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani, and tolerance to drought in rice. These results suggest that the interaction between OsASR2 and GT‐1 plays an important role in the crosstalk of the response of rice to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Improved clonality detection in B‐cell lymphoma using a semi‐nested modification of the BIOMED‐2 PCR assay for IGH rearrangement: A paraffin‐embedded tissue study
Authors: Sakamoto Yuma , Masaki Ayako , Aoyama Satsuki , Han Shusen , Saida Kosuke , Fujii Kana , Takino Hisashi , Murase Takayuki , Iida Shinsuke , Inagaki Hiroshi
Published: September 2017

The BIOMED‐2 PCR protocol for targeting the IGH gene is widely employed for detecting clonality in B‐cell malignancies. Unfortunately, the detection of clonality with this method is not very sensitive when paraffin sections are used as a DNA source. To increase the sensitivity, we devised a semi‐nested modification of a JH consensus primer. The clonality detection rates of three assays were compared: the standard BIOMED‐2, BIOMED‐2 assay followed by BIOMED‐2 re‐amplification, and BIOMED‐2 assay followed by semi‐nested BIOMED‐2. We tested more than 100 cases using paraffin‐embedded tissues of various B‐cell lymphomas, and found that the clonality detection rates with the above three assays were 63.9%, 79.6%, and 88.0%, respectively. While BIOMED‐2 re‐amplification was significantly more sensitive than the standard BIOMED‐2, the semi‐nested BIOMED‐2 was significantly more sensitive than both the standard BIOMED‐2 and BIOMED‐2 re‐amplification. An increase in sensitivity was observed in all lymphoma subtypes examined. In conclusion, tumor clonality may be detected in nearly 90% of B‐cell lymphoma cases with semi‐nested BIOMED‐2. This ancillary assay may be useful when the standard BIOMED‐2 fails to detect clonality in histopathologically suspected B‐cell lymphomas.
Skene's gland adenocarcinoma with intestinal differentiation: A case report and literature review
Authors: Muto Mariko , Inamura Kentaro , Ozawa Naoko , Endo Takashi , Masuda Hitoshi , Yonese Junji , Ishikawa Yuichi
Published: September 2017

Adenocarcinoma of Skene's gland (the female homolog to the male prostate) is extremely rare, with only a few cases reported. We present a case of Skene's gland adenocarcinoma with intestinal differentiation. The patient was a 69‐year‐old Japanese woman who was operated on for a recurrent tumor of the external ostium of the urethra. Histopathologically, the tumor showed glandular and cribriform patterns with a signet‐ring cell component in a mucus lake. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for prostate specific acid phosphatase (PSAP), and AMACR, and negative for Nkx3.1 or prostate specific antigen (PSA). Although in situ lesion could not be discovered, positive immunostainings for Nkx3.1, PSAP, and androgen receptor in the remaining paraurethral glands around the tumor indirectly but strongly suggest that the tumor had originated from Skene's gland. This tumor also showed intestinal differentiation as suggested histologically and by positive immunostainings for CDX2, MUC2, and CK20, along with negative immunostaining for CK7. It is often very difficult to identify the origin of a female urethral carcinoma. In such cases, immunohistochemical features can be an essential clue to the origin. We therefore present this instructive case with a literature review.
Antioxidant Consumption is Associated with Decreased Odds of Congenital Limb Deficiencies
Authors: Pace Nelson D. , Desrosiers Tania A. , Carmichael Suzan L. , Shaw Gary M. , Olshan Andrew F. , Siega‐Riz Anna Maria ,   the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Published: September 2017

Background

Approximately 1 in 2000 infants is born with a limb deficiency in the US. Research has shown that women's periconceptional diet and use of vitamin supplements can affect risk of birth defects. We investigated whether maternal consumption of nutritional antioxidants was associated with occurrence of transverse limb deficiency (TLD) and longitudinal limb deficiencies (LLD).

Methods

We analysed case–control data from mothers and their singleton infants with TLD (n = 566), LLD (n = 339), or no malformation (controls; n = 9384) in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997–2009). Using a modified food frequency, we estimated usual pre‐pregnancy antioxidant consumption by total fruit and vegetable consumption (in grams) grouped into tertiles, and cumulative antioxidant score (ranging from 1 to 10) based on consumption of three antioxidants: beta‐carotene, lycopene, and lutein. We estimated odds ratios (OR) adjusted for maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, and total energy.

Results

Compared to women in the lowest tertile of fruit and vegetable consumption, women in the highest tertile were less likely to have infants with TLD (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.57, 0.96) or LLD (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.59, 1.13). Compared to the lowest antioxidant consumption score of 1, those with the highest score of 10 had ORs of 0.68 (95% CI 0.48, 0.95) for TLD and 0.77 (95% CI 0.50, 1.17) for LLD.

Conclusions

Dietary intake of antioxidants was associated with reduced odds of limb deficiencies. These findings add further evidence for women's periconceptional diet reducing occurrence of some birth defects.
Perceptions of family caregivers of cancer patients about the challenges of caregiving: a qualitative study
Authors: Nemati Shahnaz , Rassouli Maryam , Ilkhani Mahnaz , Baghestani Ahmad Reza
Published: September 2017

Background

The experience of caring for a family member with cancer is associated with several care‐related problems and challenges for the caregiver. The comprehensive and in‐depth understanding of the trials and tribulations of caregiving can be a step towards resolving the problems faced by family caregivers of these patients.

Aim

The present study aimed to explore challenges faced by Iranian family caregivers of cancer patients.

Materials and methods

The present qualitative study was conducted through in‐depth semi‐structured interviews held with 21 family caregivers of cancer patients selected through purposive sampling. Interviews continued until saturation of data. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed through conventional content analysis.

Finding

The codes extracted from interviews produced four main themes, including ‘confusion’, ‘uncertainty’, ‘disintegration’ and ‘setback’, which collectively caused suffering for family caregivers.

Conclusion

Care provided in an atmosphere of suffering and discontent diminishes caregiver's quality of life and quality of patient care. Health planners should therefore consider the challenges and sufferings faced by family caregivers and should seek to obviate them through appropriate plans.
Parent Caring Response Scoring System: development and psychometric evaluation in the context of childhood cancer‐related port starts
Authors: Bai Jinbing , Swanson Kristen , Harper Felicity W.K. , Penner Louis A. , Santacroce Sheila J.
Published: September 2017

Rationale

Multiple observational coding systems have been developed and validated to assess parent–child interactions during painful procedures. Most of these coding systems are neither theory‐based nor do they well represent parent nonverbal behaviours.

Aims

Develop the Parent Caring Response Scoring System (P‐CaReSS) based on Swanson's Theory of Caring and test its psychometric properties in children in cancer port starts.

Methods

A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding was used to formulate the preliminary observational codes for the P‐CaReSS. Twenty‐nine children, each with one video‐recording of port start available, were selected from the parent study (R01CA138981) to refine the P‐CaReSS, train coders and test inter‐rater reliability. Videos of another 43 children were used to evaluate the construct validity of P‐CaReSS. Per cent agreement and Cohen's kappa were used to present the inter‐rater reliability. Spearman rank‐order correlations were used to report the construct validity.

Results

The 18‐item P‐CaReSS includes three types of parent behaviours: verbal, nonverbal and emotional behaviours. These parent interaction behaviours comprise five caring domains – knowing, being with, doing for, enabling, and maintaining belief – and one noncaring domain. On average the per cent agreement was 0.82 for the P‐CaReSS overall, with average per cent agreements above 0.80 for both verbal and nonverbal behaviours. Kappa coefficient was 0.81 for the emotional behaviour. The behavioural codes in the P‐CaReSS showed significant correlations with independent ratings of parent distress, child distress and child cooperation.

Conclusions

The P‐CaReSS is a promising tool that can be used to evaluate parent verbal, nonverbal and emotional behaviours during cancer‐related port starts. This observational tool can be used to guide the development of nursing interventions to help parents caring for their child during cancer procedures.
Self‐Stigma Mediates the Impact of Insight on Current Suicide Ideation in Suicide Attempters with Schizophrenia: Results of a Moderated Mediation Approach
Authors: Lien Yin‐Ju , Chang Hsin‐An , Kao Yu‐Chen , Tzeng Nian‐Sheng , Yeh Chin‐Bin , Loh Ching‐Hui
Published: September 2017

This study examined the relationships among insight, self‐stigma, self‐esteem, hope, quality of life, and suicidal behavior in individuals diagnosed as having schizophrenia. Hypotheses concerning mediating and moderating effects were examined. A total of 170 community‐dwelling patients with schizophrenia participated in the study. The results revealed a negative association between insight and suicide ideation, which was partially mediated by self‐stigma. Moreover, this indirect link was stronger among patients with suicide attempts than among those without attempts. We discuss the implications of these results for preventing or reducing the considerable risks of suicide in this population.
Ulurumyiidae – a new family of calyptrate flies (Diptera)
Authors: Michelsen Verner , Pape Thomas
Published: September 2017

A new monotypic and monospecific family Ulurumyiidae fam.n., type genus Ulurumyia gen.n., is erected for the species Ulurumyia macalpinei sp.n. from southeastern Australia. The family is unambiguously a member of the superfamily Oestroidea within Calyptratae, and available evidence supports noninclusion in any of the known families, but phylogenetic affinities are otherwise obscure. The species is a coprophage with obligate lecithotrophic unilarviparity, known to breed in cow dung but not known from the dung of any native Australian mammal.
A new genus of hell ants from the Cretaceous (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Haidomyrmecini) with a novel head structure
Authors: Barden Phillip , Herhold Hollister W. , Grimaldi David A.
Published: September 2017

An unusual Cretaceous trap jaw ant is described from Burmese amber dated to the Late Cretaceous. Linguamyrmex vladi gen.n. sp.n. is distinguished by an unusual suite of morphological characters indicating specialized predatory behaviour and an adaptive strategy no longer found among modern ant lineages. The clypeus, highly modified as in other closely related haidomyrmecine hell ants, is equipped with a paddle‐like projection similar to Ceratomyrmex. X‐ray imaging reveals that this clypeal paddle is reinforced, most probably with sequestered metals. Presumably this fortified clypeal structure was utilized in tandem with scythe‐like mandibles to pin and potentially puncture soft‐bodied prey. This unique taxon, which stresses the diversity of stem‐group ants, is discussed in the context of modern and other Cretaceous trap jaw ant species.

This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:40D636A3‐4D88‐470A‐BC5B‐85ABFD1A49E2.
Diabetes prevalence and its impact on health‐related quality of life in tuberculosis patients
Authors: Siddiqui Ali Nasir , Khayyam Khalid Umer , Siddiqui Nahida , Sarin Rohit , Sharma Manju
Published: September 2017

Objective

To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), assess its influence on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with TB.

Methods

In this prospective study, eligible patients at three primary healthcare centres in urban slum region of south Delhi, India, underwent blood glucose screening at treatment initiation. HRQoL scores were determined by conducting face‐to‐face interviews using Dhingra and Rajpal (DR‐12) scale at pre‐treatment, end of intensive phase and end of the treatment.

Results

In 316 patients, the overall DM prevalence was 15.8%, of whom 9.5% were known to have diabetes, and 6.3% were diagnosed at TB treatment initiation. DM was more common among patients of older age (P < 0.001), with higher BMI (P < 0.001), with PTB (P = 0.02) and with poor psychological status. HRQoL was significantly poor in the socio‐psychological & exercise adaptation domain in patients with DM ˃50 years of age at each visit. Older age, poor literacy, loss in workdays, alcohol use and socio‐economic status significantly predict poor HRQoL scores in patients with DM. Uncontrolled DM patients demonstrated poor HRQoL at the end of the intensive phase (P = 0.04) of treatment and at its completion (P = 0.03) compared to those with controlled DM.

Conclusion

Addressing screening measures and glycaemic control along with social determinants such as literacy level and alcohol consumption could be an important means of improving the HRQoL of TB with DM patients.
Extensive genome heterogeneity leads to preferential allele expression and copy number‐dependent expression in cultivated potato
Authors: Pham Gina M. , Newton Linsey , Wiegert‐Rininger Krystle , Vaillancourt Brieanne , Douches David S. , Buell C. Robin
Published: September 2017

Relative to homozygous diploids, the presence of multiple homologs or homeologs in polyploids affords greater tolerance to mutations that can impact genome evolution. In this study, we describe sequence and structural variation in the genomes of six accessions of cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), a vegetatively propagated autotetraploid and their impact on the transcriptome. Sequence diversity was high with a mean single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rate of approximately 1 per 50 bases suggestive of high levels of allelic diversity. Additive gene expression was observed in leaves (3605 genes) and tubers (6156 genes) that contrasted the preferential allele expression of between 2180 and 3502 and 3367 and 5270 genes in the leaf and tuber transcriptome, respectively. Preferential allele expression was significantly associated with evolutionarily conserved genes suggesting selection of specific alleles of genes responsible for biological processes common to angiosperms during the breeding selection process. Copy number variation was rampant with between 16 098 and 18 921 genes in each cultivar exhibiting duplication or deletion. Copy number variable genes tended to be evolutionarily recent, lowly expressed, and enriched in genes that show increased expression in response to biotic and abiotic stress treatments suggestive of a role in adaptation. Gene copy number impacts on gene expression were detected with 528 genes having correlations between copy number and gene expression. Collectively, these data suggest that in addition to allelic variation of coding sequence, the heterogenous nature of the tetraploid potato genome contributes to a highly dynamic transcriptome impacted by allele preferential and copy number‐dependent expression effects.
Nup42 and IP6 coordinate Gle1 stimulation of Dbp5/DDX19B for mRNA export in yeast and human cells
Authors: Adams Rebecca L. , Mason Aaron C. , Glass Laura , Aditi  , Wente Susan R.
Published: September 2017

The mRNA lifecycle is driven through spatiotemporal changes in the protein composition of mRNA particles (mRNPs) that are triggered by RNA‐dependent DEAD‐box protein (Dbp) ATPases. As mRNPs exit the nuclear pore complex (NPC) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this remodeling occurs through activation of Dbp5 by inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6)‐bound Gle1. At the NPC, Gle1 also binds Nup42, but Nup42's molecular function is unclear. Here we employ the power of structure‐function analysis in S. cerevisiae and human (h) cells, and find that the high‐affinity Nup42‐Gle1 interaction is integral to Dbp5 (hDDX19B) activation and efficient mRNA export. The Nup42 carboxy‐terminal domain (CTD) binds Gle1/hGle1B at an interface distinct from the Gle1‐Dbp5/hDDX19B interaction site. A nup42‐CTD/gle1‐CTD/Dbp5 trimeric complex forms in the presence of IP6. Deletion of NUP42 abrogates Gle1‐Dbp5 interaction, and disruption of the Nup42 or IP6 binding interfaces on Gle1/hGle1B leads to defective mRNA export in S. cerevisiae and human cells. In vitro, Nup42‐CTD and IP6 stimulate Gle1/hGle1B activation of Dbp5 and DDX19B recombinant proteins in similar, nonadditive manners, demonstrating complete functional conservation between humans and S. cerevisiae. Together, a highly conserved mechanism governs spatial coordination of mRNP remodeling during export. This has implications for understanding human disease mutations that perturb the Nup42‐hGle1B interaction.
Overexpression of HER‐2 via immunohistochemistry in canine urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma ‐ A marker of malignancy and possible therapeutic target
Authors: Millanta F. , Impellizeri J. , McSherry L. , Rocchigiani G. , Aurisicchio L. , Lubas G.
Published: September 2017

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm in the urinary bladder. Distant metastases to the regional lymph nodes, lungs, abdominal organs or bones are noted in up to 50% of dogs at time of death. Surgical excision is often not practical as TCC typically involve the trigone of the bladder and/or occurs multifocally throughout the bladder with field cancerization. Therapeutic approaches are very challenging and the requirement to evaluate alternative therapeutic protocols that may prolong survival times in dogs bearing these tumours is compelling. We assessed the immunohistochemical expression of HER‐2 in 23 cases of canine TCCs of the urinary bladder and compare it with non‐neoplastic urothelium in order to evaluate a rationale for targeted therapies and gene‐based vaccines. HER‐2 positivity was recorded in 13/23 (56%) neoplastic lesions. The receptor was significantly overexpressed in neoplastic than in non‐neoplastic samples (P = .015). According to our preliminary results, it would be of interest to further evaluate the role of HER‐2 in canine TCCs as a marker of malignancy and a therapeutic target for cancer vaccine and antibodies. Moreover, the significantly different overexpression of HER‐2 in TCCs than in non‐neoplastic urothelium further supports to investigate its role in the progression toward malignancy of non‐neoplastic lesions.
Simulating Pressure Transient Events in the Fuel Gas Supply to a Multi-Block Combined Cycle Plant
Authors: Schroeder Robert , Zitkus Matthew , Czyszczewski Michael , Rovagnati Beniamino
Published: September 2017

As power plant combustion turbines (CTs) are pushed towards higher thermal efficiencies, increased attention is being given to operating requirements for their fuel gas supply such as the maximum allowable rate-of-change in pressure. It is important to perform detailed analyses for multi-unit plants to ascertain whether pressure transient events, such as those caused by initial trip of one or two combustion turbines, will cause additional combustion turbines to trip off. In this paper, single and dual CT trips were postulated in a near-realistic combined cycle power plant. Predictions of the gas flow behavior, along with propagation and superposition of pressure waves, was carried out using the method of characteristics (MOC) for compressible flows. Specifically, the rate of change in fuel gas supply pressure to each CT was monitored and compared against a typical manufacturer limit of 0.8 bar/s. Instances where simulations showed this threshold exceeded were noted, since such events correspond to automatic valve closure that would shut down one more CT and thereby further reduce plant electrical output.

The overall goal of fuel gas transient analyses is to improve pipeline designs, iteratively when necessary, such that those additional trips are avoided. To that end, this paper presents several simulation cases to illustrate pressure transient phenomena and to show the impact of various pipeline design alterations, some of which caused 40% reductions in the worst pressure rate-of-change during simulations.
Measuring vocal motor skill with a virtual voice-controlled slingshot
Authors: Van Stan Jarrad H. , Park Se-Woong , Jarvis Matthew , Mehta Daryush D. , Hillman Robert E. , Sternad Dagmar
Published: September 2017

Successful voice training (e.g., singing lessons) and vocal rehabilitation (e.g., therapy for a voice disorder) involve learning complex, vocal behaviors. However, there are no metrics describing how humans learn new vocal skills or predicting how long the improved behavior will persist post-therapy. To develop measures capable of describing and predicting vocal motor learning, a theory-based paradigm from limb motor control inspired the development of a virtual task where subjects throw projectiles at a target via modifications in vocal pitch and loudness. Ten subjects with healthy voices practiced this complex vocal task for five days. The many-to-one mapping between the execution variables pitch and loudness and resulting target error was evaluated using an analysis that quantified distributional properties of variability: Tolerance, noise, covariation costs (TNC costs). Lag-1 autocorrelation (AC1) and detrended-fluctuation-analysis scaling index (SCI) analyzed temporal aspects of variability. Vocal data replicated limb-based findings: TNC costs were positively correlated with error; AC1 and SCI were modulated in relation to the task's solution manifold. The data suggests that vocal and limb motor learning are similar in how the learner navigates the solution space. Future work calls for investigating the game's potential to improve voice disorder diagnosis and treatment.
360-Degree Feedback for Sport Coaches: A Follow-Up to O’Boyle (2014)
Authors: Hoffmann Matt D. , Duguay Ashley M. , Guerrero Michelle D. , Loughead Todd M. , Munroe-Chandler Krista J.
Published: September 2017

The sport literature yields little information concerning the available methods or processes coaches can use to obtain feedback about their coaching. This is unfortunate given that evaluative feedback about one’s coaching performance is useful in terms of providing direction for professional coach development (Mallett & Côté, 2006). As a follow-up to O’Boyle (2014), the purpose of this Best Practices paper is to offer a sample protocol for employing a 360-degree feedback system for coaches working in high performance settings. We draw on a review of the coach evaluation and 360-degree feedback literature, along with insights shared from Canadian intercollegiate head coaches to highlight some of the potential benefits and challenges of implementing a 360-degree feedback system in sport. We then suggest ‘best practices’ for effectively integrating this appraisal system and provide an example coach report to illustrate how feedback would be provided to a coach following a 360-degree feedback protocol. It is our hope that this sample protocol paper will encourage coaches, athletic directors, and other sport administrators to integrate comprehensive coach feedback practices in their sporting programs.
Reliability of a Squat Movement Competency Screen in Individuals With a Previous Knee Injury
Authors: Edwards Suzi , Liberatore Mark
Published: September 2017

Context: Movement screens are a common method of assessing movement efficiency either against a specific criterion of segments/joint(s) motion (segmental method) or a summary label of general quality of the whole movement (overall method). While not as commonly utilized within clinical practice as the segmental method, the overall method is less time consuming to perform and more reliable. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of the “overall” method approach during a squat in individuals with a previous knee joint injury. Design: Cross-sectional, clinical measurement. Participants: Two-dimensional video recordings of 5 squat trials were recorded for 16 participants with a history of a major knee joint injury(s) and were visually rated by 3 novice and 3 expert raters. Main Outcome Measures: Weighted quadratic Kappa was used to determine the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the squat movement competency screen. Results: Good inter-rater reliability for the expert and novice groups was observed. Intra-rater reliability was very good between analysis sessions for 1 expert rater. Conclusions: The overall method is a reliable method that enables allied health professionals of different levels of clinical experience to utilize a framework to assess movement quality during a squat in patients with a previous knee joint injury.
Equality of the algebraic and geometric ranks of Cartan subalgebras and applications to linearization of a system of ordinary differential equations
Authors: Azad Hassan , Biswas Indranil , Mahomed Fazal M.
Published: September 2017

If [Formula: see text] is a semisimple Lie algebra of vector fields on [Formula: see text] with a split Cartan subalgebra [Formula: see text], then it is proved here that the dimension of the generic orbit of [Formula: see text] coincides with the dimension of [Formula: see text]. As a consequence one obtains a local canonical form of [Formula: see text] in terms of exponentials of coordinate functions and vector fields that are independent of these coordinates — for a suitable choice of coordinate system. This result is used to classify semisimple algebras of local vector fields on [Formula: see text] and to determine all representations of [Formula: see text] as local vector fields on [Formula: see text]. These representations are in turn used to find linearizing coordinates for any second-order ordinary differential equation that admits [Formula: see text] as its symmetry algebra and for a system of two second-order ordinary differential equations that admits [Formula: see text] as its symmetry algebra.
A new interface weak-capacitance detection ASIC of capacitive liquid level sensor in the rocket
Authors: Yin Liang , Qin Yao , Liu Xiao-Wei
Published: September 2017

A new capacitive liquid level sensing interface weak-capacitance detection ASIC has been designed. This ASIC realized the detection of the output capacitance of the capacitive liquid level sensor, which converts the output capacitance of the capacitive liquid level sensor to voltage. The chip is fabricated in a standard [Formula: see text] CMOS process. The test results show that the linearity of capacitance detection of the ASIC is 0.05%, output noise is [Formula: see text] (when the capacitance which will be detected is 40 pF), the stability of capacitance detection is [Formula: see text] (1[Formula: see text], 1[Formula: see text]h), the output zero position temperature coefficient is 4.5 uV/[Formula: see text]C. The test results prove that this interface ASIC can meet the requirement of high accuracy capacitance detection. Therefore, this interface ASIC can be applied in capacitive liquid level sensing and capacitive humidity sensing field.
The maximal subgroups and the complexity of the flow semigroup of finite (di)graphs
Authors: Horváth Gábor , Nehaniv Chrystopher L. , Podoski Károly
Published: September 2017

The flow semigroup, introduced by Rhodes, is an invariant for digraphs and a complete invariant for graphs. After collecting previous partial results together, we refine and prove Rhodes’s conjecture on the structure of the maximal groups in the flow semigroup for finite, antisymmetric, strongly connected digraphs. Building on this result, we investigate and fully describe the structure and actions of the maximal subgroups of the flow semigroup acting on all but [Formula: see text] points for all finite digraphs and graphs for all [Formula: see text]. A linear algorithm (in the number of edges) is presented to determine these so-called “defect [Formula: see text] groups” for any finite (di)graph. Finally, we prove that the complexity of the flow semigroup of a 2-vertex connected (and strongly connected di)graph with [Formula: see text] vertices is [Formula: see text], completely confirming Rhodes’s conjecture for such (di)graphs.
Scalar field dark energy with a minimal coupling in a spherically symmetric background
Authors: Matsumoto Jiro
Published: September 2017

Dark energy models and modified gravity theories have been actively studied and the behaviors in the solar system have been also carefully investigated in a part of the models. However, the isotropic solutions of the field equations in the simple models of dark energy, e.g. quintessence model without matter coupling, have not been well investigated. One of the reason would be the nonlinearity of the field equations. In this paper, a method to evaluate the solution of the field equations is constructed, and it is shown that there is a model that can easily pass the solar system tests, whereas, there is also a model that is constrained from the solar system tests.
A PREDICTIVE MODEL OF PERMEABILITY FOR FRACTAL-BASED ROUGH ROCK FRACTURES DURING SHEAR
Authors: HUANG NA , JIANG YUJING , LIU RICHENG , LI BO , ZHANG ZHENYU
Published: September 2017

This study investigates the roles of fracture roughness, normal stress and shear displacement on the fluid flow characteristics through three-dimensional (3D) self-affine fractal rock fractures, whose surfaces are generated using the modified successive random additions (SRA) algorithm. A series of numerical shear-flow tests under different normal stresses were conducted on rough rock fractures to calculate the evolutions of fracture aperture and permeability. The results show that the rough surfaces of fractal-based fractures can be described using the scaling parameter Hurst exponent [Formula: see text], in which [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the fractal dimension of 3D single fractures. The joint roughness coefficient (JRC) distribution of fracture profiles follows a Gauss function with a negative linear relationship between [Formula: see text] and average JRC. The frequency curves of aperture distributions change from sharp to flat with increasing shear displacement, indicating a more anisotropic and heterogeneous flow pattern. Both the mean aperture and permeability of fracture increase with the increment of surface roughness and decrement of normal stress. At the beginning of shear, the permeability increases remarkably and then gradually becomes steady. A predictive model of permeability using the mean mechanical aperture is proposed and the validity is verified by comparisons with the experimental results reported in literature. The proposed model provides a simple method to approximate permeability of fractal-based rough rock fractures during shear using fracture aperture distribution that can be easily obtained from digitized fracture surface information.
A Preference Index for Ranking Closed Intervals and Fuzzy Numbers
Authors: Hesamian Gholamreza , Akbari Mohamad Ghasem
Published: September 2017

This paper proposes a preference index for ranking the most applicable vague data, i.e. closed intervals and LR-fuzzy numbers. In this approach, first a preference degree is suggested to compare two closed intervals. Then, we extended the proposed criterion from the space of closed intervals into the the space of fuzzy numbers. Using some theorems and lemmas, it will be proved that the extended preference degrees will satisfy many common and desired properties based on the proposed axiomatic definitions introduced for similarity measures. Some numerical examples are also used to illustrate the proposed ranking methods. Moreover, the proposed methods are examined to compare other existing methods and the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methods will be cleared via some numerical comparisons. Comparative examples show that the proposed method overcomes certain unreasonable and shortcomings exhibited by some existing methods in some common situations.
MICROSTRUCTURE AND WEARING PROPERTIES OF PEO COATINGS: EFFECTS OF Al2O3 AND TiO2
Authors: ZHANG Y. , FAN W. , DU H. Q. , ZHAO Y. W.
Published: September 2017

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings were formed on aluminium alloy in additive Al2O3- and TiO2-containing Na2SiO3-based electrolytes, respectively. The effect of these additives on morphology, composition and wearing properties of coatings was investigated. The morphology and composition of coatings were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Analysis of wearing properties of coatings were done by friction and wearing experiment. It was found that the use of additives greatly affects the surface morphology of coatings. It is shown that the content of [Formula: see text]-Al2O3 in coatings formed in Al2O3-containing electrolytes increased with the addition of Al2O3. However, the content of [Formula: see text]-Al2O3 in coatings formed in TiO2-containing electrolytes first increased and then decreased. Among these coatings, the coating formed in silicate-based electrolytes system containing 7[Formula: see text]g/L Al2O3 showed the most superior wearing properties.